tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785568050570180849.post546004485073118922..comments2024-03-06T02:15:14.583-08:00Comments on The Ace of Geeks: YOU are the fake geek, and YOU are the problem. by Mike Fatum [UPDATE]Mike and Jarys from Ace of Geekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16443721371684684334noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785568050570180849.post-56088449743364963272013-09-04T17:19:16.294-07:002013-09-04T17:19:16.294-07:00I should rephrase my earlier sentence. "All I...I should rephrase my earlier sentence. "All I'm saying is, if you make someone offended or worse, feel unsafe, don't change your art, but do apologize."Mike and Jarys from Ace of Geekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16443721371684684334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785568050570180849.post-56879269662745993422013-09-04T17:02:16.056-07:002013-09-04T17:02:16.056-07:00The problem that I have with the sentiment you pro...The problem that I have with the sentiment you proposed that it is the artists responsibility to apologize to everyone that has ever been offended, insulted, or hurt by their work of art is that it is stifling. It creates an atmosphere not necessarily of outside censorship but internal self censorship of the artist in their works. So yes I am a bit focused on your choice of words and intent in so far as I feel that it can be an unnecessary burden on artists. <br /><br />You and I are in total agreement when it comes to content versus controversy of what happened. The comics themselves are fun and funny and on point, the reaction of both camps was over blown, threatening, and insulting in ways that are difficult to reconcile even years later. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14049495445864860562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785568050570180849.post-29729737613528415062013-09-04T16:26:35.861-07:002013-09-04T16:26:35.861-07:00You seem to be really focused on this idea that I ...You seem to be really focused on this idea that I want to censor people, which is not what I've said or what I believe. Again, do whatever art you want. All I'm saying is, if you make someone offended or worse, feel unsafe, you should probably apologize. <br /><br />I thought the comic was funny, too. I thought their overly defensive reaction was the problem. There's no problem with creating art. And there's no problem with standing by your original intent. But there IS a problem with hurting someone and saying anything but "I'm sorry I made you feel that way." It's the difference between starting a conversation and continuing a fight.Mike and Jarys from Ace of Geekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16443721371684684334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785568050570180849.post-18355994030533578812013-09-04T16:21:31.473-07:002013-09-04T16:21:31.473-07:00I think they did succeed with a laugh. I think tha...I think they did succeed with a laugh. I think that comic is hilariously appropriate for the reasons I stated in my first comment. I personally feel, along with Mike, Jerry and Robert Khoo, that there is nothing wrong with the comic. It wasn't a stumble or a miss, it is funny and poignant. <br /><br />The audience is always free to interpret the work as they like. Some will love it, some will be offended by it. They shouldn't have to apologize or "fix it." This sentiment is limiting to artistic expression and even be akin to endorsing censorship. Just because you do not enjoy a work of art does not invalidate its importance. <br /><br />While I am a proponent of building communities and inclusiveness I know that not everything has to please everyone all the time. Artists, hell everyone, should feel free to express themselves safely. To thy own self be true.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14049495445864860562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785568050570180849.post-26870702244271070952013-09-04T15:49:36.365-07:002013-09-04T15:49:36.365-07:00I agree with you - if, and only if, that is their ...I agree with you - if, and only if, that is their intended reaction. If a comic sets out to just make people mad, period, then hey, that's their goal and while I think it's a stupid goal, whatever. But if your goal is to make people laugh, like the folks behind PA, and you stumble and miss, then its your responsibility to look at what you've done and see where you fucked up, and it's on you to fix it. Saying "Well, toughen up! God!" just makes you defensive and immature.Mike and Jarys from Ace of Geekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16443721371684684334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785568050570180849.post-17913372016093159112013-09-04T15:30:36.334-07:002013-09-04T15:30:36.334-07:00I didn't say they weren't ever bullied, th...I didn't say they weren't ever bullied, they just weren't bullied for being geeks. I was one of those people. I was teased and bullied for a multitude of other reasons but not for my passions. Usually it was based upon appearance in the form of my glasses or some such. I admit I had a great community that we produced in middle and high school that was able to enjoy our passions without being derided or ostracized for it. <br /><br />As for PA being a bully, they did publicly apologize in post and comic form just as you say a jokester should. Just because he regrets pulling the merch due to some peoples interpretation of their work and reaction to it I think is still valid and doesn't make them a bully. Once an artist releases their work to the public they have no idea how it will be perceived as we all view for ourselves and are not hand held by the artists intentions. After all nothing ruins a joke more than having to explain it. <br /><br />To the comment that it is childish to claim "No, it's my right to make people feel bad," I think that is a perfectly acceptable stance for an artist to take. Artists should evoke emotion in their works and not all works are going to be beautiful and cheerful. Some of the best art brings forth feelings of hurt, loss, shame, regret, fear, and pain. We want artists and comedians to be able to provoke these feelings within us to help us empathize and feel, to truly experience life.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14049495445864860562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785568050570180849.post-9904910149225570212013-09-04T15:02:43.136-07:002013-09-04T15:02:43.136-07:00I appreciate the defense of the intent, and of a f...I appreciate the defense of the intent, and of a friend of yours, but my point still stands. Even though I'm a little calmer now than when I wrote this article, I still stand by my statement that you can't be a part of our warm group hug of geekdom and be a bully. The thing that separates a jokester like your partner from a bully is exactly what I stated above - the ability to admit when you've gone to far, or to at least apologize if you've hurt someone. To say "No, it's my right to make people feel bad," or "They need to grow some balls," is purely childish, and yes, we as geeks should be above that. Especially considering where we come from.<br /><br />I still don't buy the idea that there are geeks who lived in such wonderful, sheltered places that they were never bullied.Mike and Jarys from Ace of Geekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16443721371684684334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785568050570180849.post-89046342637728370822013-09-04T14:56:46.486-07:002013-09-04T14:56:46.486-07:00Mike, not every geek or nerd has been bullied, at ...Mike, not every geek or nerd has been bullied, at least not for that. Everyone has experienced being bullied as well as being the bully. I know you are upset by this, but to turn it to exclusionary anger isn't really going to help things out. We exist not because we were bullied, we exist because we have a passion.<br /><br />In years past I have personally known Mike Krahulik, and yes he can be a bit of a dick when his dander is up or he is feeling attacked. That said he really isn't anti women, pro-rape, or anti-Trans. A lot of these things happen to exist outside of his narrow and sheltered experiences. So he tends to fumble around in his reactions at times, but is at least honest enough to admit he is ignorant to a lot of these things. It certainly isn't malicious. If he and Jerry Holkins feel it was a mistake to pull the Dickwolves merch for reasons of integrity, artistic/comedic expression, or business then let them have their own conclusions.<br /><br />If art is has a purpose it is to make us think and challenging our beliefs and making us uncomfortable are two of the ways art does that. The Dickwolves are a send up of the fact that we prioritize something so monstrous as rape (the systematic rape of what is ostensibly a literal rape culture)soo low in our society that it doesn't even register higher than that of a quest chain. This is again what makes Jerry such a genius comedic writer, and from how own self professed feminist stance. <br /><br />TL:DR: I will quote from my partner and the unnamed shock jock you hung out with, "Comedy is tough... wear a cup."<br /><br />-Robert FulkersonAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14049495445864860562noreply@blogger.com