10 days ago I saw an image on a Flickr page and was astonished about how many people applauded its "beauty" when, in fact, the digital noise throughout the sky and the awful blown out highlights throughout the sea area from the center to the right side make it, in my opinion, a loser rather than a keeper. I posted a comment on that page to that effect and the guy who captured it responded with "Because I like it that way!" This illustrates one fact about Flickr: Amateur photographers' flaws are so apparent, as is their lack of knowledge about photographic technique in so many ways. Here is the link:
http://flickr.com/photos/scemulillo/3051427458/
The photo has a tilted horizon, which I find disturbing on ocean scenes. I don't think it is a wonderful photo, and certainly not worthy of all the accolades it received. You are a 'professional' photographer, I take it, but somehow you missed that?
However, where on the comments by the photographer did you see
"Please tell me how to be a better photographer?" Where did you see the request to correct the comments of all those people who mistakenly think the photo is a masterpiece?
You might note that the
'Comment' capability is just that - a comment. Not a critique. Where did you get the notion that it was your job to critique the photo?
And the positive comments? They were from people who apparently like the photograph. Guess what? They don't have to like it for the right reasons, or for the reasons you find acceptable. I know people who think velvet wall hangings of Elvis are beautiful, or prints of that
'Dogs Playing Poker' painting. I don't agree with their assessment, but guess what - they get to make up their own minds about what they like and don't like, just like you.
And frankly, if the photographer
'likes it that way' as they apparently said, what's that to you? Maybe they do like it that way, and that is your problem how, exactly?
Flickr has a number of people who use it to garner positive comments about their photographs.
I guess it makes them happy. I don't get it, don't agree with it, and don't participate in it. Therefore, even though I know it exists, it does not bother me. Why does it bother you?