Christian,
... I have to confess that's pretty much what I've been doing lately too, and I need absolution and remission because of it.
... When someone posts a picture on "User Critiques" one has to assume he's actually asking for critiques.
... I am suggesting it's reasonable, when you can't see the point of the picture, to ask what the point is.
... If we see something that obviously doesn't stand on its own isn't it reasonable to ask what the "artist" intended, or even if he had an intention?
... I assume that when someone posts a picture for critique he's trying to learn something.
... Shouldn't we all try to help?
...You always learn more from your failures than from your successes.
Russ,
A personal choice, nothing I will give you a yes or a no. Some thoughts come to my mind. It's for me nothing to discuss, only something to explain further, If someone wants and if I want.
I liked the way the subforum took in the last time. Less wars, less speech bubbles, more spot-on comments.
If I would enforce critique on someone who clearly doesn't want to hear me, I'd be arrogant, or forcing, or the like. Some time ago I have thought, isn't it odd, that I do so less with my own images, but critique so much the images of others? One reason more to stay shut for me, concentrate more on the own work.
And that someone doesn't want to hear me can have several reasons. Either he just cant take critique (very seldom here but common elsewhere), then I stop commenting on their images. Who am I, to impose me on them?
However there where other cases where I seemingly pissed people off with my attitude without realizing it, and my points get therefore dismissed. So I am the cause of the bad reaction, so it was my problem. When Im in good mood, people react mostly nicely.
Also, avoiding discussions saves stress. I just dont like the feeling when there is some war with someone, and you are anxious what insult the other have might written. Thoughts revolving about a damn forum when Im out in my real life. Disgusting. So I better dont touch people who could make trouble for me.
Also generally its not uncommon that someone realizes something that was said only much, much later. So people will just not react, and they wont thank you, but they will later get it. And if you made a really good point, they WILL be thankful.
Also there will always be people who just are not able to do decent images for a multitude of reasons and who will barely improve. Thats just the way it is. And "decent image" goes on many different levels. Also a learned photographer can be average. Where am I, who stand I? Everybody is on this ladder.
All the best,
Christian