Honestly, does negative feedback take the wind out of you?

[Jkandra]

Posting cartoons and especially posting to forums lead to critiques. (Check out my new cartoon!) It can be much worse than critiques in art class. At least there the critic might have some knowledge on which to base their opinion.

Negative criticism for me has come in two types. The more positive has been well thought out and based in reality and has helped me refine some aspects of my strip. The other kind has been well thought out and based in reality but written in the spirit of the comic book guy in “The Simpsons”. When someone takes the time to write several paragraphs about my strip, but with little positive to say other than my small file size will be good for dial-up access, I look for the kernels of truth and ignore the rest (after a suitable cooling down period). There are many "experts" on the web who only know how to comment negatively.

All art is subjective and you are your own worst critic. We all fail to do our best work every time we post something and it hurts when someone else agrees with that assessment. Most successful artist, musicians, writers, etc. will tell you that in the end they are primarily trying to please themselves. It's a bonus if anybody else likes it. Trust your own judgment, be open to opposing viewpoints, and push yourself to grow your art.

(But it still makes my stomach hurt)

[Rkolter]

I'm surprised that Rkolter didn't make some science joke about negative feedback. Like "Actually, since I'm pretty negative myself, negatively charged feedback just bounces right off me."

Photons do not carry a magnetic charge. Ergo, no joke.

[TRI]

Then what are you zapping that poor fellow in your avatar with?

Also, if you're made entirely of photons how are you held together? Without some matter to slow the photons down you should disperse quite quickly.

I always figured you were more of a luminescent cloud of plasma.

[Perk_daddy]

Negative feedback doesn't hurt me personally at all. I'm perfectly willing to accept that just because I've worked hard at something and put my heart and soul into it, doesn't mean that it's good. I just try to consider what they've said and improve my work.

[Everie]

Constructive Criticism is always helpful in the long run, though it may be daunting at first. Especially when you're absolutly in love with what you've done. I think it also depends on the time that the criticism is given...like, I've seen profs or other students critticize someone's work literally minutes before submission....really, that's just not helpful at that point, just makes you freak out really lol.

But yeah, criticism that's constructive is key to becoming a better artist..though you're always your worst critic, its good to have a second..or third...or .....twenty opinions.

[MinekaC.]

I have yet to get blatant "YOU SUCK!" critiq yet, so I can't really comment on that. I have gotten some good "You know, I think yer comic would be better if you did this....." and I look over my stuff to see if I agree with them. If I do, and that pointing it out was all I needed, I put it to mind to change it.
I dunno, I can't really aide with commenting on this, someone go and say my comic is absolute dribble and should be wiped from the face of the planet so that I can properly participate in this thread!

It's human nature to remember the bad. Just look at our history books? Do we learn about the building of the lighthouse of Alexandria, what kind of flowers grew in the gardens of Babylon? No, we learn about how people who died building the great wall's corpses where tossed in with the mortar, and how tomb robbers raided the great pyramids. We remember every war there's been, but not the treaties that were signed. Human nature, as Freud says, core programming is very violent.
I suggest, you think of it that way, that the people who write to you that yer comic sucks are currently lacking with intelligence and are stuck in their core programming, thus lashing out heedlesly at people. It's not yer fault that their brains got microwaved from reading to many webcomics.

[Rkolter]

Then what are you zapping that poor fellow in your avatar with?

Electricity. That my individual photons are not charged does not mean that I am incapable of generating a charge.

Also, if you're made entirely of photons how are you held together? Without some matter to slow the photons down you should disperse quite quickly.

Since I do not disperse quickly, obviously you humans haven't worked it all out yet.

I always figured you were more of a luminescent cloud of plasma.

Nope, ball of photons, as described.

[Wingy]

Well, for me it goes.
Though of course it's not always that fun.
I assume it's on the way they give the critism and so.

I got a few times some negative comments on songs I've written, but funny thing is, I asked for myself to be critic and say all.
So I can handle with it.

And if they say things, and I know better, I just don't listen to it. >,>

Though I rather read it than hear it straight away, lol!
Ah well, it is needed in a way, so...

[Tynan]

Big red X with a no on a black background.

Took the wind out of me...was well deserved...and hilarious.

So I'm iffy on the subject.

[Legendary]

Now I know I'm popular.

Some "anonymous" person, *cough*Legendary*cough*, dropped a post on my tagboard about how my comic "sux, LOL".

It took all of an hour for my fans to respond with hostility and character assasinations! In my opinion, the best gauge of your popularity is whether or not your fans are willing to stab anyone who has a negative opinion of you.

I think I speak for all involved when I say, "MANGA WORM GIRLS!

[EvilCouch]

I only really have a problem when I feel the criticism is unwarranted or excessive, like the time someone told me my comic was the "worst webcomic in the world"... they obviously haven't seen many webcomics

I would SO want that distinction. Truly a badge of honor.

I'll fight you for it.

[ChrisChrusherComix]

Unjustified criticism is always painful, but more or less involves a bit of jealousy, which is almost like a compliment.

If it's justified criticism, then I always take it as a challenge to improve my work. If it's nasty, negative, or cruel, I'll use that anger to fuel my next work. If it's positive and good-natured, then I see no problem with it. Use it to your advantage.

To me, sometimes, the worst is to put your heart and soul into your work and never get ANY comment, positive OR negative. And, not get paid for it. I'm at that stage of my work. Kinda' depressing, it makes you think your work is an irrelevant waste.