How thick is your skin? (y'know what I mean)

[AmazementComics]

As a young adult, my mindset is not nearly as impressionable as it used to be. Back in the days of middle school, I would blow up over every tiny mishap. My upbringing and environment caused me to grow up fast. I basically had to train myself to "wise up" and do better as I went through high school and afterwards, and still my brain isn't at the age where its fully developed. I don't say all this as if I'm completely perfect in the sense that I don't get irritated by some people in life, I still do. In those cases, I simply keep my distance. This pandemic didn't need to force me to stay six feet apart from people, I was doing that years ago and I give people double the distance . This is the case for insults, online debates, screw ups, you name it.

[NickRowler]

I said a little mostly because there are things that really get to me and drives up my anxiety. However, I think I am better at self control when it comes to avoiding arguing or attacking randos on social media. I have only blocked one person on Twitter, (it was a large political person and I was sick of him popping up in my timeline).

I also rarely get angry, I tend to feel frustrated instead of aggressive.

I think when it comes to people critiques of my work, my biggest annoyance is when people don’t understand how to write proper critique. Sometimes people focus too much on broad negative statements instead of picking out problems to focus on and improve. And I often get annoyed because I feel like I have to prod people to get more info. IDK I just generally hate critiques.

[feuersichel]

For online related stuff, my skin is very thick. Especially regarding my comic. I know very well it is beginner-work (created it to learn how to do comics). So I love constuctive criticism and for just negative stuff... I just don't care that much, but I haven't had that negative comments so far.

In real life, I have a lot thinner skin though as you are face to face with people.

[frgmnt]

I've gotten better at handling that stuff online - not that I interact directly with a lot of mean ppl lol, but I guess it doesn't affect me as much as it would when I was younger.
Seeing someone replying in a slightly rude way to my anonymous comment, or trashing my favourite media, would make me lose will to live and ruin my mood for several days. I had social anxiety so extreme, I couldn't even handle online interactions and pretended to not exist.
I managed to gradually mostly overcome that, but I'm still on the "a little sensitive" level tbh. My social anxiety is not completely gone online so I don't expect this level to change.

Real life though... Extremely overreacting crybaby who is dying inside over things no normal adult would pay mind to, that is 100% me But I suffer from pretty bad anxiety and depression so I'm not exactly an example of a "normal" adult.

[alextsarace]

I'm something in the middle. Throughout years of critiques on things I've been doing my skin became thicker but I'm still may feel uncomfortable and insecure in particular ways. Some piece of advice for those who easily get offended: it's really nice to get feedback on what you're doing but always remember that your word gonna be the latest so don't be preoccupied with other opinions.

[alextsarace]

I had social anxiety so extreme, I couldn't even handle online interactions and pretended to not exist.

Real life though... Extremely overreacting crybaby who is dying inside over things no normal adult would pay mind to, that is 100% me But I suffer from pretty bad anxiety and depression so I'm not exactly an example of a "normal" adult.

Ohhh I can feel you
We'll get through it. Eventually.

[Legendofgenii]

Hmmm... really thin I think - tissue paper? I can take creative criticism, that just spurs me on (after a sulk), but anything personal I'll dwell on for a looooong time.

I'm a bit of a pushover in RL. I tend to assume everyone is nice (and usually they are!), so I treat them that way. If I come across someone whose isn't I find that difficult to understand - especially if they don't know me. I then try to analyse why they are being mean and make up a million excuses on their behalf. I know people don't always have a reason for being a douchebag, but it makes me feel better to think that they might just have been having a bad day/mental health issues/stressed etc.

If I find myself in an argument (online or RL) I'll just let the other person win and tell them they are right - just to get out of it.

[jcmraz]

Between somewhat and very. I can handle real criticism. I invite it and I want to hear it. It's the only way I'll get better. Sometimes things will get me though. Usually when that happens I take a step back and don't respond for a couple hours or a day. Get some space from it to calm down. It's just an emotional reaction. Not a rational one. I try not to justify or explain myself unless it's very relevant to the conversation and I always put explanations in the context of the person I'm talking to. I haven't actually just been told outright that I'm bad. But I always am a small enough creator that I wouldn't really tbh. Only time I spoke back and still feel justified is when someone said that they didn't see any improvement in my work which just sounded absurd to me. Personally I think they only read the first couple pages and then then just doubled down when I brought that up with examples. But who knows. I didn't get upset then. I just was dumbfounded. But generally I have pretty thick skin. I've gotten better about it over the past couple years as well

[kkaawmics]

These are all good points. I chose somewhat for alot of the same reasons as stated above. If the critiques are coming from a sincere place (like a trusted colleague/collaborator) then I don't feel anything. I just take their advice, analyze it, and put it to use as needed.

If it's a troll trying to get a rise, I'll be irked and I'll remember it for years to come but I don't lash out I've worked way too many years teaching middle school to react in a volatile way to personal slights. Even if the rude comment comes from someone older, it usually has the same immature energy as a kid, so I just accept it, think about it randomly, and mostly move on.

[MeltingCORE]

To preface, I don't think people are weak or bad for having thin skin. There's a million different reasons why someone could feel upset easily when their creations are attacked. But for me, I could care less. I don't care what others think of me nor do I care if they dislike my work. Why should I? They're a drop in the ocean, someone I'll never meet again. (I felt this way working retail when I was younger. Due to the lack of security cameras + my lack of patience, rude customers were always told to get out of my store. I have zero patience for bad behavior towards me.) I'm always up for constructive criticism, however!

[pilot-obvious]

I would say I have a somewhat thick skin when it comes to the opinions and criticisms of people I don't know. They chose to waste their time bothering me and I'm almost flattered that they try to go to the lengths of making me feel bad. Like, can you imagine someone on the internet taking the time to dislike your work and leave mean comments? They had to waste time out of their day to do that. This hasn't happened for probably 5-7 years so it's definitely not something I've had to deal with recently.

If it's someone I know personally, it hurts a bit more, but I try not to be vocal about it. I can't remember the last time someone I knew said something mean about me, but I probably don't talk to them anymore.

All that being said, I actually like constructive criticism! It's just the troll like behavior and the genuinely mean comments that I'm thinking of.

[DiegoPalacios]

My methaphorical skin is:

The literal skin?.....not so much

[DualDragons]

Now this is a top tier comment

[ButterflyEmpress]

I used to think I had thick skin, but I really don't, Ijust avoid talking or thinking about what bothers me. It's been over 20 years and I still can't take a joke lol. Although I've met people more sensitive than me, but they're more vocal about their problems. If something bad or mean happens to me, half of me knows it's not a big deal and the other half won't stop bringing it up.
Not too long ago I was late with a lady's cake order and she was livid. I had to go cool off in the restroom and did not have the guts to come to work the next day. (Plus I had already made a bunch of smaller blunders earlier).Even though that moment is done and over with and I'll probably never see her again my brain keeps reminding me about it.

[indagold]

I wish i'd get real critiques or even negative opinions on my work. I'm tired of praise after all these years on the internet lol It's been like that on all art sites i've been on. I guess I have a high tolerance for that.

[UrMom]

I put 'very' because I'm pretty detached from my own work. For my current project I'm rather picky about what criticism I take due to the nature of the story, but negative feedback doesn't get me personally upset. Overall though, I just see my drawings as that, drawings. They're not alive, they don't have feelings, and they shouldn't be treated with the same respect as a living person. Someone could roast the shit out of my work, and I'd probably find it funny, or add to the mockery. I was even joking on Discord about putting a quote from my comic's BWW (Bad Webcomics Wiki) article on the back of the book when/if I get it printed.

Not gonna lie though, when I was a teen I was sooo thin skinned. Any kind of negative feedback made me so offended, which was sad, but it was too bad because every time I got a critique that pissed me off I started working to improve that thing out of pure spite. "Saying my heads suck, huh? No they don't, I'll show you they don't!" -vigorously studies skull anatomy-

As far as personal criticism, I can take it pretty well, but I don't know how to nor am I interested in applying it most of the time. I've spent a good chunk of my childhood trying to change to "fit in", and I just don't give a shit anymore. If I suck, at least I'm comfortable with myself with doing it, if I want to change something about myself I'll make the decision on my own.

[allenT]

My skin is silky smooth & not at all thick.

But i'm amazed by some things i've done. I once interrupted an ongoing class from primary school, just to shoot some scenes for my college subject. (of course after approved by dean, whom i somehow persuaded)

i may forget about face and go great lengths to do what i planned to, if i'm committed to it. But most of the times I take the easy non-confrontational routes.

[DTucker1983]

I was struggling with acne since I was twelve years old. I was asking my parents to buy me some skincare products, but they always said that it's a waste of money, that my skin isn't going to change, that I am gonna live with that. I was sneaking out and worked on 3 jobs to get paid enough so I could buy myself any skincare product that will guarantee that it will work. So here was the day when I got enough money for buying a water-lock moisturizer. I was so happy that day, my dream finally became true. My skin was extremely wonderful. Trust your gut!

[hakei]

I like to think that I have a thick skin, but real life experience has taught me that I was born with glass bones and paper skin. Every morning, I break my legs, and every afternoon, I break my arms.

Anyway, I haven't had outright mean-ass comments yet but I did experience some comments or behaviors that irked me. Usually I try to not engage because attention feeds trolls, but it sadly does dominate my thoughts for a few days

[DTucker1983]

I love that you are so positive with your problems!

I want to be like you.