Y'see, I feel uncomfortable when people go 'Oh, it's just a comic, and the writer wouldn't really go there, so it's okay character X is a creepy stalker'. I've also heard that same excuse used when dumping abuse on characters because they belong to a minority, then going 'Oh that's okay, they're just fictional, so they're not really hurt by it'. Well, what about those people reading this who have been though that sort of situation? What about the people reading this who think that the way characters or people on forums respond to them act as supporting that sort of possibly dangerous or hurtful behavior?
When Clinton acted all creepy towards Hannelore, the other characters tied him up. When Dale acts creepy towards Marigold, people say 'aw, he's flirting with you'. Yeah, maybe Dale is completely innocent here, but someone needs to take him aside and say "dude. You're acting like a creep. Knock it off."