I have to agree with glory2god, I am a little hesitant to leave comments because of that post as well.
i signed up to be a gallery supporter a while back and i've noticed that my membership is still pending. i love to leave comments on people's photos and try to do so as often as i can. i think it would be easier if i was part of the gallery support team, but i don't know why my membership won't go through...
Have you reached 100 photo comments already?
My work has improved dramatically since I started decorating too. I didn't find CC till I'd been doing cakes for awhile, and I didn't really consider myself a very good decorator. I appreciate "constructive" critism. I think the problems arise when someone posts without considering the way it's worded. I'm actually suprised people like some of my cakes as much as they do. I love helping people when the PM me about how to do something, but I feel SOOOOOO unqualified to do so! LOL. I only do cakes as a hobby, and I've only been doing them for the last four years or so. Definitely not that experienced.
I have declined to leave comments many times because the feeling I get is that even though people say "be honest" - the truth is they don't want honesty, only praise. I have seen some truly atrocious cakes with comments that made me question the viewer's eyesight or taste.
And to anyone reading this - I'd rather have someone be honest with me than simply pat me on the back to placate me. I just wish we were able to truly help others with advice instead of just giving pats on the back.
I agree 100%. And I hate the fact that it's true, because of the people who only want positive feedback and thus get it even when their stuff isn't so good looking, I never get any honest criticism because people think I am one of those!
Maybe, I'm the only one, but I've been having trouble viewing photos this past week. There have been several times when I have just given up on looking and logged out. Maybe, this is happening to others and might explain the lack of comments?
You are not alone, I have had the same problem.
ditto here. the load times have been lengthly. If the pic doesn't pop up within a few seconds I tend to move on. I realize the delay is probably due to infrastructure needing an upgrade which of course requires cash.
....
I've been in a situation where I saw a fondant covered cake that could have been even better if the fondant were smooth. I sent a PM, rather than post a public comment, asking if the decorator wanted feedback. I didn't receive a reply, but is was a tactful way of offering without putting anyone on the spot. (I just wanted her to know how to get it smooth).
Another thing is that we don't see throught the same eyes. I have a cake posted that everyone seem to like and I hate it. LOL. You just don't know what other people see in their mind, and thus the comments "it's great" on stuff you think could use a little improvement. It's like the guy who goes shopping for shoes with his girlfriend and she sees 6 different shoes, and all he sees is 6 identical black pair.
You can give me honest feedback any time.
I agree that we don't see throu the same eyes. It's the same with some of the designs we're asked to create; what someone may think of as being the best, most creative cake they could imagine being made may very well end up being my least favorite. I just smile and tell them I am so happy they like it when they pick it up or when I deliver it if that is part of the order.
As for leaving "constructive criticism", what is one person's "constructive" is someone else's "destructive". If I am commenting on a piece here, and I think it could use improvement, I may say something like: "I really like this cake; I would never have thought to use that technique that way! What a unique and striking vision you have created." There was a cake posted a few months ago where the poster wanted constructive criticism, but everyone was falling all over themselves to be just nice. I suggested another method for one or two things I saw and the baker thanked me for my comments. It is nice to know that my original intent was understood and I wasn't hurting her feelings by doing what she had asked: being honest about her work in the first place. [and it truly was a lovely creation, just that I thought of different ways to accomplish some of the "look" she was trying for].
Odessa 
Well I will come clean and say that I am guillty of not leaving comments when looking at gallery pics. I guess it's because I am in a hurry to find something or get ideas. I also feel inadequate and that I don't have enough experience to even comment on someones cake photo. I will do my best to try and leave more comments.
how can anyone know if someone is being HONEST......I am not that good of a cake decorator so there are TONS of cakes that I think are cool....and even if I dont maybe like the execution of a particular cake, doesnt mean that I couldnt appreciate the theme or design. We all nit pick our own cakes, we know all their flaws but sometimes the camera doesnt show all those tiny flaws, and someone else sees the cake for what it is (or perhaps the potential it has)......and their is nothing DISHONEST about that.....and for the newer decorators who are just starting out.....I think praise is EXACTLY what we need to keep going and keep trying....I dont see anything wrong with that either!
If you dont feel confortable commenting on a cake.......dont.......but if there is anything you do admire, or if you put it in your favorites then I think its polite to tell the person so....
whew...she steps down from her soapbox........(guess it was my turn huh).
i signed up to be a gallery supporter a while back and i've noticed that my membership is still pending. i love to leave comments on people's photos and try to do so as often as i can. i think it would be easier if i was part of the gallery support team, but i don't know why my membership won't go through...
Have you reached 100 photo comments already?
yes, i have over 100 posts. i did when i requested my membership... still puzzled!! lol
(You're on! 
)
Flayvurdfun
i think horrid is such a strong word 
...one thing is for sure, people who post those cakes were proud of their work and "maybe" some of them did really are asking for honest criticism..i agree with everyone here that the way we give constructive criticism makes all the difference..
I think that unless someone asks for "constructive criticism" I wouldn't even think of posting a critique of any sort.
I personally wish I would get more comments on my pictures. I don't require lengthy prose.... Any comment will do. And especially to those that save people's pictures-it's a such a thoughtful gesture to leave a simple comment. Even if it is one word. I honestly leave a comment on any cake that I save. It's the least I could do.
angie
maybe we can have an area with 'today's uploaded pictures' so after they are kicked off the home page, they aren't automatically sorted into galleries to be lost forever in the shuffle?
mkerton - Thank you very much! I could have sworn that I corrected that when I updated my forum info a few weeks ago! I am sorry for what I said earlier, not that it was mean or rude!
Thank you again!
Its hard to comment, I agree, but I have many of my pictures sitting with no comments....
Not that I'm complaining about that, I just know its hard
And I agree with not saying anything unless its nice... but if it's in peoples favorites theres gotta be a reason
jescapades....there is an option when you click on galleries its a tab called recently uploaded photos (wording might be off a bit) and its really fun to look through (especially if you missed a cake you wanted to study closer on the front page)....
I think that unless someone asks for "constructive criticism" I wouldn't even think of posting a critique of any sort.
I personally wish I would get more comments on my pictures. I don't require lengthy prose.... Any comment will do. And especially to those that save people's pictures-it's a such a thoughtful gesture to leave a simple comment. Even if it is one word. I honestly leave a comment on any cake that I save. It's the least I could do.
angie
you hit it on the nail angie!!!btw, i was trying to leave a comment on your castle cake, it was no prose but when i submitted it the page expired.i'l just check again if it went through..
Many times people become offended no matter HOW delicate one might try to be in giving feedback. Goodness...look at some of the "hot" posts that almost have people in fistacuffs.
I have a personal belief that a decorator must derive their satisfaction from their own work without having to have other folks commenting positively on it. I agree that it's nice if someone particularly likes one your cakes and makes a comment, but I don't need that feedback to "keep me going". That perserverance and desire must come from within or it is counterfeit.
I follow the instructions I received from Thumper's mom..."If you can't say something nice...don't say anything at all."
Thank you, Marj.
I see that it's almost baby time for you! Good luck!!!
Angie
I tend to pay more attn to how many views my photos have I guess. I figure, if a lot of people are looking at it, then it's either really good, or really bad. If people have it as a favorite, I take that to mean they like it. So the comments are nice, but I do look at the numbers more. I guess I'm not the norm though. I love that they changed the format in "my photos" to add those numbers 
thank you angie! i had my baby shower last week and i could not even make a simple round cake for that..i did 4 cakes for my niece's 1st bday a few weeks before and i think i used all my energy then. 
...
edited to add:
i have to confess though, guys, don't torch me for this ok? ...most of the time, i just save the cakes i like in my pc and not add it to my favorites...especially when we had the server problem, i got scared that i would not be able to open cc that i saved everything in my pc..when i see for the first time a username whose cake i like,i save it to my favorites so i would be able to go back to that person's work.
Many times people become offended no matter HOW delicate one might try to be in giving feedback. Goodness...look at some of the "hot" posts that almost have people in fistacuffs.
I have a personal belief that a decorator must derive their satisfaction from their own work without having to have other folks commenting positively on it. I agree that it's nice if someone particularly likes one your cakes and makes a comment, but I don't need that feedback to "keep me going". That perserverance and desire must come from within or it is counterfeit.
I follow the instructions I received from Thumper's mom..."If you can't say something nice...don't say anything at all."
I admire your getting personal satisfaction from your work. I usually hate everything I make, even though I know I'm technically pretty good. For me, feedback is essential. It's a motivtor to push myself. That's probably why I enter so many cake and cookie competitions. I always try and make my next cake or cookies better than the last. I think that's why I post so many pictures. . . eh, or maybe I'm just lazy and need a little push.
I also have never saved a cake without commenting on it....
It's very nice to get comments...it's also nice to see that people have saved your photo. I try to comment on as many as I can, however, you must remember that sometimes people are browsing through galleries just to get ideas. Personally, if I am looking for ideas, that means I am busy on a cake and don't have the moment it takes to leave a comment.
I didn't take the time to read all the post so I may be repeating.
I don't leave comments much since someone posted a thread about people saying the cake is "nice" "beautiful" "goodjob". They felt more should be said about the cake.
Sometimes I see a really awsome cake go to the comments and my mind is blank. I want to say it's a nice cake and can't think of anything to add. I thought taking the time to leave a comment would tell the person I liked their work. So, then I think of that thread and back out without leaving anything.
I agree!! This just happened to me with my last 2 cakes....not a lot of views or comments & I was hoping to get a bit of feedback. But I think I uploaded them at a peak time, because they did get bumped of the main page within seconds....either that or the cakes just weren't as exciting as I thought they were!!
Oh well!
Just started reading this thread...have to say pancake I took a peak at your cake photos...all of them are absolutely beautiful!!!
I try to leave comments on every picture I look at. It is hard to catch everyone because I am not able to be on as much as I would like to be. I also agree that ANY comment is a good comment. I take the good with the bad. I figure, without someones true thoughts, I won't get any better at decorating!
Sounds like that "don't leave a single word" thread has tainted some people's viewing of cakes. There were times when the forums were so hot that the only thing I did was look at cakes.
I will say it is a bit cumbersome now....load pic (wait), make comment, load comment (wait), save to faves (wait)....It's silly, but on my computer it takes a long time....I ususally just view in thumbnail, unless I'm really interested.
It's the same way with forums, you may have 150 reads and 3 comments. It comes out to be about 1-3% (I think I remember reading somewhere) of people will actually comment on a forum (not just CC) that read it. It's the same way with advertising...if you mail 500 letters expect 5 responses.
I hope CC gets a new server soon, then things shoud clip along at a better pace.
Seems like recently there have been a number of photos I simply didn't have the option to make comments on. Is this because the poster didn't opt to get comments? I comment on most of the pics I view and I don't know as I ever save one to my favs without leaving a comment. I don't try and view everything that gets uploaded. I'm on here enough without trying to see and comment on everything. As someone else said here I save photos to files onmy pc for future reference. And I usually note the decorator's name with the pic (and if they're on cc) when I do so that I can go back to their other pics if I want to and also to give credit if I use a design.
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