What a great response, thanks.
Your whole comment resonates with me (as does the majority of this thread, btw) but this sums up a beautiful potential new year's resolution for me:
If there is anything to change it is to empower people by respecting the truth. When someone, no matter who, does something you like tell him what you've learned from him and that you are grateful for his skillful approach. When someone, no matter who, messes up tell him also.