Awesome article!
I think the biggest problem and especially today is that photographers are narcissistic.
Let's be honest here, photography is the one profession that isn't regulated. There aren't any standards or anything like that, there isn't even an organizing body that reviews photographers. So everyone is a professional.
I know MANY guys who never posts on forums due to the article. I post strong for about six months, then take three years off of posting lol. Majority of people offering critiques either are not qualified or have no idea what their talking about.
It's one thing to critique a photo, yet another to not understand and critique base it how you (the reviewer) would shoot it.
On average, I make 2,700.00 per session of which I shoot two per week. I shoot client work that appears in magazines, billboards and online. When I post photos, I say I don't care to be critiqued. Why? Majority of people critiquing aren't working making money, yet they feel the need to offer unsolicited advice on something most can't quite obtain. I'm not saying I'm above mistakes, but I let those with the check books critique me.
Forums are good and bad. They expose photographers to different techniques and ideology, but bad in the sense some people feel as though it's their job to critique. Why would I listen to someone that is shooting free, when I'm doing pretty good on my own? I love it when people offer up critique then TOTALLY devalue it by saying "I'm a novice" or "I'm a beginner so take it with a grain of salt" LOL.
Sorry for the rant, just touched a tender spot with me lol.