other reader opinions?

[schmeeble]

Jeph, you should appreciate constructive criticism; it means that your readers care. I posted initially because I was curious about how other readers were feeling with the plot of late, but apparently constructive criticism isn't appreciated and that topic is locked now.

I really like the comic and when I StumbledUpon it recently I read through the entire thing in a pretty short amount of time. On one hand, I like the new characters, but it almost feels like there's something missing in terms of them being integrated into the comic as a whole. Your art is still really good, but it's taken an anime feel recently and I liked your 'normal' style of drawing better. I'm not expecting your style to change or anything, because I understand that as an artist your style is going to evolve and change over time. I was just throwing that out there, in terms of how the comic has changed. 

If this topic stays open I would be interested in what the other readers think about the current plot, etc

[jeph]

Constructive criticism and complaining are not the same thing.

[jeph]

I should add: the focus of the comic HAS shifted (or rather, broadened) over the years. It will probably continue to do so, because that is where New Ideas lie. Believe me, you really would not enjoy me belaboring the marten/Faye/Dora dynamic more than I already have. I'm not Charles Schulz, Charlie is not going to continue to try and kick the football for the next twenty years. Judging by the ridiculously overwhelming (and frankly unexpected) positive response to the newer characters (hanners, Wil, marigold, etc) I
am fairly confident I am moving in the right direction. There will always be a place for marten in the comic, I am not through with him by any means. But he is less of an epicenter than he used to be- to the comics benefit, in my opinion.

Also people have been complaining about the pacing of the "main plot" (which actually does not really exist, it is really just a long-term framework for future story arcs) literally since day ten. To which I always respond: if you don't like the way I'm doing my comic, just don't read it. I seem to be doing just fine carrying on as I please.

[WoweeZowee]

You say just stop reading if someone doesn't exactly like the turn it's taken, but I've spent hours and hours reading your comic over the years (because I like it so much), don't just want to give up on it.

[schmeeble]

I keep reading because I'm curious about where you're going to take it next. I didn't mean to come off as complaining, either, and for that I apologize.

[jeph]

You say just stop reading if someone doesn't exactly like the turn it's taken, but I've spent hours and hours reading your comic over the years (because I like it so much), don't just want to give up on it.

well then don't! The decision whether to keep reading my comic is entirely up to you- my point is that I have to
do what I think is best, and if that doesn't meet up with your expectations, so be it.

[jonarus_drakus]

Important point there i think: Just because you dont particularly like where the comic is at RIGHT NOW, doesn't mean its going to stay that way.

Personaly, i think its still just as good overall, though i do miss the 'focus' there used to be into the characters, but more characters means that by direct result, there is less time to spend on any one character. I guess if i were to make any specific coment/suggestion it would be: Jeph, dont be afraid of focusing on specific characters ON OCASION, as a reader i wouldn't be falling into the trap of asuming that that means there other characters are gone, and i believe the majority of the other readers are smart enough too. So yeah, keep up the good work man!

[schmeeble]

Important point there i think: Just because you dont particularly like where the comic is at RIGHT NOW, doesn't mean its going to stay that way.

Personaly, i think its still just as good overall, though i do miss the 'focus' there used to be into the characters, but more characters means that by direct result, there is less time to spend on any one character. I guess if i were to make any specific coment/suggestion it would be: Jeph, dont be afraid of focusing on specific characters ON OCASION, as a reader i wouldn't be falling into the trap of asuming that that means there other characters are gone, and i believe the majority of the other readers are smart enough too. So yeah, keep up the good work man!

yes! this is basically what i was trying to get at. i understand that since it's jeph's comic, he obviously gets to decide what he's going to write about. and yes, i keep reading because i assume everything is going to connect in the end.

[cerement]

... I was curious about how other readers were feeling with the plot of late ...

Questionable Content is a slice-of-life webcomic written and drawn by Jeph Jacques.

A slice of life story is a category for a story that portrays a "cut-out" sequence of events in a character's life. It may or may not contain any plot progress and little character development, and often has no exposition, conflict, or dénouement, with an open ending. It usually tries to depict the everyday life of ordinary people, sometimes but rarely, with fantasy or science fiction elements involved.

I love the way QC meanders through the lives of its characters. I'm pretty sure many of us follow a couple dozen webcomics, but I have come across VERY few that have the emotional depth of QC (Anders Loves Maria and What Birds Know are a couple others).

Then again, I'm one of those people who never found Charlie Brown funny ...

[zagraf]

I think Jeph would do well to consider T Campbell of Fans! and Penny and Aggie.  He not only allows criticism of his writing, even when the same points are made by different people, he's come out hard against "super-fanboy" types who try to silence such criticism.

T Campbell doesn't lock threads.

T Campbell doesn't say,  "If you don't like it, don't read it."

T Campbell doesn't say that people who differ with him (or his artist), about past vs. present art styles, are "blind."

I know,  Jeph is not T Campbell;  he's Jeph.  But still.  Something to consider.  I am not telling Jeph how to run his life.  I am merely suggesting an alternate model for dealing with criticism.

[pwhodges]

Suggesting that someone become like someone else is not often helpful.  And perhaps Jeph's model for dealing with criticism already works for him.

[Jeans]

T Campbell shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.

T Campbell edited the wikipedia article about himself so as to more accurately reflect reality; he thought it was too glamorous and shiny.

T Campbell is a patient boy. He waits, he waits, he waits, he waits.

T Campbell was right: There are no ghosts in this town.

There are things T Campbell would like to say, but he's never talking to you again.

T Campbell loves you so much, it's killing you both.

T Campbell thinks you should give Zhirinovsky, Le Pen, Hindley and Brady, Ireland, Allit, Sutcliffe, Dahmer, Nielson, Yoshinori Ueda, Blanche and Pickles, Amin and Milosovic the respect they deserve.

T Campbell's children are waiting for him to die.

T Campbell is Out of Step (With the World).


...


T Campbell makes delicious canned tomato soup.

[vettechinohio]

I've loved this comic from when I first came across it, right around the time Faye ended her fling with Sven. There's nothing I would change about it, so personally I have no constructive criticism or crabbing to do regarding the plot or lack thereof, artwork, in depth character analysis, etc. But if I did, or even if I hated everything about QC and checked it only to enjoy how sucky I thought it was, I would keep my mouth shut on this forum. Know why? Because... ::drum roll please::

IT'S NOT MY COMIC! It's Jeph's comic! He didn't ask for anyone's opinion, so I'm not going to be so pretentious as to tell him how I think he needs to fix something that's obviously not broken. To me, that's just downright rude. How would you like it if HE came to where YOU worked, watched you do what you do, and then told you how he thought you could do it better? He doesn't have to listen to anything that anyone else has to say about QC, unless he feels like it, because he's obviously doing something right. His ginormous fan base speaks for itself. And if he feels like locking a post, so be it. He's the QC deity and that's his call. Suck it up!

[Jeans]

Paraphrasing Steve Albini - it's like pushing a guy aside to show him how to fuck his wife.

[WoweeZowee]

I've loved this comic from when I first came across it, right around the time Faye ended her fling with Sven. There's nothing I would change about it, so personally I have no constructive criticism or crabbing to do regarding the plot or lack thereof, artwork, in depth character analysis, etc. But if I did, or even if I hated everything about QC and checked it only to enjoy how sucky I thought it was, I would keep my mouth shut on this forum. Know why? Because... ::drum roll please::

IT'S NOT MY COMIC! It's Jeph's comic! He didn't ask for anyone's opinion, so I'm not going to be so pretentious as to tell him how I think he needs to fix something that's obviously not broken. To me, that's just downright rude. How would you like it if HE came to where YOU worked, watched you do what you do, and then told you how he thought you could do it better? He doesn't have to listen to anything that anyone else has to say about QC, unless he feels like it, because he's obviously doing something right. His ginormous fan base speaks for itself. And if he feels like locking a post, so be it. He's the QC deity and that's his call. Suck it up!

Of course he doesn't have to listen, nobody said he did---and it's not like the forum rules say "members can only praise Jeph."  No one was getting out of line, just sharing opinions, as the title of the thread says.

[schmeeble]

I don't know, I wouldn't have a problem with helpful suggestions on how I could do my job better.

Also, that whole post...

I've loved this comic from when I first came across it, right around the time Faye ended her fling with Sven. There's nothing I would change about it, so personally I have no constructive criticism or crabbing to do regarding the plot or lack thereof, artwork, in depth character analysis, etc. But if I did, or even if I hated everything about QC and checked it only to enjoy how sucky I thought it was, I would keep my mouth shut on this forum. Know why? Because... ::drum roll please::

IT'S NOT MY COMIC! It's Jeph's comic! He didn't ask for anyone's opinion, so I'm not going to be so pretentious as to tell him how I think he needs to fix something that's obviously not broken. To me, that's just downright rude. How would you like it if HE came to where YOU worked, watched you do what you do, and then told you how he thought you could do it better? He doesn't have to listen to anything that anyone else has to say about QC, unless he feels like it, because he's obviously doing something right. His ginormous fan base speaks for itself. And if he feels like locking a post, so be it. He's the QC deity and that's his call. Suck it up!

... I think you need to simply learn how to read. No one called QC sucky, no one was crabbing. Settle down, we can discuss the comic if we want. Go ass-kiss elsewhere.

[WoweeZowee]

vettechinohio, I wouldn't post if I didn't like the comic a great deal in the first place.  There's nothing wrong with saying that the way the comic used to be drawn, as well as the focus and topics of the the comic, are missed.  You don't just read 1000's of panels to pass the time.  Like watching a TV show, there's nothing wrong with saying it used to be better in previous seasons. 
Jeph doesn't have to care or listen at all. 

[Is it cold in here?]

Since we've got an opinions thread going, here are mine.

It's great to have an actual conversation with Jeph about his approach to the comic.

I understand and respect the approach of keeping things fresh and discontinuing running gags before they become trite and stale.

I'm not tired of Raven and believe there's room to explore her character further with no risk of beating things into the ground.

I believe the relationship between a storyteller and an audience is paradoxical, since a skilled and creative storyteller is in the business of pleasing the audience by not giving them what they want. If the audience knew in advance what they'd enjoy, they'd write it themselves. Storytelling involves surprising the audience and presenting them with things they didn't know they wanted. Who was reading the first 500 comics and thinking "gee, what the strip really needs is a chick with OCD who will butt into Marten's business after following him around secretly"? But Jeph did it and it worked. And yet if a storyteller doesn't please the audience then they leave and he becomes a monologuer rather than a storyteller.

[vettechinohio]

"I think you need to simply learn how to read. No one called QC sucky, no one was crabbing. Settle down, we can discuss the comic if we want. Go ass-kiss elsewhere."



The OP was complaining, i.e. crabbing in the previously mentioned thread, according to Jeph ("constructive criticism and complaining are not the same thing"). And another poster was crabbing that Jeph isn't like T Campbell regarding criticism and locking threads. So therefore, yes, someone was crabbing. Maybe you need a reading refresher.

I never said you can't discuss the comic. That's why we're here, obviously. But there's a difference in discussing the comic and trying to tell the creator/artist how you think he should change his world to make you happier.

I never said that anyone was saying QC was sucky. I simply said that even if I thought it was sucky, I would keep it to myself because I'm not the kind of person to tell someone how to do their job better, because that's rude.

I fail to see the need to tell me to "settle down," but my sincere thanks for the dose of patronization.

I love that, since I disagree with you, I must be kissing ass. I think a more kiss ass post would have gone "You all suck, die in a fire, I want to have Jeph's babies."

[Fenriswolf]

I have no idea why people think that Jeph should spend his time reading the "constructive criticism" by unknown people in his forum. My god, everyone has opinions, and all you're doing is giving your opinion. Jeph can only write what's natural to him, so the only advice that's actually of any use is more generalised than any of the "I like x and I don't like y" critique I've heard given on here.

Frankly, if you have something you really think it worth sharing, it makes more sense to contact him personally anyway. Starting a thread to talk about it is always going to sound like moaning.

[WoweeZowee]

well the thread is asking for "other reader opinions?"  not "jeph's opinions"
no one is telling him what to do
and he is blatantly free to do whatever the heck he wants, again (for the 500th time, so stop saying "jeph doesn't have to listen to you...blah blah....no shit)

...it doesn't matter whether jeph even cares or not, the thread was wondering if anyone felt similarly about the comic: missing what it used to be like. 
it's as simple as that.  if you don't miss how it used to be and are happy as a clam, i dont know why you are even posting here in the first place- there are a boatloads of other threads for you to post on where you can praise on the comic with the masses.

[tinkerbell]

I have no idea why people think that Jeph should spend his time reading the "constructive criticism" by unknown people in his forum. My god, everyone has opinions, and all you're doing is giving your opinion. Jeph can only write what's natural to him, so the only advice that's actually of any use is more generalised than any of the "I like x and I don't like y" critique I've heard given on here.

Frankly, if you have something you really think it worth sharing, it makes more sense to contact him personally anyway. Starting a thread to talk about it is always going to sound like moaning.

I applaud you!
I agree that it is no one's place but Jeph's to decide what goes in the comic and how it looks. If you do not like it, no one is forcing you to read it. That is like reading a published book and writing to the author saying you would like them to change the story particularly to suit you - IT IS MADNESS. No one comic can please anyone, and what you might not like is obviously pleasing a lot of people given how huge the fanbase is.
Yeah the focus of the comic has shifted a bit, characters have come and gone, and I love the way it has gone. I used to read Goats, but I did not like the slant where the characters went into the multiverses and the world just drastically shifted. It weirded me out, but I did not go to the forum and complain it should go back to the way it was. I just stopped reading it. Plenty of other people love it, and more power to them for understanding it.

well the thread is asking for "other reader opinions?"  not "jeph's opinions"
no one is telling him what to do
and he is blatantly free to do whatever the heck he wants, again (for the 500th time, so stop saying "jeph doesn't have to listen to you...blah blah....no shit)

...it doesn't matter whether jeph even cares or not, the thread was wondering if anyone felt similarly about the comic: missing what it used to be like. 
it's as simple as that.  if you don't miss how it used to be and are happy as a clam, i dont know why you are even posting here in the first place- there are a boatloads of other threads for you to post on where you can praise on the comic with the masses.

By my reading they were asking for "other reader's opinions" and that does not mean that everyone who likes the current story arc is automatically excluded and those who do not like it can have their private board to complain about missing how the comic was before. Anyone can give their opinion, and many readers are of the opinion that a discussion board is not going to change the way that Jeph writes the comic because it is his decision in the end.

[schmeeble]

I have no idea why people think that Jeph should spend his time reading the "constructive criticism" by unknown people in his forum. My god, everyone has opinions, and all you're doing is giving your opinion. Jeph can only write what's natural to him, so the only advice that's actually of any use is more generalised than any of the "I like x and I don't like y" critique I've heard given on here.

Frankly, if you have something you really think it worth sharing, it makes more sense to contact him personally anyway. Starting a thread to talk about it is always going to sound like moaning.

I applaud you!
I agree that it is no one's place but Jeph's to decide what goes in the comic and how it looks. If you do not like it, no one is forcing you to read it. That is like reading a published book and writing to the author saying you would like them to change the story particularly to suit you - IT IS MADNESS. No one comic can please anyone, and what you might not like is obviously pleasing a lot of people given how huge the fanbase is.
Yeah the focus of the comic has shifted a bit, characters have come and gone, and I love the way it has gone. I used to read Goats, but I did not like the slant where the characters went into the multiverses and the world just drastically shifted. It weirded me out, but I did not go to the forum and complain it should go back to the way it was. I just stopped reading it. Plenty of other people love it, and more power to them for understanding it.

well the thread is asking for "other reader opinions?"  not "jeph's opinions"
no one is telling him what to do
and he is blatantly free to do whatever the heck he wants, again (for the 500th time, so stop saying "jeph doesn't have to listen to you...blah blah....no shit)

...it doesn't matter whether jeph even cares or not, the thread was wondering if anyone felt similarly about the comic: missing what it used to be like. 
it's as simple as that.  if you don't miss how it used to be and are happy as a clam, i dont know why you are even posting here in the first place- there are a boatloads of other threads for you to post on where you can praise on the comic with the masses.

By my reading they were asking for "other reader's opinions" and that does not mean that everyone who likes the current story arc is automatically excluded and those who do not like it can have their private board to complain about missing how the comic was before. Anyone can give their opinion, and many readers are of the opinion that a discussion board is not going to change the way that Jeph writes the comic because it is his decision in the end.

again, i didn't start this thread for everyone to kiss jeph's ass. perhaps you can start another thread for that?

[WoweeZowee]

....lol for the 5 millionth time--
NOT TELLING JEPH TO CHANGE THE STORY (please read at least one post before you post the same thing that several other people have, if somebody posts something like this again i will be blown away)

just discussing that old plotlines and styles are missed....i don't really know how to make it any clearer

[pwhodges]

old plotlines and styles are missed

Why?  They are still there to enjoy; and for any ongoing project, like a webcomic, not  changing becomes a sort of living death.

[Dliessmgg]

again, i didn't start this thread for everyone to kiss jeph's ass. perhaps you can start another thread for that?

Controlling this forum is more difficult than controlling Jeph, so forget it.



[ass kiss] JEPH I LUV QC AI WANT UR BABEIS!!! [/ass kiss]

[Jeans]

You are all going to hell.

[pwhodges]

Oh, it's not that bad, is it?

[tomselleck69]

I think Jeph would do well to consider T Campbell

hahaha WOO

[schmeeble]

Since we've got an opinions thread going, here are mine.

It's great to have an actual conversation with Jeph about his approach to the comic.

I understand and respect the approach of keeping things fresh and discontinuing running gags before they become trite and stale.

I'm not tired of Raven and believe there's room to explore her character further with no risk of beating things into the ground.

I believe the relationship between a storyteller and an audience is paradoxical, since a skilled and creative storyteller is in the business of pleasing the audience by not giving them what they want. If the audience knew in advance what they'd enjoy, they'd write it themselves. Storytelling involves surprising the audience and presenting them with things they didn't know they wanted. Who was reading the first 500 comics and thinking "gee, what the strip really needs is a chick with OCD who will butt into Marten's business after following him around secretly"? But Jeph did it and it worked. And yet if a storyteller doesn't please the audience then they leave and he becomes a monologuer rather than a storyteller.

ps: thank you for understanding the point of this thread!

[jonarus_drakus]

I AM NOW A BALOON ANIMAL SERIAL KILLER! WOO!






Just thought you might like to know seing as there is about as much value in sharing that little tidbit as there is in sharing an endless stream of complaint/counter complaint posts about complaining, GAH!

[tinkerbell]

again, i didn't start this thread for everyone to kiss jeph's ass. perhaps you can start another thread for that?

Just because you did not start this thread for those who actually like the way the comic has progressed does not mean we cannot join in. 

Perhaps if you did not want everyone's opinion you should have specified in the subject area, rather than just saying "other reader opinions".

[tinkerbell]

Since we've got an opinions thread going, here are mine.

It's great to have an actual conversation with Jeph about his approach to the comic.

I understand and respect the approach of keeping things fresh and discontinuing running gags before they become trite and stale.

I'm not tired of Raven and believe there's room to explore her character further with no risk of beating things into the ground.

I believe the relationship between a storyteller and an audience is paradoxical, since a skilled and creative storyteller is in the business of pleasing the audience by not giving them what they want. If the audience knew in advance what they'd enjoy, they'd write it themselves. Storytelling involves surprising the audience and presenting them with things they didn't know they wanted. Who was reading the first 500 comics and thinking "gee, what the strip really needs is a chick with OCD who will butt into Marten's business after following him around secretly"? But Jeph did it and it worked. And yet if a storyteller doesn't please the audience then they leave and he becomes a monologuer rather than a storyteller.

I do not think that Jeph is quite done with Raven yet, I mean, there has been no mention of an Allosaurus attack 
It is indeed a problem that if a storytell does not weave an interesting story to keep people around it will become a monologue, but that if the storyteller were to take the advice and just write whatever they told him to there would be no surprise.
Hell, if he took the advice of a lot of people the comic would pretty much just be one big orgy what with the shippers.

[schmeeble]

again, i didn't start this thread for everyone to kiss jeph's ass. perhaps you can start another thread for that?

Just because you did not start this thread for those who actually like the way the comic has progressed does not mean we cannot join in. 

Perhaps if you did not want everyone's opinion you should have specified in the subject area, rather than just saying "other reader opinions".

lol okay, the next time i'll specify that i would rather everyone keep their ass-kissing to themselves. Of course QC is a great comic; if it wasn't, this many of us wouldn't be reading.

[Hat]

I don't know, I wouldn't have a problem with helpful suggestions on how I could do my job better.

as someone who constantly has dudes thinking they are being helpful trying to make my job easier (but in reality they're making it a great deal harder) I think maybe you should reconsider that statement

maybe if you knew how to do his job you should be doing it not him

not even really talking about jeph in general this is just a shout out to anyone who has ever told anyone how to do their job ever

[WoweeZowee]

anybody have an opinion actually pertaining to the original question, not just the semantics of someone's statement?

[zagraf]

I think Jeph would do well to consider T Campbell

hahaha WOO

That is hardly a rebuttal.  Care to expand on that?

[Penquin47]

There is a difference between "constructive criticism" and "offering your opinion".

My opinion is that the artwork in QC started off serviceable and has become amazing, especially considering the 5-day-a-week update schedule.

Constructive criticism offers criticism: "Hanners's arm in panel 1 of the latest comic looks unnatural, like it's growing out of the front of her shoulder instead of the side."  It gives the person what to look for and why, and is intended to help them improve.  If someone tells Jeph that the arm looks weird, next time he draws someone in a similar pose, he's less likely to do the arm the same way.

[jeph]

I think Jeph would do well to consider T Campbell

hahaha WOO

T Campbell doesn't kick puppies

T Campbell doesn't burn churches

T Campbell fucked a nun once but immediately apologized

[Tyler]

In the room T Campbell comes and goes talking of Michelangelo

[nicoley]

Of course he doesn't have to listen, nobody said he did---and it's not like the forum rules say "members can only praise Jeph."  No one was getting out of line, just sharing opinions, as the title of the thread says.

I agree 100%. We don't have to come here just to worship Jeph, and Im not trying to bag on him or anything. I myself love the comic and wouldn't change anything about it. Of course, sometimes I wish the comic focused more intently on the characters like it used to, instead of rolling with the punches, but its still a great comic! Jeph doesn't have to listen to us and 99% of the time he probably doesn't.

all I'm saying is we should be allowed to speak our opinions, whether they be slightly negative or whatever. 

[tomselleck69]

That is hardly a rebuttal.  Care to expand on that?

nah

WOO

[zagraf]

Jeph--Thank you for at least keeping this thread open even if you don't agree with some of the views expressed.  I respect you.

Tomselleck69 -- Ha ha ha you are hilarious sir.  Oh wait, you're not.  But not to worry, people like you can still lead a normal life, enjoying such bastions of intelligence and wit as Least I Could Do and Two and a Half Men, after working the night shift putting toothpaste tubes into boxes.

And now back to lurking.

[tomselleck69]

panel 1
title text
"INTO MY ARMS
STARRING: spigot"

panel 2
spigot: (stands looking bemused)

panel 3
spigot: "FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO"

panel 4
spigot: "WHAT THEY DO IS YUMMY DOWN ON A BIG FLOPPITY PRICK"


edit: WOO

[Watched Pot]

Tomselleck69 -- Ha ha ha you are hilarious sir.  Oh wait, you're not.

That is absolutely 100% false. He is extremely hilarious.

[schmeeble]

anybody have an opinion actually pertaining to the original question, not just the semantics of someone's statement?

lol thank god this thread is 75% ass kissing, 20% semantics questioning, and 5% actual opinions.   

[Jeans]

I'm missing the "obnoxious, useless whining about how a thread obviously deemed to go as it has, went the way it did" part.

Tomselleck69 -- Ha ha ha you are hilarious sir.  Oh wait, you're not.

Actually he totally is

[Zombiedude]

YOUR THREAD IS BAD AND YOU SHOULD FEEL BAD

[Dliessmgg]

Tomselleck69 -- Ha ha ha you are hilarious sir.  Oh wait, you're not.

That is absolutely 100% false. He is extremely hilarious.

Hilarious and extremely hilarious are not the same, so he's right.

[Is it cold in here?]

...I like the new characters, but it almost feels like there's something missing in terms of them being integrated into the comic as a whole. ...

Hmm.

Thinking about that one suggests two conclusions: that there is something missing, and that that's inevitable at this point.

The fact that they're new characters means they're by definition not yet integrated into the strip. If they were, they'd be established characters and not new ones.

Nor are they the type of smooth extroverts who integrate themselves into new situations painlessly and quickly. Wil and Angus wouldn't be as funny if they weren't square pegs.

So I see what you mean, but opine that it's not a problem.