Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT Strips 4151-4155 (9-13 December2019)
dutchrvl:
--- Quote from: Pogopotamus on 09 Dec 2019, 08:01 ---
--- Quote from: sitnspin on 09 Dec 2019, 06:52 ---
--- Quote from: Wingy on 09 Dec 2019, 06:45 ---There's a number of things we haven't seen surrounding Claire, the primary one being someone that does not approve of and attacks trans-people. I'm not sure Jeph would write such an arc, but such could pretty obviously have negative effects on Marten and Claireten.
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i don't think Jeph ever would write that story nor would I want him too. I like that QC takes place in a world with very little homophobia and transphabia. There is far too much of that in my real life, I don't want it my entertainment as well.
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Well... that's the thing. The comic is free so if you are a reader you're either onboard with his artistic and plot decisions or you can take your readership elsewhere. No one is forcing anyone to read the strip. Yes... it's odd to see levels of self aware AI tech that are at least 50-100 years in the future at a minimum wedged into a current social context, but robots with personalities is a very engaging concept.
With respect to Claire, IIRC Jeph has stated fairly directly he will tolerate no references to Claire in his supported and moderated comment forums questioning or arguing about her gender. He's the universe builder and it's his full right to require this, but what do you have at that point? Apparently a somewhat cloying, overly precious standard issue boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. May's challenges are 100 times more interesting than Marten and Claire's "Lucy and Ricky" dance.
Finally, and this is just personal preference. Marten gives me a bellyache. I get that he is a primary nexus for a lot of the strips relationships, but his entire vibe is so passive and weak and most-importantly, non-progressing. I can't imagine any woman desiring him for a serious relationship except maybe as an improvement project where she is the general contractor.
Having said this, Jeph's artistic vision is his own. Nothing compels us to keep up with the strip other than finding the strip interesting. Jeph has a unique intelligence, especially in the AI stuff that you see almost nowhere else.
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Underlining is mine.
Really? Somehow I feel the need to defend Marten a little bit here. Sure, Marten is very passive, sometimes infuriatingly so. Weak, hmm, depends on how you look at it. On the other hand, Marten has also shown to be kind, a great friend, generous, accepting, a great listener, fairly intelligent and with a good sense of humor. Other than that, sure he may not have a thrilling job or a lot (or any) ambition, but he does have a job that seems stable.
Frankly I can think of a whole boatload of people a lot less desirable than somebody like Marten. Think of unkind people, those without a (steady) job, those intolerant of others, those who don't really listen to their S.O.'s, those with anger issues, etc.
In short, if you don't find him an attractive prospect for a relationship because of his passiveness, that's obviously fine, but to not be able to see how he could/would appeal to others for a serious relationship seems odd..
Stoutfellow:
We did see Bubbles face anti-AI harassment, and it played a significant role in her character arc. Of course, she was never physically vulnerable, as Claire is, but Jeph hasn't ignored the issue of bigotry.
Wingy:
--- Quote from: bhtooefr on 10 Dec 2019, 01:23 ---I'd also say that Jeph did let a guest comic writer address it.
By creating a transphobic character, and then letting him get brutally killed by Pintsize and Hannelore's butt rocket, after Emily kicked him out of Coffee of Doom and locked the door due to his transphobia.
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Fair enough and thanks for the reminder. I've never quite reconciled for myself that guest strips are canon and tend to read them less attentively.
BenRG:
--- Quote from: Stoutfellow on 10 Dec 2019, 05:19 ---We did see Bubbles face anti-AI harassment, and it played a significant role in her character arc.
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I've mentioned this before but Momo once told Marten that there is a religious group that denounces AIs as 'soulless'.
I've said this before but Jeph seems to use the AIs as his method to tell parables about human bigotry and inclusivity.
bhtooefr:
--- Quote from: Wingy on 10 Dec 2019, 05:20 ---Fair enough and thanks for the reminder. I've never quite reconciled for myself that guest strips are canon and tend to read them less attentively.
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Yeah, and I wouldn't call it canon either (although IIRC some things from guest strips have been elevated to canon?). But, what's canon, and what Jeph allows his platform to be used to discuss are two different things.
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