Discussion Overview
The discussion centers around the recent pulling of the comic strip Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis from syndication, particularly focusing on its political content related to government security and ISIS. Participants explore the implications of censorship in comics, the role of syndicators and newspapers in content distribution, and the broader context of political commentary in media.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested, Meta-discussion
Main Points Raised
- Some participants express concern over the censorship of the Pearls Before Swine strip, suggesting it reflects a troubling trend in media.
- Others note that some newspapers avoid political content in comics, citing examples like the relocation of Doonesbury due to subscriber complaints.
- A participant emphasizes that the action was taken by the syndicator Universal Uclick, not individual newspapers, highlighting the complete removal of the strip from distribution.
- There are references to the concept of a "Ministry of Truth," suggesting a critique of censorship practices in media.
- Questions are raised about how newspapers determine the popularity of comic strips, with some humorously suggesting the use of micro-cameras to gauge reader reactions.
- Links to external blog entries are provided, discussing the issue further, with one participant expressing satisfaction with the explanations given in those entries.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally express concern over the censorship of the comic strip, but there is no consensus on the implications or the methods used by newspapers to evaluate comic content. Multiple competing views remain regarding the role of political commentary in comics and the nature of censorship.
Contextual Notes
Some participants reference specific instances of political content being moved or removed from comic pages, indicating a broader trend but without resolving the underlying reasons or justifications for such actions.
