Do any of yall actually want to be friends

[TheLemmaLlama]

or they insist on giving advice, but their advice, coming from somebody without experience of having to maintain an update schedule for months or years or building an audience, is often impractical and based on assumptions rather than things they have put into practice themselves successfully while under pressure to maintain weekly updates at a consistent level of quality that effectively attracts and retains readers. It's so easy to sit on the sidelines telling comic people they should put more effort into their pages and not cut corners, and to never chase market appeal, while always being the person whose comic will come out "eventually" and they're confident it'll be the best comic ever and an effortless hit

I ... I feel called out o_o

I like to see what they’re up to (with their projects), or even just to hang out and be silly.

There are a few people that I recognise and kind of look out for just because I see them around so often that my brain automatically goes "ohey it's you :D", but I don't have much to say to them so it's more like a parasocial relationship than an actual friendship

[Shut_in_Commie]

Yeah most definitely. I gave up entirely for a while and I'm back at it now that my vision is a lot clearer, but I agree with you. Hopefully i can get something substantial out there before this thread dies because I think there are a lot of people here who I might really get along with lol

[BreakingChalk]

My experience at university pretty much FAQ'd up the little social desire I had, so I'm pretty reserved and only meet/talk with the friends I made before I started getting tired of people.

I'd like to be more open again but there is some stuff I need to reconsider about what I want and ultimately who I am, but that too will mean breaking bonds with things and people I don't want to hurt.

[IzzyBloom91]

I am anti-social by nature despite people telling me the complete opposite. I am just an individual who prefers to draw, watch anime, and play some games. Hanging around people always makes me feel awkward and I've always been indifferent about friendship. That might explain why I didn't lose my marvels when the Covid-19 hit and we were forced to stay in Quarantine and isolation, I didn't really have to do much of a change of lifestyle.

[ButterflyEmpress]

I'm about the same. I have a hard time keeping up with friendships especially if we don't talk in person. It's not that I hate people, socializing is mentally draining and I wish it weren't. It's like wanting to exercise, but walking up one flight of stairs has you panting and sweating.

[nkapit]

I do. I tend to be introverted but I’m trying to make friends like I live in a socioeconomic system that’s completely falling apart and need to find comrades so we can survive what’s coming. As you do.

[C.L.G]

I'll be glad to send some of my work to you to get feedback. I'm a writer, so I don't think I can help you much with comics.

[Lensing]

Communication & online friends are the only 2 reasons why am on this forum.
I´m also not one of the 30 year olds with no time to work on my hobby,
I´m 46 and I spend all of my time on my passions which are rock´n´roll and comics.

I´m always interested in creative projects and I think that this is a great way to make
friends, contacts, be creative and to communicate. Unfortunately things don´t last very
long and people lose interest. I have one big real life illustrator group in my hometown,
it started great before the pandemic and not it´s almost dead. At the meetings we were
12 people, that we had a smaller split group of 5 people who were doing studies, we did
"drink and draws" which was great. We also did a 6 hours comic day (6 pages in 6 hours)
in a craft museum which was in the newspaper and that was also great. But now it got
very silent which is maybe because of the pandemic. Creative people are often introverts,
a part of me is an introvert but the other part is someone who is very communicative
and wants to meet people all the time.

I think having a creative project group would be a great way to have friends

[AmandaJ-art]

It's pretty hard for me to make friends online since I'm not that talkative. I'm just too shy to engage in anything.

I have IRL friends who I love, but none of them are interested in making comics. I'd honestly love making online friends.

[IzzyBloom91]

BTW I am 30 and I DO have time to work on my hobbies, i will always make time to draw it is my passion. but I guess it's one of those anime video game stereotypes mentalities... once you reach the elder age (you know, above 25) you pretty much useless and your life is pretty much over... at least according to anime and video games

[Lensing]

it even gets weirder over 40.
I´m 46 now and I somehow missed the growing up point

[IzzyBloom91]

Same, Though I think I feel the 'growing up point' when I am going through a tutorial in a video game. I get pissed off fast. Game spends most of the time insulting my intelligence and here I am crying because I just want to play

[AmandaJ-art]

Man that's such a strange mentality. I'm almost 20 and all I've seen from adults is that it gets more fun when you're older. You can't really be free with school, but I guess it's the most relaxed part of your life without the whole bill paying thing.

[TheLemmaLlama]

I think the stereotype is actually 30-year-olds are trying to get themselves established in their careers/family so they have no time, while 40-year-olds are already established or at least saved up some money so they have more free time? I has a group I'd play board games with and they were pretty much middle aged folks.

I have one big real life illustrator group in my hometown

I used to go to one of those too! I find them fun and helpful (and I've responded to the thread on this forum which I think is trying to start an online version of this). I also find it easier to interact with people if we're actually doing a specific activity instead of just being like 'let's be friends', in which case I'm like "okay!! ... how do you do a friendshippery?"

[Lensing]

It does get more when you grow older. I hated going to school and being a kid and I enjoy doing what I want every day

[Lensing]

Yeah, you also contributed to the jam comic which was great
Biggest fun I had on this forum.

And yes I think that´s how the friendshippery works
I have activities/projects with all of my friends, I have 3 bands at the moment and
one reason is music, the other big reason is to hang out together and have a laugh

[TheLemmaLlama]

Yeah, you also contributed to the jam comic which was great Biggest fun I had on this forum.

I ... actually don't remember there being a jam comic thing on this forum, let alone contributing to it o_o

[Lensing]

Then I confuse you with someone

[sushy00]

That sounds like it was great fun indeed. I would love to have something like this in my area... But I am also an introvert lol
I just moved so maybe it is a good idea to look for it though.

[AmazementComics]

Well, I've also tried to forge bonds with other creators on Discord and other places, but when there isn't anyone with similar interests and passions as you, it's only natural to feel isolated. It's even worse when you see other people finding friendships over common interests that you wish you could have.

It's tough. But once you find the one person who takes a chance on you and your projects, then they can help you find the motivation you need to keep creating comics and give you pointers on how to do better. That's what I like to believe, so just hang in there you know.