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October 24, 2003

Based on a True Story.

Not mine. But it's still true.

Some things to consider.

• The Internet does not run on fairy dust, elfin magic, and the hopes and dreams of children. The Internet runs on bandwidth.

• Gnomes do not sneak into my house at night and leave me bundles of bandwidth under my pillow. I buy my bandwidth from an ISP.

• ISPs do not accept wishes, everlasting gratitude, or magic beans in exchange for their bandwidth. They want money.

If you play video games and download third party add-ons, whoever constructed them has every right to ask you to pay for them. They don't have to, but they can. If that annoys you, you are an idiot.

If you read magazines or newspapers online and want to find a specific article you saw three weeks ago, It's perfectly reasonable to think the newspaper might ask you for a small payment in exchange for the report. It doesn't have to, but it can. If that annoys you, you are an idiot.

And yes, if you read webcomics and want access to the archives, the artist is not out of line if they ask to be reimbursed for the hours of work they put into drawing the comics. They don't have to, but they can. If that annoys you, you are an idiot.

Of course, you don't have to pay for any of that. Plenty of sites are giving it away for free, you can go there. And if you're going to be offended by the prospect of paying for information you would happily shell out three times as much for if it were printed on paper or came in an embossed cardboard box, I encourage you to do so.

Please.

Because your whining makes me want to kill you.

Posted by Spike at October 24, 2003 07:29 PM

Comments

Amen to that Spike!
Grow up kiddies.

Posted by Andre from GAM at October 25, 2003 03:22 PM
138.73.70.162

RAAAAR!

By which I mean yes, I agree completely.

Posted by Master Abernathy at October 25, 2003 05:27 PM
24.126.88.58

The only reason I don't subscribe to Girlamatic for the Lucas & Odessa archives is a lack of regualar income to dispose on such an endeavor.

The problem is on my end, not yours, and I admire your restraint in this matter. Me? I'd beat the shit out of 'em.

Posted by Rich at October 25, 2003 11:08 PM
128.238.78.50

Hey, Andre!

And ah, no way I'm complaining about guys like you, Rich. I'm grateful for any traffic. But that would probably change if you ever posted on the GAM messageboard about how MEAN it was that we were charging for archive access, claimed that we were running a scam and had no sense of generosity, or went on for ages about how you loved loved LOVED the strips, but there was no way in hell you'd pay to see the backstory and would never ever read it again if we insisted.

(Yes, this happens.)

It's equal parts sad and amusing how self-described "biggest fans" of some online comics are mortally offended by the prospect of the artist ever asking for any compensation. You are not owed free shit for doing the artist the courtesy of liking their work. Ugh.

Excuse my bitchin', I'm just annoyed by the meme of entitlment.

Posted by spike at October 25, 2003 11:59 PM
68.20.218.202

yes.

Posted by Dylan at October 26, 2003 06:50 PM
64.252.250.173

Spike is my hero. She speaks wiseness.

Posted by Lisa Jonté at October 26, 2003 07:57 PM
64.85.227.122

I want to scream and throw things when a girl throws away a chance to be on GAM because a "trusted reader" tells her she won't pay for her work.

THAT'S NOT A TRUSTED READER! THAT PERSON IS SELFISH, CONTROLLING LAZY CHIPMUNK FUCKER WHO COULDN'T DRAW IF POSSESSED BY MICHELANGELO, PICASSO, AND KAHLO IN A THREE-WAY!
THEY! ARE! NOT! YOUR! FRIEND!

AHHHHHHH!

Posted by Lea at October 26, 2003 09:02 PM
24.167.108.170

Lea speaks the truth. People who speak such are beasterds. Said beasterds are also the people who tell you you'll get "exposure" if you work for/with them. What I like about MT/GAM is that they're upfront about what they do, and what you do for them. No screwing with you.

If I'm gonna spend a lot of time on something, I want to get something back for it. Moochers can rot.

Posted by Andre again at October 27, 2003 09:21 PM
138.73.70.162

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