I have seen quite a few heated discussions on the Blog arising from criticism of photos and think there are some things we should think about.

1 The critics need to be fair and above all diplomatic n their criticism. If not then there is a high chance of evoking an angry and bitter response. Its easy to get upset when you see a photo you dont like getting heavy praise, but responding with angry "knee-jerk" reactions will not help anybody.

2 Please dont try to silence the critics. They are desperately needed on this site. All too often the heavy critics are bullied and hounded out of the site. Everybodies opinion is needed.

And remember, the ratings are not life and death. They dont really make any difference to whether a phot is good or bad so "live and let live".
donmac

Totally agree with everything you say Don, I think that the critics should respect other critics views, without it turning into a slanging match as to why it is liked by one and not the other.
We all thankfully have differing tastes and there have been images that I would give a 10 to, because I like it and I would want it on my wall, now when another critic comes in with a rather rude comment about the image and the other critics view, it can be taken very badly.
Personally my view would be, critic the image, not the other critics views, we all have differing tastes, allow for it.
With regard the rating system, I am a great believer amongst others that the rating system should be scrapped, only comments on the image should be of importance, because one critics 10 is another critics 7 etc etc, and as far as I can see all the ratings do is infuriate people, in fact from now on I won't rate an image with a number, I shall rate and critique it only with comments.

G@zm@ster

Heated debate is surely a good thing; otherwise we all become complacent, but when it turns to personal attacks that's something different. The rating system shouldn't be taken too personally. You can choose to take it seriously or not. If you admire the work of a critic, you'll take him/her seriously; if not their opinion shouldn't affect you (although it can raise the hackles sometimes). In the end, it probably doesn't matter as each of us is guilty of subjectivity - I know I cringe at some of my sudden rushes of blood to the head! We look at what appeals to us in the first instance and decide on how much we like it. Alternatively, we look at something and wonder 'Why bother?' - the eye of the beholder.

After all, most of us have chosen to put our photographs/pictures/pieces of brilliance/experiments/happy snaps/absolute rubbish on this site to get feedback - and that can be in a variety of forms, some of which we accept and others that raise the hackles on the back of the neck. When it comes down to it, we're just human and don't get it right all the time. I suspect the heated debates and insults will not go away, but it doesn't mean that the world is coming to an end.