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Comic Discussion => QUESTIONABLE CONTENT => Topic started by: akronnick on 09 Oct 2011, 14:16

Title: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 09 Oct 2011, 14:16
jwhouk is a bit distracted this week.

Thread your Weekly Comic Discussion here.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Akima on 09 Oct 2011, 15:04
Waffles! Sports-team stuff is fail! Take it to We Like Sports  (http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,23909.0.html).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: wrwight on 09 Oct 2011, 15:07
Atlanta was out, so as much as I would have liked to have beaten them, I was pulling for Phil., and now they're out too, so now I'm more or less indifferent.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 09 Oct 2011, 15:07
Waffles! Sports-team stuff is fail! Take it to We Like Sports  (http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,23909.0.html).

It won't be sports after today, just making start of the week, before the first comic small talk.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: SomeCanadianWeirdo on 09 Oct 2011, 15:18
Waffles is the obvious choice.  After all waffles have appeared more than once in QC.  Baseball has not.

Thinking about it Hannelore could be a baseball fan.  All the statistics kept for the sport would be right up her alley.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 09 Oct 2011, 16:07
Ladies and gentlemen, it's a beautiful fall day here at Secret Bakery Field at Coffee of Doom Stadium as we get ready for the league kickball championship game between the Northampton Bonercats and the Amherst Waffles ...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 09 Oct 2011, 16:45
Pie

Especially Bacon and Egg.    :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 09 Oct 2011, 17:16
Waffles is the obvious choice.  After all waffles have appeared more than once in QC.  Baseball has not.

Thinking about it Hannelore could be a baseball fan.  All the statistics kept for the sport would be right up her alley.

The Red Sox (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1071) have shown up in the strip. (First panel, check out the bouncer.) Although Marten prefers a different type of sport (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1427) (last panel).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 09 Oct 2011, 18:11
Mark McGwire appeared in a dream of Dora's in 634.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 09 Oct 2011, 18:38
Marten prefers a different type of sport[/url] (last panel).
Bearsball, only on ESPN 8 - THE OCHO!  If it's almost a sport, we have it!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 09 Oct 2011, 19:23
I voted "pie", but wanted to point out for the record that french toast beats all of these options hands down. Maybe not bearsball, though.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: FunkyTuba on 09 Oct 2011, 20:58
I'm for the Bonercats.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: SirDudley on 09 Oct 2011, 21:18
Questions of the week:

--Has Hanners stopped poking Momo?
--Has Samantha done something crazy again?
--Will Elliot confess his love to Padma?
--Will Penelope confess that she is Pizza Girl?
--Will Dale and Marigold make out?
--Has Angus officially made it to second base for the second time?
--Will there be more Butts Disease?

And most importantly, Will there be waffles?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 09 Oct 2011, 22:40
Also, my avatar's hat (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=717). 

You'd be hard put to go more than a block in MA without finding a local who's a red sox fan. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: WAYF on 09 Oct 2011, 22:44
Questions of the week:

--Has Hanners stopped poking Momo?
--Has Samantha done something crazy again?
--Will Elliot confess his love to Padma?
--Will Penelope confess that she is Pizza Girl?
--Will Dale and Marigold make out?
--Has Angus officially made it to second base for the second time?
--Will there be more Butts Disease?

And most importantly, Will there be waffles?
If I might guess the answers to those questions:

-- Possibly, whether from lack of novelty or Momo activating her defence system.
-- Samantha is all crazy, all the time. But Jim will probably be the one to deal with any future craziness.
-- The jury is out, but they're hoping that the answer is yes.
-- No - she's still too freaked out from the last time this came up (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1932). What if she's actually Pizza Girl, but has some kind of D.I.D which makes her believe she's Penelope? What if that "front door" was, in fact... a MIRROR?
-- No. She may punch him in his ridiculously reflective glasses though.
-- Possibly, not that that's much of a noteworthy milestone by now...
-- YES. VERY YES. :D


-- Well, I voted for Waffles to win, so I hope so!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 09 Oct 2011, 23:33
There had better be waffles.  I got my syrup and fork all ready and waiting.  :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 10 Oct 2011, 00:21
What ?

I have no clue what this poll is about.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 10 Oct 2011, 00:40
Baseball and nonsense in equal measure.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 10 Oct 2011, 00:55
DA BEARS.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 10 Oct 2011, 01:09
What ?

I have no clue what this poll is about.

A sport thing. The intensity of picking sides/speculation/anticipation is AFAICT at the same level as it is in your country shortly before and during one of those tournaments, where 22 dudes spend 90 minutes running up and down a field trying to kick each other and a ball covered with 12 black pentagons and 20 white hexagons.

DA BEARS.

Who's winning?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 10 Oct 2011, 01:32
What ?

I have no clue what this poll is about.

A sport thing. The intensity of picking sides/speculation/anticipation is AFAICT at the same level as it is in your country shortly before and during one of those tournaments, where 22 dudes spend 90 minutes running up and down a field trying to kick each other and a ball covered with 12 black pentagons and 20 white hexagons.
I was being ironic ... I really didnt knew it, but the thread made it easy.

And yes, in germany, many people are somewhat crazy for "football" (aka soccer).

Not me, though.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skaltura on 10 Oct 2011, 02:21


A sport thing. The intensity of picking sides/speculation/anticipation is AFAICT at the same level as it is in your country shortly before and during one of those tournaments, where 22 dudes spend 90 minutes running up and down a field trying to kick each other and a ball covered with 12 black pentagons and 20 white hexagons.


You know, I always wondered why they don't just give everyone a ball to play with, just one ball for 22 people seems stupid. I mean if they could at least try to play nice and give each other the ball from time to time so the other side can participate, but no, it's always mine mine mine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feTytlRd2KY&feature=related) for 90+ minutes.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 10 Oct 2011, 03:16
Who's winning?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do7RLuVAW1k&feature=related
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 10 Oct 2011, 03:34
Gotta view that clip at another time (looks promising). I thought you were going for a Ferris Bueller reference, but that's just me  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: nonethousand on 10 Oct 2011, 04:26
Baseball and nonsense in equal measure.

DA BEARS.

Baseball + Bears ?!?!? :psyduck:
I'd watch the SHIT outta that if it was on ESPN! (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1427) :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 10 Oct 2011, 04:48
The better kind of bearsball (http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1488#comic)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 10 Oct 2011, 05:04
Re:2031: Is that Sweet Tits reading the book on Bird Care?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: AngryCallCenterAgent on 10 Oct 2011, 05:05
Dude's chin and jaw is getting giggity.

Disturbing.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: sluthy on 10 Oct 2011, 05:07
I'd say that's a strong indication that it is indeed Sweet-Tits.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: VonKleist on 10 Oct 2011, 05:09
woohoo, red-haired-girl/possibly Sweet Tits eyeing Martennnnnnn

Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: HiFranc on 10 Oct 2011, 05:10
Re:2031: Is that Sweet Tits reading the book on Bird Care?

Given that she was keeping an eye on Marten and Steve, I'm beginning to wonder if she's about to get an official role in the strip.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Somebody on 10 Oct 2011, 05:11
Re:2031: Is that Sweet Tits reading the book on Bird Care?

Given that she was keeping an eye on Marten and Steve, I'm beginning to wonder if she's about to get an official role in the strip.
She's there to make sure Marten doesn't notice nothing outside his immediate environs is real.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: WAYF on 10 Oct 2011, 05:14
Ok folks, we've seen a suspiciously familiar red-head reading a book on bird care. This is about the 3rd time someone like that has appeared.

I say we keep an eye out in the next few (hundred) strips for an incredibly shaggy white dog.
Maybe he has already appeared and we haven't spotted him.  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tanksenior on 10 Oct 2011, 05:20
Heh, love Marten's expression in the last panel.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: VonKleist on 10 Oct 2011, 05:22
Ok folks, we've seen a suspiciously familiar red-head reading a book on bird care. This is about the 3rd time someone like that has appeared.

I say we keep an eye out in the next few (hundred) strips for an incredibly shaggy white dog.
Maybe he has already appeared and we haven't spotted him.  :psyduck:

Good god,
WeŽd better conduct a search, like, yesterday!!!111  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Lubricus on 10 Oct 2011, 05:29
Hmmm... Sweet Tits would make an insteresting romantic interest for Marten...  :angel:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 10 Oct 2011, 05:32
Ok folks, we've seen a suspiciously familiar red-head reading a book on bird care. This is about the 3rd time someone like that has appeared.

I say we keep an eye out in the next few (hundred) strips for an incredibly shaggy white dog.
Maybe he has already appeared and we haven't spotted him.  :psyduck:

Good god,
WeŽd better conduct a search, like, yesterday!!!111  :psyduck:

Listen up!

I want a hard target search of every farm-house, hen-house, out-house and dawg-house in a ten mile radius!

Your subject's name is Shelby or possibly Shebly.

Subject is a large white Pyrenees with tan-brown markings.

Subject is exceptionally affectionate, but not terribly bright.

known associates are a sociopathic songbird, and an undead bandicoot

Move out people every second counts! [/Tommy Lee Jones]
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skaltura on 10 Oct 2011, 05:38
[plot twist]

Ya'll mistaken, that is Ellen who has come back to stalk Steve!

[/plot twist]

:psyduck: I'll be over there in my little corner, don't mind me ...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 10 Oct 2011, 05:41
Dude's chin and jaw is getting giggity.

Disturbing.

I noticed that too. Also, I love your use of the term "giggity."  8-)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: BluishJeans on 10 Oct 2011, 06:03
For some reason I think Steve looks kinda old. As in like ten years older than what he's supposed to be (mid-twenties, right?).
And that red-haired girl tends to pop up from time to time, is it a Sweet-Tits cameo or is she gonna be part of the story?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 10 Oct 2011, 06:15
is it a Sweet-Tits cameo or is she gonna be part of the story?

Maybe, maybe not.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Akima on 10 Oct 2011, 06:21
For some reason I think Steve looks kinda old. As in like ten years older than what he's supposed to be (mid-twenties, right?).
Being a douche is so ageing.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: VonKleist on 10 Oct 2011, 06:23
Well, IŽd never trust anyone who wears polo-shirts anyway..
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Border Reiver on 10 Oct 2011, 06:52
Another person who won't trust me for odd reasons.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: sluthy on 10 Oct 2011, 06:53
Well, IŽd never trust anyone who wears polo-shirts anyway..

Hey, nothing wrong with a good polo, as long as it:

1. Isn't excessively bright/neon/fluoro
2. Isn't skintight
3. Doesn't have crappy obnoxious branding
4. Doesn't have a popped collar

It's unusual that Sweet-Tits gets such a central focus, usually panel two is the norm (looking on from background).

Does anyone have a list of canon strips she's appeared in?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: blebscra on 10 Oct 2011, 07:23
to the person above I don't think it's Ellen the breasts are to small compared to what she looked like in the comic earlier.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Y on 10 Oct 2011, 07:27
How many characters have ogled Marten's ass by now?
-Faye
-Dora
-Sarah
-Sweettits
-...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: soren121 on 10 Oct 2011, 07:27
:O

Sweet-Tits is a redhead? She better have a story arc coming up soon. Jeph has no say in the matter, it must be done.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: elddimsnoitcnuf on 10 Oct 2011, 07:28
#1445
#1391 (last panel?)

I think that's what I can recall.

(Though I've read the late 1000's several times, I'm definitely very very new here. Bear with me!)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: nonethousand on 10 Oct 2011, 07:36
#1445
#1391 (last panel?)
this is what I had about that sweet.. red-headed girl:

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1184 (last panel)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1445 (panels 1 to 3)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1858 (1st panel)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1863 (2nd panel)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1919 (1st panel)

btw, I think you're right about 1391 :police:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: straw_hat_luffy on 10 Oct 2011, 08:00
I came on here as soon I as I saw her.  LOL.  Well time to wait 3 weeks and see her slowly come into the storyline because Jeph loves to draw her and we slowly find out she was a much better stalker then Hannelore ever was.  Then because he hasn't had a girlfriend for 3 WHOLE minutes and has a new found attraction to red heads, Marten will jump on to her like a 3 headed dog chasing down a squirrel.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 10 Oct 2011, 08:11
She better have a story arc coming up soon. Jeph has no say in the matter, it must be done.
Aye, seconded. I just hope she has green pupils. So far none of the characters had those. (As far as I can recall)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: VonKleist on 10 Oct 2011, 08:13
Lol.. Hanners has green eyes :-)


About Red-haired-girl, maybe sheŽs some sort of 'lost-character' or Jeph just wants to mess with the readers
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Aethir on 10 Oct 2011, 08:25
Today's random elemental chaos comes to you today by:

Bearsball, the bearsiest sport in the, er, woods.

(Baseball? seriously? does anyone even get that game? But on the other hand, it is only slightly less ridiculous than playing a game wherein when half the team loses the ball, they sit on the sidelines in a huff until the other half of the team gets the ball back, at which point they all cheer and hi-5 and go out and play until they lose the ball again. Not to mention the 26" of padding, and helmets Nascar would be proud of...)

Sorry, but Australian Football kinda puts gridiron into the 'pussysport' category.

Now, where was I...
oh, yeah. Steve is looking kinda... yeah. Dude don't look right! And I get the suspicion that the mystery red-head is mere cameo; altho it wouldn't surprise me to see her pop up again sometime.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: VonKleist on 10 Oct 2011, 08:35
IŽll take that :-)

http://raxdakkar.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/smbc.gif (http://raxdakkar.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/smbc.gif)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 10 Oct 2011, 08:45
Y'all are starting to remind me of all the Star Wars fans who, when Phantom Menace came out and we first saw Ian McDiarmid on the screen, begin all the fevered speculation about whether this Palpatine fella is going to turn out to be, y'know, that Palpatine fella.

But Jeph does dialogue better than Lucas. Way the hell better than Lucas.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Ironic_eroticism on 10 Oct 2011, 08:57
 :lol: lol at blatant maybe indie tits reference, she has a bird care book and everything!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: SomeCanadianWeirdo on 10 Oct 2011, 09:24
Yeah, it probably isn't Ellen, but I doubt we can use her appearance in her last appearance as a guide given the continual evolution of the art style.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 10 Oct 2011, 09:38
Well, IŽd never trust anyone who wears polo-shirts anyway..

Hey, nothing wrong with a good polo, as long as it:

1. Isn't excessively bright/neon/fluoro
2. Isn't skintight
3. Doesn't have crappy obnoxious branding
4. Doesn't have a popped collar

It's unusual that Sweet-Tits gets such a central focus, usually panel two is the norm (looking on from background).

Does anyone have a list of canon strips she's appeared in?
I wear nothing but polo shirts (except when I'm working, when I will usually wear something nicer), but they pass all four of those, so I guess I'm ok.  As for Sweet Tits, I'm pretty sure she's reading a book on bird care so she can do the opposite to Yelling Bird.  Also, anytime someone says something/someone is "the x of y", I think of this (http://xkcd.com/624/).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: SomeCanadianWeirdo on 10 Oct 2011, 10:15
As far as Steve looking old goes don't forget that Steve has worked in Special Ops. That might put a bit of extra wear and tear on a person.

If the mystery redhead is going to be a regular, and is who we're specuilating she is, does that mean that Shame Orb will be appearing?  The thought of Shame Orb and Pintsize teaming up is a scary one. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Welu on 10 Oct 2011, 10:20
There's a pretty kickass drawing of Dora on Jeph's tumblr, if you haven't seen it. (http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsurvtwuqx1qzlnwmo1_1280.png?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1318353415&Signature=%2FerGRbT92KWeYvk4Db6Sq7ljXmU%3D)

Sweet-tits is looking pretty good in this. I don't think she'd be part of the story but her being in the foreground and looking at Marten and Steve is neat. The foreground thing could just be Jeph playing with angles, like in the last panel.
Marten's face in the last panel is wonderful, such disdain on him.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Heliphyneau on 10 Oct 2011, 10:27
Heh, love Marten's expression in the last panel.

Yes!  Love his expression and the unusual angle.  ^_^  Steve never does seem to notice that other people, and particularly Marten, aren't as shallow as he is.  And I love love LOVE that Sweet Tits is right there, reading a book about bird care (!), and sort of eavesdropping as they walk by.  I like it as just a cameo.  If she did become a main canon character, though, I think she might need a rename . . .

I wear nothing but polo shirts

What, no trousers?  >_>  Actually, don't tell me.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: bhtooefr on 10 Oct 2011, 10:33
Didn't these forums decide that her name is Summer Thompson or something?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 10 Oct 2011, 10:35
I played with the idea of saying I wear upside down polo shirts as pants, but you know what I meant ^_^

Anyway, Sweet-tits has made several cameos.  I don't see why this particular one would lead to something more.

Re: red text - Why would we decide on a name?  Hasn't it just been Sweet-tits in the comic?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Delator on 10 Oct 2011, 12:08
Not going to speculate on who she is. We'll find out soon enough.

I will throw this out there though...

I'll guess that she knows Padma, and heard more than enough to confirm previous suspicions.

 :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: raoullefere on 10 Oct 2011, 12:30
Came on the forums just to see all the spittle flying over you-know-who perusing her book on Bird Care.

I have to say I'm a trifle disappointed in everyone. Ought to be at least three pages of the stuff. You kids today. Back in my day (about a year ago, I think), we'd have had six pages of ravings ranging from the plausible to the certifiably inane.

Anyway, for what little it's worth, chains are probably being pulled. I know mine was for just a second, before I got hold of it. Then again, here I am… so while I'm here, I'd like to make a few demands, only I can't think of any.

…and this is Raoul L. Fere, signing off and heading for the shower.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Nathanyel on 10 Oct 2011, 12:51
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1170 was mentioned in another thread about the redhead (http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,27470.0.html), but let's keep it in this thread.
*ahem*
Dora has prophetic dreams!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 10 Oct 2011, 13:00
Gotta view that clip at another time (looks promising). I thought you were going for a Ferris Bueller reference, but that's just me  :psyduck:

Nope, SNL's Bill Swerski's Superfans. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Swerski%27s_Superfans)

Also, this is odd. She's been in the background alot it seems, so........

Dammnit, I don't wanna speculate.......
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 10 Oct 2011, 13:08
My predictions:

1.  This is indeed Sweet-tits.
2.  She does hook up with Marten.
3.  We find out that she is crazier than a mule on a Ferris wheel, and that Yelling Bird's rants are all manifestations of the voices in her head.
4.  Marten breaks up with Sweet-tits after finding out how unstable she really is.
5.  The Vespa Avenger makes her return, with all the obvious hilarity that we've come to expect.

I actually have more predictions for after this, revolving around Padma's participation in Marten's defense and Elliot's reaction to Marten's imagined betrayal, but let's see how accurate my guesses about the current story arc are before I move on to predicting what Jeph plans to do next. :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 10 Oct 2011, 13:18
btw, I think you're right about 1391

I'm thinking not. Jeph was squeezing cameos from all of the listed webcomics in there, and I think that was one of them.

Canon Sweettits Appearances (as "filler" comics):
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1184 (First Appearance, b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1167 (Second Appearance, b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1566 (The Very Sweet-tits New Year "arc", b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1567 (The Very Sweet-tits New Year "arc", b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1568 (The Very Sweet-tits New Year "arc", b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1569 (The Very Sweet-tits New Year "arc", b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1570 (The Very Sweet-tits New Year "arc", b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1690 (Jeph's 30th birthday - altered strip)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1730 (Sayanora, Shelby-Sensei! b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1826 (She tells YB to stop shooting)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1901 (Yelling Bird complains about "new characters"; she's "wedged in" on 3rd panel)

Non-canon (background character):
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1184 (last panel)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1445 (panels 1 to 3)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1858 (1st panel)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1863 (2nd panel)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1919 (1st panel)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2031 (1st/2nd panel)

You know, even without the "canon" appearances, she's already tied with Samantha, the Roomba, Jimbo and Hannelore's mom with 11 appearances in the comic.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Throg on 10 Oct 2011, 14:06
I have to say I'm a trifle disappointed in everyone. Ought to be at least three pages of the stuff. You kids today. Back in my day (about a year ago, I think), we'd have had six pages of ravings ranging from the plausible to the certifiably inane.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

This is CANON. Sweet-Tits is in-universe.  That means the Shame Orb exists too. When will we see Shame Orb? zomg I'm now shipping Momo x Shame Orb.  No no, PINTSIZE and Shame Orb!
 :-P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 10 Oct 2011, 14:36
I thought he was more of a Don Juan    :-D

Hmmm,  Marten the babe magnet - ti has potential
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 10 Oct 2011, 15:00
Question:    Who are you for?

Milwaukee Brewers    - 5 (7.2%)
St. Louis Cardinals    - 5 (7.2%)
Detroit Tigers    - 2 (2.9%)
Texas Rangers    - 4 (5.8%)
Punch    - 3 (4.3%)
Pie    - 15 (21.7%)
Waffles    - 35 (50.7%)

Total Voters: 69

Non-baseball related poll inbound.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 10 Oct 2011, 15:01
... No no, PINTSIZE and Shame Orb!
 :-P

Pintsize is the ShameLESS Orb.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 10 Oct 2011, 15:11
BREAKING SPEC: Sweet-Tits is her actual given name, given by a slightly out-of-it hippie mother who liked tiny birds. Yelling Bird is her Anthro-PC, a prototype that runs off an alcohol fuel-cell; she got him when he and the research team working on the chassis "parted ways" at high velocity, out the nearest window. The Shame Orb was originally another prototype of a specialised law-enforcement A-PC originally designed as a diplomat/negotiator with non-lethal restraint foam. He and YB know each other from the lab where they both originated. Said lab and the associated research team was dismantled just after the final, abysmal, test of the Orb's potential, in which he nearly talked a fake hostage-taker into killing one of his "hostages" in a training exercise.
Shebly is her dog. He's big and poofy.

Randy...Randy IS.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: SirDudley on 10 Oct 2011, 15:12
Non-baseball related poll inbound.
I find the lack of Calvinball extreme disturbing and upsetting.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Akima on 10 Oct 2011, 15:15
I just hope she has green pupils. So far none of the characters had those. (As far as I can recall)
No human has green pupils (unless they're a teacher with a class full of frogs or something  :-D ).

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 10 Oct 2011, 15:28
Well, Marten has likened himself to another comics protagonist (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=95) whose life may or may not be affected by a diminutive redhead.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 10 Oct 2011, 15:33
Non-baseball related poll inbound.
I find the lack of Calvinball extreme disturbing and upsetting.

OMG I forgot Calvinball!!!!!!!!

*edit* fixed, votes reset *edit*
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Akima on 10 Oct 2011, 15:43
OMG I forgot Calvinball!!!!!!!! *edit* fixed, votes reset *edit*
I had to vote for Bayesball. It's a game probably most famous for its statistics.  :wink:
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: ecstaticjoy on 10 Oct 2011, 16:26
hey girl, checkin out the dudes
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 10 Oct 2011, 16:37
Well, Marten has likened himself to another comics protagonist (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=95) whose life may or may not be affected by a diminutive redhead.

This being QC, it'd be irony that the redhead has a crush on Marten (instead of the other way around).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 10 Oct 2011, 16:46
OMG I forgot Calvinball!!!!!!!! *edit* fixed, votes reset *edit*
I had to vote for Bayesball. It's a game probably most famous for its statistics.  :wink:
(click to show/hide)


I hereby award you one internet for getting the reference!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 10 Oct 2011, 17:13
Where the fuck is blernsball in the list?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Bleargh001 on 10 Oct 2011, 17:26
btw, I think you're right about 1391

I'm thinking not. Jeph was squeezing cameos from all of the listed webcomics in there, and I think that was one of them.

Canon Sweettits Appearances (as "filler" comics):
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1184 (First Appearance, b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1167 (Second Appearance, b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1566 (The Very Sweet-tits New Year "arc", b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1567 (The Very Sweet-tits New Year "arc", b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1568 (The Very Sweet-tits New Year "arc", b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1569 (The Very Sweet-tits New Year "arc", b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1570 (The Very Sweet-tits New Year "arc", b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1690 (Jeph's 30th birthday - altered strip)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1730 (Sayanora, Shelby-Sensei! b/w comic)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1826 (She tells YB to stop shooting)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1901 (Yelling Bird complains about "new characters"; she's "wedged in" on 3rd panel)

Non-canon (background character):
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1184 (last panel)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1445 (panels 1 to 3)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1858 (1st panel)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1863 (2nd panel)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1919 (1st panel)
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2031 (1st/2nd panel)

You know, even without the "canon" appearances, she's already tied with Samantha, the Roomba, Jimbo and Hannelore's mom with 11 appearances in the comic.

What about this?  Does this count:

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1601

Is this not also Sweet-Tits in the 2nd panel?  From the back, behind the bar?

Is that a retcon?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 10 Oct 2011, 17:28
Well, Marten has likened himself to another comics protagonist (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=95) whose life may or may not be affected by a diminutive redhead.

This being QC, it'd be irony that the redhead has a crush on Marten (instead of the other way around).

We sorta had that (I think Cosette was a redhead at the time) and that worked out ... well, it didn't. Although in the last couple interactions, you get the sense Cosette still gives a little bit of a damn about Marten, even if her social skills are on par with her basic motor skills.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 10 Oct 2011, 18:05
We sorta had that (I think Cosette was a redhead at the time) and that worked out ... well, it didn't. Although in the last couple interactions, you get the sense Cosette still gives a little bit of a damn about Marten, even if her social skills are on par with her basic motor skills.

She's actually a strawberry blonde. Remember, Claire the witch noted her scalp was getting scorched from all the dyeing.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: raoullefere on 10 Oct 2011, 18:37
Okay, now I have a demand. I demand Akima stop hiding her peepers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YvAYIJSSZY) (or someone's) paired with mildly threatening messages under spoilers. It's made my paranoia all tingly.

Also


What about this?  Does this count:

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1601

Is this not also Sweet-Tits in the 2nd panel?  From the back, behind the bar?

Is that a retcon?
I'd go with retcon.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: vsonics on 10 Oct 2011, 18:40
On my computer screen at least, our redhead has obviously blue eyes in this comic. Which leads me to believe that she might very well be someone else - in her colored appearance in 1901 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1901) Sweet-tit's eyes are green. Of course the bird care book strongly hints to a Yelling Bird reference, and looking over all of the sightings we have her, the eye color hasn't been consistent at all.

Blue:
2031 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2031)
1858 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1858)
1919 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1919)

Green:
1863 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1863)

Brown:
1184 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1184)

Either we've got three Sweet-tits lookalikes and we're reading a little bit too much into this or her eyes change colors. Her hair hasn't been very constant either.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 10 Oct 2011, 19:05
... we're reading a little bit too much into this ...

In WCDT? Crazy talk, I tell you.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Somebody on 10 Oct 2011, 19:18
What, no Blernsball (http://theinfosphere.org/Blernsball)?

I have to say I'm a trifle disappointed in everyone. Ought to be at least three pages of the stuff. You kids today. Back in my day (about a year ago, I think), we'd have had six pages of ravings ranging from the plausible to the certifiably inane.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

This is CANON. Sweet-Tits is in-universe.  That means the Shame Orb exists too. When will we see Shame Orb? zomg I'm now shipping Momo x Shame Orb.  No no, PINTSIZE and Shame Orb!
 :-P
No, you see Sweet Tits is a member of the strip's crew. Marten, Faye and most of the other human cast members are blissfully unaware they're in a giant Truman Show-like system. Exceptions include Steve (who was fired for some time - the strip of him drunkenly hallucinating during his disappearance was played by another actor, who wore the large beard to disguise this fact), Dora (whose breakup with Marten and move out of Northampton was triggered by her finding out what was really going on. She originally intended to leave entirely, but was convinced to stay on a reduced schedule after she found out the world outside was even weirder) and Hanners' mum (who owns the whole enterprise and occasionally appears As Herself for amusement) and all the AnthroPCs, who are actually mere automotons voiced by humans (The "Momo's new chassis" arc was a device to allow the Momo VA to appear in-show as herself after she threatened to walk).

Despite the bizarreness of the world outside the QC bubble, including Emotion Orbs which rule the world, the world inside is deliberately kept to an early-2000s state, with the exception of the AnthroPCs who were added after extensive focus group tests insisted on additional wackiness.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: SomeCanadianWeirdo on 10 Oct 2011, 19:25
Meanwhile, Mr. Jacques sits in his Fortress of Comic Solitude, reading this thread.  "The fools have fallen for it!  Everything is going accoridng to plan.  Mwahahahaha!"
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 10 Oct 2011, 20:09
No, you see Sweet Tits is a member of the strip's crew. Marten, Faye and most of the other human cast members are blissfully unaware they're in a giant Truman Show-like system.

Suddenly Hannelore's worry from strip 1144 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1144) is given a new, more disturbing perspective...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 10 Oct 2011, 21:07
Either we've got three Sweet-tits lookalikes and we're reading a little bit too much into this or her eyes change colors. Her hair hasn't been very constant either.

Whats wrong with triplets?!?! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicole,_Erica_and_Jaclyn_Dahm)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: raoullefere on 10 Oct 2011, 21:21
Either we've got three Sweet-tits lookalikes and we're reading a little bit too much into this or her eyes change colors. Her hair hasn't been very constant either.
Or, and this is kinda wild, I admit, she wears colored contacts (http://color-my-eyes.com/). And dyes her hair. Them sneaky girls, they do stuff like that.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jacques sits in his Fortress of Comic Solitude, reading this thread.  "The fools have fallen for it!  Everything is going accoridng to plan.  Mwahahahaha!"
I think I covered this. At the least, I concur. And yet, I keep coming back. Got to get some snips for that chain.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 10 Oct 2011, 22:17
While  Bayesball (http://spikedmath.com/226.html) is fun (even if occasionally somewhat detached from reality) I still voted for Calvinball. You gotta love a game with metamorphosing rules made up on the spot and/or as the need arises.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 10 Oct 2011, 23:25
Bayesball has such a tight and rigorous attachment to it's own statistics, it is superfluous to even play the games.

The championship is declared 15 minutes after the team rosters for the season are announced.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 10 Oct 2011, 23:39
On my computer screen at least, our redhead has obviously blue eyes in this comic. Which leads me to believe that she might very well be someone else - in her colored appearance in 1901 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1901) Sweet-tit's eyes are green. Of course the bird care book strongly hints to a Yelling Bird reference, and looking over all of the sightings we have her, the eye color hasn't been consistent at all.

Blue:
2031 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2031)
1858 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1858)
1919 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1919)

Green:
1863 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1863)

Brown:
1184 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1184)

Either we've got three Sweet-tits lookalikes and we're reading a little bit too much into this or her eyes change colors. Her hair hasn't been very constant either.
Err ... thats why I dont think all these "appearances" are Sweettitts.

Also, brown ? The last comic is simply from much too far distance to still see the color of the iris.

Finally, people can have either blue or green eyes, depending upon the light. Thats actually very common.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 11 Oct 2011, 00:08
But somebody is quick. The wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyser_S%C3%B6ze) on Keyser Söze has already been updated to include yesterday's strip in the References section.

Nice in a way, but I'm not sure that the world really needs that kind of detailed information :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 11 Oct 2011, 01:12
Oh, Marten - such a deer in the headlights...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 11 Oct 2011, 01:14
Oh Steve, do shut up!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Random Al Yousir on 11 Oct 2011, 01:24
Steve is reliable, isn't he?

On a totally different topic: When you pronounce the Heavy Metal Umlaut Ö as it is written, like in Motörhead or Keyser Söze, it really sounds naff and silly.   :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Nathanyel on 11 Oct 2011, 01:30
On a totally different topic: When you pronounce the Heavy Metal Umlaut Ö as it is written, like in Motörhead or Keyser Söze, it really sounds naff and silly.   :-D
Then again, when you write it with a normal o, "Keyser Soze" sounds really funny to a German :P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Random Al Yousir on 11 Oct 2011, 01:36
That's of course true, too.   :-)

Oh, I forgot: D'aaw.  Poor Elliot.

Padme appears to be genuinely thick, in the end.  I am surprised, all the time I was thinking she's just horsing around with the guys.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skaltura on 11 Oct 2011, 01:44
On a totally different topic: When you pronounce the Heavy Metal Umlaut Ö as it is written, like in Motörhead or Keyser Söze, it really sounds naff and silly.   :-D
Then again, when you write it with a normal o, "Keyser Soze" sounds really funny to a German :P

Kaisersoße, the sauce that will make an emperor of you yet!

It also sounds vaguely like a spunk pun, in lieu of happy batter and euphoria fluid.

On topic: Why does Padma feel like a bitch and is troubled by the fact she does not feel about Elliot the same as he does? I feel like that would be an overreaction, but then, I am not schooled in the ways of romance like a normal person. :-P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: VonKleist on 11 Oct 2011, 01:50
Now comes the delicious, juicy drama :-)

Everyone feels bad for Elliot and for themselves and so it goes
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Delator on 11 Oct 2011, 02:00
Jeez...by phone, Elliot?

I mean, I understand the reasoning...but, just....buh.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 11 Oct 2011, 02:03
Padme appears to be genuinely thick, in the end.  I am surprised, all the time I was thinking she's just horsing around with the guys.
Uh-hu.

Now what gave you THAT idea ?!?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Random Al Yousir on 11 Oct 2011, 02:18
I have no idea.

Maybe I just wanted to see a new, hilarious twist unfold.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: WAYF on 11 Oct 2011, 02:19
"How could I have been so oblivious" :-)

Wonder how Padma would have reacted if at the end Marten had said "No, I mean, how's the new coffee going?"?

Nailed it.


And by the way, Steve has a really inappropriate dedication to being Marten's wing-man. I can't be the only person who's noticed this, surely? It's been most/basically all of his behaviour since #1800.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 11 Oct 2011, 02:29
On a totally different topic: When you pronounce the Heavy Metal Umlaut Ö as it is written, like in Motörhead or Keyser Söze, it really sounds naff and silly.   :-D
Then again, when you write it with a normal o, "Keyser Soze" sounds really funny to a German :P
Without umlaut you would have a hard time finding it on a Swedish/Finnish phonebook (ĆÄÖ come after Z in the alphabet over here, but IIRC in Germany A/Ä, O/Ö and U/Ü are equal for the purposes of sorting words/names).

Jeez...by phone, Elliot?

I mean, I understand the reasoning...but, just....buh.


May I propose a theory that a generous dose of liquid courage was needed for Elliot to make that call? So we can write it off as yet another "It seemed like a good idea at the time." Calling in sick fits.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Nathanyel on 11 Oct 2011, 02:34
Yup, afaik e.g. A and Ä are equivalent in sorting, unless directly clashing with each other (Bar/Bär) in which case the one with A comes first.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Near Lurker on 11 Oct 2011, 02:37
Fuck "Bayesian" analysis without an established mathematical model; it just lends the illusion of rigor to intuitive educated guesses.

Also, Marten, you fucking idiot.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 11 Oct 2011, 02:50
Yup, afaik e.g. A and Ä are equivalent in sorting, unless directly clashing with each other (Bar/Bär) in which case the one with A comes first.

Thanks for the confirmation! We treat V and W that way (in names only, 'W' does not exist in words native to Finnish). I was somewhat impressed when I noticed that MSExcel has no trouble whatsoever taking all of the above into account when sorting cells with text in them.

Hopefully the understandably mostly disinterested North American forumites have been sound asleep during the umlaut discussion?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Random Al Yousir on 11 Oct 2011, 03:02
I suspect it won't help much to make up for the ostentatious snores of us Non-USsies during the baseball discussion.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 11 Oct 2011, 05:41
Ugh, Steve please just shut the hell up already.
I don't know if it's just me but Steve seems to be that kind of friend that sooner or later will get a punch in the face.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Border Reiver on 11 Oct 2011, 05:46
Or at least a smack to the back of the head.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 11 Oct 2011, 05:48
And yet, that last panel is strangely hilarious.

Is it because the rest of the comic is a bit of a downer, or in spite of it?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: gangler on 11 Oct 2011, 05:53
If it wasn't Marten Steve would have gotten a punch in the face ages ago. He's also the kind of friend where you'll both laugh about it later though.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 11 Oct 2011, 05:56
And by the way, Steve has a really inappropriate dedication to being Marten's wing-man. I can't be the only person who's noticed this, surely? It's been most/basically all of his behaviour since #3.

FTFY.  :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 11 Oct 2011, 05:57
Such pretty blue eyes Marten has... WHATs with me and eyes lately?

Why is everyone giving Marten such a hard time anyway? How was he supposed to know Elliot would pull a cannonball?

*kicks Steve in the groin* Nice back-friend-stab, dude. oO

@gangler:
Haha! I can hear the muffled toothless bar-conversation now.
"Good punf, dude, good punf."
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: themacnut on 11 Oct 2011, 06:02
Yep, I figured nothing good would come of Elliot confessing his feelings to Padma. It was already entirely too late, and now the level of awkward in tSB will be very high until Padma leaves. Nice going Marten.

Hopefully Elliot learns the life lesson to not wait so damn long next time.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 11 Oct 2011, 06:19
Yep, I figured nothing good would come of Elliot confessing his feelings to Padma. It was already entirely too late, and now the level of awkward in tSB will be very high until Padma leaves. Nice going Marten.

Hopefully Elliot learns the life lesson to not wait so damn long next time.

Elliot was going to feel bad regardless of what he did, at least this way he gets to move on right now.  Best to just pull the bandaid off in one quick stroke.  The best solution though would be move on when you get zero signs that she likes you when flirting.  Girls will make it somewhat obvious if you bother to look.  Had he said he liked her sooner he would have just had an awkward situation where he has to continue working with her.

The lesson is to flirt and act upon the signs you're given.  If none, move on and test for signs in the future if so inclined.  Sitting around moping about it makes you uneasy, desperate, depressed, or some combination of all three.  Be confident and look elsewhere, there are plenty of fish in the sea.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Akima on 11 Oct 2011, 06:20
This is why I thought Elliot telling Padma how he felt at this point would be rank selfish self-indulgence. Way to make her feel bad/uncomfortable at a time when she's probably already a bit stressed. And for what? It was all about you wasn't it, Elliot? Marten should have known better. I'm disappointed in both of them.  :x
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 11 Oct 2011, 06:26
I for one agree with Marten's advice.  At least now Elliot has finally gotten it off of his chest, and because Marten is not a Keyser Soze wannabe I see no reason why he won't take the time to calm Padma down and assure her that she doesn't have to feel bad for not reciprocating Elliot's feelings.  Things won't be completely back to normal in the Secret Bakery, but it's not like the norm there was particularly healthy to begin with.  Eventually Padma will move away, she and Elliot will forget about each other for the most part, and eventually move on with life.  At least now Elliot has a chance to do his part of that, instead of pinning away at a 'what if?' for who knows how long.

EDIT:  Also, it is just me, or is Padma sounding a little reluctant at the idea of moving away?  Maybe it's not set in stone as Elliot seems to think.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Akima on 11 Oct 2011, 06:54
I see no reason why he won't take the time to calm Padma down and assure her that she doesn't have to feel bad for not reciprocating Elliot's feelings.
Oh yeah, that'll work  :roll: - if Padma can turn her feelings on and off like light-switches. For a real person, not so much. How come it's OK for Elliot (the guy who is supposed to care for her) to upset Padma, just to make himself  feel better? Women don't have any obligation to provide guys with emotional punching-bags, or to act as unpaid therapists.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: SomeCanadianWeirdo on 11 Oct 2011, 07:04
Or at least a smack to the back of the head.

So Steve is Tony DiNozzio from NCIS?  (A show I've never actually watched more than five minutes of, but know certain things about  from other sources.  Like Gibbs smacking him in the head regularly.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: themacnut on 11 Oct 2011, 07:16
EDIT:  Also, it is just me, or is Padma sounding a little reluctant at the idea of moving away?  Maybe it's not set in stone as Elliot seems to think.

If moving plans weren't set in stone before, they will be shortly. Padma would end up moving away just to escape the awkwardness between them.


How come it's OK for Elliot (the guy who is supposed to care for her) to upset Padma, just to make himself  feel better? Women don't have any obligation to provide guys with emotional punching-bags, or to act as unpaid therapists.

Somehow I doubt very much that Elliot feels better having confirmed that he most likely NEVER had a shot with Padma. And as for that "unpaid therapists" thing, I hope you're not implying that men should NEVER tell their wife or girlfriend when they're feeling sad or angry or depressed, 'cause that's where that line of thinking leads.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 11 Oct 2011, 07:19
I'm disappointed in both of them.  :x

Why? I really don't get the "Nice going Marten :roll: ". I fail to see how it is his fault.
Oh yeah, he told Elliot that it would be best to get it off his chest, he could have said to Elliot to jump off a bridge as well. It will be totally Marten's fault,right? Marten shouldn't feel bad because another person did a wrong thing in a shitty time... It's not like he forced Elliot to do it. I think that dude is big enough to have his own decisions.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 11 Oct 2011, 07:31
What I btw really, really, really dont get is how MARTEN had missed before that ELLIOT was interested in Padma.

Thats how he's telling it Steve in yesterdays comic, anyway.

As I assume Marten isnt totally thick, he must have figured that out when Elliot was angry that Marten would join their trip to nature.

He also repeatedly shows signs he's aware that Elliot is into Padma.

Yet yesterdays comic tells it as if Marten only knew it after Elliot explicitly said it out loud.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 11 Oct 2011, 07:42
I see no reason why he won't take the time to calm Padma down and assure her that she doesn't have to feel bad for not reciprocating Elliot's feelings.
Oh yeah, that'll work  :roll: - if Padma can turn her feelings on and off like light-switches. For a real person, not so much. How come it's OK for Elliot (the guy who is supposed to care for her) to upset Padma, just to make himself  feel better? Women don't have any obligation to provide guys with emotional punching-bags, or to act as unpaid therapists.
Err ... what again ?!?!?

I assume that must be an example of the truely weird way asian people think, or sometimes think.

Because you execute there exactly that kind of weird logic that is found in this weird movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" where two lovers who are perfectly in love with each other, neither of them married, do not admit it to each other because of ... well I cant remember, it was some really weird social conventions. Some weird way to prove they are really in love with each other and it would be somehow "selfish" to admit it even if nobody benefits from this not admitting in the first place.

I didnt get that one too well, either.

But why again am I not supposed to tell a woman I'm in love with that I am, well, in love with her ?

And of course - Elliot doesnt tell Padma that he loves her because he wants to feel better. He has of course hope that she might love him back ! Thats why he feels better - he at least tried, even if he failed. I really cant see this as selfish. I think love is the most unselfish thing a person can do.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 11 Oct 2011, 07:45
Seriously?  First off, Elliot may not feel better about finding out there was no chance with Padma now, but later he will appreciate it.  As someone who's 'been there, done that' I'd like to think I speak from experience.  Secondly, this is a good thing for Padma in the long run as well.  Yes, she feels shitty now, but at least she's finally aware of her obliviousness and how it hurts people.  Does anyone here remember strip 1906 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1906)?  Yeah.  Anyway, back to Elliot: Yes I know Padma doesn't have romantic feelings for Elliot, but it's also obvious that she does have feelings of a friendship kind towards him.  It seems to me her issue is less that she isn't in love with Elliot back and more about how she didn't notice his feelings earlier so she could defuse them safely.  Finally, as Mr. Doctor pointed out, Elliot is capable of making his own decisions.  Marten can give advice based on his perspective, but only Elliot is qualified to determine if that perspective applies in his case.

Ultimately, the situation is entirely of Elliot's and Padma's making.  Elliot should have said something sooner, Padma shouldn't have been so oblivious, and now (thanks to Marten) they've both learned from their mistakes and can apply their new found wisdom to future situations as needed.  Not exactly a win-win, but it's progress IMHO.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Nathanyel on 11 Oct 2011, 07:49
but at least she's finally aware of her obliviousness and how it hurts people.  Does anyone here remember strip 1906 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1906)?
Also, #1865 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1865) and #1866 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1866)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 11 Oct 2011, 07:55
I think that dude (Elliot) is big enough to have his own decisions.

This is not about his size...  :lol:

Oh yeah, that'll work  :roll: - if Padma can turn her feelings on and off like light-switches. For a real person, not so much. How come it's OK for Elliot (the guy who is supposed to care for her) to upset Padma, just to make himself  feel better? Women don't have any obligation to provide guys with emotional punching-bags, or to act as unpaid therapists.
Err ... what again ?!?!?

I assume that must be an example of the truely weird way asian people think, or sometimes think.

Because you execute there exactly that kind of weird logic that is found in this weird movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" where two lovers who are perfectly in love with each other, neither of them married, do not admit it to each other because of ... well I cant remember, it was some really weird social conventions. Some weird way to prove they are really in love with each other and it would be somehow "selfish" to admit it even if nobody benefits from this not admitting in the first place.

I didnt get that one too well, either.

But why again am I not supposed to tell a woman I'm in love with that I am, well, in love with her ?

And of course - Elliot doesnt tell Padma that he loves her because he wants to feel better. He has of course hope that she might love him back ! Thats why he feels better - he at least tried, even if he failed. I really cant see this as selfish. I think love is the most unselfish thing a person can do.


Wow, ... Wow.  You really don't  get it, do you?  

1)  It has noithing to do with being asian.  It has more to do with respect for another person and their feelings.  While you're right that he can hope for reciprocation, the negative fallout either way is a good reason not to tell her at this time.  A few months ago would've been better, plans could have changed, less angst on Elliot's part, etc., etc.  Or perhaps later, in a letter or phone call, or during a visit, when life has gone on a bit and both parties can laugh about it.  True love is unselfish, but there are self serving versions too, and when unrequited, it's all in one person's head.  How can that not  be selfish, or at least, self centered?  

2)  Next time you "don't get" something, why not ask, rather than chalking it up to cultural stereotypes?  Instead of expanding your understanding, all you did was display your ignorance.  Don't do that.  It makes you look bad.  
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: wrwight on 11 Oct 2011, 08:10
So, I have to suggest panel 2 of 2031 for caption thread? It totally looks like Steve and Marten could be holding hands, and with (probably) sweet-tits in the background, that could make for some pretty good captioning..just sayin'.

Anyway, today's comic: We know Marten pretty well at this point. Are any of you surprised that he feels it's his fault? I personally would have to agree. Yes, Elliott can make his own decisions, but he has already made the same decision many many times, when he didn't tell her. Marten came along and encouraged him, and then he told. The difference in the equation is Marten. Now, Marten probably wasn't expecting it to go down the way it did, and so perhaps his real error was in how he gave his advice (i.e., he could have encouraged him to tell her as Carl-E suggested, more as an FYI, something like "I know it doesn't matter now, but I had a huge crush on you since..." rather than something that makes her feel like she should reciprocate). Then again, some girls would take the parenthetical suggestion above and feel just as awkward about it. It's all about the people, and Marten doesn't know these people all that well, so he was pretty unqualified to give advice.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 11 Oct 2011, 08:25
And if Padma had said "I knew Elliott was pining for someone, but I never guessed it was me so I kept my feelings to myself - now I can tell him how I feel as well!", would everyone still be saying what a bad thing Marten did?  He gave advice; it could have worked out, but it didn't.  Sometimes things roll that way.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: gangler on 11 Oct 2011, 08:28
You can rely on the kindness of strangers, but you can't rely on their competence. Certainly you can't expect strangers to be functionally oracles. Marten gave some advice to a guy who looked like he needed it. Elliot rolled the dice and got snake eyes. Not that big a deal.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Throg on 11 Oct 2011, 08:56
Oh for fuck's sake, snubnose. Asian, hispanic, black -- it's flat-out LAME to confess to someone who's leaving the area 'by the way, I've been in love with you for years. Just wanted to get that off my chest. No, it's okay if you don't love me back. Bye."

Cuz that leaves the woman with NO CLUE about how to respond. Hell, Padma's showing that's she basically a nice person by feeling guilty. A woman would be perfectly justified in being completely creeped out: who knows what mental constructions a guy has in that situation? Everything from simple unrequited longing (the nice end of the spectrum) to mentall living in an imaginary full-on relationship (somewhat creepy/unbalanced) to fantasizing about your co-worker week after week (creepy).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Monkey Says Yes on 11 Oct 2011, 08:57
Marten did the right thing.  She's moving, man!  Elliot did a ballsy thing, and maybe next time he meets someone that's awesome, he'll ask her out.

Also, Padma is freaking beautiful.  Jeph, you sure do draw pretty girls, man.  I salute you, sir!

Edit: I missed a comic yesterday?  Hurrah, Sweet Tits! 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: vsonics on 11 Oct 2011, 09:35
On my computer screen at least, our redhead has obviously blue eyes in this comic. Which leads me to believe that she might very well be someone else - in her colored appearance in 1901 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1901) Sweet-tit's eyes are green. Of course the bird care book strongly hints to a Yelling Bird reference, and looking over all of the sightings we have her, the eye color hasn't been consistent at all.

Blue:
2031 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2031)
1858 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1858)
1919 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1919)

Green:
1863 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1863)

Brown:
1184 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1184)

Either we've got three Sweet-tits lookalikes and we're reading a little bit too much into this or her eyes change colors. Her hair hasn't been very constant either.
Err ... thats why I dont think all these "appearances" are Sweettitts.

Also, brown ? The last comic is simply from much too far distance to still see the color of the iris.

Finally, people can have either blue or green eyes, depending upon the light. Thats actually very common.


You would THINK that you can't tell the color of her eyes in the last one - and, in fact, there is one appearance where the person in question is too far away and the only color in her eyes is grey, which I didn't include - but if you zoom in a great deal and use the eye dropper tool you will find that there are at least two distinct pixels that have different shades of brown in her eyes.

Of course doing that would be creepy and obsessive, so I don't know why you would.

As far as today's comic goes, I still think that being honest about his feelings for Padma was the right thing for Elliot to do. Of course the way he went about it was clearly all wrong - doing it over the phone is bad enough, but then bailing on work the next day? He could have handled the situation much better. Or, you know, a year ago. Hopefully he still has time to pull himself together and patch it all up before she moves.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 11 Oct 2011, 09:51
That is a valid point.  I admit Elliot could have handled it better, even given the fact that he doesn't have access to a time machine.  Or so I assume: I'd like to believe that Elliot would have used a time machine if he had one, but then in retrospect I'd like to believe he was smart enough to follow Marten's advice in person instead of over the phone. :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 11 Oct 2011, 10:06
Sheesh. Some of you sound like Elliot intentionally made Padma feel miserable, and Marten was supposed to be clairvoyant enough not to give this particular advice, because Elliot might follow it (brushing aside certain sweeping generalizations related to gender or race).

May be Elliot was just left out, when notes about anticipating other people's reactions (like Padma's) were handed out? May be he should have picked it up at some point in his life? Doesn't matter, the fact remains that he had not. Not all of us are experienced in judging situations like this. It comes easily to some, others need more time to learn. People like Elliot (apparently also yours truly?) belong to the latter group of people. Everything points at Elliot being relatively inexperienced when it comes to relationships. How on earth could he ever have learned enough to avoid this mishap?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 11 Oct 2011, 10:11
I too get the impression that Elliot is terribly inexperienced in the ways of romance. 

Live and learn! 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: themacnut on 11 Oct 2011, 10:26
Like I said in my previous posts about this, hopefully Elliot learns from this incident to not wait so long with the next girl he has feelings for. And maybe, as stoutfiles said, learn to flirt a little more with such girls in the future.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: sitnspin on 11 Oct 2011, 10:55
Paranoid - How does it behoove Padma to notice that Elliot likes her? How is it anyone's responsibility to know when someone else is interested in them? It is on the person who has the crush/lust/romantic interest to make that interest known.  There are no mind readers. If you want someone to respond to your feelings (for good or bad) you have to actually tell them how you feel.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Wimblesaurus on 11 Oct 2011, 11:37
Women don't have any obligation to provide guys with emotional punching-bags, or to act as unpaid therapists.


See, the opposite isn't true either, but most women do it even more often anyway, and more insidiously to boot.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 11 Oct 2011, 11:40
So I was just thinking...

Padma's reaction to Marten's "townie drama (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1942)" indicated that she had been a student at one of North Hampton's several schools.  Probably graduated or dropped out, but stayed for the "sweet" job she found at the bakery (pun intended).  

And now, she's in the middle of her own "townie drama".  It's always a shock when you realize that you've overstayed your student years long enough to make the switch from student to townie.  

If Marten were the cruel sort, he could point this out to her (ironically, of course).  But it's pretty clear by those baby blues in the penultimate panel (oooh, I love  it when I can legitimately use that word) that he empathizes too much for that, and as others have pointed out, may well feel partially responsible.  

And, as for Keyser Soze, I prefer John Phillip Soze (http://www.dws.org/sousa/).   :angel:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Celsian on 11 Oct 2011, 11:42
Jeez...by phone, Elliot?

I mean, I understand the reasoning...but, just....buh.



So this.

I see no reason why he won't take the time to calm Padma down and assure her that she doesn't have to feel bad for not reciprocating Elliot's feelings.
Oh yeah, that'll work  :roll: - if Padma can turn her feelings on and off like light-switches. For a real person, not so much. How come it's OK for Elliot (the guy who is supposed to care for her) to upset Padma, just to make himself  feel better? Women don't have any obligation to provide guys with emotional punching-bags, or to act as unpaid therapists.


There's two sides to this. Sure if Elliot could see the future he'd know that telling her was a bad choice, but he couldn't. He didn't know how she felt and wasn't sure if his feelings would be reciprocated. Where's the harm in trying? Furthermore what right does Padma have to be upset with herself for NOT being interested? That seems silly to me...

Or better said:
And if Padma had said "I knew Elliott was pining for someone, but I never guessed it was me so I kept my feelings to myself - now I can tell him how I feel as well!", would everyone still be saying what a bad thing Marten did?  He gave advice; it could have worked out, but it didn't.  Sometimes things roll that way.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 11 Oct 2011, 12:03
Well, what the hell.
Not surprised Elliott would have broached the subject with Padma by phone; he's been painfully shy up to now and he's not going to,, as was said earlier in this thread, flip it on and off like a switch. There are any number of reasons why a guy the size of Elliott might be diffident-to-a-fault around people, such as it having been demonstrated to him in the past that a guy his size can hurt or intimidate without meaning to just by moving fast or confidently. That's just speculation, though.
Marten? Yes, he became aware Elliott might be sweet on our cute'n'clueless donut lady. And when Elliott wanted to talk but couldn't broach the subject, our hero (maybe in relief at not being pummelled and realizing he might have let something slip about Faye) drew on his own experiences to give a little friendly advice. I speculate it came from the realization he was the passive one in the Marten-Dora shipwreck. (Unless I'm mistaken, he never actually told Dora in words that he loved her -- that we saw -- until after the Underpants Incident).
But most of the time he means well, does our Marten.
Who hasn't said or done something in good faith only to have it blow up? The reactions of Padma and Marten here lead me to think Jeph means for them both to be read as basically decent people who sometimes get it wrong.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 11 Oct 2011, 12:11
One of my old bosses (that I hated) mentioned in a store meeting once that "Relationships on the job was a bad idea." This is a good reason why he was right.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: ChristineIrene on 11 Oct 2011, 12:33
I work at the Wal Mart photo lab, so there are only 3 other people I work with, and I cannot imagine dating someone I saw that often. You have to.. get away from each other. If you spend time with someone 24/7 you won't have anything to talk about at night when you get home or be able to miss them ever, or I dunno. I just couldn't date anyone I worked with. But then again, I live six hours away from my fiance, and seeing him one weekend a month is acceptable for me.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 11 Oct 2011, 12:36
Paranoid - How does it behoove Padma to notice that Elliot likes her? How is it anyone's responsibility to know when someone else is interested in them? It is on the person who has the crush/lust/romantic interest to make that interest known.  There are no mind readers. If you want someone to respond to your feelings (for good or bad) you have to actually tell them how you feel.

First off, let's start off with this strip (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1845).  Now, I'm not saying it's Padma's responsibility to notice this, but Elliot was whining about his unrequited love for her five frelling feet away from her!  To quote Ron Weasley, "How thick could you get?"  Which brings me to my second point, which is that she is apparently very thick.  At least, that seems to be the general consensus on these forums.  And in my opinion her thickness is coupled with a general lack of sensitivity to others.  Remember my reference to 1906 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1906)?  Or how about this one (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2013), where Marten tries to bow out gracefully from the hiking invite and Padma wouldn't take no for an answer?

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Padma is a bad person, but she is terribly unaware of how hurtful her actions and general lack of common sense are to the people around her.  This could be the wake up call she needs, and all it costs her is some temporary embarrassment and a day or two of mild worrying.  All things considered it could have been worse.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: pendrake on 11 Oct 2011, 13:23
For comic #2032...

1. Ah Unrequited Love...  the bone-in ribeye steak of Romantic Drama...  (the Love Triangle being the porterhouse steak :wink: )

2. The positive of this is that Elliot did do the correct (if not "right") thing in telling Padma his feelings, even if he knew beforehand he would be rejected.  The negative of this is that Elliot did so in probably the second worst method: via phone call instead of face-to-face.  Probably "the" worst method being making someone else tell Padma this revelation.

3. I find it interesting that Padma is able to open up towards Marten so easily now.  Guess that is just the personable nature of our central male protagonist.

4. It might have been funnier if Steve had side-whispered, "Nice going, Machiav-"  [Marten]: "Dude Shut UP".
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 11 Oct 2011, 13:24
Something to consider: Marten actually believes the advice he gave Elliot. Think about what he said to Angus when they were "avoiding awkwardness with maximum ridiculosity". Heck, think about what he learned after "The Talk", fercryinoutloud.

Marten, in no way, shape or form, MADE Elliot do what he did (call Padma via phone and all that). He just pointed out the obvious: "(Any sort of unrealistic fantasy you have is) DEFINITELY not gonna happen if you don't tell her how you feel."

Elliot took some advice, acted on it, and got shut down. Padma doesn't make the connection, and if Marten is wise, he won't help her make the connection.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: JohnTheWysard on 11 Oct 2011, 14:10
Hopefully the understandably mostly disinterested North American forumites have been sound asleep during the umlaut discussion?

Einige von uns wachten... :wink:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 11 Oct 2011, 14:17
The negative of this is that Elliot did so in probably the second worst method: via phone call instead of face-to-face.  Probably "the" worst method being making someone else tell Padma this revelation.

Text message. Facebook comment. A tweet.

Just sayin; coulda been worse. In fact, as Paranoid said, the whole situation could have been worse. In my opinion, it's better this way. The truth has been thrown out and now everyone has to deal with it instead of letting it keep fermenting. The pot has been stirred and now it's time to try and cook this gumbo as best we can.

Did that make any sense
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: SirDudley on 11 Oct 2011, 14:30
The negative of this is that Elliot did so in probably the second worst method: via phone call instead of face-to-face.  Probably "the" worst method being making someone else tell Padma this revelation.

Text message. Facebook comment. A tweet.

Just sayin; coulda been worse. In fact, as Paranoid said, the whole situation could have been worse. In my opinion, it's better this way. The truth has been thrown out and now everyone has to deal with it instead of letting it keep fermenting. The pot has been stirred and now it's time to try and cook this gumbo as best we can.

Did that make any sense
It made perfect sense to me. Then again, I don't represent the rest of the forum here.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Akima on 11 Oct 2011, 14:33
And as for that "unpaid therapists" thing, I hope you're not implying that men should NEVER tell their wife or girlfriend when they're feeling sad or angry or depressed, 'cause that's where that line of thinking leads.
Of course not, but Padma is not Elliot's wife or girlfriend, and had no desire to be. Elliot has moped about her for some unspecified-but-lengthy period without being able to sack up and do something about it, and then dumps it on her in a last-minute, late-night phone call when he knows she's all geared up to move to the other side of the country. I don't see where Padma has any obligation to put up with that, or where Elliot is showing any consideration for her feelings at all. And then he phones in sick. What a mensch! I hope he at least rang Renée or someone to arrange for them to cover his shift, but I bet he didn't...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: themacnut on 11 Oct 2011, 14:40
I agree that Elliot shouda kept his big mouth shut and just dealt with his feelings alone, in this case. Now things will be awkward at work for some time, possibly right up until Padma leaves, and maybe even afterward. And the whole calling in sick thing was cowardly. This is why romance at work is such a minefield...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Watched Pot on 11 Oct 2011, 14:51
The negative of this is that Elliot did so in probably the second worst method: via phone call instead of face-to-face.  Probably "the" worst method being making someone else tell Padma this revelation.

Text message. Facebook comment. A tweet.
I'm not really understanding all the objections to doing this via phone call. Yes, face-to-face is better, but isn't an actual phone call still considered second best for this kind of thing? Should he have done it via Direct Message in a Words With Friends game?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 11 Oct 2011, 16:19
...  The pot has been stirred and now it's time to try and cook this gumbo as best we can.
Did that make any sense
It made perfect sense to me. Then again, I don't represent the rest of the forum here.
Made sense to me too. What E. did wasn't the best, but it was better than pining in silence. I'll add that I don't see where Padma's obligated to do or feel -- or for that matter, notice -- anything in this case.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 11 Oct 2011, 18:06
....... Tomorrow on Days Of OUr Coffee ........

Geez Elliott, I get that you're shy - But PHONING it in???!


Watch out for the truck Marten.


And someone drop a Piano on Steve - PLEASE!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Somebody on 11 Oct 2011, 18:30
I'm not really understanding all the objections to doing this via phone call. Yes, face-to-face is better, but isn't an actual phone call still considered second best for this kind of thing? Should he have done it via Direct Message in a Words With Friends game?
And, hey, this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QNUvPEVxc0) was face-to-face :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 11 Oct 2011, 18:47
I'm enjoying the debate today. I can see both sides of the argument, though my original opinion was with Marten.

Geez Elliott, I get that you're shy - But PHONING it in???!

I'm not sure that you do.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 11 Oct 2011, 18:48
Kugai, what do you have against pianos?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 11 Oct 2011, 19:36
Maybe Eliott "called" up to her window from the street?  With some Peter Gabriel on his boombox?  Let's not rush to assumptions here.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 11 Oct 2011, 19:47
If he did that and Padma didn't jump down his pants she's a total ice queen. Also stoutfliles, I think that's the first time you said something that wasn't part of an argument, and it was great! I laughed. Keep it up!

....... Tomorrow on Days Of Our Coffee ........

Kinda wanna rename the strip that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 11 Oct 2011, 19:53
Question:    Since *apparently* us baseball fans are an oppressed minority, What do you heathens like?
Bayesball    - 1 (1.2%)
Bearsball    - 4 (4.8%)
Foolsball    - 1 (1.2%)
Calvinball    - 20 (24.1%)
Wiffleball    - 0 (0%)
Waffleball    - 4 (4.8%)
Duck, duck, balls    - 10 (12%)
Aww fuck it. YAAAAYYYYY SWEET TITS!!!!!!!    - 43 (51.8%)

Total Voters: 83

There is only one conclusion to draw from this poll: Sweet-tits is 2.15 times more popular than Calvin and Hobbes.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 11 Oct 2011, 20:10
Maybe Eliott "called" up to her window from the street?  With some Peter Gabriel on his boombox?  Let's not rush to assumptions here.

That would certainly explain why he called in sick.  :laugh:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: SomeCanadianWeirdo on 11 Oct 2011, 21:13
Re-reading 2032  I had the weird idea that Marten is going to end up filling in for Elliot, doing whatever it is that he actually does.  But it won't end up just for one day as a result of Marten being all guilty.  It will for some reason end up being permanent.

Of course it probably won't actually happen.  I think everyone likes Tai too much fpr that, as Marten dumping his library job would mean a lot less Tai.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 11 Oct 2011, 21:29
Kugai, what do you have against pianos?

Ask a Harpsichord.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 11 Oct 2011, 21:44
Personally I doubt Marten would fill in for Elliot.  His previous attempts at making lattes didn't go over too well if I recall correctly (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1004). :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 11 Oct 2011, 21:48
It would take like 3 Martens to even physically fill in for Elliot.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 11 Oct 2011, 22:07
It would take like 3 Martens to even physically fill in for Elliot.

Sexual innuendo alert.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 11 Oct 2011, 23:00
I was aware of the danger. But at least I didn't say something like "Marten could go into Elliot three times." At least I didn't put it that way.  :angel:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Delator on 11 Oct 2011, 23:01
How come it's OK for Elliot to upset Padma, just to make himself  feel better?

...it's not wrong.

I don't know about "OK", but it's not "wrong".

...and yes, I'm certain Elliot specifically set out to upset Padma.  :roll:

Or perhaps later, in a letter or phone call, or during a visit, when life has gone on a bit and both parties can laugh about it.?

I get the feeling that even in that instance, some people would still find a way to blame Elliot for...something.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: musicalsoul on 11 Oct 2011, 23:20
Maybe Eliott "called" up to her window from the street?  With some Peter Gabriel on his boombox?  Let's not rush to assumptions here.

I love the mental image I'm getting from that. Also, if a guy did that for me, I'd totally be all over him  :laugh:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 11 Oct 2011, 23:41
Uh-hu.

I agree about the "calling in sick" part being stupid, and I agree that the phonecall was not a good way either.

But we already know Elliot is not someone of brilliant social skills, so both things arent so unsurprising.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: raoullefere on 12 Oct 2011, 00:04
A few observations:

1. Marten looks like he's making this way more his fault than it is. For all we know, Elliot might've screwed himself up to do this anyway, especially after getting some alcocourage going earlier on. Too bad the bartender didn't think of it first, then we could all jump on Wil's bony ass instead. I'm also surprised somebody hasn't brought up Gildor Inglorion, but that's just as well, or maybe I missed it.

2. Padma's not responsible for knowing someone's got a yen for her. On the other hand, she could stand to be a little less oblivious to what's going on around her. Her grandmother may owe Elliot for a few more years of existence.

3. It's nice of her in a way, but Padma's being rather silly and self-important when she thinks she has to 'deal with' Elliot's unrequited love. She already has: she told him how she honestly feels. Anything else is pretty much a job for the big guy himself. (Yes, I mean Elliot.) She's only a punching bag if she hangs herself by the ceiling to do the job.

4. As far as Elliot's behavior goes, behold the difference between a crush and True Love. And so sorry, but he probably needed to do this, so maybe he won't sit on his hands the next time. So to speak.

5. Steve doesn't get told to shut up nearly enough. Or maybe he does, and we just don't get to hear Cosette do it. I enjoyed that part, anyway.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 12 Oct 2011, 00:47
4. As far as Elliot's behavior goes, behold the difference between a crush and True Love. And so sorry, but he probably needed to do this, so maybe he won't sit on his hands the next time. So to speak.
Uh.

So whats the difference between a crush and true love, and which of these two is Elliots relation to Padma ?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Mr.T on 12 Oct 2011, 01:05
Alright, I haven't seen this brought up yet with the Sweet-Tits, Umlauts & Unrequited Love discussions, but the Keyser Söze thing makes no sense to me at all.

Please enlighten me if I'm the clueless one:

I love The Usual Suspects and Questionable Content, but in what way is
-A criminal mastermind who kills his own wife, 66.6% of his kids, an entire hungarian mob, their associates, friends and families. A man who almost every criminal knows about and fears without ever having seen him. A man who can bullshit his way though a police "interrogation" while discussing his infamous alter-ego's latest exploits
in any way comparable to, or acceptable simile/metaphor material for,
-Some guy giving questionable "girl"-advice to a lovesick clueless oaf... in a bar?

Even if the joke is about Marten's non-existent ulterior motive, that's not a clever Gambit of the Batman or Xanatos type (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BatmanGambit), it's just Sitcom Plot #2a...

 :psyduck:

P.S.:Hell yeah, TVTropes!

Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 12 Oct 2011, 01:45
Yes, it's nonsense, which I think is the joke.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Nathanyel on 12 Oct 2011, 02:08
I'd say it's mere hyperbole.


Say, at what time does Jeph usually upload a new comic these days? It's past 11am over here (GMT+1) but I think I remember a time when I saw a new QC at around 8 or 9...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 12 Oct 2011, 02:26
Jeph often has a strangely messed-up sleep pattern, as he has at present; the comic is put up as soon as he finishes it, currently at around 10:00 to 11:00 UTC.  For two or three hours before that you can watch him draw it (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/questionable-content-video).

Oh, and you're on GMT/UTC+2 - you forgot to add the summer time offset.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Aethir on 12 Oct 2011, 02:43
One of my old bosses (that I hated) mentioned in a store meeting once that "Relationships on the job was a bad idea." This is a good reason why he was right.

In my former industry (meat processing) that was known as 'screwing the crew' and is generally a bad idea.
I should know, I have both an ex-wife and an ex-fiancé that I met at work.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: VonKleist on 12 Oct 2011, 02:59
Hmmm, hang in there, Jeph :(


IŽll go collect my paycheck and you finish your comic till I return :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 12 Oct 2011, 03:32
One of my old bosses (that I hated) mentioned in a store meeting once that "Relationships on the job was a bad idea." This is a good reason why he was right.

In my former industry (meat processing) that was known as 'screwing the crew' and is generally a bad idea.
I should know, I have both an ex-wife and an ex-fiancé that I met at work.

I've known the rule as:

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Nathanyel on 12 Oct 2011, 04:05
In my former industry (meat processing) that was known as 'screwing the crew' and is generally a bad idea.
And here I would've expected some reference to "porking" :P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 12 Oct 2011, 04:11
It's occurred to me that it's perhaps worth remarking on the fact that Padma has decided to tell Marten this detail of what has transpired betwen herself and Elliot.

Either she has been telling a whole bunch of customers about it (and I hope that's not the case), or she feels at this stage a little closer to Marten than I would have guessed.

Anyone else got any thoughts about that?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 12 Oct 2011, 04:21
And... wow.  Okay, Padma's obliviousness is apparently incurable.  I'm still glad Elliot told her for the sake of his own sanity mind you, but any hopes I had that his revelation would also help Padma achieve a much needed epiphany are clearly Jossed.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Lubricus on 12 Oct 2011, 04:22
Comic's up!

Edit: Ahh, too late, I guess.  :|
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: WAYF on 12 Oct 2011, 04:24
Hmmm... maybe I've been watching too many TV shows written by Joss Whedon or Steven Moffat lately, but I'm sure that the single panel of Padma's hands clasped at her waist is significant somehow. Jeph usually relegates clasped hands to the background while the characters' facial expressions and dialogue draw our attention, but not in this case. Maybe it's not significant, but I don't trust it to be not significant.
For people who are willing to spend unspecified hours on TV Tropes, call it the Law of Conservation of Detail (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheLawOfConservationOfDetail).


My bet, cautiously laid because I don't want to feel too hasty, is that she really does feel something for Elliott, but she's avoiding confronting it because she's moving away and they wouldn't be able to make it work under these circumstances.
I also think that Padma's a lot smarter than we give her credit for ... just not in the area of relationships. But maybe that's just me talking.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 12 Oct 2011, 04:27
Well, that perhaps adds some weight to my last post.

The detailed panel of Padma's hands was an interesting and nice touch. And Marten's whiplash comment was pretty apt. :D

Obliviousness all round, then?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skaltura on 12 Oct 2011, 04:39
Moral of the story: Eat, drink, and be happy, for tomorrow we die.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 12 Oct 2011, 04:43
I think the internet got wiplash. And then this:
"Hey, Jeph, the internet just called to say the Jedi told it they felt that one."

Padma = Hanner's unpredictability + Dora's looks + Faye's ability to make Marten dance on her "leash".

(I don't feel witty today...)

@Skaltura:
"Eat, drink, dance and be happy, for tomorrow we move away."
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: HiFranc on 12 Oct 2011, 04:44
I get the impression that she handles her problems by ignoring them.  Of course, Skaltura could be right about her motivation.

Soulsynger, I think that, if Skaltura is right, it's more likely to be her grand mother's failing health that is forcing a re-think.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: VonKleist on 12 Oct 2011, 05:10
Hah. As Marten stated he wasn't much of a dancer this holds potential for potential hilarity.

Also they look so cute in the second to last panel  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 12 Oct 2011, 05:17
While the detailed hands are nice, their uneasiness with the included crotch shot as well as the words "spend as much time with her as I can" while talking about grandma...is a little off-putting.  I don't consider myself a dirty person but I double taked at the odd inclusion of this in the strip.  Just out of place IMO.

I don't think Marten should go dancing for two reasons.  Marten will turn into mopey Eliott if he keeps this up, and continuing to do things with Padma is breaking the bro code.  Guy just got his heart broken and now you're swooping back in?  Marten should step away from all of this.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 12 Oct 2011, 05:28
Did anyone see the stream for this one? I was wondering if Padma was originally smoking a cigarette in this strip and Jeph later took it out. I ask because a couple of her hand gestures (particularly in panel 1 and panel 3) look like a hand that is holding a cigarette, but there's no cigarette there. Also, she's standing next to that sidewalk-ashtray thing that's been there since the first drawing of the outside of tSB.

Probably nothing. Has any major or supporting character smoked on-panel since early Hanners and Dora's mom?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 12 Oct 2011, 05:31
Marten should step away from all of this.
If he ever he becomes able to do just that, this strip would end, I'm afraid.

Also... how seriously has it been established that Marten is into Padma? And how seriously is he actually into her, IF something like that has actually been established?
I am loosing the feeling that there is any sort of chemistry between Marten and Padma...


@HiFranc:
Hm... I'm an apathetic of sorts, so I still can't fully understand why she needs to actually MOVE away. Wouldn't it be a little easier if she just asked for a few months time off from the bakery to care for her grandma?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Welu on 12 Oct 2011, 05:32
I think the hands shot being out of place works in a way. It's just out of place in that it's not something Jeph usually puts focus on, not that it's wrong to be there. It's a good way of showing how Padma is feeling unease about her grandma without facial expression. In the other panels there's still a lot of expression in Padma's hands so it fits the comic.

Only other time I can think where Jeph put focus on the hands. (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1191)

Also the whiplash, oh the whiplash.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Akima on 12 Oct 2011, 05:46
In my former industry (meat processing) that was known as 'screwing the crew' and is generally a bad idea.
"Don't get laid where you get paid." is the form in which I learned this very sound maxim.

I'm not sure what Jeph was trying to say with the close-up of Padma's hands, unless it was "Hey bitches, hands are hard to draw, but check this out!" She doesn't seem to be wringing them. And obviously I didn't need to worry too much about Padma's feelings.


Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 12 Oct 2011, 05:58
And obviously I didn't need to worry too much about Padma's feelings.
Harsh statement, woah. oO

Imagine today's comic without the hand close-up. Its not nearly as emotionally involving.
Personally, I would've chosen a close-up of her face for emotional emphasis, but hands work well, too.

I just noticed how Padma is standing a tiny bit slanted away from Marten in the second to last panel... love those little details of unease in this conversation. Overall, a very involving episode. Oo
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: bhtooefr on 12 Oct 2011, 06:10
I've heard the following:

Don't get your meat where you get your bread
Don't shit where you eat
Don't dip your pen in company ink (my favorite)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 12 Oct 2011, 06:12
And obviously I didn't need to worry too much about Padma's feelings.
Harsh statement, woah. oO

I have to agree with Akima, I don't really care how sad Padma is.  Everytime she talks it's "me, me, me".  When Marten tried to talk about his feelings she skipped away.  Hey Padma, if you don't want to go, then don't go.  If you're going to go, stop whining about it.  You're just setting yourself up to resent your grandma for ruining the best years of your life.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: VonKleist on 12 Oct 2011, 06:15
Don't want to seem heartless but sooner or later Smelliot will have to suck it up. Which is usually easier if the object of your unrequited love is nowhere in the immediate vicinity.

Why shouldn't Marten and Padma have some fun and see what happens?
If Elliot is gonna act like the big overgrown baby he appears to be, well, thatŽs his problem (which I do hope heŽll resolve!!).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 12 Oct 2011, 06:20
Oh, we're playing this game now...

"No body orifice in the office." (A rather unsettling version of "No booty in the firm.")
(click to show/hide)

@VonKleist:
Because if Elliot ever found out about it, Padma would be miles away but Marten would still be "at arm's length", so to speak. (A sudden awakening into the world of emotional turmoil like it has been for Elliot can lead to rather drastic changes in a person's behaviour.)

edit:
I have to agree with Akima, I don't really care how sad Padma is.  Everytime she talks it's "me, me, me".  When Marten tried to talk about his feelings she skipped away.
Holy! ... I've never looked at it like that. You blew my mind.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 12 Oct 2011, 06:27
Apparently I'm reading this a bit differently from everyone else... 

It seems to me that Padma is actually a little bit interested in Marten, at least as a possible fun friend though perhaps no more than that.  This makes her reaction to hearing that Marten prompted Elliott to say his bit more significant; and I read the hand-wringing as being conflicted about moving away, partly because she wants to ask Marten out again - as she then manages to get herself to do.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 12 Oct 2011, 06:28
Quote from: Jeph
If you can't look on the bright side of things, you can always slam it into reverse and peel out.

Looks like I have a new favorite quote.

Anyway, I know it would be wrong, but I kinda want to see Marten go out with Padma, partly because I just want to see Marty have a good time for once since the breakup. Also, if/when Elliot sees/finds out about Marten and Padma together, I'm quite sure he'll finally be moved to action. There's no motivation like seeing the object of your affection with someone else, and a blatent brotrayal.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: VonKleist on 12 Oct 2011, 06:35
Oh, gimme a break. How are they suddenly bros`? ItŽs not a brotrayal if you hardly know the other dude.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 12 Oct 2011, 06:50
Agree with you, the brocode doesn't apply if the bros aren't even bros.

While the detailed hands are nice, their uneasiness with the included crotch shot as well as the words "spend as much time with her as I can" while talking about grandma...is a little off-putting.  I don't consider myself a dirty person but I double taked at the odd inclusion of this in the strip.  Just out of place IMO.

Awww man not cool and the strip is ruined for me! I did not see that strip in that way the first time :(

Apparently I'm reading this a bit differently from everyone else...  

It seems to me that Padma is actually a little bit interested in Marten, at least as a possible fun friend though perhaps no more than that.  This makes her reaction to hearing that Marten prompted Elliott to say his bit more significant; and I read the hand-wringing as being conflicted about moving away, partly because she wants to ask Marten out again - as she then manages to get herself to do.
Sorry to quote all this but I just want to say that it's all I had to say about the strip, thanks.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Throg on 12 Oct 2011, 06:52
Calling it now: Padma is gonna be like 'wham, bam, thank you ma'am' (or whatever the female->male equivalent is), and Marten's gonna be left totally discombobulated. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 12 Oct 2011, 07:12
Wham, bam, thank you man
Wham, bam, thank you Sam
Wham, bam, thank you my fan
Wham, bam, thank y...ok I can't think of any more  :-(

the brocode doesn't apply if the bros aren't even bros.

Fair enough, but I'm willing to bet that Elliot would see it as a kind of betrayal regardless. It would be all too easy for him to suspect that this was Marten's plan all along.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Near Lurker on 12 Oct 2011, 07:36
Looking at her posture, it definitely looks like she should be holding a cigarette, especially in the first panel, where she's just taken it out of her mouth.  Not sure why Jeph took it out.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: wrwight on 12 Oct 2011, 08:23
For the most part I'm in agreement with pwhodges and Mr. Doctor about what's going down in this comic. I don't think Padma is interested in Marten like romantically, but perhaps just thinks he's cute and fun, and she's leaving soon, so she might as well spend it going out and having fun, and, if she's anything like me, she enjoys hanging out with cute fun people of the opposite gender, even if there is no romantic interest. Then again I have no reason to think she's anything like me.

I also found panel 6 to be out of place, though. I guess I just didn't get it.

Also, I feel the need to clarify my point. I like to think I'm good with words, but then sometimes I'm not. I think Marten told Elliott exactly what he would have told himself. I think Elliott was looking for advice. I think I would have done the same thing in Marten's shoes--BUT, I still think it was a bad idea, because he didn't know Elliott well enough, or he might have been able to foresee the train wreck he was in for. It appears to have turned out alright in the end, though, or maybe I should say that it appears to have turned out alright in the middle. We haven't seen the end of it yet.

Also, whoever said it is exactly right. If Padma had reciprocated (which I'm pretty certain we all knew she wouldn't) I probably wouldn't have even mentioned that Marten is justified in feeling somewhat responsible. He would have been responsible either way, but in one case it would be for awkwardness in a good way, or in the current situation, awkwardness in a bad way. It was just going to be awkward either way, though.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Somebody on 12 Oct 2011, 08:28
Can I just say, I love the idea of breaking up via full-page ad in a major newspaper :D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 12 Oct 2011, 08:39
Another remarkably bad way to let someone know you're interested would be a strip-o-gram.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Throg on 12 Oct 2011, 08:47
Would you SEND the strip-o-gram, or BE the strip-o-gram?   

===

Eliot was in an impossible situation. There's shyness, but then there's the added dimension of not screwing around where you work. Padma was Eliot's supervisor. Dating your boss? Awkward and unprofessional, at best.  Painfully shy guy trying to express admiration/affection for his oblivious-to-the-point-of-thick boss? Just not gonna happen.   

>
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 12 Oct 2011, 08:52
Can I just say, I love the idea of breaking up via full-page ad in a major newspaper :D
Make sure to use a newspaper your (now-)ex doesn't read but her friends do, for maximum insanity.
(excerpted from "bunny-girl to bunny-boiler: how not to date an employee" by one H. Hefner)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: StevenC on 12 Oct 2011, 09:38
May I add to all those nice rhymes about not dating at the workplace that despite that, most relationships start exactly there?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Lubricus on 12 Oct 2011, 09:50
May I add to all those nice rhymes about not dating at the workplace that despite that, most relationships start exactly there?

Yeah, you know all those couples starting their second batch of children after leaving their initial spouses? Practically all of those couples met each other at work...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: themacnut on 12 Oct 2011, 09:56
 
May I add to all those nice rhymes about not dating at the workplace that despite that, most relationships start exactly there?

Which is why there are all those rhymes and rules, bec ause of all the times those relationships go bad and the work environment is poisoned for everyone as a result-who wants to be working around a recently broken-up couple? For that matter, who wants to BE either member of that former couple, having to work with an ex? Yes some people manage to break up amicably, but most don't. Makes for an ugly workplace situation.

As to the comic, it's rather ironic that even though Marten didn't plan things to go the way they did, they are going pretty much EXACTLY the way Steve predicted. Few will believe Marten didn't plan things this way, and Elliot won't be among those few. Marten could be in for a beating after all.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: HiFranc on 12 Oct 2011, 09:59
[...]


@HiFranc:
Hm... I'm an apathetic of sorts, so I still can't fully understand why she needs to actually MOVE away. Wouldn't it be a little easier if she just asked for a few months time off from the bakery to care for her grandma?

Some illness last more than a few months.  For example, the average life expectancy of someone suffering Alzheimer's disease (time from diagnosis) is 5 years!

[...]

I have to agree with Akima, I don't really care how sad Padma is.  Everytime she talks it's "me, me, me".  When Marten tried to talk about his feelings she skipped away.  Hey Padma, if you don't want to go, then don't go.  If you're going to go, stop whining about it.  You're just setting yourself up to resent your grandma for ruining the best years of your life.

I think the unspoken part is that either:

  • Her family have probably put a lot of pressure on her to move back and/or
  • It is a relation who she always saw as vibrant (for whom the thought of being in bad health is unthinkable).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: grimeyville on 12 Oct 2011, 10:36
What will Marten do is the question however. Will he say no, and kindly walk away? I mean... People always see him as a noble idiot, always trying to be nice or pleasing.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 12 Oct 2011, 10:58
Personally I feel Marten should be the 'noble idiot' here.  Hooking up with someone with a timer over her head doesn't sound like something that would appeal to him.  If she had genuine feelings for Marten it'd be one thing, but I just don't see that.  Now, as previously mentioned she might only be interested in Marten as a friend.  However we shouldn't ignore that Marten is infatuated with her, even if he's man enough to put it aside for the sake of Elliot.  I don't see any good coming out of this, and that's without Elliot finding out and potentially accusing Marten of some 'Keyser Soze shit'*.

That said, I also remember a QA dump of Jeph's where he lists Marten's happiness as one of the few things he's permanently written out of the script.  Which means my bet's on him being the 'self-serving idiot' instead. :laugh:

*Disclaimer: Elliot's feelings for Padma are only an issue (remotely!) because there's already no real reason for Marten to pursue this already given the absence of 'true feelings' from Padma for him.  If there was a chance that Padma would abandon her plans to move in order to pursue a long-term relationship with Marten then Elliot would just have to deal with it, just like Marigold had to do for Angus.  I'm not saying he should be jumping for joy over the idea, just to be a man and accept that he wasn't what Padma wanted.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: grimeyville on 12 Oct 2011, 11:19
Personally I feel Marten should be the 'noble idiot' here.  Hooking up with someone with a timer over her head doesn't sound like something that would appeal to him.  If she had genuine feelings for Marten it'd be one thing, but I just don't see that.  Now, as previously mentioned she might only be interested in Marten as a friend.  However we shouldn't ignore that Marten is infatuated with her, even if he's man enough to put it aside for the sake of Elliot.  I don't see any good coming out of this, and that's without Elliot finding out and potentially accusing Marten of some 'Keyser Soze shit'*.

That said, I also remember a QA dump of Jeph's where he lists Marten's happiness as one of the few things he's permanently written out of the script.  Which means my bet's on him being the 'self-serving idiot' instead. :laugh:

*Disclaimer: Elliot's feelings for Padma are only an issue (remotely!) because there's already no real reason for Marten to pursue this already given the absence of 'true feelings' from Padma for him.  If there was a chance that Padma would abandon her plans to move in order to pursue a long-term relationship with Marten then Elliot would just have to deal with it, just like Marigold had to do for Angus.  I'm not saying he should be jumping for joy over the idea, just to be a man and accept that he wasn't what Padma wanted.

Where's the QA Dump? I'd definitely like to read it, though it sounds pretty sad.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 12 Oct 2011, 11:22
Grimeyville, check out Jeph's Tumblr (http://jephjacques.com/). 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: grimeyville on 12 Oct 2011, 11:30
Grimeyville, check out Jeph's Tumblr (http://jephjacques.com/). 

Thank you! Read it and wept. Openly. In my office.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 12 Oct 2011, 11:38
Now, on to what I was going to say before Grimey's question...

I think Padma has won the title "Queen of the Non-Sequiters".  This title was long held by my younger daughter, who would come up with some of the most bizarre comments that seemed completely out of the blue until she explained her little-train-of-thought-that-could.  It was amazing how fast and far from the conversation her brain would take her...

Oh, the hands thing?  Initiated by Concern for Grandma, but I also think it represented a mental pause on Padma's part that allowed her to make the connection between having to leave and enjoying what time she had left.  As others mentioned, she doesn't have  to deal with Elliot's mess.  She can  enjoy herself, and decides to give it a go with the nearest opportunity...  someone who, through his advice to Elliot, has shown himself to basically be a good guy.  

(Stoutflies - yes, I too though the crotch shot was a bit disconcerting, but in Jeph's twitter, he said

Quote from: from Jeph's Twitter, about an hour before the comic went up
man I was gonna make today's comic all fancy looking and good but I'm having an anxiety attack so all I can do is try to finish it :(

Clearly, it just didn't turn out the way he was thinking.)


Of course, no one will ever convince Steve that Marten didn't have all this planned from the start, but fuck Steve.  He needs a reality check.  Preferably at the end of a fist.  Dope slaps don't work on skulls that thick...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: StevenC on 12 Oct 2011, 11:39
May I add to all those nice rhymes about not dating at the workplace that despite that, most relationships start exactly there?

Which is why there are all those rhymes and rules, bec ause of all the times those relationships go bad and the work environment is poisoned for everyone as a result-who wants to be working around a recently broken-up couple? For that matter, who wants to BE either member of that former couple, having to work with an ex? Yes some people manage to break up amicably, but most don't. Makes for an ugly workplace situation.

As to the comic, it's rather ironic that even though Marten didn't plan things to go the way they did, they are going pretty much EXACTLY the way Steve predicted. Few will believe Marten didn't plan things this way, and Elliot won't be among those few. Marten could be in for a beating after all.

Well, but apparently even though those rhymes exist, people still try it. And hey, if it works for them, awesome. And relationships can go sour everywhere, not just at work, so yeah. They should watch out because they see each other a lot in a professional environment and stuff, but I don't see why this should be especially discouraged out of all other possibilities.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Interlude on 12 Oct 2011, 11:48
Personally I feel Marten should be the 'noble idiot' here.  Hooking up with someone with a timer over her head doesn't sound like something that would appeal to him.  If she had genuine feelings for Marten it'd be one thing, but I just don't see that.  Now, as previously mentioned she might only be interested in Marten as a friend.  However we shouldn't ignore that Marten is infatuated with her, even if he's man enough to put it aside for the sake of Elliot.  I don't see any good coming out of this, and that's without Elliot finding out and potentially accusing Marten of some 'Keyser Soze shit'*.

I don't think it is a good idea for Marten to start up anything with Padma. It has nothing to do with Elliot-- I think, going from personal experience, that Elliot did the right thing by telling Padma. No point in thinking about the what-ifs for months. He knows the answer-- now he has to deal with it. (Calling out was unprofessional, though. I do disagree with that. Unless he really IS sick. That's a possibility, right?) Marten should not feel guilty or responsible, and he certainly has no obligation to Elliot as far as Padma goes. BUT Padma is moving away. What is the point of starting anything a week or two before you move?! Or even a month? Setting yourself up for more heartache is not the best way to move on from a previous relationship-- and I still think this is more about Marten moving on, rather than him liking Padma. Given more time, that might have changed. But that time is not going to be allowed, so why do that to yourself?

Now, as far as Padma goes... I don't see why she is doing this. If she is about to move, why start up something (whether it is friendship only or romantic) with someone you don't really know? I honestly do not get the point. Yeah, it might be fun. But can't you do that with your friends? And if you don't have friends you usually do this sort of thing with, why start now? And she is NOT responsible for Elliot's feelings either, but how can she go from being upset about dealing with "the drama" and then turn around and do something that might create more of it?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 12 Oct 2011, 11:51
StevenC, I'm guessing you're probably in your twenties, like the majority here?  Thing is, back in the day when most of these cutesy little rhymes were born, it wasn't uncommon for people to spend 20, 30 or even their entire career (40+ years) at the same job, with the same employer.  Then a gold watch, a pension, and sit in your rocker for a year or two until you die. 

Makes it real  uncomfortable to have to spend the next few decades  working with an ex.  Especially if it was bitter.  Heaven help you if you were at an industrial job where "accidents" could be maiming or fatal...

Nowadays, the average amount of time spent at a job in the US is 4 years.  That means many are even shorter!  So yeah, a workplace relationship may not even have a chance to go sour before you're looking for another job anyway! 

Nevertheless, what with sexual harrassment and all, it's still not a good idea.  And heaven forbid you start a successful business with your significant other - when the relationship goees south, who gets the company?  Talk about a custody battle...   :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: gcninja on 12 Oct 2011, 13:23
In my former industry (meat processing) that was known as 'screwing the crew' and is generally a bad idea.
"Don't get laid where you get paid." is the form in which I learned this very sound maxim.

I'm not sure what Jeph was trying to say with the close-up of Padma's hands, unless it was "Hey bitches, hands are hard to draw, but check this out!" She doesn't seem to be wringing them. And obviously I didn't need to worry too much about Padma's feelings.



My two best guesses where that she was holding her own hand in order to NOT reach out and grab his
That or she has Huntingtons Disease and due to the way her hand is (or it could be me reading the hand placement wrong) her nervous system is breaking down and she is losing motor control. The only way she can deal with it is to leave all her friends behind and spend any time she has left alone or with family
Also, hi, I'm new here.  Long time reader and supporter, first time poster
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: vsonics on 12 Oct 2011, 13:32
I will admit that the first thing that I thought when I saw panel six was "crotch shot." Maybe even "Crotch Shot!"

But I liked the attempt to mix things up a little bit, and I'm impressed with the hands to begin with. That said, I liked panel seven much better. It felt really natural. I liked the both of them looking down, and especially liked the both of their hands together. Marten's "thumbs hooked in pockets" was way snazzy.

I'm rooting for Marten to say yes, though perhaps invite along other people (even Elliot, giving him a shot at fixing things?) and make it a friends thing again like hiking was. What with this Serious Talk and the Sharing I think that Marten and Padma could be pretty fun friends. Especially if she ends up moving back before too long*.

*Not that I want Grandma to kick the bucket straight away or anything, but...

Added: Also, did we get any confirmation or otherwise on whether Padma was originally smoking?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 12 Oct 2011, 13:53
I have a lot of co-workers who are married. And a lot more that are exes.

I'd say it's 50/50. Some people can make it work, and some people can't.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 12 Oct 2011, 14:06
Apparently I'm reading this a bit differently from everyone else... 

It seems to me that Padma is actually a little bit interested in Marten, at least as a possible fun friend though perhaps no more than that.  This makes her reaction to hearing that Marten prompted Elliott to say his bit more significant; and I read the hand-wringing as being conflicted about moving away, partly because she wants to ask Marten out again - as she then manages to get herself to do.

This is exactly the way I saw it. And the "crotch shot" thing didn't even occur to me. I just saw the anxiety in her hands.

When it first came up in this thread, I thought "OK, if that's the way your mind works...". But now I'm wondering if I am weird after all. Unless normal is the new weird. Or something.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: WAYF on 12 Oct 2011, 15:01
I don't think you're weird, Tova. Jeph has always drawn Hannelore with her hands interlaced at about crotch height when she feels uncomfortable (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1855) (most recent instance I can think of), but this is the first time we've actually seen the same gesture really close up. I think that as with all the times Hannelore's done it, this gesture has a lot more to do with the hands than the crotch. :P

Personally, I think that Padma has trapped Marten, as they say, between a rock and a hard place. If he doesn't go with Padma, that should be fine, but he needs an excuse, and I think Marten would feel awful if he had to make one up just to get out of something which he might actually enjoy.

If he DOES go dancing with Padma, then that is FINE. For all he knows, Padma just wants to hang out and go dancing. There's no betrayal involved here, especially considering the lack of warning he received. I (and I think he) would be really surprised if anything romantic developed out of that anyway.
But that's not how quite a few people on this forum see it, and I don't think Elliott would see it that way either, especially considering how prone he is to breaking into tears (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2022). I'd say that Marten needs to deal with this situation with a lot of finesse, but a) Marten isn't exactly known for finesse, and b) I'm not actually sure how he can navigate this without encountering further drama.
Oh well.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 12 Oct 2011, 15:14
Not weird at all.  It's just a close up of hands, with an unfortuately typical background - after all, when your hands hang down they're right about at that height! 


Unless you're an orangutan or something. 



I wonder if Padma had been intending to ask Marten to go dancing before Elliot called?  Maybe she's just decided, "screw it, I'm going to enjoy myself anyway"!  After all, Gandma always said you should never pass up the chance to have a good time...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: themacnut on 12 Oct 2011, 15:31
I will admit that the first thing that I thought when I saw panel six was "crotch shot." Maybe even "Crotch Shot!"

Get your mind out of the gutter. You're crowding me.  8-)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 12 Oct 2011, 16:47
I'd say it's 50/50. Some people can make it work, and some people can't.

Yes, and the half that can't break up with the half that can. :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 12 Oct 2011, 16:52
I'd say it's 50/50. Some people can make it work, and some people can't.

Yes, and the half that can't break up with the half that can. :-D

You win. :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 12 Oct 2011, 17:19
Yes, and the half that can't break up with the half that can. :-D

I have to pay that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 12 Oct 2011, 18:18
Hmmmmmmm

Interesting. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 12 Oct 2011, 19:26
When I first saw the close-up, I took it to be Marten's gaze; like he was noticing her wringing hands and considering (or at least wanting to) hold her hand. But then the next panel happened and he wasn't even looking at her so maybe not.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Handmade.Mercury on 12 Oct 2011, 19:39
Am I the only one who, after seeing Padma's hands close-up, immediately jumped to the conclusion that her grandmother is dying? I was actually surprised that no one had mentioned anything like that, yet. After all, that panel IS preceded by Padma talking about her grandmother having health problems and not being able to live alone, presumably having an in-home nurse for quite some time, now.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: themacnut on 12 Oct 2011, 19:43
I think most of us took it for granted; an elderly person with deteriorating health is generally not going to be alive for much longer.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 12 Oct 2011, 20:34
Question: worse ways to confess your love than a phone call a week before she moves away: E-mail  3 (4.9%)

Text message  4 (6.6%)
Tweet  17 (27.9%)
Craigslist  9 (14.8%)
Smoke signals  2 (3.3%)
Full page ad in the New York Times  11 (18%)
Nut-up and talk to her face to face  4 (6.6%)
Aww fuck it. YAAAAYYYYY SWEET TITS!!!!!!!  11 (18%)

Total Voters: 61
 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 12 Oct 2011, 21:33
I don't normally do the "vote for the funniest option" thing, but the current poll was just too good not to.

In reality, I think she just wants to have a fun time before she goes.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 12 Oct 2011, 21:54
Honestly I can't tell what Padma is thinking right now, so I went with waffles*.  I suppose we'll have to wait until tonight's strip to find out, or maybe even tomorrow night's.

Also, on the subject of Padma's grandmother dying, I was having that thought earlier today, and wondering what would happen if she died before Padma had a chance to move?  Who would she call for comfort: Marten, Elliot, or none of the above?  That is the big question, and until/unless it is answered any speculation on whether Marten should or should not take Padma up for her dancing offer is really just that, speculation.  My current theory (if that happens) is that she'll call Marten, and he'll turn her down for Elliot's sake despite the fact that her calling Marten would be proof that she doesn't have romantic feelings for Elliot.

*Damn it, all this waffles talk has me craving them now.  Looks like I know what I'm getting at the store tomorrow. :-P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Vurogj on 12 Oct 2011, 22:00
Did anyone see the stream for this one? I was wondering if Padma was originally smoking a cigarette in this strip and Jeph later took it out...
..Probably nothing. Has any major or supporting character smoked on-panel since early Hanners and Dora's mom?
I don't recall seeing one in either the sketch layer or the drawing layer, it *might* just be argafargl hands are hard to draw syndrome.
The red-head (who ISN'T Sweet-Tits) was smoking when Angus got scorned if I recall correctly. I don't know what strip that was. If only there was a link to it around here somewhere.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 12 Oct 2011, 22:14
1445, from jwhouk's awesome collection of strip summaries. I just searched it for "scorn".
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 12 Oct 2011, 23:23
[...]
@HiFranc:
Hm... I'm an apathetic of sorts, so I still can't fully understand why she needs to actually MOVE away. Wouldn't it be a little easier if she just asked for a few months time off from the bakery to care for her grandma?

Some illness last more than a few months.  For example, the average life expectancy of someone suffering Alzheimer's disease (time from diagnosis) is 5 years!
Hm... I meant a few months to just spend the time with her grandma. Not a few months until she gets better (which - based on her tip-toeing around the issue seems unlikely anyway).

But now that you mentioned Alzheimer's it stuck in my head for a while. Sometimes when Padma was mentioning her sick grandparent, I could've sworn there was a hint of desperation/hopelessness in the way she said it. If it is Alzheimer's (Dementia) it might be that her grandma has already lost the ability to recognize her grandchild ... and Padma knows.
This, for me, would actually make it really sad.

@Sweet-Tits debate:
Maybe Sweet-Tits is a kind of spiritual metaphorical apparition that takes hold of random young redheads throughout the strip, causing them to change shape and resemble ST.

edit:
I just voted for
"She has lost the ability to form short term memories and literally doesn't know what she was just talking about."
because now I think she IS her grandma!!!!!!!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: WAYF on 12 Oct 2011, 23:33
Quote from: Jeph on Twitter
Until I get my sleep schedule figured out, you should probably just assume that comics will be posted Whenever.


Sounds like Jeph's having a really rough week. In case it has some kind of long-distance morale-increasing effect, I will just say that I think that Jeph is a champion and I certainly don't mind if he decides to settle for Yelling Bird tonight.
(Incidentally, if yesterday's strip was rushed due to his panic attack, it certainly didn't look like it.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Wagimawr on 13 Oct 2011, 01:02
heaven forbid you start a successful business with your significant other - when the relationship goees south, who gets the company?  Talk about a custody battle...   :psyduck:
HELLO LAST PAGE but to respond to this point, my mom always told me that even between married couples, you always split a business 51/49. Even if something does happen to the relationship, the more important reason to do so is that somebody always has the decisionmaking vote in day-to-day things. My parents ran two businesses that way, one with her 51, and one with his 51. Sounds reasonable to me!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 13 Oct 2011, 01:40
The comics are put up with such a delay recently that I notice the current comic the day after ...

... anyway, the composition of this one is really weird. Why do we see how Padma holds her hands in a frame ? Is Jeph trying to tell us something this way ?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: nonethousand on 13 Oct 2011, 01:48
... the composition of this one is really weird. Why do we see how Padma holds her hands in a frame ? Is Jeph trying to tell us something this way ?
Fidgeting with Hands: This is the body's attempt to escape. (http://www.bemyastrologer.com/body_language_plus.html#hands)
I think it's a nice way to describe Padma's feelings without having her actually say "I don't like to be in this awkward situation"
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 13 Oct 2011, 02:39
A disturbing thought: the real reason Padma is moving to Cal to grandma's is that the matriarch has arranged her to get married to a dude the family had selected a long time ago. That would explain the wringing of hands. Also, she's reluctant to tell the real reason, 'cause "her friends just wouldn't understand." I apologize for all the real and implied prejudice towards customs of foreign cultures that this post reveals.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 13 Oct 2011, 02:40
... the composition of this one is really weird. Why do we see how Padma holds her hands in a frame ? Is Jeph trying to tell us something this way ?
Fidgeting with Hands: This is the body's attempt to escape. (http://www.bemyastrologer.com/body_language_plus.html#hands)
I think it's a nice way to describe Padma's feelings without having her actually say "I don't like to be in this awkward situation"
That site also says something interesting (under "The Body: Clamping the neck") about Marten's classic gesture. -- Interesting site. I had a couple bosses (thankfully no longer) who probably swore by this, to the point it was impossible to tell them anything because they'd made up their minds as to what you were *really* saying.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 13 Oct 2011, 02:47
A disturbing thought: the real reason Padma is moving to Cal to grandma's is that the matriarch has arranged her to get married to a dude the family had selected a long time ago. That would explain the wringing of hands. Also, she's reluctant to tell the real reason, 'cause "her friends just wouldn't understand." I apologize for all the real and implied prejudice towards customs of foreign cultures that this post reveals.

This coming from a universe where anthro PC's run amok, some guy has a working space station, and random fairies running around (The pixie kind, not the gay kind).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: WAYF on 13 Oct 2011, 03:30
For the first time since I started reading (#1804 and #1805, before going on the looooooong archive binge), I feel like Steve actually has a point I can agree with. :P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: steveh11 on 13 Oct 2011, 03:31
"I'd have done it too" - Yup, so would I.  :roll:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 13 Oct 2011, 03:32
I beleive that's what "Click and Clack" call a "dope slap!"
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: VonKleist on 13 Oct 2011, 03:35
ehehehe

Marten is such a fraidy cat, but I totally get that. :laugh:

Dating makes me f**king nervous and I don't think thatŽll ever change, so just deal with it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Delator on 13 Oct 2011, 03:55
I've said it before, and I'll say it again...

...Steve, don't EVER change.  :laugh:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 13 Oct 2011, 03:57
For the first time since I started reading (#1804 and #1805, before going on the looooooong archive binge), I feel like Steve actually has a point I can agree with. :P
In this instance, Steve's one of those people with whom I hate to agree ... as far thinking Marten shouldn't be sad. Were I in M's shoes, though, I'd be thinking the "your fault" bit is out of line (I see no reason to assign "fault" here) and the Gibbs slap even more so. Then again, dating Cosette, it's probably all Steve knows ... damme, these kids are rough on one another.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: gangler on 13 Oct 2011, 04:02
It wouldn't surprise me if that was actually how Marten phrased it when he told Padma though, in which case it's not an accusation so much as it's just what Marten told her.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 13 Oct 2011, 04:22
(who ISN'T Sweet-Tits)
Them's fightin' words.

(That being said, I thought that was the one time where everyone agreed it was Sweet-Tits.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 13 Oct 2011, 04:30
Well Jeph didn't confirm that that was Sweet-Tits...











But he didn't deny it either.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 13 Oct 2011, 04:53
But...but...

Sweet tits is meta!  And the redhead's in-QCverse.  Though I kinda liked Soulsynger's theory that ST posesses random redheads in order to watch the action...


And I really think the only thing that deserved the dope slap was Marten's "I don't know how to dance!" line.  Cue the funny learn-to-dance montage...

Wouldn't it be funny if Hanners was the one who finally taught him how?  But it'll probably be Angus, we know he knows how (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1599). 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 13 Oct 2011, 04:55
Uh- about sweet-titts, I think we can be fairly sure Jeph intentionally places her in the background once in a while.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Border Reiver on 13 Oct 2011, 05:06
Thought Steve's analysis and reaction to the situation was totally on today.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 13 Oct 2011, 05:07
... And I really think the only thing that deserved the dope slap was Marten's "I don't know how to dance!" line.  Cue the funny learn-to-dance montage...

Wouldn't it be funny if Hanners was the one who finally taught him how?  But it'll probably be Angus, we know he knows how (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1599). 

Trying to imagine Hanners dancing. Hoping Angus would dress properly (or at least completely).

MARIGOLD.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 13 Oct 2011, 05:14
Am I the only one who, after seeing Padma's hands close-up, immediately jumped to the conclusion that her grandmother is dying?
I dont know how this is related to her hand gesture, but yes, we already know that her grandmother isnt well and from the way Padma said it, its implied that her grandmother will die most likely in the near future.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 13 Oct 2011, 05:19
Wouldn't it be funny if Hanners was the one who finally taught him how?

Why not? After all, dancing is just counting with your feet! :evil:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 13 Oct 2011, 05:31
Hoping Angus would dress properly (or at least completely).

That was a different comic (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1888)...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 13 Oct 2011, 05:49
So now we're slapping Marten for not wanting to attempt to hook up with a girl who

A) is leaving soon and Marten is known for getting attached
B) betraying a guy who is twice your size

Steve is a huge, huge douchebag.  Why is Marten friends with this loser again?  If Steve slapped me for not being a douche like him I'd rear back and kick him in the balls as hard as I could.  It's a low blow, but just what he deserves.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: gangler on 13 Oct 2011, 05:58
Slapping him because he's being a dumbass right now. If he doesn't know how to dance he can either figure something out or play it by ear when he gets there. If the problem is, as you say, that he doesn't actually want to spend time with this woman then he can just say no like every other vertebrate on the planet.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 13 Oct 2011, 06:14
Slapping him because he's being a dumbass right now. If he doesn't know how to dance he can either figure something out or play it by ear when he gets there. If the problem is, as you say, that he doesn't actually want to spend time with this woman then he can just say no like every other vertebrate on the planet.

You don't slap someone when, in your opinion, they say something dumb.  That is a form of bullying.  If any of my friends would hit me I would hit them back much harder, then question why I am friends with them.  You don't hit people, especially in the head.  No excuse.  Period.

Steve is hitting him because he thinks Marten should be happy he has a chance to get laid and dancing is only a minor obstacle.  However, if Steve knew anything about Marten he'd know that the closer he gets to Padma the sadder he's going to be when she leaves.  If he sleeps with her, might as well say goodbye to Marten as he flies to L.A.  
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: gangler on 13 Oct 2011, 06:38
It's a love tap. A swat to the back of the head. Hell, my own parents have done worse on a friendly day. You're creating an act of aggression where there is none. It's like interpreting friendly ribbing as verbal abuse.

Regardless what he feels Marten's motivations should be though it's the same overall issue. Marten's creating a mountain of drama and troubles when all that's happened is that he's been invited to a social outing. He accepted, so he must want to go. Where's this disappointment coming from? Or to use Steve's own words "For some Goddamn reason you're sad about this".

This isn't Steve pressuring Marten to bang everything that presents itself. This is Steve telling Marten to get his head out of his ass and just have fun with a cool situation. Well, okay. It might be the first one as well ;). Whatever. What do you expect from Steve?

Seriously though. If I had a friend who would go out, meet someone, get along well with them, end it with an agreement to meet up and have some fun later, and he walks away from this mopey and depressed about it, I'd be concerned. That's not a normal reaction to such a series of events. Hell, agreeing to do something that only makes you feel mopey and depressed is itself concerning behavior. If you didn't want to do this then why did you say yes? Attempting to bring his attention to the fact that he could maybe cheer up a little, that he's doing fine, is the bare minimum that would be expected of me as a friend.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: SomeCanadianWeirdo on 13 Oct 2011, 06:57
Hmmm, people getting slapped popped up on this thread earlier in the week.  Second last comic of the week, we get a scene of Marten getting slapped.  Hmmm....
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: NotAwesomeAnymore on 13 Oct 2011, 07:16
I've been waiting for Marten to get a good smack for-like-ever.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 13 Oct 2011, 07:35
Well, forever ago he did (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=438).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 13 Oct 2011, 07:42
It's a love tap. A swat to the back of the head. Hell, my own parents have done worse on a friendly day. You're creating an act of aggression where there is none. It's like interpreting friendly ribbing as verbal abuse.

Regardless what he feels Marten's motivations should be though it's the same overall issue. Marten's creating a mountain of drama and troubles when all that's happened is that he's been invited to a social outing. He accepted, so he must want to go. Where's this disappointment coming from? Or to use Steve's own words "For some Goddamn reason you're sad about this".

This isn't Steve pressuring Marten to bang everything that presents itself. This is Steve telling Marten to get his head out of his ass and just have fun with a cool situation. Well, okay. It might be the first one as well ;). Whatever. What do you expect from Steve?

Seriously though. If I had a friend who would go out, meet someone, get along well with them, end it with an agreement to meet up and have some fun later, and he walks away from this mopey and depressed about it, I'd be concerned. That's not a normal reaction to such a series of events. Hell, agreeing to do something that only makes you feel mopey and depressed is itself concerning behavior. If you didn't want to do this then why did you say yes? Attempting to bring his attention to the fact that he could maybe cheer up a little, that he's doing fine, is the bare minimum that would be expected of me as a friend.

Slaps to the back of the head are demeaning.  Any head slapping, knocking, etc is demeaning.  "Hello? McFly? Anyone home?". That's what I think of.  Now Steve wasn't going that far, but he could make his point without hitting his friend.  Like I said before, Steve would be in a crumpled heap if he did that to me.  There's joking around, and then there's the "I think you're dumb so I'm going to hit you" that I wouldn't tolerate.  I hope no one here accepts being hit.  Look at Marten slunched over afterwards.  Grow a spine.

Actually, it is a normal reaction given the situation.  He's getting attached to a girl that's leaving.  By going dancing he's just making it worse.  He needs to find a girl who is not leaving.  He also needs to find a guy friend that isn't a douche, but one thing at a time.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: NotAwesomeAnymore on 13 Oct 2011, 07:51
But the not getting attached before she leaves thing is YOUR problem. Marten is only worried about not knowing how to dance.

As for the hitting, I don't think Marten was physically hurt. And one slap doesn't imply that Marten is dumb in general, just that he's being dumb right now and needs to snap out of it. I don't see how Steve coulda made the point more concisely.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 13 Oct 2011, 07:55
Just for the record - yes, Steve would have been friends long enough with me if he slapped me in that situation.

In the comic however it is played for humor - not my kind of humor, granted - and supposed to be funny - not to everybody, I'm sure.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: idontunderstand on 13 Oct 2011, 08:11
I concur and I will slap the next person to complain!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 13 Oct 2011, 08:38
Wouldn't it be funny if Hanners was the one who finally taught him how?

Why not? After all, dancing is just counting with your feet! :evil:

Well, there's a fitting artistic challenge for Jeph, should he choose to accept it. A comic involving Hanners dancing. With animation.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: MegaLexi on 13 Oct 2011, 09:14
I will now forever imagine Steve being voiced by Mark Harmon.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 13 Oct 2011, 09:25
YES




(loved today's strip. lol'd.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 13 Oct 2011, 09:35

Well, there's a fitting artistic challenge for Jeph, should he choose to accept it. A comic involving Hanners dancing. With animation.

Hanners would kick ass at tap dancing, if she could keep up that kick drum tempo with both her feet.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Welu on 13 Oct 2011, 09:37
Marten doesn't look slunched to me in the last panel. He looks like he flinched because he just just got smacked in the back of the head. He probably could have done more with a kick in the arse too, as could most characters but that would have been harder to draw and not as funny.  :psyduck:

I agree with gangler on this. Marten's been invited out to have fun but he's still moping. It's frustrating and a pop to the head was a succint and funnier way than for example, Steve calling Marten a dumbass, partially because knowing Marten he might have just said, "I know" in return.

Also Hanners tap-dancing sounds awesome.

*Edit:
Typing errors. Bleh.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 13 Oct 2011, 10:46
For once I agree with Steve.  Out of all the things Marten could have responded with (such as "What's the point when she's about to move away?") he chose to bring up his lack of dancing skills instead.  Now, I admit I can't dance either, but I'm also a shut-in whose only regular social interaction is his bi-weekly dungeons and dragons sessions, nor do I aspire to be anything different.  Marten however is not a social shut-in, and if he's really interested in finding another girlfriend (even if it isn't Padma) then dancing is not a bad skill to learn.  Besides, I'm sure one of his friends would be more than happy to teach Marten.  While I like the idea of Hannelore teaching him, more likely than not it'd be Tai or Steve.

Speaking of Tai, wouldn't it be funny if Tai admitted to Marten that she can't dance either, and he slapped her in the back of her head too?  "I'm sorry, I was hanging out with Steve all day, and apparently his douchiness is contagious." :evil:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 13 Oct 2011, 10:47
Marten not moping is as plausible as a dog not sniffing things.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: michael28 on 13 Oct 2011, 10:50
Never did my signature represent my thoughts of a comic better than today. WTF!

And now for something completly different HIPSTER-GEEK: pvp-online.com (http://www.pvponline.com/2011/10/13/yu-gi-over-it/)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: SomeCanadianWeirdo on 13 Oct 2011, 11:24

Speaking of Tai, wouldn't it be funny if Tai admitted to Marten that she can't dance either, and he slapped her in the back of her head too?  "I'm sorry, I was hanging out with Steve all day, and apparently his douchiness is contagious." :evil:

I suspect slapping Tai would not be a good idea.  We've never seen any evidence she knows any martial arts, but given some of the other female members of the cast it wouldn't surprise me at all if she knows some form of ass kicking.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 13 Oct 2011, 11:25
And now for something completly different HIPSTER-GEEK: pvp-online.com (http://www.pvponline.com/2011/10/13/yu-gi-over-it/)

The one in the scarf looks like an attempt at Jeph...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 13 Oct 2011, 14:28
Stout,

Haven't we had this conversation before? You know, the one where there is horseplay, sass, or some other kind of interaction between friends which wouldn't necessarily be appropriate between strangers or even in every social group, but is perfectly normal between those friends? You may not accept it, but maybe it's time to acknowledge that other people interact differently to the way you do.

If there's any fallout from this terrible act of violence, then I'll grant you your point. But I'm going to stick my neck out - again - and say that I doubt it very much.

I'll resist the temptation to slap you. Yeah, I'm all heart, I know. :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Akima on 13 Oct 2011, 15:24
I will now forever imagine Steve being voiced by Mark Harmon.
I think Steve, especially in the fifth panel where his long cleft chin combines with crazy eyes, looks disturbingly like Ashley Williams (http://static03.mediaite.com/themarysue/uploads/2011/07/bruce-campbell-spook-hands.jpg) (the Evil Dead one, not the Mass Effect one).

If any of my friends would hit me I would hit them back much harder, then question why I am friends with them.  You don't hit people, especially in the head.  No excuse.  Period.
I sympathise with the  "don't hit people" sentiment, but if there is "No excuse. Period.", then retaliation isn't an excuse, is it? Non-violence cuts both ways.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 13 Oct 2011, 15:43
Had I a Steve in my life at present, I'd be finding excuses not to hang out with him or trust him much, even if I still considered him a sorta-friend. The Gibbs slap is almost at the uncrossable line; it's not quite the face-pat (THAT would result in injury to Steve) but it's close.
And as much as I'd prefer to not invoke that site that rhymes with "CB ropes," I'd say Steve has a "why you suck" speech headed his way. But who in QCverse would deliver it so that it would stick?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 13 Oct 2011, 15:56
The Pugnacious Peach has a proven ability to make someone reconsider his life choices.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: WAYF on 13 Oct 2011, 15:58
I, however, shall gladly invoke the SkiFree Slopes.  :evil:

"A slap to the face is an insult. A slap to the back of the head is a wake-up call."

- Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the king of the Dope Slap (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DopeSlap).

I get the same impression here. Steve isn't trying to actually hurt Marten by hitting him, he's trying to say in a non-verbal yet clear and concise way, "Get your head in order." Marten's looking at this, not necessarily from the wrong point of view, but he is being too one-sided. Sure, if he'd been sad because he was stuck on the idea that Padma's grandma was sick, then that would be ok, but the excuse "I don't know how to dance!" is so bad it's almost irrelevant. I think Marten should count his blessings a bit more often.


HOWEVER, if there needed to be someone to put Steve in his place, and to be honest this is how I usually feel, I'd say... Hannelore. It's worked before (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1103).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 13 Oct 2011, 16:04
Speaking of Tai, wouldn't it be funny if Tai admitted to Marten that she can't dance either, and he slapped her in the back of her head too?  "I'm sorry, I was hanging out with Steve all day, and apparently his douchiness is contagious." :evil:

I suspect slapping Tai would not be a good idea.  We've never seen any evidence she knows any martial arts, but given some of the other female members of the cast it wouldn't surprise me at all if she knows some form of ass kicking.

Good point.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 13 Oct 2011, 16:12
The Pugnacious Peach has a proven ability to make someone reconsider his life choices.

She was the one I thought of, but Steve seems to be resistant to her persuasive abilities. However, WAYF has a point about Hannelore. Perhaps the first impression is the one that sticks with Steve. And it was a hell of a first impression. (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=520)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 13 Oct 2011, 16:23
Actually, I think Steve is getting the Gibbs-slap thing from Cosette. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1876)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 13 Oct 2011, 16:54
Stout,

Haven't we had this conversation before? You know, the one where there is horseplay, sass, or some other kind of interaction between friends which wouldn't necessarily be appropriate between strangers or even in every social group, but is perfectly normal between those friends? You may not accept it, but maybe it's time to acknowledge that other people interact differently to the way you do.

Yeah, Marten looks really happy in that last panel.  Slouched over as a loud SMACK! comes off his head from a full arm swing of Steve.  This is just normal, non-abusive friend interaction.  What a great guy that Steve is.  Marten needs to be more like Steve, who has it all together.  Going to bars and flirting with women while in a relationship.  Such an awesome guy he is.  

Quote
If any of my friends would hit me I would hit them back much harder, then question why I am friends with them.  You don't hit people, especially in the head.  No excuse.  Period.
I sympathise with the  "don't hit people" sentiment, but if there is "No excuse. Period.", then retaliation isn't an excuse, is it? Non-violence cuts both ways.

If someone hits you for no reason, you need to defend yourself.  I would not let myself get pushed around like Marten does 24/7.  I wonder how much abuse Marten would take before he does something.  He took a world of abuse from Dora before he finally said something, but only because the bottle he stored his anger in exploded.

My "No excuse. Period" refers to treating your friends like a piece of shit.  I wouldn't take it form my friends, I'd hope you wouldn't either...and I'd hope you'd have more of a spine than Marten.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Sorflakne on 13 Oct 2011, 17:00
Today's conversation sounds exactly like a conversation I'd be in.  Complete with Marten's admission that he can't dance. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 13 Oct 2011, 17:05
Yeah, Marten looks really happy in that last panel.

Oh, give me a break. You can't even see his face. And even if you could, I'll bet he was way unhappier in the previous panels.  :psyduck:

As for the loud SMACK thing, I'd get into the slapstick discussion again, but it would be pointless.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 13 Oct 2011, 17:07
Actually, I think Steve is getting the Gibbs-slap thing from Cosette. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1876)

No, I meant that he'd listen to Hannelore ... because the whole making-a-lampshade thing would still be on his mind. But yeah, he's learning the wrong things from Cosette, too.

Maybe this needs to continue with Marten attempting a two-finger poke at Steve's eyes; Steve responds by putting the edge of his hand vertically against his nose, frustrating Marten; then Faye walks up, shakes a fist in Steve's face and says "See this?" and when he responds in the affirmative, stomps his foot.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 13 Oct 2011, 17:22
- Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the king of the Dope Slap (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DopeSlap).

*click*
*click* *click*
*click*
*click* *click* *click* *click*

Dammit, I am trying to be productive here.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 13 Oct 2011, 18:22
Nice going Probie.    :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Akima on 13 Oct 2011, 18:39
If any of my friends would hit me I would hit them back much harder, then question why I am friends with them.  You don't hit people, especially in the head.  No excuse.  Period.
My "No excuse. Period" refers to treating your friends like a piece of shit.
Really? It seems to me you were referring quite specifically to hitting. Your posting gave no hint of anything else, but whatever. Nice choreography (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2Xs_8RGsp0) though.



Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: St.Clair on 13 Oct 2011, 18:40
Hey, I'm with Marten.  I can't dance either.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 13 Oct 2011, 18:49
Nah, that's more Avery than Probie. :D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 13 Oct 2011, 19:33
It's kind of funny that the forums should decided to focus on a dope slap, with the following TV series being topical in Australia right now.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/theslap/about/
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 13 Oct 2011, 20:52
If any of my friends would hit me I would hit them back much harder, then question why I am friends with them.  You don't hit people, especially in the head.  No excuse.  Period.
My "No excuse. Period" refers to treating your friends like a piece of shit.
Really? It seems to me you were referring quite specifically to hitting. Your posting gave no hint of anything else, but whatever. Nice choreography (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2Xs_8RGsp0) though.


Sigh.  I'll make it clearer for you.

1) Friend hits me.  There is "No excuse. period." for hitting your friend.  Yes, there are excuses for hitting someone, like if someone is about to stab me and I need to stop him.  Or, some jerk is hitting me and it needs to stop right now.  If you're trying to make a point of "Ooh, you just hit someone but never want to hit someone", then you're being silly.  The statement was using exaggeration to show you should not hit your friends. 

2) I hit him back because I do not let people just hit me.  I'm not making up an excuse for hitting him.  I don't care about our friendship at this point.  

3) Barring a huge misunderstanding we are not friends anymore.

Are you suggesting I should curl in a ball and get hit over and over because I never want to hit someone?  There is no excuse for hitting your friends, but if they hit you they are not your friends and you should defend yourself if you are getting hit.  I'm sorry you were confused about what I said.  I'll be super clear just for you in the future.  
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 13 Oct 2011, 21:04
Question: What's Padma's angle? She wants one last fling before the big move.  3 (4.5%)
She just wants to dance.  32 (48.5%)
She's never had a long distance relationship and wants to give one a try.  0 (0%)
She really has to pee.  3 (4.5%)
She has lost the ability to form short term memories and literally doesn't know what she was just talking about.  21 (31.8%)
She wants waffles. Really bad  7 (10.6%)

Total Voters: 66

New poll is up.

I could have gone on, but I was afraid there might be more options than voters.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 13 Oct 2011, 21:13
Wow.  And I thought I had a sheltered upbringing.  I'm guessing you never roughhoused with your siblings as a kid, stoutfiles (assuming you had/grew up with siblings)?  Don't get me wrong, I don't think anyone's asking you to condone all slapping and other physical force (I'm certainly not), we're just asking you to accept that some groups of people have a different tolerance level than others, especially when there is no intended malice behind it (and let's face it, as douchy as Steve gets at times I just don't see him as being actively malicious).

Also, I find it hilarious how serious some people take issues like slapping and 'squeaking' in a comic where outright violence was once the accepted norm (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=783).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 13 Oct 2011, 21:17
It's been a LONG time since that comic.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 13 Oct 2011, 21:24
They've indeed come along way from that (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=783) to this (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2030)!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: danuis on 13 Oct 2011, 22:05



Slaps to the back of the head are demeaning.  Any head slapping, knocking, etc is demeaning.  "Hello? McFly? Anyone home?". That's what I think of.  Now Steve wasn't going that far, but he could make his point without hitting his friend.  Like I said before, Steve would be in a crumpled heap if he did that to me.  There's joking around, and then there's the "I think you're dumb so I'm going to hit you" that I wouldn't tolerate.  I hope no one here accepts being hit.  Look at Marten slunched over afterwards.  Grow a spine.

Actually, it is a normal reaction given the situation.  He's getting attached to a girl that's leaving.  By going dancing he's just making it worse.  He needs to find a girl who is not leaving.  He also needs to find a guy friend that isn't a douche, but one thing at a time.



Friendship levels can be measured on how much of a jack you can be to each other.

Male friends, especially. This was not a punch, Marten has seen and gotten this [dope slap], and so have I, and I have given it. It just means 'Yo, clear your head, this is something AWESOME!' I can understand if they just met, but they've been friends for years. And even if it was a new person, Marten wouldn't go to fisticuffs, he'll investigate, and most likely set a line, that's all.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Delator on 13 Oct 2011, 22:40
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Marten can't dance.

I mean, he dated Dora for quite a while in comic-time. I have a hard time believing it never came up.

Dora must just not be that much of a dancer, and when it came up they decided on something else to do?  :?

Grammar Nazis: Should that be "must just" or "just must"?? [/psyduck]
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Akima on 13 Oct 2011, 22:47
I'm sorry you were confused about what I said.
Nice non-apology-apology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-apology_apology)  :-).  I am not the slightest bit confused about what you said:

If any of my friends would hit me I would hit them back much harder, then question why I am friends with them.  You don't hit people, especially in the head.  No excuse.  Period.
Note particularly: "You don't hit people. No excuse. Period."  You did not say "You don't hit friends", but generalised it to "people".  Nor did you say "No excuse. Except for self-defence", but simply "No excuse. Period." These are the words you chose to convey your meaning, and for which you are responsible.

Are you suggesting I should curl in a ball and get hit over and over because I never want to hit someone?
I'm not suggesting anything. My original posting on this subject was simply intended to draw attention to the contradiction between "If any of my friends would hit me I would hit them back much harder", an understandable if disproportionate response, and "You don't hit people, especially in the head.  No excuse.  Period."  I take the principle of non-violence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa#Buddhism) seriously as a very difficult one to fit into a violent world, so I took you seriously.



Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: michael28 on 13 Oct 2011, 23:19
Had I a Steve in my life at present, I'd be finding excuses not to hang out with him or trust him much, even if I still considered him a sorta-friend. The Gibbs slap is almost at the uncrossable line; it's not quite the face-pat (THAT would result in injury to Steve) but it's close.
And as much as I'd prefer to not invoke that site that rhymes with "CB ropes," I'd say Steve has a "why you suck" speech headed his way. But who in QCverse would deliver it so that it would stick?
not to forget, who in the qcverse wouldn't do the same to Marten in this situation? ok, hanners and marigold^^, and Tai who would be to emo because she were after Padme too.

I gave the Gibbs-Slap and I received. You're doing it wrong if it hurts the other more than you.

You're hitting you friends skull layerd with a few mm of flesh and skin.

On the other side there is the palm of your hand. You know one of the parts with the most nerve-endings per cmČ of your body. If you hit that skull hard, you hand hurts more than the skull. It's actually very selfless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqMUuOPsa0o  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqMUuOPsa0o)*enjoy*
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: chrisa1 on 13 Oct 2011, 23:38
I laughed at the head slap. But what I liked most was the gradual crescendo of Steve's questions. It totally came across in the strip.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: michael28 on 13 Oct 2011, 23:54
THAT on the other hand hurts.
http://www.girlswithslingshots.com/comic/gws-1255/ (http://www.girlswithslingshots.com/comic/gws-1255/)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 14 Oct 2011, 00:28
Oh Marigold! - growing up sucks, you think?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 14 Oct 2011, 00:42
Last line cut from the final panel:

Hannelore: I'm sorry! I tried not to make you fall in love with me!


 :evil:


Also I'm starting to miss seeing Dale's eyes
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: VonKleist on 14 Oct 2011, 00:44

Also I'm starting to miss seeing Dale's eyes

JephŽs in love with that lensflare thingy O.o
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: nonethousand on 14 Oct 2011, 00:47
It took some time, but the epiphany (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1475) finally caught up with Marigold! :police:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 14 Oct 2011, 00:53
I just think it would have been funny if the lens flare would have gone in that penultimate panel.

EDIT: And it only took her 360 strips to get there!

Oh, and one early vote for that last panel as a QC Caption subject.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Near Lurker on 14 Oct 2011, 01:01
I thought the lottery opened at 7...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 14 Oct 2011, 01:09
Dale's glasses must have been darkened from the inside, otherwise he would be blind by now either from the sun mysteriously targeting his eyes with two very focused rays or the light his glasses seem to emit having penetrated his retinas...
Either way, dude needs to change to shades.

I wonder what Dales response was before Marigold left him and her bags in front of the slurrrrpeee-store and instantaneously ran to CoD.
"What exactly would that be?" or
"I am sorry to have assumed that you didn't hav~... where the fu-?" or
"I love you...?" (leaves blow by) or
"Hey, me too, we should do some of those "better things" toge~ ... where the fu-?" or
"WAFFLES!?" ...

Also I wonder what HE does besides playing WoW.

@Near Lurker:
8:00, they need time to spin up their false honesty.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: purple.platypus on 14 Oct 2011, 01:13
I object to the way Stout is using the word "hitting".

It's one of those words that can mean a variety of different things and it seems to me Stout is equivocating between two of them. Any sort of physical collision between two objects can be described as them "hitting". And then there's the sense in which one uses the word to, say, accuse someone of hitting their spouse - when it means something far more specific, an abusive act with the purpose or effect of causing pain. Stout is taking something that only fits the first definition, but using the word in a way designed to provoke the sorts of emotional reaction associated with the second. I'm not saying it is or isn't intentional, but either way, it's not a tactic conducive to keeping the conversation friendly.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Akima on 14 Oct 2011, 01:15
Another strip where Jeph hits facial expressions out of the park (I think that is the appropriate baseball-ism). Hanners' is very nicely done.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 14 Oct 2011, 01:21
Very good!

We'll have you using terms like "balk" and "picked off" and "infield-fly rule" in no time!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 14 Oct 2011, 01:23
Another strip where Jeph hits facial expressions out of the park (I think that is the appropriate baseball-ism). Hanners' is very nicely done.
Especially love how Marigolds exclamation doesn't have an exclamation or question mark or full stop... makes it all kinds of emotionally open to interpretation. I like imagining a sort of deeply world-shaking confusion mixed with sheer shock of sudden realization.
(based on her expression... she also seems utterly clueless on how to deal with it. °_o)

... also I wouldn't call it an epiphany ... more ... of a ... brainrattlesnake.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 14 Oct 2011, 01:43
Dale's glasses must have been darkened from the inside,

I picture Dale's glasses as being like my son's in this photo (from 30 years ago):

(http://cassland.org/images/Boys.jpg)

(They were actually mine that he'd pinched.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Vurogj on 14 Oct 2011, 01:45
That is an excellent strip, the facial expressions are wonderful. Watching the stream, I was thinking Dale was saying something disturbing to Marigold in panels 3a/b (something flirtatious maybe?), I never suspected it would be Marigold sabotaging her own brain (again).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 14 Oct 2011, 01:48
Well there is still hope for Marigold, I persume.

For having a social life and boyfriend, that is.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: HiFranc on 14 Oct 2011, 02:00
I suspect the growing sense of responsibility comes from having a teenage daughter (or an entity that acts like one).

I wonder if she blew Dale's mind with the thought that she can go without gaming?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Somebody on 14 Oct 2011, 02:00
Dale can change his glasses' shape & reflectivity like *snaps fingers* that: http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1895
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: iduguphergrave on 14 Oct 2011, 02:08
I wonder if she blew Dale's mind with the thought that she can go without gaming?

He does look a bit puzzled in that second-to-last panel. But that could have been at her sudden epiphany blank stare.

Oh, and one early vote for that last panel as a QC Caption subject.

Duly noted. I was actually thinking that too. Considering.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: snubnose on 14 Oct 2011, 02:30
Besides, I think the funniest part of todays comic is actually Jephs comment.

I have no clue how you could notice if an opponent of the other faction would log into Blizzards "World of Warcraft" MMORPG.

In my own MMORPG, Vanguard, you could just enter people into your "friends" list ... though I find it highly confusing that you can just do that. Seriously, you should have a way to AGREE if someone wants to be your friend and see if you log in or out. Or not agree.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Lubricus on 14 Oct 2011, 02:48
Besides, I think the funniest part of todays comic is actually Jephs comment.

I have no clue how you could notice if an opponent of the other faction would log into Blizzards "World of Warcraft" MMORPG.

In my own MMORPG, Vanguard, you could just enter people into your "friends" list ... though I find it highly confusing that you can just do that. Seriously, you should have a way to AGREE if someone wants to be your friend and see if you log in or out. Or not agree.

If Dale knows Marigold's RealID, he can set it up so that he'll be notified each time she logs in or out, regardless of which character she plays at the time, and regardless of faction, IIRC.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: nonethousand on 14 Oct 2011, 02:55
Dale can change his glasses' shape & reflectivity like *snaps fingers* that: http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1895

It has already pointed out that Dale and Gendo Ikari shear the same glasses prescription
(http://www.yozone.fr/IMG/jpg/ngeva1.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Welu on 14 Oct 2011, 03:39
Dale! Yay! Can't believe Dale's had so few appearances (6 according to the wiki) but he manages to be so likable to me.

On today's comic I'll echo the expressions are great today. Dale's in the second last and Hanners and Marigold in the last panel look so good. Also I've noticed in the last panel Marigold has some long eyelashes on the go. I think they're always there, just hidden behind her glasses.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: HiFranc on 14 Oct 2011, 03:49
It took some time, but the epiphany (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1475) finally caught up with Marigold! :police:

I always thought that that epiphany was that Momo was acting the same way she normally does and it's not pleasant to be on the receiving end of the rudeness.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 14 Oct 2011, 03:57
Ah Marigold, you're supposed to run with the epiphany, not away from it.  Oh well, baby steps as they say.

P.S.: Yet another awesome facial expression for Marigold.  It seems every time we see her her face in the last panel is too awesome for words, and this is yet another excellent example. :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 14 Oct 2011, 04:00
Dale's hair's been looking less kempt with each appearance... this one was damn near bed-head!


Stop gaming, and get a trim, willya?  [/GOM]
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: wrwight on 14 Oct 2011, 04:02
I used to do that before I joined the military. I would go months without a haircut, and oh, when I was growing my hair out long, I wouldn't let anyone near it with scissors. Now if I go three weeks without a hair cut I feel too shaggy lol
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 14 Oct 2011, 04:05
... ... persume.
Most. Awesome. Word. In the thread.  :-D

@Paranoid:
Its her first epiphany, everybody should cut her some slack.

@pwhodges:
Awesome! Yeah, like that, only darker from the inside. They need to be highly reflective on the outside and still safe for use in front of the face on the inside.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 14 Oct 2011, 04:11
Another strip where Jeph hits facial expressions out of the park

You don't hit people's faces out of the park. No excuse.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Nathanyel on 14 Oct 2011, 04:18
Either I misread Marigold's shirt, or I don't get it:
Quote
geek
(save ends)
(as an excuse, English isn't my first language, nor do I live in the US)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: riot_invoked on 14 Oct 2011, 04:35
Is Marigold's face clearing up? I see less bumps  :lol:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 14 Oct 2011, 04:43
Another strip where Jeph hits facial expressions out of the park

Quite. Unfortunately it looks like Dale can only advance by stealing a base or three. Or may be on an unforced error?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: wrwight on 14 Oct 2011, 04:46
TinPenguin, you win comment of the week. Well played.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Arancaytar on 14 Oct 2011, 04:53
I'm sure it's on purpose that the first three dances in the poll are Waltz, Tango and Foxtrott...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 14 Oct 2011, 04:58
I'm sure it's on purpose that the first three dances in the poll are Waltz, Tango and Foxtrott...
So its either romantic kissing, wild/hot kissing or standart kissing? Hm...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: TheBiscuit on 14 Oct 2011, 05:01
People in the past have speculated about the possibility of romance between Marigold and Dale. I didn't see it then, I still don't see it now. I can imagine him having an attraction to Mari, but I don't see her returningi it even slightly. It is possible his competitive posturing is simply the best way he can think of to approach Mari, so I can imagine him having a thing.... but it's very much one-sided.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: wrwight on 14 Oct 2011, 05:10
In my mind Marigold has never even considered the possibility. Her social ineptitude prevents her from reading between the lines the way other people would. I've just been waiting for the comic where Dale asks her out and she gets totally blindsided by it. I can see a deer in the headlights look, then her running away, leaving him very confused, only to find out later that she just had no idea what to think, 'cause the possibility never entered her mind. I don't see them ever getting involved romantically though, but what do I know?

I totally see Dale as having a thing for Marigold though, and competitive WoW banter is the best way he can think of to connect with her. He seems more socially adjusted than Marigold (having a job that requires him to interact with people helps I'm sure), but probably just as lost when it comes to love as our dear protagonist.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 14 Oct 2011, 05:26
I'm sorry you were confused about what I said.
Nice non-apology-apology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-apology_apology)  :-).  I am not the slightest bit confused about what you said:

Nice backhanded compliment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backhanded_compliment) to my obvious non-apology apology.  See, I can link to articles too.  It is quite annoying (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/annoying). 

You seem to be somewhat confused though, otherwise we wouldn't still be talking about this.

If any of my friends would hit me I would hit them back much harder, then question why I am friends with them.  You don't hit people, especially in the head.  No excuse.  Period.
Note particularly: "You don't hit people. No excuse. Period."  You did not say "You don't hit friends", but generalised it to "people".  Nor did you say "No excuse. Except for self-defence", but simply "No excuse. Period." These are the words you chose to convey your meaning, and for which you are responsible.

"You did not say "You don't hit friends", but generalised it to "people"."  Do you realize how silly you're being?  exaggeration (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exaggeration)  The point was you should not hit people.  I do not go around hitting people.  However, yes, you are right, there are exceptions, as with all things in life. Saying "You don't hit people, except for 497 possible exceptions" doesn't quite have the same ring to it.  I was making the point that I take hitting very seriously.  When someone does hit me though, then I will hit back.  It changes the situation from a non-confrontational hit to a self-defense hit, which are two different situations.

By the way, I don't know what you're even saying here about 'friends' and 'people' because of "generalised".  I also don't know what 'self-defence' is. These are not legitimate words so your statements make no sense.  These are the words you chose to convey your meaning, and for which you are responsible.   Do you see how annoying/demeaning this is?  Please don't do that.

Are you suggesting I should curl in a ball and get hit over and over because I never want to hit someone?
I'm not suggesting anything. My original posting on this subject was simply intended to draw attention to the contradiction between "If any of my friends would hit me I would hit them back much harder", an understandable if disproportionate response, and "You don't hit people, especially in the head.  No excuse.  Period."  I take the principle of non-violence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa#Buddhism) seriously as a very difficult one to fit into a violent world, so I took you seriously.

There are less aggressive ways to draw attention to statements.  If you actually took that principle seriously you would have gone about this another way.

Another strip where Jeph hits facial expressions out of the park

You don't hit people's faces out of the park. No excuse.

Yes, let's all be dicks.  Everyone should make a "no excuse" joke!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 14 Oct 2011, 05:32
I object to the way Stout is using the word "hitting".

It's one of those words that can mean a variety of different things and it seems to me Stout is equivocating between two of them. Any sort of physical collision between two objects can be described as them "hitting". And then there's the sense in which one uses the word to, say, accuse someone of hitting their spouse - when it means something far more specific, an abusive act with the purpose or effect of causing pain. Stout is taking something that only fits the first definition, but using the word in a way designed to provoke the sorts of emotional reaction associated with the second. I'm not saying it is or isn't intentional, but either way, it's not a tactic conducive to keeping the conversation friendly.

How so? When Marten got hit there was pain.  Correcting someone with a slap is abusive.  It's not on par with hitting your spouse, but it still is abusive and painful.  It just didn't need to happen.  Or, rather, it did based on the majority reaction.  I am in the minority on this.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Sorflakne on 14 Oct 2011, 05:49
All you have to do is /who 'char's name' and you can find them wherever they are without having to go anywhere.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: StevenC on 14 Oct 2011, 05:55
Guys, it's called slapstick. The smack to the back of the head is one of the oldest things in the book. But this wouldn't be the QC forum if not everything would be over analyzed by some. Don't change, it's entertaining.

The poll: I was hoping for the Dinosaur to show up but then I chose the Time Warp instead.

Today's comic: I love how Dale is in constant Gendo Hikari mode.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Loki on 14 Oct 2011, 06:05
All you have to do is /who 'char's name' and you can find them wherever they are without having to go anywhere.
/who doesn't work on people of the opposite faction. He'd have to have created a Horde character in order to do this.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Lubricus on 14 Oct 2011, 06:07
All you have to do is /who 'char's name' and you can find them wherever they are without having to go anywhere.
/who doesn't work on people of the opposite faction. He'd have to have created a Horde character in order to do this.

...Which he wouldn't be able to, since they clearly are on a PvP server, and he's already got an Alliance character. Pretty sure RealID would still work, though.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Welu on 14 Oct 2011, 06:33
Dale's hair's been looking less kempt with each appearance... this one was damn near bed-head!


Stop gaming, and get a trim, willya?  [/GOM]

The problem seems to be he has has a trim since he had an almost-fro in his first appearance. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/1640)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: dragontart on 14 Oct 2011, 06:33
That head-slapping-nonsense must be a cultural thing. The way the comic was told, the arrangement of panels and such, was funny, though.

Today was just as funny although it doesn't make sense, I think. But I like it that I find many of the latest comics to just carry a nice joke rather than contributing something logical for the story.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Black Sword on 14 Oct 2011, 06:41
I feel like Monsieur Jacques CB'd me. I mean, it's a funny comic and all, but I wanted to see more of the Padma story line, not a sudden juxtaposition to Marigold.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: wrwight on 14 Oct 2011, 06:45
By the way, I don't know what you're even saying here about 'friends' and 'people' because of "generalised".  I also don't know what 'self-defence' is. These are not legitimate words so your statements make no sense.  These are the words you chose to convey your meaning, and for which you are responsible.   Do you see how annoying/demeaning this is?  Please don't do that.

Please tell me that you know those are real words, and yes, real English words. They aren't spelled the same as we spell them in America, but they are in fact real words which fit the meaning of Akima's context as I understand it quite well.

I've been trying to stay out of this debate, and I'm hoping perhaps I just misunderstood, but if that's to be taken the way it appears, then that's one of the most ignorant arguments I've seen. You don't seem like an ignorant person, so again, I'm hoping that I misunderstood, and asking for clarification, continuing to give you the benefit of the doubt until I have confirmation one way or the other.

Since I jumped in though, physical contact is not always a bad thing, and our definitions of pain might be different. I would imagine what Marten felt was more surprise than pain. I mean yes, he felt the hand hit the back of his head, but I doubt there was any pain. Then again I believe that things like that are very open to the "victim's" perception.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: SomeCanadianWeirdo on 14 Oct 2011, 07:06
You can draw parallels between Hannelore's and Marigold's character development.   They both met the other characters by happenstance.  They're both characters who have problems interacting with others.  They both have obsessive elements to their personalities.  And as the comic has progressed they've both slowly expanded their boundaries, developing friendships and becoming more involved with the outside world.  It's probably not surprising they developed a friendship.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 14 Oct 2011, 07:26
Yes, let's all be dicks.  Everyone should make a "no excuse" joke!

If your first reaction to some mild ribbing is to call me a dick, I'm not really surprised that you don't understand a bit of horseplay between friends.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 14 Oct 2011, 07:35
TinPenguin, you are my new hero. :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 14 Oct 2011, 07:51
Please, let's keep away from making personal remarks in either direction.  It has not yet reached disciplinary levels, but I'm watching...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 14 Oct 2011, 07:56
Yes, let's all be dicks.  Everyone should make a "no excuse" joke!

If your first reaction to some mild ribbing is to call me a dick, I'm not really surprised that you don't understand a bit of horseplay between friends.

I'm surprised you think horseplay is one guy doing the hitting and the other guy taking it.  Considering Marten isn't laughing/slapping back, it is unlikely he enjoyed being hit.

Friends can banter with mild ribbing.  All you did was personally insult me for no reason.  Call an insult whatever you want but it's still an insult.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: gangler on 14 Oct 2011, 08:01
Wait a second. Is that poster the Punisher symbol?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 14 Oct 2011, 08:14
I'm surprised you think horseplay is one guy doing the hitting and the other guy taking it.  Considering Marten isn't laughing/slapping back, it is unlikely he enjoyed being hit.

The cartoon encapsulates only an instant in time, so we cannot know more of Marten's response.  In any case, I think it's clear that everyone here now knows your feelings on the matter, and so there is no need to labour the point any further.

Equally, the other view has been put several times, and there is no need to continue on the subject. 

If the subject of Steve hitting or cuffing Marten comes up again, I shall consider (if appropriate) giving people temporary posting bans until Monday's comic appears.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: HeavyP on 14 Oct 2011, 08:19
Man, am I the only one that is SUPER creeped out by Dale?

I liked him at first, he seemed a nice foil and a good potential match for Marigold, even through the competitive smack talk, but now it's like every time he comes by the conversation boils down to "I'm watching you...."  I understand that he's got some serious social awkwardness issues, most of the cast does to some degree or another, but Dale is less "endearing quirk that leads to romance" storyline and more "one of these days he's going to drag Marigold into the alley and she's not coming back out" storyline.

I dunno, I just feel the need to take a shower after I read a comic about Dale now.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 14 Oct 2011, 08:42

Also I wonder what HE does besides playing WoW.


It's a good question what else he does for fun, but with the three jobs he may not have enough free time to do anything other that WoW.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Throg on 14 Oct 2011, 09:59
Yeah, I'm getting the slightly creepy vibe from Dale too.  Especially if he's managed to get around the WoW mechanics of Alliance/Horde on a pvp server (although Jeph has said he's not quite sure how it works). 

Social awkwardness aside, he can't figure out a friendlier way to approach Marigold? Something like "Hey, I haven't seen your character in a couple of days, wanna duel sometime?" rather than the third-grade-level 'my paladin can beat up your shaman'. What's next, pulling on her ponytail? 

Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Nathanyel on 14 Oct 2011, 10:27
Especially if he's managed to get around the WoW mechanics of Alliance/Horde on a pvp server (although Jeph has said he's not quite sure how it works).
Well (let's out ourselves as WoW players) by now you can create characters of both factions even on a PvP server, or use a second, trial account, which have no time limit anymore, so he could have a Horde character on Warsong to stalk her - that, or they became RealID friends to always be able to pounce on each other, as well as taunt the loser of a fight. Well, er, or Jeph's simply not that familiar with WoW. *goes back to an activity that is honestly totally not related to WoW*
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Daniel Patrick Moynihan on 14 Oct 2011, 10:50
pre-post edit: beaten on the wow stalking bit
Regarding Dale tracking Marigold's in game movements...

RealID wouldn't work unless both parties consented to being RealID friends, and I doubt Marigold would do that.  Blizzard lifted faction restrictions on PVP servers back in 2009 so they could offer faction transfers for existing characters and charge for it.  So /who marigoldfamer on his Horde alt would work, but he probably doesn't even need that.  If Marigold is still in her raiding guild, she's probably going to be moving back and forth from Firelands and her city of choice (almost certainly Orgrimmar).  Almost the entire 'world' has been made obsolete with some of the features and guild leveling perks Blizzard has added in the last two years, so unless Marigold has a resource gathering profession on her warrior (hardly the optimal choice for a min/maxer), there's virtually no opportunity for Dale to gank her. 

Regarding everything else...

As someone who had their sense of rhythm surgically removed in early childhood, I understand Marten's reaction in Thursday's comic perfectly.  I'm wondering if his lack of dancing prowess is a holdover from his days of skipping prom to play D&D and identifying against the prom-going, dance party people in school.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Border Reiver on 14 Oct 2011, 11:29
Still not sure it was D&D, that was a Khorne Space Marine mini he was holding....
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 14 Oct 2011, 12:22
What's next, pulling on her ponytail? 

I was gonna say, "dipping it in the inkwell", but even I'm not that  old.  Right, pwhodges?  celticgeek?  Anybody...?

Wait a second. Is that poster the Punisher symbol?

Maybe, but no teeth - I think it's just a random skull-on-black, reflecting Dora's goth roots.  After all, it is  Coffee of DOOM!

Yes, let's all be dicks.  Everyone should make a "no excuse" joke!

If your first reaction to some mild ribbing is to call me a dick, I'm not really surprised that you don't understand a bit of horseplay between friends.

...Friends can banter with mild ribbing.  All you did was personally insult me for no reason.  Call an insult whatever you want but it's still an insult.

Wait, what?  Who's insulting whom? 


I'm so confused...   :-P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: idontunderstand on 14 Oct 2011, 12:23
I barely ever laugh when I read the WCDT anymore.. whyyyy sssooooo seriouuuusss? Dale is a creep, Steve is an asshole, Faye is a bitch, Marten is a fucking loser, Marigold is too passive aggressive, Dora is also a bitch and Pintsize is no longer just a funny robot sidekick but we must go to the extent of discussing whether he can love or not and what his religious preferences might be. I mean. I mean. I dunno what I mean, but it's a comic in four squares a day where the last one is intended to be funn-ayh. Not a description of Jeph's ideal world where everyone makes the most ideal choices all the time. I'm not saying stuff can't be discussed in a serious way but at least realize that a joke is a joke is a joke. Not something to insult strangers over the internet over.

Pah.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 14 Oct 2011, 12:37
It is a comic, but it's also a work of fiction, an invitation to suspend disbelief and treat the characters as real for the sake of enjoying the story.

Your other point, that the enjoyment isn't showing up much, is well taken.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 14 Oct 2011, 12:40
I was gonna say, "dipping it in the inkwell", but even I'm not that  old.  Right, pwhodges?  celticgeek?  Anybody...?

I was taught from 1955 to 1959 using a dip pen with relief nibs like these (http://dippennibs.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=Esterbrook314):

(http://dippennibs.co.uk/prodimages/esterbrooksingle.jpg)

Only blue-black permanent ink - none of this washable royal blue rubbish.  We had little china inkwells that fitted into a socket on the desk.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: stoutfiles on 14 Oct 2011, 12:49
By the way, I don't know what you're even saying here about 'friends' and 'people' because of "generalised".  I also don't know what 'self-defence' is. These are not legitimate words so your statements make no sense.  These are the words you chose to convey your meaning, and for which you are responsible.   Do you see how annoying/demeaning this is?  Please don't do that.

Please tell me that you know those are real words, and yes, real English words. They aren't spelled the same as we spell them in America, but they are in fact real words which fit the meaning of Akima's context as I understand it quite well.

I've been trying to stay out of this debate, and I'm hoping perhaps I just misunderstood, but if that's to be taken the way it appears, then that's one of the most ignorant arguments I've seen. You don't seem like an ignorant person, so again, I'm hoping that I misunderstood, and asking for clarification, continuing to give you the benefit of the doubt until I have confirmation one way or the other.

Since I jumped in though, physical contact is not always a bad thing, and our definitions of pain might be different. I would imagine what Marten felt was more surprise than pain. I mean yes, he felt the hand hit the back of his head, but I doubt there was any pain. Then again I believe that things like that are very open to the "victim's" perception.

No, I haven't seen the words spelled like that in so long I just thought they were typos.  My bad there.  Anyways, the point I was trying to make was that jumping on little things for the sake of argument to derail a conversation is demeaning/annoying.  However, I'm not allowed to talk about that anymore per the mods rules.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 14 Oct 2011, 12:51
I'm not saying stuff can't be discussed in a serious way but at least realize that a joke is a joke is a joke. Not something to insult strangers over the internet over.

There is nothing to prevent you or anyone ignoring any angsty parts of the discussion and talking about the things you enjoy instead; indeed, this might help to preserve balance.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 14 Oct 2011, 12:52
Gendo Dale will now have to restratigise.

Dwww, ain't that cute - MariBear is actually maturing.  Hanners, you've a lot to answer for!!    :-D    ;)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 14 Oct 2011, 13:01
Padma's going to leave a vacancy at The Secret Bakery,

I can't think of a current character who might fill it.

Which means .. new character!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: musicalsoul on 14 Oct 2011, 13:02
I think we can all basically agree that stoutfiles would absolutely hate the show NCIS. Cause I mean, the Gibbs head slap happens at least once in every episode.

Other than that, I think Steve is kind of a douche, but not so much of one that I hate him. I loved the comic with Marigold and Dale. I love that Marigold is finally coming out of her shell and has had a bit of an epiphany about actually being outside her room.  :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Daniel Patrick Moynihan on 14 Oct 2011, 13:06
Padma's going to leave a vacancy at The Secret Bakery,

I can't think of a current character who might fill it.

Which means .. new character!

Only if the new character is Mystery-TSB-Flannel-Person.

EDIT: This (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=134) is what made me think Marten may have been 'anti-dancing' in high school.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: SomeCanadianWeirdo on 14 Oct 2011, 13:28
Padma's going to leave a vacancy at The Secret Bakery,

I can't think of a current character who might fill it.

Which means .. new character!

I still think the bakery gang disappearing after Padma does is more likely.  After all Marten's main interaction has been with Padma and Elliot, with half of that revolving around Elliot's infatuation with her.  Renee has had at most a half dozen lines, while Mystery Scar Dude has had one line in one appearance, and hasn't met Marten at all.  So I wouldn't be at all surprised if they join a bunch of the previous supporting cast in plot limbo.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 14 Oct 2011, 13:29
Padma's going to leave a vacancy at The Secret Bakery,

I can't think of a current character who might fill it.

Which means .. new character!

Who could do it? I don't think that either Elliot or Renee is up to the task. The same applies to the junior CoD employees.
Dora could do it no sweat, but obviously won't. Faye has probably picked up a few things as Dora's most senior and trusted helper. She probably wouldn't ruin the operation in a week, but would she really want to leave CoD?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 14 Oct 2011, 13:32
There's an unresolved story element about Dora and Jim that might keep The Secret Bakery in the picture.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Kazukagii on 14 Oct 2011, 13:47
Dale's glasses completely reflect light, no matter the direction he is facing in relation to the nearest light source.

I think he just has LED's on the rims of his glasses, and turns them on just before walking up to Marigold, just to seem creepier.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Method of Madness on 14 Oct 2011, 14:38
I couldn't help but notice absent from the poll was the Charleston (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1598).  Another dance is also conspicuously absent ^_^
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: celticgeek on 14 Oct 2011, 14:53
What's next, pulling on her ponytail? 

I was gonna say, "dipping it in the inkwell", but even I'm not that  old.  Right, pwhodges?  celticgeek?  Anybody...?



I, too, remember inkwells in our desks, although I, personally, never dipped anyone's pigtails in them (even though there were several girls with LONG pigtails). 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: cesariojpn on 14 Oct 2011, 15:40
So, should we consider \Dale as having an "unhealthy" state of mind if he's stalking Marigold like that?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 14 Oct 2011, 16:04
Dale is getting increasingly creepy in my opinion, especially now that he's gone from stalking to camping.  Anyone else recognize today's setting from this early gem (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1771)?  Now I admit his first interaction (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1668) with Marigold wasn't exactly her crowning moment of maturity, but since then it seems that all he's done is constantly belittle her every chance he gets.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 14 Oct 2011, 16:16
I would say that it is quite realistic for Dale to be aware that Marigold hasn't logged in for a few days (quite a while to be absent from the game, from a hardcore WoW player's perspective), even without RealID or any other kind of game mechanic.

We know that Marigold is notorious at least within Dale's guild (probably a PvP guild, but that's just a guess on my part). If Marigold is a very keen PvPer (which is likely even though she's a raider), she may even be notorious on the server.

For sworn enemies who spend a lot of time in-game not to encounter each other for a few days is a little unusual, but Dale's guild would surely announce over guild chat if they found any serious PvPer in the wild or in battlegrounds, either alone or in a group. For this to not happen in in that time would definitely be notable.

As for Dale's stalking/belittling... the kind of trash talking you see from Dale aimed at a member of the opposite faction is pretty normal coming from a WoW PvPer. Mild, even. Though most of it usually happens on the forums, of course.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: wrwight on 14 Oct 2011, 16:19
When I see Dale in the comic, my mind gives him his own theme/mood music, and I think if QC were animated, his lines would be delivered very dramatically/mysteriously, which would in turn make him kind of creepy, but if done properly it would be less creep and more mystery/comedy/melodrama. This mood change would of course only apply in his interactions with Marigold, though. His CoD secret menu bit and the first part of his pizza delivery would just be the normal mood of the comic, but then when he and Marigold see each other, suddenly it goes to that other mood. This is just how it goes in my head, and to me it makes Dale an awesome character, not in spite of his perceived creepiness, but in fact because of it, and the way it's played for comic effect. My head is a strange and terrible place, though.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: rje on 14 Oct 2011, 16:31
When I see Dale in the comic, my mind gives him his own theme/mood music, and I think if QC were animated, his lines would be delivered very dramatically/mysteriously, which would in turn make him kind of creepy, but if done properly it would be less creep and more mystery/comedy/melodrama. This mood change would of course only apply in his interactions with Marigold, though. His CoD secret menu bit and the first part of his pizza delivery would just be the normal mood of the comic, but then when he and Marigold see each other, suddenly it goes to that other mood. This is just how it goes in my head, and to me it makes Dale an awesome character, not in spite of his perceived creepiness, but in fact because of it, and the way it's played for comic effect. My head is a strange and terrible place, though.

That's how I see it too, the over the top comedic villain - very anime-esque
He's got Gendo eyes

But lol! I love Marigold's little reaction there, I have that epiphany once in awhile
"I have a LIFE?? When did THAT happen?!?"

(well, not right now, of course)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: akronnick on 14 Oct 2011, 16:45
Maybe Marigold sees Dale the same way and is just playing along.

Then again, I'm not sure Marigirl is self aware enough for role play.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: ecstaticjoy on 14 Oct 2011, 17:03
what does her shirt say?  "(save ends)" ?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 14 Oct 2011, 17:16
Yep. I don't get the joke either, but I know enough to know it is another WoW reference.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Akima on 14 Oct 2011, 17:41
I was gonna say, "dipping it in the inkwell", but even I'm not that  old.  Right, pwhodges?  celticgeek?  Anybody...?
I don't think I've ever seen an inkwell outside historical dramas.  I'm familiar with the inkstick, inkstone, and brush (together with paper, 文房四宝 or the Four Treasures Of The Study), but that probably doesn't count because they're not really used for everyday writing any more. And of course Chinese kids never do anything naughty with their ink...  :angel:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Daniel Patrick Moynihan on 14 Oct 2011, 18:04
Yep. I don't get the joke either, but I know enough to know it is another WoW reference.

It's a D&D reference.  In 4th Edition (which is what Jeph plays afaik), when you are afflicted by something (on fire, cursed with wracking pain, hobbled by a movement reduction effect) you roll to see if you 'make a save' and end the effect.  Marigold's shirt says she's a geek but if she rolls well enough that will end.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 14 Oct 2011, 18:12
Dale is likable enough outside of WoW to be initiated into the Secret Menu at Coffee of Doom, an honor Dora didn't bestow on her brother (Faye told him) or her boyfriend. Either his taunting of Marigirl is harmless, or else he's one of those people you read about in the newspaper will all his acquaintances saying "He seemed like such a nice guy!".
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Torlek on 14 Oct 2011, 20:50
When I see Dale in the comic, my mind gives him his own theme/mood music, and I think if QC were animated, his lines would be delivered very dramatically/mysteriously, which would in turn make him kind of creepy, but if done properly it would be less creep and more mystery/comedy/melodrama. This mood change would of course only apply in his interactions with Marigold, though. His CoD secret menu bit and the first part of his pizza delivery would just be the normal mood of the comic, but then when he and Marigold see each other, suddenly it goes to that other mood. This is just how it goes in my head, and to me it makes Dale an awesome character, not in spite of his perceived creepiness, but in fact because of it, and the way it's played for comic effect. My head is a strange and terrible place, though.
When he does his Gendo eye thing I always hear Kamon from FLCL. Especially today's. I was expecting him to develop an anime sweat drop in the last panel.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: DSL on 14 Oct 2011, 20:51
Dale is getting increasingly creepy in my opinion, especially now that he's gone from stalking to camping.  Anyone else recognize today's setting from this early gem (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1771)?  Now I admit his first interaction (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1668) with Marigold wasn't exactly her crowning moment of maturity, but since then it seems that all he's done is constantly belittle her every chance he gets.

I see progress here from 1771. Mari's cut back on whatever she's drinking from the convenience store fountain and Dale's avoided the trash can this time..
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Tova on 14 Oct 2011, 21:21
Save rolls are definitely not a WoW thing.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: JonathanXS on 14 Oct 2011, 23:06
Yep. I don't get the joke either, but I know enough to know it is another WoW reference.

It's a D&D reference.  In 4th Edition (which is what Jeph plays afaik), when you are afflicted by something (on fire, cursed with wracking pain, hobbled by a movement reduction effect) you roll to see if you 'make a save' and end the effect.  Marigold's shirt says she's a geek but if she rolls well enough that will end.

Registered for this.

It would make no sense for Mari to have to save against being a geek, that would imply that she is not naturally one and has to keep up a ruse ( which would be a check on her... ...whatever it is in 4.0. I'm a 3.5 player. Forgive me. )

What I understand it is as is that Mari needed to constantly roll Will saves against peer pressure in order to continue the stereotypical "anti-social geek" lifestyle. She has been continuously failing recently which is either because of low rolls or because of an increasing DC ( the number your save roll needs to beat to "pass" the save ); as she becomes closer to her friends, it becomes harder to say 'no' to them. Because of these failed will saves she becomes farther from the stereotype, and her stereotypical geek personality "ends".

In the end it is a save to end, or rather a series of saves to end, but it is not as simple as implied.

But, you know, that doesn't look good on a shirt, right?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: idontunderstand on 15 Oct 2011, 00:02
I'm not saying stuff can't be discussed in a serious way but at least realize that a joke is a joke is a joke. Not something to insult strangers over the internet over.

There is nothing to prevent you or anyone ignoring any angsty parts of the discussion and talking about the things you enjoy instead; indeed, this might help to preserve balance.

Point taken. Will do my best..
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: purple.platypus on 15 Oct 2011, 01:17
Correcting someone with a slap is abusive.
But see, that's the bit you're ostensibly trying to argue for. That sort of thing is a lot better received if you don't do it in language that already presupposes the point you're trying to prove.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 15 Oct 2011, 02:33
Yep. I don't get the joke either, but I know enough to know it is another WoW reference.

It's a D&D reference.

Whatever, they're all NERRRRRRRRDS. [hypocrisy]

I see progress here from 1771. Mari's cut back on whatever she's drinking from the convenience store fountain and Dale's avoided the trash can this time..

Also, it is daytime; she isn't staying up all night playing.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: SJCrew on 15 Oct 2011, 04:23
I know what effect Jeph was going for in comic #2033, but it just looks like she's grabbing her crotch. It picks up again in the next panel, which probably should have been there in the first place. Just my take.

Also, I am not so worried, Padma is coming back. This comic was the perfect push to define her as a likeable character. But before she goes, Marten needs to (removed by moderator -- shipping rule).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 15 Oct 2011, 06:29
If he does, it's coming out of nowhere.  He's been invited to go dancing with friends  not asked out one-on-one.  And she's upset about Elliot, it's not what she wanted. 

So Marten's probably not getting a taste of anything but baked goods for a while. 




No, that's not  innuendo.  Git yer mind out of the gutter...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: gangler on 15 Oct 2011, 06:45
One of these days friendship will just be another euphemism the way things are going. The phrase "(s)he's a great friend of mine" will invariably be followed with a terribly conspicuous wink and perhaps some obnoxious nudging.

"Oh yeah! We go way back, if you know what I mean".

But yeah, not only is this a purely platonic social appointment, but I'm pretty sure Marten's less interested in her sexually than he is in her as a friend anyway. She's just some cool chick who brightens up his day a little and helped him through a rough patch. Not gonna say I don't think he finds her attractive, but that's a distant concern.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: zmeiat_joro on 15 Oct 2011, 09:10
Dale is likable enough outside of WoW to be initiated into the Secret Menu at Coffee of Doom, an honor Dora didn't bestow on her brother (Faye told him) or her boyfriend. Either his taunting of Marigirl is harmless, or else he's one of those people you read about in the newspaper will all his acquaintances saying "He seemed like such a nice guy!".
In my experience, people who most people treat as likeable are about as likely to be complete assholes as they are to be actually really nice people (not that these are the only options). It's usually completely obvious to me, but most people seem to be utterly oblivious.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 15 Oct 2011, 10:51
Correcting someone with a slap is abusive.
But see, that's the bit you're ostensibly trying to argue for. That sort of thing is a lot better received if you don't do it in language that already presupposes the point you're trying to prove.
(moderator)
We are trying to let this line of discussion die.
(/moderator)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: rje on 15 Oct 2011, 11:50
Yep. I don't get the joke either, but I know enough to know it is another WoW reference.

It's a D&D reference.  In 4th Edition (which is what Jeph plays afaik), when you are afflicted by something (on fire, cursed with wracking pain, hobbled by a movement reduction effect) you roll to see if you 'make a save' and end the effect.  Marigold's shirt says she's a geek but if she rolls well enough that will end.

Registered for this.

It would make no sense for Mari to have to save against being a geek, that would imply that she is not naturally one and has to keep up a ruse ( which would be a check on her... ...whatever it is in 4.0. I'm a 3.5 player. Forgive me. )

What I understand it is as is that Mari needed to constantly roll Will saves against peer pressure in order to continue the stereotypical "anti-social geek" lifestyle. She has been continuously failing recently which is either because of low rolls or because of an increasing DC ( the number your save roll needs to beat to "pass" the save ); as she becomes closer to her friends, it becomes harder to say 'no' to them. Because of these failed will saves she becomes farther from the stereotype, and her stereotypical geek personality "ends".

In the end it is a save to end, or rather a series of saves to end, but it is not as simple as implied.

But, you know, that doesn't look good on a shirt, right?

...I still don't get it. ._.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 15 Oct 2011, 17:25
Don't worry, one rule of comedy states that any cultural reference will automatically be lost on half the audience. 



Half of those left won't really care. 



And if you're lucky, about 10% of the rest will think it's funny...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Nathanyel on 15 Oct 2011, 17:54
Don't worry, one rule of comedy states that any cultural reference will automatically be lost on half the audience. 
Catchphrase!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: FunkyTuba on 15 Oct 2011, 19:24
Don't worry, one rule of comedy states that any cultural reference will automatically be lost on half the audience. 
Catchphrase!

Indeed. That's a T-Shirt I would buy.

Maybe a hoodie.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: TinPenguin on 16 Oct 2011, 06:07
With T-shirts there'll likely be a far higher rate of reference loss, since you'll be broadcasting to a much wider sample.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: gangler on 16 Oct 2011, 06:10
Wouldn't the T-shirts actually broadcast to a smaller sample, on account of always being obscured by hoodies?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 16 Oct 2011, 12:01
0_o
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 17 Oct 2011, 01:50
1771, Mari coming out of the shop (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1771)
2035, Mari coming out of the same shop (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2035)

Just noticed, there is definite change here. Metaphorically hinted at by cupsize. (Sorry for the bad pun and can that even be considered a metaphor?)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: idontunderstand on 17 Oct 2011, 03:28
Good call!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 17 Oct 2011, 03:42
1771, Mari coming out of the shop (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1771)
2035, Mari coming out of the same shop (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2035)

Just noticed, there is definite change here. Metaphorically hinted at by cupsize. (Sorry for the bad pun and can that even be considered a metaphor?)

Sorry. I'm not sure I'm seeing the same thing? Marigirl hasn't had a haircut since? Also notice that in one strip Marigold is wearing a hoodie, and in the other just a t-shirt. Reflecting a change of season? But surely a hoodie will level off the curves to a great extent.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 17 Oct 2011, 04:23
Let me rephrase that:
Cupsize -> size of cup (directed at the cup/bottle/container of tasty sweet squishy liquid she is holding)

Also, a change of season might not be necessary. In the first one we have dawn/early night, in the second one we have mid day/early evening. Could just be late summer/late spring which would explain the relative warmth during the day and the relative cool during the night.

...or were you being smart about the obviously poorly chosen pun and trying to mock me with it? English isn't my native language and I may be a bit dense here. :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 17 Oct 2011, 04:29
 :-D Thanks. My mind just needs a little bit time to climb out of the gutter.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 17 Oct 2011, 04:29
English is not Skewbrow's native language either; obviously we try to avoid anyone's language being an issue here.

The change in size of Mari's drink was remarked on earlier, I recall.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 17 Oct 2011, 04:32
English is not Skewbrow's native language either; obviously we try to avoid anyone's language being an issue here.

The change in size of Mari's drink was remarked on earlier, I recall.
No issues here. Just having some speculatory fun.  :-)

Also I was unaware it had been remarked on. Sorry for that, must've slipped my mind or eyesight. I was just so proud of myself for finding this one out.
I'll shut up now.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: pwhodges on 17 Oct 2011, 04:39
Don't be embarrassed - it's not necessarily entirely obvious (here (http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,27469.msg1059377.html#msg1059377)), and repetition matters not a jot in such an instance.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 17 Oct 2011, 04:59
I bow my head to you. You must be the king of passive aggressive sarcasm. O_O
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 17 Oct 2011, 05:49
Paul?  He's just a local king.  And he seems neither passive nor agressive - he's pretty middle of the road. 


Sarcasm, on the other hand, seems to be the board's stock and trade...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Skewbrow on 17 Oct 2011, 06:49
...or were you being smart about the obviously poorly chosen pun and trying to mock me with it? English isn't my native language and I may be a bit dense here. :-D
That was not my intention. Sorry about not making it clear. I am the obtuse angle of this forum, and simply missed the pun :psyduck:

Also, don't worry about your English too much. I understand your concern in that I, too, feel the pressure to make my English impeccable. But I have realized that most if not all of the pressure comes from my own expectations. If I interpreted Paul correctly, the native speakers are quite forgiving to us foreigners.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 17 Oct 2011, 06:54
As Paul said, the native speakers are quite forgiving to us foreigners.

We better be.  It's been my observation that native speakers seem to butcher English even worst than foreigners.  :|
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Soulsynger on 17 Oct 2011, 07:27
We better be.  It's been my observation that native speakers seem to butcher English even worst than foreigners.  :|
Bwahaha! Amen! It seems common consensus among native speakers :)

@Carl-E:
I actually loved his post. Failed to make that clear. (I did so by PM a few minutes ago)
I was in a kind of awe-induced shock making it impossible for me to deliver my intentions clearly in written form. :-D

@Skewbrow:
Even if it was your intention, I'd have simply appreciated it. I come to this board mostly for the elitist sarcasm-dripping blabbermouths going on and on about a fictional reality. (And I mean that in a very caring way.)
And oh yes... most peer pressure in life is self-inflicted.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Paranoid on 17 Oct 2011, 09:09
We better be.  It's been my observation that native speakers seem to butcher English even worst than foreigners.  :|
Bwahaha! Amen! It seems common consensus among native speakers :)
That was a typo!  Or at least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it, gosh darn it.  :lol:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Carl-E on 17 Oct 2011, 09:56
At leastr it wasn't "wurst"...

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vOkeke69rio/Rx9xxZC7Z9I/AAAAAAAAAp8/cuibU4gL4XY/s400/wurst-1.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: Kugai on 17 Oct 2011, 13:42
Don't knock it
Title: Re: WCDT: 2031-2035 (10-14 October 2011)
Post by: jwhouk on 17 Oct 2011, 14:59
Hey, how'd you get that picture of downtown Milwaukee? ;)