Internet Art Drama is Dumb (Rant)

Drama. It's something most people dislike, but it is an inevitable part of being in a community. Bickering and clashing are two parts of the human experience that have been around since the beginning. It doesn't mean it's pleasant or anything like that, it just means we need to learn how to navigate these things and try to prevent them from becoming, well, an out-of-control mess. 

Unfortunately, if you’re a chronically online artist, you’ve probably noticed that a lot of people in online art spaces struggle with basic conflict navigation. They don't communicate in a healthy way, and many will actively hunt down and harass artists off the internet simply because they don't draw in a way that is conventionally appealing, or they were slightly socially awkward one time.

Why Does This Happen?

Now, there is a simple reason behind this: the majority of the people involved in these campaigns are sixteen years old at the absolute oldest, and the youngest age can range anywhere from ten to twelve. That is to say, we are talking about children. Of course they can't leave things they like alone or navigate conflicts. 

They’re children learning how to communicate, often without guidance, on platforms that were never really designed for them. They don't have the maturity nor the life experience yet. Often times, us adults can forget that we're not always talking to other adults. The internet is a diverse landscape where minors are particularly loud. 

You will run into people too young to be on social media, seniors, and everybody in between. It just so happens that the majority of arguments are going to be happening where the community skews young, and unless you're in those spaces, then it will be healthier to simply ignore it. You're not their parent, and you have no obligation to moderate their behavior.

Minors' Emotions Are Valid

For any minors reading this as well: this post is not meant to demean nor dismiss you. The hurt and anger you're experiencing are very real emotions, and I understand how difficult it can be. I was a teenager on the internet as well not too long ago. I didn't handle situations as well as I may be able to today, and there were times where I was not the best person. 

You're learning, and messing up is a part of that. Wisdom is not something you can learn from a textbook, it's something you learn through experience. If I were to give you unsolicited advice, it is to analyze the situations you were in after the fact and think about them critically. Sometimes, you truly did nothing wrong. Other times, even if you weren’t the villain of the story, there are still things you can learn and improve on.

Harmful Effects of Drama

However, it's not just who is involved that I noticed. There are also the effects that drama has even long after the situation is over. Many aspects of a major drama can be traumatizing to the victim in ways not everybody may understand. Harassment campaigns, defamation, and the community you worked so hard to build getting torn away all cause pain that not everybody can handle. Worst of all, those who get impacted the most are usually new artists for having "cringe" art and those with autism who may have done something slightly socially awkward.

Art style is becoming an increasingly important factor for artists, no matter how shallow it may be. If you're not drawing in a way that looks conventionally appealing, then being ignored and staying small are a blessing. Many platforms look at art that doesn't follow certain aesthetics, and immediately decide they're "bad" and "worthy" of bullying off the platform. 

It doesn't matter if this cruelty is unjust. These people are looking to cause harm. It's ugly, it's malicious, and there is not much we can do about it. Artists are either able to deal with this and move on, or they will give up making art in any public capacity. It is a heartbreaking ending, as they could turn into something great, but they get that chance taken from them.

Who Drama Harms The Most

Another major target are autistic people. People with autism communicate in a completely different style than most, and even in a completely different style from each other, which can lead to misunderstandings, miscommunication, and awkward moments. Often times, people with this disability may not broadcast that they have it, so you may not know if they intended to be hurtful, or if their way of communication does not align with what is expected. Many will also feel the need to explain themselves or elaborate further, which can make it look like they're defensive or can't handle criticism.

There are quite a few popular creators online you can see this behavior with, and they often get criticized for being "defensive" or "not taking criticism well," even when that might not be the case. They're not bad people for handling controversies in this way. 

They're just humans who made a mistake and continue to do so in the heat of the moment. The best way to get the message through to these people is with compassion and grace. If you're going to approach an argument under the assumption that they mean to be rude, then any further discussion is not going to be productive, and it will only end with both you and the other party hurt.

New artists and autistic people are not the only demographics who feel a disproportionate impact from art drama. All marginalized groups feel the heat in one way or another. I just wanted to highlight these two in particular, as they are the demographics I notice the most.

All This Drama Can Be Easily Prevented

All these factors mean that the drama cycle is not even interesting. It is the same nonsense recycled over and over again. It's simply bullying someone over the most mundane thing, when there are artists out there who are legitimately bad people causing harm to the community that should be getting the attention

It's not even fun to witness because the stories that are forming in real time are along the lines of "this artist draws their characters' eyes on the forehead as a stylistic choice, and I don't like that. Let's bully them off the internet!" Which, that is not a good story. That is a tragedy that could have been easily prevented by minding your own business.

There is this old saying from the early days of the internet. "Don't like, don't read." It basically means to ignore whatever it is you dislike. Giving it attention only means you're wasting your time and encourage your online experience to give you more of that thing that you disliked. The internet is funny in that way. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do about other people being buttheads.

Something you can do is support artists, especially if you see a lot of negative attention coming their way. If support is something you wish to do, but you're struggling to come up with ideas on how you can contribute, then feel free to check out this blog post: https://dextiveblog.blogspot.com/2025/07/ways-to-support-artists.html

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