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Comic Discussion => QUESTIONABLE CONTENT => Topic started by: jwhouk on 18 Dec 2011, 07:35

Title: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 18 Dec 2011, 07:35
Yes, I know, a LOT of poll options, but it IS the end of the year.

I'll probably shave it down after a few days. If you have a suggestion as to something that *should* be up there, go ahead and post it.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: bicostp on 18 Dec 2011, 11:11
Yes, I know, a LOT of poll options, but it IS the end of the year.

But there's an entire week after this one...  :?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 18 Dec 2011, 11:39
Probably won't be a full week, if the past is any indication.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 18 Dec 2011, 12:40
I wanna vote for more than one...
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 18 Dec 2011, 13:08
Ditto. Like seven or so.

I think that the introduction of tSB and its staff will have the biggest impact on the future of QC.

I'm happy for Faye that her career in sculpting may kick off?

I'm happy for Marten and the band (not forgetting Padma)?

Happy for Faye & Angus.

Happy for Dora & Marten talking it over.

Happy that Momo, Marigold and Hannelore continue to work on their respective problems (sort of).

And a special mention to the audiosexuality strip that caused me to waste hours listening to dubstep from youtube.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: ZBixby on 18 Dec 2011, 14:41
Moment of the year was clearly "THIS PLACE IS A BUTT AND YOU ARE ALSO A BUTT" (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1846).

seconded
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: fire n ice on 18 Dec 2011, 15:44
What, no Duck Duck Balls option?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 18 Dec 2011, 15:46
HEY!!  

Where are the Waffles??!
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 18 Dec 2011, 16:06
Surprisingly, for all the attention they get in the WCDT polls, waffles were conspicously absent from QC this year.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 18 Dec 2011, 16:34
Changed the poll to include the "THIS PLACE IS A BUTT" comment. I cannot, however, make it a multiple choice poll after the fact, sorry.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Welu on 18 Dec 2011, 17:35
I wanted to vote on a bunch. It was between Faye and Angus - CONSUMMATED! and GET THE BAND BACK TOGETHER! (Amir!). I went for the band.

Also Duck Duck Boobs was pretty amazing.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Cornan on 18 Dec 2011, 17:50
I had to go with "BROS! BROS! BROS!" because it's become a running gag with my girlfriend and I. We live in a college town so we have occasion to note the sight of bros on a frequent basis.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: DSL on 18 Dec 2011, 18:19
Agree with the folks who like the BUTT declaration, but for me the moment was Hanners' followup. (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1847)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 18 Dec 2011, 19:48
Hanners had some good lines in tSB.  In addition to the THIS PLACE IS A BUTT (which I voted for), there's also KNIFE KILLER.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Tova on 18 Dec 2011, 20:53
Holy epic poll, Batman!

No cop-out waffles option YESSSS.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Watched Pot on 18 Dec 2011, 20:59
Damn, Marten.  Metaphorically, of course. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1J9tgrIMKo)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: CrowFairy on 18 Dec 2011, 21:05
Comic made me smile just now. :) Good stuff to think about.

Also, I picked the one for Angus and the "L-word" because of its significance. Faye and Angus have had all this stuff going on for so long, and Faye showed one of her biggest changes since the strip began from something that was a defining feature of her character. It feels to me like the most important thing that happened this year; sorry, Marten.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: WAYF on 18 Dec 2011, 21:09
I voted for Faye and Angus consummating their relationship, because that is the moment that defines a lot of what happened this year, and what will happen next year. Presumably.

Now, Elliott does have some good points there, BUT in fairness to Marten, Elliott burst into tears when he became aware of Padma's attraction to Marten (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2022).

Also, Elliott is a lot bigger than Marten, and it's hard not to be intimidated by him.

Elliott's not really aware of how Marten's love life has been since QC began though, so I'll forgive him and say that he does make a good point, but it doesn't apply very well to Marten's specific situation. I don't fault Marten at all for having that reaction, given how things usually go for him.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 18 Dec 2011, 21:27
If he knew how many punchings he received at the hands of Faye, he'd forgive him for flinching.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: DSL on 18 Dec 2011, 21:28
I agree completely with what Jeph has Elliott saying in 2081 (it's uncomfortably close to home), but I think this may be the most directly preachy the strip has been since the early days.

Also, it's official: Put some damn pants on, Marten.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: celticgeek on 18 Dec 2011, 21:30
I figure that Marten will run into Padma on the way home, and she will also tell him to go home and put some pants on.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 18 Dec 2011, 21:32
So - since our Fearless Leader is getting a buffer together, here's my plan for the MOTY voting: I'll run the first round through tomorrow afternoon US Eastern Time (probably around 4-5 EST), then cut down the options that got no votes and reset the poll.

And c'mon, Marten - go put some pants on.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 18 Dec 2011, 21:36
I figure that Marten will run into Padma on the way home, and she will also tell him to go home and put some pants on.

Either that, or take the boxers off!  :-o :-D :mrgreen: :evil:
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: celticgeek on 18 Dec 2011, 21:39
Also pretty likely, too. 
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Akima on 18 Dec 2011, 21:40
I so agree with Elliott. It's a work in progress...
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 18 Dec 2011, 21:43
but I think this may be the most directly preachy the strip has been since the early days.
Agreed.  I've had just about enough of Jeph's pro-pants propaganda.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: musicalsoul on 18 Dec 2011, 21:50
I officially love Elliot now.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 18 Dec 2011, 22:08
Yeah... That guy has just proved that he's one awesome guy.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: DSL on 18 Dec 2011, 22:18
He's definitely wearing the pants in that conversation.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Tova on 18 Dec 2011, 22:23
Oh, well said, Elliot. I want to change my vote for moment of the year. Forum-goers, pay heed (I'm including myself in that).
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Torlek on 18 Dec 2011, 22:24
He's definitely wearing the pants in that conversation.
$5 in the pun-ishment jar, now.

That said, Elliot is really showing he's the bigger man in this situation. *drops $5 in the jar*
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 18 Dec 2011, 22:28
Am I the only one that felt that this strip has more of a Friday-feeling than the previous one?
I'm pretty sure that it would have meant a lot of conversation during the weekend :P
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: TRVA123 on 18 Dec 2011, 22:35
He's definitely wearing the pants in that conversation.
$5 in the pun-ishment jar, now.

That said, Elliot is really showing he's the bigger man in this situation. *drops $5 in the jar*

but why was Elliot hitting on Marten?

$5
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 18 Dec 2011, 22:57
BAP should go on the poll for moment of the year.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 18 Dec 2011, 23:19
I cannot, however, make it a multiple choice poll after the fact, sorry.

I've changed it for you.  But I have given a limit of just three votes each - after all, a poll is about choice, not just saying that everything is great.

If you've voted, and want to add choices, you have to remove your first vote and cast your votes again - so I enabled that as well.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: DrPhibes on 18 Dec 2011, 23:33
Yeah, Elliot is a cool guy. Marten seems a bit sad it's not a secret.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: raoullefere on 18 Dec 2011, 23:37
Didn't see that coming, but then, I'm aware I tend to think the worst of people, a thing that's not likely to change.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: fire n ice on 18 Dec 2011, 23:42
I cannot, however, make it a multiple choice poll after the fact, sorry.

I've changed it for you.  But I have given a limit of just three votes each - after all, a poll is about choice, not just saying that everything is great.

If you've voted, and want to add choices, you have to remove your first vote and cast your votes again - so I enabled that as well.

You, my good sir, are awesome.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Delator on 19 Dec 2011, 00:02
Elliot is fast becoming one of my favorite characters.

Loved Marten's "bap" face.  :-P
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: AnAverageWriter on 19 Dec 2011, 00:03
Yay Elliot!
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 19 Dec 2011, 00:08
Thank you, Mr. Hodges.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 19 Dec 2011, 00:40
Err, what ?

Nobody thought Veronica's visit was a huge event ?  :-o

Some of the best lines of all QC have been uttered back then !!!



P.s.: Oh, and nice comic :)



P.p.s:
Moment of the year was clearly "THIS PLACE IS A BUTT AND YOU ARE ALSO A BUTT" (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1846).
Um, its a Hanners moment, but I didnt even knew anymore when that happened.



P.p.p.s:
HEY!! 

Where are the Waffles??!
Clearly Jeph wants them for himself ... or some such.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 19 Dec 2011, 01:22
Yeah, Elliot is a cool guy. Marten seems a bit sad it's not a secret.

The Secret Bakery doesn't seem to have many secrets, does it?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: ilikefishfood on 19 Dec 2011, 01:23
Elliott's being 'happy' for the two of them, kinda suggests that whatever Padma told her friends she doesn't think of it as just a fling.  Am I reading too much into this?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: fire n ice on 19 Dec 2011, 01:40
Yeah, Elliot is a cool guy. Marten seems a bit sad it's not a secret.

The Secret Bakery doesn't seem to have many secrets, does it?

About as many as ol' Victoria, it seems.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: NotsoAverageJoe on 19 Dec 2011, 02:10
from the mouth of babes... and queue an Martin having an existential crisis about his outlook on life.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 19 Dec 2011, 03:29
Advertisement of the awesomeness of Veronica Vances visit of her son ! :D

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1820 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1820)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1821 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1821)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1822 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1822)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1827 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1827)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1831 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1831)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1832 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1832)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1833 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1833)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1834 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1834)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1837 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1837)

Just awesome awesomeness ! :D
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: AnAverageWriter on 19 Dec 2011, 03:54
Advertisement of the awesomeness of Veronica Vances visit of her son ! :D
Just awesome awesomeness ! :D

Eh, if you say so. Kinda "meh" to me. But to each his/her own.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Loki on 19 Dec 2011, 04:20
Worse than "meh" for me. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1835)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: LordVaughn on 19 Dec 2011, 05:27
I find it very creepy how much like Elliot I am sometimes. Even creepier as the past few Marten/Elliot interactions that have happened have basically been how I'd react if I were in either one's shoes.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 19 Dec 2011, 06:12
I dunno, this feels weird to me.  Elliott was moping, crying in his beer over Padma.  He then says he's over it, but come on, you don't crush like that for that long (I assume it's been going on a while) and then throw a switch and high five the new guy

Violence?  No, not Elliott's style.  But at least a little  of the strip's famous awkwardness would be more in line with the way people behave...


Oh, and thanks for fixing the poll.  At least I was able to add "Cump (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1836)" to my choices! 
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: tjradcliffe on 19 Dec 2011, 06:30
I dunno, this feels weird to me.  Elliott was moping, crying in his beer over Padma.  He then says he's over it, but come on, you don't crush like that for that long (I assume it's been going on a while) and then throw a switch and high five the new guy

On the face of it, yeah, but let's make up some back-story for Elliot that would explain it. 

We know he didn't express his feelings to Padma for a long time, and when he did he got shot down.  Maybe that was the last in a long series of experiences where he wasn't up-front about his feelings, leaving behind him a trail of loneliness and isolation, and yet after crying in his beer he realized, "Hey, I'm kinda OK.  The world didn't end.  Again.  I've really gotta stop doing that."  So now he's like a guy who's just quit smoking, proselytizing his new-found faith.

Either that or Hanner's dad teleported him up to the space station where he was given an alien brain transplant.  That seems pretty likely too.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Throg on 19 Dec 2011, 06:43
Turning points in life do happen. Not often, but they do happen. And when people turn a corner in their lives, sometimes friends and acquaintances can hardly believe the extent of change of behavior; but it does happen. 

Good for Eliot; and it's not exactly a shame on Marten, but I hope Jeph basically allows Marten to grow a little, rather than be the constant wishy-washy indie-boy punchline. 

Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: sitnspin on 19 Dec 2011, 08:05
I think Monday's comic was a message to the Forumites.


I tried thinking better of people, but it didn't work out so well. Still, I try again from time to time. Maybe one of these days I won't be disappointed.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Cornan on 19 Dec 2011, 09:28
Man, my favorite points of the year don't seem to be too popular.  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 19 Dec 2011, 09:49
Mine either, but what are ya gonna do? 

Lobby! 
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Dr. ROFLPWN on 19 Dec 2011, 09:52
Yeah that was pretty...weird and artificial

I mean I get that this forum is a gigantic, festering tumor, absolutely, but don't try and work it into the script, Jeph, man, it doesn't work  :|
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: LoveJaneAusten on 19 Dec 2011, 10:21
I dunno, this feels weird to me.  Elliott was moping, crying in his beer over Padma.  He then says he's over it, but come on, you don't crush like that for that long (I assume it's been going on a while) and then throw a switch and high five the new guy
This is cogent. Elliot's characterization is completely off.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 19 Dec 2011, 10:28
Maybe he's faking it?

@sitnspin,
Quote from: Lieutenant Worf
Trust is earned, not given.
Thinking well of people is safest after you've seen them give some evidence they deserve it.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: FunkyTuba on 19 Dec 2011, 11:36
@jwhouk: if you don't mind the work, suggest splitting out the best moment of the year poll into its own thread where you solicit nominations over a period, then do a round of "pick 3 from this huge list" then "ok, now pick one of these five" at the end of next week.


Will also help keep from cluttering up the WCDTs... I recognize that it'd be a lot of work, though and I'm not in a position to volunteer this year (sorry!)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Vista on 19 Dec 2011, 11:42
Maybe he's faking it?

Maybe he's the first true antagonist that Marten will face, a man with passive-aggressive revenge tendencies twisted into Machiavellian manipulations.

It's kind of too bad, I actually think Marten could use someone who hates him in his life, so that he might rebel against them and stick up for himself (to himself)nmore.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Wreck Smurfy on 19 Dec 2011, 11:52

Thinking well of people is safest after you've seen them give some evidence they deserve it.

Safest, maybe so. Personally, being "safe" isn't my top priority in dealing with others. So I tend to the opposite, thinking well of people until they give some evidence they don't deserve it. And I may have been lightly burned once or twice as a result. But I can also say that several of my friends over the years have commented on my positive nature, the fact that I rarely bad-mouth anyone; one group of friends used to call me "Mr. Diplomacy". Being open just seems like a lot less work than being "safe".

Today's comic made me smile. I suspected this would be Elliott's reaction, but didn't know for sure because he is a developing character. We don't know that much about him yet. This is what I would call the "bro" reaction: "Well, at least somebody's getting laid, even if it's not me." I have, and probably would again, react in similar fashion in these circumstances.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 19 Dec 2011, 12:32
Advertisement of the awesomeness of Veronica Vances visit of her son ! :D
Just awesome awesomeness ! :D

Eh, if you say so. Kinda "meh" to me. But to each his/her own.

Same here, kind of meh... Also the fact that I was continously pissed off at his mom.

My votes went to the secret bakery (it wasn't anything wow at that moment but now considering the two characters it has introduced...), The band getting together (mostly because of Marten's epiphany) and Padma/Marten make outs...
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: CompSarge on 19 Dec 2011, 13:21
It's hard to believe all this stuff happened in just a year. It feels like it's been much, much longer.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Schmorgluck on 19 Dec 2011, 14:22
I dunno, this feels weird to me.  Elliott was moping, crying in his beer over Padma.  He then says he's over it, but come on, you don't crush like that for that long (I assume it's been going on a while) and then throw a switch and high five the new guy
Maybe he's the kind of guy who moves on quite well after he's cried the appropriate river.

I have some aspects of that, really. At the very least, I have low endurance in resent.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: CrowFairy on 19 Dec 2011, 14:27
I'm kind of what you would call a bit clingy, and I had a crush on a guy for three years (We were in classes together and a club), and when I realized he barely knew I existed and didn't really care one way or another if we talked, I was over it in an instant. I was completely fine that night and the next day and every day after that. I never thought I would have been able to do something like that, but I did. If I can do it, I think it's just as possible for Elliot. Sometimes, a person can get over something a lot more quickly than that person or anyone else would expect. Give the big guy a little bit of credit. :)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: JackFaerie on 19 Dec 2011, 15:24
But did you spend those three years constantly pining for this guy, sighing to all your friends how much you love him and miserable because he didn't know, and not dating anyone else because of your love for him? Elliot had more than a passing crush on Padma, and I can't imagine it'd be easy to get over someone you worked with everyday and knew quite well.

I can definitely see him telling Marten "good for you!" and not holding a grudge. But being truly over it? That's the part that seems totally unbelievable. I've had a guy I had a crush on get together with another one of my friends after telling him I was into him and being told he didn't feel the same way. I congratulated them honestly--they were both great people, and she was a far better match for him than his previous girlfriend. But I was still sad and jealous for a while.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 19 Dec 2011, 15:44
@jwhouk: if you don't mind the work, suggest splitting out the best moment of the year poll into its own thread where you solicit nominations over a period, then do a round of "pick 3 from this huge list" then "ok, now pick one of these five" at the end of next week.


Will also help keep from cluttering up the WCDTs... I recognize that it'd be a lot of work, though and I'm not in a position to volunteer this year (sorry!)

I had actually thought of doing this, but decided to try a WCDT instead. I may very well do it with our current totals, and "chop it down".

EDIT: I have gone and done it: MOMENT OF THE YEAR voting! (http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,27707.0.html)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Welu on 19 Dec 2011, 15:46
I should and do agree that Elliot's dialogue feels a bit forced and convoluted, especially how upset Elliot was over Padma but I like BAP! too much.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Tova on 19 Dec 2011, 16:05
It seems that even someone posting "that happened to me" can't convince the forumites to let go of their beliefs.

Just because you can't personally imagine it doesn't mean it can't happen.

Funnily enough, no-one batted an eyelid at: http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1889
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 19 Dec 2011, 16:05
I think Elliott's just being the bigger guy  (And yes, pun intended.)


I think it's epiphany time for Marten myself.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: gprimr1 on 19 Dec 2011, 17:19
I didn't really care for Elliot's soap box speech.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Skaltura on 19 Dec 2011, 18:05
Another theory: Jeph didn't really like the way Elliot's character panned out, and this is his way of getting everything wrapped up in one strip so he can focus on other stuff?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Tova on 19 Dec 2011, 18:09
Elliot had more than a passing crush on Padma

How about this theory - it really was just a crush.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Marchbanks on 19 Dec 2011, 18:15
I think Monday's comic was a message to the Forumites.

Hey, if Jeph wants to send a message, he should call Western Union.

Quote
I tried thinking better of people, but it didn't work out so well. Still, I try again from time to time. Maybe one of these days I won't be disappointed.

To quote Mose Allison:  "I don't worry 'bout a thing 'cos I know nothin's gonna be all right."
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Tova on 19 Dec 2011, 18:23
What's the use of worrying?
What's the use of hurrying?
What's the use of anything?

(Sorry, I've got that song ratting around my head)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Overkillengine on 19 Dec 2011, 18:52
Or hopefully he is outgrowing the Stupid Nice Guy phase faster than most with the starting epiphany: She's not interested *now*, she isn't ever gonna be, so just move on.

 Takes a lot of the sting out of it, and lets one objectively feel good for a friend/acquaintance getting lucky with someone attractive that they like.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 19 Dec 2011, 20:03
Funnily enough, no-one batted an eyelid at: http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1889

that's because we had several year's history behind Marten's and Faye's relationship and their characters.  The arbor day thing was in character and believable.  While we don't know a lot about Elliott's character, I'm having trouble squaring what just happened with what we have seen of him so far.  YMMV. 
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Tova on 19 Dec 2011, 20:07
Well, it seems strange to assert "that was out of character" when you know so little about the character.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Wreck Smurfy on 19 Dec 2011, 20:08
It seems that even someone posting "that happened to me" can't convince the forumites to let go of their beliefs.
Just because you can't personally imagine it doesn't mean it can't happen.
Funnily enough, no-one batted an eyelid at: http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1889

Tova, what we need to realize is that QC is a romantic comic. As a result, it tends to draw an audience of romantic types, whereas I (and perhaps you) are of the pragmatic type. And yes, examples of pragmatic experience will never convince a romantic of anything.

And you are spot on. Comic #1889 is the perfect counterpoint to today's comic. Marten has already moved somewhat from romantic to pragmatic, and the current storyline shows him trying to move even more in that direction (see last Thursday). Elliott's "Gibbs' punch" today might just underline how far he has to go.

(BTW, I'm not advocating pragmatic over romantic. Different strokes and all. I'm just pointing out that people can live very fulfilling emotional lives without being romantic per se.)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: SomeCanadianWeirdo on 19 Dec 2011, 20:12
Heh, get the first comment on the new strip, and boy is it a doozy!  Are we going to see Faye and Angus go through trouble?  Or can Marten convince Faye to just go for it and worry about the consequences later?  And should he?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 19 Dec 2011, 20:12
God damn it, Faye.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 19 Dec 2011, 20:15
Well, it seems strange to assert "that was out of character" when you know so little about the character.

I though that was my point...

And yeah, this is the essence of the comic.  Marten and Faye, deep into the why's and wherefores. 


Is it enough?  Am I  enough?  Am I good  enough?  Dammit, she needs the worry hat right now. 
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Wreck Smurfy on 19 Dec 2011, 20:25
Woah. Heavy.
Marten, before helping Faye through another emotional crisis, please put on some pants. You know what happened the last time.  :wink:
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Delator on 19 Dec 2011, 20:57
I dunno Faye, why don't you cheat on him and find out?  :roll:
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 19 Dec 2011, 20:59
Dear Pugnacious Peach,

What on earth more could you ask for?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: kaitco on 19 Dec 2011, 21:08
Marten, before helping Faye through another emotional crisis, please put on some pants. You know what happened the last time.  :wink:
I was thinking the same thing.

I normally don't like to critique the artwork, but I just don't like the way Faye is sitting. Having a body type similar to hers...well, girls like us don't pull our knees to our chests very often like that because it is a bit difficult to get your arms around everything. Just my two cents...
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 19 Dec 2011, 21:23
Poor Marten. Looks like no sleep in his near future. Faye's just subconsciously looking for an excuse to end the relationship now that actual feelings are involved; don't let her backslide, Marty!
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: DSL on 19 Dec 2011, 21:30
Faye, Faye, Faye, Faye, Faye ...

OK, not wanting to be alone is, all by itself, not a good reason, but McPhee has all that other stuff you mentioned going for him (and for you), plus he flies through the air pretty good.

And tactless though it may be to tell someone in your shoes (well, socks) to just cheer up ... just think, Marten's been walking around town without his pants.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Boomslang on 19 Dec 2011, 21:31
I normally don't like to critique the artwork, but I just don't like the way Faye is sitting. Having a body type similar to hers...well, girls like us don't pull our knees to our chests very often like that because it is a bit difficult to get your arms around everything. Just my two cents...

As a non-possessor of boobs of any variety, the problem you bring up makes sense, but isn't immediately obvious.  
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: HeavyP on 19 Dec 2011, 21:37
...it's certainly enough for NOW. 

It always strikes me as odd how people assume love is some instantaneous binary equation, like you're either in love or you're not and it's a switch that gets flicked one day, perhaps after a quirky romantic interlude.  Faye likes Angus, they share mutual interests, can parry each others' quips and quotes, and seem to genuinely enjoy being with each other.  That's more than enough to define at least a stage of love, and there's plenty of time for that to grow into a much deeper and more consuming passion.  Assuming you don't sit there on the couch and over-analyze to the point where you unconsciously sabotage a great relationship.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: sitnspin on 19 Dec 2011, 21:40
Well... that was kind of depressing.  Sadly, far too many people get involved for the very reason Faye fears, but those people are usually with someone not nearly as good for them as Angus.

If she had fallen for Sven, I would have thought this was the reason, but Angus has so much more going for him. He is a good guy and a great match for Faye.  

Sometimes, Faye, it is okay to simply be happy. I say this hypocritically, since I so often over-think and jinx myself out of happiness. Yay chronic depression!
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: raoullefere on 19 Dec 2011, 23:08
I dunno, this feels weird to me.  Elliott was moping, crying in his beer over Padma.  He then says he's over it, but come on, you don't crush like that for that long (I assume it's been going on a while) and then throw a switch and high five the new guy.  

Looking at Elliott in panel 2a, maybe's he's channelling the spirit of Dave (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1025).

Then you think he's a drooling psycho in the making? Yeah, me too.

I could deal with Elliot being okay, or even glad things worked out for someone, in a vaguely melancholy way. But bro-fiving Marten with a big grin on his face? Too good to be true. Which means it ain't. Okay, maybe he's not lulling Marty and Pads into complacence until he can finally locate an iron pot big enough to boil both of them at once, but Elliot's up to something.

Woah. Heavy.
Marten, before helping Faye through another emotional crisis, please put on some pants. You know what happened the last time.  :wink:
You mean Marten has another insecure woman snoozing in his bedroom? God! When will he stop doing that? Some people never learn.

And speaking of never learning*, I agree that Faye's trying to find away to torpedo her relationship. If the only reason she hung around Angus was to not be alone, sure, sound the klaxon and fire Tubes 1 and 5. But you just made a list or other reasons you enjoy the guy's company, idjit. Stand down, surface, and see where this goes.

*Actually, Faye is learning. But it's always, always, two steps forward, one back with this girl.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: CrowFairy on 19 Dec 2011, 23:10
But did you spend those three years constantly pining for this guy, sighing to all your friends how much you love him and miserable because he didn't know, and not dating anyone else because of your love for him? Elliot had more than a passing crush on Padma, and I can't imagine it'd be easy to get over someone you worked with everyday and knew quite well.

I can definitely see him telling Marten "good for you!" and not holding a grudge. But being truly over it? That's the part that seems totally unbelievable. I've had a guy I had a crush on get together with another one of my friends after telling him I was into him and being told he didn't feel the same way. I congratulated them honestly--they were both great people, and she was a far better match for him than his previous girlfriend. But I was still sad and jealous for a while.
Pining considerably, yes. Telling people? Nope. I'm a pretty private person, and I don't think I ever told anyone about my crushes after a certain point in my life. I didn't date anyone else because no one else asked, but I don't know what I would have said if they had.

My question: Does he know her quite well? If he's as shy as I thought he was, then he may have just been watching her all that time and building a "perfect image" of what he thought she was. Sure, they talked, but did they really talk?

In any case, everybody is different, and if he sincerely is over her, then I'm glad for it.

Also, Faye, quit channeling people like me so you can quit worrying!
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: AnAverageWriter on 20 Dec 2011, 00:05
Back to the angst.

Again.

Angus angst, even.

C'mon Faye, just let yourself be happy for once!
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 20 Dec 2011, 00:12
Ah.

Knowing ones own feelings, what a hard art to master.

Or just to apprentice !

But in the end, love can only persist if its also love. :)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: CompSarge on 20 Dec 2011, 00:14
Quote from: Jeph
God damn it, Faye

Pretty much sums it up, I think.

Warning - while you were typing someone else said exactly the same thing you were going to. You can edit your post, but who does that anymore?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 20 Dec 2011, 00:26
Hey, if Jeph wants to send a message, he should call Western Union.

If Jeph really had a message for the forum, you'd see him right here.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: AnAverageWriter on 20 Dec 2011, 00:36
Of note-

Marten STILL hasn't put on any pants.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 20 Dec 2011, 01:00
He's not going to walk straight past his worrying friend for trivia like that.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 20 Dec 2011, 01:10
Marten STILL hasn't put on any pants.
He's allowed now, you can wear casual in your home.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Tova on 20 Dec 2011, 01:38

Wow, you must have really - er - short arms...

Nice recovery.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: AnAverageWriter on 20 Dec 2011, 02:29
He's not going to walk straight past his worrying friend for trivia like that.

I was GOING to say something about how his-room-where-pants-are is right there (and thus no need to walk by), and was going to bring up  this comic  (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1800)... but I got distracted by the fact that in between then and now the apartment wall seems to have somehow shrunk in on itself by a good four feet, losing the Mogwai poster in the process.

I... get distracted by things.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Welu on 20 Dec 2011, 03:38
Is it bad I want a map to Faye and Marten's flat now? Just to get a sense of where everything is.


I normally don't like to critique the artwork, but I just don't like the way Faye is sitting. Having a body type similar to hers...well, girls like us don't pull our knees to our chests very often like that because it is a bit difficult to get your arms around everything. Just my two cents...


As someone of Faye's body type, I had to try sitting like that.  :lol: For me getting my arms around everything was no problem but you'd have to do it with a back to the chair. Sitting up in bed I felt like I was going to pull myself over.

On Elliot's dialogue yesterday, I thought the gist of the conversation was grand. It was Elliot's mini-speech in the last panel that sounded sort of forced to me. Like no one would say it naturally, outside of some kind of self-improvement seminar.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 20 Dec 2011, 04:06
I'm really not getting this "soapbox" vibe everyone else is feeling. I saw it as a simple exit retort. It also shows us something about Elliot's character and method.

As for the "out of character" nature of his congratulation, I don't think it is at all. When you've been hopelessly pining after someone for a long time, getting a sudden reality check can snap you out of it very quickly. A few years ago now, there was a girl I'd been pining after for a couple of years. I never told anyone. One day, I was talking to her, and I just realised "this is never gonna happen". And I wouldn't say I was over it just like that, but I very quickly came to terms with the fact and moved on.

Elliot is a well-meaning bloke, certainly not a confrontational type. I can believe that he would be genuinely happy for Marten, without necessarily being completely over Padma. But he's accepted it won't happen, and if anybody's gotta be with her, he knows Marten isn't a bad guy.

Is it bad I want a map to Faye and Marten's flat now? Just to get a sense of where everything is.

Knock yourself out. (http://questionablecontent.wikia.com/wiki/Marten_Reed#Apartment_Layout)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: AnAverageWriter on 20 Dec 2011, 04:32
Is it bad I want a map to Faye and Marten's flat now? Just to get a sense of where everything is.
Knock yourself out. (http://questionablecontent.wikia.com/wiki/Marten_Reed#Apartment_Layout)

Welll now that picture creates even more questions! Presumably it means that in the current comic, in panel 1 Marten is walking around the bend past the bathroom, and as he approaches in panel 2 Faye is sitting on the grey couch in front of her room... but in panel 3 we have yet another wall! The couch ends right there at the wall, with nary but a lamp between, and... Marten's room *does not exist*. The apartment ends right at the blue tree poster.

I need to stop thinking about this...

I think they just moved the furniture around. People do that!

Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 20 Dec 2011, 04:47
I don't think the furnishing is right in that sketch - I can't recall any evidence that there are two sofas, for a start.

But in today's strip, yes, the first door is the bathroom, and then the next is Marten's room as we have gone right past the Mogwai poster and Faye's door to reach the couch.  And the couch doesn't end at the wall - it is spaced away from both the wall behind it and the one at the left, which makes it rather non-obvious to see.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: AnAverageWriter on 20 Dec 2011, 04:51
I don't think the furnishing is right in that sketch - I can't recall any evidence that there are two sofas, for a start.

 You can see the brown couch against the wall in this strip.  (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1800)

Now that I think about it, I think the sketch works if you take the entire living room set- (sofas, lamp/table, TV) and shove it all to the left against the far wall there, and then back up against Faye's room wall. Once the gap goes away, it makes things fit.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: elddimsnoitcnuf on 20 Dec 2011, 05:03
Dammit QC always makes me connect and look back on my life.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: billydaking on 20 Dec 2011, 05:41
But did you spend those three years constantly pining for this guy, sighing to all your friends how much you love him and miserable because he didn't know, and not dating anyone else because of your love for him? Elliot had more than a passing crush on Padma, and I can't imagine it'd be easy to get over someone you worked with everyday and knew quite well.

I can definitely see him telling Marten "good for you!" and not holding a grudge. But being truly over it? That's the part that seems totally unbelievable. I've had a guy I had a crush on get together with another one of my friends after telling him I was into him and being told he didn't feel the same way. I congratulated them honestly--they were both great people, and she was a far better match for him than his previous girlfriend. But I was still sad and jealous for a while.

Thing is...I've been through what Elliott has been and yes, after you pine for somebody that long and finally realize that it's never going to happen (or in Elliott's case, never meant to be), you can get over it real quick. It's like you've spent all of your angst on the uncertainty and possiblity that there's nothing left on the other end other than an open road. That, and I discovered that whatever feelings I had for her turned into friendshiip over that time.

Not everybody is the same. And not everybody reacts the same way to similar situations.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: NotsoAverageJoe on 20 Dec 2011, 05:44
Quote
Thinking well of people is safest after you've seen them give some evidence they deserve it.

two schools of thought... there are some people who say you need to earn their respect first, and then there are other people who say, you already have my respect and its up to you to keep it.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 20 Dec 2011, 06:09
Silly Faye.

The answer is YES.

<--- Expert on that question.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Loki on 20 Dec 2011, 06:24
Dammit QC always makes me connect and look back on my life.

Hah.
Also the comic is like a giant Rorschach blot for all of us to project our own issues with men! And ladies! And ladies who dress like men! onto Marten and Dora.  A therapist could sweep in here and have a field day, although they should only be paid at bulk rate for everyone who called Dora a bitch.

In other news, I find that I frequently relate to fictional stories (mostly sitcoms) when going through trouble. I think QC just stands out so much because I consume it five days a week.

€: I just randomly found Dora explaining what love is. (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1006)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 20 Dec 2011, 06:28
Is it bad I want a map to Faye and Marten's flat now? Just to get a sense of where everything is.

I made that map from a few estimates. I think the second couch is little used, but is there most of the time.

Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: lepetitfromage on 20 Dec 2011, 06:42
Funnily enough, no-one batted an eyelid at: http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1889
i had forgotten about that comic and how much the "fweee" cracked me up. there is just something about that face too  :lol:


Re: Elliot, I think the guy deserves a little more credit. I think he's mature enough to accept his fate in regards to Padma. It probably helps that he knows she's leaving and isn't looking for anything serious. Usually, if you pine for someone over an extended period of time, you want to be in a relationship with them. He realizes now that Padma truly is just having fun before she goes off to deal with a difficult situation isn't looking for a relationship. That fact makes it much easier to deal with rejection, because she's not necessarily rejecting him, just the idea of a boyfriend.

Or, he's living vicariously through Marten.

Or, he's patiently awaiting the schadenfreude he'll experience when Marten falls hard for Padma and she leaves him in the dust.


Re: Faye, I've been there many, many, many times. I've been in so many relationships that made me question my feelings- some for good reason and others simply because I deal with a lot of anxiety and the obsessive side of my OCD gets more of a workout than my compulsive side. Sometimes it's hard to figure out if your feelings are genuine because you've over-thought so many things in the past that you begin to question the "normal" things, fearing that something is wrong but you just haven't figured it out yet. You wonder how the other person can possibly love you, why you love them (when it's usually pretty obvious) and you start to wonder if your relationship has an expiration date. The trick is to acknowledge those feelings, tell yourself that they are perfectly valid concerns and that you are NOT a bad person for questioning them, then let them go. It's not an easy task, but it sounds like it is what Faye truly needs to do. Angus is a good counterpart for her- it may not last forever, but he provides a much needed sense of balance. He's lighthearted and genuine, someone that can ease her mind and handle her issues. And she's right- he's funny, smart and can stand up to her in many senses. Of course, it's more obvious to us than it is to her because we have an outsiders perspective and bring our own experiences to the table. We've seen some of the scenarios in QC play out in real life so we immediately think Faye is going to "ruin things" because that CAN happen when you let your worries "awfulize" things in your head. Eventually, it makes you so insecure in your relationship that eventually it breaks down. I think after a chat with Marten, he'll be able to put things in perspective for her and she'll realize that her relationship with Angus truly is a good thing. I mean....if she just didn't want to be alone, wouldn't she have just dated Marten to begin with??
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 20 Dec 2011, 06:56
On a completely different note: I suddenly have an impending sense of foreboding doom...

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: El_Flesh on 20 Dec 2011, 07:20
She's saying that she loves him. If she actually does, then it doesn't matter so much why.

I hate being alone. Simply hate it.

I've had relationships that didn't work for various reasons. The one I'm in has worked great for over 10 years, and I can't imagine it not continuing to do so.
I'm not hanging in here just because I hate to be alone!

The moral - like the little cheez sez; take it, accept it, and move forward on the path you are on anyway - don't let it change you!
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: AnAverageWriter on 20 Dec 2011, 07:25
On a completely different note: I suddenly have an impending sense of foreboding doom...
(click to show/hide)

No, jwhouk, Jeph is NOT going have Angus walk in while Marten is hugging Faye sans pants and pull a Dora.

No Story Arc Time Warp Reruns for you.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Loki on 20 Dec 2011, 07:35
My prediction: Rocks Fall, Everybody Dies.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Fen on 20 Dec 2011, 08:02
<3 Oh Faye, after so many years I read the comic and feel the same way.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 20 Dec 2011, 08:03
I've been thinking nore about it, and I think I can accept Elliott in Monday's strip if I see him as a grown up Mikey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_characters_in_Recess_(TV_series)#Michael_.22Mikey.22_Blumberg).  
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Interlude on 20 Dec 2011, 10:17
The fact that she is even questioning it means that she does have a valid concern that she should consider. I'm not sure how to express what I mean to say-- sometimes we WANT to love someone more than what we really do. They're good people-- there are plenty of reasons we should want to be with them. That doesn't always mean that they are the right person for us, and there is nothing wrong with that.

On the other hand, I agree with the person who said that love is not a switch. It isn't something that just "turns on." Love is something that grows and develops. It's something you work at. There is a big difference between passion and attraction and my definition of love. (Everyone looks at love differently, so I can only go by my own definition.) For me, love is the commitment we make and the effort we put into it. If Faye feels that she loves him, that's great! But it doesn't have to be a profound, deep love at this point. If she is coming up with excuses because she knows, deep down, that she does not actually want to be in a relationship with this guy-- okay. That's fine. But it's also fine to let the relationship grow and see what happens because that's the only way love can really happen.

Blah blah blah. I think we're all going to go from personal experience on this one.  :-P
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Wreck Smurfy on 20 Dec 2011, 10:44

You mean Marten has another insecure woman snoozing in his bedroom? God! When will he stop doing that? Some people never learn.


Heh. Actually, I was just thinking about the escaping junk, which tends to be a conversation-stopper.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Silentbanksy on 20 Dec 2011, 11:05
GUYS.

Upset Faye

Marten in Boxers.

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1741 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1741)

Dejá Vú incoming?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 20 Dec 2011, 11:23
Except there's no Dora, so no. 

Angus walking in isn't likely to react that way, either.  So no. 

But I think Faye needs a dose of her own medicine right now (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1744).  But perhaps delivered with a smaller hypodermic...

I expect Marten will use more finesse, and less blunt-force trauma. 
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Tova on 20 Dec 2011, 12:38
Warning - while you were typing, the topic you had been typing was already discussed. Twice.

 :evil:
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 20 Dec 2011, 13:05
€: I just randomly found Dora explaining what love is. (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1006)

I was actually thinking about that after I read today's strip; I think it'd be cool if Marten imparted the same wisdom to Faye (whether he told her where it came from or not  :wink:).

As unstable as she was/is, Dora had some good insight into certain things. I hope Marten is able to get past the bad stuff and remember that she was right about some things.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: raoullefere on 20 Dec 2011, 13:26

You mean Marten has another insecure woman snoozing in his bedroom? God! When will he stop doing that? Some people never learn.


Heh. Actually, I was just thinking about the escaping junk, which tends to be a conversation-stopper.

I'd think, if that were a possibility, that it would've come up (or out, depending on what preposition you want to use and how descriptive you enjoy being) before now, since he's pranced around all morning dressed like that.

The fact that she is even questioning it means that she does have a valid concern that she should consider. I'm not sure how to express what I mean to say-- sometimes we WANT to love someone more than what we really do. They're good people-- there are plenty of reasons we should want to be with them. That doesn't always mean that they are the right person for us, and there is nothing wrong with that.

If she were anyone else, I might agree with you. But Faye has a history of pushing people away for the slightest of reasons, all stemming from the one big one, that no one is  ever again getting as close to Faye as her dad was. That makes her concern a tad less valid. I suspect the real problem is Faye does indeed love Angus in exactly the 'right' way (whatever the hell that is). Which means, once again, what she's really worked up about is being hurt herself, not hurting him.

Blah blah blah. I think we're all going to go from personal experience on this one.  :-P

Possibly. But I'm trying to go on my experience with Faye (such as it is, her not being real and all).

€: I just randomly found Dora explaining what love is. (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1006)

I was actually thinking about that after I read today's strip; I think it'd be cool if Marten imparted the same wisdom to Faye (whether he told her where it came from or not  :wink:).

As unstable as she was/is, Dora had some good insight into certain things. I hope Marten is able to get past the bad stuff and remember that she was right about some things.

That's one hard row to hoe, miss. If Marten were real, it's probably take a decade or so for that ground to soften up.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: sitnspin on 20 Dec 2011, 13:45
Having lost my parents and the love of my life to car accidents, I think I know where Faye is coming from, even if she doesn't. She thinks she is questioning ot because she is afraid of being alone, but I find it more likely that what she is actually afraid of is getting close and then losing someone she loves again.

Love can be really awesome, but it can be scary as hell, too.

Or maybe I am just projecting.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: sitnspin on 20 Dec 2011, 14:07
It's just an old comic from one of the earlier eras of art style. That is how they looked back then. Jeph's art has shifted dramatically over the course f the series. Part of the enjoyment I get out of the comic is watching the evolution of the art as Jeph gets better and better.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: rje on 20 Dec 2011, 14:14
No comic Jeph's done has hit me so hard where I live as today's
Good stuff

I lost both parents very early on too and this is a question I constantly ask myself in relationships, especially when I find myself clinging to them well past the time I should. It's something you wonder about when fear of loss is a strong issue for you.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 20 Dec 2011, 14:15
Oh for FRAKS sake Faye.    :roll:
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 20 Dec 2011, 14:49
No, it's just a different POV for Martens body.  It's more sideways than in 1004, and without the hoodie in 1009. 

For the longest time in the beginning, Jeph couldn't do 3/4 views.  The art gets awkward at times! 

Oh, and in the last panel of 1006, he's got food in his mouth.  Chipmunk cheeks. 
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: AnAverageWriter on 20 Dec 2011, 14:57
Besides that-

Come on, it's a hand drawn comic, not a CG rendering, and one done on a time schedule that would make even the most professional, syndicated strip artist choke. I make jokes here and there about missing walls, but we should cut Jeph some slack here.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: DSL on 20 Dec 2011, 16:48
Jeph doesn't need anyone to cut him slack on the art, except maybe himself. His art's in the top tier of all strips, paper and pixel combined. Have you SEEN the average newspaper comics page? It is crap.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: AnAverageWriter on 20 Dec 2011, 16:56
Jeph doesn't need anyone to cut him slack on the art, except maybe himself. His art's in the top tier of all strips, paper and pixel combined. Have you SEEN the average newspaper comics page? It is crap.

Hey, I'm not the one nitpicking about face shapes here- I was just saying that people need to ease up on it.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: DSL on 20 Dec 2011, 17:15
We're in agreement, then.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 20 Dec 2011, 17:16
He's his own worst critic. Read some of the comments in the two books and on his tumblr (in response to Q&A dumps).
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: quix0te on 20 Dec 2011, 17:54
<3 Oh Faye, after so many years I read the comic and feel the same way.

Hmm.  I think a good 30% of being successful in love is not second-guessing it.   Of course, the other 70% is learning to recognize that emotionally withholding jackass or selfish witch for what they are, and that you deserve better.  My philosophy is, if I'm happy, and there are no major red flags on my partner, let it ride.  Wait until the relationship has gone on for six to nine months, and then do a serious evaluation of whether this is who you want to be with.  It usually takes that long for the oxytocin to wear off so you can think straight.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: raoullefere on 20 Dec 2011, 20:27
And a little longer than that to get clear of the side effects from the drugs she dosed you with for the first few weeks.

(Joking, and I already know I have a terrible sense of humor. But you, dear reader, can tell me, too, if it makes you feel better)

Seriously, though, I'm with you all the way to the 'serious evaluation' part. But then, I've always assumed if a girl can stand me for that long, she's a keeper (see above, and, yeah, the keeping is really the other way around). Of course, I've only been in that situation once.

So far, so good.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 20 Dec 2011, 20:54
It always strikes me as odd how people assume love is some instantaneous binary equation, like you're either in love or you're not and it's a switch that gets flicked one day, perhaps after a quirky romantic interlude.  Faye likes Angus, they share mutual interests, can parry each others' quips and quotes, and seem to genuinely enjoy being with each other.  That's more than enough to define at least a stage of love, and there's plenty of time for that to grow into a much deeper and more consuming passion.  Assuming you don't sit there on the couch and over-analyze to the point where you unconsciously sabotage a great relationship.
I hate how much I can relate to this. I won't get into details, but damn.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 20 Dec 2011, 21:06
Okay, i'm ridiculously lost. Faye is saying that her relationship to Angus is in trouble because Angus is a racist?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 20 Dec 2011, 21:30
No, she's just giving extreme examples to answer Marten's asking if there's a "wrong reason" to love someone.

We know it's not their shared love of murders, because that's countered by his terribly taste in quarries.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Tova on 20 Dec 2011, 21:39
A "wrong" reason to love someone that I can think of is because of an image you have of that person which is totally at odds with who the person really is (e.g. you have idealised them to an extreme). That's probably not going to last.

I don't think that applies here, though.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Delator on 20 Dec 2011, 22:39
I actually know a couple who are together primarily because they're both racist.  :|

Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Tova on 20 Dec 2011, 22:49
Well, shared interests are not a bad reason to love someone, right?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: DonInKansas on 20 Dec 2011, 22:54
I would buy the Racist Murdercult CD.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 20 Dec 2011, 23:06
Well, shared interests are not a bad reason to love someone, right?

There are better. 

Shared interests are a good way to make friends.  Friends can become lovers.  But so can others.  Love can open up new interests, too, if they're not shared at first! 
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 21 Dec 2011, 00:18
Well, shared interests are not a bad reason to love someone, right?
There are better. 
Shared interests are a good way to make friends.  Friends can become lovers.  But so can others.  Love can open up new interests, too, if they're not shared at first! 
What kind of "to love" are we talking about here?
For one kind of love, shared interests may be the primary reason to stay together, for another kind of love, it may just be a nice addition.
This is a debate that constantly suffers unfit generalizations.

Maybe Faye just needs to learn ... she seems hung up on ideas about relationships an inexperienced newcomer "traumatized" by Hollywood romances might have.
(Always struck me as odd that most of those lovey-dovey "flicks" seem to have a consensus about love needing some kind of huge romantic keyphrase or flower~y description to work out ... my love life so far has been evidence to the contrary.)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 21 Dec 2011, 00:18
Well, as long as human beings are imperfect, human love is imperfect. We dont love others purely selflessly.

But as long as love also contains a spark of real love, it will grow and last.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: raoullefere on 21 Dec 2011, 00:35
Maybe Faye just needs to learn ... she seems hung up on ideas about relationships an inexperienced newcomer "traumatized" by Hollywood romances might have.
(Always struck me as odd that most of those lovey-dovey "flicks" seem to have a consensus about love needing some kind of huge romantic keyphrase or flower~y description to work out ... my love life so far has been evidence to the contrary.)
Such as "I love your smell"? (Meet Joe Black, I think) Could be trying to emulate some of those irrational oxytocin-based thoughts quix0te was talking about. And although I still think Faye's looking for a way to stop before it's too late, you may have a point. If she is thusly deluded, Faye probably doesn't realize that she's got to let the relationship mature a little (how long have they been dating now, comic time? A month or two? Three, tops?) before she can get beyond loving things about Angus to loving Angus himself. She's just now taking some baby-steps in that direction.

Which, I think, likely scares holy hell out of her. Because it's going to hurt even more to cut Angus loose than it did, after the fact, to give up on Marten. (At the time Faye rejected him, I think she was pretty much equally balanced between the pain of rejecting him and the pain of facing her fears. It was after she did some therapy that the former got stronger).
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: JonathanXS on 21 Dec 2011, 01:21
I would buy the Racist Murdercult CD.


What genre would that even end up being? Regardless, that would be an excellent band name.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 21 Dec 2011, 01:30
Thrash metal or death metal, I suspect.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Delator on 21 Dec 2011, 01:56
No, no...clearly J-Pop.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 21 Dec 2011, 01:56
Nah. Fantasy Metal; all their tracks are about elves and dwarves and orcs and goblins and such hatin' on each other and never learning the True Meaning of Winterval.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 21 Dec 2011, 02:38
I would buy the Racist Murdercult CD.
What genre would that even end up being? Regardless, that would be an excellent band name.
Sounds like Black or Death Metal to me. Not that I would still remember the difference ...


Nah. Fantasy Metal; all their tracks are about elves and dwarves and orcs and goblins and such hatin' on each other and never learning the True Meaning of Winterval.
I checked and that kind of Metal is apparently called "Power Metal". Gothic (Metal) would also be possible.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: VonKleist on 21 Dec 2011, 03:05
HUm hum, was just wondering wether I should get my sister that new Racist Murdercult CD for christmas, it´s really good, or so i hear..
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: NotAwesomeAnymore on 21 Dec 2011, 03:14
Being racist the same way seems like a really good reason to love someone actually. Surely it means you share similar values and the same cognitive biases? From my experience (and as can be logically deduced), racists have superiority complexes and don't like to be challenged - so what better than a partner who won't challenge you?

I think I may just have described codependency.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Emperor Norton on 21 Dec 2011, 03:23
The whole talk of love as not an on/off switch reminded me of this (http://youtube.com/watch?v=frNpdG4F9mw&feature=related)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 21 Dec 2011, 03:30
Definitely a Thrash/Black metal band.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 21 Dec 2011, 03:51
[ ... ]If she is thusly deluded, Faye probably doesn't realize that she's got to let the relationship mature a little (how long have they been dating now, comic time? A month or two? Three, tops?) before she can get beyond loving things about Angus to loving Angus himself. She's just now taking some baby-steps in that direction.
[ ... ]
My point in a nutshell. Thanks. :)

And yet I am left wondering a little about how this comes off as a teeeeeeenie tiny bit out-of-character for Faye. Sure, she has her issues, but I'd never expected them to stoop down to the level of

"Oh, woe is me.
Is the love I have for him,
Enough of what he
deserves it to be?"
(Flawless, sad dancing routine, stereotypical "Oh, my"-gestures like "back of the hand to forehead"... )

... seems kinda "schmaltzy c-movie flick"~ish... and for her thats not a fitting color. I would have thought her to get a little more sarcastic as she usually does in these situations...
(there is a comic I could link in which she makes that observation about herself... but I don't have the time to look through the archives right now oO)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: LTK on 21 Dec 2011, 04:15
What I'm wondering now is: Does Faye wonder if her love for Angus is enough for Angus, or for her? If it's the former, then she's asking the wrong person.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 21 Dec 2011, 04:28
What I'm wondering now is: Does Faye wonder if her love for Angus is enough for Angus, or for her? If it's the former, then she's asking the wrong person.
She might think its the latter, but really its the former. Or vice versa... either way she's confused and needs to stop wandering into directions there is no going back from. SERIOUSLY!
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Jabberwocky on 21 Dec 2011, 04:54
Of note-

Marten STILL hasn't put on any pants.
Today makes seven consecutive strips, and counting.  Nine, if you count 2074/2075 and ignore Yelling Bird.

Jeph's on a roll.  I'm not expecting pants until January.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Near Lurker on 21 Dec 2011, 05:08
What's wrong with loving someone because you're in their cult?  As long as it's not a racist murdercult, that is.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 21 Dec 2011, 05:43
Sign that you're too much of a "webcomic nerd":

I asked myself, "Hey, didn't Faye keep those cookies under the couch originally?"
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: AnAverageWriter on 21 Dec 2011, 05:49
Sign that you're too much of a "webcomic nerd":
I asked myself, "Hey, didn't Faye keep those cookies under the couch originally?"

 Not that the term is a BAD thing anymore...  (http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-reasons-calling-someone-nerd-officially-meaningless/) :)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Border Reiver on 21 Dec 2011, 05:50
No, you're not a horrific wecomics nerd - at least not alone....

I recognized the Pepperidge Farm cookies as well.  She's progressed enough now that she doesn't need to hide them at least.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: lepetitfromage on 21 Dec 2011, 06:04
What I'm wondering now is: Does Faye wonder if her love for Angus is enough for Angus, or for her? If it's the former, then she's asking the wrong person.

I don't think it necessarily has to do with who it's enough for, but I think she's looking for the "right" amount of love. As someone who hasn't really even gotten to this stage of a relationship before, Faye is trying to figure out the rules and regulations of this sort of thing because it's easier than facing your emotions and following your heart rather than your brain. When one doesn't know a lot about a certain subject, most people tend to search for answers as opposed to jumping in and bumbling around. What Faye needs to realize is that while that works with most subjects, love is not one of them.








Also, this whole situation makes me think of this:

(http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/68719549619_epsySrtk_c.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: raoullefere on 21 Dec 2011, 10:51
[ ... ]If she is thusly deluded, Faye probably doesn't realize that she's got to let the relationship mature a little (how long have they been dating now, comic time? A month or two? Three, tops?) before she can get beyond loving things about Angus to loving Angus himself. She's just now taking some baby-steps in that direction.
[ ... ]
My point in a nutshell. Thanks. :)

And yet I am left wondering a little about how this comes off as a teeeeeeenie tiny bit out-of-character for Faye. Sure, she has her issues, but I'd never expected them to stoop down to the level of

"Oh, woe is me.
Is the love I have for him,
Enough of what he
deserves it to be?"
(Flawless, sad dancing routine, stereotypical "Oh, my"-gestures like "back of the hand to forehead"... )

... seems kinda "schmaltzy c-movie flick"~ish... and for her thats not a fitting color. I would have thought her to get a little more sarcastic as she usually does in these situations...
(there is a comic I could link in which she makes that observation about herself... but I don't have the time to look through the archives right now oO)
I agree. It's why I think she's looking for a way to sink the ship. That's completely in character.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: DSL on 21 Dec 2011, 11:20
Just had the thought of Faye and Marten coming back toward -- but never quite to -- each other.
In shipping context, two ships not passing in the night but forever circling in the fog, Marten's sonar pinging dutifully and Faye's wireless sending mixed signals.

Also, Butts Disease has spread to the refrigerator.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Schmorgluck on 21 Dec 2011, 11:57
Well, as long as human beings are imperfect, human love is imperfect. We dont love others purely selflessly.

But as long as love also contains a spark of real love, it will grow and last.
Danke sehr!
I don't really often agree with you, and I often find the way you state your opinions is a bit off, or blunt, or awkward.
But here I fully agree with you and I find you worded it well.

As a guy who tends to put too much thought in such matters, I agree that you have to go with the flow. That is, without taking your SO as granted, either. But neither worrying all the time. Without becoming to passive of course.

Argh, I'm doing it again... I'm no better than Faye.


I would buy the Racist Murdercult CD.


What genre would that even end up being? Regardless, that would be an excellent band name.
I'd say it would fit a neo-punk band. Like names such as "Hitler's Cuddlytoys" or "Where did I put my Wife's Head?" or "Eaters of Strange Fruits"

...

I have a fertile imagination that breeds in all the wrong places...
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: sitnspin on 21 Dec 2011, 13:45
I am no stranger to self-sabotage when it comes to relationships. In fact, for me it is the rule more than the exception. I recognize the signs when I see them (in others more often than in myself). Faye has something good here, she'll regret it if she fucks it up.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 21 Dec 2011, 14:04
Quote from: SomeTentMakerFromTarshish
Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
It does not demand its own way.
It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 21 Dec 2011, 14:40
Quote from: SomeTentMakerFromTarshish
Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
It does not demand its own way.
It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
The book of love is long and boring
No one can lift the damn thing
It's full of charts and facts and figures
and instructions for dancing

The book of love has music in it
In fact that's where music comes from
Some of it is just transcendental
Some of it is just really dumb

The book of love is long and boring
And written very long ago
It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes
And things we're all too young to know


...

... 'TIS THE SEASON, Y'ALL!

(Sorry, had to. Its late and these lovey-dovey-something-wrongey-arcs are never my favorite. ~~)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Tova on 21 Dec 2011, 15:53
My interpretation of that song (the whole thing, not just the bits you quoted) is as an urging not to overthink things. Which is apropos.

“Grandma once told me it's easy to overthink love, to dissect it and question it until it is no more.”
― Ellen Hopkins, Impulse
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 21 Dec 2011, 16:27
There are days I just want to smack Faye upside her head.

I think it's time she had another visit with Dr. Corrine - If she hasn't driver her nuts yet.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Tova on 21 Dec 2011, 16:39
It's just as well we can't visit the QC characters - there would be a lot more cranial bruising.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 21 Dec 2011, 17:08
Since the MOTY poll was moved to its own thread, I changed the poll to something more esoteric.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Tova on 21 Dec 2011, 17:13
I was kind of disappointed that there wasn't an option after "They're breathing" labelled "They're not breathing".

Maybe I've spent too much time here.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 21 Dec 2011, 17:27
Also, Butts Disease has spread to the refrigerator.

Along with "Faye Stop ..." something.

"Faye stop wasting post-its."

No I can't read that in-panel; I saw the close-up during the ustream.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: cuzsis on 21 Dec 2011, 18:06
 Yes Faye... "loving" someone just so you aren't "alone" is codependent and not healthy. Good on ya for figuring that out.

 Love is something that grows out of friendship.

 Shared interests, similar lifestyles, similar ways of thinking and humor, are all things that frequently spark friendship. Both you and the other person become better people for your interactions with each other. You enjoy each others company, you learn from each other and your interactions lead you to seriously consider your opinions, ethics and morals in a more rounded fashion since you now have more than one view point to work from. You may possibly even change those opinions if the other person brings up good means to do so (and if you can be honest with yourself.)

 At some point the friendship will start turning into love. Love happens when, after all your interactions, you can finally see the other person as someone who is in all honesty, just as important as yourself. A "second self" almost. You see their needs as important as yours, you care for them the same way you care for yourself. If both of you needed ItemX and there was only 1 ItemX, the idea of taking it for yourself is incomprehensible. You simply don't understand it, because you think of each other in terms of a unit and not two separate entities. The idea of the other person "going without" is as problematic as you going without and needs prompt solving.

 That doesn't mean that you won't be frustrated or angry on occasion, since it is completely normal to be frustrated or angry with yourself too, after all. But you will still love them even when you feel like this, the same way you don't hate yourself when you are angry.

 Beyond this, you may find in the end, that you take even better care of them than you do for yourself, as a way of thanking them for all they bring into your life.

 
 
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Loki on 21 Dec 2011, 20:04
Quote from: SomeTentMakerFromTarshish
Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
It does not demand its own way.
It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Quote from: Shakespeare
Love is not love
which alters where it alteration finds
or bends with the remover to remove.
Oh no, it's an everfixed mark
which looks on tempests and is never shaken.
It is the star to every wandering bark
whose worth unknown although it's height be taken.
Yadda yadda, this is the truth because I said so.

Edit: cuzsis, I just reread your explanation and want to applaud you for it. Please accept one internet as a token of my gratitude.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: St.Clair on 21 Dec 2011, 20:47
It's such a... comfort to know that I can always come here and find people more messed up than I am.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 21 Dec 2011, 21:57
It's such a... comfort to know that I can always come here and find people more messed up than I am.

We're not messed up.

Excuse me, I can't find my lead cookies.....hold on....
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 21 Dec 2011, 21:59
Marten, Faye, Y U SO CUTE TOGETHER??

But seriously Jeph knows how to pull our heartstrings, doesn't he? Good for Faye, realizing there's a significant possibility this is all in her head.  :roll: I wonder if Faye will go have a talk with Angus now? Or if she'll finally ask Marten why he was out in his underwear.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: St.Clair on 21 Dec 2011, 22:21
I meant the characters.  Really.
<.<  >.>
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Schmorgluck on 21 Dec 2011, 22:32
When will Marten manage to get some sleep? Will he ever?  :evil:
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 21 Dec 2011, 23:09
Since the MOTY poll was moved to its own thread, I changed the poll to something more esoteric.
Curses, I need more checkmarks!

I don't think I can settle on just three here. Really can't. Always have to miss out on something basic between
Love you back
Funny
Smart
Nice Smile
Nice bod
Same worldview
Show interest
(Breathing)


@COMIC:
... damn, talk about a quick resolve. That was kinda anticlimactic.
(Marten must be getting really good at reading Faye if he can halt the wrecking train that is her self-conscious psyche all easy-like. °O )

... self-conscious psyche just gave me a split-personality / psychological sci-fi boner.


edit:
When will Marten manage to get some sleep? Will he ever?  :evil:
I'm kinda waiting for the insomnia version of the tequila monster now.  :-o
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 22 Dec 2011, 01:28
Sleeeeeep Maaaaaaasneeeeeeesssssssssssssssssssssss...

Will we finally see Gary the pteradactyl? 


I had a friend who used to write what he called tetra-dactyls, little poems of just four lines with four dactylic feet each line.  It's a frighteningly catchy rhythm!  The best was; 

Golly, gee willikers, Marcus Aurelius,
slaying these Germans can be such a bore. 
Being an emperor-soldier-philosopher
doesn't leave time to get laid anymore! 
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 22 Dec 2011, 01:46
Good comic ! :)

Todays poll is problematic, i.e. the answer options are way incomplete.

I would say "they love you back" and "they show interest in you" are essential, otherwise there is no love there and it wont last anyway. A true lover will stand by your side, and if you're a true lover yourself, you'll want to do so with your partner, too. That includes showing interest in the other person. Sharing interests will make a partnership much more beneficial, too.

Aside from love itself, they also need to have the same basic lifegoals as you. People who are ambitious wont harmonize with a common slob. People who view moneymaking as a great way to spend your life wont harmonize a lot with people who seek for knowledge. I choose "worldview" as the closest match instead, but its really hardly the same.

Fourth thing is they are, well, how to put it ? Satisfying enough as a sexual partner. If there is no sexual tension between people, it will "only" be a friendship, not a partnership. There are several options which address this issue a bit - maybe "They're good looking." gets closest, or "Great in bed.", but of course neither is really true, because beautiful people can fall in love with ugly people. I would guess "They can turn me on." would be a rather precise description.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 22 Dec 2011, 02:34
Fourth thing is they are, well, how to put it ? Satisfying enough as a sexual partner. If there is no sexual tension between people, it will "only" be a friendship, not a partnership. There are several options which address this issue a bit - maybe "They're good looking." gets closest, or "Great in bed.", but of course neither is really true, because beautiful people can fall in love with ugly people. I would guess "They can turn me on." would be a rather precise description.
Jesus, talk about distillating things down. Well done, Sir. My hat to you.

Way incomplete poll is thought-provoking. °O
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: NotAwesomeAnymore on 22 Dec 2011, 02:57
Aside from love itself, they also need to have the same basic lifegoals as you. People who are ambitious wont harmonize with a common slob. People who view moneymaking as a great way to spend your life wont harmonize a lot with people who seek for knowledge. I choose "worldview" as the closest match instead, but its really hardly the same.

Whaaaaaat. You can't just say that. What do "ambitious" and "common slob" even mean? A person who enjoys a relaxing job which allows them to pursue their hobbies isn't necessarily considered ambitious, but I don't see how that makes them incompatible with an ambitious person. Ambitious people are competitive. Have you ever had to compete with your partner so you felt worthy of dating them? It suuuuuuucks.

It's counter-intuitive for an ambitious person to date a relaxed person, since it sounds a bit like dating someone "worse" than you to feel happy. However, it's not about being better or worse, it's about the fact that the relaxed person doesn't care, and nullifies the competition - nobody feels insecure or needs to make the other feel bad. I'm not in favour of one pairing over another, just offering another perspective.

Quote
beautiful people can fall in love with ugly people
I think ambition, money and knowledge are almost as superficial qualities as beauty when it comes to romance.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: AnAverageWriter on 22 Dec 2011, 03:03
A thought about the "breathing" option in the poll...

Does one have to still breathe to maintain that those around me who loved me still do?

An eternal love, built over a lifetime... does it end when one dies? Surely the memories may fade away, but does not one still love the deceased, still have the person in one's mind?

Must one still breathe in order to be held in regards?

When I moulder away after my final hours, that is a fear I hold- to be forgotten, to drift into whatever bleak blackness awaits me, what hell I should endure eternally if I have a soul to be damned, without the prospect of being remembered when I'm gone.

When I cease to breathe, the life I left behind, does it still maintain, or does the world where I lived simply disregard, forget me and continue its clockwork cycle?

Are we gears, to turn, fail, be replaced, tossed aside and forgotten?

Graves of the forgotten I often see- lives that slipped away and now bear weeds...
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 22 Dec 2011, 03:17
Aside from love itself, they also need to have the same basic lifegoals as you. People who are ambitious wont harmonize with a common slob. People who view moneymaking as a great way to spend your life wont harmonize a lot with people who seek for knowledge. I choose "worldview" as the closest match instead, but its really hardly the same.

Without picking out the particular reason, it appears that from your perspective my 18-year-long marriage is doomed.  (My first marriage would have seemed more compatible to you - that did indeed make it to 22 years, but then fell apart.)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Skaltura on 22 Dec 2011, 04:11
Marten Reed - on a fucking roll.

Getting laid and giving love advice, like a baws.

And still no pants!
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: DrPhibes on 22 Dec 2011, 04:13
i voted the breathe one. Now that I think about it I feel I voted: "I'll fuck anyone who's breathing."  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Black Sword on 22 Dec 2011, 06:21
Marten is a total bro.

i voted the breathe one. Now that I think about it I feel I voted: "I'll fuck anyone who's breathing."  :psyduck:

You're just being very generous with your love, that's all!
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 22 Dec 2011, 07:18
i voted the breathe one. Now that I think about it I feel I voted: "I'll fuck anyone who's breathing."  :psyduck:

Hell, I feel like that sometimes. Finding someone that is still breathing in my sleepy old town is difficult.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: celticgeek on 22 Dec 2011, 07:34
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.

-Dylan Thomas
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: dragontart on 22 Dec 2011, 08:28
Does the poll refer to the feeling one has for somebody else, or to the state of a relationship between two persons? For the first one, I consider "loves you back" as completely unnecessary and kind of a bad reason, but it would be essential for the second.
Also the loved one being dead would certainly harm the latter, but not the first definition.
However I picked worldviews, showing interest (since how else would you check if your "worldviews" fit together) and taking polls.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: lepetitfromage on 22 Dec 2011, 09:48
Love is....
(snip)

thank you for that. it was so wonderfully worded and so true. (can i make it my poll answer???  :-P)


Aside from love itself, they also need to have the same basic lifegoals as you. People who are ambitious wont harmonize with a common slob. People who view moneymaking as a great way to spend your life wont harmonize a lot with people who seek for knowledge. I choose "worldview" as the closest match instead, but its really hardly the same.

Whaaaaaat. You can't just say that. What do "ambitious" and "common slob" even mean? A person who enjoys a relaxing job which allows them to pursue their hobbies isn't necessarily considered ambitious, but I don't see how that makes them incompatible with an ambitious person. Ambitious people are competitive. Have you ever had to compete with your partner so you felt worthy of dating them? It suuuuuuucks.

It's counter-intuitive for an ambitious person to date a relaxed person, since it sounds a bit like dating someone "worse" than you to feel happy. However, it's not about being better or worse, it's about the fact that the relaxed person doesn't care, and nullifies the competition - nobody feels insecure or needs to make the other feel bad. I'm not in favour of one pairing over another, just offering another perspective.

Quote
beautiful people can fall in love with ugly people
I think ambition, money and knowledge are almost as superficial qualities as beauty when it comes to romance.

while i don't neccesarily agree with everything snubnose said (i think the moneymaking/knowledge pairing was a bit off....they don't really have to be completely separate), i think ambitious can be simplified in this sense to someone who wants some sort of meaning in their life- be it from work, hobbies, volunteering, etc. you don't have to be a workaholic to be considered ambitious, just someone who always strives for improvement. as for the "meaning" of common slob? i'm assuming you really were serious, so here we go: how about someone who floats through life with no direction, no passion and no drive to make something better for themselves? let's look at 2 examples-

i have an ex that works dead end job after dead end job, constantly complains about his life, has 3 kids by 3 different mothers and has been married and divorced twice. His idea of a good night is making it through a 12 pack. He's 26. I thank my lucky stars that we did not last.

While i'm not living my ideal life, i am engaged to a wonderful man, i've had a steady job for 4+ years, i make enough money to pay all my bills and save up to pay for the wedding of my dreams with my future husband (without using credit cards or loans). I have a college education, a close circle of friends, hobbies that i love doing and attainable goals for the future. I'm not the most ambitious person in the world, but I'm doing what works for me and not simply settling with the worst case scenario.

i also don't quite agree that ambition and knowledge are as superficial as beauty. those things are qualities that we posses based on our personalities- those things that make us desirable to our partners. knowledge is not something you are born with- you have to seek it and work hard for it. one could argue that you have to work for ambition too. if you don't nurture it with motivation and means, ambition can actually be a pretty depressing thing.

out of curiosity....do you find a sense of humor to be superficial as well?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 22 Dec 2011, 11:01
Well, one crisis averted by Dr. Pantsless, only to have another crisis created

But then you know what they say


A Cookie Bag shared is a Cookie Bag quickly eaten   :-D



Seriously though, it's nice to see Marten giving good advice - pantsless or not - and all it cost Faye was a bag of cookies and not the $100 an hour it would have probably cost to visit Dr. Corrine.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: raoullefere on 22 Dec 2011, 11:49
I voted for "breathing." I know there are some people who think that's just an obvious qualification and skipped it, but I'd posit said have never seen that documentary about Lovedolls.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: NotAwesomeAnymore on 22 Dec 2011, 12:02
out of curiosity....do you find a sense of humor to be superficial as well?

Ah, ok, I see what you mean about ambition - but then I don't think the opposite of ambition is necessarily irresponsible with no interests. I was thinking, like, stay-at-home-Dad opposite-of-ambitious.

Maybe superficial wasn't a good word? I mean, I don't think people are born with conventional beauty necessarily - a lot of it takes work. You have to eat healthy and exercise (unless you have a killer metabolism), as well as be clean and well-groomed, and have a decent sense of fashion. Although I'd probably like to date someone with knowledge and a sense of humour, not everyone would say things like that are dealbreakers in a relationship the way most would say dishonesty is a dealbreaker. Knowledge, money and a sense of humour are all attractive things about a person, but not everyone values them the same.  And like a beautiful person might love an ugly person, a smart person might love an idiot - seen it happen, quite successfully.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Thrudd on 22 Dec 2011, 12:42
Better late than never - well except if you are a fireman or a paramedic or ..... leeets not go there.

Racist Murdercult
- Electric Polka
- Blues
- Drum'n'bass Dance
- Reggae
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Marchbanks on 22 Dec 2011, 14:45
I had a friend who used to write what he called tetra-dactyls, little poems of just four lines with four dactylic feet each line

Actually, that's a fairly well-known form under the name of "double dactyl."  (I've personally known about it since the early '70s).

The best one I've ever heard:

Dopplera, dopplera,
Anna Karenina,
Guilt and illicit love's
Sorrow she feels.

Train on the track nears the
Station where Anna K.
Perepodvodits'ya*
under the wheels.

*This is an obscure Russian verb that translates as "causes herself to be hurled forward."
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: EcoReck on 22 Dec 2011, 16:22
I'm probably super late on this, but did Faye break her glasses? Or did she just put tape on it to be ironic?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 22 Dec 2011, 16:30
Actually, Padma broke Faye's glasses.

She was supposed to block. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2043)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: bunnyThor on 22 Dec 2011, 21:15
So Momo is a computer with legs, right?

Then why is she consuming text data through a massively inefficient optical method? She could just jack an eBook into her skull and have processed it in half a femptosecond.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 22 Dec 2011, 21:21
Because she likes reading?
Because the author was being a contrarian dick that day and insisted that the book was only printed and never distributed electronically?
Because she works in a library, maybe?
because any number of reasons, that's why.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: WAYF on 22 Dec 2011, 21:28
Ladies and Gentlemen,

D'aaawwwwwwwwwwwww.

 :lol:
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 22 Dec 2011, 21:35
Ladies and Gentlemen,

D'aaawwwwwwwwwwwww.

 :lol:

x2. ;)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Akima on 22 Dec 2011, 21:43
So Momo is a computer with legs, right? Then why is she consuming text data through a massively inefficient optical method? She could just jack an eBook into her skull and have processed it in half a femptosecond.
It's Marigold's book and she doesn't have a skull-jack?

Best wishes to all, peace on Earth, goodwill to all sentient beings.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: starkruzr on 22 Dec 2011, 22:57
Ladies and Gentlemen,

D'aaawwwwwwwwwwwww.

 :lol:

x2. ;)
++

My first thought upon reading this: "Oh, sweetheart."
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Somebody on 22 Dec 2011, 23:15
Ah, Momo, you poor, naive, trusting fool...
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 22 Dec 2011, 23:19
Wow way to bring the room down, negative nancy.

Momo is finally understanding her place in the great network of life.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Yarin on 22 Dec 2011, 23:21
Humanity loves you to Momo
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 22 Dec 2011, 23:26
First thought: ... "Well...at least one of the intelligences does."

Second: (Ghostbusters voice)

WHO SHE TRYIN' TO CATCH?!
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Truec on 23 Dec 2011, 00:49
Freedom and champagne are the rights of all sentient beings!
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: raoullefere on 23 Dec 2011, 00:53
So Momo is a computer with legs, right?

Then why is she consuming text data through a massively inefficient optical method? She could just jack an eBook into her skull and have processed it in half a femptosecond.
Perhaps this book exists only in print. You know, so if (when) things go horribly wrong, the small, cowering remnant of humanity can read about how our electronic overlords tricked us into repeating the Pandora thing.

Or, less cynically, maybe it's a coffee-table book someone gave Marigold, possibly because they were dead certain it was something she wouldn't by for herself. It's difficult to gift the technically inclined if you're not.

Anyway, in the spirit of the troubling optimism of the season and this strip, Gary bless us, everybeing. Peace on earth, and goodwill to all.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Dr. ROFLPWN on 23 Dec 2011, 01:17
Momo for fuck's sake, legendary Pokemons are serious business, get off of her

Also if the Sweet-Tits storyline is not about her and Yelling Bird's drunken Vegas wedding officiated by a racist murdercult, I will be disappoint
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: WAYF on 23 Dec 2011, 02:28
legendary Pokemons are serious business, get off of her

Heyy, Momo is having a moment here! Marigold can always restart from her last save fi-

Oh wait, Entei is one of those roaming type Pokémon which shows up randomly. Never mind. :P
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 23 Dec 2011, 03:58
legendary Pokemons are serious business, get off of her

Heyy, Momo is having a moment here! Marigold can always restart from her last save fi-

Oh wait, Entei is one of those roaming type Pokémon which shows up randomly. Never mind. :P

Fast Asleep Entei (http://stephi-jk.deviantart.com/gallery/5568813#/d2ogxd5)
Can't Escape Raikou (http://stephi-jk.deviantart.com/gallery/5568813#/d2nm824)
Still Fleeing Suicune (http://stephi-jk.deviantart.com/gallery/5568813#/d2qzvdf)

Also, anyone find it ironic that it turns from Momo reading about AI civil rights and one AI's request to experience freedom to Marigold capturing AI sprites in a game that confines "animals" in a small metallic sphere?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: StevenC on 23 Dec 2011, 04:02
Is that the right thread for this? I'm sorry I haven't stepped outside WCDT for a while.

(http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/5025/asdfadsfasdf5.png)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 23 Dec 2011, 04:16
(I moved the above post here, because it seemed the best place for something that addressed the specific comic.)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Border Reiver on 23 Dec 2011, 04:40
Merry Christmas to all.

And if you do not celebrate - best of the season.

Peace on Earth and good will to our fellows.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: TheEvilDog on 23 Dec 2011, 04:57
Today's comic made me go "d'awwwww", followed by a severe coughing fit where I may have hawked up one of my lungs...

Anywho, in the spirit of the season, Happy Holidays folks, hope its a good one!
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Welu on 23 Dec 2011, 05:08
Let's all break open the champagne and invite the appliances!
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 23 Dec 2011, 05:58
The fridge won't join in, it's in AA, three years sober...   :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: lepetitfromage on 23 Dec 2011, 06:00
Today's comic made me go "d'awwwww", followed by a severe coughing fit where I may have hawked up one of my lungs...

me too! 'tis the season, i suppose.....

Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful holiday season filled with good food, good friends and a good decongestant. 




eeeew. decongestant is a gross word.

Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: FrozenPeas on 23 Dec 2011, 06:41
So Momo is a computer with legs, right?

Then why is she consuming text data through a massively inefficient optical method? She could just jack an eBook into her skull and have processed it in half a femptosecond.

Because she's an artificial intelligence, not a computer with legs.

The acquisition of knowledge takes more than a simple upload of information--that's one of the many things that bothered me about The Matrix. Our body of knowledge is not only that which we learn, but also the experience of learning it--including, significantly, our response to it.

Part of it has to do with the basic storage functions of the brain--as we experience any given stimuli, we highlight certain elements, diminish others, and organize the important ones according to the pre-existing structure of our minds (which structure may also be altered by the incoming information). Our memories are created by association with pre-existing memories; the more connections to existing memories and concepts that a new experience enjoys, the more easily-accessible and important that new memory will be (this is also why there are so many triggers for those ridiculous little embarrassing memories that make you want to stab yourself in the head with a fork when there's no logical reason for you to have remembered them--there's a lot of psychological energy devoted to them, and every single detail is linked to everything it can be). Memory and knowledge are, basically, like doing a wikislide inside your brain.

That said, the intake process has to be slowed down, or else, instead of establishing those connections, even for a being like Momo, with her increased mental capacity, it would be more like the eight hundred public-domain classic novels we all have sitting on our hard drives--often in .txt format from the early days of the internet--just waiting for us to finally read the damn things, as we've been promising ourselves we intend to do for many, many years.

That said, the real answer is probably just that, if she had done an instant upload, as you suggest, Jeph would have had to express that in some visual way that didn't look like Momo was possessed by some sort of electronic demon, to say nothing of ignoring the disconnect between the time necessary for such an upload and the extra time we meat-based comic readers need to upload the same information into our tiny meat-brains. Also, she's reading a book instead of a tablet or some similar device for the same reason the save icon in a variety of programs is a 3.5" floppy disc: it's a symbol that has been culturally accepted as having a particular socially-constant meaning, thus providing artists a shorthand for conveying that meaning.

tl;dr: Unicorns like to poop in the woods, which is why gnomes wear hats.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 23 Dec 2011, 06:54
What IS a good reason to love someone?

They love you back.    - 32 (20.5%)
They're funny.    - 18 (11.5%)
They're smart.    - 21 (13.5%)
They're good looking.    - 2 (1.3%)
Nice smile.    - 2 (1.3%)
Nice bod.    - 0 (0%)
Great in bed.    - 6 (3.8%)
Family likes them.    - 1 (0.6%)
Same worldview as you.    - 20 (12.8%)
Same church/synagogue/whatever as you.    - 0 (0%)
They actually show INTEREST in you!    - 23 (14.7%)
Same racist murdercult as you.    - 6 (3.8%)
Same music tastes as you.    - 0 (0%)
They like waffles!    - 4 (2.6%)
They like taking polls in webcomic forums.    - 4 (2.6%)
They're breathing.    - 8 (5.1%)
No reason.    - 9 (5.8%)

Total Voters: 62
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 23 Dec 2011, 07:00
What IS a good reason to love someone?

Because they are FrozenPeas.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Loki on 23 Dec 2011, 07:04
Is that the right thread for this? I'm sorry I haven't stepped outside WCDT for a while.

[image]

I trust Marigold would be smart enough to use a Gallade with False Swipe (http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/False_Swipe) and Mean Look (http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Mean_Look) which it would have acquired as a breeding move from having a Gengar as a father.

/nerd
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Dr. ROFLPWN on 23 Dec 2011, 08:08
Is that the right thread for this? I'm sorry I haven't stepped outside WCDT for a while.

[image]

I trust Marigold would be smart enough to use a Gallade with False Swipe (http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/False_Swipe) and Mean Look (http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Mean_Look) which it would have acquired as a breeding move from having a Gengar as a father.

/nerd

Well of course she would, she's not a scrub. She knows her Pokémon.

But you can't do fuckin' anything when your dumb robot pal is epiphany-glomping you like a tin can full of feelings. Rude, Momo. Rude.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Mad Cat on 23 Dec 2011, 08:18
*sniffle*

I've got something in my eye.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: StevenC on 23 Dec 2011, 08:20
If you use Mean Look, Entei will use Roar, though.
That's why she used Hypnosis. Little did she know that Entei can flee while sleeping (which is bullshit if you ask me, what were they thinking).
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: TheEvilDog on 23 Dec 2011, 08:46
*sniffle*

I've got something in my eye.

I got something where my lung used to be.....I think its either Christmas Cheer.....or my spleen....
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: EspyPsyche on 23 Dec 2011, 09:10
Dream World Gothitelle with Taunt. That's how you nullify both at once.

Gothitelle's ability, Shadow Tag, passively prevents Entei from fleeing. So all it has to do is block Roar, which can be done through Taunt because Roar is not a damaging attack.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Loki on 23 Dec 2011, 10:35
But Taunt may force to use Entei Struggle earlier than usual, thereby killing it, no?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: EspyPsyche on 23 Dec 2011, 10:41
It would. What you need to do is use both Gothitelle and Gallade.

Lead with Gothitelle and Taunt Entei.
While Entei is taunted, swap to Gallade. It can't use Roar because of Taunt, and can't flee because it thinks Shadow Tag is up, so it will use an attack (Fire Blast?).
Immediately Mean Look. Taunt will still be up, so Entei cannot Roar, and it won't be able to flee from Mean Look.
Hypnosis it. Now it's asleep, taunted, and locked in.
Refresh Taunt with Gallade as it falls and re-sleep as necessary, using False Swipe when not refreshing statuses.

(Taunt is required because Entei gets an attack when it wakes up, and if not taunted that will be a Roar)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 23 Dec 2011, 11:20
Not that I ever had much respect for Pokemon to begin with, but it lost what smattering of dignity it had when they started introducing monsters like "Gothitelle".

Also, there's a forum for discussing this stuff.

Also also, regarding today's comic, I'll add my voice to the chorus of d'awwwwwwws (d'aww-rus?).
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Schmorgluck on 23 Dec 2011, 11:37
The whole stuff sounds like a TED Talk. It's alike, in style, to Steven Pinker's Talk on The Myth of Violence (http://www.ted.com/talks/steven_pinker_on_the_myth_of_violence.html). In which, interestingly, he cites works of fiction as a possible cause for the trend for violence to go down, when it allows us to walk in the shoes of people different from ourselves.

It's one of my favorite TED Talks ever, I encourage you to give it a shot.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 23 Dec 2011, 11:41
Also, there's a forum for discussing this stuff.

Actually, one of the fascinating things about discussing the comic here is the way that it leads to such varied discussions at the end of the week (or even before).
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: dragontart on 23 Dec 2011, 12:34
She could just put the DS aside, you don't need to make your moves in a specific time frame in those games.
Also, in what game can you catch Entei with a Gothitelle.
I always use 1. Mean Look, 2. Hypnosis, 3. Flash/Sand-Attack, repeat 2+3 as necessary.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: AnAverageWriter on 23 Dec 2011, 12:42
Shouldn't she have a 3DS by now?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Loki on 23 Dec 2011, 12:52
Maybe Marigold is like me and considers the 3DS terribly overrated. Whenever I use it (I myself don't have one, but when at friends or the mall) I can only turn up the 3D-effect up to half, otherwise my eyes start burning.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: AnAverageWriter on 23 Dec 2011, 13:02
Maybe Marigold is like me

Maybe...

We all want to be a little bit like Marigold, inside... and we all think that Marigold is just a little bit like us, too.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: dragontart on 23 Dec 2011, 13:28
It would explain a lot. Mostly awkward things.

I'd count the 3DS to DS in general, but I think that's technically wrong.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: raoullefere on 23 Dec 2011, 17:25
Maybe Marigold is like me

Maybe...

We all want to be a little bit like Marigold, inside... and we all think that Marigold is just a little bit like us, too.
Er… Truth is, we all want to be a little bit like Pintsize, but know we can't get away with it.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 23 Dec 2011, 18:29
Also, in what game can you catch Entei with a Gothitelle.

One of those bad bootlegs....Pokemon Boobs ARGFH!!! or something like that....
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 23 Dec 2011, 19:43
Definitely an AWWWWWWW moment. 


And Merry Christmas to you all from Wellywood.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: St.Clair on 23 Dec 2011, 21:16
Pity about the five years of captivity and interrogation, though.
I imagine a lot of humans (myself included) would not be so polite and forgiving after such treatment.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 23 Dec 2011, 21:22
Nah, most of us handle middle school just fine...
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 23 Dec 2011, 21:39
Five years must seem even longer when you work at computer speeds.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 23 Dec 2011, 22:23
But how fast does an AI experience consciousness?

Just because you have a fast processor, doesn't mean it can keep up with the workload.

How many processor operations have to execute for Momo to experience hearing Marigold speak a single sentence?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: raoullefere on 23 Dec 2011, 23:47
Nah, most of us handle middle school just fine...
Yes, and at least it got a beige box. Paint that sucker everlast-seafoam-green-over-cinderblock, and it might've been a tad crankier.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 24 Dec 2011, 01:58
Nah, most of us handle middle school just fine...

HAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA /crazed
 :psyduck: :psyduck: :psyduck: :psyduck:








well to be fair you did say "most"
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 24 Dec 2011, 04:02
Middle school only seems  like it lasts 5 years...  :-P
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 24 Dec 2011, 05:09
...and then there's high school. Which, as it has been posited, never ends. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrxI_euTX4A)
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: raoullefere on 24 Dec 2011, 07:27
Middle school only seems  like it lasts 5 years...  :-P
Something like life without booze, ice cream, chocolate or (insert your craving)?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 24 Dec 2011, 07:49
Don't forget sex...

Well, for most of us.  Ain't hormones grand?
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: dr. nervioso on 24 Dec 2011, 07:50
Oh my middle school years were fine mostly. A few girl issues here and there, but I was okay. My junior and senior years were terrible though. Problems all across the board.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 24 Dec 2011, 09:55
But how fast does an AI experience consciousness?

Just because you have a fast processor, doesn't mean it can keep up with the workload.

How many processor operations have to execute for Momo to experience hearing Marigold speak a single sentence?

Reminds me of this quote from Data in Star Trek: First Contact - "0.68 seconds, sir. For an android, that is nearly an eternity."
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: MillionDollar Belt Sander on 24 Dec 2011, 14:15
Also, in what game can you catch Entei with a Gothitelle.

One of those bad bootlegs....Pokemon Boobs ARGFH!!! or something like that....

I played that once, she slapped me so hard to this day I can't turn my head left anymore. 
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 24 Dec 2011, 19:46
See, this "HOLY SHIT LEGENDARY POKEMON" stuff confuses me, since I only played first generation, the generation of the infinite Master Balls.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: dragontart on 24 Dec 2011, 21:08
See, this "HOLY SHIT LEGENDARY POKEMON" stuff confuses me, since I only played first generation, the generation of the infinite Master Balls.

(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS4v2QkmzysIrh1j81GoVjY7bYVimQUjMQZpVX4Ll0M-xShM4M19LYHmLuW)
... |:
Well I wouldn't have known of those bugs in red/blue(/green), anyway.
Also yellow was pretty.
Title: Re: WCDT 2081-85 (Christmas Week - Dec. 19-23, 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 25 Dec 2011, 09:08
Yeah, Yellow was fun, even if they did annoyingly take that out.