A very interesting topic...thanks for starting this thread Tunde!
For the most part, the people around me don't know much about photography...and I suspect many of them don't care too much either...
So, the responses are very simliar to what girsempa and inshaala have experienced.
One of the benefits of posting here...or in any other photo group is that you are presenting your image to people that are also interested in this hobby.  Generally, it is they who will also give you the best constructive criticism.

It is very similar when I show my Terragen images to some friends....they generally like them and think they look cool...and wonder how they can be generated by computer....but, that's about as far as it goes.  They are not able to offer any technical critique nor do they understand the amount of work involved in creating such an image....
The comments that help me get better, come from my peers...We are able to learn from their advice and, we are also able to learn from their work.

In youth, we learn....with age, we understand.