[noname123]

Don't feel defensive. I think it's great that you are putting yourself in public and getting feedback. The truth is most people think that they are the shit but yet they are so insecure to express so in public. So they feel like Unibomber on the inside but are too chicken-shit to do actually like the Unibomber.

But it's important to take criticism well. Like playing music, it's jarring to hear your own voice or playing on records but it's the only way to get feedback and improve. What you are doing is to turn my criticism of you against me and it doesn't reflect poorly on me but shows off your bruised ego. You are free to think for yourself and then dismiss my criticism but don't turn it into the "idealistic you" vs. the materialistic world; that's descending into the Unibomber rabbit-hole.

And by the way, this is coming from someone who went through a phase of attempting to write the Great American Novel, exploring the liberal arts/music/philosophy/bohemian living, whatever you want to call it. Yeah, it was a very educational experience.

[rorymarinich]

Oops! No! I'm sorry if it sounded like I was suggesting you were insecure. I think I misinterpreted when you said "making already insecure people feel more insecure about themselves". I worried you were referring to yourself.

If I could go back and edit my original post, I would, but the edit window closed. I legitimately didn't mean that to be dickwaving. And I tried to say that I don't think I'm a polymath. I'm too young and too stupid. Maybe one day. Anyway, I didn't write it that well and it came off as me trying to look like an Internet Superhero. My apologies.

I go to an art school right now and boy oh boy does the cockiness and one-man-against-the-universe-ing get old. I agree; the only way to really do interesting things is to constantly self-doubt and push to expand. My favorite artists/people in general are the ones who to this day insist on trying to be better than they are.