text:
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Anyone Heard From TNT Lately?
The TNT.tv website stares back at NASCAR fans with the faces that they have come to know all too well. Kyra Sedgwick is still The Closer. Holly Hunter is still Saving Grace.
One click of the SPORTS button reveals the love of the network for the NBA. There are videos, articles and even an NBA Message Board section. At the bottom, there are lots of pictures of Dennis Rodman celebrating his birthday. Apparently, they were taken prior to Rodman being arrested for domestic violence and checking into an alcohol rehab facility.
What there is not on the TNT website is any mention of the fact that in less than twenty days the network will be taking over the TV coverage of one of the biggest professional sports in North America. On June 8th, TNT will cover the Pocono 500 live as they begin a six race TV package of NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series.
Over at NASCAR.com there is a link to NASCAR on TNT. The updated video content is directly from the NASCAR.com site. The headline on the page says TNT information will be "coming soon." TNT announcer Bill Weber's last story is from November of 2007. Where NASCAR is concerned, TNT seems to be frozen in time.
At Pocono, TNT will not be televising practice or qualifying. Those sessions will be carried on SPEED. The first time we will see the TNT crew is on the pre-race show for the Cup race on Sunday afternoon. How long that show will be is not available, as TNT only provides the program schedule online two weeks in advance.
Last season, it was TNT's own Marc Fein who handled the show host role. Fein does some on-camera work for NASCAR.com, but hosting a multi-hour live high-profile race telecast was over his head. He is comfortable on-the-air with stick-and-ball sports, but since TNT originates no other NASCAR programming, Fein is out of the NASCAR TV loop.
Kyle Petty and Larry McReynolds are the new kids in the TNT mix. Last season, they continually rescued the fractured telecasts with their veteran perspectives. Despite the problems Petty experienced in Sonoma, he got comfortable in his analyst role very quickly.
Throughout the telecasts, TNT primary analyst Wally Dallenbach was relegated to the role of beginning every sentence with "just like Kyle said." Having two drivers in the TV booth did not work. There was a good reason why.
Seated down on TNT's outdoor spinning stage was Larry McReynolds. Relegated to the infield by Dallenbach, McReynolds continually performed as if he was actually in the broadcast booth. Focused for the entire event, McReynolds provided strategy and technical knowledge. The telecasts often turned into conversations between McReynolds and Petty.
Viewers know that Weber has been around NASCAR for a long time. Last season, it often appeared that he wanted to be anywhere but at the track for TNT. Fein had taken his pre-race host role, Petty and McReynolds dominated the telecasts and the surprising pit reporters filled-in the gaps. It didn't take long for Weber to get mad, and stay mad.
After the problems that ESPN experienced in 2007, that network made wholesale changes in both personnel and production. The results have been the most dramatic turn-a-round in recent NASCAR TV history.
With less than three weeks before being live on-the-air, nothing has come from TNT about their NASCAR plans for 2008. What elements will change, what will remain the same and how TNT will approach the July race in Daytona are certainly going to be interesting issues to discover.
The featured information currently on TNT.tv is that all-new episodes of The Closer will be coming in July. That may be the last thing some fans want to hear, but it is almost certain that they will be reminded of it a time or two this summer.
The Daly Planet welcomes comments from readers. Simply click on the COMMENTS button below and follow the easy instructions. The rules for posting are on the right side of the main page. Thanks for taking the time to stop by.
31 comments:
- Anonymous said...
Wih no investment in the overall NASCAR product, TNT has no reson to be any better this season than last. Honestly, NASCAR should not carve up the contract this way and allow one network to carry six races in the middle of the season. It is a recipe for the kind of mess we saw last year.
- May 20, 2008 at 7:57 PM
- Tabula Rasa said...
That seems kind of unfair knowing as you do that NASCAR.com is part of the Turner Sports umbrella and that throughout their portion of the season they promote NASCAR.com as opposed to TNT.tv
Seriously, have you EVER heard them trying to drive traffic to TNT.tv through their NASCAR broadcasts?
- May 20, 2008 at 7:59 PM
- Geez said...
I always found it annoying to have someone suddenly walk across the bottom of the screen during a race. :-)
- May 20, 2008 at 8:08 PM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
Certainly did not mean to be unfair in any way, just looking for TNT information like many fans.
Last season, TNT.tv had a NASCAR section and links to NASCAR.com's pages. Now, that link is gone.
NASCAR.com had lots of TNT advance information that was also posted on lots of NASCAR-related websites.
I am hoping we get an update from TNT about what NASCAR fans can expect from this six race portion of the Sprint Cup schedule.
I have a good relationship with the NASCAR.com guys and I would like to keep it that way.
- May 20, 2008 at 8:38 PM
- SophiaZ123 said...
I for one LOVE the CLOSER but detest, loathe and despise the pop up animations during the races...and many tv stations do this 'moving animation' stuff for a commercial during a tv show. It's so **** aggravating and certainly detracts from the race.
Then again, in all fairness, so do all the "sponsored graphics/in car/bumper cams" etc.
But it would be nice to see less of this on TNT.
Then again, we can buy pop up blockers for computers...wish somebody would invent something to get rid of tv 'bugs' and adds during the shows for our tv sets.
- May 20, 2008 at 9:00 PM
- Newracefan said...
Soph, Pop up blockers for TV's what a great idea. I too love The Closer but after watching the nightmare it made of the race I couldn't watch it. JD how soon before the season started did ESPN let us know who was doing what? I'll be the optimist maybe they haven't gotten all the details of Larry Mac's contract straight so he can be in the booth with Kyle. Wally is an ok guy so they need to find something for him too but not sure what.
- May 20, 2008 at 9:27 PM
- Anonymous said...
I just hope Lindsay Czarniak is back in the pits!
Otherwise, I may just take the summer off.
- May 20, 2008 at 10:00 PM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
Anon 10PM,
Without a doubt, she was a surprise and it was too bad she could not find a place in the sport.
I really enjoyed her intensity and ability. I have never seen her as a local station reporter or sports anchors, but I understand you have to pay the bills.
- May 20, 2008 at 10:47 PM
- Anonymous said...
What a shame. The ratings have been up for, if not all the races, all but one. Moving to TNT may just be a ratings killer. Also, maybe I missed this info somewhere...why does TNT have 6 races anyway? Why didn't Fox and ESPN just split the season??? JD? Anyone?
- May 21, 2008 at 12:30 AM
- Anonymous said...
If you believe their commercials, TNT knows Drama. So maybe this is some sort of drama they're playing out with not updating or promoting the race season.
But after seeing their coverage in the past, it's 6 weeks of promoting TNT, not covering the races. Expect a downward spike in the ratings during those 6 weeks.
- May 21, 2008 at 2:34 AM
- Anonymous said...
Oh,great,TNT covering NASCAR. Weber was annoying last year. He has a broadcasters voice,the inflection and cliches down pat, but showed absolutely no in depth knowledge of the sport. Same for Wally passing judgement on drivers for whom he couldn't carry their helmet bags.
- May 21, 2008 at 5:07 AM
- GinaV24 said...
Oh joy, TNT is about to begin their NASCAR coverage! I can't wait (that is sarcasm folks, pure sarcasm). The coverage they did last year was so bad and I'm betting that in this case, no news is NOT good news. I'm not looking forward to seeing Bill Weber and his bad attitude again. I watched the first couple of races TNT broadcast last year and that's what I'll do again this year. There are a lot of choices out there to use to follow a race. The networks (all of them) have to impress me a lot for me to invest my valuable free time to watch the races. Interesting that there have been NO updates from TNT about their coverage at all. Maybe they'll give it back and NASCAR could divide it up 3 and 3 between Fox and ESPN, that would be better than dealing with TNT
- May 21, 2008 at 8:07 AM
- Anonymous said...
I sense I might be in the minority on this but I hope they bring Wally back. While obviously understated in the booth, he seems to be of the few people covering NASCAR who hasn't gone to professional broadcasting and/or acting school. He's not your down home friend, he's not trying to blind you with his pearly whites. He just talks.
- May 21, 2008 at 9:06 AM
- dawg said...
"TNT will not be broadcasting qualifying, or practice from Pocono. It will be on Speed."
If NO ONE broadcast practice, qualifying, OR the race from Pocono. Maybe then NA$CAR would finally, get the message. That this snoozer shouldn't have 2 dated!
- May 21, 2008 at 11:04 AM
- red said...
hey dawg! i agree. i have a choice between dover and poconos each year and i refuse to go to pocono, even tho' it's closer to me. bad track to watch a race from (bad angles, places where the track all but disappears, traffic control non-existent) and even watching it on tv has become a challenge. too long a race and i dread cot back on that track. my heart goes out to the broadcast team who has to try and make it interesting.
- May 21, 2008 at 11:23 AM
- Anonymous said...
Just FYI, those pics of Dennis Rodman were taken AFTER his stint in rehab. Great example the NBA (and TNT) set, huh?
- May 21, 2008 at 11:34 AM
- Diane Mc said...
I don't care how bad TNT might be because anything is better than Fox. I'm in heaven knowing I won't have to listen to or see Darrell Waltrip for the rest of the year. No more boogity, no more Digger, no more Chris Meyers, no more Shannon Spake, no more "let's go racin boys", etc., etc.
- May 21, 2008 at 11:47 AM
- Lou,Kingston,NY said...
anon 0906
Ya know I kinda like Wally also. Yes two drivers in the booth may not work, and Kyle may have had the upper hand last season. But for some reason, which I have no excuse/reason for I still like him in the booth. And did enjoy them both. To me it did make the race broadcast bearable .
- May 21, 2008 at 12:18 PM
- ttc said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- May 21, 2008 at 1:35 PM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
You are going to have to adjust that comment a little bit and then re-post please.
The rules for posting are on the right side of the main page.
- May 21, 2008 at 2:24 PM
- haus20 said...
This is the time of the year where I get my money's worth out of hot pass!
- May 21, 2008 at 2:26 PM
- Adam T. Martin said...
TNT for six straight weeks and Bill Weber.
I wish ESPN could get here sooner!
- May 21, 2008 at 4:16 PM
- Adam T. Martin said...
No matter how many times TNT promotes The Closer, I won't watch it.
- May 21, 2008 at 4:17 PM
- Anonymous said...
Diane Mc...
Shannon Spake is on ESPN, not on Fox. Fox's female pit road reporter is Krista Voda.
- May 21, 2008 at 5:30 PM
- Bobb said...
hey JD about the closer
Thanks for looking it up so we wouldn't have to.
I hope they bring that no commercial/open coverage to Daytona on July 5th. (I looked the date up - ok you know the rest)
I also like Wally. Having been to races in second half of year when he worked with BP and listening to scanner at track he is not as phony as he comes across on TV. (Hope that didnt come out wrong - bit of sarcasm thrown in)- but the booth of Bestwick/Parsons/Dallenbach was something special even if you don't like Wally.
I also won't go to Pocono instead going to Dove o New Hampshire instead. Went to one Pocono race and you can't see anything and fan area is small and track is in the middle of nowhere.
- May 21, 2008 at 5:31 PM
- Erik said...
O' ye of little faith!! I have full confidence that TNT will produce a package of excellent races at the highest of broadcast standards. They're just a bit busy, understandably so, with the NBA Playoffs. I have no doubt it'll be a summer to remember and TNT will set us up nicely for the final races leading up to the chase.
- May 21, 2008 at 8:15 PM
- Dot said...
The only NASCAR related thing I've seen on TNT is the AFLAC commercial with Carl & Jamie. NBC also shows it. Just saw it a few minutes ago. I had to check the channel to be sure.
Other than that, crickets.
- May 21, 2008 at 11:58 PM
- RPM said...
I agree that TNT needs to get out of the NASCAR business. Split the races between ESPN and Fox. Let's just all pray that Bill Webber will not return to the TNT crew. Webber is the King of the hissy fit.
I do hope Wally Dallenbach returns. He and Kyle did'nt mix well, but maybe they have worked on the chemistry a bit.
Larry Mac is a lifesaver for the whole broadcast.
- May 22, 2008 at 4:51 AM
- Diane Mc said...
Anonymous said...
Diane Mc...
Shannon Spake is on ESPN, not on Fox. Fox's female pit road reporter is Krista Voda.
May 21, 2008 5:30 PM
My bad, of course Spake is on ESPN. Sorry for the mistake. And I do like Krista Voda. Plus Wendy V. on Speed is great.
- May 23, 2008 at 10:58 AM
- Anonymous said...
I have full confidence that TNT will produce a package of excellent races at the highest of broadcast standards,
They didn't come close to doing this last year. Why will this year be any different?
- May 27, 2008 at 8:14 AM
- Desmond said...
John, I just checked my DirecTV on-screen guide. It shows the same pre-race setup as last year, with NASCAR on TNT Live! followed by Countdown to Green. I will assume the same hosts and analysts.
Kyle Petty will definitely return. He will miss Dover this weekend because of his daughter is getting married, then he will join TNT and not return to the car until Indy. He will not repeat the in-car setup from last year.
- May 29, 2008 at 6:06 PM


text:
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Comic 610: Independence
He did have something he wanted to share with you though, which was his proof that I am not Randall! Can you believe it? Finally! See what happened was that he was IMing both of us at the same time. And then to prove that we weren't just the same person switching between computers or accounts or something, I just started typing numbers in increasing order, just so he knew I couldn't be typing anything else at the time. Anyway, he took a screenshot of both of our conversations, here it is: FINAL PROOF. Hope that's good enough for you, you skeptical bitches.
Dr. Horrible did also send me his IRC chat log with Randy, but I don't really want to post it. Eventually I will (so don't let me forget I have it) but not right now.
OH HEY WHAT there's a new comic! I guess as long as I am here I should talk about it.
For some reason this comic seems to give off major Ron Paul vibes. Well, I guess I know the reason, it's that all the people have that same awful condescending way of thinking and existing. Of course, this comic is making fun of that, I suppose, so that's good. It still makes me feel irritated the way anyone who talks about "sheeple" does.
I guess the problem is that they are all just sitting on a subway (speaking of which - recognize it?). That's not the place I usually think of this sort of thinking happening. I tend to sit on subways and think about the other people there as being actual people with actual lives. Sure, they might be just sitting there doing nothing for a while but that's because they are on a freaking subway, what they hell are they supposed to do? Start shouting "9/11 was an inside job" right on the train?
So what I'm saying is, this comic would be better if there was there was this idea that that's what people on trains were thinking, and then this would be a clever comment on that. I suppose that you could say "well, he just chose a train because it's a simple example of everyday life" but I think it's a pretty bad one, because again, there's not much to do if you are alone on a train but sit there, and perhaps read or listen to music or something.
The alt-text does, however, help a lot.
This comic is better than some. That's good to see.
And, with Dr. Horrible retiring after one post, who else wants to write for this blog? Anyone? I just assume people are super sick of hearing me all the time. It's super easy to do and it's pretty hard to fuck up Send me an e-mail - firstname.lastname@example.com.
230 comments:
- AnonymousJuly 15, 2009 at 1:09 PM
post that irc logReplyDelete
oh ok WHATEVER YOU SAY, ANONYMOUS POSTER.ReplyDelete
I knew that you were weak; I am an exceptional judge of character, after all.ReplyDelete
Evidence leading to my self-evaluation:
An extract from by blag ("'Xkcd' is a paragon of hilarity) concerning Dr. Hórrible, written several days before Carl Wheeler's post:
"You are a much weaker man than Wheeler, it would be so very easy to break you..."
Am I a genius OR a blagger? Both?
Yes. Definitely.
I believe this victor over Hórrible is not solely Randall Munroe's. I believe I have also played a large role in Hórrible's eventual redemption. My brilliant blag intimidated him, as it has done to so many. I intimidated him. I won. We won.
Good- 01
Evil- 00
You are next, Wheeler. Do not think I am your equal, I have been sparing you from my full, tremendous, awe-inspiring power. My mercy is finite and once it depletes... Well, farewell Mr. Wheeler.
-William Monty Hughes
"Cogito Ergo Sum"
Carl Wheeler, I wish to converse with you in "Internet Relay Chat".ReplyDelete
-William Monty Hughes
"Cogito Ergo Sum"
- Cuddlefish PrimeJuly 15, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Reading that small portion of the chat made me feel kind of bad too.ReplyDelete
I'm so fucking thin-skinned. :(
- Person #1July 15, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Me me I so want to do itReplyDelete
I am just uncertain if I would be good at it. Also I don't really want to... be the guy who does that in his free time. It's bad enough that some people I know know I read this, but WRITING for it? It feels like just a step down on the ladder of doing things that are not creepy and weird
I felt bad for a minute, but then I realized that that's just the life of an artist - good and bad reviews.ReplyDelete
If people wish to hear more of my baseless, alcohol-fueled, incredibly vulgar rants, I suppose I could do some more posts, but be assured - I will not pussy out like Dr. horrible (sorry Doc, but I guess, unlike me, you possess a heart).ReplyDelete
Also, this comic was...okay? The art didn't seem terribly lazy, there weren't too many words (a little verbose, but not annoyingly so), and the structure was kind of interesting (the multiple connections to a single thought bubble is actually a pretty decent technique).
That being said, it wasn't funny, and the alt-text was a pretty weak punchline. No one takes Objectivists seriously and they're easy to make fun of (as is Ayn Rand), so it's kind of like shooting fish in a barrel. All in all, I give it a C-. Still above average for xkcd as of late, though.
- Person #1July 15, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Oh and I fucking love that you actually posted proof that you're not randall, that's so great.ReplyDelete
Is it me, or does that conversation make randall look like kind of a dick still?
I dunno, that print-screen looks its like been edited. You will not trick me, Crandarl.ReplyDelete
@Person #1:ReplyDelete
No, but it makes him look like an emo bitch:
"Boo-hoo-hoo, someone made a blog telling me I suck, it hurts my feelings so BAD!!!"
Then he follows it up with the classic "I'm not complaining (even though I really I am and I'm just saying I'm not complaining because it makes me look like a douche to whine about people criticizing me)" response.
What a fucker.
Agreed on the Randall looking like an emo bitch.ReplyDelete
And I would totally guest blog if you didn't mind it totally sucking ass.
- RamseyJuly 15, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Sorry Randy, this comic doesn't cut it. Because by posting this, you're effectively saying that you're so much BETTER and SMARTER than all the people who go around railing against Teh Sheeple.ReplyDelete
- RamseyJuly 15, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Oh, and I wouldn't mind guest blogging. I like vitriol and anger though. Forewarning.ReplyDelete
At first, the lil portion of chat there just made me feel bad.ReplyDelete
Then I realized that a) It's hella creepy that Dr. Horrible contacted Randall Munroe and was like, "I'm from that blog that hates you!" Mr. Munroe pretty much says as much during the chat. Hella creepy. b) Most of the time this blog engages in honest criticism. My favorite parts are when Carl or whoever suggest ways to make each strip funnier. If Randall wants to spin that negatively, that's his prerogative as the artist. But that doesn't make us the bad guys or anything.
Let me reiterate: Dr. Horrible is a little creepy.
- AnonymousJuly 15, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Time to update your Frequently Asked Awesome Questions, Carl.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 15, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Reminds me of this subnormality comic: http://www.viruscomix.com/page471.htmlReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 15, 2009 at 2:28 PM
R. said:ReplyDelete
"I dunno, that print-screen looks its like been edited. You will not trick me, Crandarl."
Alternate theory: who's to say that's really Randy posting there?
Well... as an artist, it's important to know what to do with negative feedback, as long as it's not personal. Usually the main posts here have been focused on the comic and making some effort at constructivity. A few posts and some of the comments tend to be a bit nastier. There's not much you can really do with that, but in the end it's the price of fame.ReplyDelete
It's possible that Randall has, based on the "xkcdsucks" URL and some of the less constructive posts, gotten the impression this place is more uniformly hostile than is accurate.
It is a bit weird that Dr. Horrible approached him that way. Not really sure what I would do in Randall's shoes, there.
- AnonymousJuly 15, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Is it that hard to fake being someone else? Have a friend do it.ReplyDelete
This whole situation is messed up. So Dr. went and tracked down Randall and had a heart to heart?ReplyDelete
The worst part of all is the sycophantic deferring to Randall he does at the end of the log. Yes, brag to all your friends that you got advice from the great and powerful Randall Munroe, webcomic artist.
little do we all know that Dr. Horrible, Randall, Crandall and William Hughes are all of the same hive mind!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 15, 2009 at 3:39 PM
90% of all xkcd gripes. [link]ReplyDelete
Dr. Horrible, be careful not to suck Randall's dick too hard, it might fall off.
I wish, Asher. I wish I was Randall. If only...ReplyDelete
Additionally, a notice to adoring fans of my blag: An interesting fellow and fan of the blag has electronically mailed me a letter. His name is Dr. Wonderful (He did not tell me his Christian name, unfortunately, but I can vouch that he is indeed a real doctor) and he wishes to assist me.
Hopefully, he shall write a decent review and send it to me and I will use it for Wednesday's update. I can NOT vouch for his skills as a critic but I'm afraid he'll have to do. I am very busy today, tomorrow and Friday. Apologies.
-William Monty Hughes
"Cogito Ergo Sum"
CAPTCHA: Orights!
- AnonymousJuly 15, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Sheeple has no connections to objectivists or 9/11, nubs. It's just pointing out that everybody (especially nerds) likes to feel superior, and like they are the only one truly thinking.ReplyDelete
Again it's pretty much pure GOOMH but it's a better kind of GOOMH than usual and the shared thought bubble is neat visually.
This one's pretty good imo.
- Der GermanJuly 15, 2009 at 3:53 PM
Zis whole situation is... quite bizarre.ReplyDelete
- RehoboamJuly 15, 2009 at 4:02 PM
Hmmm... guest posting would be fun, but then I'd have to reveal my super-secret Blogger identity... that's no fun.ReplyDelete
- Der GermanJuly 15, 2009 at 4:07 PM
Ah Rehoboam, your name reveals enough. It's obviously an anagram for "a mob hero" - vhich uncovers your connections to organized crime.ReplyDelete
hey moronsReplyDelete
name's Bruce
Bruce Bash
remember it
soon it will be legendary
-Bruce Bash-
Hello there Bruce Bash. I commend you on your ability to completely embarrass me, you giant whale penis.ReplyDelete
And I am NOT a "tard". Quite the contrary, actually.
But you already know this. Don't you?
PS. Return to work, that review WON'T write itself
-William Monty Hughes
"Cogito Ergo Sum"
I might do a guest post, once I actually have an opinion on a comic other than "Wow. This is, like, three levels of recursive smug."ReplyDelete
- DefiantJuly 15, 2009 at 4:19 PM
This website has ruined XKCD for me. But it's so fun and addictive to read.ReplyDelete
@William Monty Hughes:ReplyDelete
"Giant whale penis" made me laugh so hard.
Most excellent.
- AnonymousJuly 15, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Doctor Horrible is a sucker for xkcd.ReplyDelete
Haha, getit? Doctor Horrible SUCKS Randy's dick, and Randy SUCKS for making xkcd, which SUCKS, and also Doctor Horrible SUCKS, AND he's a SUCKER for xkcd...
I'll shut up now.
- AnonymousJuly 15, 2009 at 5:59 PM
I can understand hating on the comic, I mean I find it to be lackluster lately, but I don't understand why you guys have to personally hate the guy that writes it. :/ You can act all high and mighty making fun of Randall and his fans, but you're pretty much turning into the same thing, with Carl being you're Randall.ReplyDelete
As for the comic, pretty good. Looks like the background got traced, but since when do we have witch-burnings for bad art in a stickman comic.
I suppose you could look "inquisitive" on a bus but that'd probably be boring after about 2 seconds.
"I can understand hating on the comic, I mean I find it to be lackluster lately, but I don't understand why you guys have to personally hate the guy that writes it."ReplyDelete
Dude, why are you saying that? You want to take away the LAST thing those people have in their lives?
(ha ha. ha)
In the previous post, I already thanked Randall for this comic. Condescending? Insulting? Well, you wouldn't really think so much so if you had to put up with people who act like those guys in the comic. Or more: if you ONCE ACTED like those guys in the comic. I've been there, and I'm honestly ashamed. As for the subway comment, I do think it's an appropriate place for that since you're basically standing still, surrounded by people who're also standing still and *supposedly* thinking about nothing at all and being "robots". I think it's harder to associate that kind thought with something that involved motion and things happening. If you don't think like that when you're on a subway, it's probably because you're not an asshole. Well, maybe you ARE, but just a little bit.
Overall, this comic has a very straightforward and effective style, but the message might not be quite as clear. I mean, it's the kind of thing that some of the more "geek pride" types would go "hmm, it would be funnier if like ONLY ONE guy was thinking like that and all the others were going 'duuhhh' or something". Yeah, that's a pretty absurd scenario and nobody would actually do that... ... OH, SHIT, THEY ACTUALLY DID IT:
oh, so it's good if you've felt like that and OH MY GOD HE'S IN MY HEADReplyDelete
i can't even figure out what the hell your second paragraph means
OK, seriously, what the fuck? Dr. Horrible, there is no way you can drop a bombshell like that on us and then not come back to talk about it.ReplyDelete
I completely do not understand that reaction. Every time I post, I am painfully aware that there is an actual person behind the comic I'm criticizing. That's why I try to keep myself in check and not be too harsh. I think I, and hell, most of us here, do a pretty good job in that regard. This is xkcdsucks, not randallmunroesucks.
This blog is not that mean. John Solomon's blog is mean, and I don't read it because of that (and also because Solomon is an unfunny egotistical prick.) Sure, we could be nicer and abstain from the word 'fuck', or change the title back to "xkcd: overrated" again. But why should we? We'd have about five readers if we did. There's a reason Roger Ebert writes like he does ("hated hated hated hated hated this movie", "your movie sucks"), and not "I didn't like this movie, but that's just my opinion."
What, exactly, would we have to do to this blog to not be "callous assholes"? Retitle it to xkcdneedsimprovement.blogspot.com? That's ridiculous. And we're not kids here - we all know that "needs improvement" actually means "sucks." I do think sometimes people go overboard with slamming Randall, but there's plenty of good along with the bad. If Randall actually read this blog, maybe the mood would shift and we'd be more "constructive." Right now, what fucking incentive do we have? It's too bad if we offended you, Randall, but we're not your friends. The price of success is criticism. You're a writer. You can deal with it.
Or, you know, you can keep ignoring it. Write another Firefly series, it went over well last time.
PS. Horrible, you sure sucked up to him at the end.
PPS. 5:59 anon, this attitude is something I want to address too, because you're wrong. Carl's posts are entertaining, but I don't think they're the core of the site. I disagree with him half the time.ReplyDelete
Carl is not our Randall.
@Anon 5:59ReplyDelete
Why do we hate anyone? Why can't we all just hug, and get along, and be friends?
Fuck you, hippie. If I don't like someone, I let them know. From what I know of Randall - interactions I've had with him and his fans, the work he produces (comic, blog, writings, etc.) - he seems like a douche. So I say, "Hey, Randall Munroe's a douche." When I have people at work (I'm a software developer) or at school (I go to Georgia Tech) tell me how awesome xkcd is, and I think it's not, I tell them, "I fucking hate xkcd, here's the reasons why: [insert long-ass list of reasons why I am sick and tired of hearing how good this comic is when it is simply mediocre]".
I don't hide behind some PC, peace-loving, don't-offend-people curtain of bullshit and dishonesty. A lack of honest discourse breeds stagnancy in all artists, and leads to a depreciation in the creativity and value of their work. Once again - your attitude (and the attitude of those like you) has turned xkcd and Randall Munroe into what they are today. If more people had been criticizing or offering suggestions for improvement in the beginning, he probably would have had a better attitude toward improving/challenging himself as a webcomic artist. Instead, we now have a thin-skinned, shitty artist who can't write believable dialog and believes he can do no wrong.
Fuck off, Anon, or at least have the balls to post under a fucking recognizable name. If you're too afraid to publicly express unpopular opinions, or even popular opinions to a hostile audience, you are a cowardly piece of shit who can light himself on fire and die.
TL;DR My dick is huge, and you're all fuckers.
(except Amanda)
God fucking dammit poore just upstaged me.ReplyDelete
Alright, guys. Lemme clear up some shit. I said that and WENT ON TO SAY IT WAS BECAUSE PROFESSOR SCHWARTZ IS A BIG XKCD FAN. So shut the fuck up; I wasn't sucking his dick.ReplyDelete
I left because I saw a lot of validity in what Randall was saying. I'm also asking Carl not to post the whole log; I don't need you criticizing me for what you think is dicksucking.
Now look. Randall reminded me of...me, sort of. I wouldn't want to be a celebrity, and I wouldn't want my job and art to be hated so much that a blog is named "X sucks". So fuck you.
Or not. Some of you are great. See you around.
RANDALL, GET OUT OF DR HORRIBLE'S HEADReplyDelete
but really, randy puts his shit up online, does speaking tours. he's embraced his life as a public figure. but he doesn't want the criticism that comes with it. boo fucking hoo.
also carl post the whole log. without it, drhorriblesucks.blogspot.com will have very little material.
Asher: That's a point. But I feel like Randall is more real than anonymous online people. I've got real connections to him, to. We each are friends with the same guy, so 2 degrees max. Anyway. I feel I know him well enough to somehow care. And if I care, I don't want to piss him off, okay? I'm not being a pussy, and this happens very seldom, but I don't want to make this guy sad. I dunno if you can identify or not. I don't think xkcd is insanely good, but I really, really like Randall Munroe the person. And I don't want to make him feel bad.ReplyDelete
Fucking assholes, jeez. It's always somebody's fault but your own. You're just vicious forumites with no forum. The other extreme. Please don't be dicks.
"I wouldn't want to be a celebrity, and I wouldn't want my job and art to be hated so much that a blog is named "X sucks". So fuck you."ReplyDelete
If he really feels that way, why doesn't he come and tell us? Instead of having it come to us secondhand. This makes me like him even less, if that's possible.
Also, complaining about things you can't change, or not doing anything to actively discourage activities you dislike. Otherwise, you're an apathetic, self-pitying, worthless piece of shit. I satnd by that.
Dr. Horrible - you're free to feel that way. Hell, Randy is free to feel that way. However, you've expressed your opinion to me honestly, something Randall has yet to do (for any of us, or anyone at all, not just me personally). If he does, I'll pack up shop and never grace this blog again (well, I might, but I'll be less directly insulting and angry).
@Doctor Horrible:ReplyDelete
Also - if I find Randall to be a likable person, I probably won't insult him personally anymore (unless it's in a joking fashion, as I do with all of my friends), but I'll still tell him his comic is shit if I think so. Again, criticism and honesty are good; stagnation is bad.
The_P: I agree. However, I am also kind of respecting the fact that Randall is a little more sensitive by nature. I think he is at fault for not dealing with it better, and I think we are at fault for being so confrontational and demanding of him. I think the way I handled it (go to talk to him being REPRESENTATIVE of the community) was not creepy, but progressive. But now I know he doesn't like being approached by us. Maybe we should write a post, a REASONABLE post, detailing our views and telling him we understand his views. Hell, I promised him I'd try. I want us to get along. I think xkcd sucks should be renamed, kinda, but I think it's fine, if a bit confrontational.ReplyDelete
tl;dr Let's be more sensitive while Randall toughens up.
- AnonymousJuly 15, 2009 at 7:32 PM
"...having a group like xkcd sucks writ[cut off] something you care about will make you feel like absolute shit..."ReplyDelete
Yeah... no.
One thing any serious artist learns fairly quickly is to emotionally separate him/herself from his/her work. If this does not happen, any and all criticism comes across as personal attacks, and the artist comes away from the experience insulted and discouraged.
Successful artists are willing to see their works get torn to shreds, because otherwise they will never learn what they are doing wrong and they will never get any better. It might sting a little, sure, but it's ultimately beneficial.
By admitting that criticism makes him feel like "absolute shit," he's essentially admitting that he has failed to make this distinction: he and his work are one and the same. Any harsh words towards his comics are harsh words towards him. Considering that this comic is his job, he essentially is a professional artist, and I find his attitude somewhat unacceptable for someone of his level of success.
- RamseyJuly 15, 2009 at 7:37 PM
Dude. Dr. Horrible. If you know Randall Munroe personally, and claim to like him so much, then WHY IN THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE WOULD YOU GUEST-POST ON A SITE CALLED XKCD SUCKS?!ReplyDelete
Oh looky there, i got an account.ReplyDelete
Also - and i'm sorry for the multiple posts - I thought i posted this already, but it isn't showing up. Carl! Space out your e-mail or you'll get spam bots :OReplyDelete
Ramsey: I don't know him directly. He's just good friends with one of my good friends. So I FEEL closer to him. Minds are irrational like that.ReplyDelete
I posted here before I really realized he was a real person. I didn't until I read his emails to Carl and IMed him. Then I felt kind of bad about it.
- AnonymousJuly 15, 2009 at 8:22 PM
XKCD Sucks jumps the shark?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 15, 2009 at 8:33 PM
This blog isn't, ostensibly, about Randall but about xkcd. Personal stuff does sort of cross the line, in that it's mean. So tone it down, I guess? Whatever.ReplyDelete
Besides, he said "y'alls" which I find offensive.
No. We are not at fault. At all.ReplyDelete
There is one surefire way to avoid criticism. You never fucking do anything. Never publish art. Never take a stand for anything.
People have a RIGHT to criticize you for anything you do, say, or make. They have a right to criticize you for submitting your guest post, and right to criticize you for not submitting another. They have a right to criticize Randall for his comic. And they have no obligation to be nice about it.
As it happens you WERE nice about it. Go back and read your guest post. You were never disrespectful. You never lashed out.
You don't have to feel bad about that.
If you do, and it makes you not want to write any more guest posts, then that's fine. No skin off my nose. But you don't have to feel bad and neither do we. It is Randall's problem.
Pandering to him will never make him "toughen up." Actually, from all I've heard, he will never toughen up. He is never going to take anything on this blog seriously. No matter how nice we are. Because that is the sort of person he is.
His loss.
And in the end I don't care. I don't write about xkcd to make it better, though that would be a wonderful side effect. I write about it because it's entertaining. It fills the void that reading xkcd used to occupy. I don't even look at the comics anymore until Carl links to them.
We don't owe Randall anything. That is why we're not at fault.
But you know what, if you want to one-up me and be the better person, go right ahead. You can start your own blog, market it as "xkcdsucks, only nicer", and I'll read it. A lot of people would. But I bet you Randall's not one of them.
Wouldn't it be great if you could prove me wrong?
Jay: You're right. I'm not claiming to be the better person. This is a fault of mine. I quit posting because I felt bad. I wish I didn't feel bad, so I could keep posting, because I really liked posting for you guys. And I'll continue to read. My mind was totally irrational and I started to care about someone I didn't even know and stopping made me feel a bit better, so I'm not trying to one-up you; this is something I'll work on, to be MORE LIKE you.ReplyDelete
You're right, of course. Now that I'm looking back, he is mostly at fault. I'm clearing my mind now, and I'm going to stay in this community, reading and (occasionally) commenting. I apologize to Carl and to you guys for leaving so abruptly, and maybe, if it's okay with me and Carl and you all, I might post again in the future. But not until I get a little less emotional in my online thinking.
^Wow. I did NOT expect that.ReplyDelete
man what the hell I ignore you guys for like a day and suddenly it's all people talking about feelings and shitReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 15, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Rob: haha you said what we were all thinkingReplyDelete
carl showed you his emails with randall? this is piquing my curiosity.ReplyDelete
Asher: No, he just pasted a little bit. The parts he said made him feel guilty. Stuff like "you make my life less happy".ReplyDelete
"This comic is better than some. That's good to see."ReplyDelete
Positivity is possible here! Shade of grey achieved, everyone take note. It's a dry, semi-poisonous shade, but still.
Wait, Carl is also bummed about this now? My god, this is weird. I mean, not that I didn't notice the obvious decrease in today's vitriol content, but... Carl? Feeling bad for Randall?ReplyDelete
Also, Horrible, what on earth actually happened in that conversation? I mean, I can respect him for not being an ass to the guy who writes for the HATE HATE HATE HATE RANDALL ARGH! blog, but the screenshots hardly reveal a heartfelt reconciliatory speech.
I can understand that he's a friend of a friend, but that doesn't change the fact that he gradually transmuted all of his humility into pretentious, entitled holier-than-thouness with a little creepy thrown in the mix, at least as far as the comic is concerned. This is still the guy who posted this. This is still the guy who shouldn't have. And I don't know about anyone else, but for me if he didn't post the crappy un-humor anymore, and dropped the so much smarter than everyone attitude, I'd go back to thinking he's the awesomest person on the internet again. I'd also be at least a little baffled if anyone on this blog didn't. Did you ask him, by the way? Ask him what's with all the raping your daughter over number formats and the Megan stalking and the /b/-tard tendencies? I would love to know what he's been thinking.
Speaking of which, this guy goes to 4chan, and yet he guilt trips you over you not liking the fact that his comic started, well, sucking a little? I'm not gonna say the h-word but sheesh. Weird.
Oh and, what awesome job is he talking about? I thought he quit NASA to live off the webcomic. It's still better than most out there, including mine, but "webcomic artist" is hardly so awesome it justifies everything he does. Why the hell did he quit in the first place, anyway? It's not like he updates every day or something. I don't see why drawing xkcd would take so much time as to be impossible with a job.
we walk a fine line between hating everything Randy does and just hating almost everything Randy does. we must not falter, lest blah blah etc.ReplyDelete
also THOMAS I didn't get your IMs earlier because my computer's sound is made of brokenness and sad I WAS NOT IGNORING YOU etc
- Cuddlefish PrimeJuly 15, 2009 at 11:26 PM
Hey, if I could make a living drawing stick figures and convincing people to buy t-shirts based on it, I'd quit just about any 9-to-5 job and do that instead.ReplyDelete
Well, at least I would if I lacked any self-respect.
That IRC log sure does make Randall look like a whiney emo kid.ReplyDelete
But not nearly as whiney as THIS WHOLE FUCKING AFFAIR makes Dr. Horrible look. I mean, man. Saying that you're going to post a whole week for the awesome XKCD Sucks blog and that you'll stick it to the Mandall and then quitting after ONE post is lame enough, but doing so because you suddenly realised it might hurt the author's feelings? Please.
But hey, I hope Doctor Horrible's professor finds him totally awesome for getting advice from an internet celebrity.
Also, anybody here who mentioned that the chat log made them 'feel bad': please tell me you're acting all cuddlefishy for comedic purposes. PLEASE.
"Hey, if I could make a living drawing stick figures and convincing people to buy t-shirts based on it, I'd quit just about any 9-to-5 job and do that instead.ReplyDelete
Well, at least I would if I lacked any self-respect."
I would do it regardless, self-respect be damned. But I sure wouldn't email critics that they "made my life less happy." I'd be too busy rolling around naked in huge piles of money to care about critics.
Also: I'm thinking about guest posting. It'll probably consist primarily of "hey this is really condescending and annoying and also a copy of this comic I can't find in his fucking archive so you'll have to link to it in the comics."
But with my luck it'll probably be an entire week of Car Talk comics, which means all my comments would be "It could be worse."
woah guys: i just realized -ReplyDelete
people are complicated
HA HA. ok seriously though, this certainly turned more interesting than I was expecting! perhaps this is just the sort of introspective conversation that this blog needed. By the way, the part of the chat that you see there is basically what the whole thing is like, there's much more in terms of length but not much more in terms of ideas.
In Dr. Horrible's defense, I think he got in a bit deeper into this whole world than he expected. I remember the self-doubt and confusion I felt when Randy e-mailed me and thinking "oh god I've been a jerk, what have i DONE" for a few days. So I think maybe i know what he was going through. Still, the whole thing ended up a little weird. But so interesting!
You asked him for advice just so you could brag. Don't lie and say you didn't engage in a bit of sycophancy (cock-sucking in internet parlance), because we can all see that claim is bullshit.
To the point at hand, XKCD rose to fame because Randall wanted it to.
He did by-the-numbers pandering to the nerd community and in the early days would attack larger comics with unusual vitriol likely to generate irate response traffic (also he ripped of Black hated man).
Now his comic sucks, and people are calling him on it. That's fame. He knew it signing up. He is no more worthy of sympathy then Joe The Plumber or HipHop Artist 124..uhhh....Roots, The.
- Person #1July 16, 2009 at 3:28 AM
3:39 Anon, that is amazingReplyDelete
lol @ rob
I think randy is just kind of being a pussy here. Maybe I should talk to him "HEY MAN WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM"
Yes, that would go great.
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 6:12 AM
Just... wow.
Carl said: "I think maybe i know what [Doctor Horrible] was going through."
Holy shit, guys! CARL IS DOCTOR HORRIBLE!!!
(coming up with bullshit theories about Carl being other people just keeps getting easier)
aa97464: Sycophancy would be sucking up to Randall for personal gain. The only thing that might be counted as personal gain would be my professor understanding that hash tables are better for giant datasets with a lot of changes made to them.ReplyDelete
If I was trying to suck Randall's dick, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM MY REAL NAME. But I didn't because I felt I was kind of a dick for some of the conversation.
Look. I can understand this. But why do you guys hate me? Because I accidentally cared about someone's feelings? That's kind of a stupid reason.
I'm fully aware that it's Randall's fault. He should care less about criticism. But the fact is, he isn't going to, and this will continue to make him feel bad. And I don't want to do that.
Now please stop calling me a sycophant without even looking up the definition.
I'm confused as to why people keep attacking you, as well (but I'll die defending their right to do so :P).
- Person #1July 16, 2009 at 7:25 AM
What kind of name is randall anywayReplyDelete
sounds like the kind of name someone would make up while drunk, ISN'T THAT RIGHT CARL?
- Person #1July 16, 2009 at 7:29 AM
Oh and Dr. Horrible, randy shouldn't care less about critique. He should just stop being a little bitch and whining about it, and take it for what it's supposed to be: Help.ReplyDelete
I can understand forgiving a 3-year old for going on a crying rage when you tell him that his painting could be better because real people are not, in fact, blue. But randall is a grown man and going soft on him because he's a little bitch is doing the opposite of helping him. It's supporting that behaviour.
This entire situation is very ridiculous.ReplyDelete
Doc Horrible: I fully understand where you're coming from, and I respect your choice to stop writing, but critics can't stop being critics just because they know the man behind his work.
Poore: i'd like to read your guest posts though you're pretty fucking crazy.
I think we need to get back on track with what this site is. It's not hating Randy (even tho I feel some/a lot of us might) its hating the abomination of a cartoon that is xkcd.
Carl, if you're looking for guest posts I'd love to do one. Although, I can guarantee it will be rather lengthy and probably focusing more on the web comic in the sense of the web comic, and less on the black & white humor in that days panel.
The personal gain I'm guessing you could get out of this would be you *telling* your professor that you got advice from Randall. (On a side note, are you kidding me? You think Randall Munroe knows better than anybody else whether hash tables vs. binary searches are better?)ReplyDelete
"Sycophancy would be sucking up to Randall for personal gain. The only thing that might be counted as personal gain would be my professor understanding that hash tables are better for giant datasets with a lot of changes made to them."ReplyDelete
You didn't do it because you wanted your professor to understand that hash tables are better for giant datasets with a lot of changes made to them, though. You did it because you wanted your professor to know that Randall himself advised you.
But maybe that's just my understanding of the words "I want to tell my professor I got advice from you."
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 7:45 AM
oh my god i just looked at the picture of jeff rowland's spider bite wound again, why do i keep doing this to myselfReplyDelete
Adam: Randall Munroe is a noted NASA worker and my professor is a fan of him. I figured a combination of both would be advantageous.ReplyDelete
Fred: Well, I did want him to understand that. But also I just thought it was really cool I talked to Randall and wanted him, an xkcd fan, to know as well.
I was sucking up to nobody. I admit it was cool that I talked to him; he's kind of an internet celebrity. And I wanted my professor to know it because it's cool. But I also figured a grad who worked for NASA would have some credibility.
tl;dr Go suck your own damn cocks.
Well Dr Horrible, to be honest mate in my opinion you seem a little silly right now. No matter what your personal feelings may be, you volunteered yourself to guest post and backing out after just one suggests a lack of commitment. The fact you feel bad for criticising Munroe only when you feel "a connection" seems a tad immature... Distinctly amateur performance, mate.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 9:45 AM
If Randall loves his job so much he might want to start putting some effort into it because at the moment more and more people seem to be getting bored of his webcomic.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Wow, Doctor Horrible is quite the little bitch. To say he folded like a deck of cards would be an insult to the deck of cards.ReplyDelete
Your fucking critique is pathetic. It's not the place you think people would be thinking this? What exactly do you do if you're on a train and don't have a book or something else to occupy your time. But, even if you were right, it doesn't change anything. It would be as if you criticized a joke thusly:
This is completely unrealistic. First off, the Pope would have, like, a million bodyguards. And why is he with just some rabbi? Will any rabbi do? Why not have the papal equivalent of a rabbi? Oh, and I'm sure they would walk into a bar, yeah right. They would have a meeting in a temple or a Catholic church, come on! And they would never switch hats. Those are scared(sic) symbols for both of these men, they wouldn't just switch on a whim...
And so on and so forth, all the while forgetting that it's a fucking joke and sometimes the absurdity is part of it. Seriously, you do this often when you're not just out and out misunderstanding something in the comic.
But, mainly, Doctor Horrible is a little bitch.
- aa97464July 16, 2009 at 10:22 AM
You want to say you have a "relationship" with a celebrity. Pure and simple.
As for the ire, I'd imagine it comes from the fact that you went from critical to begger-level submissive in like 1 conversation. It makes you appear either cowardly or stupid.
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Carl sent me the chat log. Eventually, Randy gets randy and cybers with Dr. Horrible.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Why the "either"? I'd say both. However, you did forget dickless.
tl;dr I know I caved emotionally too quickly, and I'm working on it, okay?ReplyDelete
I told you it was a flaw of mine. I concede that point. It's not okay that I started to feel bad after one short chat with Randall. I get that.
And I'm working on it. The most you can ask of someone is to do their best to change, and I am. Please lay off; I am trying to be more callous, alright?
As for the "cock-sucking"...straight from my mouth: I did want to tell my professor I talked to Randall, mostly. I thought he would think it was cool. But since Randall doesn't know my identity, I couldn't have been sucking up to him, and having talked to Randall Munroe isn't enough to suck up to a professor. So please, PLEASE stop telling me I'm a sycophantic cock-sucker. I may have emotionally caved too quickly and that's on me, but I'm sucking up to NOBODY.
- Person #1July 16, 2009 at 10:53 AM
You always do this. Like that time I moved your chairReplyDelete
(I will stop repeating this reference over and over again now)
"I admit it was cool that I talked to him; he's kind of an internet celebrity. And I wanted my professor to know it because it's cool"ReplyDelete
Which is fine, but that rhymes an awful lot with "rycophant" in my book.
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 10:56 AM
THIS IS BEGINNING TO READ LIKE A SOAP OPERAReplyDelete
ok, just thought id get that off my chest. please continue, by all means
"You want to say you have a "relationship" with a celebrity. Pure and simple. "ReplyDelete
In fact he's managed to say that several times in this blog post alone. But he's not a sycophant!
Anyway, I think this was all very amusing. I can't wait to see what magic tomorrow's comic brings.
It's more name-dropping than anything. It's "whoops, I just dropped a name. Does anyone see that name I just dropped? I just dropped it, and I am not sure where it went. Let me know if you see it, all right? It's, uh, it's a name. One that I dropped."ReplyDelete
I do it all the time.
Like, I would ask Randall Munroe to do shit just so I could have it for xkcd sucks. It's not that I like the dude, I just want to name-drop etc.
tl;dr I'm probably right about your misuse of the word "sycophant", but I might not be.ReplyDelete
"A sycophant is a servile person who, acting in his or her own self interest, attempts to win favor by flattering one or more influential persons...."
How can I win favor if Randall doesn't know my name?
And I thought it would be a cool thing to share with my professor. I don't think there is anything there for me, self-interest wise, but if I am misunderstanding the defintion (I won't rule that out, actually), then maybe I am being a tad bit sycophantic. Just not to Randall.
But if something as minor as what I'm doing (sharing a cool thing with my professor) is sycophantic, who ISN'T a little bit sycophantic? If you met some cool actor and told him you admired his work, then told a friend of yours about it, would you be a sycophant? No. You're misusing the word.
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Haha, xkcd sucks got hijacked by a sissy who single-handedly undermined the whole mission. Jesus Carl, who's gonna guest post next? Randy's mother? Megan?ReplyDelete
- Megan MunroeJuly 16, 2009 at 11:20 AM
I'm getting very lonely. My little Randy doesn't visit me any more... Ever since he started his dreadful "web-comic". I know it may be a teensy bit selfish of me but I just want him to quit the comic and pay some attention to me for once.ReplyDelete
Carl, I would be honoured to guest-post.
I didn't mean to ruin the fun. I promised Carl I wouldn't troll. I don't think I really did much; the people to start this whole argument really ruined the comic thread. I liked the comic anyhow, though.ReplyDelete
Can someone please explain all this drama to me? Preferably you, Horrible, cuz I just don't get it! This blog makes his life a bit sadder? What the fuck? He doesn't like it, then all he has to do is stop joking about stalking people and raping their daughters, for fuck's sake! I mean, really, is that so hard? What, what's his excuse now? He was so terrified of facing yet another wave of "OMG Randy's illustroblog is missing the funnay again" critique, so he just went with a joke, any joke, no matter how tasteless?ReplyDelete
No honestly, I wanna know. There's gotta be something I'm missing here. Think any of you can lend me a hand, folks?
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Rarely, if ever, is there a tl;dr version of Internet drama.ReplyDelete
- aa97464July 16, 2009 at 11:39 AM
I like that you caved in about 3 seconds to some assuredly pseudonymed assholes online about you needing to cave less online.
You're the kinda kid who ate bugs when told to by the older boys, weren't ya?
Ar-Pharazon: I fell too quickly into an emotional sadness since I knew Randall would always be sad, so I quit. It's my fault.ReplyDelete
- Person #1July 16, 2009 at 11:39 AM
lol, 11:16 AM anonReplyDelete
Please let it be me
I will so not hack the mainframe and hijack the mission
aa97464: I didn't cave in 3 seconds. I came in ashamed of the fact that I caved too quickly with Randall. You don't have the ability to make me cave. You're too anonymous.ReplyDelete
@Doc: Dunno, maybe. It seems people here are just a tad too hard on you as well, though.ReplyDelete
Anyway, thanks for the answer. I'm still wondering what he's got to say about the more godawful strips he did and how his fragile feelings fit into it, but hey, guess it's a mystery.
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Dr. Horrible, more like Dr. Hand-wringing Weenie who caves when faced with the petulant whining of a 30 year old virgin.ReplyDelete
12:01 Anonymous, Randall's 24.ReplyDelete
Look. I've made my point. I'll be around, but you don't need to talk to me anymore; I won't be responding. You can hate me if you want (although I don't know why).
@Doc H:ReplyDelete
You're a weenie and you only make it look worse when you consistently defend yourself against every Tom, Dick, and Randy.
But I'M NOT a sycophant, see look at this dictionary definition. LOOK AT IT! :'(
Doc HReplyDelete
"I won't be responding."
Ninja'd (I hope)
- Way WalkerJuly 16, 2009 at 12:30 PM
I had a longer write up, but my browser ate it, here's the short version:ReplyDelete
Doc Horrible: You felt bad for standing up to Randall, so why not stand up for him? Instead of voting with your feet indicating that you'd like to see a change, why didn't you post an entry that actually effected the change you'd like to see?
Randall: You're educated and claim some level of introspection, so you must realize that what you do actively works towards you becoming a celebrity. You wouldn't be the first to count the cost and decide it was too much, and there's no shame in that. Bands that could make it big stay underground for that very reason. You made your bed, now you get to sleep in it. Don't complain that you reap what you sow, or don't get to have your cake and eat it, too. Coming from a scientific background myself, it seems especially odd that you'd be sensitive to criticism since science is a very harsh field and isn't very shy with its criticism.
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 12:38 PM
this is the most rediculus converation on the internet, why do i keep reading it?ReplyDelete
all this drama and no women in leading roles?
its all a bunch of nedition
Secretly, Anon, you want to be one of us.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 1:01 PM
< drama>xkcdsucks.blogspot.com< /drama>ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 1:02 PM
P.S. I am a different anonymous than 12:38ReplyDelete
Ok I think we all need to leave Doc Horrible alone. He's explained himself and everything numerous times.ReplyDelete
Come on guys, let it go already.
I can't believe I read all of that.
I should start visiting this blog less often...
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 1:14 PM
- formatJuly 16, 2009 at 1:26 PM
the blog does go to far sometimes, even carl should admit. but that doesn't change what it is, the needed criticism to help xkcd get better. it isnt xkcd: is it shitty today?ReplyDelete
I don't think anyone should feel bad for pointing out bad elements of god damned comics! Attacking a comic is not the same as attacking a person, especially when a great number of the problems would be fixed if only Randall had an editor! and by editor i mean an unbiased third party, someone who can honestly point out what is wrong with a particular strip, and get it fixed.
Is "drama" the right word for "someone decided not to critique a webcomic and others are being a dick to him?"ReplyDelete
Sounds more like ASS. *fart*
Willy Monty Huge is clearly Randall Munroe. No one else can be so sycophantic (to himself), egotistical and pretentious.ReplyDelete
CAPTCHA: Clues. It's a sign.
This Doctor Horrible person will be going to Hell, I assure you all.ReplyDelete
Let me hear it, my children!
I like bunnies :(ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Recommendations to Doctor Horrible:ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Also you are a fucking sycophant, you forgot to photoshop that part out at the bottom where you said that you wanted to let your college professor know "you got advice from THE Randall Munroe".ReplyDelete
Fucking cocksucking faggot.
Haha, "I have a really cool job and an awesome life that I love. So there's a price for that"ReplyDelete
The price of selling t-shirts to idiot sycophants having them spam karma to you on reddit is having people who are making as milquetoast criticism as humanly possible?
What a fucking pompous jerk. XKCDsucks cuts their criticism of XKCD with so much cock sucking that you'd have trouble telling if it's actually criticism or not. It's probably the most light hearted criticism of any webcomic ever. Nowhere as vitriolic as "your web comic is bad and you should feel bad". I mean the whole premise is that XKCD was once good! They're all FANS you crybaby faggot.
Carl is fucking scared senseless of being mean, and he barely ever is. Though Randall's world is such a fucking fuzzy bunny nerd fantasy bubble that he's even sensitive to what is effectively a blog where they root that he stops being so derivative. Maybe if he spent a little time away from his own groupthink he'd get a little better grip on reality.
He just, like every idiot, can't believe something he produced that SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE might actually be shitty. It really bothers him to have people who actually liked his drivel at one time, decide they don't like it anymore. He's much like so much Jim Jones, insisting everyone at the "Peoples Raptor Protection Project" drink the koolaid and go lay down in the ball pit.
Carl if you are tired of updating we can do another Rob week. Those sure are popular with the ladies. And by ladies I mean 'pathetic whinging bitchy fuckwits,' and by popular I mean 'causative of hilarious imbecilic rage.'ReplyDelete
I like that this debacle has drawn the real haters out of the woodwork.ReplyDelete
Bring on the Roooooobbb weeeeeeeekkkReplyDelete
John, I think it's amazing that he's whining about what is a disgruntled fan club. Why don't you hate someone who reacts like that?ReplyDelete
You guys I'm gonna type up an entire goddamn guest post WITH ALT TEXT just to spite you all.ReplyDelete
Rob I thoroughly enjoyed your updates and have no idea why they generated so much ire.ReplyDelete
@Yuk YukReplyDelete
No, that I assuredly approve of. I'm a hater myself.
I mean the Anonymous comments on this page that are laying into Dr. Horrible. Usually this blog doesn't have so much vitriol, deserved or not.
- RamseyJuly 16, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Jesus fucking Christ on a crusade, people, can we lay off Dr. Horrible already? I know he fucked up but that doesn't mean we have to tell him to go kill himself. Not even Randy deserves that.ReplyDelete
I dunno, if he killed himself it would go a long way to him repairing the damage he's done here.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 7:21 PM
I am letting the hate flow through me and it feels gooooood.ReplyDelete
Randall Munroe doesn't deserve people telling him to kill himself?ReplyDelete
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! What kind of limp-wristed faggots did this community turn into overnight?!
- FrogwarriorJuly 16, 2009 at 8:06 PM
Dr. Horrible: "You can hate me if I want (although I don't know why)."ReplyDelete
Congratulations, you've encountered the darker side of xkcdsucks. Namely, people who are full of vitriolic hatred for Munroe and xkcd (ironically, probably at least partly because it's "cool" to do so and people who hate xkcd are just smarter, right?), and who can't understand even a little bit of what you experience, namely, having a shred of basic human compassion for another human being even though you aren't face-to-face with him. So, they have no problems with turning that hatred on you for not providing them the hate-fuel they craved.
Basically, you know everything everyone's been saying about how Randall is whiny and, like any artist, should learn to take criticism? Yeah, you gotta deal with that too.
People are dicks, and sometimes you just can't explain things, especially on the internet, so the best thing to do is just back down.
... Which is what you did.
So, nevermind then. :-P
I love when the sweeping generalizations come out. "Nobody here has any shred of human decency!" etc etc. you all rox (or sux)ReplyDelete
Yes, and passing judgment on people who often come here to vent their frustrations - a sort of healthy catharsis mingled with a legitimate disdain over the decline in quality of a webcomic they once truly appreciated - in order to establish your own moral superiority is much more noble.
Also, what gives you the right to judge anyone in the first place? We're all only human, and assuming anything about the attitudes and motivations of people whose only contact with you is through the anonymous screen of the Internet is laughable.
Eat a dick, you self-righteous, pedantic fuck.
Did Stephenie Meyer put y'all to this?ReplyDelete
- RamseyJuly 16, 2009 at 9:16 PM
On a brighter note, I kind of thought today's comic was awesome.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 9:33 PM
It doesn't completely suck, but it sure would've been nice to actually SEE some of the shit he was ranting about.ReplyDelete
- FrogwarriorJuly 16, 2009 at 9:34 PM
@Rob: Well, I wouldn't say NOBODY has any shred of human decency. Just, y'know. Some. At certain times.ReplyDelete
I just don't think "You had a moment of weakness where you CARED ABOUT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING!!!" is a good reason to internet-gang-rape someone. *shrug*
@The_P: Yeah, I may have come off a lil' testy, sorry.
As it turns out, I rather detest bullies, and it looked an awful lot like 20 jerks piling on someone for, well, having a totally understandable twinge of (somewhat misplaced) compassion. And completely not listening to his attempt to explain. I hope you can understand how that might not look too good, and, in fact, might make you look like a total dick.
That, and throwing out "self-righteous" and "how DARE you judge me???" Y'know, absolutely nothing sounds more like a bulshitty excuse for being a jackass. Take care you're not one, I have no way of knowing either way.
tl;dr no thanks, I only eat the spotted kind.
@thomas: die in a fire for mentioning that name.
@Poore: I kind of agree with Frogwarrior. I mean, some of these Anon's have been fucking insane. Yeah, I'm judging them. Maybe they should learn to deal with criticism, and come back when they aren't telling people to commit suicide, eh?ReplyDelete
Actually, let's say I'm not judging them, and giving them constructive, healthy criticism on how not to look like FUCKING PSYCHOPATHS. I'm sure they're kind, decent folks face-to-face, but they're acting like FUCKING PSYCHOPATHS.
And just to be clear, Poore, I'm not referring to you. You're kind of a dick sometimes, too, but you do it with style, so I let it go as personal difference in approach. Of course, when I say "let it go", I don't mean I have any power to restrain you (and I shouldn't have any), I just mean in terms of wholly-unjustified-but-constructive-criticism.
TLDR; Let's just move on, shall we?
guys. guys. isn't it clear now that doctor horrible is randall? in which case - well played randall, well played.ReplyDelete
Ugh the latest one. I would be less bothered if it were not a ripoff of, like, the single most iconic A Softer World ever. Just much more poorly executed.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 16, 2009 at 9:55 PM
god damn you guys it's like bill o'reilly in hereReplyDelete
- FrogwarriorJuly 16, 2009 at 10:17 PM
I'll take Bill O'Reilly over Jerry Springer any day.ReplyDelete
Or Mr. Rogers! He's cool, too.
- Cuddlefish PrimeJuly 16, 2009 at 10:18 PM
I vote Poore does a guest postReplyDelete
That would be much laughs
This is absolutely pathetic. What's next, a mass jerking contest? You're all taking the internet too seriously. Would you feel better if I gave you tampons and made a site for "CAD Could Be Better"? You can do any comic and make it "better" in the opinion of yourself - but it may be worse.ReplyDelete
I claim no amazing ability to improve the XKCD comic in anyone else's eyes but my own. But here, on a blog dedicated to ripping apart the suckiest of comics from this particular comic... there is an emotional jerkfest going on! What are you all doing!? Taking it seriously - bleeding hearts because you might shatter someone's fragile glass-like psyche?
It's fine to abstain from personal attacks... but at the same time you are seeing the person in the comics, and thus they are a worthy target.
Christ, has the Cancer begun?
Rob are you implying that our friend Snoogkraktor here is a wizardReplyDelete
i'm just saying, he may or may not have cast a spell on meReplyDelete
take it as you will
Well, first of all, this is a phenomenon I've never personally experienced. I have never been on hurricane-devotee forums, I have never even heard this sort of thing in passing. Generally, the people I interact with don't much care about hurricanes before, during, or after the event, and they especially don't care about how BADASS EXTREME the meteorology is. So, on the first level, the whole thing is dealing with a situation that is unfamiliar to me.ReplyDelete
Of course, that's not to say I don't think I get the idea. There is, I'm sure, a catastrophe lust among hurricane enthusiasts (is there porn for these people? like, could you do some stuff with wires and have people copulating while floating about in a hurricane?). And so, logically, there could be comparisons to other sorts of catastrophe lusts.
Watching the Space Shuttle launch for the possibility of disaster is probably not the best example he could've chosen, since there've been only a handful of disasters and plenty of reasons to enjoy Shuttle launches. They're a testament to the power of human engineering and physics and mathematics and computer programming, which means that people like Randall could like them for an entirely different set of reasons! But, I suppose, it's possible that a sociopath like Mr. Hat might like watching it for that reason.
(Should I praise Randall for avoiding the obvious but still wholly appropriate example of stock car racing? Did he leave it out because it occurred to him, but he respected his audience too much to include such an obvious example; or because he never thought of it in the first place and just went with the vastly less appropriate [but vastly nerdier] Shuttle example? I suspect the latter, since I have no reason to believe Randall respects his audience at all, OR would ever pass up a chance to mock stock car racing enthusiasts.)
Then we get Mr. Hat's two examples, one of which is kind of creepy and the other is kind of Most Dangerous Game. Do doctor's really harvest organs right there in the operating room? Don't they usually do that sort of thing in, like, morgues? I know I'm mostly taking cues from Scrubs but still.
And, um, I guess actually the entire comparison fell apart with the Most Dangerous Game shit. Because that's not actually watching something, hoping for catastrophe--that's deliberately creating catastrophe and going out of your way to hurt people. That's less the passive sociopathy of a stock car fan, still less the active but playful and intelligent sociopathy of Classic Mr. Hat, and more the horrifying and not actually all that hilarious sociopathy of a demented serial killer. Now, maybe Randall's gonna go in an ultra-serious direction and have Mr. Hat become a corrupt CIA agent addicted to killing and Mr. Beret become the Donnie Wahlberg clean cop who silently tracks him down and Mr. Hat's wife is like Leonardo DiCaprio, deep undercover and freaking out, and the art'll be done by Frank Miller and it'll rock my tits off. Or maybe Randall just accidentally wrote his character as a brutal murderer and played it for a weak joke about... how it's funny when people are murderers, I guess?
Yes, yes, of course there's no joke. There's Mr. Hat making sort-of creepy comparisons of catastrophe-watching habits and also revealing that he is a hunter of men. And then, after the punchline (the fourth panel, which SHOULD include Mr. Hat's first line from the fifth; having them separate reduces the impact and continuity of his monologue too much), we get yet another "I'm explaining the joke!" line, which robs the comic of yet more momentum and forces us to leave with an impression, not of a socially divergent madman who creatively torments people, but with the half-hearted reproach of his girlfriend.
Well, actually, we leave with a restatement of the first panel, if we count the alt text. Pure redundancy.
An aside: It seems pretty often that Randall restates the joke in his alt text. In fact, sometimes he basically restates what a character says in the alt text. Usually, I interpret the alt text as an author's commentary on the joke, or some sort of non-character/narrator/something providing additional funnies, or some such thing. But often, in addition to being lazy and repetitive, Randall seems to be using the alt text to include dialogue from characters. Could this inconsistency contribute to our habit of reading Randall's personal life into his comics?ReplyDelete
Actually, I suspect that most of the reason we read Randall's personal life is because he makes comics whose sole purpose is to reflect some aspect of his readers' personal lives with a GOOMH!!!!! moment. If these are intended to resonate with readers, and he's not simply exploiting them by imagining scenarios he thinks they've gone through but which he never really has, then Randall's actual life shows through the comic quite frequently. I think any time Randall's comic produces the reaction "Wow, I've thought that TOO!" it ought to be fair that the "too" means that, yes, Randall thought it.
So, we have mostly forgettable art (the combination of details on the TV with the featureless void of the rest of reality strikes me as off, but not terribly so), a non-punchline that's deflated further by after-the-joke commentary on it, further degradation of Mr. Hat, a reference to a sub-culture I never knew existed, redundant alt-text that does nothing but rehash the setup of the joke, peculiar omissions, and really nothing redeeming. Overall, quite awful.
Is this your audition for a guest comic?ReplyDelete
-Post-. FUCK!ReplyDelete
the only way to audition for a guest post is to e-mail me - I read the comments but not always with enough attention to note down stuff like that, especially if it is comment #157 on a post. But i got a ton of e-mails already for guest posting. More on this in...the future.ReplyDelete
It's alternately my potential guest post and just a really, really long regular post.ReplyDelete
(Spoilers: I only even started reading this comic like two hours after it went up because I was busy playing Call of Duty 4. NEXT TIME I MIGHT BE MORE PROMPT CARL. NEXT TIME.)
man male that is way too much to read. there is no chance that I will ever read that.ReplyDelete
poore email carl email carlReplyDelete
carl post that damn irc log
Doctor Horrible, you knew what you were getting yourself into when you signed on to post for xkcd sucks. You also know what you were getting yourself into when you decided to quit. I have no pity for you! (okay maybe some) But you can criticize and still be nice. It's called "constructive criticism." If you are afraid to give criticism because you don't wanna be hurting someone's feelings, that means that that someone is a douche who cannot take criticism.
Person #1 doooo itttttttt
aloria doooo itttttttttttttttt
Ramsey doooo ittttttttttt
(do you guys see a pattern here)
3:39 anon: you are my hero. That was just wonderful. Actually all the edits for this one were great. Good job everyone!
5:59 anon: No. Just no. We do not worship Carl here. Also Randy has quite the (undeserved) ego. I do not hate him, I hate his attitude. So basically what Jay and poore said. Just because we share an opinion sometimes does not mean we always do. And when we do we don't go HAW HAW I THOUGHT THAT ONCE BEFORRRRE god you are so great get out of my headddd
poore i must disagree with one small detail: i am indeed a fucker... and a good one at that. And I thank you to not make this mistake again. I STILL LOVE YOU THO OKAY
man carl post those damn emails too I AM SO JEALOUS DOES THIS MEAN IF I GUEST POST I GET TO READ ALL THIS SEKRIT THINGS
We don't worship Carl here? Then what the fuck are all these entrails and vials of virgin blood for?ReplyDelete
shhhh they dunno that we have all that hereReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 12:41 AM
STOP WITH THE HOMOPHOBIC COMMENTSReplyDelete
You are allowed to hate Randall, fine. But there is no reason to help contribute to this culture in which gay people are made to feel subhuman. Don't call people "faggots", "sissies" and don't imply that sucking cock is bad.
Nevermind your telling a person who felt bad for hurting someone that he should die.
I have never seen so much irrational hate firsthand in my entire life.
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 12:49 AM
Anon 12:41 here: disregard that, I suck cocksReplyDelete
- FrogwarriorJuly 17, 2009 at 12:52 AM
12:41 anon: What, you've never been on the internet before?ReplyDelete
@Snoogkrator: "Blah blah, I'm better than you because I don't talk about anything I care about." And I thought the people telling you to not be dicks were supposed to be the self-righteous ones.
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 1:17 AM
Just because I know what to expect doesn't make it okay that you do it.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 4:42 AM
Har har, 12:49 made my day!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 4:47 AM
RANDALL MUNROE WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW THAT HE KNOWS MORE ABOUT LIFE THAN YOU DO!ReplyDelete
@Anonymous 12:41ReplyDelete
Women have sucked far more cocks than gay men ever have. Please take your sense of minority entitlement elsewhere.
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 6:00 AM
@Anonymous 12:41ReplyDelete
Oh, go suck some dick/tit.
(haha, see what I did there? That was equally homophobic AND heterophobic!
Now you are supposed to laugh.)
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 6:02 AM
(Furthermore, it doesn't require me second-guessing your gender! Everybody wins!)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 8:16 AM
Everybody, except for Cthulhu.ReplyDelete
- harrisonJuly 17, 2009 at 8:24 AM
Malethoth, I sort of assumed the step up from passive sociopathy to actively going out and playing the most dangerous game... was the joke? It's not a great one, but at least it's character-based humor and not NERDY POP CULTURE REFERENCE LOL.ReplyDelete
IMO this wasn't a horrible comic, which makes two in a row for Randy that didn't make me want to commit physical violence against someone. Maybe it's not a coincidence and he's finally improving!
Still, though, there's the whole "redundant dialogue after the punchline" thing, and the whole people not talking realistically" thing. So not a good comic, just better than, say, Monday's.
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 9:37 AM
whoa people are still commenting? you know no one's reading this any more, right? (especially if you're replying to someone who commented days ago)ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
I'm going to start posting as an Anon so I don't draw too much shit for quitting. The few of you I like have defended me, which I appreciate, but apparently I'll draw far too much internet hate criticizing under the name "Doctor Horrible". So...yeah, I'm going to be an Anon. Thanks a lot, assholes.ReplyDelete
- FrogwarriorJuly 17, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Whatever, as long as it keeps you from whining to us about Pam or Peggy or whatever the hell her name was.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 12:34 PM
BAWWW, LOOK AT THE WIMP CRY!!!!11ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 12:54 PM
@DH: Or, you could just get a different name and not clutter the board with EPIC GOODBYE SPEECHES.ReplyDelete
Plus, if an anon sissies out, we'll assume it was you. Sissyfish.
Malekoth*, I have a complaint:ReplyDelete
"a reference to a sub-culture I never knew existed"
I don't see why that's bad?
(the rest is fine)
*and also I am too lazy to look up the spelling
- FrogwarriorJuly 17, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Epic goodbye speeches? Hardly. That was, like, three sentences. "Epic" would be a several page long dissertation on why you all are, in fact, assholes.ReplyDelete
In other words, completely unnecessary, as it is obvious.
Doctor Horrible are you serious, none of us that got impostered changed our names. I am of the opinion that you should stay with your name, and deal with the backlash of going on the internet.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 2:34 PM
LOOKY HERE, BOYS! WE GOT OURSELVES AN ATTENTION WHORE!ReplyDelete
guys, guys, you are missing the point.ReplyDelete
the point is: TROLL DOLLS
@Ann Apolis: It's really only bad for me, personally because it means I might not have gotten the joke. I'm terrified of being sufficiently far from the "target audience" of people who like and understand every XKCD ever that my critiques will be invalid for all time.ReplyDelete
Alternately, if the subculture really DOESN'T exist, then it's that "way too far removed from reality" business that, I think, was best demonstrated in 473.
Amanda: The imposter thing wasn't your fault. Every time I criticize a comic from now on, at least 5 people are going to tell me I should be nicer to my boyfriend Randall, or what if I hurt someone's feelings, BAAAAAAAW. It's not worth being Doctor Horrible, but I still like hanging around here, so I will. Just as not me, because everybody seems intent on making my stay here miserable.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 7:06 PM
I think we're all forgetting something... XKCD SUCKS!!ReplyDelete
It really does! That patronising "look at all these sheep" comic made me sick. That's what Aspeger's Randall thinks in the train??? What an utter cunt!
And Dr Horrible. Grow some balls. You were fucked over by Randall's Math, Language, and self-indulgent wanking onto IRC. If I had a friend who knew Randall I would disown that friend, remove them from my Facebook account, and destroy any connection with that friend. Knowing Randall it's only an internet friend, or a friend who stands at parties thinking they're superior - so no great loss.
I hope you feel like shit you socially-stunted nerd, Randall. Stop making your comic, and murder-suicide your friend-of-friend Horrible.
^ Nope. Undergrad student of my mom's. Now he lives near Randall.ReplyDelete
The sheep comic isn't what Randall thinks on the train. It's making fun of people who think like that. Maybe it went over your head, you spell-check-eschewing little pissant.
Not that it was laught-out-loud funny. It just wasn't patronizing.
(Double-post) Yeah, ha ha, I made a spelling mistake. But I just hit post too quickly; I didn't willfully ignore it.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Excuses, excuses. There's always one with people like you, Dr H. Admit it, you've made spelling mistakes before.ReplyDelete
And thanks for pointing out your double post. I nearly missed that and thought there were two of you. A truly Horrible thought.
Why does Randall think people think like that? When I'm sitting on a train, I don't imagine everyone to be hateful emo trenchcoat-mafia nerds.
Well here is the explanation that was over my head... Randall thinks in this way, and HATES it in himself. He externalises that thought to other people (like the religious pervert who claims everyone is "fornicating" while he cheats on his wife with your mother).
Randall actually believes people think this way, because it's how he thinks. It's a common theme through his comics - blaming others for his awful thoughts.
Oh, and to the few still reading this thread. I humbly apologise for my spelling mistakes in my previous post. I didn't just hit the post button too quickly, I willfully ignored the typo. I am terribley terrablie sorry.
I'm not sure your distinctive brand of psychoanalysis applies when all you know of this side of Randall is one bitmap's worth. With most of it being empty in terms of linguistic value.ReplyDelete
I don't think the train has anything to do with it. I think it was a lame little joke, touching on parody of human thought patterns.
I apologize for the spelling thing, though.
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 9:22 PM
Too little, too late. Apology not accepted.ReplyDelete
I see, so the train has nothing to do with it. Obviously a metaphor? Merely a parody of human thought patterns?
No, it's not. It is proof Randall is a disconnected loser who hates everyone, but wants people to like him.
I may not be his soul mate like you aitchy, but his persecutory delusions are evident in your pussy-licking IRC message to him (see, not sexist like Randy).
My evidence that Randall is a cock include more than one bitmap (don't say that, you sound like a nerd). Every comic he's produced shows he's a fuckwit, then there's the slogan that everyone hates, and the "shitty webcomic artists have feelings too" crap he spouted to you. All these are evidence to my previous assertions about Randall.
Oh, and what's this about the empty "linguistic value" of my post? Nowhere did I promise to have an anonymous comment about math, sarcasm, romance and language.
But since you asked: "Randall's a homo and he fucked your mother" - Chomsky.
The imposter thing had everything to do with me going on the Internet and posting anything at all. Think about it: if I never commented on this site (or better yet, posted anonymously), no one could ever be an imposter (of me, at least). If I (and a significant number of everyone else, too) never even read this blog, no one would ever even care enough to be an imposter. Now, in your case, if you had never posted, you would have nothing to feel guilty about! And if you had not backed out of posting for a week, no one would have any right to rag on you. Every action has its consequence, just yours was a little suckier on both ends (that's what she said?).ReplyDelete
oh you guys we are SO CLOSE TO 200 COMMENTS
Amanda, you are the coolest girl ever. It would suck if you weren't hot to match.ReplyDelete
Anon, I was talking about the linguistic value of the bitmap in question - which is housed almost entirely in the upper center, in the text bubble. And Chomskyism is a pile of idealistic shit.
Let's push 200, motherfuckers. I want to be the record-breaker for hate.
don't worry i am foiiiiineReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 9:56 PM
Fuck 200, it ends here.ReplyDelete
Amanda please don't interrupt me and my good friend Horrible in the middle of deep debate. He's a bit shy, but i think he may have a crush on you.
I fail to see how "Randall's a homo and he fucked your mother" is idealistic - but you're entitled to your opinion.
In future Dr H, read your comments before posting. Realise that what your write can be ambiguous and confusing. Especially since you are so easily led by a manipulative older man (namely Randall).
Be careful.. You have been warned.
- AnonymousJuly 17, 2009 at 10:06 PM
I have seen Amanda. I can say she is hot. That's if you like the look of a dugong and a great white shark mating.ReplyDelete
Another hint for you, Dr H. Most internet girls are guys (but not vice versa).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Mrs. Hyatt's Music House, begun as an informal musical get-together in the 1940s, has persevered through the decades to become a world-renowned weekly gathering for bluegrass musicians.
ASHEVILLE — Mrs. Hyatt's Music House, begun as an informal musical get-together in the 1940s, has persevered through the decades to become a world-renowned weekly gathering for bluegrass musicians.
Hosted at the Asheville home of Nelia Hyatt, now 95, the jam session venue is under threat of the wrecking ball unless funds can be raised to secure a new site and move the Music House structure.
"We are doing this for the community, to make sure my grandfather's legacy lives on," said Karen Cogdill-Reilly, the granddaughter of Wayne and Nelia Hyatt. "The music of the mountains is a pure music, and that purity will be lost if we lose a place like this."
Cogdill-Reilly and her husband, Evan Reilly, are spearheading a campaign over the next few months to save the longtime venue, with a chili cook-off and music event, a motorcycle poker run, and a battle of the bands.
A nonprofit organization has been started to help in the fight to preserve the music house, with a Facebook presence also being utilized for public awareness.
Nelia and the 'birds'
Fiddlers, banjo players and singers still surround a smiling Nelia Hyatt at the jam sessions, for which she has been known to cook up entire Sunday dinners in the past for hungry musicians at the weekly Thursday evening gatherings.
She lovingly calls musicians "birds," enjoying having them gather and make beautiful music where she has lived for so long.
Hyatt's late husband, Wayne, launched the tradition in 1947, when a group of his fellow Southern Railway workers gathered for some informal music making at the couple's home on Brevard Road.
As time went on, word got out and the place, with its family-friendly environment, became legend — a place where bluegrass luminaries and novice players alike could gather for weekly jams.
Over time, the jams became so popular that they outgrew the Hyatts' living room and in the 1970s moved to the outbuilding Wayne Hyatt constructed, to create a place to "pick outside" in the hot summer months.
Guests and regulars at the Music House have included Grammy-winner Bryan Sutton, David Holt, Shane Lail of the Dillards, Chris Sharp, George Buckner, Lawrence Dillingham, and Wayne Erbsen, who is an instructor of Appalachian Culture at Warren Wilson College.
Mrs. Hyatt's Music House has garnered media attention over the years from The Times of London, The Evening News with Tom Brokaw, The Voice of America, as well as North Carolina's Our State magazine.
Groups from colleges have been a regular feature at the Music House, most prominently Brevard College and Warren Wilson College.
The weekly jams have been continuous, except for the year after Wayne Hyatt's death in 1984.
"Depending on how successful we are with fundraising, we will procure a spot just down the road," Reilly said of planned move.
Anderson Nissan, Mrs. Hyatt's immediate neighbor on Brevard Road, has signed a contract to purchase the Music House property from one of her relatives. The car dealership has offered to host the weekly jams through the end of April, when the Music House must either move or face demolition.
Around $200,000 is needed before April 30 in order to purchase a site and move the existing structure.
"Anderson Nissan has been very generous with letting the Music House stay where it is," Reilly said.
The first fundraising event will get under way Feb. 10 at the VFW Club on Leicester Highway, with live music, a raffle and a "Chili Cornbread Cook-off" from 2 to 7 p.m.
Admission is $10 per person, with children and cook-off contestants admitted free of charge.
In April, a "Battle of the Bands Unplugged" is scheduled to take place in various venues.
A motorcycle poker run is also planned, and event volunteers are still needed, Cogdill-Reilly said.
Gathering space
Two vintage hymnals rest on the stand-up piano in the Music House building, where the walls are covered with pinned photographs, newspaper clippings and memorabilia.
Folding chairs and church pews, upholstered in red fabric, are arranged for musicians and listeners in the garage-sized room, where a wood stove made by Wayne Hyatt dominates one corner.
Large smooth stones, brought from Barnardsville to the Music House, form the foundation walls of the building.
Cogdill-Reilly hopes to move the stones to a new location, to mimic her grandfather's construction as much as possible.
"I want to keep that intimate feeling," she said. "It's not a 'show' — this place doesn't have the ego that says, 'It's all about me.'"
Columbus resident Marilyn McMinn-McCredie has been a regular at Mrs. Hyatt's since she was a teenager. Now a great-grandmother, the ballad singer and storyteller believes preservation of the venue is essential to the passing on of folk customs.
She said many of these customs that don't necessarily get written down — basic customs, like manners.
"When I was a kid, my father knew of someplace like Mrs. Hyatt's Music House going on every night of the week," McMinn-McCredie said. "Now, this is all there is — there's no place for swapping melodies, lyrics and techniques.
"Folklore is the fabric of the tapestry that our life is embroidered on," she added.
McMinn-McCredie cites a fiddle player who once played a tune "on a whim" at Mrs. Hyatt's that had been passed to him from his ancestors. It was soon learned that the tune, called "The Maid of Orleans," was played at the first inauguration of George Washington.
"Fiddlers have memories like Velcro," McMinn-McCredie said. "If it washes by their ears, the music is captured."
Grey Wickel, a 13-year-old homeschooled fiddle player, has played both fiddle and banjo at Mrs. Hyatt's since 2010.
"I think it's really awesome — they have all been welcoming," said Wickel, who lives in Asheville. "(The musicians) are all about influencing young players."
Wickel said he learned some new mountain-style music at sessions over the couple of years he's been to the Music House.
Cogdill-Reilly is passionate about the role of musicians and preserving the opportunity to pass on what they know.
"It's an environment conditioned to learning and passing on tradition — here, manners count more than musicianship," she said. "The young learn from the old sitting around the music circle."
She envisions a future for the Music House that includes an educational aspect, as well as a regular music festival.
For now, it's about preserving details before they are lost forever.
"A sense of urgency has required us to move ahead quickly to archive the contents of Mrs. Hyatt's," said Cogdill-Reilly, whose grandmother has been staying in a rest home since she broke her hip last year.
Hundreds of photos, articles and assorted memorabilia are being preserved before the building is potentially lost.
McMinn-McCredie is creating a large quilt with photo transfers using snapshots of Wayne and Nelia Hyatt and of musicians who have played at the Music House. The quilt, a "tied comforter," will be a raffle prize at the Feb. 10 fundraising event.
The encroaching development around what used to be a simple home, surrounded by rolling pasture, gives the feeling of a way of life squeezed out — but there is hope, according to Cogdill-Reilly.
"There are more and more young people picking up traditional music, and there is an ever-increasing desire to preserve Western North Carolina culture," she said. "Kids that are picking this up — they don't have a place to play except for the bars."
Wickel is one of the youth who would mourn the potential passing of the landmark session venue.
"I'm kind of devastated about the House going away," he said.


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