I have to come in here and defend a segment of the author community: the self-deprecating writer!
I'm a writer, however, I have one major issue - I think everything I write is awful. Why do I write? I don't know. Maybe some psychic schemer has decided to thrust my poor attempts at story upon the world, in hopes that my pathetic attempts to create plot, character growth, appropriate rising action, and a stimulating climax, will so crush the psyche of all who read these horrendous tales, that they will be left as nothing but mindless husks.
See, these are the things that go through the minds of an author with little to no self-esteem.
My defense against this problem, this handicap if you will, is to try and turn it into humor. "Here's some new crap from your favorite hack," or "Enjoy this pile of garbage, I'm off to try and find some talent."
I want to learn, to grow, to become an even more proficient writer. To do that, I need public criticism. Yet, I am filled with doubts - I need to protect myself! Therefore, when someone invariably gives my story a poor review, I can at least say to myself: "Hey, I warned them!"
Please, overlook our self-deprecation. It's all we have in this world.