The controversial world of…comics?
Many readers have commented on the heated debate in St. Petersburgh over the new comics. First off, thanks for all the kind words. You’re the ones I draw the strip for.
Someone asked if the negative feedback in the St. Pete’s Times bothers me. Not really. In fact, I’m glad people are still so passionate about their comics. It’d be a sad day when a paper changes a strip and no one notices.
As far as some of the harsher comments, well, that just comes with the territory in the entertainment world. If I don’t like a particular strip or TV show or movie for that matter, I just don’t read/watch it. That simple. I recognize that it might not be for me but a lot of other people probably do enjoy it. I absolutely love “Lost” but I’ve never watched CSI (I think there’s seven right?). That doesn’t make CSI stupid. It’s just not for me. Calling it stupid would imply that those that watch it are too dumb to realize it’s stupid. Just doesn’t work logicaly.
Anyway, I hope St. Pete keeps DeD. I know they’ve received a lot of positive feedback not posted on their website. We’ll wait and see.
April 5th, 2006 at 5:26 am
>>Calling it stupid would imply that those that watch it are too dumb to realize it’s stupid.>>
(laughs) No, what’s stupid is people who get their panties in THAT tight of a wad over the potential loss of a COMIC STRIP!!
GOD! Florida gets more frightening by the day.
April 6th, 2006 at 7:22 am
Hey, Brian. My strip (Watch Your Head) is also on trial at the St. Pete Times and is also being subjected to the message board massacre. Just wanted to commiserate.
I wish I had your composure and could stay out of the mix. You’ve probably been at this longer than I have. I’m not used to un-constructive criticism.
Good luck with DeD in St. Pete and eslewhere.
April 6th, 2006 at 10:16 am
[...] As one would expect the discussion quickly became heated about which features were liked or disliked. Brian Anderson, whose Dog Eat Doug is one of the four comics on trial, took the high road when asked how he felt about some of the uglier comments on the board. As far as some of the harsher comments, well, that just comes with the territory in the entertainment world. If I don’t like a particular strip or TV show or movie for that matter, I just don’t read/watch it. That simple. I recognize that it might not be for me but a lot of other people probably do enjoy it. I absolutely love “Lost†but I’ve never watched CSI (I think there’s seven right?). That doesn’t make CSI stupid. It’s just not for me. Calling it stupid would imply that those that watch it are too dumb to realize it’s stupid. Just doesn’t work logicaly. [...]
April 8th, 2006 at 7:16 am
I understand people getting heated about comics being removed. Comics become part of your daily routine, and having worked for a newspaper in the past I’ve seen some of the apparently arbitrary decisions about how or why to remove a strip. It’s like your favorite TV show being cancelled — except only by your local TV station. But people need to learn to offer constructive solutions.
One thing I think is interesting as you watch the evolution of the comics page … in visiting my brother’s family in Knoxville, TN, the Knoxville News-Sentinel actually runs two comics pages — one with “family friendly” comics (ie. Family Circus), another with the “controversial” comics (ie. Doonesbury). Interesting.