there's such a horrible plague of COMPARISON between artists. especially younger people. This is exemplified by some art styles being considered "trendy," with everyone trying to replicate it.
I used to have a group of friends a couple years ago, extremely toxic, a lot of stuff went down. but they were all artists, and even though that was fun sometimes, i still never want to have close artist friends after that. This one girl (the main offender, and main artist one), was a good artist. Maybe a little bit stiff in poses and stuff, still good art. But she had that cute, trendy, semi-anime style. And she would FLAUNT THAT. constantly comparing her style to me, saying her art was more ""aesthetic"" or something. I draw because it's fun. I don't think my art is particularly great or anything, and my style is a little weird, definitely not conventionally cute. and i don't care about it being cute. i just like drawing.
but that friend ingrained the idea of comparison in me. i still have this subconscious idea that my art style is ugly and unappealing, and that it's just the way it is. i should probably unfollow her on instagram (i got out of that friendship a long time ago), because whenever i see her post on her main account, showing her drawing with some nice music and filters and with everything matching that soft, pastel, cherry blossom aesthetic that everyone loves right now, i find myself getting jealous. and i don't wanna be like her, i don't wanna start comparing my art. but still, i'm not gonna post my art anywhere (except for some tapas comic promotions.....) on my main account. i wish i didn't feel like that, but that experience did some damage to me.
i know this experience is different than your encounters, but it's something I think about a lot, how her need for her art to fit in and be trendy, and how she took it out on me, in turn made me insecure in my art, often not happy with the outcome because it doesn't fit a trending aesthetic.
moral/tldr: don't compare your art. draw because it's fun. don't be mean to your friends