Tofi . . .

I love you.

I agree 100%.  I like to leave compliments to show support for the artists I like, and I admit I've often been guilty of leaving copy-and-paste type of comments, but I never do it just because I want a comment in return.  That's just sleazy and wrong on so many levels.

Coincidentally, I was just considering whether or not I should ever allow comments in my gallery again, since there's so little actual constructive criticism or genuine appreciation that it's hardly worth bothering.  I posted an image awhile back where I specified, both in the submission form and in the image notes, that I wanted nothing but constructive comments.  One of the comments I got actually said "kewl work", and nothing else.  However, I did get comments from nikolais and eyeland that made me feel all gooey inside.

Which brings me to the saving grace of the comment feature: people who actually use it the way it ought to be used.  I've gotten sincere advice and encouragement from time to time, especially from nattarious, jinet and the above-mentioned nikolais and eyeland.  "Jade green frog - selective color version" was entirely inspired by jinet's comments on the original.  He specifically said "Nice photo indeed, but the color of water is really too awful. All the rest is allright. Have you tried to put it in black & white, or selective coloring by keeping only the green and yellow color of the frog?"  I'm really proud of both versions, and without his remarks there would only be one.  Thanks, jinet -- you and others like you are one of the best things about the internet.

So I'm still sort of on the fence.  This site is full of trolls and ass-kissers who just waste space with their comments, but on the other hand you have people like jinet and nattarious who aren't afraid to offer civil, well thought-out advice.  I think that one of the reasons there are so few good people like them are the artists who can't stand to be corrected, who in turn may have developed that overly defensive attitude because of people who leave troll comments in their galleries, and so on.  It really seems like a self-perpetuating cycle, and it's one of the biggest problems with this site.

As a side note, I also like what dBgrafix said about "Ultimatley your finished image should please you, and that is what counts".  I live by those words, dude.

And what TomDart said: "Strict critique is unfortunately prone to bias from the one doing the critique. Certainly, a constructive comment on an image I post is appreciated. When it is apparent I simply do not meet the 'photographic bias' of the commentator, that critique has little value."  Also true.  Glad you also acknowledge the fact that some people have different opinions than others, so few people actually believe that.