Reader comments.

[Yeahduff]

Who gives a shit, right?

[Ahaugen]

fuck the readers

[Bustertheclown]

I've never received a reader comment.

Closest I came was someone telling me I was a bad person years ago, after posting one of my JesOz cartoons on Myspace, which I always thought were pretty sympathetic of the guy. I'm reposting them to Hastily Scribbled to celebrate Christmas this year.

[Cope]

Who gives a shit, right?

I do.

[Nanda]

About half of my readers hate and threaten me. Maybe more now. Last time I checked, they were arguing over whether or not I was dead.

[McDuffies]

Someone said that comments on internet are akin to grafitti on bathroom wall - as in, you need a minimum of literacy and coherence to write a blog, and comments are open land for those who don't. Granted this was said with news article and blog comments in mind, but behaviour of people in such places have put me off comment options for good.

About half of my readers hate and threaten me. Maybe more now. Last time I checked, they were arguing over whether or not I was dead.

Wow, why?

[Nutshellcomics]

I think I've only ever received one genuine, unsolicited reader comment.

it was for this cartoon:

http://nutshellcomics.comicgenesis.com/d/20101115.html

oops, there I go soliciting again.

[MariaAndMichelle]

About half of my readers hate and threaten me. Maybe more now. Last time I checked, they were arguing over whether or not I was dead.

Wow, why?

We're guessing because it's been so long since she updated.

P.S. It's probably because she's dead.

[Laemkral]

I politely acknowledged all the reader comments I got. Sadly, they were also all my friends so it lacked that certain "give a fuck" feeling

[MixedMyth]

I enjoy reader comments. They give me a thin slice of validation in my life.

Seriously, though, I do enjoy hearing from people. Feedback= better comic

[Phact0rri]

I remember reader comments. I get them every once in a while from some prince in africa telling me he likes my comic so much he wants to give me billions of dollars.

[Aerones]

I've only ever gotten one comment.
Sort of.
It was actually more of a suggestion that I give one of my characters more powers. But there's a legitimate story-driven reason that I won't, so... *shrug*

I think I may set up a poll in my Cartoonists' Notes part of the page after the new year, though. Just to solicit some sort of feedback.

[McDuffies]

It was actually more of a suggestion that I give one of my characters more powers. But there's a legitimate story-driven reason that I won't, so... *shrug*

I still think you should have given him more powers.

[Aerones]

No.

[Yeahduff]

Been a while since I've gotten any feedback either. I mean I can think of a reason or two why that might be the case, but y'know.

And yeah, it feels good to hear from someone sure.

Mostly what I mean is this obsession the internet has that elevates reader comments as the most important thing. I guess it's mostly in blogs I've seen it but in webcomics too. After an update is posted it will be summed up with some ludicrous segueway soliciting readers' opinions. They can be all "This is the goddamn stupidest bullshit I've ever seen and I will physically assault anyone foolish enough to disagree.

So what do you think?"

Or asking if certain characters aren't appearing enough. Or if they don't have enough superpowers. Basically putting your vision on the auction block to be bought with a kind word or two. Even news shows spend half their precious programming time these days airing out even the most backwards-ass opinions just to fill the air and pander to the viewer. And for what?

The conversation is central to what the internet is all about. Free flowing information and all that. But sometimes there just doesn't need to be anything else said. There are some who open their mouths and they turn out to have something insightful to say, sure. But on the whole it's mostly just noise.

[Bustertheclown]

I never much cottoned to the "interactivity" factor of the internet, anyway, at least not as far as imagery or writing is concerned. This isn't performance art; audience participation is not part of the deal. In fact, the audience can only really interact with the work after the product has been finished and published. Asking for feedback after the fact is kinda superfluous. Yeah, it's nice to know that there are people out there who are inspired enough to tell you what they think, but it's still not going to change what's been produced.

Relying on feedback to dictate the direction of your work is even stranger. I can't think of a single instance where it makes the work better or more accessible. It usually ends up being art by committee, which is never good, or so specialized that it appeals to a very narrow and vocal audience. Either way, it dilutes the expression.

[McDuffies]

I never much cottoned to the "interactivity" factor of the internet, anyway, at least not as far as imagery or writing is concerned. This isn't performance art; audience participation is not part of the deal. In fact, the audience can only really interact with the work after the product has been finished and published. Asking for feedback after the fact is kinda superfluous. Yeah, it's nice to know that there are people out there who are inspired enough to tell you what they think, but it's still not going to change what's been produced.

Relying on feedback to dictate the direction of your work is even stranger. I can't think of a single instance where it makes the work better or more accessible. It usually ends up being art by committee, which is never good, or so specialized that it appeals to a very narrow and vocal audience. Either way, it dilutes the expression.

Oh I love feedback, after years of drawing without any feedback but people I knew personally, it was eye-opening. Most useful feedback I got was from colleagues artists or otherwise from people whose opinion I regarded highly, but even random praises were good, for a guy whose self-confidence isn't exactly that high, it was good to get an impression that what I was doing was interesting to someone, which means I'm doing it well.
Some good ways how feedback can change your comic: I believe that it can make you focus on your strengths. It can give you an idea of which characters are more popular and which are actually irritating, which is not exactly something author can always see himself. It's good for comics which aren't entirely planed in advance, because if you're already doing something on the fly, if a book you've just read might inspire you to change something in your comic's direction, a reader's opinion could as well - yeah so it may be further from one man's vision, but then again it's closer to zeitgeist, so to speak, and there are many ways to make a good comic.
What I don't like about reader comments is, it's minimal investment from the one who writes it. You have complete anonymity so you don't have to stand behind your words, you don't have to have basic writing and grammar skills, you don't even have to leave the page - minimal effort. So it encourages people to write without thinking or having anything to say, and of course if you give people anonymity, apparently their first reflexive action will be to flame.
I suppose I'd have comments at the start, but as soon as my comic became sufficiently popular to have a forum, I'd redirect people there.

[Nanda]

About half of my readers hate and threaten me. Maybe more now. Last time I checked, they were arguing over whether or not I was dead.

Wow, why?

We're guessing because it's been so long since she updated.

P.S. It's probably because she's dead.

Yes, that's mostly it.

[VeryCuddlyCornpone]

I'm so confused.... I totally posted a reply to this thread like days ago but it is like... not here and stuff.

Uh... anyway I've yet to have an official comment from someone who wasn't friends with me in RL or someone from this board, but I imagine when I do get one I'll be quite excited about it.

Wait that's a lie. I did get one comment from someone asking me to join his forum. It wasn't spam because he actually made a comment about my art that made sense. I would have joined the forum but it was mostly in German except for a teensy tiny English speaking section, so I figured I'd let it alone.

[SergeXIII]

All my readers tell me is that they think that one of my leads looks like Rukia from Bleach, and have done so in the middle of a story line so I can't change anything (which would be the hair I suppose. Thats all you need for differentiation when it comes to most anime...).

Still, it feels really nice to know someone is actualy reading your stuff, you know?