What happened to the Giant's comment compilation thread? Was there a forum wipe?

[ThatNickGuy]

I'll be honest. I don't frequent the forum very often. But once in awhile, I liked coming here to see if Rich made any new comments. Along with the excellent commentaries in the books, I love reading his internal process for the comic. It's extraordinary the amount of consideration he puts into developing the characters, world, and story.

After a recent discussion with a friend about the art change for the sixth book, I wanted to re-read his explanation for said art change. But I don't see the thread that compiled his comments. In fact, I see most of the threads gone.

Did I miss a forum wipe? Or maybe I'm missing something in my settings?

[Grey_Wolf_c]

I'll be honest. I don't frequent the forum very often. But once in awhile, I liked coming here to see if Rich made any new comments. Along with the excellent commentaries in the books, I love reading his internal process for the comic. It's extraordinary the amount of consideration he puts into developing the characters, world, and story.

After a recent discussion with a friend about the art change for the sixth book, I wanted to re-read his explanation for said art change. But I don't see the thread that compiled his comments. In fact, I see most of the threads gone.

Did I miss a forum wipe? Or maybe I'm missing something in my settings?

It's still here. The forum doesn't openly display threads past the necromancy threshold, and Rich has withdrawn from forum general discussion, so he has said nothing quotable in some time.

GW

[ThatNickGuy]

It's still here. The forum doesn't openly display threads past the necromancy threshold, and Rich has withdrawn from forum general discussion, so he has said nothing quotable in some time.

GW

Thank you, I appreciate it. I figured it was still around here somewhere. And yeah, I did notice he doesn't discuss things as much. After some of the less-than-savory comments he's had to deal with, I can't honestly blame him. Thanks again.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Thank you, I appreciate it. I figured it was still around here somewhere. And yeah, I did notice he doesn't discuss things as much. After some of the less-than-savory comments he's had to deal with, I can't honestly blame him. Thanks again.

NP. FYI, while you can find the thread via the search system, I usually just find a post by Jasdoif and follow the link in their sig block.

GW

[Jasdoif]

The forum doesn't openly display threads past the necromancy threshold, and Rich has withdrawn from forum general discussion, so he has said nothing quotable in some time.

Specifically, the last quote addition happened last year in March; which was the only new quote since the two added in July the year before that.

Perhaps the Giant will resume reading the forum once the Kickstarter rewards are caught up with. Perhaps not. Either way, it's not like I have anything better to do than keep track of it when/if quotes come up

[zimmerwald1915]

Specifically, the last quote addition happened last year in March; which was the only new quote since the two added in July the year before that.

Perhaps the Giant will resume reading the forum once the Kickstarter rewards are caught up with. Perhaps not. Either way, it's not like I have anything better to do than keep track of it when/if quotes come up

Probably and hopefully not. Fans aren't worth interacting with.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Probably and hopefully not. Fans aren't worth interacting with.

On the contrary. Interacting with fans is an excellent way to develop a strong community that will support an author, especially when an author is starting out. Rich may be beyond the point where he hits diminishing returns or even negative opportunity cost (i.e. time spent in the forums would be better spent elsewhere), but your absolute assertion that "Fans aren't worth interacting with" (emphasis mine) is most definitely false without further qualifications.

Grey Wolf

[zimmerwald1915]

On the contrary. Interacting with fans is an excellent way to develop a strong community that will support an author, especially when an author is starting out. Rich may be beyond the point where he hits diminishing returns or even negative opportunity cost (i.e. time spent in the forums would be better spent elsewhere), but your absolute assertion that "Fans aren't worth interacting with" (emphasis mine) is most definitely false without further qualifications.

Grey Wolf

Worth the cost in peace of mind and the emotional cost of having to deal with generally unpleasant people.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Worth the cost in peace of mind and the emotional cost of having to deal with generally unpleasant people.

Yes, it is hard to create a community of fans. But it has to be done, and it is very much worth it.

GW

[zimmerwald1915]

Yes, it is hard to create a community of fans. But it has to be done, and it is very much worth it.

GW

Yes, I understand very well how milking fools like us who will "buy anything you produce[. . .] drive 200 miles to see you sing[. . .] buy the hardback and paperback and audible versions of your book[. . .] purchase your next figurine sight unseen[. . .] pay for the 'best-of' DVD version of your free youtube channel[. . . or] come to your chef's table once a month" would facilitate a reasonably comfortable life. But interacting?

Heck one of the "benefits of modern retailing" called out in the article is precisely that creators "did not have direct contact with consumers." Post-modern peer-to-peer retailing, however, does away with that benefit and returns to the old ways of groveling before consumers and especially patrons.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Yes, I understand very well how milking fools like us who will "buy anything you produce[. . .] drive 200 miles to see you sing[. . .] buy the hardback and paperback and audible versions of your book[. . .] purchase your next figurine sight unseen[. . .] pay for the 'best-of' DVD version of your free youtube channel[. . . or] come to your chef's table once a month" would facilitate a reasonably comfortable life. But interacting?

Interacting creates said fools. It is much easier to be a patron of a person that feels like a human being than a person that never bothers to interact with anyone with anything other than their work. And it is easier to come across as a genuine human being if you interact with your fans, no matter what headache that might be.

GW

[zimmerwald1915]

Interacting creates said fools. It is much easier to be a patron of a person that feels like a human being than a person that never bothers to interact with anyone with anything other than their work. And it is easier to come across as a genuine human being if you interact with your fans, no matter what headache that might be.

GW

Managing to restrain yourself from giving your fans the verbal drubbing they deserve for being fannish is hardly "genuine" behavior. And the work can speak for itself.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Managing to restrain yourself from giving your fans the verbal drubbing they deserve for being fannish is hardly "genuine" behavior. And the work can speak for itself.

Yo u believe every fan deserves a drubbing?

Well, that tells me everything I need to know about you. Good bye.

GW

[Finagle]

Probably and hopefully not. Fans aren't worth interacting with.

What a profoundly negative comment. Wow. Someone needs a hug.

[Kurald Galain]

Probably and hopefully not. Fans aren't worth interacting with.

I'm not nearly as famous as The Giant, but speaking as a published game designer I must say that fans are really great.

[PopeLinus1]

I'm not nearly as famous as The Giant, but speaking as a published game designer I must say that fans are really great.

I know, Right? At least I hope so, or I’m out a hobby.

[hroþila]

It's true however that many fandoms are cesspools.

[Emanick]

Speaking as a professional comedian, I can say that fans are everything from a delight to a dread.

[Keltest]

It's true however that many fandoms are cesspools.

You troll the bottoms of just about anything, and you end up pulling out a lot of the crap that hasn't been properly cleaned away. Fandoms are not unique in this regard.

[ThatNickGuy]

That's kind of the double-edged sword of being a creator. Any audience you build will inevitably have *******s or entitled fans who think they know better than you on how to write, draw, or run the business.

[hroþila]

I guess that, as the size of a fandom increases, the probability that the jerkass fans will drown everybody else out approaches 0.

[Peelee]

I guess that, as the size of a fandom increases, the probability that the jerkass fans will drown everybody else out approaches 0.

Shouldn't that be 1?

[Rogar Demonblud]

Depends on who screams louder.

[hroþila]

Shouldn't that be 1?

Well sure, if you want it to be, like, correct.

[Kurald Galain]

Shouldn't that be 1?

Clearly not, as numerous really huge fan communities demonstrate.

[zimmerwald1915]

Clearly not, as numerous really huge fan communities demonstrate.

Those same really huge fandoms that are hotbeds of harassment, bullying, assault, and sundry abuse?

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Those same really huge fandoms that are hotbeds of harassment, bullying, assault, and sundry abuse?

No, the ones that are not.

GW

[Peelee]

Well sure, if you want it to be, like, correct.

Clearly not, as numerous really huge fan communities demonstrate.

Fine, fine. As the size of a fandom increases, the probability that the jerkass fans will drown everybody else out approaches some number between 0 and 1. Happy?

[hroþila]

It's totally a 1 though, you were right. Those utopian fandoms are probably just not large enough, I says.
(Also, not willing to enter a multi-page debate about this!)

[Peelee]

It's totally a 1 though, you were right. Those utopian fandoms are probably just not large enough, I says.
(Also, not willing to enter a multi-page debate about this!)

I was responding to your (excellent) joke with my own (not as good) joke.