Idolization

Idolization is a strange and dangerous thing.
Yet we all do it. Either aware or unaware.

It all starts when we see an artist here whose work we like a lot.
Most of us have been there. Seeing the work of an artists that hits a soft spot in you, for whatever reason that might be.
You admire it, but at the same time you feel sad because you realize your level is still miles away from this artist, and you will probably never be able to do the same.
But despite everything, you start following this person. And you keep following him.
Because somewhere deep in your soul, you hold the believe --or rather, hope-- that when you watch it long enough, it will reveal it's tricks.
That it will inspire you in some way. And that you'll be able to do the same.

Unconsciously, we all build images of our idol.
It's human nature, I guess. We fill in all the blanks. The things that we don't know from this person.
Because an idol isn't a person anymore at that point. It has become an icon. Something that we look up to.
We tend to think that great talent comes with a great personality. A strong personality. An inspiring one.
We hold up this image, to justify our idolization. That it's not just a normal person we admire, but an exceptionally great one. 

Only to find ourselves utterly disappointed when it doesn't turn out to be that way.

Talent doesn't always come with a great personality.
And this idol might not be the person you thought he was. He might not even hold up to your expectations.
Because at the end of the day, we're all human, and we all have flaws.
Thinking there are exceptions to this rule, is nothing more than being delusional. 

You think this is maddening?
Try to place yourself on the other side of the circle -- in the shoes of the idol that you admired.
A person that started out, just like you, from nothing and just happened to do something that other people thought was inspiring.
How by doing what he loved to do, he finds himself in the position to deal with countless of people that tell him he sucks, because he doesn't match up with the expectations they had of him. Expectations he didn't know of in the first place. Expectations that he probably never wanted, but finds himself into anyway. Because the internet allows each and every person to tell what he thinks, no matter if good or bad, reasonable or unreasonable. Whether asked or unasked for.

Let's stop this madness.
See your fellow artists, no matter how good they are, as humans rather than icons.
Because you might not see it over the internet, but there's a person there at the other side of the line.
A real person, just like you.
That can get hurt, just like you.
A human being that has it's reasons to create the stuff that he does. Reasons that often don't even include you or his public in general -- because most artists started doing art for personal reasons.
You are just there because you happened to find his work inspiring.

We all have our reasons to do what we do.
We all fight our own battles.
Don't judge us for it.
Instead enjoy the feeling of knowing that you're not alone when you've found another human being that is similar to you.