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The-Ez — Quick 'looks like...' comments rant
Published: 2015-07-26 15:53:28 +0000 UTC; Views: 4415; Favourites: 37; Downloads: 0
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QUICK DISCLAIMER: I posted this rant on Tumblr a while ago, and meant to post it here, but I forgot. And then today I got a comment that reminded me of it. This "Looks like..." comment thing really does get me rather upset, for the reasons outlined below, but please know I'm sharing this rant with you guys on the off chance that it'll help or encourage anybody who's been brought down by user comments recently, as well as educate younger artists how to constructively respond to this one set of user comments. 
That being said, please note I do use harsh language (no curses, but I am rather harsh) to drive the point home. It's not my new "thing" to be this mean. It's really only something I'm passionate about. 
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, HERE'S THE RANT! 
I’m starting to get fed up with those people who scour the internet just so they can compare your work to popular work.
You know the type. The people who leave asinine comments that solely consist of the words, “Looks like [character] from [movie/game/series].” Then they just flutter away, never to be heard from again. No Favorite, no Watch, nada. They just dropped in to tell you your character looks like another one.
(I was being rather generous with the above quote, by the way.You’d be lucky to get capital letters or punctuation out of these people.)
It’s been happening less and less to me over the years, but what really ticks me off is when these people comment on newbie artists’ work. For golly gosh’s sakes. OF COURSE their characters are going to resemble others. COPYING IS HOW YOU LEARN.
And when you’re a new artist, you can’t see that resemblance. You think you’ve created something new and you feel amazing about it. Then some butt-hole comes and ruins it for you by flippantly accusing you of malicious plagiarism.
MID-RANT DISCLAIMER: I'm referring only to actions taken by complete strangers who most likely click around deviantART indiscriminately leaving stupid comments. If you've ever told anyone their character resembles another, please don't think I'm making you out to be a villain. I'm truly only talking about a finite set of circumstances: a complete stranger who leaves a "looks like..." comment without doing or saying anything else (Faving, Watching, adding an emote etc).If you’re one of those people who leaves such bare comments with inflammatory intentions, SHAME ON YOU. You’ve contributed absolutely nothing. Next time, point out exactly what it is that resembles that popular character you so love defending (which doesn’t actually need defending, by the way) so that the artist can learn from your comment instead of just feeling awful and confused about it.
And how should YOU react when you get a comment like that? First, take a deep breath and assess the situation. Sometimes these comments are just people comparing your work (which they love) to something else they love (a popular series, for example). Thank them for the compliment, because that’s exactly what it is.
If you think the person is just being a butt, the best thing to do is to ignore them. Just don’t lash out or defend yourself, because they will fight back with all their might and it would be a major waste of time for you to indulge their insecurities.
I truly hope this helps some of you out there. Never let people get you down. Always draw what you love drawing, keep improving at your own pace, and your audience will find you.
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Comments: 108
Some people look alike by coincidence, it's not always a copying thing, I hope people understand that.
I would rather say that the character looks familiar or have some similar features. Not saying that the OC is a carbon copy, but rather has a lot in common with another. I mostly assume basis and inspiration rather than stealing.
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I love the words you use you're so innocent, yet mature at the same time I find it humorous to read.
(don't worry, that's a good thing)
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I've never really understood why the "this looks like..." comments upset people to be honest. I've gotten comments like that on things and it never even occurred to me that they were something I was SUPPOSE to be upset or insulted by 
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It's really scary how I realized that this might be a major obstacle for me someday. I'm terrified of one of my characters being compared to my ex-best friend's version of them. Like if someone believed they were hers and she just never took them down, or continued drawing them claiming them as hers. In a way, I'm not sure how I'd react. I know online wise, I'd probably not say a thing and just send a smiley. However, in real life I think I would end up making myself sick from depression.
Besides that personal issue, I think the "Looks like" comment is something that needs to be used gently with young artist. The ones I knew who went through it, all saw them as a negative. Personally, I think it's part of the obstacle of understanding the difference of criticism, compliments, and ignorance, and how to handle them. Which is a huge struggle for not only young artist, but older ones as well. If someone is going to use the "Looks Like" comment as a positive, they should add more to the comment so it looked like a compliment. Because without just a few additional words, it not only makes it look negative, but an incomplete statement.
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I agree, a "looks like..." comment without any qualifiers does seem incomplete! I never knew what bothered me about it, but that might have been it after all! 
I'm sorry about your dilemma with your ex-friend, and I understand why you're worried. It's happened to me before, too, where folks do art trades and don't say it's my characters. But, I'd like to set your mind at ease — at least in terms of copyright law, those characters belong to you, so if your friend ever earns money off of them, you can sue her to put a stop to it. Another thing you can be assured of is that because they're your characters, you can advance and improve their designs in a way only you could, as you know them best. Gradually your versions of them will improve and be more differentiated from your ex-friend's, and you'll be better off for it.
And listen, if it happens that this girl starts posting your characters without credit, message me. I'll call her out on it for you. 
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I'm sorry for being late with this, but exactly!
Thank you, I appreciate that, I actually have been redesigning some of them. Not only by appearance, but also by personality.
Haha, I will take you on that offer. Thank you again! xD
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At first I thought I was the only one who felt like this. It is more irritating when that is the only thing they say in a comment, not even with a complement.
A year ago some guy noted me saying my character looked like another character from X popular artist and that he was going to report me to the artist. All I have to say is I am still waiting for the report. Waiting... waiting...
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Thanks for this!
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It's an issue that a lot of people can't see for what it is. Thanks for bringing some attention to commenting courtesy.
I have a problem like this, but it's usually when I draw a woman with muscles and people pop in just to tell me they look like guys. It's thoughtless and kind of sting-ie.
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Yeah, you know, it's funny how people would leave the kind of comments they would never say to you in person. I firmly believe that there should be a code of conduct regarding, as you so perfectly put it, commenting courtesy.
But I am sorry you had some folks telling you your girls look like guys. Even if it were true, which I doubt from looking at your gallery, it still hurts when people say things like that. And I think it's all right to admit that it hurts. We're always told to grow a thick skin, but it doesn't happen overnight, and there are comments that catch us off guard.
I truly hope you keep drawing your lovely, muscular, ass-kicking gals.
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You gave me this pep talk SO long ago and I just came across it again! I've been feeling kind of crappy about my art recently, and reading this, I really did need it. Thank you again for the kind words, they really did and still do mean a lot.
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nice journal! The ones that make me the angriest are usually those who compare your art/characters to existing ones solely based on one single element like hair color or style...like why do they do that <-<
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Yeah, sometimes I wonder. Like, it's natural for people to make mental connections between your work and familiar things, but ... I don't know. I hesitate to say this, but it can happen that it just doesn't seem like the right time to tell that to someone.
But, oh well!
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This journal looks like something I read a while back...
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Was it something popular?
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Totally, it's just like this other famous thing I saw once!
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Is it okay for me to send this to the people in notes if they said it to me? I know how you feel.
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Psssshhhhh sure! 
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Thank you~ Now that you've mention it, I think I rather be cautious. QwQ
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Well I apologize for doing that when I first came across your work years ago. I remember saying that your art reminded me of the the classic Disney style because well... It does. But I didn't mean in it in an "You're copying!!!!" way, more like "this is so cool and I must see more" way.
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I suggest you reread my Journal entry, because you definitely misunderstood the message. I'm referring to a very specific category of comments and commentors — a category you don't fit into at all.
Your input is and has always been appreciated and received as they were meant, don't worry.
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Oh okay.
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Sounds like you had to deal with à lot of those comments. It must have sucked big time X( i havent gotten any pesonnaly but i have seen newbies being attacked for tracing and copying. I get that it can lead to plain stealing but sometimes its so obviously not what it is and yet they get à super long lecture anyway ( i saw one once that was so illegitimate once, like the newbie was accused of copying an overall attitude or the way his tlk character looked, although it was actual original design, which is a rare enough thing in the tlk fandom btw, so it was just, like, ?????)
That ( very vague ) example isnt exactly what this is about though is it XD But those long lecture on tracing can bother me à lot too, so i digressed sorry XD i guess it just confirms that à lot of people here can be naturally rude. Its like the anon hâte on tumblr, or common rudeness in real life. To quote calvin there we just don't devote nearly enough scientific research to finding a cure for jerks.
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Omigosh, my lovely French friend!
ANYWAYS!
But, no, I don't get "looks like..." comments very often, but when I do, they're incredibly random and tend to be about characters I've never even heard of. And that is what gets me worked up, because I hate being confused!
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Pfffft Hahaha oh my gosh where did you find that emoticon ? Haha the french side of Da is quite something !
Anyway !
Aah i just hope you dont come across another of those comments anytime soon
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I don't think I've ever encountered this, luckily. (In recent memory anyway.)
I could understand someone being like, "Oh, she looks like Elsa! Do you like Frozen, too?" as a way to start to a conversation. But do people really just come by and flatly declare likenesses with no follow up? 
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Yeah, it's the ones who do no follow-up who are so infuriating.
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Aaaeeghh, I'm guilty of doing this from time to time
"Looky!"
"*gasp* Have you heard of Digimon?!"
"Er...yea?"
"Yeaaaa"
*sits in time-out corner*
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Haha!
I think it's great that you're trying to stir up conversations with people!
And you know what else? I have heard of Digimon and I think it's the bestest. Seasons 1 and 3 especially.
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Oh hecks yea, the first three seasons are the best! It may be nostalgia, but I tried getting into the newer seasons so much but no dice D: Have you heard of the NEW Digimon sequel for the first season? 
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THANK YOU
These are the choice words I have been longing to say but never could get right! You hit the nail right in it's spot!
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Ugh this narks me so much. "Looks like simba" -well, that was constructive ._.
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Okay, I had a good chuckle at your comment. I know its source was distress, but I chuckled. I'm so very sorry.
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Ignoring trolls and bullies (as well as blocking them) is the only way to cope!
I draw what I like and if some people don't like it, then tough!
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THAT'S THE SPIRIT!!!
I absolutely agree. I once read this quote, and I hate myself for forgetting who said it, but it went something along the lines of, "Draw what you want, when you want. It will appeal to someone. Maybe not to a lot of someones, but at least to yourself."
I'm paraphrasing, of course, but I read that quite a few years ago, and it's encouraged me so much! You're lucky to have the intuition to have come to this conclusion yourself. 
Keep on keepin' on!!!
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Thank you so much for talking about this.
This is probably one of my biggest pet peeves.
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Thank you for reading!
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No problem! ^^
Yeah, I guess it made me feel less alone about this so I really appreciate it. :'D
It's very important that we do! u v u b
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Once I received a comment about one of my character: 'Is he Undertaker? (the wrestler, not the character from Kuroshitsuji)'.
I wasn't offended. Even if my character doesn't look like Undertaker, he is still based on him. And probably in that drawing he looked a bit like Undertaker.
normally nobody tell me that my OCs look like some canon character.
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I've had this comment a few times, i think once it was because i had unknowingly copied a character idea I had read about ages before hand and then forgot about so that was fair. But for the most part if it happens i tend to try and use that to make a character better. Although i don't think it has ever been said in an attempt to be a smarmy arse so feel free to take this with a grain of salt.
Honestly the thing that bugs me the most of just people giving something a favorite yet offer no comment as to why, to me that just devalues the very idea of something being a favorite. I can't grow as an artist with a little plus star.
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I know others have already replied to your comment, but just like them, I'm intrigued by your sentiment and my hope is that I can help you put a positive spin on it.
Now more than ever, when someone adds your picture to their Favorites, it gets an exponential amount of exposure. All that "Favoriter's" Watchers become potential viewers of your work, and that expands the pool of potential comments and new Watchers.
But, that being said, I understand your frustration. Sadly, deviantART is not the place to grow as an artist. It's a place to meet friends and get feedback on your work, but the odds of that feedback being constructively criticizing are minuscule. I highly suggest you join an online digital art forum. That's the place to get constructive feedback, and to give it. I used to spend nearly all of my online time on forums because the atmosphere there is of critical collaboration, but in a safe and equalizing environment, thanks to watchful moderators. Do look into it if you haven't already. I honestly think it'll be a perfect fit for you!
I wish you every success in your artistic improvement!
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I've been thinking and rewriting this in my head for a while now since i think I'm either really bad at making my point or grossly misguided. So please bear with me on that.
I get where everyone is coming from and probably came off the wrong way, so my apologies for that
and i can also admit i was wrong. maybe a bit of background is needed, I've been on this site for a while even though i have almost no presence (i refer back to my social anxiety issues as to the reason why) so for me uploading anything is putting myself out there in a somewhat more extreme sense and that has been a massive challenge for me. And getting a response is very fulfilling, this does include getting favorites. Then for a while it seemed like all I would get was favorites and almost all of them were from accounts with people that may as well have been bots or people that would grab one kind of image (i.e. robot girls or tarot cards etc) and for a while that was all i had for feedback or input. so that coupled with depression likely contributed to my perception. As i said, I was wrong.
(i really hope i am articulating this well, I won't lie I am shaking in fear)
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