The comment struggle

[DokiDokiTsuna]

I've been through pretty much every stage of the age-old battle for attention~. Once upon a time, I would have exploded with happiness if ANYONE took the time to say ANYTHING about my work.

Then I started getting a fair amount of commenters (a reliable 3-8). And I soon realized that not all comments are created equal...I'd greatly prefer if someone said something more interesting than 'cool' or 'cute'.

Then I started getting even more commenters (10-30 on a good day, not reliable though XD) that were actually interested in the universe I was building, to the point that they'd remember things that I did before. But...then I realized that people view content creators in different ways. Almost immediately, I started attracting self-absorbed types who demanded that I drew what they wanted/added their ideas to my story, and would repeat their desires over and over in every comment they made...

^Aaand, that's where I am today. I'm hoping that someday I'll hit Stage 4, where I have an invested community of commenters who just want to enjoy what I do and maybe even ask me questions from time to time. And I do have a few of those people- they're what keep me going. But I still have quite a large group of people who are basically spammers or only come to my comment sections to talk about themselves, and it's really disheartening.

Like...this isn't just a case of "the grass is always greener on the other side", is it? I really feel like, if I ever actually hit Stage 4, I would know it. I see loads of other artists who are at that stage, and reading through their comment sections is a lot less cringy. I want to have fun interactions with my fans, too; is that too much to ask?! ;_;

This is mostly about my experience on DeviantArt (on Tapas, I don't have any commenters to worry about~ ^^). Believe it or not, my YouTube audience is the most gratifying. People ask and answer questions, make jokes, actually notice the references...I've even had people suggest improvements and offer collaborations!
Despite what people say about YT comment sections, I think they're gold~. Makes me wish I had more time to do my videos...

So, where are you in the comment struggle? Are you one of those Stage 4 people...? Or do you somehow not care about comments at all?? Share your secrets~

[qwerty]

I...don't care about comments. If someone leaves a nice comment I appreciate it, but I never worry at all about how many comments I'm getting or what kind (although I haven't received any "spammy" or mean comments so far, but if I did I'd probably just ignore them).

TBH I don't think it's a good idea to think of comments as a "struggle" XD, they are supposed to be a nice feature that adds to your experience, not an additional thing to worry about.

[skicoak]

I just wish they'd stop dressing up as hypersexualized versions of my characters and camping in my front yard.

It's killing all my grass.

[Zaboem]

I only get comments from fellow creators with whom I have a personal connection. It often happens during an organized comment exchange. That said, these comments are very useful, telling me know what aspects of a project are working for them and which elements are not. I guess this thread would call that Stage 1. I suppose that it's possible I have readers who do not leave comments because they do not have Tapas accounts.

When it comes to collecting comments, I practice the rule that our mothers taught us: Do three favors before expecting one. Leaving a comment is a time commitment, and time is a resource. If a creator expects engagements but does not engage, that creator is a big stinky hypocrite. Above and beyond the morality of it, reading the works of others is just a good practical activity for a number reasons, and leaving comments is a part of that process.

[DokiDokiTsuna]

It's like worrying about likes and view count (although, in my opinion, comments are a much more valuable indicator of actual reader investment). I guess if you don't care about the popularity of your work, they wouldn't matter, but if you do I don't think it's unnatural to think about them that way.

[DokiDokiTsuna]

If a creator expects engagements but does not engage, that creator is a big stinky hypocrite. Above and beyond the morality of it, reading the works of others is just a good practical activity for a number reasons, and leaving comments is a part of that process.

I hope I don't sound rude, but I sincerely hope this discussion isn't going to go in this direction because it's kind of besides the point.
I already have plenty of people that I follow and support with thoughtful comments whenever I can. But even someone as low on the popularity totem as I am is vastly outnumbered by her own fans. It's not as if I could get better comments if I just commented on everything all of my commenters did...if I even had that kind of time...

What I'm trying to say is, that's good advice for someone whose main support comes from people they already know. But that's not the case for me, and for a lot of small-time content creators. So the comments I leave and the comments that are left to me are totally unrelated. Even if I never took the time to comment on anything, my situation would be pretty much the same.

[qwerty]

It's true that I don't really care about the popularity of my current work X), but that's not my reason for not worrying about it.

The reason is that worrying about something you can't control is a waste. You can always try to do your best, but at the end of the day whether people like/subscribe/comment or not is their choice, not yours.

I know that being all relaxed about it and stuff is easier said than done, but it's definitely the most pleasant and productive mindset to have, and it can be achieved with practice like anything else.

[cleo_san]

Haha, I had the same problem on a German platform and went from ~10 comments per page to ~0 comments per page, simply because the website was (and still is) dying =)

Compared to this, tapas is paradise!!! I love it and cherish each comment =) Heck, even a like is like "Yay! Someone likes my stuff!" (the other website didn't even have a like-system, so basically it felt like performing before a dark room where you couldn't see if anyone was still around XD)

Eventually it all comes down to this:
Draw what you like and love what you do =) The comments and/or discussions will come sooner or later!

[danitasibert]

I'd love to get more comments on my comic, I'd like to know if people are enjoying my characters and/or world I'm building. I do get about 1-2 comments when I upload, but sometimes i can be no responses.
I'd love to get more reactions to my work, but I know that i have to keep working and it'll come with time.

At the same time i feel that if i can make a story i love that's what matters at the end of the day
so if i get some comments there always welcome, if not that's OK.

[skicoak]

@DokiDokiTsuna

Despite my levity earlier, I do get what you're saying.

It's hard to engage the reader(s) who leave "cool" or "cute" comments ....other than to thank them.

[amortelito]

I have received every single one of the comments you are describing! XD The "cute" comment. The ones who tell me what they want me to include and repeat the idea frequently and then other people start asking for the same too. Those who talk about themselves. Some others who post symbol faces and figures. It is crazy, the comic has 1.253 comments so far and I can say that I have never found any of them annoying. (not even the one comment insulting the characters because it was hilarious!)

Different people enjoy the same content differently. Not everyone has the capacity to put their thoughts in coherent sentences, hell many of us come off as cringy when we try to say something nice. I don't even think I would like it if everyone made insightful or constructive criticism comments, I really like goofy reactions like "oof!" or some unrelated comments asking about my cat. XD. If they talk about themselves, then I can get to know them. Maybe this sounds stupid but is true I don't see a waste in randomness it helps me to think out of the box.

My comment section is like a town, you just go there and hang out. If someone types this "O_O". I answer to them "Ò_Ó staring contest!!". I'm so happy that some silent readers are finally engaging after seeing that no question is a dumb question, no comment is too silly. Overall I truly think that the author can shape the engagement and set the mood. I totally understand those who can't invest time engaging even more or simply don't care to do so. By the way, I don't answer serious questions with dumb jokes, there is a line to between being playful and being a moron XD.

I am enjoying as well the comments that tell me something they want to see because my comic has the flexibility to make it happen. In fact, I encourage readers to build the world with me. Of course, this is a privilege earned by trust and respect and I will not offer the same benefit to readers in any other platform, some audiences are just too entitled but Tapas audience is just the best. At this point, I can definitely see why it is problematic for other creators to get unrequested ideas or being told what to include. Not every story can be changed and not every author is willing to do so. It is your hard work and it has to please you first.

Sorry for the long post I have seen some discussions before about hate comments, annoying comments, frequent type of comments, etc. And never had the time to tell my experience. Good night!

[cleo_san]

Not enough like button for your post, @amortelito <3

[beta1042]

if it's a positive comment I just don't see what's to get upset about? Some people just don't have the time or creativity to leave detailed comments. But they're still showing support and making me smile so I enjoy them.

The comments that I don't like to see are the "When will they fucc" comments you see in like every BL comic out there. I personally don't get them with my straight romance(instead I get the tamer -"When will they kiss" which does not bother me at all), but I see them a lot when reading BL to the point where I generally don't read the comments anymore in BL comics. It's just soo vulgar.

[DokiDokiTsuna]

@amortelito @beta1042

I don't really view my comment sections as a "town", not on dA anyway. If you want to talk about any old thing, there are tons of places to do that: on my page, in PMs, on my polls, etc. I rely on my comment sections to get feedback on my work.
And I don't mean detailed reviews or anything (I never even said that...). Just a 1-word-reaction would be totally fine, as long as it had something to do with what I actually did!

When I say that people get off topic, I don't mean that they're not talking about exactly what I want them to talk about. I mean that they do things like promote their own stuff and demand that I ship characters that aren't even in the story and write 500 word essays trying to convince me to use their ideas even if I've told them 'no' before, or ask me 'when' I'm going to do things I never agreed to do.

Recently I had a watcher who harassed me on every deviation I posted, and when I didn't comply with their requests, they decided to steal my art, edit it themselves, and post it on their account. So then I had to deal with that.

This kind of thing doesn't happen that often, but when it does (usually by a repeat offender...) it can get really annoying, to say the least. And I honestly don't know who is liable to cross the line between "pushy" and "entitled". Some I can't even really talk to, because the second I acknowledge their ideas they'll get it in their head that we're "partners", and that's a rather awkward situation to diffuse.

...Is it really so unreasonable to not want to deal with all of ^that? Because that's what I was talking about. Just because your experiences weren't as negative doesn't mean that I'm just looking at mine in the wrong way.

[racarter]

I’d personally love to get some more comments. I’m not desperate for them or anything, but they feel more like personal encouragement, you know? Like someone likes what you’ve done enough to actually say something.

So far only my mom has left me any comments tho. Lol

Anything except helpful critique. I’m one of those where if you try to be helpful, I’ll feel horrible and start thinking I’ve got all this potential and I’m such a loser that I can’t utilize it properly to the extent someone has to point it out. Be rude to me? I’ll get better out of spite. Stroke my ego? I’m suddenly amazing. Try to be helpful and give advice? I’ll probably cry, because you’re pointing out what I already know and since I know it I already feel like I should do better yet for some reason I can’t do thanks a lot for that.

Does that make sense? I’ve always been that way tho, with everything. It was worse when I was younger where I felt bad after getting complimented on my work. XD

But right now any comments would be nice, cuz at least you care enough to make the effort, you know?

[beta1042]

I'm honestly not sure why you pinged me for this? I specifically start my reply to this thread with "If it's a positive comment.." It was in reply to your comment in the original post:

I'd greatly prefer if someone said something more interesting than 'cool' or 'cute'.

The comments you're talking about when you pinged me are not positive and some are harassment. obviously people don't like those. Luckily at least on tapas you can delete those comments. Not sure if DA has that option, havn't used that website in ages.

[LittleMissDevil]

I am at stage 2. Have a few people who regularly comment my comic and some who regularly comment on my other pictures. None of my commentators are mean or demanding and most of the comic readers actually engage really well with what is happening in the story, which is great. I was especially happy when one commentator started discussing the political aspects of my comic with me and went super deep into the thematic background of my work.

For my side pictures I have one person, who always has useful criticism for me to improve. But I tend to get annoyed sometimes, when it's the only thing I ever her from that person

I really love getting comments and am very happy that I have such a good audience. But I would be lying if I said I didn't wish for it to be bigger (but I guess that doesn't just count for commentators). I'd also be totally ok with just one word comments, tbh. ^^ It's great to see the "old faces" but some new ones with new input would be great as well. For me comments are a great motivation and also a good mirror on weather I'm doing a good job. It makes the audience reaction visible and helps me to see if I was able to convey what I wanted in the story. I really love when the readers show just the reaction I hoped too achieve with a dramatic twist or turn. It's great

[amortelito]

You are entitled to your feeling, never said that your struggle was invalid. But my point was not that all people have been good to me therefore I don't see the problem because we are all a happy family over here. I have gotten exactly what you are describing, I'm not kidding, all of the comments you describe, (except the art theft! That's pure evil).

For normal/average commentators I believe that you contribute to the way people interact with you with by setting the tone of your own interaction. You say that you are not mad at them for not talking exactly what you want them to, but it still think you are having expectations over something you can't control. You ask if it is unreasonable to ask for people not harass you and that they talk about other stuff like ship that don't exist, off topic stuff... if we simplify it like that then, yeah in a way is unreasonable. Because you don't control how people react, they are not in your head you are not in their head, they might not even be aware that you want feedback.

About the harassment, that's abnormal interaction, it is rude of them, it is despicable, but the bottom line is that you can't control them either, there are so many horrible people with access to the internet. You can block them (if it is allowed) but they exist everywhere. The more popular you get, the more you get those people because they are already there waiting for something to obsess over. If you can block them, the better, maybe your own fans can help you report the art theft or at least go there and post a comment about that stuff being yours. And when that one gets away other troll will take their place! They never stop being annoying but they are unfortunately a part of the "internet fame".

I'm personally never bothered at all about unrelated comments, totally off topic remarks, etc. But I totally understand why you expect people to react to the art you have been making for hours of hard work instead of random stuff in their head, but the reality is that most readers are not creators and most of them are not even aware of how to even give a proper comment or feedback. It it bothers you that much, try to ask nicely "hey! I would love to hear more about this and that please, because I want to improve this and that." We have established that some commentators might not have an art background or don't know how to express themselves, then you can ask specific things about the shading, about the pose, one simple thing at the time so that they don't have to feel overwhelmed. Yes, you can directly encourage them to give some type of comments! I understand why you struggle, and as you grow an audience this is not getting better because we are talking about a third party we can't control. Maybe you expectations can be more flexible for your own meant peace.

[DokiDokiTsuna]

Thank you for understanding, but...I mean, I get that I'm upset over something I can't control, but I don't really see how that's a problem in this situation...?

I can see how it might sound bad, but the whole point of "putting yourself out there" and seeking notoriety and fame is to influence other people's reactions and opinions, even if you can't control them. So it's natural that anything you'd worry about while trying to accomplish this would be "outside of your control".

Like...just because I'm upset about it doesn't mean it's taking control of my life. You can be mad and worry about things without having them turn into obsessions. The fact that I expect 'more' and 'better' and 'what other people have accomplished' is actually what drives me to keep going. Maybe it cuts into my peace of mind every now and then, but peace isn't everything. Sometimes you have to sacrifice peace if you want change and growth.

I'm glad people want to help, but just because I complain about something doesn't mean I need help...you're allowed to just discuss things on a forum, right...? ^^;

[amortelito]

@cleo_san I haven't read you manga in a while, I need to go there to spam you with love and hearts soon! I can relate to the comment about feeling like performing in the dark. There is a page in Spanish in which I published, they don't have a comment section at all, at most a view count. Never knew if people liked my stuff or not. Even hate comments are a sign that someone is watching! In fact, we can say that they hate you enough to type something. LOL!!

@racarter I made a post about giving others hearts and comments. I would love to go to your comic to cheer you up!