Onstad does not deserve this

[slink]

I guess all I'm saying is: it shouldn't matter if he had a board or not, or shut it down in a blink of an eye...

I agree.

Me too. I mean, maybe (well, obviously) Onstad just isn't the type of person that RStevens or JohnA are, that can deal with the whole message board community thing and do the comic and stuff related.
Yea, I reckon he should've just gotten someone else to mod it instead of such drastic action, but well, it was a good way to think it out quickly in the end so we got rid of some of the detritus. But still.
Hell, maybe in a week or two's time when the strip and stuff has gotten better it'll all blow over and we'll all have forgotten about it...

[pmcd9]

I don't really understand the anger at the sudden decision to shut down the board. Who got hurt? I understand that people like their internet friends, but this board sprang up (thanks to the prompt efforts of the moderators) in about a day, and discussions seem to be flowing here rather nicely.

I think we were extremely fortunate that we had someone in our midst like Jough who had the resources and the time to set up this alternate board in such quick fashion.  If not for Jough we would be scattered to the four winds by now.  I guess we could have pleaded to rstevens to give us access to the member list and sent out a mass e-mail, but that's supposing rstevens would actually do it and even if he did, where would we be if we didn't have Jough with the tech skills to set up such a marvelous board.  MSN groups? Yahell?  And what if Jough was too busy to do it on such instant notice?  What if he'd waited until the weekend?  By then it would have been too late to get the word out.  Let's face it, we're very fortunate to have this board.

As for why we are angry, I guess for me, it taints the experience knowing that the guy who's work you admire so much is a fuckin' asshole.  He's kinda like John Lennon in that respect.  I love the music he made, but c'mon the guy was a turd.

~Paul

[revdj]

But what did he do?  Like a petulant child he got a bug up his ass and in less than a day's time closed the message board.

That's fine.  He's entitled.  But I prefer to spend my money on people who are a little more considerate to their fans.  People like rstevens, from whom I'll be ordering a book.  I'll have to check to see if he autographs them, because the extra scratch is usually worth it.
-- Jough

Here's where we disagree.  I never spent my money on Onstad - I spent my money on merchandise I wanted to own.  I didn't buy my Philippe hoodie because I liked Onstand and wanted him to have my money; I bought it because I wanted to own a Philippe hoodie.  And I still love it.k

I don't see why you used to buy merchandise and don't know.  How does Chris' messageboarditude affect whether you want to own achewood clothing?

[jough]

Well, I don't own any Achewood clothing but I do have all three books, so the point of whether I'll be buying anything else is moot at this point.

All I'm saying is that if I'm going to spend my money I'd rather fork it over to someone who appreciates it, and doesn't say "fuck you" after he's taken it.

So the next time I have a choice between an Achewood book and a Scary Go Round book, or a Diesel Sweeties book, I'll take choice #2.

[Nabubrush]

See, that was kind of my thing, too. I actually like the comic Achewood more than DS and Wigu, but I bought DS and WiGU shirts because I like them more than any of the Achewood shirts.

[doomglobe]

I spent my money on merchandise I wanted to own.

right. but how much of that is because you actually wanted to support onstad's business. it would have been cheaper to order a private silkscreen of phillipe onto a blank hoodie. or even do it your DAMN self. but you wanted to support an artist who puts out a product that you continue to enjoy and cannot afford the alcohol it takes to get himself drunk enough to produce that product unless you buy some other completely unrelated product. I bought all three books, because I wanted them, and a teeshirt, because I wanted to support a webcomic. I chose my favorite webcomic at the time and bought the teeshirt. webcomics account for a large portion of my daily entertainment, I should probably support more of them, but I am cheap.

[pmcd9]

My primary motivation for buying a teeshirt was to support Onstad.  

~Paul

[Nabubrush]

I just did that by sending him liquor directly.

[ferocious j]

Well, I don't own any Achewood clothing but I do have all three books, so the point of whether I'll be buying anything else is moot at this point.

All I'm saying is that if I'm going to spend my money I'd rather fork it over to someone who appreciates it, and doesn't say "fuck you" after he's taken it.

So the next time I have a choice between an Achewood book and a Scary Go Round book, or a Diesel Sweeties book, I'll take choice #2.

jough, I seriously fail to see any kind of serious correlation between what Onstad's been doing (closing the original board, the Variety Hour) and what you've been doing (reading his strip, buying the books).  You might be well advised to step off the Taking It Personally Bus and have a Coke and a smile.

[jay-ell]

It's time I chimed in.  I buy Achewood stuff because I want Achewood stuff.  I personally have shelled out over $200 on books and clothing.  The books I bought as a statement of support, really.  But regardless of how I feel about him personally, the man makes DAMN GOOD SHIRT DESIGNS.  Even if you've never seen an Achewood strip in your life, you can still appreciate a "Good with Computers" baby doll tee or a "Science" hoodie.  These are universal themes.  (Sort of.)  So I think most people are buying his stuff because it's good quality stuff -- even if the shipping delays leave something to be desired.  And at 1300 customers in 2 years, he has all the excuse he needs for that.

That's it.  Stick a fork in me, I'm done.

[ferocious j]

I'm fairly certain a couple of other internet people I know have bought "Science" shirts while never having read a single Achewood strip in their lives.