Basic Instructions by Scott Meyer for May 08, 2023

Yay!! The instructions are back. I don’t see how they will be of benefit to my life, since I don’t have “readers”, but, you know, baby steps.

I like the instructions. They provide structure for my life.

It just dawned on me that all cartoons are whatever the author comes up with.

I feel gypped. No wonder most of them suck. Cartoonists can’t come up with a good cartoon to save their lives.

Which is why they’ll never amount to anything other than cartoonists.

Just keep that copyright date accurate and we’ll have zero problems, Mr Meyer!

I’m reading them ‘cause they’re funny, not because of the title.

Although I might just think they’re funny because I’ve been instructed to.

But I don’t think so.

…Hmmm. Yeah, no, I’m pretty sure.

Personally, I liked the “no instructions” version! It’s cleaner, and often I found them distracting from the dialog and characters. And if it means MORE strips and LESS stress for Scott, I’m all for it!!

You have realised that you’re in and the opinions of others don’t matter. In that way, it’s like politics.

Or, you do it however you want, and reprint old strips 4 days a week. You get what you want and the instructees get lots of what they want.

Whatever Scott decides to do, it’s nice to feel listened to.

I started reading this comic because it reminded me of my family. I continue reading it because I like the way they say things. It’s hilarious!

I enjoy Mr. Meyer’s comics and I’m very glad they’re back, but I rarely actually laugh or chuckle out loud at them. Today was an exception. :)

The most important thing is that the Instructions are authentic, so after you can convincingly fake them for the readers you’ve got it made. Of course, these days you don’t know how many of your readers are AI-bot fakes…

How to placate readers who want you to change something without actually changing anything.

I like the comic either way. Especially the nerd references (Like Star Trek).

Do whatever you like, just keep the comics coming. I like your style. (I also like your books!)

If nothing else, the instructions add distinction from other comics.

BTW, that semicolon in panel 3 should be a comma.

It’s a great strip without the ‘basic instructions’ but even better with them!

I like the whole premise of the cartoon. The mock seriousness always makes me at least smile. Part of the enjoyment for me is seeing how Scott walks that fine line. Even if it’s not always a “knee-slapper”, I appreciate the cleverness.

I very much like the TRADITIONAL “Basic Instructions:OR” (Original Recipe). But, now I have at admit, I am curious about what Scott had been imagining….. if it was simply the “Basic” form…… to me, not as strong….. but if has been thinking something far more different and radical…… I would like to see/hear about it…. BUT not have it replace “Basic Instructions:OR”.

Woohoo! The “Instructions” are back!

I also miss the old corner image, of Scott about to swing a 2×4 and saying “You will learn!”.

I’m just glad you’re back!

That said, I do prefer the instructions format. The humor is there regardless, but the idealism of the instructions versus the messy reality adds a dimension that made the strip unique.

I think a middle-ground would be good. Instructions that describe the overall issue in the header, not broken into each panel.

To me, reading the instructions first, then the comic panel, makes the comic panel twice as funny! I do hope they are restored!

The way this comic flows for me is I read the instructions and see how the dialogue follows it. Each panel is its own joke, so without the instructionsIt feels a little disjointed. If the panels built on each other more, having no instructions would feel less jarring

I feel the strip has lost something, now I only it is produced on a tiny laptop rather than a large, tower, workstation.

Great Scott, we’ll keep you posted.

I do love the way Scott makes money out of basically arguing with himself. Entertaining for us, and not even a need to involve third parties