I too am disappointed in the defensiveness. It's a completely valid point, and using Japan as a precursor in this narrative was really enlightening, I think. T

I too am disappointed in the defensiveness. It's a completely valid point, and using Japan as a precursor in this narrative was really enlightening, I think. There are a million causes and effects one could talk about here, supporting all manner of ideologies, and of course I've got my own. But that people are increasingly preoccupied with meaningless, child-like consumption, of fun over joy, is actually a problem. I say this as a big nerd who likes games and comics and so forth, which I think is where some of the defensiveness comes in. I don't think the problem is located in liking comics. It's in making comics your identity. It's adopting the identity of a fan, a consumer, of making that your outward image, that makes people more childish and less trustworthy, less serious, and easier to control.