*'Of course, I'll know for certain that the gallery ratings system is perfectly fair and balanced when my own paltry few images are top-ranked among the thousands.'

... but of course :)

It's easy to see that this thread has unlocked a reservoir of rancor over the perceived unfairness of the rating/comment/'hug club' system and as Robert mentioned - it's not going to stop being an issue. It's been like this for as long as I can remember and I don't see an end in sight. People are social beings and naturally tend toward cliques - we even have an 'anti-clique' clique here at Rendo :)

That's just something that everyone posting images here has to find a way to live with. What doesn't have to be accepted is someone following up a glowing comment of praise with a low rating. Especially if it's the same person doing it to many different people. While it's nothing of Earth shattering significance, it doesn't do much to mitigate the discord that these threads always seem to expose.

Again I ask, why can't a viewer's ratings appear along with their comments? It does seem it would at least 'put their money where their mouth is' as Robin suggested. Maybe just a row of stars printed below the comment would do the trick.

• Rick