Well-intentioned but unhelpful criticism

[doktormostro]

Well i don´t usually ask for critiques outside my inner circle of friends in the business, because of bad experiences with people that saw an excuse to throw me their #### and even then i tought "i asked for it" and answered with a "thank you" and forgot about them. And no, my friends don´t just make good comments, they´re just objective about what we talk.

In the other part, i don´t usually make critiques too, because people tend to be defensive and in some cases arrogant. So i just make comments when something really bothers or likes me, without expecting a response, wich even in good comments i didn´t get so often and seems a waste of time. And thats why i don´t usually do it.

But i like to get comments, who doesn´t? And when i got them i try to answer to them when they´re more than a single word, and gives me something to response.

[zoonland]

Thanking for the critique and for taking time to read my comic are the things I frequently do, especially when they are irrelevant or have a totally different vision of my project. I think that adding something may lead to misunderstandings (even if you're well intended too).
Getting defensive is a bad thing because it creates a bad mood that leads to having "enemies"... nobody needs more hate! Especially on internet, where it's very easy to get it.
Engaging in a constructive conversation may be useful and good; it always depends on the person you are talking with, but that's a good thing too because it's always helpful to have a third-point of view that you can't have doing all things by yourself.

[SpavVy]

I don't really say much back to them about it, I basically just thank them for the criticism or suggestions but I do tell them it wouldn't work out with what I have already planned.

[infectedbloodcomics]

Let me start by saying that I need to improve big time and I'm doing my best, so I always very happy to get critiques and criticism alike. I actually listen, because there's always something to learn, especially at my level. Still, I'm a busy person and I am confident enough to know that I can't and won't ever spend my time second guessing what I'm doing, especially from the writing point of view.

So, it's happened just recently. It was a requested critique, and let me also point out that this offered to go more into a more detailed discussion about his critique, if I wanted to. Now, he completely completely botched about a million things about my comic. I thanked him, and politely asked him to wait until the end of the part of my comic he had been reviewing, so we could get back to it. At that point, I highlighted some of his most obvious mistakes along with a couple of assumptions he made that were obvious guesswork (he didn't know the final events of that part), explained a bit more about the characters, and asked him to please tell me how he'd see the events evolve. This time, it was plain as day to me that he was more interested in giving his own spin to my story than getting what I was doing, so I just thanked him again and moved along. He meant well, but didn't really help much. Still, it was a requested critique (since he offered), and it was fine.

Should I get any unsolicited criticism resembling this guy's, I would very likely thank the person, politely express that I really meant to do something else (without spoilers), add a brief explanation of why (if I felt like it), and move on.

[keii4ii]

This time, it was plain as day to me that he was more interested in giving his own spin to my story than getting what I was doing, so I just thanked him again and moved along.

Yeeeeah, sometimes there comes a point where further conversation is just unnecessary...

Getting defensive is a bad thing because it creates a bad mood that leads to having "enemies"... nobody needs more hate! Especially on internet, where it's very easy to get it.

No disagreements there!

[windikite]

Take critique with a grain of salt. If you ask for critique, expect the worst but hope for the best. Take who they are into account, not every critique is equal. If they seem like an arrogant or angry person you should just forget about them. Manners sell your information. If they are both polite and clear about what they say, and it is on an issue that can be viewed in its entirety then you can be assured it is valid. Anything less and it has no integrity.

If you didn't ask for critique then just ignore them anyway since you give yourself enough crap and it's your happiness that matters. You are the Creator and your opinion matters the most. Just because they don't get it doesn't mean it was poorly done, they could just be dense or didn't see it in it's entirety.

I had someone give me critique when I didn't even ask for it, everything from my drawing style to how I can improve. I'm sure they were well intentioned since they were polite but it borderline hurt me because it caught me at the wrong time. Key thing here, don't give out critique unless asked for it. There is a difference between it and being an ass.

[abbastudios]

You must not have read throughly what I wrote, since you accuse me of looking at this from one angle, thereby trying to dimiss my statements.

I cover that angle you are talking about in paragraph eight..

I cover many angles. maybe you did read everything, but only one stood out for you.

[AngieVX]

I think if you really like the style of a person who wrote critique and respect their opinion, you can ask direct questions. But some feedback is actually not helpful, not because it's bad or good, it's just not helpful for a certain artist.

I think the most important quality in critique is being motivational. It shouldn't be long, shouldn't embrace everything. When I write a critique, I don't expect anyone to follow it, so "thank you" would be enough for me. But if "thank you" seems not enough for you, I think you can say that it was encouraging, and that you're happy that someone cares about your art or story.

[gateofselidor]

When people give me criticism that would be impractical or just not possible to implement, I tell them honestly and thank them. I wouldn't want them to think that I was dismissing their suggestion without proper consideration, so I'd rather they know whether or not I'm going to use it and why.

[JigokuNeko]

All criticism is helpful in that it gives a fascinating glimpse into the reader's mind. It's amusing to see what sets people off (in good or bad ways). I am sometimes mystified by some of the comments but ultimately I appreciate people telling me what they think. Most of the time--even if it is negative--it affirms my choices.

Aside from the statistical side though, there are times when I will go into a debate with the person who commented:
1)when it's obvious they wanted the characters/story to go in the opposite direction and are insistent on it. I just succinctly explain that is not my vision, those are my choices and in the end that is what makes me happy as a creator to do. My goal is for the readers to have fun but I do not owe anyone a personalized story. This doesn't make me angry or anything but it's sometimes good to be firm.

2) when they misunderstand my beliefs upon an issue that I feel strongly about. I do think the story speaks for itself but there are points that might be obvious to me while some readers might interpret them differently. If it's something I absolutely do not agree with I will speak up (at some length, which is rare with me) because I do not want people to misunderstand my intentions.

[getsuart]

As I said one day, the people who are "well-intentioned" but ended to have unhelpful criticism were always somehow agressive and treat me like trash (BUT they think they are well intended). You know, the type who's going to tell you you're a pathetic bullsh*t and you should more focus on x ou y things.
I sometimes try to go with the C solution, but they don't listen: only their point of view count, you have to listen and don't try to communicate.

So I often so with the A. It's as simple as this. I thank them, still try to use what they said and move on.

[ToonDoctor]

I've often being on the defensive which I know is not recommended. My comic is formatted like a classic comic strip with the logo in the top panel. Many have argue that this was odd and so on. What they really do is show their lack of knowledge about comics.If they knew comics' history, they would know exactly what I'm doing!

My writing has been criticized because I don't use decompressed storytelling. Again, I rely on other forms of comic storytelling but unfamiliarity with what I'm doing usually lands me a comment that I don't know how to plot and write, or understand pacing... It's annoying because it seems like many of the critics think that there is only one way of telling a story. Making the reader discover things through osmosis as opposed to telling them everything that they need to know is no longer fashionable.

Now, I've chosen D) Don't respond at all!

[keii4ii]

I cover many angles. maybe you did read everything, but only one stood out for you.

Yes, I did indeed everything. That one stood out for me because when you mentioned the conversation aspect, 1) you didn't even consider it a critique (why is a focused critique not a possibility?), and 2) the majority of the lengthy post (nothing wrong with lengthy posts, BTW) was about "don't defend/justify" while my initial post clearly disagreed with getting defensive. Why go in depth to explain something that we both understand and agree on?

It's not that I disagree with what you said (maybe except my definition of a critique possibly being broader). It's just that you're preaching to the choir here. 8D

As I said one day, the people who are "well-intentioned" but ended to have unhelpful criticism were always somehow agressive and treat me like trash (BUT they think they are well intended).

I don't think you can call that well intentioned at all, no matter what they think... Abusive people often think they're well intentioned. Doesn't make them actually well intentioned.

All criticism is helpful in that it gives a fascinating glimpse into the reader's mind.

Fully agreed with this. Well, possibly except the fascinating part. The thing is that even if all a criticism does is affirming that the critic is not your intended demographic, that can totally be a useful information.

I wouldn't want them to think that I was dismissing their suggestion without proper consideration, so I'd rather they know whether or not I'm going to use it and why.

My sentiments exactly. I think I'll try my best to use that approach.

It's annoying because it seems like many of the critics think that there is only one way of telling a story.

Well, as @JigokuNeko said, it doesn't make their criticisms invalid. If you have no interest in doing a decompressed version of your comic, and the critics criticize your comic for not being decompressed, that gives you one useful information: those critics are not your intended demographic. Your demographic is those who enjoy compressed comics.

[ToonDoctor]

You are right about that! What I should add is that I do pay close attention to the criticism of viewers who do understand the classic comic strip and what I try to achieve. Their criticism goes beyond me having to justify the basic mechanics of my work. They know where I'm coming from and thus they can better judge my work. This criticism, I have found was more helpful and valuable. As you would say, they were from the right demograhic!

[Exeivier]

"just thank them and move on."

that's exactly what one should do, also i really don't think "unhelpful crtiticism" exists, if someone tells you something that hurts you and makes you abandon your art/writting/etc. it's not really that bad critic who made you surrender, but yourself

at the end of the day is more about the artist's ego and capacity to spot his own field of improvement. So it's not that simple and it can vary a lot from person to person.

[keii4ii]

that's exactly what one should do

If someone did that to me after I gave them a critique, I would feel my input was devalued. So I disagree with that.
This isn't about how to deal with harsh criticism; it's about criticism that's irrelevant to your goals. While even that can be helpful (i.e. it indicates that you failed to make your goal clear), it's "unhelpful" in the sense that you shouldn't apply their suggestion.

[jmhenry]

I had someone give me critique when I didn't even ask for it, everything from my drawing style to how I can improve.

Uh oh...
I remember doing a critique of your comic a while ago, and I was just following the rules of that thread... I might be mistaken, but I hope my critique wasn't as horrible as this sounds... ^^;

[Exeivier]

I apologize. i thought it was "what to do in the case of a hostile- harsh criticism" (at least i read it as that) buuuut in the case of what you mention of course you're right, if someone dedicates time from his/her life to tell you something about your work the very least thing one should do is show the same attention and reply accordingly. (it would be a thing of manners) last thing i would like to do is being disrespectful to someone that takes a look at my work.

[keii4ii]

i thought it was "what to do in the case of a hostile- harsh criticism" (at least i read it as that)

This thread is so meta. XD It's a thread about how to respond to comments that are irrelevant to what you're trying to do, and it's generating replies that contain such comments (irrelevant to what the thread is about). Maybe I should edit the first post later to clarify things a bit...

[Zanreo]

Yeah, I feel like this about some of the critique I get from friends. While I try to listen to critique and see what they mean, sometimes I just plain disagree (in a "different opinions" way) and am just not "feeling" their suggestion at all, thinking it would make it worse or not to my taste. While I want my comic to be the best, in the end it's gonna be the comic I want to make.

If it's someone I know, I'll probably discuss it with them and why I did this instead of something like that, or why I prefer doing it this way, even if they might not agree. If I don't know them (signing up for a critique thread, getting comments out of nowhere) I usually just thank them and move on unless there's something I really would like to discuss/clarify.