| Posted: 09 July 2006 at 9:42am | IP Logged | 12
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JB,
Thank you for responding. You made me think about any job that I've ever had and I must admit that their are always people that I've intensely disliked no matter where I've been employed. So you got me there. It's just that, in posting such thoughts on the net, you make them public and (semi)permanent.
JD,
Are you the Morrow of TwoMorrow's publishing? I wouldn't be surprised to see you here. If that's the case I really do not want to argue with you. I respect you and what TwoMorrow's does. But let me at least answer a few points.
I'm not "sensitive" at all. None of Byrne's remarks have hurt me personally. I didn't feel like any of the remarks were directed at me either. The only point I wanted to make is that reading Byrne's remarks on this site have left a bad taste in my mouth. Not all of them. But there are enough to leave a bad impresssion. I wanted to suggest that this may be what gives Byrne a bad rep. I know the difference between facts and opinions and the fact in this case is that Byrne's remarks have in fact made me like him a little less. I'm not bashing Byrne by saying this. I'm pointing out that his comments on this website can be having a negative effect on his reputation.
As far as the other creators you mention I either do not follow their work or was unaware of their curmudgeonly behavior. It's JB's forum and I was talking about him. In the past I've been struck by what I thought was a curmudgeonly attitude on the part of Barry Windsor Smith. He's someone whose work I enjoy and follow. I sent him an email suggesting he tone it down, avoid insulting the entire industry and nearly everyone working in it, stop presenting himself as the only artist capable of good storytelling. He didn't respond. Oh well. Why did I bother sending him that e-mail? I wanted Barry to get more work, to do more work. I didn't want him to alienate the industry, isolate himself, and not produce anything. (I'm not trying to draw a strict parallel w/ JB here. BWS strikes me as lights years past JB on the curmudgeon scale.)
Calling me out because I have 11 posts only holds merit if you are suggesting I haven't read enough posts to really get a feel for what JB is like. That's a fair point. But, think about it this way. In a short time I've come away with a negative impression. If it can happen to me it can happen to others. If you get other newbies coming in who are either new to JB's work, or his site could they be turned off? Do you want them to be? I hope you are not suggesting I'm not entiled to an opinion. I've spent enough dollars on JB's comics in my day to be entitled to my 2 cents.
I'm probably responding to more people than just Mr. Morrow at this point. Forgive me. Someone made the point that it is JB's board, his rules, etc. In the end you are right. It is. I don't have to agree with JB. He doesn't have to agree with his posters and he can do with his board what he pleases. Going back to my original point though. If JB closes a thread or revokes membership it can come off looking immature (packing up your toys and going home kind of thing), turn people off, etc.
JB makes the point that things have to build to an irratating pitch before he takes such an action, and looking back at it I believe the thread I was referring to was a very long one. But JB, why not just let the thread go on? If people want to talk about it, let them. If you are personally tired of the discussion there's nothing to force you to continue to follow it or keep responding to posters in that thread.
I will concede that people may come in here with the sole intention of bashing Byrne. Maybe its so obvious and bothersome that this person warrants getting bounced. I certainly hope I'm not giving that impression.
On the other hand there is a difference between constructive criticism and bashing. Constructive criticism is legitamate and should be welcomed. I hope the line doesn't get blurred when it comes to bouncing people from the board.
Finally someone made the point about changing people. Good point. You can't change people. Back to what I was saying about BWS. Did I expect that he would change because I sent him an e-mail? No. More than anyone he strikes me as an immovable object. Do I want him to change, or JB to change who he is? Not really, because the work that I have enjoyed is a product of the person who produced it. If JB, or BWS, were different, then I may not have been able to enjoy some of the best comics I've ever read. To draw all of this back to my initial point, JB can be who he is, think and feel what he thinks and feels, but he should consider carefully the thoughts and feelings he chooses to make public in a medium where success is dependant on the approval of fans who wind up shelling out the money that leads to a paycheck. (Please don't think I'm advocating censorship here, I said consider carefully)
In the end don't you want people to like you and your work?
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