Forums should be more helpful to indie creators

One thing I wanted to comment on: a lot of comic book forums have a rule about people not 'pimping' their comics. I think this is wrong - or, at least, its throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

There should, I think, be a policy of allowing self publishers, and smaller publishing houses the right to tell people about their new books. Even if its only on one thread specifically for that purpose. The reason is that while big publishers have advertising budgets that allow them push their books, smaller creators do not. That is one of the main obstacles towards more creative, original work being seen in comics.

So, forums and the internet in general provide the 'great democratic leveller': they provide an outlet for new creators to tell people of their work for free or cheapish. That is the main value of the internet, surely - the open exchange of info? Most forums are run by just such indie level creators or dedicated fans. By not allowing other individual creators and small publishers to tell about their work and say where it can be bought they are cutting off a route that can help the vitality of the medium they adore. So its really shooting yourself in the foot.

I have been particularly disappointed by the attitude of some forums, who seem too concerned with being snobbish and excluding people. Even the word 'pimping' insinuates its something nasty you are pushing! Lets be more helfpul to indie comics - its a very hard world to make a success in. So, to the forums: yes, stop the big companies from using you as free advertising, but let the smaller creators who desperately need the exposure tell people about their stuff. At least on one thread!