I think non-artists see it as "oh cool, this art reminds me of *character i like*, which is why i like it!" An artist sees that comparison and hears "Your idea is unoriginal - heres where its been done before". Keep the comparisons in your head, please 🙏

yeah, seems like that is the case but doesn't make it any less hurtful <:D I wonder if they themselves would like to be compared to someone else completely, like, a completely different person they have never met but share some traits with 'cause a lot of the time this comparison stuff is ridiculous

Yeah humans are wired to recognize patterns, which is why it's impossible for us not to look at something and recall things it's similar to. I've never seen it as an accusation of unoriginality when said to me, but more the two cakes meme lol "Yay *two* things I like! :D"