Ammunition

[Lightknight]

Then you do the footwork for me: scour this site alone (just to keep things easy on yourself) and come back with the numbers on how many "discussions" actually end with an amicable agreement on one side or the other vs those that end up being two people with bullhorns shouting at one another until they just stop.

Quite simply: prove today's comic wrong. That is your homework assignment for the day.

So now your argument is that more debates devolve into fruitless bickering than not? That's not something I disagree with. I quite agree that more of the arguments that I see devolve than those that don't. However, I can still posit that we don't really notice how many debates end in only a few responses. The debates I see are likely only seen because they go on for longer than agreements. Some people, once proven wrong, won't even respond and so an argument that looks like it was nothing but bickering and just cuts off could also be a situation where that has happened.

However, our brains are hard wired to a sort of fight or flight response when confronted with being wrong:

https://hbr.org/2013/02/break-your-addiction-to-being/

From this article, I'd say my success has been when I succeed in listening with empathy. It isn't all the time, but I do try.

Regarding collecting that data somehow proving the comic wrong, it's not synonymous with today's comic. Today's comic is just discussing what it's like to see your artwork be made part of an argument between two loud groups. It isn't saying that all debates devolve into anything. It is calling anyone who argues over their work idiots, which is awfully presumptive if not arrogant of the author. But as with most things they say and do I assume it's a joke. Because that's what they do for a living and they're good at it.

If only for a moment I wish I could live in the same enchanted internet world as you.

It's a magical place full of high quality Oculus Rift cosplay porn and answers to all of your questions just waiting to be asked for.

Oh you don't have to worry about me, my friend, I've long since given up trying to change people's minds on the internet. The other pic I could have posted instead of the one I went with was a little more offensive, containing the caption "Arguing over the internet is like competing in the Special Olympics: even if you win, you're still retarded."

Thanks for making me feel bad for smiling.

I think I'd be willing to differentiate between arguing and debating. Perhaps the distinction between arguing and debating could be made regarding whether or not either side is willing to learn or accept that they're wrong. That being said, I have been in a heated debate that I would clearly call an argument but that eventually turned into a meaningful discussion after I figured out a novel way to describe the information I had and it clicked for them.

As for the discussion we're currently having, I'm not saying that I never meet someone worth having a discussion with on the internet - this conversation is proof of that - but I stand by the notion that such conversations are the exception rather than the rule.

Aww, shucks. You're pretty good at treating me a like a human being too...

 

[Schadrach]

That is why content creators (ones who actually make stuff) need to ignore outragists using words like "problematic" and "uncomfortable".

And of course all of the modern words accusing the creator of having certain unapproved thoughts.

The trolls are like the bogeyman, they only have power if you give it to them.

Hi, fellow cubehead. Any plans on how to deal with those pyramidal bastards? =)

Now I wanna know what this is referencing.

Any of the various "your game is offensive!" outrage mobs, and the counter mobs that form to oppose them.

Most recently Pillars of Eternity, of which I am a cubehead (though to be fair, I am generally anti-pyramid, unless someone's pyramiding about actual quality and not the thematic, conceptual, or political). Though I haven't attacked PoE aside from stating my disappointment at Obsidian for caving to pyramids. I was a backer, I thoroughly enjoy the game, plan on playing it most of this weekend (aside from food, sleep, and an online Pathfinder campaign).

I find that no place requires me to Google things more than the Escapist. This time it failed me. What's a Menist?

It's the new term for MRA

I've never heard one called that. Like, ever. Is there some particular corner where it's used?

I mean, I've heard MRA, men's rights advocate, maen's human rights advocate, men's advocate. I've heard particular subgroups and related groups called father's rights advocate, father's advocate, MGTOW, Redpiller, and a few others. Never heard any of them call themselves a menist before.

Case in point: GamerGate is apparently still a thing.

GamerGate is a testimony to some people not caring how tarry a brush you take to them.

 

[CaitSeith]

A comic strip you don't like =/= a comic strip designed to offend you.

And then there is the irony of the people telling to those who get offended from intentionally offensive material to grow a thicker skin. Internet: so messed up, you gotta love it!

 

[The Almighty Aardvark]

Shinji was one of the best characters in japanese animation

I don't understand how anyone can claim he isn't funny anymore

Yeah, and I get that, but a bullet is still a bullet y'know? Its not like I'm coming in here trying to be a big bad "you're a hypocrite" douche bag - I was honestly just really confused and looking for a bit of an expansion on the topic. There's nothing wrong with being partisan and taking sides and making fun - shit, most nonserialized webcomics do this, and most successful ones do it a LOT. Its basically just part and parcel of the three to six panel non-story webcomic model. You take stances, you mock, you question.

I just couldn't help but wonder when I saw the comic, like, "this is your bread and butter dudes, why is it a problem?" I can get feeling for other artists when you see them get caught in the middle of a shitty situation, but it seems weird to approach it from a standpoint that makes it look like you don't like part of your own business model.

I think the distinction made here is that this comic is speaking about getting mad about something and reining down a hellstorm of fury over it (or over someone else getting mad about it). Using someone's work as fuel for your war. It's not saying that you can't criticize or make jokes about of an artist's work (or a fanbase).

 

[ForumSafari]

I honestly can't remember the last time I was angry about something non work related but lol, did the baiting comics finally catch a fish you couldn't land? Diddums.

 

[Pinky's Brain]

Oh come now, don't be a Dobson ... when you willfully poke a hornet nest full of morons don't play the innocent bystander card. Not the first time this happened, although I'll admit it was a bit unexpected for the Eva comics ... so I'll forgive you for those (well except for the fact that they weren't very funny).

I guess I agree that people being trollable is in and of itself funny and that making fun of that fact is very subtly different from actual trolling. You will eventually find that a large part of your audience is trollable one way or another though. So if you keep repeating the pattern you eventually run out of audience, even if you didn't mean to troll.

As I said, don't be a Dobson.

PS. ammunition is a good metaphor ... the bullet manufacturer isn't shooting people and animals, but they did design them to do exactly that.

PPS. I'm honestly surprised you didn't do a PC gamer entitlement comic for Bloodborne.

 

[Drops a Sweet Katana]

So on point, it's scary. Great job guys!

 

[Drops a Sweet Katana]

Oh come now, don't be a Dobson ... when you willfully poke a hornet nest full of morons don't play the innocent bystander card. Not the first time this happened, although I'll admit it was a bit unexpected for the Eva comics ... so I'll forgive you for those (well except for the fact that they weren't very funny).

I guess I agree that people being trollable is in and of itself funny and that making fun of that fact is very subtly different from actual trolling. You will eventually find that a large part of your audience is trollable one way or another though. So if you keep repeating the pattern you eventually run out of audience, even if you didn't mean to troll.

As I said, don't be a Dobson.

I'm not certain, but I'm fairly sure the comic is referring to the whole fiasco with Pillars of Eternity. Grey and Cory have made things that have rustled jimmies in the past, but they haven't done anything recently that would have coaxed this sort of response. Plus, they've never acted like the wounded party after creating a provocative comic in the past, so I wouldn't expect it now.

 

[medv4380]

I'm missing some context. I get the general scope of this strip, but did something in particular inspire this, or is this just pointing out the standard issues with how people interpret art.

 

[Drops a Sweet Katana]

I'm missing some context. I get the general scope of this strip, but did something in particular inspire this, or is this just pointing out the standard issues with how people interpret art.

Most likely the whole shit storm with Pillars of Eternity.

 

[medv4380]

I'm missing some context. I get the general scope of this strip, but did something in particular inspire this, or is this just pointing out the standard issues with how people interpret art.

Most likely the whole shit storm with Pillars of Eternity.

I'm still lost. Do you have a link, or a thread that details this. Up until the last few moments I'd heard nothing about Pillars of Eternity except for something about kick starter a few years back. I must have totally missed it's release due to taxes, and misc stuff.

 

[Drops a Sweet Katana]

I'm missing some context. I get the general scope of this strip, but did something in particular inspire this, or is this just pointing out the standard issues with how people interpret art.

Most likely the whole shit storm with Pillars of Eternity.

I'm still lost. Do you have a link, or a thread that details this. Up until the last few moments I'd heard nothing about Pillars of Eternity except for something about kick starter a few years back. I must have totally missed it's release due to taxes, and misc stuff.

Fair enough. The whole fiasco started with people taking offence with a backer-written epitaph in a location of the game which read:

'Here lies Firedorn, a hero in bed.
He once was alive but now he's dead.

The last woman he bedded turned out a man
and crying with shame, off a cliff he ran.'

Certain parties took this as transmisogynistic/transphobic and kicked up a fuss about it on social media. Obsidian contacted the guy who wrote it and he agreed to rewrite it to save the guys at Obsidian the headache. The limerick now reads:

'Here lies Firedorn, a bard, a poet.

He was also a card, but most did not know it.

A poem he wrote in jest was misread.

They asked for blood and now he is dead.'

That's the long and short of it. Hope that helps.

 

[draigodragon]

thats the point i think

 

[Atmos Duality]

A comic strip you don't like =/= a comic strip designed to offend you.

No, but making a strip as a callback to one of yours that did evoke offense (unintended or not), and then calling out those offended in analogy as a punchline kinda disproves that. Eliminate the prior outrage and the joke is lost.

And frankly, that's PERFECTLY FINE; Jokes can step on toes because comedy is irreverent.

But please, don't pretend you've never called upon prior outrage as a source of comedic material, or never written to provoke.
And I say that because I *LIKE* your comic. I like it, because it has the stones to mock gaming's more stupid elements, and especially its petty insecurities.

 

[ArcaneGamer]

Ammunition

We make bullets for idiots.

Read Full Article

A comic that's short, to the point, and it's message is easy to understand. I like it. Crazy, isn't it? Also, if YOU make the bullets...who makes the gun? Are they just throwing the bullets at each other?

 

[Rebel_Raven]

This is about that Pillars of Eternity poem?

Well, when it feels like hatred is leveled at you because of your lifestyle, and/or who you are things seem a lot different than when you're not the target. That's about all I have to say on it.

 

[BX3]

Wow...

...Normally with comics and stuff like this, I have a light, satisfactory luagh at, even if the tone is kinda stoic like this one. "Hah, hah, so true!" I'd say. "Ha, hah, you tell 'em Grey and Cory!". But this one, I couldn't. Maybe it's the sudden change in artstyle, maybe it's because I actually know an artist friend whose subject matter most would call "disreputable" or maybe it's because I've just been growing more and more bitter and jaded at general populous of the internet over the years... but this one was a real bummer.

Very blunt, very true, but a bummer. That's not a bad thing, I just wanted to state how I felt about the comic is all. According to it, we don't do that as often as we should.

Fair enough. The whole fiasco started with people taking offence with a backer-written epitaph in a location of the game which read:

'Here lies Firedorn, a hero in bed.
He once was alive but now he's dead.

The last woman he bedded turned out a man
and crying with shame, off a cliff he ran.'

Certain parties took this as transmisogynistic/transphobic and kicked up a fuss about it on social media. Obsidian contacted the guy who wrote it and he agreed to rewrite it to save the guys at Obsidian the headache. The limerick now reads:

'Here lies Firedorn, a bard, a poet.

He was also a card, but most did not know it.

A poem he wrote in jest was misread.

They asked for blood and now he is dead.'

That's the long and short of it. Hope that helps.

Well, at least this put me in better spirits.

Not sure what it says about me that the "revision" put a huge smile on my face, but either way, clever stuff.

EDIT*
Even if this isn't why the comic was made, out of pure curiosity I read up on the PoE thing. People boycotted the game for caving to pressure?? THAT'S what "caving" looks like?!

But it-- I mean it clearly takes sho-- I-if you would just re-- I don't underst--.... WELL WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT?! My bad mood is back!

 

[VanQ]

The MRA rebranded themselves
<spoiler=look>http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/01/20/24E0017D00000578-2918591-image-a-8_1421773272301.jpg

They really should've chosen something that wasn't already a religion. And didn't sound completely stupid.

The MRA rebranded themselves
<spoiler=look>http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/01/20/24E0017D00000578-2918591-image-a-8_1421773272301.jpg

They really should've chosen something that wasn't already a religion. And didn't sound completely stupid.

It's charming how dumb it is.

As far as I could tell, the word Meninist was coined to show just how ridiculous it is to claim to be for equality when using gendered terms to describe yourself and others. Such as Feminism being for all that is good and Patriarchy for all that is bad.

As with all jokes though, some people take them seriously and run with it. See: Bronies.

 

[OverEZ]

I can't figure you guys out.

So I won't. Draw on.

 

[LetalisK]

I was expecting this to be much more of a jimmy-rustler than it seems to be, but then I've not been getting my panties twisted over these recent artroversies.

Me likey.

The funny this is, the people who should have their jimmies rustled probably don't even think it's about them and it's about the "other" side. Lack of self-awareness and self-reflection.