@alanapost You may wonder why in asking "how can I be supportive" I focused so much on what is and isn't helpful criticism. And that's because the weight of one mean comment, psychologically, tends to be about the weight of one hundred nice comments in a person's mind. I know it is for me.

So say encouraging things about things you value, and *constructively* criticize where appropriate, but be mindful that you want to use your words to improve the world around you. IMO that's a huge help.