I think some of the responsibility is with the person asking the question. If we just want a pat on the back, we can probably indicate that in the way we phrase our comment. I've seen lots of posts (not necessarily here) where a person posts a photo and says something like, 'Phew. I finally finished this. It isn't perfect, but I love it.' In that sort of instance, I think it's clear that the person isn't seeking critical comments, but just wants some positive feedback.