Today we're talking about bad feedback. This was inspired by Tantz's newspost about the webcomic management site Hivemind two weeks ago that used belittling tactics and bad feedback to break down and control the webcomic artists who were managed by the site. Bad feedback can be extremely harmful to a creator. We're not talking about harsh criticism, we're talking about useless criticism who's only purpose is to make a creator feel bad about their creation.
The cover image here is from a picture by me. I had it up on the fantasy art site "Epilogue" back in the day. That site had started out as a cool place to post fantasy art and I had been invited to display my art there in the early 2000s, but by the time I posted that pic it had a weird system in place where they had people reviewing the art before it was allowed to be displayed. I remember that some entitled idiot gave me useless feedback that was something along the lines of "This isn't good enough for this site yet, it needs fixing…" -That's paraphrased. Basically it was pointless, unhelpful gatekeeping on a site that was there for creators, on which I'd been invited to participate with.
Creators need to be supported and helped. That doesn't mean telling them extra-positive lies, just as it doesn't mean unhelpful pseudo-criticism It means praising them for what they did right, for the effort and the bravery of creation, and being genuinely helpful with advice and criticism in a way that they can use and be receptive. If you can't do that then learn HOW to.
What's the most helpful or unhelpful criticism you have received?
This week Gunwallace has given us a great little theme to Through the Window - Flamenco, Latin, fast stepping, toe tapping, heel stomping to this powerful rhythm that wants to get your body up and moving, swaying and spinning on the dance floor, shimmying with your partner, fast and intense!
Originally from Quackcast 427, 20th of May, 2017.
Topics and shownotes
Tantz Feedback newspost - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2026/jan/16/on-feedback/
Featured comic:
Gruna the Barbarian - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2026/jan/26/featured-comic-gruna-the-barbarian/
Featured music:
Through the Window - - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Through_the_Window/ - by Andore Mordre, rated E.
Special thanks to:
Gunwallace - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Gunwallace/
Tantz Aerine - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Tantz_Aerine/
Ozoneocean - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/ozoneocean
Banes - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Banes/
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