Let the Norm.com die.

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 6:56 am

yeahduff wrote:
collapse wrote:Well, it still has a significant fanbase, so some people must like it.
Just like Adam Sandler movies....

My favourite example of that kind remains Britney Spearce. It's a shame that marked the era.

But year, Adam Sandler can s*** d*** to Ben Stiler anytime.

Collapse · Post by **Collapse** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 12:58 pm

That entire article is a guy complaining because MT is less funny and more romance based, and he's too impatient to wait for the plot to develop.

He does have some valid points, however. Especially the difficulty in keeping the characters straight. But overall, it just seems that he's disappointed because he went to see an action movie and got stuck seeing a romance.

Also, don't even bring bad taste into the mix, because with that many fans, how can you be sure you aren't the one with bad taste?

And newspaper comics... Boondocks, Frazz, Non Sequitor, Opus, Millard Fillmore, Baby Blues, Jump Start, Candorville, La Cucharacha, Doonesbury, Mutts (usually good), Drabble, For Better or For Worse, 9 Chickweed Lane, Blondie, Momma, In The Bleachers, Herman, Bizarro, Mr. Boffo, Sally Forth (usually good), Crankshaft, Pardon My Planet, and Billard Street. I don't read Cathy or Rex Morgan. The bad comics are Prickley City and The Meaning of Lila. Brewster Rockit is sort of on and off funny.

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 3:09 pm

collapse wrote:That entire article is a guy complaining because MT is less funny and more romance based, and he's too impatient to wait for the plot to develop.

He does have some valid points, however. Especially the difficulty in keeping the characters straight. But overall, it just seems that he's disappointed because he went to see an action movie and got stuck seeing a romance.

That's websnark? Then you probably got him wrong, he never advocates splash action. I read him explaining in several paragraphs why one particular romantic strip from CRFH is deep psychological characterisation.

Also, don't even bring bad taste into the mix, because with that many fans, how can you be sure you aren't the one with bad taste?

In my experience it is quite oposite. I can name just a several things from past that prooved to ge enough good to hold a trial of time. On the other hand, fashionable fads are everyday stuff, and if I was to question my taste over every little Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, Christina Aguilera or whoever becames popular - I wouldn't have enough time for anything else.

Collapse · Post by **Collapse** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 3:43 pm

It seems I've already managed to reach my status as the grouchy, abrasive, immature kid who argues a lot and nobody likes. (Haha Duff, I stole your job

)

Should I leave now, or do you want me to stick around for posterity?

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 3:48 pm

collapse wrote:It seems I've already managed to reach my status as the grouchy, abrasive, immature kid who argues a lot and nobody likes. (Haha Duff, I stole your job )

Should I leave now, or do you want me to stick around for posterity?

Well, Duff isn't really immature or abrassive. He's just very, very, sarcastic. And a little bitter.

By the way, you are always welcome as long you don't spam and flame or anything.

The Neko · Post by **The Neko** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 3:51 pm

PeppermintAfterlife wrote:
collapse wrote:It seems I've already managed to reach my status as the grouchy, abrasive, immature kid who argues a lot and nobody likes. (Haha Duff, I stole your job )

Should I leave now, or do you want me to stick around for posterity?
Well, Duff isn't really immature or abrassive. He's just very, very, sarcastic. And a little bitter.

Yeah, he's like... an embittered husk of a human being, or feline, or whatever.

Wp · Post by Wp » Fri Dec 24, 2004 3:51 pm

Even if you sometimes act like a jerk, we still love you.

Collapse · Post by **Collapse** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 5:37 pm

PeppermintAfterlife wrote: By the way, you are always welcome as long you don't spam and flame or anything.

Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Drink Dr. Pepper
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks
Peppermint sucks

...

Just kidding

(Except for the Dr. Pepper part)

Thanks guys. I know I used to get so bad I'd get kicked out of places left and right. I'm trying to be better.

Post by **STrRedWolf** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 6:42 pm

yeahduff wrote:People have bought millions of tickets for The Wedding Singer, The WaterBoy, Little Nicky, and Mr. Deeds, among others, I'm pretty sure.

I "bought" tickets for Eight Crazy Nights.... okay, I was employed there and was off duty, so I got in for free as a written perk of the old job.

Bustertheclown · Post by **Bustertheclown** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 6:52 pm

STrRedWolf wrote:
yeahduff wrote:People have bought millions of tickets for The Wedding Singer, The WaterBoy, Little Nicky, and Mr. Deeds, among others, I'm pretty sure.
I "bought" tickets for Eight Crazy Nights.... okay, I was employed there and was off duty, so I got in for free as a written perk of the old job.

I loved my days working for a movie theater. I even got to hold the actual Green Destiny once, because it was sent over from Sony as a promotional for the premier of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The theater I worked at was the only Sony theater in all of Seattle that opened the movie. Of course, the part I loved most was the drunken, midnight "technical screenings" of all of the movies we played. Those were just fun.

Phact0rri · Post by **Phact0rri** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 7:52 pm

STrRedWolf wrote:
yeahduff wrote:People have bought millions of tickets for The Wedding Singer, The WaterBoy, Little Nicky, and Mr. Deeds, among others, I'm pretty sure.
I "bought" tickets for Eight Crazy Nights.... okay, I was employed there and was off duty, so I got in for free as a written perk of the old job.

If you call that a "perk". *chuckle*

Col · Post by **Col** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 9:51 pm

collapse wrote:That entire article is a guy complaining because MT is less funny and more romance based, and he's too impatient to wait for the plot to develop.

He does have some valid points, however. Especially the difficulty in keeping the characters straight. But overall, it just seems that he's disappointed because he went to see an action movie and got stuck seeing a romance.

Wait for the plot to develop? The comic's been going for four years! I would think that'd be ample time to get a plot developing.

And the point of the article was that it changed from being a funny/romantic comic to a romantic comic with the funny thrown in for old times sake, but the funny isn't as good as it was before. The author was pointing out that Megatokyo had something going for it, but has now changed into something completely different that does not deliver the same product it had before, and the new product isn't as good (in his opinion).

collapse wrote:Also, don't even bring bad taste into the mix, because with that many fans, how can you be sure you aren't the one with bad taste?

I can bring bad taste into this if I want to because dubbing something as being in bad taste is a matter of opinion, and that happens to be mine. So sorry if I don't just blindly follow the masses, taking orders from the majority and liking what everyone else likes. Heaven forbid I don't enjoy what everyone else likes. As mcduffies pointed out, a lot of genres or interests that have a lot of fans tend to be downright horrible. Britney Spears, anyone? Nascar, anyone?

I agree on some of the newspaper comics you listed, but Blondie? That's been running the same jokes for the past fifteen years or more. At least The Norm is original/relatable to current times.

collapse wrote:It seems I've already managed to reach my status as the grouchy, abrasive, immature kid who argues a lot and nobody likes. (Haha Duff, I stole your job )

But... everyone likes Duff.

Chibiartstudios · Post by **Chibiartstudios** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 10:24 pm

OK. Now I feel bad for liking MT. Though I agree it has changed over the years. I think this is due to Largo and Piro "Breaking up" early on. Largo was the main comedic force in the comic and when he left alot of the humor went with him in exchance for a more coherent story. True, the comic isn't as good in the humor department as it used to be (I wish largo where still writing for a comic. I'd read it.) but I still like it none the less. The art is (like it or not) top notch and the writing is still good if you look at it as a romance and not a comedy. I just with they'd explain what is up with the goth chick already.

And for the manga wannabe thing? Eh... Can't really argue with that. Piro's wet dream is to be japaneese. Though I don't really care. Personally I like American attempts at Japaneese comic styles. It's not where you are born that determines your right to use an art style. It's how well you put that style to use. I guess I just don't see "He's not japaneese" as legitimate criticisim of art.

Toxic · Post by **Toxic** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 11:24 pm

PeppermintAfterlife wrote:
collapse wrote:It seems I've already managed to reach my status as the grouchy, abrasive, immature kid who argues a lot and nobody likes. (Haha Duff, I stole your job )

Should I leave now, or do you want me to stick around for posterity?
Well, Duff isn't really immature or abrassive. He's just very, very, sarcastic. And a little bitter.

By the way, you are always welcome as long you don't spam and flame or anything.

I don't like Yeahduff.

...

I love Yeahduff!

As sarcastic and bitter as he can seem, he is one of the smartest and most reasonable people here, and has excellent taste in movies and music.

Collapse · Post by **Collapse** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 11:54 pm

chibiartstudios wrote:OK. Now I feel bad for liking MT. Though I agree it has changed over the years. I think this is due to Largo and Piro "Breaking up" early on. Largo was the main comedic force in the comic and when he left alot of the humor went with him in exchance for a more coherent story. True, the comic isn't as good in the humor department as it used to be (I wish largo where still writing for a comic. I'd read it.) but I still like it none the less. The art is (like it or not) top notch and the writing is still good if you look at it as a romance and not a comedy. I just with they'd explain what is up with the goth chick already.

And for the manga wannabe thing? Eh... Can't really argue with that. Piro's wet dream is to be japaneese. Though I don't really care. Personally I like American attempts at Japaneese comic styles. It's not where you are born that determines your right to use an art style. It's how well you put that style to use. I guess I just don't see "He's not japaneese" as legitimate criticisim of art.

There, I like the way you put it.

I love Yeahduff! As sarcastic and bitter as he can seem, he is one of the smartest and most reasonable people here, and has excellent taste in movies and music.

But... he doesn't like the same movies I like! Therefore he has terrible taste!

I just think taste is a rediculously arbitrary concept. The only way to really define it would be by what the majority of the public thinks, and that's stupid. So instead of saying "good taste", can we say "similar opinions"?

Yeahduff · Post by **Yeahduff** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 12:20 am

Gah! I really need to adjust to this "acceptance" thing. You are all wonderful people (even you Collapse).

Taste. It varies and is based on opinion, but there are certain things you can look at and determine if it's good or not: depth, scope, execution, intent, innovation, rah rah rah. A lot of these involve a subjective view point to a degree, and often we let our subjectivity get in the way, but typically an objective analysis can be made about things that are supposed to be just an opinion. I might prefer to eat this hot dog, but let's be honest, that swordfish filet is of finer distinction, and one with four star taste in food would tell you that.

Also, yeah, any opinion is valid, but only if you can back it up. Give insightful reasons with support, and maybe I'll believe you. So in truth, taste is less about what you like than why and what you have to say about it.

American Anime bothers me because it's Americans adopting to a foreign style. Japanese draw like that because it comes from their cultural understanding of what a cartoon person is supposed to look like. There is large variance from person to person, but what the outsider notices about all of them is the huge eyes, elastic mouths , tiny noses and impossibly stylish hair, etc. An American deciding that's how they want to draw for me amounts to abandoning one's own personal touch, which is essential in the way many people read comics.

God, so much to respond to.

Collapse · Post by **Collapse** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 12:25 am

Bleh. At least it has facial expression. There's a Keenspace comic I read where the characters always appear to be smiling slightly, whether smiling slightly or angry or terrified. Just horrible facial expression. The artwork is otherwise good, and the story is good, so I still read it.

The name of the comic escapes me. If it helps, they just recently randomly changed to a completely different comic under the same site.

Edit: oh God, how did I forget...

Thanks, Duff

Collapse · Post by **Collapse** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 12:59 am

Man, it was driving me so crazy, I switched computers to find the site.

The expression has improved a lot, but here's an older page to show you what I mean. Look at the girl's face. She's supposed to be sad. For a long time, everyone always had that look. The girls still had it way after the guys started developing basic expression.

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 5:35 am

collapse wrote:It seems I've already managed to reach my status as the grouchy, abrasive, immature kid who argues a lot and nobody likes. (Haha Duff, I stole your job )

Should I leave now, or do you want me to stick around for posterity?

Eh man, if things were such, this forum would be too small for both me and Jim. (oh, wait, it is! Jim, get your elbow outta my chin!)

Can't really argue with that. Piro's wet dream is to be japaneese.

Anyone else gets idea for a comic?

Toxic · Post by **Toxic** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 12:23 pm

collapse wrote:Man, it was driving me so crazy, I switched computers to find the site.

The expression has improved a lot, but here's an older page to show you what I mean. Look at the girl's face. She's supposed to be sad. For a long time, everyone always had that look. The girls still had it way after the guys started developing basic expression.

I'm sure there's a logical explanation. Maybe she just got some bad lip implants. See, there's a positive message in that comic. Never get plastic surgery, be happy with what you have!