Patterns of Petulance on Social Media, Slapfights for Superchats

A FORMER PROFESSIONAL COMIC BOOK ARTIST
In my series on pop culture and group dynamics "Culture War Chronicles" I've been exploring the dynamics of Ethan Van Sciver's Comicsgate. Van Sciver effectively coopted a fan movement to drive traffic to Youtube and solicit customers for his crowdfunded graphic novels. Van Sciver was formerly a professional comic book artist employed by Marvel and DC Comics.

HOLLER FOR A DOLLAR
In recent years Van Sciver appears to have more interest in being a professional entertainer on Youtube than drawing and producing comic books. His programs typically are conflict driven, and Van Sciver often will create or amplify some personal conflict on Twitter, and then discuss that conflict on length live on YouTube. While performing on YouTube his fan's will send tips in the form of "superchats", the large ones are generally rewarded by immediately being read and discussed during the program to encourage the audience to send additional money. A program last several hours can net over a $1,000 in superchats.

VAN SCIVER SCORNED
We can analyze and exchange between Van Sciver and one of his frequent targets Mike S. Miller. Miller is a professional artist, and at one point was recruited by Van Sciver for his cast of character in Comicsgate. Van Sciver enjoyed and enjoys attempting to ridicule Miller for Youtube fodder, and Miller eventually distanced himself from Van Sciver's Comicsgate. Van Sciver appears to have been perpetually enraged by and resentful of Miller's rejection.

ANALYZING A SOCIAL MEDIA SLAPFIGHT
Van Sciver habitually employs a predictable and limited range of tactics to anger, provoke, or torment a target. Once Van Sciver believes he has identified a personality flaw, or button he can push - he will use that mechanism repeatedly. In this instance it is helpful to understand the exchange to know that Mike S. Miller is a devout Christian. Miller is simultaneously and occasionally a performative troll, but typically not employing an explicitly cruel mode as Van Sciver.

In the exchange Miller had observed the person he was talking to had formed perhaps an excessive parasocial relationship with Van Sciver - and Miller tweeted "Ethan is your idol. Repent." Van Sciver rejoined with an aspersion on Mike's faith. This form of attack frequently has yield results for Van Sciver and he has repeated it dozens of times. Van Sciver's theology might fill a large post it note, and he appears to view God, as a wish granting genie with a white beard. Pop culture prosperity gospel, perhaps roughly captures the range of Van Sciver's beliefs.

PAY PIG THEATER
Miller replies, and then Van Sciver moves to a hyperbolic accusation - again a predictable attack - and a gross distortion. Van Sciver's audience has been filtered to a subset of viewers who enjoy watching and paying Ethan attempt to embarrass or annoy his targets for their entertainment.

These types of exchanges occur throughout the various segments of personality driven Youtube. Van Sciver has inadvertently styled himself as a "Real Housewife of Comics Drama", and it is understandable why the rational professional may decline a role in Ethan's catty theater.

Once the broad forms or patterns of engagement and escalation are understood, it is easy to observe and decline them at will.

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