"you wouldn't dare say it without some reason" Exactly. What do you do with "Yes, that's very nice." or "It sucks." It may be very nice because it is an image of my grand daughter. It may suck for the same reason (to someone else of course). The best (and worst) I ever heard was "THAT's an image!" Well, yes, but ... ?
"I would admit that I am inclined to not comment rather than comment negatively." Always safe, but not very instructive. I would put it in the same category as "It sucks."
It is my opinion and observation that many images are posted with the intent of showing us how good the photographer is rather than learning anything. Negative feedback on those images is usually poorly received. No one has ever objected, as far as I know, to unsupported praise. But even the best supported negatives frequently get either blasted (like "Who are you to dislike my work?") or "taste is indisputable" or "I like it and that's all that matters." These are why I believe the photographer should not comment or reply to criticism, positive or negative. In the interest of learning, answering direct questions or asking for more information is OK.
I think we can all agree that "taste is indisputable" so that comment is not informative at all. It seems it is usually intended to include "my taste is good and your's sucks." I once heard someone add "said the cat as it licked its bum."
All critiques that I have attended were required to be the finished image. Not a work in progress, but the photographers best effort. So, of course the photographer could always say "I like it ... ." And I think that "and that's all that matters" is another thing we can all agree on. So why make the reply at all?
