Threadless.com - Best t-shirts in the world
Type Tees - Amazing tees created from submitted slogans!
The Select Series - Artist edition limited invite only tee shirt designs
Threadless Kids - Designer kids & baby clothing
PrettyGarbage
PrettyGarbage aka Marissa Rattee is a 30.8 year old girl, has been a member since January 30, 2007, has scored 802 submissions, giving an average score of 1.90.
  Feb 10 '07 by PrettyGarbage        39 Comments        Watch this      Share:  Share on facebook    Share on delicious    Share on digg    Share on MySpace    Tweet this    Stumble this    Share this on kirtsy   
Ok - I am reading through the critiques on here and I find myself shaking my head in despair. Incase no one here has ever had a class where critiquing was covered, I have enclosed dictionary.com's definition of the word "critique." Please educate yourselves:


cri·tique [kri-teek] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, -tiqued, -ti·quing.
–noun
1. an article or essay criticizing a literary or other work; detailed evaluation; review.
2. a criticism or critical comment on some problem, subject, etc.
3. the art or practice of criticism.
–verb (used with object)
4. to review or analyze critically.


Now, that being covered I have to ask if Threadless was not intended to be a forum where artists from different locations, cultures, experience, education, etc. could come to express themselves, experiment and share what they like? It sure doesn't look like it to me. As an artist isn't it important to have an open mind and to respect other people's work?

It's narrow-mindedness and a lack of tolerance for differences that led to so many artists being unrecognized until (sometimes long) after their deaths!

Do the creative community a favor and stay out of the critiques section if you can't employ critical thinking skills and use good will to give CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE. That's what the area is intended for.

Your insults and slurs do nothing but make you look ignorant and discourage the visions/creativity of others! No one posts their work there because they think it's perfect. Everyone there is looking to improve on their designs.

Lastly, I would like to point out that cliches sell... that's why they're cliches. They have elements that are of common interest/taste to the masses. Any new takes on these common themes should be recognized for their validity - not put down.



minxorjinx
minxorjinx on Feb 10 '07 at 8:03pm
i'm too lazy to read this. but YOU GO on witcho bad self!
StopPickingOnMe
StopPickingOnMe on Feb 10 '07 at 8:05pm
coconut
PrettyGarbage
PrettyGarbage on Feb 10 '07 at 8:06pm
coconut?
Laborpsus
Laborpsus on Feb 10 '07 at 8:12pm
8 letters.

STFU
GBTW
littlem
littlem on Feb 10 '07 at 8:13pm
unfortunately, some people in here can be pretty harsh. all i can advise is that you try to igonre the idiotic comments and learn from the constructive critiques.
also, i know it's difficult at times, but try not to get discouraged!
:)
littlem
littlem on Feb 10 '07 at 8:13pm
*ignore
J-Ray
J-Ray on Feb 10 '07 at 8:14pm
Threadless voters often have seen thousands of submissions on here, and they're looking for something they havent; seen before. Certain subjects, like "emo trees" have been submitted dozens or hundreds of times before, so it's hard to get a good reaction with another one.
PrettyGarbage
PrettyGarbage on Feb 10 '07 at 8:19pm
j-ray, i'm not talking about critiques i've received, only some i've read. Thanks though, i'm pretty secure in myself - it's others i'm concerned about.
PrettyGarbage
PrettyGarbage on Feb 10 '07 at 8:20pm
also, judging by what gets printed and what sells, it's not always something new...

i just think it's useless to be insulting. be constructive!
J-Ray
J-Ray on Feb 10 '07 at 8:21pm
it'd help if you cited examples
PrettyGarbage
PrettyGarbage on Feb 10 '07 at 8:22pm
why? is it EVER ok to squash someone by insulting their work unabashedly?
bananaphone
   bananaphone on Feb 10 '07 at 8:26pm
Its a 2 way street, people need to give better critiques and artists need to get tougher skin. If you don't want you art to ever be criticised you probably should be working at maccas or becoming an accountant or something.
bananaphone
   bananaphone on Feb 10 '07 at 8:27pm
"why? is it EVER ok to squash someone by insulting their work unabashedly?"

Hitler liked to draw, maybe insulting him just for fun?
PrettyGarbage
PrettyGarbage on Feb 10 '07 at 8:29pm
hmm... can't think of anything hitler did that was more deserving of insults?

i like smart-asses... just not mean people...
J-Ray
J-Ray on Feb 10 '07 at 8:29pm
sometimes "squashing someone" is a good way to feel better about yourself =D
PrettyGarbage
PrettyGarbage on Feb 10 '07 at 8:30pm
Sure, an artist has to have a thick skin (esp if they're doing something different) but not with the peers whom they ask for help in making a design better!
d3d
   d3d on Feb 10 '07 at 8:37pm
a good many of the people here can't really be counted as "peers" though. i'm not sure what percentage are designers or non-designers but you have to remember that many of the critiques you'll get may be from people who really aren't qualified to give them. you need to learn which to respect and which to dismiss.
kayceislost
kayceislost on Feb 10 '07 at 8:39pm
oh man, i wish that was the definition of critique for my studio, its usually 'make kayce cry and grow in despair and think about changing majors'
J-Ray
J-Ray on Feb 10 '07 at 8:41pm
Hey by the way, you should go to the "Critiques" section if you're looking for one, because that is where the Critiques are meant to be.

Leaving a comment on a submission is just a comment; there's no real rules on what you should say.
PrettyGarbage
PrettyGarbage on Feb 10 '07 at 8:45pm
Yep J. I know that. Don't I? Again, I was not talking about myself. I haven't any issue with anything anyone has said about my work. My "emo tree" (i'm not emo at all by the way) is not a comment i'm upset about in the least. *shrug*

Guess I was just trying to stand up for OTHERS. I'd hate to think the harshness and ridiculousness might discourage people from submitting anything for critique.

But... ahem... thanks for the "clarification" big guy.
filoenglish
filoenglish on Feb 10 '07 at 8:46pm
We are living at a time where everyone's a critique...I blame Simon Cowell. I guess we all set our own standards, which creates that divide of criticism and creative criticism.
Malcolm Man
Malcolm Man on Feb 10 '07 at 8:47pm
Can't we all just get along?

I agree with you for the most part Leon. However, I don't think you have to be "qualified" to give a critique. The non-designer percentage of the public still has a valuable opinion. They are after all who you are making the designs for.

As gas as everyone being more polite and all that, I think its great. Unfortunately it will never happen. You can't just stop every ass hole from being an ass hole. That said, I think its good conditioning for the work place. Because honestly, there are alot of asses out there that are mean bastards. I think its good to learn how to deal with bastards.
PrettyGarbage
PrettyGarbage on Feb 10 '07 at 8:48pm
Ok, ok. There is wisdom in what you say Malcom....
kayceislost
kayceislost on Feb 10 '07 at 8:49pm
a lot of the people who leave comments on designs are douche bags, though, so it sucks having to ignore a lot of the comments just to see some decent critique.
Malcolm Man
Malcolm Man on Feb 10 '07 at 8:51pm
I dunno, I guess it just doesn't bother me. IF they say my design is lame then I say "okay, could you expound on that?"

Now, if they said, "you're a son of a bitch" or "You're mama be a whore" I''d say "okay, would you like a punch in the face?"
d3d
   d3d on Feb 10 '07 at 9:44pm
i agree with you that everyones opinion is valid, but for different reasons. a regular shopper is entitled to tell you what they do or don't like, but you have to take their design advice with a grain of salt. it's like a baker telling an engineer how to build a bridge. he might have some semi-decent ideas but he just doesn't know what he's talking about.
Noobits
Noobits on Feb 10 '07 at 10:55pm
agreed leon.
I guess some people just like being offensive and abrasive towards others when there is little or no possibility of a comeback. I always try and give constructive criticism but sometimes a design just is so far from being any good (ie, mist on the lake.) a flat answer is the best way. thick skins are a good thing it not personal.
Noobits
Noobits on Feb 10 '07 at 10:55pm
*its not personal*
17 days later
r.o.b.o.t.i.c.octopus
   r.o.b.o.t.i.c.octopus on Feb 28 '07 at 2:47pm
refreshing this...

when i give critiques (unless it's about something entirely tacky like porn influenced stuff) i give clear critiques on technique etc...but i also say to those that are not serious about this that they should get their act together or don't crowd the crit box, in different words at least.

i posted this a while back:

http://www.threadless.com/profile/444916/r_o_b_o_t_i_c_octopus/blog/188546/a_general_critique

intending to gather a better kind of criteria for subbing and subbing to crits.

i never pussyfoot around the problem with the design. but that does not mean i am rude.

i can't speak for anyone else.
shirtflirt
shirtflirt on Feb 28 '07 at 2:48pm
everybody dance, NOW
J-Ray
J-Ray on Feb 28 '07 at 2:50pm
^^ I wish people would follow that!

I think people deserve a constructive opinion regardless of their skill level. It must get frustrating if you're adam antium or someone who'd like some advice but everyone just says "it's great, sub like that" - on the flip side, the beginner who doesn't understand why people keep checking "don't submit" without ever leaving a comment
catdogpigduck
   catdogpigduck on Feb 28 '07 at 2:52pm
Don't tell me how to crit, stupid!
catdogpigduck
   catdogpigduck on Feb 28 '07 at 2:53pm
lose the text
catdogpigduck
   catdogpigduck on Feb 28 '07 at 2:53pm
by the way i'm kidding
skafiend007
skafiend007 on Feb 28 '07 at 3:02pm
OK, ok, I take back everything I said about the "Poop" face shirt. It's brilliant!!! A cleverly diguised commentary on our country's dependence on fossil fuels... or is it a endorsement of stem cell research?... no, wait, I figured it out. It's an indictment of out patriarchial society as relates to the evangelical agenda.


I'm sorry, but some designs don't warrant a helpful, cheerful analysis. some are just "stupid".. the person who created it knows it and the people looking at it know it. I'm blunt like that...
Luke...
   Luke... on Feb 28 '07 at 3:04pm
too legit to crit...
J-Ray
J-Ray on Feb 28 '07 at 3:05pm
Submission comments are not really a good forum for critiquing. I'm talking about the critiques section. :Þ
J-Ray
J-Ray on Feb 28 '07 at 3:06pm
BTW
The Poop shirt and many other crappy designs are getting a lot more comments than mine... so I wonder if people design shitty shirts just so they can get a reaction. Yup, that's it!
helo
helo on Feb 28 '07 at 3:20pm
J-Ray how did you do that tongue character -- Þ
( what keys did you press on your keyboard ) ?
You must be logged in to leave a comment.
My gallery photos
I haven't submitted any photos. I guess I don't want free money.

My designs

Update: Dec 01, '08
Update: James Cain
Threadspotting every Friday!
You know they'll love it!
© 2008, a skinnyCorp LLC company. All designs Copyright by owner.    Privacy Policy.    Terms of Use.      Weekly new tees      In stock      News      Submissions