The Internet Commenter

Handling negative comments on your artwork.

Do people on the internet really think their comments are going to change anyone’s mind? Of course they don’t, but that’s not the point.

One of my recent Substack Notes got a comment that I thought was worth discussing…

Do you ever plan on making art of your own, or are you just going to be a second rate Chuck Jones? Isn’t this kind of fanart for teenagers? Grow the fuck up man
-Random guy on the internet

(Apologies for the language… not mine)

Now, my first reaction was to laugh and ignore it, but I do like to engage in a bit of snark every now and then. Also “second rate Chuck Jones” isn’t the insult that he probably intended… heck, I’d take 3rd or 4th rate Chuck Jones.

I’m not bringing this up to call this guy out or complain that it hurt my feelings or anything. This is far from the worst comment I’ve ever gotten from posting my art online (please, don’t post your art on Reddit… it is the worst).

I’m also not offended by it. For me to be offended by someone, I’d have to first have the slightest regard for his opinion. I don’t. I’ve never heard of this guy and, to be fair, maybe he was just having a bad day. Maybe he really hates Yosemite Sam. Who knows.

But the fact that he took the time to comment on artwork he apparently didn’t like, means he either doesn’t have much going in his life or he’s looking for some kind of attention.

So my intention here is not to defend myself or attack this guy… quite the opposite, actually, I want to thank him because he gave me the opportunity to bring up something that I think is really important.

If you make art, or do anything creative, and put it out into the world, that is a huge accomplishment and you should be proud of yourself. Even if it isn’t the best thing ever.

Every artist is on their own journey and the fact that you put your art out there puts you above 99% of everyone else. Especially people who talk about doing it but never do or, even worse, try to run down others just to make themselves feel better.

But I’m not gonna lie, there are some real turds out there. You could get 100 positive comments and that one guy who decides to be a jerk and post something negative will stick with you. It happens to all of us at some point or another and, for some, it can take a while to move past.

The best advice I can give when that happens (and it will happen) is to just move on and keep creating. The more you do, the less it’ll bother you. But if you do feel the need to respond, do it with a joke that makes light of their dumb nonsense. Don’t defend yourself, just make fun of them and pretend like their comment is insignificant and doesn’t bother you (even if it does). They’re looking for a fight. They want to feel relevant, which they are not. If you give them the satisfaction of letting them know it bothers you, then you’re just feeding the troll.

Believe me, I know how hard that can be. Just remember that you are creating something out of nothing. They cannot build, they can only try to destroy.

One of the best quotes on the subject is from a speech from Teddy Roosevelt…

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

-Theodore Roosevelt

And if you ever find yourself looking at someone else’s creation and, for whatever reason, are compelled to leave a negative comment, I’d ask that you pause for a second and really think about it. What outcome are you intending? Maybe you’re having a bad day, or are hit by a bit of jealousy, or are just having a rough go of it lately everything is annoying to you.

I’ve been there too. But that comment, however insignificant to you, could be devastating to someone who was really proud of their work, no matter what their current skill level is. Ask yourself if that’s the kind of legacy you want to leave in the world. Then go create something yourself.

Oh by the way, here’s the drawing that got the comment that inspired this post… and another one just for fun.

Hope you create something this week.

-Brad (aka Second Rate Chuck Jones)