Never Take Criticism from Someone Who's Created Nothing
They Talk Sh*t Because They Can't Create Sh*t
You know that moment when you finally hit 'post' or 'publish'? Your heart does this weird little jump because you're putting your work out there for everyone to see.
Maybe it's an article you spent hours on. Or, that video you re-recorded twelve times. Or, that piece of art you've been tweaking forever.
It's your baby, and now it's out in the wild. It's inevitable that when you do that, you'll get some negative feedback.
Then they show up.
The keyboard warriors. The "well actually" crowd. The people whose whole personality is leaving one-star reviews.
These are folks who've probably never created anything more substantial than their dating app bio, yet somehow they're experts at telling you everything you did wrong.
Often, it's just goofies—people who feel the need to bring you down without offering any constructive criticism.
These people are just negative for the sake of being negative - like it's their hobby or something. We all have to deal with these types, and nobody enjoys it.
Of course we want people to love what we create, but if someone's not feeling it, they can just scroll on by.
No biggie.
Here's what these critics don't get: creating is like cooking without a recipe. You're figuring it out as you go. You're mixing ideas and testing things. You are probably burning a few attempts along the way.
Yeah, maybe that blog post has a typo. Maybe that video has an awkward jump cut. Maybe that artwork isn't gallery-perfect. But guess what?
You actually made something.
You took an idea and turned it into reality, while they're still sitting on their couch, perfecting the art of the angry emoji response.
Look, not all criticism is trash. Sometimes people come with legit feedback—the kind that makes you think "damn, that's actually helpful."
These folks usually create stuff themselves, so they know the drill. They point out specific things you could improve, not just "this sucks lol."
Learn to spot the difference. It's like developing a BS detector—and trust me, it gets more accurate with time.
Constructive criticism is welcome—honest takes are fine. But providing criticism doesn't mean you have to validate it, either.
You always have the choice of validating any feedback you get, whether positive or negative.
Some people give positive feedback because that's their nature, and that's great. Others are negative for no reason other than being contrarian or trying to be cute with their comments. You learn over time to scan through comments and discern whether they're constructive or just trolling.
At the end of the day, here's what matters: you're in the arena, getting your hands dirty, actually making stuff.
The critics? They're just spectators.
And while they're writing their tenth negative comment of the day, you're already planning your next project. Because that's what creators do - we keep creating, keep growing, keep putting stuff out there.
Perfect? Nah. Real? Hell yes.
And honestly, if someone's criticism doesn't come with a portfolio link, maybe it belongs right where most of their creative efforts end up—in the trash folder.
How do you handle the critics, especially those who've never created anything themselves? What's the most ridiculous criticism you've gotten, and how did you deal with it? Drop your stories in the comments—maybe your experience will help another creator dodge that mental bullet.
Quote of the Day:
"Remember that it is we who torment, we who make difficulties for ourselves – that is, our opinions do. What, for instance, does it mean to be insulted? Stand by a rock and insult it, and what have you accomplished? If someone responds to insult like a rock, what has the abuser gained with his invective?" - Epictetus
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