Folks, one of the joys of photography is that it can bee enjoyed at many levels. Everyone starts somewhere.
The gallery is meant to be a "riskless" place to see your photo on the internet, and show it to others.
There is a reason it is structured that way, it encourages people to post regardless of their skill level.
These folks are not looking for your criticism, even if it is well intentioned. They just want to post pictures they are proud of.
There are lots of other places where criticism IS allowed , here and other places.
Having one place free from criticism, where people can feel safe is a very good idea.
Also, try to remember the audience....... This is not some high stakes gallery, I is a cordial meeting place for mostly older photographers to share and talk about Photography. All skill levels are welcome, and we do have lots of accomplished photographers as well as those who just do it for enjoyment.
Unsolicited criticism is generally not welcome anywhere, even if it is meant to be helpful
That should be a pretty easy concept to understand.
Be happy, take Pictures

Rick, your topic is well meaning, not a rant at all. However, you're starting with the wrong assumption.

Photo Gallery is primarily a social sharing site. The majority of UHH users are over 70 years old.
Those who wish to "improve" (the meaning will be different for everyone) will ask for help.

Regarding where you can post photos, there are dozens of under-utilized volunteer-managed sections. Anyone unfamiliar should go to "all sections" at the bottom of this page. Subscribe to those of interest, and participate!

I frequent Landscape section and Black and White. And I always encourage feedback I also co-manage Digital Artistry, where we are open to constructive suggestions and opinions.

A note about Photo Analysis. The guidelines, written by Admin, are very specific as to that section's purpose. Folks who want to post there should read that pinned doc first. Otherwise, Admin will just move them to Gallery.

Rick, here's how I see this. The gallery rules also say something like "or just to show" your pictures. That's me.
I admit I am not a good photographer. I did better as a ten year old with film and a dark room at home.
Most often, I show my pictures just to show places I've been, flowers in my flower beds, my pets, NOT for the quality of the photos, but "just to show" what I want to show. That simple.
I have given up on ever being the kind of photographer everyone would like EVERYONE to be but that doesn't mean I don't want to show some pretty places, flowers, etc.... Pictures can be "pretty" without having to be perfect. JMHO.

Edit: OH, and if I think something is pretty, I say so. What may be stunning to me, may just be OK to others and to me, that's still OK.
My idea of a perfect photo is one I'd want to hang on my wall and even though I don't see a world of those, I still love some of what I see, so I say so.

Rick, here's how I see this. The gallery rules also say something like "or just to show" your pictures. That's me.
I admit I am not a good photographer. I did better as a ten year old with film and a dark room at home.
Most often, I show my pictures just to show places I've been, flowers in my flower beds, my pets, NOT for the quality of the photos, but "just to show" what I want to show. That simple.
I have given up on ever being the kind of photographer everyone would like EVERYONE to be but that doesn't mean I don't want to show some pretty places, flowers, etc.... Pictures can be "pretty" without having to be perfect. JMHO.

Edit: OH, and if I think something is pretty, I say so. What may be stunning to me, may just be OK to others and to me, that's still OK.
My idea of a perfect photo is one I'd want to hang on my wall and even though I don't see a world of those, I still love some of what I see, so I say so.

Folks - I raised this subject a few years back and thought I’d give it an encore. UHH has 2 sections for members to post pics - Photo Gallery and Photo Analysis and posting constructive criticism in the first is frowned upon. I think this rule does a disservice to photographers looking to up their game.

I often look at posts in the Gallery and too often see, sorry for the blunt language, just awful photos. I’m not talking about subjective matters. I’m talking about pics that are out of focus, poorly exposed, with wildly tilted horizons (not done intentionally for artistic purposes), badly post processed or overprocessed, poorly composed with telephone poles growing out of heads, etc. or any number of other technical (NOT subjective) flaws.

And most times, well meaning members post, “Great set”, or “Nicely done” or other “ attaboys” in an attempt to not hurt another member’s feelings. I see this as counterproductive and reinforcing bad technique by poster. I ask how is a member to develop better photography skills if, I again apologize upfront, technically terrible pics are displayed and followed by lots of gushing platitudes?

Last time I mentioned this, I was slapped down by numerous members who argue that unless a poster requests constructive criticism, nothing negative should be said. Ok - I’ll buy the “If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing” idea, but gushing over bad stuff does harm to the poster too. If the pics are bad, say nothing. Stop reinforcing bad work.

Just a suggestion to those posting to the Gallery in the future - think about soliciting criticisms so you can improve your work. Sure you will get many nasty, snarky and often incorrect replies from a certain subsection of members, but you will also get many great suggestions for improvement offered in a polite, constructive manner. I’ve been a photographer for 55 yrs and I welcome all well meaning and civil critiques. We are never too old to learn a new trick.

Anxious to see the replies to this rant.

Rick, your topic is well meaning, not a rant at all. However, you're starting with the wrong assumption.

Photo Gallery is primarily a social sharing site. The majority of UHH users are over 70 years old.
Those who wish to "improve" (the meaning will be different for everyone) will ask for help.

Regarding where you can post photos, there are dozens of under-utilized volunteer-managed sections. Anyone unfamiliar should go to "all sections" at the bottom of this page. Subscribe to those of interest, and participate!

I frequent Landscape section and Black and White. And I always encourage feedback I also co-manage Digital Artistry, where we are open to constructive suggestions and opinions.

A note about Photo Analysis. The guidelines, written by Admin, are very specific as to that section's purpose. Folks who want to post there should read that pinned doc first. Otherwise, Admin will just move them to Gallery.