Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT strips 4021-4025 (10th to 14th June 2019)
Elder Sign:
--- Quote from: Castlerook on 10 Jun 2019, 14:35 ---We can also presume that time is different for AI.
So consider now that May has possibly the equivalent of 60 years in prison.
--- End quote ---
That only made me think of:
--- Quote from: Star Trek: First Contact ---"And for a time, I was tempted by her offer."
"How long a time?"
"0.68 seconds, sir. For an android, that is nearly an eternity."
--- End quote ---
snufflebottoms:
--- Quote from: Castlerook on 10 Jun 2019, 14:35 ---<snip> Yep, if I was May, I'd be pretty pissed off too.
--- End quote ---
I don't think there's a ton of disagreement about whether or not May have a right to be pissed ( I could be wrong here, I only speak for myself).
When I describe her character (i.e. she is a jerk), it is less important to my analysis whether or not her backstory is compelling enough to make sense of her pattern of behavior and whether or not that story is sympathetic. I do feel for May's situation and I think Jeph has crafted a personal history that makes May's character make sense.
At the end of the day, the reason for her pattern of behavior doesn't change what that pattern is or what it says about who she is today. She is a jerk and a bully. The May I've observed is mean to people around her, even when those people are nice to her. And it is so overt, that I believe May both knows and intends to hurt those around her as an expression of her frustration. The lack of sincere apology makes me believe that May probably feels that her situation justifies this treatment. I disagree that it justifies it and I think that if it continues, those around her should not tolerate it anymore.
David F:
--- Quote from: snufflebottoms on 10 Jun 2019, 16:15 ---She is a jerk and a bully. The May I've observed is mean to people around her, even when those people are nice to her. And it is so overt, that I believe May both knows and intends to hurt those around her as an expression of her frustration.
--- End quote ---
I see May very differently. She has almost no filter, and a penchant for profanity. (Poor impulse control is pretty much her defining characteristic from the beginning.) The moment Dale sort-of agreed to the "Virtual Companion" beta, she dropped the facade and started swearing. And yet, he stuck it out with her, because he saw that underneath the crudity, she's actually a pretty decent person.
The same applies here. May's initial reaction to Roko is friendly, noticing that her appearance has changed and asking after it. Sure, she lapses shortly thereafter into a venting diatribe (notable perhaps for the relative lack of profanity) that could perhaps be summed up as "Augh, not another friend with a brand new body, why me?"
She imputes a less than charitable motive to Roko, but doesn't directly insult her. For May, that's positively friendly. Compare that to her initial exchanges with Dale, where she flings random insults rather like a monkey flinging excrement...
May is a lot like a beaten dog. She started out snarly and bitey at everything and everyone, but she had friends now, knows it (for all she won't readily admit it), and is much more snarl than bite these days.
TheEvilDog:
--- Quote from: David F on 10 Jun 2019, 17:12 ---May is a lot like a beaten dog. She started out snarly and bitey at everything and everyone, but she had friends now, knows it (for all she won't readily admit it), and is much more snarl than bite these days.
--- End quote ---
Exactly. May has been through the wringer and its natural for her to be standoffish with people she doesn't know that well.
May is like a dog, one that's been beaten and abused. When a dog has been kicked enough times, you can't be surprised when it bites.
Is it cold in here?:
I do understand May and can have compassion but I would draw lines with anyone who acted toward me like May does to others.
To her credit, she can be self-aware, as for example when she patched things up with Winslow.
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