(don't know where to post this but I guess it makes ense here)

Anyway, why do some people think it's bad giving out 5's to comics?

The artist(s) or writer(s) are doing something that they like even though it has its flows. Every artpiece in this world has its flows but it's nice to appreciate the effort the makers are doing for what they love. I, myself, give 5's not because the comic is perfect but it feels nice to appreciate the creators work even if the art is bad.

I know there are different numbers from 5 but it's just encouraging to give out a nice token. When someone comes into another comic going: "Your comic sucks because you faces look like mule's ass!" it's not an artistic attitude whereas you could say: "Your faces need fixing on here and there but yet, I give you credit for what you're doing, PQ me if you want help on anything." sounds nice and encouraging.

Besides, we, artists, are still learning while we're progressing in our comics. It's art, the person could die and still learning new stuff even though he/she reached the Master level. Yet, the artist could take the advice you give or not and that's up to his/her mind. There are artists who would take it but sums it in his/her way or learning it the other way.

Why would you tell the creator of a certain comic to die if you don't like his work? Why the hate? What's your purpose in saying it?

I've seen here on the duck some don't have good art, yet, I give them 5 for the effort and studying someone's situation and etc... is it a problem?

As far as I'm concerned, I love giving them for the heartwarming and appreciation reasons, and I'm here going to work with all my heart and effort even if my stuff is still isn't that good but I ain't quitin' until the fat lady sings.

Don't hate... just appreciate... life's great!

Thank you.

I don't think people do mind giving fives. From the previous threads I've seen on similar topics, it's more that, if five is the only number it's acceptable give, what's the point of the others? Replace the whole 1 - 5 "score" mechanism with a simple tick of approval and it would do the same.

Of course there are people who don't leave a five or anything else. I'm sure they're not intending any disrespect to the creators. They must like the comic or they wouldn't keep coming back. I suspect these readers are mostly those who haven't registered at DD so they can't.

Hey simon!

I agree that non constructive criticism is crap, and I've seen a lot more of that around here at DD than I did back a couple years ago. Unfortunately when we put our art out there for the public to view, we run the risk of people being negative or harsh. Couple this with the fact that a lot of webcomic readers are young, and maybe not as compassionate to the sensitivity of artists to their work, and you will get some nasty stuff.

The 5 thing- I personally think the DD rating system is silly. I know some folks who just dont use it at all. It doesn't mean that they give you a 'zero', they just don't rate anything because the system is so flawed. Some folks just give out all 5's. The handful that actually use the rating system get slammed every time they give somethign other than a five, so I personally think it should just be done away with or ignored- but that's only my miniscule opinion. But I'm not even considered a REAL Drunk Duck member.

FWIW, I think your art and storytelling abilities have improved amazingly over the last few years!

Keep truckin. Ignore the bad (as best as you can) - just don't engage in discussions with flamers and then they get bored and go away. I just pretend that the comments aren't even there. Flamers are usually thirteen to fifteen year old boys, have never had a girlfriend, have zero creative ability, are terribly insecure, and are taking their frustrations out on folks who they see as more successful. Simple as that. Next time you get slammed by one of them, just remember that and pity them. ^_^

iowabarbidoll
Hey simon!

I agree that non constructive criticism is crap, and I've seen a lot more of that around here at DD than I did back a couple years ago. Unfortunately when we put our art out there for the public to view, we run the risk of people being negative or harsh. Couple this with the fact that a lot of webcomic readers are young, and maybe not as compassionate to the sensitivity of artists to their work, and you will get some nasty stuff.

The 5 thing- I personally think the DD rating system is silly. I know some folks who just dont use it at all. It doesn't mean that they give you a 'zero', they just don't rate anything because the system is so flawed. Some folks just give out all 5's. The handful that actually use the rating system get slammed every time they give somethign other than a five, so I personally think it should just be done away with or ignored- but that's only my miniscule opinion. But I'm not even considered a REAL Drunk Duck member.

FWIW, I think your art and storytelling abilities have improved amazingly over the last few years!

Keep truckin. Ignore the bad (as best as you can) - just don't engage in discussions with flamers and then they get bored and go away. I just pretend that the comments aren't even there. Flamers are usually thirteen to fifteen year old boys, have never had a girlfriend, have zero creative ability, are terribly insecure, and are taking their frustrations out on folks who they see as more successful. Simple as that. Next time you get slammed by one of them, just remember that and pity them. ^_^

Thanks a lot, Barb, for these words ^_^

The validity and helpfulness of Drunk Duck's ratings system is one that has been consistently called into question for as long as it has existed. I think we'll never truly be able rate our own community's comics to our satisfaction, and I blame a lot of little things for this. I won't get into it though.

However, I'm moving this to the Comic Discussion thread where I think it will have a bit more relevance.

DD is proud to have you as a member, IowaBD.

I try to rate comics in comparison to their own work.
I usually rate 5s, but if a particular strip doesn't hold up to the rest of their archives I usually rate a 4 and say what I think is missing.


Also, DD is a community, so it is hard to rate honestly. When you get top know a DD to any extent you can give them helpful crits, but you shouldn't bash them.

I usually just give a 5 when I have nothing to say. It isn't the number which is encouraging, it is the fact that someone read the comic, and shows their appreciation.

I think it should be pointed out that plenty of people, myself included up to a point, have given simonitro constructive criticism. The fact is that simon reports almost every vote he gets below a five if the person giving in doesn't treat him like he's god's gift to webcomics. In contrast, people like DAJB get fives because, well, Shades is pretty awesome, it's probably one of my favourite comics on the site. The real problem here doesn't lie with the people voting, oh no.

It lies with the artists.

The fact is that a lot of artists on here feel like if you don't love them, you're making a personal attack on them. But if you've got a comic where the story moves at a glacial pace, your anatomy looks like everyone is suffering from some horrible birth defects, and writing that makes the drunken ramblings of a passing hobo look like the work of Charles Dickens, then yeah, people are going to want to leave low scores. In fact, the fact that people are STILL WILLING TO DO SO on this site, considering the attitude of a lot of artists like simon baffles me.

Make a good comic, get a five; that's how it should go. People on DD don't seem to think so in a lot of cases though. I mean, as an example, find the worst comic on DD possible (excluding Powerup Comics) and look through it's comments. Look at the near endless reaming of five votes it will have. It's not that people are afraid to give out fives, if anything, they're too generous with them.

whether you like or hate my comics, I'm open to constructive criticism.

I just dont like rude comments like go kill yourself you fuckin waste of oxygen!!! kinda crap that isnt helpful.

I also wanna say though that I am not doing webcomics for the sake of pleasing everyone. Suggestions are always welcome but there is no way in hell I'd agree to every suggestion out there.

I don't get a lot of artistic suggesting/critique comments, but the ones I've gotten have been *mostly* helpful. (The biggest exceptions are things I already knew I needed to work on and have fixed since drawing those pages many months ago.)

Rating numbers are pointless -- on my or anyone else's comic. Blank 5's say "I read and enjoy but have nothing to say." A blank 1 says "I'm a jerk. Your work doesn't necessarily suck, but I want to shoot you down and make you feel bad." Other blank numbers mean nothing. Numbers with comments vanish, and I just see the comment. A comment without a number is great (and often includes the most insightful suggestions from what I've seen). If you have a suggestion for someone, I think it's be more likely to be appreciated and followed if you leave no number rating at all.

I keep in mind that not everyone hosted at DD wants critique/improvement or want to be "professionals" in any sense. That's not to say all those people have their heads in their butts and want to be lavished with praise (some/many do though). They might be posting completed projects that are months or years old or just doodles for fun. Comments might be part of DD, but not everyone is into comments at all -- just like not everyone posts in the forums or plays the games or comments on the comics they read. (I, for one, was wary/scared of the comment system here when I joined. I just wanted a place to upload my pages and was afraid of any kind of feedback. I got over it, but I can understand that mindset.)

Because of that, I won't waste my time writing critiques or suggestions unless I'm sure the author is someone who actually wants it and will find it helpful.

I'm TOTALLY with Usedbooks on the numbers thing. Basically, what I've seen -- anytime people leave a comment, they leave a '5' along with it because they like it. Anytime someone just leaves a '1' or insults your skills they're just taking a cheap shot. Probably they take cheap shots to make themselves feel big, because at school they get shoved into lockers -- little do they realize their irritating personalities or back-biting tendancies are the cause of it.

I don't get a lot of comments; there's a few vocal regulars whom I appreciate but honestly people don't always have something to say. I'm pretty quiet; when I like a comic I fav it and I visit it for EVERY update.

I think if I was asked directly "Hey, what do you think of this?" by the author however, I would reply. And if it were up for review and I had the time I'd definately review it.

APC is dead-on with "It lies with the artist". If you want comments, show that you want them. Respond to people's comments in a positive or at least diplomatic way. Which is something I realize I should do myself, because I'm often looking for feedback but don't really indicate it. People don't know how much ya mean to them unless you tell them, eh? That goes for both author and audience.

DAJB
I don't think people do mind giving fives. From the previous threads I've seen on similar topics, it's more that, if five is the only number it's acceptable give, what's the point of the others? Replace the whole 1 - 5 "score" mechanism with a simple tick of approval and it would do the same.

A lot of times I give fours or less. I try to limit my fives to something really exceptional.--Al