Doolio's doodles

[Doolio]

I have felt pressure like this, though not with the lens of PCness. The way I see it, I believe that you can only be accountable to yourself for making art you want to, and even then you should get in the way of the process as little as possible. The moment you start bringing anybody else's opinion onboard, that is when you start to dull down the alacrity of what your own vision is. If you wish to continue, you MUST not give a shit about what others may or may not, do or do not say. I find staying off social media where that shit goes down is best, or at least restrict it, or don't get pulled in.

Yes, that's true. My post was more of an emotional and analytical nature, I am not planning on "giving in" or dropping my art, but it's how I feel sometimes, because it really is overwhelming. I mean, objectively overwhelming, more about that in my response to Jyonny:)
The feeling is strong because it's not just about my reaction, it's also about the objective state of the social world, so I tend to go into that apathetic lament state:) And while I choose how to react to a, from a cosmic point of view, neutral reality, that reality does physically and mechanically affect us (for example, let's pretend the art was banned, we would HAVE to change our behavior, either by abandoning art or by hiding it).

besides most people are so uninformed about most things that you can safely discount much of the value of their input anyway, therefore who gives a shit what bigoted or pc views they harbour. It matters not a bit. Just do what you do man.

That is a sound advice and really, a bottom line of this discussion. And that's clear to me. But sometimes it just floods me...

I believe the issue is a lack of dialogue; a text comment on facebook is just a snapshot of a thought, often knee-jerk anger / annoyance / mocking either in outrage or in attempted humour. I believe if a group of the people who posted negative comments for the world cup illustration were together in real life, and were shown the picture, the conversation would be much more developed and reasoned - some people would not be happy, but the others would learn exactly why they were not happy with it - people need to talk a bit before the real reasons for initial responses can be discovered. Perhaps they even accept each others opinions - even if not agreeing.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but sometimes a text based arena isn't that conducive to fostering growth and celebrating the creativity. Crimson Daggers has like minded people united for a common purpose who empathise with each other and don't blurt out judgements on a persons supposed motive - facebook is a mishmash of everyone, the common purpose being to communicate, but people are often too hasty when making those communications.

While I know exactly what you're saying, I do think nowadays it's a bit different. And it's maybe a small difference, but an important one. For example, I don't see those reactions as snappy emotional remarks (actually, what I'm trying to say is that regardless of them being knee-jerk or not, the point is in the bigger picture), I see them as learned and uncritically internalized recitals, which trigger all the time and every time, even when there's absolutely no basis for them. I mean, it's not even about opinions, it's about things being factually and logically wrong, that is not debatable - or at least, if you put it to debate, it's cleared after two sentences. But the illogical oppressive approach to things is not only prevalent, it's in fact sistematicaly nurtured, hence my reaction and, well, sadness and feeling of a disempowered bystander. Because, the pattern is always the same and more ridiculous every time, for the very simple reason - that way of "thinking" is simply a form of a tidal wave, a perpetuum mobile, so to speak. So it's basically indestructible until the point when it eats itself, which won't happen while we are alive.

The problem I have with it is not in the fact that people are unhappy with something and they are voicing it. It's perfectly fine if you say "I think this is the worst book ever written". Hell, it's fine if you say it outright, "this is the worst book ever written". But it's not like that, it's a self entitled call to lynch. And that shit is scary, not only because it snowballs, but because it's dangerous. And I think it's WAY bigger than facebook bickering.

For example, this is a true story. A couple in US got arrested for having pictures of their one or two year old children bathing. I know it's a true story because it was a couple from my country and our government got involved in the process, trying to do something - I don't know the epilogue, sadly. Why exactly they were arrested? Because their kids' genitalia were exposed during bathing and they PROBABLY have touched the kids there WHILE BATHING THEM. The social service took the kids away and I don't know whether the parents succeeded in getting them back. That shit is real.
And even when it's not "legally real", it's still real. For example, you draw nudes. And let's say some more or less famous radical feminist decides to bother you about it. Of course, there's not much that you can suffer legally and I believe the lawsuit or whatever is out of the question. But, you would probably start to get turned down on jobs because companies don't want to stir water, or people will start to whisper to themselves when you walk down the street etc. It's a witch hunt, it's not a facebook rant.

And that's the part that makes me depressed, not that there are various opinions in the world. It's about the objectively real snowball of wrong stuff, to put it simplistically.

The problem is very real when you can see a perfectly neutral content and know that the reaction is going to be a swarming lynch and not only that, but that lynch will be institutionally supported. And not only that, but said reaction is going to be almost unanimous. Which is really disturbing.
I know a lot about the mob psychology, but it's not even about stirring the wanted reaction, it's more of a default, learned reaction.

You are letting these things stress you out, it's your choice to be stressed out just as much as it's your choice not to be - you know that! Make a decision, don't let it stress you out! Do your art man, appreciate others art, listen to feedback and criticism and discard the stuff that's an attack.

I'd give yourself a facebook ban for a while too, sounds like it's not that good for you ^^

Be well brother!

Thank you and I think I am actually going to ban me from facebook for some time. Then again, I am virtually banned from facebook. I see it like five minutes a day, in an attempt to see art updates from people I follow. And of course, nothing is spared. And it's not just facebook, it's everywhere. And my defense is starting to slowly crack around the edges.