Since this argument has somehow become personal, Mr/Ms Internet Stranger, I'd encourage you consider how frequently you give positive feedback to colleagues & peers that their manager could see (i.e. "on the record"). When was the last time you've done it? How frequently have you done so in the past 6 months? For me the answers to these questions are "this morning" and "at least a dozen times."

Given your extreme sensitivity to the possible damage of giving positive feedback, I am guessing you rarely engage in this "risky" behaviour. Am I wrong? If not, I don't plan to take advice on giving positive feedback from "the person who rarely gives positive feedback."

I sleep quite soundly knowing that when someone does me a good turn I give them positive feedback "on the record."