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Comic Discussion => QUESTIONABLE CONTENT => Topic started by: Merrick on 30 Aug 2010, 02:16

Title: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Merrick on 30 Aug 2010, 02:16
Dora SURELY isn't that insecure/stupid.   :|

Faye's just been out on a date that SHE set up, for feck's sake, and it's not exactly like they're making out.  :roll:
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: zagraf on 30 Aug 2010, 02:27
Yeah, seriously. I mean, their bodies are a more-than-safe distance apart in that hug. This is, however, consistent with Dora's unpredictable jealousy.

I gotta say, though: when I got to the fifth panel, and then looked back up at today's title, I was momentarily concerned they were gonna kiss.  :-o
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Arancaytar on 30 Aug 2010, 02:27
Dora is going to stumble in on them in a few seconds and freak out.

Frigging called it!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: brew on 30 Aug 2010, 02:32
Dora SURELY isn't that insecure/stupid.   :|

lol
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: akronnick on 30 Aug 2010, 02:34
snip
This is, however, consistent with Dora's unpredictable jealousy.
snip

Dora is quick to jump to conclusions, but once she figures out whats going on, she usually calms down and accepts the reality rather than hold on to her jelousy. The fact that neither Marten or Faye are wearing pants doesn't look good, but then she'll remember that they both live there, have lived there longer than her, and don't usually wear pants in the middle of the night.

On the other hand, the panic adrenaline should help Faye for the fight or flight that's sure to result from the epic shouting episode about to ensue.

Of course, if things really get out of hand, the police will find a catatonic Hannelore sitting up in the fetal position on their couch, surrounded by the blood soaked corpses of Marten, Faye and Dora.

Either that or a three-way...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Akima on 30 Aug 2010, 02:35
Frigging called it!
Yeah well, that snuck up on us like an dustbin* falling down a concrete staircase.

*Ash-can for USAnians?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 30 Aug 2010, 02:39
I love Faye's cute little lip-bite when she admits she's excited about the possibilities with Angus.  Very adorable.  And way to go, Marten's Penis, for breaking the tension.  Who'd have thought the way to calm down an insecure Faye was to show here some dick?
Well, Sven, I guess.
ANYWAY.  Yeah, Dora's walking in was pretty much inevitable.  But I don't think she's genuinely pissed-off or suspicious, just being territorial with her fella.  She's been no worse in the past when threatening other ladies who seem to show genuine interest in Marten.  It's just a... compromising moment.

...also.  While I hate to say this - and I'm going to sound like a 13-year-old Apprentice Douchebag by even saying it... ohGodDoracameltoe.  I know that it's the seam of her boyshorts, I know it's not what it looks like, and I know it's just realistic drawing to show the curve of her thighs, but... my eyes slid across from Marten and Faye and then I saw that Dora's midsection was in line with my eyes and then I glanced down and HELLO CAMEL TOE.  I'm a bad person.

Oh, and looking at the Twitter... did something happen with the bunnies?  *concern*
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: tinkerbell on 30 Aug 2010, 03:05
While I hate to say this - and I'm going to sound like a 13-year-old Apprentice Douchebag by even saying it... ohGodDoracameltoe.  I know that it's the seam of her boyshorts, I know it's not what it looks like, and I know it's just realistic drawing to show the curve of her thighs, but... my eyes slid across from Marten and Faye and then I saw that Dora's midsection was in line with my eyes and then I glanced down and HELLO CAMEL TOE.  I'm a bad person.

OH GOD NOW I CANNOT STOP LOOKING AT IT. IT IS LIKE A SOLAR ECLIPSE! ... I know I should not look, but I cannot help myself.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: akronnick on 30 Aug 2010, 03:11
*Ash-can for USAnians?

I believe trash can, is the most widely used Americanism in this situation, but ash can is acceptable as a regional/temporal variation.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: no one special on 30 Aug 2010, 03:49
Okay, F*** THIS. 

I'm not one to usually spit disparaging remarks if I can help it.  But dammit, that is IT.  Done.  Finito. 

I am SICK of Dora and her paranoid bulls***.  I don't care if she DOES calm down after a few seconds, I don't care if she's being "territorial."  If after all this time, after everything they've all been through, after moving into the apartment - after ALL THAT, to still be her paranoid, ultra-possessive self?  F*** THAT. 

She makes me SO MAD.  Ugh.  Ridiculous. 
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: akronnick on 30 Aug 2010, 04:04
I agree, no one special, if Dora gives Marten anything more than an "Oh, okay, that makes sense, I'm sorry." reaction, he needs to call her on her bullshit.

He and (especially) Faye did absolutely nothing wrong, and if Dora can't deal with Marten's relationship, which predates her and Marten, with Faye, who is supposedly her best friend, then Marten should seriously consider whether he should DTMFA.

And if Dora really is that insecure, maybe she needs some time with Dr. Corrine.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Border Reiver on 30 Aug 2010, 04:23
While everyone's going off on how unrealistic it is for Dora to be a little suspicious at the situation think for half a second:

a.  She is somewhat insecure about here relationship, no real reason but then everbody's got some sort of hangup, her's is this;
b.  She wakes up in the middle of the night and  finds her boyfriend and the girl he had the hots for in a hug (which we can see is platonic, but Dora doesn't have the benefit of our angle) and neither is wearing pants;
c.  She knows that he "Still has feelings" for;
d.  How rational are you within 5 minutes of waking up?

I'm figuring 2-3 strips of hilarilious misunderstanding, followed by making up.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 30 Aug 2010, 04:52
Actually, I think Dora's kidding.

*Ash-can for USAnians?

I believe trash can, is the most widely used Americanism in this situation, but ash can is acceptable as a regional/temporal variation.

I've only heard it used for as another name for depth charges. But I live in the South: we be different.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Mad Cat on 30 Aug 2010, 04:55
Dora is going to stumble in on them in a few seconds and freak out.

Frigging called it!
Get in line.

http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,24992.msg958329.html#msg958329
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: akronnick on 30 Aug 2010, 05:05
I've only heard it used for as another name for depth charges. But I live in the South: we be different/

I believe the word "ashcan" is a remnant from the time when folks heated their houses exclusively with stoves and fireplaces, and would thus need a fireproof container to dispose of potentially hot ashes. A cylindrical steel receptacle with a tight fitting lid would serve that purpose nicely. When not needed for ash duty, it could hold all manner of other contents, for instance, household refuse.

And before this thread becomes the Wikipedia article for waste receptacle, I'll just say that I wouldn't recommend using a modern plastic garbage container for fireplace duty.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 30 Aug 2010, 05:57
Dora's tired and grumpy at being up in the middle of the night.  And while she's not exactly grinning in approval, that is not Dora's "No" look.  We've seen Dora's "No" look and this isn't it.  Besides, her pantsless boyfriend reacted with a guilty stammer when she saw him hugging Faye, and if someone feels guilty there's usually a reason for it.  There is a good reason she's not clapping her hands with joy right now, and despite the rage at OMG DORA HAET that I'm sure will follow, I honestly can't think of another response she could have reasonably given.  She's not a friggin' saint, let her disapprove of pantsless shenanigans involving her boyfriend and his ex-flame.

Also yes I am aware that I'm once again brandishing The Useless Broom Made Entirely Out Of Dicks at the fanboy ocean, and I DO NOT CARE.

Besides, how cheerful could YOU be if you were walking around with a camel-toe that you could probably taste?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 30 Aug 2010, 06:38
Dora SURELY isn't that insecure/stupid.   :|
lol
"He don' know me vewwy well, DO he?"
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 30 Aug 2010, 06:39
Frigging called it!
Yeah well, that snuck up on us like an dustbin* falling down a concrete staircase.

*Ash-can for USAnians?

Trash can.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: themacnut on 30 Aug 2010, 07:42
While everyone's going off on how unrealistic it is for Dora to be a little suspicious at the situation think for half a second:

a.  She is somewhat insecure about here relationship, no real reason but then everbody's got some sort of hangup, her's is this;
b.  She wakes up in the middle of the night and  finds her boyfriend and the girl he had the hots for in a hug (which we can see is platonic, but Dora doesn't have the benefit of our angle) and neither is wearing pants;
c.  She knows that he "Still has feelings" for;
d.  How rational are you within 5 minutes of waking up?

I'm figuring 2-3 strips of hilarilious misunderstanding, followed by making up.

THIS, and Tergon's last post. Of COURSE Dora isn't going to react well to the situation. How many of you really would under the circumstances. NO ONE is that saintly, or perfectly reasonable (not even Marten!), and women HAVE been known to start making out with guys who've comforted them in a bad moment. So yeah, Dora's reaction is not at all unreasonable. So far anyway.

Now if this isn't resolved smoothly with everyone being in good standing with each other in a couple of strips, THEN I'll be unhappy. Until then, I'll just sit back for the couple pages of hilarity and both Faye and Marten stammering as they try to explain themselves. If only Marten had just moved in with Dora instead of vice versa, these situations wouldn't happen....
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 30 Aug 2010, 07:55
*lets themacnut borrow The Useless Broom Made Entirely Out Of Dicks*
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: snubnose on 30 Aug 2010, 08:36
Seriously.

WHAT THE *** ???

Considering how laid back QC usually is, this moment just doesnt work for me at all.

Its nothing but innocent hugging, dammit.


P.s.: Oh and yes, Dora is supposed to be insecure ... only I thought she would have improved a lot :|
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: themacnut on 30 Aug 2010, 09:23
*lets themacnut borrow The Useless Broom Made Entirely Out Of Dicks*

Uh thanks, Tergon, but as a hetero guy I am...not comfortable holding any other dick but mine. ;) Besides, I have a feeling it's not gonna help.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 Aug 2010, 09:27
"Garbage can" is also common in US English.

The ideal thing to say would be, in a tone of invitation, "Quick, come over here, Faye needs hugging". Marten is known not to be that suave.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: westrim on 30 Aug 2010, 09:28
I am amused by the multiple variations on 'fuck' in this thread. Frack guys, it's not going to get censored.

Frigging called it!
Yeah well, that snuck up on us like an dustbin* falling down a concrete staircase.

*Ash-can for USAnians?

Wth is an ash can? I've never seen such an item  :-P. But yes, the only way I know of dustbins is Harry Potter. Darn you English colonists and your obsolete slang!


...also.  While I hate to say this - and I'm going to sound like a 13-year-old Apprentice Douchebag by even saying it... ohGodDoracameltoe.  I know that it's the seam of her boyshorts, I know it's not what it looks like, and I know it's just realistic drawing to show the curve of her thighs, but... my eyes slid across from Marten and Faye and then I saw that Dora's midsection was in line with my eyes and then I glanced down and HELLO CAMEL TOE.  I'm a bad person.

No, just exceedingly creepy. *backs away slowly*

Okay, F*** THIS.  

I'm not one to usually spit disparaging remarks if I can help it.  But dammit, that is IT.  Done.  Finito.  

I am SICK of Dora and her paranoid bulls***.  I don't care if she DOES calm down after a few seconds, I don't care if she's being "territorial."  If after all this time, after everything they've all been through, after moving into the apartment - after ALL THAT, to still be her paranoid, ultra-possessive self?  F*** THAT.  

She makes me SO MAD.  Ugh.  Ridiculous.  

My inclination is to agree with you and then start railing on her myself, having expressed similar opinions in the past and feeling that way now, but I guess I got a good nights sleep because I'm inclined to wait and see. Maybe Jeph is pulling a Gendo on us, staring at the forums and drinking in the hate.

While everyone's going off on how unrealistic it is for Dora to be a little suspicious at the situation think for half a second:

a.  She is somewhat insecure about here relationship, no real reason but then everbody's got some sort of hangup, her's is this;
b.  She wakes up in the middle of the night and  finds her boyfriend and the girl he had the hots for in a hug (which we can see is platonic, but Dora doesn't have the benefit of our angle) and neither is wearing pants;
c.  She knows that he "Still has feelings" for;
d.  How rational are you within 5 minutes of waking up?

I'm figuring 2-3 strips of hilarious misunderstanding, followed by making up.

The last time this happened the misunderstanding wasn't especially hilarious, just the makeup and seeing Cosette at their restaurant. And this is the third time its happened IIRCC; 'fool me once' and all that is starting to apply. Again, Jeph may have Dora smile broadly and say "gotcha!" next strip, but right now it doesn't look good. Maybe he'll have them break up to balance Faye finding twue wu*dies under horde of shippers*

Also, A.: That's those who are annoyed feel that way. Shes' the only character that's made no progress on their issues.
B. None of them are wearing pants, they all just woke up.
C. And knows that they won't sneak around.
D. Pretty darn.

Seriously.
Snub, stop helping (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StopHelpingMe).



Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: fifthfiend on 30 Aug 2010, 09:46
It's time for Dora Is Jealous comics

wherein Dora is Jealous
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: DinosGoLauRAWR on 30 Aug 2010, 09:53
Sometimes I hate when Jeph does this. I love his characters and this story to death, but in all honesty this is so needlessly out of character.
As someone who has a dora brain and does get jealous this is completely ridiculous. Marten would never ever cheat on her and Faye is her best friend. SHE IS NOT THIS PERSON
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 Aug 2010, 10:28
Dora has acknowledged that Marten will never cheat on her (The Hannerboob incident EDIT: number 1314), but what if she forgets that?

What worries me is that this is happening just as Jeph says he's introducing a new arc. May the two be unrelated!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Dliessmgg on 30 Aug 2010, 10:30
Sometimes I hate when Jeph does this. I love his characters and this story to death, but in all honesty this is so needlessly out of character.
As someone who has a dora brain and does get jealous this is completely ridiculous. Marten would never ever cheat on her and Faye is her best friend. SHE IS NOT THIS PERSON

Yeah, Dora will always react exactly the same way you would because Dora is you and you are Dora.  :roll:
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: The Duke on 30 Aug 2010, 10:53
While everyone's going off on how unrealistic it is for Dora to be a little suspicious at the situation think for half a second:

a.  She is somewhat insecure about here relationship, no real reason but then everbody's got some sort of hangup, her's is this;
b.  She wakes up in the middle of the night and  finds her boyfriend and the girl he had the hots for in a hug (which we can see is platonic, but Dora doesn't have the benefit of our angle) and neither is wearing pants;
c.  She knows that he "Still has feelings" for;
d.  How rational are you within 5 minutes of waking up?

I'm figuring 2-3 strips of hilarilious misunderstanding, followed by making up.

I completely agree.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Merrick on 30 Aug 2010, 11:05
Also a little hypocritical tbh.

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1592 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1592)

It isn't even a close hug, but yet it's fine for Dora to climb into Faye's bed unwanted and cuddle her.



If Marten did that, Dora would break all his limbs.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: themacnut on 30 Aug 2010, 11:14
No she wouldn't, 'cause Faye herself would've left no limbs remaining to break.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sapnish on 30 Aug 2010, 11:23
I'm just enjoying Faye's cute faces in panels 2/3.  :lol:

Screw Dora. Jeph has his reasons for making her assume the worse, and I can totally see the tables turning and Dora feeling like a horrible bitch in the next strip after Faye explains that Marten was trying to talk her out of freaking out about Angus. If she can't get over it after that, then there's clearly more to it, but there's no reason to psychoanalyze a fictional character's actions.

No wonder Jeph hates this place...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: zagraf on 30 Aug 2010, 11:35
As I said earlier, "This is [...] consistent with Dora's unpredictable jealousy."

The emphasis is on "unpredictable." Sometimes she goes into a jealous funk, as when Marten mentioned offhand that he still sometimes thinks about Faye and even girls he crushed on in high school and she said, "You can go see [the movie] yourself. Or take one of your four other girlfriends."

Sometimes she has a minor psychotic episode, as when she menaced Cosette with a scary grin and a sword for daring to ask Marten out.

And sometimes she couldn't care less, as when Hanners charged into CoD all guilty over having invited Marten to poke her, and Dora laughed it off and poked her in turn.

Now I wish to emphasize I'm not one of the "OMG Dora's a c***t, dump her bitch ass, Marten" crowd, so no need to reach for the dick-broom. However, I do think it's an issue Dora needs to work on, because no one should have to go through a relationship walking on eggshells, uncertain how their partner will react to something at any given moment. If Dora predictably and consistently went into a jealous funk whenever another woman showed chaste affection to, or unreciprocated interest in, her boyfriend then, assuming he could live with that, Marten would know not to touch or be touched by other women, nor to mention old crushes in her presence. If Dora predictably and consistently threatened women with violence for so much as viewing him through peripheral vision, Marten would know to break it off with her ASAP, change his front door lock, and maybe get replacement ATM and credit cards just to be safe. But as it is, her behaviour is sufficiently unpredictable that if it keeps up--and personality flaws don't just go away by themselves--he's going to be more and more at a loss as to how to handle it. So Marten, sooner rather than later, needs to impress upon Dora that she needs to do something about it, for the good of them both.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: fifthfiend on 30 Aug 2010, 12:03
I'm just enjoying Faye's cute faces in panels 2/3.  :lol:

Screw Dora. Jeph has his reasons for making her assume the worse, and I can totally see the tables turning and Dora feeling like a horrible bitch in the next strip after Faye explains that Marten was trying to talk her out of freaking out about Angus. If she can't get over it after that, then there's clearly more to it, but there's no reason to psychoanalyze a fictional character's actions.

No wonder Jeph hates this place...

Tomorrow: Dora Apologizes For Being Insecure comics

wherein Dora Apologizes for Being Insecure
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Heliphyneau on 30 Aug 2010, 12:16
Jeph has his reasons for making her assume the worse, and I can totally see the tables turning and Dora feeling like a horrible bitch in the next strip after Faye explains that Marten was trying to talk her out of freaking out about Angus.

For some reason, I see Dora getting over the whole misunderstanding but lingering over the fact that when Faye was having a panic attack, she went to Marten for comfort instead of Dora.  It's not something that should surprise her, but it's possible she'll be hurt to have it confirmed that Marten is Faye's best friend, not her.  We shall see.  Due to her camel toe problem, it's clear Dora's got her panties literally in a bunch.

And hey, at least Marten fixed the "poking out" issue before she walked out.   :wink:
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 30 Aug 2010, 13:08
The only reason why I'd see Teh Dramas coming forth is that Dora is going into her own Panic/Stress mode over the shop. Sometimes people can do things out of character when they're stressing out over work. I, unfortunately, know this from personal experience.

I do not, however, think that it is something that will last beyond a few days (as with the Cosette incident - back before we knew her first name and her last name was still "Beauvais").

What intrigues me is what possibility Jeph has up his sleeve as a start of a story arc. I see a few of them:
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 Aug 2010, 13:28
...there's no reason to psychoanalyze a fictional character's actions.
Because it's fun?

You can get a degree in psychoanalyzing fictional characters.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Wiregeek on 30 Aug 2010, 13:50
I've only heard it used for as another name for depth charges. But I live in the South: we be different/

I believe the word "ashcan" is a remnant from the time when folks heated their houses exclusively with stoves and fireplaces, and would thus need a fireproof container to dispose of potentially hot ashes. A cylindrical steel receptacle with a tight fitting lid would serve that purpose nicely. When not needed for ash duty, it could hold all manner of other contents, for instance, household refuse.

And before this thread becomes the Wikipedia article for waste receptacle, I'll just say that I wouldn't recommend using a modern plastic garbage container for fireplace duty.

As an aside on that, your local seed 'n feed should sell several vessels of different sizes of galvanized steel to fill this need. I personally keep a 4'x 2' oval for receiving incoming wood, and a nice 2' tall round for the outgoing ash.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sapnish on 30 Aug 2010, 14:09


What intrigues me is what possibility Jeph has up his sleeve as a start of a story arc. I see a few of them:
  • Dora actually leaves Marten for a while - where she'd go is beyond me, though.
  • Faye leaves and goes to live with Angus - and Marigold. Hilarity ensues, but it doesn't quite work (and Momo tases Faye a few times).
  • Marigold ends up going on a date with Dale after losing a PvP online with his character.
  • Hannelore ends up going on a date with some unknown person.
  • Cosette burns down the coffee shop.

My vote goes to #5 as Most Likely To Occur.

Also, I was feeling grumpy this morning for outside reasons. Ignore my previous inability to cope with normal discussion forum behavior. :-/ Omg doras such a crazy b!tch and iz going to leave marten its so obvious lol faye saw martens weiner hurr hurr hurr
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 30 Aug 2010, 14:29
Well, I'm glad everything's back to normal, Sapnish...

And after all the psychotic analysis, I'm just going to lie back, wait and see. 
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: DorkRawk on 30 Aug 2010, 15:20
Yea, this seems pretty far fetched to start Dora jealousy drama.  It seems like an easy explanation of innocence, but I could see it leading towards Fay getting her own place.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: tomart on 30 Aug 2010, 16:27
an obvious revelation:  those of us who have suffered at a RL woman's ugly conclusion-jumping will tend to be the ones bothered by Dora's drama...   [Yes, it was obviously headed for us like a trashcan down concrete stairs, it's like the perfect next move in tonight's little show.  After even I  anticipated it, it would have been disappointing for Jeph to pass it up.]

and (I can't leave well enough alone) i personally lump this with Faye's equally unnecessary shock/drama/kill/dump/banish of Sven, for just being Sven.  Could she (and Dora and others) accept Sven's guilty and confessed transgression, or is complete, absolute physical monogamy even higher than God?  (go ahead; smite me)
  
(Yeah, still bothered by that, and all the subsequent Sven-hating. Suddenly roles were reversed, and I was the one identifying & defending the Svenwhore. Life is funny.]
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 30 Aug 2010, 16:37
...there's no reason to psychoanalyze a fictional character's actions.
Because it's fun?

You can get a degree in psychoanalyzing fictional characters.
You certainly can. Not that I know anyone who would stoop so low <whistles>.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kugai on 30 Aug 2010, 17:08
...there's no reason to psychoanalyze a fictional character's actions.
Because it's fun?

You can get a degree in psychoanalyzing fictional characters.
You certainly can. Not that I know anyone who would stoop so low <whistles>.

Methinks thou doth protest too much   :-D

As for the comic - I just think Dora is a little grumpy about being woken up at oh-dark-hundred and finding Marten in a clinch with Faye.  Undoubtedly she'll calm down when it's explained to her what's going on and do everything to encourage Faye to make it work with Angus

Even if that means taking Sven out the back and beating the shit outta him with the Stop Sign of Doom.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kaziel on 30 Aug 2010, 17:15
I'm a bit strange in that I'm kinda rooting for something to happen between Marten and Dora. Not because I want them to break up, but I figure we're about due for something serious to happen. It's been (by my rough estimates) over three months since something major changed. The last real major event was when Dora and Angus began... dating (though it wasn't really dating then). Sure, there have been a few things here and there that count as forward progression of the characters, but mostly them just staying on the path they were going down. I'm not sure I want Dora and Marten to break up (because... wooo would that make things awkward for Faye at work...) but I just want... something to happen. Maybe this will be the beginning of Dora working on her trust issues via some stern talking to by Faye (I'd say Marten, but that would require him to grow a spine... which he might, but I'm not betting on it...)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: IanClark on 30 Aug 2010, 17:35
The only part of this that pisses me off is the way Dora's expression seems to be saying "You have five seconds to make me not want to kill you" instead of "I want to know what's going on right now." Surprising, considering Dora's place as the second-most altruistic and understanding of the main cast, but she seems to have a tendency to blame Marten and Faye on some level for making her jealous. That's not to say she should blame herself for her own jealousy given the past between Marten and Faye, but by this point jealousy, fear and angst are understandable reactions, contempt is not. Once this particular incident blows over, Marten needs to break out of his role as the perpetually understanding guy and let her know that this is starting to wear on him. Having been in a relationship where I constantly felt like the guilty party trying to absolve themselves, not only does it breed resentment, but if it ends in a breakup it ensures that neither party will ever feel closure.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: firewhiskeybomb on 30 Aug 2010, 18:35
Look- I've never been a fan of Dora- from the beginning. And this constant "OMG Marten mentions another girl/looks at another girl/another girl is interested in Marten" jealousy freak is starting to grate.

I'm not saying that Faye is the right girl for Marten- just that really, either Dora gets over her insecurities, or Marten breaks up with her. Because that understanding, emotionally available guy only stays that way if you get over your issues enough to appreciate him. Otherwise he either a. breaks up with you or b. becomes that whipped, insecure, clingy guy.

And it's not so much that b is unlikely, as that, should it go down that road, it's not a path that's going to be good, commercially, for this comic. Because if Marten really, realistically goes down path b, then he and Dora are going to alienate most of the QC crew. And that's bad for this comic.

I've been reading this comic out of habit for a while now. If we walk down path b... or some unrealistic middle ground... I've seen enough abusive relationships in RL. I don't want to read comics about them.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Switchblade on 30 Aug 2010, 20:30
yeah, Dora's on a hair trigger. but that's always been part of her personality, and it's not going to go away overnight... especially not in the middle of the night.

I don't get all this clamour for a breakup or a flaming row. Let Jeph write the comic and see what he does with it, that's my thinking. Maybe he's decided it's time for Marten and Dora to have Words about her "YOU ARE HUGGING YOUR BEST FEMALE FRIEND EXPLAIN THIS FAGGOTRY" thing. Maybe it's just another case of Dora being grouchy and irrational and then realising it and apologizing. Maybe it's time for Marten to fuck her in the ear again.

For me, the fun in reading the comic is in watching somebody else's (AKA Jeph's) creative direction. Sit back and enjoy the ride I say, and stop trying to second-guess where he's going.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Akima on 30 Aug 2010, 20:52
You can get a degree in psychoanalyzing fictional characters.
Eng. Lit.?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 30 Aug 2010, 20:57
For me, the fun in reading the comic is in watching somebody else's (AKA Jeph's) creative direction. Sit back and enjoy the ride I say, and stop trying to second-guess where he's going.

Well said.  For the better part of 2000 comics Jeph has kept the writing at an entertaining, funny level that fleshed out the characters properly but didn't get stale or boring.  He has consistently NOT done what people in the forum have expected (and yes, I know, there was that one time you totally saw it coming that the crazy thing happened.  Shut up, I dont' care), has kept it going with unpredictable twists, and has made the story geniunely entertaining.  I highly doubt that he's going to collossaly fuck it up now.

If he ever looks in this forum - and for the sake of his poor abused psyche I hope not ;) - then he'd have known exactly how the rabid fans would react to this.  Namely, with screaming and OMG TEH COMIC IS TEH SUXXXXXX.  But he did it anyway, while openly acknowledging this is the start of a new story arc.  So how's about we just see what he has planned before the screaming, huh?  So far what's happened has been in character and made sense.  Stop with the bitching until that changes!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: The Duke on 30 Aug 2010, 21:17
...there's no reason to psychoanalyze a fictional character's actions.
Because it's fun?

You can get a degree in psychoanalyzing fictional characters.

It's true, my aunt analyzes Buffy the Vampire Slayer for a living. 

Raoul, you take that back.  :x
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Y on 30 Aug 2010, 21:40
It's true, my aunt analyzes Buffy the Vampire Slayer for a living.

It isn't a real character?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: imaginaryideals on 30 Aug 2010, 22:18
I am in the "not at all surprised, and very confused about why people are upset by Dora's attitude" camp. Dora seemed like she was in a bad mood already when Marten asked her about Toto--if she wasn't tired and grumpy she probably would have just made fun of him for asking about a band she didn't like, rather than outright insulting it. Also, if I woke up in an empty bed which my boyfriend had been in earlier, and walked out and saw him hugging my friend I knew he used to and may possibly still like, I would probably be upset and ask what was going on, too.

Dora is an entrepreneur, and she works a ton of hours and has a lot of stress in general. I don't find it surprising at all that she's a bit high-strung or that she likes control. I'm surprised that so many people seem to hate her character.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Blackjoker on 30 Aug 2010, 22:35
I am in the "not at all surprised, and very confused about why people are upset by Dora's attitude" camp. Dora seemed like she was in a bad mood already when Marten asked her about Toto--if she wasn't tired and grumpy she probably would have just made fun of him for asking about a band she didn't like, rather than outright insulting it. Also, if I woke up in an empty bed which my boyfriend had been in earlier, and walked out and saw him hugging my friend I knew he used to and may possibly still like, I would probably be upset and ask what was going on, too.

Dora is an entrepreneur, and she works a ton of hours and has a lot of stress in general. I don't find it surprising at all that she's a bit high-strung or that she likes control. I'm surprised that so many people seem to hate her character.

I mostly agree with you, I think the problem some people have is that when Dora has gone on a rage due to jealousy it gets kind of...severe. One example would be the whole thing with Cossette where it seemed more like Dora was trying to trap Marten (he didn't mention it, not out of any desire to keep it hidden just because he didn't think it needed to be said). Dora also fantasizes about other people and it doesn't seem to bother Marten, especially when Dora seems a lot more...forward with some people. I agree that it's more likely Dora is stressed and then this kind of has her in GRRRR mode but I can also see the perspective of the people who get very angry with her for her actions. It might also be noted that Marten seems to have a vague Charlie Brown syndrome going on.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: CEOIII on 30 Aug 2010, 22:38
Also yes I am aware that I'm once again brandishing The Useless Broom Made Entirely Out Of Dicks at the fanboy ocean, and I DO NOT CARE.

OK, where the hell did you get this reference from?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Cartilage Head on 30 Aug 2010, 22:49
Dora's entire character has changed within the past year or so of strips and it is pretty silly. She used to be super cool and understanding, and now she is just an ultra-jealous girlfriend. This kind of thing never would have happened a few years ago in the comic.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: bicostp on 30 Aug 2010, 22:49
She's not just high-strung, she's paranoid. Remember when Cosette was first introduced? An innocent social faux pas (which likely happens to Dora far mroe often) turned into "some bullshit test" and "OH MY GOD WHAT ELSE ARE YOU NOT TELLING ME ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP?!". Or when Faye and Sven hooked up, she started inventing ulterior motives and scenarios to explain it then got pissed about what happened in them. (#1095 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1095), #1097 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1097), and #1098 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1098))

Now clearly Marten was merely biding his time with Dora until someone else came along and did all the "get Faye back into relationship-mode" work for him and he's using her post-date shakes as an opportunity to hook up with her like he always intended to from the get-go right? RIGHT?! (http://i37.tinypic.com/2rgzygj.gif)

I hope this arc doesn't wind up with Marten tied to a bed in a remote cabin with broken knees courtesy of Dora's baseball bat. (http://i36.tinypic.com/1o3ae9.png)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: IanClark on 30 Aug 2010, 23:07
I don't even think she has to get over her issues (at least not suddenly or urgently), I just think she has to start identifying them as her own issues. When the whole thing with Cosette happened, her immediate reaction of anger was understandable even though not actually logical. However, what wasn't understandable was the fact that it took Marten walking her through it for her to realize that he hadn't actually done anything wrong. She should've been able to identify the pattern of her insecurity and jealousy and reason by herself that this was the cause of the red flags going up in her mind. Even though she's admitted in the past that these are her issues, it's meaningless to be self-aware if you never actually acknowledge it in practice.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 30 Aug 2010, 23:27
Also yes I am aware that I'm once again brandishing The Useless Broom Made Entirely Out Of Dicks at the fanboy ocean, and I DO NOT CARE.

OK, where the hell did you get this reference from?

Remember last week's "Awkward Pause" comic when Dora said she hated Toto and it ended with a shot of Sadface Marten?  I commented on last week's thread that Dora's reaction to Marten's question, and therefore Marten's reaction to Dora's reaction, made perfect sense in context and were not a reason to start screaming about how they were destined to break up.
I then noted that trying to argue against the screaming horde of plot-haters was rather like "Trying to hold back the ocean with a broom made entirely out of dicks".

This week, as you can see, the Useless Broom Made Entirely Out Of Dicks is back in play.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: bicostp on 30 Aug 2010, 23:31
Ruh roh.

"HOW DARE YOU HELP YOUR CLOSEST PLATONIC FEMALE FRIEND CALM DOWN AFTER AN EMOTIONALLY STRENUOUS EXPERIENCE :x"
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: tinkerbell on 30 Aug 2010, 23:37
Ooooooooh bitch.

I wonder, even if Dora does not continue to blow this out of proportion would Marten start to consider ending it? It is one thing to get angry at Marten, but to refuse to listen to both of them is pretty big... We have already seen a slight attitude change over the past few months.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jeph on 30 Aug 2010, 23:40
oh god why did I open this thread
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Teeks on 30 Aug 2010, 23:44
It seems Marten is clearly having second thoughts, either they break up or him and Dora have a serious talk
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Y on 30 Aug 2010, 23:49
Now how will Faye see Angus at work? Angus might think she doesn't dare to come anymore, unless Dora tells him, which in turn open a whole other issue with Angus vs Martin tension. How long ago did Dora exactly move into his app again?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: ChibiSoma on 30 Aug 2010, 23:51
Oh look, Dora's in a mood. Again. How many times does she have to be told by Marten that he loves her? Jesus Christ, what an insecure BITCH.

"Yeah, you know what? Fuck you. Go see a fucking therapist and stop jumping down everyone's throats just because you can't handle boys and girls being friends without thinking they're banging behind your back. When you're done being an immature little shithead, I'll be playing Rosanna outside."

So how many characters have become completely one-sided now?

Hannelore turned from being OCD into being completely incapable of handling much of anything unless someone else is freaking out and having no idea how the world works.
Dora turned from the boss who'd throw jokes around and generally be chill into the shrieking, hey-I-saw-you-on-Cops girlfriend who won't let her boyfriend have any women friends. I'm waiting for her to run around shrieking "GOR-GYLES" and throwing pans.
Marten's just kind of there now. He doesn't really DO anything. At least when the comic had fewer characters, he had a point.
Raven went searching for Sara and got eaten by the same allosaurus.
Sven was tragically killed in a farming accident involving a thresher (where is HE in this whole 'hey, Faye is finally getting into a normal-ass relationship' thing?).

Dora has become completely unlikeable. She isn't trying to listen to what was happening. She wouldn't give them a chance to explain WHY they were hugging in the middle of the night. God forbid one of her friends help the other who is clearly freaking out. Why is Marten with her again? This seems to keep happening and she isn't taking any steps to fix it.

Christ. This is hard to read, but for all the wrong reasons. I guess if the point is to make Dora an asshole, it's succeeded. Not that it'll go anywhere. Here's how this'll go:

1) She'll storm into work.
2) One of the three workers there asks where Faye is, Dora chews them out.
3) One of the not-Hanners girls stands her ground and counter-chews-out Dora, asking if she even had a basis for why they were doing what they were doing. And possibly going into the whole 'oh yeah remember how Faye is?' thing.
4) Dora gets all fucking mopey.
5) Marten and/or Faye poke their heads in to see if it's safe.
6) Everyone forgives her because OH DORA  :laugh:
7) It happens again on down the line because no one's giving her a good hard kick in the pants.

E: If this is all a giant swerve that ends with Marten/Faye and Angus/Dora, I will retract my bitchery. We need a curveball here.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 Aug 2010, 23:52
You can get a degree in psychoanalyzing fictional characters.
Eng. Lit.?

Precisely.

Jeph: we care about the imaginary people you create for us.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: SpoonBender on 30 Aug 2010, 23:55
Man, I know Marten's pain. I just got out of a relationship with a girl who has trust issues like that.  :| Poor guy.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Akima on 30 Aug 2010, 23:56
Whoa! Pass the popcorn! Certainly a bit of a tonal shift since "surprise wake-up snuggles". On the other hand Dora seems to have put Marten, Faye, and indeed herself in "time out". Probably a good move.

Moving on from the content of the strip. All the facial expressions? Good!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kugai on 30 Aug 2010, 23:59
DramaDramaDramaDramaDrama

oh god why did I open this thread

Masochism?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Nightson on 30 Aug 2010, 23:59
Dora has the ability to totally get under my skin with her crazy jealousy and trust issues just like a real person.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 31 Aug 2010, 00:03
DramaDramaDramaDramaDrama

oh god why did I open this thread

Masochism?
It'd be my guess.

...there's no reason to psychoanalyze a fictional character's actions.
Because it's fun?

You can get a degree in psychoanalyzing fictional characters.

It's true, my aunt analyzes Buffy the Vampire Slayer for a living.  

Raoul, you take that back.  :x
She makes a living out of what? No, I will not take it back. I do that for free. Anyone who gets paid for it deserves whatever I can throw at her for making me feel like an unpaid sex worker.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sorflakne on 31 Aug 2010, 00:04
All I could think when I read today's comic was, "Oh shi-..."

On the other hand, maybe we'll learn why Dora has trust issues...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Akima on 31 Aug 2010, 00:11
On the other hand, maybe we'll learn why Dora has trust issues...
Well, there was that stuff about all the girls in school who pretended to like her because they wanted to meet her brother...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 31 Aug 2010, 00:16
Seconded, Akima. Plus parents who were apparently too busy getting stoned to rein him in or see what he was doing to her. It's damaged both Dora and Sven.

But I still wasn't expecting this. Although it makes a wierd sort of sense: Faye gets better, Dora gets worse. Is Marten a fulcrum?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Llewellian on 31 Aug 2010, 00:17
Love the comic, but i seriously dont understand this reaction. And i was together 3 years with a girl from sicily who was the mould casted personification of jealousy.

Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: IlGreven on 31 Aug 2010, 00:19
3) One of the not-Hanners girls stands her ground and counter-chews-out Dora, asking if she even had a basis for why they were doing what they were doing. And possibly going into the whole 'oh yeah remember how Faye is?' thing.

As tell-it-like-it-is as Penelope is (and I'm not sure what Cos's personality is, yet), neither of them are actual off-work friends with her.  If Hannelore does this, it will come off as "Even Hannelore, of all people, thinks you're being a dick here," which is what she needs right now: not just any person telling her off, but the right person.  Faye and Marten are too close; everyone else but Hanners is too far away.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: akronnick on 31 Aug 2010, 00:19
Please God, send Hanners.

The only thing that can save them now is if Hannelore heard the commotion and comes to check out what's going on.

Only she can intervene as a neutral party to avoid the inevitable path to destruction that Dora has set the three of them on.

At this point, there is no course of action that any of them can take that can allow them to avoid a huge altercation that will have life changing implications. For all of them.

Hannelore may be able to talk some sense into Dora.

Either that, or Dora confides in Sven of all people who tells her she's full of shit, unfortunately, Sven is probably so self-absorbed that he would say something like, "I told you that bitch is crazy."

Trying times are coming for the QC gang, be sure...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jeph on 31 Aug 2010, 00:21
I WILL say this: Dora is definitely being an irrational twat.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Cartilage Head on 31 Aug 2010, 00:26
"Hey Marten! Don't come back to your OWN BED THAT YOU LET ME MOVE INTO."
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: tinkerbell on 31 Aug 2010, 00:26
3) One of the not-Hanners girls stands her ground and counter-chews-out Dora, asking if she even had a basis for why they were doing what they were doing. And possibly going into the whole 'oh yeah remember how Faye is?' thing.

As tell-it-like-it-is as Penelope is (and I'm not sure what Cos's personality is, yet), neither of them are actual off-work friends with her.  If Hannelore does this, it will come off as "Even Hannelore, of all people, thinks you're being a dick here," which is what she needs right now: not just any person telling her off, but the right person.  Faye and Marten are too close; everyone else but Hanners is too far away.

Remember when Hanners told off Steve and Marten because they were blaming women for their problems? She is actually pretty good at not sounding accusatory but saying what needs to be said. Someone else will probably find the link to the exact strip faster than I ever could :laugh:
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Blackjoker on 31 Aug 2010, 00:28
Hmm, I wonder if Hannelore is a kind of point buy character where she got the power to conniption out clear logic and gordian knot cuts of social problems but had to take severe OCD to offset it.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: lauren! on 31 Aug 2010, 00:30
I WILL say this: Dora is definitely being an irrational twat.

Then why is Marten still with her?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: ChibiSoma on 31 Aug 2010, 00:35
I WILL say this: Dora is definitely being an irrational twat.

Then why is Marten still with her?

Masochist tendencies. Look at what his mother does.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kugai on 31 Aug 2010, 00:41
I wonder if this is where Marten finally grows a pair with Dora.

And I'd love to see Hanners chew Dora out.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: kaitco on 31 Aug 2010, 00:42
I WILL say this: Dora is definitely being an irrational twat.

Then why is Marten still with her?
...because she actually is a fun gal when she's not being territorial?

I have not come to the forums in months, but knew I HAD to come back around again when this came up to make sure others were having the same "OMGNoSheDidn't!!!1!" moment that I was having.

I really hope that this moves Marten and Dora into a stronger relationship because I would hate to see them break up at this point. When I first started reading, a part of me always hoped that Marten and Faye would hook-up, but now that Faye is finally in the beginnings of a normal, hopefully drama-less relationship, I think it would be cruel to have Marten and Dora split.

It is incredibly easy to just up and hate Dora at this moment because it is easy to hate someone who is being completely irrational, but I am holding my breath for something better to come out of this.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jeph on 31 Aug 2010, 00:42
I WILL say this: Dora is definitely being an irrational twat.

Then why is Marten still with her?

She's not ALWAYS irrational.

People are inconsistent. That's been my experience in life and that's how I write my characters, for better or worse.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: IanClark on 31 Aug 2010, 00:43
I WILL say this: Dora is definitely being an irrational twat.

By tomorrow, at least one person will have turned this into "See? Even Jeph can't stand Dora any more!"

Even though this story arc isn't really portraying Dora in a positive light, it's probably made her my new favourite character. If for nothing else, for the fact that she's a supremely nuanced character. Either that or she's exhibiting the exact same issue that drove a wedge between me and my last girlfriend who I'm still madly in love with and I'm just an emotional masochist. Or both!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: foolsguinea on 31 Aug 2010, 00:47
"Hey Marten! Don't come back to your OWN BED THAT YOU LET ME MOVE INTO."
For the night, that may be for the best.

oh god why did I open this thread
Why indeed, Jeph?

Here, I'll change the subject. Are all the tracks you've put up on Tumblr downloadable somewhere? I don't want to have to keep going back to this page. (http://jephjacques.tumblr.com/post/869697400/new-deathm-le-song-first-one-ive-written-with-my)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: JD on 31 Aug 2010, 00:50
Saw this coming
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: laizeohbeets on 31 Aug 2010, 00:51
"Hey Marten! Don't come back to your OWN BED THAT YOU LET ME MOVE INTO."

This is what irritates me the most. It's not like it was your apartment to begin with, Dora. You know this.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Fenriswolf on 31 Aug 2010, 00:51
Oh my fucking god. The main reason I'm fuming is because *fuck her* if her anger is more important than a legitimate panic attack. Oh, your body is telling you you're dying? Why didn't you think of getting dressed at this time?

Seriously, this is the first case of Dora-jealousy I thought was fair enough, but that doesn't make her reaction remotely acceptable. Oo, why do I read things when I get so worked up?  :x
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Dokuhan on 31 Aug 2010, 00:54
Even though I'm a little peeved with Dora, I am interested to see how this works out.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: zagraf on 31 Aug 2010, 00:58
Dora, here's Dr. Corrine's number. Call it.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: brew on 31 Aug 2010, 01:00

It is incredibly easy to just up and hate Dora at this moment because it is easy to hate someone who is being completely irrational

It's easy to hate Dora in general because she's always been the same stupid character.  I hope she leaves the comic.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: dps on 31 Aug 2010, 01:05
Dora's entire character has changed within the past year or so of strips and it is pretty silly. She used to be super cool and understanding, and now she is just an ultra-jealous girlfriend. This kind of thing never would have happened a few years ago in the comic.


She went from bieng a friend to being a girlfriend.  That's a pretty big change in the dynamic of her relationship with Marten.  Of course she wouldn't have reacted like this when she and Marten weren't a couple.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 31 Aug 2010, 01:37
Remember when Hanners told off Steve and Marten because they were blaming women for their problems? She is actually pretty good at not sounding accusatory but saying what needs to be said. Someone else will probably find the link to the exact strip faster than I ever could :laugh:
http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1103
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: no one special on 31 Aug 2010, 01:46
I personally keep a 4'x 2' oval for receiving incoming wood
Okay, I know that area of the body is elastic and everything, but 4'x2'? ? ? ?  DAMN. 

 :lol:
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: no one special on 31 Aug 2010, 02:05
Now how will Faye see Angus at work?

OH HOLY CRAP.  Duuuuude I totally forgot about that!!  Oh man... Angus is gonna come in, walkin' on sunshine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eONhto0x_nI), and find not only No Faye, but Angry Dora!  And who knows what's liable to come out of Dora's mouth if she's still pissed.  If she tells Angus what she thins happened - oh hell.  Angus will NOT like the mental image of the two of them in their underwear together.  Hell, Angus doesn't even know that Marten used to have a thing for Faye!!  Oh man...

Good lord, a lot of comics could come out of this current arc, all very very interesting (not to mention scary...).  I guess that's why Jeph is The Man. 
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: CEOIII on 31 Aug 2010, 02:09
Also yes I am aware that I'm once again brandishing The Useless Broom Made Entirely Out Of Dicks at the fanboy ocean, and I DO NOT CARE.

OK, where the hell did you get this reference from?

Remember last week's "Awkward Pause" comic when Dora said she hated Toto and it ended with a shot of Sadface Marten?  I commented on last week's thread that Dora's reaction to Marten's question, and therefore Marten's reaction to Dora's reaction, made perfect sense in context and were not a reason to start screaming about how they were destined to break up.
I then noted that trying to argue against the screaming horde of plot-haters was rather like "Trying to hold back the ocean with a broom made entirely out of dicks".

This week, as you can see, the Useless Broom Made Entirely Out Of Dicks is back in play.

I remember that, I just can't figure out where the hell the concept came from.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: no one special on 31 Aug 2010, 02:10
Then why is Marten still with her?
Masochist tendencies. Look at what his mother does.

Or, you know, love.  Just 'cause pisses you off with their stupid bullshit doesn't mean you don't still love them.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: akronnick on 31 Aug 2010, 02:14
Also yes I am aware that I'm once again brandishing The Useless Broom Made Entirely Out Of Dicks at the fanboy ocean, and I DO NOT CARE.

OK, where the hell did you get this reference from?

Remember last week's "Awkward Pause" comic when Dora said she hated Toto and it ended with a shot of Sadface Marten?  I commented on last week's thread that Dora's reaction to Marten's question, and therefore Marten's reaction to Dora's reaction, made perfect sense in context and were not a reason to start screaming about how they were destined to break up.
I then noted that trying to argue against the screaming horde of plot-haters was rather like "Trying to hold back the ocean with a broom made entirely out of dicks".

This week, as you can see, the Useless Broom Made Entirely Out Of Dicks is back in play.

I remember that, I just can't figure out where the hell the concept came from.

That's where it came from.

We've witnessed the birth of a brand new meme, right before your very eyes.






Wait, does that mean the QC Forum is becoming 4chan?

Oh...

Oh God!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: zagraf on 31 Aug 2010, 02:16
As long as there are no goddamned cat macros. Oh shit, I shouldn't have said that. I now brace for the onslaught of I CAN HAZ RELATIONSHIP DRAMAZ "jokes."
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Zipperstuck on 31 Aug 2010, 02:26
Dora SURELY isn't that insecure/stupid.   :|
She's having her periods.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Rythe on 31 Aug 2010, 02:27
"Hey Marten! Don't come back to your OWN BED THAT YOU LET ME MOVE INTO."

This is what irritates me the most. It's not like it was your apartment to begin with, Dora. You know this.


This is what irked me more, Dora was being Dora as to the spat tbh.

Telling Faye to not come to work (being that she was fired or just temporarily either way) was wrong too, this is why friends don't make good coworkers very often.

However, we'll see what happens. Dora usually comes around and apologies even if she usually needs someones help to get there.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: CEOIII on 31 Aug 2010, 02:48
I've had a little time to think about this comic, and although I agree Dora's being a cunt, a three word phrase that I usually hate sprung to mind. It's usually associated with politics, but it fits here.

Appearance of impropriety.

Yes, I know nothing was actually happening, and I think on some level Dora does too. But, boyfriend and female roomie, on couch, in undies, hugging.

As she said, it's a LITTLE inappropriate. Even if nothing was definitely going on.

Now, here's tomorrow's comic. Marten opens the bedroom door, steps in, closes.

Marten: OK, you walked in on an........odd situation. You got understandably upset. But I'd like to believe that you know you've overreacted. And now that you've had a little time to cool off, I'd like to think.....
Dora: Shut your fucking piehole and get out.
(pause for 2 panels)
Marten: Fine. My apartment, my bed, my sheets, my pillows. You have 5 minutes to get dressed and get out, then I'm calling the cops and having you arrested for trespassing.
Marten leaves the room, Dora sits up with an "oh shit" look on her face.

AND SCENE.

(Where the fuck would you GET a broom made of dicks?)


Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: akronnick on 31 Aug 2010, 02:52
(Where the fuck would you GET a broom made of dicks?)

San Francisco, but you can get them shipped to anywhere except Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.

They're usually a custom job though, what with them being completely useless and all, so you'll have to consider that when you first see the sticker price on one.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Merrick on 31 Aug 2010, 03:10
Alright, finally sick of Dora.  :x


Not only is she utterly retarded, I wonder if she's realised who's actually allowed them to move into this apartment? Hmm?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Schmorgluck on 31 Aug 2010, 03:12
Well, well, that was certainly painful to watch. Oooh, Dora! *facepalms*

I do agree that Hannelore would be a good candidate to call Dora for her shit, but that wouldn't be as interesting as other options. For example one involving Angus asking where is Faye, Dora saying something stupid, Angus returning home in despair, telling Marigold about it, Marigold going to Faye in anger for hurting Angus, Faye storming int CoD in RAGE for Dora jepoardizing her budding relationship with Angus, etc.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: blub on 31 Aug 2010, 03:39
Hell, Angus doesn't even know that Marten used to have a thing for Faye!!  Oh man...

Sure he does. They talked about it in the Awkward Zone. http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1426 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1426)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: smilesvssmirks on 31 Aug 2010, 03:48
Call me sort of petty too, but the thing about the argument that got under my skin the most, most immediately was Dora's exiling of Marten from the bedroom, as well.  My initial reaction (on Marten's behalf, of course) was "Fuck you. This is my apartment, first and foremost, if YOU want to take a time out YOU can sleep on THE COUCH - or get the fuck out. See if Hanners has the patience to put up with your never ending jealousy and self-absorption."

Which, I wanted to put my two cents in on: I think Dora's problem, even more so than her insecurities and jealousy, is the self-absorption/involvement they're rooted in. So much of her explosions seems to come from this sense that every thing that happens in everyone else's lives or every action other people take, is somehow based around her or related to her and her life. When Faye slept with Sven, OBVIOUSLY it was all because of her and her relationship with Marten. OBVIOUSLY Marten and Faye could have been in this position for no other reason than an illicit one and even if the reason was innocent OBVIOUSLY it was no so important they shouldn't have stopped to consider Dora and her feelings. I second what an above poster said about Dora belittling Faye's panic attack. Anyone who has ever genuinely had one knows they're sort of terrifying. "Sorry, I didn't think to stop and put on pants in the middle of the night, in my own apartment, before going to talk to my best friend, just because you live here now." It's not like Faye and Marten haven't hung around each other half clothed before. Prior to moving in, I have to wonder, how was Dora not riddled with nigh constant worry that Faye and Marten weren't banging behind her back the whole time?

I feel like Dora (and i know I'm getting very srs bsns pyschoanaltyical about fictional characters) could have a legitimate mental/emotional problem such as Bipolar or Manic-depression. Her jealousy an insecurity seems to stem at least partially from low self-worth and she always seems to be operating on extremes either super-giddy-silly-happy-pants, or omg-what-am-i-gonna-do-the-world-is-crumbling-around-me-stress-out, or everyone-is-out-to-get-me-no-one-really-loves-me , or i-am-such-a-bitch-why-would-anyone-even-like-me-anyway. She needs to learn to process her emotions in a more mild-, moderate, healthy manner.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: LeGrande on 31 Aug 2010, 03:52
Well, well, that was certainly painful to watch. Oooh, Dora! *facepalms*

I do agree that Hannelore would be a good candidate to call Dora for her shit, but that wouldn't be as interesting as other options. For example one involving Angus asking where is Faye, Dora saying something stupid, Angus returning home in despair, telling Marigold about it, Marigold going to Faye in anger for hurting Angus, Faye storming int CoD in RAGE for Dora jepoardizing her budding relationship with Angus, etc.

Faye storms into CoD, Dora brings out the weaponry in the back, catfight ensues, Hanners, Penelope, and Cosette try to stop the fight, Cosette gets hit by the sword, ends up dying in the hospital, Dora goes on trial for manslaughter. Sven takes over the coffeehouse, hires Wil. Dora, faced with her brother running the one thing she felt like she was doing successfully in her life, ends up hanging herself in prison while waiting for sentencing. Faye returns to drinking. Marten, now having lost Steve, Marigold and Angus as friends, and with Dora in prison, can't handle the stress anymore and shoots himself in front of Faye.

Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: smilesvssmirks on 31 Aug 2010, 04:03
LeGrande,
Throw in some extreme close ups, heavy-handed symbolism, inexplicable insert shots, and a midget or two and you've got yourself a David Lynch film.

Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Border Reiver on 31 Aug 2010, 04:12
oh god why did I open this thread

Don't do it man, run, run far - don't look back!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Switchblade on 31 Aug 2010, 04:17
I WILL say this: Dora is definitely being an irrational twat.

Then why is Marten still with her?

Because he has the brain and balls to actually try to make a relationship work? This isn't fairytale-verse, there are are arguments. People do irrational dumb shit occasionally. Dora is officially being a bitch right now, but most of the time she isn't and they have a good relationship. If you are even slightly serious about a person - and Marten has said time and again that he loves her - then you DO NOT go straight for a breakup every time the relationship hits a pothole.

Relationships don't just trundle along and turn out perfectly by default. They involve effort and work, sometimes hard work. You have to concede to each other's quirks and flaws, sidestep the areas where you don't match and nurture the areas where you do.  There are going to be fights, and some of them will be blistering rows until both of you have learned how to avoid them. In a relatively young relationship, neither side will have really learned how to stop themselves from being irrational cockbuckets, nor how to safely disarm the opposite number when they are.

Marten gets a really raw deal from the fans really. In the past he's done the sensible, mature thing and let it slide off, then picked things up and moved on. And for that he gets called a "pussy" and "spineless" by people who clearly don't understand real relationships.

Maybe this one will turn out to be particularly bad. Maybe it'll turn out that one or both of them get off the defensive and call Dora on her bullshit. We don't know, but we're going to find out in about 20 hours or so
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Technetium on 31 Aug 2010, 04:23
This seems kind of out of character for Dora... hasn't she said something before to Martin about not having any problem with him checking out other girls, and even joked that he could bring one home for a 3-some?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Dliessmgg on 31 Aug 2010, 04:26
People have different opinions in different moods.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: terriblecabbage on 31 Aug 2010, 04:31
Suddenly http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=739 doesn't seem so funny anymore.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Blackjoker on 31 Aug 2010, 04:45
I WILL say this: Dora is definitely being an irrational twat.

Then why is Marten still with her?

Because he has the brain and balls to actually try to make a relationship work? This isn't fairytale-verse, there are are arguments. People do irrational dumb shit occasionally. Dora is officially being a bitch right now, but most of the time she isn't and they have a good relationship. If you are even slightly serious about a person - and Marten has said time and again that he loves her - then you DO NOT go straight for a breakup every time the relationship hits a pothole.

Relationships don't just trundle along and turn out perfectly by default. They involve effort and work, sometimes hard work. You have to concede to each other's quirks and flaws, sidestep the areas where you don't match and nurture the areas where you do.  There are going to be fights, and some of them will be blistering rows until both of you have learned how to avoid them. In a relatively young relationship, neither side will have really learned how to stop themselves from being irrational cockbuckets, nor how to safely disarm the opposite number when they are.

Marten gets a really raw deal from the fans really. In the past he's done the sensible, mature thing and let it slide off, then picked things up and moved on. And for that he gets called a "pussy" and "spineless" by people who clearly don't understand real relationships.

Maybe this one will turn out to be particularly bad. Maybe it'll turn out that one or both of them get off the defensive and call Dora on her bullshit. We don't know, but we're going to find out in about 20 hours or so

I agree with you for the most part. While I do like Dora as a character and do agree that this is a more realistic portrayal of people I can also see why some people would have a...negative reaction. Big reason might just be that most of the time Marten seems kind of like he has the losing end of things. Dora freaks out on him when he doesn't mention getting hit on at work, and does it in such a way that it feels like she tried to trap him. She goes berserk at Faye for sleeping with Sven and when Marten points out why he doesn't feel as betrayed and that her view on it might be wrong she goes off on him. Not to mention some of the stuff between Tai and Dora, it's not serious but it does seem like it makes Marten feel a little uncomfortable but even in those cases he doesn't really say anything presumably because he trusts Dora. It might also be worth noting that Dora tends to be fairly stable and calm but when she goes into hell bitch mode, she really goes into it. Thus it's a lot more memorable and it can seem contextually to be a lot worse than it was.

Though I will make a side comment that it might be funny for Pintsize to yell at Dora or something similar, either out of some level of care for Marten or as a way for him to add in a vaguely pornographic or scatalogical comment at the end of an otherwise coherent and articulate commentary on what's occurred.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: disaacs on 31 Aug 2010, 05:35
I understand where Dora's reaction is coming from (she's insecure, she's tired and she's been in a bad mood for a couple comics now) but that doesn't mean she is right. If fact, she's so wrong that Marten needs to give her a good yelling at.

Is this the first QC without a punchline since #504?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: akronnick on 31 Aug 2010, 05:41
At least this is happening on Tuesday, usually stuff this intense happens at the end of the week, the week before Comic-con, and we have to wait through a whole week of guest strips.

That might mean the OhNoesHellaDramas is just beginning.

Hold on to your buttsLols folks, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kaziel on 31 Aug 2010, 05:49
Kinda off-topic, but with all the links to older comics here (as one might guess from my lack of posts, I'm not much of a forum-goer) it's really amazing to see how far Jeph's art style has come.

EDIT:
Then why is Marten still with her?
Masochist tendencies. Look at what his mother does.

Or, you know, love.  Just 'cause pisses you off with their stupid bullshit doesn't mean you don't still love them.
And this is so very very true... I'm in the middle of... something right now and despite all of it, still love her.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: maychild on 31 Aug 2010, 06:06
Dora has ISSUES. The kind of issues that no one's partner should be subject to. She should not be in a romantic relationship and inflicting that on anyone. I'm thinking Dora should go see Doctor Corrine.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 31 Aug 2010, 06:14
I understand where Dora's reaction is coming from (she's insecure, she's tired and she's been in a bad mood for a couple comics now) but that doesn't mean she is right. If fact, she's so wrong that Marten needs to give her a good yelling at.

Is this the first QC without a punchline since #504?
May be something to that. That was a sea change for Faye: maybe now it's one for Dora.

Looking at all the posts, I see a large number of people essentially discarding Dora as a 'bitch,' 'cunt', or worse. Looking at the comic itself, though, I'd say you need to get in line behind Dora herself. It seems clear, to me, anyway, that she's managed to convince herself that as a romantic interest, she's worthless. Think about it: who is Dora really hurting if she pushes Marten and Faye away? If they really are rekindling their romance, won't that accelerate the process?

Dora may be irrational right now, but she's not stupid. On at least some level she knows that. What you're actually seeing here is a preemptive strike—Dora's been noticing Faye's been getting better for a while now, and she also knows that Faye's depression was the thing standing between Faye and Marten. Nevermind that Faye's seeing Angus, nevermind that Marten has always been faithful to whoever he was involved with—even if the involvement's not fully reciprocated—near to the point of absurdity (I mean, moving across country to follow the girl when she was clearly ready to end things? C'mon). The part of Dora that hates herself because she's sure she's not worth anyone committing to brushes that aside and moves to hurt them before they can hurt her, and above all, to get away from them before she has to endure another betrayal playing itself out. I'd hoped she'd finally gotten over that when she decided to move in with Marten and go beyond her assumption that their relationship was going to fall apart at any time, but sadly, I was wrong. Dora's self-hatred appears to be too strong to let herself be happy.

Oh, and those who're wanting Marten to toss Dora out of the apartment may be disappointed—if she isn't brought up short, Dora may very well take care of that herself.

Of course, I may be projecting all this, but since he seems to be reading this thread, on behalf of an on-and-off-again good friend of mine, I'd like to invite Jeph to stop raiding the poor guy's past behaviors.  :-)*

Edit:* Of course, I'm kidding. It is a bit alarming to see, though.

Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Karilyn on 31 Aug 2010, 06:50
"Hey Marten! Don't come back to your OWN BED THAT YOU LET ME MOVE INTO."
Honestly, I don't care it would be out of character for Martin.  I would like to see his balls descend and be all like "Wait what? No.  Goddamn it no it doesn't work like that.  You cannot kick me out of my own bed, in my own house.  You don't wanna sleep with me tonight?  YOU can not come to bed."
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 31 Aug 2010, 06:58
Okay, try this on for a perspective.

Y'know how, every time Jeph writes Dora as acting like something other than a bisexual Stepford Wife, people seem to go nuts?  The Marten-Faye shippers scream until they're frothing at the mouth, the Dora-haters get right behind them, and then the people who like Dora and her relationship with Marten start screaming right back, and the whole merry-go-round goes up in flames.
Which MAY potentially be a reason this was only hinted at before.  Sure, Faye's allowed to be an irrational bitch but it's okay because her Dad shot himself!  Well, no, actually, she's been a real bitch.  And when it became such an issue she couldn't function with her friends, she confronted it, and started to overcome it.  Well, guess what?  Now Dora's being the irrational bitch.  And she is damn well allowed to be.

This is confrontation.  Confrontation leads to resolution.  In the past people use terms like "Angst" or "Drama" to reference what's happening in the comic because that's about as strong a term as we can apply to it.  And because there's never been real conflict there's never been a real resolution, which is the reason WHY the issue of Dora's problem with Marten and his female friends has kept coming back.
Now there has been direct confrontation.  And, guess what?  There's going to have to be a resolution.  One way or another, this WILL be resolved.

It's called progress, people.  Despite what you may have learned from Sesame Street, it doesn't come from everyone holding hands and being the bestest buds.  If there's no conflict, it's because there's no problem.  Therefore if there is a problem, there must be conflict in order to solve the problem.  THAT IS HOW THE UNIVERSE WOKS.  And I for one am damn happy to see the turn this comic has taken, because now that this big obstacle for the gang is out in the open, they are going to have to fucking well deal with it.  Which I very much look forward to seeing.

Jeph:  No sarcasm, no backhanded meaning, and no reservations in saying this, but THANK YOU for actually being willing to take the plunge with this story arc, despite the fan rage I'm sure you knew it would cause.  Regardless of how this arc turns out, I'll stay riveted, and even if the resolution doesn't take the story in ways I've expected, it cannot fail  to take the characters in directions I will enjoy.  Even if everything turns to shit, it's better than the alternative - nothing.

And if anyone here actually thinks I have something resembling a point, by all means - grab your Useless Brooms Made Entirely Out Of Dicks and stand beside me, fighting the fanboy ocean as hard as ever we can.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: numbvox on 31 Aug 2010, 07:05
"Hey Marten! Don't come back to your OWN BED THAT YOU LET ME MOVE INTO."

And if he can't sleep in his own bed.... geez, isn't Dora just *asking* him to sleep in Faye's?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Border Reiver on 31 Aug 2010, 07:07
And if anyone here actually thinks I have something resembling a point, by all means - grab your Useless Brooms Made Entirely Out Of Dicks and stand beside me, fighting the fanboy ocean as hard as ever we can.

Can't I just put on my Canute costume?  It'll be easier to explain than the broom to my spouse.

Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 31 Aug 2010, 07:16

Can't I just put on my Canute costume?  It'll be easier to explain than the broom to my spouse.


If you have your own weapons and armour, that's fine too.  Useless Brooms Made Entirely Out Of Dicks are available for those who need one, if you change your mind.  Just talk to the horrible, horrible little man in his horrible, horrible little booth over there.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: keikun496 on 31 Aug 2010, 07:27
So many walls of text in this discussion :(

My two cents. One, Dora's reaction is reasonable if not a bit excessive. Two, Faye and Marten were hugging in undies sitting on a couch. Three, it is Marten's apartment.

I'm sure this will blow over eventually. Dora will calm down one way or another.

But I did feel quite unhappy reading this strip. Feels bad man.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Freya on 31 Aug 2010, 08:04
I thought Dora was being very unreasonable when she got pissed off about the Cosette thing, and about Faye sleeping with Sven. But in this case? I can totally see where she's coming from. Yes, she's not being completely rational, but come on... They were snuggling on the couch in their underwear in the middle of the night and they used to have a very obvious thing for each other. I can't blame Dora THAT much for getting angry, even though she went a bit over the top with it and she should have listened more to what Marten and Faye had to say.

Anyway, I'm excited to see where this arc is going.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: sandysmilinstrange on 31 Aug 2010, 08:11
Not trying to belittle anyone's points, but Dora's hardly just crashing with Marten rent-free. He invited her to move in and if he was just going to use the apartment as something that he could hold over her "Hey, it's MY apartment", then I think that would make him the jerk.

And yes, she's being terrible right now, but sometimes you are terrible and everyone has been the asshole in a fight at some point. She's overreacting, but her overreaction is not without roots at all. It was her boyfriend (in his underwear) holding her best friend (in her underwear) in the middle of the night and chances are ever since Faye decided that she was date-ready again there was a nagging fear that Marten would go back to his "first choice". Yes, that is a dumb and insecure feeling, but we've all had them. Everyone has felt not good enough at some point. She should absolutely seek out therapy and eventually apologize, but she should not be repeatedly insulted or be kicked out of what is now her own apartment too.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Dliessmgg on 31 Aug 2010, 08:16
SPOILER: The whole week will be the most disturbing relationship drama until friday comes with a EXTREME CLIFFHANGER robot hijinks strip.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jzimbert on 31 Aug 2010, 08:16
I don't get all the Dora-hate.  She just gave Marten implied permission to spend the night with Faye, and even gave Faye the day off so they don't have to stop banging.  What's bitchy about that?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Thorbard on 31 Aug 2010, 08:17
Which MAY potentially be a reason this was only hinted at before.  Sure, Faye's allowed to be an irrational bitch but it's okay because her Dad shot himself!  Well, no, actually, she's been a real bitch.  And when it became such an issue she couldn't function with her friends, she confronted it, and started to overcome it.  Well, guess what?  Now Dora's being the irrational bitch.  And she is damn well allowed to be.

Yes, Faye has been a bitch in the past, but as you said, she's realised this and got over it. Or at least, is working on it. She's also not always been a bitch, some of it has been genuine issues (eg, leading Marten on).

Dora, on the other hand, has regularly come down far too hard on Marten for no real reason. Remember the Cosette thing? Or what about when she freaked out at Faye and Marten when Faye got with Sven. Dora has, completely and utterly, proven that she is incapable about seeing anything Marten (and often Faye) does that she disagrees with as anything other than a personal attack. Which it quite clearly, in this situation and the other, isn't.

Edit: Also, clearly not many people have shared accommodation with people they are neither related to or in a relationship with. Being in your underwear/sleepwear together is hardly unusual.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: numbvox on 31 Aug 2010, 08:18
Not trying to belittle anyone's points, but Dora's hardly just crashing with Marten rent-free. He invited her to move in and if he was just going to use the apartment as something that he could hold over her "Hey, it's MY apartment", then I think that would make him the jerk.

Good, Marten needs to add a tiny bit of jerk to his personality.  There is laid back, and then there is meaningless.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Schmorgluck on 31 Aug 2010, 08:22
To me, the main reason Dora is being an unsufferable abusive bitch right now, and why she fully deserves that someone tells her to JUST SHUT UP ALREADY, is she doesn't let them any chance to explain themselves, by CUTTING THEM MID-SENTENCE. THREE FUCKING TIMES.

I'd already have slapped her. OK, probably not, but I would have counter-yelled that's for sure.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 31 Aug 2010, 08:36
Tergon, thanks so much for saying what I was thinking, and doing so in a much better way than I could have. 

Here I stand, broom in hand, fighting the surging tide
useless dicks against the pricks of comments both snarky and snide


I've lived 26 years with a woman who used to have teh irrational jealousies and fears.  They can be worked through, though they never go away completely.  It takes a lot of love and patience, not threats and ultimatums. 

Fortunately for Dora, I think her friends care enough to do it right, and not dump her/dump on her. 
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Ravenswing on 31 Aug 2010, 08:50
A Chinese emperor in olden days was such a tyrant that he decreed harsh punishments for many crimes, real or fancied.  Death for striking an elder.  Death for insolence.  Death for petty thefts.  More and more, death was the penalty for everything.

A group of villagers rushed to the fields, gasping in dismay.  The road had been washed out, forcing them to take a detour.  Suddenly one pulled up.  "Weng, what are you doing?  Do you not know what we risk, in our delay ...?" hissed another.

"My friends," Weng replied solemnly, "You know what the penalty for not being in the fields at the appointed hour is."

"Death," they intoned somberly.

"It is true," Weng answered.  "But do you also know the penalty for rebellion?  For killing the emperor?"

"Death," they intoned again.

"Well," said Weng, glancing up at the rising sun, "Boys, we're late for work."

*****

For quite a few years now, my wife and I've used "Boys, we're late for work" as a code phrase for the concept that if you're going to get screwed over whether you behave yourself or not, there's little incentive to follow the rules.  I agree Marten's not the type to do it, but I'd love to hear him say "If you're going to jump down my throat every time I'm with another female and unsupervised, what's my incentive to behave myself?  You're treating me like a cheater anyway."
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Blyss on 31 Aug 2010, 09:01
... she doesn't let them any chance to explain themselves, by CUTTING THEM MID-SENTENCE. THREE FUCKING TIMES.

Not only an unfair tactic when in an argument where you are demanding answers, but also incredibly rude.  The thing is, the people that do this to others (in my own personal experiences) HATE it when you do this back to them.  It magnifies this even more when you not only do it back to them, but then point out that they were originally doing it, thus provoking the response from you.  I have a feeling that the first time someone does this to Dora, she'll start to analyze her own behavior, and possibly change it (hopefully for the better).

Yes, I know they are fictional characters.  Yes, I know it's a webcomic.  I gave way to acceptance long ago that I actually do care about them, much as some people care about the characters in their soap operas.  I don't care.  They matter to me.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: fifthfiend on 31 Aug 2010, 09:16
more Dora Is Jealous comics

because Dora is Jealous
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Zipperstuck on 31 Aug 2010, 09:45
I agree Marten's not the type to do it, but I'd love to hear him say "If you're going to jump down my throat every time I'm with another female and unsupervised, what's my incentive to behave myself?  You're treating me like a cheater anyway."[/color]
Quoted for truth.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: nonsignor on 31 Aug 2010, 09:50
Dora is a business running boss, in hospitality no less.
First sign of trouble *bam* stop it now, act to stop it from happening again.

Boss like reactions evolving emotionally close people -late at night with a sleepy head- are going to end like this, hell could have been worse!
The morning is when the drama starts after the dust has settled.

Also, underwear guitar solo interlude (In my head).
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sapnish on 31 Aug 2010, 10:02
Dora SURELY isn't that insecure/stupid.   :|
She's having her periods.
All of them. At once. Her Super Period will destroy us all.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: bicostp on 31 Aug 2010, 10:24
Is her constant flirting with Tai indicative of a serious relationship? No. Neither was Marten/Faye midnight underpants hugging.

This is just another case of Dora jumping to conclusions and getting herself riled up about what she wants to believe is happening. She's the type that has to be in control and has to "win" every argument. Good for management, bad for relationships. She jumps the gun like this every time there's even the remote possibility of her relationship being in jeopardy.

Of course she's not being completely irrational, but she should know her boyfriend and longtime friend-employee better than that by now. She knows damn well (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1665) that Faye likes Angus, and Marten doesn't have the spine/cojones to cheat on her.

I figure worst case scenario, Faye's fired from CoD and Marten breaks it off with Dora.
Title: Gasoline on the fire
Post by: bunnyThor on 31 Aug 2010, 10:36
As I see it, this whole string of events started when Angus forced himself upon Faye at her place of work. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1724)

So all the blame here should go to Angus for starting off this unfortunate chain of events with a sexual assault.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: imaginaryideals on 31 Aug 2010, 11:07
I mostly agree with you, I think the problem some people have is that when Dora has gone on a rage due to jealousy it gets kind of...severe. One example would be the whole thing with Cossette where it seemed more like Dora was trying to trap Marten (he didn't mention it, not out of any desire to keep it hidden just because he didn't think it needed to be said). Dora also fantasizes about other people and it doesn't seem to bother Marten, especially when Dora seems a lot more...forward with some people. I agree that it's more likely Dora is stressed and then this kind of has her in GRRRR mode but I can also see the perspective of the people who get very angry with her for her actions. It might also be noted that Marten seems to have a vague Charlie Brown syndrome going on.

Dora has talked about her fantasies straight up. She makes a joke out of it and flirting is usually done in Marten's presence, in a way that shows she has nothing to hide. Marten has a what-she-doesn't-know attitude about his potentially-flirtatious encounters.

Yes, Dora's jealousy is severe, and it comes in fits, but I'm pretty sure her reaction in this particular situation is not only completely in-character but also completely understandable. Not that that will stop people from hating her, I guess ^^

Think about this: Faye knocked on a door which belongs to both Marten and Dora, but she only asked for Marten. Marten, or Faye, or both, could easily have given Dora a shake when Faye is panicking hard and talked it all out together--Dora -does- do comforting well when given the opportunity. Marten was in his room--he had pants handy, he could easily have pulled a pair on before walking out, though I understand why he didn't. Instead, Dora wakes up in the middle of the night to find her boyfriend gone, she walks out into the living room and sees him hugging a girl she knows he used to like.

I wouldn't want to hear their explanations either. She was right there and was left out. Not only that, she knows Marten and Faye's relationship has been borderline for a long time. They were platonic because Faye didn't want Marten, not the other way around. Yes, they've given her no reason to suspect they would start an affair, but I definitely wouldn't expect that insecurity to go away until Faye is happily settled into her own relationship.

Yes, her attitude is rude. People are not angels all the time, and Dora is an outright bitch when she has a reason to be, but she -does- have a reason. Yes, this is a self-centered reaction, but people are generally self-centered. So while yeah, she's probably overreacting and being a bitch, give her some time to calm down before going full on with the hate and calling her irrational.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Heliphyneau on 31 Aug 2010, 11:10
LOOK AWAY, JEPH!  THE THREAD, IT BURNS!

"I looked in the trap, Ray."

>_>

And wow, apparently I underestimated Dora's capacity to overreact.   :|  Queue Faye Panic Attack Mach II?  I'd say Dora should talk to Dr. Corrinne, but she'd be on hold til Faye got done.

Though kicking Dora out would be extreme (and unproductive, and quite unlike Marten), Marten should definitely stand up for himself.  She needs to hear him, and he needs to be heard.  I know she's being irrational (as Jeph pointed out), but Marten loves her and I think he cares enough to fight to keep the relationship.  I don't hate Dora for her reaction, but I do hope she starts to see reason once she calms down.  Of course, having said that, tomorrow's comic will have Marten and Faye actually making out and Dora's fears completely justified.   :roll:  Woo, pointless conjecturing ftw!

Maybe it's the purple hair.  In fact . . . I've got it: Dora becomes more and more angry/irrational, isolating everyone she knows, and years later, she encounters a wormhole that sends her back in time to attack Marten, Faye, and herself in an alley!  FutureDora = Vespavenger!

 . . . Yeah, um, any of those dickbrooms left?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: douggerel on 31 Aug 2010, 11:11
Personally I like some drama. It keeps a comic from becoming Peanuts or Family Circus. Couples fight, usually over inconsequential shit. Some people, like Dora, are prone to spates of irrational anger.

Plus, maybe this is a chance for Faye to do something other than make lattes all day. You know, be an artist or something.

Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Nightson on 31 Aug 2010, 11:39
Maybe it's the purple hair.  In fact . . . I've got it: Dora becomes more and more angry/irrational, isolating everyone she knows, and years later, she encounters a wormhole that sends her back in time to attack Marten, Faye, and herself in an alley!  FutureDora = Vespavenger!

I think it's bad that my first thought, "That should totally happen in the comic..."
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: westrim on 31 Aug 2010, 11:45
DramaDramaDramaDramaDrama

oh god why did I open this thread

Masochism?
Pretty much the only option. A shitstorm was only to be expected. Though perhaps Jeph only intended to gauge reaction to his latest twist, in which case I hope he now knows that these Dora irrationality episodes are more annoying and aggravating than funny or plot advancing.

I should note though people that the Monday comment said he did this on a whim, so I doubt that this will result in any long term changes, just like Cosettegate. Shame too. Dora needs a serious epiphany at some point, because this is the third time she's gone crazy at one or both of the two people she can absolutely trust with anything. I dunno, maybe the Wednesday strip will start with her behind the bedroom door, hands on her face, saying "oh my god, I'm such a bitch". Then, sloppy make outs on the couch with Marten.  :-D

Seriously, "my friends used my to bang my brother" was barely a reason the first time (with Faye), not a reason the second (with Marten), and just not acceptable this time. She knows that Faye just got back from her first date in forever and was more than slightly worried. She knows what kind of guy Marten is. It's like once being in a house collapse then freaking out standing under the Eiffel Tower.

I'm not with the Dora haters, since I prefer to wait and see. But I had been hoping that today's stripe would have her go "lol chill guys, how was the date?", not perpetuate her irrationality. And irrational is not a catchall excuse when what she knows is so overwhelmingly more significant than what she assumes on the spot.  I don't give a damn that they were in their undies and hugging, it's nighttime, they're very good friends one of them just got back from a massive leap forward with another dude, etc. Underwear is a mouse compared to that elephant.

It's not that I expect her to be a 'Stepford smiler, so don't try that'. When she went ballistic on Sven after he cheated on Faye that actually had logical and emotional backing (even if their relationship was allegedly FWB), so it worked. This doesn't.

But you know, whatever happens happens. I'm not going to stop reading the comic, and I doubt any of the haters or shippers will either. But I reserve my right to complain about this arc and Dora's behavior. :evil:
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: themacnut on 31 Aug 2010, 11:51
Personally I like some drama. It keeps a comic from becoming Peanuts or Family Circus. Couples fight, usually over inconsequential shit. Some people, like Dora, are prone to spates of irrational anger.

That's the bottom line here. Jeph has created real human characters (or as close to real as possible), and real humans, even the more level headed ones, have been known to say and do really dumb irrational stuff on occasion. Relationships turn on how you deal with friends and SOs when they're being dumb and irrational too, not just when they're being nice. Yes, today's comic was hard to read, but I say let's wait and see how it turns out before leveling judgment.

Tergon, I stand with you, but I still can't bring myself to touch the dick broom, sorry.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Moxie on 31 Aug 2010, 12:37
Think about this: Faye knocked on a door which belongs to both Marten and Dora, but she only asked for Marten. Marten, or Faye, or both, could easily have given Dora a shake when Faye is panicking hard and talked it all out together--Dora -does- do comforting well when given the opportunity. Marten was in his room--he had pants handy, he could easily have pulled a pair on before walking out, though I understand why he didn't. Instead, Dora wakes up in the middle of the night to find her boyfriend gone, she walks out into the living room and sees him hugging a girl she knows he used to like.

To give an alternate perspective: Faye is freaking out and knows she needs to talk to someone. Faye knocks on the door belonging to both Marten and Dora knowing one, the other, or both will help her. Marten awakens by the knock, sleepily opens it, and sees Faye in full panic mode. Faye asks him to talk to her, he immediately says yes, and goes out to talk (in the living room, not Faye's room).
If Dora can sleepily wake up, go out of her room and immediately draw conclusions that may be influenced by her sleepy state, I see no reason why Marten couldn't also have done the same. Sure, his pants may have been handy, but he was sleepy and worried about a very panicked Faye. Sure, they both could have asked for Dora, but Faye just needed someone to talk to (if it had been Dora who answered, I'm not sure they would have thought to wake up Marten either), and again, Marten was just focused on getting his obviously panicked friend calmed down.

I feel like the overall point is that, sure, lots of things could have been done, but no one was in a state to really do them. And really, it shouldn't have mattered. I agree with someone else who posted in here, that Dora makes every issue about herself, whether or not it is. Until she can recognize that, and work on that, she still will, and eventually it is going to alienate herself from everyone (I think).

Everything about her reaction in today's comic left me wondering if I'd really read everything correctly. Someone else posted that Dora hates herself so much/thinks herself unlovable that she'd rather push people away than be hurt by them (when her warped view sees them possibly hurting her). I think there's probably a lot of truth to that. I really hope that she realizes her extreme reaction to the situation is unwarranted, but I'm not sure that's something she can figure out by herself.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: foolsguinea on 31 Aug 2010, 13:19
OK, now I've had time to think about this more, I think we're reading this wrong. Dora isn't so much scared of what it looks like as what it is. "Emotional cheating," anyone? Dora wanted Marten to move in with her; but instead he convinced her to move in with him & his not-quite-gf Faye. He keeps strong emotional ties to Faye. Faye is in a sense like the older wife in his harem. What Dora sees now isn't silly sexy time, it's heavy emotional stuff, & that gets Dora in the heart.

Also, Dora doesn't know how things went with Angus. It's not inconceivable that a date with Angus could somehow lead Faye into Marten's arms in the same day, in a, "this is who I really need to be with," sense. Dora is being completely rational given the information available to her, & has no reason to trust what from her perspective are Marten & Faye's excuses.

We see it differently, because this scene has so far been from Marten's point of view, & to some degree Faye's, so we're identifying with them. But Dora is operating on limited information, & is behaving rationally, if not nicely.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: bicostp on 31 Aug 2010, 13:31
But Dora is operating on limited information, & is behaving rationally, if not nicely.

What comic are you reading?

Yes, Dora is running on limited information. However she is actively shutting out all additional information and is instead overreacting to her own conclusions (as always). She's clearly not thinking anything through, and doesn't particularly want to. She's essentially taken the two people she's afraid of getting together and giving them several opportunities to do just that. Locking Marten out of their room for the night, putting Faye on administrative leave (or outright firing her, the dialogue is unclear at this point) so she essentially has more time to spend at home alone with Marten...

This is going to wind up with Dora getting a good yelling-at from a third (fourth?) party. Most likely it's going to be Hannelore, the comic's resident expert on freaking out. (Of all people she'd know that in a panic attack you usually run to the nearest available confidant.)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Lost Coastlines on 31 Aug 2010, 13:46
It doesn't bother me that she kicked Marten out of bed.  She's been living there for awhile and paying her share of rent.  If she's mad, she has the right to make him sleep on the couch.

I think telling Faye not to come into work the next day is far worse.  She gave Faye at least a one-day suspension, maybe more.  That's essentially financially penalizing her for a transgression in their personal lives.  If Dora can't stand the sight of Faye for the time being, she's in the position to give herself a paid vacation.  Hopefully when/if she comes to her senses, she'll let Faye make up those hours.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: haikupoet on 31 Aug 2010, 14:16
But Dora is operating on limited information, & is behaving rationally, if not nicely.

What comic are you reading?

Yes, Dora is running on limited information. However she is actively shutting out all additional information and is instead overreacting to her own conclusions (as always). She's clearly not thinking anything through, and doesn't particularly want to. She's essentially taken the two people she's afraid of getting together and giving them several opportunities to do just that. Locking Marten out of their room for the night, putting Faye on administrative leave (or outright firing her, the dialogue is unclear at this point) so she essentially has more time to spend at home alone with Marten...

This is going to wind up with Dora getting a good yelling-at from a third (fourth?) party. Most likely it's going to be Hannelore, the comic's resident expert on freaking out. (Of all people she'd know that in a panic attack you usually run to the nearest available confidant.)

Agreed. I'd love to see Hannelore light this one up, actually. Dora is half-asleep and being horribly unreasonable; it's in-character for her, but still completely wrong. She really should know better; she knows the Faye-Marten dynamic well enough that she should know she's being a paranoid idiot.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Merrick on 31 Aug 2010, 15:19
I thought of something else.

SOMETHING woke Dora up.

The sound of talking. So if it woke her up, and she had time to get dressed (as she appeared to be sleeping nude or at least topless), then surely she would have heard the conversation of 'I really like Angus' and 'I'm glad you're my friend'.

SHE MUST HAVE OVERHEARD THEM TO HAVE GONE IN DAMMIT

SO what the fuck is she playing at? Looking for an excuse to dump Marten? To fire Faye? To TAKE OVER THE APARTMENT FOR HERSELF.


We may never know.



...or just find out tomorrow.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kugai on 31 Aug 2010, 15:21
Is Dora about to go to The Dark Side?


Probably not, but speculation is fun.





Darth Bianchi
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Schmorgluck on 31 Aug 2010, 15:36
This is going to wind up with Dora getting a good yelling-at from a third (fourth?) party. Most likely it's going to be Hannelore, the comic's resident expert on freaking out. (Of all people she'd know that in a panic attack you usually run to the nearest available confidant.)
Plus, Hannelore can possibly learn from Marigold that the date went well, and contradict Dora if she comes to ramble about it, which could very well interrupt her paranoid fantasy.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: no one special on 31 Aug 2010, 15:52
(Where the fuck would you GET a broom made of dicks?)

San Francisco, but you can get them shipped to anywhere except Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.


Hey!!  We have better things to do than make useless items such as these!!  We're a major metropolitan area!  They're probably made in Iowa or North Dakota, where there is literally nothing better to do  :)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: PHDrillSergeant on 31 Aug 2010, 16:11
If I were in marten's shoes I would most likely end the relationship here. In fact, I HAVE ended a relationship for similar circumstances. A relationship without trust is a relationship waiting to fall apart.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: someone1074 on 31 Aug 2010, 17:04
A part of me wishes this would cause such a rift in their relationship that they would temporarily separate. Just to add a very different dimension to the comic. I mean...so much could be written from that conflict alone.

But yeah, not gonna happen. Dora will probably take a day to relax, then apologize. Everyone talks about their feelings. Everything's resolved. Comic goes back to general humor and the new development of Angus and Faye's blossoming relationship (which is great, imo. I've always championed Angus's growing involvement in the comic).

If nothing else, you have to agree that Jeph is doing a great job. Looking forward to tomorrow's strip.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 31 Aug 2010, 17:06

San Francisco, but you can get them shipped to anywhere except Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.


Hey!!  We have better things to do than make useless items such as these!!  We're a major metropolitan area!  They're probably made in Iowa or North Dakota, where there is literally nothing better to do  :)

Oh come on now.  There's no such thing as Iowa.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 31 Aug 2010, 18:05
This could get worse.

Imagine attempted helpful intervention from Pintsize.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Schmorgluck on 31 Aug 2010, 18:30
This could get worse.

Imagine attempted helpful intervention from Pintsize.
Holy shit!  :-o
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Polonius on 31 Aug 2010, 18:38
I thought of something else.

SOMETHING woke Dora up.

The sound of talking. So if it woke her up, and she had time to get dressed (as she appeared to be sleeping nude or at least topless), then surely she would have heard the conversation of 'I really like Angus' and 'I'm glad you're my friend'.

SHE MUST HAVE OVERHEARD THEM TO HAVE GONE IN DAMMIT

SO what the fuck is she playing at? Looking for an excuse to dump Marten? To fire Faye? To TAKE OVER THE APARTMENT FOR HERSELF.


We may never know.



...or just find out tomorrow.

I think you're on to something.  When you read Dora's dialogue, she never actually says that she's upset or what she's upset about.  Instead, she focuses instead on how it looks, and how they should have known how it looked.  She's basically saying "You know that I'm a jealous girl with trust issues, so you should have known that if I saw this I'd be upset."  Note that she's not accusing them of anything.

I think it's likely tomorrow's strip is her returning to the room to apologize, but in the meantime, I think that she's angry because she feels she can be, not because something really bothered her.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: westrim on 31 Aug 2010, 18:48
I thought of something else.

SOMETHING woke Dora up.

The sound of talking. So if it woke her up, and she had time to get dressed (as she appeared to be sleeping nude or at least topless), then surely she would have heard the conversation of 'I really like Angus' and 'I'm glad you're my friend'.

SHE MUST HAVE OVERHEARD THEM TO HAVE GONE IN DAMMIT

SO what the fuck is she playing at? Looking for an excuse to dump Marten? To fire Faye? To TAKE OVER THE APARTMENT FOR HERSELF.


We may never know.



...or just find out tomorrow.

I think you're on to something.  When you read Dora's dialogue, she never actually says that she's upset or what she's upset about.  Instead, she focuses instead on how it looks, and how they should have known how it looked.  She's basically saying "You know that I'm a jealous girl with trust issues, so you should have known that if I saw this I'd be upset."  Note that she's not accusing them of anything.

I think it's likely tomorrow's strip is her returning to the room to apologize, but in the meantime, I think that she's angry because she feels she can be, not because something really bothered her.

So in other words she's not insecure (at least, not unless it related directly to her brother), just a sneakier hell-bitch than Faye? That actually slots in with her manipulative behavior during Cosettegate.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: akronnick on 31 Aug 2010, 18:58

Hey!!  We have better things to do than make useless items such as these!!  We're a major metropolitan area!  They're probably made in Iowa or North Dakota, where there is literally nothing better to do  :)

I didn't say they were made in San Francisco, just that you could get one there.

Like all retail products in America today, dick-brooms are made in China.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 31 Aug 2010, 19:17

San Francisco, but you can get them shipped to anywhere except Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.


Hey!!  We have better things to do than make useless items such as these!!  We're a major metropolitan area!  They're probably made in Iowa or North Dakota, where there is literally nothing better to do  :)

Oh come on now.  There's no such thing as Iowa.

Yes there is.  I spent a lovely week driving through it one afternoon...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 31 Aug 2010, 19:35
If this was a TV show, I'd swear it was sweeps week.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Technetium on 31 Aug 2010, 19:49
Martin should just get himself a fatty next time, they are much friendlier. Skinny girls rage and throw tantrums all the time because they know that they can just get rid of a guy whenever they want and get a new one within a couple hours. Fatties are nice to their boyfriends because they have nowhere else to go.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kazukagii on 31 Aug 2010, 19:53
Oh hey look, it's the bitchy/paranoid/jealous side of Dora, haven't seen that in quite a few strips.

Yeah I pretty much knew this arc was leading up to problems in the Martin/Dora relationship, but I honestly thought it would come from Martin's side, not Dora's.

I say she's just tired. This whole thing will blow over in a few chapter THEY'RE GOING TO BREAK UP AND DORA WILL MURDER FAYE AND THE COMIC NOW SUCKS WHAT THE FUCK JEPH OMG XD RUINED FOREVER!111!!11!

Looking forward to seeing how this plays out!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: BigSol81 on 31 Aug 2010, 20:33
It's a good thing for Dora that Marten is so forgiving.

I mean, as far as I'm concerned, you can only go into a paranoid jealous rage so many times before "I'm sorry, I have poor self-esteem and trust issues!" won't work anymore. Personally, I think Marten should start putting his foot down. Dora has said before that she's trying to be better about this, yet each blow up seems worse than the one before it.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: reicreature on 31 Aug 2010, 20:40
Technetium-
Wow, that's one of the more horrible comments I've read on the internet today.
Ick.


Anyway, I'm sort of looking forward to how this might pan out. I'm in the sympathetic to Dora camp mostly because I think most of the time she's always trying to be the most awesome girlfriend ever and maybe that's just hiding the fact that she's really insecure. I can see where she must have thought the worst and it was just enough that even if there was nothing to it, she felt that both Martin and Faye were being inconsiderate on some level. Yes, she's being totally unreasonable, but who is reasonable all of the time? Yes, she's out of line, but I think her anger is indicative that something else is wrong.  I'm hoping that it all gets straightened out and we get a happier, less jealous Dora in the future.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Nightson on 31 Aug 2010, 20:45
Amid all this, I really do think that people should adopt a more wait and see attitude, there are ways this could go down that ameliorate Dora's actions, she could come out an hour later having realized the mistakes she made and apologized for them.  Or should could stay in her unreasonable, jealous snit for days and Marten would be totally justified in dumping her.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: vettechinohio on 31 Aug 2010, 20:48
Martin should just get himself a fatty next time, they are much friendlier. Skinny girls rage and throw tantrums all the time because they know that they can just get rid of a guy whenever they want and get a new one within a couple hours. Fatties are nice to their boyfriends because they have nowhere else to go.

Douchebag  :x
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: westrim on 31 Aug 2010, 21:22
Detail just noticed: Dora is wearing only underwear while yelling at her friends... for only wearing underwear. Still gonna wait and see, but I hope I'm waiting to see her apologize profusely without any of that "we're both wrong" stuff from Cosettegate.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 31 Aug 2010, 21:29
I feel like the overall point is that, sure, lots of things could have been done, but no one was in a state to really do them. And really, it shouldn't have mattered. I agree with someone else who posted in here, that Dora makes every issue about herself, whether or not it is.
I agree with the first sentence, but the second isn't true. Dora certainly makes every issue that might be some indicator that Marten is about to leave her about herself, even, admittedly, when it's not. That was at the core, I think, of her blow-up at Marten for supporting Faye when the Sven-Faye thing came to her attention.

But Dora can also be both supportive and self-effacing. Really, she has a Jekyll and Hyde thing going. When her insecurity's not being triggered (such as Bossing at CoD before she got in a relationship with Marten) Dora's a very nice person. I suspect the real problem has been that as her relationship with Marten and its imminent demise have occupied her thoughts more and more, her relationship insecurity is triggered by more and more by less obviously related events, and that what happened 'tonight' is the result of a great pile of fear that Dora now has heaped up. Reminds me a bit of what Hyde says about 'sin' in comic The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen II. The more there is, the bigger he grows, and the more he dominates everything while Jekyll wastes away.

There's no doubt Dora has to get her fears under control. But there's also no doubt the 'other' Dora is very much in evidence. That, if he does, will be why Marten sticks with her.  I hope he does, since it seems to me Dora badly needs him as a demonstration that her assumptions are a fallacy—which doesn't mean he shouldn't stand up for himself. Marten can do both, and may be the most uniquely equipped person to do so in the cast.

The more I think about it, the more I think Dora may be Jeph's finest, most subtle, most nuanced creation, character-wise. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Which, of course, means Marigold tonight, no doubt.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: sophle on 31 Aug 2010, 22:14
Dora has insecurities. People are allowed to behave irrationally towards their friends/significant others once in a while--otherwise no one would have any friends. Dora is being ridiculous, but that doesn't mean she's a bitch.

My biggest problem is the "don't come into work" tomorrow thing. I get the heat-of-the-moment anger thing, but Dora'd better take that back; it is one thing to behave irrationally towards friends, another to do so towards an employee. As someone who runs her own business, Dora ought to be able to separate the two. If she actually tried to fire Faye over this, I'm pretty sure Faye would be allowed to sue, unless there was no contract whatsoever, which would be pretty unprofessional.

Also, how could anyone ever compare Peanuts to the Family Circus?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kugai on 31 Aug 2010, 22:26
[speculativethought]  Dora's pregnant [/speculativethought]
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: themacnut on 31 Aug 2010, 22:35
Most employees in the states don't work under any kind of contract-they work under "employment at will". "Employment at will" means that not only can an employee leave a job for any reason or no reason, but also that an employer can fire an employee for any reason or no reason. Faye could still sue if she liked, but it would be on her to PROVE the termination was wrongful.

What would most likely save Faye's job is the fact that firing her, especially under these circumstances, would most certainly cost Dora Faye's friendship, and probably her relationship with Marten as well. Not to mention the loss of respect she'd get from her other employees...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Ravenswing on 31 Aug 2010, 22:36
If I were in marten's shoes I would most likely end the relationship here. In fact, I HAVE ended a relationship for similar circumstances. A relationship without trust is a relationship waiting to fall apart.
Especially ... this is MARTEN.  Does Marten flirt with other women?  No, he does not.  Does he ogle other women?  No, he does not.  Has he, in fact, given the slightest inkling since he started dating Dora that he was still pining for Faye?  No, he has not.  Has he done the slightest thing inappropriate with the number of young women he hangs around with?  No, he has not.  Is he the type to cheat?  No, emphatically, he is not.

Marten could, easily, be forgiven for saying "You'd never have any faith in my fidelity no matter who I was or what I did."
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: westrim on 31 Aug 2010, 22:46
If I were in marten's shoes I would most likely end the relationship here. In fact, I HAVE ended a relationship for similar circumstances. A relationship without trust is a relationship waiting to fall apart.
Especially ... this is MARTEN.  Does Marten flirt with other women?  No, he does not.  Does he ogle other women?  No, he does not.  Has he, in fact, given the slightest inkling since he started dating Dora that he was still pining for Faye?  No, he has not.  Has he done the slightest thing inappropriate with the number of young women he hangs around with?  No, he has not.  Is he the type to cheat?  No, emphatically, he is not.

Marten could, easily, be forgiven for saying "You'd never have any faith in my fidelity no matter who I was or what I did."
Why the hell do you keep writing in yellow?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: sophle on 31 Aug 2010, 22:49
@macnut--I'll take your word...I mostly just think that there is a big difference between being irrational with your friends, and being so grossly unprofessional. I think potentially firing Faye, or even taking away a day of paid work, is crossing a much bigger line than telling her boyfriend to sleep on the couch.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Fenriswolf on 31 Aug 2010, 23:14
Well. I'm glad he's not mad at Faye (which IMO would have been a pretty understandable reaction but cruel), but in general this comic made me sad. The angry-Dora one made me angry, and just having the window open to F5 was stressing me out, but this one is sad.

Which really means Jeph's writing = good. Just, sad, today. :(
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: tinkerbell on 31 Aug 2010, 23:18
Mad Marten is mad.

I guess this will please all those who claimed Marten was too laid-back. The fact that he has a name for the way she is acting is not a good sign I think.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sapnish on 31 Aug 2010, 23:19
I want to see that Hello Kitty belt buckle in every panel in the next strip.  :laugh:
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: ChibiSoma on 31 Aug 2010, 23:26
Marten gets angry? Hm. Might have to look into that. We can't have our milquetoast hero growing a spine this far in, can we?

Now I just hope he retains this anger until he can CONFRONT her about it.

He'll go for his walk, come back, pass by Faye, who's still on the couch and still sorta freaked out, now for more than one reason, and says "Hang on."

He goes into HIS bedroom, over to HIS bed, and yanks HIS god damn pillows out from under the werebitch's head. He opens his mouth, but Dora immediately starts shrieking like the inept banshee she is apparently becoming over Marten suddenly wearing Faye's clothes now CLEARLY SHE IS RIDING HIM BEHIND DORA'S BACK OHHHH SHIIIIIIIIT.

Then Marten tells the crazy bitch to get the unholy fuck out of Dodge before he calls the cops and sends her to the asshole tank for the rest of the night. It's like the drunk tank, just for assholes. It's the asshole tank.

Seriously though, while I'm glad Marty's getting some hair on his balls, we all know god damn well that it's going to be the most temporary anger in the history of dudes getting mad at their ladies. He's gonna go out, run into Jimbo, who's gonna ask if he came out of the closet. Marten gives him the Cliff's notes version of events, and Jimbo imparts sage wisdom on our boy. Which will most likely consist of "Hoo-er, boy, you need to call the cops and send that crazy bitch to the asshole tank."
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: helloandgoodbye on 31 Aug 2010, 23:28
  Yeah, Marty will stop being angry soon.  If not the next strip, the one after.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jordinyc on 31 Aug 2010, 23:29
(http://i55.tinypic.com/2pyz3nm.png)

Marten can't win.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: bicostp on 31 Aug 2010, 23:31
Could this be the beginnings of a Marten-spine developing?

Why the hell do you keep writing in yellow?

Because it makes his post stand out.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 31 Aug 2010, 23:35
Does it seem ominous to anyone else Marten has the 'Teh' shirt on? Are we coming full circle? And if so, to what?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Heliphyneau on 31 Aug 2010, 23:41
[speculativethought]  Dora's pregnant [/speculativethought]

And in a few months, comic-time, she'll miscarry, right?

*shudders; tries not to vomit*

I guess Marten's trying the cool-off-before-I-choke-a-bitch(TM) method before confronting Dora.  It'll be interesting to see where his walk lands him.  I'm still wondering if Faye's panic attack will restart itself or if being yelled at shorted it out -- panel 1 indicates the possibility of the former, but the rest of the strip seems to have her on a more even keel.  It's even possible that Hanners has heard some of the yelling, since she lives right above them and rarely sleeps . . .

Hello Kitty belt = win, btw.  ^_^  Almost as awesome as Hello Fiddy: http://boingboing.net/2010/08/27/kitty-cent.html (http://boingboing.net/2010/08/27/kitty-cent.html)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sapnish on 31 Aug 2010, 23:42
Does it seem ominous to anyone else Marten has the 'Teh' shirt on? Are we coming full circle? And if so, to what?

He'll meet up with Steve, they'll go to a bar and meet a new Indy Girl with twice as many "Issues" as Faye. She'll be Alternate Universe Faye, in which Sara will be her best friend, Hannelore is a free loving hippie and Dora runs a bar that Wasn't There Yesterday. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Ptitlelfhe09gi?)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jordinyc on 31 Aug 2010, 23:43
Does it seem ominous to anyone else Marten has the 'Teh' shirt on? Are we coming full circle? And if so, to what?

That's a great way of looking at it. To me it's more like a warning of importantly relevant shit coming our way.

Another way of looking at it is a metaphor for their relationship. The TEH shirt takes you back to QC's roots, taking you "back to Mecca" as it were. The roots, the foundation of any relationship have to be solid, and if there's a lack of trust, you're screwed, and not in the nice way. Maybe that's a stretch but that's how i see it.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Heliphyneau on 31 Aug 2010, 23:49
Does it seem ominous to anyone else Marten has the 'Teh' shirt on? Are we coming full circle? And if so, to what?

That's a great way of looking at it. To me it's more like a warning of importantly relevant shit coming our way.

Another way of looking at it is a metaphor for their relationship. The TEH shirt takes you back to QC's roots, taking you "back to Mecca" as it were. The roots, the foundation of any relationship have to be solid, and if there's a lack of trust, you're screwed, and not in the nice way. Maybe that's a stretch but that's how i see it.

Or maybe the "TEH" shirt is just so definitively Marten, like Charlie Brown's black zigzag on yellow shirt, that it's there to show he hasn't changed -- and I don't mean that in a bad way.  He's the eye of the storm.  Maybe when the shirt changes it'll signify a change in him.

Or, maybe it's just the shirt that was clean on top of the pile.   :wink:  "Sometimes a banana is just a banana, Anna."
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jordinyc on 31 Aug 2010, 23:56
Or maybe the "TEH" shirt is just so definitively Marten, like Charlie Brown's black zigzag on yellow shirt, that it's there to show he hasn't changed -- and I don't mean that in a bad way.  He's the eye of the storm.  Maybe when the shirt changes it'll signify a change in him.

Or, maybe it's just the shirt that was clean on top of the pile.   :wink:  "Sometimes a banana is just a banana, Anna."

Or as Bill Clinton said: sometimes a cigar is just a cigar XD.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Akima on 31 Aug 2010, 23:58
Marten gets angry? Hm. Might have to look into that. We can't have our milquetoast hero growing a spine this far in, can we?
Curious how often people mistake anger for a backbone... I guess Marten's got those "Wandering The Streets In Girl's Pants With a Hello Kitty Belt-Buckle blues". Notoriously difficult to rhyme...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: ChibiSoma on 31 Aug 2010, 23:59
Wait, no, I know what'll happen.

Marten goes on his walk. Faye goes to talk to Dora. And, maybe involving Faye out-bitching Dora, explains what was going on. I think if anyone tells Dora to stop being an ass, it'll be Faye.

Then they hug and make up.

Which is when Marten walks in, pointing and yelling, "Oh, so it's fine when YOU do it?!"
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kaziel on 01 Sep 2010, 00:11
Personally, I'm expecting something (not sure what) but something to happen when he goes on his walk. I mean, maybe it's just a case of a walk being a walk, but why go through all of the effort of writing him having to wear Faye's clothes to go out on a walk for no real reason? Hmmmm...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kugai on 01 Sep 2010, 00:15
Wait, no, I know what'll happen.

Marten goes on his walk. Faye goes to talk to Dora. And, maybe involving Faye out-bitching Dora, explains what was going on. I think if anyone tells Dora to stop being an ass, it'll be Faye.

Then they hug and make up.

Which is when Marten walks in, pointing and yelling, "Oh, so it's fine when YOU do it?!"

And the circle will be complete.




I can see Marten getting the crap beaten outta him when a bunch of drunken yahoos sees the Hello Kitty Beltbuckle

Then Faye will get vengefully mad at Dora

Dora will blame herself and have a mental breakdown and wind up in the local loony bin

Hanners will blame both of them, snap and go on a homicidal rampage against Faye and Dora's families

Cosette and Steve take over Coffee of Doom
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 01 Sep 2010, 00:17
Heh.  When the comic features a sad silence and an ominous pause, the forum goes utterly nuts.

When Dora's a bitch and Marten responds by actually getting angry, so there actually is a fight to talk about, everyone calms down and goes back to being sensible.

I have a new theory:  You're all perfectly sane, YOU JUST LIKE FUCKING WITH JEPH.




Also:  Yay, finally we see a chink in Marten's nice-guy armour.  I think after nearly 1800 comics, he's earned the right to be an arsehole, just once.  The question is whether the story arc will follow his adventures on his walk, or whether it'll follow Faye and Dora back at the apartment.  I'm thinking hints of both... and I'll be every curious to see where either / both arcs lead.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: chelicious on 01 Sep 2010, 00:19
Does it seem ominous to anyone else Marten has the 'Teh' shirt on? Are we coming full circle? And if so, to what?

That's a thought I've been having myself. Symbolic, in a way... he's now using the TEH shirt as pajamas, and it seems like the TEH shirt is always ominously on for relationship (http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=254) drama (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=500) or the beginning (http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=570) of things... (http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=728)


Edit: Found more links. :P


Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sorflakne on 01 Sep 2010, 00:22
Does it seem ominous to anyone else Marten has the 'Teh' shirt on? Are we coming full circle? And if so, to what?

That's a great way of looking at it. To me it's more like a warning of importantly relevant shit coming our way.

Another way of looking at it is a metaphor for their relationship. The TEH shirt takes you back to QC's roots, taking you "back to Mecca" as it were. The roots, the foundation of any relationship have to be solid, and if there's a lack of trust, you're screwed, and not in the nice way. Maybe that's a stretch but that's how i see it.
Or he just happened to grab the TEH shirt to use as a pj shirt.  

I still have my ROTC Det shirt that I wear occasionally even though I graduated a few years ago, despite having had it since I was a freshman (man, seven years flew by just like that...).  Amazingly, despite the number of times its been washed, the colors have yet to start fading and the fabric is still as durable as it was when I first got the shirt.  It's the only shirt I've owned that's actually outlasted pairs of jeans (and jeans last frickin' FOREVER).
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: kaitco on 01 Sep 2010, 00:24
Why would Faye assume "this" was all her fault? That is not like Faye at all...

I am really excited to see where this goes. Like a couple others, I expect that Marten will find himself at a bar where there is self-discovery sitting on the next barstool, but I hope it turns out better than that.

The more I read the comments and re-read the past few comics, I wonder if perhaps there was something really happening on that sofa. I mean, the way Marten stammered in the second to last panel of 1740 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1740) tells me he was expecting the next thing to come out of Faye's mouth to be something earth-shattering. He was nervous about what was happening between them at that moment and that makes me wonder why. Maybe his anger is more at himself than at the situation? That Dora called him out on what was clearly a tender moment? That this time, perhaps she was not going mental over absolutely nothing?

Another question: Does anyone else find it eerily ironic that Jeph decided to bring back the old hairstyles and Marten's TEH shirt right around the time we get a glimpse of a Marten-Faye moment? It is like we are taking a long trip down memory lane where Marten is still pining after Faye.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: westrim on 01 Sep 2010, 00:25
Personally, I'm expecting something (not sure what) but something to happen when he goes on his walk. I mean, maybe it's just a case of a walk being a walk, but why go through all of the effort of writing him having to wear Faye's clothes to go out on a walk for no real reason? Hmmmm...

The reason is he can't get into his own bedroom.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 01 Sep 2010, 00:26
Marten gets angry? Hm. Might have to look into that. We can't have our milquetoast hero growing a spine this far in, can we?
Curious how often people mistake anger for a backbone... I guess Marten's got those "Wandering The Streets In Girl's Pants With a Hello Kitty Belt-Buckle blues". Notoriously difficult to rhyme...
Truth, there. And rhyme, hell. Blues chorus don't need no rhyme. On the other hand, try singing that shit.

My baby done blown up
She flipped her top
She eat up with jealous
Is it ever gonna stop?

Or will I have the blues?
Yeaah, the Wand'ring Street Blues
Wearing girl-pants
An' a damn Kitty belt
And I ain't got no shoes.

She think I am cheatin'
Won't give me no chance
Kicked me out of the bed
And the room where I keep my pants

Yeah, I have the blues
Yeaah, the Wand'ring Street Blues
Wearing girl-pants
An' a damn Kitty belt
And I ain't got no shoes.

There's more, but I will have mercy…this time.




Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sapnish on 01 Sep 2010, 00:27
Does it seem ominous to anyone else Marten has the 'Teh' shirt on? Are we coming full circle? And if so, to what?

That's a thought I've been having myself. Symbolic, in a way... he's now using the TEH shirt as pajamas, and it seems like the TEH shirt is always ominously on for relationship drama (http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=254) or the beginning of things...




OR Jeph just felt like drawing Marten wearing the TEH shirt because he hadn't worn it in a while. It looks as if Marten's been wearing that shirt all day, since #1727 (even though it's bright blue in the first panel, it changes to the pale/greyish blue of the TEH shirt in the last and carries thru to the next strip.

I dunno about you all, but I generally wear the same shirt to bed that I was wearing during the day.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Heranje on 01 Sep 2010, 00:28
Personally, I'm expecting something (not sure what) but something to happen when he goes on his walk. I mean, maybe it's just a case of a walk being a walk, but why go through all of the effort of writing him having to wear Faye's clothes to go out on a walk for no real reason? Hmmmm...
Punchline.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 01 Sep 2010, 00:36

OR Jeph just felt like drawing Marten wearing the TEH shirt because he hadn't worn it in a while.

I dunno about you all, but I generally wear the same shirt to bed that I was wearing during the day.

Man, I stopped with the pyjamas when I left my parent's house after high school.  Maybe it's just me?  But I mean, at least on this side of the planet (the correct, Australian half), half the year it's so damn hot you're insane if you consider going to bed with clothes on.  And the other half of the year I just throw a thicker blanket on the bed.  I'll chuck on a t-shirt, and I have baggy pants to wear when I'm freshly out of bed, or lounging around the house after a shower but before I go to sleep, but when I'm in bed, they come off.

Seriously.  People talk about what they're wearing in bed, and I'm just all, "...wearing?"
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: chelicious on 01 Sep 2010, 00:42
Does it seem ominous to anyone else Marten has the 'Teh' shirt on? Are we coming full circle? And if so, to what?

That's a thought I've been having myself. Symbolic, in a way... he's now using the TEH shirt as pajamas, and it seems like the TEH shirt is always ominously on for relationship (http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=254) drama (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=500) or the beginning (http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=570) of things... (http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=728)


Edit: Found more links. :P

Quote from: Sapnish
I dunno about you all, but I generally wear the same shirt to bed that I was wearing during the day.

That's also a valid point... I do the same thing.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sapnish on 01 Sep 2010, 00:45
Great, now I'm highly distracted by the mental image of Tergon sleeping naked.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: themacnut on 01 Sep 2010, 00:46
Y'know, I used to be in the "Marten's a wimp/milquetoast/spineless" crowd, but after reading through the archives and seeing several instances where he DID stand up for himself, including clobbering a fake monk with a frying pan AND arguing with Dora over the whole Faye banging Sven thing, I've come to realize, he's just laid back. A true milquetoast NEVER gets angry, NEVER stands up for himself, NEVER argues with his significant other. He justs soaks up abuse. And really, would we care for Marten so much if he were a real whimp?

Nah, I think Marten realizes that if he marches into their bedroom being all confrontational, with both of them being as pissed as they are, things will just get worse. As it stands right now, this can still be fixed with some heartfelt apologies at least on Dora's side. But Marten goes in there with Dora still in a mood, having had no chance to cool off, they could start screaming at each other, saying and possibly doing things that CAN'T be apologized for, and then things will really go to hell. Can you imagine the predicament Faye will be in if that happens, if Marten and Dora break up over this? Can you imagine how horrible she'll feel? She ALREADY feels bad as it is! And her job may be on the line, she may have to quit even if Dora doesn't fire her, the work environment could end up being that tense. And of course her friendship with Dora would be over.

And Marten would be totally out in the cold, no Dora and no Faye either, except as a friend. He couldn't set foot in CoD anymore...it would just be a total mess.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: LeGrande on 01 Sep 2010, 00:49
This may be the first time I've stayed up so I could see the next comic early. I'm just sad that right now Jeph can't update twice a day.

Relationships come and go, but true friends are forever. Dora needs to remember that.

Dora has a tendency to "shanghai" her friends: that's how she started dating Marten, and it's how Penelope began working at CoD.

Marten, on the other hand, gets action just by being Marten. Faye makes the first verbal move to Marten, Dora practically forces herself on him, Hanners was stalking him, Cosette tried to flirt with him ... damn, now I'm jealous.

Back to the point: Without Marten, Dora becomes a very distant secondary character, and starts walking the Raven-trail to the brink of the mouth of the Allosaurus.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 01 Sep 2010, 00:52
Great, now I'm highly distracted by the mental image of Tergon sleeping naked.

Ooh, how are you imagining it?  Like, a four-poster with silk sheets?  That would be AWESOME.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: themacnut on 01 Sep 2010, 01:00
Eh, Marten doesn't get nearly as much action as you may think. Faye may have started talking to him, but nothing romantic came of it, mainly due to her issues; Dora waited months to make a move on him until she was sure Faye wasn't going to do so; Hannelore had her own issues that made her undateable, at least at the time she introduced herself; and Cosette was simply too late-Dora got there first and didn't hesitate to "defend" her claim.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Karilyn on 01 Sep 2010, 01:25
Great, now I'm highly distracted by the mental image of Tergon sleeping naked.

Ooh, how are you imagining it?  Like, a four-poster with silk sheets?  That would be AWESOME.
Handcuffs.  Leather whips.  Lots of blood.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kazukagii on 01 Sep 2010, 01:36
A few notes:

1. I don't feel like slogging through thousands of back comics to see if Martin was ever explicitly mad in front of others before, but from memory I don't think he ever has been.
2. Having said that, I'm glad and think Martin's anger is fully justified here. I'm too lazy to quote (it's late here shut up) but somebody pointed out that Martin has NEVER done anything to be unfaithful. Dora has insecurities, I get it, but a line eventually needs to be drawn. Dora walked over that line, then began sprinting past it after kicking out Martin and letting it affect Faye's job. She better reconsider this soon, cause' my sympathy for her is spiraling down the drain.
3. So Martin is now wearing Faye's pants? This... might not end so well
4. Martin is going to bump into somebody during this walk. Who? Why? What will happen? I'm not sure, but I'd like to point out that Marin is pissed and not thinking straight. Who knows what he might say... or do.
5. Back to Martin's anger, I agree with the above poster who said they wanted him to retain this anger when he confronts Dora. Martin needs to lay down a firm "You are out of line" on Dora" but I'm afraid he'll wimp out.

Alright, I'm done. No more wall of text.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Mojo on 01 Sep 2010, 01:41
Marten, on the other hand, gets action just by being Marten. Faye makes the first verbal move to Marten, Dora practically forces herself on him, Hanners was stalking him, Cosette tried to flirt with him ... damn, now I'm jealous.

Back to the point: Without Marten, Dora becomes a very distant secondary character, and starts walking the Raven-trail to the brink of the mouth of the Allosaurus.

Actually this sounds a lot like MY life.  Except that the girls hitting on me tend to be 20 years younger than me.  I mean, that's the devil's dilemma.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: nicoley on 01 Sep 2010, 02:29
Marten's anger was definitely justified here. I don't like Dora and haven't ever since she snatched up marten, but I have a small urge to defend her just because i can see myself reacting in the same sort of way... my boyfriend has a friend who is a girl that he used to like before we started dating. I know he'll never cheat on me and she (like faye) isn't the type of girl to try anything behind my back. I don't get freaky and psycho when they hang out, but it's natural for a girl to get a little paranoid sometimes when these 2 people who used to have feelings for each other are still friends, and I can't imagine waking up and seeing them hugging in their underwear. But at the same time, marten and faye have been friends long before Dora came to be Marten's girlfriend, and it was Dora's idea to move in to THEIR apartment. And telling Faye to not come to work, totally uncalled for and unprofessional. So I can see where Dora can be upset, but like lots of others have said I'm getting sick of her paranoid jealousy bullshit.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: onearmedbandit2k on 01 Sep 2010, 02:33
Prediction: on his walk marten runs into vespa girl (or whatever her name was) who has recently escaped from prison!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Ravenswing on 01 Sep 2010, 02:52
Why the hell do you keep writing in yellow?
Because one has the option to write in different colors and it's hard to read off-white on light brown.  

If you've got so much juice in you that you go ape when someone writes in a different color than you do, I recommend doing something productive with it.  I bet there's a soup kitchen or other charity in your area that needs extra volunteer help.

it's natural for a girl to get a little paranoid sometimes when these 2 people who used to have feelings for each other are still friends
It's common, sure, and Dora can't help her feelings.

Like every other paranoid, jealous type, though, she can control her ACTIONS.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: sterlingdragon on 01 Sep 2010, 02:59
Idiots. I know what will TRULY happen.
Marten walks into the bar, to have a drink, and finds Steve there, with Cosette, having a funtimes drink.
When Marty explains the situation, Cosette is like 'I don't see any way I can contribute to the conversation, I'll leave you two alone', and we're left with Marten and Steve complaining about life, and being Snarky.
UNTIL...
a new character walks by, and Marty checks out her bottom. Steve tells him he should professionally ogle indie chicks, and then New Girl, let's call her Melinda or some shit, talks to Marten about why indie boys never work up the courage to talk to indie girls, and introduces herself, while Marten stammers.
Melinda and Marten sneak into Marty's room(Marten is too drunk to remember Dora), and get to the sexings, and then Dora wakes up and is like 'Raeg' and gets kicked out of the apartment.

Also, I'm still rolling with the Angus is Faye's father from the past idea. Also, let's say that he's also the scientist what made Hanners, the thus-far unactivated Human-killing Cyborg. Why not activated? Because a malfunction was involved that caused her to not kill Humans, but Tapirs. This also causes an irrational fear of Tapirs.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Switchblade on 01 Sep 2010, 03:27
Heh.  When the comic features a sad silence and an ominous pause, the forum goes utterly nuts.

When Dora's a bitch and Marten responds by actually getting angry, so there actually is a fight to talk about, everyone calms down and goes back to being sensible.

I have a new theory:  You're all perfectly sane, YOU JUST LIKE FUCKING WITH JEPH.

This might actually be the most plausible theory I've seen thus far.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: no one special on 01 Sep 2010, 03:37
Tergon, I stand with you, but I still can't bring myself to touch the dick broom, sorry.
Tergon's name reminds me of the word "turgid", so your comment "I stand with you" just seems really, really wrong to me.  Nevermind the mention of the dick broom!

To give an alternate perspective: Faye is freaking out and knows she needs to talk to someone. Faye knocks on the door belonging to both Marten and Dora knowing one, the other, or both will help her. Marten awakens by the knock, sleepily opens it, and sees Faye in full panic mode. Faye asks him to talk to her, he immediately says yes, and goes out to talk (in the living room, not Faye's room).
No way - she specifically went looking for Marten.  He's her best friend after all, and vice versa.

OK, now I've had time to think about this more, I think we're reading this wrong. Dora isn't so much scared of what it looks like as what it is. "Emotional cheating," anyone? Dora wanted Marten to move in with her; but instead he convinced her to move in with him & his not-quite-gf Faye. He keeps strong emotional ties to Faye. Faye is in a sense like the older wife in his harem. What Dora sees now isn't silly sexy time, it's heavy emotional stuff, & that gets Dora in the heart.
I hear what you're saying... and at first, I agreed.  But then I disagreed, and had a whole argument ready.  But now I think I agree with you again.  The only thing that keeps me from calling it "cheating" is that he had this relationship with Faye before he and Dora started dating.  It's not like he realized something was emotionally missing from his relationship with Dora and then he went to fill that void.  Other than that piece of semantics, though, you do have a point.  Marten has a problem on his hands - it's virtually impossible to keep both of these emotional relationships going at this level.  At some point, his emotional connection with Faye MUST change if his emotional relationship with Dora is going to grow past a certain point, and it's got to be his emotional connection to Dora that gets him there. 

Oh come on now.  There's no such thing as Iowa.
This is such a coincidence!  I tell anyone who will listen that there's no such thing as North Dakota!!  Weird.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 01 Sep 2010, 04:10
Heh.  When the comic features a sad silence and an ominous pause, the forum goes utterly nuts.

When Dora's a bitch and Marten responds by actually getting angry, so there actually is a fight to talk about, everyone calms down and goes back to being sensible.

I have a new theory:  You're all perfectly sane, YOU JUST LIKE FUCKING WITH JEPH.

Stop that. You know very well we're all crazy as hell.

Great, now I'm highly distracted by the mental image of Tergon sleeping naked.

Ooh, how are you imagining it?  Like, a four-poster with silk sheets?  That would be AWESOME.
Note to self: Never invite Tergon to sleepovers.

I dunno about you all, but I generally wear the same shirt to bed that I was wearing during the day.
See, Tergon? She's not imagining you sleeping—she's imagining swiping your shirt while you're not using it. 'Cause Sapnish needs moar shirts.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: numbvox on 01 Sep 2010, 04:54
*ahem*

Wow, so Marten finally got into Faye's pants eh?






....now that that joke is out of the way, you may return to your legitimate comic discussion.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 01 Sep 2010, 05:00
The way I see it is, I got people to picture me lounging naked on a bed, so I win.  And I get double-super bonus points if I'm spooning up against The Useless Broom Made Entirely Out Of Dicks in your mental image.

Also I have heard rumours of North Dakota, but I lack proof that it exists.  Personally I think that all you Yanks lie... no sensible country could have more than fifty states.  There's probably really only, like, three.  Four on leap years.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: dwag3 on 01 Sep 2010, 05:08
VESPAVENGER RETURNS???
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Border Reiver on 01 Sep 2010, 05:29
Far more mundane, Marten goes for his walk and returns after an uneventful stroll prepared to discuss his dislike of Dora's jealousy with her in a calm manner (the anger is still there, have no fear). 

Dora's unable to sleep, and after this confrontation with Marten is able to recognize that she may need to change her ways.

In an effort to not make things worse in the morning Faye heads to the gym, meeting Pennelope and the two get in a good workout.  Penn while at work that day mention s that Dora might want to talk things over with Faye.

Things are a little tense, but the friendship and relationships are still there.

Then Pintsize posts the video to the robot file sharing site......
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Pardona on 01 Sep 2010, 05:40
Prediction: on his walk marten runs into vespa girl (or whatever her name was) who has recently escaped from prison!

She never was in prison - she got employed by the government.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: akronnick on 01 Sep 2010, 05:43
The way I see it is, I got people to picture me lounging naked on a bed, so I win.  And I get double-super bonus points if I'm spooning up against The Useless Broom Made Entirely Out Of Dicks in your mental image.

Also I have heard rumours of North Dakota, but I lack proof that it exists.  Personally I think that all you Yanks lie... no sensible country could have more than fifty states.  There's probably really only, like, three.  Four on leap years.

If I pictured the Dick-Broom leaning uselessly against the wall next to the bed, what does that mean?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 01 Sep 2010, 05:51

If I pictured the Dick-Broom leaning uselessly against the wall next to the bed, what does that mean?

I think it means you want to sleep with your mother.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 01 Sep 2010, 06:03
This, gentlemen, is the reason why you should NEVER be less than three feet from your pants at any time.

This could get worse.

Imagine attempted helpful intervention from Pintsize.

You know something, I had the same, bizarre, horrible thought.

Except this time, Pintsize actually DID help.

[speculativethought]  Dora's pregnant [/speculativethought]
Should this be true, you win the Internets.

Why the hell do you keep writing in yellow?
Because one has the option to write in different colors and it's hard to read off-white on light brown. 


Off white on light brown? Huh? What skin for the forum are you using?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: westrim on 01 Sep 2010, 07:26
Why the hell do you keep writing in yellow?
Because one has the option to write in different colors and it's hard to read off-white on light brown.  
Bullshit snarking to deflect.[/color

Okay, #1 you can change the board style in profile settings, #2 its damn annoying when you're the only one using it, not useful. I've seen it in the past and finally asked, because it's incredibly garish and crying for attention (like your attempted witticism.)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: vettechinohio on 01 Sep 2010, 07:34
Here's hoping that Marten will run into Angus, who is so high from the excitement of his date that he couldn't sleep and went for a late night stroll. We know from at least one previous situation that he is prone to late night walks when emotionally agitated. Stands to reason he may do it from excitement as well as angst. I dread what Angus will think if he goes into the shop tomorrow and gets an earful from Dora without an explanation from either Marten or Faye first...

P.S. Jeph please make it tomorrow soon, you're killing me here!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: tomart on 01 Sep 2010, 07:42
We've witnessed the birth of a brand new meme, right before your very eyes.

Wow! My poor, empty life at last has meaning! I can tell my grandchildren I Was There at the birth of the dickbroom meme! :laugh:
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 01 Sep 2010, 07:50
and finally asked, because it's incredibly garish and crying for attention (like your attempted witticism.)

Or maybe he just likes that color. Sometimes the answer is the easiest one hmmmmm...?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Blackcat Moebius on 01 Sep 2010, 09:10
I just realized - a few strips ago, Faye turned down Angus' suggestion to "come in" (ahem).... on the grounds that she had to work in the morning.  Ironic, that.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sapnish on 01 Sep 2010, 09:23
I dunno about you all, but I generally wear the same shirt to bed that I was wearing during the day.
See, Tergon? She's not imagining you sleeping—she's imagining swiping your shirt while you're not using it. 'Cause Sapnish needs moar shirts.
It's an addiction. I've tried Shirtaholics Anonymous, but I just end up jumping people after the meetings and stealing their delicious, delicious t-shirts.

The way I see it is, I got people to picture me lounging naked on a bed, so I win.  And I get double-super bonus points if I'm spooning up against The Useless Broom Made Entirely Out Of Dicks in your mental image.
You totally were.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Heliphyneau on 01 Sep 2010, 09:40
*ahem*

Wow, so Marten finally got into Faye's pants eh?

Ba-dum-bump!

Great, now I'm highly distracted by the mental image of Tergon sleeping naked.

Ooh, how are you imagining it?  Like, a four-poster with silk sheets?  That would be AWESOME.

Despite knowing you aren't Gene Wilder, I picture you as your avatar, so . . . wearing the Willy Wonka hat but otherwise naked under flashing red lights with a crazed expression, possibly singing ("there's no telling where we're going . . ."), on rubber sheets with wrists and ankles chained to the four posts.  The dickbroom has fallen to the floor, its tips bloodied from all the sweeping.  Someone is pounding at the door, but you are alone, staring up into the camera's eye.

>_>

I don't sleep naked, mainly because I know myself well enough to realize that if the house were on fire I would still (stupidly) take the time to put something on before heading outside, and I'd rather not waste precious seconds covering up when my life is on the line.  Hopefully I'll never have to vacate a burning house, but hey, you never know.  I don't wear the same shirt I did during the day, though, because I am inherently klutzy/sloppy and most shirts by the end of my day will have acquired foodstuffs of some kind upon them.  -_-
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: pwhodges on 01 Sep 2010, 09:44
Did your mother tell you to wear clean underpants in case you were run over by a bus  (and for no other reason)?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Heliphyneau on 01 Sep 2010, 09:48
Did your mother tell you to wear clean underpants in case you were run over by a bus  (and for no other reason)?

LOL -- if she had, it wouldn't matter.  Those undies wouldn't be clean anymore if I'd gotten run over by a bus.  No, it's mainly the I'd-rather-not-be-naked-in-front-of-people-even-if-my-house-is-burning-down kind of irrational fear.  As fears go, it's not very debilitating.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: bicostp on 01 Sep 2010, 09:54
Why the hell do you keep writing in yellow?
Because one has the option to write in different colors and it's hard to read off-white on light brown.  

It also screams "PAY ATTENTION TO ME". If you don't like the white-on-grey theme, SimpleMachines' default black-on-white theme is still installed. (Profile -> Look and Layout Preferences -> Change)

(It's pretty obnoxious, man.)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: tomart on 01 Sep 2010, 10:26
who is Dora really hurting if she pushes Marten and Faye away? If they really are rekindling their romance, won't that accelerate the process?

I agree, again, with another of your perceptive and thoughtful analyses, except for the above point.  Finally, for the first time in like forever, Faye seems to actually be in a real heterorelationship with a 'normal' guy who's well known for being persistent.  Despite all of Marten's past feelings for Faye, Dora knows that for the first time, Faye is not available to Marten: no one is more loyal, and he wouldn't hurt Angus by going after Faye right after she confided to him her excitement about her new, real Significant Other.   So I agree with the Pre-emptive Strike theory.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Border Reiver on 01 Sep 2010, 10:33
Did your mother tell you to wear clean underpants in case you were run over by a bus  (and for no other reason)?

Actually it was "In case I was in an accident."  To quote Bill Cosby - "I thought that's what an accident was!"
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: tomart on 01 Sep 2010, 11:53
Wow, so Marten finally got into Faye's pants eh?

 . . .  I have been waiting 1700 strips for this ! ! ! . . .
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: LeeC on 01 Sep 2010, 11:54
Did your mother tell you to wear clean underpants in case you were run over by a bus  (and for no other reason)?
yep...but thats a story for a different day. :-P
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: CEOIII on 01 Sep 2010, 13:37
I just realized - a few strips ago, Faye turned down Angus' suggestion to "come in" (ahem).... on the grounds that she had to work in the morning.  Ironic, that.


Maybe not ironic. Maybe Dora's in her room right now, on her cellphone to Angus, telling him to call Faye. SNEAKY PLAN #2.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: akronnick on 01 Sep 2010, 14:10
If that were the case, Dora could have just told Faye to take the day after her date off so she would be free to let the night go on if she so choose.

Dora is not trying to help Faye with Angus.

The wormy brain part of her personality saw something that set her off, and she reacted accordingly.

Dora should be regarded as a wounded animal, she is capable of anything right now.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 01 Sep 2010, 14:18
Why the hell do you keep writing in yellow?
Because one has the option to write in different colors and it's hard to read off-white on light brown. 


Off white on light brown? Huh? What skin for the forum are you using?

Maybe it's his/her monitor.  They get old and cranky.  Of course, he/she could be a heavy smoker, and just looking at it through a veneer of tar and nicotine...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Schmorgluck on 01 Sep 2010, 16:29
I don't know what's more disturbing, as a mental image: a dick-broom, or a broom-dick?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kugai on 01 Sep 2010, 17:14
I"m wondering if there is more going on here than meets the eye

Yes, Dora can be an insecure bitch at times, but it is fairly rare for her to be this  unreasonable.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 01 Sep 2010, 18:30
There has to be something about this from a previous relationship that triggered something for her to react this way.

I know, it's the "psychoanalysis of a fictional character" thing, but Faye had her own triggers for about 500 strips or so. Dora's a lot better at hiding hers, I'd reckon, since her triggers are more precise.

Like, finding your BF (or GF?) in the dark, on the couch, hugging another girl/boy.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Schmorgluck on 01 Sep 2010, 18:53
I"m wondering if there is more going on here than meets the eye

Yes, Dora can be an insecure bitch at times, but it is fairly rare for her to be this  unreasonable.
Well, to be fair, if you add to this late night grumpiness, and possible puzzlement of waking up without her boyfriend at her side, as amplifiers, this just about works. Which changes nothing to the fact that, to begin with, she's showing hints of having horrible issues, and being completely unreasonable. And by "unreasonable", in this context, I mean "impossible to reason with", or "impervious to reason" as opposed to merely being foolish.

She occasionally puts herself in such states that there's simply no point in trying to argue with her, because she will take any objection, no matter how benign and reasonable, as a personal attack. We already saw that when she freaked out about the Sven and Faye affair. I remember that back then some people in the forums accused Marten of being "passive-aggressive" (whatever that's supposed to mean in their heads) for ostensibly walking away when she started to burn him for his attempts at rationalisation. He wasn't being "passive-aggressive", he was just doing the only thing reasonable for someone without a professional training in psychiatry.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: tomart on 01 Sep 2010, 19:12
I have a new theory:  You're all perfectly sane, YOU JUST LIKE FUCKING WITH JEPH.

What was the old theory, again?   :angel:
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: The Duke on 01 Sep 2010, 20:16
This seems kind of out of character for Dora... hasn't she said something before to Martin about not having any problem with him checking out other girls, and even joked that he could bring one home for a 3-some?

Yeah, but this is Faye.  That's different.


I want to see that Hello Kitty belt buckle in every panel in the next strip.  :laugh:

Agreed.


Maybe it's the purple hair.  In fact . . . I've got it: Dora becomes more and more angry/irrational, isolating everyone she knows, and years later, she encounters a wormhole that sends her back in time to attack Marten, Faye, and herself in an alley!  FutureDora = Vespavenger!

Whoa...you just, like, blew my mind, bro...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 01 Sep 2010, 21:56
One thing that nobody seems to be considering is how Dora's going to feel in, say, three comics from now.  I mean, Jeph has written her as being a little inconsistent because that's just how people are.  It makes her a believable character instead of a one-dimensional sitcom girlfriend.  But there is one thing Dora has been very consistent about, which is that whenever her trust issues flare up, she feels smegging awful about it shortly thereafter because she knows she's been a bitch.  She's exploded here in a major way, with various qualifiers (late night, lack of pants, unusually tender moment between Faye and Marten, etc) to explain it, but she's still the sensible and rational person she normally is.  Which means that in about fifteen minutes she's going to cool down from her rage and start actually thinking about what just happened.  And she's going to realise, quite suddenly, that she's been horrible to her boyfriend and best friend at the same time.

Now, old bitchy Faye would have reduced Dora into kibble by now with her bare fingernails.  New, sensitive Faye seems more likely to curl up on her bed and feel like shit while blaming herself for what's happening.  Either way, she's not going to be too eager to help Dora through the inevitable, coming realisation that Dora Done Fucked Up.  And of course Marten is out on the town in his fancy new pants, so he's not going to be much help either.

The pendulum's gonna swing back and smack her right in the arse.  And yeah, maybe she deserves it a bit after what just happened.  But these are serious issues she's having, and something she needs to recover from, and when the blow hits Dora soon she's going to feel a million times worse than she just made Marten and Faye feel, and they won't even be there for her to apologise to... and as a Dora-fan (when she's not insane), I'm worried about how she's gonna feel, because this is going to hurt.  Bad.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: pwhodges on 01 Sep 2010, 22:35
Which could be why Jeph tweeted, when preparing the next script:
Quote
man I hate doing comics with no jokes in them but sometimes you just have to :\
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 01 Sep 2010, 22:53
<snip>
Now, old bitchy Faye would have reduced Dora into kibble by now with her bare fingernails.  New, sensitive Faye seems more likely to curl up on her bed and feel like shit while blaming herself for what's happening.  Either way, she's not going to be too eager to help Dora through the inevitable, coming realization that Dora Done Fucked Up.  And of course Marten is out on the town in his fancy new pants, so he's not going to be much help either.
<snip>

Old Bitchy Faye is going to show up, I suspect. And this time, it's PERSONAL.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: bicostp on 01 Sep 2010, 22:54
TONIGHT

Faye yells at Dora
Marten wears pants twice his size
And Pintsize records it all for YouTube

["Jessica" riffs]
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: snubnose on 01 Sep 2010, 23:09
Only bright side so far: At least Marten is as mad as I am at Dora.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 01 Sep 2010, 23:24
Maybe that's a part of Dora's trust issues.  As observed by Angus:  "If you liked it, then you shoulda gone to war for it."

Marten never gets angry.  Ever.  He never raises his voice to Dora, and only on a few occasions has he called her out when he thinks she's out of line.  After which he almost immediately backs down to his usual, frighteningly-understanding self.  He avoids conflict, acts like a doormat to others (something he's observed about himself, such as when he helped Sven avoid a crazy chick in a bar), and pretty much doesn't assert himself.
Without making too much of a generalisation, if a person with trust issues is upset a part of it is likely because they feel there's not a strong enough connection.  "How do I know you care about me if you never seem to care about anything?"  From this perspective, Dora's previous freakouts regarding Marten could easily be seen as a bit of a cry for help.  One which he has not answered.

Dora:  I'm angry and upset and I need to know that you have strong feelings about me!
Marten:  Oh, uh, yeah.  Sure I do.  Strong feelings, yep.  *patpat*

If someone's never angry or upset, you never know exactly how they're feeling.  Sort of like the whole, "Without evil there would be no good" argument.  If Dora gets a chance to see that Marten is genuinely angry with her because of this, she might actually twig that she's sincerely offended him by not giving him the trust he deserves.  And, therefore, deserved it all along.

If Marten's balls actually stay dropped long enough for him to confront Dora properly about this, in the long run, it could be a very good thing for their relationship.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 01 Sep 2010, 23:59
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." - William Congreve
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 02 Sep 2010, 00:02
Wow, Tergon when you put down that damn broom, you can really make sense. In two posts yet.*

There has to be something about this from a previous relationship that triggered something for her to react this way.
Yes. In her relationship with her Sven. Akima covered that a while back, as did I.

<snip>
Now, old bitchy Faye would have reduced Dora into kibble by now with her bare fingernails.  New, sensitive Faye seems more likely to curl up on her bed and feel like shit while blaming herself for what's happening.  Either way, she's not going to be too eager to help Dora through the inevitable, coming realization that Dora Done Fucked Up.  And of course Marten is out on the town in his fancy new pants, so he's not going to be much help either.
<snip>

Old Bitchy Faye is going to show up, I suspect. And this time, it's PERSONAL.
I still think Old Bitchy Faye was a miserable bully and a coward when she faced real opposition. We shall see if she can move beyond that.

*Reads like snark, meant to be compliment. Oh, god, I think I have the dick-broom now. Or the broom-dick. Wait, that might be okay.

Edit: MY GOD, SHE ACTUALLY DID IT.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: laizeohbeets on 02 Sep 2010, 00:11
Re: today's comic: "Oh, snaaaaaap."
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2010, 00:11
"Crazy purple head of yours" = Full of Win.  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2010, 00:13
Re: today's comic: "Oh, snaaaaaap."
Yep, I think she broke the latch.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 02 Sep 2010, 00:18
Have we ever seen Faye like this before? Not abusive, not firing off her reactive armor when someone got too close, but standing her ground and sticking up for herself?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: klaatu on 02 Sep 2010, 00:19
If I had an ass like that, I would run around without pants every chance I got too.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: HappyGrar on 02 Sep 2010, 00:19
Dora looks so forlorn and (dare I say?) chastened in the last panel. And, of course, the alternate last panel HAD to happen, since there was no joke or punchline.  :laugh:

Really, I never know quite what's going to happen, but it's always the right thing to happen, it seems. I commend you, Good Sir Jeph!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: zagraf on 02 Sep 2010, 00:20
Go, Faye! Go, Faye! Go, Faye!



That said, it would've been even more satisfying if it'd been "Yes ma'am, sorry ma'am" Marten who'd delivered the "What the fuck is wrong with you" speech. Faye won't necessarily always be around to fight your battles, boy.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sorflakne on 02 Sep 2010, 00:22
Ok, honest question time:

Am I the only one, who noticing Faye was wearing no pants and Dora was already back in bed, who though that as Faye got closer and closer to Dora while crawling up the bed as I scrolled down, that they were going to break out in girl-on-girl angry sex?



Had that happened and Marten walked in on it, I can easily imagine that his head would explode.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sapnish on 02 Sep 2010, 00:23
Marten is out on the town in his fancy new pants
I'm a fan of this sentence.

I'm SO GLAD Faye yelled at Dora tonight. Dora really deserved a yelling at, I couldn't seen Marten doing it, not because I think he's a pansy, but because it couldn't have ended well.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: HappyGrar on 02 Sep 2010, 00:26
Ok, honest question time:

Am I the only one, who noticing Faye was wearing no pants and Dora was already back in bed, who though that as Faye got closer and closer to Dora while crawling up the bed as I scrolled down, that they were going to break out in girl-on-girl angry sex?



Had that happened and Marten walked in on it, I can easily imagine that his head would explode.

Ahem...

http://jephjacques.tumblr.com/ (http://jephjacques.tumblr.com/)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sorflakne on 02 Sep 2010, 00:27
After looking at the comic again, I noticed something.

Is it just me, or could Dora pass for a purple-haired Marten in panel 4b?  
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sapnish on 02 Sep 2010, 00:28
After looking at the comic again, I noticed something.

Is it just me, or could Dora pass for a purple-haired Marten in panel 4b?  

I was thinking that exact same thing.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 02 Sep 2010, 00:32
Old Bitchy Faye is back!  And now she's actually using her powers for good!  I approve heartily.  Despite all the changes she's been through, for Faye to not assert herself in this would have been way out of character.  She got to be angry, she put Dora back in her place and made her listen to sense, pointedly told her what she's risking, and got off a cool over-the-shoulder line as she left.  Bonus points for dramatic entry and finger-pointing.

Now the question becomes whether she'll go out into the night to find Marten, or wait for him to come home.  I vote the former so that Jeph can have them meeting in a park.  Like, on a bridge, with the moon all big in the sky behind them.  Then he can pretend he's Walt Disney and they can declare their vaguely anti-semitic love.
...wait, that one got away from me.

Anyway.  Like I said before:  Resolution requires conflict.  I'm liking the levels of conflict, and it's working toward a resolution.  Good show, Herr Jacques.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: TheoGB on 02 Sep 2010, 00:33
"Crazy purple head of yours" = Full of Win.  :mrgreen:

(Meh, if you're going to edit my posts use proper grammar, fucktards...)

We're all thinking of the euphemistic phrase 'purple-headed love-truncheon', right? RIGHT?

...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Jace on 02 Sep 2010, 00:34
DORA STATUS:
(http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/3782/chexbox2.png)FUCKING TOLD
(http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/9615/chexbox.png)NOT TOLD
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: westrim on 02 Sep 2010, 00:34
 :-o Faye: audience avatar. The only way this could have been better is if Marten had done it, but this was very good. The door busting was especially awesome.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: ChibiSoma on 02 Sep 2010, 00:43
Ladies and Gentlemen, Faye has assumed the Captain Morgan position on the bed.

It, whatever 'it' is, has been brought.

E: Also, her sassy accent was back in full. Her sasscent? Saccent?

Faye got her sac scent back, that's all that ma-- wait, what the fuck was I talking about?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kugai on 02 Sep 2010, 00:46
Faye in full Fayminator Mode is fun to watch.

This would have been so much better if it had been Marten who blew his stack, but I think that it works just as well with Faye verbally handing Dora her ass.

And the last panel is bloody good.  The look on Dora's face is classic.

It remains to be seen if Faye's words are prophetic.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Dr. ROFLPWN on 02 Sep 2010, 00:47
DORA STATUS:
(http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/3782/chexbox2.png)FUCKING TOLD
(http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/9615/chexbox.png)NOT TOLD

FAYE WHITAKER, FUCK YEAH

This was triumphant. I have never loved Faye more.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Ferahgo the Assassin on 02 Sep 2010, 00:49
Yessss some good ol' fashioned justified Faye rage. Just what this arc needed.  :-D
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: CydoniaRaven on 02 Sep 2010, 00:49
DORA STATUS:
(http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/3782/chexbox2.png)FUCKING TOLD
(http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/9615/chexbox.png)NOT TOLD

FAYE WHITAKER, FUCK YEAH

This was triumphant. I have never loved Faye more.

This.  ALL of this.  I cannot add to it, I can only point at it and say, "THIS."
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: themacnut on 02 Sep 2010, 01:06
Dora done got ripped a new orifice. And it was fitting that Faye did the ripping. Unfortunately, Marten could not have done this, 'cause even if he was inclined to do it, Dora most likely would NOT have just taken it from him. It would have turned into a full blown screaming fight and people who are general conflict avoiders tend to come out on the losing end of full blown screaming fights. I think Marten knew this and that's why he left.

Another well done Faye from me. And a well done to you too Jeph, for writing it this way.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Jace on 02 Sep 2010, 01:25
Dora done got ripped a new orifice. And it was fitting that Faye did the ripping.

Want to see this rule 34
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: CEOIII on 02 Sep 2010, 01:26
I believe the term the kids are using nowadays is OWNED, BITCH.

Now, hopefully we don't do the sitcom thing, i.e. Dora apologizes to Faye, then Marten comes back all pissed, DEMANDS an apology, which he gets, and he's all, "AND IF YOU DON'T APOLOGIZE, YOU PSYCHOTIC BIT........wait, what?"

Because I HATE that.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: imenonelse on 02 Sep 2010, 01:37
Ok, yes Dora was waaay out of line with her bitchiness, so I love how you can totally see the look of remorse/"Oh shit, I screwed up" on her face in panel 4a.
I think it was fitting for Faye to do it cause honestly, it's within her personality to do this but not within Marten's. I agree with the (one or two posts) above that says Marten would have just backed down and lost the yelling match; he's a total pushover.

Agh, this comic got me amped... She needed a good telling!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Ravenswing on 02 Sep 2010, 01:41
Okay, #1 you can change the board style in profile settings, #2 its damn annoying when you're the only one using it, not useful. I've seen it in the past and finally asked, because it's incredibly garish and crying for attention (like your attempted witticism.)
Too damn bad.  If it bothers you, no one forces you to look.  Seeing as this is about the 27th post I've made in two years, anyone claiming "OMG SOMEONE'S WROTE ON TEH INTARWEBZ IN A DIFFERENT COLOR I KANT TAKE IT NO MORE" ... well, I worry about people like those being able to vote, have children, hold down jobs and have access to weapons, more than any other factor.

And man ... what kind of world do you live in where if someone grabs a pen of a color different from the one you usually use, it must be because he's Crying For Attention?  Wow.  Pretty mindbending.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Ravenswing on 02 Sep 2010, 01:46
Or maybe he just likes that color. Sometimes the answer is the easiest one hmmmmm...?
Heh, thanks.  Sometimes there are actually answers in the world that don't require you to pick fights with strangers.

That being said ... woohoo, Faye!  Kick some purple ass!

(Next guest strip, Faye takes on Barney en route to collecting the anti-purple trifecta.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: J on 02 Sep 2010, 01:49
DORA STATUS:
(http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/3782/chexbox2.png)FUCKING TOLD
(http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/9615/chexbox.png)NOT TOLD

FAYE WHITAKER, FUCK YEAH

This was triumphant. I have never loved Faye more.

This.  ALL of this.  I cannot add to it, I can only point at it and say, "THIS."

Faye Whitaker, Fuck Yeah!
Comin' again to tell the motherfuckin' dora off

Faye Whitaker, Fuck Yeah!
Remorse is the only way, Yeah

Jealousy, you're game is through
''cause now you have ta answer to

Faye Whitaker, Fuck yeah!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2010, 01:58
Yanno, I think I may have an idea what's going on.

Remember that Jeph is re-doing his early strips for a forthcoming (in two-three months!) book.

Unconsciously (or consciously, perhaps), he is re-visiting some of the themes from the 500-700 era of the strip, updating it to reflect new cast and new neuroses.

I've read through the archives several times, and though he might think his artwork is crappy and the story wasn't all that great, that was probably the Crowning Moment of QC, when it really "Grew The Beard" (opposed to "Jumping the Shark", and I won't TV Trope the links for you to waste an hour opening tabs).

I'm gonna wager that within the space of about, oh, perhaps a month or so of comics, we're going to look back and say, "Wow, was this a great story arc or what?"

And Jeph will laugh his butt off - all the way to the bank, as we all gobble up copies of his first book.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: no one special on 02 Sep 2010, 02:00
Ahem...

http://jephjacques.tumblr.com/ (http://jephjacques.tumblr.com/)
Well, it's nice to know Jeph has a sense of humor about these things  :)


Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: no one special on 02 Sep 2010, 02:04
... he can pretend he's Walt Disney and they can declare their vaguely anti-semitic love.

...Good show, Herr Jacques.

Jeez Tergon, you could at least TRY to mask your intentions!   :laugh:
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Llewellian on 02 Sep 2010, 02:06
Seeing Faye going up the Wall like this, i just heard that Pink Floyd Song in my head... "Run like Hell" ;o)

Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 02 Sep 2010, 02:11
Jeez Tergon, you could at least TRY to mask your intentions!   :laugh:

According to the tortured psyche of some folks here, I'm lounging naked on silk sheets while caressing a dick-broom.  I think masking my intentions - or being at all subtle - kind of goes out the window at this point, no?


As to the comic... I'm wondering where Marten's walk is taking him.  Even if there are no hilarious misadventures involving his fancy pants, or even if he doesn't meet up with anyone of note on his walk, it'd be interesting to see where his head's at right now.  It's intriguing to see him actually get angry!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2010, 02:26
Who else would be up at this ungodly hour?

...Why, Hannelore and Marigold, that's who!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Binary on 02 Sep 2010, 02:28
I shi i am an ignorant fucktard, please ban meed. But then I also love it when anything is '69'.

I see they haven't fixed the overly-simplistic forum word filter yet. Because "sniggered" contains a Bad Word as a substring, it gets replaced unless you escape it with some internal invisible markup.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: LeeC on 02 Sep 2010, 02:33
yay! faye to the rescue!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Blackjoker on 02 Sep 2010, 02:34
TONIGHT

Faye yells at Dora
Marten wears pants twice his size
And Pintsize records it all for YouTube

["Jessica" riffs]

Now I am having worrying visions of Pintsize trying to hitch a ride in the much larger pants while loudly singing crazy train and positioning himself so that Marten looks...awkward due to pinstize's placement.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 02 Sep 2010, 02:42
Wait, according to the alarm clock, it's only a little after 1 AM...

I'm lucky to be getting to sleep that early, and I'm up at 5 to get my daughter medicated for school at 7...

These folks are too young to be so damn old as to be in bed this early!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: LeeC on 02 Sep 2010, 03:37
good thing marten doesnt go here at UMD-CP.  walking around alone after midnight is a bad idea, people get mugged or just beaten outside of their apartment buildings that late around here.  And I am not even exaggerating.  It happened 3 days ago at my girlfriends apartment complex.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Switchblade on 02 Sep 2010, 03:39
Wait, according to the alarm clock, it's only a little after 1 AM...

I'm lucky to be getting to sleep that early, and I'm up at 5 to get my daughter medicated for school at 7...

These folks are too young to be so damn old as to be in bed this early!

Shit, I'm a taxi driver on the night shift. 1am is when I take my lunch break.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 02 Sep 2010, 03:49
TONIGHT

Faye yells at Dora
Marten wears pants twice his size
And Pintsize records it all for YouTube

["Jessica" riffs]

I just pictured Winslow as The Stig and now I cannot stop grinning.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Akima on 02 Sep 2010, 03:56
Marten wears pants twice his size
Faye's pants would be too big round the bottom, but way too short in the leg. Marten must look... classic.

Then he can pretend he's Walt Disney and they can declare their vaguely anti-semitic love. ...wait, that one got away from me.
Ah Walt... he filled my childhood with such happy memories... of other school-kids' reaction to sneaky, treacherous, broken-English-speaking, buck-toothed Yellow Peril stereotypes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpPGE_SKtA4).

If I could just fangirl-out for a moment, today's strip is simply excellent. The cinematic way Jeph swings the viewpoint around, and zooms in and out on Faye and Dora, could pretty much tell the story with no dialogue at all. Super visual story-telling. And way to go Faye! Knock, knock; reality calling!

Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Delirious Lab on 02 Sep 2010, 04:25
Jeph, you should totally sell a giant print of panel 1.

Remove Faye's speech bubble, and put a giant scythe in her right hand.

Think of the money you'll make.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Heranje on 02 Sep 2010, 04:37
Then he can pretend he's Walt Disney and they can declare their vaguely anti-semitic love. ...wait, that one got away from me.
Ah Walt... he filled my childhood with such happy memories... of other school-kids' reaction to sneaky, treacherous, broken-English-speaking, buck-toothed Yellow Peril stereotypes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpPGE_SKtA4).

Did Mulan help at all?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Patrick on 02 Sep 2010, 05:01
Faye is channeling my manner of speech when I'm pissed off.
TONIGHT

Faye yells at Dora
Marten wears pants twice his size
And Pintsize records it all for YouTube

["Jessica" riffs]

I just pictured Winslow as The Stig and now I cannot stop grinning.

Personally I'd have had Hannelore pegged for that role. So much more meticulous a character.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: BigSol81 on 02 Sep 2010, 06:00
Faye is now my new favorite QC character...

Epic.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 02 Sep 2010, 06:06
She wasn't before now?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: akronnick on 02 Sep 2010, 06:18
Awesome Faye is Awesome!



And totally fucking scary.

This bitch will fuck you up!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Blyss on 02 Sep 2010, 06:31
Faye is just so fucking hot right now...
 
:-o
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2010, 06:41
Point of order - is Dora scared or mad in that last panel?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: pwhodges on 02 Sep 2010, 06:49
Meant to be scared, I think, though I agree it's a bit ambiguous.  If she was mad, she'd be shouting back.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: vettechinohio on 02 Sep 2010, 06:53
Point of order - is Dora scared or mad in that last panel?

See, to me that looks like a pout. Like a "psh, whatever, I still have a right to be mad but I have an inkling you may be right but I won't acknowledge it to you" pout.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: numbvox on 02 Sep 2010, 07:05
Point of order - is Dora scared or mad in that last panel?

See, to me that looks like a pout. Like a "psh, whatever, I still have a right to be mad but I have an inkling you may be right but I won't acknowledge it to you" pout.
Damn, that's one hell of a complex pout.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: LeGrande on 02 Sep 2010, 07:08
Yeah, I can see Dora lashing back next panel and then the catfight.

Marten walks in on the catfight.

Dora notices he's wearing Faye's pants.

Whether Dora begins laughing at how absurd Marten looks or gets even more angry depends on Jeph.



Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: vettechinohio on 02 Sep 2010, 07:19
Point of order - is Dora scared or mad in that last panel?

See, to me that looks like a pout. Like a "psh, whatever, I still have a right to be mad but I have an inkling you may be right but I won't acknowledge it to you" pout.
Damn, that's one hell of a complex pout.

Dora is nothing if not complex (:
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Shok Xone Studios on 02 Sep 2010, 07:20
Hurray for calling people out on their bullshit!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Mr_Rose on 02 Sep 2010, 07:38
Of course, what no-one realises right now is that this Faye is from the future where Dora and Marten broke up over the events of the last few strips, which led to Marten stealing Cosette from Steve, then Steve using his DoKYA connections to become a super-villain who takes over the entire east coast of America and re-names it Stevetania, and future!Faye has been sent back in time to prevent this, because Stevetainia is a horribly tacky name.

Now!Faye is currently still in her bedroom crying her eyes out.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Schmorgluck on 02 Sep 2010, 08:22
Point of order - is Dora scared or mad in that last panel?
Neither. She looks more in shock than anything. And a bit sad too.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: dunnright on 02 Sep 2010, 08:34
Go Faye!!

And can I just say that I love Panel 2?

And not just because Faye is wearing no pants!


..but that doesn't hurt.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: foolsguinea on 02 Sep 2010, 08:43
Well, anyway, this strip came as a relief.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: lisavilisa on 02 Sep 2010, 08:49
Is this the first time Faye's spoken with an accent while sober?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 02 Sep 2010, 09:05
No. A little more extreme than usual, though. I'm surprised she said either instead of neither, though—that's a given with those I know who speak like Faye does when they hit their stride.

Point of order - is Dora scared or mad in that last panel?
Neither. She looks more in shock than anything. And a bit sad too.
I agree. I also wonder if her reaction will be to leave 'for Marten's own good' or somesuch.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kazukagii on 02 Sep 2010, 09:22
Not to steal raoullefere's quotes, but:

Point of order - is Dora scared or mad in that last panel?
Neither. She looks more in shock than anything. And a bit sad too.

Agreed, I think Faye really hit home against Dora. Dora's reaction wasn't rational; she just burst out of her room and yelled at them. So for Faye to storm in and point out to Dora that her little outburst may have just fucked up everything, Dora suddenly has come face to face with the consequences of her actions. No wonder she looks shell shocked.

Also I like how Jeph just gave Faye the audience megaphone and let her tear into Dora everything we wanted to say to her. Good stuff. Again, I still hope that Martin will also give Dora a stern talking to, but it will most likely be played down now since Dora has already gotten one slap across the face.
 
Also was I the only one who found half-naked angry Faye incredibly hot? ER I MEAN, BAD DORA! GOOD JOB THERE JEPH, GOOD JOB!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Chylde Roland on 02 Sep 2010, 10:27
Maybe Dora's pregnant.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Blayze on 02 Sep 2010, 10:49
Point of order - is Dora scared or mad in that last panel?
Neither. She looks more in shock than anything. And a bit sad too.

Not even that. It's actually Marten. Seriously, take a look at the face.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Aegir on 02 Sep 2010, 11:07
Does Marten keep his hoodie in a frame on his wall when he's not using it???
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Border Reiver on 02 Sep 2010, 11:14
No, he claims to have a closet full of them.

And apparently they're reproducing....
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: celticgeek on 02 Sep 2010, 11:19
Actually, he does keep it in a frame:

Framed Hoodie (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1436)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sapnish on 02 Sep 2010, 11:25
Since a bunch of you have already said things I wanted to say, I felt I could point out-- this was possibly the slowest fight ever, if the time on the clock is any indication. Faye bursts into the room at 1:04, Panel 2 is 1:05 and Panel 3 is 1:06.

Everything else I was gonna comment on has already been commented on. :-p

Does Marten keep his hoodie in a frame on his wall when he's not using it???

That's his old one, remember? He and Dora framed it in remembrance because Dora wanted to throw it out, as it smelled like French Fries. (can't find link, blah[although in my search I found the comic where Dora pounce/cuddles Faye, and for the record, Dora IS wearing pants. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1592)])
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Heliphyneau on 02 Sep 2010, 12:10
Ladies and Gentlemen, Faye has assumed the Captain Morgan position on the bed.

Well, if she'd wanted a lil' Captain in her, she should have gone home with Angus.   :-P

No. A little more extreme than usual, though. I'm surprised she said either instead of neither, though—that's a given with those I know who speak like Faye does when they hit their stride.

It's possible that Jeph wanted her accent to show but preferred to stop short of making her sound like a bumpkin.  Nothing against bumpkins, of course.

Point of order - is Dora scared or mad in that last panel?
Neither. She looks more in shock than anything. And a bit sad too.
I agree. I also wonder if her reaction will be to leave 'for Marten's own good' or somesuch.

In shock and a little scared.  I believe we're seeing Dora's "Oh, fuck" face.  And the reason she looks more like Marten there is because of the lips -- it's one of the elements of the newer style Jeph's been using, distinguishing male/female by whether the mouths are drawn with defined lips or not.  He's tried defining the lips on males once or twice (I think), but seems not to have nailed it to his satisfaction yet.  With Dora's face lipless in the last panel, he may want the lipped/lipless element to be more indicative of expression with no ties to gender.  Or maybe I don't know wtf I am talking about and Dora has morphed into Marten for a wacky role-swap arc.  Whichever.

Leaving "for Marten's own good" seems a bit Eeyore even for ole Spookybutt.  I'd say this is her cue to agonize over what she said and did for the duration of the evening.

As much as I loved Faye busting in the door in panel one (and it's nice to see that Faye's panic attack managed to transition into righteous anger), I love the perspective in the last panel -- Faye's curves in the forground and Dora distantly in the back.  A perfect accompaniment to Faye's parting shot and just a well-framed image in any event.  Very well done.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: dunnright on 02 Sep 2010, 12:22
Since a bunch of you have already said things I wanted to say, I felt I could point out-- this was possibly the slowest fight ever, if the time on the clock is any indication. Faye bursts into the room at 1:04, Panel 2 is 1:05 and Panel 3 is 1:06.

I just noticed that too...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: zmeiat_joro on 02 Sep 2010, 12:48
Oh god, I hope Dora doesn't do anything stupid to herself.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: TryScience on 02 Sep 2010, 13:14
Panel 2:

Cower before Faye's CROTCH OF DOOM Dora, you insolent mortal.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: nicoley on 02 Sep 2010, 13:29
Yeah, I can see Dora lashing back next panel and then the catfight.

Marten walks in on the catfight.

Dora notices he's wearing Faye's pants.

Whether Dora begins laughing at how absurd Marten looks or gets even more angry depends on Jeph.






Yeah that's what I was thinking will happen. Dora sees that marten is wearing faye's pants and gets even more mad.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: bassadilla on 02 Sep 2010, 13:30
Dora's expression in 4B is exactly the same as Marten's from 2 strips ago ...

Bug or Feature?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Akima on 02 Sep 2010, 13:34
Oh god, I hope Dora doesn't do anything stupid to herself.
I don't think she's the type. Except for dying her hair purple that is.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: pwhodges on 02 Sep 2010, 13:54
the lips -- it's one of the elements of the newer style Jeph's been using, distinguishing male/female by whether the mouths are drawn with defined lips or not.

The newer style since strip 5 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=5), that is?*  I commented on the one time Marten had defined lips a few weeks ago, but it hasn't recurred.


*  Mind you, Sara (and a girl in the irony cafe) had "male-style" lips - maybe that's why she had to go!  But when Raven and Dora first appear, they each have thickened lips.  Lips drawn with two lines (and coloured in) appear at 219 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=219).
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Moxie on 02 Sep 2010, 13:54
To give an alternate perspective: Faye is freaking out and knows she needs to talk to someone. Faye knocks on the door belonging to both Marten and Dora knowing one, the other, or both will help her. Marten awakens by the knock, sleepily opens it, and sees Faye in full panic mode. Faye asks him to talk to her, he immediately says yes, and goes out to talk (in the living room, not Faye's room).
No way - she specifically went looking for Marten.  He's her best friend after all, and vice versa.


No way, I was right. Either Marten or Dora would have been fine.  :-P :laugh:



As to the comic... I'm wondering where Marten's walk is taking him.  Even if there are no hilarious misadventures involving his fancy pants, or even if he doesn't meet up with anyone of note on his walk, it'd be interesting to see where his head's at right now.  It's intriguing to see him actually get angry!

I too would love to get some perspective on what's going on in Marten's head right now. I'd almost rather he not meet up with anyone - it's tougher to figure stuff out without being able to bounce ideas off another person. Since Jeph seems to routinely have his characters manage to run into someone, I'm kinda hoping that trend won't follow this. It'd give us a really interesting look at Marten, I think.


(edits: fixing quotes, adding more quotes and thoughts)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Patrick on 02 Sep 2010, 14:17
Is this the first time Faye's spoken with an accent while sober?

Oh dude when my mom gets pissed off, she slips back into her Georgia accent. Same happens when she drinks. I do the same thing, 5 of my formative years were spent in Georgia.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Mojo on 02 Sep 2010, 14:27
I'm so glad to see the real Faye back.  She had become too whiny and emo for even MY emo taste.

And  colours are cool.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: numbvox on 02 Sep 2010, 15:06
Since a bunch of you have already said things I wanted to say, I felt I could point out-- this was possibly the slowest fight ever, if the time on the clock is any indication. Faye bursts into the room at 1:04, Panel 2 is 1:05 and Panel 3 is 1:06.

I just noticed that too...


I think that's the point.... this wasn't a fight - this was Faye bursting in and telling Dora off.  She wasn't there to listen, she wasn't there to discuss.  She blew up, said what needed to be said, and was out.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2010, 15:10
Is this the first time Faye's spoken with an accent while sober?
It's not just when she's drunk, it's also when she's tired.

I could cite chapter and verse, but one of the first times she and Dora were in the kitchen @ midnight together, her accent came out.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 02 Sep 2010, 15:20
Since a bunch of you have already said things I wanted to say, I felt I could point out-- this was possibly the slowest fight ever, if the time on the clock is any indication. Faye bursts into the room at 1:04, Panel 2 is 1:05 and Panel 3 is 1:06.

I just noticed that too...


I think that's the point.... this wasn't a fight - this was Faye bursting in and telling Dora off.  She wasn't there to listen, she wasn't there to discuss.  She blew up, said what needed to be said, and was out.

That's Sapnish's whole point - it wouldn't take 3 minutes to dsay what faye said! 

Actually, the least amount of time invoilved would be if the clock were just about to change when she came in, and had just changed when she went to leave - so, maybe a minute and 10 seconds. 

And that's still a really loing time for this come-to-jesus talk! 
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: sha'mad conde on 02 Sep 2010, 15:25
Faye in panel 2 is the most awesome Faye ever.

...Just sayin'.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: tomart on 02 Sep 2010, 16:22
Hey!  Someone stole my avatar!




Also was I the only one who found half-naked angry Faye incredibly hot?

No.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: LeeC on 02 Sep 2010, 16:38
I am wondering if the last panel is foreshadowing the next strip or 2.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2010, 16:40
Dora's expression in 4B is exactly the same as Marten's from 5 strips ago ... (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1739)

Bug or Feature?

FTFY, and you're kinda correct... Dora's got a more downward frown than Marty's straight-line.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Mad Cat on 02 Sep 2010, 16:41
Pantsless Faye is my new hero.

And I'd kinda like to see what Marten would look like in Faye's short-legged, baggy-bottomed, Hello Kitty buckled ensemble.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kugai on 02 Sep 2010, 17:20
Hey!  Someone stole my avatar!

HAL is taking over.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 02 Sep 2010, 18:08
Dora's expression in 4B is exactly the same as Marten's from 5 strips ago ... (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1739)

Bug or Feature?

FTFY, and you're kinda correct... Dora's got a more downward frown than Marty's straight-line.

No.  Marten's expression is forlorn, with a bit of confusion. 

Dora's is scared, with a fair amount of shock.  Someone misread anger into it, but that's jst the spikey bangs.  if you look closely, you'll see the eyebrows - they curve up into a fairly high arc, very similar to the previous panel. 

Different emotions entirely!  Jeph, you're really shining here, both in story and art. 

[/fanboy]
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 02 Sep 2010, 18:24
No. A little more extreme than usual, though. I'm surprised she said either instead of neither, though—that's a given with those I know who speak like Faye does when they hit their stride.

It's possible that Jeph wanted her accent to show but preferred to stop short of making her sound like a bumpkin.  Nothing against bumpkins, of course.

It's amazing to discover the new standard of bumpkinry—terminal neither! I informed a few folks of this immediately, who were ecstatic:

Earl Burrell: "Ain't nobody ever tole me that. Hell, if I'da knowed that there word's the pro'lem, I could'a been talkin' like them goddam city-slickers for years."

You folks had best watch out for Earl—he's on to you now, and you'll never hear him coming, because he'll sound just like you. And yes, he is armed.

Seriously, when I run that speech of Faye's through my head, I hear 'neither' at the end, not 'either.' And no, I don't speak like that on a regular basis, even when I'm drunk (regrettably seldom, these days). But the 'could'na' indicates Faye probably does. If, of course, she were real.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tobimaro on 02 Sep 2010, 19:22
Now that is the Faye that we have come to love.  Now I'm wondering if she is going to get Dora an appointment with her shrink?   :wink:
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2010, 20:31
No, she doesn't want to go see Dr. Corrine. That was established long ago. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1357)

"Oh, NOW I get it. You're all driving each other insane!"

(Irony: that strip came after Sven and Faye broke up.)
(DOUBLE Irony: it came about a week before Angus reappeared in the strip.)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: LeeC on 02 Sep 2010, 21:09
sven to the rescue?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 02 Sep 2010, 21:19
If he were less self-absorbed he might have some good insights into Dora.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Sapnish on 02 Sep 2010, 21:26
D: No Hello Kitty belt? Jeph, I am disappoint.

Also, Sven, you have gotta get over Faye already. She may have epic titties, but there are more pressing matters right now, like your sister's crazy.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 02 Sep 2010, 21:45
I *dare* Marten to find someone who can give worse advice on how to deal with an angry lady.  I would go to Yelling Bird before I went to Sven.  I would go to the Shame Orb before I went to Sven.  Shelby's sole reaction to women is to punch them over the horizon, and I would take SHELBY'S advice over that of Sven.

That being said, it's also possible that Sven can shed some light on the situation.  Something has happened to Dora in the past to make her knee-jerk reaction as violent as it is.  Maybe he can at least give us a hint as to what.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Moxie on 02 Sep 2010, 21:49
I'm really glad to see Marten has picked up on/is annoyed by Dora's double standard when it comes to interactions with women. I'm also really glad to know he's had just about enough of the arguments caused by her insecurities, and is tired of trying to convince her all the time that he's really happy for her.

Coming to these realizations, and voicing them out loud may be enough for him to really push Dora into actually getting some therapy. Because, as others have stated, Marten can really go on with Dora's behavior for so long until he's going to get completely worn down by it and snap, in one way or another.

Meanwhile...not certain I'm believing this Sven longing for Faye. He's never particularly seemed the sort to completely fall apart over a girl...but now that I think about it, if Faye's really the only one who ever dumped him, when he wasn't "done with her"/"ready to move on"/whatever it is he does, I suppose he would obsess over her. At least he's obviously not gone to the stalker-stage though, as he apparently doesn't know about Angus.

I really hope though, that his comment was just for the punch-line, since Jeph doesn't like not having them, and that in Monday's comic he does provide some insight about Dora. I think that, as self-absorbed as he his, he would know at least a little bit to give Marten some food for thought. (Maybe the treatment Dora got from those girls in high school was a lot crueler than we'd ever imagined...Dora's Sweet Sixteen birthday sleepover night with a game of truth or dare left Dora locked outside in nothing but undies while inside there was a Sven-orgie with all Dora's "friends"?)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tobimaro on 02 Sep 2010, 22:03
No, she doesn't want to go see Dr. Corrine. That was established long ago. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1357)

Point taken.  But maybe Dr. Corrine can offer up a referral to another specialist?  Methinks Dora really needs some help, if only for Marten's sake.

And do not let Pintsize search the net for a doctor.  He might find a doctor, but it will be more for sexual help (in amongst the piles of porn that he downloaded to help out the couple).
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: HiFranc on 02 Sep 2010, 22:08
[...]

At least he's obviously not gone to the stalker-stage though, as he apparently doesn't know about Angus.

I agree that he doesn't know the latest developments but he is aware of Angus (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1390).
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Heliphyneau on 02 Sep 2010, 22:10
Ha!  LET THE MARTEN/SVEN OTP SLASH COMMENCE!  And yes, I know that was already in a guest comic.  It still amuses me.

D: No Hello Kitty belt? Jeph, I am disappoint.

It's still there, out of frame, but I wanted to see it too.   :cry:  Randomly, I sort of want to see what kind of footwear Marten scrounged up for his walk.

I *dare* Marten to find someone who can give worse advice on how to deal with an angry lady.  I would go to Yelling Bird before I went to Sven.  I would go to the Shame Orb before I went to Sven.  Shelby's sole reaction to women is to punch them over the horizon, and I would take SHELBY'S advice over that of Sven.

Agreed.  Hell, he could have dragged Pintsize with him and gotten better advice.  Not GOOD advice, but better.  Ah well, at least Marten's venting.  We don't generally get to see thought bubbles in QC, so the inner dialog thing might not have worked.

I think that, as self-absorbed as he his, he would know at least a little bit to give Marten some food for thought.

Sven might have some insights, depending on whether he was paying attention, then and now.  If Marten's lucky, Sven will have more to say than "Yup, Dora's crazy, always has been -- now let's talk more about boobs."  Speculation may begin on whether someone else overhears Sven saying something "pithy" about Marten finally getting in Faye's pants and misinterprets (Angus directly? or Marigold?).
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: TheHappyBerry on 02 Sep 2010, 22:10
Meanwhile...not certain I'm believing this Sven longing for Faye. He's never particularly seemed the sort to completely fall apart over a girl...but now that I think about it, if Faye's really the only one who ever dumped him, when he wasn't "done with her"/"ready to move on"/whatever it is he does, I suppose he would obsess over her. At least he's obviously not gone to the stalker-stage though, as he apparently doesn't know about Angus.

In this instance, I read that as less longing for Faye and much more longing for Faye's boobs.  That being said, Jeph has really been putting out some great strips in the last month or so, but the end of this one really left me laughing...and I still giggle whenever I think about it.  I view it as "classic QC."  Serious, serious, serious, BOOB JOKE!  
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Moxie on 02 Sep 2010, 22:20
[...]At least he's obviously not gone to the stalker-stage though, as he apparently doesn't know about Angus.
I agree that he doesn't know the latest developments but he is aware of Angus (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1390).

Ah, yeah, thanks for pointing that out.  :laugh: I meant the latest developments but my terribly unclear wording certainly didn't make that obvious.



I think that, as self-absorbed as he his, he would know at least a little bit to give Marten some food for thought.
Sven might have some insights, depending on whether he was paying attention, then and now.  If Marten's lucky, Sven will have more to say than "Yup, Dora's crazy, always has been -- now let's talk more about boobs."  Speculation may begin on whether someone else overhears Sven saying something "pithy" about Marten finally getting in Faye's pants and misinterprets (Angus directly? or Marigold?).

Aw dang, I'll bet you're right about that pithy remark making it in. It'd fit well with the idea that Angus goes to CoD the next day to see Faye and only gets some Dora rages (especially if Marigold was the one who overheard and he didn't wanna believe her)...but now it seems like there might not be any Dora rages at work after all. Maybe though. If she still really wants to believe she's right, even after Faye's attempt to set her straight, she might rage about that.



Meanwhile...not certain I'm believing this Sven longing for Faye. He's never particularly seemed the sort to completely fall apart over a girl...but now that I think about it, if Faye's really the only one who ever dumped him, when he wasn't "done with her"/"ready to move on"/whatever it is he does, I suppose he would obsess over her. At least he's obviously not gone to the stalker-stage though, as he apparently doesn't know about Angus.
In this instance, I read that as less longing for Faye and much more longing for Faye's boobs.  That being said, Jeph has really been putting out some great strips in the last month or so, but the end of this one really left me laughing...and I still giggle whenever I think about it.  I view it as "classic QC."  Serious, serious, serious, BOOB JOKE!

Hahaha, you make an excellent point! And true, I definitely get that "classic QC" vibe as well :) It's like I said - I hope Jeph just wanted to joke and definitely got one that felt right, but we do see some insight from Sven later, 'cause I think he has some.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 02 Sep 2010, 22:29
[sigh]

Same park bench, different universe...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Akima on 02 Sep 2010, 22:38
And Sven demonstrates why he's been included in DQ*'s "Douche Of The Year" short-list for the last five years. I mean, with Marten "talking about the relationship" like that, Sven's probably mentally putting him in a dress, as well as not listening to him...

*Douchebag Quarterly, what else?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Dr. ROFLPWN on 02 Sep 2010, 22:49
Hahahaha oh Sven, never change.

You know what'll be hilarious? Is if he actually honestly helps out Marten and maybe even talks to his sister and the whole thing is patched up and the Marty/Spookybutt paradigm returns to normal, yay Sven!

...then Sven's reward is "Oh by the way, Faye is totally banging that Angus dude now, even as we speak."

His face, it will be priceless.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Fhqwhgads on 02 Sep 2010, 23:02
What I'm afraid of is Marten's reaction ending up something like (http://www.punchanpie.net/daily/20071017.html) Heather's (http://www.punchanpie.net/daily/20071019.html).
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: HiFranc on 02 Sep 2010, 23:10
I just had a thought:

What if the reason that Dora woke up was because her subconscious realised why Marten asked her about Toto?  She may not be consciously aware but just have a vague feeling that something is off.  When she saw Marten with Faye...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Ryan23224 on 02 Sep 2010, 23:14
Awesome Monty Python reference in the title today! :-D
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2010, 23:24
What I'm afraid of is Marten's reaction ending up something like (http://www.punchanpie.net/daily/20071017.html) Heather's (http://www.punchanpie.net/daily/20071019.html).
I think Jeph would go crazy if he did that.

Something told me (and no, I didn't watch the live drawing feed tonight) that Sven was going to get involved somehow. Regardless of his "brain between his legs" situation, he's pretty much the only one who would even have an inkling on what is going on with his sister.

I still suspect a return home with Marten all ready to bawl Dora out and her apologizing profusely and him doing the "wait, what?" thing.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Kugai on 02 Sep 2010, 23:44
Ahhhh Sven, so nice to have you put things in perspective.   :-D

And the question is, why is Sven sitting on a Park Bench at 1am in the morning?  Or did Marten go to his apartment?







Or have they been chased out by The Knights Who Say Ni!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Dr. ROFLPWN on 02 Sep 2010, 23:45
What I'm afraid of is Marten's reaction ending up something like (http://www.punchanpie.net/daily/20071017.html) Heather's (http://www.punchanpie.net/daily/20071019.html).

I think Jeph has a higher writing standard than that (oh God I sound like an elitist prick but dang).

Besides, I've been waiting for Sven to show, cause I think that he may be the real source of drama this arc. Or at the very least he'll add one more cloud to the growing storm.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: sophle on 02 Sep 2010, 23:57
I don't think Sven's obsessing over Faye...he thinks she's hot and has great boobs.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 03 Sep 2010, 00:08
He admitted to having developed feelings and a conscience about her.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 03 Sep 2010, 00:19
Of all the creeps, in all the streets, in all the town, Marten runs across this one. The Makeout Hobo could give better advice.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: reicreature on 03 Sep 2010, 00:28
Well, the answer to Martin's questions about why Dora's so crazy and insecure might just be sitting next to him right now.  I mean, how much would you trust romantic relationship if you grew up witnessing behavior like Sven's?  She's obviously had to deal with the fall-out from Sven messing around with her friends and it probably did send a message to her early on that Sven's behavior is what is typical of guys and makes her automatically suspicious. Then, if she's been cheated on in any of her past relationships that can only make that message and defensiveness run even deeper.

Though I do sort of hate to jump on the "Sven is a total cad" idea and there's only so much that a person can blame their own behavior onto someone else.

Also, man...Faye's tits do sound especially appealing.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: no one special on 03 Sep 2010, 00:37
No way, I was right. Either Marten or Dora would have been fine.  :-P :laugh:

I'll get you next time, Moxie!  Next tiiiiiiime...

Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 03 Sep 2010, 00:39
Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Dora calls Marten's phone, trying desperately to apologise.  But across the room, from his pants pocket, she hears it ring.

Slowly the realisation sinks in that he has no pants.  And is somehow not in the apartment.

Through the fear and guilt and shock she feels at everything that's happened, the nagging questions begin to form in her mind.  Questions that have no good answers.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: semi1o1 on 03 Sep 2010, 00:45
Dora's expression in 4B is exactly the same as Marten's from 5 strips ago ... (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1739)

Bug or Feature?

FTFY, and you're kinda correct... Dora's got a more downward frown than Marty's straight-line.

No.  Marten's expression is forlorn, with a bit of confusion. 

Dora's is scared, with a fair amount of shock.  Someone misread anger into it, but that's jst the spikey bangs.  if you look closely, you'll see the eyebrows - they curve up into a fairly high arc, very similar to the previous panel. 

Different emotions entirely!  Jeph, you're really shining here, both in story and art. 

[/fanboy]

I agree. Side by side its easy to see the difference.
(http://www.inselpix.com/images/semi1o1/doramartenfrown.png)
The cheekbone may be adding to the similarities too.

Oh and I wouldn't mind paying and exorbitant amount for a poster of Sven's mental image of Faye as a 70's era playboy playmate. Its hard for me to fathom breasts so epic as to cause a philandering man whore like Sven to become obsessed.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: themacnut on 03 Sep 2010, 00:46
Well, the answer to Martin's questions about why Dora's so crazy and insecure might just be sitting next to him right now.  I mean, how much would you trust romantic relationship if you grew up witnessing behavior like Sven's?  She's obviously had to deal with the fall-out from Sven messing around with her friends and it probably did send a message to her early on that Sven's behavior is what is typical of guys and makes her automatically suspicious. Then, if she's been cheated on in any of her past relationships that can only make that message and defensiveness run even deeper.

All that would make her a difficult woman to be in a relationship with. Those issues would be almost as bad as Faye's-which is ironic since Faye seems to be finally getting over her issues, along with getting with someone else. Marten just missed the bus all around. Still, there is hope that this whole blowup will motivate Dora to finally confront and deal with her issues (even if not with Dr. Corrine) and become a better girlfriend, AND friend.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 03 Sep 2010, 00:47

All that would make her a difficult woman to be in a relationship with. Those issues would be almost as bad as Faye's-which is ironic since Faye seems to be finally getting over her issues, along with getting with someone else. Marten just missed the bus all around. Still, there is hope that this whole blowup will motivate Dora to finally confront and deal with her issues (even if not with Dr. Corrine) and become a better girlfriend, AND friend.

The Uncertainty Moth strikes again!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Dr. ROFLPWN on 03 Sep 2010, 00:52
Of all the creeps, in all the streets, in all the town, Marten runs across this one. The Makeout Hobo could give better advice.

Man, I know Sven is a douche and all, but that is too harsh. Sven at least has developed emotions and a vestigial conscience. He's like, the halfway stage between fish and land reptile. The Makeout Hobo is what he is evolving from.

Sven is also less likely to steal a chick's wallet to buy meth. Or feed Marten any Night Train.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 03 Sep 2010, 00:53
The Makeout Hobo would try to answer the question instead of asking about his ex's tits. To be fair, I don't know that the MH really has any exs—just happenings. But I heartily agree with reicreature—I'm just assuming everybody's tired of hearing me say it.*

[snip]
I agree. Side by side its easy to see the difference.
(http://www.inselpix.com/images/semi1o1/doramartenfrown.png)
The cheekbone may be adding to the similarities too.
Now there's a nice couple's picture. Easy to see those two are just made for each other—or not really sure how the hell they got where they are, one of the two.

*An Edit, so placed to avoid useless tunneling.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: reicreature on 03 Sep 2010, 00:54

Quote
All that would make her a difficult woman to be in a relationship with.

Not any more difficult than any other woman I expect (or man for that matter).  It's my thought that just about everyone has at least ONE issue that can be a deal breaker to a relationship.  
This insecurity just happens to be Dora's issue.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Blackjoker on 03 Sep 2010, 00:56
Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Dora calls Marten's phone, trying desperately to apologise.  But across the room, from his pants pocket, she hears it ring.

Slowly the realisation sinks in that he has no pants.  And is somehow not in the apartment.

Through the fear and guilt and shock she feels at everything that's happened, the nagging questions begin to form in her mind.  Questions that have no good answers.

Ok, the part of me that enjoys random ideas imagines her panicking, coming up with increasingly absurd ideas, Pintsize throwing random things in, and Faye being unsure if she should mention she loaned him pants or waiting to see how strange the ideas get.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: no one special on 03 Sep 2010, 01:08
Also, Sven, you have gotta get over Faye already. She may have epic titties, but there are more pressing matters right now, like your sister's crazy.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

When we experience the epicness - something... changes... in our brains, in similar ways to one addicted to alcohol or opiates.  We are never the same, and those moments are seared into our minds forever. 
Life goes on, of course - we have new loves, build lives and families together with our partners - but as much as we truly love our girlfriends or wives... we never forget.   

If the QC forum learns anything about the male gender this day, let it be this:

Men NEVER get over epic titties.  We just... learn to live without.


Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Dr. ROFLPWN on 03 Sep 2010, 01:39
I may be alone in this, but I hope this arc helps Sven out, too. I sigh whenever I see the dude pining for Faye, because remember how she treated you, Sven, even before you went and Done Fucked Up with the CMA chick? Yeah, that was Not Rad. It was in fact the diametric opposite of rad, it was Shitty, which is what you two were for each other. Angus is not, and she is actually growing, instead of pretending like she was back then.

Sven gots to get a new set of epic titties, even if he never forgets the Twin Wonders of the 70's, and maybe he can grow a little, too, get further redeemed. Helping his sister and Marty out would be a nice start. Especially since, even with all the damage his behavior might've caused, the Bianchi siblings do seem to care for one another.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: akronnick on 03 Sep 2010, 01:45
Whoa, whoa, whoa.

When we experience the epicness - something... changes... in our brains, in similar ways to one addicted to alcohol or opiates.  We are never the same, and those moments are seared into our minds forever. 
Life goes on, of course - we have new loves, build lives and families together with our partners - but as much as we truly love our girlfriends or wives... we never forget.   

If the QC forum learns anything about the male gender this day, let it be this:

Men NEVER get over epic titties.  We just... learn to live without.





Q.


F.


T.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: snubnose on 03 Sep 2010, 05:18
Meanwhile...not certain I'm believing this Sven longing for Faye. He's never particularly seemed the sort to completely fall apart over a girl...
IMHO he's lusting after her, not longing for her or falling apart for her.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: LeeC on 03 Sep 2010, 05:19
I don't think Sven's obsessing over Faye...he thinks she's hot and has great boobs.
i think because in every situation where Sven was caught with one of Dora's friends thats how he approached the situation "But Dora, Megan has epic titties!"  Not realizing that Marten is in a completley different situation.

As for being out so late, He was probably hanging out with Wil at the bar and was on his way home.

Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 03 Sep 2010, 05:27
Yeah, I sincerely doubt that where Sven's at counts as "obsessing".  He strikes me more as the kind of guy who covers the heavy topics with a joke as a defense thing.  The fact that he felt genuinely shitty about how things turned out with Faye isn't something he's used to; so, when confronted with the mental image of Faye not wearing very much, he knee-jerks into Flippant Jerk mode and tosses off a joke completely irrelevant to the serious things Marten is saying to him.  That stops him from thinking about a subject that's probably still a reasonably open wound for him.

And, yes, I'm sure the fact that both he and Marten agree that Faye has impressive Tracts Of Land is a factor in his choice of joke.  That doesn't make it any less of a mask he's putting on.

I imagine that once Marten gets genuinely annoyed, Sven will back down and take the conversation, and Marten's dillemma, seriously.  We may find out something about Dora, or about her relationship with Sven, or even her relationships with other less-than-trustworthy guys that have contributed to where her mind's at right now.  Either way, Jeph's too much of a storyteller to have a random meeting with Sven be completely spent on one joke.  It'll be interesting to see what happens when Sven seriouses up.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Blayze on 03 Sep 2010, 05:30
Why is it that when any drama surfaces, the people here always seem to blame Sven for it.

"Oil crisis in the Middle East! That philandering scumbag must have been fucking all the oil barrels!"
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Schmorgluck on 03 Sep 2010, 05:55
Why is it that when any drama surfaces, the people here always seem to blame Sven for it.
I don't know what you are speaking about. On the matter at hand, we've had hints that he may have played a role.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: pwhodges on 03 Sep 2010, 06:11
Why is it that when any drama surfaces, the people here always seem to blame Sven for it.

Well, seeing that he even managed to upset Anders (http://reneengstrom.com/comicfolder/2009-02-06.jpg)!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Mojo on 03 Sep 2010, 08:44
You know, part of me thoroughly understands Dora's feelings here.  Let me explain.

I've had two serious relationships in my time.  The first, we'll call her Jane, cheated on me.  It was the first time I'd experienced that kind of betrayal, and it changed me.  I used to be completely trusting.  If she wanted a "girls' night out," I had no problem with it.  But that changed.  That ability to trust was forever damaged.

Thus, when I started seeing the second woman, we'll call her Doris, I couldn't help feeling an intense paranoid dread whenever she was away from me.  I knew it was irrational.  Doris wasn't Jane, there was no logical reason to expect Doris to betray me as Jane had done.  The heart, however, is an irrational organ.  No matter how much I knew I was being paranoid and jealous, I still felt the pain and desperation.  The difference was that I choked it down and kept it to myself.  That's what Dora has to learn to do.

Of course, Doris did eventually cheat on me too, going home with her ex after a "girls' night out," so maybe Dora has a leg to stand on...
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tormuse on 03 Sep 2010, 08:46
Men NEVER get over epic titties.  We just... learn to live without.


So true...

Natural D-cups...  *sigh*
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Schmorgluck on 03 Sep 2010, 08:58
Why is it that when any drama surfaces, the people here always seem to blame Sven for it.

Well, seeing that he even managed to upset Anders (http://reneengstrom.com/comicfolder/2009-02-06.jpg)!
Who the hell is Anders? Would you please give us a link to somewhere we could learn more about him?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 03 Sep 2010, 09:15
From Anders Loves Maria (http://anderslovesmaria.reneengstrom.com/), which is a finished webcomic linked on the QC homepage. 

Really good reading! 

And I'd never seen this non-canon page before.  Now I gotta go diggin'!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Schmorgluck on 03 Sep 2010, 09:26
Oh, thanks, I should have guessed it was a webcomic. But since the link was direct to an image and I was too lazy to tinker with the URL to find out, I prefered to ask the question - and by the way point out to pwhodges that linking to an image in a webcomic, instead of linking to the page, is rude and impractical.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: pwhodges on 03 Sep 2010, 09:37
Sorry - but I guessed that most people here knew it, and the page containing it (http://reneengstrom.com/guest.html) has all the guest strips with no anchors to make a link to the required one.  That was a guest strip when Renee (the author) had writer's block, but she moved all the guest strips away from the story afterwards.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Schmorgluck on 03 Sep 2010, 09:39
Well sorry for having been too abrasive (as I aknowledge on rereading my posts).
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: ChippyD on 03 Sep 2010, 09:53
Y'know it occurs to me that if Marten stews into this enough, and if he finally felt the inclination to let loose a little venom, he could easily fling this right back in Dora's face two-fold.

1. We don't know what Dora's past experience with romance was that made her like this, provided anything happened at all. But it had better be super traumatic, because I recall Martin going into very specific detail about moving across the entire United States of America to be with a girl...Who eventually dumped him within a month of settling down.
2. Martin might work at an all-girl college. But at the same time, Dora gets hit on how many times a day by customers?
3. Martin cuts his hair. She freaks. Dora dyes her hair PURPLE without giving any notice. Martin is okay with this. Double standard.
4. Dora is bisexual. Being near anyone could make her look bad.

Anyway you slice it, Dora's in danger of major retribution if she doesn't realize how good she actually has it, and how unbeleivably tollerant Martin has been, despite glaring double-standards popping up everywhere.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: dps on 03 Sep 2010, 10:36

In this instance, I read that as less longing for Faye and much more longing for Faye's boobs.  

I read it that way too.  Either way, I don't think that Sven was the best choice for someone for Marten to talk to.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Heliphyneau on 03 Sep 2010, 10:46
Awesome Monty Python reference in the title today! :-D

Agreed!  I actually meant to mention that last time I posted but got distracted by other stuff.  Monty Python and the Holy Grail ftw!

Why is it that when any drama surfaces, the people here always seem to blame Sven for it.
I don't know what you are speaking about. On the matter at hand, we've had hints that he may have played a role.

Sven did play a role in Dora's developing trust issues, but he is not to blame for the choices she's made.  Dora is an adult and has been in who knows how many relationships at this point -- maybe we'll be hearing about some of them in this arc.  Whatever may be influencing her, the choices she makes are her own and no one else gets to take credit or blame for them.  Hopefully the talking-to by Faye will help her re-examine some of those choices.

Oh, and Tergon, one of your Useless Brooms Made Entirely of Dicks must have washed out to sea, but some fishermen found it for you:

http://io9.com/5629024/look-+-its-a-baby-mi+go-caught-by-divers-off-the-coast-of-japan (http://io9.com/5629024/look-+-its-a-baby-mi+go-caught-by-divers-off-the-coast-of-japan)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: IanClark on 03 Sep 2010, 12:01
Oh, and Tergon, one of your Useless Brooms Made Entirely of Dicks must have washed out to sea, but some fishermen found it for you:

http://io9.com/5629024/look-+-its-a-baby-mi+go-caught-by-divers-off-the-coast-of-japan (http://io9.com/5629024/look-+-its-a-baby-mi+go-caught-by-divers-off-the-coast-of-japan)

I give it three days before someone draws the porn, then five days until it ends up on the Pintsize Twitter account.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Mojo on 03 Sep 2010, 12:21
Quote
In this instance, I read that as less longing for Faye and much more longing for Faye's boobs.


In fairness, I don't think we can hold this against him.  Faye's not even real an I've had a longing for her boobs...

 :-D
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 03 Sep 2010, 12:30
Sven did play a role in Dora's developing trust issues, but he is not to blame for the choices she's made.  Dora is an adult and has been in who knows how many relationships at this point -- maybe we'll be hearing about some of them in this arc.  Whatever may be influencing her, the choices she makes are her own and no one else gets to take credit or blame for them.  Hopefully the talking-to by Faye will help her re-examine some of those choices.

OK, I have to call you on this.  No matter how old we get, and no matter how rational we like to think we are, each of us is, to some extent, the product of our upbringing.  The older I get, the more I realize that a lot of my first reactions to things aren't even mine - they were my parent's, my brother's, my early friend's... and I adopted them.  That's not to say I don't make my own decisions, and think further than my first reactions; but it does mean that I need to recognize where those first reactions are coming from before I can deal with them rationally.  

But they're still there.  And when I was younger, I didn't even realize where they were coming from.  And Dora may be an adult, but a younger one.  Faye's pointed out that her reaction was really effed up, but we don't know (yet) where it came from, and the only clue we really have is a shord tirade about Sven.  

That may be a large part of it, after all.  It probably runs a lot deeper, though.  We'll see, I hope.  And then we'll see how everyone involved deals with it.  

And then we'll see how Pintsize mocks it.  
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Heliphyneau on 03 Sep 2010, 14:01
Sven did play a role in Dora's developing trust issues, but he is not to blame for the choices she's made.  Dora is an adult and has been in who knows how many relationships at this point -- maybe we'll be hearing about some of them in this arc.  Whatever may be influencing her, the choices she makes are her own and no one else gets to take credit or blame for them.  Hopefully the talking-to by Faye will help her re-examine some of those choices.

OK, I have to call you on this.  No matter how old we get, and no matter how rational we like to think we are, each of us is, to some extent, the product of our upbringing.  The older I get, the more I realize that a lot of my first reactions to things aren't even mine - they were my parent's, my brother's, my early friend's... and I adopted them.  That's not to say I don't make my own decisions, and think further than my first reactions; but it does mean that I need to recognize where those first reactions are coming from before I can deal with them rationally.  

But they're still there.  And when I was younger, I didn't even realize where they were coming from.  And Dora may be an adult, but a younger one.  Faye's pointed out that her reaction was really effed up, but we don't know (yet) where it came from, and the only clue we really have is a shord tirade about Sven.  

That may be a large part of it, after all.  It probably runs a lot deeper, though.  We'll see, I hope.  And then we'll see how everyone involved deals with it.  

And then we'll see how Pintsize mocks it.  

Of course our upbringing shapes us -- every experience does, that was part of my point.  That doesn't change a person's responsibility for the decisions they make even as a consequence of that upbringing.  Dora's already acknowledged the effect Sven's behavior has had on her decisions, as you basically pointed out.  What other influences might be at play remains to be seen.  To say that your reactions aren't even yours because you adopted them from other people, well, you adopted them, consciously or not.  You are still responsible.  I get what you're saying about needing to be aware of these things, and Dora is likely in need of raising her self-awareness further, but my response was to someone who thought everyone here was blaming Sven for Dora's problems.  Sven certainly has his culpability for the way his behaviors have affected his younger sister -- his choices are his responsibility, after all -- but that doesn't make him responsible for every decision she makes.

I have a feeling that we'll be learning a bunch more about Dora and Sven in this new arc.  I'm looking forward to it, and to seeing the characters grow further.

As to Pintsize, he will mock it with tentacle/horse porn.  Or dickbroom porn, whichever.   :wink:
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Blackjoker on 03 Sep 2010, 16:00
Great, now I imagine Pintsize ordering dozens of dickbrooms to sweep away the drama in the apartment and all of them arriving when they have company over...it would be hilarious but wrong.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 03 Sep 2010, 16:04
Actually, if we want to delve into it, if Sven's passive poaching of Dora's friends has produced this lack of trust she has (and I suspect it's at least the basis, and after it, the rest probably became the same sort of self-fulfilling prophecy Dora's creating now, with each incident making things worse by reinforcing her fears), then Sven's not so much to blame as his and Dora's parents are. They were the responsible ones—but if you read the comics in which they appear, it tends to look like they're not, mostly. Too busy recreating with drugs and pinching Nancy Reagan's bony ass. Which, btw, indicates to me pot was the least of the recreational substances Pa Bianchi was on.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: tomart on 03 Sep 2010, 16:42
When we experience the epicness - something... changes... in our brains,...   We are never the same, and those moments are seared into our minds forever.  

If the QC forum learns anything about the male gender this day, let it be this:

Men NEVER get over epic titties.  We just... learn to live without.


Solemnly, Sincerely, Seconded, My Brothah . . .

Amen.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: tomart on 03 Sep 2010, 16:58
Of all the creeps, in all the streets, in all the town, Marten runs across this one. The Makeout Hobo could give better advice.

Oh, come on, ....  The Makeout Hobo is the total Creepasaur, his "Advice" self-serving claptrap.
 
Au contraire, this was another Golden QC Moment!   "Serious [Drama] Serious [Character Development] Serious - Boob Joke!"  
(Each panel driving up the Serious Itching to see who Marten is spilling his guts to!)   Tension release by Sven and Jeph, I'm guessing, with (hopefully) more serious Sven-sharing soon.  

Like others, I'm hoping this arc brings us Dora & Sven backstory, maybe like The Talk (though that'd be hard, & unnecessary, to beat.)  I've rather liked Dora over these past few years, and feel she's acting out & getting a bad rap right now.  Lots of times, she's been the wiser, more mature core character.  I 'spect some selected looks back at her & her bro's past might well redeem her, and  (by sometime in 2011, RT)  she and Marten could be on a more solid foundation.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: numbvox on 03 Sep 2010, 17:37
Oh, and Tergon, one of your Useless Brooms Made Entirely of Dicks must have washed out to sea, but some fishermen found it for you:

http://io9.com/5629024/look-+-its-a-baby-mi+go-caught-by-divers-off-the-coast-of-japan (http://io9.com/5629024/look-+-its-a-baby-mi+go-caught-by-divers-off-the-coast-of-japan)

I give it three days before someone draws the porn, then five days until it ends up on the Pintsize Twitter account.

...omg what the fuck did I see in that link!?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 03 Sep 2010, 18:06
Seriously, though: There has GOT to be more to the Bianchi clan's family dynamics than either Dora or Sven is letting on.

Mom and Dad don't exactly sound like they were around much, and when they were it doesn't sound like they were much for parenting. Kids of parents who were sixties hippies were already around back when I was in HS - Sven strikes me as a "Ferris Bueller" type. Of course, John Hughes never had a character like Dora (though he may have come close to it with Ally Sheedy's character in Breakfast Club).

Let's see if we can tick off what the dynamics were (this is from 1107):


Bottom line is, I honestly think there's more to the Sven-Dora dynamic than she wants to admit - and more than Sven probably realizes.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Schmorgluck on 03 Sep 2010, 19:29
Sven strikes me as a "Ferris Bueller" type.
Wrong analogy. If I remember the movie right, Ferris comes to a loose undestanding with his sister, and she ultimately saves his ass. I've always found the dynamics at play between Ferris and his sister the most interesting part of the movie, anyway. The rest of the movie, and Ferris as a character, are quite "meh", IMHO.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: muffmasta on 03 Sep 2010, 19:49
Oh man, never refer to a girls tits as "saggy". Worst insult (to physical appearance at least) ever. Even if he meant it as a compliment. Although don't see how that could be taken as complimentary.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: St.Clair on 03 Sep 2010, 20:41
Sven strikes me as a "Ferris Bueller" type.
Wrong analogy. If I remember the movie right, Ferris comes to a loose undestanding with his sister, and she ultimately saves his ass. I've always found the dynamics at play between Ferris and his sister the most interesting part of the movie, anyway. The rest of the movie, and Ferris as a character, are quite "meh", IMHO.
Yes, over the course of the movie.  But she's initially quite jealous of him and his easy success, saying so to a random guy (Charlie Sheen) she meets at the police station, who helps her get over it.  Even at the end, she's ready to let Ferris twist in the wind until she realizes who he's facing - Rooney, who she hates even more.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 03 Sep 2010, 21:30
Of all the creeps, in all the streets, in all the town, Marten runs across this one. The Makeout Hobo could give better advice.

Oh, come on, ....  The Makeout Hobo is the total Creepasaur, his "Advice" self-serving claptrap.
 
Au contraire, this was another Golden QC Moment!   "Serious [Drama] Serious [Character Development] Serious - Boob Joke!"  
(Each panel driving up the Serious Itching to see who Marten is spilling his guts to!)   Tension release by Sven and Jeph, I'm guessing, with (hopefully) more serious Sven-sharing soon.  

Like others, I'm hoping this arc brings us Dora & Sven backstory, maybe like The Talk (though that'd be hard, & unnecessary, to beat.)  I've rather liked Dora over these past few years, and feel she's acting out & getting a bad rap right now.  Lots of times, she's been the wiser, more mature core character.  I 'spect some selected looks back at her & her bro's past might well redeem her, and  (by sometime in 2011, RT)  she and Marten could be on a more solid foundation.
Self-serving claptrap would probably be better than memory-drooling about Faye's breasts. It may be, of course, that Sven's 'got nuthin' and is trying to be funny, but it's an awful creepy way to go about it, given that Marten, except for one accident, never saw Faye's breasts in the entire time he was mooning after her AND that him wanting to (among other things, in Dora's mind) is the issue at hand.

Besides, I couldn't call Sven a gin joint and expect to be taken seriously. Or however I'm usually taken on here.

Bottom line is, I honestly think there's more to the Sven-Dora dynamic than she wants to admit - and more than Sven probably realizes.
Of course there is, and that last clause is a double mouthful of truth. Bottom line, to me, is this: Sven was never taught how to get along with others. He has a lot of charm, and is rather affable, but the idea that he should at least consider other people's feelings has never really been taught to Sven; hence him being more worried about Dora 'killing him' than that, for her, he'd repeated history. Going to his sister and telling her like an adult what was happening might've done loads to stop Dora's meltdown, but instead Sven chose to hide.

Oh, I know Sven was going to lie to 'protect' Faye after the Riversmith incident, but I suspect that had at least as much to do with protecting himself from a scene.

I rather suspect the Bianchi parents* did Sven a horrible disservice, as do any parents who don't find time to teach their child consideration of others. Such children may be successful, but they've a dismal chance of actually being happy in the long run. Because sooner or later, someone is going to actually matter to them, and they're not going to know how to act to demonstrate that. Which is why Sven acted like a sulky child at the "Hannelore Snow Block Party." I actually give him credit for doing better later when he came to talk to Faye at CoD, but he should've done that much sooner—except it probably didn't occur to him, being a social cripple.

On the flipside, one of the reasons I think Dora is nice to people (and she is, when she's not letting her problem get the better of her) is that she knows what it's like to be on the hammer end of things, and, to her credit, doesn't want to see anyone else there. But she's walking wounded, with the sort of injury that perpetuates itself and grows. Dora needs some professional help to give her the tools she needs to heal that. It'll never be completely gone, most likely, but she can reduce the size—and I think Marten is one of the few people around understanding enough (not a wimp, and I don't think those who keep calling him that know how truly silly they are. Marten is a man, a better one than Steve, and Sven doesn't even come close, although Angus does) to help her through those times. But he's got to know what's going on, and it may be Dora doesn't really, herself. Her initial arguing with Pantless Faye shows that clearly.

On a lighter note, if they could laugh about this later, 'Pantsless' would be a funny nickname for Faye. Pantless Whitaker. Gotta love it.

*Incidentally, I know the 'fun' breed of parent like Mr. Bianchi, if not Mrs., rather well. They tend to want to be friends with their children instead of parental figures; this rarely works out well. By contrast, Veronica Reed, even though she was a porn star of sorts, seems to be parent first, then friend, probably more of the later since Marten's become an adult—see the difference between him and Sven?

Edit: Man, wouldja look at that wall?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 03 Sep 2010, 22:35
Elssa, at least, can be defended. We know she tried to exercise parental authority in the leather pants incident.

An older theory deserves to be dusted off at this point. Notice the common factor in Dora freakouts? They happen when Faye has positive boy-developments. Marten has gotten over Faye. Dora, perhaps, hasn't, and is displacing her jealousy.

Jeph said, in the "Fat Faye" thread, that Dora's attentions to Faye were serious.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: TheHappyBerry on 03 Sep 2010, 23:00
Oh man, never refer to a girls tits as "saggy". Worst insult (to physical appearance at least) ever. Even if he meant it as a compliment. Although don't see how that could be taken as complimentary.

I think your right, but as a natural C/D cup, I know what it is to have boobs quite the opposite of perky.  But, there aren't really any better words.  Going to a thesaurus gets droopy, floppy, and flabby.  I do rather like pendulous.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: snubnose on 04 Sep 2010, 00:32
Yeah, I sincerely doubt that where Sven's at counts as "obsessing".  He strikes me more as the kind of guy who covers the heavy topics with a joke as a defense thing.
Uh.

No, not really.

And thats not what going in the comic either.


Quote
 The fact that he felt genuinely shitty about how things turned out with Faye isn't something he's used to; so, when confronted with the mental image of Faye not wearing very much, he knee-jerks into Flippant Jerk mode and tosses off a joke completely irrelevant to the serious things Marten is saying to him. 
Except he's serious.


Quote
That stops him from thinking about a subject that's probably still a reasonably open wound for him.
Yeah, obviously he's quite immature about serious relationships, but thats a different issue altogether.


Quote
I imagine that once Marten gets genuinely annoyed, Sven will back down and take the conversation, and Marten's dillemma, seriously.
Thats not what I expect. I expect Sven being unable to help Marten.


Quote
 Either way, Jeph's too much of a storyteller to have a random meeting with Sven be completely spent on one joke.
Again, Sven ISNT JOKING. He's serious.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: no one special on 04 Sep 2010, 00:44
when confronted with the mental image of Faye not wearing very much, he knee-jerks into Flippant Jerk mode and tosses off a joke completely irrelevant to the serious things Marten is saying to him.  That stops him from thinking about a subject that's probably still a reasonably open wound for him.
I don't think it was a joke at all - he just stopped listening.  He heard "Faye" and "underwear," then basically just tuned out(having dropped into a patented Bianchi fugue-state (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1360)) and waited for Marten to stop talking so he could ask his question.  No defense mechanism here, just 100% animal instinct.

I've had two serious relationships in my time.  The first, we'll call her Jane, cheated on me.  It was the first time I'd experienced that kind of betrayal, and it changed me.  I used to be completely trusting.  If she wanted a "girls' night out," I had no problem with it.  But that changed.  That ability to trust was forever damaged.

Thus, when I started seeing the second woman, we'll call her Doris, I couldn't help feeling an intense paranoid dread whenever she was away from me.  I knew it was irrational.  Doris wasn't Jane, there was no logical reason to expect Doris to betray me as Jane had done.  The heart, however, is an irrational organ.  No matter how much I knew I was being paranoid and jealous, I still felt the pain and desperation.  The difference was that I choked it down and kept it to myself.  That's what Dora has to learn to do.

Of course, Doris did eventually cheat on me too, going home with her ex after a "girls' night out," so maybe Dora has a leg to stand on...
I wouldn't say that Dora has a leg to stand on at all.  I've been cheated on twice, but those were just two individual circumstances.  I've also had an amazing relationship where she and I had 100% complete trust in one another.  Women can't be judged by the actions of others of their gender, just as men can't. 
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: themacnut on 04 Sep 2010, 01:08
People don't consciously set out to judge others by the actions of their gender, but when you're someone who's been badly hurt by someone of that gender, and especially if it's happened more than once by different members of that gender, it take real mental effort for many people to take other members of that gender as individuals and not hold them "responsible" for the actions of the ones that hurt you.

In simpler terms, if, for example, you're a guy who's been cheated on more than once by women you've been in relationships with, it will probably take real mental effort (and maybe therapy) to avoid looking at future dates as possible cheaters. It gets worse if the guy starts doubting his ability to find and/or choose women who won't cheat. Such a guy may just choose to forgo relationships altogether. Sad, but probably better than subjecting future dates to unfounded paranoia and jealously.

Dora's problem is most likely that she needs to confront her issues and deal with them, probably in therapy as Faye has done. If she doesn't, she will end up chasing Marten away.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: reicreature on 04 Sep 2010, 01:44
Quote
I think Marten is one of the few people around understanding enough (not a wimp, and I don't think those who keep calling him that know how truly silly they are. Marten is a man, a better one than Steve, and Sven doesn't even come close, although Angus does)

Can I just say thank you for saying this?
I get so tired of people saying "grow a pair" and all of that nonesense when Martin is clearly not a wimp (and hell, even if he was, is he really any less of a man for it?).
There's nothing weak about taking a quieter approach and being patient with someone you love when they are imperfect and sometimes make you mad. There's nothing weak about walking away from an argument before things take a turn for the sort of language and actions that can't be undone.



Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 04 Sep 2010, 02:54
*shrugs*

If you think that my view on the comic's wrong, that's fine.  But I stand by it.  All it takes is to actually look at the setup for this comic and then put it all into context.

Marten's walking around at night, very obviously angry and frustrated.  He, apparently by chance, bumps into Sven, who greets him.  He asks Marten how he is, either casually or because he can recognise that Marten is in a bad mood.  The conversation reaches the point where the two of them take a seat on a nearby park bench, because their chat has gone on long enough that they don't want to stand around talking.  Everything up until this point must have happened, whatever the specifics may be.
From here, either Marten or Sven steers the conversation around to how frustrated Marten is at Dora right now.  And at this point, Marten launches into a semi-rant explanation about how he feels Dora is being unreasonable toward him.  Again, not conjecture:  this is the comic as we see it.

Given Marten's mood, there is a zero percent chance that he would have kept talking to Sven this long, or opened up as much as he has, if Sven had been acting like an asshat for the entire conversation.  And the conversation absolutely must have been going on for a while to reach this point.

And it is at this moment that Sven chooses to completely ignore the point of what Marten's saying and discuss Faye's boobs.

Either Sven is joking, or even for him, this is an utterly new level of asshattery that's made far, far worse by the buildup to it.  He may be a douche, but this is beyond even him.

Therefore, I chose the only other possible option - he's making a joke.

Seriously, I'm trying to keep an open mind here, but I cannot think of another way to explain how this comic came to pass.  And as such I refuse to believe that Sven is serious.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: themacnut on 04 Sep 2010, 03:45
There is an alternative explanation, Tergon;

Marten's walking through the night, angry and frustrated (probably looking so pissed that any would-be muggers decide it's not worth the risk to mess with him  :lol:) . He wanders into the park, and for whatever reason (maybe tired from having done a lot of walking) sits down on the bench. Not long afterward, Sven also wanders into the park. Maybe he was also walking down the street, saw Marten in the park (assumes Marten's sitting near a park entrance) and curious as to what he's doing there at that time of night, strolls over and says "What's up?"

Marten, who's been sitting there fuming about Dora's behavior, getting more and more frustrated by the second, at this point can't help himself-at the first sign of someone he knows who appears to give two shits, he just does a complete verbal dump on Sven, ranting about his sister's behavior. Sven, not expecting this explosion of verbal diarrhea, is not sure how to respond to the torrent. So out pops the lame joke about Faye's tits (and yes, I also think he's joking, but I also think it's the response of someone who, like many guys, is not sure how to respond to another guy who's pouring his heart out, which is something not many guys do to other guys in the first place).
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 04 Sep 2010, 04:07
...I'll pay that.  Very good point.

I still stand by my belief that Sven is not serious, though.  And I have no doubt he will Serious Up in the next comic(s).
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Schmorgluck on 04 Sep 2010, 04:10
As I see it, Sven probably asked Marten to tell him what was his problem, and did it in a sincere attempt to listen and be helpful. Then, somewhere along the line, Marten mentionned Faye (barely dressed Faye, at that), and Sven's brain drifted away from the matter at hand, to wander in Fayetasyland, leading to his last panel lines, that I don't think are meant as a joke on his part.
Note that Marten doesn't look at Sven until the last panel. Had he done so, he could have noticed Sven wasn't paying attention anymore.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 04 Sep 2010, 04:55
...I'll pay that.  Very good point.

I still stand by my belief that Sven is not serious, though.  And I have no doubt he will Serious Up in the next comic(s).
I will tentatively buy Sven is not serious, but it's still about the creepiest response he could come up with at the moment. There are times for such, but, even if I buy your theory, this isn't one of them, and so far as I know, Sven isn't good enough friends with Marten (unlike, say, Steve) to make it even halfway amusing. Then again, I'm not sure Sven really knows any better. Wil seems to be one of his closest friends, and Wil's not really a person one can learn, for lack of a better word, 'manlaw' from interacting with him. Poetlaw, maybe. (Is there such a thing?)
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Schmorgluck on 04 Sep 2010, 05:17
Poetlaw, maybe. (Is there such a thing?)
You definitely don't want to know.

And I plusone* you for the creepy part. Sven seems to be exceedingly obsessed. He used to be self-centered, now he seems to be Faye-centered, and it's scary, all things considered.

* Yay! I invented a verb. Assuming I'm the first to invent it, that is.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 04 Sep 2010, 06:04
It is a poor joke, in poor taste, and not very effective.  If Sven really is joking.  I honestly can't tell. 

One of the biggest problems was that Marten asked, "What do you think?"

Then he found out. 

Damn, it's a holiday weekend.  We're going to be talking about this the whole time, aren't we? 

Guess I'll watch y'all hash it out until Monday. 
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Akima on 04 Sep 2010, 07:14
Damn, it's a holiday weekend.
Labor Day? So put your white shoes away until next year, m'kay?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 04 Sep 2010, 07:26
Ain't no holiday down here in the South.  Just a simple little day in my simple little country where I go to my simple little job in my simple little life.

Anyway.  I'm going back at the archives, and I have to ask - exactly how are people getting to the conclusion that Sven is obsessed with Faye?  I mean, yes, he's hung up on her a bit.  But, well, this (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1657) is the last time he said anything to Faye.  And this (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1390) is the time before that.  If you didn't click those, in the first link he says two words to Faye while having fun with Marigold's fear of him.  In the second, it's the Beer Sledding Party where he jams his foot in his mouth and then tries to apologise.  Now we see him again and he's making a statement (ignoring whether it's a joke or not for now) about the fact that Faye has rather nice bosoms.  I spend more time chasing after pictures of zany turtles on the internet than he does chasing after Faye, and no, I am not obsessed with zany turtles.

So have I somehow missed a massive chunk of the archives in which Sven stands in the street staring in Faye's bedroom window looking sad?  Maybe builds a shrine and effigy of her?  Sobs quietly to himself in his room about his breakup and calls her every five minutes?  Maybe does, oh, I don't know, anything at all that might reasonably be considered obsessive behaviour?  Or has he, in fact, simply shown to be a little fixated on the physical attractiveness of a girl he used to have casual sex with?

And yes, I am aware that I'm madly swinging the Useless Broom Made Entirely Out Of Dicks as I post this, but my question remains valid.  How the hell do we make the jump from "Sven kind of likes Faye" to "ZOMG OBSESSION!"
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Malsies on 04 Sep 2010, 07:47
You did miss this one (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1481).

Edit:  Also, I know everyone's kinda hung up on Sven Being an Asshole right now (c'mon, really, he's just being Sven), but I want to take advantage of this rare deviation from my lurking and say that I really hope this arc leads to Faye looking for a new job.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 04 Sep 2010, 07:54
I did indeed.  I actually looked for that but found the Beer Sledding party first, and assumed I must have been remembering the order wrong.  Thank you for finding it!

Still... considering that he's basically telling Faye that he accepts he was a dick and wants to not be enemies any more, I'd just as cheerfully toss this comic on the "Not Obsessed" pile.  Especially considering his little self-depreciating smile and comment in his next appearance, three comics later (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1484).

Edit in response to Malsies' edit:
Interesting thought.  So after this drama Faye might play the, "I can't work for someone I have to also live with who is also my best female friend and dating my best male friend," card.  Which is a really inconveniently long-named card to play, but I actually do get it!  I guess the question becomes what Faye would do for work.  Maybe something with her artistic talents?  Or perhaps go back to college?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 04 Sep 2010, 07:59
Oooh!  Oooh!  I went back one page (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1656) from one of Tergon's, and found an interesting take on Dora.  Apparantly, "crazy bitch mode" is not something she's unaware of - or at least, not something that hasn't been mentioned in the past.  

Probably several times.  

As for Tergon's question about how people know what's going on in Sven's mind (careful, it's a little dark in there, and there be plotholes)...

I think that, with his sudden reappearance in the bar (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1650), and his having undergone some clear personality changes, the assumption is that he's trying to be the man Faye said he could be.  So the further assumption must be that he's always thnking of her in some way.  That's a lot of assuming.  

But really, I tend to think most of the forum is projecting.  

The rest are just shippers.  

Edit: Tergon reposted and added more while I wrote, but I still agree - a farewell was implied, wth regret, not "I'm going to get her back!" 

[raises broom] I'm ready!  
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Tergon on 04 Sep 2010, 08:03
*crosses his broom with Carl-E's in an awesome superhero pose*

We stand as one!
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: tomart on 04 Sep 2010, 10:38
But really, I tend to think most of the forum is projecting.  

Of course we are! That's the fun of a dramawebcomicforum!    And our own personal experiences of drama queens (& cheating SOs) deeply colors how we feel about these well-drawn (in both senses) characters and what they do to/with each other.  [Thank you, Captain Obvious]  (is that a trope?)

And I realize I'm no more consistent on this point than anyone else, but - this is canon, but NOT real life - "Sven's" apparently ignoble response to Marten's soul-searching is not what "Sven" would necessarily really say, it's The Punchline Of A Comic!  And done very well - remember humor is often tension release...  :laugh:  

I just think it's wrong to chastise/slam "Sven" for his part in the joke here.  

Quote from raoullefere: "...social cripple."    :?  Sven?  Huh...  I hadn't thought of him that way; he swims easily & fluently in the social streams, apparently gets along well with most people, and usually gets what he wants out of social interactions.  Compared to him, I'm a social cripple, but I see your point.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 04 Sep 2010, 13:33
Quote from raoullefere: "...social cripple."    :?  Sven?  Huh...  I hadn't thought of him that way; he swims easily & fluently in the social streams, apparently gets along well with most people, and usually gets what he wants out of social interactions.  Compared to him, I'm a social cripple, but I see your point.

Yeah, it's an interesting use of the term, but I think the inability to form strong, lasting relationships (family doesn't count) really leaves Sven crippled in one form or another. 

Maybe not socially, but perhaps "relationship challenged" would work better? 

Of course, "asshole" works nearly as well...    :-D
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 04 Sep 2010, 16:32
If you're missing one leg, you can still move about in many ways, and yet before PCdaze you'd be referred to as a 'cripple.' The parallel is exact. I think you guys are confusing that, to a degree, anyway, with being completely socially* dysfunctional. And forming a lasting relaiontio

And punchline or no, Tomart, I don't think Jeph just pulled that out of his ass. There are many, many lines, most of them much less creepy and obnoxious, that could have served the same purpose and gotten as big a laugh.

Example: "Sorry, I stopped paying attention after you told me Faye wasn't wearing pants." That could be Sven joking.

Edit: Social: adj of or relating to society or its organization. I think forming lasting relationships with a partner unrelated to you is a part of that. Certainly, like it or not, it influences your level of acceptance in the larger community, especially after reaching a certain age, although I grant our culture has moved that age up quite a bit. If it didn't, would same-sex be such a big deal to either side?
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: themacnut on 04 Sep 2010, 19:15
Yeah, it's an interesting use of the term, but I think the inability to form strong, lasting relationships (family doesn't count) really leaves Sven crippled in one form or another. 

Oh family does indeed count. There are people who can't even get along with their families, whose siblings and even parents can't stand being in the same room with them and vice-versa. And it's not always because the family is nuts either. Half the time it's the person themselves that's a complete asshole. Sven may be romantic-relationship-challenged, but he still has friends and his family still likes him, most of the time.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 04 Sep 2010, 20:05
Friends? 

He has Wil, who may be more of a hanger-on.  Lydia is an intern (right below the level of an employee).  There are musicians that hang out with him.  And there's his hot lawyer.  We've really never seen much in the way of friends. 

And family doesn't count because no matter how impossible you are, you form a long lasting relationship with them. 

I never said it had to be a good relationship.  After all, they're the ones that know you best! 

Which brings us back to Sven's potential insights into Dora's state of mind.  Despite the initial lack of response, Sven may still be Marten's best bet in understanding what's going on under the purple. 
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Fenriswolf on 05 Sep 2010, 00:34
Not 100% true Carl-E. There are a lot of people who cannot have relationships with their family due to abuse, or totally unhealthy relationships that are hurting one or more parties more than it's worth to keep contact. It's more common than you think.

Not really relevant to what you're talking about, but had to pipe up there.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 05 Sep 2010, 00:37
I agree with your last point, Carl, (and I love the turn of phrase), but it's going to be quite a mining trip, since Sven doesn't see anything he does as wrong, really; his primary concern tends to be what Dora will do to him later. That, I think, is what has our man Sven so bummed now—he's actually suffered consequences that had nothing to do with his murder at his sister's hands. (I admit she did try, but botched it). Anyone want to guess what you call someone who can't access consequences?* (starts with an 'r'). But Sven may be getting better, although his last two appearances aren't very promising.

Also, I think it says something about Dora that she is as troubled as she is about Sven's poaching and yet maintains what's essentially a pretty friendly relationship with him. She is not a bitch—she just becomes one from time to time. You already have my theory on that, and why the frequency has stepped up, so I won't be reapeatin' meself. I might bug ye. Wouldn't want to be buggin' ye. I'm not a bug…

*I can see some things coming, so let's ditch the politics before we start, okay? But I'll throw Bono to you— you can make all the fun of him you want.

Edit: I live Fenriswolf's point, so I'll give him credit, too. Because I know very well he lives for my approval.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: no one special on 05 Sep 2010, 02:17
In simpler terms, if, for example, you're a guy who's been cheated on more than once by women you've been in relationships with, it will probably take real mental effort (and maybe therapy) to avoid looking at future dates as possible cheaters. It gets worse if the guy starts doubting his ability to find and/or choose women who won't cheat. Such a guy may just choose to forgo relationships altogether. Sad, but probably better than subjecting future dates to unfounded paranoia and jealously.

If I may quote myself:

Quote from: no one special
I've been cheated on twice, but those were just two individual circumstances.  I've also had an amazing relationship where she and I had 100% complete trust in one another.

That guy you're talkin' about?  I am that guy. 

But I still believe I can (and one day will) find someone who will be faithful to me, and I to her.  Now, maybe it's because I went from painful cheater to amazing woman to painful cheater.  Maybe if the painful cheaters had been consecutive, it'd be harder.  Which isn't to say that it was hard to get over - but I guess I just refuse to give in to that history.  I have met too many good people to believe that every woman is a cheater.  I'm not saying good people can't cheat (obviously, there are no guarantees in life), but it's important to have faith in people.

I think another thing that helps is to understand why they cheated.  With the first girlfriend, there were just problems all over the place - too many issues between her and I, issues that had no solution.  Control issues, intimacy issues, experience issues - the cheating was a manifestation of the many problems we had, and that was how it played out for her.  By no means am I excusing it, of course - we all can make choices in life, and she chose to do that, ripping out my heart in the process.  But what I'm saying is that things don't usually happen in a vacuum.  It's not always something you can control - sometimes it's issues that she had way before she met you, sometimes it's issues between the two people, and occasionally we may bring it on ourselves(though again, that other person always has a choice).  Anyway, sometimes being able to understand something can tell you more about it.  It can tell you more about the people you date, and why you date them, and maybe whether or not you should date those people.

It's important to learn from the things that happen to us, and to not let them control us.  Fear keeps us from living the lives that we deserve to lead.  If can learn from these things, maybe we can find the sort of person that we're supposed to be with, a person that will treat you the way you want to treat her - the way you both want to be treated. 

Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Carl-E on 05 Sep 2010, 07:40
Fenriswolf, my condolences. 

I still maintain my point, though.  A family relationship, no matter how bad, will still be there, even after being cut off. 

Even after the other party has passsed away. 

It continues to color your life, your decisions, your reactions.  Even to the point that acknowledgement, getting help (non necessarily professional) and, eventually the ability to cope and continue your life can come from it. 

Unfortunately, Noonespecial and Themacnut also show that, even outside family, non-family relationships that are "over" are still there, affecting you. 

Good luck, guys, and thank you for putting in your two cents. 

Edit: Platitudes removed to reduce the "ick" factor. 
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 05 Sep 2010, 09:22
I've never thought about 'severed' family relationships being compared to phantom limb syndrome. But yes, even when they're not there, they can still hurt, itch and so on.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: semi1o1 on 05 Sep 2010, 12:30
Oh man, never refer to a girls tits as "saggy". Worst insult (to physical appearance at least) ever. Even if he meant it as a compliment. Although don't see how that could be taken as complimentary.

I think your right, but as a natural C/D cup, I know what it is to have boobs quite the opposite of perky.  But, there aren't really any better words.  Going to a thesaurus gets droopy, floppy, and flabby.  I do rather like pendulous.

That is a good word, Pendulous. Next time I get into it with my friend about how she hates he big boobs I'll be able to say "At their size they can't help but be pendulous" and not sounds like I'm insulting her.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: kaitco on 05 Sep 2010, 12:53
Hm...

I have been re-reading archives from the beginning and came across this one: http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=254 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=254)

We are just seeing a little HRP and I predict that Sven, despite his initial ridiculousness, will provide the insight needed on this situation. Hopefully, some Dora backstory too since it is long past due and could help explain all this Jealous!Dora nonsense that keeps coming up unresolved again and again.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: themacnut on 05 Sep 2010, 14:40
Oh my experience with cheating isn't personal, thank goodness. I've just known a number of people who've been cheated on, some more than once, and seen how they dealt with it. Some have gotten past it and ended up in new (and usually better) relationships, others have let the experience affect their new relationships to the extent of ruining them (much like Dora seems to be doing), or choosing not to get into new relationships at all. I hope if I ever have the misfortune of being cheated on, I'll end up in the first group.

To fully get back to the comic, I think Dora's latest blowup with Marten has at least a little to do with still feeling guilt over how soon she swooped in on Marten after Faye officially let him go.

Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Lost Coastlines on 05 Sep 2010, 15:45
Maybe I'm alone in this, but I actually hope there isn't much more to Dora's back story.  Of the major characters whose histories we know:

- Hannelore grew up on a space station with her inventor dad after his divorce from her evil corporate overlord mom,
- Marten has a famous fetish model for a mom and a gay nightclub owner for a dad, and
- Faye's dad killed himself in front of her.

I like that Dora doesn't have anything bizarre or overly dramatic in her past.  Also, even if it's something as vanilla* as having been cheated on in a previous relationship, that begs the question of why it never came up before.  It's not like this is the first time her jealousy has reared it's ugly head.  IMHO, it would just feel like too much if this leads to a reprise of The Talk.

*Been cheated on as well, not saying it's fun, just common.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Fenriswolf on 05 Sep 2010, 17:03
I still maintain my point, though.  A family relationship, no matter how bad, will still be there, even after being cut off. 

Even after the other party has passsed away. 

It continues to color your life, your decisions, your reactions.  Even to the point that acknowledgement, getting help (non necessarily professional) and, eventually the ability to cope and continue your life can come from it.
Hmmmm. I'm not entirely sure how you mean that. Obviously anyone who was involved in your upbringing will have had a major effect in your personality and any "issues" you have, but that doesn't mean there is still an active relationship there (which may not be what you mean, but is how I read the first sentence.)

WARNING: Prepare for utterly un-QC related rambling. :D

I no longer have contact with my father, and the only influence that has had is to remove a major source of stress. I would have cut off my mother years ago if I did not wish to be around for my young (9 & 11yo) siblings. Enough pushing will remove your ability to love or truly care about a person. I feel protective of both my parents and wish them to be happy. That is all.

Bear in mind that abusive childhoods are both common and infinitely variable. I have a friend who was sexually abused by her step-father, uncle and grandfather, another whose father used to beat her until her gums were black; another whose father used to beat her mother until one day his "friends" beat him to death to steal his weed (his heart stopped; he lived, with brain damage), and another whose father successfully accused her mother of sexual abuse to get custody, then gave her back when he got sick of parenting. These women all have different coping mechanisms, and different relationships with their family.

My childhood was not so spectacular. In between teaching me to hate myself, my parents were encouraging, femininst and so so sorry for the way they treated me. We went to counselling sessions together from when I was in primary school. My mother would come crying to me about what a fuck up she is and she's so sorry for how she's treated me, and I would talk her through it.

So you see, I'm not 100% sure what your point is. There is vestigial caring in me for my family. I am sorry for how shit my parent's lives have been and want them to feel better. But I do not have, and am beyond wanting, a relationship with either parent. In the ups and downs of my upbringing I dissected my feelings and treatment to the point where there is no more to get from it. I will work through my problems as best I can without parents.

I do not see that familial relationships, despite being harder to break, effect you any more long term once broken than a once-close friendship.

/ramble.   :-D
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: IanClark on 05 Sep 2010, 17:24
Maybe I'm alone in this, but I actually hope there isn't much more to Dora's back story.  Of the major characters whose histories we know:

- Hannelore grew up on a space station with her inventor dad after his divorce from her evil corporate overlord mom,
- Marten has a famous fetish model for a mom and a gay nightclub owner for a dad, and
- Faye's dad killed himself in front of her.

I like that Dora doesn't have anything bizarre or overly dramatic in her past.  Also, even if it's something as vanilla* as having been cheated on in a previous relationship, that begs the question of why it never came up before.  It's not like this is the first time her jealousy has reared it's ugly head.  IMHO, it would just feel like too much if this leads to a reprise of The Talk.

*Been cheated on as well, not saying it's fun, just common.

Not alone at all. I think having Dora's backstory be relatively normal(ish) shows that yes, in fact, normal people have flaws just like this and that it doesn't take some sort of horrifically unlikely circumstance to leave people with scars.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: raoullefere on 05 Sep 2010, 21:06
I'll hop on that train, too. Dora's parent's wouldn't be classified as 'normal' in my neck of the woods, but that's nit-picking. They do have a normal 'edge' over those others mentioned.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Random832 on 08 Sep 2010, 04:50
3. Martin cuts his hair. She freaks. Dora dyes her hair PURPLE without giving any notice. Martin is okay with this. Double standard.

Now hold on, it's not her fault Marten was okay with it.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 08 Sep 2010, 12:46
The two conclusions that leads to are
1. Marten is more rational than Dora.
2. Dora maintains two standards for hair changes, one for Marten and one for herself.
Title: Re: WCDT 30 August- 3 September 2010
Post by: jwhouk on 08 Sep 2010, 14:41
2. Women maintain two standards for hair changes, one for her significant other and one for herself.

FTFY. ;)