Every now and then Jon will come up with a thread that really isn't. This looks like one of them.

One advantage, I guess, is to use up some ideas that really have no life beyond a strip or two.

Also helps keep things going while you're out slaying other dragons, I'm sure.

I don't know where I'm going with this post, either. I promised the guys I'd be more prolific in exchange for karma points, so I have to do SOMETHING.

I like it....this thread makes perfect sense....look at the characters that have appeared in each strip:

1) Phillip and Jon
2) Jon and Diablo
3) Diablo and Fish
4) Fish and Toothgnip.....see the pattern yet?

It continues as such:

Toothgnip -> Neil (or Bob) -> Bob (or Neil) -> Siobain -> Jerrell -> Lauren (who isn't in the Bios section btw) -> ????

I'm curious how long Jon can string this out, he's used up most of the major cast already and it might get too boring/bizarre if he spent several weeks with the minor characters and villians (see howard)... and where would he go from speak 'n' spell if Chessmaster 2000 has already been involved?

Basicaly, if you see a repeated character, then Jon has given up on the premise of the thread, unless you see Phillip, in which case he's making an attempt at a 'proper' conclusion (which might be giving up as well).

In Response to Lonely Goatherd (#1197):

Crap, I forgot to login.

Why do bad things always happen when I toss my cookies?

In Response to Lonely Goatherd (#1197):

We've got one more week after this one (although I'm pretty sure I could stretch it out for at least one additioal week).

And yes, it will come full-circle.

Sometimes continuity gets in the way of telling funny jokes. It's nice to get rid of the burden once in a while.

Of course, there's lots of good things to be said for a plotline, and I'm looking forward to getting back into one.

AFter five and a half years, you have to mix things up a bit if you're going to keep it interesting for yourself.

In Response to jon (#1201):

I probably could have started a different thread for this, but it has to do with Jon's comment.

This is a question for you Jon. I'm just wondering, In five and a half years have you ever seriously considered ending the strip, other than that whole "The End" thing that scared me half to death. I mean just closing the strip and not turning back.?

In Response to jon (#1200):

Heheheh... what's needed is a conspiracy of comic cross-overs to keep the chain wandering around the internet indefinitely...

In Response to Evander (#1232):

Once or twice a week.

In Response to Lonely Goatherd (#1197):

I would have liked to spend more time in this section and comment further on the original subject, however, I'm on my way out, so I just want to answer a question about Lauren missing from the bios. She's not, she can be found in the "Irregulars" section.

In Response to mea37 (#1246):

Actually sort of related to this idea. I watched Americas Sweethearts the other night. Kind of cool for a romantic comedy type film. Anyhow, John Cusacks character is talking to a "Wellness guide" and the guy seems familiar. Took a few moments and then I clicked. It was basically a continuance of the scenes in Grosse Pointe Blank with Cusack and his psychiatrist.

Now we have all seen that some actors keep working with the same group of people (for better or worse), Cusack, Sandler etc.

So I was wondering if anyone has ever tried making a story that is a series of scenes in a bunch of different movies with the same basic characters in each film doing something that is not out of place for that film but also fits into a story that is developing between the separate films.

Sort of like a book I read once (which I think was by steinbeck but I can't find it on amazon - if anyone knows the one let me know) where the story is broken into four parts and each part of the story takes place with similar character but in different environments (a fisherman, circus clown were 2 I think).

So like that but without the book holding it together, just a story sprayed across media...

Be kind of cool.

In Response to jon (#1252):

So, what keeps you from ending this strip?

Goats ending would be as sad as the end of Bloom County or Calvin & Hobbes.

In Response to coolhand (#1395):

my bad, I had been looking for her in pub denizens.....oops

In Response to Oedipa_Maas (#1417):

Oh, lots of things.

• unhealthy obsession
• a misplaced sense of obligation
• fear of the unknown
• addiction to the small ego-boosts I get in my email
• death threats
• the eternal quest for CA$H (johnny cash, that is)
• encouragement from family and friends and readers
• the joy of crafting a well-timed joke
• knowing that I help make people's lives a tiny, tiny bit better
• mexican food

In Response to jon (#1424):

Hmm... let's take a look at this. Clearly we have here a list of factors we'd like to reenforce.

We can break down most of the list into two categories: "Beyond our influence" (or "attempting to influence would likely backfire") covers obsession, sense of obligation, fear of the unknown, locating Johnny Cash, joy of joke-craft, and knowledge of making lives better.

Most of the remainder fall into the second category, "Excessively good-spirited." (That would be ego boosts, encouragement, and mexican food.) We could work on those items, but it just seems out of character.

So the careful reader can see what must be done.

Support Goats: Threaten Jon!

In Response to mea37 (#1426):

I think you're reading it all wrong.

We obviously need to send Mexican food.

Or combine them both, and send death threats via Taco Bell's e-cards.

In Response to zamphir (#1427):

How about a horse head in his bed?

In Response to Evander (#1430):

Or you could just buy some books, which would involve much less physical exertion and wouldn't infuriate the nice lady at my laundry.