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Gloomy Tai at the library

33 (43.4%)

Dora trying to make up with her GF

14 (18.4%)

Hannelore seeking vengeance on Juicy

8 (10.5%)

Marigold seeking medical aid

2 (2.6%)

Pintsize having an existential crisis

11 (14.5%)

Faye learning that 'creepy' is a state of mind

8 (10.5%)

Total Members Voted: 71

Voting closed: 10 Mar 2015, 08:40

[Tova]

I don't think Dora was "wrong." I think she was acknowledging by what she should do in the long term, just as you remarked she should do.

She wasn't saying that she needed to have opened up in that specific instance, nor in every instance Tai demands it.

Edit: yay, smartphone word auto-correct :/

[BenRG]

I think that Jeph is giving us a message here. Two adults can have a disagreement and then make up. There doesn't have to be a prolonged separation, cold silences and mediation. Sometimes, a heartfelt apology, clear understanding of the problem and a hug is enough.

Because this is QC, we also get a butt joke!

Personally, I don't think that Tai even needed Marten's help. It's just that he's become her 'Dr Relationship'; she needed him to confirm that she was on the right track as to her next move. I think the body language of both her and Dora are lovely here. We can see clearly how much this argument upset them both and how sorry that they were. I suspect that this relationship may have legs.

3rd panel: since when does Tai have dat ass? Did she get implants?

Look at the angle of her body. She's leaning forwards and it's making her backside stick out.

[ReindeerFlotilla]

I don't think Dora was "wrong." I think she was acknowledging by what she should do in the long term, just as you remarked she should do.

She wasn't saying that she needed to have opened up in that specific instance, nor in every instance Tai demands it.

Edit: yay, smartphone word auto-correct :/

Just because it might better if we did it a thing, does it follow that we should do that thing? While I think there's decent scientific evidence to support the idea that being more open and less defensive leads to better outcomes, my personal experiences have not tracked to that evidence.

It turns out that being more open only leads to improved outcomes when your support group is actually supportive. I don't think Dora's best choice is more open and less defensive. It might be. It might not be. So when I say I think she's wrong, I'm saying I shade more towards "it might not be." YMMV, of course.

[Zog]

I think that many of Tai's annoying traits are in a way related to her endearing traits. Most of the things I like about her stem from her childlike behaviour. Sometimes she crosses the line and acts childish, one of the negative traits of children is selfishness.

[ZoeB]

squee

[Tova]

Just because it might better if we did it a thing, does it follow that we should do that thing? While I think there's decent scientific evidence to support the idea that being more open and less defensive leads to better outcomes, my personal experiences have not tracked to that evidence.

It turns out that being more open only leads to improved outcomes when your support group is actually supportive. I don't think Dora's best choice is more open and less defensive. It might be. It might not be. So when I say I think she's wrong, I'm saying I shade more towards "it might not be." YMMV, of course.

Sounds like my mileage does vary, yes. I do think that being more open and less defensive in relationships leads to better outcomes overall. I guess (emphasis on the word guess) that maybe you're concerned that the risk of being more open is that you will be hurt? Yes, that is possible. But in avoiding that risk, you're also avoiding the potential of a much closer, healthier relationship. So in that sense, overall, you are still better off being more open, even if in particular instance you might think in hindsight that you should not have been.

If your support group is not supportive... well this may sound glib, but it's not a support group then, is it?

What do you mean by "it's better to do a thing" if not that it "leads to better outcomes"? I'm a little confused by that.

[NilsO]

I think that Jeph is giving us a message here. Two adults can have a disagreement and then make up. There doesn't have to be a prolonged separation, cold silences and mediation. Sometimes, a heartfelt apology, clear understanding of the problem and a hug is enough.

Possibly, but remember that Dora and Marten had several disagreements before breaking up. This was just the first warning, I guess more will come. It seems Dora is slowly heading for a friendless life (OK, she still has Mieville, unless she has run away, we have not seen her for a very long time).

As for stable relationships in general, they do not make good stories. Therefore, the main characters in QC only have short term relationships, which sooner or later will fail. Secondary characters, like Steve and Cosette, or Will and Penelope, may form more stable relationships, but the consequence is that they are more or less disappearing from the series. There are just not many interesting things to tell. The same thing seems to be happening with Marigold and Dale, they are slowly disappearing from the series.

[BenRG]

squee

This is basically the reason you come here, isn't it Zoe?

I think that Jeph is giving us a message here. Two adults can have a disagreement and then make up. There doesn't have to be a prolonged separation, cold silences and mediation. Sometimes, a heartfelt apology, clear understanding of the problem and a hug is enough.

As for stable relationships in general, they do not make good stories.

It all depends on the amount of effort you are willing to put into writing them. To me arbitrary and cookie-cutter 'teh dramaz' are a lazy way of creating character interaction and growth. There are other ways of doing it without having the characters descend into fights every time you feature them on-screen.

[ReindeerFlotilla]

Just because it might better if we did it a thing, does it follow that we should do that thing? While I think there's decent scientific evidence to support the idea that being more open and less defensive leads to better outcomes, my personal experiences have not tracked to that evidence.

It turns out that being more open only leads to improved outcomes when your support group is actually supportive. I don't think Dora's best choice is more open and less defensive. It might be. It might not be. So when I say I think she's wrong, I'm saying I shade more towards "it might not be." YMMV, of course.

Sounds like my mileage does vary, yes. I do think that being more open and less defensive in relationships leads to better outcomes overall. I guess (emphasis on the word guess) that maybe you're concerned that the risk of being more open is that you will be hurt? Yes, that is possible. But in avoiding that risk, you're also avoiding the potential of a much closer, healthier relationship. So in that sense, overall, you are still better off being more open, even if in particular instance you might think in hindsight that you should not have been.

If your support group is not supportive... well this may sound glib, but it's not a support group then, is it?

What do you mean by "it's better to do a thing" if not that it "leads to better outcomes"? I'm a little confused by that.

The operative word there being might. Might be better = might lead to better outcomes. Might not, too.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained is limited by what you can afford to venture. Open only works if the door swings both ways. Everyone claims they want to hear your truth, but it turns out that most just want you to confirm their beliefs. Marten would be open to open. Hanners, too. Don't know about any other cast member.

[rfrank dodelijk]

today's is a very disappointing comic, but I draw comfort from the fact that it does not feature Claire.

[Tova]

The operative word there being might. Might be better = might lead to better outcomes. Might not, too.

Okay, well I'm not going to try to argue with a "might" (anything might happen, I suppose), except to point out that this statement is a long long way from your opening bold statement that Dora was wrong.

Bottom line: she has decided that she should be less defensive and more open, and I happen to agree. I'll just leave you with that.

Edit: you didn't originally say it "might be better", btw - you said "it would be better".

[ReindeerFlotilla]

No body is perfect. It would better for (just about) anyone to be more open and less defensive, if everyone was. I should have loaded my original post with more qualifiers.

As an immediate response, I stand by my assessment. "More open and less defensive" is, I think, the wrong choice. In the long term, that could be different, but a relationship doesn't happen in the long term. It happens now, just like everything else.

Defensive and closed are what Dora is. Contrast that to Tai's apology which is about what she did. Trying become something other than what you usually ends in pain. Focusing on what you did, and what you want to differently provides clear goals and unambiguous boundaries.

Changing the behavior seems like a better plan. Let's not mischaracterize my opening bold statement while we're pointing out what I originally said. If you want to hold me to to "would be better" you've got to accept that I think Dora is wrong and Dora probably needs to focus on smaller items. I may not have qualified one statement enough, but I made it pretty clear otherwise that I was stating my view, not a bold declaration of universal truth.

[swapna]

Man, that reminds me soo much of arguments that weren't really about the content of the words (One can argue about Tai or Dora being "right" or wrong here), but about the tone. If Dora would have just told Tai to lay it off any nicer, something like 'I get that you worry, but I don't want to talk about it right now. How about we do something else?', there wouldn't be any fight to speak of.

But I can't really think about it since Tai and Dora seem to stand a hand-width apart at least. How did that happen o.O
And how did Tai manage to change her body-type that much? I remember her being small and having a relative androgynous body type...

[Zebediah]

People do gain weight sometimes, you know. When a skinny woman gains a few pounds often the first place they go is the butt.

[BenRG]

People do gain weight sometimes, you know. When a skinny woman gains a few pounds often the first place they go is the butt.

The early strips with Tai indicate that she had body image issues arising from homophobic bullying at high school. Having a woman who loves her and is clearly very impressed with her body might have changed lots of things for her. For example, she's obviously stopped binding down her breasts and she might be eating more healthily.

[ReindeerFlotilla]

I remember when the only evidence that Faye was "squishy" was Faye saying she was squishy, and Dora commenting on the size of her butt. Claire used to be ganglier. So much so, that she actually looks shorter to me now. If she is drawn shorter, though, it's by a hair.

Marten used to be less scarecrow looking and before that he was more scarecrow looking. Steve used to be the Player 2 version of Marten. My favorite rendering of Dora looked nothing like Marten. The current version only sometimes resembles him, but there was period where they really did look like variations on a theme.

I guess I'm saying it doesn't really register as problem, to me, that Tai isn't quite on the same model as she used to be.

And I suppose my argument could be summed as "it's about the tone." Dora could have deflected less aggressively, and while coulda shoulda woulda, it is a thing that one can define as concrete step forward. "I will try not to attack when I'm not feeling ready to talk."

No comment on the awkward hug.

[CaptainFish]

Man, that reminds me soo much of arguments that weren't really about the content of the words (One can argue about Tai or Dora being "right" or wrong here), but about the tone. If Dora would have just told Tai to lay it off any nicer, something like 'I get that you worry, but I don't want to talk about it right now. How about we do something else?', there wouldn't be any fight to speak of.

I agree. Like I said in the last WCDT, if Dora doesn't want to talk about something she needs to say that. She can't immediately take up a defensive, closed position and then say that the person's concern for her is wrong.

I do see where ReindeerFlotilla is coming from though, because that's essentially how she rationalizes her own decisions to herself. It's hard to see that changing, even if Dora changes her mind on these specific decisions. So now we're in a position where Dora might nicely tell Tai how she doesn't want to talk about whatever emotional minefield she brings up. Even though I believe that would've worked for the conversation they had, that doesn't mean it'll work indefinitely based on what Tai wants out of their relationship.

[ReindeerFlotilla]

There is a tricky balance between when one person is able to talk, and when another needs to talk. In a relationship, these events may not coincide. If both parties can't find a means to manage that, and find the balance the works for them, the relationship must fail.

Dora can't shut Tai out, but not shutting her out isn't necessarily the same as opening up. I would posit that some people can't afford to open up--at least not in the simplified way people tend to mean when they use that term. It's simply too messy inside for them to do so.

But those people can clear a space. Occasionally clear out the sitting room and let someone in that far. Maybe they will find the person who gets a peek behind the doors and isn't terrified of the mess.

I'm not saying Dora is too messy inside. It's possible from what we know of her history, but she might just be tightly wound. But the same concept applies, whether you have a mess or not. Few are closed because it's just the cool thing. To them, what is inside is unworthy, or something. They are afraid that if anyone sees it, that one will run. And not stop running.

Learning not to blow up is a step, but it's not the journey. Figuring how to balance Tai's needs against her own is. As the Joe team will tell you, that's only half the battle. Tai has learn to wait for an invitation. Like I said, delayed gratification isn't her strong suit. Tai has to learn to balance Dora's needs against her own as well.

Who knows? Enough steps, and Dora might find she has become less defensive and more open.

Tova's guess about me was incorrect. I'm not afraid of getting hurt. I'm afraid of many things. Bees, for example. But getting hurt is not something I fear. It's something I know will happen, and I'm ill prepared to deal with it. It's possible the science is incorrect. That happens. Science adjusts over time, moving ever closer to the truth. But the science seems to say that the benefit of openness is not freedom from hurt. It's an improved sense of self. That improvement comes from the ability to handle being hurt.

The science says you will be hurt. A lot. It's how you deal with it that makes being open work. I don't have the capacity to deal with it. Maybe I never will. I tried being open and it didn't work. Because I thought it was something you jump into. Grit the teeth and fake it until you don't mind the pain. Learn to trust.

I know now that it's not learning trust, but who you trust. (Trust no one, Mr. Mulder.) When you trust someone not to try to hurt you, you allow them slack when they do hurt you. And you develop a sense of security that allows you to let slide hurts from others--because you trust someone to have your back. Tai is, I think, a who Dora should trust. But given the opinions of Tai expressed here, I could not recommend my opinion as a basis to act. Either way, jumping in without first setting that trust on firm foundation makes it certain that when Tai does hurt her (and she will) Dora will recoil, rather than extending the benefit of doubt and tolerating the hurt until things become clear. Baby steps.

I'm a cynic, but I'm not a total misanthrope.

[TRVA123]

I also think that trust is a choice. I mean, before you make that choice you should evaluate the person you are looking to trust. But in a relationship, you either consciously choose to trust someone, or you don't.

Dora obviously didn't choose to trust Marten, she constantly thought he was flirting/looking for greener pastures. I can't say her lack of trust was irrational, I mean, I  can understand her insecurities with Faye living in the same apartment. But once Dora realized (and I'm never sure she realized) that she couldn't choose to trust Marten, she should have broken the relationship off.

Actually, I think that is what she did. Dora seems slow on the whole introspection thing.

[eschaton]

But I think Jeph could have moved them a bit closer together.

Yeah.  That's the one main flaw I see in the comic.

In my experience with hugging friends and dating partners when I was in my 20s, the following was mostly true:  Women hug non-romantic interests "from the boobs up" (e.g., leaning in, but keeping crotches apart) and have full-body contact with their romantic interests/partners.  There were exceptions (I had one female friend who gave full body hugs, and was told by her female friends she "hugged like a lesbian") but this is mostly the case. 

I cannot see what circumstance, particularly after a fight, one would hug their partner and have no contact with their body besides the arms.  I mean, I understand it's not supposed to be a moment of high passion, but it doesn't seem like a moment of romantic intimacy either.  They should be all totally smooshed into each other.  Maybe Jeph just doesn't want creeps to fap to it though. 

[BenRG]

Re.: Hugging distance.

Personally, I'm seeing that as an art short-falling rather than anything significant in character or story terms. Jeph (in various Clairten clinches) has already shown that he isn't particularly good at kisses or hugs; he may have decided that a clear separation between the two ladies in question was the only way he could make the image not look weird.

[CaptainFish]

I'd like to see a check in about how Tai feels about Dora and their relationship. She went in with complete infatuation, but I dunno how that has transformed. I feel like part of that infatuation was her trying to be monogamous and convincing herself her pick was the absolute best. Anyway, with how infatuated she was and how much she wants a monogamous relationship, I don't really see her hooking up with someone else or joining an orgy despite her immaturity. I guess I'd need some sort of catalyst, like another argument or low point in their relationship or maybe a drug mishap, which you can take to mean I like Tai more than most.

I'd also like to see how Dora feels. I get that her being swept of her feet was a sharp contrast to her relationship with Marten, but I'd hope there's more than that.

[Isyrion]

OMG the cutiness...*has heart attack*...

We apologize for the inconvenience but your Isyrion has encountered a fatal error and has to be rebooted.  Please press Control + Alt + Delete to restart.

***

Ok I'm back, in all seriousness now.  I'm glad to see some positive development with Dora here.  Now lets hope she can go this route with Faye when it come time.

[Aziraphale]

Re.: Hugging distance.

Personally, I'm seeing that as an art short-falling rather than anything significant in character or story terms. Jeph (in various Clairten clinches) has already shown that he isn't particularly good at kisses or hugs; he may have decided that a clear separation between the two ladies in question was the only way he could make the image not look weird.

(to paraphrase Who Framed Roger Rabbit, they're not distant, they're just drawn that way)

[swapna]

Re.: Hugging distance.

Personally, I'm seeing that as an art short-falling rather than anything significant in character or story terms. Jeph (in various Clairten clinches) has already shown that he isn't particularly good at kisses or hugs; he may have decided that a clear separation between the two ladies in question was the only way he could make the image not look weird.

I agree. Looking at it again, the whole panel... argh. nrhg. Well. At least they hugged.
Question: What do you guys think about the background changing to express the character's emotions? Like, this comic's 'hugging it out' or last week's 'I farted in front of him'?

[Knight of Cydonia]

I... wow. I'm not expecting great works of literary genius or anything, but I can safely say that was some of the most disappointing "character development" I've seen in QC's entire run. Hell, it feels like everything has been sort of thrown at us at a really weirdly fast pace recently. That might just be the direction Jeph wants to take things and that's cool, it's his choice, but I hope the trend isn't gonna continue for Faye's latest meltdown.

[Daniel Patrick Moynihan]

Background change in that instance was fine, great in some others, like Libaries: Serious Business.  Not a fan of the "huggin' it out" or "relationship status: optimistic" though, it pushes the already sickly sweet into the Saccharine Zone for me.  I prefer LOOM or FOREBODE.

[Aziraphale]

Background change in that instance was fine, great in some others, like Libaries: Serious Business.  Not a fan of the "huggin' it out" or "relationship status: optimistic" though, it pushes the already sickly sweet into the Saccharine Zone for me.  I prefer LOOM or FOREBODE.

My first thought on seeing some of those backgrounds was that it must be time to refresh the merchandise line -- I'm sure each of the panels you mentioned (with the possible exceptions of LOOOOOOOM and FOREBODE) will be seen again as mousepads, t-shirts, tea cozies and the like.

[chaospersonified]

I... wow. I'm not expecting great works of literary genius or anything, but I can safely say that was some of the most disappointing "character development" I've seen in QC's entire run. Hell, it feels like everything has been sort of thrown at us at a really weirdly fast pace recently. That might just be the direction Jeph wants to take things and that's cool, it's his choice, but I hope the trend isn't gonna continue for Faye's latest meltdown.

Weirdly fast? Umm, what? Didn't we have like an entire week for one Clariten date? Whatever, that's irrelevant to this specific arc.

I don't see any new development here at all. Dora wants this to work out, and so does Tai. We knew already that Dora felt bad about how she reacted to Tai's insistence; it was the last line of 2909. Admitting there's a problem isn't the same as actually changing.

She might do it, but I just feel like she's said the same thing before. I like Dora, but she does tend to make the same mistakes over and over again.

[Emperor Norton]

She might do it, but I just feel like she's said the same thing before. I like Dora, but she does tend to make the same mistakes over and over again.

And let's be honest. That is very, very, human.

[chaospersonified]

She might do it, but I just feel like she's said the same thing before. I like Dora, but she does tend to make the same mistakes over and over again.

And let's be honest. That is very, very, human.

Apparently it's possible to like this post three times and be counted for all of them


I, and two other me's appreciate the point you are making

[Rghfrgl]

That's chaos for you.

[eschaton]

Question: What do you guys think about the background changing to express the character's emotions? Like, this comic's 'hugging it out' or last week's 'I farted in front of him'?

I don't mind the background changing occasionally, but it's been too frequent lately - and usually seems to happen in panel three.  I do have a problem with the actual caption thing, however, given it's obvious from the picture they're hugging (or rather, huggin')  it out. 

[tywren]

Weirdly fast? Umm, what? Didn't we have like an entire week for one Clariten date?

Maybe that's part of whats causing the feeling of being rushed; all the sickly sweet, girlfriend Clare stuff just drags on and on, and now that we're doing something else it feels line we're being railroaded through it as quickly as possible just so we can get back to more squee moments.

[chaospersonified]

Weirdly fast? Umm, what? Didn't we have like an entire week for one Clariten date?

Maybe that's part of whats causing the feeling of being rushed; all the sickly sweet, girlfriend Clare stuff just drags on and on, and now that we're doing something else it feels line we're being railroaded through it as quickly as possible just so we can get back to more squee moments.

I feel like Jeph's just telling the story as simply as it needs telling. I don't see how this encounter could have gone longer, since we saw Tai's side and we left Dora reconsidering her reaction. Dora's been stewing in her guilt all day.

If we're moving quickly, it's more likely towards Faye's support group, which I doubt will be especially full of squee. This was a squee moment before the serious sets in, I predict.

[tywren]

If we're moving quickly, it's more likely towards Faye's support group, which I doubt will be especially full of squee. This was a squee moment before the serious sets in, I predict.

I hope you're right, because all the squee has warn out it's welcome as far as i'm concerned.

[Interlude]

Possibly, but remember that Dora and Marten had several disagreements before breaking up. This was just the first warning, I guess more will come. It seems Dora is slowly heading for a friendless life (OK, she still has Mieville, unless she has run away, we have not seen her for a very long time).

I've always thought Dora was sort of the odd-girl out in this group of friends. She's at a different place in her life than the other members of the cast. Not only is she older, but she has a set career as a business owner. Sometimes you outgrow a group of friends. It's not a bad thing. It just happens. It's hard to relate to a party girl when you're a very work-oriented person, for example. (It's one of the reasons I feel like the Tai/Dora relationship would have some issues. I can't imagine Dora being okay with the constant drug use or the slacking off and lack of ambition, but that is projection on my part.)

Who is she really close with, anyways? She dated Marten, and while they are okay now, they're not really friends anymore, either. She's never really been close to any of the others, except Faye, and I always felt that was more of an incidental friendship. How often do they hang out, just the two of them, aside from work? That's not even mentioning the current situation between them. Dora's part in the comic has always been as boss of Coffee of Doom. I am afraid that if her friendships with the other cast members fade, she will disappear from the comic. But, as a pretend person, I think she would probably be better off without some of these relationships. Not that any of the other cast are specifically bad for her, but I just don't think she's ever really had a good connection with any of them, and it would be good for her to find other people that she COULD have a supportive and relaxing (that's a weird way to describe friendship, but I know that I am thankful to have friends I can just let my guard down with and chat and have fun with, as well as talk about serious matters) friendship.

Changing the behavior seems like a better plan. Let's not mischaracterize my opening bold statement while we're pointing out what I originally said. If you want to hold me to to "would be better" you've got to accept that I think Dora is wrong and Dora probably needs to focus on smaller items. I may not have qualified one statement enough, but I made it pretty clear otherwise that I was stating my view, not a bold declaration of universal truth.

I think that is a good point. It's hard to change something about yourself that is...well, such a big part of yourself. And if that's what you focus on, it can be easy to start feeling like you are a problem/worthless/etc. It would probably be a lot easier to start with the smaller things-- how she talked to Tai was the problem, not the message of what she was saying.


Note: Dora is the character I relate to the most in this comic, so clearly I am biased.

[explicit]

Aww, now I'm sad. I didn't want to be sad tonight Jeph

[chaospersonified]

Aww, now I'm sad. I didn't want to be sad tonight Jeph

As upset as I am... I fucking called it. We're on the express train to melacholy from here till Monday, folks, or so I suspect. We may get a glimmer of hope, but it will be temporary, until the rift between Faye and Dora is fully healed, anyway.

[jwhouk]

Two things:

1. Faye took control of the convo and the situation. She's the John Lennon of this Beatles breakup. They're not gonna reconcile until Faye says so.

2. That .horse t-shirt is going to be a big seller. I'm calling it right now.

[valkygrrl]

Aww, now I'm sad. I didn't want to be sad tonight Jeph

WWW.QUESTIONABLECONTENT.HORSE  will make you feel better.

[Aziraphale]

Wonder if Dora will make the connection between how she's feeling right now and how Tai felt a few strips back as a result of Dora shutting her out.

[FunkyTuba]

Jeph should sell the .horse shirts to pay for his walmart.horse legal defense fund.

[Neko_Ali]

Dora isn't that much older than the crew. And come to think of it, this is quite possibly the first time she's ever had to fire someone, and it is her closest friend. It's no surprise really  that she's hurt and bothered by having to do it.

[Radical AC]

I wonder how much of a draw Faye was to CoD. She obviously wasn't a high performer at the end, but her attitude was a business point in earlier comics.

[Aziraphale]

I've wondered that, too. It hasn't been a plot point in a while, though, so that moment may have passed.

[tywren]

I've wondered that, too. It hasn't been a plot point in a while, though, so that moment may have passed.

another lost plot point, what happened to the other CoD? Remember, Dora had to make Faye manager due to opening a second location.

[Truec]

another lost plot point, what happened to the other CoD? Remember, Dora had to make Faye manager due to opening a second location.

No, Faye became manager because Dora couldn't handle her workload, same reason she hired Dale.

[valkygrrl]

another lost plot point, what happened to the other CoD? Remember, Dora had to make Faye manager due to opening a second location.

No, Faye became manager because Dora couldn't handle her workload, same reason she hired Dale.

Maybe tywren is a multiverse traveler. tywren did you bring any new Nirvana albums across the gap?

[plusorminus]

Wonder if Dora will make the connection between how she's feeling right now and how Tai felt a few strips back as a result of Dora shutting her out.

The situations aren't analogous, though, because it would require Faye to get her head out of her butt and acknowledge that in the case of what she did specifically to Dora, which was break her trust, she fucked up. She has acknowledged everything else - her issues with drinking, her need for therapy, her need for a support group - but she has not yet acknowledged that she betrayed Dora and she hasn't done this because Faye is in her feelings about this and feels Dora was wrong to fire her. Maybe she understands it on some level, but she is still pissed about it. Dora realized immediately that she was out of line on Tai. Faye probably feels that she is being virtuous and adult by not calling Dora names or shittalking her.

I, for one, will be fine if this friendship is over for good and Dora finds a group of friends that appreciate her. I hope that is the epiphany she has, similar to the one she had when she inevitably realized Marten wasn't in love with her and never was going to be so the relationship had to end. Maybe Dora will start making the sort of changes in her social life that will bring her to a class of people who recognize her great attributes and will not act like shitlords to her.