Look, Our Valued Customers was never meant to upset or offend anyone. I'm not the kind of person who looks to start fights or hurt anyone's feelings and I certainly don't want my comic to be thought of as a tool to do so. I work really hard on Our Valued Customers and I am incredibly grateful for every single fan I'm lucky enough to have so it is not and has never been my intention to offend or alienate anyone.
I've done over 1000 of these comics and face it, they're not all gold. Sometimes I don't do a great job bringing the humor across but I'm trying and if one of these comics doesn't really seem right, you've got to trust me that after all these years I'm not trying to give any of you guys the finger. I'm really sorry that I bummed you out with todays comic, it was never my intention to do so. I work very hard to make you guys laugh with Our Valued Customers everyday and please trust me when I say that I would never knowingly try to burn any of you.
Your ol' pal,
MRTIM.
(Also, thanks for all the emails, personal messages and comments calling me (to name a few), "dickless, coward, faggot, mother fucker, pussy, bitch ass, fuck-tard, hate monger, conservative, asshole and shit head. Also thanks for the threats of physical violence and hopes that some kicks my "hate filled ass.")
Mr. Tim is a fake comicbook fan who fakes running a fake comicbook store.
ReplyDeleteDoes the store sell fake comics?
Delete...and he draws fake web comics comprised of fake customers who make fake statements. it's like the matrix but faker.
DeleteNo one likes being called a phony, even if you're not.
ReplyDeleteI would say especially if you're not.
DeleteFunny enough, whenever someone calls me something I know I'm not, I don't give a rat's ass.
DeleteI'd like to take this moment to direct your attention to: http://thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=youre_not_a_nerd
ReplyDeleteNote: I did not write it but I fully endorse it.
I hate when people try to tell what and how I should love something. Do you know what kind of people do that? 40 yo frustrated virgins. That article reeks of frustration. I'm a working scientist with a PhD and I won't tolerate some douchebag telling people how they must show their "fucking love" for science. Get over yourself!
DeleteI think I understand his point of view. It is frustrating when people claim "I'm such a nerd" and their very much not, of that they "fucking love science" when they have no idea what actual science is. That being said, I do agree that the author of that page took it to extreme proportions and really just needs to calm down.
Deletethis guy has some good points. he loses me somewhere around how attractive people can't be nerds. some of my best nerd friends are walking beacons of "bone me".
Deleterather than complain about fake nerds ("nerds" in this case being the comic book, sci-fi and fantasy set, to be specific.) as annoying as those people are, I prefer to think of myself as an educator. if something about the culture or facts of something you like is misinterpreted, talk to them about it and discuss. only the most shallow wont take an interest, and those people are just polluting the gene pool anyways.
example, I'm the doctor who guy in my group of friends, they all come to me when they don't understand something in the most recent episode. in turn, my friend is the game of thrones and role playing guy, and is more than happy to tell you about every little bit of history. got out, make friends, share info and love. make a better world.
I don't think maddox's target in that rant was 'fake nerd girls' so much as 'people who post dumb shit on facebook'. And I'm with him on that part at least, but it's not what people usually mean when they talk about 'fake nerd girls'.
DeleteYou don't have to be actively participating in scientific endeavours to enjoy the results.
DeleteThat guy is way more annoying at telling you about what annoys him than anything that annoys him actually is. However, his line, "if you think geeks are so sexy, go bang one" was funny.
DeleteWait, maddox posted another hateful and judgemental screed on the internet again? I was hoping that would stop at some point.
DeleteKnow who gets mad about being called a stupid asshole? Stupid assholes. It's true... or maybe not, right?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm going to have to disagree with the "it's true" tag. Accurate or not, getting angry at someone for making assumptions about you is perfectly reasonable. For example, I am going to make some assumptions about this girl based on this comic that would probably make her angry.
ReplyDelete1. She is unattractive and thus cannot relate to being called a "fake nerd girl."
2. She thinks attractive people are inherently less mature than unattractive people.
3. She thinks "getting angry" is an immature response to being called fake and that "real" a.k.a. "unattractive" nerd girls are more mature then attractive ones.
4. The myth of "fake nerd girls" makes her feel good about being a real one so she defends it in any underhanded backwards way she can. In other words, since she is unattractive, she competes with attractive real nerd girls by saying they are fake if they get mad at being called fake.
5. If she gets angry at any of that, it's all true.
No, getting angry about something an immature stranger says is not reasonable. Caring about something an immature stranger says is not reasonable.
DeleteWe have no control over how little dickheads act, but we have full control over how we respond.
Why does it matter if she's hot? Other social groups can have ugly people. I might care about any of your assumptions but you seem obsessed with the fact that you think she's an ugo.
DeleteI have to disagree with the "It's true" tag. Any reasonable person would get mad at being called fake.
ReplyDeleteAlso, do we really have to go into the whole "fake nerd girl" thing? It's so tiresome and ridiculous to begin with.
I for one don't get mad when some dope who doesn't know what he's talking about calls me something I know I'm not.
DeleteWhen you hear it constantly, and you're always pre-judged as a fake before you've even opened your mouth, it gets old really fast. It's easy to brush off the idiots for a while, and then you start to resent having to always, always prove yourself. It's a slow burn of resentment.
DeleteThe comic itself doesn't bother me. The "it's true" tag does.
Wow, I am so fucking done with this comic. I was unaware Mr. Tim was a complete bag of dicks.
ReplyDeleteYup. A perfectly reasonable response. Bye!
DeleteYour verbal twattage shall not be missed.
Deletethis again? gatekeepers, man. who needs 'em. I'm done.
ReplyDeleteeven if you have no ideological objection to the sexist policing of hobbyists, at least be aware that you're hurting your own sales.
What is the operative definition of "fake nerd girl", here? IS there a definition that isn't complete horsecrap? If not, it's impossible for the girl's statement to be "true".
ReplyDeleteI was accused of being a "fake nerd girl" and I don't think I am. I got mad about it. I don't feel the need to flash my "geek cred" all over the place and am not a COMPLETE AND UTTER FAN of everything that I enjoy. I say I'm a fan, not a Fan of many things. F
ReplyDeleteActually, real nerd girls (or as some of us like to be called, “women”) also get pretty mad!
ReplyDeleteAlso, do fake nerd girls even exist? I’ve never seen one. I’m sure there are girls who are casually nerdy rather than hardcore nerdy, but if you think that makes them “fake” I’d like to invite you to take that pre-distressed comic book t-shirt you bought at Target and stick it up your ass. Just stick it right up in there.
Exactly!
DeleteWho cares if someone doesn't know as much about something that you...the "expert" knows? Everyone...EVERYONE was new to their particular fandom at some point. Without new people coming
into various fandoms, those fandoms wither and die. So knock it off with the "fake" business.
Where's the Like button around here? This comment is awesome.
DeleteOkay, I admit I never really got the concept of "fake nerd girl" (sounds completely stupid, am I maybe missing something ?), but... wouldn't that be more gratifying than "real nerd girl" ? Like, "okay, at least you're not really a nerd" ? I fail to see who would be offended by that, yet, it sounds like people are using this as an offense, so, it has to be supposedly offensive for some reason.
ReplyDeleteDoes it work with boys ? I'm more comfortable being called a "fake nerd" than a "real nerd" (I sure hope I'm a fake one). Are the values reversed by gender ? Is a "fake nerd girl" even lower than a "real nerd" which is lower than "fake nerd boy" ?
Is the idea that boys can be ridiculous nerds, but at least ridiculous nerds are mostly boys, girls would therefore be "promoted" if genuinely entering a generally male category ?
I very much scratch my head. So, let's put it that way :
Are there "fake nerd boys" expected to aspire at being recognised as "complete true nerds" ? Is that a thing too ? If not, why ?
I'm assuming sincerity here, so I'll explain for you, and anyone else who might have problems understanding the anger this term causes.
DeleteThe "fake geek girl" term is generally used by male geeks who take it upon themselves to act as gatekeepers to the geek community. They do this by deciding in order to be a "real geek" you have to pass their "geek cred" test; which typically means they bombard you with questions about geek subjects until they come to a question you can't answer one. Then said ass-hat proclaims you a "fake geek girl," and wanders off to "test"/harass other women.
The term is offensive because it reinforces, encourages, and normalizes misogyny in the geek community. It's a form of gatekeeping that is only applied to girls/women because some people are under the impression that girls/women can't really be interested in geek stuff; they're just pretending because geekery is cool now. Guys on the other hand, would never stoop so low as to pretend to be interested in something they didn't like just to impress someone or look cool, at least that's the implication of the term.
TL;DR It's a bullshit term meant to keep the geek community a boy's club by making it difficult or unenjoyable for girls and women to join in.
Oh..... Someone has been reading her Tumblr blogs again, I see. Fight the patriarchy, social justice warrior and fake geek girl! :)
DeleteI see there are a lot of fake nerds getting mad at this one.
ReplyDeleteMmmm, that's good gatekeeping!
DeleteYeah, I'd say that we've found the very definition of "The truth hurts."
DeleteI'm genuinely curious why you have more ire toward people who don't like being told they don't fit the part for having their hobby and therefor must be fake than you do for the kind of people who feel such a ridiculous vetting process is necessary.
DeleteNope, sorry guys, I checked. All real nerds here. Why else would people get so offended by a goddamn web comic? When it comes to these things, anything greater then a chortle, shrug, or sigh is an overreaction.
DeleteIt looks like a lot of folks just get angry at the very idea of fake nerd girls existing, which is obviously way philosophically worse than calling people Nice Guys, dudebros, and neckbeards.
ReplyDeleteI owned a comic book shop for seven years, and I never met a "fake nerd girl". All the girls/women who came into my shop were just as passionate about comics as any of the boys/men who came into my shop. I think the term "fake nerd girl" is just bullshit sexism, implying that females can't possibly have a sincere interest in a hobby which "should" be just for males, so they must be faking their interest (probably just to get a boyfriend).
ReplyDeleteAnd no, it is NOT "it's true" that only "fake nerd girls" would get mad about the term. One of my female customers was at a con when some male in line behind her complained loudly about "fake nerd girls" wasting everyone's time pretending to like comics so that "real" fans wouldn't have as much time to spend with their favorite artists. His friends were all snickering about how "right" he was, so she turned to them and said, "I've been reading comics since before you were born. I think that makes me a more genuine nerd than any of YOU newbies." No one said anything after that.
Of course you never met a fake nerd girl that came into your comic shop! That's like saying that you've never met someone who didn't like dance at a dance studio. It's an entirely different thing from a convention, which has numerous girls that are there strictly for attention. No, not to get a boyfriend. They wouldn't even think of dating the guys at the conventions. But they will quite gladly parade around in costumes that they know nothing about, strictly to get the guys there drooling over them. It's the same concept as the 90's era "cam whore" girls. They do it because they want to feel popular. No one is saying there aren't real nerd girls... just that there there *are* fake ones. If you really think every girl at a con is a "real" nerd, you're a fool.
Delete^"But they will quite gladly parade around in costumes that they know nothing about, strictly to get the guys there drooling over them..."
Delete[citation needed]
Got any actual evidence of that, or just your own blind prejudice?
Plus, you can be a `costume nerd' and like making a wearing outfits in a nerdy way even if you don't read comics. it's not being `fake' it's just being different.
DeleteI think the entire concept of "fake nerd girls" spawns from women online posting inane statuses like "omg such a nerd" and posting a picture of themselves wearing glasses.
DeleteHowever, those type of people don't present themselves in real life because they aren't nerds. As such, I am not surprised that you haven't ran into them.
All of you fake OVC fans need to calm the fuck down.
ReplyDeleteSo essentially, 'fake nerd girl' is the new 'hipster'?
ReplyDeleteNah, I don't think that works. Speaking stereotypically, someone who really hates hipsters is likely to be a hipster themselves, while someone who really hates 'fake nerd girls' isn't usually a 'fake nerd girl' themselves.
That said, both are terms that have long since become mere pejoratives rather than meaningful descriptions.
The outraged tears are fucking delicious.
ReplyDelete^^^^^^^^
DeleteWay to be mature with the threats of physical violence hypocrites.
ReplyDeletePeople should get over the fact that, yes, fake nerd girls exist. As do fake nerd guys. As do fake sports fans. As do fake this and fake that. We've all done it at one point or another. It's normal, it's common, the issue is that it seems to be put mostly on girls (which is stupid) and that many people are totally overreacting to this, as if it weren't a normal thing. Faking an interest in something, be it to connect with certain people, be it that you think you have to because society expects it (though this is more common in the negative way, as in people HIDING things they ACTUALLY like), that just happens. As do trends, meaning people that never cared for something, then care about it for ten minutes and then forget. It's silly, but eh - it happens. I know it happened to me multiple times. And you know what? That's freaking ok!
ReplyDeleteFake fans of virtually EVERYTHING exist. That doesn't make them evil or whatever. It makes them people and I don't see a problem with that.
Here's the thing people who complain about alleged "fake nerd girls" don't seem to understand: WE WON. Our culture, our hobbies and interests and what have you are now a dominant force in society at large.
ReplyDeleteComplaining about fake nerd girls is just being a sore winner.
I agree with this comic, honestly. Nerds, male or female, in my experience could care less about being called fake. The only girls I know who complain about being called fake are the ones who actually are, so who cares about them?
ReplyDeleteSo much drama over such a stupid topic.
You're a good guy, Mr. Tim. Don't let the internet whine you to death...you're out there every day with new art and no decent human being would hold a misunderstanding against you.
ReplyDeleteWhat this person said. I check this site everyday and haven't been offended and I really don't understand why so many people are getting all worked up. After all, the whole idea of your site is that you make a comic based on what customers to your shop say.
DeleteEveryone that's apparently got a thin skin? Toughen up and stop taking everything on the internet so seriously.
I'm late to the party, but this is exactly what I was going to say. The tone of the speaker did not come through as you explained it in your explanation, but that doesn't matter. You were "reporting" on something said in your shop.
DeleteImplying that the fake nerd rage is all fake. I mean you are agreeing with Tony Harris here, that is nothing to be proud of.
ReplyDeleteThis is why we can't have nice things.
ReplyDeleteSo many uptight people... Fuck, this is what you wanna get all mad about? To THOSE levels of extremeness??? The internet is such a sickening place, brings out the worst in everyone.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm missing the issue. Aren't you just drawing pictures of people you saw saying things you heard them say? I love this site to death and I thought this was hilarious. Anyone truly upset/outraged over this apparent "fake nerd girl" outbreak really needs to reassess their priorities. If anything here makes me mad, it's the fact that people got mad about this.
ReplyDeletei agree. i love this comic, and i see nothing different about todays. mr. tim is one of the coolest guys you will ever meet. you people are ridiculous.
DeleteHi Mr. Tim, please don't let this affect you too much, you definitely aren't the first cartoonist to receive a backlash from a cartoon that people have taken offence to. I think any reasonable person can see the point being made. Sometimes people call me a hipster and I completely shrug it off. I know it's impossible for a hipster to tell if they're a hipster, but seriously, I have a streak of colour in my hair, and that's it. It's pathetic that anyone would expect me to not have colour in my hair just because of a label they threw at me.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately 'fake nerd girl' has become a label used by misogynists to defend their male-dominated geek domains from the encroachment of GIRLS, but if you look at media images of models wearing hipster glasses, pigtails and a lab coat while chewing a calculator, you can see why there is still some contempt for that image of a 'nerd' even outside of misogynistic boy clubs.
Wait, a customer didn’t say that?
ReplyDeleteOne of these things is not like the others: "dickless, coward, faggot, mother fucker, pussy, bitch ass, fuck-tard, hate monger, conservative, asshole and shit head."
ReplyDeleteCoward, yeah? Pretty tame for an insult nowadays.
Delete1, 2, 3, 4, I declare a flame war...
ReplyDeletePeople are addicted to outrage. The result is that real issues get lost amidst the noise.
ReplyDeleteWho gets to decide which issues are real? Also, can you name some "real issues" that have gotten lost?
DeleteReal issues... well, it's estimated that about 25,000 people die of hunger every day. How many of you woke up thinking about that instead of this cartoon or Ben Affleck as Batman?
DeletePassion is fantastic, but to become so obsessed that you seethe at every apparent slight (intended or otherwise) is simply not healthy. The comic represents a joke made by a customer in the store. It implies that unless you're a "Fake Nerd Girl," getting mad about someone calling you one just isn't worth the time or energy. Do what you love, be what you love, and if others can't handle that, it doesn't in any way diminish you.
But like the above comment says, there are very "real" issues out there that do deserve our attention. They are literally life or death issues. As a thinking, feeling human being, I must confront those issues. I must confront the fact that we live in a world where pointless, preventable death is acceptable to the vast majority. Yes, there is a time for such thoughts, but personally, I'd rather my time with my "nerd" hobbies be filled with joy. There are enough things to be sad and angry about. I refuse to allow what others think of my hobbies to be one of them.
Institutionalized misogyny is also a real issue, which is why MrTim posted a follow up for this panel, but left the Affleck one alone.
DeleteOh okay, then why are you even here? Why are you wasting time on the internet at all if there is a random number you plucked from the air that need to be fed? Or does is the person whose duty and burden it is to tell everyone else what they may and may not be concerned and leave comments about himself afforded the privilege of discussing more frivolous matters?
DeleteIt's a ridiculous standard to suggest that the only people who could be upset about having the legitimacy of their fandom questioned are those whose love is truly illegitimate. What a lazy conclusion to draw. You could take this opportunity to call the people that feel it's important to vet out fake geek girls the jerks they are while empowering your fellow geeks with notes of "don't let the bastards get you down." But in this case, the bastard's sentiment has been endorsed for truth and you're holding it against people that this bothers them. Where's the comradery?
Geek girls who can't find a friend among their fellow nerds want to have their nerd time filled with joy too, oddly enough. But alas, here we have the problem at hand. It's easier for someone to not be made sad or angry by what others think of their hobbies when no one is questioning them.
>Oh okay, then why are you even here? Why are you wasting time on the internet at all if there is a random number you plucked from the air that need to be fed?
DeleteI am here because I like this comic and comics in general. As I stated before, I choose to confront the difficult issues, but it cannot be all I do. And the number was not plucked from the air. I've studied world hunger in some depth, and 25,000 is the average number of deaths according to the United Nations.
>Or does is the person whose duty and burden it is to tell everyone else what they may and may not be concerned and leave comments about himself afforded the privilege of discussing more frivolous matters?
Not at all. I'm sorry you took my comments in that way, it was not intended.
>It's a ridiculous standard to suggest that the only people who could be upset about having the legitimacy of their fandom questioned are those whose love is truly illegitimate. What a lazy conclusion to draw.
I was stating the point of view of the speaker in the comic, as I interpreted it. I saw her as expressing an attitude that I applaud, ie: "If they want to call you that, who cares? It's their problem, not yours. Why get upset about it if it doesn't apply?"
>You could take this opportunity to call the people that feel it's important to vet out fake geek girls the jerks they are while empowering your fellow geeks with notes of "don't let the bastards get you down." But in this case, the bastard's sentiment has been endorsed for truth and you're holding it against people that this bothers them. Where's the comradery?
I felt like my support of her statement *as I interpret it* would lead to that conclusion. I don't hold it against people that it bothers them; I don't see how my previous comment could give that impression. I think it's a shame to spend so much of the time one devotes to a hobby they love worrying about and getting mad over what other people think. I also think that such a situation arises at all is a shame. I've thought from the beginning that the rants against "Fake Nerd Girls" were childish and petty. Perhaps I should have explicitly said that in my previous comment to avoid confusion.
>Geek girls who can't find a friend among their fellow nerds want to have their nerd time filled with joy too, oddly enough. But alas, here we have the problem at hand. It's easier for someone to not be made sad or angry by what others think of their hobbies when no one is questioning them.
I agree completely. It should not be this way, but then, many things should not be the way they are. But one thing I've learned in my time on this planet is that, for the most part, you cannot change how others will behave. Change is a slow process that must happen over the span of decades, generations. You can only do what you believe to be best and live as good a life as you can. Hopefully, helping others will be a part of that life. If you're interested, the UN's World Food Programme runs a website called freerice.com. You answer trivia questions and sponsors donate food for every question you get right.
I wish you all the best.
>You cannot change how others will behave
DeleteWell not with THAT attitude.
Misogyny is a real issue, and the misuse of the accusation blunts the effectiveness of those who are responsible in leveling such claims. People tune out the shrill histrionics, and legitimate issues are lumped in with the nonsense.
DeleteIf you think the people that "tune out the shrill histrionics" are good judges of what is valid and what is histrionic, you're not paying attention.
DeleteSo the person who cries wolf isn't the problem, the person who learns to ignore it is? Maybe I'm not paying attention, or maybe that's just a rationalization for irresponsible behavior.
DeleteAnon 8:32, and everyone else, it's best to ignore sanctimonious, long winded crusaders who only argue from the moral high ground. He's in this comic forum the same as we are and is telling us that this isn't important because there are other problems in the world. It's just not worth getting into.
Delete"Misogyny is a real issue, and the misuse of the accusation blunts the effectiveness of those who are responsible in leveling such claims. People tune out the shrill histrionics, and legitimate issues are lumped in with the nonsense."
Delete...but without the "shrill histrionics," what would modern feminism be?
Oh right, white noise. White, middle class, college-educated, elitist noise.
Mr Tim, I wish you wouldn't be dismissive of people who take these sentiments to heart. I know it's just a cartoon and isn't meant to be a serious declaration, but it can really hit in a way it wasn't intended to people who feel like they aren't as welcome among their peers simply because of their gender. Being a geek has long been the refuge of people who don't feel accepted by regular culture and, if that is something you experience and is important to you, you gotta empathize with people who are even being alienated from that. Also, it's easy to be snide toward those it's done to, rather than those doing it, when you don't know what that feels like.
ReplyDeleteThe truth hurts, eh?
DeleteCould you explain what you meant by this comment?
DeleteThis is what you call outrage, Tim? The neckbeard posts get more raging froth than this, but you don't leave follow-up "gimme a break" edits then. Why is this special?
ReplyDeleteHow could this have created so much controversy in this site? It was/is funny. Mr. Tim wasn't attacking or accusing anyone of being 'fake'. Fact of the matter is there are fake nerd girls (jut like fake nerd guys) they're called hipsters. The proclaim to embrace nerd stuff and pop culture but only through the lens of irony and yes, they do get mad when you call them out in it.
ReplyDeleteHe did tag the post as "it's true," though.
DeleteBecause it is.
DeleteYour comment contradicts itself. First you say the author makes no accusations. Then you follow that up by asserting that the accusation made is accurate. It can't be both.
DeleteSo let me get this straight... This comic is based on a real thing that a real person - not the author - said, and it causes a little dirt-devil of a shit-storm that leads to threats of physical violence and being labeled conservative? What the fuck os wrong with people?!
ReplyDeleteI think that all the fake nerd girls who got upset about this should really get the sand out of their cunts
ReplyDeleteYou know who enjoys comics? Comic readers.
ReplyDeleteI dig it.
Dude, never apologize. This site is great and I hate to think that some people getting irrationally upset might make you censor yourself in the future. There was nothing more insulting about today's strip than any other, sub cultures of nerd get roasted here, that's what fans/readers should expect. To think that some line was crossed is rediculous.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe increasingly virulent nerd/geek backlash that has been growing around the mainstreaming of nerd culture mainstays such as liking science and gaming is both sad and disturbing. I remember wishing everyone played D&D when I was a kid so I wouldn't feel like such an outcast while playing it, didn't they realize how fun it was? And why didn't everyone read Popular Science?
ReplyDeleteNow those things are getting popular and people I grew up with are freaking the fuck out. "They aren't doing it right!" "They aren't real nerds!" "They're stealing our culture!" Are common cries. Calm the fuck down people. Maybe some of them are faking it. Maybe most of them are in it for the entertainment. Maybe some of it is done wrong. But the way I look at it is that's 470 people who know more than they did, that's a good thing. And boardgames and games in general are going through a renaissance, which is a good thing. And festivals of all kinds from renaissance to steampunk to Make are growing every year, which is a good thing. Comicon and Pax have exploded, which is a good thing. Crowd-funding is letting us put money directly into the hand of people who make things we love, which is a good thing. Nerd and geek backed charities like Childsplay are flourishing, which is a good thing. And movies based on things we love aren't always sucking and are making tons of money, which is a good thing.
Things are actually pretty good for us.
The backlash comes mainly from those who have emotionally invested in the idea that no one likes them or associates with them because of their "geek" status. If their interests become absorbed into mainstream culture, they have to confront the fact that people don't like them or don't associate with them because they are just genuinely unlikeable people.
DeleteEffectively, they need to be victims of a social stigma. Otherwise, they have to admit that they're just assholes.
That's an extremely spurious accusation to make. People who called MR TIM names or threatened violence against him are definitely in the wrong, but that does not discount the validity of people who don't deserve to have their legitimacy questioned simply because of their gender.
DeleteNobody cares if one random person calls your interests into question. People do care if you have to constantly prove that you genuinely enjoy what you do because a significant portion of people who share your interests don't believe that you could really be into it. Especially when you see other people, some of whom may be less passionate about your interests than you are, getting a free pass based solely on their gender.
ReplyDeleteOk, so, uh. The "true" line should have been read as : "You know who gets mad about getting called a fake geek girl ? Fake geek girls ! [aka: nobody, because it's a stupid notion with no real ground]" instead of "You know who gets mad about getting called a fake geek girl ? Fake geek girls ! [and rightly so, because there's fake geek girls everywhere and i hate them]" ?
ReplyDeleteTrying to pinpoint the misunderstanding. I had also read the comic and the "it's true" as the customer and Tim endorsing that concept.
Wow. Who knew there's such a great number of fake nerd girls following MrTim's awesome webcomic? I sure didn't!
ReplyDeleteALso, to all the people who provided threatening and insulting messages to the creator of the abovementioned awesome webcomic: get a life, guys.
So many people who can read and not comprehend. I think a persons brain should act like many forums do and stop you posting for 60 seconds after reading something.
ReplyDeleteGah. All y'all need to chill the frak out. Makes me ashamed to call myself a nerd. No wonder the 'nerds have no social skills' stigma won't go away.
ReplyDeleteIt saddens me that Mr. Tim had to write that update. People sending threats, name calling and generally taking any kind of offense is ridiculous. Commonsense folks, some of you should look it up- because you clearly don't have it.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see the reactions if Mr. Tim ever writes anything truly offensive.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was funny. Signed, A Fake Nerd Girl.
ReplyDeleteI think, you would >NOT< have accepted his apology if you found that the author originally said this. He should have never apologized in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI weep for the future. There's way too many pussies out there.
ReplyDeleteThat's the funny thing in all this: I thought she was a dope too. But then I saw that Tim thinks it's true and was like "why's the asshole right this time?"
ReplyDeleteHm... Ignoring the controversy over whether or not MR TIM is a misogynist and the irony/hypocrisy of someone offended by him calling him a "pussy"
ReplyDeleteHaving been called a "fake nerd girl" myself, I have to say, it's probably the dumbest insult I've ever heard. When I was being bullied in school, I called everything from a nerd to a geek to a loser to a "fat uggo virgin who no one would ever want to bone" (Man, I wish that one were true. Would be nice to live without all the catcalls, but I digress)
Nerd is an insult. So being called a fake nerd, or NOT a nerd, is like being called a "cool, well adjusted person with lots of friends and an active social life". So, yeah... Dumbest insult ever.
(Yes, I'm aware of the "gatekeeping", "encouraged misogyny", and all that. It's still stupid)
I seriously can't believe the amount of hate that you're getting from this. This comic has always come across to me as an open field for all things geek culture related; from satires to stereotypes. It's not meant to be taken seriously; if you guys seriously can't handle text in a comic and bring yourself down to name calling and threats go move on with your life and let the rest of us enjoy the posts here.
ReplyDeleteI got the joke. I thought it was funny. Keep on keepin' on, Mr. Tim.
ReplyDeleteThe piles of hate mail are a bit much, but hey, it's the Internet, that shit happens. I was troubled by the comic (specifically the "it's true" tag because I had not pegged you as a wannabe gatekeeper) so I'm glad you clarified your intention. I dislike people who support the idea that "fake geek girls" exist and I'm glad to see you don't want to be one of them. Thank you for being a decent person on the Internet, as there aren't NEARLY enough of them.
ReplyDeleteIt's astounding that people completely ignored the premise of these comics. Don't be ashamed to be a fake nerd be ashamed that you were too stupid to figure out the joke and then flew off the handle and felt compelled to email Mr. Tim with your baseless and shortsighted rage.
ReplyDeleteI'm what most of the folks on this site would probably label as a fake nerd guy, and I think all of this dude's content - offensive or otherwise - is hilarious. So I guess that makes all of you real nerd guys and girls a bunch of whiny pussies who like it when others are getting made fun of, but can't handle it when the joke is refocused in your direction. Calm down, it's a joke.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was funny.
ReplyDeleteAnyone insulting an artist for his obviously-meant-to-be-humorous work only need to blame their own sense of humor for not smiling at the joke like I did.
Not only that but that was a (valued) customer being quoted
Don't shoot the messenger and all that.
To be entirely honest, I also believe that getting angry over being called a "fake" is childish, whether or not it's true. Even more childish is to send insults and threats to an artist when you feel offended by their work. That screams "low self-esteem" to me and there are better ways to deal with that than lashing out.
Go ahead, flame me. It's not like I'm gonna read it.
(yeah I'm opsting as Anon because I don't use any of the things I could use to comment)
It seems strange that people would get so bent out of shape at the artist, over this comic, especially taking into consideration that the whole series is about the ridiculous shit he over hears people say. Are any of these people aware that there are REAL problems going on in the world to worry about? Like maybe the nuclear disaster going on in Japan, the atrocities in Syria, the judge who sentenced a man (who raped his 14 year old student) to 30 DAYS in jail. Just a little perspective kids.
ReplyDeleteFirst world problems I guess.
Would it be wrong of me to say that death threats always make a cartoon funnier?
ReplyDeleteLol at all this outrage. The comments raging were funnier than the actual comic.
ReplyDeleteConservative is an insult now?
ReplyDeleteIt is if you're an intolerant social justice thug.
Deletemight've been better/clearer if you'd had her say "Know who gets mad about being called a 'fake nerd girl'? 'Fake' nerd girls."
ReplyDeleteI'M OFFENDED, I'M UPSET, MY FEELINGS ARE HURT, MY BUTT IS HURT. LISTEN TO ME.
ReplyDeleteCOMICS ARE ART, BUT THIS HAS GONE TOO FAR AND YOU SHOULD BE BEATEN TO DEATH.
Can you do a series of comics where you imagine the appearance of some of the people sending you the hate mail? It will probably just make things worse but it would be comedy gold and clearly they are worse than the typical target of your regular comics.
ReplyDeleteI'm seconding this.
DeleteSeriously, the second you mention "fake nerd girls" you get spammed with a ton of crap? That's pathetic. Your comics aren't intended to offend, and it's funny how it's only when something sexist comes up that people get offended. Plenty of the comics here poke a little fun at nerd culture, but people only seem to get butt bothered when it's something to do with nerd girls.
You should totally do some comics about the type of jackoff who sends in hate mail to someone doing (hardly offensive) webcomics.
Loads of nasty comments and hate-mail over THIS?
ReplyDeleteWow.
So: if we use logic for a moment...
ReplyDelete1) The assertion that only "fake nerd girls" are offended by the term "fake nerd girl" causes offense to several hundred people on the internet.
2) Since they are taking offense to the statement, some of the offended may consider it to be true and that they are fake nerd girls. Or they are not fake nerd girls who take offense at the idea that they are being excluded from being considered fake nerd girls. Or they desire to be offended at the term, and are genuinely offended that they are being excluded from being offended.
3) So the people taking offense must either see themselves as fake nerd girls or they desire to be fake nerd girls or they just want to be offended.
4) If someone who did desire to be called a fake nerd girl was called such, they would no longer be offended at being excluded.
5) So the original statement is true, except that people also get mad about being called fake nerd girls just because they want to get mad.
6) U mad?
A lot of people who never read this comic chimed in today. Fake webcomic readers.
ReplyDeleteUPDATED: Yeah, we're "done with" sexism the same way we live in a "post-racial" society. Ignoring stupidity and intolerance doesn't make it cease to exist.
ReplyDeleteI think people fail to realize this is not his opinion and he did not just make this scenario up.. This was a real person saying this and does not at all reflect his feelings on the subject.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet no one minded when yesterday's comic said most old people were "mean old sacks of shit". Seriously people... you need to recalibrate your righteous indignation meters. If "fake" is the meanest thing you've ever been called... you've had it pretty damn easy.
ReplyDeleteMr. Tim,
ReplyDeleteToday is my first day reading your comic after clicking a link from your friends over at Star Power. I am enjoying what I've seen so far and will continue to read what you post because I appreciate your work. More importantly, I appreciate the care you put into your work. A great gauge to the character of a person is how they handle a mistake, I have to commend you on how you handled your mistake with this comic. I believe your only mistake was not realizing how many of your fans find this to be such a sensitive issue, but that's more their problem than yours. Nevertheless, you did your part to apologize for having offended anyone who misunderstood your joke. Unfortunately it seems that you have lost many fans despite your apology, and I know that I am only one, but you have gained my respect, admiration, and, for lack of a better phrase, "viewing business" because of the hard work and dedication you put into this comic. I hope that you remember that there will always be people who try to put you down for the work that you do, but the important part is for you to continue doing what you are passionate about. Thank you for doing what you do, and for doing it well.
-New Fan
Every angry comment I read makes this comic funnier.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why fake nerd girls get so butthurt and upset over the accusations? I mean, I thought they liked and wanted all the attention? ;)
ReplyDeleteYou know why people get upset over the "fake geek girl" thing? Because for most nerds and geeks, having ben bullied by the popular crowd because you liked nerdy things was part of growing up. After that, other nerds were people you could feel safe with. People who knew what you felt like, and how you thought. It's no secret that nerds aren't great socially. Normal social interaction takes effort, and you're often shamed for not getting it right. That didn't happen in the nerd community, until people who didn't have that background of being an outcast suddenly thought it was cool. And with their involvement, that safety from social judgement disappeared, as you can tell by the amounts of people telling Mr Tim to eat a dick and die over an innocent comic.
ReplyDeleteThe way I see it, no-one is entitled to anything. Nerds don't have a magic right to their own exclusive group, but in the same way people moving into nerdy interests don't have a magic right to be free from criticism. And if you respond to criticism with threats of violence, I'm inclined to think there was a kernel of truth to the criticism. Getting offended over something doesn't mean anything. It gives you no rights. It just means you're angry without a good way to articulate your anger.
If you're a fan of something, it shouldn't be a fucking contest if you know your shit or not. It's really blatantly obvious if someone's just namedropping or has a legit interest. Like the SUPPOSED Final Fantasy fan I met who said he loved the series, and FF VII was his favorite... but he had no idea what a phoenix down was
ReplyDelete