Constructive criticism has good intentions, and often good outcomes if you listen to it. Most other criticism, however, you’re probably better off ignoring.

Here are a few ways to tell the difference between the two. The more yes’s you get to the questions below, the more likely you should listen:

1. Has the critic demonstrated that he knows what he’s talking about?

A med student should listen to a successful heart surgeon who says, “Your suturing is sloppy.” The guitarist on YouTube, however, should probably ignore the critical commenter who’s never shared any music of his or her own.

2. Is the criticism intended to help you improve or be more successful?

Your football coach might scream, “You missed three reads on that last series! Get it right before you go back out there or I’m putting you on the damn bench!” You’re not benched yet, and your coach has made it pretty clear what you need to do to stay in the game. Probably best to listen.

But, “You suck,” “That shirt is ugly,” or “I hate your singing voice”–those comments don’t help you get any better. They just tear you down. Ignore, ignore, ignore.

3. A corollary to #2 is, “Is this person invested in me?”

The more someone has already helped, guided, or otherwise supported you, the more they deserve to at least be heard, even if you decide that you disagree. But the anonymous online commenter, the bully at school, the perpetual resident of Negative Town who’s always the first to shoot down someone else’s idea, they haven’t earned the same right.

The rules aren’t infallible, but they’re a good start. And at a minimum, three Yes’s or three No’s should make it pretty clear whether or not to take the criticism to heart.