way to step up with the critiques and advice everyone....

now where is the gallery I submit to if I just want ego-boosting smoke blown up my backside regardless of the mediocrity of my render :P

Just kidding of course...  I agree with the origional post that it does really sting to post a work to the sound of crickets.  I never used to have that problem when I first started rendering but now a lot of the time there are parts of the render I am really proud of and parts that I know could be better but I hear nothing what-so-ever.