Strangers' Things - by Pete Cybriwsky
As a kid, you learn to be wary of strangers. “Stranger danger”, right?
Not in the case of looking for feedback.
Over the past few years, I’ve become accustomed to soliciting feedback from swaths of strangers on Reddit, Instagram, and Twitter. A stranger will often give an unfiltered, unbiased point of view that friends might hesitate to share or have too much context to give.
Creating things that resonate with people I’ve never met is incredibly rewarding and quite a dopamine hit. Comments, messages, and the sharing of my work brighten my day and push me to keep going.
More often than not, the feedback is constructive. It’s tough to hear at times, but instrumental in pushing the product and me to achieve my goals. Thus far, it’s helped shape the n-gen site and individual art pieces by revealing what’s bad, ugly, or broken.
Of course, it's important to strike a balance with feedback. Constantly seeking validation or gloating in past success can distract from the work to move you forward. Conversely, getting bogged down in negative (and sometimes hateful) comments can prevent you from continuing to refine your craft and achieve your goals.
Whether the feedback is positive or negative, expressing thanks to those who engage with your work is essential — they spent time giving you feedback after all! It opens a dialogue and helps form a community, potentially leading to more insights and support down the line.
To anyone hesitant about putting their work out there and seeking feedback from strangers — just do it. The benefits far outweigh the discomfort. Strangers can become some of your greatest allies, offering raw, unfiltered insights that can push your work to new heights.
That being said, I am currently struggling with getting on camera to talk about my work on Instagram and TikTok. I recognize it’s one of the most important things for me to do to grow n-gen, but I continue to fear how it’ll be perceived and how “cringey” it will feel and look. I wrote this post in part to get over this discomfort by sharing it with all of you.
I encourage you to share your work and seek feedback from those outside your immediate circle. Whether it's a project, a piece of art, or a new business idea, the insights you gain can be transformative.
Have you had experiences with receiving feedback from strangers? How did it impact your work or perspective? Share your stories in the comments — I’d love to hear them!
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