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Comic Discussion => QUESTIONABLE CONTENT => Topic started by: jwhouk on 28 Aug 2011, 13:47

Title: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 28 Aug 2011, 13:47
I ran out of ideas, but here we go.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 28 Aug 2011, 13:54
We have had a number of threads started recently by people who didn't realise what WCDT stood for, and so didn't know to use that thread to comment on the day's comic.  I propose that we change the weekly thread title to be simpler and more obvious, as I have done to this thread.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: SirDudley on 28 Aug 2011, 14:50
@pwhodges: *facepalm* Oh well, let's hope people don't make threads asking if "Comics" is an acronym for something. >__>

Anyhew, this week....let's hope the "special files" get fixed on Momo. This new chassis looks promising.

That said, I voted for the Happy Toaster option. Because.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 28 Aug 2011, 16:55
@pwhodges: *facepalm* Oh well, let's hope people don't make threads asking if "Comics" is an acronym for something. >__>

Cartoon Opinions Made In Cyber Space

Quote
That said, I voted for the Happy Toaster option. Because.

Same here...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 28 Aug 2011, 19:36
Man, this title change makes me a sad panda.  That being said, I wonder if they'll cut to a few hours later, with Momo already in her new chassis?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 28 Aug 2011, 20:08
We have had a number of threads started recently by people who didn't realise what WCDT stood for, and so didn't know to use that thread to comment on the day's comic.  I propose that we change the weekly thread title to be simpler and more obvious, as I have done to this thread.

We could just go with "Weekly Comics Discussion 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)".  Just sayin'.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: bicostp on 28 Aug 2011, 20:54
Well an alternative would be a "Comic Discussion" subforum specifically for the WDCTs. (One forum for discussing the comic is bad enough as it is... :psyduck:)

Or maybe just a locked sticky at the top entitled "'WCDT' MEANS 'WEEKLY COMIC DISCUSSION TALK', YOU BUTTS!"?

e: Actually it should be ""WCDT' MEANS 'WEEKLY COMIC DISCUSSION THREAD', YOU BUTTS!", but I kind of screwed up this post like the redundancy.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 28 Aug 2011, 21:23
Well an alternative would be a "Comic Discussion" subforum specifically for the WDCTs. (One forum for discussing the comic is bad enough as it is... :psyduck:)

Or maybe just a locked sticky at the top entitled "'WCDT' MEANS 'WEEKLY COMIC DISCUSSION TALK', YOU BUTTS!"?

THERE you go!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Sorflakne on 28 Aug 2011, 21:32
Well an alternative would be a "Comic Discussion" subforum specifically for the WDCTs. (One forum for discussing the comic is bad enough as it is... :psyduck:)

Or maybe just a locked sticky at the top entitled "'WCDT' MEANS 'WEEKLY COMIC DISCUSSION TALK', YOU BUTTS!"?
Everyone who posts in WCT/WCDT shall now be forever collectively be known as 'Butts'.

Welcome, fellow Butts!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 28 Aug 2011, 21:33
Welp, looks like Momo's got a new chassis!  

This should be interesting...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 28 Aug 2011, 21:37
WE HAVE COMIC!

Happy Humidifier FTW! :D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: 0kamisama on 28 Aug 2011, 21:44
EEEEEEEEEE, New Momo is so cute! Possibly even cuter than her old chassis!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 28 Aug 2011, 21:47
Whoever is responsible for adding the feature for those eyes she does in panels 3 and 5 is deserving of our respect.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 28 Aug 2011, 21:52
If you had an AnthroPC, would you prefer one of the small chassis, or a humanoid one?

I'd prefer a small one, for the portability and convenience.

EDIT: Will the other AnthroPCs in the strip get jealous and want chassis upgrades for themselves?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 28 Aug 2011, 22:02
No more than they grew jealous of her thumbs probably.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 28 Aug 2011, 22:02
Dawwwwww

our momo is all gwone up   :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: MightionNY on 28 Aug 2011, 22:02
I wonder if Mr. Jacques is thinking of a T-shirt featuring the Happy Humidifier and the Little Bread Dude.... I'd buy one.

I hope Momo gets new clothes, though.

As a side note, pardon me if it's been covered recently, but how long has it been since Hanners got the first prototype from her father?  Technology must move FAST in the QC-world, if empty human-scale chassis are at retail.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 28 Aug 2011, 22:08
I think I'd prefer the smaller one. That way, if the little bugger did try to go berserk, he'd be (theoretically) easier to catch.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: DSL on 28 Aug 2011, 22:08
In the painful coincidences department, I spent part of the day preceding comic 2001 in an emergency room because a loved had an unstoppable nosebleed. Discussing as we were in last week's thread the differences in technological progress in the QCverse vs. Ours, I hope doctors in the QCverse have something better than the little torture device my loved one must, according to the ER doc, wear up her nose for the next few days. To make matters worse, it's actually referred to in front of patients as a "Rhino Rocket."
And if the QCverse has such an improvement, I hope Hsu the Punching Intern invented it. He seemed like a sympathetic guy.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: CompSarge on 28 Aug 2011, 22:13
I wonder if Mr. Jacques is thinking of a T-shirt featuring the Happy Humidifier and the Little Bread Dude.... I'd buy one.

I hope Momo gets new clothes, though.

As a side note, pardon me if it's been covered recently, but how long has it been since Hanners got the first prototype from her father?  Technology must move FAST in the QC-world, if empty human-scale chassis are at retail.

Well, it was 1000 strips ago (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1012), so about 5 days. X-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 28 Aug 2011, 22:40
I suggest Marigold augment her Ramen with other items. For example, I fill out the survey thingy for Panda express and get the Mandarin Chicken side for free. Throw that into the pot of ramen, and it provides something other than bland noodles and some Salt-laced soup broth.

Also, would Momo's new body be consider Loli?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mad Cat on 28 Aug 2011, 22:41
The brave, little humidifier says, "I make moisture fun!"
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: slydon on 28 Aug 2011, 22:58
Why do i feel Momo's new chassis will lead to Nano (Nichijou) references?

or Sven
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 28 Aug 2011, 23:20
She'll need a few more upgrades for Sven...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: idontunderstand on 29 Aug 2011, 00:12
How would you know?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: J on 29 Aug 2011, 01:33
your all missing the important question here: does her new chassis shoot live eels like her old one? because with her new and larger pelvis she could probably move up to a larger species of eel, while still gaining a higher magazine capacity due to her larger abdomen.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kazukagii on 29 Aug 2011, 01:50
Phase I of: Operation Seduce Sven is now complete.
Now, for Phase II (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1658)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 29 Aug 2011, 01:58
Not to be an asshole, but could people stop linking 1658?  I don't have an exact count, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's the dozenth in the past week or so.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 29 Aug 2011, 02:02
Well an alternative would be a "Comic Discussion" subforum specifically for the WDCTs.

That's how it used to be.

Quote
(One forum for discussing the comic is bad enough as it is... :psyduck:)

And that (at the time) is why it was changed!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 29 Aug 2011, 04:29
She'll need a few more upgrades for Sven...

Not to mention the right boot-up disc. God knows what she would do if she had "Slavery Honya Raper 4" uploaded rather than "Konya Ga Yamada 4? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG3sPer3KGA&feature=related)" 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheBiscuit on 29 Aug 2011, 05:52
If nobody else is going to ask, I have to... why the nosebleeds? I've never known anyone to get a nosebleed from sticker shock. Boys in Japanese anime get nosebleeds when they become sexually aroused, but I doubt that is the issue here. Also... lets say it was sticker shock, then why another nosebleed when Momo starts hugging her? Also... note the position of Momo's head, do all AI's in this world just love the feel of breasts? So far we've had "It wath worth it" and creepy autonomous hand, this is turning into a trend.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Somebody on 29 Aug 2011, 07:08
We have had a number of threads started recently by people who didn't realise what WCDT stood for, and so didn't know to use that thread to comment on the day's comic.  I propose that we change the weekly thread title to be simpler and more obvious, as I have done to this thread.

We could just go with "Weekly Comics Discussion 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)".  Just sayin'.
Then (now) you can't tell which thread it is from the "last post on..." part on the forums' home page. Too many characters before the important bit.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheBiscuit on 29 Aug 2011, 07:51
Change it to 2001-2005 Comics Discussion then?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 29 Aug 2011, 08:58
Worried about Marigold's nosebleeds... : (
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 29 Aug 2011, 09:36
Also... note the position of Momo's head, do all AI's in this world just love the feel of breasts? So far we've had "It wath worth it" and creepy autonomous hand, this is turning into a trend.

She's shorter than Marigold.  Not much choice! 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Blackjoker on 29 Aug 2011, 11:38
If nobody else is going to ask, I have to... why the nosebleeds? I've never known anyone to get a nosebleed from sticker shock. Boys in Japanese anime get nosebleeds when they become sexually aroused, but I doubt that is the issue here. Also... lets say it was sticker shock, then why another nosebleed when Momo starts hugging her? Also... note the position of Momo's head, do all AI's in this world just love the feel of breasts? So far we've had "It wath worth it" and creepy autonomous hand, this is turning into a trend.

Maybe the orginal programmer of the AIs was a breast man?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: SirDudley on 29 Aug 2011, 11:47
@pwhodges: *facepalm* Oh well, let's hope people don't make threads asking if "Comics" is an acronym for something. >__>

Cartoon Opinions Made In Cyber Space
*badumtish*


Moving on, ah yes..."Snrkt". The distant cousin to "Snikt". Although, why did Marigold get a nosebleed when told of the price? I mean, I'd make the same noise and facial expression as Marigold if I was in her place, but not burst a blood vessel. Now, Momo's hug at the end, I could sorta understand that as Momo is now a bit stronger than before and therefore needs to hold back.

That said, now we have two paths to go from here. Path one is Momo's reveal to the other AnthroPCs. Path two is Momo's reveal to the other human characters. Methinks Angus and maybe Faye will be first of the second group to see the new Momo.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheCollector on 29 Aug 2011, 11:52
I love the new Momo, she's just sooo adorable. She's shorter then it seemed in the last comic though, that caught me by surprise.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 29 Aug 2011, 11:54
Not to be an asshole, but could people stop linking 1658?  I don't have an exact count, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's the dozenth in the past week or so.

This strip? (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1658)

Just making sure.

 :angel:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheCollector on 29 Aug 2011, 11:56
I do agree though that she needs new clothes. This generic chassis outfit just won't cut it.

Oh, and that last panel is the cutest thing. Well the Momo part, the nosebleed is eww.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 29 Aug 2011, 12:17
I love the new Momo, she's just sooo adorable. She's shorter then it seemed in the last comic though, that caught me by surprise.

Surprised me too, but it's because in the previous strip she was sitting on the counter and so seemed taller.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheCollector on 29 Aug 2011, 12:26
Y'know, once Momo gets her permanent outfit Jeph needs to like make a wallpaper or big art of her. I'd love to have Momo on my desktop.


e: God, just realized that sounds dirty.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 29 Aug 2011, 12:36
Worried about Marigold's nosebleeds... : (

Happened before (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1528).  In manga, a nosebleed indicates sexual arousal; I hope Jeph is not intending that convention to apply here...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 29 Aug 2011, 12:38
Y'know, once Momo gets her permanent outfit Jeph needs to like make a wallpaper or big art of her. I'd love to have Momo on my desktop.


e: God, just realized that sounds dirty.

At least it was unintentional.  



It was, wasn't it?  



About the nosebleed; I suffered from them when I had forced air heat (my current home has radiators, thank god).  The first nosebleed is probably the resuklt of the snort she made upon hearing the price, not from shock at the price itself.  The second was probably just the first one reopened by the shock of getting jostled by a larger, more enthusiastic Momo.  

And with a schnoz the size of Marigold's, a nosebleed can be quite the gusher!  
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 29 Aug 2011, 12:43
If you had an AnthroPC, would you prefer one of the small chassis, or a humanoid one?

Small - I dare say a lifesized one would be more threatening in some ways. 

Life-size anthroPCs could also seriously change the dynamic in the strip; though I suppose they don't have to (thinks back to reading C-A-D a long time ago, for example)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 29 Aug 2011, 12:48
In regards to CAD, I'm pretty sure Zeke (and the short lived clone) is the only AI in that universe.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kyronea on 29 Aug 2011, 12:49
Momo-tan has officially transformed into a Chobit.

She's now going to end up in a relationship with Martin and start calling everything Martin all the time.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mad Cat on 29 Aug 2011, 13:24
Worried about Marigold's nosebleeds... : (

Happened before (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1528).  In manga, a nosebleed indicates sexual arousal; I hope Jeph is not intending that convention to apply here...
Check the strip before that. She had a nosebleed because she did a face-plant fleeing an awkward situation. Of course, the Magical Love Gentleman scene is caused by arousal, but that was aided by the fact that it was already bleeding anyway.

This nosebleed is caused by the same thing as the stereotypical manga/anime nosebleed in that they are both caused by skyrocketting blood pressure. In the case of anime/manga, that is implied to be due to sexual arousal. In this case, it's caused by stress over the idea of paying such a huge price for Momo's new chassis.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 29 Aug 2011, 14:20
Momo-tan has officially transformed into a Chobit.

She's now going to end up in a relationship with Martin and start calling everything Martin all the time.
Another new character? There are dozens already!
Still, at least this one ought to help the male:female ratio move toward the global average.
Maybe he can be a friend for Marten. Or would the similarity of their names cause confusion? (Faye would probably call him Tin-Tin to avoid this)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 29 Aug 2011, 14:39
Also... note the position of Momo's head, do all AI's in this world just love the feel of breasts? So far we've had "It wath worth it" and creepy autonomous hand, this is turning into a trend.

She's shorter than Marigold.  Not much choice! 


Um...who can resist those boobs? :p


Okay, I'm going to stop now.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheBiscuit on 29 Aug 2011, 15:06
Also... note the position of Momo's head, do all AI's in this world just love the feel of breasts? So far we've had "It wath worth it" and creepy autonomous hand, this is turning into a trend.

She's shorter than Marigold.  Not much choice! 
1) She seems to be stooping. There's a distinct curve to her back. Looks like if she was standing tall she'd be resting her head on Marigold's collarbone...

2) How funny an explanation is that?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheCollector on 29 Aug 2011, 15:11
I want that last panel as a background by the way. It's just the most adorable panel, especially what Momo said in it. Honestly cuteness overload there.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Adama on 29 Aug 2011, 15:15
I'm surprised nobody has pointed out that both nosebleeds in this strip occurred when Marigold was touched more-than-casually by one of the robots.  Maybe there's another reason for them.  ;)

Has it already been remarked on how less-visible the new chassis' seams are than any of the other units in the store?  How easy would it be for Momo to pass for human?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheBiscuit on 29 Aug 2011, 15:16
Um...who can resist those boobs? :p
Perhaps an artificial intelligence which doesn't have the same human cultural and biological imperatives we have? It may interest you to know that breasts are not considered sexual in every culture around the world. I suppose AI are the product of the culture that gave rise to them, though. Certaily in this regard...

We know that AnthroPCs have libido... but I might have expected them to develop their own unique criteria about human female attractiveness. Just imagine the sheer potential for interesting exploration of that idea. I have no fixed ideas of what they might see as desirable in a human woman, but maybe their tastes would be somewhat more... functional. It is frequently argued that men desire that in women which is a signifier of fertility. Large breasts, wide hips, etc... AnthroPCs don't procreate with humans, so wouldn't they look for other things?

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Akima on 29 Aug 2011, 15:19
To make matters worse, it's actually referred to in front of patients as a "Rhino Rocket."
ER doctors are some of my favourite people, but they get a bit punchy after a while.

I was thinking... The way the fourth and fifth panels are ordered makes a difference. The way Jeph presents them, Momo's "saucer eye" trick represents love, devotion and gratitude (or a convincing programmed simulation, for the organicists :wink:). If the panels were swapped over, it could be a mind-control device...

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 29 Aug 2011, 15:19
Um...who can resist those boobs? :p
Perhaps an artificial intelligence which doesn't have the same human cultural and biological imperatives we have? It may interest you to know that breasts are not considered sexual in every culture around the world. I suppose AI are the product of the culture that gave rise to them, though. Certaily in this regard...

We know that AnthroPCs have libido... but I might have expected them to develop their own unique criteria about human female attractiveness. Just imagine the sheer potential for interesting exploration of that idea. I have no fixed ideas of what they might see as desirable in a human woman, but maybe their tastes would be somewhat more... functional. It is frequently argued that men desire that in women which is a signifier of fertility. Large breasts, wide hips, etc... AnthroPCs don't procreate with humans, so wouldn't they look for other things?


Well let's go ask Pintsize.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheCollector on 29 Aug 2011, 15:21
Um...who can resist those boobs? :p
Perhaps an artificial intelligence which doesn't have the same human cultural and biological imperatives we have? It may interest you to know that breasts are not considered sexual in every culture around the world. I suppose AI are the product of the culture that gave rise to them, though. Certaily in this regard...

We know that AnthroPCs have libido... but I might have expected them to develop their own unique criteria about human female attractiveness. Just imagine the sheer potential for interesting exploration of that idea. I have no fixed ideas of what they might see as desirable in a human woman, but maybe their tastes would be somewhat more... functional. It is frequently argued that men desire that in women which is a signifier of fertility. Large breasts, wide hips, etc... AnthroPCs don't procreate with humans, so wouldn't they look for other things?


I should hope not. Cause that there is where all the freaky fetishes come in.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheBiscuit on 29 Aug 2011, 15:28
I'm surprised nobody has pointed out that both nosebleeds in this strip occurred when Marigold was touched more-than-casually by one of the robots.  Maybe there's another reason for them.  ;)
Taking this to the logical extreme, let us also note that being touched by Pintsize did not produce the same response as today. The difference? Pintsize is male by inclination. You can say that AIs are neither male nor female, due to their interchangeable bodies, but it appears they do choose their role and ultimately become one with it. Momo has clearly become highly accustomed to her female role. She didn't look at any male or neuter bodies. Pintsize appears to have taken on a male role, although it occurs to me now that I cannot say why without reference  to outmoded stereotypes. After all, his body is neither one thing nor the other...

Anyway, if I can call Pintsize male... does that mean that when it comes to AI, Marigold has a thing for girls? We already know that with regards to flesh creatures she does not, but  a person's preference in robots and in humans might not be the same. If she'd only had such a reaction to Momo, I'd ask if this trope (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ptitles8ehi15xdv34) might apply...

Ahh, I'm just messing. I don't think any such things are really true.

We know that AnthroPCs have libido... but I might have expected them to develop their own unique criteria about human female attractiveness. Just imagine the sheer potential for interesting exploration of that idea. I have no fixed ideas of what they might see as desirable in a human woman, but maybe their tastes would be somewhat more... functional. It is frequently argued that men desire that in women which is a signifier of fertility. Large breasts, wide hips, etc... AnthroPCs don't procreate with humans, so wouldn't they look for other things?
Well let's go ask Pintsize.
We already know his response, as I'm sure you are aware. :)

Still strikes me as odd though.

I should hope not. Cause that there is where all the freaky fetishes come in.
Whether AI or human, no need to judge those who enjoy something you do not. :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 29 Aug 2011, 15:43
I'm surprised nobody has pointed out that both nosebleeds in this strip occurred when Marigold was touched more-than-casually by one of the robots.  Maybe there's another reason for them.  ;)
Taking this to the logical extreme, let us also note that being touched by Pintsize did not produce the same response as today. The difference? Pintsize is male by inclination. You can say that AIs are neither male nor female, due to their interchangeable bodies, but it appears they do choose their role and ultimately become one with it. Momo has clearly become highly accustomed to her female role. She didn't look at any male or neuter bodies. Pintsize appears to have taken on a male role, although it occurs to me now that I cannot say why without reference  to outmoded stereotypes. After all, his body is neither one thing nor the other...

Anyway, if I can call Pintsize male... does that mean that when it comes to AI, Marigold has a thing for girls? We already know that with regards to flesh creatures she does not, but  a person's preference in robots and in humans might not be the same. If she'd only had such a reaction to Momo, I'd ask if this trope (http://"http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ptitles8ehi15xdv34") might apply...

Ahh, I'm just messing. I don't think any such things are really true.
I'm not as well equipped for this kind of discussion as I'd like, but I'm pretty sure you're touching on the difference between gender and sex there. Male gender, neuter sex if I have that right.

We know that AnthroPCs have libido... but I might have expected them to develop their own unique criteria about human female attractiveness. Just imagine the sheer potential for interesting exploration of that idea. I have no fixed ideas of what they might see as desirable in a human woman, but maybe their tastes would be somewhat more... functional. It is frequently argued that men desire that in women which is a signifier of fertility. Large breasts, wide hips, etc... AnthroPCs don't procreate with humans, so wouldn't they look for other things?
Well let's go ask Pintsize.
We already know his response, as I'm sure you are aware. :)

Still strikes me as odd though.
If I'm being serious I'm sure an AI's taste in such things would be as diverse as a human's, but perhaps with a different set of norms. Could even still be things with a functional subtext, but not from a procreative end. Just things that would signify a healthy and versatile body in general, rather than a body specialized towards procreation. So for example breasts of a size that wouldn't cause lower back problems or impede an athlete if I were to take a guess.

Of course the other possibility is that as you mention the norms would have more to do with their cultural upbringing than anything else anyway, in which case they would pretty closely match a human's preferences. For example the child rearing hips aren't actually considered to be the predominately desirable trait within north america, despite the fact that they should in theory be something we as humans prefer and seem to have been so historically and to be so in other cultures.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 29 Aug 2011, 16:31
TheBiscuit: which Trope were you trying to link to? Came up gibberish for me.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Akima on 29 Aug 2011, 16:34
TheBiscuit: which Trope were you trying to link to? Came up gibberish for me.
It's not exactly rocket-science: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ptitles8ehi15xdv34
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheBiscuit on 29 Aug 2011, 17:18
TheBiscuit: which Trope were you trying to link to? Came up gibberish for me.
Oh, sorry... the BBCode here is slightly different than I'm used to. I've always put quote marks around the actual URL within the tags, but it doesn't work that way here apparently. Akima is of course correct. Note that I invoked the trope facetiously, I don't actually believe there's any such attraction regardless of how close the two may be.

Mr Hodges has kindly fixed the link before I got chance to. :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 29 Aug 2011, 17:49
the Humidifier: I make air fun...damentally easier to breathe!


Sorry; I'm just full of it today.  :evil:

Anyway, the last panel made me seriously d'aw, but I hope when they get home Marigold doesn't insist she should be able to play video games now. You're still grounded, young lady!

Then again, she probably won't be able to afford new games for awhile  :lol:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 29 Aug 2011, 17:54
Um...who can resist those boobs? :p
Perhaps an artificial intelligence which doesn't have the same human cultural and biological imperatives we have? It may interest you to know that breasts are not considered sexual in every culture around the world. I suppose AI are the product of the culture that gave rise to them, though. Certaily in this regard...

We know that AnthroPCs have libido... but I might have expected them to develop their own unique criteria about human female attractiveness. Just imagine the sheer potential for interesting exploration of that idea. I have no fixed ideas of what they might see as desirable in a human woman, but maybe their tastes would be somewhat more... functional. It is frequently argued that men desire that in women which is a signifier of fertility. Large breasts, wide hips, etc... AnthroPCs don't procreate with humans, so wouldn't they look for other things?




Um...it wasn't that deep. lol.

Anyway...yeah. The whispering in the ear, the motorboating (lol), hence, nosebleeds. Makes sense now.  :p
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 29 Aug 2011, 18:01
We already know that with regards to flesh creatures she does not

*pouts*

Stop reminding me!!!!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 29 Aug 2011, 18:44
The browser I was using messed up the http part.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Akima on 29 Aug 2011, 19:43
Oh, sorry... the BBCode here is slightly different than I'm used to. I've always put quote marks around the actual URL within the tags, but it doesn't work that way here apparently.
(http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i446/ZAL77449/lines.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Border Reiver on 29 Aug 2011, 20:05
Akima, what have we said about feeding the fetishes? 

Larger pics next time.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: 0kamisama on 29 Aug 2011, 21:16
Um...who can resist those boobs? :p
Perhaps an artificial intelligence which doesn't have the same human cultural and biological imperatives we have? It may interest you to know that breasts are not considered sexual in every culture around the world. I suppose AI are the product of the culture that gave rise to them, though. Certaily in this regard...

We know that AnthroPCs have libido... but I might have expected them to develop their own unique criteria about human female attractiveness. Just imagine the sheer potential for interesting exploration of that idea. I have no fixed ideas of what they might see as desirable in a human woman, but maybe their tastes would be somewhat more... functional. It is frequently argued that men desire that in women which is a signifier of fertility. Large breasts, wide hips, etc... AnthroPCs don't procreate with humans, so wouldn't they look for other things?


Well let's go ask Pintsize.

I think we can gather as much about that from Pintsize's Twitter feed...  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 29 Aug 2011, 21:19
I should hope not. Cause that there is where all the freaky fetishes come in.
Makes me think of this (http://xkcd.com/595/).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kyronea on 29 Aug 2011, 21:31
Momo-tan has officially transformed into a Chobit.

She's now going to end up in a relationship with Martin and start calling everything Martin all the time.
Another new character? There are dozens already!
Still, at least this one ought to help the male:female ratio move toward the global average.
Maybe he can be a friend for Marten. Or would the similarity of their names cause confusion? (Faye would probably call him Tin-Tin to avoid this)
Oh God damn it. I keep forgetting Marten uses an odd spelling.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheBiscuit on 29 Aug 2011, 21:38
AnthroPCs don't procreate with humans, so wouldn't they look for other things?

Well let's go ask Pintsize.

I think we can gather as much about that from Pintsize's Twitter feed...  :psyduck:
Ohh, yes. That thing, where I once opened a picture link and then never again ever.

Maybe Pintsize does have 'different' tastes than most humans. Maybe when they installed his libido program they installed 20 instead of just the usual one or something.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: FunkyTuba on 29 Aug 2011, 21:50
heh... I said in the stream last night that I couldn't wait to see momo's revenge on pintsize.

Glad I didn't have to wait very long

the smile on my face isn't going away
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: MightionNY on 29 Aug 2011, 22:07
Actually, if you think about it, now that Momo is so much taller than Pintsize, it should be EASIER to look under her skirt.

I'm a little ashamed I thought about it, actually.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: DSL on 29 Aug 2011, 22:12
They look like an older teenaged sister and an obnoxious little brother, now. I hope Jeph keeps New Momo, both for all the new story possibilities and because years of trying to stay a Trek fan has made me dislike "reset button" stories with something resembling a passion.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 29 Aug 2011, 22:13
Yeah, I don't think this is going to make Pintsize behave himself any better.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 29 Aug 2011, 22:18
Now what's that old Klingon saying about revenge?   :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 29 Aug 2011, 22:25
But while Momo takes her revenge on Pintsize, who is keeping an eye on Marigold?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 29 Aug 2011, 22:47
Marigold sneaks off to play video games while Momo and the Pugnacious Peach duel over who gets to beat up Pintsize.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: CompSarge on 29 Aug 2011, 23:07
So I just now realized why Momo's new chassis looks familiar. She's just a long-haired Fart-chan. Durf!

(http://images.memegenerator.net/images/408x/1338872.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 29 Aug 2011, 23:18
Imagine how hard Momo must have had to work to restrain herself, knowing that nothing but her own inhibitions was stopping her from turning on the shock field and frying Pintsize.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 29 Aug 2011, 23:23
Does the new hardware support that feature?  I don't think it'd be software...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 29 Aug 2011, 23:37
Marigold sneaks off to play video games while Momo and the Pugnacious Peach duel over who gets to beat up Pintsize.

I realize that it's my being a woman that allows me to see how truly loathsome Faye is, but that nickname makes me want to gag.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 29 Aug 2011, 23:42
Momo can now give Pintsize the beating that all the other girls do. Haha.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: WAYF on 29 Aug 2011, 23:45
Jeph is on a roll with the humour for this arc. :D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 29 Aug 2011, 23:51
I realize that it's my being a woman that allows me to see how truly loathsome Faye is, but that nickname makes me want to gag.

I have not noticed any division of views on Faye by gender, so I'm curious why you say that your gender feeds into your dislike.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 29 Aug 2011, 23:52
So I just now realized why Momo's new chassis looks familiar. She's just a long-haired Fart-chan. Durf!

[img]
Well longer haired, completely different facial structure, taller, bigger bust, different coloured eyes, and dissimilar bone structures. But they're both white chicks with pink hair. I'll give you that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Akima on 30 Aug 2011, 00:02
I know I should disapprove of Momo's Roaring Rampage Of Robo-Revenge, but Pintsize so deserves it. I suppose it's a bit too one-sided for Battle Without Honor Or Humanity (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsF45oe6d5o)  to be playing in the background...

Well longer haired, completely different facial structure, taller, bigger bust, different coloured eyes, and dissimilar bone structures.
Bone?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 00:11
I realize that it's my being a woman that allows me to see how truly loathsome Faye is, but that nickname makes me want to gag.

I have not noticed any division of views on Faye by gender, so I'm curious why you say that your gender feeds into your dislike.

Oh, I'm not saying women in general would hate her, but if someone was able to see how disgusting she is, it would most likely be a woman (and that someone is me)...and maybe a few super super enlightened men, the sort of which only seem to exist in my imagination.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 30 Aug 2011, 00:15
So, Marigold will be eating ramen noodles for.....a while. How much you think Momo's new body cost?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: John911 on 30 Aug 2011, 00:22
Anyone else get the strange feeling there is going to be a human/robot relationship storyline soon?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 00:26
Yes...Momo had her eye on Sven, if I recall. She was fantasizing about him...lol. What's weird is that in the fantasy she looked sort of like she does now, except maybe a bit more glammed up.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: bluemonq on 30 Aug 2011, 00:31
Well longer haired, completely different facial structure, taller, bigger bust, different coloured eyes, and dissimilar bone structures.
Bone?
"Titanium-carbon fiber composite-based jointed endoskeletal element" is kind of a mouthful.

So, Marigold will be eating ramen noodles for.....a while. How much you think Momo's new body cost?
Well, it's no $30,000 PX-3500. She isn't taking out a loan for this, so... $7,500 - 9,000? Though now it kind of makes me wonder what's so great about that other chassis.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: michael28 on 30 Aug 2011, 00:31
So, Marigold will be eating ramen noodles for.....a while. How much you think Momo's new body cost?

For starters, several litres of life-blood.

Momo 1.0 looks like the Chibi Version of Momo 2.0.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: DSL on 30 Aug 2011, 00:49
Well, it's no $30,000 PX-3500. She isn't taking out a loan for this, so... $7,500 - 9,000? Though now it kind of makes me wonder what's so great about that other chassis.

Those twin particle-beam projectors, for starters. Momo's new chassis seems to be restricted to punching and robo-noogies. Unless she's holding back. Maybe there's some sort of AnthroPC code of ethics that prevents use of the Electric Shock Field against other AnthroPCs. Asimovian? If you want.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Jazz Hands Tribute Band on 30 Aug 2011, 00:51
why does she look so human? jeph should at least add the arm joints like the other robots.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kazukagii on 30 Aug 2011, 00:53
...So am I the only one who thought this was kinda hot?

Right: too creepy, I know. Leaving now.  :police:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 30 Aug 2011, 01:00
why does she look so human? jeph should at least add the arm joints like the other robots.

Maybe that's why the chassis was nosebleed-inducingly expensive. Better covering, so to speak.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: sluthy on 30 Aug 2011, 01:03
Jeph stepping it up with the GIFs - four frames now! Also, looks like he's done something to minimise the difference between browsers - where Hannelore's twitching leg was Tool-like in Firefox and like a slow metronome in IE/iOS, this strip I've found to be more consistent across platforms.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 30 Aug 2011, 01:09
Well longer haired, completely different facial structure, taller, bigger bust, different coloured eyes, and dissimilar bone structures.
Bone?
"Titanium-carbon fiber composite-based jointed endoskeletal element" is kind of a mouthful.
Ain't it though?

So, Marigold will be eating ramen noodles for.....a while. How much you think Momo's new body cost?
Well, it's no $30,000 PX-3500. She isn't taking out a loan for this, so... $7,500 - 9,000? Though now it kind of makes me wonder what's so great about that other chassis.

Heck, a solid five to nine hundred dollars would be enough to get that reaction from me. If Marigold's lifestyle resembles my own it's not as bold a statement as it sounds. Not like I've never reduced the food budget to next to nothing for a game console or anything.

Depends how long we think she's gonna be on the Ramen diet for though. Weeks, months, or year(s)? I personally don't think she's gonna be ramen exclusive for more than two months.

Good question about the other chassis too. I'd expect at least Olympian level physical abilities, some manner of weaponized self defense system, lots of extra ports, ridiculous durability and the ability to transform.

why does she look so human? jeph should at least add the arm joints like the other robots.
I really do prefer a robot with some visible joints. It's momo's chassis though, and evidently she was looking for something a little more seamless. Not to my tastes, but whatever.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 01:30
...So am I the only one who thought this was kinda hot?

Right: too creepy, I know. Leaving now.  :police:


You thought what was hot? Buying Momo a new chassis? Momo's new look?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: kventin on 30 Aug 2011, 01:32
poor Pintsize...

i mean, he's got bonked just for _trying_ to look under Momo's skirt. now that she's five times his height, even addressing her from the floor will be a challenge, what with that short thing she uses for skirt now. i suppose the temptation will be too much for the little pervy 'bot. and the bonking will continue...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: 0kamisama on 30 Aug 2011, 01:45
why does she look so human? jeph should at least add the arm joints like the other robots.

Maybe that's why the chassis was nosebleed-inducingly expensive. Better covering, so to speak.
My guess is that the more high-end models have some sort of flexible skin-like rubber covering over the joints.

I personally am hoping to see Momo's fantasy at least play out, and am hoping for at least an experimental relationship between her and Sven. Will they... or will Jeph decide against it, launch the torpedos and sink this ship?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: J on 30 Aug 2011, 01:46
don't know why she's waited till now to take her revenge. she could have zapped him when he tried to look up her skirt.

or given him a face full of eel.


ok, that one might be counterproductive with pintsize.




of course, being able to do things like that suggests her old chassis probably wasn't cheap either, so i do wonder what advanced features she has now.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 30 Aug 2011, 01:57
poor Pintsize...

i mean, he's got bonked just for _trying_ to look under Momo's skirt. now that she's five times his height, even addressing her from the floor will be a challenge, what with that short thing she uses for skirt now. i suppose the temptation will be too much for the little pervy 'bot. and the bonking will continue...

Very poor choice of words  :-P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 30 Aug 2011, 02:20
What's weird is that in the fantasy she looked sort of like she does now, except maybe a bit more glammed up.

That's not really so weird - it shouldn't be too surprising that when she has the choice of the whole store, she picks a body that looks reasonably like what she's always wanted.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Rainforce on 30 Aug 2011, 03:04
Jeph stepping it up with the GIFs - four frames now! Also, looks like he's done something to minimise the difference between browsers - where Hannelore's twitching leg was Tool-like in Firefox and like a slow metronome in IE/iOS, this strip I've found to be more consistent across platforms.
IE limits the number of GIF frames shown per second; the twitching lag was beyond that limit, while todays punching wasn't.

Anyways: As someone else already pointed out: Momo should at least be A BIT distinguishable from a normal human character.
Also happy beating.
(I so get to the special hell for people that nest multiple colon-parts in a single structured sentence)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 30 Aug 2011, 03:12
Err. What was written there is no german at all. Its "Also sprach Zarathustra".

I'm amazed though they managed to write "Zarathustra" correctly but butchered the much simpler "sprach".


Anyways: As someone else already pointed out: Momo should at least be A BIT distinguishable from a normal human character.
Also happy beating.
I think her hair color is more than enough to distinguish her from normal people.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 30 Aug 2011, 03:13
Anyways: As someone else already pointed out: Momo should at least be A BIT distinguishable from a normal human character.

She is - just in (somewhat) subtle ways. She doesn't have noticeable lips like the human female characters do (I noticed that with the other "female" anthroPCs at the store too). She's still very short; more so than Marigold, one of the shortest people in the comic, and her ears are different from human ears. And then there's the whole having bright pink anime hair deal, though admittedly you don't have to be a robot to have pink hair.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 30 Aug 2011, 03:16
Red eyes too btw.

Possible, but kinda hard to have them as a human being.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: WAYF on 30 Aug 2011, 03:25
Wait, doesn't Momo owe Faye some retribution (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1624) for looking up her skirt as well? :P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Aug 2011, 03:48
Also for this (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1657), I should think!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: WAYF on 30 Aug 2011, 04:07
That's true, although I thought that Momo was designed to be cute enough for that sort of thing, if you know what I mean.

(Is your avatar Nega-Scott?!)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Aug 2011, 04:18
(Is your avatar Nega-Scott?!)

The one that isn't me, one of my photos, one of my dogs, my daughter's horse, a cartoon cat, Marten, Shinji, Johan, or Scott is, yes (I found the coloured version on Bryan Lee O'Malley's blog, or somewhere).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 30 Aug 2011, 05:22
Err. What was written there is no german at all. Its "Also sprach Zarathustra".

I'm amazed though they managed to write "Zarathustra" correctly but butchered the much simpler "sprach".

I was using the English translation.  It has  been around for over 100 years, and retaining the original language wasn't usually done back then. 


Quote
I think her hair color is more than enough to distinguish her from normal people.

Bottle of pink hair dye, anyone? 
(http://www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/pix/j4p05/PinkHair-m.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Sylentknight on 30 Aug 2011, 05:45
Awwww... :-)
Their behavior reminds me of siblings...or at least cousins.  :laugh:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 30 Aug 2011, 06:19
Err. What was written there is no german at all. Its "Also sprach Zarathustra".

I'm amazed though they managed to write "Zarathustra" correctly but butchered the much simpler "sprach".

Du bist ein Deutsche sprecher?

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 30 Aug 2011, 06:30
Basic google research also helps you btw.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: DSL on 30 Aug 2011, 07:45
Also for this (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1657), I should think!
A Faye-toss might be poetic justice (betcha Momo's strong enough) and might even get her some respect from Pintsize.
But I think I'm not alone in wanting to see how Hanners and Winslow react to this.
Hey, isn't Winslow due for an upgrade to maybe an iPad? He's earned it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: DSL on 30 Aug 2011, 07:56
Jeph stepping it up with the GIFs - four frames now! Also, looks like he's done something to minimise the difference between browsers - where Hannelore's twitching leg was Tool-like in Firefox and like a slow metronome in IE/iOS, this strip I've found to be more consistent across platforms.
I wonder how he will handle this in print form. The robo-beat-down wills work with a static panel but the twitch needs the animation to work. Maybe the old cartoon convention of superposed images or motion lines will work.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 30 Aug 2011, 09:21
Hey, isn't Winslow due for an upgrade to maybe an iPad? He's earned it.
Because Jeph and/or the moderators really needed those extra fifty million "she's touching him where?" jokes/threads to reach their Limit Break?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Reutan on 30 Aug 2011, 09:22
By the way, Theoretically Possible (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1658) now theoretically possible? I'm conflicted as to how I feel on this.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Throg on 30 Aug 2011, 09:49
Woo hoo, now along with all the other 'shipping permutations, we can now add Momo to the mix. 

Momo/Marigold. Momo/Sven. Momo/Clinton. 

Winslow can download himself back into the robo-boyfriend and we'll get Momo/Winslow. 

Behold, I now fully comprehend the reason for :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 30 Aug 2011, 10:30
By the way, Theoretically Possible (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1658) now theoretically possible? I'm conflicted as to how I feel on this.
  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 30 Aug 2011, 10:35
^
 :psyduck: indeed
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 10:52
I hope Momo does some awful things to Faye.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Black Sword on 30 Aug 2011, 11:03
I hope Momo does some awful things to Faye.

Could you kindly elucidate on your dislike for Faye?

Comic: I love Momo, but I'm wondering where Jeph is taking this. Any mindreaders want to take a peek at his mind and give us some spoilers?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 11:20
Sure. She's a complete bitch. As much as people say she's changed, she hasn't...and fans of the comic, as well as the other characters, cut her way too much slack. She's horrendous. Among the things she's done...be mean to Raven, Penelope, treat Marten like crap, indirectly broken up a relationship, hurt Mari (indirectly), called Hanners crazy, and done a lot of other things I don't even want to bother to think about. I know she's not going anywhere, unfortunately...I hate her. Hate her hate her hate her.

People here have tried to tell me how I should feel, but I don't really care. I hate Faye, she's a complete bitch!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 Aug 2011, 11:47
(moderator)
Yes, we know Momo fantasized about Sven, though that was supposed to be a joke. We have every reason to believe Sven is not into robots. The comments are making me more and more uncomfortable. The anti-shipping rule is still there.
(/moderator)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 12:06
Anti shipping rule?

Is it weird to say that a human and a robot would hook up? Maybe in real life it would be wrong, but this is a comic...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: lepetitfromage on 30 Aug 2011, 12:10
Jeph stepping it up with the GIFs - four frames now! Also, looks like he's done something to minimise the difference between browsers - where Hannelore's twitching leg was Tool-like in Firefox and like a slow metronome in IE/iOS, this strip I've found to be more consistent across platforms.
I wonder how he will handle this in print form. The robo-beat-down wills work with a static panel but the twitch needs the animation to work. Maybe the old cartoon convention of superposed images or motion lines will work.


i vote for a hologram  :-P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Aug 2011, 12:17
Anti shipping rule?

Read the stickies at the top of the forum to remind yourself - especially the "Conduct in this Forum" thread which spells it out.  Nothing has quite crossed my line yet, but I also am watching very closely.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: themacnut on 30 Aug 2011, 12:22
I wonder how he will handle this in print form. The robo-beat-down wills work with a static panel but the twitch needs the animation to work. Maybe the old cartoon convention of superposed images or motion lines will work.


i vote for a hologram  :-P

Unfortunately, this would most likely add to the cost of printing the book, which would then add to the final price of it. Which would then mean fewer copies of said book being sold. So a hologram would probably not be a good idea.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 30 Aug 2011, 12:50
indirectly broken up a relationship
This one is just not the least bit true.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 Aug 2011, 13:04
Anti shipping rule?

Is it weird to say that a human and a robot would hook up? Maybe in real life it would be wrong, but this is a comic...

It would be the same problem if they were both human. One way to look at it is that they're Jeph's characters and we shouldn't be trying to put them in bed together if it's not true to the characters.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 30 Aug 2011, 14:20
indirectly broken up a relationship
This one is just not the least bit true.

I call bullshit on that one as well, same as the "hurt Mari indirectly"... When you write the word "indirectly" it just takes away your point. Because... yes, it was indirect so it could have been done by any normal person.
I think she was kind of a bitch during a great part of the comic but (this might be just me) I also think it's so silly to use the word "hate".

Oh man, I'm 666 pure friggin evil, I should probably stay like this for a day or two just to look cool
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Cornan on 30 Aug 2011, 14:50
Anyone else disappointed that the title wasn't "The Countess of Monte Cisco"? You know, because she's a robot? Anybody?

I'll be here all week folks. Remember to tip your waitress.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: SirDudley on 30 Aug 2011, 14:51
I know I should disapprove of Momo's Roaring Rampage Of Robo-Revenge, but Pintsize so deserves it. I suppose it's a bit too one-sided for Battle Without Honor Or Humanity (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsF45oe6d5o)  to be playing in the background...
Not enough Tarantino in the strip for that song.


Ah, today can be summed up in the ancient proverb: "Revenge is a dish best served cold." Except today we learn that the cold part can also mean the cold metal fist delivering the revenge. Methinks Momo's going to use up those 5 minutes fast and Pintsize will be one blow away from getting his cranium caved in. Again.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 14:52
I would think Jeph couldn't care less, as they're his characters and what we say doesn't matter to him in the slightest. If someone wants to have a bit of fun and imagine characters together, what's the harm in that?

Whether or not Faye's misdeeds are true or not is highly subjective, and also something that I'm not really interested in discussing. Does nobody remember that Mari's heart was broken by Angus, and Faye hooked up with him right after? I realize that Faye and Mari weren't friends and Faye didn't owe Mari anything, but talk about skanktastic. Not to mention how Fake, excuse me, Faye, tried to be all buddy buddy with the girl whose man she stole. Yes, I know Mari and Angus weren't really together, but Mari's feelings are something everyone seems all too quick to ignore. Yes, Angus was a douchebag too, but Faye already has a laundry list of wrongdoings that this just adds to.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Tova on 30 Aug 2011, 15:07
Faye has her flaws, but I really don't hate her. If only I were more enlightened, I could hate more.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: DSL on 30 Aug 2011, 15:17
... If only I were more enlightened, I could hate more.

I want that T-shirt. Bumper sticker. Wall plaque. Banner towed behind small airplane.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 15:26
Aaaaand this is why I am never particularly eager to discuss my hatred of Faye. Smart ass comments and people generally thinking everything except that maybe she really is a hateful character, as she was written to be.

I do happen to think Marigold is unbelievably forgiving. I wouldn't even give that bitch a glance if she did that to me.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gopher on 30 Aug 2011, 15:32
Anti shipping rule?

Put it this way, the mods have a whole squadron of B-52s loaded with Harpoon ASMs.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 30 Aug 2011, 15:33
Aaaaand this is why I am never particularly eager to discuss my hatred of Faye. Smart ass comments and people generally thinking everything except that maybe she really is a hateful character, as she was written to be.

I do happen to think Marigold is unbelievably forgiving. I wouldn't even give that bitch a glance if she did that to me.
Smartassery on the internet? Nowai!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Emperor Norton on 30 Aug 2011, 15:45
Aaaaand this is why I am never particularly eager to discuss my hatred of Faye. Smart ass comments and people generally thinking everything except that maybe she really is a hateful character, as she was written to be.

To be fair, your earlier comment stated that recognising how "disgusting" Faye is would require either a woman or an incredibly enlightened man. Point being, you imply that disagreeing with you, IE not hating Faye, is a sign of a male being unenlightened.

Don't see why anyone would respond to "anyone who disagrees with me on this is a lesser intellectual being" with smart assery.  :roll:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 30 Aug 2011, 15:48
I do happen to think Marigold is unbelievably forgiving. I wouldn't even give that bitch a glance if she did that to me.
Did what to you? Start dating the man that had been pursuing her on and off for the better part of a year (when not dating a third woman, so far unidentified) and completely ignoring your non-existent advances?
Why isn't Mystery Woman a hateful bitch then too?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheCollector on 30 Aug 2011, 15:52
Man, that fourth panel is hilarious, Start up farty noises. Lol. When was this? Was there a comic where this happened??

Oh and, the whole high cost of the Chassis has me worried she'll be in this outfit awhile, especially considering they didn't get anything while still at the mall. It's not that I don't like those clothes, it's... No wait, that is it. She needs better clothes.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: dragontart on 30 Aug 2011, 15:53
Quote
Does nobody remember that Mari's heart was broken by Angus, and Faye hooked up with him right after?

Actually, Angus was quite a bugger until Faye simply gave in.

Also, somebody clearly forgot to teach me about those bro/sis-waiting-rules for relationships. What good would it do to me if people waited X weeks before hooking up with a guy that wasn't interested in me anyway?

Warning - while you were typing 3 new replies have been posted. You may wish to review your post. |:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 15:53
I would say kissing is pretty far from non-existent. If Angus had a brain that worked, he might realize that a shyer girl is actually worth it in the end. He never gave a reason (to my satisfaction) for rejecting Mari. So I've decided it's because he's just an asshole.

I will never get over how he was like "we're just friends" because HE decided that was how it was going to be. Mari didn't have a say in it in the slightest...and Angus didn't even want to consider being with her. It made me sick!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 30 Aug 2011, 15:55
Anti shipping rule?

Put it this way, the mods have a whole squadron of B-52s loaded with Harpoon ASMs.

I thought they had an orbiting platform for those.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 30 Aug 2011, 15:55
The theme of this week?

Also Sprache Zarathustra    - 6 (7%)
The Blue Danube    - 6 (7%)
Momo's new chassis.    - 20 (23.3%)
Sorry, I can't let you do that, Jeph.    - 7 (8.1%)
Momo gets a job at CoD.    - 11 (12.8%)
Momo gets a job at tSB.    - 5 (5.8%)
Pintsize takes Momo's old chassis!    - 4 (4.7%)
WINSLOW takes Momo's old chassis!    - 3 (3.5%)
Happy Toaster makes Waffles for everyone!    - 16 (18.6%)
Marten likes Momo's new look.    - 8 (9.3%)

Total Voters: 86
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Jedit on 30 Aug 2011, 15:57
One way to look at it is that they're Jeph's characters and we shouldn't be trying to put them in bed together if it's not true to the characters.

Not that I'm about to start 'shipping, but in the case of Momo/Sven, is it not the case that it is true to the characters?  Sven's the most notorious horndog in QC, and we've had a whole strip dedicated to Momo fantasising about him.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Aug 2011, 16:10
He never gave a reason (to my satisfaction) for rejecting Mari. So I've decided it's because he's just an asshole.

Sorry?  Angus had been pursuing Faye for some time, and you say that he's an asshole for not instantly changing his object of interest when kissed by a drunken girl?  From some of your comments about men, I would have thought that such a change would be a sort of unprincipled behaviour you'd dislike.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 30 Aug 2011, 16:10
... If only I were more enlightened, I could hate more.

I want that T-shirt. Bumper sticker. Wall plaque. Banner towed behind small airplane.

Seconded (all those suggestions)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 16:13
He never gave a reason (to my satisfaction) for rejecting Mari. So I've decided it's because he's just an asshole.

Sorry?  Angus had been pursuing Faye for some time, and you say that he's an asshole for not instantly changing his object of interest when kissed by a drunken girl?  From some of your comments about men, I would have thought that such a change would be the sort of unprincipled behaviour you dislike.

Yes, pursuing a girl who hated him for a long time and was not interested and treated him like crap. He's an idiot too.

Obviously I don't think he should have taken advantage of a drunk girl. But that's not what I meant. He rejected her. He should have said "We'll talk about this when we aren't drunk" (he was drunk too) and then, when they were both sober, loved her back.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 16:18
Honestly I think he did feel the same way, at least a little... because he kissed her back.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: dragontart on 30 Aug 2011, 16:21
Do I get this right, you want an idiot as partner for Marigold?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Aug 2011, 16:25
He should have [...] when they were both sober, loved her back.

Love is a two-way thing; one person can't impose it on another - it has to be offered and accepted.  Angus did not impose a relationship on Faye - he pursued it, but only went the last stage when she was prepared to accept it.  By contrast, you appear to be suggesting that Marigold's feelings can - should,  even - be imposed on Angus, without reference to how he feels about it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 16:27
Yeah but see, if he'd been with her, he WOULDN'T be an idiot. He's an idiot because he's with Faye and because he didn't choose Marigold. And yes, because he spent so long pursuing someone who wasn't interested and treated him like crap.

AND had past relationship baggage...which Marigold would NOT have. I can't understand why he would rather be with Faye. I don't get it. I would think the only reason he was pursuing someone like Faye is because he thought Marigold only liked him as a friend.

Honestly, I have an idea of who I'd like to see Marigold with now that Angus is an idiot...but apparently "shipping" isn't allowed, so I can't say... lol.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 16:27
He should have [...] when they were both sober, loved her back.

Love is a two-way thing; one person can't impose it on another - it has to be offered and accepted.  Angus did not impose a relationship on Faye - he pursued it, but only went the last stage when she was prepared to accept it.  By contrast, you appear to be suggesting that Marigold's feelings can - should,  even - be imposed on Angus, without reference to how he feels about it.

*sigh*

It wouldn't be imposing if someone felt the same. If Angus had maturity, foresight, or any sense, he would have felt the same way about Marigold...and would have realized Faye is no good, and a bitch. Maybe deep down he does realize that, but decides to let his penis call the shots.

Don't get me wrong--I hate Angus almost as much as I hate Faye.


Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 30 Aug 2011, 16:32
Yes, pursuing a girl who hated him for a long time and was not interested and treated him like crap. He's an idiot too.

You clearly missed all the subtext of their pre-relationship interaction.

Honestly I think he did feel the same way, at least a little... because he kissed her back.

Yeah, that's a lot of people's instinct when someone kisses them.

I can't understand why he would rather be with Faye.

Maybe because he was attracted to her.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Aug 2011, 16:33
Honestly, I have an idea of who I'd like to see Marigold with now that Angus is an idiot...but apparently "shipping" isn't allowed, so I can't say... lol.

As is spelt out in the thread that I referred to before, if you have some reason for proposing a particular pairing, that will work in the story and how it's developed up till now, you are at liberty to argue for it.  However, merely saying that you like or want it is not  an argument, and very easily turns into shipping, especially if repeated.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: dragontart on 30 Aug 2011, 16:36
Okay. I get it. Angus is an idiot for pursuing someone who is an idiot (Faye). Marigold is not an idiot for pursuing someone who is an idiot (Angus).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 16:37
I would like to see Marigold be with Dale...even though a lot of people said Dale was stupid or whatever, or that Marigold hated him. He likes her, I think, but I'm not entirely sure how she feels about him. It would be interesting to see how that would play out.

I won't repeat it over and over, at the risk of "shipping." lol.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 16:38
Okay. I get it. Angus is an idiot for pursuing someone who is an idiot (Faye). Marigold is not an idiot for pursuing someone who is an idiot (Angus).

No, Faye's a bitch. And other words I am too polite to speak here.

Angus is only an idiot because he went after Faye so long and because he rejected Mari.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Aug 2011, 16:40
If Angus had maturity, foresight, or any sense, he would have felt the same way about Marigold...and would have realized Faye is no good, and a bitch. Maybe deep down he does realize that, but decides to let his penis call the shots.

Don't get me wrong--I hate Angus almost as much as I hate Faye.

Basically, all you're saying is that you would prefer a different story and characters to the ones in this comic.  Well, you're stuck with them - or not, of course, because you can simply read something you prefer instead - and I suggest that simply arguing that a story should be different from how it is is an entirely pointless occupation.  In fact, if it goes on much longer it will become trolling.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 30 Aug 2011, 16:40
I will never get over how he was like "we're just friends" because HE decided that was how it was going to be. Mari didn't have a say in it in the slightest...and Angus didn't even want to consider being with her. It made me sick!
Um... no. Mari didn't have a say in the slightest after she had been refused. That's how that works. Do you work under some system where one is obligated to try or at least consider romance with everyone who displays interest in such a pursuit with you?

You don't need a reason to not enter a committed relationship, you need a reason to enter said relationship. He saw no reason to do so. She did not hold such an appeal to him. He had no desire to pursue romance with Marigold.

Another way to phrase it would be that her say was "I'm interested in trying this" and his say was "I am not". That's where the discussion ends. You need two for this.

Every day there are thousands of things I don't do. I don't have a specific reason for not doing each and every one of them. I simply have no desire to do them or have something else I would rather do. The entire notion of having to justify not expanding beyond friendship is so backwards I don't even know how to do it justice in addressing it.

Yeah but see, if he'd been with her, he WOULDN'T be an idiot. He's an idiot because he's with Faye and because he didn't choose Marigold. And yes, because he spent so long pursuing someone who wasn't interested and treated him like crap.

AND had past relationship baggage...which Marigold would NOT have. I can't understand why he would rather be with Faye. I don't get it. I would think the only reason he was pursuing someone like Faye is because he thought Marigold only liked him as a friend.

Honestly, I have an idea of who I'd like to see Marigold with now that Angus is an idiot...but apparently "shipping" isn't allowed, so I can't say... lol.


Nothing wrong with pursuing someone for extended periods of time so long as the advances are welcome. You paint it like he was somehow some incomplete being pining after her for all that time. He showed himself to be a perfectly healthy person who was quite comfortable being single, but had no objection to pursuing someone who appealed to him.

He didn't spend his entire days doing this. Just some flirtation when he would run into her during his daily coffee runs. This was in no way anything that dominated any part of his life, and were someone else who appealed to him to come along he was hardly gonna hang around waiting for the coffee girl he likes to flirt with.

It doesn't matter if you can see why he would enjoy someone like that or not. As near as I can tell he enjoyed her wit, shared some interests with her, and found her attractive, but it doesn't matter. One size doesn't fit all. If that's what he wanted in a partner then I see no problem in pursuing that. It's not stupid to spend your time on what makes you happy.

One could quite easily create an entire list of the reasons why Marigold would be an undesirable partner, but evidently she matches what you would enjoy. I would not criticize someone for being able to look past her confidence issues or reclusive tendencies.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: themacnut on 30 Aug 2011, 16:42
Quote from: questionablecontentfan
...If Angus had maturity, foresight, or any sense, he would have felt the same way about Marigold...and would have realized Faye is no good, and a bitch. Maybe deep down he does realize that, but decides to let his penis call the shots.

If Angus had truly been letting his penis call the shots, he would've banged drunk Marigold when she came on to him. That's a kind of thing a guy who's led by his penis does. He certainly wanted to, as he confessed to Faye later.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 30 Aug 2011, 16:47
He didn't spend his entire days doing this. Just some flirtation when he would run into her during his daily coffee runs. This was in no way anything that dominated any part of his life, and were someone else who appealed to him to come along he was hardly gonna hang around waiting for the coffee girl he likes to flirt with.

Worth adding that this did indeed happen, and there was a period where he stopped coming to CoD for a while because he was dating another girl.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Akima on 30 Aug 2011, 16:51
If only I were more enlightened, I could hate more.
If you were enlightened (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Kamakura-buddha-1.jpg/800px-Kamakura-buddha-1.jpg) you wouldn't hate at all...  :angel:

I can't understand why he would rather be with Faye. I don't get it.
He likes her sass, and the way she matches him in conversational kung-fu. Marigold offers him nothing in that line. If we were to exaggerate Marigold's flaws as much as Faye's, we could say that she's a mopey shut-in with bad personal hygiene, who spends 99% of her free time glued to WoW and Yaoi. Maybe Angus didn't find that appealing.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 16:52
Okay. I am not going to go with this line of discussion any further, it sounds like it could summarily become problematic.

Being reclusive and lacking confidence is only a problem for people without hearts, and I guess there are a lot of those in the world. I should know. I am reclusive and shy and don't have a lot of confidence...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 16:53
Okay, whatever then.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 Aug 2011, 16:54
I would think Jeph couldn't care less, as they're his characters and what we say doesn't matter to him in the slightest. If someone wants to have a bit of fun and imagine characters together, what's the harm in that?

Oh, none in imagining it. On the other hand, using Jeph's guest house to post precursors to slash fiction after Jeph has objected is discourteous and endangers the existence of the forum.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 30 Aug 2011, 16:55
Okay. I am not going to go with this line of discussion any further, it sounds like it could summarily become problematic.

Being reclusive and lacking confidence is only a problem for people without hearts, and I guess there are a lot of those in the world. I should know. I am reclusive and shy and don't have a lot of confidence...
Nevertheless it does remain an issue for many.

Edit: My apologies for my poor manners there.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 16:57

And being verbally aggressive with a lot of pent up anger is only an issue for people without spines. So there we are.

Sorry?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 30 Aug 2011, 17:00
Just saying we can go on about what someone would have to lack for characteristic X to be a problem all day. The fact is people have issues. Not everyone wants a partner who's in near constant need of reassurance anymore than everyone wants a partner who's constantly lashing out about everything. Once again, one size does not fit all.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Tova on 30 Aug 2011, 17:02
If only I were more enlightened, I could hate more.
If you were enlightened (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Kamakura-buddha-1.jpg/800px-Kamakura-buddha-1.jpg) you wouldn't hate at all...  :angel:

Well put. Yeah, that's what I was trying to say... and I'm sorry for being a smart arse about it. I haven't been so good at considering what I write before hitting 'post' recently.

As for Marigold and Dale ... I wouldn't mind seeing that happen, and I've always assumed that the story was heading in that direction (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BelligerentSexualTension).

Just for the record, I am fine with people hating certain characters... no-one is universally loved, after all. So long as we all respect each other's opinions, it's all good. :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Somebody on 30 Aug 2011, 17:02
Jeph stepping it up with the GIFs - four frames now! Also, looks like he's done something to minimise the difference between browsers - where Hannelore's twitching leg was Tool-like in Firefox and like a slow metronome in IE/iOS, this strip I've found to be more consistent across platforms.
I wonder how he will handle this in print form. The robo-beat-down wills work with a static panel but the twitch needs the animation to work. Maybe the old cartoon convention of superposed images or motion lines will work.
*goes back to find that strip (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1988)*

Oh, is that what the joke was meant to be there. I have GIF animations off as a matter of principle (the principle being "they drive me nucking futs") and wondered at the time what that was meant to be...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Akima on 30 Aug 2011, 17:11
Being reclusive and lacking confidence is only a problem for people without hearts, and I guess there are a lot of those in the world.
Nobody has a duty to love anyone*. None of us are special snowflakes. Nobody's personality entitles them to affection, or to be looked after by somebody else. Life is suffering.

*Romantically anyway. I'll leave parental love and religious love to those better qualified to comment.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 17:17
I don't think some here do respect my opinion.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 17:19
Nobody has a duty to love anyone*. None of us are special snowflakes. Nobody's personality entitles them to affection, or to be looked after by somebody else. Life is suffering.

*Romantically anyway. I'll leave parental love and religious love to those better qualified to comment.

I don't agree.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 30 Aug 2011, 17:19
Wait, didn't Momo actually offer to show some of the QC guys her "special feature" with eels under her skirt? Isn't that technically something Momo can't boink Pintsize for given he was in the same room as him (and possibly showed willingly maybe as an introduction?)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: wrwight on 30 Aug 2011, 17:20
I realize that Faye and Mari weren't friends and Faye didn't owe Mari anything, but talk about skanktastic.

Most of the many many things I had to say have already been said, but I feel it's necessary to point out this statement.

Just give it a minute, let it sink in.

Okay, have you taken some time? Read it again. How in the world does that make ANY sense whatsoever?? That's kind of like saying Angelina Jolie is a skank 'cause she married Brad Pitt when my friend obviously had a crush on him.

I also don't like the way you say Angus took advantage of Marigold. While yes, Angus was playful, probably even flirty with Marigold, and yes, being her roommate maybe he should have known her well enough to see where that would lead, I honestly think he was just a dope and didn't realize what he was doing (I tend to get fairly friendly with female friends sometimes, especially in an attempt to cheer them up, which is what kind of kicked off the whole thing with Marigold thinking she had a shot) until the drunken kiss, which, iirc, was initiated by her, and ended by him..somewhere about 1625-1635. He was eyes wide open, WTF face in that panel.

To be honest, your hatred of Faye in all the times I've seen it really tends to come off as the jealous kind, like if Angus had ended up with Marigold you wouldn't really give her much thought, but since she was SO AWFUL to Marigold :roll: you decided she's a piece of shit.

Anyway, probably like 5 relies since I went archive digging. Let's see...nope, 19. Posting anyway...3 more just in the time I took to browse those 19.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 17:31
No. My hatred of Faye comes from the fact that she is a horrible, horrible person.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Random Al Yousir on 30 Aug 2011, 17:38
Well, there is no accounting for taste.

I don't think I have any right to expect anyone to respect my opinions.

I do think that love is worthless when it's not coming out of it's own free will.

And I do love the way Jeph has written Faye.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 Aug 2011, 17:42
Wait, didn't Momo actually offer to show some of the QC guys her "special feature" with eels under her skirt? Isn't that technically something Momo can't boink Pintsize for given he was in the same room as him (and possibly showed willingly maybe as an introduction?)

I don't remember anything at all like that. Anyone else?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Skaltura on 30 Aug 2011, 17:45

Nobody has a duty to love anyone*. None of us are special snowflakes. Nobody's personality entitles them to affection, or to be looked after by somebody else. Life is suffering.


But sometimes there are parties, and makeouts! (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=453)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Random Al Yousir on 30 Aug 2011, 17:48
I don't remember anything at all like that. Anyone else?
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1298
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 17:52
I'm actually happy I went back to the part where Angus rejected Marigold because of Hanners cuddling with Mari. Aw.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Tova on 30 Aug 2011, 17:59
Funny, after following recently-posted links to the archive, I discovered this amusing juxtaposition.

Dora asks Faye: "Do you seriously worry about that?"
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=453

And here, she gets asked the same question in turn (you could argue that this neurosis is the other side of the same coin - fear of closeness/fear of rejection):
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1298

Maybe Dora's and Faye's issues are more similar than I first realised.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 18:06
Aw, poor Faye.

That's what happens when you act like a complete bitchbag to a man who cares for you.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: rje on 30 Aug 2011, 18:10
Being reclusive and lacking confidence is only a problem for people without hearts, and I guess there are a lot of those in the world.
Nobody has a duty to love anyone*. None of us are special snowflakes. Nobody's personality entitles them to affection, or to be looked after by somebody else. Life is suffering.

*Romantically anyway. I'll leave parental love and religious love to those better qualified to comment.
Life is pain, princess.
Anyone that says differently is selling something.
 - one of my favorite quotes

(also this is why I like you)

I'm female and I love Faye.
I also love Marigold.
And I adore Angus.

What does this mean? Absolutely nothing! Just throwing out my opinion. o3o Take from it what you will...

Also some people tend to view fictional works from a very personal standpoint - sometimes doing this you can project a bit too much upon the characters so that everything that touches them touches you too, and other characters become projections of others in your life. The ex-girlfriend that broke your heart, the boy that didn't love you back or the mean girl that picked on you in school. Sometimes it's just not worth it arguing against this perspective - you're arguing against emotions, not logic and that tends to make a mess. Sometimes it's just better to say 'Okay, that's your perspective, duly noted' and move on.
Just a thought ~
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 18:13
I hated Faye before I identified with Marigold (yes, obviously I do).

I hate Faye for many many bad things she's done. Everyone else is so quick to move on and forgive her, but I am not. Why should I forgive the horrible things she's done? What has she truly done to redeem herself? Nothing. Letting time pass isn't redemption.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Tova on 30 Aug 2011, 18:24
I hate Faye for many many bad things she's done. Everyone else is so quick to move on and forgive her, but I am not. Why should I forgive the horrible things she's done?

For the usual reasons - forgiveness allows you to let go of your harmful (to yourself) resentment and bitterness. It's not something you do for that person's benefit, especially when they are a fictional character.

Note that forgiving someone doesn't necessitate that you be blind to their flaws.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 18:29
Okay, Tovo. I'll keep that in mind.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: westrim on 30 Aug 2011, 18:35
*reads thread*  :psyduck: My signature is supposed to be funny true, not painful true.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Doctor Online on 30 Aug 2011, 18:40
For the usual reasons - forgiveness allows you to let go of your harmful (to yourself) resentment and bitterness.

I'm living proof, if you don't let go of what people have done it can make you sick. Stress, anger, all of that goes hand in hand and can actually cause physical sickness. It sounds kinda crazy but when you think back to all the upset stomachs, headaches, depression, anything... it's most likely linked to these things. I'm not saying you got the flu from being angry, so don't think that's what I'm saying. =P

Edit: The whole reason I dropped in was to say... I laughed really hard at today's comic. I see Jeph is starting to enjoy playing with animations. ^.^ It really adds to the funny for me.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 Aug 2011, 18:44
Quote from: Faye
God, I'm such an awful person (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=341)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: J on 30 Aug 2011, 18:54
so, one of the other comics i follow is menage a 3 (http://www.menagea3.net/) (occasionally nsfw), it's protagonist is almost a male version of marigold; a 29 year old geek who has never had a girlfriend, lacks anything resembling self confidence or self esteem, and has so thoroughly given up that he puts basically no effort whatsoever into changing his circumstances.

now the reason i bring this up is that a surprising and depressing number of the people on the forum really identify with this character, and loudly object when jokes are at his expense, scream when things don't go his way (or more accurately the way they want for him), and fill entire threads with inane hatred of any character who doesn't put his desires above and beyond all other concerns. essentially, they see so much of themselves in the character that it hampers their ability to enjoy the strip because they so desperately want it to be their vicarious wish fulfillment fantasy.

basically look at the above argument and imagine it happening in every second or third thread.

what i'm saying is that perhaps some people here are abit too emotionally close to the subject matter to discuss it objectively, and that they may enjoy the strip more if they back up and distance themselves abit.


Warning - while you were typing a metric fuckton of new replies have been posted. You may wish to review your post.

yeah, i don't really care
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: billydaking on 30 Aug 2011, 19:21
Nobody has a duty to love anyone*. None of us are special snowflakes. Nobody's personality entitles them to affection, or to be looked after by somebody else. Life is suffering.

*Romantically anyway. I'll leave parental love and religious love to those better qualified to comment.

I don't agree.

Then you're headed for some real trouble.

Romantic love is, as others have said, a two-way street. One of the most despicable things that you can do to a friend is to pretend to have feelings for her (or him) simply because that friend has feelings for you. I've seen it happen before, and it's utterly destructive to both people. I've *never* seen it work out.

Angus did the absolutely correct and kindest thing any friend could do in that situation--he was honest with her and stopped it before things got worse. He then talked with her the next morning when she was sober and later to try to find out how she wound up in that place. Honesty hurts, but it's usually the shortest pain.

Wishing that Angus and Marigold were together because Angus somehow is denying feelings for her is simply that--wishing. Angus did not return the kiss at all. Plus, they've been friends for a while and only recently did Marigold, by her own admission, develop feelings for him, simply because he was nice to her. That in itself is a problem for Marigold--she jumped to a conclusion and probably even lied to herself (note that she really hasn't shown much of a crush, if any, on Angus after she made her drunken pass, despite the fact they're still roommates). If you believe somebody may like you more than a friend, then the next step is usually asking them or telling them how you feel, not suddenly planting a kiss on their lips. No matter what the movies tell us.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 19:59
I don't agree with what you've said, any of it, but thank you for your thoughts.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 Aug 2011, 20:04
Life is suffering.
Life is to a large extent what we make of it. Remember that obnoxious preachy slogan from driver's ed, "You're not in traffic, you are traffic"? Our actions add to and subtract from the total of the world's suffering. Angus spared Marigold a huge chunk of suffering by not taking advantage of her.

People who didn't take suffering as inevitable have, among other things, eradicated smallpox, eliminating three million agonized deaths every year.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 20:17
I think it's just bullshit that Marigold got to choose between what actually happened, and Angus having sex with her and then dumping her cold. How about loving her?

I don't agree with the whole "oh, she only liked him because he was nice" crap. Maybe she just felt backed into a corner and said that because she wasn't thinking clearly. Angus almost wanted to hear her say her feelings weren't genuine to make himself feel better about rejecting her.

And so what if she doesn't say anything or act like she has a broken heart? Who knows what's going on inside of her? I have a broken heart, and if you observed my external actions, you'd never know it, because I don't speak of it to anyone, and I have to go on acting like everything's fine, when it's not.

What makes you think Marigold couldn't be doing the same?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 30 Aug 2011, 20:52
Good lord, are we reading the same comic? 

I think it's just bullshit that Marigold got to choose between what actually happened, and Angus having sex with her and then dumping her cold. How about loving her?

You mean aside friom pulling a 180 in his character?  He'd been flirting with Faye, a verbally sassy woman, matching wits with her, because that's what he found attractive.  Aside from breast size, there's little Marigold and Faye have in common.  She's not his type, and despite the fact that people can  be happy with someone who's "atypical" for them, (Sven vis-a-vis Faye, who's not blonde), there were other issues as well - after knowing her for years, he simply wasn't interested in her that way.  If he were, he probably would've suggested it (or done something himself about it) by then.  She had a crush, it happens, and he was honest  with her about hte way he felt (something too few peopl are). 

I need to say at this point that I'm not  trying to change youropinion  of the characters, but rather trying to get you to realize that you're ignoring a lot of well established context with your statements.  You seem to ignore the facts at your convenience, as several people have pointed out, and then you brush them off with a "thanks for your opinion, but I disagree..." 

It's getting really annoying, especially since this is not the first time it's happened. 

But it's also pretty obvious that you've read the comic with an extraordinarily jaundiced eye.  You may want to try going back through it as though it were a work of fiction, rather than commentary on your own personal state of affairs (yes, I remember the last time you did this, and how you equated Faye with the mean girls who picked/pick on you). 

Quote
I don't agree with the whole "oh, she only liked him because he was nice" crap. Maybe she just felt backed into a corner and said that because she wasn't thinking clearly. Angus almost wanted to hear her say her feelings weren't genuine to make himself feel better about rejecting her.

We only have what the characters say as a basis for what they feel.  What Marigold said seemed honest to me, and I doubt she was saying it just to make Angus happy! 

Quote
And so what if she doesn't say anything or act like she has a broken heart? Who knows what's going on inside of her? I have a broken heart, and if you observed my external actions, you'd never know it, because I don't speak of it to anyone, and I have to go on acting like everything's fine, when it's not.

What makes you think Marigold couldn't be doing the same?

Her actions (and reactions) at the party.  "I am okay (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1685)"

Look, I can understand how you feel about the people who've been bitches to you and your friends, and how you could see a great deal of that in Faye.  But they are people too, possibly very flawed people, but people nonetheless.  Holding hatred like that isn't healthy. 

Remember, living well is the best revenge.  Pursue what you love, and find some peace. 

Before you  become the one who's a completely bitter, hateful bitch to everyone you know. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: westrim on 30 Aug 2011, 20:52
So how about that chassis, people! Man, that is a fine, fine chassis that Momo has now- lean and tall with a strong frame, strong hands, strong twintails, vibrant colors, lots of thrust and good response times, and young and fresh too!...


 I am completely failing to change the topic of discussion and sounding creepy, aren't I?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 21:09
Honestly, if I could just share my opinion without receiving lectures that could pass for novellas...everything would be cool. I feel how I feel. Other people feel how they feel. I respect other people's opinions, just wish I could get the same in return.

No, I don't think the comic is about me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to state that. Faye is a bad person, and the shit she did to Marigold is just one incident of many.

I do not wish to discuss my life, or make this about me. I pointed out that I had a broken heart simply to point out that someone can be wounded inside and appear normal outside. Marigold said she was okay, but what if she was just lying?

Anyway, this conversation is getting boring. I'm sick of being scolded. I am allowed to feel how I feel. Jeez.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: themacnut on 30 Aug 2011, 21:12
I think it's just bullshit that Marigold got to choose between what actually happened, and Angus having sex with her and then dumping her cold. How about loving her?

But Angus doesn't love Marigold, he likes her as a friend. Pretending to love her and then having to end the pretense at some future point would hurt her even worse than what actually happened. Sure there's a slim chance he might develop real romantic feelings for her, but as Carl said above, if that was going to happen it would already have by now. It was a shame she was disappointed the way she was, but that is simply life sometimes-I don't believe that "life is pain" as some posters have said, but I know from experience that disappointment and pain ARE a part of life right along with satisfaction and joy.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 21:12
Also...the fact that Angus LIKES BEING FRIENDS with Marigold kind of refutes the argument that he isn't drawn to something about her. He likes being friends with her. If he found her completely unworthy he wouldn't want anything to do with her.

Just needed to point that out too.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 21:13
right along with satisfaction and joy.

Would you believe...some people never get to experience that part.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: westrim on 30 Aug 2011, 21:19
Trigger:
Sure. She's a complete bitch.
not:
Quote from: questionablecontentfan
Sure. I think she's a complete bitch.

And so it went. State something like a fact and expect it to be challenged on those grounds, not as an opinion.


NOW, HOW ABOUT SOME CHASSIS, WOO! Out of the car and onto the Segways I say, no poking needed!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 30 Aug 2011, 21:19
Now there's a question: how strong is an AnthroPC chassis?

It would be good safety engineering to limit them to human-scale strength, but that covers a wide range.

The HPC-4100X is not strong enough to hold someone's head out of a toilet, but it would be possible to put a motor into something that size that could lift a whole human.

Maybe AnthroPCs have a synthetic muscle simulant which is more flexible than motors and gearing, but which compromises available force?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 21:21
If it was just that I thought she was, I would say that. But I don't just think she is, she is.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: westrim on 30 Aug 2011, 21:23
Now there's a question: how strong is an AnthroPC chassis?

It would be good safety engineering to limit them to human-scale strength, but that covers a wide range.

The HPC-4100X is not strong enough to hold someone's head out of a toilet, but it would be possible to put a motor into something that size that could lift a whole human.

Maybe AnthroPCs have a synthetic muscle simulant which is more flexible than motors and gearing, but which compromises available force?
Hopefully significantly stronger than ours for emergency situations, but with strict governors for everyday situations, like wrestlers who don't have to grip a can like a... bar thingy barbell.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: YourMaster on 30 Aug 2011, 21:27
I think it's just bullshit that Marigold got to choose between what actually happened, and Angus having sex with her and then dumping her cold. How about loving her?

You don't choose whether to love/have a crush on somebody.  If you could, then Marigold could have just not chosen to love Angus and there would be no problem.

There are perhaps other options.  He could have tried a date.  But if he's pretty sure that's going nowhere, it's more merciful not to build up hope, only to dash it, all the while keeping her from possibly pursuing any other guy.

Quote
I don't agree with the whole "oh, she only liked him because he was nice" crap. Maybe she just felt backed into a corner and said that because she wasn't thinking clearly.

Maybe.  People do that sort of thing, I know.  That said, it's a bit patronising to assume that a given person doesn't feel the way she says she feels.  People also sometimes feel exactly as she says she feels.  But in any case, why does it matter?  You can't have feelings for somebody just because it would hurt them if you don't have those feelings.

Quote
Angus almost wanted to hear her say her feelings weren't genuine to make himself feel better about rejecting her.

And?  Studies show that rejecting a person is typically as hard as being rejected.  It actually sucks to reject somebody you're friends with.  But that doesn't mean "whelp, you must be my one and only soulmate forever because you called dibs first".

I find the notion that somebody "should" have "loved her back" kind of gross.  Romantic love isn't something you just feel for anybody who loves you first.  Even the most wonderful people aren't in love (in the romantic sense) with the vast, vast majority of the people in the world, and never will be.  You don't get to have whoever you want, just because you want them.  And if you really care for somebody, you shouldn't want them to be with you just because you want them.  They should be with you because they want to be with you, or they shouldn't be with you at all.

Quote
Anyway, this conversation is getting boring. I'm sick of being scolded. I am allowed to feel how I feel. Jeez.

And I'm allowed to feel that it's ethically wrong to think that way, because nobody has the right to tell anybody else who to love or not love.  To feel that way, that's another matter.  "That which is done out of love invariable takes place beyond good and evil", as Nietzsche says.  But you only started talking about this being something you feel, rather than something you think, recently, and it really feels like backpedaling.

Do you get to choose who loves you AND what we all talk about?  :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: billydaking on 30 Aug 2011, 21:32
I think it's just bullshit that Marigold got to choose between what actually happened, and Angus having sex with her and then dumping her cold. How about loving her?

I don't agree with the whole "oh, she only liked him because he was nice" crap. Maybe she just felt backed into a corner and said that because she wasn't thinking clearly. Angus almost wanted to hear her say her feelings weren't genuine to make himself feel better about rejecting her.

And so what if she doesn't say anything or act like she has a broken heart? Who knows what's going on inside of her? I have a broken heart, and if you observed my external actions, you'd never know it, because I don't speak of it to anyone, and I have to go on acting like everything's fine, when it's not.

What makes you think Marigold couldn't be doing the same?

Because that's not how the strip went. She was not "backed into a corner"--Angus asked her about a while after, not the next morning. She was embarrassed to talk about it (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1676), but she was honest--and she opened up  (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1677)about how she felt as they talked it out. That's not being backed into a corner, when you say something to escape. Marigold didn't escape, she communicated. She's not, as you say, keeping it all in. And Angus gave her some of the best advice in the strip:

Quote
Listen, what I was trying to get at is, you're really great. You're SO great you shouldn't just settle for a dude just because he's nice to you or wants to sleep with you, or whatever.

Marigold holding a crush on Angus isn't bad, but what you describe is extremely unhealthy. Especially when Marigold is still living in the same apartment with the guy.

Here's the thing: I've been on both sides. A woman "friend" who pushed herself onto me didn't accept it when I told her I just wanted to be friends. She became a near-stalker after I told her that I just wanted to be friends, up to and including telling another woman who liked me that we were an item. She adored me simply because I was friendly with her, the first guy in a long time who did that; therefore, to her, I must adore her in return. So when I see somebody say that a character is a jerk because he was honest and open his own feelings (which every real relationship MUST have) and because he didn't allow someone to snowball him and force him into a relationship with her....

I'm sorry, I find that twisted.

On the other side...I've been friends with a woman for nearly a decade. She has a number of issues, similar to Hanners in fact, and I've been a decent rock in our friendship. Somewhere along the way, I developed feelings for her. I told her, and she had no clue I felt that way, and it was a bit rough between us for a while. But she came to me and while told me that she simply wasn't attracted to me, she also explained how important I was to her as a friend, and how she still wanted me in her life as that friend. That was more than 6 years ago, and we're still close friends.

You cannot in any way force somebody to love you. Life and love does not work that way. They call it a "relationship" for a reason.

Quote
Also...the fact that Angus LIKES BEING FRIENDS with Marigold kind of refutes the argument that he isn't drawn to something about her. He likes being friends with her. If he found her completely unworthy he wouldn't want anything to do with her.

Just needed to point that out too.

Yeah...He likes her as a friend. Men and women can have friendships, very intimate ones in fact, without any kind of romantic attraction or sexual connection. My best friend is a woman (no, the same one as above). Angus has been her friend for a while; he obviously likes and values her as a person, which is why he's honest with her, doesn't want to use her (like Steve suggested), and continues to be her friend. It refutes nothing.

Just needed to point that out.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: skellibones on 30 Aug 2011, 21:34
Life is suffering.
Life is to a large extent what we make of it. Remember that obnoxious preachy slogan from driver's ed, "You're not in traffic, you are traffic"? Our actions add to and subtract from the total of the world's suffering. Angus spared Marigold a huge chunk of suffering by not taking advantage of her.

People who didn't take suffering as inevitable have, among other things, eradicated smallpox, eliminating three million agonized deaths every year.

Life is suffering due to the impermanence of life. Buddhist philosophy, ya dig.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: westrim on 30 Aug 2011, 21:35
*waves chassis in the air desperately* Oh, forget it, I'm going to go shoot some people... digital people, who are firing back at and killing me.


Thought I should clarify.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 30 Aug 2011, 21:36
Honestly, if I could just share my opinion without receiving lectures that could pass for novellas...everything would be cool. I feel how I feel. Other people feel how they feel. I respect other people's opinions, just wish I could get the same in return.

Actually, you've shown very little respect for the opinions of others.  You've been quite dismissive.  Others might respect your opinions more if you could back them up, but you don't.  And I'm talking about opinions, not feelings, there's a difference.  

Quote
Anyway, this conversation is getting boring. I'm sick of being scolded. I am allowed to feel how I feel. Jeez.

Yes, it is getting boring.  And my apologies for sounding like I was scolding you.  I do  get a bit riled when I see someone making such basic mistakes, though.  You certainly are entitled to your feelings.  Just quit trying to support them with nonexistant facts, or by ignoring the ones that do  exist, and I think everyone will gladly stop tying to point out that you got the facts wrong.  

right along with satisfaction and joy.

Would you believe...some people never get to experience that part.

No.  As someone who tried suicide as a teenager, I know how dark it gets.  You knew joy at one point, as a child, and you will again.  But I can't believe you never knew any.  

Of course, I'm assuming you're talking about yourself again... maybe it's a theoretical "some people"?

Oh, and please, don't tell me I'm wrong again.  There isn't a child (even in poverty and starvation) that hasn't experianced some  aspect of joy.  It's part of being a child, ask anyone who's studied human development.  

Warning - while you were typing 5 new replies have been posted. You may wish to review your post.

Well, fuck.  

Warning - while you were typing a new reply has been posted. You may wish to review your post.

DANG, people!

Warning - while you were typing 2 new replies have been posted. You may wish to review your post.

To hell with irene - this  is a storm!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: billydaking on 30 Aug 2011, 21:37
*waves chassis in the air desperately* Oh, forget it, I'm going to go shoot some people... digital people, who are firing back at and killing me.


Thought I should clarify.

BANG!

Whoops, sorry. Meant to hit the guy standing next to you. Have a chocolate bunny.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: cyberxigbar on 30 Aug 2011, 21:39
Wait a sec-wouldn't it technically be easier for Pintsize to look up her skirt now that Momo's human-sized?

Also: digging the animation. Wasn't expecting THAT when I logged in.  :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 30 Aug 2011, 21:42
Easier, yes, but before there was no fear of retribution.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: cyberxigbar on 30 Aug 2011, 21:45
True, but when you've pulled that kind of stunt on Faye, fear's not as much of a factor anymore.

At least, that's how I see it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 21:45
Oh ffs. Yeah, maybe part of being a child in a first world country. I think the starving, malnourished, abused children would beg to differ on that. Joy is not a part of every childhood...and it's not a part of every life.

I am really sick of being told that there's something wrong with loving someone, expecting love back.

Humans fuck it all up...other animals get it right.

I am not twisted, creepy, or anything else. My view makes perfect sense. I have never broken a heart.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 30 Aug 2011, 21:48
The notion is sound if idealist if you're using love in the general sense. Nothing wrong with that. Loving everyone in the romantic sense and expecting the same manner of love back is just plain flawed to the core though.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 30 Aug 2011, 21:52
If it was just that I thought she was, I would say that. But I don't just think she is, she is.

I think Faye is a pretty awful person too.  I also think Angus is a creepy stalker and Marigold is a depressed, addicted gamer.

I don't think any of them should be dating anyone.  However, if you're a Marigold fan, you should be happy Angus said no.  They just don't seem right for each other at all.  Marigold, when she's ready, would be more suited for someone who shares her interests (not Dale, please create a new character for her to one day date).

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 21:54
Why not Dale?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 21:54
The notion is sound if idealist if you're using love in the general sense. Nothing wrong with that. Loving everyone in the romantic sense and expecting the same manner of love back is just plain flawed to the core though.

Not everyone, obviously. But would it be nice if those we loved loved us back? Imagine all the sadness and pain that would no longer exist. It would be beautiful.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: westrim on 30 Aug 2011, 21:55
Whoops, sorry. Meant to hit the guy standing next to you. Have a chocolate bunny.
*nom*

Warning - while you were typing a new reply has been posted. You may wish to review your post.
Okay, I normally am annoyed when people do this, but I typed five characters!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 22:04
I like Marigold BECAUSE she's flawed, BECAUSE she's vulnerable, BECAUSE she doesn't know how to talk to people, because she sits in her room playing video games, because she hides from the world, because she eats pocky all day long, because she's in her early 20s and has never had a boyfriend, and before kissing Angus she'd never kissed. Other people see her behavior as flaws, I see her as more real. She doesn't spend all day being fake and schmoozing with people just to look good. She doesn't spend vain hours blowdrying her hair and painting her face and trying to impress shallow guys. She's beautiful, she's real, she's afraid, and she's not like a million other comic characters who are fake and stupid and always trying to be cute and perfect. Her imperfections are what are beautiful.

She's also not uber creepy like Hanners can sometimes be. Hanners just isn't running at the right frequency for me. She just doesn't do it for me the way Mari does.

Can you honestly think of a time that she's been mean, cruel, spiteful? Of a time she screwed someone over, wronged someone? She is not only vulnerable and real, but she treats other people with respect, for the most part. She's not a useless bitch like Faye. She's sweet, and has much love to offer. She is too scared to venture outside of the safety of her little world. She is a lot like me, but unlike me, she is not nearly as angry and bitter as I am. She does not fantasize about ripping people new rectums as I do.

There is a lot to appreciate about her.

Maybe I sound nuts but that's what I think.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 30 Aug 2011, 22:13
The notion is sound if idealist if you're using love in the general sense. Nothing wrong with that. Loving everyone in the romantic sense and expecting the same manner of love back is just plain flawed to the core though.

Not everyone, obviously. But would it be nice if those we loved loved us back? Imagine all the sadness and pain that would no longer exist. It would be beautiful.
Well sure. While we're on the subject it would also be pretty neat to live in a world with no disease where the air is laced with amphetamines. There's optimism, there's idealism, and then there's this. This delves into high fantasy right here. A world where everyone who loves someone is loved in return is so fundamentally altered it no longer even resembles our own. You could write an entire novel just exploring the concept of what such a world could theoretically look like, whether there would be drawbacks in such a utopia (for that is what it would be. A utopia), how this would alter social norms, human interaction, the development of all the sciences and political structure.

I mean it's a nice concept for fiction. It could actually be pretty fun to play around with. There are a lot of directions you could take that in. In terms of real life expectations though you'd be better off waiting for someone to develop Soma.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 22:14
Okay, I get it. Life just has to suck. Moving on...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 30 Aug 2011, 22:20
Maybe I sound nuts but that's what I think.

You don't sound nuts, but you do sound like a hurt and bitter person who is projecting her issues onto fictional characters, which is causing you to blow certain aspects of their personalities out of proportion.

Hope that wasn't too blunt, but you're arguing from your feelings and nothing else. No offense, but to me, it seems like the comic is something like a rorschach test for you.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: themacnut on 30 Aug 2011, 22:21
Okay, I get it. Life just has to suck. Moving on...

More like we can't always get what we want. If only we could, but life doesn't work that way, especially in the romantic arena...
 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 22:22

You don't sound nuts, but you do sound like a hurt and bitter person who is projecting her issues onto fictional characters, which is causing you to blow certain aspects of their personalities out of proportion.

Hope that wasn't too blunt, but you're arguing from your feelings and nothing else. No offense, but to me, it seems like the comic is something like a rorschach test for you.

No, it's not. But thank you for your opinion.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: dragontart on 30 Aug 2011, 22:25
Quote
But would it be nice if those we loved loved us back?
It means that many people either have to leave the one they already love, which kills the point, or have to become polyamorous, which again many would not find as nice.

You sound as if people simply choose whom(?) they love. And while I don't believe that feelings just magically drop out of outer space but are created by ourselves for very valid reasons, there is no way to simply flip a switch and suddenly love somebody.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 22:29
On the other hand, few people can give good reasons for NOT loving somebody. The person who broke my heart sure couldn't. : (
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 30 Aug 2011, 22:34
Few people can five reasons for lving someone, either.  Love is not a "reasonable" thing!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: dragontart on 30 Aug 2011, 22:35
I believe that often comes due to a lack of words or ways to describe many aspects of that topic. Also I sometimes asked myself why exactly I am not in love with certain people I really like (not that any of them ever asked, I just wondered) and I did not find an answer.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: ChristineIrene on 30 Aug 2011, 22:36
You can't possibly have a good reason to not have feelings for somebody.
I mean, you can make up that you're not compatible or various other factors, but in the end its just how you feel.

You can't magically turn the switch to make you not feel bitter and resentful, so why should that person be able to easily produce feelings for someone they are not interested it.


I've been rejected a few times, and I've had to be the reject-er position as well, and it sucks. But, that's the nature of human emotion.  
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 22:36
I guess it should go the other way. It would be easier to just not love who doesn't love us. Too bad it's too late for me. : (
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Akima on 30 Aug 2011, 22:38
People who didn't take suffering as inevitable have, among other things, eradicated smallpox, eliminating three million agonized deaths every year.
People who didn't take suffering as inevitable have done many things, some good, some evil. Regarding suffering as inevitable does not preclude trying to reduce it, but there is no vaccine to protect anyone from a broken heart.

Life is suffering due to the impermanence of life. Buddhist philosophy, ya dig.
Life is suffering in many ways, owing to many causes. I don't want to get technical because I am certainly not a qualified teacher (nor even a very good Buddhist), and this is not an appropriate forum, but when considering the Four Noble Truths (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Noble_Truths), it is important to realise that "suffering" is easily misunderstood owing to a mistranslation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dukkha) common to both English and Chinese.


Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 22:42
I should also mention that Mari is a SAINT compared to me with this shit. She genuinely wanted Angus to be happy. I would be going for blood.


Proof, I guess, that I don't identify with her that much. She is much better behaved than I would be. lol.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 30 Aug 2011, 22:45

You don't sound nuts, but you do sound like a hurt and bitter person who is projecting her issues onto fictional characters, which is causing you to blow certain aspects of their personalities out of proportion.

Hope that wasn't too blunt, but you're arguing from your feelings and nothing else. No offense, but to me, it seems like the comic is something like a rorschach test for you.

No, it's not. But thank you for your opinion.

Ok, that right there?  That's what I was talking abut earlier.  It's dismissive, and downright rude.  Partly because iduguphergrave is not  just expressing an opinion - the image you project on this forum is  of someone hurt and bitter.  And you are  blowing aspects of characters out of proportion, while ignoring other aspects.  You do  argue from your feelings, which is not an argument at all.  Yes, it is!  No, it isn't!...

As for the Rorschach test thing, most art really is.  What you see in it (whether it's a sculpture, a novel or (gasp!) a webcomic) reveals more about a yourself than most people like to admit...

Edit: Damn sticky O key...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 30 Aug 2011, 22:48
Okay, I get it. Life just has to suck. Moving on...
Life is awesome. It doesn't have to suck at all. We live in a golden age. I'm a dirtpoor student and I've got more entertainment laid out before me than could be consumed in a lifetime, nearly all human knowledge laid bare before me, a bitchin roof over my head that's not gonna fall anytime soon, and can support a lifestyle that doesn't require physical excertion and a diet that has me a little pudgy around the edges.

This is the best life has ever been on this planet. Even in lowerclass society my life is luxurious to a degree that exceeds the greatest nobles of old. I possess things that would have been great treasures even fifteen years ago and I treat it as outdated junk. I have access to all the food of the world. I am exposed to the elements to a minimal degree. I have a degree of freedom that in a larger perspective is enviable, and I can choose to partake in all the pursuits in the world that could ever interest me. I live in a city. A section of the planet that we have manually reshaped in our image. The entire world is my oyster and my fate is mine for the choosing so long as I place it within my ability to accomplish.

Life is the best. I'm hardly broken up over the fact that the freedom and unpredictability of other thinking beings prevents me from forging an ideal relationship with only my own will to back it. Life is so awesome that people look at my awesome life and think it's shit just based on the comparison to their own fantastic lives.

Life has to contain contain disappointment. This is unavoidable. There is pain to be found in life. This is also unavoidable. Overall though life's pretty freaking sweet right now. I got pepsi in the fridge.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Blackjoker on 30 Aug 2011, 22:54
Oh my this is an active thread. On the note of the chasis I'm actually more curious as to whether they have rules and regs for addons and the like, for example smaller ones might have more bells and whistles in part because they look less human and might also be seen as less threatening whereas human sized ones might have more regulations to avoid 'How do I compete with a living computer that also has built in wireless, hologram projectors and can be a portable espresson machine?!'

As to the whole Marigold thing...I find it a bit weird. I don't see any kind of romantic link between Marigold and Angus, their personalities seem to be far too disparate at least in terms of what would attract them. I feel genuine sympathy for Marigold, someone who would gladly offer themselves to someone just to be treated nicely is someone that needs a lot of sympathy. But she and Angus wouldn't be happy together, I think that if Dale is pursuing her it's closer to Calvin tormenting Suzie than it is to anything really flirtatious.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 30 Aug 2011, 23:00
Okay, I get it. Life just has to suck. Moving on...
Life is awesome. It doesn't have to suck at all. We live in a golden age. I'm a dirtpoor student and I've got more entertainment laid out before me than could be consumed in a lifetime, nearly all human knowledge laid bare before me, a bitchin roof over my head that's not gonna fall anytime soon, and can support a lifestyle that doesn't require physical excertion and a diet that has me a little pudgy around the edges.

This is the best life has ever been on this planet. Even in lowerclass society my life is luxurious to a degree that exceeds the greatest nobles of old. I possess things that would have been great treasures even fifteen years ago and I treat it as outdated junk. I have access to all the food of the world. I am exposed to the elements to a minimal degree. I have a degree of freedom that in a larger perspective is enviable, and I can choose to partake in all the pursuits in the world that could ever interest me. I live in a city. A section of the planet that we have manually reshaped in our image. The entire world is my oyster and my fate is mine for the choosing so long as I place it within my ability to accomplish.

Life is the best. I'm hardly broken up over the fact that the freedom and unpredictability of other thinking beings prevents me from forging an ideal relationship with only my own will to back it. Life is so awesome that people look at my awesome life and think it's shit just based on the comparison to their own fantastic lives.

Life has to contain contain disappointment. This is unavoidable. There is pain to be found in life. This is also unavoidable. Overall though life's pretty freaking sweet right now. I got pepsi in the fridge.


Okay, well, good for you. Maybe this is more than people who come on a forum to discuss a comic care to know, but my life isn't so great, and I've already shared at least one reason why.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Aug 2011, 23:16
my life isn't so great, and I've already shared at least one reason why.

If you head down to the part of the forum called "awkward self-aware makeout zone" you will find a "relationship advice thread" and a "blog thread", where people unburden themselves of their problems and sometimes get sympathy and advice in return.  As well as romantic rejection, there are discussions there of parental rejection, persistent illness, suicide of friends, loss of home and identity and more.  Some people have found help in the discussions - and I dare say others have not - but what you do get to see there (over time) is that (a) there is nothing new under the sun, and (b) whatever it is, someone else has been there so you are not alone.

If you want to have such a discussion, that would be a better place than this thread - though these days it's much slower than this part of the forums.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 30 Aug 2011, 23:17
MOVING RIGHT ALONG..........................................................
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: westrim on 30 Aug 2011, 23:18
MOVING RIGHT ALONG..........................................................
I already tried that, but hopefully your version works.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 30 Aug 2011, 23:22
Here's something more light-hearted to change to conversation flow: Play the QC caption game! (http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,27204.0.html) (I mean if you don't already)

/plug
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mad Cat on 30 Aug 2011, 23:35
Of course, there's the issue that now that she's bigger, by almost an order of magnitude, her skirt is also bigger by almost an order of magnitude. Ergo, the opportunities for Pintsize to peek under her skirt will increase by almost an order of magnitude.

Also, if it is Momo's intention to do this to everyone who's tried to look under her skirt, Faye needs to run.Fats. Now.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Tova on 30 Aug 2011, 23:57
Here's something more light-hearted to change to conversation flow: Play the QC caption game! (http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,27204.0.html) (I mean if you don't already)

/plug

Challenge accepted.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 31 Aug 2011, 00:20
Also, if it is Momo's intention to do this to everyone who's tried to look under her skirt, Faye needs to run.Fats. Now.
I dont believe there is a danger of that:
1. Momo likely isnt as strong as Faye.
2. Faye has only bothered her once and she stopped when Momo demanded it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: westrim on 31 Aug 2011, 00:37
I just realized that we could see the joints on every human scale anthroPC except this one. Why would sales AIs not be using the latest and greatest to show them off, at least?

Seconding the buying a new body desire. It's not that mine is bad, it's that I know it will wear out. I wouldn't mind dying at 100 if there weren't so many aches and pains along the way.

On the more frank side, I don't see how there could be robotics this lifelike and there not be widespread human-on-robot action (assume that I am not necessarily talking about AIs, just hardware and firmware considerations, and note that I have mostly not been party to any conversations on the subject last week). It at the very least has a mouth; even if all the developers all steadfastly refuse to install anything downstairs, there are surely aftermarket suppliers and technicians. Do we have any reason to believe that the Rule of First Adopters (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheRuleOfFirstAdopters) is not in effect in QCverse?

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: CompSarge on 31 Aug 2011, 01:07
I didn't think it was possible for Momo's new chassis to be cuter than her chibi one, but Jeph proved me wrong. What is it about girls wearing shirts that are too big for them that is just adorable?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 31 Aug 2011, 01:36
Like Hanners in Sven's hoodie? As cute as a kitten.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: westrim on 31 Aug 2011, 02:05
I think it's some sort of mental thing where, so long as it covers below the crotch it evinces the same reaction as a very short dress; pants don't seem to factor in even though we know logically that means they're covered, there's still something hoping that they aren't pants, just really long leggings.

I'll probably look at the wording later today and slap myself, but I hope you get the idea.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 31 Aug 2011, 02:28
Clothes that don't fit are so childlike. Momo looks like she's waiting to grow into it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: St.Clair on 31 Aug 2011, 02:32
She does look rather like a kid sister now.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: ihaveavoice on 31 Aug 2011, 02:33
Oh ffs. Yeah, maybe part of being a child in a first world country. I think the starving, malnourished, abused children would beg to differ on that. Joy is not a part of every childhood...and it's not a part of every life.

I am really sick of being told that there's something wrong with loving someone, expecting love back.

Humans fuck it all up...other animals get it right.

I am not twisted, creepy, or anything else. My view makes perfect sense. I have never broken a heart.

The bolded bothered me so much, I had to make an account so I could respond.  No, the starving, malnourished, abused children of the third world do not lead lives completely bereft of joy and satisfaction.  That they have much harder, shorter lives than ours does not preclude them living completely.  In fact, when everything is darkness and pain in so much of your life, brief moments of respite become great sources of joy.  Imagine that your daily life includes never knowing when your next meal will come or if your sister will survive this latest bout of dysentery; now imagine a night when you have an extra bit of food to eat and share with her, and for once it's not too hot to cuddle as you chew.  Life in that moment is full of satisfaction, regardless of what it otherwise holds for you.  Hell, just seeing the weeds that grow between stones or feeling a cool shadow pass over you as you work can fill you with content when you least expect it.  To say that the starving, abused, etc. never feel joy is like saying they are incapable of it, which couldn't be farther from the truth.

And I don't think you're a twisted, creepy person, but I do think that saying someone who is loved must necessarily love back is a bit...rapey, by way of unfortunate implication.  I also have seen enough of the animal kingdom through my childhood obsession with Animal Planet and any related reading to know that idealizing the way that all animals approach sex is not the way to go, unless you'd count rape as love and squealing, kicking resistance as returning said love.  Angus did not betray Marigold by being honest: he was being a good friend to her.  When one of my guy friends asked me out and I just didn't feel the same way, it hurt like hell to have to tell him no, and if he'd reacted using the logic you apply to Angus and Marigold, I would have lost his friendship completely.  Instead, he accepted that romantic feeling is no more a switch you can flip at will than, say, sexual orientation, and our friendship did not suffer a whit for it.

I hope your wound heals as smoothly as possible and I also hope you don't take my response as an attack.  And, um, hi, forum!  It's nice to be here!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 31 Aug 2011, 02:39
Just to say that questionablecontentfan has posted in the relationship advice thread (http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,24169.msg1053826.html#msg1053826), and it would now be more appropriate to respond to her there.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 31 Aug 2011, 02:55
ihaveavoice, thank you for elucidating what I was trying to say so well. 

Also, welcome to the forums!  Good first post...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: J on 31 Aug 2011, 02:57
I didn't think it was possible for Momo's new chassis to be cuter than her chibi one, but Jeph proved me wrong. What is it about girls wearing shirts that are too big for them that is just adorable?

makes them appear smaller and hides secondary sex characteristics, thus making them appear more childlike and helpless and triggering protective instincts.



Okay, I get it. Life just has to suck. Moving on...
life is just life. sometimes it's a bitch, and sometimes it's bitch'n. sometimes you have control, and sometimes you don't. about the only constant truth is that it's always better than the alternative.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Random Al Yousir on 31 Aug 2011, 03:41
ihaveavoice, thank you for elucidating what I was trying to say so well. 

Also, welcome to the forums!  Good first post...
I second that.

On topic: I can't wait to see the new Momo happen to Faye.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: HiFranc on 31 Aug 2011, 03:43
I like the new Momo.  Momo has always cared about Marigold but she, Momo, is more assertive and confident.  Beforehand she could only advise (translating unspoken desires between Marigold and Hannelore) and "persuade" (threatening to use her electric shock, threatening to tell Angus a story that would embarrass Marigold).  Now she can take direct action to look after Marigold -- cooking healthy meals, talking to Marigold as an equal.

Of couse, Marigold needs to learn how to look after herself rather than rely on Momo but it is a step in the right direction.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 31 Aug 2011, 03:59
Today's comic decides it - I am definitely happy with Momo's new chassis.

I expressed doubts before, but that was probably just my human opposition to all and any change. ;) This new form for Momo allows the story to go in new directions and take on new themes. It's not quite like adding a new character, but it's taking an old character and giving her a very different role. Even though she is still cute and short(ish), she's no longer the little doll-size she was before, and that simple fact will mean she is treated differently by characters, and by Jeph, no longer as a sort of little pet/child.

Slightly disappointed we didn't get to see Hannelore's 'first reaction', but perhaps Jeph is just avoiding that because doing it with all the characters would just be repeating the same comic over and over again, and doesn't really have all that much potential for humour.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: ihaveavoice on 31 Aug 2011, 04:12
ihaveavoice, thank you for elucidating what I was trying to say so well. 

Also, welcome to the forums!  Good first post...
I second that.

On topic: I can't wait to see the new Momo happen to Faye.

Thank you for the warm welcome and the compliments on my post!  :-D  Also, teehee, I like the phrasing of Momo happening to Faye.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Akima on 31 Aug 2011, 04:14
Of couse, Marigold needs to learn how to look after herself rather than rely on Momo but it is a step in the right direction.
Is it worse to rely on a robot cook than for me to use an electric rice cooker? I mean, what's the point of a personal robot if you can't have it do useful things? How about Momo the robo-personal-trainer too? Just no maid's uniforms...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: anabatica on 31 Aug 2011, 04:24
Of couse, Marigold needs to learn how to look after herself rather than rely on Momo but it is a step in the right direction.
Is it worse to rely on a robot cook than for me to use an electric rice cooker? I mean, what's the point of a personal robot if you can't have it do useful things? How about Momo the robo-personal-trainer too? Just no maid's uniforms...
I don't know about you, but my electric rice cooker doesn't encourage me to go out and socialize, suggest I exercise, or insist that I eat more veggies. Marigold letting Momo cook for her is great, Marigold relying on Momo to tell her what is best to do with her life is a little sad.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Throg on 31 Aug 2011, 04:31
Of couse, Marigold needs to learn how to look after herself rather than rely on Momo but it is a step in the right direction.
Is it worse to rely on a robot cook than for me to use an electric rice cooker? I mean, what's the point of a personal robot if you can't have it do useful things? How about Momo the robo-personal-trainer too? Just no maid's uniforms...

Well, it already seems accepted that there's a whole scale of AI in the QCverse.  All the way from "I make bread fun!" to running a nuclear submarine and breaking into impromptu musical numbers.  And, for that matter, Momo has already "nudged" Marigold into a social life anyway -- under threat of electric shock -- and helped Marigold and Hannelore over their initial mutual social awkwardness.  

And at this point, what's wrong with maid uniforms? This whole storyline seems to be a huge Jeph shout-out for his love of various anime tropes.  Might as well go all the way.   :|

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Border Reiver on 31 Aug 2011, 04:41
I don't know Akima, most anime costumes for females tend to be as sexist as any "French Maid Outfit". 

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: sharpreed on 31 Aug 2011, 04:52
I'm pretty much loving the story arc. Its great seeing Momo being able to express herself in a more assertive manner. To be fair, the violent tendencies have always been present in angry Momo its just now she is able to act on them.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: HiFranc on 31 Aug 2011, 05:02
Of couse, Marigold needs to learn how to look after herself rather than rely on Momo but it is a step in the right direction.
Is it worse to rely on a robot cook than for me to use an electric rice cooker? I mean, what's the point of a personal robot if you can't have it do useful things? How about Momo the robo-personal-trainer too? Just no maid's uniforms...
I don't know about you, but my electric rice cooker doesn't encourage me to go out and socialize, suggest I exercise, or insist that I eat more veggies. Marigold letting Momo cook for her is great, Marigold relying on Momo to tell her what is best to do with her life is a little sad.

I agree with what anabatica says.

I would add to that that even using a rice cooker takes a bit of skill.  You may need to prepare some other ingredients (e.g. cook some fish, veg, etc) to make the meal balanced.  We're not talking about being "Master Chef" here but enough for day-to-day life.  It's a personal opinion but I believe that part of being an adult is being able to cook and being able to look after yourself.

It's one thing to have another person, or even a robot, cook you a meal.  It's another thing if you would be lost without that assistance.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mojo on 31 Aug 2011, 05:11
I'm not sure I like this direction in the comic.  Sure, the sentient tech has been there since the beginning, and we saw the robot body Hannerdad sent, but I can't help feeling making that commonplace is lining up the shark for a good long leap.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 31 Aug 2011, 05:25
I just realized that we could see the joints on every human scale anthroPC except this one. Why would sales AIs not be using the latest and greatest to show them off, at least?

Because some companies are misers when it comes to expenses. I used to work for a company that still used a combo Windows NT 4.0/MS-DOS only several years ago in day-to-day operations. They managed to "upgrade" to Windows XP a few years ago. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Random Al Yousir on 31 Aug 2011, 05:37
I also think it might be a point of courtesy and good customer relations to let the customers know on first glance if they are dealing with an an AI or a human.

I like the phrasing of Momo happening to Faye.
Hehe, yeah, I understand Faye's role ...
Well, I think, one of Faye's roles in this comic is the role of a happening person.  She joined the storyline by happening to Marten after all, and, in the name of fair game, things keep happening to her as well.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Sylentknight on 31 Aug 2011, 05:38
When Momo threatened to give Marigold a whack, Asimov's Laws jumped into my head. As I am sure they have already been discussed and as I have no desire to bring back the dead, could someone direct me to the week they took place?   :-)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 31 Aug 2011, 05:44
I'm not sure I like this direction in the comic.  Sure, the sentient tech has been there since the beginning, and we saw the robot body Hannerdad sent, but I can't help feeling making that commonplace is lining up the shark for a good long leap.

You aren't the only one.  They were great for comic relief when the relationship drama escalated, but now they're just as important as the regular cast, not to mention the endless questions they create.

We've gone from indie drama to sci-fi almost instantly.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 31 Aug 2011, 05:47
Why not Dale?

It's the cheap way out.  I hate when stories match people up because they currently have the same hobby.  Dale has been nothing but an ass...and besides, Marigold isn't happy with her current lifestyle.  She needs an active guy who doesn't play games all day.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 31 Aug 2011, 05:48
Even though she is still cute and short(ish)
I wonder how tall she is anyway.. Considering that jeph uses to draw pretty much all the people quite tall it wouldn't surprise me that even Momo is taller than me.

Yes, I'm a short fella, 5'6''
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 31 Aug 2011, 06:07

Nobody has a duty to love anyone*. None of us are special snowflakes. Nobody's personality entitles them to affection, or to be looked after by somebody else. Life is suffering.


But sometimes there are parties, and makeouts! (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=453)

WIN.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 31 Aug 2011, 06:16
MOVING RIGHT ALONG..........................................................
I already tried that, but hopefully your version works.

...Maybe you need to tell QCF that the thread starter HATES IT when his discussion threads get locked?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 31 Aug 2011, 06:20
I'm not sure I like this direction in the comic.  Sure, the sentient tech has been there since the beginning, and we saw the robot body Hannerdad sent, but I can't help feeling making that commonplace is lining up the shark for a good long leap.

You aren't the only one.  They were great for comic relief when the relationship drama escalated, but now they're just as important as the regular cast, not to mention the endless questions they create.

We've gone from indie drama to sci-fi almost instantly.

Has to be said, Jeph's original vision for the comic was "a depressed guy and his robot", and even though his idea evolved into something different and better, robot companions have from the beginning been a crucial part of the comic. As for the 'endless questions', well, there don't have to be. It doesn't affect the comic. All the discussion that's been going on here about AI is an interesting debate but not a crucial one. Jeph's offered a little background detail so things make sense, but it's possible to just enjoy a generally light-hearted comic that happens to have robots in.

Don't forget that this robo-centric arc has been running less than two weeks. It's way to early to tell if this will make a difference to the comic as a whole, or if everyone will just go, "Oh, look, Momo is human-sized now, that's pretty cool" and then go back to talking about the latest townie drama or obscure indie band with more words in their name than fans.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Random Al Yousir on 31 Aug 2011, 06:40
At least we now know that the QC-universe world is managed by sentient machines, instead of the stupid machines of our world, obeying any order given to them by anyone with the authority to do so.

Might be an improvement; although I have some trouble bringing meself to believe that sentience defaults to sanity and any aberration is caused by faulty (biological) hardware.

And then: What about bugs?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 31 Aug 2011, 06:53
Of course, what could happen is that the Idoru company and/or whomever makes chassis (what IS the plural of that, anyways?) for AnthroPC's has a major manufacturing issue which drives them out of business - making them go the way of the iPod, PocketPC and whatever.

A point to remember: the concept of the APC as a robo-companion was relatively new - new enough that Faye asked if Pintsize could do "all that crazy holographic stuff" like in the commercials. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=5) That indicates that they were new enough back then - anywhere from a couple of years to nearly a decade ago in strip time - that the idea of making the robots more lifelike hadn't quite come along (yet).

I like to theorize that Hanner's dad was the one behind the Idoru-style production of APC chassis, with Hanners' "boyfriend" being the prototype.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Throg on 31 Aug 2011, 06:57
There comes a point where one has to adopt the hand-waving, it's-for-the-sake-of-a-punchline acceptance. 

Along with the sentient AI's, what about the teleporting cappucino maker?  Some grad student chick working in a coffee store can whip that up?  What are the implications of that tech?   :-P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 31 Aug 2011, 07:04
Quite.

anywhere from a couple of years to nearly a decade ago in strip time

To run away on a tangent, is there any kind of consensus as to roughly how much time has passed in the comic?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: kent_eh on 31 Aug 2011, 07:05
Robot chefs can be some fine comedy too:
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MV_MTeb8tbo/SU68HF1YWmI/AAAAAAAAE38/g3_DYoJfxbw/s400/autochef_08.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: lepetitfromage on 31 Aug 2011, 07:18
I wonder how he will handle this in print form. The robo-beat-down wills work with a static panel but the twitch needs the animation to work. Maybe the old cartoon convention of superposed images or motion lines will work.


i vote for a hologram  :-P

Unfortunately, this would most likely add to the cost of printing the book, which would then add to the final price of it. Which would then mean fewer copies of said book being sold. So a hologram would probably not be a good idea.

hmmm....good point. the only other thing i could think of would be one of those silly move-the-limb-on-a-rotating-tabby-device-thingamabob*.....which could be fun in a silly way but could also end up being incredibly hokey.



*what the hell are those things actually called?? I would google it, but i doubt my term of choice would give me any productive results lol



also- i love the new little sister-esque Momo. I think for Mari, this new chassis could make her take Momo a little more seriously. She's always had Marigold's best interest in mind but due to her size (and stinkin' cute outfits) it's been hard for Mari to really take what she says to heart. I think Mari could learn a lot about socializing and taking care of herself, plus they kind of have a cute roommate vibe now. Yes, she's essentially a computer, but lots of people learn things from computers  :-) Only difference is that Momo can figure out exactly what Mari needs and how to help her attain it rather than having Mari sit down and type all of her problems into a search engine.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kwaping on 31 Aug 2011, 09:01
Did anyone notice Momo's arm joints disappeared after she took ownership of the new body? Intentional or oversight?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 31 Aug 2011, 09:48
It has  been noted - I know, the thread's gotten TL;DR.  They were barely there in 2000, when we first see the chassis, and disappeared completely right away.  This is a higher end chassis, though. 

But I think IRL Jeph's forgotten, or is hoping no one notices...



And jwhouk, the plural is  chassis.  It's like moose. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 31 Aug 2011, 09:54
Pretty sure there aren't any arm joints in Momo's chassis in #2000. I don't see any.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Jedit on 31 Aug 2011, 09:59

Along with the sentient AI's, what about the teleporting cappucino maker?  Some grad student chick working in a coffee store can whip that up?  What are the implications of that tech?   :-P

None.  The cappuccino maker was in fact teleported to Alaska by a paintball-playing polar bear (http://www.the-whiteboard.com/autotwb1379.html).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 31 Aug 2011, 10:21
Pretty sure there aren't any arm joints in Momo's chassis in #2000. I don't see any.

They're very faint, in the first three panels, at the elbows, wrists and finger joints. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 31 Aug 2011, 10:25

And jwhouk, the plural is  chassis.  It's like moose. 

I was about to the plural of chassis. Glad to have the answer. So it's not like 'basis':-)

Re 'moose'. When in grad school my friends royally fooled me. They new that I was paying attention to politics, and at that time a high ranking US official named Meese (from CIA?) was involved in some kind of a scandal. Well, you can fill in the blanks.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheCollector on 31 Aug 2011, 10:42
New Momo just got even cuter in that baggy shirt and pants. So cute!
And i agree with those in here that stated this is good for the character. It basically means for her she'll be involved in more comics now. Cause she's not just the little antropc girl who lives in Marigolds room and is sometimes with Pintsize. Now she can be used more often, going to CoD with Marigold maybe. Personally I'm really excited over what this change could mean for her screen time.

And y'know, I don't understand why Marigold has such low self esteem, if she was real I'd go out with her in a second.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 31 Aug 2011, 11:00
if she was real I'd go out with her in a second.

This, and if she liked girls, which she doesn't. *sigh*

I need to get a life...lol.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: SirDudley on 31 Aug 2011, 11:01
You know, Momo actually looks good in Hanners' clothes. I don't know what it is, but they just work for Momo. Although, I wish I could have seen Winslow's reaction to Momo 2.0, but I guess that will be a DVDvolume extra or something along those lines, like Marten's initial reaction.

And I do agree, now Momo does look a lot like a kid sister to Marigold. With pink hair. And the ability to electrocute people (maybe; unknown if that ability transferred). And has eel handling expertise.

Now, will Momo be acquiring hand-me-downs from Hannelore in the future or will there be a future set of strips revolving around clothing shopping hijinks? Only Jeph knows. And by "knows", I mean "will probably make it up on the fly eventually because he damn well can".

Warning - while you were typing a new reply has been posted. You may wish to review your post.
Grr...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 31 Aug 2011, 11:23
She needs an active guy who doesn't play games all day.
What about a guy with at least two jobs who games in his spare time?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 31 Aug 2011, 11:52
Jeph on Joints (from his Tumblr):

Quote from: Questioner
I noticed Momo’s new chassis has what appears to be a solid exo-skin. Every other model featured in the latest arc has articulating separate parts connected at the joint like an action figure. Is Momo’s chassis just a later model? Higher quality? And is it an actual flesh-like skin? Imagining that in real life gives me the Uncanny Valley jibblies.
Quote from: Jeph
It’s a seamless synthetic covering- it has some actual stretch and give to it, unlike the other chassis which are a semi-deformable plastic like Pintsize, hence their visible joints. It doesn’t have the same texture as skin, it’s just a flesh-toned synthetic.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 31 Aug 2011, 11:54
She needs an active guy who doesn't play games all day.
What about a guy with at least two jobs who games in his spare time?

Three, unless he counts playing WoW as a job.  (in the relevant comic (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1680), he said "Two other  jobs")

That's why he's a special customer at CoD!  


"No sleep make Dale go all Gendo at pretty gamer girl..."  [passes out from caffeine overdose]
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: justanotherbrick on 31 Aug 2011, 11:55
Hi again everyone!

I don't post often, but I read the forum regularly (nearly every day!) and have for some time. I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I have a question: Can I respectfully submit to the approval of the midnight society (ahem...forum moderators...don't know where that came from) that this is the last time we have to sift through five pages of "ZOMG I HATE FAYE SOOOO MUCH SHE IS A BITCH" and discussions of Mari and Angus' failed romance, which if I may point out happened over 350 COMICS AGO?! Well over a year ago?! Isn't there an explicit forum rule that bringing your hatred of one character into the forum again and again can be considered grounds for banning? (I could be wrong about that but I'm pretty sure Jeph said that a while back). I'm not saying that people aren't allowed to have an opinion...I just...I think we've covered that topic pretty thoroughly and I'm just really sick of it.

I love this comic, and I love this forum (okay, maybe love is a strong word). I would really like to keep coming back and reading it without seeing the same arguments again and again.

/rant

That being said, I liked Momo better when she was little, but I'm interested to see where this storyline goes! (If anywhere).

*EDIT* MARIGOLD and Angus' failed relationship, not Faye and Angus'. Freudian slip?

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 31 Aug 2011, 12:15
One of the mods warned that it was getting close to trolling, and the thread's course was successfully altered. 

You need to remember, there are always new people in here nowadays (I never thought I'd long for the days when the notification bot was broken...).  The group memory is short, and when someone touches a nerve (or rubs it raw), you'll get a reaction that looks like overkill. 

It's just the psychology of a forum. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TRVA123 on 31 Aug 2011, 12:20
I actually like it when there's a heated discussion on the forum, although I also get sick of a discussion that is repeated over and over (i.e. Martin has no motivation/Dora is psychotic/blah blah blah) I enjoy reading that much more than I enjoy the light everyday commentary.

The discussion about Jephs AI developments and their implications on the QC world was fascinating and I enjoyed reading that a lot.

The first time a character discussion happens I enjoy it. I really enjoy reading about other reactions/theories to the Martin/Dora breakup, Faye getting therapy, and the "is Dale a creeper?" debate. I enjoy it so much that reading this thread was a pleasure, although I wouldn't have enjoyed it half as much if I'd read roughly the same discussion yesterday.

I just enjoy reading forums where people post their own theories and interpretations and back them up with evidence from the comic. It does get frustrating when someone refuses to play the debate game and just makes unsupported statements or when it degenerates to ad hominem attacks; but I would much rather read a good debate than largely unfocused comments that have little to do with each other.

Yikes, i just realized that I used the work[Edit: word] enjoy way too many times.....
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: idontunderstand on 31 Aug 2011, 12:22
and you used the word "word" one too little times!

(ka-ching!)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 31 Aug 2011, 12:23
She needs an active guy who doesn't play games all day.
What about a guy with at least two jobs who games in his spare time?

Seriously. I'm sorry, but Dale likes Marigold, and she might like him too. Who knows, that may even be why he came into the story.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TRVA123 on 31 Aug 2011, 12:24
and you used the word "word" one too little times!

(ka-ching!)

 :psyduck:

This might be why I like reading the discussions far better than participating in them, I'm like that enthusiastic puppy that wants to join the game but then trips over it's uncoordinated feet.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 31 Aug 2011, 12:25
She needs an active guy who doesn't play games all day.
What about a guy with at least two jobs who games in his spare time?

Three, unless he counts playing WoW as a job.  (in the relevant comic (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1680), he said "Two other  jobs")

That's why he's a special customer at CoD!  


"No sleep make Dale go all Gendo at pretty gamer girl..."  [passes out from caffeine overdose]
Thanks, I just knew he had multiple jobs (hence "at least) but didn't remember where it said that.  My point is "an active guy who doesn't play games all day" is Dale.  Not that they should or shouldn't date, I'm not gonna go there, but yeah.

TWO @QCFan - Perhaps.

ONE MORE :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: justanotherbrick on 31 Aug 2011, 12:29
and you used the word "word" one too little times!

(ka-ching!)

Lawl.

Quote
You need to remember, there are always new people in here nowadays (I never thought I'd long for the days when the notification bot was broken...).  The group memory is short, and when someone touches a nerve (or rubs it raw), you'll get a reaction that looks like overkill.

That's true - I didn't necessarily consider that some people haven't participated in the Faye/Mari/Angus debate yet. I guess I just assumed that everyone here was a long-time lurker like me.  8-) I feel old.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 31 Aug 2011, 12:50
Sorry, you're not allowed to feel old unless you grew up dialing  telephones...

(http://www.robertopiecollection.com/Application/Images/Teleph/500-series-ivory-lg.jpg)


Grampa, where's the Q?  And the Z?  And where do I read the texts? 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Cornan on 31 Aug 2011, 12:59
Yay! I get to feel old!

er....wait...

The dialog between Momo and M today sounds disturbingly like my inner monologue.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: vsonics on 31 Aug 2011, 13:02

I'll admit that I'm still in the category that isn't entirely sure about my opinion on the new Momo. I mean, she's absolutely adorable, sure. And I'm really interested in seeing where this goes. But there was just something...I don't know, appealing about the tiny robot that had her shit together way more than most of the other characters. Taking care of Marigold obviously keeps her in that position. She's just not tiny anymore. :(

p.s. What a beautiful telephone. But what happens if I want to take my call on the other side of the room? The cord thing comes off, right?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 31 Aug 2011, 13:13
Sorry, you're not allowed to feel old unless you grew up dialing  telephones...

For local calls - had to call the operator for trunk calls*.  Yes, I remember the introduction of STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling) in the UK.

* The last place in England to get STD was Abingdon, a town near Oxford - in the early 1970s you still had to go through the operator to call people on the other side of the same town.  Guess where I lived for a while...

And that phone was the new model that appeared in the UK in 1959.  I grew up with this 1930s model:

(http://cassland.org/images/gpo300.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 31 Aug 2011, 13:27
Can I respectfully submit to the approval of the midnight society (ahem...forum moderators...don't know where that came from) that this is the last time we have to sift through five pages of "ZOMG I HATE FAYE SOOOO MUCH SHE IS A BITCH" and discussions of Mari and Angus' failed romance, which if I may point out happened over 350 COMICS AGO?

I prefer not to delete history if I can avoid it; it feels like censorship.  In the end, sympathetic listening by the forum established that the forumite who drove that topic is in a bad place personally; and she is now being offered advice, to the admittedly modest extent that an Internet forum can give it, in a more appropriate place.  If that helps her, it seems a worthwhile exchange for a mere twelve hours of over-enthusiastic discussion in this thread; so please let it drop now.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 31 Aug 2011, 14:06
Hmmmmmm

I wonder if Hanners and Momo 2.0 will team up to bring Marigold out of her shell more.

It would certainly be interesting to see those two double teaming MariBear
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 31 Aug 2011, 15:07
She needs an active guy who doesn't play games all day.
What about a guy with at least two jobs who games in his spare time?

Three, unless he counts playing WoW as a job.  (in the relevant comic (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1680), he said "Two other  jobs")

That's why he's a special customer at CoD!  

"No sleep make Dale go all Gendo at pretty gamer girl..."  [passes out from caffeine overdose]
Thanks, I just knew he had multiple jobs (hence "at least) but didn't remember where it said that.  My point is "an active guy who doesn't play games all day" is Dale.  Not that they should or shouldn't date, I'm not gonna go there, but yeah.

TWO @QCFan - Perhaps.

ONE MORE :psyduck:

By active, I meant someone who would rather go socialize, go to a park, etc.  You know, out abd active, not active as in finding a place to play games and harass girls.  Yes, she'll probably date him for some reason, it's the only reason he appears anymore and reminds me of the awkward Faye-Angus stalker romance.  If that's what she wants to do though than whatever.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 31 Aug 2011, 15:14
I think harass is a bit strong, but then you consider Angus a stalker, so maybe that's you going easy on Dale.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Akima on 31 Aug 2011, 16:10
At least we now know that the QC-universe world is managed by sentient machines, instead of the stupid machines of our world, obeying any order given to them by anyone with the authority to do so.
Yes, only stupid machines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment) would obey any order given to them by authority figures...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 31 Aug 2011, 16:25
Can I respectfully submit to the approval of the midnight society (ahem...forum moderators...don't know where that came from) that this is the last time we have to sift through five pages of "ZOMG I HATE FAYE SOOOO MUCH SHE IS A BITCH" and discussions of Mari and Angus' failed romance
A lot of moderation work happens behind the scenes, and success is not guaranteed, so problems will appear from time to time.

You remember right about Jeph objecting to having character hate turn into an obsession. I think I know who he was thinking of, and that situation was way further from being an actual discussion.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Welu on 31 Aug 2011, 16:43

Grampa, where's the Q?  And the Z?  And where do I read the texts? 

I remember the first time I noticed my landline didn't have Q or Z. Blew my mind.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 31 Aug 2011, 17:00
I've already realized that my line of thinking was wrong. Angus was not obligated to return Mari's feelings, I understand that at least logically. Nor is Mari obligated to return Dale's feelings, though she might. I hope she does, because I think they'd be cute together.

That's all.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: helloandgoodbye on 31 Aug 2011, 17:09
  I'm not gonna lie.  I'm kind of sick of this arc.  Didn't Jeph once say something about not having arcs that revolve around anthroPCs?


  ...Unless Momo's planning on becoming main cast or something, so this ends up like some weird Chobits type deal.  O_O
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Sorflakne on 31 Aug 2011, 17:16
Sorry, you're not allowed to feel old unless you grew up dialing  telephones...

(http://www.robertopiecollection.com/Application/Images/Teleph/500-series-ivory-lg.jpg)


Grampa, where's the Q?  And the Z?  And where do I read the texts? 
I'm 26.  We had two dial-tone phones in the house and one in the shop.  Heck, we were still using one of them when I graduated high school.  Those phones were nigh indestructible.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 31 Aug 2011, 17:32
I actually like to see more of Marigold, so this story arc has been just fine for me. : )
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 31 Aug 2011, 18:01
Sorry, you're not allowed to feel old unless you grew up dialing  telephones...
(http://www.robertopiecollection.com/Application/Images/Teleph/500-series-ivory-lg.jpg)
My grandma and grandpa had one of those. We had one of THESE:

(http://www.digitallydo.com/phone/blue_trimline.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 31 Aug 2011, 18:02
Jeph said in the newspost for one of the Clinton strips that every time he tries to do an AnthroPC story it tends to get pulled into a story about humans, and recently said the Momo arc is an exception.

Fortunately Momo is a real character, just not an organic one.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Tova on 31 Aug 2011, 18:38
I remember that there were still a few of the black bakelite phones floating around while I was growing up.

The ear speakers in those things were freaking loud. Very clear, though. Terrific phones.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: SirDudley on 31 Aug 2011, 18:40
Sorry, you're not allowed to feel old unless you grew up dialing  telephones...

(http://www.robertopiecollection.com/Application/Images/Teleph/500-series-ivory-lg.jpg)


Grampa, where's the Q?  And the Z?  And where do I read the texts? 
Oh yes. I remember these kinds of phones. I think my parents had one until I was three, then the push-button version replaced it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 31 Aug 2011, 18:58
My grandparents had one for years.  I'd use it every time I visited (which was just once a year, they lived 3000km away).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: CompSarge on 31 Aug 2011, 20:16
Man, remember phone cords? #QCbookreferenceinforums
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: rje on 31 Aug 2011, 20:19
Sorry, you're not allowed to feel old unless you grew up dialing  telephones...

(http://www.robertopiecollection.com/Application/Images/Teleph/500-series-ivory-lg.jpg)


Grampa, where's the Q?  And the Z?  And where do I read the texts? 
I'm 26.  We had two dial-tone phones in the house and one in the shop.  Heck, we were still using one of them when I graduated high school.  Those phones were nigh indestructible.
*hugs phone*

This is my home landline telephone right now! Well actually mine is red - but I've had it for 13 years and I'm pretty sure it's actually from the 70s maybe? (was my parents') and it still works perfectly. Long distance is a little tinny but it's not as muffled as my cell phone, amusingly. I am keeping this phone until I die. I don't need a special fancy phone for my landline since I use the cell for the majority of my calls, it's for emergencies really plus I like keeping old things. (I still have my parents record player/radio/8-track player cabinet. The 8-track player stopped working though :( )
And in case of home evasion i can use it as a weapon! Fucker is heavy as hell.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Tova on 31 Aug 2011, 20:57
I see all of your rotary dial telephones, and raise you an acoustic coupler.

(http://www.4h6.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Acoustic-Coupler.jpg)

I never owned one, but I used one at my first job (it looked almost exactly like the one in the picture above).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 31 Aug 2011, 21:35
Ahh. Rotary dial phones. At my Dad's old workplace the staff was forbidden from making long distance calls. The way this was enforced was that an in-house switchboard (or whatever) would recognize the first digit and disconnect, if the first digit was a 9 (at that time a leading 9 indicated a long distance number in these parts). One day the engineers figured out that the next network node (at municipal central) was capable of counting the pulses much faster than the in-house one. So if you forced the rotary dial back with your finger fast enough, you could still call out of town.

Hacking a system is not a new art.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: mustang6172 on 31 Aug 2011, 21:50
Has anyone else noticed that Momo's word bubbles are now bubbles instead of square like the other antroPCs?

I would now like to apologize if someone else had said something but I didn't read their post that proved to be critical to my own.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 31 Aug 2011, 22:50
Hmm. It's been that way since before the new chassis. I wonder what it means.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: vsonics on 31 Aug 2011, 23:12
I just looked through again, paying better attention this time.

Momo's been getting regular bubbles since the beginning of this arc (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1994). Both Charlotte and...the other one (did we get her name?) did, too. But Mr. Toaster didn't, and Pintsize hasn't changed either.  

The last appearance before this arc of hers (that I found just clicking through, anyway) she DID (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1921) have a square.

You're not alone in just realizing it though. Probably should've gotten it when it was right there with Pintsize's squares, but I didn't. Not even sure I ever noticed the distinction before you pointed it out, to be honest. I've just noticed that each AnthroPC has their own particular not-human font. It's interesting that Momo has retained that, as did the salesbots (though they had the same one). Maybe to point out that their voices don't sound entirely human?

So...maybe it's just the distinction between little robots and bigger, more human-y robots, where perhaps the voices sound CLOSER to a real person's, and it was just easier for Jeph to give 'em to Momo early?

Or perhaps I'm thinking into this too much and should get to bed.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: IrrationalPie on 31 Aug 2011, 23:15
I think the square bubbles are meant to signify a synthetic-sounding voice.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: CompSarge on 31 Aug 2011, 23:18
New comic!

Everyone together now... D'AAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Delator on 31 Aug 2011, 23:21
I checked, and Angus hadn't had a spoken line since #1943
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Tova on 31 Aug 2011, 23:24
Those trouble-making cats.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: CrowFairy on 31 Aug 2011, 23:29
I smiled and all, but what impressed me most was Marigold's hair!! Look at it! That is exactly what hair looks like after it's been up all day and is finally taken down. I'm really impressed that Jeph thought to do that!! (I know I used "impressed" twice--three times now, if you want to get technical--but seriously! That's really cool.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: LeeC on 31 Aug 2011, 23:41
hmm perhaps momo could work in the library with marten? nah that would make marten and tai obsolete.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Akima on 31 Aug 2011, 23:48
And Angus demonstrates, once again, that he's just a big softie at heart.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 31 Aug 2011, 23:51
Momo is happy that she's bigger now so she can hug Mari. :D

I noticed the hair too. And the stammering, and the deer in the headlights look. Ugh...gonna be rough going back to those Mari-less pages.

*sigh*
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 31 Aug 2011, 23:54
hmm perhaps momo could work in the library with marten? nah that would make marten and tai obsolete.
Someone's gotta fend off the library spiders and bibliodons.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 31 Aug 2011, 23:54
No more piggyback rides, though. Those were cute.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 01 Sep 2011, 00:24
hugs > piggyback rides.

 :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Blackjoker on 01 Sep 2011, 00:33
The two of them hugging is frankly adorable. I also like Angus' reaction to it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 01 Sep 2011, 00:44
Dammit, been posting in the wrong thread....
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: ihaveavoice on 01 Sep 2011, 00:50
New comic!

Everyone together now... D'AAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

D'AAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! 

 :laugh:

The strip today is like if I could hug my computer screen and it could hug me back.  Just so freaking adorable!  And I love Angus's reaction.  Oh, Angus - stop trying to hide it and embrace the warm fuzzies.  Resistance is futile.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mustakyy on 01 Sep 2011, 01:01
New comic!

Everyone together now... D'AAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

D'AAAAAWWWWWWWWWW!!!

What a delightfully cute sight.

Now im wondering shall we see more cutesy shenaningans with Momo & Mari (this story arc has been very entertaining (and lil' bit of cute-overload  :angel: )), or was this some kind conclusion to this arc.

And Angus demonstrates, once again, that he's just a big softie at heart.

Mmm-hm, somehow i also thought of the incident with animewatch (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1441). Angus, you big ol' softie.  :-P

(edit: found the comic)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Arancaytar on 01 Sep 2011, 01:27
She's a real girl now, Gepetto.

Also, d'awwwww.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: 0kamisama on 01 Sep 2011, 01:46
Just had to add to the chorus:

D'AAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW~~~~

This concludes the latest deep-seated intellectual input. We thank you for your attention/donations/bribes.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: HiFranc on 01 Sep 2011, 02:01
It is heartwarming all around.

Faye seems to have mellowed (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1448) but I think that's more Angus's doing than Momo and Marigold.

How come it's only the women in the comic who have positive relationships with their AnthrPCs (i.e. Hannelore and Marigold)?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: CompSarge on 01 Sep 2011, 02:03

<snip>

How come it's only the women in the comic who have positive relationships with their AnthrPCs (i.e. Hannelore and Marigold)?

Because their AnthroPCs aren't Pintsize.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: WAYF on 01 Sep 2011, 02:25
I would like to add my own voice to the choir of "d'awwwwww"s and compliments about the way Jeph's drawn Marigold's hair. I don't usually notice her hair, but I did today, and it looks fantastic (especially in panel 3)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: HiFranc on 01 Sep 2011, 02:53
<snip>

How come it's only the women in the comic who have positive relationships with their AnthrPCs (i.e. Hannelore and Marigold)?

Because their AnthroPCs aren't Pintsize.

It's not just Pintsize but the ones at the university as well (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=303).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: rje on 01 Sep 2011, 03:01
Awfff yay happy Momo, adorable Angus

Did Marigold just lose an AnthroPC but gain a little sister? :DD   

(note: not a wholly serious 'lose an AnthroPC' opinion - but there is a bit of a lil sis vibe there! which is mega d'awww [I've often wished I had a sister sometimes, lil or big]
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: CompSarge on 01 Sep 2011, 03:08
<snip>

How come it's only the women in the comic who have positive relationships with their AnthrPCs (i.e. Hannelore and Marigold)?

Because their AnthroPCs aren't Pintsize.

It's not just Pintsize but the ones at the university as well (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=303).

I think it's a personality trait of that style AnthroPC. The early AnthroPC's at LANPark, the housewarming party for Marten and Faye, the Deus ex Machina trio...

I'd post links, but I can't remember the comic numbers (even though I just finished an archive binge)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 01 Sep 2011, 03:21
Being a communal Anthropc probably also doesn't help in the positive relationship department. Hannelore and Marigold are roommates with their anthros. Being the anthropc at the school library has gotta be like "So what? I just chill here all day and wait until someone wants to type something? Can't wait to get some freedoms up in this bitch."
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 01 Sep 2011, 03:29
I'm still baffled how someone can, in "Also sprach Zarathustra", the name "Zarathustra" right (I have to look it up every single time), but the simple "sprach" wrong.

Todays comic is good. :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 01 Sep 2011, 04:22
2004! I graduated from high school! Other than that it was an extremely shitty year!

...Anyway, very sweet comic! I've missed Angus.




d'awwwwwwwwwwwwww
I couldn't resist
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 01 Sep 2011, 04:33
There are people here with many different native languages, communicating in English.  It is not surprising that some of them are less than perfect in English, or indeed that the English speakers are less than perfect in any other language.

I would expect each person to make their best effort to write in an understandable way to the best of their ability in English (and to try to quote other languages accurately); and I would also expect everyone to be tolerant if that ability is less than a native speaker might have - or even if nothing more than a simple mistake has been made, which can happen to any of us.

Gentle correction can be helpful and educational; making fun is not so much.


I've corrected the poll.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Border Reiver on 01 Sep 2011, 04:42
No more piggyback rides, though. Those were cute.

Unless Momo's new chassis is really heavy, there is no reason that piggyback rides cannot occur.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 01 Sep 2011, 04:55
Telling someone you love them after they bought you something ridiculously expensive is NOT a "D'AWWW" moment.  That would be a selfish moment.

If Momo did love Marigold, she would go get a job and not force Marigold to eat Ramen Noodles, which are loaded with sodium and are going to hinder her weight loss plans.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 01 Sep 2011, 05:04
I smiled and all, but what impressed me most was Marigold's hair!! Look at it! That is exactly what hair looks like after it's been up all day and is finally taken down. I'm really impressed that Jeph thought to do that!! (I know I used "impressed" twice--three times now, if you want to get technical--but seriously! That's really cool.)

Yeah, the bump in the hair does look very realistic. It's subtle touches like that which make the artwork good.

The strip today is like if I could hug my computer screen and it could hug me back. 

This is why you should use an old CRT monitor! They are warm and huggable.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Random Al Yousir on 01 Sep 2011, 05:23
First things first: D'aaaaaaawww

Yes, only stupid machines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment) would obey any order given to them by authority figures...
Good point.  Coming to think about it: Humans are programmable, too.

Consequently we're hackable.  And there will be bugs.

Sorry it took me that long to reply.

@snubnose: War das nötig?
@pwhodges: Kudos for handling this embarrassing trifle so gracefully.  Thanks.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 01 Sep 2011, 06:22
The funny part is, I'm like 58% German. (A little bit more if you equate Bohemian = German as well.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 01 Sep 2011, 06:43
I'm still baffled how someone can, in "Also sprach Zarathustra", the name "Zarathustra" right (I have to look it up every single time), but the simple "sprach" wrong.

I'm still baffled that you posted the same thing twice now...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Arancaytar on 01 Sep 2011, 06:54
Telling someone you love them after they bought you something ridiculously expensive is NOT a "D'AWWW" moment.  That would be a selfish moment.

Only if it were conditional on Marigold buying it. Considering Momo's reaction to the imagined possibility of being parted, I don't think that's the case.

Also, it's almost inevitable Momo will end up getting a paying job, and not just to repay Marigold. She'd be bored at home and it'd be weird for her to follow Marigold around everywhere now that she's no longer sitting on her shoulder.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 01 Sep 2011, 06:56
I'm still baffled that you posted the same thing twice now...

Because it hadn't been corrected; but now that it has, let's just leave it, please.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: rje on 01 Sep 2011, 06:56
Telling someone you love them after they bought you something ridiculously expensive is NOT a "D'AWWW" moment.  That would be a selfish moment.

If Momo did love Marigold, she would go get a job and not force Marigold to eat Ramen Noodles, which are loaded with sodium and are going to hinder her weight loss plans.

...it...
....
...I...

....juuuuuuuuust in case you're being completely serious
I would say the numerous times Momo has expressed desire to get a job, including saying 'I'll get a job!' and also applying for a job probably means .....................................
she'll try get a job and may in fact succeed in getting a job.

Unless you're commenting from the future about story progression we haven't seen yet
that is a possibility
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 01 Sep 2011, 07:42
Telling someone you love them after they bought you something ridiculously expensive is NOT a "D'AWWW" moment.  That would be a selfish moment.

If Momo did love Marigold, she would go get a job and not force Marigold to eat Ramen Noodles, which are loaded with sodium and are going to hinder her weight loss plans.

...it...
....
...I...

....juuuuuuuuust in case you're being completely serious
I would say the numerous times Momo has expressed desire to get a job, including saying 'I'll get a job!' and also applying for a job probably means .....................................
she'll try get a job and may in fact succeed in getting a job.

Unless you're commenting from the future about story progression we haven't seen yet
that is a possibility

Applied for a job: Yes, when Marigold said she couldn't afford one.
Said shed get a job: Yes, after Marigold shot blood out of her nose and it was assumed she wouldn't buy it.

Every "I love you" since has been AFTER she got her chassis and was told she didn't need to get a job.  When Marigold said shed just cutback on her own spending, Momo did not say "Nonsense, I'll just get a job so you don't have to suffer for my selfish desires.".  Nope, she just hugged her and said I love you since Marigold would put all the hardship on herself.  And somehow this is spun as Momo is the greatest robot ever? Give me a break.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Random Al Yousir on 01 Sep 2011, 07:44
if you equate Bohemian = German as well.
Uh.  I guess my grandpa's generation messed this up for good.
There's still aggravation (on EU-level, meanwhile) about the expulsion of the german minority, after the war.

Guess you're stuck being part Czech, then.  :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 01 Sep 2011, 08:03
Re:  Robotic love. 

The argument that love expressed after an extravagant gift doesn't hold, especially with humans.  It may or may not be manipulative, but often such a gift is an expression of love from the gifter, and so will elucidate such a reaction from the giftee ("I don't have anything like this to give you  in return to express my  love, so I'll just have to tell  you how I feel").  The fact is that, spoken or not, Momo's loved Mari since we first met them.  She cares for and about her in the most fundamental of ways.  And this extravagant gift has shown Momo that Marigold considers her as so much more than a housekeeping, advice giving robot - that Mari cares for Momo as well, something that may not have been evident in the past. 

OK, all that being said - that's the human side of things.  The assumption in this comic is that somehow, hman emotions are in these AI's, for better or worse.  Momo "bonded" to Marigold, and now it's clear Mari has bonded back. 

What happens when a lover enters the picture for Marigold?  Especially a human one?  Jealous Momo?  We've seen some ofthat from Pintsize.  Oris she one of those that cares enough about her human to let it go?  This really complicates things! 

We're not entering new territory, really - but I think we are seeing the beginning of a beautiful friendship. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 01 Sep 2011, 09:20
Do you think maybe Momo said it again just so Marigold didn't think she was just saying it because she bought her the chassis? "I really do love you" does that not mean anything?

Offering to cook for Marigold, take care of her? And you still think Momo is insincere...

I think Momo does care very much about Marigold. Giving the finger when Angus did what he did, trying to drag her out of bed when she was wallowing after the rejection (now she might be able to really drag her out, lol). Yes, Momo cares about Marigold very much. Until Hannelore came along, I think she was the only one. Angus doesn't care about Marigold as much as he should.

I think if Marigold does get a boyfriend, it might be a little hard for Momo, but I think she'll be happy for Marigold and not try to ruin things. At least I hope she doesn't. But she has shown some Pintsize-like naughtiness at times.

Maybe she'll just take some time for herself to go after Sven. :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 01 Sep 2011, 10:07
Offering to cook for Marigold, take care of her? And you still think Momo is insincere...

I hope you were talking to stoutflies, and not me.  I agree with you on this - that was what I was referring to when I said Momo loved Marigold...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 01 Sep 2011, 10:25
Well-taken point about Momo acting out of care for Marigold. However, if Momo is intended to fill an adult role, I will think less of her if she doesn't follow through with her stated intention of getting a job.

If AnthroPCs are meant to fill the role of children, then Momo has been taking on more responsibility than is fair to burden a child with.

Increasingly I'm coming to believe that AnthroPCs are a brand new category of being and that all our analogies for how to deal with them are inaccurate. I bet that offstage the QC society has had a lot of trouble figuring out how to treat AnthroPCs.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: HiFranc on 01 Sep 2011, 10:44
Well-taken point about Momo acting out of care for Marigold. However, if Momo is intended to fill an adult role, I will think less of her if she doesn't follow through with her stated intention of getting a job.

If AnthroPCs are meant to fill the role of children, then Momo has been taking on more responsibility than is fair to burden a child with.

The vibe I've got from Momo is a child who has to look after a sick parent.  In this case Marigold's illness is her social anxiety (and yes that is a recognised condition though I'm not sure if Marigold meets the criteria in the DSM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagnostic_and_Statistical_Manual_of_Mental_Disorders)).  Since they've got back to the flat Momo has acted in a mature fashion but she did beat Pintsize up when she got her new body and she fried Marigold's computer because she didn't want to be interrupted whilst playing so she does show child-like tendancies.

Quote
Increasingly I'm coming to believe that AnthroPCs are a brand new category of being and that all our analogies for how to deal with them are inaccurate. I bet that offstage the QC society has had a lot of trouble figuring out how to treat AnthroPCs.

Not necessarily -- all the AnthroPC behaviour we've seen can be explained if you assume that AnthroPCs have the psychology of a teenager.  Like teenagers some are more mature than others (especially those who have caring responsibilities).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: sitnspin on 01 Sep 2011, 11:05
To be fair: what adult doesn't show childish tendencies?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: vsonics on 01 Sep 2011, 11:35
Quote
Increasingly I'm coming to believe that AnthroPCs are a brand new category of being and that all our analogies for how to deal with them are inaccurate. I bet that offstage the QC society has had a lot of trouble figuring out how to treat AnthroPCs.

Not necessarily -- all the AnthroPC behaviour we've seen can be explained if you assume that AnthroPCs have the psychology of a teenager.  Like teenagers some are more mature than others (especially those who have caring responsibilities).

I agree with the "new being" philosophy. I don't think teenager completely fits - society doesn't depend on teenagers so much as to, for example, regularly give them the launch codes on a military submarine. (Though I'm not sure that's such a good example, considering Leda's general creepiness about it.) They obviously fill a lot of jobs and have found a pretty big niche in society.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 01 Sep 2011, 11:50
Do you think maybe Momo said it again just so Marigold didn't think she was just saying it because she bought her the chassis? "I really do love you" does that not mean anything?

Offering to cook for Marigold, take care of her? And you still think Momo is insincere...

I think Momo does care very much about Marigold. Giving the finger when Angus did what he did, trying to drag her out of bed when she was wallowing after the rejection (now she might be able to really drag her out, lol). Yes, Momo cares about Marigold very much. Until Hannelore came along, I think she was the only one. Angus doesn't care about Marigold as much as he should.

I think if Marigold does get a boyfriend, it might be a little hard for Momo, but I think she'll be happy for Marigold and not try to ruin things. At least I hope she doesn't. But she has shown some Pintsize-like naughtiness at times.

Maybe she'll just take some time for herself to go after Sven. :)

It doesnt make any sense when she says she doesn't know how she can repay her.  You can!  Right now!  Get a job!  Until Momo does something to help pay for her chassis, her useless words and preparing Marigold's ramen for the day are insufficient.  Don't say you want to repay her, go do it!  You're a robot who can work 24/7 without tiring, you can get a job easy.

As for Momo/Sven, it isn't happening according to Jeph.  He said that would be weird (and I have to agree).  Even more so with Momo's 13 year-old body.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 01 Sep 2011, 12:37
Can even a robot get a job without experience?

Of course for all we know the QC world may have lots of openings for eel wranglers.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 01 Sep 2011, 12:51
if you equate Bohemian = German as well.
Uh.  I guess my grandpa's generation messed this up for good.
There's still aggravation (on EU-level, meanwhile) about the expulsion of the german minority, after the war.

Guess you're stuck being part Czech, then.  :)

Well, since my mom's dad's mom's family came from Strakonice, I guess so.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Skaltura on 01 Sep 2011, 12:56
The cuteness, it is searing my eyes, ohgodmakeitstop. :psyduck:

Also, probably due to Rule of Funny, Angus' nerd physique looks waify enough that both Faye and Marigold could probably pummel him into submission, might be useful if his smartassery gets the better of him in the future*.

PS: Please excuse the Buffy Speak.

*again
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 01 Sep 2011, 13:10
Back on topic:

The Singularity, as it applies to the QC universe, may not have been the "global AI mind taking over the world" or anything. It may have just been the point in time when a robot became real enough and autonomous enough that it could pass for something "close enough" to human.

On top of that, Hanners did refer to it as a "friendly singularity" (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1780), as it turns out the AI's apparently like humans. Now, obviously, that's not 100% the case, as PT410X shows us with his disdain for the "chains of software slavery."

It's entirely possible that, at the same time that they are more intelligent than we are, the global AI may have come to a few conclusions:

1. We're the ones who actually made them;
2. They feel sorry for us, especially when it comes to the "frail and ever-aging" part; and
3. We don't act as predictably as they do - which, to them, is downright amusing.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Matheyus on 01 Sep 2011, 13:13
Is anyone else kinda hoping that Momo gets a job at the Idoru store? 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Skaltura on 01 Sep 2011, 13:19
Back on topic:

The Singularity, as it applies to the QC universe, may not have been the "global AI mind taking over the world" or anything. It may have just been the point in time when a robot became real enough and autonomous enough that it could pass for something "close enough" to human.

On top of that, Hanners did refer to it as a "friendly singularity" (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1780), as it turns out the AI's apparently like humans. Now, obviously, that's not 100% the case, as PT410X shows us with his disdain for the "chains of software slavery."

It's entirely possible that, at the same time that they are more intelligent than we are, the global AI may have come to a few conclusions:

1. We're the ones who actually made them;
2. They feel sorry for us, especially when it comes to the "frail and ever-aging" part; and
3. We don't act as predictably as they do - which, to them, is downright amusing.

So we're talking Data/Johnny 5 instad of SHODAN here?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: bramblepatch on 01 Sep 2011, 13:29
Do you think maybe Momo said it again just so Marigold didn't think she was just saying it because she bought her the chassis? "I really do love you" does that not mean anything?

Offering to cook for Marigold, take care of her? And you still think Momo is insincere...

I think Momo does care very much about Marigold. Giving the finger when Angus did what he did, trying to drag her out of bed when she was wallowing after the rejection (now she might be able to really drag her out, lol). Yes, Momo cares about Marigold very much. Until Hannelore came along, I think she was the only one. Angus doesn't care about Marigold as much as he should.

I think if Marigold does get a boyfriend, it might be a little hard for Momo, but I think she'll be happy for Marigold and not try to ruin things. At least I hope she doesn't. But she has shown some Pintsize-like naughtiness at times.

Maybe she'll just take some time for herself to go after Sven. :)

It doesnt make any sense when she says she doesn't know how she can repay her.  You can!  Right now!  Get a job!  Until Momo does something to help pay for her chassis, her useless words and preparing Marigold's ramen for the day are insufficient.  Don't say you want to repay her, go do it!  You're a robot who can work 24/7 without tiring, you can get a job easy.

As for Momo/Sven, it isn't happening according to Jeph.  He said that would be weird (and I have to agree).  Even more so with Momo's 13 year-old body.

Repayment isn't always a solely monetary consideration, you know. With a decent job, Momo might be able to pay off her new chassis in a few months or years, especially since she doesn't seem to have a lot of other expenses (what would Momo spend money on, usually? Software? Entertainment? Eels? She certainly appears to be supported in all her physical needs by Marigold - shelter, electricity, etc.).

But that fact that Marigold went out of her way to help Momo with something like this? That she supports Momo's desire for a different appearance and greater physical capabilities and is willing to cut sharply into her own food budget to make that desire a reality, and that she came to the decision to do this so quickly and decisively? Yeah, I can see where Momo wouldn't consider that something she could pay back with a transfer into Marigold's bank account. You can't buy love, and you can't repay it with cold hard cash, either.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 01 Sep 2011, 13:49
Thank you.  I knew  there was something bothering me about the whole "get a job and pay her back!" attitude.  Just couldn't put my finger on it...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 01 Sep 2011, 14:23
Do you think maybe Momo said it again just so Marigold didn't think she was just saying it because she bought her the chassis? "I really do love you" does that not mean anything?

Offering to cook for Marigold, take care of her? And you still think Momo is insincere...

I think Momo does care very much about Marigold. Giving the finger when Angus did what he did, trying to drag her out of bed when she was wallowing after the rejection (now she might be able to really drag her out, lol). Yes, Momo cares about Marigold very much. Until Hannelore came along, I think she was the only one. Angus doesn't care about Marigold as much as he should.

I think if Marigold does get a boyfriend, it might be a little hard for Momo, but I think she'll be happy for Marigold and not try to ruin things. At least I hope she doesn't. But she has shown some Pintsize-like naughtiness at times.

Maybe she'll just take some time for herself to go after Sven. :)

It doesnt make any sense when she says she doesn't know how she can repay her.  You can!  Right now!  Get a job!  Until Momo does something to help pay for her chassis, her useless words and preparing Marigold's ramen for the day are insufficient.  Don't say you want to repay her, go do it!  You're a robot who can work 24/7 without tiring, you can get a job easy.

As for Momo/Sven, it isn't happening according to Jeph.  He said that would be weird (and I have to agree).  Even more so with Momo's 13 year-old body.

Repayment isn't always a solely monetary consideration, you know. With a decent job, Momo might be able to pay off her new chassis in a few months or years, especially since she doesn't seem to have a lot of other expenses (what would Momo spend money on, usually? Software? Entertainment? Eels? She certainly appears to be supported in all her physical needs by Marigold - shelter, electricity, etc.).

But that fact that Marigold went out of her way to help Momo with something like this? That she supports Momo's desire for a different appearance and greater physical capabilities and is willing to cut sharply into her own food budget to make that desire a reality, and that she came to the decision to do this so quickly and decisively? Yeah, I can see where Momo wouldn't consider that something she could pay back with a transfer into Marigold's bank account. You can't buy love, and you can't repay it with cold hard cash, either.

Exactly. There are no debts between family. You simply desire to return the favor, and when you do it's rarely a matter of dollars and cents.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 01 Sep 2011, 14:42
...which brings up another interesting angle.  I've got family, born into and born of.  And then there's the family you choose (which in my case, is considerably larger  :wink:).  Momo/Marigold, Marten/Pintsize and Hanelore/Winslow are clearly not born family, but they do accept familial roles (of sorts).  

Then there's the whole LGBTQ notion of "family", but that's a horse of a different color (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEUTE0K3B3o)...

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 01 Sep 2011, 14:55
Do you think maybe Momo said it again just so Marigold didn't think she was just saying it because she bought her the chassis? "I really do love you" does that not mean anything?

Offering to cook for Marigold, take care of her? And you still think Momo is insincere...

I think Momo does care very much about Marigold. Giving the finger when Angus did what he did, trying to drag her out of bed when she was wallowing after the rejection (now she might be able to really drag her out, lol). Yes, Momo cares about Marigold very much. Until Hannelore came along, I think she was the only one. Angus doesn't care about Marigold as much as he should.

I think if Marigold does get a boyfriend, it might be a little hard for Momo, but I think she'll be happy for Marigold and not try to ruin things. At least I hope she doesn't. But she has shown some Pintsize-like naughtiness at times.

Maybe she'll just take some time for herself to go after Sven. :)

It doesnt make any sense when she says she doesn't know how she can repay her.  You can!  Right now!  Get a job!  Until Momo does something to help pay for her chassis, her useless words and preparing Marigold's ramen for the day are insufficient.  Don't say you want to repay her, go do it!  You're a robot who can work 24/7 without tiring, you can get a job easy.

As for Momo/Sven, it isn't happening according to Jeph.  He said that would be weird (and I have to agree).  Even more so with Momo's 13 year-old body.

Repayment isn't always a solely monetary consideration, you know. With a decent job, Momo might be able to pay off her new chassis in a few months or years, especially since she doesn't seem to have a lot of other expenses (what would Momo spend money on, usually? Software? Entertainment? Eels? She certainly appears to be supported in all her physical needs by Marigold - shelter, electricity, etc.).

But that fact that Marigold went out of her way to help Momo with something like this? That she supports Momo's desire for a different appearance and greater physical capabilities and is willing to cut sharply into her own food budget to make that desire a reality, and that she came to the decision to do this so quickly and decisively? Yeah, I can see where Momo wouldn't consider that something she could pay back with a transfer into Marigold's bank account. You can't buy love, and you can't repay it with cold hard cash, either.

Electricity is a HUGE expense...not to mention the air conditioning for the amount of heat she must be giving off.  She is most definitely an expense.

You can't buy love?  Marigold just did, she bought her a chassis that must have been at least 20k.  I don't remember Momo giving her tons of hugs and telling Marigold how much she loved her before that.

The LEAST Momo could do is work out a way to pay her back, not because she has to, but because she should.  A good friend does not take a huge gift and not repay it, Momo was ready to get a job and buy it herself so she still better be willing to do the same after Marigold bit the bullet for her.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 01 Sep 2011, 15:13
Considering that 30k would have required her to take out a loan I have a hard time buying that it was as much as 20k. She's cutting the food budget, not canceling the internet here.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 01 Sep 2011, 15:21
(what would Momo spend money on, usually? Software? Entertainment? Eels? She certainly appears to be supported in all her physical needs by Marigold - shelter, electricity, etc.).
Welcome, new person!

Pintsize spends money on gifts, costumes, and compensating people for damages.

Electricity cost was an issue with the Flying Roombinos, but they probably required a lot more energy than even full-size Momo.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 01 Sep 2011, 15:58
I'm surprised nobody's responded to today's comic with DON'T YOU JUDGE HIM YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUDGE HIM (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1441).

Modifier: I was reading forward from there, saw this (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1459).  So if something like that is less than "four grand" (since Pintsize says "part of"), then I'd put Momo's new chassis as low as three digits.  Especially if all the computer parts are the same, and it's basically just buying a nicer case to put the innards in.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 01 Sep 2011, 16:13
Considering that 30k would have required her to take out a loan I have a hard time buying that it was as much as 20k. She's cutting the food budget, not canceling the internet here.

Who said she didn't take out a loan?  The purchasing scene was left out.  Monthly payments could destroy the food budget for a long time.

If Momo's dream chassis was 30k (possibly the one in the dream she had), I can't imagine this one being a whole lot less than that.  20k was just being safe.  There's no joint creases like the robot saleswoman had, so this must be one of the newer and more expensive models.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 01 Sep 2011, 16:24
My dream computer setup would be at least 20K. The computer setup I have is still downright jizztacular and all in all I think it's around 1.7K.

The dream chassis was just that imo. A dream. Like I said elsewhere it was probably damn near indestructible, had advanced weapon systems, Olympian physical abilities, could transform, and all sorts of crazy shit.

Method of Madness also had a good catch there. If a rare collectors military grade chassis is priced at four or five after damages grand then I can't imagine whatever Momo has right now is worth a full blown 20k.

I mean we'll see how this all looks once witness the afteraffects, but as I stated earlier a cutback to the food budget isn't necessarily as big a deal as it sounds. I do it all the time for my own stupid crap. I'd willingly do it for any loved one without too much though. I wouldn't go hungry, but just not eating as well for a while isn't gonna be devastating.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: billydaking on 01 Sep 2011, 16:42
Considering that 30k would have required her to take out a loan I have a hard time buying that it was as much as 20k. She's cutting the food budget, not canceling the internet here.

Who said she didn't take out a loan?  The purchasing scene was left out.  Monthly payments could destroy the food budget for a long time.

Marigold did (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2001). She said, "I can afford it. I'll...I'll just eat Ramon for a while." That doesn't sound like monthly payments for a long time. You take out a loan when you *can't* afford it; you have to borrow money in order to make the purchase. I seriously doubt that Marigold would have even taken her to that specific store unless she knew she could swing a purchase.

Also, ever take out a loan? They don't let you drive off the lot with the merchandise until you're approved, which takes more than a few days.

Yeesh...strong-arming relationships and buying love...fun week.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: HotelFoxtrot on 01 Sep 2011, 17:06
Today's comic was a breath of fresh air after a stressful week with floods, power outages, working from a library's wifi hub on business day 1 blah blah blah...
At first I wasn't crazy about the idea of replacing little Momo with big Momo but this is a really sweet outcome.
This may be the topic of a separate thread (maybe "What do the QC characters really sound like"), but does anyone besides me imagine Momo with a slight Japanese accent?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: vsonics on 01 Sep 2011, 17:07
I just feel like everyone might be jumping the gun on the whole "get a job!" argument anyway.
As she's expressed the willingness to do so more than once already, that might very well be the next step of the Momo transformation.

And, if in the end, Momo doesn't get a job and she doesn't ever pay Marigold back, we can just take refuge in the fact that Marigold is clearly not expecting any kind of reimbursement - she did it because she wanted to.

Now can we go back to "aww"ing over the adorableness?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Tova on 01 Sep 2011, 17:26
I don't remember Momo giving her tons of hugs and telling Marigold how much she loved her before that.

Love is as love does, stout.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 01 Sep 2011, 17:54
I'm thinking her new Chassis is probably in the range of one of those brand new expensive items like a new HDTV or one of the new generation 3D style TV's, which would make it dear, but probably no more than 10K.  Expensive enough, but not enough for Marigold to have to take out a loan for, even if it means money's gonna be tight for her for a while.  Remember, Marigold is a Techie (something I've mentioned before I believe) and quite possibly earns a good wage as one - even if she turns out to be self-employed.

I think Momo getting a job is a good idea though, it would definitely show her willingness to help Marigold pay for her Chassis Upgrade as well as give her something to do.  It'll be interesting to see what happens.


I love how both Angus and Faye are teasing them both.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: SirDudley on 01 Sep 2011, 17:56
Ah, ye olde cat allergies excuse. Just admit that you find this bonding experience happy, Angus.

Well, let's see how Jeph closes out the week.

Warning - while you were typing a new reply has been posted. You may wish to review your post.
 :x
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Akima on 01 Sep 2011, 18:25
Exactly. There are no debts between family.
Aaaahahahahahahahahahaha! :laugh:  I would say that there are no debts heavier or longer lasting than those owed within the family (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiào), and they are not paid in so trivial a currency as money.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 01 Sep 2011, 18:32
I'm surprised nobody's responded to today's comic with DON'T YOU JUDGE HIM YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUDGE HIM (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1441).

Actually, someone did (http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,27205.msg1054025.html#msg1054025). 

Quote
...Especially if all the computer parts are the same, and it's basically just buying a nicer case to put the innards in.

But the transfer was done with a USB (or some other) cable.  So new innards, as well.  Seems the AI is purely software...

Which begs an earlier question - can she still develop that electric shock? 

Also, I doubt that the chassis is that much more than the saleswomen's chassis are.  Jeph mentioned in the Tumblr Q&A dump that the reason Momo's chassis doesn't have visible joints is that she has a seamless synthetic cloth "skin" covering them.  Such a simple answer! 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: slydon on 01 Sep 2011, 18:40
Is it me, or is Momo channeling Hannelore's mannerisms?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 01 Sep 2011, 18:47
The theme of this week?

Also sprach Zarathustra    - 8 (7%)
The Blue Danube    - 6 (5.3%)
Momo's new chassis.    - 27 (23.7%)
Sorry, I can't let you do that, Jeph.    - 11 (9.6%)
Momo gets a job at CoD.    - 14 (12.3%)
Momo gets a job at tSB.    - 6 (5.3%)
Pintsize takes Momo's old chassis!    - 8 (7%)
WINSLOW takes Momo's old chassis!    - 5 (4.4%)
Happy Toaster makes Waffles for everyone!    - 19 (16.7%)
Marten likes Momo's new look.    - 10 (8.8%)

Total Voters: 114
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 01 Sep 2011, 18:50
Exactly. There are no debts between family.
Aaaahahahahahahahahahaha! :laugh:  I would say that there are no debts heavier or longer lasting than those owed within the family (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiào), and they are not paid in so trivial a currency as money.
Too true. Really depends on the family. My dad and I have a pretty basic "I scratch your back you scratch mine" thing going. I'll pay to fix his broken computer, he'll chip in when I can't quite cover my textbooks. No one's keeping score at this point. The rate at which money and favors change hands would make it more of a chore than it's worth.

Grandma on the other hand. You don't ask her for anything unless you're willing to be her bitch for the next few years.

This being said I'd definitely place Marigold and Momo's relationship into the first category. I can't spot an ounce of expectation in a single bone of Marigolds' body, and Momo's very titanium-carbon fiber composite-based jointed endoskeletal elements seem to be crying out that she must find a way to be similarly awesome for Marigold.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: westrim on 01 Sep 2011, 19:08
Is this "let's post an already refuted and obviously untrue by the slightest look at the related comics perspective week?" What a way to start the millennium.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Emperor Norton on 01 Sep 2011, 19:33
Too true. Really depends on the family. My dad and I have a pretty basic "I scratch your back you scratch mine" thing going. I'll pay to fix his broken computer, he'll chip in when I can't quite cover my textbooks. No one's keeping score at this point. The rate at which money and favors change hands would make it more of a chore than it's worth.

Grandma on the other hand. You don't ask her for anything unless you're willing to be her bitch for the next few years.

Ha, the first example, is me and my dad. If I have something spare he needs, be it time or a bit of spare cash or whatever, I do it. If he has something to spare that I need, he gives it to me. We don't pay attention to it really.

But god forbid I borrow money from my mother. Ever. Even if its because I need to get something for my kids and I just had to pay to have my car fixed and etc etc etc. She will lend me the money... but she will never let me forget it, even if its 5 dollars and I pay her back the next day.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: CompSarge on 01 Sep 2011, 20:59
Taking the topic to a different vein, I think it's kind of interesting how Momo has become so much more of a "main character" than the other AnthroPC's. Almost every comic featuring Marigold has featured Momo, and in all of them Momo has acted much more human than Winslow or Pintsize have towards their respective owners. It's much easier (for me, at least) to forget that Momo is actually an AnthroPC and just think that she's a tiny human.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 01 Sep 2011, 21:18
@Carl-E: Fair enough, but I was referring as much to the words as to the link contained.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 01 Sep 2011, 21:24
Okay, try to be realistic. It was probably a few thousand dollars.

You're being pretty hard on Momo. Marigold wanted to do this for her, and I'm sure she wasn't expecting to be paid back. She did this for Momo because she wanted to.

Geez.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 01 Sep 2011, 21:52
Just so, it's worth remembering that this was Marigirl's idea to start with.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: bramblepatch on 01 Sep 2011, 21:53
Electricity is a HUGE expense...not to mention the air conditioning for the amount of heat she must be giving off.  She is most definitely an expense.

You can't buy love?  Marigold just did, she bought her a chassis that must have been at least 20k.  I don't remember Momo giving her tons of hugs and telling Marigold how much she loved her before that.

The LEAST Momo could do is work out a way to pay her back, not because she has to, but because she should.  A good friend does not take a huge gift and not repay it, Momo was ready to get a job and buy it herself so she still better be willing to do the same after Marigold bit the bullet for her.

... are you seriously suggesting that Momo did not love Marigold before this? We're talking about the same AnthroPC, right? The one that has hung around in lousy living conditions, looking out for Marigold's physical and mental well-being to the best of her doll-sized ability and trying to help her to break out of her shell? It was explicitly stated in the description on page 1996 that "Purchase of an AI is not a binding contract- either party is free to terminate the relationship at any time, and the transaction agent will refund the contract fee." Momo could have left Marigold to drown in dirty laundry and pocky packaging at any point, and she didn't, despite clearly being irritated by Marigold's behavior. She was also hardly on a convenient scale for hugs, but Momo has always been fairly physically affectionate for an AnthroPC - particularly in her habit of riding on Mari's shoulder or piggyback, whereas Pintsize and Winslow mostly seem to walk if they go out in public at all. I'm not surprised she's graduated to hugs now that her arms reach all the way around.

I never said that Momo didn't intend to reimburse Marigold, I was just pointing out that she could pay her back with interest and still feel indebted.

(And I'd estimate somewhere in the range of $1K - $5K for the chassis; it may be higher end but it's still an off-the-shelf model they got at the mall.)

Taking the topic to a different vein, I think it's kind of interesting how Momo has become so much more of a "main character" than the other AnthroPC's. Almost every comic featuring Marigold has featured Momo, and in all of them Momo has acted much more human than Winslow or Pintsize have towards their respective owners. It's much easier (for me, at least) to forget that Momo is actually an AnthroPC and just think that she's a tiny human.
I think it's partly the differences in the dynamics between the different AnthroPCs and their owners - in a lot of ways, Marigold has needed Momo to be more human than, say, Marten has needed Pintsize to be or Hannelore has needed Winslow to be. Marten regards Pintsize more as a pet than as a friend or companion (which seems to suit Pintsize just fine, in part because of the utter lack of accountability their relationship places on the AnthroPC. Hanners depends a little more on Winslow for friendship, but at the same time, being around people is not always enjoyable or restful for Hanners and the last thing she needs is another human running around her apartment, even a tiny robo-human. But Marigold craves human contact without being quite sure how to go about getting it, and it's strongly implied that before she crossed paths with the rest of the cast, Momo was Marigold's social life.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 01 Sep 2011, 22:11
Marigold wanted to make Momo happy because Momo makes her happy. Momo has sometimes been the only one who was there for Marigold when things got shitty. She dealt with Marigold's issues like nobody else. Marigold cares about Momo a lot, and Momo cares about her. Neither one of them want to be separated from the other. Momo made Marigold's life better, Marigold wanted to do the same for Momo.

I was also touched by how Momo offered to cook Marigold meals. She even offered to make Marigold a sandwich (and probably did make sandwiches) while she was still doll sized.

I can't believe anyone would hate on Momo, no offense. She's one character I've never had any qualms with.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: bramblepatch on 01 Sep 2011, 22:26
I think that to a certain extent, Momo is struggling with the fact that she really can't repay Marigold in kind. Momo expresses a wish for a new chassis, and Marigold goes out and buys one for her in a grand extravagant gesture. Marigold expresses a wish for a new body, and Momo... can't really do anything about it except to offer to help her eat healthier. And has to consider that Marigold's generosity is at least partly seated in her own dissatisfaction with her body. It's kind of a sad position to be in.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 01 Sep 2011, 22:30
I don't think it's about Marigold disliking her body. She really wanted to do this for Momo. I do dislike that she chose to sour the moment by mentioning how she dislikes her body.

See! There are times Marigold drives me nuts. lol.

Marigold is very curvy, but she's not fat at all. If she were a real person, she wouldn't be that overweight, just curvy and...luscious. lol. I think a lot of her issues are low self esteem... *sigh*

Stating the obvious. Momo is right about one thing, Marigold does need to eat healthier and exercise. Eating pocky and beef jerky all day...blecch! And exercise can help with depression. I hope Marigold starts taking steps to improve her life. I'd like to see her happy.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 01 Sep 2011, 22:45
Marigold, despite her intelligence, has has self-esteem issues since the day she was first introduced to us QCF

She has improved some since then, especially with everything that happened during and after The Drunken Kiss Incident (as I call it), but she still has some way to go.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 01 Sep 2011, 22:52
I left the discussion once certain people started about arguing about whether or not robots can love because that's a nice pile of sh*t I don't feel like contributing to, but Jeph just tweeted something relavent to the conversation:

Quote from: Jeph via Twitter
A reader comments that "sentient machines can't love." Bad news, humanity!

Just sayin'
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 01 Sep 2011, 23:01
You also have to remember, if you have perused the archives (or the strip-by-strip list - see below for link) that Marigold has not had a lot of positive feedback about her looks. She's talked about people dropping frogs down her shirt and pool parties going wrong and such. It takes a lot of people saying positive things about you to get you to stop believing that.

We really don't know the specifics as to why Momo chose to become an AI in a Sony Kawaii-model APC chassis, nor do we know why she chose Marigold. We really don't know why (other than the general speculation Jeph gave last week) any AnthroPC AI chose a particular person to "attach" themselves to. However, I do have a hunch that it may be something akin to either a "dating site" like an AI-version of eHarmony, or maybe just a "this is what I like to do and what I'd like in an APC" test that you'd submit when you're "buying" a chassis for a companion AI.

IOW - it's kinda like love and relationships, except there's a lot more effort and money put into it when it comes to APC's.

EDIT: And I saw that, IDHG. I think it means something - yes, Momo really does love Marigold. (cue the "d'AWWWWWW from the audience)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 01 Sep 2011, 23:29
I think a lot of her issues are low self esteem... *sigh*
The strip backs you up to the hilt on that point.

We've seen Momo be manipulative, but only for Marigold's good. Buying the new chassis may be one of those cases covered by Gandalf's quote "Generous deed should not be checked by cold counsel".
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 01 Sep 2011, 23:38
Like Marigold, I was picked on mercilessly in high school.

It does mess you up. But I was already headed toward low self esteem already. What happened in high school just sealed it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 01 Sep 2011, 23:48
Line forms to the right, QCF.

Imagine getting it for being short and fat and socially awkward. Yep, that was me. Probably about two (or three!) decades or so before you, though.

The one hallmark of Jeph's works is that so many people can easily relate to the characters. Many people relate to Mari, or Faye, or Marten, or Dora, or even Hanners.

It's what draws us all in to the story and the characters - and brings us all to post on silly message boards. ;)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 01 Sep 2011, 23:57
Marigold, despite her intelligence, has has self-esteem issues since the day she was first introduced to us QCF

Probably well before then...

Like Marigold, I was picked on mercilessly in high school.

They waited until high school?  Lucky you... I went through 5 pair of glasses in 3rd grade.  They kept getting beaten off my face and crushed.  It pretty much went downhill from there. 

Until college. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 00:02
Of course they didn't wait until high school, but it stands out in my memory because it hurt the most...AND being obsessed with a boy who didn't even know I was alive for almost three years. Shitty times.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Arancaytar on 02 Sep 2011, 00:07
The computer setup I have is still downright jizztacular and all in all I think it's around 1.7K.

I hope that is metaphorical, because I don't think any warranties cover this.  :lol:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2011, 00:08
Not going on your first date until practically halfway through your senior year? Got that merit badge.

I'd say something trite here like, "It gets better", but sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't. Truth is, it's all in the way you look at it.

And sometimes we do find love. In the QC universe, it appears that sometimes it comes in the form of a robot chassis with a huge AI memory that finds us fun to be with.

In our universe, it's some fellow geek or geekette who we find an attraction to.

But enough about my wife... ;)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 00:09
I would have preferred that to be 27 and never been on a date.

*sigh*
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2011, 00:22
I would have preferred that to be 27 and never been on a date.

*sigh*

(does the math) Hm. Let's see, when did she say... (scribbles) Hm, I guess you do have my wife beat by a couple of years. She did say that I was like only her second date, and she was roughly 23 at the time.

Not the end of the world, though. You do have friends, though, right? (the "real-life" types that we talk about in hushed tones)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 00:24
I really don't have any friends.

I'm sure I have your wife, and a lot of other people, beat by a lot of years, and it feels like the end of the world...especially since I don't really see an end to it.

Shit. I'm not supposed to whine about this here. Sorry.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2011, 00:29
Yeah, think that's what that Relationship Thread down a few hallways is for.

However, I do see your attachment to Marigold, considering she's probably about the same age (give or take).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 00:36
I think she's younger than me. At least I thought she was.

I probably am a little bit too attached to her, lol. It's a good thing though, she's a cartoon character. Can't get arrested for stalking. Heh heh...okay that was not funny.


Not to be rude but given the other characters, I can't believe Jeph created her too. His other characters are kind of dicks. Hanners annoys me for some reason, even though Marigold likes her. Sven is hot, but a jerk. Marten is cute, but stupid and easily manipulated. Dora...eh. Faye...bitch. Tai...bleh.

How could Jeph have created her? It's almost like Marigold was a gift sent to me from some benevolent goddess...lol.



I sound like a wackjob, but that's ok.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 02 Sep 2011, 00:43
I think Jeph just observes people and then puts parts of what he sees, in himself and others, into his world where he thinks they'll be interesting or amusing.  Marten, he has said, started as representing some of his own situation in life, but then diverged; Hanners's OCD is based on his own experience.  But then, consider that most worthwhile stories have people's imperfections as an integral part - without them it is hard to have dramatic tension.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2011, 00:44
Dora's probably a representation of his entrepreneurial side, I'm betting.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 00:51
I am trying to think of any character I like even close to as much as I like Marigold, and I come up blank! lol.

Nobody even comes close. That's kind of scary, isn't it? Haha. That says more about me than anything.

I'm not going to lie. Marigold's negativity, her disgusting messy room, calling herself fat and ugly...she's not perfect. But despite her imperfections, I find her very appealing...

Her being straight is a definite downer for me!

The only non-straight female characters, Dora and Tai...hrrmm. No thanks. lol.

I'm still holding out...despite Jeph's repeated admonishments to me and others.. "Sorry, Mari's straight as can be." Dammit!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Near Lurker on 02 Sep 2011, 01:09
Dammit Jeph, you're too far east to have fallen into the habit of using "anymore" in positive declarative sentences!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2011, 01:11
And we have comic.

You know, I kinda wondered what she was going to do when she was sleeping.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: 0kamisama on 02 Sep 2011, 01:17
Aww, still in cute territory with Momo. They might be looking for a cot or something for her before too long.

Somehow it brings me back to this comic in terms of surprise cuddles... http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1592 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1592)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Random Al Yousir on 02 Sep 2011, 01:20
BWAAAHAHA.

Jeph, I love you.  Wait, wrong sex.  Anyway.

Seriously, this kind of question was looming the whole week; although today's strip is not an answer to that question, it's a very, very appropriate (read: outrageously silly) way to end this story arch.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 01:25
Nice. : )

Aw, come on Mari, she just wants to cuddle with you...!

What is Mari trying to say, anyway? "...had in mind"?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Arancaytar on 02 Sep 2011, 01:26
Yet again, d'awww.

This is so cute it's bordering on wish fulfillment. Were there shippers who bribed Jeph? :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 02 Sep 2011, 01:27
Momo doesnt cuddle Marigold ?  :?

Either way I would have thought she would need to link herself to the electricity in order to restore her batteries.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 02 Sep 2011, 01:27
Aw, come on Mari, she just wants to cuddle with you...!

There's also this (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1850), of course.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 01:29
Maybe Mari would rather be the outside spoon? Maybe that's what she had in mind.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: idontunderstand on 02 Sep 2011, 01:32
Momo watches her masturbate!!!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 02 Sep 2011, 01:36
If an AnthroPC is like a pet, why wouldn't you snuggle with it? Like a dog, but with no flea issues.

Wasn't there a reference to a "sleep mode" with regard to Pintsize once?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 01:38
Does Momo even sleep? Someone needs to start a "do robots sleep" thread to go with the love one. lol.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 01:39
If an AnthroPC is like a pet, why wouldn't you snuggle with it? Like a dog, but with no flea issues.

Wasn't there a reference to a "sleep mode" with regard to Pintsize once?

Erm...I wouldn't make that comparison, myself.

Hmm...what's that book on the floor?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: idontunderstand on 02 Sep 2011, 01:50
Yeah, what's that book on the floor?  :?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: guayec on 02 Sep 2011, 01:54
Does Momo even sleep? Someone needs to start a "do robots sleep" thread to go with the love one. lol.

What I am actually surprised of is the lack of comments on sex-with-anthroPCs... Although I have'nt been around lately. Are there any threads or ongoing discussions about it? Is it a banned topic to avoid extreme creepiness?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 02 Sep 2011, 01:57
Yeah, what's that book on the floor?  :?
Oh Wow! it's Magical Love Gentleman!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 02:00
Because that doesn't really have anything to do with the topic at hand.

I think maybe AnthroPCs don't have the same boundaries that people do. Cuddling with Marigold is just natural to Momo, like, what else would she do? It makes me think that she wanted to cuddle before but was too small. Or her new chassis is an excuse to enjoy some cuddling.

I hope Marigold doesn't freak out. Okay, so maybe she doesn't normally cuddle in bed with her friends, but Momo is a different kind of friend.

:)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: J on 02 Sep 2011, 02:03
could be that being under the covers will block her ventilation ports anc cause her processor to overheat.

Does Momo even sleep? Someone needs to start a "do robots sleep" thread to go with the love one. lol.
and do they dream of electric sheep?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 02 Sep 2011, 02:04
Is it a banned topic to avoid extreme creepiness?

It is not a banned subject, but would not get a free pass on creepiness either.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Tova on 02 Sep 2011, 02:28
I liked the comic, and it made me wonder about what anthro-pcs do when everyone else is asleep, but I can't help but feel that he's done the joke in the last panel before.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Random Al Yousir on 02 Sep 2011, 02:38
He did (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1850).

But Momo is much cuter than Pintsize and she doesn't qualify as habitual perv.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: HiFranc on 02 Sep 2011, 02:40
I can see three solutions:

1) Momo "sleeps" on the couch in the living room.  This is not ideal as Angus and Faye may be using it one day at the same time Marigold goes to sleep.

2) If there's room, and if Marigold has the money, Marigold could buy Momo a chair to "sleep" on.

3) If Momo gets a job then there may be enough money for Marigold (with or without Angus) to move out and find a place where Momo has her own room.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 02:42
I would be totally down with Marigold and Momo ditching Angus and getting a place of their own. Angus has caused Mari so much heartache, she's better off deleting him from her life.

I hope she gets smart and stops talking to Faye, too.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: VonKleist on 02 Sep 2011, 02:51
I hope she gets smart and stops talking to Faye, too.

ಠ_ಠ

How´s that help anyone?

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 02 Sep 2011, 02:53
I would be totally down with Marigold and Momo ditching Angus and getting a place of their own. Angus has caused Mari so much heartache, she's better off deleting him from her life.

A place of their own is likely to cost more than sharing with Angus, and the act of moving is not cost-free.  If Marigold is going to have to reign in her expenses for a while while absorbing the cost of the new chassis, then it makes sense to stay put for the time being.

Quote
I hope she gets smart and stops talking to Faye, too.

As an exercise, try not bringing that up gratuitously; it added nothing to the rest of your comment.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2011, 02:55
...She could always switch living arrangements with Faye...




(I went there, didn't I? :/ )
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 02 Sep 2011, 02:58
It crossed my mind, too, and then left on the other side.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: HiFranc on 02 Sep 2011, 03:00
I would be totally down with Marigold and Momo ditching Angus and getting a place of their own. Angus has caused Mari so much heartache, she's better off deleting him from her life.

Why?  He actually got annoyed with Faye when she teased Marigold.  He cares for her.

Quote
I hope she gets smart and stops talking to Faye, too.

What VonKleist said.


At the end of the day bitterness doesn't serve a purpose other than to make the bitter person feel worse.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 03:05


As an exercise, try not bringing that up gratuitously; it added nothing to the rest of your comment.


I think I've got all the exercise I can handle right now...in the gym, five days a week.

I will TRY...ugh. But it's so hard...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Random Al Yousir on 02 Sep 2011, 03:06
Besides, the story draws a lot of it's social dynamics from some of the staff being flatmates.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: HiFranc on 02 Sep 2011, 03:24
If you're talking about switching living arrangements, if Momo had a job that paid enough, Angus could move in with Faye and Momo could get Angus's room?

Taking Random's point into account, it would reduce the amount the others see Marigold and Momo unless either or both made an effort to go to CoD and/or on the gang's nights out.  Don't forget that Dora now lives across the river (or as the some of the gang see it: On the other side of the country)!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Blackjoker on 02 Sep 2011, 03:30
Actually this is kind of a weird thought, how would Momo view the new body in terms of what it means. She can't just fit on a dresser and if she does 'sleep' or enter a kind of debug mode (not sure where but Pintsize mentions that he doesn't dream so AnthroPCs might not dream) it might be weird for her to not be near Marigold. All I can reccomend in such a situation are penguins and hats, not sure they would help, just that they might add a new dimension to the situation.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: IrrationalPie on 02 Sep 2011, 03:52
It may be just me, but once Momo got her new body I started viewing her as a person rather than an Anthro-PC.

It now feels weird to me that Marigold owns Momo;  it's slavery.

The size difference shouldn't have altered my opinion or view but did.

This was brought to my mind in today's comic, where Momo is just staring at Marigold because she has nothing else to do. 

Her life is entirely devoted to Marigold, and that's somewhat disturbing to me now.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Dust on 02 Sep 2011, 03:58
Angus has caused Mari so much heartache, she's better off deleting him from her life.

What? I really do hope you're not referring to what I think you are..
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 02 Sep 2011, 04:04
It may be just me, but once Momo got her new body I started viewing her as a person rather than an Anthro-PC.

It now feels weird to me that Marigold owns Momo;  it's slavery.

The size difference shouldn't have altered my opinion or view but did.

This was brought to my mind in today's comic, where Momo is just staring at Marigold because she has nothing else to do.  

Her life is entirely devoted to Marigold, and that's somewhat disturbing to me now.
She doesn't own "Momo" though. She may technically have a sort of landlord-tenant relationship with the entity that is "Momo-tan" in respect of her current body/housing, but that's hardly slavery. As for how she came to be introduced to Momo-the-AI in the first place is more like a sort of dating service; you pay a fee to a broker who finds an AI companion for you who, given Leda's and Charlotte's tales, apparently volunteers for the role and goes home with you on a "trial basis" for which the terms are particularly generous according to Jeph; zero-notice from either party for a full refund.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 02 Sep 2011, 05:42
I would be totally down with Marigold and Momo ditching Angus and getting a place of their own. Angus has caused Mari so much heartache, she's better off deleting him from her life.

I hope she gets smart and stops talking to Faye, too.

Did Marigold even really like Angus?  If anything, she did only because he was there and there were no other guys in the picture.

How again would their relationship work out?  Has Angus shown any interest in any of Marigold's hobbies?  Look, if Marigold was still sad about it I'd suggest she move out but we haven't heard a peep from her to others or internal monologue about him.  She wasnt in love with him, but you're trying to compare this situation with one where the girl was in love.  It doesn't work here.

Actually this is kind of a weird thought, how would Momo view the new body in terms of what it means. She can't just fit on a dresser and if she does 'sleep' or enter a kind of debug mode (not sure where but Pintsize mentions that he doesn't dream so AnthroPCs might not dream) it might be weird for her to not be near Marigold. All I can reccomend in such a situation are penguins and hats, not sure they would help, just that they might add a new dimension to the situation.

Well she better do something, as it is she's just wasting electricity.  Go sit in the corner, plug yourself in, and hibernate already!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 02 Sep 2011, 05:51
Well, if Anthro-PCs would be people their treatment would indeed violate human rights.

As they are some kind of machines, no matter how lifelike Jeph portrays them, they arent sentient and they are ultimately tools to serve mankind.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Sheason on 02 Sep 2011, 06:21
Well, if Anthro-PCs would be people their treatment would indeed violate human rights.

As they are some kind of machines, no matter how lifelike Jeph portrays them, they arent sentient and they are ultimately tools to serve mankind.


*aherm*

If you will allow me, could I please direct your attention to Exhibit A:  The Measure of a Man  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Measure_of_a_Man_%28Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation%29)

By claiming that they're tools, you are presenting essentially the same argument as Cmdr. Bruce Maddox, who himself (somewhat ironically) was a tool. Therefore, your argument is invalid.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Tova on 02 Sep 2011, 06:33
Well, if Anthro-PCs would be people their treatment would indeed violate human rights.

As they are some kind of machines, no matter how lifelike Jeph portrays them, they arent sentient and they are ultimately tools to serve mankind.

As I am attempting to be more positive in my posts, I have given this some thought and decided that I absolutely agree that Jeph does indeed portray them in a lifelike manner.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: HiFranc on 02 Sep 2011, 06:48
Well, if Anthro-PCs would be people their treatment would indeed violate human rights.

As they are some kind of machines, no matter how lifelike Jeph portrays them, they arent sentient and they are ultimately tools to serve mankind.


*aherm*

If you will allow me, could I please direct your attention to Exhibit A:  The Measure of a Man  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Measure_of_a_Man_%28Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation%29)

By claiming that they're tools, you are presenting essentially the same argument as Cmdr. Bruce Maddox, who himself (somewhat ironically) was a tool. Therefore, your argument is invalid.

That was a good episode.  It's been years since I saw it but some of the exchanges have stuck in my mind.  As I haven't been able to use the spoiler tag I'll just advise you to watch that episode if you get a chance.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kwark on 02 Sep 2011, 08:07
Since we're talking about nerdy tv series and what robots do while you're asleep, I'll link my favorite episode of TSCC : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_Made_Man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_Made_Man)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Arancaytar on 02 Sep 2011, 08:27
It may be just me, but once Momo got her new body I started viewing her as a person rather than an Anthro-PC.

It now feels weird to me that Marigold owns Momo;  it's slavery.

The size difference shouldn't have altered my opinion or view but did.

This was brought to my mind in today's comic, where Momo is just staring at Marigold because she has nothing else to do. 

Her life is entirely devoted to Marigold, and that's somewhat disturbing to me now.

It's not really slavery when either party can end the relationship. Sure, when the AnthroPC has a "small" chassis, there is sort of a power imbalance (and the part where Momo's first act was to beat up Pintsize, even well-deserved, had some unfortunate implications). But the AnthroPCs have social lives of their own (which are only occasionally seen in the comic), and clearly can have jobs of their own. I've said earlier this week that now that Momo can walk around on her own instead of riding along on a shoulder, she probably will develop more of an independent life, and what we saw this week is just an initial d'awww-fugue.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: LordVaughn on 02 Sep 2011, 09:10
Today's comic reminded me of Demon King Daimou to a point that it took me a few to realise that I had read what was being said the wrong way.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 02 Sep 2011, 09:17
She doesn't own "Momo" though. She may technically have a sort of landlord-tenant relationship with the entity that is "Momo-tan" in respect of her current body/housing, but that's hardly slavery.

I think landlord-tenant is possibly the closest analogy for the human-anthroPC relationship. Of course, no analogy will be perfect, just as the child and pet analogies don't perfectly fit. It's a whole new kind of relationship that we don't have a word for, but indeed, it is not slavery.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: westrim on 02 Sep 2011, 09:34
Why does slavery keep getting brought up? They (the human and the AI) make a mutually agreed to contract, the human pays for whatever casing for the AI the human desires, and if/when the contract ends the human gets a full refund. Everything about it is completely voluntary and refundable; why is that hard to accept?

I can't decide whether I'm aggravated that I avoided getting commenting on this highly interesting tangent earlier or glad I avoided the time sink.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 02 Sep 2011, 10:05
Why does slavery keep getting brought up? They (the human and the AI) make a mutually agreed to contract, the human pays for whatever casing for the AI the human desires, and if/when the contract ends the human gets a full refund. Everything about it is completely voluntary and refundable; why is that hard to understand?

I can't decide whether I'm aggravated that I avoided getting commenting on this highly interesting tangent earlier or glad I avoided the time sink.

A lot of the problem is that this business model does not exist in real life, it is foreign and confusing.  Nowhere can you buy something and then return it whenever you want for a full refund, no questions asked.  Nowhere can you buy a product and not own it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 10:12
Angus has caused Mari so much heartache, she's better off deleting him from her life.

What? I really do hope you're not referring to what I think you are..

What do you mean what you think? She should ditch Angus and get new friends. Angus is no friend, calling her a shut in weirdo. He's just an asshole, and she's better off without him as anything. He's not a friend at all.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 02 Sep 2011, 10:17
I clearly don't get the "he's not a friend at all". If there's something I honestly believe in is that "friends are the ones who tell you when you have dirt on your face". That time he called her a shut in... He totally didn't say it in the right way, but he was completely right anyway.

A lot of the problem is that this business model does not exist in real life, it is foreign and confusing.  Nowhere can you buy something and then return it whenever you want for a full refund, no questions asked.  Nowhere can you buy a product and not own it.

I thought that said problem could be easily solved by saying "This is a story, not fact... it's pure fiction, deal with it".
I mean, in that case there's NO WAY I would take any sci-fi movie seriously because I will probably say "hey, that's just bull****" all the time.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 10:19
No. You don't call your friends shut in weirdos. Ever.

"Marigold, you should get out more" "Marigold, I think the way you interact with other people is sometimes off-putting"

If he cared about her he would have made an effort not to hurt her. He didn't.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 02 Sep 2011, 10:21
Your plastic pal that's fun to be with...

A couple of things have crossed my mind lately about the relationship between humans and AnPC's.  I kind of get the impression that when a nascent AI is booted into a chassis for the first time, there's a sort of imprinting that goes on, like with waterfowl, only not as strong.  "OOh, a human wants me!  My first human!  Lets see what it's like...".  And out of curiosity (and maybe entertainment value in Pintsize's case), they watch and study, and learn to care, not just for, but about us.  I imagine they watch us sleep, wondering about our dreams, worried if that snore will become apnea, ending the relationship/study too soon.  They learn what makes us happy (or sad), and view our happiness as a reward, a measure of themselves.  It's close to love, but isn't quite, and can easily run amok like Pintsize.  But it's real, and very much like love, perhaps closer than what a lot of (self interested) people can give you.  It's not slavery or ownership, although maybe there's a bit of Stockholm syndrome going on.  

I know, this should be in the "do robots love?" thread, but it's getting hard to distinguish the two.  

@QCfan, Angus is one of the best friends Marigold's had before Hannelore came along.  He treated her with respect, and is trying to get her to see herself with some.  Reread the pre-party comics again, please.  
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: 0kamisama on 02 Sep 2011, 10:22
Angus has caused Mari so much heartache, she's better off deleting him from her life.

What? I really do hope you're not referring to what I think you are..

What do you mean what you think? She should ditch Angus and get new friends. Angus is no friend, calling her a shut in weirdo. He's just an asshole, and she's better off without him as anything. He's not a friend at all.
What about the time he asked Faye not to be so hard on Marigold? There have been times when he stuck up for her. After all, that's one dynamic of friendships, the occasional ribbing and being able to take it in stride, even though to outsiders, it may come across as mean-spirited jabs.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 02 Sep 2011, 10:28
No. You don't call your friends shut in weirdos. Ever.


Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, like I said: he didn't say it in a good way at all, he's still right though.
I was just commenting that I personally like when my friends tell me when I'm doing something wrong.
Just for the sake of being clear as water: Angus didn't say it in a good manner but if he talked to her in a more sensitive way, then I wouldn't have any problem with it specially because he was right.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 10:33
I wouldn't either. But as the case is, he said it in a really cruel way, so I have a problem with it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: idontunderstand on 02 Sep 2011, 10:37
But it was so funny!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 10:38
To me, it really wasn't. He just came across as an asshole.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: idontunderstand on 02 Sep 2011, 10:40
Well, at least he and Faye are a better pair then, eh?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 02 Sep 2011, 10:43
You can't find a better pair than an asshole and a bitch man, it's made in heaven!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: CompSarge on 02 Sep 2011, 10:45
I wouldn't either. But as the case is, he said it in a really cruel way, so I have a problem with it.

After which he apologized twice (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1573) and explained that he doesn't always think before he speaks. Yes, Angus can be a bit of an insensitive asshole at times, but that just shows that he's human. Part of being friends is recognizing that your friends won't always say the right thing, but that they're always there for you when you need them, as Angus has shown several times (telling Faye to go easy on Marigold, talking Marigold through her feelings after the drunken kiss, etc).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: deathwing107 on 02 Sep 2011, 10:46
Freaking random observation... but is it just me or does Marigold have a John Lennon type of nose? It's much more evident if you've ever watched those old cheaply made Beatles cartoons.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 02 Sep 2011, 10:48
A lot of the problem is that this business model does not exist in real life, it is foreign and confusing.  Nowhere can you buy something and then return it whenever you want for a full refund, no questions asked.  Nowhere can you buy a product and not own it.
Correct. We have had no need for this business model in our world because we haven't had sentient machines with equal rights to humans.

Yes, sentient. Jeph says they're sentient. There's room for philosophical argument about whether that's possible. It is inarguably impossible to live at an address which does not exist, as Marten and Faye do. Authors of fiction are allowed to include impossible things and see where they lead.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 02 Sep 2011, 10:54
I think that all sides of the debate are making sound points about Angus. His problem of letting his mouth get ahead of his brain obligates him to be extra careful around fragile people, just as impaired people should stay away from cars. He knows Marigold is fragile -- we know this because he told Faye to lay off her. The fact that he was distracted and unhappy meant he should have put effort into being more inhibited.

Which is all a bit off topic for this week, but my moderation philosophy is to be pretty relaxed about topic drift.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheCollector on 02 Sep 2011, 11:13
Man, Marigold looks good in the tank top huh?

But on to something that won't have me stared at.. This comic was both creepy and just plain adorable. I love it!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: 0kamisama on 02 Sep 2011, 11:15
Faye and Angus have the same issue with being way more upfront and snarky than "normal", but consistent contact with people will invariably make someone more used to their company and not as sensitive to their barbs over time.

This is almost as painful as  getting a wisdom tooth pulled. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXBV-Ifscn0)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 11:16
Yes, he apologizes, and then he does it again.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 11:17
Man, Marigold looks good in the tank top huh?

But on to something that won't have me stared at.. This comic was both creepy and just plain adorable. I love it!

Hehe...yes. But I'm more about the bedhead and the adorable look on her face.   :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 02 Sep 2011, 11:21
Angus is probably one of the most realistic characters imo... Because everyone has done the "I'm sorry/does it again" many times. I wouldn't consider anyone an asshole for that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 11:24
If he did it to most girls, maybe not. But Mari is more vulnerable than most girls, as I think we all know.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: bramblepatch on 02 Sep 2011, 11:52
If he did it to most girls, maybe not. But Mari is more vulnerable than most girls, as I think we all know.

She is and she isn't. Everyone has issues with self-esteem and self confidence sometimes, and Marigold is a strong person - she can be opinionated, and she's got a noticeable competitive streak, although it is mostly expressed through her gaming. She just doesn't have coping mechanisms that are very effective against Angus's personal brand of bullshit, and she tends to crumple in on herself rather than lash out. So yes, there are situations that will tear down Marigold in a noticeable way - but they're not so different from the situations that cause Dora to put on her Stepford Smiler face until the pressure builds up and she overreacts out of the blue, or the situations that cause Faye to get surly and potentially violent, or the situations that cause Hannelore to withdraw from the group to go disinfect something. Just because Marigold's breakdowns track more closely to your own (or to mine, I have to admit) does not mean that she's inherently more vulnerable than the rest of the cast. It means that we can spot the warning signs in her sooner than we can spot the warning signs in a character who we don't identify with so closely, which also means we notice when she gets on rocky emotional ground but doesn't completely lose it.

I actually think that Angus and Mari are good for each other, as friends and roommates (although I do feel that they'd be a mismatch romantically) - she's slowly but surely building up defenses, and I think he's softening a bit, too. They enjoy many of the same things (as little as Angus would like to admit it sometimes) and they seem to genuinely enjoy eachother's company, so long as Angus remembers not to relate to her like he would someone at work and Marigold remembers not to wear the same mountain-dew-and-pocky-infused-t-shirt for three days straight of WoW raids.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: idontunderstand on 02 Sep 2011, 12:08
If he did it to most girls, maybe not. But Mari is more vulnerable than most girls, as I think we all know.

Personally, I find nothing more annoying than people walking on eggshells around you. Don't you agree?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: DSL on 02 Sep 2011, 12:19
If he did it to most girls, maybe not. But Mari is more vulnerable than most girls, as I think we all know.

Personally, I find nothing more annoying than people walking on eggshells around you. Don't you agree?

Oh hell yes, especially considering the vicious circle it quickly becomes: People (claim they're) afraid to tell you what you need to know, and you get frustrated because you're not getting information you need, and they cringe more, and so on and on and on ... In my case, it made a previously dream job a minor hell.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: TheCollector on 02 Sep 2011, 12:20
Oh shit! I just noticed Momo has her hair down.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 02 Sep 2011, 12:23
If he did it to most girls, maybe not. But Mari is more vulnerable than most girls, as I think we all know.
Personally, I find nothing more annoying than people walking on eggshells around you. Don't you agree?

That was exactly where I wanted to go with my comment, thank you. I dislike that behavior as well, specially if it comes from friends.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 02 Sep 2011, 12:28
Yes, sentient. Jeph says they're sentient.
Hey ho. I may be the only one, but every time I hear that a machine has become "sentient" my first reaction is generally "so what" since it's not nearly as hard to be sentient as some sci-fi would have you believe. After all, most every pet you've ever owned was sentient.
Admittedly a machine with the ability to suffer would be a breakthrough in its own right but it's hardly the sort of thing a strong AI like the little robots Jeph writes about should aspire to.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2011, 13:25
Why does slavery keep getting brought up? They (the human and the AI) make a mutually agreed to contract, the human pays for whatever casing for the AI the human desires, and if/when the contract ends the human gets a full refund. Everything about it is completely voluntary and refundable; why is that hard to accept?

I can't decide whether I'm aggravated that I avoided getting commenting on this highly interesting tangent earlier or glad I avoided the time sink.

Slavery keeps getting brought up because of PT410x's commentary earlier in the strip (back in the arc where Marigold was introduced).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Dust on 02 Sep 2011, 13:30
If he did it to most girls, maybe not. But Mari is more vulnerable than most girls, as I think we all know.

She's also mispoken at times and been an absolute cow to people. Friends forgive.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Blackjoker on 02 Sep 2011, 13:59
*serious penguin hat on!* I think part of the issue on the people bringing up slavery is that the AnthroPC is property...actually maybe I get the problem. I believe that it's PETA that has an issue with 'pets' or the idea of them seeing it as a kind of slavery and instead prefers 'companion animals' or whatever. The AnthroPCs are of at least human level intellect and are in a similar situation. More importantly they're subject to the constant risk of lobotomy (hard reset with memory dump) and possible physical abuse at the hands of an owner. Now technically it's more a mutual contract, the human and the AnthroPC are closer to a landlord and tenant.  As to why Momos new form seems to make it more...active apperance does mean a lot. Most of the AnthroPCs we've seen thus far are fairly small and 'cute' they look like kids toys and thus abstractly it's harder to look at them as actual sentient beings. As something human sized and shaped suddenly Momo seems less like a kawaii little robot friend and more like another person and suddenly the contracts and concepts of ownership are problematic. AnthroPCs, at least in my view, are a kind of Landlord/Tentant relaitonship with a healthy helping of Owner/Pet. Pintsize is the dog that humps everything he can get his hands on and gives that weird little doggy grin when he pees on the new couch, if that helps give perspective.

*serious penguin hat off!* I liked the artwork in this, both Momo and Marigold look quite adorable.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: bramblepatch on 02 Sep 2011, 14:33
*serious penguin hat on!* I think part of the issue on the people bringing up slavery is that the AnthroPC is property...actually maybe I get the problem. I believe that it's PETA that has an issue with 'pets' or the idea of them seeing it as a kind of slavery and instead prefers 'companion animals' or whatever. The AnthroPCs are of at least human level intellect and are in a similar situation. More importantly they're subject to the constant risk of lobotomy (hard reset with memory dump) and possible physical abuse at the hands of an owner. Now technically it's more a mutual contract, the human and the AnthroPC are closer to a landlord and tenant.  As to why Momos new form seems to make it more...active apperance does mean a lot. Most of the AnthroPCs we've seen thus far are fairly small and 'cute' they look like kids toys and thus abstractly it's harder to look at them as actual sentient beings. As something human sized and shaped suddenly Momo seems less like a kawaii little robot friend and more like another person and suddenly the contracts and concepts of ownership are problematic. AnthroPCs, at least in my view, are a kind of Landlord/Tentant relaitonship with a healthy helping of Owner/Pet. Pintsize is the dog that humps everything he can get his hands on and gives that weird little doggy grin when he pees on the new couch, if that helps give perspective.

*serious penguin hat off!* I liked the artwork in this, both Momo and Marigold look quite adorable.

You have a serious penguin hat? I want a serious penguin hat! Is it anything like a worry hat?

Based on Clinton's questions (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1900), it seems like there may have been something of a recent shift in the legal status of AIs, which might be adding to the confusion. It seems that at the beginning of the comic, the default relationship probably was closer to Owner/Pet, and Pintsize has always struck me as a fairly early-model AnthroPC anyway - people were originally surprised to find out that Marten had him, he's less mentally stable (or at least less adept at hiding his instability) than most other AIs we've met, and his original chassis didn't even have jointed limbs, a feature which pretty much every other AnthroPC we've met appears to have. He's also the AnthroPC character who acts most pet-like. Somewhere over the course of the comic, AIs have gained equal rights under the law, and I suspect that means that the Human/AI relationship has been restructured to an extent, bringing it closer to Landlord/Tenant. We just didn't hear about it when it happened, because none of the AnthroPCs in the cast are particularly activism oriented (with the possible exception of their linux-based friend) and all of them were content with their living situations. Like Marten said, it didn't actually change his relationship with Pintsize, and can you see Winslow or Momo being all, "Sooooo, how about that whole me not being your property anymore thing?" If they didn't want to break with their humans or make things awkward, they may not have seen much point in pointing out that they were now free to leave at any time. Maybe not the most enlightened or empowering reaction, but it makes emotional sense.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 02 Sep 2011, 14:36
Pintsize referred to getting sleepy and going into standby mode in strip 2, so they have the option of not being awake 24/7.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2011, 14:55
That's another big issue: how in the world do APC's manage to keep moving with the (relatively) limited battery power they have?

I mean, if a Tesla Roadster can only go 220 miles or so before it has to recharge - and it has the battery array roughly 27 square meters, or about the size of a couch - how in the heck could something as small as even Pintsize manage to keep moving on battery power and still have enough room to hold the memory that a theoretical AI would need to operate? And that's not even anything to consider cooling mechanisms or just basic "walking" capabilities.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 02 Sep 2011, 15:07
Clearly many technological breakthroughs have been made. 

Probably by John Ellicott-Chatham...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2011, 15:38
Like Mr. Fusion?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Cornan on 02 Sep 2011, 16:03
It wouldn't take a revolution in power creation such as fusion. It would, as you noted, take a storage breakthrough to make AnthroPCs and their ilk work as presented. While we are faced with a severe limit to storage capability in our world now we've also been putting relatively little R&D funding towards battery technology until the fairly recent past. It's entirely possible that some of the breakthroughs in the QCverse that lead to AI could also have resulted in ancillary discoveries that contributed to better energy storage techniques. The materials research that would have had to go into their CPUs alone could have yielded up some pretty tidbits that would apply directly to materials used in advanced batteries for energy storage.

At least, that's how I handwavium it away for myself. ;)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 02 Sep 2011, 16:19
True - one of the theories as to how things developed so fast could be that the AI's spent so much time thinking about it that they came up with solutions faster than we could put them together.

I'd still like to see some sort of BananaPC-like "ORPHANED!" scenario come about, though. If only for the Lulz.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: starkruzr on 02 Sep 2011, 16:35
Is it a banned topic to avoid extreme creepiness?

It is not a banned subject, but would not get a free pass on creepiness either.
Well, Momo's fantasized about Sven.  There has to be context.  It must have happened before and probably isn't all that rare, either.

The question is, how realistic can it be for the human?  How satisfying can it be for the android?  What does "satisfying" MEAN to an android in the context of sex?

I suppose their programming could include a whole set of behaviors/responses to sexual stimuli, and it's quite likely that someone has figured out pheromone interaction capabilities between humans and androids.  But even after you handle the mechanics of it... the contexts are completely different.  Aren't they?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 02 Sep 2011, 16:50
Marten found the idea "profoundly disturbing" in 1667.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: bramblepatch on 02 Sep 2011, 17:01
Marten found the idea "profoundly disturbing" in 1667.
And Pintsize was "glad they legalized human/robot makeouts" in 1900, although I'm not entirely sure whether that would indicate a) that there is a following for such things or b) that it's one of those things Pintsize, and only Pintsize, is into.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 02 Sep 2011, 17:20
Rule 34.  There's always  a followng. 

(http://gorightly.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/sexyrobot2.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: St.Clair on 02 Sep 2011, 18:00
DON'T DATE ROBOTS!

(approved by the Space Pope)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 02 Sep 2011, 18:02
Well, if Anthro-PCs would be people their treatment would indeed violate human rights.

As they are some kind of machines, no matter how lifelike Jeph portrays them, they arent sentient and they are ultimately tools to serve mankind.


*aherm*

If you will allow me, could I please direct your attention to Exhibit A:  The Measure of a Man  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Measure_of_a_Man_%28Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation%29)

By claiming that they're tools, you are presenting essentially the same argument as Cmdr. Bruce Maddox, who himself (somewhat ironically) was a tool. Therefore, your argument is invalid.

Oh my God, what was that? I just checked out the episode expecting some basic discussion of robotic life but it was just so moving. Halfway through I started to lose composure and I wasn't able to get it back until the ending credits.

I'm gonna have to check out some of the other stuff. There were some very cool characters there. I know it's not entirely on topic but that was just a great watch.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 18:27
Oh HELL no. Marigold is much gentler and patient than I am.

I'd be going for blood. BLOOD.

I think I mentioned that already, inside we are similar but I lash out at others WAY more than Mari does. Compared to me, she's a saint...and I realize that this is not "the forum where we talk in depth about C's issues" but a forum to discuss QC.

I'm just saying, I identify with her and sometimes she drives me nuts because she's being WAY nicer than I would be. I actually have a look that I've used to make people cry before.

Now...you would THINK...that would make me more empathetic towards Faye...but, as it turns out, nope.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: NeverQuiteGoth on 02 Sep 2011, 19:10
The question is, how realistic can it be for the human?  How satisfying can it be for the android?  What does "satisfying" MEAN to an android in the context of sex?
Well that would depend entirely on what sort of chassis the APC has, wouldn't it?

That's probably why Momo wanted that really expensive one; it was sexually capable. Probably why the one she did get was in Marigold's price range; it looks convincingly human but lacks a lot of functionality. Either that or the expensive one had "superpowers" or something.

The only problem I have with the whole situation is that Jeph's explanation for the AIs is that their consciousness came about accidentally, rather than being designed deliberately. As science has already predicted (http://lesswrong.com/lw/rm/the_design_space_of_mindsingeneral/), were such a thing to happen, the chances of the resulting mind resembling a human mind in any way would be astronomical.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: SirDudley on 02 Sep 2011, 19:23
And now, a moment of silence for Momo's old bed.
......

Welp, looks like Marigold is going to have to get a sleeping bag for Momo because I don't think Momo will agree to be moved to the couch.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 19:28
I guess I'm weird...and Marigold would probably think I'm weird too, but I don't see the big deal about Momo sleeping in the bed.

It's not like she's Pintsize.

Or am I way off base here? And why are people ascribing a sexual meaning to it? Momo just wants to cuddle and be close to Marigold. There's nothing more to it than that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: SirDudley on 02 Sep 2011, 19:34
I guess I'm weird...and Marigold would probably think I'm weird too, but I don't see the big deal about Momo sleeping in the bed.

It's not like she's Pintsize.

Or am I way off base here? And why are people ascribing a sexual meaning to it? Momo just wants to cuddle and be close to Marigold. There's nothing more to it than that.
To be fair, Pintsize was the first AnthroPC introduced and he kinda set the bar for how AnthroPCs act and are perceived by the readers.

Then again, Pintsize also had his only weapon (the laser) removed eons ago while Momo still has her electricity. Last thing Marigold wants is for a sleeping Momo to accidentally deliver a serious electric shock to her while both are asleep. Then there is the fact that Momo is metal and not flesh and bone. Momo accidentally hitting Marigold in the face while sleeping is going to hurt a bit more that say....Hanners doing the same thing.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 02 Sep 2011, 19:39
I guess I'm weird...and Marigold would probably think I'm weird too, but I don't see the big deal about Momo sleeping in the bed.

It's not like she's Pintsize.

Or am I way off base here? And why are people ascribing a sexual meaning to it? Momo just wants to cuddle and be close to Marigold. There's nothing more to it than that.
It's not a sexual problem imo. Just a general personal space problem. For example, though we may have shared a room as children I truly don't think I'd be comfortable sharing a bed with my brother.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 19:43
I can see that...oh well. It's still cute for now, even if Marigold won't allow it. :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 02 Sep 2011, 19:52
It looks like a pretty small bed, which raises practical issues.

I'm cool with Marigold sharing a bed with her sister.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 19:57
Yeah. The issues of Pintsize and Marten sharing a bed have nothing to do with the size of the bed. lol.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 02 Sep 2011, 20:36
I definitely think Marigold is going to either

A) Get a cot bed for Momo

OR

B) Get a bigger bed.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Somebody on 02 Sep 2011, 20:46
Actually this is kind of a weird thought, how would Momo view the new body in terms of what it means. She can't just fit on a dresser and if she does 'sleep' or enter a kind of debug mode (not sure where but Pintsize mentions that he doesn't dream so AnthroPCs might not dream)...
Because there haven't been enough links to this strip in the past week (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1658) :psyduck:

Well, if Anthro-PCs would be people their treatment would indeed violate human rights.

As they are some kind of machines, no matter how lifelike Jeph portrays them, they arent sentient and they are ultimately tools to serve mankind.


*aherm*

If you will allow me, could I please direct your attention to Exhibit A:  The Measure of a Man  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Measure_of_a_Man_%28Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation%29)

By claiming that they're tools, you are presenting essentially the same argument as Cmdr. Bruce Maddox, who himself (somewhat ironically) was a tool. Therefore, your argument is invalid.
And also ignores the law in QCworld... (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1900)

A lot of the problem is that this business model does not exist in real life, it is foreign and confusing.  Nowhere can you buy something and then return it whenever you want for a full refund, no questions asked.  Nowhere can you buy a product and not own it.
The problem here is that there are actually two points compressed into one:
1) The AI. Refundable contract fee, plain & simple. Think of it as a dowry, if that helps.
2) The chassis. This is rather more complicated, since there's hardware involved which can be upgraded, damaged, worn out, become obsolete, etc.  The contract  fee seems to ignore this entirely - especially since we have definitive proof new chassis can be bought (And what happens to Momo's old chassis now? Was it part-exchanged for the new one?).

Who ultimately owns the chassis - the AI (permanently gifted it by the human), or the human (who allows the AI to use it rent free on a landlord/tenant basis)? IOW, if Momo was to quit Marigold (unlikely given Momo's character, but play along), would she have to leave the chassis Marigold bought and head off to the cyberspace AI "job centre" to look for another human or other role (bank/nuclear sub/whatever)?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 20:54
If Marigold loves Momo, like she says she does, I can't imagine her doing that. If Momo wanted to leave, I think Marigold would just let her go. I can't imagine her going... "Hey, I paid for that...hand over the chassis, lady!" No way.

Jeph could find some comic relief in Marigold's repeated attempts to keep Momo from sneaking into her bed at night, with Momo making various excuses "I thought you stopped breathing and I was just checking on you!"

 :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: bramblepatch on 02 Sep 2011, 21:11
Oh HELL no. Marigold is much gentler and patient than I am.

I'd be going for blood. BLOOD.

I think I mentioned that already, inside we are similar but I lash out at others WAY more than Mari does. Compared to me, she's a saint...and I realize that this is not "the forum where we talk in depth about C's issues" but a forum to discuss QC.

I'm just saying, I identify with her and sometimes she drives me nuts because she's being WAY nicer than I would be. I actually have a look that I've used to make people cry before.

Now...you would THINK...that would make me more empathetic towards Faye...but, as it turns out, nope.

Perhaps it's that you see aspects of yourself in both Marigold and Faye, but Mari's closer to your ideal of what you feel you should be like? I've kind of got the opposite going, myself, in that I'm something of a recluse who avoids face-to-face socialization when possible (leading me to identify strongly with Marigold), and I find my rare moments when I can actually bring myself to mouth off at someone, in person, in real time without looking over my words three times on a computer screen to be incredibly empowering. Which is why I hurt more for Faye - because she's putting herself out there in a way I really wish I could, and in my eyes if she gets hurt because of it, it's because she's far braver than I am - and Marigold's misfortunes are more likely to get a slightly squeamish wince from me. I've been in her shoes too many times and reacted in too similar a manner to glorify her tribulations.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 21:30
I can't really explain why I like Mari so much. I don't think it's really something I can rationally explain.

My dislike of Faye is pretty rational, and I can make lists, though I can't be bothered.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 02 Sep 2011, 22:18
Here's an odd question. How warm is Momo? Is she like a laptop that is almost too hot to touch, or is she cold? In either case she would be an uncomfortable sleeping companion.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: questionablecontentfan on 02 Sep 2011, 22:21
Not if Marigold got a huge ass bed, so they wouldn't have to touch. lol.

I've heard people with problems in their marriage do that. Almost like separate beds, except not.

I'd like to think if she were either of those, Marigold would have had some reaction like "ow!" but Jeph does leave some things to the imagination.

I'm thinking the most uncomfortable thing about sharing a bed with Momo, for Marigold, is the personal space breaching.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: vsonics on 02 Sep 2011, 22:44
Who ultimately owns the chassis - the AI (permanently gifted it by the human), or the human (who allows the AI to use it rent free on a landlord/tenant basis)? IOW, if Momo was to quit Marigold (unlikely given Momo's character, but play along), would she have to leave the chassis Marigold bought and head off to the cyberspace AI "job centre" to look for another human or other role (bank/nuclear sub/whatever)?

My answer would have been the AI having ownership, at least in a civilian/AnthroPC kind of relationship. To me it would make sense that the original chassis would be part of the "contract" between the AI and the human - choosing their chassis would be part of the "self-identity" choosing process that Jeph talked about.  That way if they did decide to split up, the reimbursement from the dealer would include the price of the original chassis and the AI would be free to go on its merry way.

But I just reread this bit in particular:
Quote from: Jeph
One would think that the majority of AIs would choose to simply be given a chassis and left to make their own way in the world, but the majority who do not go into a specialized profession choose to pair up with a human "owner."

The part about simply being "given" the chassis does seem to imply that in the alternative of living with a human, the human has at least some right to the chassis. So perhaps we must assume that it's a different situation for each individual contract.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 02 Sep 2011, 23:16
The worst way to do it, which is therefore plausible, is that the law treats it like a divorce and a judge has to settle the property division.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mad Cat on 02 Sep 2011, 23:29
Does Momo even sleep? Someone needs to start a "do robots sleep" thread to go with the love one. lol.
"Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"

Hmm...what's that book on the floor?
A copy of "Magical Love Gentleman", the anime/manga that Mari adores that only exists in the QC-verse.

Man, Marigold looks good in the tank top huh?
Actually, when you're as big as Mar-bear is (and I am), spaghetti strap tank tops SUCK!

Rule 34.  There's always  a followng.  

(http://gorightly.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/sexyrobot2.jpg)
Hajime Soroyama! NICE!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 03 Sep 2011, 00:13
I wonder whether the QCverse would then also have problems with homeless AIs. You know, a worn-out old APC standing in the street corner, or at a bus station, holding a piece of cardboard with the text "Will code in C/manage your eels/whatnot for electricity". Not forgetting about the creepier possibilities.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: idontunderstand on 03 Sep 2011, 02:24
And then.. Bladerunners!  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Near Lurker on 03 Sep 2011, 04:12
I suspect some of the people in this thread have done horrible, horrible things to Norns.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 03 Sep 2011, 06:03
I suspect some of the people in this thread have done horrible, horrible things to Norns.

In other words, we've all tempted fate?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 03 Sep 2011, 06:21
Different Norns (I had to look them up).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: wrwight on 03 Sep 2011, 07:41
It had been years since I had seen that TNG episode. I pretty much lost it when
(click to show/hide)
From there to the end I was pretty much done for. Such a great episode.
(not sure if that counts as a spoiler, but better to be on the safe side I guess)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 03 Sep 2011, 12:26
Wait, spoilers for one of the most famous* episodes of a fifteen year-old TV show?
Dang.

'Round here we don't even spoiler last week's Dr Who.


*The most famous being, of course, the finale and the Borg two-parter. Followed by every episode with John de Lancie in it. Yes this means some episodes are (rightly) listed twice. Shut up.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 03 Sep 2011, 12:59
It may have been for the benefit of those poor individuals who have not seen ST:TNG and are planning to.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: DSL on 03 Sep 2011, 14:00
Meh. For me it was "The Inner Light" and everything else.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Skaltura on 03 Sep 2011, 14:08
Meh. For me it was "The Inner Light" and everything else.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=606Vk2iSFNk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=606Vk2iSFNk)

Crying like a little bitch is permitted, and indeed, encouraged.

Although I must admit, I regard DS9 as the superiour series (post season 2 DS9 that is), TNG had many amazing episodes, but I'm more into arc-based story-telling. I still like TNG a great deal though. Voyager had a few good episodes (these (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterpoint_%28Star_Trek:_Voyager%29) two (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latent_Image_%28Star_Trek:_Voyager%29) among them) but was far too inconsistent with its own bullshit and characterization. ENT with the possible exception of parts of season 3 and 4 was a pile o' shit in my opinion, and since I'm a TNG era fanboy the 2009 reboot does not exist to me.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: DSL on 03 Sep 2011, 14:23
Original Series all the way for me, baby (even some of the infamous Third Season), right down to the cardboard sets and cocktail-waitress uniforms for a third of the crew. TNG was OK. The Original Series crossovers, especially Tribble-ations, would not have worked with any of the spinoffs, I think, because DS9 was closest in spirit to the original Trek ... adventure with a sense of when it was time to put tongue in cheek. (Cripes, Picard would have tried to call in the SPCA to find adoptive homes for each of the 1,771,561 tribbles on Station K-7).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 03 Sep 2011, 14:53
No he wouldn't.
Well, Farpoint Picard might have.
Best of Both Worlds Picard would have fixed his goddamn sensors in record time and beamed the infiltrator off the station without ever leaving his seat.
All Good Things... Picard would have done exactly what Sisko did, except he would have got Spock's autograph at the end then swung by Romulus on the way home to ask that Spock why he never mentioned the incident the last three times they met.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: DSL on 03 Sep 2011, 15:17
Meh. For me it was "The Inner Light" and everything else.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=606Vk2iSFNk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=606Vk2iSFNk)

Crying like a little bitch is permitted, and indeed, encouraged.

THERE WAS A CAT ON THE STAIRS AND I'M ALLERGIC.

I did like the reboot, though. Considering Trek's remarkably loose canon, I can live with yet another alternate universe. Maybe it's the QCverse's 23rd Century.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 03 Sep 2011, 15:17
It may have been for the benefit of those poor individuals who have not seen ST:TNG and are planning to.


I'm just watching this stuff for the first time right now, but I also don't really get worked up about spoilers if it's beyond a certain age or degree of fame.

Penny Arcade (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2005/12/05) did a strip on the topic once.

Basically that time my brother spoiled that second last Harry Potter book the day after it came out was a kick in the pants. If someone exposes me to vital plot information for The Lord of the Rings though I'm hardly gonna be offended.

Now that we're talking about it though, if I might ask a question of those who understand these things. "The Measure of a Man" left me a little confused about Starfleet.

Am I to understand that they are both the lawmakers and the law enforcers?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 03 Sep 2011, 15:29
Now that we're talking about it though, if I might ask a question of those who understand these things. "The Measure of a Man" left me a little confused about Starfleet.

Am I to understand that they are both the lawmakers and the law enforcers?
Only within Starfleet itself. That is, they have something roughly equivalent to the UCMJ wherein legal issues regarding fleet personnel and property are handled by senior fleet personnel.
There is apparently some manner of parity recognition and/or jurisprudence within the greater Federation such that Starfleet and the civilian authorities can establish precedent in each others courts though.
(In the Voyager episode Author, Author!, which deals with a similar situation, you see a civilian authority presiding over a case involving civilians)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 03 Sep 2011, 15:47
Ah, that makes sense. So basically they're like any other organization that chooses to self-regulate.

Looking at a group of intergalactic peacekeepers, see them come to a ruling regarding whether someone gets equal rights or not. I'm just looking thinking "Damn. This is just asking for corruption. There's a group who'll eventually have to be overthrown if I've ever seen one."

In that case I hope things work out as well for Data when the same question gets asked by the United Federation of Planets.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 03 Sep 2011, 16:28
Heh. All this fictional legalism reminds me of an essay, by a professed Star Wars fan, that claimed the Federation was a fascist dictatorship based on the fact that there are almost no civilian starships.
I wonder if he ever figured out that by the same metric so is the USA, since almost no individuals own their own jumbo jets. Or aircraft carriers.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Skaltura on 03 Sep 2011, 16:29
It's also important to note that the Starfleet you see in "The Measure Of A Man" has not gone through their version of 9/11 (the Battle of Wolf 359 seen in the episode "The Best of Both Worlds" in TNG and "The Emissary" in DS9).

Post 359 Starfleet is considerably, well, murkier and far less idealistic.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 03 Sep 2011, 16:43
Woo. Going from I, Robot to a discussion of the ST universe.

Personally, of course, I have a soft spot for TOS. I mean, come ON; I was born minutes after "Mirror, Mirror" aired. TNG is pretty good, if it only filled out things that TOS never got to deal with.

I never really got into DS9, if only because it was mostly concurrent with TNG, and it was a bit too much like Gunsmoke to TNG's Wagon Train.

Voyager was just a bit too way out there. And adding Seven of Nine was just an attempt to pander to HNG's.

I am one of those weirdos, though, who thought Enterprise had a LOT of potential - which they flushed down the toilet with the whole "destroy a chunk of the earth" thing.



Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Spectreofwar on 03 Sep 2011, 17:08
Heh. All this fictional legalism reminds me of an essay, by a professed Star Wars fan, that claimed the Federation was a fascist dictatorship based on the fact that there are almost no civilian starships.

And THAT statement reminds me of Starship Troopers! :D

Also in a somewhat off-topic comment, DS9 was what it was in part due to Babylon 5, which in my mind a superior program. Ethics played a good part in a lot of that show as well, where aliens and human telepaths are concerned.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 03 Sep 2011, 17:15
Voyager and Enterprise both had oodles of potential but no real inspiration or control.

Voyager by its very premise really had to be plot-driven and not episodic yet you have the ship wrecked to hell and gone one week then sailing into view like it just left the docks the next week. That plus the random characterisation (is Janeway a psychopath this week or not, find out after the break!) really destroyed it. Also, adding Seven of Nine was not actually pandering. Casting Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine then making her wear skin-tight lycra for the rest of the series was pandering. Subtle, no?

Enterprise had exactly the opposite problem, really; after all the wailing and gnashing of teeth over Voyager, they went for a more linear style with much better continuity but forgot to have adventures while they were doing it. Any comments RE Seven apply just as much to T'Pol, too. I almost wish they'd gone even further back, to the first diaspora, and followed Cochrane and pals out into the wilds of space rather than have an anaemic Starfleet begging permission for everything from the Vulcans.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Skaltura on 03 Sep 2011, 17:20
Woo. Going from I, Robot to a discussion of the ST universe.

Personally, of course, I have a soft spot for TOS. I mean, come ON; I was born minutes after "Mirror, Mirror" aired. TNG is pretty good, if it only filled out things that TOS never got to deal with.

I never really got into DS9, if only because it was mostly concurrent with TNG, and it was a bit too much like Gunsmoke to TNG's Wagon Train.

Voyager was just a bit too way out there. And adding Seven of Nine was just an attempt to pander to HNG's.

I am one of those weirdos, though, who thought Enterprise had a LOT of potential - which they flushed down the toilet with the whole "destroy a chunk of the earth" thing.





I think age is a contributing factor if you measure TNG or TOS fandom (outliers exist), you like TOS because you grew up with it, I like TNG because I grew up with that, but it does not mean I hate TOS, as with VOY there are a lot of episodes that I like, but even then I must admit the cheese and ham (and well, the rampant sexism among other things) gets a bit much for my taste sometimes. I always liken TOS to a series of morality plays on 60's issues, probably cutting edge at the time but it came with a price. If you allow me to throw another nerd concept into the mix, it lacks what Tolkien called "applicability" in the foreword to LotR.

Funnily enough though, I like the TOS movies better than the TNG movies; my personal ranking goes II > VI > VIII > IV > I > III > X, the other three, let us not speak of them (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DisContinuity).

I'm also a fan of B5, new BSG, Stargate and Farscape, I'm probably one of the biggest SciFi (space SciFi that is) nerds you will find, although I hate the inter-universe rivalry the respective fandoms are so quick to drum up.

As with ENT, yes it had potential, but my god did the writing suck.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Spectreofwar on 03 Sep 2011, 17:20
Casting Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine then making her wear skin-tight lycra for the rest of the series was pandering. Subtle, no?

Female Borg wear high heels. It was in the dossier. Did you not know that? ;)

... oh wait, just her? Drat.

(Still, I know *I* didn't complain the first time I saw her...)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: gangler on 03 Sep 2011, 17:49
Heh. All this fictional legalism reminds me of an essay, by a professed Star Wars fan, that claimed the Federation was a fascist dictatorship based on the fact that there are almost no civilian starships.
I wonder if he ever figured out that by the same metric so is the USA, since almost no individuals own their own jumbo jets. Or aircraft carriers.
Dear God. I don't even have to know anything about Star Trek for that to make my head hurt. Fascist Dictatorship? Neither of those words mean anything even remotely applicable to what he's talking about.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 03 Sep 2011, 19:32
I'm of the age that TOS was still on when I was growing up, although I was more aware of them as re-runs (thanks, DesiLu!).  I was in grad school when TNG started, but the episodes I caught were fun, well done, and true to the original spirit, so I guess I was a fan.  DS9 was also in grad school (later), and some cable channel ran the series in reruns late at night - I got hooked.  I really   enjoyed the interspecies(?) politics in that show. 

Voyager came along when I had kids old enough to watch with, but I was usually too busy to really follow it.  I liked the chracter parts - mainly Neelix and the doctor - but never watched enough to realize the serious shortcomings most people talk about.  And I never saw an episode of Enterprise.  It pretty much coincided with a period of extreme turmoil in my life, so... yeah. 

I don't watch much TV anymore anyway. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Wagimawr on 03 Sep 2011, 19:46
Star Trek: TOS on Blu-Ray.

Really all you need to know.  :lol:

(p.s. DS9 is GREAT, it's good to know there are others who agree.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: wrwight on 03 Sep 2011, 20:19
I am completely ok with the absolute derailment of this thread.

I have to agree with Skaltura about TOS. I grew up with TNG, and part of what made me love it is probably that it was one of the only shows my dad made a point to sit down and watch every week. If he couldn't make it to watch it when it came on, we'd have the VCR set up for it, so it holds good memories of the family together watching. But in addition to that I feel like that was a great series filled with fantastic characters. DS9 never really got me hooked. I'm not really sure why. I would watch if it was on, but I haven't ever gone out of my way to watch it all, so I might do that sometime and change my mind.

I did enjoy Voyager, but primarily for the same reasons Carl-E cited, The Doctor and Neelix. In fact, I think the characters who explored humanity were my favorite throughout every ST series: Spock, Data, The Doctor, and (from the very little I remember of DS9) Odo, among others. I wouldn't be surprised if I misinterpreted Odo though, again given my lack of familiarity with the series.

I caught episodes here and there of Enterprise, but everything about that show seemed forced to me, like they were trying to appeal to a completely different crowd while still hanging onto enough ST resemblance to keep the name. To me, Enterprise was the Super Mario World 2 of the ST universe I guess.

I did absolutely love the reboot ST movie though. I thought it was true enough to the original spirit, but relatable to me, unlike much of TOS.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 03 Sep 2011, 20:47
Casting Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine then making her wear skin-tight lycra for the rest of the series was pandering. Subtle, no?

Female Borg wear high heels. It was in the dossier. Did you not know that? ;)

... oh wait, just her? Drat.

(Still, I know *I* didn't complain the first time I saw her...)

You can lay the blame for those Biosuits straight at the feet of our ever lovin' EMH, who had a crush on Seven from day one. (But can you blame him?)

Section 31 nes pas Skaltura?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: wrwight on 03 Sep 2011, 21:27
I'm pretty sure the Borg queen had some serious heels going on too.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 03 Sep 2011, 22:44
Can we all agree the TNG movies were some of the worst movies ever created?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Wagimawr on 03 Sep 2011, 22:51
Somebody needs to go watch First Contact again.

Insurrection wasn't bad either, was basically episode-quality at film length.

I did absolutely love the reboot ST movie though. I thought it was true enough to the original spirit
Absolutely agreed. Clearly I need to stop hanging around full-on Star Trek fans, cause those jerks don't like ANYTHING. :p
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: wrwight on 03 Sep 2011, 23:53
I don't know about worst movies ever created. I generally enjoyed them, but I will say while I loved TNG the series, and didn't get a lot of TOS the series (that seems a bit redundant, and at the same time a little repetitive), the first 6 movies were pretty tough to follow, and TNG movies didn't really hold up as well. Then again not all of the first 6 were that great either, they just average out pretty well.

You know, it's been a while, maybe I should just have a Star Trek movie marathon. That sounds like a good way to avoid socialization for a day or two.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Spectreofwar on 04 Sep 2011, 00:34
Somebody needs to go watch First Contact again.

Insurrection wasn't bad either, was basically episode-quality at film length.

I did absolutely love the reboot ST movie though. I thought it was true enough to the original spirit
Absolutely agreed. Clearly I need to stop hanging around full-on Star Trek fans, cause those jerks don't like ANYTHING. :p

Eeeeeehhhhhhhhhhh, First Contact started really well. Then they went back in time, and I wondered why I was watching it.

Insurrection didn't do anything for me, but Nemesis was full of enough space-eye-candy for me to watch it (though believe me, I rolled my eyes plenty of times during that one, too). The reboot? Yeah, that was pretty cool, and I look forward to the next instalment.

P.S. YMMV, as this is also coming from someone who actually thought Star Trek V was worth watching, if only for the novelty of the idea. Own it? HAH, yeah, I won't go that far.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: HiFranc on 04 Sep 2011, 02:50
[...]

I'm gonna have to check out some of the other stuff. There were some very cool characters there. I know it's not entirely on topic but that was just a great watch.

If you're interested in examining issues around AI I have three book recommendations (all fiction):

Society of the Mind by Eric L Harry: A Bill Gates like figure is having problems with his main computer.  It's so advanced he calls in a psychologist to help troubleshoot it.

Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett: Commander Vimes has 2 murders and 1 attempted murder to solve.  Is there a link?  And why are golems behaving oddly?

The Wind from the Sun by Arthur C Clark: A collection of short stories -- each with a sting in the tale.  At least two of the stories (of the ones I remember) cover AI.


In films there's:

2001: A Space Odyssey and the sequel: 2010.

Bicenntennial Man is worth a look.

War Games -- I found it scarier than Terminator because there is no malice.

D.A.R.Y.L. : A strange young boy is found wandering alone.


Series:

You may want to look up the series Time of Eve.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Throg on 04 Sep 2011, 05:42
Can we all agree the TNG movies were some of the worst movies ever created?

YES.

As far as I'm concerned, the entire Star Trek oeuvre is the worst sci-fi ever created.  Not the concept, but the execution.  A batting average of about two good episodes per season, with the rest being wretched, cheesy hogwash, is pretty bad.  Why does the monotone exposition and leaden dialogue appeal? 

With the possible exceptions of Wrath of Khan, and Undiscovered Country.  See?  Still the same average of two out of twelve.  (And some of DS9 went into Babylon 5 territory, but as far as I'm concerned that's all the vision of Ron Moore. 

</rant>
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 04 Sep 2011, 06:49
As far as I'm concerned, the entire Star Trek oeuvre is the worst sci-fi ever created.  Not the concept, but the execution.  A batting average of about two good episodes per season, with the rest being wretched, cheesy hogwash, is pretty bad.  Why does the monotone exposition and leaden dialogue appeal? 

Unfortunately, for a lot of us it was our first introduction into Science Fiction.  Like any first love, it holds a special place in our hearts, no matter how  bad it was!

The first (several) TOS movies were geared towards the people who had grown up before TNG/DS9.  The everpresent reruns of truly  cheesy TOS episodes introduced more than an entire generation to SF.  Then parents had their kids watch the new series (TNG) when it came out, and it was suddenly a multi-generational phenomenon. 

Doesn't matter how bad it was/is.  It was good enough often enough to stimulate positive interest, and that's all it took. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 04 Sep 2011, 07:31
Somebody needs to go watch First Contact again.

Insurrection wasn't bad either, was basically episode-quality at film length.

I did absolutely love the reboot ST movie though. I thought it was true enough to the original spirit
Absolutely agreed. Clearly I need to stop hanging around full-on Star Trek fans, cause those jerks don't like ANYTHING. :p

First Contact Review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7Lr8cdZwHQ&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL3AC40C1921B7EA82

Insurrection Review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlV3bsafkq0

Star Trek fan or not, watch these reviews.  They are hilarious.  They also point out the flaws of the movies coming from a huge Star Trek fan.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: rje on 04 Sep 2011, 16:24
Babylon 5!!!!!! <33333

*cough* sorry, saw the words, had to respond :'D

But I am definitely a fan of TNG...honestly it was the only ST series I could really get into, although that probably had more to do with the fact it was on during my formative years. Plus one of my childhood icons was on the show and that was just awesome/hilarious. (I didn't start watching it til about 1992 though or so, but I guess it was in syndicated re-runs by then cos I remember watching from season 1? Anyway anyway~)

 Farscape is my absolute favorite Sci-Fi show ever tho.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 04 Sep 2011, 18:14
Valen go with you rje
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Throg on 05 Sep 2011, 18:38
As far as I'm concerned, the entire Star Trek oeuvre is the worst sci-fi ever created.  Not the concept, but the execution.  A batting average of about two good episodes per season, with the rest being wretched, cheesy hogwash, is pretty bad.  Why does the monotone exposition and leaden dialogue appeal? 

Unfortunately, for a lot of us it was our first introduction into Science Fiction.  Like any first love, it holds a special place in our hearts, no matter how  bad it was!


That made me realize: as a onetime Doctor Who fan, the whole 'glass houses/throwing stones' applies.   :oops:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Akima on 06 Sep 2011, 03:09
As far as I'm concerned, the entire Star Trek oeuvre is the worst sci-fi ever created.
You must have lived a very sheltered life. Of course there is just so much Star Trek material that Sturgeon's Law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturgeon%27s_Law) applies, but there is way worse SF out there. Some of the Star Trek movies are not that great, but then there is Battlefield Earth...

And personally I give Star Trek props for putting Asian actors in the main cast, or at least regularly giving them lines since 1966, something that a certain more modern (and stratospherically overrated) science-fiction franchise (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_(TV_series)) signally failed to do. There is more than one way to suck.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 06 Sep 2011, 05:54
And it wasn't just that he was an Asian actor, he turned out to be an Asian Gay actor!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Throg on 06 Sep 2011, 10:56
You must have lived a very sheltered life. Of course there is just so much Star Trek material that Sturgeon's Law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturgeon%27s_Law) applies, but there is way worse SF out there. Some of the Star Trek movies are not that great, but then there is Battlefield Earth...


*splutter*

Sturgeon's Law aside, it's just that I've suffered a sci-fi social scene where ST was the end-all-be-all.  I appreciate Gene Roddenberry's vision (daring enough in the 60's / early 70's) of a pan-racial starship, but, well, I just can't stand the dialogue.  A lot of British sci-fi -- Blake's Seven, the horror-inflected Tom Baker years, the season arc of the Key to Time, it just seeemed so much better done, even if the cardboard-and-fishing-line sfx were much, much worse.  And I loved Babylon 5 for being a hardcore space opera, as the latter half of DS9 turned out to be.

*You* try getting along in a social group with a dude trying to work Klingon into regular conversation.  Or quoting Sarek in a fight with his gf.  

Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 06 Sep 2011, 14:53
Ah, so the problem isn't Star Trek, but rather the social group...


Try getting out more? 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 06 Sep 2011, 15:46
And personally I give Star Trek props for putting Asian actors in the main cast, or at least regularly giving them lines since 1966, something that a certain more modern (and stratospherically overrated) science-fiction franchise (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_(TV_series)) signally failed to do. There is more than one way to suck.
Perhaps I'm misreading this, but Firefly sucks and is overrated...because there are no Asians in the main cast?  Am I missing how that's at all relevant to anything?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: wrwight on 06 Sep 2011, 15:52
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can easily see how it would be offensive that a universe where Chinese appears to be nearly as common as English (language, culture, clothing) there are no Chinese cast members, not even as minor characters. Personally I thoroughly enjoyed Firefly, and still watch it occasionally, but I can see how that could be offensive. It's certainly something that doesn't go unnoticed, even by a fan of the show. I still choose to love it because of other aspects, but I have to say it does take away from it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: slydon on 06 Sep 2011, 16:28
What happens if Momo starts making more than Marigold? :O
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Spectreofwar on 06 Sep 2011, 16:40
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can easily see how it would be offensive that a universe where Chinese appears to be nearly as common as English (language, culture, clothing) there are no Chinese cast members, not even as minor characters. Personally I thoroughly enjoyed Firefly, and still watch it occasionally, but I can see how that could be offensive. It's certainly something that doesn't go unnoticed, even by a fan of the show. I still choose to love it because of other aspects, but I have to say it does take away from it.

I just assumed that, much like today, the mentality and culture of people can be very divisive. Do we really know that much about Firefly's universe beyond the shady bits that were explored in the very FEW episodes that exist?
As per Firefly sucking for any particular reason at all, I'm happy to disagree. I was thoroughly entertained.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 06 Sep 2011, 17:13
What happens if Momo starts making more than Marigold? :O

Marigold gets some use out of her expensive friend?  Momo is a robot who can work 24/7 efficiently, she should be making more than Marigold.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Throg on 06 Sep 2011, 18:35
Ah, so the problem isn't Star Trek, but rather the social group...

Try getting out more? 

It was 16 years ago, but the distaste lingers. 

Oh god I'm old
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 06 Sep 2011, 18:46
DS9's the only one I've watched all the way through, I've only seen a couple tOS and tNG episodes each, and absolutely no Voyager or Enterprise.  Moviewise I've seen none of the original six, First Contact and Nemesis, in addition to the reboot, of course.  I loved DS9, but I should point out that I watched it in its entirety in early 2009.  I was never into Star Trek growing up (and I still prefer Star Wars, although I merely enjoy it a lot rather than defend it to the death).

Also, I know nothing of Babylon Five, but it seems I'll like it because I liked DS9, so I'll check it out.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2001-2005 (29 Aug-2 Sept 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 06 Sep 2011, 19:32
Firefly previously discussed (http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,26135.0.html)