For instance, me:First, I gotta say, and this is no more closely related to the subject of the name change, it's on general issue of webcomics: I don't think uniting is a good way. In fact, it's an extremely bad way.
Good way is healthy competition.
Remember what it was like when Keenspot entertainment was the only serious webcomic host out there? Keenspace was highly unstable, there was no new spotted comic for a year, fab four seemed to be deaf for every voice from space. You can explain this finansially tough year and usual starting problems, I feel that there was a lack of good will, or, to define it better, some laziness on their side. With appearance of competition (MT but also DD, why not), Keenspot was, of course, forced to better, to invite new cartoonists to replace the ones that gave up, whether they had an energy to do that or not.
Now, for instance, if KeenSpace wasn't so much labeled as Spot's shadow, and without that syndrome that the ultimate goal is to be spotted, I think we'd have a different situation; One that might actually make fab four actually consider the idea about paying spacers again, and other good for space actions. Unfortunately, as it is now, they can rely on the fact that a popular comic (unless MT alredy got their hands on them, and MT still deals with relatively small number of comics) will eventually end up on Spot, if they wanted to. And of course, a very small number of comics will reject spotting, and I can't blame them.
This will change hugely when Webcomic Nation arrives, I think. In fear of best of Space moving to WN, Spotters will have to act, either by bettering the state of space or by inviting a load of them to spot. Sadly, I think it will be the second, but still, it might lead to positive changes. And this is only one clumsy example of what healthy competition might lead to.
So in short, I think development of webcomics lies in dividing, not integrating.
Point. But...Ghastly wrote: What I hate is the division within Keen. Keen used to be one big family, even if not happy all the time. It's evident now that Spot no longer wants to view Space as part of the Keen family.
josh l. wrote: Because we work for Keenspot. You don't. They just host your stuff.See what I mean?Gav wrote: The difference, of course, is that Keenspacers are customers and Keenspotters are employees.
[attention: following rant has not much relation with the topic]
I think the problem is (as well as lots of problems in communication) in translation general business rules too directly to internet business. It's also the cause of the argument with Striker about XXX thread, or on the other side argument about giving inside info to a larger circle of people, etc. Those were all misunderstandings derived from the fact that someone was applying laws derived from off-line business too directly, without any adjustment neccesary for dealing over internet.
That's why porn industry landed so well on internet, because they weren't copying from off-line business, but found their own ways that actually work on internet. Recently, other 'net companies are even rethinking the idea of using some porn industry business ways.
That's what one thing that was always bugging me. Scot McCloud wrote rants about the subscription model of MT as the perfect one, because it's so similar to the model of newspaper comics (you get the last one for free, but have to pay for the entire book/archives). But this thinking is wrong and very naive. As Teretrous once said, internet is about getting for free what you'd have to pay for otherwise. That means not only that people would find a way to get those comic free, but also, and more, that they'd satisfy with comics that are already free. And there'll always be free comics on internet. Thus, MT's business doesn't work as good as it's expected. And it wouldn't be even as good if there wasn't for some specifically internet-type business models that they apply (to see what I mean by that, check tac forum, for instance. With all those adds on top, left and bottom, it starts to seem like a bit add-overcrowded porn sites - and paradoxally, this is not so bad thing, as it guarantees advertisement to MT)
How does this apply to our case? By taking categories of "Employee" and "Customer" directly from off-line, and sticking them to on-line categories. Of course Space is artist-oriented, it has artist-oriented interface, with big "Log-in" button for artists on main page. But keenspace artists are, and this is a problem, not employees but certainly not customers either. I guess the closest term would be members but not totally accurate either. But back to "customer" term. Keenspace is community-based. It's main force are artists, and they're a lot to thank for what Keenspace got. Say, who's to thank for a good business of mcDonalds? Is it regular customers who bring the good atmosphere to the restaurant? Are bank account owners to thank for bank's good business? Not likely. Tagging keenspace artists as customers is downright silly. Though tagging them as employees would be a miss too. They're simply a new business category. I don't think Gav or Josh would like to hear this, but they appear as more nearsighted than average porn site owner.
Don't let something I said make you think that I think otherwise.But I don't want Space to reject Spot. I never have. That has never, ever been what I've been about. Everything I have argued for since almost the day I became a Spacer has been with the best intentions and betterment of all of Keen, Space and Spot alike, in mind. I have never been about tearing down Spot. I've never been about tearing down Space. I've been about the two working more closely together for the benefit of all Keen's artists.
Edit: I wrote Joel instead of Josh. meh,
I think this calls for a sip of siddy-soda.
