Image Comics Community

The truly ironic thing is that the most essential element of a tolerant society has been with us for the past two centuries, as it is also the central element of democracy, but we are slowly but surely killing it. That element is in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and is called Freedom of Speech. We need to be allowed to say what we want, as long as our words don't cause tangible harm to people's bodies or property, or society will stagnate and we will be prisoners in our own skulls, only permitted to say things that the authorities approve of. Without Freedom of Speech, we would never solve problems that require abandonment of current ways of thinking. Without Freedom of Speech, the government could be as despotic as it wishes, killing off any protestors without impunity. Where the concept of Freedom of Speech is absent, people believe they are entitled to kill others who say things they find offensive. Without Freedom of Speech, we would literally be living in the Dark Ages.

We Americans love to call our Constitution the greatest political blueprint ever created. It was formulated by wise, educated, brave men who studied philosophy and spent a great deal of time hashing out the principles for a system of government that maximizes human freedom and well-being. But the ultimate freedom, Freedom of Speech, is now dead.

Do you think I am exaggerating? Perhaps. But only a drop. Who teaches Freedom of Speech anymore? It is ignored from grade school through university. And if it is taught, is it ever given more than brief lip service? Is more than one paragraph ever allocated to it? Are its meaning, purpose and practice discussed? Even many journalists today, who owe their professions to Freedom of Speech, do not believe in it because they don't study and understand it.

Freedom of Speech is the key to peace among people. It is a wonderful principle not only for running a country. It is also a wonderful principle for interpersonal harmony. And though it is a wonderful psychological and moral principle, it is never taught in courses in psychology or morality.

Not only is no one teaching Freedom of Speech anymore, that precious freedom is being slowly but surely killed. It is being murdered by the growing social movement that has successfully brainwashed virtually everyone into believing that the solution to human emotional misery is to create, by force of law, a society in which no one says anything anyone else finds offensive, in which there is no stigma, and in which there are no imbalances of power.

The number one tool of science is logical thinking. 2,400 years ago, Aristotle said, "One thing no government can do, no matter how good it is, is to make its citizens morally virtous." Simple logic will lead anyone with a basic understanding of human nature to realize that a society in which everyone is always nice to each other is impossible. It has never existed-and will never exist-because it can't exist. Only in Heaven, if such a place exists, is such a society possible. And logic will lead thinking people to conclude, as Aristotle and our Founding Fathers did, that the attempt to create such a society by force of law can only cause more harm than good. But the social sciences, in their zeal to protect the feelings of people, have thrown logic out the window and are unwittingly creating a less tolerant society. We are in effect teaching: It is very important to be completely tolerant of everyone. And if anyone shows you any kind of intolerance, we will have no tolerance for them!

Freedom of Speech requires me to respect your right to say what I don't like to hear--even to publicly insult and humiliate me--just as it requires you to respect my right to say what you don't like to hear. And just because we have ideas that are unacceptable to each other, it doesn't make us enemies. You may be giving me the best advice in the world but I don't realize it and find it offensive. Should you be prevented from, or punished for, saying it? We are supposed to love each other despite our opposing ideas. When I recognize your right to say things I don't like, I don't get angry at you for saying them. You, in return, respect me for acting respectable. Furthermore, since I don't get angry at you, you cannot have the pleasure of getting me angry, so you don't seek to torment me with words. All wise people throughout the world understand this. It is the most basic ingredient of peace.Unfortunately, because Freedom of Speech is no longer taught, and our citizens have been indoctrinated with the very opposite, many people today cannot tolerate criticism, insults, or views opposite to their own.

I hope the next time someone has a different opinion than you or different thoughts you will consider this. Just because someone has an opinion or thought that isnt the same as yours doesnt make them a troll or someone who has an axe to grind. I know it's hard to comprehend in this world but freedom of speech, although dying, is still alive.

Where did you copy and paste that rant from?

Edit - Never mind, I found it.

http://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-b ... ntolerance

In addition to free speech, you may want to read up on plagiarism, and properly citing sources.

_________________
my comic art collection

No, being intentionally rude and logging into an Image board just to make fun of Image is being a troll. Not to mention this board is not American society, it is a place with it's own set of rules that need to be followed. You are only allowed as much free speech as the site allows you.

Nobody here has a problem with differences of opinion, criticism of Image books, or constructive debate. The only thing you seem to care about is aggrivating people and stirring up trouble.

There's a big difference between "Image may need to rethink their marketing strategies. My LCS often doesn't even carry their bigger name books." and your intentionally antagonistic posts:





There's an obvious difference in tone and intention (especially in light of the other posts you've made which are just as rude and distainful). It's also almost certainly factually wrong since nobody else has a problem finding the bigger Image books like Walking Dead at their LCS. It's also illogical to blame Image for your LCS' poor customer service in not ordering books for you if you ask them to.

Your freedom of speech means you can say stupid and rude things. The rest of us have the freedom of speech to tell you that the things you say are stupid and rude.

_________________
My comicartfans.com collection. Lots of Ryan Ottley:
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=49719

Missed the whole point. I expected that. It's O.K. though, I understand. I tried to make it as simple as possible so EVERYONE could understand. I give classes on freedom of speech and I do have ways to help you understand this. I'd be happy to help you with any questions you may have.






You do realize this is YOUR OPINION. I apparently offended you so that automaticly makes me rude and a troll, right? No tolerence here. I never threw insults at anyone, especially you, and yet you feel like you have to insult me. I was just trying to get some undertanding on why one of Images better titles was cancelled. I seem to remember talk of this title on this web site and the general consences was it was a great title. So if this is in fact true then why was it cancelled? Maybe do to lack of interest? I don't know? Lack of promotion? I don't know? I understand you can't force people to read something they dont want to. But I wonder why Marvel and DC have no problem stocking shelves. Two of the comic stores near me are owned by guys I grew up with and they have no grudge with Image, nor do I. They tell me there is very little interest in Image titles outside of the obvious choices like Savage Dragon, Walking Dead, and Invincible. They don't know why. Maybe the economy but they're not sure. I never blamed anyone for anything. I was just wondering if Image promoted their books right. I see Marvel and DC sending posters, cardboard stand-ups and such to their comic book stores. Don't see anything from Image promoting their titles like this. So this is why I wondered if they were promoting their titles right. And just because I have a different thought or opinion than you doesn't make me stupid. You seem to have a serious anger issue problem. But that is my opinion.

No, they didn't.


No, you didn't.


No, you don't.


No, being rude and trolling makes you a troll.




Asked and answered.



There you go.

So do these comic shop owners try to promote any of these books, or do they just sit on their asses hoping that somebody comes theough the door asking to pre-order Image titles?

When they did order them, did they just plop them on the shelf and hope somebody might randomly pick them up?

It's not just the job of the publishers to market their product - shop staff need to do the same by stocking books and recommending them to customers based on their reading habits. My shop is great at this, and I've read some fantastic titles based on their recommendations that I might never have given a second glance.

If they're not doing anything to try to sell the product their customers come to the store for, they're shitty businessmen. Period.

_________________
my comic art collection

Adam O. Pruett

Of course they promote items. Ever been to a car dealership that had a salesman trying to sell you a car you don't want? It's the same anywhere else you buy items from. You ask a couple times and when they say no it means NO. No one likes a sales hound trying to get you to buy something you don't want. Understand? They maybe shitty buisnessmen but since they've been in buisness for 20+ years I have a feeling they know their customers and what they want.

How do you promote something you don't stock in the first place?

"Oh, hey, there's this new book from Image you'll probably love! It's a lot like _____."

"Maybe I'll check it out. Grab me a copy."

"Ummm... Sorry, we didn't order any copies of that book."

"WTF?"

Understand?

These books are not Spider-Man or Batman. They've not been around for 50+ years, with multiple movies, cartoons and merchandise. They are not household names. They need people to sell them, people to read them, and people to talk about them - they won't magically sell themselves.

_________________
my comic art collection

WORD

_________________