What does 'superb effort' mean when used toward your work

[WhatsThatSposeToBe?]

I have a pen and ink project for school I have over 30 hours into that is a stippling. I had been posting my progress on the stippling on forums elsewhere. Though reviews were favorable, one 16 yr old kid only said 'superb effort'.
What exactly does that mean when people use that toward your work? To me effort means you gave it a try and fell flat. The comment just irks me a little because I expect helpful critiqueing after a comment like that.

My professor told me great job during the class critique which doesn't happen often (ever) and it gave me some pride, so perhaps I'm looking to far into this? It's very possible that the many hours of millions of dots that caused me to think in morse code and no sleep in two days have finally driven me insane pld:

[JFierce]

Don't let random criticism irk you. If they give you something constructive and point something out give it a thought. If they say something enigmatic, let it go and move on.

[Black Spot]

A 16yo kid is probably in awe of what you did and could only find those words to express himself. Let's see it then.

[w176]

From a 16 year old kid? I would assume the kids thought process went something like this:

"Erm... I better come up with some sort of comment that sound like... Smart. And intellectual. And mature. And sexy. And like I really know what I'm taking about. Hmm. 'Suberb effort?' Yeah. That sort of sounds like someone awesome would say. I'll say that."

[tobbA]

This is a profoundly intriguing question.

[JJacks]

Really a forum thread for this? He probably just "wow this guy is working hard on it." Or if you really want to know what the kid meant, you could ask him.

[dierat]

Putting effort into something just means you're working really hard on it and trying to do your best. I think that's all s/he meant. The only time effort means trying but failing is when someone uses the phrase "Good effort, but.." before moving into a critique about why your efforts did not lead to optimal results or when it's used sarcastically.

So yeah, you're looking into it too much.

[[email protected]]

I'm not exactly a 16 year old kid, so I cannot tell what this one meant: maybe ask him?

[Kamber Parrk]

Well. . . dang. . .

I just wanna see the 30 hours of stipplin' piece!

[Kuroyue]

This is the internet; it could mean anything, depending on the kind of person who said it. I say, pick what's safest for you to assume and carry on.

[Star Eater]

If you want a real crit, post your stuff in the critique section.

Problem solved.

[Noah Bradley]

The next time someone makes a random comment online about one of my pieces I'm gonna make a thread about it. In fact, I think we should have a forum section called Stuff People Online Said About My Work That I Thought Was Kinda Weird.

(I think I'm feeling a little snarky today)

[Star Eater]

The next time someone makes a random comment online about one of my pieces I'm gonna make a thread about it. In fact, I think we should have a forum section called Stuff People Online Said About My Work That I Thought Was Kinda Weird.

I will hold you to that.

[arenhaus]

I just wanna see the 30 hours of stipplin' piece!

Stippling is so darn time-consuming that 30 hours isn't anything major.

[Kamber Parrk]

Stippling is so darn time-consuming that 30 hours isn't anything major.

Yeah,

But, I wanna see how big and/or good it is!

[Trixtar]

The next time someone makes a random comment online about one of my pieces I'm gonna make a thread about it. In fact, I think we should have a forum section called Stuff People Online Said About My Work That I Thought Was Kinda Weird.

(I think I'm feeling a little snarky today)

You really tempt me to think up a very weird thing to say and post it in your sketchbook! -Just to see you start that thread :p

[Stoat]

I had a weird experience recently. I was carrying my sketchbook and one of my neighbors asked to see it. She flipped through it for a moment (it's on the full side), handed it back to me and went on talking about the weather or whatever. No reaction whatsoever.

I'm not Michelfreakingangelo, but

[Angel Intheuk]

stoat ooh that would drive me up the wall!

On the 'superb effort' subject I equally hate and love those vague comments. You can focus on either the positive or the negative depending on what mood you're in. (and if you're of the opinion that effort = bad then both those words cancel each other out making the comment neither good nor bad)

[Ixallus]

I will hold you to that.

True story, needs to happen by the way. Many laughs to be had.

[Star Eater]

You really tempt me to think up a very weird thing to say and post it in your sketchbook! -Just to see you start that thread :p

Only a sick person would do something like that to somebodies sketchbook.

Sick.

[Arshes Nei]

"Superb effort" sounds like when your teachers made you evaluate other people in your class, and you had to say nice things about the other person. XD