Audience Expectations

In which audience refers to readers.

As I've mentioned, I have a list of comics that I go through every day. Some are daily comics, some weekly. I know which ones are which obviously so check only when I know they are supposed to update. Several of the comics run single strip or a small series of related strips. But some of the ones I follow involve complicated ongoing plots so the stories can take several weeks or months to complete an arc and often refer to events already gone by.

Since I write I know that sometimes to tell a story properly you need to do things to the characters that the audience doesn't like. Also, you sometimes throw in the side plots or red herrings to show more of the world you've created and placed out there for the readers to enjoy. Which also means that sometimes things become predictable for any reader who is well read.

One of the comics I read is currently in the slower part of the story line and revealing things that many of us saw coming. One advantage (or disadvantage depending on your viewpoint) for comic artist/writers is that with readers being able to leave comments you get immediate feedback. And people being people, the dissatisfied readers are always more vocal than the satisfied readers. So of course, with today's reveal, most of the first comments made have been negative. Mostly people complaining about the comic being boring or too serious or too predictable, etc.

Okay, I can understand the reactions but seriously people, why are you taking the time to complain if you're that bored or unhappy with the comic? Could it be because you've fallen into the habit of thinking the artist is writing the story for you? Reality check people. Artist/writers/anyone who creates do it because they want to create. If you like it, great. Everyone wants to be appreciated. But if you want things done a certain way - do them yourselves.

We've become too much of a "me culture". We need to remember, and teach our children, that people do things to share with others. Yes, they are trying to please their audience but the audience isn't paying them to be creative. Even supporters for web comics are not paying the artists to provide stories of the supporters' wishes unless that is the agreement the artist enters with them. the supporters are helping the artist pay their normal bills so that the artist can continue to create and bring their world and characters to our screens on a regular basis.

If I pick up a book and hit a slow section I have a choice to continue reading or close the book or even skip ahead and see if it gets more interesting. That might make me more willing to go back and read the slower section at another time so I know what I missed. Usually I read on unless it's really a bad book. In which case it joins the few I've picked up over the years and never finished.

What I don't do is go to the writer's website and send them a message or leave one on the site complaining about the slow section I've gotten stuck in. I know some people will do that and I wonder at their mentality. It's different with comics in the fact that we're already on the website and able to leave comments. But still, I wonder at people who do this. Yes, you're unhappy. Yes, you're bored. But did it really make you feel better to take that ten seconds or minute to write a comment letting the artist know just how much you don't like the current strip? How about stopping to think about why you feel the artist has to keep you interested every step of the path he or she is drawing and laying out for your entertainment? Why not leave a comment about how you've enjoyed the story so far but really prefer the faster pace or more humorous story lines?

Anyone can criticize. Few people know how to critique. Even fewer people seem to understand the value of a compliment.

As I was always told growing up - if you can't say something nice, say nothing at all.