Considering how many pics there are on PoE, it is clearly impossible for an individual to comment on them all. My comments are a bit random admittedly, as I meander around the site. It is always difficult to criticise, for fear of upsetting people, but if you genuinely believe a picture might have been improved, the comment might be helpful. After all, it is only a personal opinion, and I accept that by publicly uploading my pics, they are fair game for comments and I take the view that any comment is better than no comment at all - at least I know someone has taken the time to look at my efforts.

Some more very good and valid points coming to the fore. Regarding Rod's line regarding a picture maybe having some merit but in that particular viewers eye only worth 2 stars.... if that's what the viewer thinks then mark it as 2 because the comment laid against the image should also reflect the awarding of 2 stars.  In Edward's response  I can sympathise with the remarks regarding not wanting to offend people as POE is not that sort of site. And as noted many times we do NOT want to turn it into a 'critque' site, which is where more helpful suggestions and guidance, rather than criticism, can come into play, gentle nudges in the right direction similar to the one that I pointed out to Ruth about a different crop to one of her submissions a few months ago which she tried and agreed the result was a much stronger picture, not saying for a moment that the original was poor in any way at all, just that my suggestion helped her. Also I agree that once my pics are up in this very public domain they are open and available for comment and that any constructive comment is preferable to none. And as to John's suggestion of removing the stars altogether, not so sure about that, but maybe give the option simply to pass comment and suggestions but have a 'no rating' option available. I'm also with John in that the vast majority of images commented on are given 5 stars as the norm where it is blatantly obvious that 4 or even 3 would be nearer the truth. There are images on POE which warrant 5 stars without any shadow of a doubt, but they are in a very small minority. There is so much to consider and I thank John again for starting this thread, as it has generated some excellent discussion and we all know that Chris and Sarah pick up on these threads so lets see what transpires.

Edited by: Dave John at:21st March 2014 21:36

 Interesting premise, the idea of John's to comment without the requirement of a star rating. The more I think about it the more it appeals to me- for me the comments be they cryptic , complimentary , critical or just plain comical are what really counts. As Dave suggests a sidestep is a " no rating" setting which could just be added to the star setting tab. More food for thought.

Yes, having though about it since posting my comments I think that would be a positive 'next step' and hopefully one that would not cause too much programming for Chris and Sarah. As Edward indicates above it is not possible to commemnt on every single image but the fact that it would then be 'non compulsory' to give a rating may invite more comment, of whatever nature, thereby improving the site and helping fellow members with guidance and suggestions, without the 'stigma' of a low rating

Spot on there John, helpful friendly advice, not critism, that's the spirit of POE 

Would it be true that the overall opinion is, to not adversely criticise submissions? I'm okay with this, more so now that the overall quality is radically better than before the short break in accepting new pictures. 

I would say you are correct there Rod.

Yes it makes perfect sense John, another pair of eyes can help you see something you could have done but missed, or you may like to keep your picture the way you like, in the end it's up to the person who's picture it is 

This is a comment I made last year.  I suppose it is rather sarcastic but I had ploughed through so many of his uploads that day that I had had enough.  He has sent 4,820 pictures to the site.

 http://www.picturesofengland.com/England/Northamptonshire/Higham_Ferrers/pictures/1168275

 

Edited by: james prescott at:22nd March 2014 17:37