Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT

What is Bubbles' sexual orientation?

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pwhodges:
We are discussing the sexuality of AIs in terms that precisely mirror those for humans.

My question is, has a form of sexuality similar to that of humans arisen as part of the emergence of the AI mind itself, or has it been (consciously or unconsciously) imposed on them, and if so, by whom - the society in which they have emerged, the author, or us, the readership?

Zebediah:
The term “Fayesexual” probably was inspired by the fact that I called Faye “Bubblesexual” in some late-nights ramblings a couple of weeks ago. And I stand by what I said then, which is that while it may be accurate in describing where Faye is at the moment, it’s not really helpful.

It’s human nature to categorize things. It is also, alas, human nature to categorize people. To some extent the analysis is necessary - you need to realize that, due to societal expectations, people in non-heterosexual relationships do have different experiences. So yeah, we break things down to try to understand them better.

The place where we all too often fail, though, is in recognizing that after we have broken things down, we have to put them back together. Otherwise all we have is a pile of discrete categories with no recognition that they are part of a whole. Sure, people in gay/bi/poly/fayesexual relationships have different experiences. But they also have similar ones. They are all human relationships because we are all humans. (I count QC AIs as human because the way Jeph writes them, they essentially are.)

It’s a balancing act. We have to recognize the unique experiences that non-straight people have without putting them into the category of “other”. We can’t go to extremes, because at one extreme lies erasure and at the other lies dehumanization. Reality, as usual, lies somewhere in the middle.

So, in summary: The relationship between Faye and Bubbles is unique, because we’ve never seen an organic/synthetic romantic relationship before, and the fact that they both identify as female adds another layer of complexity to that. It is also like every other mutually romantic relationship since the beginning of time, since it involves two people who care deeply for each other. And if the first part is not in my personal experience, the second part certainly is.

Thrillho:

--- Quote from: Neko_Ali on 16 May 2018, 13:41 ---
--- Quote from: Is it cold in here? on 16 May 2018, 12:15 ---
--- Quote from: ToodleLew on 16 May 2018, 10:17 ---I've just a thought.

Is this topic even appropriate? My feeling is that it is not; I would find it unacceptable if someone asked in open forum what my sexual orientation was, so how is asking about Bubbles sexual orientation acceptable?

Now, I am as guilty as the rest of the posters here. My apologies to Bubbles and to those others that my contribution to this discussion might have offended.

--- End quote ---
Global Moderator Comment Thought-provoking. For right now, if LGB people still feel included and welcome, it's appropriate because it's part of understanding Bubbles's reaction to understand how she thought she was oriented before Faye.
--- End quote ---

Speaking as someone on the LGB spectrum the topic doesn't bother me for that reason. But I don't see the point of it at all. We have exactly one point of reference when it comes to Bubble's sexuality. She's romantically attracted to Faye. There has been no indication to her romantic or sexual orientation beyond that, past or present. So the entire thread is strictly and literally baseless guesswork.

--- End quote ---

Pretty much my thoughts. I'm not offended by it, per se, as a queer person. I just think it's totally pointless conjecture.

BlueFatima:

--- Quote from: fayelovesbubbles on 14 May 2018, 18:35 ---Do you think Bubbles was mostly straight until she developed feelings for Faye? Or is she gay? Or bisexual?

I'd like to hear theories. This has never really been explored in the comic. We know that Faye was straight as an arrow until possibly developing feelings for Bubbles.

--- End quote ---

Why does it matter? She loves Faye. That's all we need to know—unless you are curious if she's had other relationships. ;)

Orientation is usually finite (especially for people who are extremes on the Kinsey scale), but not always—especially for those of us who are bi. If we are attracted to multiple genders/sexes, lot of things can influence how we swing—from experiences (positive or negative) to hormones to age to the individual people we fall for. Given that Bubbles is a robot (versus a human with organic functions), can there even be a semi-realistic discussion of this? I think it comes down to that she is at least bi and has let her defenses down enough to fall in love. Whether or not Faye is her first is a big question given it appears she was always a war machine, but whether or not she had relationships before (or even after) her traumatic is impossible to know unless she tells us or we get it from the WOG.

OldGoat:
Interesting that people see "Fayesexual" applied to Bubbles as a pejorative.   My reaction was that it speaks to Bubbles' hard-wired loyalty.   

Is this component of her personality a characteristic of her synthetic nature, something that comes from AIs' being modeled on organics, or is it something that is both and neither, something that will inhabit a sentient host no matter what it's made of? 

Damn, am I describing a soul?

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