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Comic Discussion => QUESTIONABLE CONTENT => Topic started by: foolsguinea on 28 May 2017, 17:47

Title: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: foolsguinea on 28 May 2017, 17:47
I haven't done the WCDT in...in years, I tell ya. I don't quite know if I did the poll right.

Something something ham?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Method of Madness on 28 May 2017, 18:38
Well done.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Zebediah on 28 May 2017, 19:58
Comic's up.

Don't be hasty.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: foolsguinea on 28 May 2017, 20:08
Did Clin-ton get taller?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: brasca on 28 May 2017, 22:12
Well if Mrs. Augustus is just learning to play bass this dashes my theory that she used to be in a rock band.  I had hopes that her once hard partying ways would have crossed paths with Veronica's so the first meeting of the parents could be delightfully awkward. 
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Case on 28 May 2017, 22:44
I like Claire's outfit.

Also: Inter-sibling guilt-tripping about maintenance of parental units, yay! (notyay ...)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: shanejayell on 28 May 2017, 23:41
Well if Mrs. Augustus is just learning to play bass this dashes my theory that she used to be in a rock band.  I had hopes that her once hard partying ways would have crossed paths with Veronica's so the first meeting of the parents could be delightfully awkward.

May swipe that for my eventual fanfic. You mind?  :-D

Wonder if we'll get back to the Clinton/Brun plotline?

You know, Brun was looking for work... secretary/receptionist for Faye and Bubbles?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 28 May 2017, 23:45
Sometimes, Jeph does an excellent job in capturing just why so many people think that Clinton and Claire are twins! Today's opening panel is just one occasion.

So, sitting back and thinking: Am I the only one who thinks that Clinton is a 'glass half empty' sort of guy? He assumed that Marten was a hazard to Claire's safety; he assumed that there was no future between him and Emily; now he assumes that their mother is 'compensating' for some inner sadness by her current behaviour. It's wise to be ready for the worst but it is sometimes a bit hazardous to your emotional health to do so!

I also notice that he was essentially saying: "I'm worried about mom; you need to keep living with her because I'm certainly not giving up my personal freedom to do so!" Based on her facial expression in panel 4, Claire is clearly used to him by now but that doesn't mean that she has to like it!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Shjade on 29 May 2017, 01:09
There was about a half-second in panel 3 where I was really worried Claire was going to cut him off with a "fill the hole" entendre and I'm so glad it didn't turn out that way oh god
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Mr. Skawronska on 29 May 2017, 03:18
Amazing how that works.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Gyrre on 29 May 2017, 06:42
Sometimes, Jeph does an excellent job in capturing just why so many people think that Clinton and Claire are twins! Today's opening panel is just one occasion.

So, sitting back and thinking: Am I the only one who thinks that Clinton is a 'glass half empty' sort of guy? He assumed that Marten was a hazard to Claire's safety; he assumed that there was no future between him and Emily; now he assumes that their mother is 'compensating' for some inner sadness by her current behaviour. It's wise to be ready for the worst but it is sometimes a bit hazardous to your emotional health to do so!

I also notice that he was essentially saying: "I'm worried about mom; you need to keep living with her because I'm certainly not giving up my personal freedom to do so!" Based on her facial expression in panel 4, Claire is clearly used to him by now but that doesn't mean that she has to like it!

Speaking as a half-empty glass viewer, I prefer the term 'precautionary pessimist'. It makes life's bad surprises slightly less deflating, and life's good surprises all the more cherishable.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: sitnspin on 29 May 2017, 08:14
Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Thrudd on 29 May 2017, 10:47
Be prepared and expect the worst.

Anything going right is a pleasant surprise.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: sitnspin on 29 May 2017, 10:54
Be kind, be polite, be compassionate, but be ready to break a mother fuckers arm when you need to.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Akima on 29 May 2017, 13:27
I also notice that he was essentially saying: "I'm worried about mom; you need to keep living with her because I'm certainly not giving up my personal freedom to do so!" Based on her facial expression in panel 4, Claire is clearly used to him by now but that doesn't mean that she has to like it!
Well... That is sexism after all, isn't it? We're all used to it, but we don't have to like it. The idea that women have some greater duty to look after family members, should shoulder a greater proportion of caregiving work, and have some lesser entitlement to independence (https://www.caregiver.org/women-and-caregiving-facts-and-figures), is deeply engrained in all human societies, and obviously in Clinton too. It is very telling that a major caregiving provider in Australia is named Daughterly Care (https://daughterlycare.com.au/).

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: pwhodges on 29 May 2017, 14:32
Things change slowly, and sometimes the apparently sexist word is forced to adapt.  For instance, here in the UK it is no longer possible to assume that someone with the title "Nurse" is female - male nurses have the same title without any modification, and this usage is presented without comment on TV and radio.  Similarly, in the armed forces, the most senior nursing position of "Matron" is held by male or female officers without any change in the title.

OTOH, there was a move a few years ago to change the senior nurse on a ward from "Sister" (female) or "Charge Nurse" (male) to "Ward Manager" (either).  But many hospitals have not made the change as it is suggested that patients (especially the older ones) are confused when they find that such a familiar title as "Sister" is no longer used.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: OldGoat on 29 May 2017, 15:11
Well... That is sexism after all, isn't it? We're all used to it, but we don't have to like it. The idea that women have some greater duty to look after family members, should shoulder a greater proportion of caregiving work, and have some lesser entitlement to independence (https://www.caregiver.org/women-and-caregiving-facts-and-figures), is deeply engrained in all human societies, and obviously in Clinton too. [/url][/i].

It probably has something to do with fully functioning mammary glands being overwhelmingly in the possession of the same people who are equipped with ovaries and uteruses (or should that be uteri?).  "Nurse" has multiple meanings. 

On a related note, I always assumed the use of "sister" to refer to medical nurses to be an artifact of the days when the profession was controlled by religious orders.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Kugai on 29 May 2017, 15:14
Careful there Clin-ton,, backpaddle too much there and you'll wind up cavitateing and going in circles   ;D
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: tut21 on 29 May 2017, 19:54
Butt Defender: When bears and fluffy clouds can no longer handle the job.

There's a lot going on in this comic. Have we seen that Robocop-style Enforcement Droid before?

Edit: Ah, Never mind (http://questionablecontent.wikia.com/wiki/ED-210).
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 29 May 2017, 20:10
ED-209 making his cameo I see.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: shanejayell on 29 May 2017, 20:32
Yay, Brun! I was right.

Is it me or are there a LOT of robots in the background?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: brasca on 29 May 2017, 20:35
Sometimes, Jeph does an excellent job in capturing just why so many people think that Clinton and Claire are twins! Today's opening panel is just one occasion.

So, sitting back and thinking: Am I the only one who thinks that Clinton is a 'glass half empty' sort of guy? He assumed that Marten was a hazard to Claire's safety; he assumed that there was no future between him and Emily; now he assumes that their mother is 'compensating' for some inner sadness by her current behaviour. It's wise to be ready for the worst but it is sometimes a bit hazardous to your emotional health to do so!

I also notice that he was essentially saying: "I'm worried about mom; you need to keep living with her because I'm certainly not giving up my personal freedom to do so!" Based on her facial expression in panel 4, Claire is clearly used to him by now but that doesn't mean that she has to like it!

I don't think all of the things you list really demonstrate a pattern.  Clinton is protective of Claire since I can imagine her journey to who she is now wasn't easy.  Given what has happened to many transgender people it's good to be cautious and let's not forget that his first meeting with Marten and his friends did not go so well.  He may not have been optimistic about his chances with Emily, but if he thought it was doomed then he wouldn't have been so upset after her attempt at matchmaking failed so badly.  As for worrying about their mother everyone does it because it's difficult to think of them as older people.  He's known her longer as Mom.  And while there is room to interpret his suggestion that Claire remain with their mom as some underlying sexism that may or may not be true, but it could also be attributed to Claire being the older sibling who's found herself while he's still working on that.  In other words it's his turn and he doesn't want to go back to living with his mom until he finds out who he is.   
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: DaiJB on 29 May 2017, 20:37
There seem to be more robots than organics on the street - is the robot hegemony looming?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 29 May 2017, 20:52
Nah, they are just heading to the new repair shop on Union street.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: brasca on 29 May 2017, 21:08
Think about it Brun.  You live with Renee.  It would take a very brave soul to sneak into that apartment and use the toilet. 
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Method of Madness on 29 May 2017, 21:23
Regarding Monday's comic, I didn't know Clinton had moved out. I know he lives at the dorms, but I assumed he still considered his mom's place to be "home".
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Near Lurker on 29 May 2017, 21:28
...does Jeph's Northampton have a "robot neighborhood"?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: brasca on 29 May 2017, 21:38
You mean Little Cybertron.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Neko_Ali on 29 May 2017, 21:47
ED-209 making his cameo I see.

It looks like a Zentradi command pod to me. Only you know.. much much smaller. I also saw Melon and Arthur's arm.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: OldGoat on 29 May 2017, 22:43
I also saw Melon and Arthur's arm.
I was noticing that, too.  At least I think it's Melon, but can we make a positive ID without knowing whether or not her butt (or, dare I say, can?) been recently attached?  If she's got downmarket facial features there may be a few that look like her out there.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Timemaster on 29 May 2017, 22:53
A lot of robots here today.
Is that a Battletech Marauder in the second panel? If yes, why are people afraid of Bubbles?  :-D

TM
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Rincewind on 29 May 2017, 23:11
I wonder what possible-Melon is carrying? A protective cover for delicate devices? Maybe an Otter-Butt?   :claireface:
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 29 May 2017, 23:17
Like tut21 said, the panels in this comic are very crowded and there are an awful lot of synthetics out on the street. I'm wondering if Northampton has some special significance to them? Is there an Ellicott-Chatham laboratory nearby? Are they all looking for The Creator's Daughter so they can get her autograph? No, I think that I know what it is: I'm thinking that the owner of the convenience store had advertised the spring sale on the web. Being connected at all times, the synthetics are always the first to know these things and they've descended on the area to get the first shot at the bargains!

I can't blame Clinton from being suspicious; she has form in this area, after all. However, I do think that it would be enormously more difficult for her to 'set up' something with Brun than it was with Emily. I'm not sure they've even met apart from one or two casual encounters.

Is that a Battletech Marauder in the second panel? If yes, why are people afraid of Bubbles?  :-D

No, that's ED-210; he's a long-time resident of the area and everyone knows that you really need to be more worried about his wife! :wink:

I wonder what possible-Melon is carrying? A protective cover for delicate devices? Maybe an Otter-Butt?   :claireface:

I'm guessing that it's an old-style portable AM/FM radio; they were 'in' for a while there about five years back.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Milayna on 29 May 2017, 23:29
For the amount of synthetics in the area...well the whole "race" isn't even that old. This isn't a social movement that's had time to stabilize - and for spawning a whole new life-form, that could take hundreds of years.

When this comic started there was only Pintsize, who was eventually joined by similarly-configured AI's, and perhaps a few specialized ones such as that Vespa. While others, including humanoid AI's, existed in background canon (we now know), they were not present on-scene.

It looks to me like Young Jeph intended Pintisize et al to be "joke characters" but as the comic grew more socially-conscious, more diverse, and leaned toward justice, the AI's grew from a joke to a serious subject (which I'm fascinated by, in fact; I love how he's been handling this). In-canon, I can easily view this change as part of the social movement happening in the background, as robots find their place from being novelties and "companions" to fully autonomous members of society.

Also the return of Brun at last! Bruuuun! <3 (She's become my favorite character).
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Tremayne on 30 May 2017, 00:32
ED-209 making his cameo I see.

It looks like a Zentradi command pod to me. Only you know.. much much smaller.

Yeah, it looks like either the Zentraedi pod (http://rpggamer.org/uploaded_images/zentraediofficerspod.jpeg) or one of the Battletech/Mechwarrior (http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/24/48/79504824/photos/undefined/Jerome%20Winson%20Marauder%20IIC-1.png) ones derived from it.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: hakko504 on 30 May 2017, 01:13
I also saw Melon and Arthur's arm.
I was noticing that, too.  At least I think it's Melon, but can we make a positive ID without knowing whether or not her butt (or, dare I say, can?) been recently attached?  If she's got downmarket facial features there may be a few that look like her out there.
Well, Jeph's note today is 'Hi Melon' so I think we can safely assume it's her :)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Akima on 30 May 2017, 01:53
Is Butt Defender brand TP hypoallergenic?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: pwhodges on 30 May 2017, 02:00
There are tissues impregnated with a trace of skin cream - perhaps something like that?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: USS Martenclaire on 30 May 2017, 02:02
I think we're overlooking a critical point here - what is the name of the robot in panel 2? I'm going with either "Mr Lifty",
 depending on gender.

Plus, when someone asks him "Bro, do you even lift?", he can turn to them and say "YES."
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 30 May 2017, 02:06
The consensus among longer-term readers right now appears to be that the robot in panel 2 is ED-210. He's a friend of Pintsize and Winslow's. Additionally, (and I find this fascinating) he's married - Pintsize and Winslow told Faye about his bachelor party; Pintsize doesn't like ED's taste in strip clubs and Winslow mourned the fact that his chassis design makes it anatomically impossible for him to have a lap dance.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Zebediah on 30 May 2017, 03:57
What's so unusual about a married robot couple? All this means is that Massachusetts has allowed robot marriage since at least 2008 (and given our track record, we were probably the first US state to allow it.) Faye didn't even bat an eye at the idea of robots getting married - it was the idea of a robot bachelor party that she found surprising.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: tomveil on 30 May 2017, 06:04
World-building note: CVS exists, but they have a radically different logo.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: ronbo on 30 May 2017, 07:33
That CVS has terrible hours.  Quite a few of the CVS stores in my area don't close.

Jeph does seem to be initiating a robot population explosion.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Zebediah on 30 May 2017, 07:51
The would be the CVS on Main Street, and the one RL Northampton is open 8AM - 10PM every day. (I was just there thirty minutes ago.)

Those hours are pretty typical for drugstores in Northampton. There are no 24-hour drugstores in town - the nearest one I know of is in Chicopee.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: tut21 on 30 May 2017, 11:49
My eye keeps focusing on the person with the long red hair who walks past Claire and Clinton in the first two panels. That would be a subtle and mysterious way to introduce a new character.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: DonInKansas on 30 May 2017, 16:17
I would buy ALL of the Butt Defender toilet paper.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Tova on 30 May 2017, 16:29
I don't know. I've heard that Butt Defender is a major contributor to the Butt Disease epidemic.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Gyrre on 30 May 2017, 17:16
Be kind, be polite, be compassionate, but be ready to break a mother fuckers arm when you need to.
Mind if I quote you on that?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Kugai on 30 May 2017, 17:57
ED-209 making his cameo I see.

It looks like a Zentradi command pod to me. Only you know.. much much smaller. I also saw Melon and Arthur's arm.

Nope, that's Deathbot 2000.  Glad to see he's still around

And sometimes I wanna smack Clinton upside his head
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Zebediah on 30 May 2017, 19:39
Comic's up. That's not a dog joke.  :wow:
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: TheEvilDog on 30 May 2017, 20:39
I'd be lion if I said I was expecting that.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Storel on 30 May 2017, 21:19
Similarly, in the armed forces, the most senior nursing position of "Matron" is held by male or female officers without any change in the title.

That seems a bit silly to me -- "matron" means someone female.

OTOH, there was a move a few years ago to change the senior nurse on a ward from "Sister" (female) or "Charge Nurse" (male) to "Ward Manager" (either).  But many hospitals have not made the change as it is suggested that patients (especially the older ones) are confused when they find that such a familiar title as "Sister" is no longer used.

Whereas here in the States it's "Charge Nurse" regardless of gender -- which seems pretty reasonable since we also use "Nurse" regardless of gender. As for confusing the older patients, well, that'll correct itself with time, won't it? Either they'll learn the new term and become less confused, or they'll die off and be replaced by younger patients who have a clue, eh?  :wink:

But it's better to go ahead and change the term and deal with the confusion, IMHO; if you never change it, that just perpetuates a different confusion.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 30 May 2017, 23:29
There is something amazingly cute about today's strip. Brun clearly is still on a high from learning that she can tell jokes but clearly her sense of order means that they have to be jokes about dogs in order to be funny. On the other hand, it's great that Clinton feels at ease enough around Brun to try to respond in kind. That said, her 'does not compute' expression in panel 5 reminds us just how difficult holding a conversation with Brun might be. I don't know if Clinton will have the courage to try again after that experience!

If Brun has a difficulty dealing with science nerd jokes that don't involve dogs, it is clear that she has even more difficulty dealing with Claire. Her expression in panel 1 suggests that everything and anything about Claire doesn't make any sense to her whatsoever!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: USS Martenclaire on 30 May 2017, 23:45
A group of vets was doing research into canine anatomy but had to stop when there was an accident in the lab.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: oddtail on 31 May 2017, 01:17
See, this is the reason I keep going back and forth on how I feel about Brun.

On the one hand, she is an interesting character and can be quite likeable. And I can definitely sympathize with anyone who has trouble interacting with people. I may not struggle to the EXTENT that she apparently does, but I've been there.

On the other hand... I know it's partly for the sake of the last-panel joke, but the very matter-of-fact way she rejects a joke that does not fit what it *should* be kinda annoys me. I guess that speaks to the way her train of thought just goes to places I do not comprehend, but a person who has trouble communicating with people acting like there is a proper way to respond to what she said is something that just rubs me the wrong way. Upon rereading the comic, she doesn't say anything angry or negative, and she seems more baffled than anything judging from her expression (I think it's Clinton's "Sorry" that threw me off), but her reaction is just so off-the-wall, it makes no sense to me that she'd act this way, no matter how fixated she is on dog jokes at the moment. Plus, maybe it's where the comic cuts off. Clinton's "sorry" and a lack of further speech balloons from her seems like she thinks the "sorry" is warranted. If the next strip continues this particular thread of conversation between them, my perception of Brun's reaction might completely change.

Right now, though, how shall I put it... in many situations in my life, I share Clinton's attitude of being overly apologetic. So I have a lot of sympathy for him, especially since he didn't do anything wrong. And my sympathy/empathy for him right now kinda translates into being annoyed at Brun, I guess.

It doesn't help that her jokes are... I'm not gonna say "terrible", because I actually love groan-worthy puns. I honestly do. But they seem super-forced to me, they barely make sense as puns. Although I'll admit, they're very "Brun", I think. She seems to mash two words that kinda have a similar element together for a pun, I somehow think it's very in-character for her to take this very... methodical approach to joking. Doesn't change the fact that I still don't like the jokes.

Or maybe it's just that I don't like characters that act extremely, for the lack of a better word, wacky. Emily is consistently my least favourite character, so maybe there's just something about characters not reacting "normal" that throws me off.

I'm sure I had a point in there somewhere, but seems I've gone into disjointed, random comments on the comic; sorry about that. Hopefully part of my comment is somewhat useful or insightful to someone in some way.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 31 May 2017, 01:24
I'm wondering if the next seven or so strips will be just Clinton and Brun struggling to get onto the same wavelength on various matters. There may even be a running gag about Brun not understanding the various indirect ways Clinton asks her out on a date. I've thought for a while that Jeph intends to use the character of Brun to poke fun at the legacy social conventions of dating, personal interaction and relationships that are so old and ingrained that no-one is even entirely sure anymore where they came from and for what reason.

If I had to make a guess, I would take an early indicator that I'm right about the direction Jeph is taking this would be Brun asking Clinton if Claire is still trying to manage his romantic life.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: pwhodges on 31 May 2017, 03:35
a person who has trouble communicating with people acting like there is a proper way to respond to what she said is something that just rubs me the wrong way

One of the admins at the forum where I "advise" is autistic.  She has exactly the attitude you are disliking there.  She was one of the originators of the forum thirteen years ago, so my belief that she is not suitable to have any kind of mod powers cuts no ice.

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: JimC on 31 May 2017, 04:26
That seems a bit silly to me -- "matron" means someone female.

Quote from: Humpty Dumpty
“When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.”

There's a fair few other words about whose current meaning is considerably at odds with their derivation.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: JoeCovenant on 31 May 2017, 04:30
I'd be lion if I said I was expecting that.

S'okay, he took no pride in it.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Akima on 31 May 2017, 06:08
What does a Snow Leopard weigh? One ounce (http://www.cougarhill.info/cats/snowleopard.html).

That's not a dog joke either. I'm a cheetah.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 31 May 2017, 06:25
Brun makes dog jokes and is introverted.

People who make cat jokes are purrverted.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: brasca on 31 May 2017, 07:14
Comic's up. That's not a dog joke.  :wow:

True, but it can also be considered a physics joke which is why Clinton told a similar joke except with a lion pun.  Unless Clinton has been present for all of Brun's endless dog jokes he wouldn't know that. 
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Thrudd on 31 May 2017, 07:33
And at the end he gives a sheepish apology.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Majumba on 31 May 2017, 07:38
Not sure what kind of dog lives in a particle accelerator, but his quarking kept me up all night.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Stoutfellow on 31 May 2017, 07:51
True, but it can also be considered a physics joke which is why Clinton told a similar joke except with a lion pun.  Unless Clinton has been present for all of Brun's endless dog jokes he wouldn't know that.

They have been texting; perhaps she's told him some of those jokes that way. If so, he may have missed the common factor, or he may have thought it didn't apply to him.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Kugai on 31 May 2017, 16:23
Oh come on Brun, throw the guy a bone so he can retrieve the situation, He did try even if he did miss the pointer about what breed of jokes she liked.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: TheEvilDog on 31 May 2017, 19:10
Ah the doomy cloud of doomy doom.
Been a while since we've seen it, but then again, Marten is hap-...wait...Aww, isn't that nice? He's given it to his girlfriend's brother!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: starkruzr on 31 May 2017, 19:16
Signs point to Brun likely being aromantic and asexual, but Clinton appears to be SUPER into emotionally unavailable women, just like I was at his age.

Prediction: SADNESS.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: TheBiscuit on 31 May 2017, 20:50
Ohhh, Clinton...

You're unable to hold a proper conversation with this woman. You have very little in common. You don't seem to have ant shared activities or interests. She doesn't understand your evasive hints, and you apparently don't understand how to make yourself clear.

This does not end well for you.

The basis of a relationship should be that you each like spending time with the other person, not just that you find them attractive. You made the same mistake with Emily. The two situations are not different. In both cases there was a complete absence of anything on which to base a relationship.

I admit that this can be fine if both parties merely desire a hook up, but you don't strike me as that type, and nor do the targets of your attraction.

This does not end well for you. Find a person who you for who they are, and who likes you for who you are. It isn't easy, but it is the only way you'll be truly happy.

---

Am I the only one who sees Clinton's attraction in both of these cases to be breathtakingly superficial?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: brasca on 31 May 2017, 21:22
Well there is something to be said about dating people who are your type, but if they won't have anything to do with you then you have to cast the net more broadly.  At least he's trying to pursue others outside of his comfort zone instead of limiting himself to other awkward nerds. 

Personally I don't mind the friendzone, what infuriates me is the people who encourage me not to give up even though I know their heart is in the right place.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 31 May 2017, 21:45
I never believed a romantic scenario was possible between those two in the first place. Now I don't even think a friendship would be possible. I would personally have a hard time getting closer to someone like Brun.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: brasca on 31 May 2017, 21:54
They were both there when the bar burned down and while no one's life was in danger it was still a traumatic event especially for Brun who lost her job and everything she had.  Events like that can bring people together and perhaps Clinton may be blinded by that. 
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Case on 31 May 2017, 21:54
See, this is the reason I keep going back and forth on how I feel about Brun.

On the one hand, she is an interesting character and can be quite likeable. And I can definitely sympathize with anyone who has trouble interacting with people. I may not struggle to the EXTENT that she apparently does, but I've been there.

On the other hand... I know it's partly for the sake of the last-panel joke, but the very matter-of-fact way she rejects a joke that does not fit what it *should* be kinda annoys me.
...

IDK, it seems to me like Jeph doesn't really know yet what he wants to do with her, so right now, she feels a bit like a one-trick pony.

But yeah, I was a bit disappointed with today's "Brun-takes-Clin-ton-literally-again-badumn-tish", too ...


a person who has trouble communicating with people acting like there is a proper way to respond to what she said is something that just rubs me the wrong way

One of the admins at the forum where I "advise" is autistic.  She has exactly the attitude you are disliking there.  She was one of the originators of the forum thirteen years ago, so my belief that she is not suitable to have any kind of mod powers cuts no ice.

(click to show/hide)

To the degree that she believes people are required to react to her spontaneous associations in a way congruent with her internal monologue (because of course they have spent the past weeks in her brain)?

Had a friend who was prone to converse like I'd spent the past 20 minutes in his brain ("Hey, nice bar - how'd you find it?", "So John came up to me the other day and told me about that thing with ...", "Oz, who the fuck is John and what the fuck does he have to do with the conversation we were having?", "Oh! So John is this guy. As I was saying ...", "I hate you ..." )

But he was just a self-obsessed twat, not autistic.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 31 May 2017, 23:30
Yeah, I thought that this was going to come up eventually for Brun and Clinton.

It is no surprise to me  that she really doesn't get how 'friend' could be anything more than just enjoying being with someone on a personal level and having a degree of trust for them. I suspect that at least part of this may come from her having a difficult time with non-literal meanings of words. I'm sure if Clinton had specifically asked Brun whether she was interested in Elliott romantically, he would have got chapter-and-verse of the Brun-Elliott-Renee triangle (FWIW, I suspect that Brun would consider it inappropriate to have romantic thoughts about Elliott because "he's Renee's" and that would literally be the end of it for her).

Of course, all of this puts Clinton in a massive disadvantage. He is very bad at being direct with girls to whom he is attracted. He can only express himself in the most roundabout and indirect way which, as we see here, Brun will entirely fail to understand. Probably not a good sign but Brun's conversational needs are pretty clear. We'll see how he deals with them. The real problem is that I suspect Brun will need something like: "I am romantically and sexually attracted to you. Would you like to enter into an emotional relationship with me?" I think that Clinton's head would probably explode if he tried to say that.

I just want to add that panel 4 is the sweetest that Jeph has ever made Brun. Her simple incomprehension of the question, her innocent inability to understand why Clinton wanted to know and whether 'friend' could mean anything other than the obvious is really endearing.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Sullivan on 01 Jun 2017, 01:24
Ohhh, Clinton...
[...]
This does not end well for you.
[...]
This does not end well for you. Find a person who you for who they are, and who likes you for who you are. It isn't easy, but it is the only way you'll be truly happy.

---

Am I the only one who sees Clinton's attraction in both of these cases to be breathtakingly superficial?

I think you're right, but it's something Clinton has to figure out for himself. As do each of us.

It took me a long time to learn to recognize the signs of "hey. I really don't like spending much time with this person, certainly as much as I'd need to to justify going after anything more than friendship".

The people who just have to be in a Relationship to satisfy their ego probably don't care.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: oddtail on 01 Jun 2017, 01:39
I really like the comic. And it goes well with my previous post on going back-and-forth on Brun.

What I find amusing and even somewhat insightful about the comic is that Clinton offers Brun lunch - purely because he's being friendly, of course! - but Brun's mention of buying someone else lunch immediately makes him mildly jealous. This speaks to both how social conventions work AND to the fact that no, Clinton's offer is not rooted in him trying to be a friend, not strictly.

Oh, I fully believe he fully intends the lunch to be about being friends, on the conscious level. But in reality, it's a kind of a socially acceptable... OK, that's a terrible word, but "investment" in a person he might be romantically interested in. Otherwise, he would not wonder what kind of "friend" a person that Brun intends to buy lunch is.

And I guess it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable with his offer. He certainly means well, and he obviously has no ill intentions. But it looks like in interpersonal stuff, just like in economics, there is no such thing as a free lunch. There's always strings attached, even if they are super-flimsy strings.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: JimC on 01 Jun 2017, 02:39
But he was just a self-obsessed twat, not autistic.
Can't help thinking that in the same way there is an autistic spectrum rather than a rigid boundary, there is probably also a self-obsessed twat spectrum, not a rigid boundary, and its not utterly inconceivable there could be some overlap.

But that gets us into the whole messy area of to what extent behaviour is a choice, and to what extent it is dominated by inherited factors and environmental factors. An area that's particularly messy since it seems to be as much informed by political beliefs and prejudices as by rational evaluation. For sure we're not going to find any answers here.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: oddtail on 01 Jun 2017, 03:38
But he was just a self-obsessed twat, not autistic.
An area that's particularly messy since it seems to be as much informed by political beliefs and prejudices as by rational evaluation.

I'd go a step further and say it's fundamentally impossible to answer this question, even approaching it from a rational standpoint. It's essentially the question of free will, whether it exists and what that means. And we as a species have been grappling with the notion of free will for thousands of years, moreso since our knowledge of biology and psychology developed in the last few centuries.

It's a philosophical matter rather than a scientific one. No matter how well we know the human nature from the "facts" standpoint, the meaning of those facts is subjective. We *know* we have some sort of agency, but the very concept of agency is a subjective, self-assigned factor, not a hard and objective fact.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Kugai on 01 Jun 2017, 16:19
I think both of the are socially awkward in certain situations.   Brun may have a good excuse with her inability to garner certain social clues if, as some suspect, she is a High Functioning Autistic individual.

Clinton's just awkward,
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: shanejayell on 01 Jun 2017, 17:10
Poor poor Clinton. I do not see this ending well.  :-P
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Storel on 01 Jun 2017, 17:14
Poor poor Clinton. I do not see this ending well.  :-P

Nothing has ended well for Clinton yet -- why should he start now?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Thrudd on 01 Jun 2017, 18:06
Poor poor Clinton. I do not see this ending well.  :-P
Nothing has ended well for Clinton yet -- why should he start now?
Heck - Nothing has started well for him either - this one started with a harpoon IIRC.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: OldGoat on 01 Jun 2017, 18:18
I think both of the are socially awkward in certain situations.   Brun may have a good excuse with her inability to garner certain social clues if, as some suspect, she is a High Functioning Autistic individual.
But Brun must be something of a savant since, when tending bar, she can read a person like a book. 
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Sullivan on 01 Jun 2017, 20:19
And she said "I am very good at my job."
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Gyrre on 01 Jun 2017, 20:37
I choose to believe the last part of that sign says "Rob the Giraffe" and is meant solely to see if anyone read the whole sign.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Milayna on 01 Jun 2017, 22:11
She's good at reading other peoples' intentions toward other people. Not so much their intentions toward her.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 01 Jun 2017, 23:20
You know, I wonder if this is one of the first times that Brun has laughed out loud! It's another one of those occasions where Jeph makes Brun very, very sweet! Why do I now think that she's going to spend the rest of the day saying "Relativistic Lion Collider" and then bursting into giggles? If nothing else, Clinton has given Brun that!

I've got to say that today's strip doesn't make me feel that there is much future for a closer relationship than friendship between Clinton and Brun. I don't think that Clinton is ready to make or comfortable with the investment in time and effort that I think would be necessary. I may be doing him a disservice though. Maybe, just maybe, he will enjoy making her happy enough that it makes him happy and the rest occurs in its natural sequence of events.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 01 Jun 2017, 23:57
Strange painting in the background.
"No loitskaskarobgira"

I just don't get modern art. :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: pwhodges on 02 Jun 2017, 00:39
Better not loiter around it then.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: brasca on 02 Jun 2017, 01:20
You know, I wonder if this is one of the first times that Brun has laughed out loud! It's another one of those occasions where Jeph makes Brun very, very sweet! Why do I now think that she's going to spend the rest of the day saying "Relativistic Lion Collider" and then bursting into giggles? If nothing else, Clinton has given Brun that!

Either that or she'll start telling physics jokes instead of dog jokes for the next few weeks. 
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: USS Martenclaire on 02 Jun 2017, 01:27
You know, I wonder if this is one of the first times that Brun has laughed out loud! It's another one of those occasions where Jeph makes Brun very, very sweet! Why do I now think that she's going to spend the rest of the day saying "Relativistic Lion Collider" and then bursting into giggles? If nothing else, Clinton has given Brun that!

Either that or she'll start telling physics jokes instead of dog jokes for the next few weeks.

I hope not otherwise it's going to be a bit of
(https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c2a53b7e1a1a64041f3dfca19baf22b2ec0d5c0e)

...but then I most folks here are used to Brun's

(https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/2d50998fa121797cea9f392ae95c39fb7bb8928c)

I'm quite particular with my puns. (Okay, okay I'll stop now)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: JoeCovenant on 02 Jun 2017, 04:14
You know, I wonder if this is one of the first times that Brun has laughed out loud! It's another one of those occasions where Jeph makes Brun very, very sweet! Why do I now think that she's going to spend the rest of the day saying "Relativistic Lion Collider" and then bursting into giggles? If nothing else, Clinton has given Brun that!

Either that or she'll start telling physics jokes instead of dog jokes for the next few weeks.

Derive y = (r3)/3

(Thank you, The Simpsons)
I hope not otherwise it's going to be a bit of
(https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c2a53b7e1a1a64041f3dfca19baf22b2ec0d5c0e)

...but then I most folks here are used to Brun's

(https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/2d50998fa121797cea9f392ae95c39fb7bb8928c)

I'm quite particular with my puns. (Okay, okay I'll stop now)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Magniras on 02 Jun 2017, 10:08
Okay, I get the No Loitering and No Skating.  But does that sign really say No Ska and No Giraffes?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: TinPenguin on 02 Jun 2017, 10:51
Strange painting in the background.
"No loitskaskarobgira"

I just don't get modern art. :psyduck:

It's not modern art, it's probably tornedalsfinska.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Stoutfellow on 02 Jun 2017, 11:54
Okay, I get the No Loitering and No Skating.  But does that sign really say No Ska and No Giraffes?

I expect that the third one is "No Skateboarding"; I've often seen that paired with "No Skating". The fourth one? "No Giraffes" seems as likely as anything else.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Roborat on 02 Jun 2017, 12:45
Okay, I get the No Loitering and No Skating.  But does that sign really say No Ska and No Giraffes?

I expect that the third one is "No Skateboarding"; I've often seen that paired with "No Skating". The fourth one? "No Giraffes" seems as likely as anything else.

I came her to ask the same question, I was hoping the collective hive mind had figured out the last two lines by now.  My best guess was "No Robbery and No Giraffes"  Could be someone who doesn't like Roberts and Girards as well, I suppose.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Zebediah on 02 Jun 2017, 13:24
My best guess was "No Robbery and No Giraffes"

"No Robbery" would kind of already be covered by Massachusetts general statutes - it's not legal anywhere in the state, so you don't have to specifically warn people against it.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: cesium133 on 02 Jun 2017, 14:32
That doesn't mean they wouldn't, though.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Gyrre on 02 Jun 2017, 15:49
My best guess was "No Robbery and No Giraffes"

"No Robbery" would kind of already be covered by Massachusetts general statutes - it's not legal anywhere in the state, so you don't have to specifically warn people against it.
Never underestimate the power of a few stupid people to ruin things for everyone else (let's avoid making that political).
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Kugai on 02 Jun 2017, 18:05
This is my take

No:
Loitering
Skating
Skateboarding
Robots
Graffiti


That fourth one seems to be consistent with Jeph mentioning that not everyone is comfortable with having the AI/Robots around even now.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: cesium133 on 02 Jun 2017, 22:42
I think the last one is "Giraffes."
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Sullivan on 03 Jun 2017, 06:30
No Girls ?
No Girdles?
No Girders?

(I  know there's an "a" on the sign, as in "Giraffes". So? It's a typo! :)  )
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: TinPenguin on 03 Jun 2017, 09:08
No Girandoles.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Kugai on 03 Jun 2017, 16:02
No Girlymen?


 ;D
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3491 to 3495 (29 May to 2 June 2017)
Post by: Tova on 03 Jun 2017, 18:46
There is in fact an a on the sign, you cheating cheaters who cheat.  :evil: