[autotelica]

I made a sad discovery last night.

I am a proud street artist. My schtick is providing free artwork for the masses. People can donate if they want, but it's not a requirement. I am in my busy time this year because people are out and about, trying to find gifts for friends and loved ones. I usually have no problem clearing my table because my stuff is so "gift-friendly"--hence, why I am so proud.

I'm a member of another message board. As with many popular message boards, it has spawned an evil twin board--where the members just talk crap about the members of the other board. I do not post there, but yesterday I made the mistake of browsing. I shall never do this again.

I discovered a thead about me and how crazy I am. Someone posted about how they once met me in person while I was giving away my artwork. They confirmed to the group that I am indeed crazy. The poster even relayed a "crazy" conversation I supposedly had with him/her. I don't remember it at all, but the poster did describe my idiosyncracies pretty accurately. So it must have happened and I just don't remember.

Lemme tell you, I was so hurt by this discovery. I am still hurt. I know that I am eccentric, but the person being talked about wasn't just "quirky". It was a bonafied crazy person. It hurts to realize that this is how I present to the world.

The only positive thing was that the poster said nice things about my artwork. If he had bashed my artwork too, I probably would have lost it completely.

I don't know what to do with this information. How can I improve myself when I don't have enough insight to really know how weird I am?

[ArthurDent]

I'm sorry you came across that, but I'd like you to shift your perspective for just a minute and think about something....

You said this poster called you crazy. Maybe you just don't fit his/her definition of normal. If THEY happen to be the "crazy" one, or just a moron, maybe the problem isn't you, maybe it's their perception that is incorrect.

Everyone has an opinion. Very few of them are well-thought out or actually mean squat. lol.

Just a thought.

Please go read Pachyderm's post: http://forums.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=257578

[LadyShadow]

I am sorry you had to go through this. You know, you were happy living your life before this person messed up views of yourself. It is their opinion. Personally I have had people in my life who were witness to my manic states of bipolar who I don't have to see or hear anymore. You don't have to believe this insecure person or their beliefs. You love your artwork and you're a bit eccentric like you said. Enjoy it. Live it. Breathe it. Express who you are. All the greatest artists of our time were all a bit "off". Just proves your greatness even more

[Thunder Bow]

That poster is jelious of you, and something about you and your work makes him scared of you. Not that you are crazy or threatening, but you threaten to upset his apple cart.

As an artist myself, I've been invaladted perasonaly along with my work on and offline. NEVER let someones nastyness define you as an artist or as an human being! It reflects them more than you! Invaladateing one, online is common and is very cowardy.

[ffgal82]

Stay away from that board. Some people put others down to make themselves feel better. Do what makes you happy with your art n forget about them. People on this board will be here to support you!!!

[edward6]

You must be an inspiring artist to have generated that level of emotion in some others. Perhaps, you could look at it as inadvertently complementary - what a threat to their egos!

[peaches100]

I used to feel the way you do. If somebody criticized me or didn't like me, i felt horrible about myself. I was sure they must be right about me, and I must not know myself at all.

And then one day it finally clicked for me. Sometimes it is the OTHER PERSON who is wrong.

I have personally had both friends and family members assume some very incorrect things about me. And these were people who have known me for years. So if somebody we've known a long time can sometimes misunderstand us, how much more for someone who has only met us one time!!

This person only met you once. How likely is it that in meeting you one time, this person now has enough knowledge about you to correctly evaluate who you are as a person? NOT LIKELY!

Don't let this bozo steal your inner peace!

[peaches100]

***TRIGGER FOR MENTION OF RELIGION*****

Have you ever had the experience of somebody telling you how much they hated Person A and what a horrible person they were? Yet a different person talks about that same Person A and how great they are?

Alot of it boils down to differences in perception, preference, opinion, etc.
We can't always control the way other people perceive us, or the factors that weigh in to whether or not they like us.

Also, the Bible says Jesus Christ was a perfect man when he came to earth. And yet some people hated him, and even had him put to death.

Now if he was perfect, and not everybody liked him, how likely is it that everybody will like us? Some won't, and that's OK. To each his own.

[Lauru]

I say forget the guy and what he said. First of all, you don't know his motives. Maybe he is jealous, a prudish person with no imagination, a stick in the mud, or trying to appear better than he really is as many people will put someone down just to look bigger themselves. You are a great artist and find in yourself what you like and embrace that.

[unaluna]

Another way of looking at it - this person took poetic license. You inspired them, you were their muse. It wasn't "accurate" - it was art!

I saw the film "Tiny Furniture" when it came out because the poster looked intriguing. I remember being totally charmed by it, but telling T it was so painful and awkward, it was awful and wonderful at the same time. Now the director has an HBO series and she was on Letterman the other night. So Idk, I didn't see your person's thing, but I would still say, stay true to your vision. They are the one being derivative after all; you are the original.