I disagree...I've found the fractal community here to be very supportive of other artists and new fractal learners. I rarely see fractals posted to the gallery without a comment or two even if it's just for encouragement. I haven't read every comment but the ones I have read that were criticism seemed to me to be written not to offend but to help or suggest and were to artists that had specifically requested it. The hot 20 is the hot 20...if enough people clicked that vote button it deserves to be there. Any community is as good as the people that participate in it care to make it, I think this one is friendly and open. If you're unhappy about some aspects of this one then participate in it more and help to make it the type of community you wish it to be. Just my 2 cents...;o)

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be...
And you help them to become what they are capable of being.
                                                                ~Goethe~
R.I.G.H.T.S.