Discontinuing Involvement with Tapastic because of US Election

[LCT_m_a_d]

Gotta say, its a bit sketchy to post something like this in the forum, which is designed for open discussion (unless your intent was to start an anti-tapastic campaign or pressure them to adopt your political beliefs).

You are more than welcome of course to protest, but I think the explaination you owe is far better suited to your followers and fans who backed you. Perhapse your comic wall, thats more personal. In all sensitive matters, its best to put people first. My 2 cents.

Full disclosure I am an American citizen.

[UzukiCheverie]

I am a Canadian.

As am I.

In just 24 hours after the election of Trump by the American people, I have seen the ugly side of the United States many times already. I have had to comfort and support many friends already. I have lost hope in the US.

Man, that's gotta suck. I can't imagine how, I dunno, the Americans who had to choose between an arrow to the knee and a boot up the ass must feel right now (especially for those that voted against the boot up the ass). Especially when it's only been 24 hours and they're still coming down from the fall.

Tapastic is an American company and thus under the control of the US Government of President-elect Trump. Unless Tapastic comes out with a clear statement that states that they will retain their cultural independence and continue to support the voices of independent creators, I want nothing to do with an American company's products and services.

Tapastic doesn't have to do anything, especially considering this is not how private companies like Tapas Media work. They are not "owned" by the government, the government (as in the Senate and Congress and the POTUS) doesn't even care about these privately-owned companies. So long as the companies are registered businesses that follow traditional business laws and aren't, you know, drug-peddling crooks funding serial killers who sell child pornography and manage to evade paying their taxes, the head of government doesn't even need to be aware these companies exist (that's just not their job).

Americans have just given a major middle finger to the world.

No, the middle finger did not come from Americans. The middle finger came from the fucked up system that bases its winners off money and investors. The middle finger came from the DNC when they purposely fucked over one of their own, perfectly capable and respectable candidates. The middle finger came from this fucked up mindset that if a poor leader is appointed simply due to that fucked up system I already mentioned, the entire country is suddenly to blame.

There are already millions of Americans who are just as upset, if not 10x more upset than you are right now, and will actually be directly, horribly affected by this election. Don't lump them in with those who fucked them over. This is the worst time to turn our back on a country that's suddenly more in need than ever before.

Your attempt at normalizing Donald Trump is very scary. You think this man is fine. He is not. You did not comfort me. You scared me further.

Funny thing is, this sort of thing in politics is completely normal - and as @kencoon7 mentioned, actually legal. Elections have never been this professional, adult event - it's always been filled with its fair share of scandals, problems, overreactions, over-exaggerations, lies, and overblown media coverage built to scare the shit out of you.

Hell, even when pretty-boy Justin Trudeau got elected, who was the best candidate at the time of his election (which was only a few months ago- holy shit it's been a year what in the actual fuck) there were still people that got ABSOLUTELY BUTTHURT OVER IT, for ALL the wrong reasons. But it's been a year (seriously what the fuck I could have sworn he was only PM for like, half of that time) and guess what? Canada hasn't burned to the ground like so many people claimed (claims that were made what, a day after he was elected?).

Now I'm not saying Trump and Trudeau have anything in common. But this sort of political discourse after a new leader is chosen, in addition to bloating from the media mixed with the general ignorance of the uneducated populace, is completely, again, normal. Is it an excuse to give up on your neighboring country? No.

Normalizing it is the only way for some of us to cope. Normalizing it gives us hope. Don't turn that against anyone.

Suddenly, this forum has become less welcoming and threatening.

"You disagree with my extreme opinions, therefore you are an enemy! HISSSSS"

Seriously man, this isn't even a thread about Donald Trump and the future of America, this is a thread about Tapastic being somehow directly affected by Donald Trump. Which it won't be. Tapastic will be affected if Trump burns down the country, but it's not like Trump is going to go knocking on anyone's doors and telling them to quit their creative work (or going knocking on the door of Tapas Media and screaming "YOU'RE FIRED")

So no, this forum has not become less welcoming or more threatening. In fact, everyone's been pretty civil and respectful with their opinions and arguments so far (and it's very much appreciated <3)

Joanne and Anna both sum it up wonderfully.

Tapastic is a privately owned company, and it is unlikely that there will be any law passed that could force them, in any way, to change their current policy towards supporting independent voices. If there is one thing the US government seems capable of respecting, it is the rights of privately owned corporations and companies.

Um, if the government imposes any sort of control over this sort of company in terms of censorship, that's a direct violation of the 1st amendment and unconstitutional.

For now, Obama is still President - only for a couple months, but it's long enough for us to pull ourselves together, bid farewell to another president (as we've done plenty of times before, for better and for worse), and most importantly, it's long enough for Congress and the Senate to tighten their leash around Trump's fat neck and put him in line before his presidency begins.

That's one thing we have to remember here - the POTUS is not allowed to run a country into the ground. That's why we have the Senate. That's why we have Congress. That's why the United States government is built as structurally as it is. This is not a dictatorship, and we're far enough along in our government system with enough of a diverse backbone that it's not going to become one any time soon.

At the most, the POTUS is merely a representative for the country, primarily in foreign affairs. Now that's where it becomes an issue, but again, hopefully by the time he begins his presidency, congress will have house-broken him a little lol

All in all, if you want your creative expression to be taken away, limiting your creative expression due to the progression of one country's government seems like the way to go, A++ /s

(to me that's like disguising yourself as a different guy to try and seduce your own girlfriend and prove that she would cheat on you - there's no issue there unless you try and create one, in which case, bam, there you go, you've got an issue.)

[Alamino]

Im sorry but this just seems selfish and childish...
You have the right to your own opinion and actions and nothing anyone can say or do will change that... but if you feel the need to leave Tapastic, just because of the country they are running in or whatever reason... well... I mean... ok.
But please realize, Canada isn't this amazing place where you can hide from our neighbor to the south... I mean look at how much of Canada's exporting and a lot of importing is from America! This just seems... (not trying to be rude) but hypocritical (is that the right word? maybe not) ... Canada is tied to America and if you want to just banish them all together because of ONE person... well... maybe Canada isn't right for you, seeing as that just doesn't seem very Canadian...
Not trying to be a dick, but its my own opinion, just as this decision to leave is yours.

[Vanadis]

You're entitled to boycott whom you please, but boycotting all American companies and websites might be difficult....
I'm also unhappy about the election results (even though I'm not a US citizen, this affects us all) but emotions are running high right now and we're all liable to over-react. It's best to sit tight for a bit until the dust settles.
Trump might be the President (elect) of the US, but he is just one man. All the terrible things I've seen happening in the last couple of days have been at the hands of the general public reacting to the outcome of this election, rather than something he has done directly (yet). Bear that in mind before you say or do things you may later regret.
Besides- of all the things at risk, I think webcomics are relatively low on the list. True, they can be powerful (especially when it comes to spreading propaganda) and we can use that power to our benefit or detriment, but the day that webcomics are censored is the day the entire internet is. And then we may have a bit more to worry about than smaller sites like Tapastic.

[60Six]

In addition to agreeing with everything that's been said on this thread...lol isn't Tapastic also head quartered in San Francisco?? In other words head quartered in probably the bluest city in the bluest state?
Speaking as someone living in San Fran, I can almost 100% assure you nobody at Tapastic is happy about what happened and anyone who is is in a major minority lmao

Also, preeetty sure Patreon is an American company too and I see you still currently up there.

[Herofeeder]

Claims he can turn the economy from - to +

went bankrupt 4 times
huehueeuheuhue

[SpavVy]

I highly doubt that the US government will want anything to do with sites like Tapastic, heck they most likely don't even know it exists.
And how do you think we Americans feel eh? We're the ones who really have to deal with this over grown umpa lumpa!

[TheVoidchildProject]

I won't go into anything long here. I'm not a US citizen. I do have friends over there. And my heart aches for them and want them to come through in the best manner possible. And like others I also respect your personal choice to remove your comic from tapastic and do as you see fit.

I however feel this course of action is counter-productive. Rather than isolate ourselves from the US in any way I plan to get more involved than before. Whether that extends to my personal contacts there, my comic with which I would like to communicate a positive message of love, respect and interdependency or downright political. It just appears to me as though this whole thing began as a result of people losing faith in the ability to communicate with one another and distancing ourselves from each other. And with that viewpoint in mind I plan on continuing and possibly expanding my contact with a nation with who's people I have the deepest respect for.

[ReroOnyx]

Also, as another note, nobody is boycotting American goods because Trump became President. Mexico, the country Trump went out of his way to insult, is still going to provide goods and services to the USA, in the same way that China will and even Canada will. Trump hasn't even had time to do anything, nobody in their right mind is going to suddenly stop importing or exporting goods just because someone relatively unlikable became President.

This has nothing to do with politics. This is business and no good business would suddenly cut off one of their sources of powerful income. Much less when Trump hasn't done jack nothing at this point. When Trump's term suddenly makes it hard for business to run properly, then a country might make a point. But it will have nothing to do with Trump's ideology. It'll be because he's hurting business.

In fact, having a good business practice with others, makes things easier. If there's one thing people agree with, it's money. Why do you think the USA still does business with China? We don't agree with many of the things China does, both socially and politically. But they offer us goods and services and we accept that.

And if China had a new leader who was entirely Anti-American. The first thing is, I can probably tell you, much of China would look at him funny. Secondly, we would still do business with China. Because the feelings of one person isn't going to change the business practice that have been worked on for years.

[kabocha]

I can understand your feelings, though I don't agree with them. I do want to say that if you're aiming to boycott US-based companies, you're going to need to find a new webhost and move your site, too.

[iddqd]

What I am very curious about is how would you, OP, go about processing Justin Trudeau congratulating Trump on winning the presidency and inviting him to visit Canada.

[brown4life26]

I wasn't going to post but here I go.
I live in a pro-trump household. I am a part of the lgbt+ community. I understand that you all are dealing with the change in presidency and how this will affect everyone in the world. I may not be able to vote on this matter as of now but by the next time around, there will be changes. He cannot do anything without the support of the people guys. And he knows the second e steps out of line, riots are just going to escalate.
I'm not saying to boycott everything but I'm also not saying to just give in. Stay on your toes and lets watch what happens. I will no hesitate to use my rights if something happens. This is how a lot of Americans feel. Tumblr is blowing up with support to survive. The same goes here. Stay strong and let's just look for the the future.

[kencoon7]

Just remember. PEACEFUL demonstrations are everyone's right if you are a citizen.
If you break car windows or store windows , attack other people or block major roads, it then becomes a riot and is a Felony in some States. That is illegal and you could go to jail, not for upholding your rights but for committing a crime.
Other than that, enjoy your deminstration and remember that the busses you see bringing people in are the ones who are PAID for it. The ad is on Craigslist. Just call the number for your area.

[TheVoidchildProject]

And with that I think it's time this thread is closed...

[scullpanda]

me too This is getting out of hand guys and deeply offensive in a few different manners , Tap is a community that repeats other peoples cultures and although this election ended poorly for the US boycotting is not an answer and trying to force said independently run company to conform to others ideals is wrong (Not saying I like Trump in any manner but being rude to every american because he won is rude and trying to boycott because of location is disrespectful)

[infectedbloodcomics]

Well, Tim Cooks, Apple's CEO, did make a statement to reassure his employees. Perhaps that's what ToonDoctor expects from Tapastic, too.

[ratique]

[ratique]

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[michaelson]

I would like to point out that while Tapastic is comprised of multiple people from all walks of life and political leanings, Tapastic as a platform should remain apolitical.

My goal as editor in chief, is to maintain a safe and healthy environment for all of our creators. We are an open platform, home to creators and readers from all around the world. I think it would be incredibly unfair of the site to have any type of political bias one way or another.

And regardless of who is president, I want to maintain the fact that Tapastic will always remain an open platform that encourages everyone to express themselves through art, and that will never change. We will always be here to support creators.

---

I know that a lot of you feel unsure or uncomfortable about the recent turn of events. I've been trying my best to answer every e-mail and private message that I get from creators regarding the future.

I know that so many of you have felt cynical or afraid due to the rhetoric and ideas expressed by a majority of the political candidates during the campaigning season. And a lot of those sentiments were being constantly reinforced by the media.

But I want all of you to know that I remain hopeful about the future.

A little bit about myself. My parents are immigrants, my father is a first generation immigrant from Korea, and my mother is a first generation immigrant from Japan. They both worked very hard in order to financially support our family. And because of that, I was raised predominantly by popular culture, through television, movies, comic books, and novels that they had accumulated when they first arrived here. I devoured fiction while both my parents worked. In a strange way, the fictional characters that I love were surrogate parents for me.

I grew up on pulp science fiction novels with gilded cities of the future that promised jet-packs, flying cars, robot butlers (that often times turned evil). I grew up on Star Wars, and Spider-Man, stories about embodying the idea of hope and doing good because doing anything else just didn't make any sense. And through this pop culture regiment, I felt like I was being promised a bright and bold future - where all of these things were possible.

And while, so many of you might be down trodden and cynical, I want to tell you that I am still very, very hopeful about this future, because I still see it everyday, here on Tapastic. I still see creators making fantastical worlds full of the hope and goodness that I grew up on. I still see a family of creators that are making art that we should all strive towards.

There's never been a better time to be a comic creator than right here and right now. We started with less than a handful of creators when we first started, and now we have over 17,000 creators. And if you were to read through all of those comics like the editorial team and myself have, then you'd know that the overall tone of the site leans towards goodness, leans towards hope, leans towards understanding.

I've been very fortunate to see this progression, and I want all of you to know that Tapastic will always be a home for us. A home for us to express a great diversity of opinions, to build worlds where anything and everything is possible, a home for us to dream the dream of dreams.

---

As always, if you need someone to talk to, you can always private message me here on the forums, leave me a note or private message on my creator wall (www.tapastic.com/michaelson) or e-mail me at michaelson@tapasmedia.co (.co and not .com).

[michaelson]

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