Image - Gammarai

Originally Posted by CK01

As is the style nowdays, she also has a Yahoo group

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GammaRai/

Thanks for link!

[The Warlock]

Originally Posted by Snowglare

The same is true of saying you do approve. It's an empty gesture that serves only to inflate the artist's ego. And that's assuming he or she ever reads it. The best feedback is detailed, constructive, and put in a place where the artist is sure to see it, like their e-mail inbox.

Granted, but at least the 'approval' doesn't harm anyone. Saying "I don't like your style," is pointless and asinine, and it reminds me of people that put others down so they can feel bigger. And that kind of shit is all too common on the internet already.

If you can't say anything nice, keep your fucking mouth shut.

The Warlock

[Snowglare]

Originally Posted by The Warlock

If you can't say anything nice, keep your fucking mouth shut.

Well, that's not nice at all. Discourages people from giving thoughtful feedback. If someone were to hear that and take it to heart, they might keep any and all negative thoughts to themselves, no matter how valid or eloquent. Then we'd have nothing but sycophants, and they're no fun. My belief is that whether something is positive or negative isn't nearly as important as how well you say it.

I agree that Valuegraph00's comment added nothing to the thread, but it's only one of many such valueless posts across the board, most of which are positive. And positive comments do cause harm when lightly given. If a child draws on the wall and you encourage them, they'll continue to do it. If someone writes a lousy story or draws a crummy picture and all the feedback they get is "Way to go. More please!", then why wouldn't they post another story/picture of the same quality? If encouraging what you want to see more of is good, then so is discouraging what you want to see less of. Or encouraging people to improve first, and share later.

- Snowglare, steadfast defender of negativity: life's greatest underdog

[The Warlock]

Originally Posted by Snowglare

Well, that's not nice at all.

Heh, touche.

Discourages people from giving thoughtful feedback. If someone were to hear that and take it to heart, they might keep any and all negative thoughts to themselves, no matter how valid or eloquent. Then we'd have nothing but sycophants, and they're no fun. My belief is that whether something is positive or negative isn't nearly as important as how well you say it.

I agree wholeheartedly, but in my time in this community I have found that very, very few people are interested in giving constructive feedback. This led me ultimately to my decree above, as I got very tired of seeing people say "Hey, that sucks, why don't you do something more like this, for free?" So my comment is more directed than general.

I agree that Valuegraph00's comment added nothing to the thread, but it's only one of many such valueless posts across the board, most of which are positive. And positive comments do cause harm when lightly given. If a child draws on the wall and you encourage them, they'll continue to do it. If someone writes a lousy story or draws a crummy picture and all the feedback they get is "Way to go. More please!", then why wouldn't they post another story/picture of the same quality? If encouraging what you want to see more of is good, then so is discouraging what you want to see less of. Or encouraging people to improve first, and share later.

I would argue that constuctive comments are not negative, myself. Also, I (personally) was always taught that when giving a critique, be above all polite about it. Find the good as well as the bad. "This is good, but this needs some work; try this." That kind of thing. Merely saying a blanket "I don't like it," is not only uselessly negative, it's insulting as well as a pointless comment. So while simply posting "I like it," is not any more useful, it is much less harmful. IMHO.

- Snowglare, steadfast defender of negativity: life's greatest underdog

Hey, I'm all for negativity, but you have to draw the line somewhere; content creators for our little fetish are few and far-between already without anonymous pricks who don't contribute anything trying to make them feel bad.

The Warlock

[Snowglare]

Originally Posted by The Warlock

I agree wholeheartedly, but in my time in this community I have found that very, very few people are interested in giving constructive feedback. This led me ultimately to my decree above, as I got very tired of seeing people say "Hey, that sucks, why don't you do something more like this, for free?" So my comment is more directed than general.

Yeah, that sort of thing gets old real fast. Requests are cool, especially when the artist/writer asks for them, but requesting and demanding very different.

I would argue that constuctive comments are not negative, myself. Also, I (personally) was always taught that when giving a critique, be above all polite about it. Find the good as well as the bad. "This is good, but this needs some work; try this." That kind of thing. Merely saying a blanket "I don't like it," is not only uselessly negative, it's insulting as well as a pointless comment.

You're absolutely right. I forget it sometimes, myself, but what you described is the textbook way to give a critique. I think the problem with art critiques is that you have to have some experience with drawing/painting/whatever to write an in-depth review. I hate to lend credence to the old "If you can't do better, don't criticize" theory, but there is a grain of truth to it. You have to at least know how to do it right, if not be physically able to, in order to properly explain why someone else did it wrong. I personally have no expertise in any area of art. I only know what pleases my eye and what doesn't. Best I can do is try to explain why I like or dislike something, which makes it harder to maintain an objective tone in the critique.

Writing I know pretty well. The only things keeping me from delivering a solid critique there are laziness and forgetting to be objective, respectful, and polite.

Hey, I'm all for negativity, but you have to draw the line somewhere; content creators for our little fetish are few and far-between already without anonymous pricks who don't contribute anything trying to make them feel bad.

Glad to see we agree after all.

[The Warlock]

Originally Posted by Snowglare

Glad to see we agree after all.

Indeed. I'm just a bit more crotchety, that's all.

The Warlock