Wow Carl, lot's of opinions on this! Not seeing a definitive answer, but I have enjoyed reading, lots of good comments and none that I felt I needed to counter.
MarkD probably best described my thoughts. Pictures are everything and I need a magnifying glass to evaluate the pen in my hand in most cases.
Then there is the "in the middle syndrome". I don't think I can see the flaws in the advanced turners' work, if there are any, unless I had extreme magnification. So I don't even look, I just admire the beauty of the pen without taking time to write an essay on its virtues. There are very few intermediate and advanced level pens I don't like.
For beginners, they may be struggling with photography, fit or finish. I want to offer suggestions but not discourage - since it may have taken a couple of days to get up the courage to post their first pen.
The rest falls to personal preference ranking:
- Do I (like) the pen?
- Would I make one like it?
- Do I wish I COULD make one like it?
- I don't even know HOW you made that!
This discussion is very similar to how we vote on contest pens. It's an opinion, fit & finish are permission to play and often can't be fully evaluated based on the photo quality. Like Dan, I don't like wasp pens and table legs are right out - but others might spend hours turning beads and coves on their perfect pen.
I appreciate constructive criticism. In SOYP, I am looking for something unusual or special. A commercial blank on a kit is not going to draw a comment unless it is a material I have not seen before or didn't appreciate until it was combined with that kit.
I sort of like the idea of "certified critiquers" that I could submit my best work for evaluation. I thought a "split complimentary" was "f
or a fat guy, you don't sweat much":bulgy-eyes: