Autistic people may have difficulty perceiving those moments when they occur and find it difficult to choose tactful words.
For myself, I try to always keep a constructive focus in criticism, but I've also spent a lifetime avoiding guessing and manipulating the internal emotional states of others.
Shouldn't the emotions a person experiences be the domain of that person, theirs to manage, and free from outside meddling? It seems disrespectful to me to meddle in another's mind.
@VulcanTourist @scalzi I say this with sincerity, in case you have any interest in one way to address this in the future. If not, please feel free to disregard!
I've found it very useful to ask, "do you want suggestions/advice, or would you prefer I just listen right now?"
Not always applicable online, but this phrase takes the guesswork out of trying to determine what a person needs in the moment.