I've been giving this a great deal of thought.

I am going to unjoin this group.  Can you all remove me from your favourites.  Karen, can you please remove me from the list?

I like the idea of honesty in the galleries, but I'm somewhat dismayed.

This group started off as a list that people could put their names on in order to let people know that they are open to honest comments on their images, without expectations of anything else but honest comments, if comments are given at all.

But to some it's become an expectation that people must comment  and they get upset when large numbers of this group aren't commenting on their images.  And then there are those who feel a need to comment on many images and get upset that it's not being reciprocated by people: basically an "if I comment on yours, you should be commenting on mine." attitude.  Expectations!

I have never been a really active participant of the gallery, either with uploads or commenting.  Prior to joining the Critique Group, I had probably commented on less than 100 images and had about 5 people in my favourite artists list.  I have never commented just for the sake of commenting, and when I comment it's because I was moved in some  way by the image and felt a need to let the artist know.

I do not like that some people now expect me to comment on their images. That's not why I signed up with this group.  When I signed up I was under the impression that it was just a list of people who wanted to let others know that they were interested in honest comments. But that's changed.  It's become an expectation and an obligation.   If I want to comment on something, I will.  But I don't like feeling that I'm obligated to, or bad that I haven't commented.

I'm also finding that the "fun" I get from creating is lessened. I've always done art to please my eye because you can't please everyone. So I please the one person I know how to, and that's me. Lately I find myself striving to please others, instead of striving to please myself and as a result I'm not having fun with my "art." It's become a chore instead of a way to relax and just spend some quality time.

Also, as I've stated a few times earlier in this thread,  I see this group rapidly becoming just another  way for some people to boost views, comments and ratings of their images. A recent thread on this forum about adding 100 people and only getting 4 comments on their image, seems to be a good example of this.

In addition to that, while I notice that some have really tried to give their honest, helpful comments and where possible, provide helpful advice on how to improve certain aspects, I also  notice so many others just leaving "fluff"  or comments like "I don't know this program, so I can't offer critique." or totally pointless comments such as  "Nice image....but...."  (that was an actual comment I saw on one image)

I will continue to browse the gallery and will be giving my honest comments to all images I view, regardless of who they are or if they are part of a "group", however, I won't be doing it as an official member of the  "Critique Group."

I have learned some great things and have seen some good and some "interesting" pieces of art  that I wouldn't normally have seen otherwise.  I have also learned that there are quite a number of people in the galleries that really do want honest feedback, and I'm willing to take my chances of getting yelled at and being honest when I do comment.

Thanks to those who did comment on my few uploads and provided me with helpful feedback. I have learned some things and will continue to learn and grow.

"It is good to see ourselves as others see us. Try as we may, we are never
able to know ourselves fully as we are, especially the evil side of us.
This we can do only if we are not angry with our critics but will take in good
heart whatever they might have to say." - Ghandi