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Baffling Behavior By Pintsize

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Total Members Voted: 31

[de_la_Nae]

Actually that bugs me a bit when people argue it "doesn't make sense" for AI people to be a certain way or experience a certain quirk of existence, cuz like... how do you *think* 'sense' works?

[traroth]

I have a feeling if you shook Melon you’d hear a bunch of silly sound effects.

Dunno, but you'd probably hear a fair bit of rattling. 


I mean, someting's loose...

Now my colleagues are asking themselves why I'm chuckling all by myself...

[Gyrre]

I have a feeling if you shook Melon you’d hear a bunch of silly sound effects.

Dunno, but you'd probably hear a fair bit of rattling. 


I mean, someting's loose...

i]

Now my colleagues are asking themselves why I'm chuckling all by myself...

"Giving someone a story to tell is easy. All it takes is a smile."

I did the link right this time. Going to sleep now. Any second.

[ChaosWolf]

I'm still boggled by Roko's strange... obsessions... with gluten-bearing foodstuffs.  How the heck would such a thing as a "bread fetish" even come about?  Many human fetishes, such as for shoes, develop from misassociations between sexual excitement and nonsexual content that occur during childhood... but robots don't have childhoods.

The mechanism has been established in a Patreon-only strip.

The exact details aside, all that really matters is that certain sensory stimulation creates a effect in Roko's neural processes analogous to sexual stimulation in humans. TBH, the 'why' doesn't matter and likely will never be addressed. Much of what QC-verse AIs do seems to be a mystery even to them (let alone to their creators) so there may not be an easily-diagnosable cause at all. I suspect that even Roko doesn't know 'why', any more than she really knows why she has a 'tickle' response in her feet.

I'm rather surprised nobody in the cast has thought to ask about it yet, not even someone as tactlessly-impulsive as Melon.

Oddly enough, it was Melon who asked in the Patreon-only strip. Even she doesn't entirely get it, even after Roko explains!

Which strip was it? I didn't even know he had exclusives on his Patreon, I thought he just had early previews of upcoming strips.

[TheEvilDog]

Occasionally Jeph will produce Patreon-unique comics, some of them have been used on days when either Jeph has used his buffer and/or unable to produce a comic.

[Mr Intrepid]

Ah Melon!  Soon we'll see how Roko's new sensorium reacts to the scent of Oolong.  Will we see Mrs Giraffe, or will it be somehow skewed?

[A small perverse otter]

Ah Melon!  Soon we'll see how Roko's new sensorium reacts to the scent of Oolong.  Will we see Mrs Giraffe, or will it be somehow skewed?

I think that will depend on who prepares the tea.

[cesium133]

Ah Melon!  Soon we'll see how Roko's new sensorium reacts to the scent of Oolong.  Will we see Mrs Giraffe, or will it be somehow skewed?

I think that will depend on who prepares the tea.

If the wrong person prepares the tea:

[TV4Fun]

Wow, Dora's model has really changed. At first, I thought she was Emily.

[Tova]

Ah Melon!  Soon we'll see how Roko's new sensorium reacts to the scent of Oolong.  Will we see Mrs Giraffe, or will it be somehow skewed?

I think that will depend on who prepares the tea.

If the wrong person prepares the tea:
<img>

I read this and thought to myself, "My, wouldn't it be funny to post another image under the text, 'If the right person prepares the tea:'

Googling the phrase "sexy giraffe" is as far as I got with that exercise.

If you're feeling up to it, feel free to google it yourself. Either way, I shan't bother providing an image, as I'm sure you get the gist.

If the right person prepares the tea:
<the image you are imagining here>

[cybersmurf]

<snip>

Googling the phrase "sexy giraffe" is as far as I got with that exercise.

If you're feeling up to it, feel free to google it yourself. Either way, I shan't bother providing an image, as I'm sure you get the gist.

If the right person prepares the tea:
<the image you are imagining here>

Ah, yes. Rule 34. Or a precursor.

[BenRG]

Ah, Melon! So wonderfully full of good intentions and love and so woefully unable to communicate her needs to people around her!

Seriously though, I'm pretty sure that this Oolong Tea is going to be a Chekhov's Gun of some sort. Roko is going to try sniffing it and whatever hallucination it generates is going to trigger something. What in particular I'm not sure but it's going to happen.

Meanwhile, Dora is looking beautiful today. She's also looking confused and Emily is not making it any easier. Just when she'd more-or-less decided that customers are just weird and she shouldn't try to get them, Emily comes along and plants the seed in her head that everyone else is normal and that Dora's the one who is somehow out-of-step with reality. When Jeph mentions Fairy Girl in the footer text it does remind us that there's something intrinsically crazy about QC Northampton that means the sane may be out-of-place there!

As a final PS, Jeph has clearly heard the complaints that Dora and Emily are occasionally hard to tell apart and that's why he made today's strip. Emily is taller, has different-shaped eyes and a more angular face.

[cybersmurf]

Also, Dora and Emily have different hairstyles. also, Emily doesn't seem to change hers as often as dora does.


Aaaaaaand: Emily would never look as confused as dora does in panel 3. And Melon probably would know her by now, at least I believe she wouldn't go for "Hello human lady" with Emily.

[mof920]

Am I the only one who saw Melon and thought, "dat ass" in tonights comic? (3963)

[cybersmurf]

Am I the only one who saw Melon and thought, "dat ass" in tonights comic? (3963)

I thought about thinking it, but was 'meh' instead.
I was closer to daaaaaaang!ing Roko in the one before.

[hakko504]

Am I the only one who saw Melon and thought, "dat ass" in tonights comic? (3963)

I thought about thinking it, but was 'meh' instead.
I was closer to daaaaaaang!ing Roko in the one before.

There is something about robutts in this comic...

[cybersmurf]

Am I the only one who saw Melon and thought, "dat ass" in tonights comic? (3963)

I thought about thinking it, but was 'meh' instead.
I was closer to daaaaaaang!ing Roko in the one before.

There is something about robutts in this comic...

There might be an explanation for that.

[Meander]

Am I the only one who saw Melon and thought, "dat ass" in tonights comic? (3963)

*raises hand*

[traroth]

Melon has no clue, but she has a good heart.

[DSL]

Dora just hasn't been looking like Dora; the projection of self-confidence that's been a hallmark (even when it's not justified) of the Dora model is missing today.

[cesium133]

Am I the only one who saw Melon and thought, "dat ass" in tonights comic? (3963)

Faye and Bubbles do good work.

[cybersmurf]

Dora just hasn't been looking like Dora; the projection of self-confidence that's been a hallmark (even when it's not justified) of the Dora model is missing today.

JJ's drawing style has shifted lately, towards a bit larger eyes. and that might make current dora look like earlier Emily in certain instances At least that's what I think.

[OldGoat]

If all the characters reflect a little bit of the artist, and Jeph himself has described Pintsize as "dangerously obsessed with butts;" ....hmmmm.....

Whatever the reason, the man does draw a fine arse.

[hedgie]

Melon has no clue, but she has a good heart.

Well, coolant pump, at least.

[TheEvilDog]

Comic's up.

And I want to like Melon, I really do, but I don't know, maybe less is more.

[TV4Fun]

Okay, totally shipping Elliot and Roko now.

[BenRG]

I think that this is a dream come true for Roko: Being able to excuse herself whilst someone else explains objective reality to Melon!

What makes me laugh here is Melon's childlike innocence. Naturally, she has a hard time imagining why Roko might have invited someone into her apartment. After all, what might you do there that you wouldn't do outdoors? Surely it isn't as much fun indoors?

I just wonder how long Roko and Elliot have been talking about inconsequential things, just unwilling to end the interaction?

[brasca]

Wash her face?  Is that something Roko's new chassis requires or just an excuse to leave the room? 

[cybersmurf]

Wash her face?  Is that something Roko's new chassis requires or just an excuse to leave the room?

Nope, Probably she's just taking a look at her butt emblem again. It IS fancy after all.

I just wonder how long Roko and Elliot have been talking about inconsequential things, just unwilling to end the interaction?

I'd say something like ten minutes. Or whatever time it was for them to justify get comfortable.

[BenRG]

Wash her face?  Is that something Roko's new chassis requires or just an excuse to leave the room?

Definitely. Roko may love Melon but I don't think that she's in the mood to listen to Elliot try to convince her that he has a legitimate reason to be in the apartment other than "I don't know how to find where I live".

[traroth]

"Roko are you home? I hope so, because your door was unlocked!"

That's the most logical thing I remember Melon saying...

[Zebediah]

Wash her face?  Is that something Roko's new chassis requires or just an excuse to leave the room?

She did just finish a shift at a bakery. She probably has flour on it.

[jwhouk]

Wash her face?  Is that something Roko's new chassis requires or just an excuse to leave the room?

...

(waited to edit)

I think we might be dealing with dysphoria here with Roko. And OCD-like actions might be part of that.

[TV4Fun]

Comic's up.

And I want to like Melon, I really do, but I don't know, maybe less is more.

Have to agree with this. Melon was originally more of a comedy character for filler strips, more along the lines of Yelling Bird. Having her actually interact on a regular basis with our main characters and contribute to the plot feels weird.

[de_la_Nae]

Well, she's not a toy. Same as Steve, Pintsize, Emily, etc.

well they're all toys, sort of, but y'know what i'm saying?

[TheEvilDog]

Melon, to me, kinda feels like the same type of joke told repeatedly.

[Tormuse]

I just think it's cute that Melon is like, "aha!  I can finally get the better of someone for once." 

[oddtail]

Melon, to me, kinda feels like the same type of joke told repeatedly.

I made no secret of feeling the same way.

Recently, though, I was *almost* ready to cut her some slack. For some reason, today's comic reset me to not liking her appearances. I can't quite put my finger on why.

EDIT: it might be that it's my pet peeve when people (fictional or otherwise) impose the way they act or think upon others. When someone acts or reacts unusually, I'm fine with this (or consciously try to be, at least). Even when it's very unusual and even somewhat disruptive for others. But when those same people act like others share in their experience, I immediately go to "no, it's all you".

Maybe it's because I've had to spend a lot of my life figuring out how others seem to think and feel extremely unlike the way I tend to, but people who are either unable or unwilling to step outside their heads at ALL and just kind of assume everyone is like them rub me the wrong way. I don't exactly *blame* Melon, because she seems to be cognitively impaired in some way, but character development like this still... I don't know what word to use. Unsettles me? Annoys me?

[cybersmurf]

Melon, to me, kinda feels like the same type of joke told repeatedly.

I made no secret of feeling the same way.

Recently, though, I was *almost* ready to cut her some slack. For some reason, today's comic reset me to not liking her appearances. I can't quite put my finger on why.

EDIT: it might be that it's my pet peeve when people (fictional or otherwise) impose the way they act or think upon others. When someone acts or reacts unusually, I'm fine with this (or consciously try to be, at least). Even when it's very unusual and even somewhat disruptive for others. But when those same people act like others share in their experience, I immediately go to "no, it's all you".

Maybe it's because I've had to spend a lot of my life figuring out how others seem to think and feel extremely unlike the way I tend to, but people who are either unable or unwilling to step outside their heads at ALL and just kind of assume everyone is like them rub me the wrong way. I don't exactly *blame* Melon, because she seems to be cognitively impaired in some way, but character development like this still... I don't know what word to use. Unsettles me? Annoys me?

That is a good reason to not like someone.

Yes, Melon probably only was intented more as comic relief, but she's fully canon now. Up to now every character of some regularity got some kind of redemption possibility. If there's no place for Melon to grow, she'll be restricted to what she is: a slight nuisance, used as comic relief. Or she'll be eaten by an allobot.
Also, I've got the feeling the more people start complaining about Melon in a certain way, the more Melon we'll see.

[War Sparrow]

<snip>

Maybe it's because I've had to spend a lot of my life figuring out how others seem to think and feel extremely unlike the way I tend to, but people who are either unable or unwilling to step outside their heads at ALL and just kind of assume everyone is like them rub me the wrong way. I don't exactly *blame* Melon, because she seems to be cognitively impaired in some way, but character development like this still... I don't know what word to use. Unsettles me? Annoys me?

Some people, or characters, just make your brain itch. It's understandable. And then you feel bad, especially when they can't help it.

[brasca]

Comic is up!

Hope Roko isn’t having a Poltergeist moment.

[Mr Intrepid]

Just compulsively washing her face.

Can an AI have a breakdown?

[TheEvilDog]

Oh look, a Friday cliffhanger!

[Annemoon]

Just compulsively washing her face.

Can an AI have a breakdown?

I would say we're looking right at it. Oef.
I hope Eliot doesn't divert from his own instinct because of melon's response.
(Oh man I seriously dislike it when people undermine 'helping' senses of others like that, I feel like that's almost never a good idea. You need to have a very solid reason to why you *know* your idea about the "to be helped" person would be better at that moment. And people are already so unsure of themselves, don't want to impose, that you do damage the situation so easily.)

[Tova]

Well. There's more to it than just her wanting to escape Melon, I guess.

[cybersmurf]

Seems like Roko isn't responding to washing her face the way she used to. Let's just hope she didn't destroy her dermal covering... but that'd be a good reason to return to UR.

[BenRG]

No, Roko, I'm afraid that you can't wash away your new body, no matter how hard you try.

Yeah, it looks like Jeph has decided to not just magically wave away Roko's problems. I'm glad that Elliot is there right now because I doubt that poor Melon has even slightly the right mental or emotional equipment for this situation. I doubt that I would either, beyond insisting that the person stay with me so that I can ensure that they don't self-harm.

I hope Eliot doesn't divert from his own instinct because of melon's response.

I can's see anything wrong with Melon's response. All that she's doing is saying 'I don't know and I don't have the common sense to identify a red flag', which shouldn't surprise anyone.

[Dandi Andi]

Oh god. She doesn't see herself in the mirror. It looks like her, but it isn't her. Not really her. And every time she looks away from the mirror, she desperately hopes that the next time she looks up she'll see herself looking back, but she doesn't. And every time it crushes her a little more.

I fucking HATE mirrors. More than anything. Except maybe fitting rooms.

While I generally really appreciate the fact that Jeph doesn't make Claire's story about being trans* (that she isn't just "the trans* character"), I think she's probably the best equipped to understand how Roko is feeling right now. I kinda hope they get a chance to talk.

[JoeCovenant]

Dammit...
Just when we were starting to think "Hey! Looks like Roko's got a handle on this thang!"

 

[Gyrre]

Oh god. She doesn't see herself in the mirror. It looks like her, but it isn't her. Not really her. And every time she looks away from the mirror, she desperately hopes that the next time she looks up she'll see herself looking back, but she doesn't. And every time it crushes her a little more.

I fucking HATE mirrors. More than anything. Except maybe fitting rooms.

While I generally really appreciate the fact that Jeph doesn't make Claire's story about being trans* (that she isn't just "the trans* character"), I think she's probably the best equipped to understand how Roko is feeling right now. I kinda hope they get a chance to talk.

Thank you for the clue-by-four.
I was just thinking she was having issues processing the way the water felt. Like it was just off. Whether it be due to the chasis or someone screwing up the chlorine levels or something for the current batch at the water treatment center.