LIKES and the community

I think there are many folks in the street and doc forum who fall neither into the school of thought that photography is a personal diary nor the school of thought that photography is an interesting pastime. Many have critiqued based on and talked at length about a desire to be objective, to keep themselves out of the photos they make, with the sense that it's more than a pastime. For example.

Then Fred, you and I have different points of view. I don't separate photography by genre whether it's street, documentary, abstract, etc. If it communicates something about the POV of the photographer in a unique and interesting way I'm going to take note of it.

But I take responses from members that state they don't take photography seriously or don't see it as an aspect of visual communication arts to mean they're here just to share photos and not wax poetic about them. If you get a "Like" from them, what does it mean? A pat on the back? An attaboy? from someone who doesn't take photography seriously? What's that worth?

I can't quantify what it's worth. I can't quantify what a like would be worth from a serious photographer either. I don't put much stock in LIKES, which is why I started this thread.

As to comments, I take what the comment says in the context of who is saying it and under what circumstances. The non-serious photographer and the serious photographer, the non-photographer who knows something about photography and the non-photographer who doesn't know much about it can all give me important insights. It's their genuineness that will help me most, not their background or experience. Of course, if it's a more technical question or a matter of specific suggestions, I might want someone who knows what they're talking about. But if it's about their taste or an emotional response to my photo, I'll take all comers.

When I had my one gallery show, I was as intrigued and happy to hear what everyone there liked, from serious photographer to no photographer at all. And I thought many of the more in-depth comments from all were fascinating to hear. I learned something from all of them.

I don't put much stock in LIKES, which is why I started this thread.

Which is the point I was making as well. I just went more in depth from my POV.