"i may not agree with what you say, but i shall defend to the death your right to say it..."

please forgive a '2d graphics' guy for weighing in on a photo forum thread, but i was told about this one by a photographer friend of mine and the subject seems to transcend photography, so here goes...  i'm a live-and-let-live type, and firmly believe the choices - to allow comments as well as whether to give them, make them fluffy or meaningful, etc. - are personal and should be respected.  i believe too that it's not my place to judge, and i can think of perfectly innocent, well-intentioned reasons for a person to allow/disallow comments, reciprocate/not reciprocate, etc., so i try not to read too much into people's actions...

that said, i can empathize with many of the sentiments expressed above.  i too value 'rosity's 'community' aspects, the easy friendships one can form here, how willing people are to help if asked, and how one can learn/grow (admittedly more by studying others' works than through comments received, since folks tend to be nice and offer more attaboys than critiques).  i love giving and receiving comments, feel a pang of awwwwwwww-mannn when i can't comment on a piece that moves me, and don't comment nearly as often as i'd like to (most of my 'rosity friends are photogs, many of whom post multiple excellent entries a day - commenting all the shots that impress me would take all my free time!).  i too don't want to see 'rosity turn elitist.  nonetheless, i have also observed that disproportionate response to similar works that i think gimi53 was trying to point out, and can understand how disheartening it may be to the person who only gets a handful of views and fewer comments.  similarly, i have felt discouraged that even poor pieces that feature nudity get overwhelmingly more attention and response than outstanding artwork that doesn't. 

but what would folks propose to do about it, alter human nature?  restrict what one can or can't respond to?  life, especially art, is all about choices, individuality, freedom of expression.  and joy.  enjoy the wonder of what 'rosity's artists have to offer... have fun contributing, interacting and learning... comment or don't... view or avoid... be fluffy or deep... just be yourself, and allow others to do likewise, without prejudgment. 

live and let live...

michael (aka bangonthedrums)