🎨 Artcow Iconoclast / Jonathan Mack Sweet - The Chris-Chan of Arkansas

[Durable Mike Malloy]

Good Will also pays those people below minimum wage.

I mean, he'd be making more than what he makes right now, but as a liberal I must protest the underpayment of these workers, regardless of their mental faculties.

Equal work deserves equal pay.

It's catastrophic, though, if one earns a little bit too much money and loses ones' benefits eligibility; access to support services that enable independent living and keep care costs down is heavily predicated on SSI/SSDI. Losing this is not only a cruel break for the individual, but also devastating to their family and caregivers, and far, far more expensive for the taxpayer in the long run.

Goodwill (and similar programs) cannot and should not start paying their workers more in the absence of sweeping structural reform at both the state and federal level. It would be hideously irresponsible.

Yeah, but it's not equal work. It's a semi-charity job. Those folks are otherwise unemployable.

And people who would be otherwise employable will not infrequently take Goodwill-type jobs so they can do something productive with their time without jeopardizing benefits eligibility. It's a structural problem that makes it nearly impossible for hard-working people to get ahead and gives the lazy an excuse to be lazier.

Not picking a fight with you guys; I think we're all pretty much on the same page with this stuff. Frankly, I'm pretty keen on the idea of Sweets taking a Goodwill-type job; at the very least, it might give him fresh material for the cringe comedy act that is his life. If nothing else, he can caper for our collective amusement.

 

[Shadow Fox]

This is sort of apropos of nothing, but I find it pretty eyeroll-worthy how he links to pages of his shitty-ass comic to illustrate his points, as though his illegible chickenscratch portrayals of things he's dredged out of his memory are irrefutable proof of incidents that occurred twenty years ago. Who needs photographs or news articles as evidence when you've got cluttered, unreadable, badly-scanned pencil drawings colored in MS Paint, amirite?

 

[Le Bateleur]

Warning - this content comes with a high social awkwardness factor. "A-Log talking to cosplay girls"-tier.

It's from the comments section on a post from a blog called The Wheelchair Mommy. The post is an FAQ where the blogger gives some details of her life with three children and a disability. Below the line, our Sweetian hero shows up to ask a question of his own...


Jonathan M. Sweet says
April 2, 2014 at 10:51 pm
If you were offered some miracle device or surgery that could restore your ability to walk, even temporarily, would you take it? Or would that feel too much like cheating/selling out?
Jonathan M. Sweet´s last blog post ..She-Huk v. Angela

Priscilla says
April 4, 2014 at 12:21 pm
That would depend… What are the risks? How long is the recovery?

Jonathan M. Sweet says
April 5, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Well, did you ever see the TV show M.A.N.T.I.S? A paraplegic scientist builds himself a robotic exoskeleton that allows him to walk by electrically stimulating his muscles. The suit also grants him amazing strength which he uses to fight crime in his city, but prolonged use is shown to causes further damage to his body’s nerves.
Then there’s the new Batgirl comic book, in which Barbara Gordon, who was left paralyzed by a bullet for many years, is able to walk again after experimental surgery…but suffers from PTSD and a sort of “survivor’s guilt” . Some disability advocates have shown disapproval over this new imagining of the character.
These are fanciful examples, of course, but as a writer myself I’d appreciate some perspective from someone who knows the score.

 

[Le Bateleur]

As basically promised, here's episode 1 of Sweet Bro and Hella Rush.

Spoiler: Episode 1 - Nobody Told Me About Stairs

Big shout out and much love to the TRUE AND HONEST creators of Sweet Bro and Hella Jeff. Fair use being claimed for parody and so on.

 

[Treenbeen]

I thought of an idea, and I was wondering if everyone might be amenable to it...

I can start a new thread on the AJM boards, specifically for correspondence between this site and that one if everyone would like.

It might appease the other members at AJM to have it all contained to one place? Ease some of the tensions?

Just a thought.

 

[He Sets Me On Fire]

I thought of an idea, and I was wondering if everyone might be amenable to it...

I can start a new thread on the AJM boards, specifically for correspondence between this site and that one if everyone would like.

It might appease the other members at AJM to have it all contained to one place? Ease some of the tensions?

Just a thought.

That's a great idea, Treenbeen. It'll keep all the other threads from becoming an argument with Jon. I like it!

Well, did you ever see the TV show M.A.N.T.I.S? A paraplegic scientist builds himself a robotic exoskeleton that allows him to walk by electrically stimulating his muscles. The suit also grants him amazing strength which he uses to fight crime in his city, but prolonged use is shown to causes further damage to his body’s nerves.
Then there’s the new Batgirl comic book, in which Barbara Gordon, who was left paralyzed by a bullet for many years, is able to walk again after experimental surgery…but suffers from PTSD and a sort of “survivor’s guilt” . Some disability advocates have shown disapproval over this new imagining of the character.
These are fanciful examples, of course, but as a writer myself I’d appreciate some perspective from someone who knows the score.

Cripes, what a charmless oaf.

 

[Treenbeen]

I made the thread. If it doesn't do well, I will have it removed, but hopefully this will help a bit.

 

[ToroidalBoat]

when you've got cluttered, unreadable, badly-scanned pencil drawings colored in MS Paint, amirite

Like I said earlier a couple of times, Sweet probably thinks we can read easily them. And that we should always take his word for it (in comic form, no less).

For example, awhile back, Sweet talked about his mistrust of new technology with a comic on the DTV transition - er, "Obama-cable" transition - a nearly unreadable comic about some kind of device that converts DTV back to old analog TV that also explodes and turns someone into a caveman for some reason. That self-insert character with the thick red glasses and hat full of pins introduces the reader to it.

Here it is: http://smokingcatcomicsandcollectibles.webs.com/46-01.jpg

According to the 10-year old comic, the DTV switch is "liberal stupidity" that causes "hardship for viewers in rural service areas" who can't afford converter boxes (read: probably Sweet).

 

[Holdek]

I thought of an idea, and I was wondering if everyone might be amenable to it...

I can start a new thread on the AJM boards, specifically for correspondence between this site and that one if everyone would like.

It might appease the other members at AJM to have it all contained to one place? Ease some of the tensions?

Just a thought.

I'm fine with that, but if the past is any indication, Jon will probably comment on us in various other threads.

 

[DrChristianTroy]

Warning - this content comes with a high social awkwardness factor. "A-Log talking to cosplay girls"-tier.

It's from the comments section on a post from a blog called The Wheelchair Mommy. The post is an FAQ where the blogger gives some details of her life with three children and a disability. Below the line, our Sweetian hero shows up to ask a question of his own...


Jonathan M. Sweet says
April 2, 2014 at 10:51 pm
If you were offered some miracle device or surgery that could restore your ability to walk, even temporarily, would you take it? Or would that feel too much like cheating/selling out?
Jonathan M. Sweet´s last blog post ..She-Huk v. Angela

Priscilla says
April 4, 2014 at 12:21 pm
That would depend… What are the risks? How long is the recovery?

Jonathan M. Sweet says
April 5, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Well, did you ever see the TV show M.A.N.T.I.S? A paraplegic scientist builds himself a robotic exoskeleton that allows him to walk by electrically stimulating his muscles. The suit also grants him amazing strength which he uses to fight crime in his city, but prolonged use is shown to causes further damage to his body’s nerves.
Then there’s the new Batgirl comic book, in which Barbara Gordon, who was left paralyzed by a bullet for many years, is able to walk again after experimental surgery…but suffers from PTSD and a sort of “survivor’s guilt” . Some disability advocates have shown disapproval over this new imagining of the character.
These are fanciful examples, of course, but as a writer myself I’d appreciate some perspective from someone who knows the score.

He's talking to a real woman with real disabilities and he brings up fucking MANTIS? What a fucking goof.

 

[ToroidalBoat]

Like CWC, Sweet may talk about TV a lot. I mean a lot.

 

[MrsFrizzle]

Although sheltered workshops that provide training and support for people with disabilities have strong arguments in their favor for paying well below minimum wage (because other benefits are being provided, and often workshops like that support the most able workers in finding jobs in the regular workforce where possible), Goodwill has drawn a lot of criticism for not providing any training or support for its workers with disabilities. So even in the case of someone like Sweetums, I would hate to see him at Goodwill.

Now, if there's a sheltered workshop for delusional jerkwads that actually does some training, sign him up!

Why isn't the great Mr. Sweet doing freelance gigs via Elance or Odesk, or whatever people use to hire cheap writers these days? Why not doing Mechanical Turk tasks, for Christ's sake? He has a computer and an Internet connection, but he only uses it to whine online.

 

[Le Bateleur]

Episode 2

Spoiler: Episode 2 - dude wheres my mom's car

 

[Adamska]

I also wonder why Sweet is so fixated on things like computer labs and dining (features that should be pretty standard in one form or another at any university anyway)? I don't recall Sweet ever talking about what the classes he took were like, and classes are a pretty big part of going to a school.

That's the thing. I've been to two different colleges, and both served food where you paid for it, both had TVs in communal areas as well. Both also have computer labs. The easy and likely solution is the same reason why Mr. Chandler kept trying to get back to the Game PLACE: Atsimu.

As for work, what's Sweet's explanation for why he doesn't at least do volunteer work and really do something for society?

The following reasons:
It's against da rules!
Muh brother!
Who's gonna watch my mom?!
I can't drive!
What's the point?!
I do THAT <Insert lie here>!

Oh boy, more sayings by Jon Sweet, Professional Loser:

If you were offered some miracle device or surgery that could restore your ability to walk, even temporarily, would you take it? Or would that feel too much like cheating/selling out?

I mean, I'd personally omit the last question he asks in that one and replace it with something else or leave it at that, but this isn't too bad.

Well, did you ever see the TV show M.A.N.T.I.S? A paraplegic scientist builds himself a robotic exoskeleton that allows him to walk by electrically stimulating his muscles. The suit also grants him amazing strength which he uses to fight crime in his city, but prolonged use is shown to causes further damage to his body’s nerves.
Then there’s the new Batgirl comic book, in which Barbara Gordon, who was left paralyzed by a bullet for many years, is able to walk again after experimental surgery…but suffers from PTSD and a sort of “survivor’s guilt” . Some disability advocates have shown disapproval over this new imagining of the character.
These are fanciful examples, of course, but as a writer myself I’d appreciate some perspective from someone who knows the score.

 

[DrChristianTroy]

Like CWC, Sweet may talk about TV a lot.

What gets me is that it's not even good TV. This is straight to syndication, UPN Sunday morning shit.

 

[Adamska]

What gets me is that it's not even good TV. This is straight to syndication, UPN Sunday morning shit.

This makes me wonder if he pissed off his dormies by hogging the TV to watch Cartoon Network/Disney/Nickolodeon when he was at Arkansas State.

 

[Handsome Pete]

Episode 2

Spoiler: Episode 2 - dude wheres my mom's car

View attachment 18891

If this was Discussion, we'd already have a user named Lawgmober.

 

[Holdek]

He's talking to a real woman with real disabilities and he brings up fucking MANTIS? What a fucking goof.

A true man-child.

 

[Holdek]

For example, awhile back, Sweet talked about his mistrust of new technology with a comic on the DTV transition - er, "Obama-cable" transition - a nearly unreadable comic about some kind of device that converts DTV back to old analog TV that also explodes and turns someone into a caveman for some reason. That self-insert character with the thick red glasses and hat full of pins introduces the reader to it.

Here it is: http://smokingcatcomicsandcollectibles.webs.com/46-01.jpg

According to the 10-year old comic, the DTV switch is "liberal stupidity" that causes "hardship for viewers in rural service areas" who can't afford converter boxes (read: probably Sweet).

He says in the comic, "Oh, we can afford it [smug face]. It's the principle of the matter."

This is despite government-issued coupons etc. And it's not just some arbitrary change... DTV allows for high definition signals, better reception, and MORE channels.

All that said, it's probably the best comic I've seen him do; artistically it's mostly comprehendable (some speech bubble disorder not withstanding), and it's kind of a funny gag. It's a shame he wastes it on an issue that 99%+ of the population doesn't give a shit about.

 

[ToroidalBoat]

Yeah, it may be nearly unreadable, but, it's still readable. I hope I didn't come off as A-logish there. And yeah, I also think it's kind of funny. Nice visual pun of sorts there.

Although Sweet's self insert could afford it, I wonder if Sweet couldn't IRL - keep in mind he may not have had a credit card in 2005 (when the comic is set), and he may have lost control of his money after the bank fraud incident by then.

DTV allows for high definition signals, better reception, and MORE channels.

That's kind of like what I said earlier. DTV reception may not be so great in some places, but like you said, DTV allows HD picture, and more channels in the same amount of bandwidth. DTV is apparently so advantageous that pretty much all of the most developed countries have switched over to DTV. Like I think I also said earlier, most broadcasters probably would've switched over even without any legal regulations. More channels per bandwidth = more advertising revenue.