Sound Off for Nov. 23, 2008
Jenner: In case you hadn't noticed, we changed our comics lineup last week, which prompted complaints — and a few compliments. Here are some excerpts:
Reader: I am sad to see my all-time favorite comic strip, "Prince Valiant," has been cut from your paper. For years now I have searched in vain for a Web site that publishes this strip in the event this day would come. I have had no luck. Even the King Features Web site does not show this strip. If you know of a Web site or another newspaper Web site that publishes this strip, I would be grateful to you. In my opinion, this is the greatest serial ever published. A lot of comic strip creators also agree.
— Paul Gappmayer
Reader: I am writing with a fervent plea to you to reconsider your decision to discontinue "Family Circus" from The Californiancomics. Please do not discount this with your standard, "Readers are never pleased with changes to the comics page, but we try to do our best ..."
You said in the article that the vote on "Family Circus" is perhaps the most shocking result of all. However, the result is the product of the way you designed the survey put the favorites of some people in one or two categories. Thus, a vote for one was a vote against another favorite.
I urge you to look at the numbers. Even with this flawed survey, you can see that "Family Circus" was identified as a favorite comic by 486 people.
You are keeping several comics with worse numbers than "Family Circus," because they were in different categories.
"Family Circus"provides a glimpse of the simple beauty of life seen through the eyes of children. Please do not deprive your readers of that, while keeping such cynical comics as "Mother Goose & Grimm," "Mutts," "Pearls Before Swine," "Baldo" and "The Born Loser"!
Thank you for reconsidering this issue.
— Susan Gill
Reader: Bravo! Bravo! For the first time, I read ALL of the Sunday comics and really enjoyed it! I wasn't sure if answering your survey would change anything but what a pleasant surprise. I guess you really do listen to what your readers prefer.
Keep up the good work.
— Anita Keagy
Reader: Well, your article on the comics that are being eliminated asked for our opinion, so here it is:
I voted online. I was VERY disappointed in the format. I HAD to vote my favorite in EVERY category (in order to move on to the next page) and I HAD to vote for a least favorite in every category.
There were so many categories in which I don't even read and others where all four were my favorites. But to vote, I had to choose one favorite and one least favorite.
This was wrong. All comics should've been listed on one list, regardless of what category they are in. I should've been given the chance to pick out my favorites (3 of which are in the "teen" section) or at least rank them. Or to NOT have to choose a least favorite one, knowing that it would be counted toward that comic's removal.
I was very upset when I finished my voting, feeling as if I was cheated in getting to really vote for my favorites and least favorites, unlike past comic surveys.
— Tony and Alice Valenti
Reader: Thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing back "Peanuts." I dared to hope after your teasers all week. Awesome.
And I'm so glad "Mutts" was saved. It was close last time so I was worried.
Thank you again. I think the new voting format was great too.
— Sara Oliver
Reader: I liked most of the poll results, except putting "Get Fuzzy" in a crowded "Talking Animals" category, I believe, unfairly represented it.
You guys know you need to buck your system on this one. We gotta have it back.
— René Gutierrez
Reader: One of my favorite things to do on Sunday morning was to pick up The Californianand read the comics and Eye Street. Now that is ruined. I will have to look for a paper that has "Prince Valiant" and change to that one.
— Steven M. Cebell
Reader: I'm calling to let you know that I'm very pleased with the changes that you've made with your "Peanuts" — well, all of your cartoons. I think it's great for our community to have such uplifting comics.
— Jean Pack
Reader: "Prince Valiant" was the only thing I could get to read about a good story deal. Apparently some people don't like the olden days.
These results should have been put out before you did the changes so you can get the comments. But apparently you change it and then give out the results — not like voting in the president and stuff deal.
— Eric Winchurch
Reader: I just wanted to comment. I miss "Family Circus." It's about family and with the way things are nowadays I think we need more family-oriented things.
— Sherry Hardin
Reader: You can bring back "Ziggy," "Fred Bassett," "For Better or Worse," "Real Life Adventure" and you can leave "Sally Forth" out and the new one you added, "Over the Hedges." Leave those two out. All the rest, put back in PLEASE and HURRY. I can't wait to see them again.
— Ray Brondel
Reader: Yes, yes, I am very unhappy that you guys decided to cut "Family Circus" out of The Californian. I think it's disgraceful, very disgraceful that you got rid of "Family Circus" and then dropped "Snuffy Smith," as well as "Ziggy." I don't know what was wrong with those comic strips.
Here's another thing, I don't think there should be any more comic polls. "Family Circus" was one of the best comic strips you had. Whoever decided "Family Circus" was terrible is goofy. You heard me, goofy! I think "Family Circus" was one of the great ones.
— Sean Wennihan
Reader: As I saw the comics, I noticed there was no longer a "Family Circus." Alright, good. The comic was painful and unnecessary.
— Jose Montoya
Reader: We are very upset you took "Get Fuzzy" out of the newspaper. Never did know just who Fuzzy was supposed to be in there but we loved those characters.
— Mrs. Rucks
Reader: I honestly can't imagine what your office meetings must be like! With the world in such a chaotic state, I can't for the life of me understand why people are willing to cancel their subscriptions because their favorite comic strip got the boot, Sheesh!
I've been a subscriber since 1972 and have, on occasion, disagreed with certain columnists. One of your current staff leaves me talking back at her photo (her initials are not MLS) but I'm not going to cancel my subscription. I just don't read her columns anymore (well, maybe just once in a while). Simple as that. Overall, I think the paper is doing a heck of a good job and you all deserve brownie points.
People will continue to amaze me at the little irritants in life that upset them. Sure, I'll miss "Frazz," but that's life!
— Hillary Bowden
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Reader: I'm calling to respond to the comments by Matthew Deming in last Sunday's Sound Off regarding Valerie Schultz's article about Catholics' political orientation.
I wanted to say that I thought she is right on. I'm a lifelong Catholic and I'm also a Democrat and pro-life.
I really disagree with Matthew Deming and I wanted to just offer support to Schultz. I respect her articulate explanation of the position that she stated.
Anyway, please support Valerie Schultz. Not all Catholics are conservative, right-wing thinkers.
Thank you very much. Keep up the good work you do.
— Marion Vargas
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Reader: I enjoyed very much the articles in Monday's paper regarding businesses teaming up with local schools and the chamber to build up our young work force.
Also, I used a coupon from last week's paper to save $10 on a purchase at Gottschalks, which should help pay for this month's subscription.
I usually make money from my subscription to The Californianvia coupons, plus I learn good tips to improve the quality of my life.
— Dave Collins
Jenner: Thanks for the testimonial!
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Reader: What a shame ... Bakersfield wants to be thought of as finally becoming a progressive Big City ... yet, people like The Californianendorse and allow Marylee Shrider to spew venomous hate — thinly disguised as common sense — over what will eventually become another step in the slow march of a progressive society.
All those events you outline as attacks — churches, crosses, etc. — are a clear message to anybody with an educated mind that things they are a-changing. Thank God your generation of mature, self-appointed moral authorities is dying off and not a moment too soon.
Do you massage yourself to sleep each night with your selfish fear and hate for people who have done you no harm?
You should be ashamed of yourself. Get off The Californianand go back to your shack in the hills.
— Leo Yokum
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Reader: Why does the legend for the national weather map bear no relationship to the symbols shown for rain, snow, etc.? The map symbols are intuitively obvious, but the legend from another universe?
— Mike Glinzak
Jenner: We wondered the same thing. We've pressed our weather provider, Weather Underground, to address this problem with consistency and you should notice an improvement right away.
