For good or for bad, its part of HN culture when someone shares a personal project. Most people I think know to take it all with a grain of salt, there's often good feedback amongst the unconstructive or plain wrong - see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9224 for a classic example.

I have the perception that HN is quite ruthless with the feedback. I appreciate constructive criticism, and HN is mostly constructive and self moderates against non-constructive criticisms, but for me, HN is the platform that gives me the highest anxiety when I think about launching something - more than product hunt.

Edit: and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that if you only give someone encouraging words and positive feedback , you are doing them a disservice by stunting their growth or sending them down a wrong path.

I’ve not seen much on HN I’d consider ruthless. It’s just not sugar coated. Places like product hunt are pure sugar IMO.

I've definitely seen some where people are having a bad day and see it as their chance to unload.

I would rather to have mean, direct feedbacks than sugar coating it, and not just in HN but even IRL, things is, it’s kind of known here but when I provide the same level of honesty at work, mostly taken as an attack because of the fake positivity and ultra sensitivity in nowadays work environments.

Feedback is a kindness, even when not perceived as nice.

This. I'm giving feedback, it's because I care about the person and this community. It could be considered mean by some but I genuinely do my best to deliver it in good faith. I also understand that "my best" could be not good enough though!