Topic: WCDT Strips 3006-3010 (20 to 24 July 2015) (Read 33098 times)

BenRG · « **on:** 19 Jul 2015, 09:14 »

So, I don't think that anyone can seriously doubt that we're going to stick with Faye's attempts to find a semi-illegal job; he's spent too much time on Bubbles for him to drop the thread right now. I just think that Jeph is going to take this in a weird direction. Maybe Faye won't get the job but Bubbles knows plenty of guys who can use someone who does decorative metalwork.

I've got to say that I'd love it if Bubbles attends Momo's AI support group. Maybe the two are even friends! Although it would be funny if, like Faye and Hanners, Bubbles has a weird pseudonym.

Of course, there is always the possibility that Jeph will pull something out of left field. After all, we have a large ensemble of characters to choose from, any one of which may have a misadventure waiting for thiem!

osaka · « **Reply #1 on:** 19 Jul 2015, 09:36 »

I like the option where Bubbles is Momo's sis. "Mama always loved you more, she gave you the lethal electric charge"

Kugai · « **Reply #2 on:** 19 Jul 2015, 12:17 »

Facinating

jheartney · « **Reply #3 on:** 19 Jul 2015, 17:59 »

No idea where this is going either. It'd be implausible for Faye to jump in as an expert metal boffin, but having her start as an apprentice seems too mundane for QC. Maybe she comes in as an intern and decides after seeing a few bouts that this is not a place for her. Maybe there's a headless battlebot trunk that Pintsize could plug into as a kind of MasterBlaster hybrid. Or it turns out the cute yellow dude from Momo's meeting is actually the impresario of the whole battlebot show.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #4 on:** 19 Jul 2015, 20:37 »

Quote from: jheartney on 19 Jul 2015, 17:59

No idea where this is going either. It'd be implausible for Faye to jump in as an expert metal boffin, but having her start as an apprentice seems too mundane for QC. Maybe she comes in as an intern and decides after seeing a few bouts that this is not a place for her. Maybe there's a headless battlebot trunk that Pintsize could plug into as a kind of MasterBlaster hybrid. Or it turns out the cute yellow dude from Momo's meeting is actually the impresario of the whole battlebot show.

I expect she'll start lowly, but ascend ranks quickly when she adapts to the climate. I'm in favor of yellow dude appearing

explicit · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 Jul 2015, 20:38 »

What's up with people and quarries? Why does everyone know a quarry?

~~mustang6172~~ · « **Reply #6 on:** 19 Jul 2015, 20:56 »

I'm not sure what Faye keeps in that long black box, but I'd guess sex toy.

Gladstone · « **Reply #7 on:** 19 Jul 2015, 20:58 »

That's Marten's room, so it's clearly Pintsize's sex toy.

And why is Marten so concerned about making sure that Faye and Pintsize are okay when his REAL concern should be deciding which surface he and Claire can bang on first now that they've got the entire apartment to themselves?

Oh, right, it's because he's a good friend.

Undrneath · « **Reply #8 on:** 19 Jul 2015, 21:13 »

Now I want to know what strip is being referenced, but I'm too lazy to go through the archive myself.

Omega Entity · « **Reply #9 on:** 19 Jul 2015, 21:31 »

http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1476

First one I've found. Pretty sure there's an earlier one.

~~mustang6172~~ · « **Reply #10 on:** 19 Jul 2015, 22:22 »

Quote from: Gladstone on 19 Jul 2015, 20:58

That's Marten's room, so it's clearly Pintsize's sex toy.

And why is Marten so concerned about making sure that Faye and Pintsize are okay when his REAL concern should be deciding which surface he and Claire can bang on first now that they've got the entire apartment to themselves?

Oh, right, it's because he's a good friend.

Why would they look for Faye in Marten's room?

Do not undress until you know where Pintsize is! Ever!

Torlek · « **Reply #11 on:** 19 Jul 2015, 23:01 »

Hmmm, who's up for a week of ancient callbacks? C'mon Vespavenger!

DonInKansas · « **Reply #12 on:** 19 Jul 2015, 23:05 »

Throwback guarateed to turn the QC forum on its ear: Hannelore goes back to the smokes.

BenRG · « **Reply #13 on:** 19 Jul 2015, 23:28 »

Today's strip contains a lot of 'we'd be happier not knowing' information:

Firstly, there's the fact that Marten has no problem imagining Faye snapping and murdering Pintsize. Worse, given his calm and resigned reaction, it's a 'bound to happen eventually' scenario. Secondly, Marten actually has thought about how she would do it! I'm not sure that I'd like to live with that sort of drama hanging over me!

Poor Claire! Did Marten ever mention to you that this is a weird household?

Regarding rooms, Marten knocked on Faye's door, then entered his own room looking for Pintsize. The case is, of course, his oh-so-expensive 8-string.

P.S.:
Claire automatically hugging Marten's arm = Squee.

Kugai · « **Reply #14 on:** 19 Jul 2015, 23:45 »

Ahh, the Convenient Quarry Plot Device

And no doubt, that's where they hold the giant robot matches

BenRG · « **Reply #15 on:** 19 Jul 2015, 23:56 »

Quote from: Kugai on 19 Jul 2015, 23:45

Ahh, the Convenient Quarry Plot Device

And no doubt, that's where they hold the giant robot matches

BUBBLES: "Halt! What's the password?"

CLAIRE: "'Zordon sent me'."

BUBBLES: "Pass, friend!"

MARTEN: "How did you know...?"

CLAIRE: "Clinton is my brother!"

MARTEN: "Ooohhh...!"

Rghfrgl · « **Reply #16 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 00:56 »

The robots are in the main story, so we have to use humans for our random cutaway instead.

jwhouk · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 02:48 »

Quote from: Omega Entity on 19 Jul 2015, 21:31

http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1476

First one I've found. Pretty sure there's an earlier one.

Nope, that's the one Jeph was likely referencing.

katsmeat · « **Reply #18 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 05:59 »

Quote from: BenRG on 19 Jul 2015, 23:28

Firstly, there's the fact that Marten has no problem imagining Faye snapping and murdering Pintsize. Worse, given his calm and resigned reaction, it's a 'bound to happen eventually' scenario. Secondly, Marten actually has thought about how she would do it! I'm not sure that I'd like to live with that sort of drama hanging over me!

If AIs have full civil rights, then deliberately destroying one would count as murder. Saying that, I imagine that would be quite hard. Perhaps they can restore from a remote backup even if their current chassis is obliterated. That would account for Marten's calmness at the prospect.

snubnose · « **Reply #19 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 07:21 »

Now that Faye has left Coffee of Doom, will we even get new strips with CoD ? I think theres a good chance Dora and her shop will slowly fade out of QC now.

Quote from: katsmeat on 20 Jul 2015, 05:59

If AIs have full civil rights, then deliberately destroying one would count as murder. Saying that, I imagine that would be quite hard. Perhaps they can restore from a remote backup even if their current chassis is obliterated. That would account for Marten's calmness at the prospect.

Destroying an AI means deleting it from a harddrive, not destroying a chassis.

And QC has joked about murder since early on. Murder of real people, not only AIs. This is just another example.

katsmeat · « **Reply #20 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 08:15 »

Quote from: snubnose on 20 Jul 2015, 07:21

Now that Faye has left Coffee of Doom, will we even get new strips with CoD ? I think theres a good chance Dora and her shop will slowly fade out of QC now.

Exactly. After buying a CoD t shirt, I'm coming to the conclusion it's now out of date.

My take is that QC started as a comic primarily about Marten and secondarily about his social circle. It seemed to then morph into a comic primarily about Coffee of Doom, its staff and customers. Without a single appearance since Faye picked up her stuff there, it's switched back to its origin quite jarringly.

jheartney · « **Reply #21 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 08:20 »

Quote from: katsmeat on 20 Jul 2015, 08:15

Without a single appearance since Faye picked up her stuff there, it's switched back to its origin quite jarringly.

We were there as recently as strips 2998 - 3000.

Endellion · « **Reply #22 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 11:30 »

Quote from: BenRG on 19 Jul 2015, 23:28

P.S.:
Claire automatically hugging Marten's arm = Squee.

Y'know when I saw that in the strip I thought that, if I could, I'd put money down on someone mentioning it in WCDT

Yes it is cute =^.^=

Radium_Coyote · « **Reply #23 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 15:28 »

This is pretty much everything Faye was after. utilizing her best skills to obtain a goal.

What I had NOT considered was, what Marten would do about it. At the end of the day, Pintsize is his responsibility.

Look out for the strip where Marten is piloting Pintsize to a barely-earned victory. Predicting it now.

Kugai · « **Reply #24 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 15:30 »

I think CoD will return, along with Dora and the gang once the current story arc is completed.

i'm hoping that this will finally lead to Dora and Faye sitting down and having the necessary conversation.

Tova · « **Reply #25 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 19:07 »

My train of thought at seeing today's title.

Huh. Corpse witch. Meant to be intimidating, I guess. Odd though. Corpsewitch. If it were in England, it might be pronounced 'Corpse Itch.' Ugh. That's even more intimidating.

Zebediah · « **Reply #26 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 19:12 »

It seems that the interview went well.

osaka · « **Reply #27 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 19:16 »

Faye is now profoundly discombobulated that she knows Bubbles' name.

I like how CW is digging for a deeper answer. Fixing isn't just repairing.

Zebediah · « **Reply #28 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 19:24 »

Funny how Bubbles is the big tough-looking one and CORPSE WITCH is the skinny petite one.

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #29 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 19:27 »

The gods of Chaos would be pleased. Everything is improved with more spikes.

osaka · « **Reply #30 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 19:45 »

Quote from: Zebediah on 20 Jul 2015, 19:24

Funny how Bubbles is the big tough-looking one and CORPSE WITCH is the skinny petite one.

Makes total sense, since Bubbles doesn't need an intimidating name - her large frame and strong plating are intimidating enough.

Perfectly Reasonable · « **Reply #31 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 19:49 »

Everything is better with spikes. AND DONGS!

explicit · « **Reply #32 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 19:51 »

Just not spiky dongs.

Kugai · « **Reply #33 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 20:06 »

I wonder if she knows May

MrWoodchip · « **Reply #34 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 20:15 »

I really hope Faye gets the job. I need to be able to say "Called it!". We're so, so close.

Please Jeph. Please make this happen.

Deadcoder · « **Reply #35 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 20:15 »

Corpse Witch is right. There's more than fixing damage. One must fix the problem that allowed the damage to happen in the first place. That's the true solution.

Kugai · « **Reply #36 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 20:18 »

So, spikes it is then.

explicit · « **Reply #37 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 20:31 »

Or a Tesla Coil. That'd be neat.

Carl-E · « **Reply #38 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 20:44 »

Anyone else get the feeling that this arc is nothing more than an opportunity for Jeph to draw fun robots?

Poor "ow" guy.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #39 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 21:12 »

Quote from: Carl-E on 20 Jul 2015, 20:44

Anyone else get the feeling that this arc is nothing more than an opportunity for Jeph to draw fun robots?

Whatever it is to Jeph, it's our chance to see Jeph-designed robots, so I don't care. I like it muchly.

Sullivan · « **Reply #40 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 21:19 »

Quote from: explicit on 20 Jul 2015, 20:31

Or a Tesla Coil. That'd be neat.

So you're saying this story arc should include arcs?

Near Lurker · « **Reply #41 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 21:23 »

Huh... so far, Faye is the only human we've seen... Pintsize mentioned "skater kids," but in this world...

Sullivan · « **Reply #42 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 21:23 »

It's interesting that the battleAIs need to hire someone like Faye. Granted she has metalsmithing experience, but apparently they can't simply upload (or download, whichever) any skillset they need, the way the "unplugged" could do in The Matrix.

Or, maybe they just would rather not do the pounding and welding and spike-adding stuff themselves.

Rghfrgl · « **Reply #43 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 21:32 »

They already have jobs. Deathbot jobs.

jheartney · « **Reply #44 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 21:34 »

Quote from: Sullivan on 20 Jul 2015, 21:23

It's interesting that the battleAIs need to hire someone like Faye. Granted she has metalsmithing experience, but apparently they can't simply upload (or download, whichever) any skillset they need, the way the "unplugged" could do in The Matrix.

Or, maybe they just would rather not do the pounding and welding and spike-adding stuff themselves.

There's more to it than just technique. It takes intuition and an artist's eye for the deeper need, not just the surface repair. They want vision, which comes out of insight, which you can't just upload.

Faye's stumbled into a social milieu where the humans are the interlopers, and have to prove their worth. The mirror image of AI civil rights in a human society is human rights in an AI society.

MrNumbers · « **Reply #45 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 22:09 »

Emotionally fulfilling, well paid, legal. These are the three things you can get out of a job.

You can only ever pick two.

Faye might have picked.

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #46 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 22:13 »

Quote from: Deadcoder on 20 Jul 2015, 20:15

Corpse Witch is right. There's more than fixing damage. One must fix the problem that allowed the damage to happen in the first place. That's the true solution.

Well, since the thing that allowed the damage to happen was probably 'being in an underground robot combat arena' solving that problem is kind of counter productive. The next best thing of course is encouraging your enemies not to attack you. So, spikes.

ReindeerFlotilla · « **Reply #47 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 22:19 »

Why can't you upload insight?

Station, May, Momo, and even Pintsize have all demonstrated insight, on several occasions. Pintsize has a penchant for creative mayhem.

There's no particular reason to assume QC AI are sub-human in any dimension. It's instructive, however, to not that they've demonstrated no instances of superhuman cognitive function.

That is to say, it's more likely that the reason they don't upload skills is because it doesn't save any time. Since time is not saved, it is economically viable to simply hire someone who does have that skill.

One [TECH] reason (not the reason, but just to demonstrate plausibility) would be that an AI neural net can't simply bolt on a different neural net and take off. Each network is self-organized and has a unique map of itself and its chassis. While it is relatively easy to remap the chassis map to something that is essentially the same shape (Momo's new body) becoming a fighter plane, or a dog, or a skilled welder, requires translating existing maps to the different hardware, and that requires training the neural net on how this works. That is, practice. In such a scheme, Momo would have had to practice being several times her previous size, and be comparatively clumsy, if not noticeably so.

Momo can't just upload "Micheal.Jacksons.Dance.Skill.xml" and dance like the king of pop because she's not in the king of pop's body. She'd have to take the schema, translate it to her frame, and then practice until her neural mapping matched that move set.

It is (entirely) possible that all of the robots at the robot thunderdome just want to focus on bettering their maps of the skills they have, and none wants to weld. Remember, this is dark economy stuff. Welders, AI or not, who will do that work may be in short supply. I understand welding is a good gig, if you have the skills and permits. Faye might be the only person with the skills who doesn't have the documentation, and isn't put off by the shady nature. While I can totally see May enjoying it (or at least not objecting on principle), I can also see Momo disapproving, rather sternly. Indeed, this may elevate the "day-in-life" Momo week from filler to set up.

Storel · « **Reply #48 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 22:46 »

Quote from: jwhouk on 20 Jul 2015, 02:48

Quote from: Omega Entity on 19 Jul 2015, 21:31
http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1476

First one I've found. Pretty sure there's an earlier one.
Nope, that's the one Jeph was likely referencing.

Especially since the title of 3006 is "Stone River" -- that's a pretty direct reference.

BenRG · « **Reply #49 on:** 20 Jul 2015, 23:29 »

Interesting that the robot manager seems to have a very primitive-looking chassis. It's possible that this is a very old organisation, maybe older than AI civil rights. Given that it appears to be by AIs and for AIs, one can't help but speculate about how it originally came to be.

The casualty seems to have the same torso as Bubbles. Did CW get a job lot of old military assault chassis that she loans out to competitors? Or, maybe there is a 'World of Warcraft' element to this: As you win bouts, your earn credits that enable you to buy armored components. Fighting 'bots thus progressively replace their chassis, bit by bit, with tricked out military hardware. Bubbles just hasn't earned enough to buy a combat head yet.

It might even be a distinct AI subculture: 'Warbot Chic' or something similar!

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Author Topic: WCDT Strips 3006-3010 (20 to 24 July 2015) (Read 33098 times)