"When will you stop relaxing and start to work normally?"

[kimketli]

Sorry, but I would never accept an advice, such like this. I mean that "advice" what I wrote in the title. It is just rude.
Why I never say such things to anyone? In this form, it is totally unacceptable. It's even more unacceptable, if that other person doesn't know anything about what you are doing.
Ofc, it would be total acceptable, if it would come from a person who pays your bills, and tells you, something like:
"Listen, I need some financial support, pls go and find a job, because I need help."
or
"Listen, I don't feel comfortable with I pay all the bills. "
Or okay, let's play this situation with a person who doesn't pay your bills.
"do you have enough savings for everything?"
or
"XYJ" is okay with paying all you bills?"
but he/she should never judge what you are doing this way. Or if he/she does, keep it to herself/himself. In this form, it is not caring, it is just bullying, because probably that person had bad day, and try to bug you with something.

In my case, I'm super lucky, because I have a place to live and my saving are enough to eat once a day. And also have backup plan if it would be really needed.
My friend has no problem with it. We had several conversations about it.
It is funny, one year ago, we almost moved to England, where I would have a job and provided home to him.
So, until he has no problem with this, others can fuck off with their kind questions.

I don’t think it’s expected (or should be expected) of relatives to ask about helping you in your business.

Yeah, I agree, they are not, but if they really want to care, this is the best field, they can use their "caring" energy, instead of asking stupid questions.

[unknown_user]

Sorry to be so harsh, but your relatives may have a point.

Sure. Everyone has a right for their own opinion. But when this opinion is expressed in offencive or obtruding way, no wonder that it start to annoy people and make communication toxic and unproductive. And these relatives do it in this way, as far as I understand.

[kimketli]

Sorry, Gamer. I made a sad topic.

It seems life is unfair anyway. No matter you have job or not.
When I had job, I liked it but it was too much. Full of stress. I screamed at night too often. Maybe I'm just not too tough for this. I consider myself lucky in my current situation, my only problem is the pressure I put on myself and the pressure of these clever relatives.

I found it really sad many people write about comic drawing as an escape. I mean it is great, if it is a good way to handle this problem, but I found it sad because you say your everyday life is not the best.

[lunaartemisasama]

I think is normal that they would ask that, sometimes they won't even do it with malice, it's like the people that don't understand deppression, for them you are just a lazy person. I am not gonna bother trying to explain the same thing three times to someone that doesn't want to understand (I would be a terrible teacher lol). Nowadays I just say I am working from home and that's it. My closer family know it's not true but they are too proud to admit I am jobless so they follow the charade.

Sometimes I throw everything, including a stable job just to try or study something new and more creative, and some other times I get tired of not being able of making money and I look out for a boring paid position that causes me anxiety in the end lol. It's a never-ending cycle and as you get older is more difficult to find a job.

I just wish someday I will be able to find a balance.

[kip]

Oh for sure, I’m not saying the way they’re speaking is okay, it’s just that the way OP is speaking in the original post (“i spend all my time working on my art, etc”) makes it sound like they think that makes it their job which- it’s not.

[kip]

Sorry, but I would never accept an advice, such like this.

I’m not saying you should! Your family’s phrasing can be taken as hurtful (though you should try not to take it to heart).
I’m just saying putting a lot of time into something doesnt make it a job. Just an intense hobby. What your family is saying (“you don’t have a job”) is technically speaking correct.

[Cavechan]

I don't see anything rude or offensive about what Kip said and I have to say, I do mostly agree. Of course, feelings and what you want to do is important and definitely something worth working towards, but there is also a need to look at situations objectively and make sure money and time are being managed effectively. It's also important to try and look objectively at your own work, see the faults, and work towards trying to make it better and more marketable. It isn't easy and is a long process. At 33 years old, I'm still working very slowly at trying to make any profit off my artwork and comics.

When you don't do anything else but drawing, eating, sleeping, cleaning, sometimes make a forum post, but don't play games, don't watch tv, just focus. And the end of a process you get some likes, couple of nice comment and a question like this from a very close relative(yeah, one of the two closest... :/). I'm angry, because when I'm angry about something like this I can not work normally.... Or even listen music. Just consuming myself...

I feel you there. I am the same way. When I'm not at my job, I'm working on my comics. Rarely I take the time to play a video game or hang out with friends and I get little feedback on my work.

Nowadays, I really do feel the job situation is much different than it used to be even 20 years ago. Before, one person could have a job 9-5, the spouse could be at home raising kids, you'd be able to own a house and have a retirement plan. Now, my husband and I both work full time and barely have enough to afford the cheapest houses here (and we both make above minimum wage). I work on my comic and like I said trying to make some profit off of it as a second job sort of thing. I had to basically sit down with my husband and tell him that he needs to work a second job too. My brother and his girlfriend both work two jobs now and they even have a kid. There's an expectation now that you have to be working and making actual money 24/7 and if you aren't then you are wasting your time.

It's ridiculous but at the same time it's what we have to do in order to live in somewhat financial comfort... some day. Maybe. Hopefully. -_- Since even as profits increase more and more, it only does so for the top 1% of people and the ones at the bottom are stuck with wages that are NOT increasing.

[kimketli]

I referred to my title quote as rude, not to Kip. Kip is nice.

Sorry, but I would never accept an advice, such like this. I mean that "advice" what I wrote in the title. It is just rude.

But, it seems confusing, even for me now, because that is technically a question... Not an advice. So, I admit it, it looks deceptive.

[Hexigate]

Lol, I've lost count the amount of times my mom's told me to "stop playing games on the computer."

For context, she seems to think that whatever I'm doing--whether it be work, drawing, writing, or actual gaming--if it's on the computer, then it's all video games. It does slightly bother me that the image of me that my mom has in her head is a guy doing nothing but games.

I partially have myself to blame for that image; I remember no-life-ing computer games when I was little. I think it's also because I never show her what I make; she doesn't see my projects or products of progress, so how could I blame her? So I should take steps to become more open about my creative works and show her what I do in my free time.

[Cavechan]

I referred to my title quote as rude, not to Kip. Kip is nice.

Oh sorry. I had misread what you wrote!