Conversations From the Comic Book Store
January 25, 2016 7:31 AM Subscribe
It's a known fact that people in comic stores say things. It's undeniable that many of these things are inane, oblivious, foolish, and occasionally perspicacious. Comic book owner and artist Tim Chamberlain, aka MrTim, chronicles his customers' conversations in his webcomic, Our Valued Customers.
I was thinking this about reading history, but it's apparently true of everything that people believe about life : we tend to think we are able to explain the world, but really we're just flailing around in the dark. We're alive for a little while, ardently believing that there has never been a Superman television show and using that to argue something about the world, then we die in ignorance and vanish as if we'd never been. Humans are pretty sad, actually.
posted by Frowner at 7:42 AM on January 25, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 7:42 AM on January 25, 2016 [9 favorites]
This one can't possibly be real, right? Right?
posted by Wretch729 at 7:49 AM on January 25, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Wretch729 at 7:49 AM on January 25, 2016 [5 favorites]
If I was a customer of that shop, I'd certainly stop being a customer of that shop after seeing these.
posted by jacquilynne at 7:49 AM on January 25, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 7:49 AM on January 25, 2016 [16 favorites]
If there's one thing worse than the general public, it's customers. Did you know that all these people can vote?
posted by Segundus at 7:50 AM on January 25, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Segundus at 7:50 AM on January 25, 2016 [6 favorites]
Neat thing is, he's laughing with rather than at the customers at least half the time.
posted by edheil at 7:52 AM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by edheil at 7:52 AM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
Don't say that Segundus. The only thing protecting my fragile grasp on compassion is that some of these have to be depicting people below the minimum age requirement to vote.
posted by Wretch729 at 7:53 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Wretch729 at 7:53 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
Were I able to draw, I would have loved to have done this for the near decade I was a barista. Shit, doing this for anyone who has ever worked retail, really.
posted by Kitteh at 7:53 AM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 7:53 AM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
Neat thing is, he's laughing with rather than at the customers at least half the time.
Takes a lot of care in precisely recreating zits and spittle on even those ones, though.
posted by Etrigan at 7:56 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
Takes a lot of care in precisely recreating zits and spittle on even those ones, though.
posted by Etrigan at 7:56 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
Other classics in the genre:
Not Always Right - Customer service horror stories. For the other side, see sister site Not Always Working
How May We Hate You? - Stories from 2 hotel concierges in Times Square
posted by Wretch729 at 7:57 AM on January 25, 2016 [10 favorites]
Not Always Right - Customer service horror stories. For the other side, see sister site Not Always Working
How May We Hate You? - Stories from 2 hotel concierges in Times Square
posted by Wretch729 at 7:57 AM on January 25, 2016 [10 favorites]
Neat thing is, he's laughing with rather than at the customers at least half the time.
Really? I didn't get that sense at all. Especially with the art lovingly designed to make every person look like they smell bad and have never heard of a dentist.
posted by jacquilynne at 7:59 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
Really? I didn't get that sense at all. Especially with the art lovingly designed to make every person look like they smell bad and have never heard of a dentist.
posted by jacquilynne at 7:59 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
I've never worked in a comic shop, but I did spend a good chunk of my 20s as a flunky, then manager / buyer in a used book and record store, and the experience was very, very similar. I went in a fresh-faced, mostly optimistic kid and left a bitter, stoned misanthrope.
posted by ryanshepard at 8:02 AM on January 25, 2016
posted by ryanshepard at 8:02 AM on January 25, 2016
Another video game store owner. Previously.
posted by jeribus at 8:03 AM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by jeribus at 8:03 AM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
Somehow my local comic store is not operated by assholes, nor is it constantly full of assholes. I suspect there may be a connection.
posted by selfnoise at 8:04 AM on January 25, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by selfnoise at 8:04 AM on January 25, 2016 [5 favorites]
Someone once asked me if we massaged our kale. I did not say that I usually like to take it out for a drink first, and I want you all to be proud of me for that.
In other words, customers are weird and I will be binge-reading all of these.
posted by kalimac at 8:13 AM on January 25, 2016 [6 favorites]
In other words, customers are weird and I will be binge-reading all of these.
posted by kalimac at 8:13 AM on January 25, 2016 [6 favorites]
I know all of these people.
Luckily, as an alternative comix guy, not into superhero stuff or a lot of the other classics, I wasn't drawn into these conversations, but safely ignored. I was beneath contempt, and didn't merit being enlightened by these guys.
Get in, look for new stuff, see there's no new stuff, get out. Minimize your time in the comic book store. Maddening things happen there.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:14 AM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
Luckily, as an alternative comix guy, not into superhero stuff or a lot of the other classics, I wasn't drawn into these conversations, but safely ignored. I was beneath contempt, and didn't merit being enlightened by these guys.
Get in, look for new stuff, see there's no new stuff, get out. Minimize your time in the comic book store. Maddening things happen there.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:14 AM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
Really? I didn't get that sense at all.
Notice how he tags the comics with "it's true" or "jus folks" half of the time. The ones he doesn't like get tags like "jerks", "crazy people" and so on.
FWIW, I just wish he had done a google search before the "fake geek girls" post.
posted by sukeban at 8:17 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
Notice how he tags the comics with "it's true" or "jus folks" half of the time. The ones he doesn't like get tags like "jerks", "crazy people" and so on.
FWIW, I just wish he had done a google search before the "fake geek girls" post.
posted by sukeban at 8:17 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
I don't know, these kind of blogs leave me with the impression that the greatest sin one can commit is actually daring to enter your store, restaurant, or hotel. Fuck the human garbage who do that, look at what idiots they are.
posted by Sangermaine at 8:24 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Sangermaine at 8:24 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
First you herp, then you derp, then all the rest comes naturally...
posted by Samizdata at 8:33 AM on January 25, 2016
posted by Samizdata at 8:33 AM on January 25, 2016
I worked in a comics shop when I was in grad school in the 90s and, agree or disagree with the commentary, the whole thing rings true to me.
posted by immlass at 8:33 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by immlass at 8:33 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
IDK; having been a part of various um enthusiast cohorts, I much prefer the ones that can enjoy a knowing laugh at themselves. I enjoy these.
posted by sandettie light vessel automatic at 8:49 AM on January 25, 2016
posted by sandettie light vessel automatic at 8:49 AM on January 25, 2016
If I was a customer of that shop, I'd certainly stop being a customer of that shop after seeing these.
Comic Book Guy wasn't made up out of thin air, you know
posted by Dr. Twist at 8:50 AM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
Comic Book Guy wasn't made up out of thin air, you know
posted by Dr. Twist at 8:50 AM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
> I've never worked in a comic shop, but I did spend a good chunk of my 20s as a flunky, then manager / buyer in a used book and record store, and the experience was very, very similar. I went in a fresh-faced, mostly optimistic kid and left a bitter, stoned misanthrope.
I was in a record store a couple of weeks ago and listened to two 20-something dudes get in a passive-aggressivedick record collection measuring contest for like half an hour: "I've got the German/Japanese/whatever pressing of [ALBUM]." "The one with the red/white/whatever label? I've got the [RARER PRESSING]." "Yeah, but does it have the poster and stickers? Mine does." Etc., etc., etc. Every now and again the ornery store owner would pipe in: "ACTUALLY, the [NATIONALITY] pressing of [ALBUM] didn't *have* the stickers." It was both hilarious and nauseating.
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:00 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
I was in a record store a couple of weeks ago and listened to two 20-something dudes get in a passive-aggressive
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:00 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
Quite a few of these show people who seem to having a knowing laugh at the absurdity of their own behaviour. Others are stepping up to challenge the crap their friends are saying. The resulting cartoons are by no means all bile, and what sneering they do contain strikes me as being richly deserved.
I've just wasted way to much of the afternoon reading them, and I've still got over 800 to go.
posted by Paul Slade at 9:00 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
I've just wasted way to much of the afternoon reading them, and I've still got over 800 to go.
posted by Paul Slade at 9:00 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
I dunno. There's this tension between feeling that you're being observed, maybe critically and also maybe unfairly, and then having the observations mockingly reported to the world - which feels really bad! And how much is it deserved for ordinary foolishness?...and the fact that when people say and do petty mean judgy shit, it creates a bad social climate for others. People who are sneery jerks (and maybe sexist sneery jerks) in public have an effect on their social milieu, and documenting bad behavior can help create a consensus about what good behavior is.
Like, there's totally a way to discuss your rare Japanese pressing of whatever album without being a jerk, and we should all incline that way.
posted by Frowner at 9:12 AM on January 25, 2016 [6 favorites]
Like, there's totally a way to discuss your rare Japanese pressing of whatever album without being a jerk, and we should all incline that way.
posted by Frowner at 9:12 AM on January 25, 2016 [6 favorites]
This comic appears in the local free weekly alternative paper. It's the first thing I read in it while waiting for my burrito and it's printed in ink on actual paper. I feel like I'm LARPing the 1990s.
posted by benito.strauss at 9:15 AM on January 25, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by benito.strauss at 9:15 AM on January 25, 2016 [8 favorites]
I don't know, these kind of blogs leave me with the impression that the greatest sin one can commit is actually daring to enter your store, restaurant, or hotel. Fuck the human garbage who do that, look at what idiots they are.
I dunno, I guess my response to that is when you've worked at a store/restaurant/hotel, you wouldn't be surprised at just how shitty people will treat you because of the job you work. This is definitely not to say everyone treats staff like that but when the people who do do it constantly, then yeah, you're going to blow off steam by writing an anonymous blog or cartoon chronicling at how people make you feel like you're worth nothing all the damn time.
posted by Kitteh at 9:15 AM on January 25, 2016 [9 favorites]
I dunno, I guess my response to that is when you've worked at a store/restaurant/hotel, you wouldn't be surprised at just how shitty people will treat you because of the job you work. This is definitely not to say everyone treats staff like that but when the people who do do it constantly, then yeah, you're going to blow off steam by writing an anonymous blog or cartoon chronicling at how people make you feel like you're worth nothing all the damn time.
posted by Kitteh at 9:15 AM on January 25, 2016 [9 favorites]
I dunno, I guess my response to that is when you've worked at a store/restaurant/hotel, you wouldn't be surprised at just how shitty people will treat you because of the job you work.
There's a shockingly large number of people in the world who think being an asshole to service workers is something that they're entitled to, or even the right way to be. That we don't have some means of identifying these people and confining them on some kind of an island is one of our society's many failings.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:25 AM on January 25, 2016 [17 favorites]
There's a shockingly large number of people in the world who think being an asshole to service workers is something that they're entitled to, or even the right way to be. That we don't have some means of identifying these people and confining them on some kind of an island is one of our society's many failings.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:25 AM on January 25, 2016 [17 favorites]
I dunno, I guess my response to that is when you've worked at a store/restaurant/hotel, you wouldn't be surprised at just how shitty people will treat you because of the job you work.
I worked for almost five years at a Burger King in the 1980s. Not just any Burger King, but a shitty truck stop Burger King where half the staff were there on work release from the local prison and half the customers had just driven from the West Coast, hadn't bathed since they left, and were most likely on speed. I now work at a white collar job in a world-class IT department at a pretty prestigious hospital.
The percentage of stupid and shitty people is about the same.
posted by bondcliff at 9:26 AM on January 25, 2016 [22 favorites]
I worked for almost five years at a Burger King in the 1980s. Not just any Burger King, but a shitty truck stop Burger King where half the staff were there on work release from the local prison and half the customers had just driven from the West Coast, hadn't bathed since they left, and were most likely on speed. I now work at a white collar job in a world-class IT department at a pretty prestigious hospital.
The percentage of stupid and shitty people is about the same.
posted by bondcliff at 9:26 AM on January 25, 2016 [22 favorites]
This one was pretty funny, and I didn't get the impression the artist was sneering at the customer for saying it.
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:32 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:32 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
If you think this is too mean you should probably avoid Evan Dorkin's Eltingville stories.
posted by Artw at 9:33 AM on January 25, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Artw at 9:33 AM on January 25, 2016 [8 favorites]
I'm getting the impression that half of you worked in retail and sympathize with the artist, while the other half are comic book store customers who are remembering stupid things they once said in public. (No doubt when you were younger. Much younger.)
posted by clawsoon at 9:42 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 9:42 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
I dunno, I guess my response to that is when you've worked at a store/restaurant/hotel, you wouldn't be surprised at just how shitty people will treat you because of the job you work.
I've only gone back about six months, but I haven't seen one of these yet that was people treating the staff shittily. This one is as close as I could find, but it's clearly titled "To his friend...".
posted by Etrigan at 9:42 AM on January 25, 2016
I've only gone back about six months, but I haven't seen one of these yet that was people treating the staff shittily. This one is as close as I could find, but it's clearly titled "To his friend...".
posted by Etrigan at 9:42 AM on January 25, 2016
Metafilter: It's like that thing where something is funny ... but like it isn't? Cuz they make all the jokes too hard for anyone to get an' like, it's all like, whatever but it's cool cuz like, it's meta. Y'know?
posted by carter at 9:43 AM on January 25, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by carter at 9:43 AM on January 25, 2016 [6 favorites]
I like the idea and the quotes are funny, but it's hard to laugh at, because the caricature-style drawings just make the whole thing seem a little mean spirited to me. I would much prefer a non-always-right format (either the text or the comic strip).
posted by yeolcoatl at 9:52 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by yeolcoatl at 9:52 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
The customer service angle came in upthread when How Can We Hate You? and Not Always Right were linked.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:53 AM on January 25, 2016
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:53 AM on January 25, 2016
This is where I'm grateful to be a fortysomething woman who reads comics: the "I don't give a fuck" rays I emit now as a middle-aged person have vaporized all the commentary that my mere presence and/or selections elicited from ages 11 through 40. I suspect I'm invisible to the blogger sketching out his customers, and that is just fine by me.
posted by sobell at 9:57 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by sobell at 9:57 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
Nothing made me feel grosser for liking comics then walking into most comic book stores.
posted by The Whelk at 9:59 AM on January 25, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 9:59 AM on January 25, 2016 [11 favorites]
Not actually customer service, but I remember dealing with dolts calling in all the time when I was working Master Control overnight/early mornings for a local television station. At that time of day, Master Control are the only people at the station, making sure everything is running smoothly.
So most of the time, it would be a quiet night, but once every few weeks, we'd have some random yahoo calling in complaining that "their show/sports" weren't on the television. They would complain of the schedule they had, and how they wanted me to make it right.
Well, considering advertising pays the bills in television, not the people watching the broadcasts, I would generally attempt to politely explain to them that, whatever schedule they might have, I was in possession of the most current schedule that exists for the station, and I'm sure of it, because I am required to follow it to the letter throughout my shift. Thus, obviously the schedule they are referring to is wrong, and there is nothing I can or will do for them. This would either lead to a small amount of arguing back and forth and me hanging up on them, or me simply saying "You don't pay our bills or make our schedules, sorry." and hanging up on them. Sometimes, when I wasn't feeling as generous, I wouldn't even bother with being polite.
I'm glad I got to experience that, because the horrendous aspect of never being able to tell a customer they are genuinely being an idiot has indeed been the worst part of the retail jobs I've worked since the local television industry began to seriously collapse.
Because seriously, there is nothing like being able to tell an idiot they are being an idiot, especially when they are harassing you at work.
Also, on a more related note, I've never heard anything but interesting conversations every time I go inside Fantagraphics, but then they really do cater to the underground/art nerd comic book set.
posted by deadaluspark at 10:00 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
So most of the time, it would be a quiet night, but once every few weeks, we'd have some random yahoo calling in complaining that "their show/sports" weren't on the television. They would complain of the schedule they had, and how they wanted me to make it right.
Well, considering advertising pays the bills in television, not the people watching the broadcasts, I would generally attempt to politely explain to them that, whatever schedule they might have, I was in possession of the most current schedule that exists for the station, and I'm sure of it, because I am required to follow it to the letter throughout my shift. Thus, obviously the schedule they are referring to is wrong, and there is nothing I can or will do for them. This would either lead to a small amount of arguing back and forth and me hanging up on them, or me simply saying "You don't pay our bills or make our schedules, sorry." and hanging up on them. Sometimes, when I wasn't feeling as generous, I wouldn't even bother with being polite.
I'm glad I got to experience that, because the horrendous aspect of never being able to tell a customer they are genuinely being an idiot has indeed been the worst part of the retail jobs I've worked since the local television industry began to seriously collapse.
Because seriously, there is nothing like being able to tell an idiot they are being an idiot, especially when they are harassing you at work.
Also, on a more related note, I've never heard anything but interesting conversations every time I go inside Fantagraphics, but then they really do cater to the underground/art nerd comic book set.
posted by deadaluspark at 10:00 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
jacquilynne: "Really? I didn't get that sense at all. Especially with the art lovingly designed to make every person look like they smell bad and have never heard of a dentist.
"
I thought that was just a style thing. Even his own picture in the sidebar is in the same style.
posted by boo_radley at 10:05 AM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
"
I thought that was just a style thing. Even his own picture in the sidebar is in the same style.
posted by boo_radley at 10:05 AM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
There are nice comic book stores! With nice customers! Just, ehh, plenty like this as well.
posted by Artw at 10:09 AM on January 25, 2016
posted by Artw at 10:09 AM on January 25, 2016
Wretch729: This one can't possibly be real, right? Right?
Oh, you bet it can. I remember not long after one of the latter books came out, an HP fan on LiveJournal (no surprise there) wrote a bitter rant about losing a Harry Potter costume contest to a young child at a bookstore that was allowing the winner to be the first one to have a copy of the book at the official uncrating; the adult fan ended with the wish that she'd stabbed the child in the eye with her wand. There's also this Truth in the Onion.
Lots of other truth moments here, like this one--I don't much give a shit about pro sports, but I'm pretty sure that the fans don't gatekeep the way geeks do, although you may have some fans bitching about johnnies-come-lately taking all the good seats, I dunno. And I can vouch for just about all the Star Trek ones, although note the ones that also have the "it's true" tag.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:16 AM on January 25, 2016
Oh, you bet it can. I remember not long after one of the latter books came out, an HP fan on LiveJournal (no surprise there) wrote a bitter rant about losing a Harry Potter costume contest to a young child at a bookstore that was allowing the winner to be the first one to have a copy of the book at the official uncrating; the adult fan ended with the wish that she'd stabbed the child in the eye with her wand. There's also this Truth in the Onion.
Lots of other truth moments here, like this one--I don't much give a shit about pro sports, but I'm pretty sure that the fans don't gatekeep the way geeks do, although you may have some fans bitching about johnnies-come-lately taking all the good seats, I dunno. And I can vouch for just about all the Star Trek ones, although note the ones that also have the "it's true" tag.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:16 AM on January 25, 2016
I'm getting the impression that half of you worked in retail and sympathize with the artist, while the other half are comic book store customers who are remembering stupid things they once said in public. (No doubt when you were younger. Much younger.)
What about those of us who've worked retail but are still turned off by the comic's vibe? I agree that it's the drawing style that seems particularly mean-spirited. I can see that it's just his style, cause he draws even people he agrees with that unflattering way, but it gives the whole blog a "people of Walmart" vibe.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 10:18 AM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
What about those of us who've worked retail but are still turned off by the comic's vibe? I agree that it's the drawing style that seems particularly mean-spirited. I can see that it's just his style, cause he draws even people he agrees with that unflattering way, but it gives the whole blog a "people of Walmart" vibe.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 10:18 AM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
Two from Hayley Campbell:
37 Things You Learn From Working In A Comic Shop [nsfw]
An Open Letter to the Guy Waiting in the Corner of this Comic Book Shop
posted by middleclasstool at 10:20 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
37 Things You Learn From Working In A Comic Shop [nsfw]
An Open Letter to the Guy Waiting in the Corner of this Comic Book Shop
posted by middleclasstool at 10:20 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
Halloween Jack - I guess it's good to know I do have a limit. I mean, I am an embarrassingly huge Potter fan and will absolutely have internet fights about various Potter esoterica (some of them here on Metafilter!), but at least I won't pretend it's not a series primarily intended for children.
posted by Wretch729 at 10:33 AM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Wretch729 at 10:33 AM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
Lots of other truth moments here, like this one--I don't much give a shit about pro sports, but I'm pretty sure that the fans don't gatekeep the way geeks do, although you may have some fans bitching about johnnies-come-lately taking all the good seats, I dunno.
You would be wrong. Whenever a team comes into success (especially if it's a sudden, unexpected success), that team's community ends up having huge amounts of "All these fake fans jumping on the bandwagon suck!" discussions. Studies have even been done on which teams have the most bandwagon fans.
posted by Etrigan at 10:54 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
You would be wrong. Whenever a team comes into success (especially if it's a sudden, unexpected success), that team's community ends up having huge amounts of "All these fake fans jumping on the bandwagon suck!" discussions. Studies have even been done on which teams have the most bandwagon fans.
posted by Etrigan at 10:54 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
Reminds me of the time I went to a book signing by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle at a science fiction bookstore in Los Angeles. As I entered I glanced around and said, "These ARE my people!" Then I took a closer look and said, "THESE are my people?!"
posted by Standeck at 10:54 AM on January 25, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by Standeck at 10:54 AM on January 25, 2016 [10 favorites]
I observe that sometimes people in comic book stores, SF bookstores and other sites of fandom (including independent cinema and comp lit/philosophy spaces) sometimes have mean/snippy/judgy conversations because they are afraid of looking stupid or weak. So they come off as mean-spirited bullies in a way that is totally out of line with how they actually act and even what they actually believe.
Honestly, I think that both mocking bad tropes and modeling good ones are important in making these spaces reflect the better parts of fan cultures rather than the worse.
posted by Frowner at 11:15 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
Honestly, I think that both mocking bad tropes and modeling good ones are important in making these spaces reflect the better parts of fan cultures rather than the worse.
posted by Frowner at 11:15 AM on January 25, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'm getting the impression that half of you worked in retail and sympathize with the artist, while the other half are comic book store customers who are remembering stupid things they once said in public.
I've worked retail, but I still don't sympathize with the artist. I like Not Always Right and I don't like this, and I think the difference is for two main reasons. One, Not Always Right isn't (usually) a cartoon, so it doesn't have mean-spirited art to accompany it. Two, because everything is submitted by different people, it doesn't have the same sense that one person thinks all their customers are basically horrible all the time.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:30 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
I've worked retail, but I still don't sympathize with the artist. I like Not Always Right and I don't like this, and I think the difference is for two main reasons. One, Not Always Right isn't (usually) a cartoon, so it doesn't have mean-spirited art to accompany it. Two, because everything is submitted by different people, it doesn't have the same sense that one person thinks all their customers are basically horrible all the time.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:30 AM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
I've worked retail, and ran a comic shop for three years while in college, and have known every type he depicts. I still think it's mean-spirited and rude to mock his customers like this, and horribly unfunny. Yes, some of the comics are winky or sympathetic, but many are just making stupid people look stupid.
Which is fine I guess, but still mean-spirited, and they are after all the people whose money keeps that store in business and its employees' paychecks paid. If I were his customer and found these, I'd never go back to his store. Mockery is still mockery, even if deserved, and mockery leads to contempt, which is always corrosive.
(on non-preview, jinx jacquilynne!)
posted by LooseFilter at 11:32 AM on January 25, 2016
Which is fine I guess, but still mean-spirited, and they are after all the people whose money keeps that store in business and its employees' paychecks paid. If I were his customer and found these, I'd never go back to his store. Mockery is still mockery, even if deserved, and mockery leads to contempt, which is always corrosive.
(on non-preview, jinx jacquilynne!)
posted by LooseFilter at 11:32 AM on January 25, 2016
Ctrl-F "gord". . . No results?!
Well, people, you all need this link: http://www.actsofgord.com
(On edit: sorry, Jeribus, I missed your link.)
posted by wenestvedt at 11:53 AM on January 25, 2016
Well, people, you all need this link: http://www.actsofgord.com
(On edit: sorry, Jeribus, I missed your link.)
posted by wenestvedt at 11:53 AM on January 25, 2016
I'm not even supposed to be here today.
posted by Artw at 11:54 AM on January 25, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Artw at 11:54 AM on January 25, 2016 [7 favorites]
> There's a shockingly large number of people in the world who think being an asshole to service workers is something that they're entitled to, or even the right way to be.
I think I've said this here before, but when I met my wife she was working at a coffee shop and she told me that a sizable number of people weren't paying for the coffee, they were paying for what they perceived as the right to treat somebody like crap.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:58 AM on January 25, 2016 [7 favorites]
I think I've said this here before, but when I met my wife she was working at a coffee shop and she told me that a sizable number of people weren't paying for the coffee, they were paying for what they perceived as the right to treat somebody like crap.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:58 AM on January 25, 2016 [7 favorites]
I think I've said this here before, but when I met my wife she was working at a coffee shop and she told me that a sizable number of people weren't paying for the coffee, they were paying for what they perceived as the right to treat somebody like crap.
Yup, with an added bonus of "I am well within my rights to make sexist comments to this female barista because all women LOVE being hit on like this at their place of employment."
posted by Kitteh at 12:00 PM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yup, with an added bonus of "I am well within my rights to make sexist comments to this female barista because all women LOVE being hit on like this at their place of employment."
posted by Kitteh at 12:00 PM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
Honestly, I think that both mocking bad tropes and modeling good ones are important in making these spaces reflect the better parts of fan cultures rather than the worse.
But that's not what's happening here. If you look through them, the vast majority of these strips are just customers saying dumb or silly things. Sure, ranting about Superman's rebirth being unrealistic or the endless Star Wars stuff is silly, but why exactly do they deserve public shaming? The only "mean-spirited bull[ying]" is mocking them for their harmless conversations.
It's weird to see MetaFilter defending what is basically bullying. If there's one place in the world a comic book fan should be able to have conversations about comic book silliness without being mocked it's in a comic book shop.
posted by Sangermaine at 12:10 PM on January 25, 2016
But that's not what's happening here. If you look through them, the vast majority of these strips are just customers saying dumb or silly things. Sure, ranting about Superman's rebirth being unrealistic or the endless Star Wars stuff is silly, but why exactly do they deserve public shaming? The only "mean-spirited bull[ying]" is mocking them for their harmless conversations.
It's weird to see MetaFilter defending what is basically bullying. If there's one place in the world a comic book fan should be able to have conversations about comic book silliness without being mocked it's in a comic book shop.
posted by Sangermaine at 12:10 PM on January 25, 2016
I thought it was funny and especially related to the Quentin Tarintino one. Everyone’s not being mocked, it’s just reports of things people said. If you take it as mocking maybe that’s because you think what they said was stupid.
posted by bongo_x at 12:23 PM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by bongo_x at 12:23 PM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
what is basically bullying
Posting anonymized, overheard snippets of conversation is not bullying.
posted by sandettie light vessel automatic at 12:35 PM on January 25, 2016 [14 favorites]
Posting anonymized, overheard snippets of conversation is not bullying.
posted by sandettie light vessel automatic at 12:35 PM on January 25, 2016 [14 favorites]
I think it's less that guys think women love being hit on at work (although I'm sure some do) than it is that they know the women are generally not in a position to make a scene and will have to put up with it.
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:35 PM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:35 PM on January 25, 2016 [2 favorites]
Some of this is pure gold. I'm totally stealing this
posted by lumpenprole at 1:36 PM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by lumpenprole at 1:36 PM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
Posting anonymized, overheard snippets of conversation is not bullying.
I will agree with this, if only on the "least bad thing" about what comes down to "enlightenment disease."
I have "foot in mouth disease." I will sometimes say some really stupid, inane, and utterly wrong things. I have learned to be very comfortable with this condition. Often, I will make these statements in public spaces where others can overhear my conversation. I am ok with this. I do not really care what someone I do not know, and who is not part of that conversation thinks of my ramblings.
I am, however, aware that I make stupid statements ALL THE TIME. When I remember conversations I've had, I cringe inwardly, as I know that many times, to an outside observer, I look like a fool and an idiot. This is ok. This is how I learn. I put forth a proposal or idea, and then see what the reaction is of the other party or parties. Some times, the reaction is good and a very fun conversation is had by all involved. Some times, the reaction is not good, and I learn that this avenue of inquiry is not acceptable. In some respects, this is how we all learn how to communicate with the people around us.
The one thing I hope to never do is be a gatekeeper, or to make someone feel stupid for having an opinion or observation on anything. I know that I will inquire as to how they come to said opinion or observation, and I will interrogate them until the cows come home, and try to offer up any information that I might have on said subject, or even on-the-fly come up with my own opinion or observation. This does not mean I want them to feel bad about their opinion or observation. I hope they realize that. I know that often, due to a myriad of factors and other strange things about human interaction that I come across as an asshole. I try to be better, when I realize this, but often, if I do not have any feedback from the other parties, I do not know that I am, in fact, being an asshole.
I am more than happy when someone tells me that "your ideas are bad, and you should feel bad for thinking them." Especially when they are wrong. Even more so when I am wrong. I do wish more people could say the same. It is not a part of our shared culture, and would go a long way to resolving a lot of social problems (especially if people in positions of power could do so without losing face). But that is not how things are (for now).
These comics, to a greater degree, are simple outlets of frustration at being placed (by choice, or not) in a position to observe a whole lot of very silly things. Rather than being "that guy" and correcting every person who unabashedly shows their lack of self-awareness or not, they have used it as a way of sharing their pain and amusement at the things that they have observed. I will not say that it is a neutral observation, but it is at least somewhat amusing, even if it carries a heavy dose of possible mean-spiritedness. At least from what I have read, it does not break the cardinal rule of jokes. It does not make fun of the people for things they cannot change. And I welcome any argument that either confirms or argues against that statement.
posted by daq at 2:11 PM on January 25, 2016
I will agree with this, if only on the "least bad thing" about what comes down to "enlightenment disease."
I have "foot in mouth disease." I will sometimes say some really stupid, inane, and utterly wrong things. I have learned to be very comfortable with this condition. Often, I will make these statements in public spaces where others can overhear my conversation. I am ok with this. I do not really care what someone I do not know, and who is not part of that conversation thinks of my ramblings.
I am, however, aware that I make stupid statements ALL THE TIME. When I remember conversations I've had, I cringe inwardly, as I know that many times, to an outside observer, I look like a fool and an idiot. This is ok. This is how I learn. I put forth a proposal or idea, and then see what the reaction is of the other party or parties. Some times, the reaction is good and a very fun conversation is had by all involved. Some times, the reaction is not good, and I learn that this avenue of inquiry is not acceptable. In some respects, this is how we all learn how to communicate with the people around us.
The one thing I hope to never do is be a gatekeeper, or to make someone feel stupid for having an opinion or observation on anything. I know that I will inquire as to how they come to said opinion or observation, and I will interrogate them until the cows come home, and try to offer up any information that I might have on said subject, or even on-the-fly come up with my own opinion or observation. This does not mean I want them to feel bad about their opinion or observation. I hope they realize that. I know that often, due to a myriad of factors and other strange things about human interaction that I come across as an asshole. I try to be better, when I realize this, but often, if I do not have any feedback from the other parties, I do not know that I am, in fact, being an asshole.
I am more than happy when someone tells me that "your ideas are bad, and you should feel bad for thinking them." Especially when they are wrong. Even more so when I am wrong. I do wish more people could say the same. It is not a part of our shared culture, and would go a long way to resolving a lot of social problems (especially if people in positions of power could do so without losing face). But that is not how things are (for now).
These comics, to a greater degree, are simple outlets of frustration at being placed (by choice, or not) in a position to observe a whole lot of very silly things. Rather than being "that guy" and correcting every person who unabashedly shows their lack of self-awareness or not, they have used it as a way of sharing their pain and amusement at the things that they have observed. I will not say that it is a neutral observation, but it is at least somewhat amusing, even if it carries a heavy dose of possible mean-spiritedness. At least from what I have read, it does not break the cardinal rule of jokes. It does not make fun of the people for things they cannot change. And I welcome any argument that either confirms or argues against that statement.
posted by daq at 2:11 PM on January 25, 2016
If you take it as mocking maybe that’s because you think what they said was stupid.
Well, the artwork is--to say the least--not flattering portrayals of the speakers, either. I agree that many of the quotes he illustrates are, in my own judgment, stupid things to say. I disagree that those saying them deserve to be mocked.
Posting anonymized, overheard snippets of conversation is not bullying.
Yes, I think most of the critical comments in this thread characterize it as undeserved mockery rather than bullying. And also, in my case, biting the hands that feed you.
posted by LooseFilter at 2:21 PM on January 25, 2016
Well, the artwork is--to say the least--not flattering portrayals of the speakers, either. I agree that many of the quotes he illustrates are, in my own judgment, stupid things to say. I disagree that those saying them deserve to be mocked.
Posting anonymized, overheard snippets of conversation is not bullying.
Yes, I think most of the critical comments in this thread characterize it as undeserved mockery rather than bullying. And also, in my case, biting the hands that feed you.
posted by LooseFilter at 2:21 PM on January 25, 2016
Someone once asked me if we massaged our kale. I did not say that I usually like to take it out for a drink first, and I want you all to be proud of me for that.
If you were in the DC area, that was my wife. I suspect it was not, because she prefaced the question with "I know how amazingly stupid this sounds..." and explained that we pretty much hate kale and find it bitter and unpleasant, but several people had insisted to us that the difference was in the preparation and that, when massaged in its preparation - presumably meaning rubbed/pressed in some way? - it was palatable.
Of course, if it was my wife she'll be disappointed you refrained from that answer, as it would have amused her greatly. But you never know what customer you're dealing with, do ya?
posted by phearlez at 2:23 PM on January 25, 2016
If you were in the DC area, that was my wife. I suspect it was not, because she prefaced the question with "I know how amazingly stupid this sounds..." and explained that we pretty much hate kale and find it bitter and unpleasant, but several people had insisted to us that the difference was in the preparation and that, when massaged in its preparation - presumably meaning rubbed/pressed in some way? - it was palatable.
Of course, if it was my wife she'll be disappointed you refrained from that answer, as it would have amused her greatly. But you never know what customer you're dealing with, do ya?
posted by phearlez at 2:23 PM on January 25, 2016
As someone who also worked retail management (the customers satirized here can be found in most any business), Randall's quote from Clerks sums up my feelings: "This job would be great if it wasn't for the fucking customers."
posted by bawanaal at 2:43 PM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by bawanaal at 2:43 PM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
The art reminded me a lot of Mission Hill.
But it worked for Mission Hill because the creators so obviously loved every ridiculous aspect of their characters. Without that, it's just a water hose of contempt. Even when it's occasionally turned on himself.
And because of that, I don't think it's effective in reminding us that some geek stereotypes are toxic. There's no model for good behavior. There's no place for good behavior or good people. Just moments to mock, with nothing except a few tags to try and differentiate a light hearted jab with "these guys suck. No really. Never be this dick face. Ever" When you can't win, you don't try.
posted by politikitty at 4:54 PM on January 25, 2016
But it worked for Mission Hill because the creators so obviously loved every ridiculous aspect of their characters. Without that, it's just a water hose of contempt. Even when it's occasionally turned on himself.
And because of that, I don't think it's effective in reminding us that some geek stereotypes are toxic. There's no model for good behavior. There's no place for good behavior or good people. Just moments to mock, with nothing except a few tags to try and differentiate a light hearted jab with "these guys suck. No really. Never be this dick face. Ever" When you can't win, you don't try.
posted by politikitty at 4:54 PM on January 25, 2016
About video games, not comics, but:
When Just Cause 2 came out, I went looking for it in a store. I got a used copy and took it to the register, and the clerk looked at it and asked, "What's this about?"
I explained: "It's a sandbox game in which you play as a CIA-type agent and you go destabilize a banana republic by creating chaos. It's pretty awesome."
The clerk got this really surprised and amused look and said, "A banana republic, huh?"
After walking out of the store, it occurred to me that the clerk must never have heard the expression "banana republic" before and thought that I was saying Just Cause was about a CIA agent destabilizing a Banana Republic store.
posted by Bugbread at 5:03 PM on January 25, 2016 [7 favorites]
When Just Cause 2 came out, I went looking for it in a store. I got a used copy and took it to the register, and the clerk looked at it and asked, "What's this about?"
I explained: "It's a sandbox game in which you play as a CIA-type agent and you go destabilize a banana republic by creating chaos. It's pretty awesome."
The clerk got this really surprised and amused look and said, "A banana republic, huh?"
After walking out of the store, it occurred to me that the clerk must never have heard the expression "banana republic" before and thought that I was saying Just Cause was about a CIA agent destabilizing a Banana Republic store.
posted by Bugbread at 5:03 PM on January 25, 2016 [7 favorites]
Thinking someone said, did, or wore something funny or ridiculous or just interesting does not mean you think they are a loser of a human and deserve contempt. I don’t feel that way. I just think "that was a weird thing to say" and laugh. People say weird things. People make unfortunate fashion choices. People do things they shouldn’t. In my opinion, which is just that.
I’m saying that when people feel these things are harsh personal judgements in spite of the lack of direct evidence it may be themselves doing the harsh judging.
posted by bongo_x at 6:20 PM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
I’m saying that when people feel these things are harsh personal judgements in spite of the lack of direct evidence it may be themselves doing the harsh judging.
posted by bongo_x at 6:20 PM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
These are all things that could totally be said here on Metafilter.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:05 PM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:05 PM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
Comic books like comic shops are refuge for the tormented and bewildered.
I guess after so long even the shelter you've built becomes less refuge than something you have to run away from.
It's too much and you're better, one foot in front of the other.
posted by four panels at 8:09 PM on January 25, 2016
I guess after so long even the shelter you've built becomes less refuge than something you have to run away from.
It's too much and you're better, one foot in front of the other.
posted by four panels at 8:09 PM on January 25, 2016
It's the drawings that make this mean-spirited - they are super unflattering, and also all the same basic joke; like ha ha all these people are zitty buck-toothed foaming at the mouth idiots. But, some of the quotes are dumb, and some of them are actually pretty funny. So the author is basically ripping off other people's jokes, and can't even be bothered to give each person their own character, or expression. I'm not saying that the pictures have to be flattering, but treat each person as an actual individual, not just like a bunch of random morons with different hairdos, delivering their lines with identical bland seriousness. That's insulting.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 8:20 PM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 8:20 PM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
or at least, that's what I would be insulted by if I found myself quoted there
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 8:25 PM on January 25, 2016
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 8:25 PM on January 25, 2016
I'm waiting for the anonymous Metafilter mod version of this. We'd be even funnier and cringier than these comic book fans.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:26 PM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:26 PM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
Okay, I counted. 302 posts tagged "Jerks", which seems to be his go-to tag for customers he doesn't like. 385 posts tagged "It's true", which seems to be his go-to tag for customers he does like. So overall he posts more about customers he likes than customers he doesn't like. Plus a greater percentage of the "Jerks" posts are really old, so while his overall like-dislike ratio is 56:44, if you were to limit it to the last year or so I suspect the number is more like 65:35 or so.
posted by Bugbread at 10:21 PM on January 25, 2016
posted by Bugbread at 10:21 PM on January 25, 2016
Also, the older posts have very few zits, so it seems that as time has passed he has come to like his customers more / post about the customers he likes more, while at the same time choosing a style in which people are more likely to have zits / freckles (some drawings are clearly zits, but some appear to be freckles). Since zit frequency is inversely proportional to number of customers liked, I think the zits are just a stylistic choice, not a way of making fun of customers.
posted by Bugbread at 10:26 PM on January 25, 2016
posted by Bugbread at 10:26 PM on January 25, 2016
Did you just Comic-Book-Guy this site about comic book guys? I think you did. STUFF THAT'S META TOTALLY RULES!
posted by Joseph Gurl at 10:34 PM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Joseph Gurl at 10:34 PM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
Well, actually...further statistical analysis incoming!
He started using the "It's True" tag on July 5, 2011, so if we just look at the posts from 07/11/2011 to the present, we have:
385 It's True
121 Jerks
That's 76% pro-customer and 24% anti-customer.
Which leaves me wondering if perhaps the ratio of pro- to anti- in recent posts skews anti again, which is why some people are seeing the site as predominantly mocking customers. I'd love to see a graph of tag use over time, but I leave it to the reader to do further investigation, because I gotta get back to work.
posted by Bugbread at 10:49 PM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
He started using the "It's True" tag on July 5, 2011, so if we just look at the posts from 07/11/2011 to the present, we have:
385 It's True
121 Jerks
That's 76% pro-customer and 24% anti-customer.
Which leaves me wondering if perhaps the ratio of pro- to anti- in recent posts skews anti again, which is why some people are seeing the site as predominantly mocking customers. I'd love to see a graph of tag use over time, but I leave it to the reader to do further investigation, because I gotta get back to work.
posted by Bugbread at 10:49 PM on January 25, 2016 [3 favorites]
GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT BUGBREAD
posted by Joseph Gurl at 11:02 PM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Joseph Gurl at 11:02 PM on January 25, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you think this is too mean you should probably avoid Evan Dorkin's Eltingville stories.
The thing is, no matter how harsh and mean is to his characters, it never felt meanspirited to me: if he loathes his characters, half of it is self loathing. There's a heart in his mocking and I don't see that as much in this thing.
posted by MartinWisse at 2:47 AM on January 26, 2016
The thing is, no matter how harsh and mean is to his characters, it never felt meanspirited to me: if he loathes his characters, half of it is self loathing. There's a heart in his mocking and I don't see that as much in this thing.
posted by MartinWisse at 2:47 AM on January 26, 2016
It doesn't really help that he's been using blogspot for years and it's a pain to browse archives.
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:33 AM on January 26, 2016
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:33 AM on January 26, 2016
Not Always Right - Customer service horror stories.
Although with a sprinkling of "nice customer does kind thing" glurge, many of which I suspect of being "they've got to publish this one, it's so heartwarming!" inventions.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 11:43 AM on January 26, 2016
Although with a sprinkling of "nice customer does kind thing" glurge, many of which I suspect of being "they've got to publish this one, it's so heartwarming!" inventions.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 11:43 AM on January 26, 2016
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