Ok, here's the thing. I'm a rather opinionated lass. I try to be honest, direct, straightforward, and impersonal. One of the things I'm looking at possibly trying to do in the new year is to comment more on images in the galleries. If I do, however, I will not do so in the "usual" form. I will take that small admonition in the box directly above the comment window quite seriously, and attempt to offer constructive criticism. However, if I do, I'm likely to set off a few folks there. no, not a few folks. A lot of them. I would do this stating with the Hot 20, of course. Being what is supposed to be a represnetation of the most popular images on the site (not the best, mind, you, but the most popular), one would expect they would be the best place to start. Now, this is good news for some folks -- if I were to do this, I would, of course, have less time to spend in the forum here. Now I ask the following question because based on what I've seen in threads on this site and around, many people do not want constructive criticism. They only want glowing praise. There is no mechanism, however, for selectively noting those. Unless it's specifically noted in the description that they only want glowing praise, then they may recieve a comment. (obviously, I'll only comment as I feel appropriate). So, given that potential for an "open season on Elle", should I? I have no problem with folks charging off and calling me names and such. And I can defend myself against verbal attacks and whatnot. I can take it, iow. But, well, should I? Is that something that rosity is still about, or has the community changed in that way? I don't know the "gallery crowd". I don't know if they are able to accept such stuff to the degree that the "forum crowd" is. I'm not talking about diving in and calling tripe on display the crap that it is. I'm talking about thoughtful observations and suggestions for improvement of the image overall. I'm not that sort of person. being oblivious to the "politics" of the gallery, before I go in and blithely start offending people, though, I thought I would at the least check in and be sure it's a reasonable idea. Now, I've never been called mean in the criticisms I have left. I have been thanked for them before. But, well, those were mostly a couple years ago, lol anyone?

thou and I, my friend, can, in the most flunkey world, make, each of us, one non-flunkey, one hero, if we like: that will be two heroes to begin with. (Carlyle)