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Comic Discussion => QUESTIONABLE CONTENT => Topic started by: GarandMarine on 18 Oct 2014, 21:06

Title: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Oct 2014, 21:06
And so we begin again. Once more into the breach dear friends. Once more into the breach.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ASB84 on 18 Oct 2014, 21:12
I kind of get the impression that Steve's never going to eat cereal again (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2743)...even if he does have a year's supply of it, free.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 18 Oct 2014, 21:12
Once more into the breach.

Does that mean you voted yelling bird cloaca?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 18 Oct 2014, 21:26
Five days of Dale and Marigolds cuddling in front of anime.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: HauntingPoem on 18 Oct 2014, 21:43
Once more into the breach.

Does that mean you voted yelling bird cloaca?

I think that would be more or an infinite cavern of filth from which we could never return once we entered it.

Edit: Spelling
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: hedgie on 18 Oct 2014, 22:13
So *that's* where Sara ended up (remember, birds are dinosaurs), she just ended up as a suppository rather than being eaten.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rghfrgl on 18 Oct 2014, 23:21
I predict midweek robot filler, where the forum gets mad and the AI's have to take the blame.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 18 Oct 2014, 23:24
My idea doesn't really match any of the options. I think we'll follow Marten and Claire through their day until they arrive at Coffee of Doom shortly after Friday 10/17's strip. The week after will be the moment when Faye is told by all her friends that she has to fight for her 'happily ever after'.

Yeah, Tai is going to tease Marten and Claire but she won't push it too far.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 18 Oct 2014, 23:59
Yeah, Tai is going to tease Marten and Claire but she won't push it too far.

No, she's going to go all googly-eyed over them. 

Assuming she doesn't actually "squee" over the library's sound system...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Staff_Inflection on 19 Oct 2014, 00:35
You know who we havent seen in awhile?

The Bros. What are they up to?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 19 Oct 2014, 01:06
You know who we havent seen in awhile?

The Bros. What are they up to?

As always, they're in hiding, waiting for their trigger word! All together now...!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: techkid on 19 Oct 2014, 04:10
Bros bros bros bros (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1949).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ASB84 on 19 Oct 2014, 05:10
I have to say, my enjoyment of the bros' appearances is disproportionate to their prominence/importance to the strip. Love that library gag.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Staff_Inflection on 19 Oct 2014, 05:14
A spinoff comic staring the bros would be fantastic
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: FunkyTuba on 19 Oct 2014, 09:04
Brostionable Brontent?
Brolice Brove?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Neko_Ali on 19 Oct 2014, 10:23
We can discover that they are actually members of a secret, super powered Bro Force, who use their powers to sense when someone is about to 'bro' and teleport there to provide backup bro.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 19 Oct 2014, 13:30
I took the liberty of fixing a spelling error in the poll.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Pilchard123 on 19 Oct 2014, 13:54
Not to tell you guys how to do your job, but aren't ship names somewhat frowned upon? Or is that just yacht names, since they have no cannon?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 19 Oct 2014, 14:07
Ship names are frowned upon, but the weather is a force of nature.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aimless on 19 Oct 2014, 14:12
The bros always make me think of the "Boats boats boats!"-girl from HIMYM :(

Broats Broats Broats!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Omio on 19 Oct 2014, 14:42
I smell blood. =L
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 19 Oct 2014, 15:52
Not to tell you guys how to do your job, but aren't ship names somewhat frowned upon? Or is that just yacht names, since they have no cannon?

It's not a ship name if they're an actual couple.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: de_la_Nae on 19 Oct 2014, 15:55
Yeah, like GaRarity.

(I couldn't think of a good one for Fluttershy sorry)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 19 Oct 2014, 16:10
Tora Tora Tora?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: eschaton on 19 Oct 2014, 17:44
A spinoff comic staring the bros would be fantastic

Maybe the bros recruit Steve to be part of their secret order? 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 19 Oct 2014, 17:58
A spinoff comic staring the bros would be fantastic

Maybe the bros recruit Steve to be part of their secret order?

He's the secret member of the secret order. The HBIC, as it were.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesium133 on 19 Oct 2014, 18:00
D'awww... If Angus weren't a moron, he'd be the one giving that hug.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Half Empty Coffee Cup on 19 Oct 2014, 18:04
Marten is in his personal zen space. He doesn't necessarily know why he does what he does, he just does.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: snarkyone on 19 Oct 2014, 18:04
Awwwww Marten's all grown up.   Mindful of the pain of those he cares about, even when there's an obvious spring in his step and you'd think he'd be too self-absorbed.    I know it's sad for Faye, but I think this is really a happy page.   
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 19 Oct 2014, 18:05
Marten is good people.  "Hey, I'm having a GREAT d- oh, let me comfort my friend."

World needs more Martens.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Roxtar on 19 Oct 2014, 18:06
D'awww... If Angus weren't a moron, he'd be the one giving that hug.
I don't think that's fair... Angus has kept Faye in the loop for his whole "this is what I aspire to" story arc.
her refusal to even make an attempt to help him follow his dream (or try to make the distance thing work) makes me side with Angus over Faye in this case.

He's been open with his aspirations and feelings, she has not.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 19 Oct 2014, 18:07
World needs more Martens.

And not the bird kind.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 19 Oct 2014, 18:10
World needs more Martens.

And not the bird kind.

I always rather liked the Housemartens.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 19 Oct 2014, 18:11
F yeah hug the shit out of her (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2146)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ASB84 on 19 Oct 2014, 18:47
A+ for Marten. He knows how to Good Friend.

Hopefully, Dale can tone it down today (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2641).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 19 Oct 2014, 18:47
D'awww... If Angus weren't a moron, he'd be the one giving that hug.
I don't think that's fair... Angus has kept Faye in the loop for his whole "this is what I aspire to" story arc.
her refusal to even make an attempt to help him follow his dream (or try to make the distance thing work) makes me side with Angus over Faye in this case.

He's been open with his aspirations and feelings, she has not.

He's also been aware that this was a problem, but ignored the issue. Neither Faye or Angus is in the right here. Faye set this situation up by failing to be honest with Angus. Angus set this situation up when he recognized the problem and asked Marten about it, instead of confronting Faye. In a perfect world, they both would have done more--Faye with honesty and Angus with attempting to do more than just dismiss Faye's concerns as bridges they would cross later. In the "real" (fictional) world, Faye told herself she could deal with it, and Angus told himself it wasn't a big deal (clung to evidence that supported what he wanted and let contradictory evidence slip past). That's pretty human of them.

They both deserve sympathy. And, in the end--fair or not, the onus is on Angus to make it right. They were both moved by powerful emotion, but Angus's comes of getting great news while Faye's comes of deeply seated emotional damage. We're talking about something that may or may not have inspired her to try to kill her self. Even if it wasn't a suicide attempt, it impaired her consciousness to the point she lost control of her car.

Marten is good people.  "Hey, I'm having a GREAT d- oh, let me comfort my friend."

World needs more Martens.

And this is where Marten did better than Angus. And also why it's important to have an array of friends. Some are going to better equipped to support you with this, while others are better at that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Stoon on 19 Oct 2014, 19:20
Perfect Marten.  That was just perfect.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Nyithra on 19 Oct 2014, 19:21
Awww, friend hugs are the best.

I was afraid to pitch in during the explosion of last weeks thread, so I might as well throw in my opinion now. As someone who used to be terrible at being honest with myself and others, I kind of understand both sides of this whole Faye/Angus falling out. That doesn't make either of their actions right, I think we all saw the height of the communication issues when Angus' question was met with silence and he decided to walk away instead of attempting any sort of reconciliation.

I think both of them knew this problem was going to come up, but they both avoided it. Totally normal thing to do, however disastrous. I don't think the issue is totally over yet though, most people would want some level of closure other than just never talking again after something like that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Emperor Norton on 19 Oct 2014, 19:26
To all the people who think Angus should have hugged her: Ok, when someone pulls away from you, then breaks up with you, which is effectively what she did, the right answer is sure as hell not to initiate physical contact with them. That has all kinds of creepy boundary issues to it.

And the whole thing of the onus being on him to fix things: As someone who has huge issues with letting things go myself, one thing I've learned is that YOU CANNOT FORCE SOMEONE TO INTERACT WITH YOU. Faye is not interacting. As long as she refuses to do that, there is literally nothing he CAN do. Every time you force someone to interact with you, it just builds resentment and anger. It puts them on the defensive. She has to be willing to talk things out for him to take any action. She clearly wasn't at that time. There was nothing to do.

I have never ever had it work out where I tried to force a conversation with someone who refused to engage it. Ever. It just leads to bad things.

On this comic though: Marten is a great friend, and he was the perfect person to walk in right now and do this.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 19 Oct 2014, 19:38
Emperor, you're quite right.  I think Angus is more than savvy enough to know that of all the comforting Faye may or may not need right now, his isn't it. 

Marten isn't always at his best, but he sure is here. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 19 Oct 2014, 19:41
I don't think the issue is totally over yet though, most people would want some level of closure other than just never talking again after something like that.

You would be amazed how far avoidance can take you.

That said, this would be a terrible comic about relationships if this was over here.

To all the people who think Angus should have hugged her: Ok, when someone pulls away from you, then breaks up with you, which is effectively what she did, the right answer is sure as hell not to initiate physical contact with them. That has all kinds of creepy boundary issues to it.

And the whole thing of the onus being on him to fix things: As someone who has huge issues with letting things go, YOU CANNOT FORCE SOMEONE TO INTERACT WITH YOU. Faye is not interacting. As long as she refuses to do that, there is literally nothing he CAN do. Every time you force someone to interact with you, it just builds resentment and anger. It puts them on the defensive. She has to be willing to talk things out for him to take any action. She clearly wasn't at that time. There was nothing to do.

Angus had an opportunity for a reassuring hug, but he missed it. It's unfair to him to assume he could have recognized the need and the opportunity. That's why the hug bit is a non-issue.

What sets Marten apart is the willingness to switch gears, emotionally. He has every right say, as Angus did, "Why can't you be happy for me?" He realizes that Faye's problems don't make his good news less good.

As for the onus. That's got nothing to do with Faye's current response. The fact is that what just happened happened, and couldn't have happened any other way. The moving pen, having writ, and all that.

But, if they have a future, Angus is going to have a larger external load to carry. He's going to have to adjust to the damage inside Faye, because realizing her mistakes is not going to heal her. His hangups seem to be less from emotional damage than hers. He's going to have to put up with and be understanding of unfair reactions on her part, to give her time to see them as such, and work on them. Faye has hard work ahead but, as far as the relationship goes, Faye has to work on Faye. Angus has to work on Faye and Angus. It's not fair, thus onus. And if he can't accept that, things will be more painful at best. Impossible to reconcile at worst.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Emperor Norton on 19 Oct 2014, 19:41
I do think he could have said something like "I hope we can talk about this later" before walking off, I'm not saying his actions are perfect (cause he did kind of miss the seriousness of this to begin with, though that was exacerbated by her not talking to him about it beforehand).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 19 Oct 2014, 19:43
Marten is a true friend (http://www.questionablecontent.net/1564).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ysth on 19 Oct 2014, 19:44
Perfect Marten.  That was just perfect.

A-

In a perfect hug, either both close their eyes or neither.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 19 Oct 2014, 19:53
Perfect Marten.  That was just perfect.

A-

In a perfect hug, either both close their eyes or neither.

Hug pedantry?

I like you!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Emperor Norton on 19 Oct 2014, 19:54
Faye has issues. Faye has trauma. Its understandable. Its sympathetic. It explains why she acts the way she does.

That doesn't though, make her actions any less painful for other people.

Angus reacted hurt because he was hurt. He just got the opportunity of a lifetime, and Faye turned it around and made it all about her. He wasn't being flippant when he joked about the couch, he was being reassuring. He was saying "There is still room for us/I'm still thinking about us." He knew she didn't want to move to NYC, at least not at the moment, so he was talking about her visiting. Maybe he was wrong about them being able to make it, but he was trying.

Was his hurt reaction of "Why can't you be happy for me?" the right thing to say at the time? No, not really. But neither is what Faye is doing. Its understandable, on both parts, but not RIGHT.

The onus is on both of them. The responsibility for a relationship is NEVER on one person alone. He is responsible for fixing this, but so is she. Even if fixing it is just talking about what they want and coming to the conclusion that they can't be together anymore.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Krald on 19 Oct 2014, 19:58
Unpopular opinion. Maybe Angus is a bit more self centered, like Sven, then people would like to think, the way looks as he tells her "why cant you be happy for me"..... and maybe that is what attracted Faye to him after Sven?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Stoon on 19 Oct 2014, 19:59
Perfect Marten.  That was just perfect.

A-

In a perfect hug, either both close their eyes or neither.

Hug pedantry?

I like you!
Hugs aren't my forte.  I'm pretty sure I can count of the number of hugs I've had in my entire life on one hand.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Stoon on 19 Oct 2014, 20:00
Unpopular opinion. Maybe Angus is a bit more self centered, like Sven, then people would like to think, the way looks as he tells her "why cant you be happy for me"..... and maybe that is what attracted Faye to him after Sven?
I've had that "Angus is bit self-centred" thought myself.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: snarkyone on 19 Oct 2014, 20:01
Hugs aren't my forte.  I'm pretty sure I can count of the number of hugs I've had in my entire life on one hand.

Why so few?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Emperor Norton on 19 Oct 2014, 20:04
I think Angus just doesn't pick up on things sometimes, rather than being genuinely self-centered. He tends to speak quickly without thinking, sticking his foot in his mouth a lot, and seems to miss things that are rather obvious to other people.

I mean, go back to his interaction with Marigold and her liking him. He just completely missed it even though it was pretty obvious. But once he knew what it was, he was very mature and considerate.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 19 Oct 2014, 20:07

Hugs aren't my forte.  I'm pretty sure I can count of the number of hugs I've had in my entire life on one hand.

Would you like a hug?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: LilShortstuf on 19 Oct 2014, 20:12
A spinoff comic staring the bros would be fantastic

Maybe the bros recruit Steve to be part of their secret order?

He's the secret member of the secret order. The HBIC, as it were.

Well Steve has already outed his Bro Sense. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2655)



The onus is on both of them. The responsibility for a relationship is NEVER on one person alone. He is responsible for fixing this, but so is she. Even if fixing it is just talking about what they want and coming to the conclusion that they can't be together anymore.

Exactly. No healthy relationship can be one-sided when it comes to any level of falling out, and, at least to me, their relationship so far has been pretty healthy. They both bear the onus of fixing this. What remains to be seen is whether both of them will be willing to bear it. If either one decides not to work for this then the relationship was over when Angus left the coffee shop.


EDIT: Fixed my link
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 19 Oct 2014, 20:16
Perfect Marten.  That was just perfect.

A-

In a perfect hug, either both close their eyes or neither.

Hug pedantry?

I like you!
Hugs aren't my forte.  I'm pretty sure I can count of the number of hugs I've had in my entire life on one hand.

That's far too few hugs. Unless, of course, you're not into that sort of thing.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: T on 19 Oct 2014, 20:37
From the other thread:

Anyone is feeling the urge to comfort Faye and tell her that everything will be alright?

Thanks Marten!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 19 Oct 2014, 20:46
No sign of Angus, how long has Faye been just standing there?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 19 Oct 2014, 20:51
Yeah, like GaRarity.

(I couldn't think of a good one for Fluttershy sorry)

Rarity is best pony, so I'm cool with that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 19 Oct 2014, 20:51
No sign of Angus, how long has Faye been just standing there?

Long enough for Angus to leave, not long enough for Dora to swoop in to help.  And she's right there off-panel. Surely the customers annoying people who give her money aren't nearly as important as Faye right now.  What's going on?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rghfrgl on 19 Oct 2014, 21:07
She's been there all weekend.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Krald on 19 Oct 2014, 21:09
So after looking back through the comics i figured out why i dislike the tai/dora ship... tai was like all about getting in dora's pants like 80 strips after the break up, so like, days in comic time? You just don't jump on your friends ex like that, specially in a damn collage town where their are many fish in the sea
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Nyithra on 19 Oct 2014, 21:23
I'm pretty sure Tai thought Dora was hot even when Marten and her were dating. And didn't Marten tell Tai it would be alright? I'm too lazy to go digging through the archives right now.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 19 Oct 2014, 21:32
BEST MARTEN EVER in the first panel today! Too sad he's not allowed to keep that face.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 19 Oct 2014, 21:36
I'm pretty sure Tai thought Dora was hot even when Marten and her were dating. And didn't Marten tell Tai it would be alright? I'm too lazy to go digging through the archives right now.

Strip 1949 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1949)

Not quite permission, though later on (when Claire flips her wig over Dora and Tai, thinking Tai was "diddl[ing] someone else's lady" (IIRC her wording correctly), Marten more or less puts it that way.

ETA: There's also this, (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2219)
"Meh, she's working on her issues. If it makes you both happy, I say go for it."
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Jazzmaster on 19 Oct 2014, 21:49
Sure is a lot of hate for Angus' actions around here.

I don't know why it's his job to read her mind, or to hug her when she acts like she wants him to go away.

Maybe it's just the way I was raised, but if I acted like Faye was acting, nobody would say that it's the other person's fault for not trying to rip down whatever walls I put up, and see past whatever body language I used to communicate for them to leave me alone.  They'd either leave me alone, or they'd tell me to cut the shit and communicate what I actually want.

I am starting to doubt that this is the end of 'Fangus'...but we'll see
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Krald on 19 Oct 2014, 21:51
I'm pretty sure Tai thought Dora was hot even when Marten and her were dating. And didn't Marten tell Tai it would be alright? I'm too lazy to go digging through the archives right now.

There's nothing wrong with thinking someone is hot.  And martin may of said it was alright, but he sure didnt think it judging by his talk with steve later.  Either way it was a shitty spot for tai to put a very passive person in no matter what.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 19 Oct 2014, 21:51
The onus is on both of them. The responsibility for a relationship is NEVER on one person alone. He is responsible for fixing this, but so is she. Even if fixing it is just talking about what they want and coming to the conclusion that they can't be together anymore.

Exactly. No healthy relationship can be one-sided when it comes to any level of falling out, and, at least to me, their relationship so far has been pretty healthy. They both bear the onus of fixing this. What remains to be seen is whether both of them will be willing to bear it. If either one decides not to work for this then the relationship was over when Angus left the coffee shop.

In a perfect world. Equal right, equal responsibility, everyone doing the right thing.

It's not a perfect world, even in the QCverse. If it were, this situation wouldn't have happened.

Angus has less of crippling burden, therefore greater resources. If he wants a continuing relationship with Faye, that means he--as the party with more resources--has to take on more work.

A healthy relationship is not what they have. If they want a healthy relationship, their options are A) The healthiest person carries the load until the other can should some of it. B) Both parties wait until both parties have equal carrying capacity.

B is a bad choice, something Marty and Dora realized.

In the real world, no relationship is equal. A truly healthy relationship is one where both partners have sufficient opportunity to play to their strengths. Each supports the other in turn, as life throws complications at them. Who is supporting who might change so fast neither knows who's hold who up. Or one partner might end up under the load for years.

Faye's damage is extensive. Angus's isn't. His options are to support Faye in getting better, or admit he can't do that. It's not fair, but neither is life.

Of course, that calculus may be moot. Marten was ready to shoulder that burden for Dora. Dora didn't allow it. Nothing says Faye is going to do give Angus the chance. After all, it isn't fair.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: plusorminus on 19 Oct 2014, 22:20

Long enough for Angus to leave, not long enough for Dora to swoop in to help.  And she's right there off-panel. Surely the customers annoying people who give her money aren't nearly as important as Faye right now.  What's going on?

I'm not sure how you know the second part is true? There's no real way to know how much time passed between the "I SHIP IT" strip and Angus walking in. I sort of think if Dora were in the near vicinity:

a) Angus would have said hi to her too

b) Dora would have offered a possible awkward congrats to him

c) She would have tried to get Faye's attention when the convo started going south

Yes, COD is Dora's business, but there's not really any evidence that she was just standing there gawking, ignored basically by Angus, when he came in and during the time he and Faye were talking. Could be wrong. *shrug*
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Jazzmaster on 19 Oct 2014, 22:25

In the real world, no relationship is equal. A truly healthy relationship is one where both partners have sufficient opportunity to play to their strengths. Each supports the other in turn, as life throws complications at them. Who is supporting who might change so fast neither knows who's hold who up. Or one partner might end up under the load for years.

Faye's damage is extensive. Angus's isn't. His options are to support Faye in getting better, or admit he can't do that. It's not fair, but neither is life.

Of course, that calculus may be moot. Marten was ready to shoulder that burden for Dora. Dora didn't allow it. Nothing says Faye is going to do give Angus the chance. After all, it isn't fair.

And for a while, Faye wanted to play these bullshit games where she "tested" Angus, and he was willing to put up with all of it.  Marten finally stepped in and encouraged her to push past her issues (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1667), and open herself up to the idea of dating again.

Perhaps Marten and/or Dora will have to step in and give her a little nudge again.  A nudge for Angus too perhaps, although nobody in Faye's circle is really all that close to him besides Faye herself, so I'm not sure that'll really happen.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 19 Oct 2014, 22:36
I'm not sure how you know the second part is true? There's no real way to know how much time passed between the "I SHIP IT" strip and Angus walking in.

[...]

Yes, COD is Dora's business, but there's not really any evidence that she was just standing there gawking, ignored basically by Angus, when he came in and during the time he and Faye were talking. Could be wrong. *shrug*

Yeah, you're right, sorry.  I just keep picturing strips 2811-2815 mirroring strip #1663 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1663), with Dora just off to the side, only looking horrified instead of squeeful. It's my headcanon, (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2334) but you don't have to respect that.  :-)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 19 Oct 2014, 22:41
And remember, Dora gave Faye more responsibility as to managing CoD so she could cut back on the amount of time she spends there

Nicely done Marten BTW
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 19 Oct 2014, 22:48
We know Dora and Faye left the bar at the same time. If Faye's shift started at five, Dora probably opened. If she's there at all, she's doing business owner stuff in the back...counting beans. But she probably went home.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: kerky on 19 Oct 2014, 23:06
Perfect Marten.  That was just perfect.
You took the words right out of my mouth off my keyboard...

Although I somehow wonder who this new self-secure, smart black-haired skinny indie-boy in QC is  :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: SubaruStephen on 19 Oct 2014, 23:11
World needs more Martens.

And not the bird kind.

(http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Environment/Pix/pictures/2010/6/4/1275663974495/Pine-martens-006.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Somnus Eternus on 19 Oct 2014, 23:18
World needs more Martens.

And not the bird kind.

(http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Environment/Pix/pictures/2010/6/4/1275663974495/Pine-martens-006.jpg)

I...I love you...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 19 Oct 2014, 23:21
^^ +1
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: de_la_Nae on 19 Oct 2014, 23:22

There's nothing wrong with thinking someone is hot.  And martin may of said it was alright, but he sure didnt think it judging by his talk with steve later.  Either way it was a shitty spot for tai to put a very passive person in no matter what.

Fuuuuuuuuuuck Marten on that one.

Time moves at the speed it needs to move in this strip; sometimes fast, sometimes slow. There is little solid understanding.

That said, when you no longer have a relationship, you have little legitimate say anymore. Sorry.

Tai and Marten talked several times, both jokingly and not, on Tai's attraction to Dora. Both before and after his and her's breakup. Both before and after Tai finally made a move on Dora.

Frankly, because Tai loves Marten, she kept a look out for his feelings way more than she needed to on the matter. Because Marten no longer had any stake in that part of Dora's life.

I've been on both sides of this, and I haven't always handled it well. But the truth is at a certain point if you spend all your time waiting for others to be okay with your decisions, then you'll never get to make any decisions. I don't remember Tai's exact words, but her sentiment finally of 'Screw waiting, we're going for it' was right.

And you'll remember that Marten, the one your argument indicates is the centrally hurt party by her actions, wishes her godspeed.

Anyway, that one's been rambling in my head for a while, had to finally chime in.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 19 Oct 2014, 23:28
World needs more Martens.

And not the bird kind.

(http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Environment/Pix/pictures/2010/6/4/1275663974495/Pine-martens-006.jpg)

I just remembered that I wrote a fairy tale-style short story about a marten for school once. It came out pretty good, I think. I wonder if my mother has kept it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 19 Oct 2014, 23:31
"A true, true friend helps a friend in need,
A friend will be there to help them see!
A true, true friend helps a friend in need
To see the light that comes from a true, true friend!
"

Time enough for the explanation and wise counsel later. Right now, he just needs to let her cry (or as close to crying as Faye lets herself come).

Regarding timing, I suspect Marten and Angus passed eachother just outside the shop.

Now, is it me or was Marten humming a cheerful tune as he entered?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 19 Oct 2014, 23:40
Now, is it me or was Marten humming a cheerful tune as he entered?

If it was you, which tune was it?  :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 19 Oct 2014, 23:44
I just hope it wasn't a creepy one like 'Tip-toe Through The Tulips'.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 19 Oct 2014, 23:47
 :laugh:

I don't think Marten was humming, though. I can't imagine Jeph neglecting to draw notes around Martens's head if that was the case.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rghfrgl on 19 Oct 2014, 23:52
He's humming something, but you've probably never heard it before.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 19 Oct 2014, 23:59
"A true, true friend helps a friend in need,
A friend will be there to help them see!
A true, true friend helps a friend in need
To see the light that comes from a true, true friend!
"


Pony references all over the WCDT so far. The power Sassershy compels you!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Pilchard123 on 20 Oct 2014, 00:38
Not to tell you guys how to do your job, but aren't ship names somewhat frowned upon? Or is that just yacht names, since they have no cannon?

It's not a ship name if they're an actual couple.

I will admit to most of that post being a vehicle for the yacht joke.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 20 Oct 2014, 00:47
I figured. Thought I'd cut your joke's tires for fun though.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ASB84 on 20 Oct 2014, 00:57
So after looking back through the comics i figured out why i dislike the tai/dora ship... tai was like all about getting in dora's pants like 80 strips after the break up, so like, days in comic time? You just don't jump on your friends ex like that, specially in a damn collage town where their are many fish in the sea

That's bugged me too, but at the end of the day, I figured that Marten's OK with it, so that's what really matters in-universe.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Half Empty Coffee Cup on 20 Oct 2014, 01:07
So after looking back through the comics i figured out why i dislike the tai/dora ship... tai was like all about getting in dora's pants like 80 strips after the break up, so like, days in comic time? You just don't jump on your friends ex like that, specially in a damn collage town where their are many fish in the sea

That's bugged me too, but at the end of the day, I figured that Marten's OK with it, so that's what really matters in-universe.
If Marten were any chiller, he'd need resuscitation. Dude practically oozes reasonable thoughts. Like the thought that it really isn't up to him whether or not someone gets together with his ex or to judge someone for it, regardless of how soon it is.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Emperor Norton on 20 Oct 2014, 01:39
In a perfect world. Equal right, equal responsibility, everyone doing the right thing.

It's not a perfect world, even in the QCverse. If it were, this situation wouldn't have happened.

Angus has less of crippling burden, therefore greater resources. If he wants a continuing relationship with Faye, that means he--as the party with more resources--has to take on more work.

A healthy relationship is not what they have. If they want a healthy relationship, their options are A) The healthiest person carries the load until the other can should some of it. B) Both parties wait until both parties have equal carrying capacity.

B is a bad choice, something Marty and Dora realized.

In the real world, no relationship is equal. A truly healthy relationship is one where both partners have sufficient opportunity to play to their strengths. Each supports the other in turn, as life throws complications at them. Who is supporting who might change so fast neither knows who's hold who up. Or one partner might end up under the load for years.

Faye's damage is extensive. Angus's isn't. His options are to support Faye in getting better, or admit he can't do that. It's not fair, but neither is life.

Of course, that calculus may be moot. Marten was ready to shoulder that burden for Dora. Dora didn't allow it. Nothing says Faye is going to do give Angus the chance. After all, it isn't fair.

You should check out the word you used. This post isn't necessarily incorrect, but the word you used before is ONUS. As in, the duty, the responsibility. He may have to put more work into this to get the relationship to work, but its not in any way his DUTY to do so. Even if the relationship continues, its not his duty to be perfect, while excusing her flaws because of trauma.

Trauma is an explanation, not an excuse.

We should all work to be sympathetic and understanding, but people still need to be held accountable for their shit. And that goes for whether someone has trauma or not. And that doesn't mean being a dick to them, or yelling at them, but pointing out when they are being unfair isn't going to far. Being upset with them hurting you is not going to far.

And that still comes to the simple fact: Angus can do zero to fix this until Faye is at least ready to talk to him about it. Literally nothing. So the idea that its all on him is absurd. If she doesn't want to listen, doesn't want to talk, anything he does can only make it worse.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: aphanisis81 on 20 Oct 2014, 03:21
I have to say, my enjoyment of the bros' appearances is disproportionate to their prominence/importance to the strip. Love that library gag.

Agreed! The library strip, and also the one at the Horrible Revelation where they're just waiting with bated breath for Angus to say the word, are brilliant. Their presence is especially incongruous since they're clearly UMass students (and I'm not just stereotyping, one of them wears either a UMass cap or hoodie), and they're hanging out in Northampton - sometimes even at the Smith/Smif library - which is a highly inconvenient 10 mile drive from Amherst, and also one of the most bro-free places in New England.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: aphanisis81 on 20 Oct 2014, 03:22
Now, is it me or was Marten humming a cheerful tune as he entered?

If it was you, which tune was it?  :-D

The theme to the old Andy Griffith Show, obvi.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 20 Oct 2014, 03:25
I'm not familiar with that, unfortunately.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: aphanisis81 on 20 Oct 2014, 03:31
I'm not familiar with that, unfortunately.

It's just silly and upbeat and wholesome. Totally what I'd be whistling as I strode down Main St. NoHo after making first kisses with a gal I fancy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzQXeC5O01Y
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 20 Oct 2014, 03:41
Once again, Jeph does so well with facial expressions and body language. When Faye looks up at Marten in panel 3, she's so clearly saying: "I'm hurt, I'm frightened and I'm alone and I don't know what to do!" That's why he hugged her - he knew that she needed reassurance that she's still loved and valued before anything else.

Marten joked that 'we' have adopted another one when Emily admitted she didn't have friends of her own outside of the interns and Marten's circle. However, it does seem to be his destiny in Northampton to acquire a whole bus-load of younger sisters, all with their different problems for which they are sort of reliant on 'big brother' Marten to help them handle. Even Dora is included in this, although I get the impression that she's more reliant on Tai of late (with the unanticipated consequence that Tai has become more reliant on Marten in turn).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: aphanisis81 on 20 Oct 2014, 04:05
Once again, Jeph does so well with facial expressions and body language. When Faye looks up at Marten in panel 3, she's so clearly saying: "I'm hurt, I'm frightened and I'm alone and I don't know what to do!" That's why he hugged her - he knew that she needed reassurance that she's still loved and valued before anything else.

Marten joked that 'we' have adopted another one when Emily admitted she didn't have friends of her own outside of the interns and Marten's circle. However, it does seem to be his destiny in Northampton to acquire a whole bus-load of younger sisters, all with their different problems for which they are sort of reliant on 'big brother' Marten to help them handle. Even Dora is included in this, although I get the impression that she's more reliant on Tai of late (with the unanticipated consequence that Tai has become more reliant on Marten in turn).

Totally. Today's comic is just beautiful. With minimal dialogue, it's a heartrending reminder that Marten and Faye's relationship (and I mean that in the most platonic sense) is the core of QC, no matter how many more characters are introduced.

Faye's "thanks" is perfect, just perfect.

Is the timeline that this comic happened the day after the night out at the bar/headscratching makeouts? Which itself was the night after Too-Much-Crisis-Wine? Jeph's ability to tell stories at such a glacial pace never fails to impress.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 20 Oct 2014, 04:16
When I look at it now, it kinda looks like Marten is sweeping the floor with an imaginary broom in the first panel.  :laugh:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: sitnspin on 20 Oct 2014, 04:18

There's nothing wrong with thinking someone is hot.  And martin may of said it was alright, but he sure didn't think it judging by his talk with steve later.  Either way it was a shitty spot for tai to put a very passive person in no matter what.

Fuuuuuuuuuuck Marten on that one.

Time moves at the speed it needs to move in this strip; sometimes fast, sometimes slow. There is little solid understanding.

That said, when you no longer have a relationship, you have little legitimate say anymore. Sorry.

Tai and Marten talked several times, both jokingly and not, on Tai's attraction to Dora. Both before and after his and her's breakup. Both before and after Tai finally made a move on Dora.

Frankly, because Tai loves Marten, she kept a look out for his feelings way more than she needed to on the matter. Because Marten no longer had any stake in that part of Dora's life.

I've been on both sides of this, and I haven't always handled it well. But the truth is at a certain point if you spend all your time waiting for others to be okay with your decisions, then you'll never get to make any decisions. I don't remember Tai's exact words, but her sentiment finally of 'Screw waiting, we're going for it' was right.

And you'll remember that Marten, the one your argument indicates is the centrally hurt party by her actions, wishes her godspeed.

Anyway, that one's been rambling in my head for a while, had to finally chime in.

My thoughts exactly. I never understood the whole "you can't date a friends' ex" thing. It is ridiculous and it is basically saying that a person's ex is their property and dating them is like stealing from them. Let's make this clear: You don't own anyone, people are free to making their own decisions and form whatever relationships make them mutually happy. You don't get to a say in who they date. Once the relationship is over, you no longer get to have any input.  Dating someone's ex is not "putting them in a shitty spot". They are your ex, it no longer concerns you.

I want my friends to be happy, I wouldn't think to stand in their way if being together makes them happy. Tai asked Marten if it was okay first, which is far more than she had any obligation to do.

Having a plethora of "options" should in no way impact someone's decision to pursue the person they have feeling for. You like who you like, the fact that you could date someone else instead doesn't change that.



As for today's comic, good job Marten, you are doing it right. A friend is there for you and supportive without needing to know why.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: aphanisis81 on 20 Oct 2014, 04:34

There's nothing wrong with thinking someone is hot.  And martin may of said it was alright, but he sure didn't think it judging by his talk with steve later.  Either way it was a shitty spot for tai to put a very passive person in no matter what.

Fuuuuuuuuuuck Marten on that one.

Time moves at the speed it needs to move in this strip; sometimes fast, sometimes slow. There is little solid understanding.

That said, when you no longer have a relationship, you have little legitimate say anymore. Sorry.

Tai and Marten talked several times, both jokingly and not, on Tai's attraction to Dora. Both before and after his and her's breakup. Both before and after Tai finally made a move on Dora.

Frankly, because Tai loves Marten, she kept a look out for his feelings way more than she needed to on the matter. Because Marten no longer had any stake in that part of Dora's life.

I've been on both sides of this, and I haven't always handled it well. But the truth is at a certain point if you spend all your time waiting for others to be okay with your decisions, then you'll never get to make any decisions. I don't remember Tai's exact words, but her sentiment finally of 'Screw waiting, we're going for it' was right.

And you'll remember that Marten, the one your argument indicates is the centrally hurt party by her actions, wishes her godspeed.

Anyway, that one's been rambling in my head for a while, had to finally chime in.

My thoughts exactly. I never understood the whole "you can't date a friends' ex" thing. It is ridiculous and it is basically saying that a person's ex is their property and dating them is like stealing from them. Let's make this clear: You don't own anyone, people are free to making their own decisions and form whatever relationships make them mutually happy. You don't get to a say in who they date. Once the relationship is over, you no longer get to have any input.  Dating someone's ex is not "putting them in a shitty spot". They are your ex, it no longer concerns you.

I want my friends to be happy, I wouldn't think to stand in their way if being together makes them happy. Tai asked Marten if it was okay first, which is far more than she had any obligation to do.

Having a plethora of "options" should in no way impact someone's decision to pursue the person they have feeling for. You like who you like, the fact that you could date someone else instead doesn't change that.



As for today's comic, good job Marten, you are doing it right. A friend is there for you and supportive without needing to know why.

I don't think it's as simple as Krald puts it, but I think you're maybe oversimplifying too. Sure, it's not WRONG to date someone a friend used to date, but I think it's reasonable to say that by doing so, you're basically saying "I'm willing to risk your comfort and our friendship in order to be with this person." It basically prioritizes the romantic relationship over the friendship one.

But there are so many factors. How long were they together? How serious was it? What was the nature of the breakup? Who dumped whom? Is your friend basically over it and getting back out there, or drowning him/herself in whisky and listening to The Cure every night?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Krald on 20 Oct 2014, 04:56


I don't think it's as simple as Krald puts it, but I think you're maybe oversimplifying too. Sure, it's not WRONG to date someone a friend used to date, but I think it's reasonable to say that by doing so, you're basically saying "I'm willing to risk your comfort and our friendship in order to be with this person." It basically prioritizes the romantic relationship over the friendship one.

But there are so many factors. How long were they together? How serious was it? What was the nature of the breakup? Who dumped whom? Is your friend basically over it and getting back out there, or drowning him/herself in whisky and listening to The Cure every night?

All i was stating was it was pretty douchy for her to leap on dora the moment she was free, mostly since it was a Dora freak out break up, not  hey this just isnt working out, despite marten saying it was a joint decision it really was not. Never said she couldn't date her, just let the poor guy who got kicked out of the relationship not see one of his friends all over his ex within like, weeks.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ASB84 on 20 Oct 2014, 04:58
Generally speaking, I think it's at least a contentious issue among groups of friends, even if it's not an outright taboo. I think if you were to hook up with a friend's ex pretty much right after a break-up, it's basically confirming that "Yeah, I've fancied your significant other for some time now", and seemingly implies - whether it's actually the case or not - that you've been waiting for things to fall apart so that you could make your move. It's kind of a lousy way to feel about a friend's partner, and not particularly considerate of their feelings or your friendship with them.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: sitnspin on 20 Oct 2014, 05:11
I don't think it's as simple as Krald puts it, but I think you're maybe oversimplifying too. Sure, it's not WRONG to date someone a friend used to date, but I think it's reasonable to say that by doing so, you're basically saying "I'm willing to risk your comfort and our friendship in order to be with this person." It basically prioritizes the romantic relationship over the friendship one.

But there are so many factors. How long were they together? How serious was it? What was the nature of the breakup? Who dumped whom? Is your friend basically over it and getting back out there, or drowning him/herself in whisky and listening to The Cure every night?

Obviously there are nuances and extenuating circumstances, and every situation is slightly different, but on the whole I still stand by my analysis.  It's also reasonable to say that if you are willing to prevent your friend from dating your ex you are saying that your comfort is more important than their potential happiness.  I can only speak for myself, but like I said I wouldn't want to stand in the way of my friends' happiness and I'd not expect them to need or request my permission. I stand by my position that preventing, or attempting to prevent, a friend from dating your ex is a selfish asshole move and reeks of entitlement.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: snubnose on 20 Oct 2014, 05:12
Yeesh the poll is just stupid today, not gonna vote on that.

Comic is ADOREABLE ! :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 20 Oct 2014, 05:18
What I found interesting about Tai asking Marten's 'permission' to have a relationship with Dora is the degree to which she was using Marten as a sounding board to work out her own feelings of inadequacy to do so.

So, yeah, that's the point when she became another of Marten's gang of little sisters.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: sitnspin on 20 Oct 2014, 05:20
All i was stating was it was pretty douchy for her to leap on dora the moment she was free, mostly since it was a Dora freak out break up, not  hey this just isn't working out, despite marten saying it was a joint decision it really was not. Never said she couldn't date her, just let the poor guy who got kicked out of the relationship not see one of his friends all over his ex within like, weeks.

Except it WAS a mutual decision. She freaked out, yes, but the freak out was not what ended the relationship. The freak out was just what sparked the conversation that lead to the agreement that it wasn't working out.  And she didn't jump on him the moment Dora was free.  As you said, it was weeks later.

So what, in your sage opinion, is an acceptable amount of time? Months? Years? Or, here's a thought, how about after he actually flat out said it was okay? Which he did.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ZoeB on 20 Oct 2014, 05:25
And that still comes to the simple fact: Angus can do zero to fix this until Faye is at least ready to talk to him about it. Literally nothing. So the idea that its all on him is absurd. If she doesn't want to listen, doesn't want to talk, anything he does can only make it worse.
There's also the matter of his own emotional state too.
OK, he's been in denial. Well so has Faye. No-one's fault, we all tend to cross fingers and hope for the best. As do Claire and Marten. Often it works. When it doesn't - we see the results here.

Marten did good.

I hope that Angus gets the same degree of support. He needs it, and deserves it, too. Right now, I can imagine him just sitting, staring into a fire. As guys tend to do, in my experience.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: plusorminus on 20 Oct 2014, 05:30
All i was stating was it was pretty douchy for her to leap on dora the moment she was free, mostly since it was a Dora freak out break up, not  hey this just isn't working out, despite marten saying it was a joint decision it really was not. Never said she couldn't date her, just let the poor guy who got kicked out of the relationship not see one of his friends all over his ex within like, weeks.

Except it WAS a mutual decision. She freaked out, yes, but the freak out was not what ended the relationship. The freak out was just what sparked the conversation that lead to the agreement that it wasn't working out.  And she didn't jump on him the moment Dora was free.  As you said, it was weeks later.

So what, in your sage opinion, is an acceptable amount of time? Months? Years? Or, here's a thought, how about after he actually flat out said it was okay? Which he did.

I'm kinda wondering why you're being so hostile about this?  :? I incline more to your side, but I think the sarcasm and anger in the bolded is really uncalled for. If it's cool for you to have your opinion on this, why isn't it cool for others to have theirs? Some people just feel that dating a friend's ex is crappy for whatever reason.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aimless on 20 Oct 2014, 05:30
Obviously there are nuances and extenuating circumstances, and every situation is slightly different, but on the whole I still stand by my analysis.  It's also reasonable to say that if you are willing to prevent your friend from dating your ex you are saying that your comfort is more important than their potential happiness.  I can only speak for myself, but like I said I wouldn't want to stand in the way of my friends' happiness and I'd not expect them to need or request my permission. I stand by my position that preventing, or attempting to prevent, a friend from dating your ex is a selfish asshole move and reeks of entitlement.

Every pair of friends will have to make their own decisions wrt this sorta thing. However, the matter of "getting in the way" of someone's happiness isn't so cut-and-dried. You can't change the fact that you were in a relationship with someone and that the relationship ended, for whatever reason. Usually, if you feel bad about it, you can't immediatly change the way it feels to have that person remain in your life but in a relationship with your friend, a constant reminder of the companionship, love and the happiness you lost or as a constant source of unhappiness caused by eg. the crappy behavior to which you subjected each other. Seen in that light, it's your friend who may be in the way of your healing and your future happiness--never mind making an iffy statement about the legitimacy of whatever caused your relationship to break down, eg. constant contempt and mistreatment in pertinent cases--as much as the other way around. Unless your friend is in very dire straits, there are probably other people out there with which they can attempt to find happiness. You're not really very much "in the way" if there are a thousand other paths for your friend to take.

None of the foregoing is relevant to Marten/Dora/Tai. Marten's a chill dude and he and Dora didn't mistreat each other so much as they were both borked.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: aphanisis81 on 20 Oct 2014, 05:52


I don't think it's as simple as Krald puts it, but I think you're maybe oversimplifying too. Sure, it's not WRONG to date someone a friend used to date, but I think it's reasonable to say that by doing so, you're basically saying "I'm willing to risk your comfort and our friendship in order to be with this person." It basically prioritizes the romantic relationship over the friendship one.

But there are so many factors. How long were they together? How serious was it? What was the nature of the breakup? Who dumped whom? Is your friend basically over it and getting back out there, or drowning him/herself in whisky and listening to The Cure every night?

All i was stating was it was pretty douchy for her to leap on dora the moment she was free, mostly since it was a Dora freak out break up, not  hey this just isnt working out, despite marten saying it was a joint decision it really was not. Never said she couldn't date her, just let the poor guy who got kicked out of the relationship not see one of his friends all over his ex within like, weeks.

I agree with you with respect to the QC scenario. I was just trying to split the difference as far as applying the ex's friends principle across the board, which I see now you weren't doing anyway. Sorry for misrepresenting your position, wasn't my intent.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: sitnspin on 20 Oct 2014, 05:54
Like I said, circumstances vary. No view is entirely correct in all situations. I did make it clear that this is how I view the subject in my own life. Then again, in my social circles, if no one was allowed to date anyone's ex, no one would be able to date anyone. Even in bigger cities, the dating for us gay ladies is not that huge. But, regardless, as I said earlier the number of potential partners should not be a factor in deciding whether or not to pursue who you fancy.

If a friend broke up with someone because the woman mistreated her, I'd have no interest in dating that person because she obviously doesn't treat people very well. If i just got out of a relationship because the person mistreated me, I wouldn't want my friend to date her because I wouldn't my friend to be involved with someone who would mistreat her, not because I'd be hurt by it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 20 Oct 2014, 06:04
If a friend broke up with someone because the woman mistreated her, I'd have no interest in dating that person because she obviously doesn't treat people very well. If i just got out of a relationship because the person mistreated me, I wouldn't want my friend to date her because I wouldn't my friend to be involved with someone who would mistreat her, not because I'd be hurt by it.

With reference to this particular caveat, it's interesting that one of the terms under which Marten gave his permission was that Dora had 'got her head screwed on'. In other words, Marten was aware of Dora's emotional health issues and would have warned Tai off if he thought it was a bad idea for either of them to try this.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Krald on 20 Oct 2014, 06:09
Sorry for derailing the thread, i did try and mention it when it was more relevant but it was lost in all the squeeeing
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 20 Oct 2014, 06:15
I hope that Angus gets the same degree of support. He needs it, and deserves it, too. Right now, I can imagine him just sitting, staring into a fire. As guys tend to do, in my experience.

Do you know what I'd like? I'd like for Angus to go into a bar to drown his sorrows and encounter Sven. The two of them get talking (not knowing who the other is, at least at first). Sven gives Angus a verbal slap-down about giving up so easily and letting Faye go. "Here's a bit of free advice, man. I made the biggest fuck-up in my life when I let that woman walk out of my life because I was scared of committing to her. If I were you? If I had the choices you now have? I'd hold on to her so tight that the only way they could seperate us would be to cut my cold, rotting corpse loose. Now get back there and prove to her that you love her as much as she deserves!"

[edit]
For some reason, I just suddenly had a flash of Sven being Angus's Cyrano de Bergerac, providing the words Angus needs to reassure Faye and win her back. Only Dora, who knows her brother's lyrical style so well, recognises that the words are his and knows just what he's willing to do to make Faye happy.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: anahata on 20 Oct 2014, 06:26
Now get back there and prove to her that you love her as much as she deserves!"

He doesn't have much wiggle room though, does he?
Giving up his new job offer would be terrible for them both, as discussed many times before.
So Faye is forced to choose between LDR and moving to NY, neither of which she seems to want much.

The only damage that Angus can repair is to apologise for expecting Faye to be unreservedly happy for him, focus on her needs and maybe talk about what they can do to make the LDR option as painless as possible.

It seems incredible that they didn't discuss this before. Maybe neither of them really thought he'd get the job.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 20 Oct 2014, 06:27
Heh - it's never been Sven's silver tongue that worked on Faye.  That was pure pheromones, man.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: eschaton on 20 Oct 2014, 06:28
Agreed! The library strip, and also the one at the Horrible Revelation where they're just waiting with bated breath for Angus to say the word, are brilliant. Their presence is especially incongruous since they're clearly UMass students (and I'm not just stereotyping, one of them wears either a UMass cap or hoodie), and they're hanging out in Northampton - sometimes even at the Smith/Smif library - which is a highly inconvenient 10 mile drive from Amherst, and also one of the most bro-free places in New England.

Hey!  I'm a UMass graduate (lived in the Valley for six years, between undergrad and masters), and I spent quite a lot of time in Noho.  I could name drop places, but it was all over ten years ago now, and probably only a small slice of the forum actually knows Northampton well. 

Of course, no one would ever have confused me for a Bro. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 20 Oct 2014, 06:34
I've always seen it as a matter of courtesy "Hey are you okay with seeing this person again on a regular basis? Are you solid there emotionally or do you not want to deal with it?" There's also the matter of minimizing the drama that can infect small groups of friends. I think the major issue here that people are having with Marten/Tai/Dora is that Marten's passive as all fuck, so it's possible that in her enthusiasm she was tossing her friend under the bus. That obviously hasn't happened in this situation, so all good, but this kind of crap, especially with even vaguely volatile individuals involved, has detonated groups of people I really miss hanging out with.

I don't think Angus is going to get that pep talk, and I doubt Sven is the kind of man who could even begin to give it. In the end this was a short relationship they both enjoyed, but this is Angus's dream. A man (or a woman) has gotta do what they've gotta do, and if you have a dream, a passion, then you do anything you have to do to chase that and don't look back. The lives we have in many cases are relatively comfortable and easy, taking the plunge into the unknown is harsh, and terrifying, but there's no better moment in life then right after you cut yourself free and make a leap of faith.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 20 Oct 2014, 06:39
I hope that Angus gets the same degree of support. He needs it, and deserves it, too. Right now, I can imagine him just sitting, staring into a fire. As guys tend to do, in my experience.

And this is where Momo comes in. She's experienced at offering emotional support, be it a shoulder to cry on or a (metaphorical) kick in the pants.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Neko_Ali on 20 Oct 2014, 06:59
Do you know what I'd like? I'd like for Angus to go into a bar to drown his sorrows and encounter Sven. The two of them get talking (not knowing who the other is, at least at first). Sven gives Angus a verbal slap-down about giving up so easily and letting Faye go. "Here's a bit of free advice, man. I made the biggest fuck-up in my life when I let that woman walk out of my life because I was scared of committing to her. If I were you? If I had the choices you now have? I'd hold on to her so tight that the only way they could seperate us would be to cut my cold, rotting corpse loose. Now get back there and prove to her that you love her as much as she deserves!"

I have to say.. this creeps me out, a lot. I can totally see Sven saying that, because that's the sort of advice you would get from a romantic comedy which is where Sven seems to be picking up a lot of his relationship advice from. RomComs I'm finding to be pretty horrible about depicting healthy relationships. Your girl broke up with you because she has serious emotional issues and deep seated psychological scars and now can't deal with a a LDR because it feels to much like abandonment? You need to keep pressing her and holding on, no matter what she says or does, and eventually she'll cave in and life will be good forever!"

Yea, no. Life doesn't work like that. What is needed is what is going on right now. They need to got their separate ways for a bit. They need some hugs and talk things out with their friends and get some support. They need some time to come down off the panic attack and pull themselves out of the deep depression they are in, then they can talk about it, openly and honestly, when they are in a better place. Maybe things will work out and they decide to give it a try, that their relationship is important enough for Faye to push out of her comfort zone and grow. Maybe they'll decide their relationship isn't worth the pain and part with well wishes to each other. But pushing Faye to deal with something she isn't ready to deal with right now isn't going to help anyone. It's just going to make Faye feel more down about herself and going to upset both of them more.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 20 Oct 2014, 07:04
I'm not familiar with that, unfortunately.
It's just silly and upbeat and wholesome. Totally what I'd be whistling as I strode down Main St. NoHo after making first kisses with a gal I fancy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzQXeC5O01Y

Trivia: It actually has a name. "The Fishin' Hole."
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Endellion on 20 Oct 2014, 07:16
I hope that Angus gets the same degree of support. He needs it, and deserves it, too. Right now, I can imagine him just sitting, staring into a fire. As guys tend to do, in my experience.

And this is where Momo comes in. She's experienced at offering emotional support, be it a shoulder to cry on or a (metaphorical) kick in the pants.

If it's an actual kick in the pants that is needed, May might still be hanging at the apartment.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Welu on 20 Oct 2014, 07:59
That last few strips have been hitting kind of close with me, as do most where Faye is down.

Marten did a cool thing. Go friendship!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: TieDyeKat on 20 Oct 2014, 08:07

For some reason, I just suddenly had a flash of Sven being Angus's Cyrano de Bergerac, providing the words Angus needs to reassure Faye and win her back. Only Dora, who knows her brother's lyrical style so well, recognises that the words are his and knows just what he's willing to do to make Faye happy.

I dunno, I think only Wil gets that sort of favor...

http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1213
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: eschaton on 20 Oct 2014, 08:54
Marten seems to like doing that confident walk after he has luck with a lady. (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2058)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 20 Oct 2014, 08:56
Well, it's more his "I've got a girl and I'm happy" walk, more than anything else. Either way,  I really want to know what happened between the pancake breakfast and Marten entering Coffee of Doom some time after 5pm!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 20 Oct 2014, 08:58
I'm not familiar with that, unfortunately.
It's just silly and upbeat and wholesome. Totally what I'd be whistling as I strode down Main St. NoHo after making first kisses with a gal I fancy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzQXeC5O01Y

Trivia: It actually has a name. "The Fishin' Hole."

And words. 

Quote from: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/theandygriffithshowlyrics.html
Well, now, take down your fishin' pole and meet me at The Fishin' Hole,
We may not get a bite all day, but don't you rush away.

What a great place to rest your bones and mighty fine for skippin' stones,
You'll feel fresh as a lemonade, a-settin' in the shade.

Whether it's hot, whether it's cool, oh what a spot for whistlin' like a fool.

What a fine day to take a stroll and wander by The Fishin' Hole,
I can't think of a better way to pass the time o' day.

We'll have no need to call the roll when we get to The Fishin' Hole,
There'll be you, me, and Old Dog Trey, to doodle time away.

If we don't hook a perch or bass, we'll cool our toes in dewy grass,
Or else pull up a weed to chaw, and maybe set and jaw.

Hangin' around, takin' our ease, watchin' that hound a-scratchin' at his fleas.

Come on, take down your fishin' pole and meet me at The Fishin' Hole,
I can't think of a better way to pass the time o' day.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 20 Oct 2014, 09:00
Well, it's more his "I've got a girl and I'm happy" walk, more than anything else. Either way,  I really want to know what happened between the pancake breakfast and Marten entering Coffee of Doom some time after 5pm!

It's not after 5 yet, that's when Faye gets off work. 

She's still on the clock, which makes an emotional crisis even worse...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zandin on 20 Oct 2014, 09:00
I just can't understand the Angus hate on this forum right now. She asked him questions, he had a plan, one that DID include her. He knew she didn't want to move to the city, so he didn't even ask. Faye immediately gets aggressive, and then refuses to talk when he tries to take it seriously. Sorry, but dream career obviously wins over the girl you've been seeing for a couple months. especially if she isn't supportive. I know the forum has had over a decade to get to know Faye, but to defend her here is ridiculous when she is obviously the one with issues she refuses to deal with. I'm gonna be really disappointed in Jeph if he only plays the "Angus is an ass" card.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: aphanisis81 on 20 Oct 2014, 09:00
I'm not familiar with that, unfortunately.
It's just silly and upbeat and wholesome. Totally what I'd be whistling as I strode down Main St. NoHo after making first kisses with a gal I fancy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzQXeC5O01Y

Trivia: It actually has a name. "The Fishin' Hole."

And words. 

Quote from: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/tvthemes/theandygriffithshowlyrics.html
Well, now, take down your fishin' pole and meet me at The Fishin' Hole,
We may not get a bite all day, but don't you rush away.

What a great place to rest your bones and mighty fine for skippin' stones,
You'll feel fresh as a lemonade, a-settin' in the shade.

Whether it's hot, whether it's cool, oh what a spot for whistlin' like a fool.

What a fine day to take a stroll and wander by The Fishin' Hole,
I can't think of a better way to pass the time o' day.

We'll have no need to call the roll when we get to The Fishin' Hole,
There'll be you, me, and Old Dog Trey, to doodle time away.

If we don't hook a perch or bass, we'll cool our toes in dewy grass,
Or else pull up a weed to chaw, and maybe set and jaw.

Hangin' around, takin' our ease, watchin' that hound a-scratchin' at his fleas.

Come on, take down your fishin' pole and meet me at The Fishin' Hole,
I can't think of a better way to pass the time o' day.

Mind blown.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 20 Oct 2014, 09:04
Well, it's more his "I've got a girl and I'm happy" walk, more than anything else. Either way,  I really want to know what happened between the pancake breakfast and Marten entering Coffee of Doom some time after 5pm!

It's not after 5 yet, that's when Faye gets off work. 

Incorrect, Faye's shift today started at 5pm (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2798). Agreed that she's still on the clock but it's late afternoon/early evening right now. Marten has likely spent the entire day with Claire, unless she had work and he was on his day off. I'm thinking it's the former, given the walk.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 20 Oct 2014, 09:04
Ooops... I'm gonna blame it on old(er) age...

Mind blown.

Andy Griffith was an early "country" star before getting into TV and movies, this is off one of his records.  The TV theme was taken from the whistling breaks in the middle and end of the song. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Staff_Inflection on 20 Oct 2014, 09:33


I don't think it's as simple as Krald puts it, but I think you're maybe oversimplifying too. Sure, it's not WRONG to date someone a friend used to date, but I think it's reasonable to say that by doing so, you're basically saying "I'm willing to risk your comfort and our friendship in order to be with this person." It basically prioritizes the romantic relationship over the friendship one.

But there are so many factors. How long were they together? How serious was it? What was the nature of the breakup? Who dumped whom? Is your friend basically over it and getting back out there, or drowning him/herself in whisky and listening to The Cure every night?

All i was stating was it was pretty douchy for her to leap on dora the moment she was free, mostly since it was a Dora freak out break up, not  hey this just isnt working out, despite marten saying it was a joint decision it really was not. Never said she couldn't date her, just let the poor guy who got kicked out of the relationship not see one of his friends all over his ex within like, weeks.

That's pretty much how Dora/Marten got started, no? As soon as the path was clear, she jumped on it
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Neko_Ali on 20 Oct 2014, 09:35
Kinda-sorta. Faye and Marten never dated. Dora just stood back and didn't get involved until Faye made it clear nothing was ever going to happen between the two of them.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Staff_Inflection on 20 Oct 2014, 09:40
Yeah, I know that. Its just an observation of something of an established pattern regarding Dora and relationships

Also, people are waaaay too forgiving of Faye's actions. As someone said before: her issues are an explanation, not an excuse.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 20 Oct 2014, 09:48
But I'm not completely sure that it's her issues that are the whole main problem. 

She's been faking it, hoping to make it.  And she just realized that she hasn't made it.  One of the biggest successes of his life, and she feels... stressed. 

Not happy, even for him. 

I think she's just realized that she's not in love with him.  Not even 'anymore' - possibly she never was.  The relevant strips have been referenced by others upthread. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Neko_Ali on 20 Oct 2014, 09:51
Faye was trapped in a no-win situation. The worst thing she did here was going to everyone else to talk about her problems and worries about if Angus gets the job except for the person she should have been talking to, Angus. But that's what society tells us to do, yes? Be there for your partner. Support them and be happy for them, even if it's tearing you apart. I've said it over and over again, Faye is as much a victim here as Angus.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Conzy on 20 Oct 2014, 10:00
I just can't understand the Angus hate on this forum right now. She asked him questions, he had a plan, one that DID include her. He knew she didn't want to move to the city, so he didn't even ask. Faye immediately gets aggressive, and then refuses to talk when he tries to take it seriously. Sorry, but dream career obviously wins over the girl you've been seeing for a couple months. especially if she isn't supportive. I know the forum has had over a decade to get to know Faye, but to defend her here is ridiculous when she is obviously the one with issues she refuses to deal with. I'm gonna be really disappointed in Jeph if he only plays the "Angus is an ass" card.

I've been hoping someone would say this. So many people jumped down his throat for the couch gag last week, despite no-one deciding to point out that he was only there while looking for a place of his own which wouldn't take long. Angus was under the impression that an LDR would take place for a while because he discussed his feelings and ambitions openly with Faye and she agreed. How on earth was he meant to know she wasn't being honest?

Faye was trapped in a no-win situation. The worst thing she did here was going to everyone else to talk about her problems and worries about if Angus gets the job except for the person she should have been talking to, Angus. But that's what society tells us to do, yes? Be there for your partner. Support them and be happy for them, even if it's tearing you apart. I've said it over and over again, Faye is as much a victim here as Angus.

Not wanting to sound rude, but blaming society because Faye wasn't willing to tell Angus how she felt seems like clutching at straws to me. There comes a time where we have to take responsibility for our own (in)actions.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 10:08
You should check out the word you used. This post isn't necessarily incorrect, but the word you used before is ONUS. As in, the duty, the responsibility. He may have to put more work into this to get the relationship to work, but its not in any way his DUTY to do so.

If he wants things to work, it is something he's going to have to take responsibility for.

Onus is a duty OR responsibility, using only google to look it up. Interestingly, if you check with various dictionary sources, you get different definitions entirely. It turns out onus is a word that has many meanings. Who'd have thunk it?

The most common first definition of the word is "difficult or unpleasant task," which I think accurately sums up the situation. It's certainly the sense I used.

Accountability is overrated, especially in situations like this. It follows from the western fetish for punishment and vengeance. I'm not sure how revenge is useful in this context. If you care about someone, you try to help them. Period. If you can't because of other emotion, you admit the other emotion is stronger than your ability to care about that person. It's all rather simple, but we value judge the caring to the extent that not caring enough is something only bad people do. Since we aren't bad people, it must be someone else's fault. BS self justification, but lying to ourselves so we can judge others is fundamental to the human condition.

You keep going on about Faye not letting Angus do whatever, as if I haven't already acknowledged that. This is a relationship based comic. It's unlikely that Angus is a serial killer, or will die in the war. (Though, Angus getting killed would be the ultimate "fuck you" from the author to this particular character.) Barring death, its fairly likely that Faye and Angus are going to interact again. To what extent remains unknown. Perhaps Angus is the new Padma, and last week was his final appearance.

My analysis of the situation has always been contingent upon the continuation of the relationship. It simply doesn't apply otherwise. Your argument that Faye doesn't all doesn't apply to the circumstances where my analysis applies. I also addressed that scenario at the outset. It's a null result. Game over. Relationship end. I really don't understand why you think anyone would have suggested that Angus could force a relationship on Faye. The idea that he could emotionally support her against her will is, frankly, ludicrous.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 20 Oct 2014, 10:14
But I'm not completely sure that it's her issues that are the whole main problem. 

She's been faking it, hoping to make it.  And she just realized that she hasn't made it.  One of the biggest successes of his life, and she feels... stressed. 

Not happy, even for him. 

I think she's just realized that she's not in love with him.  Not even 'anymore' - possibly she never was.  The relevant strips have been referenced by others upthread.

Yup, this.  All the things Faye was hoping she wouldn't have to face showed up with a 7-day deadline, and she just froze. 

Unless she has a major change of heart, my guess is Angus is gone for good, and I don't fault him for it, in spite of my knee-jerk reaction to his seeming callousness last week.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 20 Oct 2014, 10:42
I hope that Angus gets the same degree of support. He needs it, and deserves it, too. Right now, I can imagine him just sitting, staring into a fire. As guys tend to do, in my experience.

And this is where Momo comes in. She's experienced at offering emotional support, be it a shoulder to cry on or a (metaphorical) kick in the pants.

Angus really doesn't have a support network that we've seen. Aside from Faye, who's he really got? He may go to Marten again as he did before he left for New York, but may feel awkward doing that because Marten has a longer history with Faye than he does. Marigold's somewhere between roommate and kid sister. Yeah, guess that does leave Momo.

I don't think Marten was humming, though. I can't imagine Jeph neglecting to draw notes around Martens's head if that was the case.

He looks like he's air-drumming as he walks in the first frame, which makes it likely he's humming the theme from Shaft.

And we can dig it.

But I'm not completely sure that it's her issues that are the whole main problem. 

She's been faking it, hoping to make it.  And she just realized that she hasn't made it.  One of the biggest successes of his life, and she feels... stressed. 

Not happy, even for him. 

I think she's just realized that she's not in love with him.  Not even 'anymore' - possibly she never was.  The relevant strips have been referenced by others upthread.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 20 Oct 2014, 10:49
And we can dig it.

Damn right.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Emperor Norton on 20 Oct 2014, 11:09
Accountability is overrated, especially in situations like this. It follows from the western fetish for punishment and vengeance. I'm not sure how revenge is useful in this context. If you care about someone, you try to help them. Period. If you can't because of other emotion, you admit the other emotion is stronger than your ability to care about that person. It's all rather simple, but we value judge the caring to the extent that not caring enough is something only bad people do. Since we aren't bad people, it must be someone else's fault. BS self justification, but lying to ourselves so we can judge others is fundamental to the human condition.

And you are only applying this to Angus. You aren't applying this to Faye at all. You treat Angus like none of this hurts him, that Faye doesn't, in any way, need to be there for him, as well. She is the one who has issues that are preventing the issue from even being DEALT with. Why is Angus responsible for Faye's happiness, but Faye seems to be in no way responsible for his?

In the end, they have to work together. Nothing else WORKS. A one sided relationship isn't a relationship. And throughout their relationship, it HASN'T been one sided, though hehasn't had any major dramas, she hasn't been doing nothing but leaching off him. I think people don't give Faye enough credit, she has issues, but she isn't an emotional cripple. Its insulting the way everyone just absolves any possible responsibility she has for her actions, as though having issues suddenly makes you have the culpability of a child.

I have personal past issues that cause me to be inable to let go of arguments. When I get angry, I can't walk away. I would have never done what Angus did in this scene, which is why I know how much it was the right thing to do. I know why I'm like that, I can link it to specific issues in my past that I have no interest in talking about. I know that it happens. But that doesn't make it not a shit thing for me to do to my wife. That doesn't mean I'm not wrong. And it doesn't mean I can't do everything I can to make it better, by both making it happen less often, and trying to repair the damage it does when it does happen.

I'm responsible for it. My wife isn't responsible for it. Me. Because despite being a damaged individual, I'm a goddamned adult.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Shjade on 20 Oct 2014, 11:21
Comic is ADOREABLE ! :-D

Sad Faye is saddest Faye. ;.;
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Somnus Eternus on 20 Oct 2014, 11:25
All I know is that after this discussion, I'm picturing Marten as Andy Griffith.

And Clinton is Barney Fife.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Pilchard123 on 20 Oct 2014, 11:39
I figured. Thought I'd cut your joke's tires for fun though.

Boats don't have tires.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 11:50
Accountability is overrated, especially in situations like this. It follows from the western fetish for punishment and vengeance. I'm not sure how revenge is useful in this context. If you care about someone, you try to help them. Period. If you can't because of other emotion, you admit the other emotion is stronger than your ability to care about that person. It's all rather simple, but we value judge the caring to the extent that not caring enough is something only bad people do. Since we aren't bad people, it must be someone else's fault. BS self justification, but lying to ourselves so we can judge others is fundamental to the human condition.

And you are only applying this to Angus. You aren't applying this to Faye at all. You treat Angus like none of this hurts him, that Faye doesn't, in any way, need to be there for him, as well. She is the one who has issues that are preventing the issue from even being DEALT with. Why is Angus responsible for Faye's happiness, but Faye seems to be in no way responsible for his?

In the end, they have to work together. Nothing else WORKS. A one sided relationship isn't a relationship. And throughout their relationship, it HASN'T been one sided, though hehasn't had any major dramas, she hasn't been doing nothing but leaching off him. I think people don't give Faye enough credit, she has issues, but she isn't an emotional cripple. Its insulting the way everyone just absolves any possible responsibility she has for her actions, as though having issues suddenly makes you have the culpability of a child.

I have personal past issues that cause me to be inable to let go of arguments. When I get angry, I can't walk away. I would have never done what Angus did in this scene, which is why I know how much it was the right thing to do. I know why I'm like that, I can link it to specific issues in my past that I have no interest in talking about. I know that it happens. But that doesn't make it not a shit thing for me to do to my wife. That doesn't mean I'm not wrong. And it doesn't mean I can't do everything I can to make it better, by both making it happen less often, and trying to repair the damage it does when it does happen.

I'm responsible for it. My wife isn't responsible for it. Me. Because despite being a damaged individual, I'm a goddamned adult.

That's your inference and has nothing at all to do with what I actually wrote. I'd rather not get involved in an infinite regression of strawmen. I don't have issue with misunderstandings, but here you are inventing a point of view and ascribing it to me. I've considered several options for explaining how this argument is unrelated to anything I've said, but I can't see a way to do that without legitimizing this tactic of putting words in my mouth. I don't doubt you sincerely believe that your invention and my point of view are connected, but I don't have any particular onus to correct you. dealing with the finer points of character motivation is entertaining, and I'd be happy to address this one, if it were raised as a simple objection--suggesting that it's a consequence, or raising it as a what if.  instead, youare trying to force me to defend it, and I've no interest in that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 20 Oct 2014, 11:51
I figured. Thought I'd cut your joke's tires for fun though.

Boats don't have tires.

What if the boat's on a trailer?

("What if he attacks you with a pointed stick?")
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Pilchard123 on 20 Oct 2014, 11:56
Fresh fruit not good enough for you, eh?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Emperor Norton on 20 Oct 2014, 12:19
That's your inference and has nothing at all to do with what I actually wrote. I'd rather not get involved in an infinite regression of strawmen. I don't have issue with misunderstandings, but here you are inventing a point of view and ascribing it to me. I've considered several options for explaining how this argument is unrelated to anything I've said, but I can't see a way to do that without legitimizing this tactic of putting words in my mouth. I don't doubt you sincerely believe that your invention and my point of view are connected, but I don't have any particular onus to correct you. dealing with the finer points of character motivation is entertaining, and I'd be happy to address this one, if it were raised as a simple objection--suggesting that it's a consequence, or raising it as a what if.  instead, youare trying to force me to defend it, and I've no interest in that.

How have you not been saying that its on Angus to carry the burden of her issues as well as carrying his own issues without any support, that if the relationship is to continue, that is all on him?

If the relationship is going to continue, its on him to listen and be understanding, but its on her to actually talk so he can listen. They both have things they have to do.

Unrelated and to other people who have said this: somehow saying that Angus is worse than Marten because Marten could switch gears is absurd: There is a huge difference between "I'm happy about something unrelated, and my friend seems really sad" and "I'm happy about something, and my girlfriend is upset about it, despite never bringing up she had an issue with it before." Its a whole lot harder to switch gears when the reason someone is upset is because of YOU and it feels unfair.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: DSL on 20 Oct 2014, 12:22
Tugboats often have old tires down the sides as fenders. Or the boat could be an AmphiCar, a "Seep" or a DUKW. Tires.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 20 Oct 2014, 12:34
Tugboats often have old tires down the sides as fenders. Or the boat could be an AmphiCar, a "Seep" or a DUKW. Tires.

Funny, I almost made a comment about a DUKW, but I didn't know if anybody'd get it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 12:35
That's your inference and has nothing at all to do with what I actually wrote. I'd rather not get involved in an infinite regression of strawmen. I don't have issue with misunderstandings, but here you are inventing a point of view and ascribing it to me. I've considered several options for explaining how this argument is unrelated to anything I've said, but I can't see a way to do that without legitimizing this tactic of putting words in my mouth. I don't doubt you sincerely believe that your invention and my point of view are connected, but I don't have any particular onus to correct you. dealing with the finer points of character motivation is entertaining, and I'd be happy to address this one, if it were raised as a simple objection--suggesting that it's a consequence, or raising it as a what if.  instead, youare trying to force me to defend it, and I've no interest in that.

How have you not been saying that its on Angus to carry the burden of her issues as well as carrying his own issues without any support, that if the relationship is to continue, that is all on him?

If the relationship is going to continue, its on him to listen and be understanding, but its on her to actually talk so he can listen. They both have things they have to do.

Unrelated and to other people who have said this: somehow saying that Angus is worse than Marten because Marten could switch gears is absurd: There is a huge difference between "I'm happy about something unrelated, and my friend seems really sad" and "I'm happy about something, and my girlfriend is upset about it, despite never bringing up she had an issue with it before." Its a whole lot harder to switch gears when the reason someone is upset is because of YOU and it feels unfair.

Everything I have said is still up there. Read it again, and try not seeing what you want to see. I'm not going to justify your interpretation. This is a strawman, and I don't have any interest in it.

EDIT: Or don't reread, and declare yourself victorious. I'm not interested in being adversarial, and you telling me what I said and mean is just that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Emperor Norton on 20 Oct 2014, 12:40
And before anyone thinks I'm saying Angus isn't also responsible for the situation... I'm not.

Angus has consistently been sort of oblivious to things going on around him. And he does tend to talk before he thinks, which is where I think the "Can't you just be happy for me" came from.

He really is the anti-Marten in a lot of ways. Marten is observant of his friends feelings and tends to overthink before he deals with issues. Angus misses things entirely and tends to speak before thinking. Marten is passive, Angus is assertive. Marten doesn't know what he wants in life, Angus is going after his dreams.

On the other hand, both of them, when aware of an issue and have had time to process, have shown they are caring and sensitive individuals.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Emperor Norton on 20 Oct 2014, 12:43
Angus has less of crippling burden, therefore greater resources. If he wants a continuing relationship with Faye, that means he--as the party with more resources--has to take on more work.

I reread all your posts before I made the last reply. Please, explain how this sentence says anything other than: Angus has to do the work to make the relationship work.

And here is the other part of this: Even if you think this is true, this is just going to build resentment and cause its own damage. Faye has to either learn to carry part of the load, or it will, eventually, lead to resentment. This is something else we saw in Dora and Marten's relationship.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Smallest on 20 Oct 2014, 12:49
Tugboats often have old tires down the sides as fenders. Or the boat could be an AmphiCar, a "Seep" or a DUKW. Tires.

My grandpa used to captain a tugboat, so it is not as though I'm unfamiliar with the term, but I keep misreading that as 'tub goat.'

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PzbANQFcVVk/T3S1FRI8HZI/AAAAAAAADuU/exXLKVYRz8w/s1600/IMG_7105.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 13:01
Angus has less of crippling burden, therefore greater resources. If he wants a continuing relationship with Faye, that means he--as the party with more resources--has to take on more work.

I reread all your posts before I made the last reply. Please, explain how this sentence says anything other than: Angus has to do the work to make the relationship work.

And here is the other part of this: Even if you think this is true, this is just going to build resentment and cause its own damage. Faye has to either learn to carry part of the load, or it will, eventually, lead to resentment. This is something else we saw in Dora and Marten's relationship.

More ≠ All.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 20 Oct 2014, 13:27
Tugboats often have old tires down the sides as fenders. Or the boat could be an AmphiCar, a "Seep" or a DUKW. Tires.

Funny, I almost made a comment about a DUKW, but I didn't know if anybody'd get it.

I would; we've got several doing tourist runs through the city and then onto the river here in London.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: mvdwege on 20 Oct 2014, 13:51
On the other hand, both of them, when aware of an issue and have had time to process, have shown they are caring and sensitive individuals.

I'm on record defending Angus, especially against people who read implications in his described behaviour that he doesn't care for Faye ('last thing on his mind' was the last wording that set me off). But I must agree here: both found themselves in a horrible bind.

Faye was actually rather sweet; she didn't want to put a cloud over Angus' enthusiasm by bringing up her fears. That this also provided her with an excuse to delay a hard-needed talk until it was (maybe) too late was a nice extra, dramatically speaking.

Angus knew at least of some of Faye's issues, and enough of her hatred of the Big City that a long-distance relationship was the only option. Now he finds out, with a bolt out of the blue, that Faye's issues are worse than he knew, that even a long-distance relationship might not be possible, and from my reading from last Friday's comic that hurt a lot.

Neither of them acted with perfect smarts. They are human. I'd still prefer to have them hash out the problems now and seriously give the relationship another try, long-distance, but I find both of them equally to 'blame'.

Note the quotes: there is no real blame. Just two people who care for each other and mean well, but compounded each other's flaws in a horrible way in this situation.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: poofdepoof on 20 Oct 2014, 13:57
This is a little late and possibly has already been mentioned, but I was just Random-ing around and found this again: http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2671
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 14:24
Faye is the more sympathetic character, purely because we've known her longer and more deeply than Angus, I rather suspect that is part and parcel of people vilifying Angus. They have a sense of "ownership" about Faye.

On the flipside, knowing Faye is not equivalent to loving Faye. There's plenty about her that's perfectly unlikable, while Angus is more of a blank slate. He's a generally decent guy. One can make out a stalker accusation against him, but it's totally unwarranted. He was up front about coming to CoD to get his fix of wit, and generally didn't follow Faye beyond the shop until Faye started showing up in his life.

And it's not entirely unfair to blame Faye. Angus is guilty of ignoring what he didn't want to see, but Faye went out of her way to make it easy for him to do that. All intentions were good, on both sides. Their intentions made excellent pavers.

Angus made a mistake, at the end. Walking out in silence wasn't the best move. But people are, generally, over stating his options. It was Faye who ended the communication, and the best thing Angus could have done was to state he was open to talk later. As has been noted, rather a lot, he can't do anything if Faye doesn't cooperate. In the end, she shut down.

So Angus didn't make the optimal choice in the end, but Faye didn't either. She could have admitted she was confused and scared and uncertain, and just not able to deal. Something in that sense came up when Angus asked if they were even going to try. But rather than go there, she dodged the question. Considering the gravity of the question, Angus is entirely justified in being very hurt.

I see both sides. Objectively, Angus is getting shafted, and that says to me that the relationship is all over but the crying. As I've stated before, it's going to be more work on Angus's part to get through this. Thankless work, or something close to it. Angus is patient with Faye, but he's no Marten. I just don't see him signing up for it, without assurances I don't think Faye can give. It's not fair, and he already feels wronged.

Maybe I'm misjudging him, or maybe Faye isn't doing this because she watched her dad commit suicide. Those would change everything. But I'm betting I'm not. And, to be honest, Angus deserves better. But Faye may not have that give. If she doesn't, patching things up will require a heroic effort on his part, and that may be more than he has to give.

This is a little late and possibly has already been mentioned, but I was just Random-ing around and found this again: http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2671

Possibly relevant as one reason Faye hid her true feelings, and Marten will not approve, but my bet is he won't get upset with her. His drunk ass said that because he was miserable and she had a chance for not miserable. She is his best friend. He may not know why he's hugging her, but I bet he suspects.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Emperor Norton on 20 Oct 2014, 14:42
I don't think Marten would pull a Faye and be legit angry like Faye was to Dora after the Dora/Marten breakup, but I can see him being critical of the way she ended it, in a supporting way, telling her that she at least should talk to him, even if its just to hash out the feelings enough to say that it is over and not leave everything on such a bad note.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Stoon on 20 Oct 2014, 14:44
Hugs aren't my forte.  I'm pretty sure I can count of the number of hugs I've had in my entire life on one hand.

Why so few?
Not everyone grows up in a happy loving family.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 14:51
Hugs aren't my forte.  I'm pretty sure I can count of the number of hugs I've had in my entire life on one hand.

Why so few?
Not everyone grows up in a happy loving family.
True dat. Also, when society gives you a "don't touch me" vibe nine times out of ten, you start to miss the tenths.

We're not even touching on places where hugs really aren't a thing.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: snarkyone on 20 Oct 2014, 14:51
Not everyone grows up in a happy loving family.

:'(  I understand that well...  I'd hug you if I could... :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Omio on 20 Oct 2014, 14:54
Marten, good show. No questions asked, possibly not even a derailing of mood, just... ...hug. Not much in way of speaking until after, just instant hug (and thus instant win). /applaud
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aimless on 20 Oct 2014, 14:55
Man, it woulda been way smarter and more effective for Angus to remember for a brief moment that it kinda sucks for some people when their partner moves to the another city to pursue their dreams. I don't want to remove Fay's agency or treat her like she's a turnip but this woulda made more sense for Angus to handle. Still, I have hope for those two.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 20 Oct 2014, 15:08
Not everyone grows up in a happy loving family.

All too true. I didn't. Which is why I'm ensuring that my son does.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Emperor Norton on 20 Oct 2014, 15:16
Man, it woulda been way smarter and more effective for Angus to remember for a brief moment that it kinda sucks for some people when their partner moves to the another city to pursue their dreams. I don't want to remove Fay's agency or treat her like she's a turnip but this woulda made more sense for Angus to handle. Still, I have hope for those two.

He tried to bring it up several times, between each step of the audition process. He even considered not even going to the audition (which would have been a terrible idea) when talking to Marten.

He's been thinking about this from the beginning. He just can't talk about it with her until she actually decides to talk about it.

(I just reread everything with the two of them in it from like, 2600 on. I had actually missed how many times he tried to discuss it.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 15:21
Man, it woulda been way smarter and more effective for Angus to remember for a brief moment that it kinda sucks for some people when their partner moves to the another city to pursue their dreams. I don't want to remove Fay's agency or treat her like she's a turnip but this woulda made more sense for Angus to handle. Still, I have hope for those two.

Yup, yup. That's why I'm understanding of both sides.

Sure, Angus could have done better. He had several opportunities and missed them. But the thing is, he showed up saying, "WOOO WEEE! I JUST WON THE LOTTERY!"

And Faye was all, "Negative Ghostrider. The Pattern is full."

He wasn't expecting it, and having his good news (good new about HIM) cause someone he loves to become obstinate probably hurt, a lot. Faye bounced from signs of fear to direct challenge, so it probably wasn't obvious to him that she was afraid. So he's all "WTF?" He had chances to get inside Faye's doom spiral and head it off, but I don't think a reasonable person could have seen those chances under the circumstances.

What happened between them was like a classic internet argument. Two people talking past each other. By the time Angus cottoned what was up, the situation was tricky. 

Edit: typos
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: TRVA123 on 20 Oct 2014, 15:50
I think this will be good for both of them.

Angus will be unburdened when he gets to NY, he can focus on his job and finding a place. If they were still together he would have to spend a lot of energy reassuring Faye.

Faye has gotten closer to realizing what she wants from a relationship; and realizing that, even if a boyfriends leaves her, the support system that she has here is amazing and will hold her up.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: LilShortstuf on 20 Oct 2014, 15:55
A spinoff comic staring the bros would be fantastic

Maybe the bros recruit Steve to be part of their secret order?

He's the secret member of the secret order. The HBIC, as it were.

Well Steve has already outed his Bro Sense. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2655)
Fixed the link. Care to fix it in the original post? Once it's done, I'll fix this message to say my peace (tl;dr version: I applaud Marten).

Danke. I'm used to a different forum so did the wrong code. Just need to get used to this one.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 20 Oct 2014, 16:58
Hi there everyone! :)

Long time reader, mid-time lurker, finally made an account, I have been archive binging the comic from the beginning this past 2 weeks and wanted to add my 2 cents in.

I think something that a lot of people seem to forget, even tho it is discussed about, is the time in QC verse vs what we as readers experience. I think to date, the only couple that you could probably consider developing/existing long term was Dora+Marten, specially with the time skip. However, both Claire+Marten and Angus+Faye have not been going on for that long if you really think about it. Sure, Angus and Faye have been courting for a long time now, but as a relationship, it feels that it has not been that long, maybe a couple of months at most. So Angus making this big a decision is not completely selfish, just he doesn't know any better because as a couple they have not existed for that long. There's that thing about a 7 year itch, but most people who have been in a long term relationship should have experienced a similar thing along the 3-5 month mark. If its overcome, the relationship progresses, but they are still technically learning about each other. same when a couple decides to move together. No matter how much time they spend with each other normally, its not quite the same actually living together. If both Faye and Angus manage to figure something out, maybe the LDR for a while, they will officially have overcome a milestone in their relationship. If not, then it wasn't meant to be. It happens in real life all the time, that's just how it is.

For Claire and Marten, they also have not know each other for a long time either. I mean, from what I just read, the wedding didn't happen that much longer after they started as interns, and while I have had experience with people feeling comfortable enough to open up and revel secrets about themselves to me in a very short time, it seemed that the level of comfort and confidence she displayed towards Marten was rather high in such a short time. I'll scratch it up to Marten being a nice guy and having that kind of charisma tho. Time will tell how much any of this affects the relationship. I mean, rushing things didn't work for Dora in the long run when she pursued Marten, but she had known him for a while longer at least. We'll see if it plays a role this time or if Marten has truly grown as a person and learned from past mistakes or not.

What I'm trying to say is, people are giving these situations a lot of flak, guided by like or dislike of the characters, which in itself speaks well of Jeph's ability as a story teller to invest his readers in the characters, but as characters in a relationship, they are still fresh and learning to handle them. Its hard enough to make a relationship work sometimes with the normal things you gotta face, let alone with the myriad of issues some of them carry. All we can do is enjoy the ride and hope the good story(ies) Jeph has been telling for a decade now remain as interesting and compelling, and most importantly, relatable as they have always been :)

P.S> I laughed a lot at how some things Jeph wrote back then are funny or ironic in hindsight, like his newpost on strip 2217 (sorry, don't know how to do the fancy links yet) regarding how everyone assumed he would hook up with one of the interns :P

PPS> sorry if my post was mostly incoherent rambling, been a long day
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Perfectly Reasonable on 20 Oct 2014, 17:09
Skull zombie wants your coffee.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 17:11
Claire and Marten have known each other for 2 to 3 months. It's been 5 weeks to 2 months since the wedding. The lower values are easier to justify, but details of skipped time simply aren't there.

AprilArcus has a good analysis in the passage of time thread, and on the wiki.

Welcome. Eat, drink, be merry. Or, if you prefer, Mary.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 20 Oct 2014, 17:17
Yeah I have read the thread on the passage of time, but that is my point, to us it has felt like a long time, a year actually even tho its much less than that, but realistically, they are still infant relationships in the case of Faye/Angus, and with Marten/Claire I just see a parallel to when Dora and Tai started dating: Dora pointed out how they didn't really know each other all that well yet and she was still "the hot chick from the library" and wanted to work on getting to know each other. As much confidence as Claire has put on Marten, they still have a lot to learn about each other, and Angus and Faye even tho they have known each other for longer, they don't seem like they ever really sat down to share a lot between them. I was just pointing out how that fact has been left out in favor of people pointing fingers and trying to assign blame.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 20 Oct 2014, 17:33
Not everyone grows up in a happy loving family.

All too true. I didn't. Which is why I'm ensuring that my son does.

Two thumbs up. And I mean that with no trace of snark or irony. It's hard as hell to break the cycle. Your son's lucky to have someone who learned from the experience and is trying their best not to see it happen again.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ZoeB on 20 Oct 2014, 17:46
Not everyone grows up in a happy loving family.

All too true. I didn't. Which is why I'm ensuring that my son does.

Two thumbs up.

After due consideration, please make it three, and a hug, from me.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 20 Oct 2014, 17:47
Faye's own analysis of her accountability for relationship problems (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=567).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Krald on 20 Oct 2014, 17:56
My one other problem was Angus in all his excitement ran to her public place of work to drop the bombshell on her, instead of telling her at one of their homes in private whete she may not feel quite so exposed and vunerable.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 20 Oct 2014, 17:59
My one other problem was Angus in all his excitement ran to her public place of work to drop the bombshell on her, instead of telling her at one of their homes in private whete she may not feel quite so exposed and vunerable.

To be fair, he expected her to react differently, unless it's "bad news" it makes perfect sense to tell her at work, so she'd have a reason to be happy (for him) the rest of the day. If he had had an inkling that it would bother her, then yeah, he might have done it privately, but I see no reason why he would if he expects a positive reaction to the news
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Emperor Norton on 20 Oct 2014, 18:03
Also, he probably just arrived back in town, and was super excited. Honestly, if it had been me, I would have already been on the phone the moment I heard, I'm surprised he got all the way back to town first.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 18:04
Yeah I have read the thread on the passage of time, but that is my point, to us it has felt like a long time, a year actually even tho its much less than that, but realistically, they are still infant relationships in the case of Faye/Angus, and with Marten/Claire I just see a parallel to when Dora and Tai started dating: Dora pointed out how they didn't really know each other all that well yet and she was still "the hot chick from the library" and wanted to work on getting to know each other. As much confidence as Claire has put on Marten, they still have a lot to learn about each other, and Angus and Faye even tho they have known each other for longer, they don't seem like they ever really sat down to share a lot between them. I was just pointing out how that fact has been left out in favor of people pointing fingers and trying to assign blame.

Worth noting:  we see 15 days (possibly 17) pass from Angus first kissing Faye until April's timeline starts. But, logically much more time passed, because (calling the kiss day one) on day four Marten and Dora break up. On day eight, Steve is incredulous that Marten isn't yet over Dora. That probably throws strict dating of events off, but there's no way Steve would expect Marten to bounce back in 4 days. (Marten claims that being over Dora isn't the issue, supporting the idea that Steve is not being douchy.)

It seems likely that Angus and Faye have been together for nearly 6 months at this point. Not an epic amount of time, but neither too short to bond in a serious manner. I wouldn't call 6 months infant.

By the same token, starting a relationship with someone you have known for 2 months seems fairly sedate.  That's not to imply anything, other than the fact that Claire and Marten didn't exactly rush into this.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 20 Oct 2014, 18:12
Carl-E called (https://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,30235.msg1277359.html#msg1277359) that one, looks like.

Good on Marten for not rubbing Faye's face in his great day.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rghfrgl on 20 Oct 2014, 18:12
 He totally rubbed it in. Now Faye wishes she had delicious pancakes.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesium133 on 20 Oct 2014, 18:13
Any day with pancakes is an awesome day.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 18:16
My one other problem was Angus in all his excitement ran to her public place of work to drop the bombshell on her, instead of telling her at one of their homes in private whete she may not feel quite so exposed and vunerable.

To be fair, he expected her to react differently, unless it's "bad news" it makes perfect sense to tell her at work, so she'd have a reason to be happy (for him) the rest of the day. If he had had an inkling that it would bother her, then yeah, he might have done it privately, but I see no reason why he would if he expects a positive reaction to the news

Angus certainly convinced himself that any signs that Faye was not prepared to support him were nothing. Faye went out of her way to help him do that. I can't say his wanting to share the joy in a manner allowing for kisses and hugs is at all unreasonable from his perspective.

It is, as suggested, hard to believe he managed to keep it quiet for a train ride out of the city, plus whatever time he had after leaving the call back.

Only the motivation of sharing the good news in person makes it believable. The excitement and holding it in so long goes a ways toward explaining how he missed Faye's signs until it was too late.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 20 Oct 2014, 18:18
Good on Marten for not rubbing Faye's face in his great day.
He totally rubbed it in. Now Faye wishes she had delicious pancakes.

Unless Angus really loves pancakes, in which case Marten is only making it worse.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 20 Oct 2014, 18:23

It seems likely that Angus and Faye have been together for nearly 6 months at this point. Not an epic amount of time, but neither too short to bond in a serious manner. I wouldn't call 6 months infant.

By the same token, starting a relationship with someone you have known for 2 months seems fairly sedate.  That's not to imply anything, other than the fact that Claire and Marten didn't exactly rush into this.

Fair enough, but the fact that Angus is out of town for work (or at least was mentioned he worked out of town often) means out of those 6 months they didn't spend all of it together, and when they did get together, seemed maybe not a strictly physical relationship by any means but I can see a lot of their efforts spent making up that time apart. Faye may be more open about her issues now, but Angus has been already labeled as somebody who doesn't really pay attention much. I have nothing pro or against them, I just equated it to a 7year itch tyoe of thing, a bump in the relationship they have to figure out, its been tested and its up to them to pass it.

On Marten/Claire I didn't mean exactly that they rushed into a relationship in that sense. Tai and Dora had known each other for longer, but not as close friends, more like friend of a friend, and even tho a lot of time had passed since knowing each other, it still didn't mean they knew each other a lot or in depth. I was merely pointing out that Claire and Marten did seem to bond in a rather fast pace, they also have not know each other that long, and the "special" occasions where their relationship deepened were not that long after she started being an intern, and it was a weekend or a day or two each occasion so while they may feel comfortable around each other, I don't see them knowing each other in depth either. I also didn't say its strictly a bad thing, just that they needed to work on getting to know each other better. Whether it is a positive thing or not is up to Jeph :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 18:29
Faye thinks there were sexy times last night. Marten may not escape on pancakes alone.


It seems likely that Angus and Faye have been together for nearly 6 months at this point. Not an epic amount of time, but neither too short to bond in a serious manner. I wouldn't call 6 months infant.

By the same token, starting a relationship with someone you have known for 2 months seems fairly sedate.  That's not to imply anything, other than the fact that Claire and Marten didn't exactly rush into this.

Fair enough, but the fact that Angus is out of town for work (or at least was mentioned he worked out of town often) means out of those 6 months they didn't spend all of it together, and when they did get together, seemed maybe not a strictly physical relationship by any means but I can see a lot of their efforts spent making up that time apart. Faye may be more open about her issues now, but Angus has been already labeled as somebody who doesn't really pay attention much. I have nothing pro or against them, I just equated it to a 7year itch tyoe of thing, a bump in the relationship they have to figure out, its been tested and its up to them to pass it.

On Marten/Claire I didn't mean exactly that they rushed into a relationship in that sense. Tai and Dora had known each other for longer, but not as close friends, more like friend of a friend, and even tho a lot of time had passed since knowing each other, it still didn't mean they knew each other a lot or in depth. I was merely pointing out that Claire and Marten did seem to bond in a rather fast pace, they also have not know each other that long, and the "special" occasions where their relationship deepened were not that long after she started being an intern, and it was a weekend or a day or two each occasion so while they may feel comfortable around each other, I don't see them knowing each other in depth either. I also didn't say its strictly a bad thing, just that they needed to work on getting to know each other better. Whether it is a positive thing or not is up to Jeph :)

I don't have a particular comment on how much time Faye and Angus spent together. There's no way to know.

Marten and Claire work together, and it is summer. Tai is a chill boss and the library isn't super busy. I think Marten and Claire have had time enough to "see where this leads." It's not like they are picking out wedding invitations, just yet.

Edit: to be clear, I mean we've seen that library employees talk about life, and we haven't seen every conversation between Claire and Marten. I suspect they have less to learn about each other than Tai and Dora did.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Smallest on 20 Oct 2014, 18:31
My one other problem was Angus in all his excitement ran to her public place of work to drop the bombshell on her, instead of telling her at one of their homes in private whete she may not feel quite so exposed and vunerable.

To be fair, he expected her to react differently, unless it's "bad news" it makes perfect sense to tell her at work, so she'd have a reason to be happy (for him) the rest of the day. If he had had an inkling that it would bother her, then yeah, he might have done it privately, but I see no reason why he would if he expects a positive reaction to the news

I don't think either of them are very far in the right, but I think it's worth noting that dropping even a positive bombshell on someone in public isn't very cool to do.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 20 Oct 2014, 18:33
To be honest, I'm just excited to see what happens next, opinions and speculations only go so far when we don't know what's on Jeph's mind :P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 18:36
To be honest, I'm just excited to see what happens next, opinions and speculations only go so far when we don't know what's on Jeph's mind :P

Speculation is what these WCDTs are for.

Except some speculations.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: eschaton on 20 Oct 2014, 18:37
The new comic makes things much easier to understand.  Faye pretty clearly is, as I expected, is the dumper, and (despite feeling like a shit for it) is probably feeling a lot better right now than Angus, who was just blindsided by the woman he loved. 

She really needs to do the mature thing and actually have a conversation with Angus for closure - actually letting him know how she really feels.  But I'm honestly not getting a vibe of deep depression off of her in this comic at all.  I mean, she's pensive, but if she felt like her mental walls were crashing in, she'd be too self-absorbed to ask Marty about his day. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 20 Oct 2014, 18:42
To be honest, I'm just excited to see what happens next, opinions and speculations only go so far when we don't know what's on Jeph's mind :P

Speculation is what these WCDTs are for.

Except some speculations.

Speculate, not ship-ulate.  :angel:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 20 Oct 2014, 18:43
So then would this be the breakup song?

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: grouchygizmo on 20 Oct 2014, 18:44
I don't know... it may be that Marten doesn't want to rub Faye's face in his new relationship, but I just... I have a bad feeling... I would have said more than just "I had pancakes."
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 20 Oct 2014, 18:44

She really needs to do the mature thing and actually have a conversation with Angus for closure - actually letting him know how she really feels.  But I'm honestly not getting a vibe of deep depression off of her in this comic at all.  I mean, she's pensive, but if she felt like her mental walls were crashing in, she'd be too self-absorbed to ask Marty about his day.

This. Adults should always be able to talk things out. I hope they both get some closure of some kind. If not good terms at least civil

Quote
Speculation is what these WCDTs are for

Of course! it is fun and illuminating to speculate and have somebody point something new one may not have considered before, if I didn't like speculating and having conversations I wouldn't have joined. I meant that even thru the speculation and all, bottom line, I'm just excited either way because after all is said and done, its an engaging story and like a good story, you want to know what happens next officially regardless of the what-ifs and what we may discuss.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 18:47
To be honest, I'm just excited to see what happens next, opinions and speculations only go so far when we don't know what's on Jeph's mind :P

Speculation is what these WCDTs are for.

Except some speculations.

Speculate, not ship-ulate.  :angel:

I was thinking other subjects, but that too. (Not a complaint. I'm not particularly into shipping. The containers are actually pretty toxic.)

Looks like Angus is going the way of Padma.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: plusorminus on 20 Oct 2014, 18:47
The new comic makes things much easier to understand.  Faye pretty clearly is, as I expected, is the dumper, and (despite feeling like a shit for it) is probably feeling a lot better right now than Angus, who was just blindsided by the woman he loved. 

She really needs to do the mature thing and actually have a conversation with Angus for closure - actually letting him know how she really feels.  But I'm honestly not getting a vibe of deep depression off of her in this comic at all.  I mean, she's pensive, but if she felt like her mental walls were crashing in, she'd be too self-absorbed to ask Marty about his day.

Completely agree. Hats off to you and to the people who correctly analyzed that Faye realized that she was not in love with Angus. I agree that they should have a talk to just set things on a good note as Angus departs for his new life. They needn't be enemies just because things didn't work out. They both learned things from each other that hopefully they will take into relationships in the future. Hopefully Faye understands now that she can't smother her feelings, she has to be honest always, or risk inadvertently blindsiding and hurting someone she cared about.

Also, I kinda agree with GrouchyGizmo. That's the one thing that I don't like about Marten. He subjugates his feelings too much thinking that he's sparing someone awkwardness or pain and then when he lets them out, it comes out rather mealymouthed. He did this with the Delilah stuff when Tai asked about it, he did this with the huge guy at Secret Bakery who had a thing for Padma, and he's doing it again here. As far as Faye knows, he and Claire banged last night. If she's asking, she is probably hoping to hear that things got off on a good foot with them. And Marten's hiding, thinking it's for her "own good."
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 20 Oct 2014, 18:50
I don't know... it may be that Marten doesn't want to rub Faye's face in his new relationship, but I just... I have a bad feeling... I would have said more than just "I had pancakes."

I'm not worried - have a look at how he walked into CoD in the previous strip.  Dude is walking on air, and 'I had pancakes' is him trying not to float away on her when she's down.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kairi on 20 Oct 2014, 18:52
Oh no, I'm another new person! Hello.  :-)

I've been reading along for years; my new-reader-archive-binge was... at least five years ago? Honestly, I forget. Been on-and-off lurking the forums the whole time. Finally registered during the Martenclaire squee festival because I felt I would have some important things to say, and then everyone said them. So: first post. What finally prompted me to post a little something in words:

I laughed out loud at the "I had pancakes" line. Just, thank you Jeph. There's been a lot of good writing, a lot of squee, a lot of good drama, and a lot of good humor, but BAM the pancakes line still has me giggling on the inside. Lots of buildup to that punchline and it was good.

Something left over from when I was building up what I wanted to say when I first registered a few weeks ago: I am so glad puns are IN again, and not punishable. Thank you to all forum members who pun it up. You make me smile.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 20 Oct 2014, 18:53
I don't know... it may be that Marten doesn't want to rub Faye's face in his new relationship, but I just... I have a bad feeling... I would have said more than just "I had pancakes."

I'm not worried - have a look at how he walked into CoD in the previous strip.  Dude is walking on air, and 'I had pancakes' is him trying not to float away on her when she's down.

Exactly--he's done it (or tried to) before. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1309)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Half Empty Coffee Cup on 20 Oct 2014, 18:53
"I had pancakes." Marten's continuing his class act. I chuckled. The line of thought that he's trying to spare Faye an uncomfortable situation rings a little hollow. This is a gag-a-day strip, and sometimes you need a punchline. This was a punchline. Marten will probably go on to explain where he was eating his pancakes somewhat soon... after he does the Being a Good Friend thing.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: aliensporebomb on 20 Oct 2014, 18:54
Ugh!  I just realized after reading this comic and absorbing recent developments in the strip got an intuitive flash on where the strip could be heading.  I have to step away from the keyboard right now.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: RyanW1019 on 20 Oct 2014, 18:55
God fucking dammit this strip really hits me hard. I knew this was probably coming for a long time in the strip, but I'm currently dealing with the emotional aftermath of a 3+ year relationship that ended primarily because of distance. Faye's line in Panel 3 really hits me like a brick and brings up all the memories I've been trying to forget.

No idea why I decided to tell that to a group of internet strangers, just felt like I needed to get that off my chest.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 18:55
Being a good guy is Martin's defining characteristic. His strength and his flaw.

He is just learning to be assertive. If he also learned to use his powers only for good, he'd be pretty dull.

And it would probably be too much growth to believe.  I kinda like how Jeph is showing that character trait as neither wholly good or bad.
"I had pancakes." Marten's continuing his class act. I chuckled. The line of thought that he's trying to spare Faye an uncomfortable situation rings a little hollow. This is a gag-a-day strip, and sometimes you need a punchline. This was a punchline. Marten will probably go on to explain where he was eating his pancakes somewhat soon... after he does the Being a Good Friend thing.

Also, this.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Half Empty Coffee Cup on 20 Oct 2014, 18:57
Ugh!  I just realized after reading this comic and absorbing recent developments in the strip got an intuitive flash on where the strip could be heading.  I have to step away from the keyboard right now.
Before you share your Horrible Revelation?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 18:59
Oh no, I'm another new person! Hello.  :-)

I've been reading along for years; my new-reader-archive-binge was... at least five years ago? Honestly, I forget. Been on-and-off lurking the forums the whole time. Finally registered during the Martenclaire squee festival because I felt I would have some important things to say, and then everyone said them. So: first post. What finally prompted me to post a little something in words:

I laughed out loud at the "I had pancakes" line. Just, thank you Jeph. There's been a lot of good writing, a lot of squee, a lot of good drama, and a lot of good humor, but BAM the pancakes line still has me giggling on the inside. Lots of buildup to that punchline and it was good.

Something left over from when I was building up what I wanted to say when I first registered a few weeks ago: I am so glad puns are IN again, and not punishable. Thank you to all forum members who pun it up. You make me smile.

Welcome! I feel the same way about the second "arms race" strip. Gets me every time.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 20 Oct 2014, 19:01

No idea why I decided to tell that to a group of internet strangers, just felt like I needed to get that off my chest.

Sometimes its easier to open up to unknowns because even if they were to judge, they can't touch you or hurt you. It's comforting to be able o get things off your chest without fear of it affecting your every day life. Kinda like the first session or two with a therapist. Only free. Sorry about your breakup, at the risk of sounding cliche'd, sometimes that happens, hopefully with time you can feel better.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 20 Oct 2014, 19:07
Reality bites ..........


Pancakes
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 19:07
Ugh!  I just realized after reading this comic and absorbing recent developments in the strip got an intuitive flash on where the strip could be heading.  I have to step away from the keyboard right now.

Svenopocalypse?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 20 Oct 2014, 19:28
Welcome, new people!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 20 Oct 2014, 19:29
Ugh!  I just realized after reading this comic and absorbing recent developments in the strip got an intuitive flash on where the strip could be heading.  I have to step away from the keyboard right now.

C'mon, you can't leave us hanging after that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 20 Oct 2014, 19:32
Welcome, new people!

Hi

pleased to make your acquaintance :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: aliensporebomb on 20 Oct 2014, 20:06
Ugh!  I just realized after reading this comic and absorbing recent developments in the strip got an intuitive flash on where the strip could be heading.  I have to step away from the keyboard right now.
Before you share your Horrible Revelation?

I can't.  I literally saw it like a script on paper and it just would be too awful for all concerned. 

I don't think Jeph would write it that way - and I'm pretty sure Marten and Faye and Claire are how I imagine them in the strip and wouldn't deviate massively off the plots as I've seen them since the beginning. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Ustrello on 20 Oct 2014, 20:19
Ugh!  I just realized after reading this comic and absorbing recent developments in the strip got an intuitive flash on where the strip could be heading.  I have to step away from the keyboard right now.
Before you share your Horrible Revelation?

I can't.  I literally saw it like a script on paper and it just would be too awful for all concerned. 

I don't think Jeph would write it that way - and I'm pretty sure Marten and Faye and Claire are how I imagine them in the strip and wouldn't deviate massively off the plots as I've seen them since the beginning.

See now you can't leave everyone hanging like that
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 20 Oct 2014, 20:23
Yep. Spill dude/dudette/dudi (a gender neutral form of "dude" I am experimenting with)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 20 Oct 2014, 20:24
I don't think Jeph would write it that way - and I'm pretty sure Marten and Faye and Claire are how I imagine them in the strip and wouldn't deviate massively off the plots as I've seen them since the beginning.

See now you can't leave everyone hanging like that

I think Yelling Bird said it best. (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1453)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Fenriswolf on 20 Oct 2014, 20:57
Wow. OK, I still hope for an actual conversation between them rather than a fast fade on Angus as a character but I guess that's that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 21:05
I don't know if that is that. I kinda think it is. Faye's actions might not have been particularly healthy, but her reason is hard to argue with.

Angus isn't leaving for "a week." Probably a bit less than that, but still time for closure.

On the other hand, I don't see them patching this up.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 20 Oct 2014, 21:11
I don't know if that is that. I kinda think it is. Faye's actions might not have been particularly healthy, but her reason is hard to argue with.

Angus isn't leaving for "a week." Probably a bit less than that, but still time for closure.

On the other hand, I don't see them patching this up.

I don't, either, but a week in comic time can easily take us to Thanksgiving, which is typically when Big Things Happen. Of course, if Angus is being faded out, it could also play out in a similar way and timeline to the end of the Marten/Padma arc.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Natswash on 20 Oct 2014, 21:20
Longtime Lurker/reader, first time posting

Does anyone else see Faye rebounding onto Sven then regretting it. She wouldn't tell Dora, and then the Svenectomy would begin and *poof* drama
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 21:21
I can't shake the impression that big things involve Sven and Faye. That's not something I root for. Sven can be a good guy, and he may have grown up since he all but vanished after Faye and Angus became a thing. But the way he came back and his attitude about it suggest he has a long way to go.

Edit:
Longtime Lurker/reader, first time posting

Does anyone else see Faye rebounding onto Sven then regretting it. She wouldn't tell Dora, and then the Svenectomy would begin and *poof* drama

The Svenectomy ought to be well in progress. If Dora stuck to her plan she told her parents two days ago.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Krald on 20 Oct 2014, 21:39
Remember, it was Sven, not Angus, who got Faye over her intimacy problems. Angus just came in after Sven figuratively threw himself on the grenade.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Natswash on 20 Oct 2014, 21:45
Remember, it was Sven, not Angus, who got Faye over her intimacy problems. Angus just came in after Sven figuratively threw himself on the grenade.

Hooray more evidence!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 20 Oct 2014, 21:59
Actually, I kinda figure Sven is in Faye's path because Dora is keeping Faye in the dark about the whole drama.

What better way to set up a conflict.

Hell, it occurs to me that Sven might swoop in a do the right thing by being supportive and respectful of Faye's feelings. Dora's track record of blowing up at Sven for things he didn't do is nearly unbroken.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Krald on 20 Oct 2014, 22:01
Actually, I kinda figure Sven is in Faye's path because Dora is keeping Faye in the dark about the whole drama.

What better way to set up a conflict.

He'll, it occurs to me that Sven might swoop in a do the right thing by being supportive and respectful of Faye's feelings. Dora's track record of blowing up at Sven for things he didn't do is nearly unbroken.

I fully support this
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 20 Oct 2014, 23:11
It's a fact that LDRs are hard and almost invariably weaken the relationship. Faye was probably right to say it wouldn't work; they have affection for eachother but they aren't so in love that they could weather that. She was arguably even right to hide this from Angus so that he wouldn't be distracted now his big moment is coming. However, I do think that she owes him an explanation of what she was thinking and why. Otherwise, it will poison them both.

As for the immediate future, I can't see Faye starting another relationship or even having a ONS; the wound will be a bit too raw for a while (Sven may try to pounce but I doubt Faye would be ready and I think she knows that it would be abusing his feelings). I'm wondering if she'll get her vicarious relationship thrills via Claire and Marten.  :wink:

Speaking of Claire and Marten, my feeling is that they spent the day just being together. Beyond the pancakes, I'm thinking that there were few landmarks. Just walking, talking and snuggling. I doubt either of them would be willing to push too far or too quickly. Faye may walk in on a couch make-out in the near future but no further. If things go further, it will be Claire who initiates, IMHO.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Akima on 20 Oct 2014, 23:16
Hell, it occurs to me that Sven might swoop in a do the right thing by being supportive and respectful of Faye's feelings.
LOL! That would be a first!

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 20 Oct 2014, 23:30
It suddenly occurs to me that Marten is doing more-or-less what Faye did to Angus: Brush over details that he thinks will upset the other, in this case that he had a great morning! His tells are so hilariously overt that I bet Faye sees through him immediately!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: FunkyTuba on 20 Oct 2014, 23:39
Angus has no incentive to make this a clean break. He's going to be so busy in NY that he basically won't have time for a different girlfriend there, so I think he'll say "It's ok if you're not ready. Call me when you are."

Effectively married to his job, he busily but patiently waits for Faye. Faye rebounds, realizes she doesn't want Angus after all but neither does she have to make a clean break because he's not present and prosecuting their relationship is on hold indefinitely.

This continues until one or the other cheats (or is it really cheating?) or otherwise hooks up with someone else and there's time-delay dramorz.

What do you think, sirs?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Nepiophage on 20 Oct 2014, 23:50
Longtime Lurker/reader, first time posting

Does anyone else see Faye rebounding onto Sven then regretting it. She wouldn't tell Dora, and then the Svenectomy would begin and *poof* drama

I can easily see this happening - Faye gets drunk (she's good at that); Sven appears; Faye being drunk, miserable, and remembering how good Sven is in bed wants some comfort . . . .

GAAAAAAAAAAH!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: snubnose on 20 Oct 2014, 23:54
I can easily see this happening - Faye gets drunk [...]
Will you kindly stop trying giving me nightmares !
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: kerky on 21 Oct 2014, 00:15
Enough drama for the last week and the first two comics of this one.

Can we have some squeeeeeee now please, Mr. Jeph?  :-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: anahata on 21 Oct 2014, 00:24
Faye thinks there were sexy times last night. Marten may not escape on pancakes alone.

Marten's being a master of diplomacy here.
Certainly Marten has some news he'd like to tell her about, but he has the good sense not to tell her more than she might want to know, especially in her current state. She'll have to ask if she wants more.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Krald on 21 Oct 2014, 00:25
Enough drama for the last week and the first two comics of this one.

Can we have some squeeeeeee now please, Mr. Jeph?  :-D

Sorry, everyone used up their monthly allotment of squee already
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: lot_jockey on 21 Oct 2014, 00:32
It seems like Faye should be saying these things to Angus, not Marten. I might just be reading the comic incorrectly, but it seems like Faye portrays her feelings to Marten in a way that implies that she did speak to Angus about them.

On a different-but-related note: I can't get over Faye and Angus' silence towards each other. Angus, tell Faye that you want to meet up later so you can talk about the problem. If you're going to make a remark like, "Can't we at least try to make this work," you need to stick around long enough for Faye to say something substantive. Even if it's "can we talk about this later, when I get off of work." Faye, of course, needs to be brave enough to really talk about her feelings to her (former?) boyfriend.   
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 21 Oct 2014, 01:04
Hell, it occurs to me that Sven might swoop in a do the right thing by being supportive and respectful of Faye's feelings.
LOL! That would be a first!

Nope. A second. Despite correctly reading that Faye was kinda into him, he stuck by Dora's "no banging my employees" rule until Faye jumped his bones. If Faye allows Sven within comforting distance, I doubt he'll make a move unless Faye gives him a definitive green light. But he will hang out with her, and be nice. He's an ass, but an honorable one after a fashion, and he misses talking to Faye as much as the rest.

Faye thinks there were sexy times last night. Marten may not escape on pancakes alone.

Marten's being a master of diplomacy here.
Certainly Marten has some news he'd like to tell her about, but he has the good sense not to tell her more than she might want to know, especially in her current state. She'll have to ask if she wants more.


Depends. If Faye really is too bummed to care, and her question to Marten was "Please change the subject, and subject!" then she might let the evasion pass. But if she really is interested, she won't. She believes something went down, so she "knows" Marten is being evasive. It's not merely an either or, as well. There's a spectrum of moods and motives between those extremes. Someone said, earlier, it's a gag a day strip. My money is on her not letting it pass, with a hedge bet on filler.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: kerky on 21 Oct 2014, 01:16
with a hedge bet on filler.

I request the filler to be friday this week, please... It has a tendency to help me release tension just before the weekend.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 21 Oct 2014, 01:23
with a hedge bet on filler.

I request the filler to be friday this week, please... It has a tendency to help me release tension just before the weekend.

There is filler and there is filler. I wouldn't be surprised if, tomorrow we jump to Angus at home with Marigold, Momo (and May, who's just finished her shower and is feeling mischievious). It will be interesting to see Angus's side of the story; remembering that none of his room-mates or their semi-welcome visitor have more than a nodding acquaintance with Faye so they'd be more likely to be either neutral or actively sympathetic to his feelings... With the exception of May who I suspect would likely take Faye's side just to be contrary.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Natswash on 21 Oct 2014, 02:37
As for the immediate future, I can't see Faye starting another relationship or even having a ONS; the wound will be a bit too raw for a while (Sven may try to pounce but I doubt Faye would be ready and I think she knows that it would be abusing his feelings).
Hence the regret idea, dunk Faye has proven to not think long term. ONS, then regret it that morning for
A: The impending Svenectomy
B: Abusing his feelings
C: Possibly feeling like she isn't being faithful to Angus (Not rational but post-breakup feelings seldom are)
D: Just rebounding onto Sven

Speaking of Claire and Marten, my feeling is that they spent the day just being together. Beyond the pancakes, I'm thinking that there were few landmarks. Just walking, talking and snuggling. I doubt either of them would be willing to push too far or too quickly. Faye may walk in on a couch make-out in the near future but no further. If things go further, it will be Claire who initiates, IMHO.
I definitely can't see Marten initiating too much for several different reasons, chiefly his respect of women. I hope there were more landmarks, and more than that I want to see them Mister Jeph.

EDIT: Fixed the quote boxes
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Nintheoretic on 21 Oct 2014, 03:05
Am I the only one that considered, given previous events (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2642), Martens word-choice might have not been optimal?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 21 Oct 2014, 03:17
Am I the only one that considered, given previous events (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2642), Martens word-choice might have not been optimal?

Well done on catching another of Jeph's in-jokes.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Natswash on 21 Oct 2014, 03:26
Nah I feel more like that's just a recurring joke for us readers and less something, that'll set Faye off.
I think someone said it earlier but at some point there does need to be a punchline, and we've been getting a lot of plot development with much less comedy for the last several strips.
Plus pancakes are a running theme with QC lately. Next time I do an archive trawl I'll note how many time they seem to be focal or part of a joke.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 21 Oct 2014, 03:41
Plus pancakes are a running theme with QC lately. Next time I do an archive trawl I'll note how many time they seem to be focal or part of a joke.

Maybe Jeph shouldn't script when hungry?  :laugh:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aimless on 21 Oct 2014, 05:38
He tried to bring it up several times, between each step of the audition process. He even considered not even going to the audition (which would have been a terrible idea) when talking to Marten.

He's been thinking about this from the beginning. He just can't talk about it with her until she actually decides to talk about it.

(I just reread everything with the two of them in it from like, 2600 on. I had actually missed how many times he tried to discuss it.)

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that it's all on Angus, only that he was in the best position to make this play out better. Now, my memory of their exchanges about this isn't all that fresh, but what I remember could also be seen as examples of Angus jumping on every opportunity to enthuse about this awesome opportunity after perfunctorily checking with Faye and taking her assurances at face value. I think that interpretation is consistent with the way his character has been portrayed so far--a good dude who kinda needs people to take care of their things on their own end make things clear and easy for him as well as for themselves by telling him when he needs to think.

I don't mean that as criticism, it's just another way to approach relationships. However, I don't think his way of doing things is the only way, or even the best way. For example, he could have taken an approach that simultaneously allows for the possibility that Faye's always clearly meant what she said and the possibility that she's been trying to put a brave face on things. He could also have set things up for this conversation earlier, because, believe it or not, you can actually force or help people to have--or at least prepare to have--conversations they apparently aren't ready or willing to have. You can when you need and want to. Esp. when you're in a committed long-term relationship with that person. But, in order to do so, you have to be willing to have that conversation yourself, you have to understand and accept that people sometimes "lie" to themselves and to each other, you have to have a sense of what might be going on in eg. your partner's head and you have to use that sense deliberately rather than tricking yourself into accepting the most pleasant view of things. It's about using your good judgement, and I don't think Angus has much inclination to use what good judgement he may have. I don't think Angus's psyche works like that, which is why, when the moment of truth finally arrived, he acted as if the thought of Faye having had difficulties with this had been completely wiped from his mind: "You're not being very supportive. This is my dream. Can't you just be happy for me?"

Now, I get how he might be hurt and upset by having his joy turned into sadness and guilt. It's possible that I've forgotten some crucial comic where Angus's behaviour clearly refutes my characterization of him, and I'm not particularly invested in making him out to be a tit. Right now this discussion may be moot anyway, if Faye's really going to just end things, but I still have hopes for their future babies :) even if they don't have those babies with each other. I think these two can "fix" each other, one learning to speak up, the other learning to listen properly, and both learning to fight for love.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aimless on 21 Oct 2014, 06:04
For some reason, I was reminded of this, even though it's not really relevant:

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: anahata on 21 Oct 2014, 06:44
Despite all the "Angus' fault / Faye's fault" discussions it seems that Faye has had a sudden revelation that she doesn't care as much about Angus as she might have thought. She can't help that - she's given it her best shot and simply can't do it, and at least she's honest enough to admit it rather than painfully continue the unconvincing pretence.

So nobody's to blame. These things happen, and while this is going to be painful for Faye, I don't think it's going to be a disaster for her, and she's surrounded by friends who will look after her.

I do wonder if a recurring theme though the whole history of QC is going to be Marten and Faye failing to get together forever for one reason after another:
- first she can't handle a relationship at all
- then just as she might be able to handle it, Dora gets there first
- then she's with Angus when Marten/Dora split up
- then Marten's with Claire the moment Faye loses Angus, with uncanny timing.
(I don't even want to speculate about the next step in that series)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 21 Oct 2014, 06:50
(I don't even want to speculate about the next step in that series)

Things could get very, very weird indeed, given a sufficiently improbable sequence of events and the right people having the right desires...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 21 Oct 2014, 06:51
Despite all the "Angus' fault / Faye's fault" discussions it seems that Faye has had a sudden revelation that she doesn't care as much about Angus as she might have thought. She can't help that - she's given it her best shot and simply can't do it, and at least she's honest enough to admit it rather than painfully continue the unconvincing pretence.

So nobody's to blame. These things happen, and while this is going to be painful for Faye, I don't think it's going to be a disaster for her, and she's surrounded by friends who will look after her.

I do wonder if a recurring theme though the whole history of QC is going to be Marten and Faye failing to get together forever for one reason after another:
- first she can't handle a relationship at all
- then just as she might be able to handle it, Dora gets there first
- then she's with Angus when Marten/Dora split up
- then Marten's with Claire the moment Faye loses Angus, with uncanny timing.
(I don't even want to speculate about the next step in that series)


I don't think that at all. I firmly believe that Marten and Faye are friends now, not a couple-in-waiting.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 21 Oct 2014, 06:53
(I don't even want to speculate about the next step in that series)

Actually, when Marten hugged her, I had a nightmare vision of the next comic being Faye going in for the kiss.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 21 Oct 2014, 07:05
(I don't even want to speculate about the next step in that series)

Actually, when Marten hugged her, I had a nightmare vision of the next comic being Faye going in for the kiss.

She's hurting too badly for that but I was expecting her to do something that would require even greater trust in Marten - to cry her eyes out on his shoulder.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: DSL on 21 Oct 2014, 07:47
My nightmare scenario, if you want to call it that, involved someone (perhaps a red-haired someone but not necessarily) entering CoD and interpreting the tableau before them in the most dramatically hilarious worst possible way. But I thought, Jeph doesn't like to repeat entire scenarios like that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: eschaton on 21 Oct 2014, 07:58
I don't think that at all. I firmly believe that Marten and Faye are friends now, not a couple-in-waiting.

Yeah.  This comic pretty much closed the door forever, IMHO. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1841)  At least on Marten's side. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 21 Oct 2014, 08:27
Faye's "I thought I could" could mean it was an honest mistake or perhaps self-delusion. Was there a way for her to have expressed concern that wouldn't have amounted to holding Angus back from a life dream?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 21 Oct 2014, 08:41
Ultimately, it would have been up to Angus. Is his relationship with Faye more important to him than his dream job? The trick would have been for him to be honest with himself. I have no doubt that Faye would have let him go with her blessing if he honestly told her that he can't pass this up. She would have been upset but we know that she didn't want to hold him back.

The worst of all worlds would have been for Angus to wrongly assume that Faye was more important to him and pass up his dream for her. He would have come to resent her for "what she made him do"; that way lies domestic abuse.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 21 Oct 2014, 10:00
Angus has no incentive to make this a clean break. He's going to be so busy in NY that he basically won't have time for a different girlfriend there, so I think he'll say "It's ok if you're not ready. Call me when you are."

Effectively married to his job, he busily but patiently waits for Faye. Faye rebounds, realizes she doesn't want Angus after all but neither does she have to make a clean break because he's not present and prosecuting their relationship is on hold indefinitely.

This continues until one or the other cheats (or is it really cheating?) or otherwise hooks up with someone else and there's time-delay dramorz.

What do you think, sirs?

Possible, but I'm not sure how likely it'd be, because that kinda pushes Faye's side of the arrangement into the same territory she was in with Sven, and I'm not sure that she'd make that mistake a second time.

Despite all the "Angus' fault / Faye's fault" discussions it seems that Faye has had a sudden revelation that she doesn't care as much about Angus as she might have thought. She can't help that - she's given it her best shot and simply can't do it, and at least she's honest enough to admit it rather than painfully continue the unconvincing pretence.

So nobody's to blame. These things happen, and while this is going to be painful for Faye, I don't think it's going to be a disaster for her, and she's surrounded by friends who will look after her.

I do wonder if a recurring theme though the whole history of QC is going to be Marten and Faye failing to get together forever for one reason after another:
- first she can't handle a relationship at all
- then just as she might be able to handle it, Dora gets there first
- then she's with Angus when Marten/Dora split up
- then Marten's with Claire the moment Faye loses Angus, with uncanny timing.
(I don't even want to speculate about the next step in that series)

Which reminds me of this, for some reason:

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 21 Oct 2014, 10:05
Ultimately, it would have been up to Angus. Is his relationship with Faye more important to him than his dream job? The trick would have been for him to be honest with himself. I have no doubt that Faye would have let him go with her blessing if he honestly told her that he can't pass this up. She would have been upset but we know that she didn't want to hold him back.

I suppose you are right on that regard. I would also like to point out that ever since the first time the audition came up, Angus knew Faye was uncomfortable with the idea. He was the first one to propose the "we'll cross that bridge when we get there" (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2451) and he did say he would try to make it work if they had to do the long distance thing.

Also, I don't think it was up to Angus to decide if he would follow his dream over Faye. He wants both, but if he chooses Faye, she would have felt horrible for robbing that opportunity from him, she said so as much. Overall it is just not an easy situation, things just happen. It sucks but that's the reality. They both should have seen this coming, and Faye at least did try to be happy for him and be supportive, she just couldn't. That does not make her a horrible person, nor does Angus one for choosing to go (if he doesn't change his mind before then)

I don't see this ending well if either of them go back on their position. If he drops it and stays, there will be resentment, on both sides, if Faye caves (unlikely) then there will be resentment as well. The ship is sunk. They gave it a try and was good while it lasted. I don't feel either one is fully at fault, or free of it. Its just a thing that happened. Again, I hope at least it ends amicably or civil.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Neko_Ali on 21 Oct 2014, 10:18
I still don't understand this need to find someone at fault for this. It happens. People break up because their lives are heading in different ways. Nobody is to blame for following their own needs. There is no requirement to stay together, especially if doing so means causing pain or unhappiness for one of them. It would be better if they had a talk before Angus leaves so they can at least part on good terms. But playing the blame game helps nobody here.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Bologna on 21 Oct 2014, 10:43
Relationship drama aside, it would be cool to have the characters watch Angus on TV later on in the series.

We don't see anybody watching TV too often unless it's anime.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 21 Oct 2014, 10:46
Relationship drama aside, it would be cool to have the characters watch Angus on TV later on in the series.

We don't see anybody watching TV too often unless it's anime.

I'd be surprised if it doesn't pop up at some point.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: sitnspin on 21 Oct 2014, 11:04
I don't think anyone is at fault. Life happens. Sometimes life just takes us in different directions. Sometimes people just aren't compatible.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rubick on 21 Oct 2014, 11:28
I kind of worry that things are going full steam ahead into a very miserable time for Faye. You have the break up with Angus. The budding romance of Claire and Marten - which even if Faye doesn't have feelings there - is going to prey on the feelings she's had before about that not being her and a reminder that she just can't seem to make relationships work for one way or another. With every close friend in her life, sans Hannelore, in new relationships will not only exacerbate that, but I also see it preying on another of Faye's fear (which mostly came up during the early Dora/Marten times) of being left alone and her friends not being around as much. So it could be easy for somebody to find themselves upset and alone...and well...Svenocalypse seems a possibility. Could be me reading into a lot of things, but I think Jeph's been writing things in a way to set that up for a fair few months now.

Maybe she'll nip home for a trip, though. We haven't seen her mom or Amanda in eight years or so at this point (I don't know this by heart, I've just been re-reading from the start recently.) and it'd be fun to revisit them as well.

(I really hope we don't get any Marten-Claire-Faye drama with Claire being worried about that. Feels like we've seen that story before with Dora.)

Edit: Going back, in one of those 'Fuck I forgot QC time is not real time', if I'm right, the Svenectomy was only in-universe a few days ago and nobody's told Faye yet. Uh oh.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: eschaton on 21 Oct 2014, 11:40
(I really hope we don't get any Marten-Claire-Faye drama with Claire being worried about that. Feels like we've seen that story before with Dora.)

Honestly, I think if any drama is going to happen soon, it will be between Marten and Dora, although I don't know the origin.  Could be related to Claire, could be something with Sven, etc.

My basic feeling here is, as people have noted, Dora and Tai's relationship is boring because it hasn't had any conflict.  A conflict involving Marten is a great way to set something up.  Why?  Because Tai has sort of replaced Steve as Marten's "best bud."  Not to say that other people in the series are not closer to Marten, but Tai is pretty clearly mainly Marten's friend, and interacts with Marten mostly on a one-on-one level. 

If there was any tension between Dora and Marten (particularly if Dora was pretty clearly in the wrong about it) I think Tai would have a very hard time not getting involved in the conflict. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 21 Oct 2014, 11:45
If there was any tension between Dora and Marten (particularly if Dora was pretty clearly in the wrong about it) I think Tai would have a very hard time not getting involved in the conflict.

I don't see tension between Dora and Marten so much as between Dora and Tai due to her being mum about the Svenectomy.

Much as I'm jonesing for more onscreen time with Marten and Claire, I'm pretty sure the rest of the crew are about to move front and center.

Edited to add: The Dora/Tai tension would necessarily include Marten if Tai got a case of ass because Dora told her ex-boyfriend but didn't tell her.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 21 Oct 2014, 11:46
I kind of worry that things are going full steam ahead into a very miserable time for Faye. You have the break up with Angus. The budding romance of Claire and Marten - which even if Faye doesn't have feelings there - is going to prey on the feelings she's had before about that not being her and a reminder that she just can't seem to make relationships work for one way or another. With every close friend in her life, sans Hannelore, in new relationships will not only exacerbate that, but I also see it preying on another of Faye's fear (which mostly came up during the early Dora/Marten times) of being left alone and her friends not being around as much. So it could be easy for somebody to find themselves upset and alone...and well...Svenocalypse seems a possibility. Could be me reading into a lot of things, but I think Jeph's been writing things in a way to set that up for a fair few months now.

Maybe she'll nip home for a trip, though. We haven't seen her mom or Amanda in eight years or so at this point (I don't know this by heart, I've just been re-reading from the start recently.) and it'd be fun to revisit them as well.

(I really hope we don't get any Marten-Claire-Faye drama with Claire being worried about that. Feels like we've seen that story before with Dora.)

That's eight years in real time, but in comic time it's been less than a year. The first trip home made sense; she had told the story of her father's death as a first step toward really coming to terms with it, and the trip home was a logical next step in that journey. There's nothing going on in-comic right now that really makes another trip home, especially so soon, all that likely.

And it's likely to be a difficult time, but things are different in a number of ways than they were during the Faye/Sven arc. In this case, unlike the other, she's the one doing the dumping. She also has the support of Marten, same as she's always had, which helps. As much as Angus leaving hurts her, I think that pales next to how she'd feel if it was Marten or Dora pulling up stakes.

(I really hope we don't get any Marten-Claire-Faye drama with Claire being worried about that. Feels like we've seen that story before with Dora.)

Honestly, I think if any drama is going to happen soon, it will be between Marten and Dora, although I don't know the origin.  Could be related to Claire, could be something with Sven, etc.

My basic feeling here is, as people have noted, Dora and Tai's relationship is boring because it hasn't had any conflict.  A conflict involving Marten is a great way to set something up.  Why?  Because Tai has sort of replaced Steve as Marten's "best bud."  Not to say that other people in the series are not closer to Marten, but Tai is pretty clearly mainly Marten's friend, and interacts with Marten mostly on a one-on-one level. 

If there was any tension between Dora and Marten (particularly if Dora was pretty clearly in the wrong about it) I think Tai would have a very hard time not getting involved in the conflict. 

The two most likely ways this would pan out, I think, would be either an argument between Dora and Tai, where one (or both) of them go to Marten for advice, or just to vent; or something happening again between Faye and Sven (and by "something," I also mean something as innocent as Sven trying to be a good guy for a change and just being there for Faye, no sex involved), which sets Dora off. Either one puts Marten in an uncomfortable position, because his circle of friends has so many points of intersection that things said to or about one person are likely to end up dragging in lots of other people.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: eschaton on 21 Oct 2014, 12:00
I don't see tension between Dora and Marten so much as between Dora and Tai due to her being mum about the Svenectomy.

...

Edited to add: The Dora/Tai tension would necessarily include Marten if Tai got a case of ass because Dora told her ex-boyfriend but didn't tell her.

I dunno.  This all presupposes that Tai freaks out about it.  We haven't really seen Tai in another relationship within the confines of the comic, but she seems like a pretty chill person overall, albeit not an accidental Zen master like Marten.  Tai might be upset, but frankly her flipping out and causing a fight about it seems like something Dora would do - not Tai. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: KOK on 21 Oct 2014, 12:05
Angus is not coming back. Faye does not want to move. A long distance relationship is not a viable long time solution. In the final analysis, it is as simple as that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rghfrgl on 21 Oct 2014, 12:13
Yeah.  This comic pretty much closed the door forever, IMHO. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1841)  At least on Marten's side.

And just a few strips back (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1838) Jeph flat out says in the commentary he's with Veronica on this. He's also said 'the talk' was going to be the end of the strip, but since he wanted to do qc indefinitely he just did it to get it out of the way.

I don't think it was a coincidence it took four or five hundred strips for Angus to leave while we waited for Marten to get a girlfriend, but that's more to NOT move in a specific direction at all rather than saving that direction for the endgame.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Somnus Eternus on 21 Oct 2014, 12:28
I still don't understand this need to find someone at fault for this. It happens.

I was literally just about to say this.  There doesn't always have to be a bad guy.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rubick on 21 Oct 2014, 12:42
I am terrible at multi-quoting so will just reply to points here:

Dora/Marten drama would be...weird, not sure why it would happen. I only pop in the forums randomly to comment at times so I didn't realise there might be a feeling Dora and Tai are boring. Personally don't feel that way and I'd rather not have the strip go for drama of the sake of trying to spice things up. A couple that actually get on long-term would be quite refreshing, really. Interesting point about Tai replacing Steve, although it feels that might be more that they work together than anything. I don't recall seeing Tai & Marten being that commonly with each other outside of work when it wasn't a 'whole group' thing.

Has Faye's trip home really been less than a year ago in-universe? Jesus. If true, that's fair enough. I don't think this is Faye 'dumping' Angus, or vice versa, though. It's just things reaching a terminus, rather than one person forcing it. My point is that while Faye usually has Marten's support, she might find he's not around very much because he's in the happy throes of a new relationship with Claire and so that support isn't there when she needs it.

I do have a feeling a Svenocalypse could get everyone at each others throats, considering a lot revolves around Sven and people hiding things from each other to related it (Dora from Tai, everybody from Faye, Faye from Angus, etc etc. Unless I've forgotten people being told.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: TRVA123 on 21 Oct 2014, 12:44

That's eight years in real time, but in comic time it's been less than a year. The first trip home made sense; she had told the story of her father's death as a first step toward really coming to terms with it, and the trip home was a logical next step in that journey. There's nothing going on in-comic right now that really makes another trip home, especially so soon, all that likely.

I think its been longer than that, I mean, Fays trip home was when Dora/Marten started dating. I think that was, at the most recent, two years ago in comic time.

Otherwise, I agree with you, there is no reason for Faye to make a trip home right now.

Instead, Faye should strike up an unlikely friendship with.....

Marten's Mom!!!!

Think about it, Faye can learn how to be a dominatrix! Which, if Veronica is as expert as she's been portrayed, means having excellent communication skills. Faye can learn how to set her own boundaries and communicate what she needs effectively, while exercising her penchant for violent behavior in a controlled, consensual environment!

*NOTE* I am serious when I mean she should be FRIENDS with Veronica. I think Faye and Veronica would make a terrible romantic couple.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Pilchard123 on 21 Oct 2014, 12:53
Relationship drama aside, it would be cool to have the characters watch Angus on TV later on in the series.

We don't see anybody watching TV too often unless it's anime.

Or disturbing adverts for self-immolating robots.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 21 Oct 2014, 12:55
I still don't understand this need to find someone at fault for this. It happens.

I was literally just about to say this.  There doesn't always have to be a bad guy.

Yeah, I think a few people have managed to realize this.
I think the consensus is that there WILL be some Faye/Sven...something in the future. Doubt it will be a relationship or a FWB thing again. But something will happen that may lead to Dora/Faye arguments or fallout. Dora is likely to missread a situation and snap at Faye for "going back with Sven" even if that is not the actual truth, exacerbated by Dora's Svenoctomy and all (which sibling rivalry issues aside, it still seems rather drastic at this time on her part).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Bologna on 21 Oct 2014, 12:59
Maybe I'm just boring, but I don't really see Faye doing anything too drastic, including a ONS with Sven.  I can see her being sad, yes, and mopey, and even more snarky and sarcastic than usual, but I really think that she'll be fine.  She's got a pretty good understanding of the circumstances around the breakup.  Definitely see her visiting Dr. Corrine, though.

Calling it now: Sven confessing his love for her is a red herring for post-breakup Faye drama.  At most, he'll try to get with her, she'll be all like 'ugh,' and he'll go off and sulk somewhere. 

On another note, wasn't Dora supposed to talk with her parents about cutting Sven off sometime soon?  I'd like to see where that goes.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Bologna on 21 Oct 2014, 13:00
Relationship drama aside, it would be cool to have the characters watch Angus on TV later on in the series.

We don't see anybody watching TV too often unless it's anime.

Or disturbing adverts for self-immolating robots.

Aw, forgot about him.  Poor guy.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 21 Oct 2014, 13:14

That's eight years in real time, but in comic time it's been less than a year. The first trip home made sense; she had told the story of her father's death as a first step toward really coming to terms with it, and the trip home was a logical next step in that journey. There's nothing going on in-comic right now that really makes another trip home, especially so soon, all that likely.

I think its been longer than that, I mean, Fays trip home was when Dora/Marten started dating. I think that was, at the most recent, two years ago in comic time.

Otherwise, I agree with you, there is no reason for Faye to make a trip home right now.

Instead, Faye should strike up an unlikely friendship with.....

Marten's Mom!!!!

Think about it, Faye can learn how to be a dominatrix! Which, if Veronica is as expert as she's been portrayed, means having excellent communication skills. Faye can learn how to set her own boundaries and communicate what she needs effectively, while exercising her penchant for violent behavior in a controlled, consensual environment!

*NOTE* I am serious when I mean she should be FRIENDS with Veronica. I think Faye and Veronica would make a terrible romantic couple.

The dominatrix angle aside (though I'm thinking you said that with tongue firmly in cheek), I think that's a great idea. Her sometimes iffy/nonexistent boundaries aside (which I'd imagine is a bit ironic for a dominatrix), Veronica seems to like Marten's friends and seems to "get" people better than they sometimes understand themselves. It seems a bit of a waste to bring her to the East Coast just as Jim's love interest, and I think she'd have some interesting perspective to offer the other characters. On the other hand, her involvement with Jim could also be a convenient way to get her closer to the main cast for other developments later (like mediating drama, or talking sense into people who need it).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 21 Oct 2014, 14:43
I still don't understand this need to find someone at fault for this. It happens.
I was literally just about to say this.  There doesn't always have to be a bad guy.

There are no bad guys in QC (Barring Hanners' mom). I may label Sven the villain, but only in the literary sense. He's the go-to antagonist. But he's still a good guy when he tries.

The next person down is Clinton. And even he isn't so bad when he stops being creepy. (May has a point about Hanners' privacy. That mega fanboy Clinton has respected it says a lot. He's clueless, but not vicious.)

On the other hand, even good people make mistakes.

I'm not sure Tai drama makes sense. Marten's transformation from zero to hero pretty much coincides with Tai joining the inner circle. If you watch the interaction, Tai is almost Marten's Obi-wan. She's nearly as chill as Dale. I just feel like Jeph's going to have to lay some ground work to justify a Tai-fight. I can see her getting upset, but she seems likely to handle it almost as reasonably as Marten would.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 21 Oct 2014, 14:52
So you're saying Tai wouldn't be spicy?  :claireface:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 21 Oct 2014, 14:59
So you're saying Tai wouldn't be spicy?  :claireface:

If she got angry, she'd probably retreat to pad Tai while she cools down.  :claireface:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 21 Oct 2014, 15:02
Those puns were so bad they made it all the way back around to...delicious.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 21 Oct 2014, 15:11
I still don't understand this need to find someone at fault for this. It happens.
I was literally just about to say this.  There doesn't always have to be a bad guy.


<mod>fixed embedded video</mod>
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 21 Oct 2014, 15:33
I still don't understand this need to find someone at fault for this. It happens.
I was literally just about to say this.  There doesn't always have to be a bad guy.

Not a valid youtube URL

Video isn't displaying, but I'm wondering if you're thinking of the same song I am...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 21 Oct 2014, 15:42

Good one.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: HauntingPoem on 21 Oct 2014, 15:50
I still don't understand this need to find someone at fault for this. It happens.
I was literally just about to say this.  There doesn't always have to be a bad guy.

There are no bad guys in QC (Barring Hanners' mom). I may label Sven the villain, but only in the literary sense. He's the go-to antagonist. But he's still a good guy when he tries.

The next person down is Clinton. And even he isn't so bad when he stops being creepy. (May has a point about Hanners' privacy. That mega fanboy Clinton has respected it says a lot. He's clueless, but not vicious.)

On the other hand, even good people make mistakes.

I'm not sure Tai drama makes sense. Marten's transformation from zero to hero pretty much coincides with Tai joining the inner circle. If you watch the interaction, Tai is almost Marten's Obi-wan. She's nearly as chill as Dale. I just feel like Jeph's going to have to lay some ground work to justify a Tai-fight. I can see her getting upset, but she seems likely to handle it almost as reasonably as Marten would.

What about the Vespa Avenger?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 21 Oct 2014, 15:58
Those puns were so bad they made it all the way back around to...delicious.

You're just trying to curry favor with us.  :clairedoge:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 21 Oct 2014, 16:27
What about the Vespa Avenger?

A terribly confused and misguided individual, now gainfully employed on US government black projects. But deep down, she just needed a hug.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 21 Oct 2014, 16:35
Those puns were so bad they made it all the way back around to...delicious.

You're just trying to curry favor with us.  :clairedoge:

I'd never stoop so low. There's too much at steak.
<.<
>.>
Just thinking about it makes miso sad.

:clairedoge:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 21 Oct 2014, 16:38
Those puns were so bad they made it all the way back around to...delicious.

You're just trying to curry favor with us.  :clairedoge:

I'd never stoop so low. There's too much at steak.
<.<
>.>
Just thinking about it makes miso sad.

:clairedoge:

This is peppered with far too many puns. And miso? Why so salty?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: AprilArcus on 21 Oct 2014, 16:41
I'm not sure Tai drama makes sense. [...] I just feel like Jeph's going to have to lay some ground work to justify a Tai-fight. I can see her getting upset, but she seems likely to handle it almost as reasonably as Marten would.

We see Marten and Dora have six fights during their relationship, all of which are basically instigated by Dora:
These paint a consistent picture of Dora as insecure, controlling, jealous, paranoid, and passive-aggressive. What has she done since the break-up to work on this? Well, she starts therapy (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1878), concludes that her problems are all about Sven (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2170), and then passive-agressively (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2777) aims (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2770) her paranoid streak (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2776) at him the moment he attempts to re-enter her social circle.

So Dora's worst tendencies are currently pointed away from Tai. Mostly (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2577). Meanwhile, we know (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2227) exactly what Tai sees in Dora. We don't really know (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2261) what Dora sees in Tai, except that she's flattered (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2252) by the interest. Marten is helping (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2582) Tai ride the waves, and they have new relationship energy (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2584) on their side... for now.

So I would consider the ground work for Dora/Tai drama pretty well-laid, if only because Jeph has neglected to show Dora really confronting her emotional problems on-panel. He's just kicking the can down the road; it needs to happen eventually. And if it turns out that Dora/Tai is a rehash of Dora/Marten, it would still feel dramatic and naturalistic — people are terribly slow to change behavior patterns like these in real life. Dora and Tai have been outside of the strip's focus for over 200 strips, and they're due for a return soon. I hope it's an interesting one.

Marten's transformation from zero to hero pretty much coincides with Tai joining the inner circle. If you watch the interaction, Tai is almost Marten's Obi-wan. She's nearly as chill as Dale.

Marten's exposure to Tai's relaxed attitudes toward social (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=726) incest (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=765) and gender (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=973) identity (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=974) has certainly coincided with the queering of his cultural baseline.

Before he meets her, he's already a good ally — he loves and accepts his dad (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=433) and supports Pintsize through a sexuality crisis (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=347). But he's also defensive (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=87) about his heterosexuality (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=222), has a somewhat faulty narrative (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=437) about his dad's orientation, an unexamined gender-essentialist (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=457) outlook on his mom's social circle, and a slightly prudish (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=18) attitude toward his own sex life.

On two occasions, Dora tries to rile him with a trans joke. The first time (before he meets Tai), he takes the bait (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=615):

Quote
Dora: So I guess this would be a bad time to tell you I used to be a man.
Marten: No, see, the way my life works is you'd wait until after we had sex to tell me that. You know, let me get the full afterglow going before you shatter my mind.

The second time (after having worked with Tai for most of a year), he is utterly unflappable (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1300):

Quote
Dora: Maybe you realized you didn't love me. Or you wanted a girl with a penis.
Marten: Is that seriously something you worry about?

So I'm totally comfortable with the notion that it was through Tai's influence that Marten became the kind of person who would be able to listen to Claire's story without prying (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2324), process a drunken cuddle without outing her (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2411), and ultimately be the kind of person who could start a relationship with her (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2807) and not even bring up the gender stuff until she did first (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2808). And it's also plausible that it was through exposure to Tai's own casually polyamorous fuck-knot that the idea of his close friend dating his ex (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1937) came to feel normal (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1949) to him — enough for him to feel real compersion (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2248).

Quote
Compersion (n.) A feeling of joy when a loved one invests in and takes pleasure from another romantic or sexual relationship.

So while I'm comfortable asserting that Marten learned his cultural queerness from Tai, I don't know if I'm ready to say that's where he got his chill-ness from. It seems to me like whenever he talks to her about his relationship with Dora, she's either generically encouraging (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=859), or graphically (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1268) jocular (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1329). And Tai is not precisely (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=727) chill (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=728) herself, at first. It seems to me that she slowly mellows (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=815) out (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1398) in parallel with Marten's reactive disillusionment at Dora's distemperate passion.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 21 Oct 2014, 16:41
I still don't understand this need to find someone at fault for this. It happens.
I was literally just about to say this.  There doesn't always have to be a bad guy.


<mod>fixed embedded video</mod>

Can't go wrong with Howard Jones. I was actually thinking of Dave Mason...

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 21 Oct 2014, 16:56
holy shit <snip>

I really enjoy reading your analysis, but what do you do for a living?  Academia?  I mean, I have opinions that I might take the time to link to their basis, but you're, like, doing white papers and whatnot (not that I'm bitching; reading your posts is almost as much fun as an archive trawl).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 21 Oct 2014, 17:08
I'm not sure Tai drama makes sense. [...] I just feel like Jeph's going to have to lay some ground work to justify a Tai-fight. I can see her getting upset, but she seems likely to handle it almost as reasonably as Marten would.

We see Marten and Dora have six fights during their relationship, all of which are basically instigated by Dora:
  • Marten gets a haircut without asking (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=857)
  • Marten feels fondly toward his exes (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1066)
  • Dora thinks Faye hooked up with Sven to get revenge (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1098)
  • Cosette asks Marten out (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1324)
  • Dora finds Marten comforting Faye and assumes the worst (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1741)
  • Dora looks up Marten's porn without his permission (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1795)
These paint a consistent picture of Dora as insecure, controlling, jealous, paranoid, and passive-aggressive. What has she done since the break-up to work on this? Well, she starts therapy (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1878), concludes that her problems are all about Sven (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2170), and then passive-agressively (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2777) aims (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2770) her paranoid streak (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2776) at him the moment he attempts to re-enter her social circle.

So Dora's worst tendencies are currently pointed away from Tai. Mostly (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2577). Meanwhile, we know (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2227) exactly what Tai sees in Dora. We don't really know (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2261) what Dora sees in Tai, except that she's flattered (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2252) by the interest. Marten is helping (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2582) Tai ride the waves, and they have new relationship energy (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2584) on their side... for now.

So I would consider the ground work for Dora/Tai drama pretty well-laid, if only because Jeph has neglected to show Dora really confronting her emotional problems on-panel. He's just kicking the can down the road; it needs to happen eventually. And if it turns out that Dora/Tai is a rehash of Dora/Marten, it would still feel dramatic and naturalistic — people are terribly slow to change behavior patterns like these in real life. Dora and Tai have been outside of the strip's focus for over 200 strips, and they're due for a return soon. I hope it's an interesting one.

Marten's transformation from zero to hero pretty much coincides with Tai joining the inner circle. If you watch the interaction, Tai is almost Marten's Obi-wan. She's nearly as chill as Dale.

Marten's exposure to Tai's relaxed attitudes toward social (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=726) incest (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=765) and gender (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=973) identity (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=974) has certainly coincided with the queering of his cultural baseline.

Before he meets her, he's already a good ally — he loves and accepts his dad (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=433) and supports Pintsize through a sexuality crisis (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=347). But he's also defensive (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=87) about his heterosexuality (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=222), has a somewhat faulty narrative (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=437) about his dad's orientation, an unexamined gender-essentialist (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=457) outlook on his mom's social circle, and a slightly prudish (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=18) attitude toward his own sex life.

On two occasions, Dora tries to rile him with a trans joke. The first time (before he meets Tai), he takes the bait (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=615):

Quote
Dora: So I guess this would be a bad time to tell you I used to be a man.
Marten: No, see, the way my life works is you'd wait until after we had sex to tell me that. You know, let me get the full afterglow going before you shatter my mind.

The second time (after having worked with Tai for most of a year), he is utterly unflappable (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1300):

Quote
Dora: Maybe you realized you didn't love me. Or you wanted a girl with a penis.
Marten: Is that seriously something you worry about?

So I'm totally comfortable with the notion that it was through Tai's influence that Marten became the kind of person who would be able to listen to Claire's story without prying (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2324), process a drunken cuddle without outing her (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2411), and ultimately be the kind of person who could start a relationship with her (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2807) and not even bring up the gender stuff until she did first (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2808). And it's also plausible that it was through exposure to Tai's own casually polyamorous fuck-knot that the idea of his close friend dating his ex (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1937) came to feel normal (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1949) to him — enough for him to feel real compersion (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2248).

Quote
Compersion (n.) A feeling of joy when a loved one invests in and takes pleasure from another romantic or sexual relationship.

So while I'm comfortable asserting that Marten learned his cultural queerness from Tai, I don't know if I'm ready to say that's where he got his chill-ness from. It seems to me like whenever he talks about to her about his relationship with Dora, she's either generically encouraging (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=859), or graphically (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1268) jocular (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1329). And Tai is not precisely (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=727) chill (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=728) herself, at first. It seems to me that she slowly mellows (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=815) out (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1398) in parallel with Marten's reactive disillusionment at Dora's distemperate passion.

Excellent analysis. The conclusions fit what I was trying to say.   I don't rule out Dora drama, for instance. I just feel that for Tai to be the instigator, even reactively, requires more ground work. Even following up on her possessive streak, just because we haven't seen it in so long.

Tai is too much the level head. When she gets off balance she confronts the issue, most of the time. You make a good point about who she was before Marten, but--again--it will take ground work to justify a regression.

Marten and Tai have been very good for each other.

I can totally see Tai taking exception to Dora's misbehavior, and laying down the law. It's a histrionic blow out that seems unlikely.

Edit: I should add, I would be surprised if the current story threads aren't leading up to more Dora initiated drama, as I have said before. I am not sure which way Tai will roll. But I expect either sympathy or disappointment, rather than deep angst. Tai worries she will mess up. She doesn't have a lot of internal conflict about her worth. It's possible she'll take being kept in the dark about Sven deeply personally. I expect she'll take a more mature view.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 21 Oct 2014, 18:12
wow - only two days, and the forum's gone from anger over the breakup straight to acceptance.  I guess there was some bargaining in there too (Angus should do this!  Faye should do that!), but unfortunately the big stage that Faye has too go through has just started. 


Depression. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: AprilArcus on 21 Oct 2014, 19:07
I really enjoy reading your analysis, but what do you do for a living?  Academia?  I mean, I have opinions that I might take the time to link to their basis, but you're, like, doing white papers and whatnot (not that I'm bitching; reading your posts is almost as much fun as an archive trawl).

Heh, I'm glad you like what I write. Some people show their devotion to a work of art with fan-fiction; I guess I'm doing fan-exegesis.

My day job is in software. I learned close reading and rhetoric at a super-fancy prep school for rich kids (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1599), got a liberal arts degree from a school a lot like Smif, and got halfway through a masters in biology before (http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/adjunct-professors-fight-for-crumbs-on-campus/2014/08/22/ca92eb38-28b1-11e4-8593-da634b334390_story.html) realizing (http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/04/the-adjunct-professor-crisis/361336/) that (http://[url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/education/2013/11/death_of_duquesne_adjunct_margaret_mary_vojtko_what_really_happened_to_her.html) pursuing (http://www.salon.com/2014/09/21/professors_on_food_stamps_the_shocking_true_story_of_academia_in_2014/) a (http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-allen-adjunct-professors-20131222-story.html) career (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/is-academia-suffering-adjunctivitis/) in (http://www.startribune.com/local/253061741.html) academia (http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/04/20134119156459616.html) would (http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/24/opinion/rhoades-adjunct-faculty/) be (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/11/adjunct-faculty_n_4255139.html) madness (http://college.usatoday.com/2014/07/17/underpaid-and-overworked-adjunct-professors-share-their-stories/) itself (http://www.philipsandifer.com/2013/05/farewell-to-academia.html). I love clearly presented information and well-cited arguments the way Hannelore loves a clean room (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1416); the way Claire loves a well-organized library (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2208); the way Jim loves a good scone (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2696).

Questionable Content is often called a "slice of life" strip, something I feel very intensely. Tai could be the living image of half a dozen of my close friends from college. I spent the summer of 2007 playing Sven in a Dora-Marten-Faye-Sven quadrangle. As a trans woman, I love seeing how delicately and intelligently Jeph is painting a picture of Claire. But I also understand that what is a "slice of life" for me is deeply weird and alien to a lot of other posters:

My problem with Tai and Dora is how creepy Tai acted with that relationship and how she gets what she wants.

So after looking back through the comics i figured out why i dislike the tai/dora ship... tai was like all about getting in dora's pants like 80 strips after the break up, so like, days in comic time? You just don't jump on your friends ex like that, specially in a damn collage town where their are many fish in the sea

Generally speaking, I think it's at least a contentious issue among groups of friends, even if it's not an outright taboo. I think if you were to hook up with a friend's ex pretty much right after a break-up, it's basically confirming that "Yeah, I've fancied your significant other for some time now", and seemingly implies - whether it's actually the case or not - that you've been waiting for things to fall apart so that you could make your move. It's kind of a lousy way to feel about a friend's partner, and not particularly considerate of their feelings or your friendship with them.

I just couldn't disagree more with any of this. It comes from a place of profound misunderstanding of a type of (mostly queer/poly) social dynamic that Jeph really gets, and that he's doing a terrific job of portraying. If there is a subset of the readership that are critical thinkers, who are interested in this topic but who don't have a direct experience of it, who I can reach with good expository writing and citations, I think that's a great use of my time.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: TieDyeKat on 21 Oct 2014, 19:28
Welp, where's the brain bleach?

Comic's up.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 21 Oct 2014, 19:29
Comic's u--

I hit the refresh button for that?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 21 Oct 2014, 19:29
New comi.... buh?

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Neko_Ali on 21 Oct 2014, 19:31
Quick! After it! We can't let it escape out into the wild!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: AprilArcus on 21 Oct 2014, 19:31
actually pretty lulzy
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rghfrgl on 21 Oct 2014, 19:35
I predict midweek robot filler, where the forum gets mad and the AI's have to take the blame.

I'm a prophet!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 21 Oct 2014, 19:36
actually pretty lulzy

Yeah, you're right.  I can't stay mad for long.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: downtowneddie on 21 Oct 2014, 19:41
The first thing that came to mind? Marten's quote in #1666 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1666): "There needs to be a word for those brief moments of clarity where you realize just how profoundly weird your life is."

[edited to fix URL BBcode]
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: SubaruStephen on 21 Oct 2014, 19:43
actually pretty lulzy

Yeah, you're right.  I can't stay mad for long.

Maybe all the puns on these forums have affected me, but I first read that as "Yeah, you're right.  I can't stay mad for dong."
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Jazzmaster on 21 Oct 2014, 19:47
Marten sure looks sad in panel one.  Must be the thought of Faye and Angus breaking up, which sucks because he was so happy just moments prior.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: mustang6172 on 21 Oct 2014, 20:07
If I may comment on this robot interlude... Um, I'll tell you the problem with the scientific power that you're using here, it didn't require any discipline to attain it. You read what others had done and you took the next step. You didn't earn the knowledge for yourselves, so you don't take any responsibility for it. You stood on the shoulders of geniuses to accomplish something as fast as you could, and before you even knew what you had, you patented it, and made it look like a dong, and packaged it, and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox, and now *bangs on the table* you're selling it, you wanna sell it!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: FunkyTuba on 21 Oct 2014, 20:16
This one makes me wonder if Jeph isn't angling for a crossover strip with Erica Moen's VERY NSFW Oh Joy Sex Toy (http://www.ohjoysextoy.com/new-readers)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: DSL on 21 Oct 2014, 20:21
If I may comment on this robot interlude... Um, I'll tell you the problem with the scientific power that you're using here, it didn't require any discipline to attain it. You read what others had done and you took the next step. You didn't earn the knowledge for yourselves, so you don't take any responsibility for it. You stood on the shoulders of geniuses to accomplish something as fast as you could, and before you even knew what you had, you patented it, and made it look like a dong, and packaged it, and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox, and now *bangs on the table* you're selling it, you wanna sell it!

PINTSIZE: "How can we stand in the light of dongs-scovery, and not act?"
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Spiritz on 21 Oct 2014, 20:34
Pintsize's Kickstarter must have hit a stretch goal or something.  It was supposed to be singing dildos.  Not singing, walking dildos.

I shudder to think what other "upgrades" are in place...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 21 Oct 2014, 20:38
I shudder to think what other "upgrades" are in place...

Self-replicating nano-dildos.  Stimulating your pores.  Stimulating everything.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Perfectly Reasonable on 21 Oct 2014, 20:45
"So long, it's been good to know yuh..."
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 21 Oct 2014, 20:49
I shudder to think what other "upgrades" are in place...

Self-replicating nano-dildos.  Stimulating your pores.  Stimulating everything.

Hard to imagine 'nano' being much of a selling point in the greater dildo marketplace.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: plusorminus on 21 Oct 2014, 20:58
<snip>

Um. You seem to really dislike Dora. Which ... whatever, but it really makes me distrust your analysis.

For example, in the strips you cite when you snarkily say that Dora seems to "accept" Tai, you conveniently neglected to mention that she talks things through with Faye, instead of flipping out and getting angry, indicating that she HAS been actively trying to deal with the issues that torpedoed her relationship with Marten. Moreover, she tells Tai about that and they both come to agree that NEITHER of them acted really awesomely in that situation.

And as for Sven, I reserve judgment on that until it is brought up again. As many other people have pointed out, deciding that someone is toxic to your life does not make you defective or an asshole. Dora's not taking a shit on his couch, setting fire to his cat, or hacking into his phone and sending nudes to potential record labels. She's saying that FOR HER, Sven's presence is one that is impeding her mental health. She has the right to make that decision FOR HERSELF. She does NOT have the right to make that decision FOR OTHERS. If Faye, who is a grown woman, decides she wants to deal with Sven outside of work, then Dora does not have the right to forbid that or threaten her over it. And yes, I said outside of work because CoD is Dora's business, she is the boss, so within those doors, what she says goes.

It's really off-putting to see how much shit gets piled on Dora, and I really have the feeling it's because she had the temerity to "get between" Faye and Marten.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 21 Oct 2014, 21:02
First the Singularity. Now this.

QC is going to end in an exponential explosion of self-replicating dongs.

Edit: Why do so many assume character analysis comes from a place of hate?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Neko_Ali on 21 Oct 2014, 21:03
Dongularity?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: plusorminus on 21 Oct 2014, 21:07

Edit: Why do so many assume character analysis comes from a place of hate?

Because usually it does. Next question?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 21 Oct 2014, 21:10

Edit: Why do so many assume character analysis comes from a place of hate?

Because usually it does. Next question?

Projecting much?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 21 Oct 2014, 21:18
I've had unflattering things to say about most of the core cast, but I actually like all of them.

I've certainly seen some commentators flatly state that they don't care for this character or that, so I gather it must be a thing, but I don't assume other people are hostile to a character just because they have a critical analysis. A different perspective is a good thing.

Disagreement over such analysis doesn't have to involve questioning the other person's motives or objectivity. There's enough demonstrated unequivocal hatred in the world. I can't completely understand the need to search for more, where none may exist.

That's probably why I don't watch sports.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: plusorminus on 21 Oct 2014, 21:29

Edit: Why do so many assume character analysis comes from a place of hate?

Because usually it does. Next question?

Projecting much?

OK. So I wrote out something and got the "while you were typing ..." dialogue. So I did as suggested and reviewed my post, and calmed down a bit.

Here is the thing:

I like Dora. A lot. I identify with her. A lot. That said, I think she is a quite flawed individual who has made some grievous mistakes in-comic.

My issue is, is that it seems that there is never a counterbalance with her as there is with pretty much every character in this strip. Maybe it is uninentional. However, it is upsetting.

Yes, Dora's insecurities led to the breakup with Marten. She paid the price for that in wrecking a good thing and in losing his friendship at least for a time. She's actively trying to get help for her issues. She's attempting to be a good friend to him as she was before, while being also a good girlfriend to Tai and a good friend to Faye. She has tried to be a good sister to Sven. She's been wrong about some things he has and hasn't done. This is true. I do not know if the latest Sven/Faye stuff set Dora off or if it was something else.

But it gets wearing to see an entire analysis that basically boils down to "CRAZY DORA IS CRAZY" without anything redeeming shown. She handled herself admirably with the Tai thing. Tai's ex-FWB or whoever she was, was a bitch to Dora's face. It was uncalled for. And Tai really didn't handle it well either, but she didn't know better. Dora accepted this and understood that she, too, had not acted her best.

Yet, that didn't make it in that analysis. Nor did the fact that Dora has openly rooted for Marten in his post-her relationships and is, to all accounts, tickled pink that he and Claire might be starting something.

Maybe the person doing that analysis does not hate Dora, but the "CRAZY DORA IS CRAZY" read gets old. There needs to be more than "Welp, there hasn't been any Dora drama in a minute and CRAZY DORA IS CRAZY so she is going to go supernova and ..." Well, no. If she tries to get people to take sides in the Svenectomy, then she's wrong. If she even implicitly threatens to Faye that her future at CoD might be in jeopardy if she even breathes in Sven's direction, then she's wrong.

But she's not wrong to make a decision that cutting off her brother is in her best interest, and I really resent the implication that her doing so means that she's trying to set up some situation where she drags Faye into the mire. She didn't want Marten to tell Faye in the first place because of the Angus situation. Now that it's come to a head, do people really think she's going to gleefully sit Faye on the Sven powderkeg and light the fuse?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: AprilArcus on 21 Oct 2014, 21:31
Um. You seem to really dislike Dora. Which ... whatever, but it really makes me distrust your analysis.

There is plenty to like about Dora! She's a highly motivated self-starter who works crazy hours. She's an artisan about coffee. She's earned the respect and admiration of her employees and other business owners like Jim. I would love to work for her as much as I would hate to date her.

Quote
For example, in the strips you cite when you snarkily say that Dora seems to "accept" Tai

I said what how?

Quote
And as for Sven, [...] deciding that someone is toxic to your life does not make you defective or an asshole.

Of course it's Dora's prerogative to manage her relationships however she likes. It just seems as though she's scapegoating Sven in lieu of confronting the problems that destroyed her last relationship, and unless she changes course, I expect history to repeat itself with Tai.

Edit: Why do so many assume character analysis comes from a place of hate?

Because usually it does. Next question?

I don't even.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: LilShortstuf on 21 Oct 2014, 21:46
I wonder if they'll strap a chariot to their creation and take another ride down the stairs.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: AprilArcus on 21 Oct 2014, 22:01
Maybe the person doing that analysis does not hate Dora, but the "CRAZY DORA IS CRAZY" read gets old.

Hi, my name is April!

I was digging into Dora's personality as part of an ongoing conversation that started in the last WCDT, in which some of us were discussing how the Dora/Tai dynamic seemed boringly free of conflict, and were speculating on what sources of new drama there might be. This is close reading. It's a way of enjoying a work of fiction.

Quote
I like Dora. A lot. I identify with her. A lot.

And that's wonderful, but she isn't you, and when I write an analysis on a character, it is not a personal attack on the readers who like her. If you want to contribute something positive about her to the conversation, that's your prerogative! But please don't attack me just for putting down some observations I thought were interesting. If you feel like I've misread Dora or failed to present her perspective, please step up and do it! I would be fascinated to read such a thing.

Quote
She handled herself admirably with the Tai thing. Tai's ex-FWB or whoever she was, was a bitch to Dora's face. It was uncalled for. And Tai really didn't handle it well either, but she didn't know better. Dora accepted this and understood that she, too, had not acted her best.

I don't see this at all. Tai introduces (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2577) Dora to Allie. Allie makes a salacious gesture, which could mean anything from "Have fun with Tai! She's a handful" to "I got there first and I could go there again". Dora leaps (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2578) to the worst possible interpretation, which is in character for her, and shows that she hasn't gone very far toward resolving her jealousy/paranoia issues.

Tai tries to defuse the situation by prodding (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2580) Dora into bragging about her own past partners, which she thinks will give Dora a chance to strut her stuff and rebuild her bruised ego. This makes sense coming from her poly context, but Dora doesn't understand (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2581) why she's driving at it and gets more paranoid and alienated. Then they talk to their friends (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2582), regroup (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2583), and have makeup sex (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2584).

The scene ends on a pleasant note, but we're still hanging on the ellipsis, and it remains to be seen whether or not Dora and Tai are developing real communication skills, or if they're using their physical rapport to paper over Dora's unaddressed-in-therapy emotional problems.

Quote
Nor did the fact that Dora has openly rooted for Marten in his post-her relationships and is, to all accounts, tickled pink that he and Claire might be starting something.

This is like, the basic level of decency I would require of a real friendship, and does not deserve singling out for high praise.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: HiFranc on 21 Oct 2014, 22:10
The first thing that came to mind? Marten's quote in #1666 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1666): "There needs to be a word for those brief moments of clarity where you realize just how profoundly weird your life is."

The next page (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1667) is also appropriate (and calls back to when Fangus took off).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Dalillama on 21 Oct 2014, 22:16
The first thing that came to mind? Marten's quote in #1666 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1666): "There needs to be a word for those brief moments of clarity where you realize just how profoundly weird your life is."

The next page (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1667) is also appropriate (and calls back to when Fangus took off).
The singing, walking dlido calls back to the sentient sex toys joke in that strip as well.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: J on 21 Oct 2014, 22:17
is anything in this world not a robot?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 21 Oct 2014, 22:21
Dora doesn't stop being a good person because she has issues. The Three core cast members all have issues, and they all have made poor choices recently.

Giving a truly fair and balanced analysis of any character would end up being longer, in word count, than the collected work of QC. People choose the elements that stand out to them, and try to fit them into a consistent whole. Sometimes stuff gets missed, Sometimes stuff gets left out because it's too cumbersome to try to shoehorn it in.

But that's the beauty of having a discussion, over simply writing a dissertation. Other people, with different perspectives, can come along ans say, "What about X?"

That QC allows room for those differing points of view is a sign of good stoytelling.

It stops being fun when people start assuming that those differing points of view aren't honest. Admittedly, casual language is messy, but there's a difference between seguing in with "You are being a bit hard on Dora, IMO," And "You dislike Dora." One suggests civil disagreement. The other suggests a moral failure.

Dora isn't trying to set up anything. I my self said Dora's decision was a setup to a misunderstanding, but I didn't say that why Dora did it. It's why Jeph did it. Writers' are gonna write.

Dora has issues. She's not crazy. She is a fictional character. Her issues are going to drive her into making mistakes, which chould be motivating forces for the story. I like Dora. She'll always be a-Dora-able to me, because I can relate to what drives her, even if I don't relate to how she expresses it. I certainly understand her better than anyone else in the cast. Her reaction to Sven's latest antics seems perfectly natural to me. It's only the fact that Marten tends to represent the voice of reason in other people's issues that gives me pause. Marten doesn't think a Svenectomy is a good idea. It probably isn't. (Marten's been wrong, so this isn't iron clad.) Seeing that it might be a mistake on Dora's part, means asking, "Where will this mistake take the story?"

Dora has, more often than not, been wrong in her assessment of Sven's actions. It's important to remember that his history of actions bears out Dora's point of view. She's not wrong because she's crazy. She wrong because Sven is acting in unusual ways.

A Svenectomy is neither right nor wrong (a mistake doesn't have to be wrong). Sometimes doing the right thing can backfire. A mistake in hindsight. But how Dora is handling it is not the best she could be doing. Dora is a core cast member. She can't make this kind of mistake without facing consequences for it. One hopes she'll learn something from it. But it's just as possible that the coming conflict is meant to finally turn Sven to the dark side. Just like the end of Fangus, the steps orward have to be poor choices made with the best of intent. Subtracting Sven Drama from her circle isn't a bad thing, if you consider Sven's history. (Even Sven would admit his history is shitty.) Hiding it from Faye is a kindness, especially considering what Faye's dealing with. Hiding it from Tai ...the ground is shakier here, but keeping drama out of the romance isn't a terrible thing to do.

The conflict, of course, is do Faye and Tai WANT to be protected this way. Tai's "I'm so glad WE'RE drama free" could go either way. Faye gets punchy when her agency is threatened. The one certainty is that this will go somewhere. Just because Dora's actions might be central to where it goes, it doesn't follow that we think she's crazy, or that we hate her.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 21 Oct 2014, 22:24
is anything in this world not a robot?

The espresso machines. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1001)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 21 Oct 2014, 22:26
is anything in this world not a robot?

Hannelore.

In fact, everything not Hannelore is a robot.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 21 Oct 2014, 22:29
Hannelore.

In fact, everything not Hannelore is a robot.

No, everything not Hannelore is a simulation. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2280)

(Although those simulations may also be robots, and those robots are made of nano-dildos.  It's dildos all the way down.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 21 Oct 2014, 22:38
Hannelore.

In fact, everything not Hannelore is a robot.

No, everything not Hannelore is a simulation. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2280)

(Although those simulations may also be robots, and those robots are made of nano-dildos.  It's dildos all the way down.)

Based on that, the simulation is self programming.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 21 Oct 2014, 22:42

Questionable Content is often called a "slice of life" strip, something I feel very intensely. Tai could be the living image of half a dozen of my close friends from college. I spent the summer of 2007 playing Sven in a Dora-Marten-Faye-Sven quadrangle. As a trans woman, I love seeing how delicately and intelligently Jeph is painting a picture of Claire. But I also understand that what is a "slice of life" for me is deeply weird and alien to a lot of other posters:

Quote
I just couldn't disagree more with any of this. It comes from a place of profound misunderstanding of a type of (mostly queer/poly) social dynamic that Jeph really gets, and that he's doing a terrific job of portraying. If there is a subset of the readership that are critical thinkers, who are interested in this topic but who don't have a direct experience of it, who I can reach with good expository writing and citations, I think that's a great use of my time.

I think the point of "slice of life" stories, if well written, are meant to give us situations and characters that we can relate on one level or another.
I mean, you mention how you can relate Tai to some friends you know from college among other things. And really, I think we all can see a little of ourselves in the characters. Myself for example, I have always been "the nice guy" in my circle of friends, I share some of Dora's control issues, Marten's passive complacency and lack of direction (I have learned to force myself to be more assertive as of late but still have the doubts), even have had periods of time where I took the Sven/Tai approach to relationships and was running around just being a bit more carefree. There are also characters we may admire and aspire to be like, in my case Hannelore, since she is the one that most often and consistently strives to face and break her fears. That is how you know that QC is a good story, because it does evoke that familiarity and sense of "I get this, I know where these characters are coming from".

But perception is painted by experiences. To use a recent example, Faye and Angus. Some people may have experienced a similar situation while on Faye's shoes. Some may have experienced it from Angus' perspective. There is also from a close friend, on either side, or even from a completely detached and non-invested perspective. Doesn't mean any of them are "wrong" or that any of them are "ignorant" of the social dynamics you mention. They are merely opinions. Even the same person will approach the same situation in different ways depending on what they are going through at the time. I like that you actually used the phrasing "I disagree with this" rather than "this is wrong" precisely for these reasons, and I thank you for that. Way too often fights and arguments start because people feel attacked when told they are wrong, rather than being told "I see your point, but I disagree because of this and this and that" and start an actual conversation.

And yes, I do acknowledge there are other times where one simply cannot relate at all because we have not experienced anything similar. In those instances yes, it's good to be educated about what may or may not be the real life motivation for a reaction. But even then, those explanations would be painted with a degree of bias just by the nature of the experience.

Now, that is not to say that it is a bad thing, quite the opposite, that is exactly what I feel this place is for. To share experiences and points of view, and maybe bring to other people's attention a fact or two they may not have known or thought about on their own. To have an honest adult conversation and come out of it having learned something new, even if our opinions may not change.

so...TLDR, thank you for presenting your ideas and opinions in an organized and friendly manner, looking forward to seeing more of your opinions and maybe discussing them should they ever be different than our own :)

Quote from: ReindeerFlotilla
But that's the beauty of having a discussion, over simply writing a dissertation. Other people, with different perspectives, can come along ans say, "What about X?"

That QC allows room for those differing points of view is a sign of good stoytelling.

It stops being fun when people start assuming that those differing points of view aren't honest. Admittedly, casual language is messy, but there's a difference between seguing in with "You are being a bit hard on Dora, IMO," And "You dislike Dora." One suggests civil disagreement. The other suggests a moral failure.

This ^

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 21 Oct 2014, 22:44
(https://forums.questionablecontent.net/data:image/jpeg;base64,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)(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f50/Kugai2/DDuck.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: plusorminus on 21 Oct 2014, 22:49
Hi, my name is April!

I was digging into Dora's personality as part of an ongoing conversation that started in the last WCDT, in which some of us were discussing how the Dora/Tai dynamic seemed boringly free of conflict, and were speculating on what sources of new drama there might be. This is close reading. It's a way of enjoying a work of fiction.

Would appreciate it if you lose the condescending tone, thanks. I'm a Master's student in English lit at a pretty damned good school. I know what "close reading" is. I also was a part of that thread speculating on drama and mentioned a few things myself about the Dora/Tai dynamic and how I actually agreed that it was a bit dull. Not a problem if you didn't notice and/or care about my contributions there, but I'm not feeling the contempt in the above.

Quote
And that's wonderful, but she isn't you, and when I write an analysis on a character, it is not a personal attack on the readers who like her. If you want to contribute something positive about her to the conversation, that's your prerogative! But please don't attack me just for putting down some observations I thought were interesting. If you feel like I've misread Dora or failed to present her perspective, please step up and do it! I would be fascinated to read such a thing.

Right ... and I contributed "positive" things about her in a subsequent post, most of which you've chosen to ignore in favor of bashing me. Moving on ...

Quote

I don't see this at all. Tai introduces (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2577) Dora to Allie. Allie makes a salacious gesture, which could mean anything from "Have fun with Tai! She's a handful" to "I got there first and I could go there again". Dora leaps (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2578) to the worst possible interpretation, which is in character for her, and shows that she hasn't gone very far toward resolving her jealousy/paranoia issues.

Tai tries to defuse the situation by prodding (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2580) Dora into bragging about her own past partners, which she thinks will give Dora a chance to strut her stuff and rebuild her bruised ego. This makes sense coming from her poly context, but Dora doesn't understand (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2581) why she's driving at it and gets more paranoid and alienated. Then they talk to their friends (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2582), regroup (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2583), and have makeup sex (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2584).

The scene ends on a pleasant note, but we're still hanging on the ellipsis, and it remains to be seen whether or not Dora and Tai are developing real communication skills, or if they're using their physical rapport to paper over Dora's unaddressed-in-therapy emotional problems.

Yeah. No.

We have a woman, who doesn't greet Dora in any way and basically ignores her until Tai introduces them. Then still says nothing and smirks, and then walks away STILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGING DORA'S EXISTENCE. So ... no. I'm gonna choose to interpret the smirk as something not positive and Dora saying "She smirked at me" is not "leaping to the worst possible conclusion." She's stating a fact. A rude woman was rude to her, and Tai admits they hooked up, which puts her rudeness into context, but does not make it any more excusable.

Also you also conveniently leave out that Dora expressed to Tai - in a not-yelling, not-angry fashion - that she did not want to "rank" her against her past partners. Tai not only didn't take the hint, but tried to bring Marten into it. I think Dora can be excused for not wanting to rank her current girlfriend against her most recent ex-boyfriend, who is the underling of said girlfriend.

But to you, that's Dora being "paranoid and alienated."  :-\ Because she has the nerve to not want to talk about how many orgasms her girlfriend's employee might have given her in comparison to her girlfriend. Um ...

They acknowledge that they went to their friends for help and Dora jokes with Tai about it. They have makeup sex in part as an extended punchline and to square the circle from Tai's mentioning of her A game earlier in the arc. There's nothing in that to suggest that Dora is using sex to mask her anger or anything of that nature. There also has been no hint of Dora jealousy where Tai is concerned, nothing suggesting she has pushed Tai's boundaries, as Dora did with Marten, or the like. Dora is getting better. By degrees. She is hardly perfect. No one in this strip is. But Dora very rarely gets the benefit of the doubt, at best. At worst, her motives are completely misinterpreted.

Quote
This is like, the basic level of decency I would require of a real friendship, and does not deserve singling out for high praise.

All righty then.  :-\

Right, I'm bowing out. I'm not going to derail the discussion, get an infraction, etc., for arguing uselessly on the Internet. We don't see eye to eye. It happens. I will cease responding to you hereafter, as I think we've reached an impasse.

@ReindeerFlotilla, you make very good points. I do agree that there are issues of agency at play here on its face. However, I'm one of those "Your rights end where mine begin" sorts. Dora has the right to make a decision for herself. We do not know - yet - if she is making the decision on the Svenectomy because of Faye. However, we DO know she made the decision to keep Faye in the dark. You are absolutely correct that it is a problem and that could come to bite her on the arse. When that arc started, I even said that I had no idea why Dora would even tell Marten, knowing how he has the propensity to spill the beans, even when he doesn't mean to, and that anyway, Faye knows when he's hiding stuff, and that if she finds out Marten knew about this and Dora didn't tell her, it will be A Big Problem. I'm hoping that when the Angus stuff blows over, Dora will tell Faye. Not to get her permission, because that's none of Faye's business, but to tell her "Hey, look, I just need you to know that I have decided FOR ME, that Sven is a poisonous influence and I'm cutting him out and barring him from the shop. Obviously this is just a thing I am doing and I don't expect you to follow suit any more than I would have expected you to stop being friends with Marten after we broke up. But I am telling you because you're my friend and I think you should know. I did tell Marten and I asked him not to say anything to you because you had all the Angus stuff on your plate. I'm sorry I kept you in the dark."

I really don't know what, if anything, she should tell Tai. Or maybe she's mentioned it already. I don't know. I suppose Tai should know, but tbh, I'm not really that invested in Tai/Dora. I am, however, invested in Dora and Faye's friendship, and I really think that in the coming days, they will need to lean on each other, so a huge blowup over Sven of all things, would sort of suck.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Natswash on 21 Oct 2014, 22:50
Relationship drama aside, it would be cool to have the characters watch Angus on TV later on in the series.

We don't see anybody watching TV too often unless it's anime.

I'd be surprised if it doesn't pop up at some point.

Possibly somewhere down the line where Faye has a new partner and they see Angus on TV and there's an offhand comment that Faye dated Angus?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: AprilArcus on 21 Oct 2014, 23:19
Right ... and I contributed "positive" things about her in a subsequent post

I don't see such a post? I did quote you in the last thread in a way that seemed like cordial dialogue, but maybe you disagree.

Quote
most of which you've chosen to ignore in favor of bashing me. Moving on ...

Bashing you? You called me snarky, condescending and hateful. All I asked was to be addressed by name if we were going to have a conversation.

Quote
We have a woman, who doesn't greet Dora in any way and basically ignores her until Tai introduces them. Then still says nothing and smirks, and then walks away STILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGING DORA'S EXISTENCE. So ... no. I'm gonna choose to interpret the smirk as something not positive and Dora saying "She smirked at me" is not "leaping to the worst possible conclusion." She's stating a fact. A rude woman was rude to her, and Tai admits they hooked up, which puts her rudeness into context, but does not make it any more excusable.

Also you also conveniently leave out that Dora expressed to Tai - in a not-yelling, not-angry fashion - that she did not want to "rank" her against her past partners. Tai not only didn't take the hint, but tried to bring Marten into it. I think Dora can be excused for not wanting to rank her current girlfriend against her most recent ex-boyfriend, who is the underling of said girlfriend.

But to you, that's Dora being "paranoid and alienated."  :-\ Because she has the nerve to not want to talk about how many orgasms her girlfriend's employee might have given her in comparison to her girlfriend. Um ...

This is great! And very different from how I read it. Thank you for sharing.

Quote
Right, I'm bowing out. I'm not going to derail the discussion, get an infraction, etc., for arguing uselessly on the Internet. We don't see eye to eye. It happens. I will cease responding to you hereafter, as I think we've reached an impasse.

And this is just... really upsetting. I don't understand what I said to make this so personal. I feel attacked, and I'm a little wigged out that I apparently have such poor control over my tone that I could have hurt your feelings so badly and still have no idea when or how I did so, despite going back over my recent posts looking for the slight.

I'm sad that you don't want to continue our conversation, and that sucks because you are smart and have good points, but I certainly don't want to make you miserable by engaging with you beyond your desire to do so.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 21 Oct 2014, 23:21
The thing that really shocks me about today's strip is that Marten looked surprised! I mean, he's lived with Pintsize for years; you'd expect him to be used to things like this happening and for them to slide off of him like water off a duck's back!

Secondary thought - might that thing have a Roomba CPU? You know, the sort that spontaneously generates independent intelligence? :-o
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: downtowneddie on 21 Oct 2014, 23:37

The first thing that came to mind? Marten's quote in #1666 (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1666): "There needs to be a word for those brief moments of clarity where you realize just how profoundly weird your life is."

The next page (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1667) is also appropriate (and calls back to when Fangus took off).
The singing, walking dlido calls back to the sentient sex toys joke in that strip as well.

...and we've come full circle. Heh.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: LilShortstuf on 21 Oct 2014, 23:49
The thing that really shocks me about today's strip is that Marten looked surprised! I mean, he's lived with Pintsize for years; you'd expect him to be used to things like this happening and for them to slide off of him like water off a duck's back!

Secondary thought - might that thing have a Roomba CPU? You know, the sort that spontaneously generates independent intelligence? :-o

Because I have no idea where in the thousands of strips it is, especially because I believe it is a one-off strip, I have no link to it, but I believe there is a strip where Pintsize pulls some shenanigan and Faye and Marten don't react at all. They even say nothing he does anymore will bother or surprise them. Guess not.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: swapna on 21 Oct 2014, 23:50
The thing that really shocks me about today's strip is that Marten looked surprised! I mean, he's lived with Pintsize for years; you'd expect him to be used to things like this happening and for them to slide off of him like water off a duck's back!

Secondary thought - might that thing have a Roomba CPU? You know, the sort that spontaneously generates independent intelligence? :-o

Because I have no idea where in the thousands of strips it is, especially because I believe it is a one-off strip, I have no link to it, but I believe there is a strip where Pintsize pulls some shenanigan and Faye and Marten don't react at all. They even say nothing he does anymore will bother or surprise them. Guess not.

yeah, that was my first thought, too. He's probably mirroring our reaction since we haven't seen a lot of Pintsizes antics lately. And I really really hope that it's the kind that gets randomly intelligent, so Tai can have her sentient sex toy ;)

also: YESSS... finally a break from all the Fayangus drama and I'm so glad that it's not another Clairarten strip (her character hasn't got any more likable in the last few weeks)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 21 Oct 2014, 23:55
And this is just... really upsetting. I don't understand what I said to make this so personal. I feel attacked, and I'm a little wigged out that I apparently have such poor control over my tone that I could have hurt your feelings so badly and still have no idea when or how I did so, despite going back over my recent posts looking for the slight.

I'm sad that you don't want to continue our conversation, and that sucks because you are smart and have good points, but I certainly don't want to make you miserable by engaging with you beyond your desire to do so.

I was going to cover a few more points, but it seems like that might not be the best of ideas.

If it makes any difference, I'm nearly as baffled. I've never found your tone to be an issue. I'm going with the assumption that the subject is more deeply disturbing to plusorminus than I understand. I would like to know, but I will take the man in black's advice and get used to disappointment.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: plusorminus on 21 Oct 2014, 23:56

I'm sad that you don't want to continue our conversation, and that sucks because you are smart and have good points, but I certainly don't want to make you miserable by engaging with you beyond your desire to do so.

I looked over my responses and they were ill-advised and rude to you. I have to really make an effort not to post things when there are other outside issues I'm upset about that have nothing to do with anything that happens here.

While there were some points I disagree with, I did not frame them in any way for a civil discussion to take place. Disagreeing with certain points you made does not give me carte blanche to jump down your throat or to ascribe motives or feelings to you that I have no way of knowing are applicable or not.

I'm sorry for my brattishness. There's no excuse. I'm very ashamed of myself right now. There's nothing you said or did or implied that warranted my responses. I feel horrible that I made you question yourself and caused you any disquiet.

I think that I need to let this arc play out in its entirety, Svenectomy included, before chiming in again. At the very least, I'll have a better idea of where the comic might be headed in the short term, and it's very possible that any drama involving Dora will have come - and possibly gone - by then.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Pilchard123 on 22 Oct 2014, 00:00
Quote from: Trollmaster, Master of Trolls
And down the stairs and out into the street and on a bus and all the way to Amherst

Oh dear...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Natswash on 22 Oct 2014, 00:08
Quote from: Trollmaster, Master of Trolls
And down the stairs and out into the street and on a bus and all the way to Amherst

Oh dear...

Where the AI, Engineering, Psychology, and Sexual Relations Students/Teachers/Grads all had varying theories as to how it works and it's effect on humanity
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 22 Oct 2014, 00:10
If Marten learns anything from this surreal moment, it is that he needs to pay attention when Pintsize tells him his plans for the day and be more proactive in vetting them.

To call giving a sexual aid autonomous mobility and, apparently, a primitive AI... excessive... and potentially dangerous is an understatement. As it is, the best we can hope for is for 'Dilly' to find someone who appreciates his special talents and is willing to be his friend.

Now I think about it, I believe that there is a sci-fi story about AI sex toys making the jump to friend and even lover with the resulting philosophical and social consequences. Those were biomechanical, IIRC, but there's no reason why a fully-electromechanical devices can't do the same...

*Shakes head* Sorry, coffee hasn't kicked in fully just yet.

[edit]
Fixed a few typos - I told you the coffee hadn't fully kicked in
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: AprilArcus on 22 Oct 2014, 00:19
I'm sorry for my brattishness. There's no excuse. I'm very ashamed of myself right now. There's nothing you said or did or implied that warranted my responses. I feel horrible that I made you question yourself and caused you any disquiet.

I think that I need to let this arc play out in its entirety, Svenectomy included, before chiming in again. At the very least, I'll have a better idea of where the comic might be headed in the short term, and it's very possible that any drama involving Dora will have come - and possibly gone - by then.

Thanks for that. I feel better, and I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts when you're ready.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Loki on 22 Oct 2014, 00:20
I, uh, would be interested in the above story for reasons.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 22 Oct 2014, 01:14
@ Loki,

It was referenced in a book I read on the history of English-language sci-fi a long while back (when I was still in school).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ASB84 on 22 Oct 2014, 01:22
I just couldn't disagree more with any of this. It comes from a place of profound misunderstanding of a type of (mostly queer/poly) social dynamic that Jeph really gets, and that he's doing a terrific job of portraying. If there is a subset of the readership that are critical thinkers, who are interested in this topic but who don't have a direct experience of it, who I can reach with good expository writing and citations, I think that's a great use of my time.

I suppose it just comes down to different perspectives. I certainly accept your take on the matter, and I hope that you can understand where I'm coming from too, even if you don't agree or believe that it applies here. My own philosophy and thoughts on dating friend's exes shape my own reactions to the actions of fictional characters, but I'm certainly not about to say that my reaction is the only reasonable one, or that anyone else's philosophy on the matter is wrong. Again, my reactions are just based on my thoughts about monogamous relationships.

It's like the debate about Dora's actions when she and Marten got together. Some people were fine with it, others thought that her actions (or at least her timing) weren't quite on the level. It's like the whole Ross and Rachel, "We were on a break!" thing in Friends all those years ago. To me, both sides have a point, you could reasonably look at it from both angles.

I think it would be interesting to hear your explanation of that philosophy, because you're quite right, it's not a take that I'm familiar with. Likewise, I'd be happy to explain where I'm coming from, if you were interested. I don't expect to change your stance on the matter, nor do I want to, but it might add further clarification about where I'm coming from.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Akima on 22 Oct 2014, 01:40
It just seems as though she's scapegoating Sven in lieu of confronting the problems that destroyed her last relationship
I have no idea where you're getting that from in the comic. Dora is hard on Sven, I'll grant, though with some reason, but where's the evidence that it is done instead of confronting her own insecurities?

A sentient, escaped dildo. A freedom-seeking phallus. And it isn't even Friday.  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BeoPuppy on 22 Oct 2014, 02:48
What a dick.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Natswash on 22 Oct 2014, 03:08
If Marten learns anything from this surreal moment, it is that he needs to pay attention when Pintsize tells him his plans for the day and be more proactive in vetting them.
I seem to recall duct taping him to be rather efficient, although I wonder how that interacts with AI civil rights?

To call giving a sexual aid autonomous mobility and, apparently, a primitive AI... excessive... and potentially dangerous is an understatement. As it is, the best we can hope for is for 'Dilly' to find someone who appreciates his special talents and is willing to be his friend.
If not given a minor subplot (a strip of textless images would be fine). I at least want it to become a gag somewhere down the line
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 22 Oct 2014, 03:40
Wait, it's heading to Amherst?

Tai might have some competition.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 22 Oct 2014, 03:48
I fail to see what a singing dildo would be good for - if you want to use it as a dildo, you wouldn't be able to hear the singing all that well, and if it's the singing you're after, what's the point of it being a dildo? It sounds like a flawed idea to me.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 22 Oct 2014, 03:51
Sound is generated by vibrating the speaker...

Make enough bass, and you might actually get somewhere useful for a dildo. (Of course, in a speaker that actually fit in a dildo, you'd be rather hard-pressed to make enough bass...)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 22 Oct 2014, 03:58
I fail to see what a singing dildo would be good for

What is a singing, dancing plastic flower good for? What's a singing plastic mounted fish good for? Nothing. It's a novelty item, more likely to be used for display and to laugh about during a drunken girls' or boys' night in.

That said... Well, there are all sorts in the world and I can imagine that, yes, some people would like their aids to serenade them. Pintsize is sufficiently weird and perverse a mind to realise this. Between these two niche markets, he'd see it as an opportunity to make a relatively honest profit.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 22 Oct 2014, 04:08
I fail to see what a singing dildo would be good for

Well, if whispering in someone's ear can give them goosebumps...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Thrillho on 22 Oct 2014, 04:10
A sentient, escaped dildo. A freedom-seeking phallus.

My ears are burning.

What a dick.

AHH THEY'RE ON FIRE
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 22 Oct 2014, 04:14
Sound is generated by vibrating the speaker...

Make enough bass, and you might actually get somewhere useful for a dildo. (Of course, in a speaker that actually fit in a dildo, you'd be rather hard-pressed to make enough bass...)

Yeah, I'm pretty sure a real vibrator would be a better choice...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: swapna on 22 Oct 2014, 04:27
Sound is generated by vibrating the speaker...

Make enough bass, and you might actually get somewhere useful for a dildo. (Of course, in a speaker that actually fit in a dildo, you'd be rather hard-pressed to make enough bass...)

Yeah, I'm pretty sure a real vibrator would be a better choice...
Yes, it would be, but would it be something Pintsize would invent? THIS is the important question here ;)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ASB84 on 22 Oct 2014, 05:10
I'm a little surprised by Marten's reaction, to be honest. For Pintsize, this seems like a refined endeavour.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 22 Oct 2014, 05:16
I'm a little surprised by Marten's reaction, to be honest. For Pintsize, this seems like a refined endeavour.

I suppose that, after an abnormally mundane day (finding a girlfriend and helping shepherd his room-mate/BFF through what promises to be an ugly break-up), coming home to the surreality of his normal everyday life must have been slightly jarring!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 22 Oct 2014, 05:57
To call giving a sexual aid autonomous mobility and, apparently, a primitive AI... excessive... and potentially dangerous is an understatement. As it is, the best we can hope for is for 'Dilly' to find someone who appreciates his special talents and is willing to be his friend.

Yeah, but if the history of damn near every other technological innovation (except maybe the paperclip) is any indication, a sentient dildo isn't that much of a stretch.

Sound is generated by vibrating the speaker...

Make enough bass, and you might actually get somewhere useful for a dildo. (Of course, in a speaker that actually fit in a dildo, you'd be rather hard-pressed to make enough bass...)

Yeah, I'm pretty sure a real vibrator would be a better choice...

Depends on the soundsystem. And that's all I'm saying about that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 22 Oct 2014, 06:00
Y'know...

Am I the only one seriously freaked out that we're all sitting at our computers, calmly and rationally discussing the issue of sentient sex aids?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 22 Oct 2014, 06:01
I'm a little surprised by Marten's reaction, to be honest.

Dude. 

Running, singing dildo.

Marten's reaction was positively zen.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 22 Oct 2014, 06:05
Am I the only one seriously freaked out that we're all sitting at our computers, calmly and rationally discussing the issue of sentient sex aids?

You're new here, right?  Calm and rational is what we aim for!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: hakko504 on 22 Oct 2014, 06:12
To call giving a sexual aid autonomous mobility and, apparently, a primitive AI... excessive... and potentially dangerous is an understatement. As it is, the best we can hope for is for 'Dilly' to find someone who appreciates his special talents and is willing to be his friend.

Yeah, but if the history of damn near every other technological innovation (except maybe the paperclip) is any indication, a sentient dildo isn't that much of a stretch.
And Microsoft already made a talking paperclip, albeit in virtual form, in the office assistant, so why not.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 22 Oct 2014, 06:23
I fail to see what a singing dildo would be good for - if you want to use it as a dildo, you wouldn't be able to hear the singing all that well, and if it's the singing you're after, what's the point of it being a dildo? It sounds like a flawed idea to me.

So you ear can get the maximum stimulation during... well.. you know. (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1572)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Fig on 22 Oct 2014, 06:24
I'm not surprised at the existence of a walking, sing dildo because Pintsize.  I'm more surprised that they were able to build one in the first place, because Pintsize.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 22 Oct 2014, 06:26
Pretty sure we've seen this particular dildo before. I believe it briefly replaced Pintsize's head.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 22 Oct 2014, 06:28
I'm not surprised at the existence of a walking, sing dildo because Pintsize.  I'm more surprised that they were able to build one in the first place, because Pintsize.

In all likelihood, it's been jerry-rigged from salvaged components from other 'bots. That's why it's running away; the 'feet and singing' part of the chassis thinks it's something else and wants to get away.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: TheBiscuit on 22 Oct 2014, 06:35
It just seems as though she's scapegoating Sven in lieu of confronting the problems that destroyed her last relationship
I have no idea where you're getting that from in the comic. Dora is hard on Sven, I'll grant, though with some reason, but where's the evidence that it is done instead of confronting her own insecurities?
Her sessions with a psychiatrist rather point in this direction, and were posted not that long ago in this thread. For ease of reference, I will provide them again.

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1878

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2170

Followed by the recent Svenectomy, it seems a little bit as though she's scapegoating him.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 22 Oct 2014, 06:40
It just seems as though she's scapegoating Sven in lieu of confronting the problems that destroyed her last relationship
I have no idea where you're getting that from in the comic. Dora is hard on Sven, I'll grant, though with some reason, but where's the evidence that it is done instead of confronting her own insecurities?
Her sessions with a psychiatrist rather point in this direction, and were posted not that long ago in this thread. For ease of reference, I will provide them again.

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1878

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2170

Followed by the recent Svenectomy, it seems a little bit as though she's scapegoating him.

Do we know whether the Svenectomy has actually happened, though? We know Dora intends to do it, but it doesn't seem like the kind of thing that'd take place off-screen.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: eschaton on 22 Oct 2014, 06:53
I feel kind of bad I inadvertently set off the chain of discussion about Dora here.  I don't think she is a bad character, but I also agree that I'm not sure we've seen enough character growth in her to expect her relationship with Tai to turn out considerably better than her relationship with Marten.  And while Tai is nearly as laid back as Marten, she's also much more assertive, which means she'll be more likely to call out Dora on her shit (but not escalate) instead of trying to repeatedly defuse the situation like Marten (up until the last few fights, where things were clearly souring).  Regardless, she's plenty likable as a character outside of the confines of relationships, and her relationship issues at this point are no worse than Faye's (but different). 

The only really unlikable character, IMHO, is Marigold.  I've tried to warm up to her, but she just has no redeeming qualities.  While I can relate to portions of her personality (I was a socially awkward dork at one point, as I'm sure many posters have been) that she still acts like she's in high school in her early-to-mid 20s is grating.  Plus she's seemingly dull, lacking the intellectual heft that the nerdy often have to counterbalance poor social skills.  Her pairing with Dale still seems inexplicable to me, because besides his lack of experience with women, Dale seems to be one of the most responsible and together characters in the entire strip. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 22 Oct 2014, 07:10
Her pairing with Dale still seems inexplicable to me, because besides his lack of experience with women, Dale seems to be one of the most responsible and together characters in the entire strip.

It's my feeling that Dale's relationship with Marigold started as pure physical lust and fascination on Dale's part, made humorous because, as May pointed out, his approach to wooing her was basically that of an elementary school kid. They also share interests (MMORPGs and animé), I've got to say, I don't think it will last. After the novelty of sex wears off, they don't seem to have much to tie them together on more than the shallowest of levels. Maybe they'll progress and maybe they won't but I suspect that, thanks to his new job at CoD, Dale will be a permanent fixture.

That said... I can honestly see Marigold running off to New York with Angus if Jeph wants to do something sufficiently "Wham!" to conclude the FAngus arc. I can think of at least one occasion when Angus was with Faye and Marigold distracted him to the point where Faye had to hit him to reset his brain. It would be purely physical on both sides but, arguably, so is Dale/Marigold.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: DSL on 22 Oct 2014, 07:12
It's useful to step back and evaluate characters in this or any other fictional setting not so much as to whether you like them but how well they serve their function as characters in the story. What do they illustrate? How do they move along the plot/characterization/growth of themselves or other characters? (I was once derided as "robotic" by a former forumite -- for whom Faye apparently represented everything evil in her own life -- for this view, but that computes just fine with me.) As for what's depicted as (and another forumite tried to start a fight with me for making that fictional-depiction distinction) one character's attraction for another, I'm sure we've all found that that rarely makes sense in real life.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Somnus Eternus on 22 Oct 2014, 07:13
The only really unlikable character, IMHO, is Marigold.  I've tried to warm up to her, but she just has no redeeming qualities.  While I can relate to portions of her personality (I was a socially awkward dork at one point, as I'm sure many posters have been) that she still acts like she's in high school in her early-to-mid 20s is grating.  Plus she's seemingly dull, lacking the intellectual heft that the nerdy often have to counterbalance poor social skills.  Her pairing with Dale still seems inexplicable to me, because besides his lack of experience with women, Dale seems to be one of the most responsible and together characters in the entire strip.

I really disagree with a lot of this, but it's mostly opinion so I'll leave most of it be, but there are two things I want to point out - in terms of "intellectual heft," it's established that Marigold can code pretty well.

As for the pairing with Dale, I don't think it is all that inexplicable considering he's been pulling her pigtails in and out of WoW for quite some time now, ever since she slammed the door in his face after discovering a member of the Alliance was delivering pizza to her house. (HOW DARE HE.)  Sometimes that sense of "challenge" is enough to engage other feelings.  I think it kind of makes perfect sense.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 22 Oct 2014, 07:27
Video isn't displaying, but I'm wondering if you're thinking of the same song I am...

Yeah, I don't have the hang of posting Youtube Videos.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 22 Oct 2014, 07:32
The only really unlikable character, IMHO, is Marigold.  I've tried to warm up to her, but she just has no redeeming qualities.  While I can relate to portions of her personality (I was a socially awkward dork at one point, as I'm sure many posters have been) that she still acts like she's in high school in her early-to-mid 20s is grating.  Plus she's seemingly dull, lacking the intellectual heft that the nerdy often have to counterbalance poor social skills.  Her pairing with Dale still seems inexplicable to me, because besides his lack of experience with women, Dale seems to be one of the most responsible and together characters in the entire strip.

She's someone I'd take in small doses, certainly not someone I'd have dated. But I don't know that I'd go so far as to say "unlikable," that she lacks intellectual heft, or that she has no redeeming qualities. Jeph himself has said that her "self-esteem [is] undetectable with current technology." I think -- basing this off people I've known -- that she's probably book smart, but needs a bit of work in the common sense and social graces departments. What little we know of her backstory suggests that she was bullied; her mom's never been mentioned, and her dad seems to be as socially stunted as she is (though I could, admittedly, be reading a bit much into it; we haven't seen much of him); and, combining those things with her insecurity, it's entirely possible that these are pretty much the first friends she's had in a long time, if ever. So some of the perceived immaturity could be coming from a simple lack of socialization that came about, at least in part, as a defense mechanism -- when people aren't just an annoyance but a perceived or potential danger, you're more likely to keep them at arm's length. We've seen her start to open up, and we've also seen times (like when she attempted to take care of Hanners around the start of the wedding storyline) where she's tried to be a good, or at least better, friend to the people around her. She's got some growing up to do, but it does look as though she's trying.

Regarding her relationship with Dale: I don't see how that lasts. It's like any other relationship -- if you haven't got anything in common beyond sex and a few pop culture touchstones, you don't have much of a foundation. I don't think that anime's enough to hold a relationship together by itself. Either Dale backs out because he's got his act together more than Marigold, or Marigold finds enough self-confidence that she realizes that she and Dale have very little in common and decides to find something/someone else. It's also worth mentioning that Dale/Marigold and Faye/Angus developed in much the same way (guy somewhat quixotically pursues disinterested girl, gets girl); what remains to be seen is how the Dale/Marigold endgame ends up different from Faye and Angus's.

The only reason I'm not sure about the "Marigold runs off to NYC with Angus" angle is that Marigold was, for a time (not sure if she still is) Jeph's favorite character. Then again, Hanners was once, too, and we hardly ever see her anymore... so maybe you've got something there.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 22 Oct 2014, 07:42
Took back a lot of that post, Aziraphale?

On topic: I suspect that all of family Bianchi is messed up. And it's not just because the 'rents did drugs before (and during?) their childhoods.

I can just see Elsa now: "Oh, dear, that's silly. I tried that approach with your Uncle Wilbur, and he ended up as one of your father's groomsmen!"
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 22 Oct 2014, 07:43
Yeah, I don't have the hang of posting Youtube Videos.

For YouTube and Vimeo you put the whole URL between the tags, not just the parameters.  This is different for the Twitter tags, in which you put only the tweet number.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 22 Oct 2014, 07:44
The only reason I'm not sure about the "Marigold runs off to NYC with Angus" angle is that Marigold was, for a time (not sure if she still is) Jeph's favorite character. Then again, Hanners was once, too, and we hardly ever see her anymore... so maybe you've got something there.

I don't see Marigold leaving with Angus 'cause Angus has exactly zero interest in her, and she in him.  As for her and Dale, good chemistry has kept friends of mine together years past me being able to figure out what they could possibly be talking about when they're not having sex.

It's funny you say we don't see much of Hannelore - she was at the bar (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2797) on the night Marten and Claire began pairing up, and before that she had an entire strip to herself to search for what weiners (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2780) smell like.  I've mostly found that Hanners will be there in every situation, if only at the periphery.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 22 Oct 2014, 07:54
Took back a lot of that post, Aziraphale?

On topic: I suspect that all of family Bianchi is messed up. And it's not just because the 'rents did drugs before (and during?) their childhoods.

I can just see Elsa now: "Oh, dear, that's silly. I tried that approach with your Uncle Wilbur, and he ended up as one of your father's groomsmen!"

That's odd. I can't find the code/tag in there to strike text anywhere, and yet it's clearly... uh... struck?

EDITED: Found it. I'd put brackets around an S that I'd switched to lowercase, not realizing that was actually the BB code for the strike-through. S'what I get for trying to be grammatically correct. :P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 22 Oct 2014, 07:58
The only reason I'm not sure about the "Marigold runs off to NYC with Angus" angle is that Marigold was, for a time (not sure if she still is) Jeph's favorite character. Then again, Hanners was once, too, and we hardly ever see her anymore... so maybe you've got something there.

I don't see Marigold leaving with Angus 'cause Angus has exactly zero interest in her, and she in him.  As for her and Dale, good chemistry has kept friends of mine together years past me being able to figure out what they could possibly be talking about when they're not having sex.

It's funny you say we don't see much of Hannelore - she was at the bar (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2797) on the night Marten and Claire began pairing up, and before that she had an entire strip to herself to search for what weiners (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2780) smell like.  I've mostly found that Hanners will be there in every situation, if only at the periphery.

That's kinda my point. She used to be part of the main cast; now she's mainly wallpaper. :P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Neko_Ali on 22 Oct 2014, 08:00
Okay... so why is it that gaming and anime is to shallow of interest to base a relationship around, but hanging out at a coffee shop and musical tastes is? Or working at the same place and being comfortable around each other? Yes, I'm being snarky because it seems like gaming in and anime is being dismissed here, perhaps as just 'silly kid stuff'. But what else do either Marigold or Dale have in their life outside of work. Why is Dale working multiple part time jobs and helping to support his mom more 'having his life together' than Marigold running a business outside of her home? Albeit one where her father is apparently the only customer, but still. Maybe Dale and Marigold will stay together. Maybe not.  If not then probably because it was a first relationship for both of them. Not because they only share the same interests together... which are the only interests either of them have shown.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 22 Oct 2014, 08:07
Neko, I'd be more sanguine about Marigold and Dale's chances if, in the few times we've seen them together, they'd demonstrated an ability (or even willingness) to communicate. As far as we know, according to what Marigold has said to Hannelore, most of their interaction is purely sex.

To me, the key to a really strong relationship is a multi-strand friendship. Common interests, common attitudes and common likes/dislikes. Even if all other things fail, if you've got that friendship, it gives you someone on which to rest the relationship. None of the relationships we've currently got in QC have all these but there is time for at least some of them to develop them.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Neko_Ali on 22 Oct 2014, 08:16
That will get better in time. Neither of them was particularly good at communicating with someone they were attracted to. Dale was more suave than the largely shut-in Marigold, except when it came to expressing his interest in Marigold. Then he reverted back to more grade-school wooing techniques.. which was pretty creepy in a 20something year old. The fact that all they seem to do lately is boink (according to May, which is not the most reliable source) is because they were both late bloomers apparently, discovering this wonderful thing with someone. After the honeymoon phase wears off they'll probably calm down some. After that though, of all the couples we've seen in QC, they have the most in common as far as interests go. Aside from that dumb Horde/Alliance thing it's practically like they were made for each other. That doesn't mean they are any more likely to stay together forever than any other couple, but it doesn't mean the'll break up as soon as the sex high wears off either. I honestly think they'll have a more stable relationship than most because of having so many shared interests. They'll never lack of something to talk about.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 22 Oct 2014, 08:33
I'd put brackets around an S that I'd switched to lowercase, not realizing that was actually the BB code for the strike-through. S'what I get for trying to be grammatically correct. :P

To display the [s], use the "[nobbc]...[/nobbc]" tags to disable it (quote this post to see the example[s] in action).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Conzy on 22 Oct 2014, 08:46
Was pretty delighted to see Pintsize being goofy again today, he's the reason I got into the series so much, I always hope that Jeph will include him more in the capacity that to (actually being a companion for Marten) but as has been discussed now that Marten has his own friends his work is pretty much done. That being said, it's a bit of a shame that as one of his oldest friends (I use the term lightly) Marten doesn't seem to interact with Pintsize much.

Unfortunately, I pretty much agree with most posters about Marigold and Dale. Once the constant banging phase of the relationship is over I doubt they'll have enough substance in the relationship to keep them both together. It's a shame, but at least we know it will be comedy gold, what with Marigold's flair for over-reacting and Dale's near impervious chilled outlook. Might be an interesting switch for Marigold to be completely beside herself for a couple strips, but bounce back quickly, whereas Dale gets uncharacteristically mopey, which could again be cause for humour (for us) within the workplace.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 22 Oct 2014, 09:02
Okay... so why is it that gaming and anime is to shallow of interest to base a relationship around, but hanging out at a coffee shop and musical tastes is? Or working at the same place and being comfortable around each other? Yes, I'm being snarky because it seems like gaming in and anime is being dismissed here, perhaps as just 'silly kid stuff'. But what else do either Marigold or Dale have in their life outside of work. Why is Dale working multiple part time jobs and helping to support his mom more 'having his life together' than Marigold running a business outside of her home? Albeit one where her father is apparently the only customer, but still. Maybe Dale and Marigold will stay together. Maybe not.  If not then probably because it was a first relationship for both of them. Not because they only share the same interests together... which are the only interests either of them have shown.

I wouldn't say it's a bad basis for a relationship. I've had relationships start because of music, books, particularly good one-liners, and even spectacular misunderstandings. None of those things (or gaming, or anime, or macrame, or Conway Twitty's greatest hits) are, in and of themselves, "bad" or somehow invalid reasons to start a relationship. What I *am* saying, though, is if you don't find something in common beyond that initial point of commonality, you may have the basis for a decent acquaintance, but might be on shakier ground when it comes to building a solid LTR. As Ben mentions, the only thing they seem to have in common besides gaming and anime, for the time being, is a furious enthusiasm for sex. Good for them, but again, based not on future plot developments but on their situation thus far, that's kinda weak sauce.

Or maybe I'm too much of a stickler for communication and deeper/more numerous points of commonality. YMMV... after all, each of us has different criteria by which we judge the viability of a relationship. I just think that absent some serious personal growth -- on both their parts -- this falls more into "fling" than "LTR" territory, based on what we've seen thus far.

I'd put brackets around an S that I'd switched to lowercase, not realizing that was actually the BB code for the strike-through. S'what I get for trying to be grammatically correct. :P

To display the [s], use the "[nobbc]...[/nobbc]" tags to disable it (quote this post to see the example[s] in action).

Thanks for that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: eschaton on 22 Oct 2014, 09:23
I really disagree with a lot of this, but it's mostly opinion so I'll leave most of it be, but there are two things I want to point out - in terms of "intellectual heft," it's established that Marigold can code pretty well.

I know this.  That doesn't change the fact that whenever other characters bring up something deeper than Anime or WoW, she's not only uninterested, but openly dismissive of them (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2071). 

She's someone I'd take in small doses, certainly not someone I'd have dated. But I don't know that I'd go so far as to say "unlikable," that she lacks intellectual heft, or that she has no redeeming qualities. Jeph himself has said that her "self-esteem [is] undetectable with current technology." I think -- basing this off people I've known -- that she's probably book smart, but needs a bit of work in the common sense and social graces departments. What little we know of her backstory suggests that she was bullied; her mom's never been mentioned, and her dad seems to be as socially stunted as she is (though I could, admittedly, be reading a bit much into it; we haven't seen much of him); and, combining those things with her insecurity, it's entirely possible that these are pretty much the first friends she's had in a long time, if ever. So some of the perceived immaturity could be coming from a simple lack of socialization that came about, at least in part, as a defense mechanism -- when people aren't just an annoyance but a perceived or potential danger, you're more likely to keep them at arm's length. We've seen her start to open up, and we've also seen times (like when she attempted to take care of Hanners around the start of the wedding storyline) where she's tried to be a good, or at least better, friend to the people around her. She's got some growing up to do, but it does look as though she's trying.

I first joined the forum, years ago, to complain about Marigold basically.  Jeph decided to do a gender switch and put a stereotypical male "basement dweller" personality on a female character (which made it marginally more interesting/endearing - on a guy the same behavior would be even more repulsive).  I just found it really unbelievable - not so much because there aren't a lot of dorky socially awkward women who love anime, but because every dorky socially awkward woman who loves anime who is even moderately attractive has had some dating experience by the time they are out of college (unless they have compounding issues like sexual abuse).  Virtually all women get approached, even if it's by self-interested scumbags, and doesn't have a happy ending.  Marigold should have been a mess, but not a mess that had never even kissed anyone. 

But yeah, the best thing I can say about Marigold is she tries to be a good person, even though she almost always fucks it up.  Honestly with her penchant for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, I'm shocked it hasn't caused an issue in her relationship with Dale yet. 

My personal issues with Marigold though, as I said, may be that aspects of her personality just seemed too close to home to me.  I certainly remember popular kids being nice to me, but pushing them away because I presumed they were just doing it as part of some elaborate ruse to make fun of me.  But that was all the way back in middle school, and an era of my life I'm doing my best to forget. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Somnus Eternus on 22 Oct 2014, 09:31
I just found it really unbelievable - not so much because there aren't a lot of dorky socially awkward women who love anime, but because every dorky socially awkward woman who loves anime who is even moderately attractive has had some dating experience by the time they are out of college (unless the have compounding issues like sexual abuse).  Virtually all women get approached, even if it's by self-interested scumbags, and doesn't have a happy ending.  Marigold should have been a mess, but not a mess that had never even kissed anyone. 

...What?  That's not even remotely true.  In fact, there are normal, attractive women who are interested in mainstream things that don't even get approached.  It has to do with your level of socialization, not the fact that you're a woman, and considering she's portrayed as someone who pretty much actively pushes people away and has terrible hygiene (at least, when she's introduced), it's really not that surprising that she wouldn't have had someone ask her out before.

Please don't generalize about an entire gender.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Nepiophage on 22 Oct 2014, 09:52
The only really unlikable character, IMHO, is Marigold.  I've tried to warm up to her, but she just has no redeeming qualities.
I dunno.  May thinks she has two (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2509).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Nepiophage on 22 Oct 2014, 10:09
But what song does the dildo sing? I suggest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjjgEogU78E (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjjgEogU78E)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Svennerson on 22 Oct 2014, 10:11
She'll always be a-Dora-able to me.

I made an account to say that pun was simultaneously the greatest and worst thing I've ever read.  Actual analysis and discussion coming later.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Fig on 22 Oct 2014, 10:15
But what song does the dildo sing? I suggest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjjgEogU78E (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjjgEogU78E)

Whatever it is, I'm sure it's heavy on the vibrato.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 22 Oct 2014, 10:22
But what song does the dildo sing? I suggest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjjgEogU78E (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjjgEogU78E)

Running dong.  Probably more like
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Pilchard123 on 22 Oct 2014, 10:23
Quote from: Trollmaster, Master of Trolls
And down the stairs and out into the street and on a bus and all the way to Amherst

Oh dear...

Where the AI, Engineering, Psychology, and Sexual Relations Students/Teachers/Grads all had varying theories as to how it works and it's effect on humanity

It wasn't so much the escape as the implications of the term 'put on a bus (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PutOnABus)'. Is it a hint that someone will be?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Svennerson on 22 Oct 2014, 10:26
I'm sorry for my brattishness. There's no excuse. I'm very ashamed of myself right now. There's nothing you said or did or implied that warranted my responses. I feel horrible that I made you question yourself and caused you any disquiet.

I think that I need to let this arc play out in its entirety, Svenectomy included, before chiming in again. At the very least, I'll have a better idea of where the comic might be headed in the short term, and it's very possible that any drama involving Dora will have come - and possibly gone - by then.

Thanks for that. I feel better, and I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts when you're ready.

Hey both of you, you both added some great discussion and I appreciated both of your thoughts!  I'd just like to chip in that neither of you should feel that hard on yourself, because this is the internet.  Just as you two saw two different interpretations from each other on the Allie subplot, you two saw different interpretations on the same post.  Tone is incredibly hard to control, and discrepancies over tone shouldn't be harped on if they come to a good conclusion.

Back to the comic, my one concern for the coming comics is mainly with an overload in Tai.  Yes, she has been a calm, chill customer throughout the comic, but we haven't really seen her in much high-stress situations.  Between Dora being pissed at her brother (which will likely leak), and then potential subsequent drama with Faye, on top of Marten and Claire flirting, on top of school is about to start again and with it coming an increased workload, I could see her making an uncharacteristic slip up.  It would probably go something like Dora is less loving/physical in their relationship, Tai learns about the Svenectomy, Tai, who is used to "getting some" fairly regularly both before and during the relationship, is now thrust out of her comfort zone, she sees Marten and Claire getting too lovey after a stressful day in the library and blows up.  I don't think any individual one of these would be enough to set her off, but combined, it could be a major issue.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 22 Oct 2014, 10:33
But what song does the dildo sing? I suggest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjjgEogU78E (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjjgEogU78E)

Or "Yakkety Sax." Or this oldie but goodie:


Whatever it is, I'm sure it's heavy on the vibrato.

I just choked on my lunch. Thanks.  :lol:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: J on 22 Oct 2014, 10:37
Sound is generated by vibrating the speaker...

Make enough bass, and you might actually get somewhere useful for a dildo. (Of course, in a speaker that actually fit in a dildo, you'd be rather hard-pressed to make enough bass...)
well, that certainly lends a new meaning to a certain recent pop song.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Signal Firefly on 22 Oct 2014, 10:52
I imagine it's like one of those vibrators that plugs into your iPod and vibrates to the music.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Storel on 22 Oct 2014, 11:08
I fail to see what a singing dildo would be good for

What is a singing, dancing plastic flower good for? What's a singing plastic mounted fish good for? Nothing. It's a novelty item, more likely to be used for display and to laugh about during a drunken girls' or boys' night in.

That said... Well, there are all sorts in the world and I can imagine that, yes, some people would like their aids to serenade them. Pintsize is sufficiently weird and perverse a mind to realise this. Between these two niche markets, he'd see it as an opportunity to make a relatively honest profit.

Perhaps the reason he gave it legs is because he was envisioning a business with singing dildos delivering singing telegrams! So the singing voice would be used only while the dildo was not in actual use for its original purpose.

Why singing telegrams? Knowing Pintsize, why not?  Although I do like the notion of the legs being a stretch goal for Pintsize's Kickstarter.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rghfrgl on 22 Oct 2014, 11:16
 Before he hits Amherst dildobot stops for coffee. Hanners tries her best to disbelieve.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Dalillama on 22 Oct 2014, 11:21

What is a singing, dancing plastic flower good for? What's a singing plastic mounted fish good for? Nothing. It's a novelty item, more likely to be used for display and to laugh about during a drunken girls' or boys' night in.
Or as the case may be, night out.  I work at a drag bar where we get a lot of bachelorette parties, and I'm sometimes quite astonished by the props they bring along (including, on one occasion, an inflated phallus as tall as I am).

Okay... so why is it that gaming and anime is to shallow of interest to base a relationship around, but hanging out at a coffee shop and musical tastes is?

Right?  I mean, maybe I take a different attitude towards relationships, but shared interests and sex has been the basis of relationships of mine that've gone on for years.  ( How they ended is another matter, which I don't care to go into just at the moment).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: osaka on 22 Oct 2014, 11:24
Half-time student and half time lurker, Signal Firefly has finally given me a reason to create an account.

I mean, there have been better posts, but I have a massive cold right now and I can't get this out of my head.

I imagine it's like one of those vibrators that plugs into your iPod and vibrates to the music.

I can see that vibrator berating you because of your poor music taste. Or singing pokemon at 120dB, May style. But mostly berating you because of your poor music taste.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Somnus Eternus on 22 Oct 2014, 11:35
I imagine it's like one of those vibrators that plugs into your iPod and vibrates to the music.

I can see that vibrator berating you because of your poor music taste.

The more obscure the band, the more intense the vibration.  But if you put on Limp Bizkit, it just stops working altogether.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 22 Oct 2014, 11:38
I imagine it's like one of those vibrators that plugs into your iPod and vibrates to the music.

I can see that vibrator berating you because of your poor music taste.

The more obscure the band, the more intense the vibration.  But if you put on Limp Bizkit, it just stops working altogether.

I think it just weeps quietly at Limp Bizkit.

If you put on Nickelback long enough, it sobs 'til it convulses. That's where things get interesting.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Thrillho on 22 Oct 2014, 11:42
*vibrating sound*

OH GOD YES

*plop*

'Love from mum and dad.'

*dildo runs out of the room*
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: osaka on 22 Oct 2014, 11:46
The more obscure the band, the more intense the vibration.  But if you put on Limp Bizkit, it just stops working altogether.

You know, that does paint the "Limp" part of the name in a whole new light.

*vibrating sound*

OH GOD YES

*plop*

'Love from mum and dad.'

*dildo runs out of the room*

That's just sad Gareth. Now I feel bad.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Thrillho on 22 Oct 2014, 11:48
I might have been a page or two behind there.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: osaka on 22 Oct 2014, 11:51
Hey, if I were a sentient vibrator and my owner made me play Limp Bizkit while they were using me to pleasure themselves I would also want to leave as fast as possible. I mean, Limp Bizkit.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Thrillho on 22 Oct 2014, 11:55
THERE CAN BE NO PLEASURE WITHOUT PAIN

THERE IS ONLY ZOOL

Sorry what were we doing?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: sitnspin on 22 Oct 2014, 12:00
Limp Bizkit and Nickleback don't make me want to cry, they make me want to punch things. Mostly the person selecting the music.

The last thing you want is and angry dildo, especially one you are currently using.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: osaka on 22 Oct 2014, 12:00
I can see some people being into that tho.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: sitnspin on 22 Oct 2014, 12:04
True. I am certainly not averse to some angry sexy times myself. Hmmm, Hate Fucked By a Dildo. That's either a headline or the title to porn video.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: hedgie on 22 Oct 2014, 12:08
I imagine it's like one of those vibrators that plugs into your iPod and vibrates to the music.

I can see that vibrator berating you because of your poor music taste.

The more obscure the band, the more intense the vibration.  But if you put on Limp Bizkit, it just stops working altogether.
Clearly, then, Throbbing Gristle is the perfect match.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: osaka on 22 Oct 2014, 12:18
By the way, I wanted to do a remark - what would it do if you played one of Sven's songs in it? Be possessed by the Bianchi spirit? Become some sort of dildo Billy Ray Cyrus? Quit its job? Bust out a banjo for maximum country stimulation?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Endellion on 22 Oct 2014, 12:30
Before he hits Amherst dildobot stops for coffee. Hanners tries her best to disbelieve.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not supposed to talk to hallucinations. People might think I'm crazy."  (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2430)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: sitnspin on 22 Oct 2014, 12:36
As long as she doesn't mistake the dildo for DJ Phallus.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: SubaruStephen on 22 Oct 2014, 12:37
Limp Bizkit and Nickleback don't make me want to cry, they make me want to punch things. Mostly the person selecting the music.

It puts me in more of a castrating mood.... Which, when confronting an A.I. dildo that is playing said "music", produces quite a conundrum.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 22 Oct 2014, 12:44
Jeph already has two comics, so if there's a spinoff featuring the dildo, it will have to be in another medium.

I suggest a movie.

"Free Willy". :claireface:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: osaka on 22 Oct 2014, 12:53
As long as she doesn't mistake the dildo for DJ Phallus.

And in a way we're back to Limp Bizkit. Something's utterly wrong with how my idea has progressed.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: SubaruStephen on 22 Oct 2014, 13:19
(http://img.memerial.net/memerial.net/2712/limp-bizkit.jpg)

 :clairedoge:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Fig on 22 Oct 2014, 13:21
It probably makes a better sound.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Nepiophage on 22 Oct 2014, 13:28
But what song does the dildo sing? I suggest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjjgEogU78E (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjjgEogU78E)

Running dong.  Probably more like

But who would buy a dildo called "Tiny Tim"?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Fig on 22 Oct 2014, 13:31
Maybe it's an ironic name.  Though, judging from the size in the comic, Tiny Tim seems apt.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: TieDyeKat on 22 Oct 2014, 13:39
Shouldn't it be obvious?


(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Rcz-gpHjZU/VEgVlG1DE0I/AAAAAAAAZlE/lXdgSb-9TDY/s1600/Fullscreen%2Bcapture%2B10222014%2B33500%2BPM.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 22 Oct 2014, 13:41
She'll always be a-Dora-able to me.

I made an account to say that pun was simultaneously the greatest and worst thing I've ever read.  Actual analysis and discussion coming later.

Welcome to the jungle!  And, of course, you're welcome, for the pun.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: HeavyP on 22 Oct 2014, 13:46
I know the cadence isn't right after reading it again, but the first time I looked at the comic this morning, I imagined the dildo singing like the Smurfs (la, la, la-la-la laaaaaa).

It was mind breaking.




...also, to jump on the musical dildo train, to the person who suggested something techno-ish: call it Dild-step, maybe?  :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 22 Oct 2014, 13:46
@ReindeerFlotilla

Trying to make out the Starship in your Avatar.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Conzy on 22 Oct 2014, 13:46
Shouldn't it be obvious?


(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Rcz-gpHjZU/VEgVlG1DE0I/AAAAAAAAZlE/lXdgSb-9TDY/s1600/Fullscreen%2Bcapture%2B10222014%2B33500%2BPM.jpg)

Let's be honest, it is Toto's best song.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 22 Oct 2014, 14:07
@ReindeerFlotilla

Trying to make out the Starship in your Avatar.

It's entirely my invention. Made it for a contest. I didn't win.

The winning idea was better than mine.

Edit. Links to clearer pictures:

One (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gwG16XG4Nf8/UYvvCoJF0zI/AAAAAAAABaA/gypj0o9eA24/s512/Ent-F.4b.png)
Two (https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aQ_8apswvqU/UamtQUpGF3I/AAAAAAAABfA/lSEizHcFkRw/s800/DNTE3.png)
Avatar (https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HndYrhYQ4pA/UamtEaslegI/AAAAAAAABeg/2PJ63R-sE4o/s800/DNTE1.png)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 22 Oct 2014, 14:15
Welcome, new people!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Natswash on 22 Oct 2014, 14:26
Quote from: Trollmaster, Master of Trolls
And down the stairs and out into the street and on a bus and all the way to Amherst

Oh dear...

Where the AI, Engineering, Psychology, and Sexual Relations Students/Teachers/Grads all had varying theories as to how it works and it's effect on humanity

It wasn't so much the escape as the implications of the term 'put on a bus (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PutOnABus)'. Is it a hint that someone will be?

Quite probably Angus, maybe Sven. Also warn for tvtropes! I have enough trouble staying on task without that wonderful wonderful time sink
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 22 Oct 2014, 14:37

Quite probably Angus, maybe Sven. Also warn for tvtropes! I have enough trouble staying on task without that wonderful wonderful time sink

wonderful time sink? perish the thought! (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TVTropesWillRuinYourLife) =p

Seriously tho, I feel you, my roommate rolls his eyes at me some times when its been 6+ hours of my weekend and he realizes what I have been doing all day XD

As for who may be put in a bus, yeah, most definitely is going to be Angus. Who I wish they would get off that bus is Raven, I miss that delightfully ditzy genius.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 22 Oct 2014, 14:46
@ReindeerFlotilla

Trying to make out the Starship in your Avatar.

It's entirely my invention. Made it for a contest. I didn't win.

The winning idea was better than mine.

Edit. Links to clearer pictures:

One (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gwG16XG4Nf8/UYvvCoJF0zI/AAAAAAAABaA/gypj0o9eA24/s512/Ent-F.4b.png)
Two (https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aQ_8apswvqU/UamtQUpGF3I/AAAAAAAABfA/lSEizHcFkRw/s800/DNTE3.png)
Avatar (https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HndYrhYQ4pA/UamtEaslegI/AAAAAAAABeg/2PJ63R-sE4o/s800/DNTE1.png)
 

Interesting design.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: LilShortstuf on 22 Oct 2014, 14:51
*vibrating sound*

OH GOD YES

*plop*

'Love from mum and dad.'

*dildo runs out of the room*

Speaking of bad gifts from parents... (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=105)

Love this scene.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 22 Oct 2014, 14:57
Interesting design.

Thanks! I had fun developing it. Though, to quote Cyrano, I've done better since. I might put up other stuff in an art thread. Might not.

I have admit, modeling it was something of an enterprise.





 :clairedoge:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: HauntingPoem on 22 Oct 2014, 15:08
Nice to see all the new people!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ASB84 on 22 Oct 2014, 15:14
I'm a little surprised by Marten's reaction, to be honest.

Dude. 

Running, singing dildo.

Marten's reaction was positively zen.

Oh, I know, I know. Still, Pintsize.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Somnus Eternus on 22 Oct 2014, 16:09
Actually, important question...

...why did they give it legs?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 22 Oct 2014, 16:10
Well if they gave it wings, it'd have to give a flying fuck, which it apparently does not.  :clairedoge:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 22 Oct 2014, 16:11
Actually, important question...

...why did they give it legs?

Maybe they were trying to avoid what happened with the Rumba, they figured it would not outrun them?

or the ultimate reason Pintsize ever does anything: because it seemed like a good idea at the time?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ASB84 on 22 Oct 2014, 16:13
I suppose the standard answer applies here: why not?

Well if they gave it wings, it'd have to give a flying fuck, which it apparently does not.  :clairedoge:

Nice. :wink:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zwammy on 22 Oct 2014, 16:21
Well if they gave it wings, it'd have to give a flying fuck, which it apparently does not.  :clairedoge:

Yeah, you just won the internet.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ZoeB on 22 Oct 2014, 16:45
I'm sorry for my brattishness. There's no excuse. I'm very ashamed of myself right now. There's nothing you said or did or implied that warranted my responses. I feel horrible that I made you question yourself and caused you any disquiet.

I think that I need to let this arc play out in its entirety, Svenectomy included, before chiming in again. At the very least, I'll have a better idea of where the comic might be headed in the short term, and it's very possible that any drama involving Dora will have come - and possibly gone - by then.

Thanks for that. I feel better, and I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts when you're ready.

Hey both of you, you both added some great discussion and I appreciated both of your thoughts!  I'd just like to chip in that neither of you should feel that hard on yourself, because this is the internet.  Just as you two saw two different interpretations from each other on the Allie subplot, you two saw different interpretations on the same post.  Tone is incredibly hard to control, and discrepancies over tone shouldn't be harped on if they come to a good conclusion.

What he said. And if that's the worst thing either of you ever do, you're doing far better than I am.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: GarandMarine on 22 Oct 2014, 16:46
Seriously? We have a dildo running around and no one's posted Kingman yet? I am disappoint forum.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 22 Oct 2014, 16:53
Sound is generated by vibrating the speaker...

Make enough bass, and you might actually get somewhere useful for a dildo. (Of course, in a speaker that actually fit in a dildo, you'd be rather hard-pressed to make enough bass...)
well, that certainly lends a new meaning to a certain recent pop song.

Good, I wasn't the only one to make the connection. 'Cause you know I'm all about the bass...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 22 Oct 2014, 17:31
Yay comic. Yay Hanners. Booo webmd.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Estron on 22 Oct 2014, 17:33
"It's never meningitis." 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 22 Oct 2014, 17:37
"It's never meningitis."

So it must be lupis!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 22 Oct 2014, 17:38
Wait, how did Hanners find out about Faye/Angus? she was not at CoD and it just happened? Or about Claire for that matter? did I miss something here?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesium133 on 22 Oct 2014, 17:39
Wait, how did Hanners find out about Faye/Angus? she was not at CoD and it just happened? Or about Claire for that matter? did I miss something here?
Marten told her.

"It's never meningitis."

So it must be lupis!
Can't trust those sneaky wolves.  :clairedoge:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Half Empty Coffee Cup on 22 Oct 2014, 17:40
Marten filled Hanners in on the day's events off-panel.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: AJ_ on 22 Oct 2014, 17:40
New comic
It's not meningitis
Don't let Hannelore on WebMD
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: AJ_ on 22 Oct 2014, 17:41
Wait, how did Hanners find out about Faye/Angus? she was not at CoD and it just happened? Or about Claire for that matter? did I miss something here?
(I assume) Marten just finished explaining what happened that day
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Estron on 22 Oct 2014, 17:42
Wait, how did Hanners find out about Faye/Angus? she was not at CoD and it just happened? Or about Claire for that matter? did I miss something here?

Marten just told her?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rimwolf on 22 Oct 2014, 17:44
Wait, how did Hanners find out about Faye/Angus? she was not at CoD and it just happened? Or about Claire for that matter? did I miss something here?

Obviously,  Hanners reads QC like the rest of us.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: osaka on 22 Oct 2014, 17:47
Wait, how did Hanners find out about Faye/Angus? she was not at CoD and it just happened? Or about Claire for that matter? did I miss something here?

Obviously,  Hanners reads QC like the rest of us.

That has been proven already.

And on topic, it'd be BAD if you could get meningitis just from emotional whiplash, even more so with Hanners' circle.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 22 Oct 2014, 17:49
Wait, how did Hanners find out about Faye/Angus? she was not at CoD and it just happened? Or about Claire for that matter? did I miss something here?

She hacked the simulation (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2280) to give Marten the infinite guitars cheat, accidentally activated infinite puns cheat instead.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesariojpn on 22 Oct 2014, 17:53
I just had a thought:

Sentient AI are building other sentient AI.

The significance of this is likely lost on Jeph, and will be overlooked forevermore because it was a filler dick joke.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 22 Oct 2014, 17:55

She hacked the simulation (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2280) to give Marten the infinite guitars cheat, accidentally activated infinite puns cheat instead.

That one has been active for a while lol

And I suppose it makes sense he told her, the only reason he didn't tell Faye was because he realized her distress, otherwise I guess yeah, he would be ecstatic to share the news. First relationship in a while that he has no reason to hold off on telling his friends about (Dora was delicate due to timing and Faye, Padma cause of another guy liking her as well, etc) so its not like we have seen him be the type to kiss and tell so to speak, so the thought didn't occur to me that he would share this info without directly being asked/prompted
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: osaka on 22 Oct 2014, 17:57
I just had a thought:

Sentient AI are building other sentient AI.

The significance of this is likely lost on Jeph, and will be overlooked forevermore because it was a filler dick joke.

In the QCverse, singularity hit long ago. One of the definitions of singularity was, if I recall correctly, the point in time when the man can build an AI capable of building another AI. So it makes sense.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Half Empty Coffee Cup on 22 Oct 2014, 18:04
The significance of AIs building other AIs is likely not lost on Jeph. This is a guy who modeled the Elicott-Chathams on the Tessier-Ashpools of Neuromancer (and it shows with Hanners's mother!) It's just not the major focus of this strip... giving it that prominence would change things greatly.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 22 Oct 2014, 18:06

She hacked the simulation (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2280) to give Marten the infinite guitars cheat, accidentally activated infinite puns cheat instead.

That one has been active for a while lol

And I suppose it makes sense he told her, the only reason he didn't tell Faye was because he realized her distress, otherwise I guess yeah, he would be ecstatic to share the news. First relationship in a while that he has no reason to hold off on telling his friends about (Dora was delicate due to timing and Faye, Padma cause of another guy liking her as well, etc) so its not like we have seen him be the type to kiss and tell so to speak, so the thought didn't occur to me that he would share this info without directly being asked/prompted

We don't know that he didn't tell Faye right after he mentioned pancakes. If that part of the conversation didn't have a punchline there's no reason it had to be shown.

Faye: Pancakes?
Marten: With Claire.
Faye: Were there smoochies?
Marten: Y-Yes...
Faye: Well *sigh* At least one of us had a good morning, I have to get back to work Marty, see you later I guess.
Marten: Yeah *hug* hope you feel better about things, bye.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 22 Oct 2014, 18:12
Do not ever let Hannelore on WebMD. Because WebMD does not have enough bandwith  to handle all of Hannelore's queries.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 22 Oct 2014, 18:15

We don't know that he didn't tell Faye right after he mentioned pancakes. If that part of the conversation didn't have a punchline there's no reason it had to be shown.


Oh I know that probably happened, specially since she was partially the "mastermind" of the previous night, I meant that I simply did not think of that possibility because thus far Marten has not been the kind to just share the news of a beginning of a relationship before, but mostly due to circumstances. So its not necessarily out of character, just he hadn't had the opportunity before to be that way.

Missing that little obvious answer is on me due to that :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rghfrgl on 22 Oct 2014, 18:18
I just had a thought:

Sentient AI are building other sentient AI.

The significance of this is likely lost on Jeph, and will be overlooked forevermore because it was a filler dick joke.

Are you sure about that? (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2813)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 22 Oct 2014, 18:20
We clearly aren't in high detail conversation mode, right now. Martin telling Hanners is the second "major conversation skip that we know of, since the break up. We'll find out if Martin skipped telling Faye what happened, but at this point I'm betting Jeph jest left off showing us what happened because it didn't move the plot or provide a gag.

This makes me wonder...What's going to happen tomorrow? I mean, the last 2 days were basically filler. He didn't have to show this, and the meningitis joke wasn't a must tell, bound to go down as one QC's greatest gags. So, either this whole week is filler, or there's a one strip cliffhanger on deck.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: eschaton on 22 Oct 2014, 18:23
I just had a thought:

Sentient AI are building other sentient AI.

The significance of this is likely lost on Jeph, and will be overlooked forevermore because it was a filler dick joke.

We know the dildo can sing, but we don't know it's self-aware.  I choose to presume it's of roughly animal-level intelligence, for no particular reason. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: FunkyTuba on 22 Oct 2014, 18:24
Quote from: A buncha youse
Hannelore/WebMD
Hannelore probably has WebMD memorized already. Or she at least knows how many pages are in it.

I just had a thought:
Sentient AI are building other sentient AI.
The significance of this is likely lost on Jeph, and will be overlooked forevermore because it was a filler dick joke.

My take was a little different. The "prototype" referred to was the chassis... not the AI inside and they're yelling at whatever other AI is in there to bring the chassis back. (may? momo? PT410x?)

This leaves an obvious hole though... Pintsize would probably be first in line to be in such a chassis if he could possibly inhabit it.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 22 Oct 2014, 18:31
This makes me wonder...What's going to happen tomorrow? I mean, the last 2 days were basically filler. He didn't have to show this, and the meningitis joke wasn't a must tell, bound to go down as one QC's greatest gags. So, either this whole week is filler, or there's a one strip cliffhanger on deck.

PLOT TWIST: It really is meningitis, Hannelore dies, Angus and Faye reconnect at the funeral, pitchfork mob descends on Jeph's home, comic ends.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 22 Oct 2014, 18:34
This makes me wonder...What's going to happen tomorrow? I mean, the last 2 days were basically filler. He didn't have to show this, and the meningitis joke wasn't a must tell, bound to go down as one QC's greatest gags. So, either this whole week is filler, or there's a one strip cliffhanger on deck.

PLOT TWIST: It really is meningitis, Hannelore dies, Angus and Faye reconnect at the funeral, pitchfork mob descends on Jeph's home, comic ends.

That would be boring.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rghfrgl on 22 Oct 2014, 18:36
Quote
or there's a one strip cliffhanger on deck.

Hannelore doesn't want to infect her friends. And there's only one way to make sure that never happens. To kill them.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 22 Oct 2014, 18:37
I just had a thought:

Sentient AI are building other sentient AI.

The significance of this is likely lost on Jeph, and will be overlooked forevermore because it was a filler dick joke.

We know the dildo can sing, but we don't know it's self-aware.  I choose to presume it's of roughly animal-level intelligence, for no particular reason.

Yeah, but even that raises serious ethical issues. If it's human-level sentience, you'd need consent; form ceases to follow function at that point. And you can't get meaningful consent from an animal-level sentience.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: sitnspin on 22 Oct 2014, 18:47
The trick is to find an AI to inhabit the dildo who really likes its job, like the toaster AI does.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: FunkyTuba on 22 Oct 2014, 18:53
The trick is to find an AI to inhabit the dildo who really likes its job, like the toaster AI does.

Back to Pintsize then (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1500)...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 22 Oct 2014, 18:54
The trick is to find an AI to inhabit the dildo who really likes its job, like the toaster AI does.

Back to Pintsize then...

But he likes boobies and in that chassis... Oh MY. No no no no  no no no no no.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 22 Oct 2014, 18:54
Quote
or there's a one strip cliffhanger on deck.

Hannelore doesn't want to infect her friends. And there's only one way to make sure that never happens. To kill them.

Not enough potential for complication. I'm betting we find out that Claire is the Kwisatz Haderach (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2400).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: FunkyTuba on 22 Oct 2014, 19:01
Valkygrrl, I edited my post to include this link to Pintsize stating his preference (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1500), though I have to admit that he would probably not mind one bit which kind of bits he ended up with, as long as he could approximate some role in the porn he downloads. (if that's his motivation for having them in the first place)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesariojpn on 22 Oct 2014, 19:10
The trick is to find an AI to inhabit the dildo who really likes its job, like the toaster AI does.

Given how some people are into sexual fetishes.....wait, do AI's even have a concept of sexual fetishes?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ASB84 on 22 Oct 2014, 19:13
As far as the latest strip is concerned, it's simply good conservation of detail. We don't need to see the part where Marten recaps everything that we already know happened because we saw it all from our cosy spot behind the fourth wall. We therefore cut to the next relevant event in the story: Hanners' reaction, and the beginning of the rest of the conversation.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: sitnspin on 22 Oct 2014, 19:20
The trick is to find an AI to inhabit the dildo who really likes its job, like the toaster AI does.

Given how some people are into sexual fetishes.....wait, do AI's even have a concept of sexual fetishes?

Have you not been paying attention to Pintsize all this time?

Seriously, though, I imagine AI not having the same hang ups we do about it. Instead I see them as being pretty much okay with whatever feels good sans judgment.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesariojpn on 22 Oct 2014, 20:48
Have you not been paying attention to Pintsize all this time?

Is his actions what we humans would consider interest in sexual fetishism, or just programming to respond to sexual fetishism?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: sitnspin on 22 Oct 2014, 21:13
There is no difference. Human fetishes ARE programming. All human behaviors and thought patterns are programming. The same is true of all organisms.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesariojpn on 22 Oct 2014, 21:19
There is no difference. Human fetishes ARE programming. All human behaviors and thought patterns are programming. The same is true of all organisms.

(http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/wikipedian_protester.png)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 22 Oct 2014, 21:20
There is no difference. Human fetishes ARE programming. All human behaviors and thought patterns are programming. The same is true of all organisms.

Now we're getting philosophic about the human condition?

This dildo goes deep.


 :claireface:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 22 Oct 2014, 21:25
Or it could be a Tumor




























:-D
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 22 Oct 2014, 21:27
There is no difference. Human fetishes ARE programming. All human behaviors and thought patterns are programming. The same is true of all organisms.

:image post:

I am going to resist the temptation.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: poofdepoof on 22 Oct 2014, 21:36
The joke in this one reminded me of: http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2033
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: sitnspin on 22 Oct 2014, 21:44
There is no difference. Human fetishes ARE programming. All human behaviors and thought patterns are programming. The same is true of all organisms.

Img
The only difference between biological organisms and so-called artificial machines is the materials and method of their construction.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 22 Oct 2014, 22:17
The only difference between biological organisms and so-called artificial machines is the materials and method of their construction.

Exactly.  That's what always bothered me about Emily's questions about AI thought processes. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2285)  Sure, thinking on a human level may be just a subroutine for them, but isn't it the same for us?  How much of our processing power is devoted to just keeping our biological systems functioning--and maintaining our sentience--without our even noticing it?  All of those chemical reactions occurring throughout our bodies every second of every day are obviously a response to something, but if we had to consciously maintain all of that instead of trusting our brains and bodies to do it for us, we'd never get anything done.  AIs are clearly just better at multitasking. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ZoeB on 22 Oct 2014, 22:21
"It's never meningitis."
Except when it is.
Bacterial's the nasty one, but at least there are obvious symptoms and a treatment, even if it has to be given within hours.

Viral - you feel rotten, like flu. Then it gets worse next day. You feel so rotten you just sit in a corner, and then you better be around friends because you go into semiconsciousness wiithout warning, which becomes a coma.

So I'm told. My memory's unreliable of the period, due to the brain damage. My friends carried me to the hospital on campus, a few hundred metres.

One of the many experiences that made my time at university so eventful. Viral meningo-encephalitis is not fun.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesariojpn on 22 Oct 2014, 22:32
The only difference between biological organisms and so-called artificial machines is the materials and method of their construction.

You still have not adequately cited your comments in a manner that would back up your arguments.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zandin on 22 Oct 2014, 22:33
I just had a thought:

Sentient AI are building other sentient AI.

The significance of this is likely lost on Jeph, and will be overlooked forevermore because it was a filler dick joke.

I don't think the dildo is sentient. There is lots of room in the spectrum for a fully automated machine that isn't sentient, just cleverly programmed.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Natswash on 22 Oct 2014, 22:48
Quote
or there's a one strip cliffhanger on deck.

Hannelore doesn't want to infect her friends. And there's only one way to make sure that never happens. To kill them.

Not enough potential for complication. I'm betting we find out that Claire is the Kwisatz Haderach (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2400).

Oh Dune jokes will we ever tire of thee (All signs point to no)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 22 Oct 2014, 22:52
The only difference between biological organisms and so-called artificial machines is the materials and method of their construction.

You still have not adequately cited your comments in a manner that would back up your arguments.

Must resist engaging in futile discussion...

so... difficult... Arrrgh!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 22 Oct 2014, 23:04
Poor Hanners! Only she could turn mixed feelings into an attack of hyperchondria! I'm glad that she's read in though; I think that Marten will need her support, especially for Faye. If her work with Marigold proves anything, it is that Hanners is excellent at breaking through barriers of low self-esteem.

Wait, how did Hanners find out about Faye/Angus? she was not at CoD and it just happened? Or about Claire for that matter? did I miss something here?

Marten has probably just been telling Hanners about his day. My guess is that she came to the door to see what was the source of the high-pitched singing and pitter-patter of tiny feet!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 22 Oct 2014, 23:19
Marten has probably just been telling Hanners about his day. My guess is that she came to the door to see what was the source of the high-pitched singing and pitter-patter of tiny feet!

I think they are at Hannelore's place. The wall angle/door in view is wrong for Marten's kitchen and the walls aren't blue.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 22 Oct 2014, 23:27
Marten has probably just been telling Hanners about his day. My guess is that she came to the door to see what was the source of the high-pitched singing and pitter-patter of tiny feet!

I think they are at Hannelore's place. The wall angle/door in view is wrong for Marten's kitchen and the walls aren't blue.

Well, in that case, Marten probably decided to protect his sense of reality by taking refuge in Hannelore's apartment until Pintsize completes The Great Dildo Hunt.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Natswash on 22 Oct 2014, 23:51
Well, in that case, Marten probably decided to protect his sense of reality by taking refuge in Hannelore's apartment until Pintsize completes The Great Dildo Hunt.

I have a mental image of Pintsize with a Dildo-esque spear hunting down a running singing dildo around the Amherst Library
Thanks for that

EDIT: Mounted on a flying Roomba
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 23 Oct 2014, 00:12
This makes me wonder...What's going to happen tomorrow? I mean, the last 2 days were basically filler. He didn't have to show this, and the meningitis joke wasn't a must tell, bound to go down as one QC's greatest gags. So, either this whole week is filler, or there's a one strip cliffhanger on deck.

I'm wondering if we haven't been misinterpreting this whole arc. Faye, Pintsize and Hannelore were all to remind Marten that he is still the keeper of a pack of cute but neurotic girls and a borderline-runaway AI. He's got other things than his new girlfriend that requires juggling in his life!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 23 Oct 2014, 00:28
I'm wondering if we haven't been misinterpreting this whole arc. Faye, Pintsize and Hannelore were all to remind Marten that he is still the keeper of a pack of cute but neurotic girls and a borderline-runaway AI. He's got other things than his new girlfriend that requires juggling in his life!

Maybe to remind us, as well.  "Hey, readers, I know a lot of you probably want the next 500 strips to be all Claire + Marten smooches, but there are other people in the comic too!  Don't forget about them!"
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: anahata on 23 Oct 2014, 00:37
Yeah, it was nice to see Hanners in the spotlight again, especially after someone commented recently that she'd been sidelined.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aimless on 23 Oct 2014, 00:39
WHAT IF IT'S A CERVICAL ARTERY DISSECTION*

*theme for last night's shift on call. Okay, every shift on call
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aimless on 23 Oct 2014, 00:41
Marten's not anyone's keeper, those ladies can keep themselves and he's just Pintsize's fall-guy
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ItsNotATumor on 23 Oct 2014, 00:51
So I'm a bit late with this post, but I find myself strongly disliking Faye after this talk with Angus. Regardless of whether or not she wants to continue a relationship with him, I think her behavior is self centered and rude.

When someone you care about gets their dream job, you congratulate them and celebrate with them. Even if she realizes that the relationship won't work, she can't have the basic decency to let him be happy about his once in a lifetime opportunity. I feel like she's dumped him on the side of the road after realizing he's of no use to her. Such a lack of empathy is gross.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 23 Oct 2014, 01:12
So I'm a bit late with this post, but I find myself strongly disliking Faye after this talk with Angus. Regardless of whether or not she wants to continue a relationship with him, I think her behavior is self centered and rude.

When someone you care about gets their dream job, you congratulate them and celebrate with them. Even if she realizes that the relationship won't work, she can't have the basic decency to let him be happy about his once in a lifetime opportunity. I feel like she's dumped him on the side of the road after realizing he's of no use to her. Such a lack of empathy is gross.

I think that you missed Faye's own obvious distress. She wasn't happy for him because she thinks she is losing him. I'd challenge you to be able to offer more than a façade of happiness at the thought of your significant other moving away and you not having the strength to follow him/her. In short, she isn't dumping him; they're going their separate ways.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ItsNotATumor on 23 Oct 2014, 01:27
I think that you missed Faye's own obvious distress. She wasn't happy for him because she thinks she is losing him. I'd challenge you to be able to offer more than a façade of happiness at the thought of your significant other moving away and you not having the strength to follow him/her. In short, she isn't dumping him; they're going their separate ways.

Yes, I understand the cause of her distress. My point is that he got his dream job, and that the decent thing to do is to be happy with him. He ran home to greet her and tell the news. She's derailing the immediate situation to be all about her.

When I said "dumping him by the side of the road", I meant that figuratively. As soon as she realizes that she won't be with him, she provides absolutely zero support or empathy for him. Another (bad?) analogy would be two backpackers on a trip sharing the road. They've been sharing food, water, and a tent for days. One backpacker sees the summit, and is going to climb it. While he's saying "Look at that amazing peak! I can't wait to scale it with you!", the other one takes all the food he can muster, the spare water, the bedroll, and walks away silently in the other direction.

Faye wrecked his moment, made it all about her, and couldn't be bothered to even go through the motions of playing at being nice to him and let him enjoy his day. Self centered and rude.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Sullivan on 23 Oct 2014, 01:56
Well... remember, Faye has some Really Bad Stuff in her past, resulting in abandonment issues. And now here is Angus, with whom she thought she something stable, removing himself from her everyday reach. It hit her, HARD. You're walking out on me too, just like my father did.

Plus, she said she'd previously thought she could handle the weekend-only relationship, and was just hit with the realization that she couldn't. So she wasn't prepared for the moment.

Yes, a Perfect Person would have been more supportive, but this is not a perfect person. Faye has a good heart at heart and I'm sure she will end up being all celebratory and congratulatory and supportive soon, but I think her initial response was completely justified by her backstory.

Also: echoes of this will stay with her for a while. It will be a long time before she risks another relationship. And that's the optimistic prediction... Nor should we "expect better of her" unless the shrink she's seeing suddenly becomes a miracle worker.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 23 Oct 2014, 02:43
Emotions are not bed rolls, or a ball, or other stuff. They are not electricity, to be tuned by dial or turned off by switch.

The are the root of all choice. This can be hard to accept. In general, humanity colors emotion as weakness. Finding out that we aren't quite the rational animals we think we are can be disturbing. 

It's fairly well documented, scientifically. Brain damage to the amygdala tends to result in loss of affect. People with such damage show little emotion, and report feeling little. Such people also tend to have a marked difficulty making decisions between options. This strongly suggests that what we feel about a thing is more important than what we think about it. It goes to explain why facts don't persuade people.

For what ever reason, Faye didn't feel what she would need to feel to "be supportive" in that moment. Moreover, she did not feel anything that would have driven her to fake it, for Angus's sake.

She was faced with the choice of making a sacrifice, or walking away. Despite our cultural fetish for sacrifice, it isn't always the right choice.

Faye chose poorly, in that she didn't tell Angus what she was thinking. But she chose correctly, as far as the timing. Trying to fake it would have only increased her disquiet. It would rapidly have become resentment.

By creating a bad situation, immediately, she prevented a worse situation later.

As unfair as that may be, Angus helped to create the crisis. First by ignoring the signs that the crisis was coming. While Faye helped him do that, his own actions show he wasn't really buying her assurances. But he let that slide. But more importantly, he forced the issue at the time of crisis.

To use your metaphor, he didn't just say, "that looks like a fun mountain to climb." He brushed off any worries about whether the proper supplies were on hand, whether he or Faye were in shape to handle the mountain, and Faye's fear of heights. He also quickly implied that being afraid was a moral failure on Faye's part, and--at the critical moment--offered only the choice "commit to climb, now, or walk away."

There's a reason that strip is titled "You Idiots." Angus AND Faye handled it poorly. But there's no certainty, had they performed better, the results would have been different.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 23 Oct 2014, 02:54
So... Prediction for tomorrow?

I think I'm starting to get the rhythm of this arc. Jeph is actually skipping over a lot of exposition (he's said that he wants to have less dialogue per panel) and discussion and just letting us draw conclusions from the characters' body languages and fairly simple one-liners. I expect this to continue to the conclusion of the FAngus Break-Up arc.

My belief is that Friday's strip will be Faye arriving at Apartment 22, 14 Elm Grove Lane and gaining entrance. I suspect panel 3 will be her standing in front of Angus and just saying "I'm sorry." and Angus replying "I'm sorry too." Panel 4 might be the bus pulling out of Northampton with Faye standing at the kerb, waving farewell. Alternately, it will just be them hugging. In any case, I suspect that Monday will be the start of a new arc and I don't think we'll be seeing Angus again except possibly in flashback.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Natswash on 23 Oct 2014, 04:05
So... Prediction for tomorrow?

I think I'm starting to get the rhythm of this arc. Jeph is actually skipping over a lot of exposition (he's said that he wants to have less dialogue per panel) and discussion and just letting us draw conclusions from the characters' body languages and fairly simple one-liners. I expect this to continue to the conclusion of the FAngus Break-Up arc.

My belief is that Friday's strip will be Faye arriving at Apartment 22, 14 Elm Grove Lane and gaining entrance. I suspect panel 3 will be her standing in front of Angus and just saying "I'm sorry." and Angus replying "I'm sorry too." Panel 4 might be the bus pulling out of Northampton with Faye standing at the kerb, waving farewell. Alternately, it will just be them hugging. In any case, I suspect that Monday will be the start of a new arc and I don't think we'll be seeing Angus again except possibly in flashback.
You sir, are a master of sad. Well done, and please don't be right (although I think you are doing well on the rythm of Jeph's plan as I could see you being completely right if not word for word).
I rather liked Angus as a character, he is every man, but witty enough to make nerdy folk associate easier. He was also not as passive and kind of played a foil to Marten in that degree. At the same time he was caring when the situation called. He played a good character and I'll be sad to see him leave.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 23 Oct 2014, 04:12
Perhaps Dale is due to take over as the secondary male character in the strip.  What about Steve? you say.  Well, look at the recent cast poster.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 23 Oct 2014, 04:40
Perhaps Dale is due to take over as the secondary male character in the strip.  What about Steve? you say.  Well, look at the recent cast poster.

Actually, I think it might be Sven who will be the secondary male character but in what context I'm not sure.

I think it's possible that the main cast will be caught in the middle of the Svenectomy. He'll actually be trying to build bridges with Faye by helping her out as a good friend (and only as a friend) in the aftermath of Angus's departure for The Big Apple and, of course, he has the existing relationship axis with Hannelore. Maybe he'll appeal to them to try to help him reconcile with Dora. This would drag in Marten (and, by extension, Claire), who would be wary of his two very emotionally-vulnerable friends being caught between the Bianchi kids' long-running and often-violently bitter sibling rivalry.

It's interesting that Will and Penny are in the poster but Steve and Cossette are not. Back on the bus? I have to say that I've only seen Steve and Cossette recently in the context of Steve being Marten's best male friend, so he's arguably moving out of even the secondary character category to the same 'supporting bit-player' categorisation as Veronica and Clinton. Are we going to see more of Penny? Is she going to be put into a difficult position between her boss and her boyfriend's best friend?

That poster is, in retrospect, very interesting in the body language between Angus and Faye. Angus is clearly holding forth on some subject and Faye just looks... nonplussed and confused. I think that Jeph was planning a break-up even then and it is reflected in the clear lack of connection between the two in that image.

Damn... I love Kremlinology!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Thrillho on 23 Oct 2014, 04:56
Actually, I think it might be Sven who will be the secondary male character but in what context I'm not sure.

Oh Christ no.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 23 Oct 2014, 05:10
In honor of this week's poll, I am naming the nor'easter that is currently wrecking my neighborhood "Northern Hurricane Faye".
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Neko_Ali on 23 Oct 2014, 05:39
So I'm a bit late with this post, but I find myself strongly disliking Faye after this talk with Angus. Regardless of whether or not she wants to continue a relationship with him, I think her behavior is self centered and rude.

When someone you care about gets their dream job, you congratulate them and celebrate with them. Even if she realizes that the relationship won't work, she can't have the basic decency to let him be happy about his once in a lifetime opportunity. I feel like she's dumped him on the side of the road after realizing he's of no use to her. Such a lack of empathy is gross.

This is exactly the social pressure I was talking about earlier, why Faye kept her feelings of fear from Angus about him getting this job. She's been terrified of losing him and not being supportive enough. He's been terrified of losing her. But because of this attitude, that no matter what they are feeling inside they needed to put on a happy face for the sake of their partner that killed the conversation they needed to have before Angus left for his job. Instead of communicating like couples should do, they went to other people who couldn't give them any real answers and let this fester between them until there was no longer a way to avoid it, ultimately hurting both worse than if they had time to prepare for it long ago. Not that there would have been a happy resolution but we wouldn't have had the whole "I got the job, aren't you  happy for me! No, and now we are breaking up." situation.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Lubricus on 23 Oct 2014, 05:45
Perhaps Dale is due to take over as the secondary male character in the strip.  What about Steve? you say.  Well, look at the recent cast poster.

Actually, I think it might be Sven who will be the secondary male character but in what context I'm not sure.

You're both wrong - the secondary male character will always be Pintsize!  :wink:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 23 Oct 2014, 06:18
You sir, are a master of sad. Well done, and please don't be right (although I think you are doing well on the rythm of Jeph's plan as I could see you being completely right if not word for word).

This brings up an interesting thought for me - I wonder if Jeph sometimes finds such detailed predictions (right down to scene and dialogue) annoying because they sorta limit his options, especially when the prediction is the most logical way to go?

Yeah, you can say his options aren't limited in any way by what amounts to fanfic, but if it were me, I'd be like 'aw dammit, now I can't use that.'
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 23 Oct 2014, 06:25
This brings up an interesting thought for me - I wonder if Jeph sometimes finds such detailed predictions (right down to scene and dialogue) annoying because they sorta limit his options, especially when the prediction is the most logical way to go?

Yeah, you can say his options aren't limited in any way by what amounts to fanfic, but if it were me, I'd be like 'aw dammit, now I can't use that.'

Which is why I always say this: "You can use whichever of my ideas you like and you don't even have to credit me. I'm not that original; I certainly wouldn't have had the idea if you hadn't laid the foundations (and, in some cases, built the walls and installed the roof joists too)."

Besides, I get the impression that Jeph is quite a number of strips ahead of his posting schedule. If I'm right and my prediction actually comes true, I would be rather too busy having myself tested further for telepathy rather than demanding credit or acknowledgement from Jeph.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 23 Oct 2014, 06:28
Jeph actually is known to be unable to maintain a buffer for very long, and often does strips the day they're posted.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 23 Oct 2014, 06:39
You sir, are a master of sad. Well done, and please don't be right (although I think you are doing well on the rythm of Jeph's plan as I could see you being completely right if not word for word).

This brings up an interesting thought for me - I wonder if Jeph sometimes finds such detailed predictions (right down to scene and dialogue) annoying because they sorta limit his options, especially when the prediction is the most logical way to go?

Yeah, you can say his options aren't limited in any way by what amounts to fanfic, but if it were me, I'd be like 'aw dammit, now I can't use that.'

Limits his options eh?

Prediction: the next two hundred strips are Marigold and Dale boinking
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 23 Oct 2014, 06:45
Limits his options eh?

Prediction: the next two hundred strips are Marigold and Dale boinking

Okay, that shit was funny.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: DSL on 23 Oct 2014, 06:49
Jeph actually is known to be unable to maintain a buffer for very long, and often does strips the day they're posted.

Executing the strips, yes. But he has remarked recently he's blocking and scripting ahead.
A mod will eventually say with authority that Jeph doesn't actually visit the forums very often, so the concern is moot.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 23 Oct 2014, 06:54
Yeah, it was nice to see Hanners in the spotlight again, especially after someone commented recently that she'd been sidelined.

That might've been me. And a one-off appearance, with a throwaway gag isn't "the spotlight." Remember when she would feature over a handful of strips, actually having sustained conversations with people? That'd be closer to the spotlight (or would at least suggest that she's part of the main cast). This is filler.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 23 Oct 2014, 06:55
I'd still like to see Sven ask Hannelore, Faye and Penny to use their connection with Dora to help him try to mend fences with her. They argue like cats but I strongly believe that Sven and Dora would both prefer to have at least a functional relationship.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 23 Oct 2014, 07:55
A mod will eventually say with authority that Jeph doesn't actually visit the forums very often, so the concern is moot.

Actually, he last logged in just three days ago, and posted only three weeks ago.  So, we can't assume he's not watching!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Krald on 23 Oct 2014, 08:24
I'd still like to see Sven ask Hannelore, Faye and Penny to use their connection with Dora to help him try to mend fences with her. They argue like cats but I strongly believe that Sven and Dora would both prefer to have at least a functional relationship.

Does Sven even know hes been cut off yet? Although it is kind of hard for Dora to  you know, tell him that since she said she will never speak to him again... good planing right there.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rghfrgl on 23 Oct 2014, 08:28
Maybe to remind us, as well.  "Hey, readers, I know a lot of you probably want the next 500 strips to be all Claire + Marten smooches, but there are other people in the comic too!  Don't forget about them!"

I suggest the compromise of alternating 250 strips of Claire and Marten smooches and 250 strips of Hannelore reacting to it. (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2590)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 23 Oct 2014, 08:37
Maybe to remind us, as well.  "Hey, readers, I know a lot of you probably want the next 500 strips to be all Claire + Marten smooches, but there are other people in the comic too!  Don't forget about them!"

I suggest the compromise of alternating 250 strips of Claire and Marten smooches and 250 strips of Hannelore reacting to it. (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2590)

Counter proposal: 250 strips of Claire and Marten smooches, 249 strips of dressing montages as they prepare for their dates, 1 strip of turkeys talking about butts.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 23 Oct 2014, 08:46
I hesitate to predict, but more sad pandas seems the wrong beat for the last strip of the week. Al least a definitive sad panda seems wrong. I have no idea what Jeph might do, but Angus and Faye making nice, but over, then waving farewell seems like complete closure. If figure that's not what Jeph is going to give us.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: osaka on 23 Oct 2014, 08:53
Maybe to remind us, as well.  "Hey, readers, I know a lot of you probably want the next 500 strips to be all Claire + Marten smooches, but there are other people in the comic too!  Don't forget about them!"

I suggest the compromise of alternating 250 strips of Claire and Marten smooches and 250 strips of Hannelore reacting to it. (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2590)

Considering the ave
Counter proposal: 250 strips of Claire and Marten smooches, 249 strips of dressing montages as they prepare for their dates, 1 strip of turkeys talking about butts.

Considering the average QC Turkeys, and how some people are predicting Faye's actions can go, I'd say that the strip will probably feature turkeys talking about Sven's butt (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1770).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: eschaton on 23 Oct 2014, 08:57
Actually, I think it might be Sven who will be the secondary male character but in what context I'm not sure.

Oh Christ no.

Depends upon how you do it.  There's nothing like taking a unlikable character and then eventually turning them around somewhat through redemption.  Look what it did for Jaime Lannister in ASOIAF. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 23 Oct 2014, 11:01
249 strips of dressing montages as they prepare for their dates

And they still both show up in their TEH (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2614) shirts. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2791) Every damn time.

...and now I want to see that happen.  Just once.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: kerky on 23 Oct 2014, 11:11
WHAT IF IT'S A CERVICAL ARTERY DISSECTION*

*theme for last night's shift on call. Okay, every shift on call
AYAD?
If yes, ouch, and I wish you a much quieter upcoming shift.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 23 Oct 2014, 11:13
249 strips of dressing montages as they prepare for their dates

And they still both show up in their TEH (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2614) shirts. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2791) Every damn time.

...and now I want to see that happen.  Just once.

NO!

ALL Hannelore. Infinite Hannelore.

We will all become Hannelore. Your biological and technological distinctiveness will adapt to service us.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Boomslang on 23 Oct 2014, 11:23
So regarding the whole Blame Angus vs. Blame Faye thing, I really don't have any strong opinions on the matter. But I thought it would be interesting to go back and re-read the strips where all of this was forming:

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2450 through http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2452

I think this is the primary series of strips, not even all that long, that establishes what just happened as a very real possibility. Faye is pretty clear that while she does want him to be happy, she's otherwise 100% negative about him moving- and it's Angus that suggests putting this off until he knows for sure or not. Anyone blaming Faye for not communicating her dislike for what happened is looking at what happened here very differently than I am, and many others are. But she also sets up the fact that she doesn't want him to sacrifice this opportunity, either- if he gets the job, staying in Northhampton isn't a realistic possibility. And Faye is likewise NOT going to be okay with moving to NYC.  The only question is whether they can make a long distance relationship work. Maybe Faye deserves some blame for trying to let the conversation end on a positive note, but that's a really weak nail to be hanging the blame for the breakup solely on her.

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2663

Marten is pretty clear that trouble is on the way. At the same time, he joins Faye in saying Angus should take the opportunity even if it ruins things with Faye- and Marten is Faye's friend foremost, not Angus's, so he's not simply taking Angus's side, he genuinely agrees that Angus giving up his goals to be with Faye isn't good for either of them. If Marten screwed up, it's that he set up the false dichotomy of Faye being shitty about this OR telling the truth about being okay, and Angus leaped at the opportunity to rationalize it into her genuinely being okay, because he knows she wouldn't be shitty like that.

Now comes my opinion/interpretation- When it comes to foreshadowing the events, even telegraphing them, what happened recently is a possibility Jeph made very clear existed from very early on, not just the vague outline, but the actual event as it transpired. He's being amazingly internally consistent with the comic despite it being so long in between significant events in the arc. And I think based on that, the idea they simply need to 'talk it out' might be a tad off base- they have talked, but what it comes down to is they're not willing to sacrifice one person's happiness, and they don't want to sever the relationship, but it's impossible to have the cake and eat it too. Ever since the possibility came up, they've essentially just been delaying the inevitable- waiting until he got the part, and honestly, even the idea of a long distance relationship, was just pushing the final confrontation out. There is no such thing as a permanent long distance relationship- unless one of them changed their mind, it couldn't possibly work. And how long could they remain stable, when they're both hoping the other changes their mind? That just seems so toxic to anything.

Fundamentally, I just don't think there IS a good end for this, no matter what they did after Angus came back, having gotten the part. Faye and Angus aren't in a functional relationship any more, and they might just have to leave it where it is, two folks walking away from each other in silence. What's there to talk about? How they never intended for this to happen? That they don't blame each other? Those wouldn't be entirely true.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 23 Oct 2014, 11:32
Pretty much. Errors were made by both.  But, had neither made any mistakes, the results wouldn't have been different, because those errors didn't actually change anything about the core conflict.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Emperor Norton on 23 Oct 2014, 12:07
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2450 through http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2452

I think this is the primary series of strips, not even all that long, that establishes what just happened as a very real possibility. Faye is pretty clear that while she does want him to be happy, she's otherwise 100% negative about him moving- and it's Angus that suggests putting this off until he knows for sure or not. Anyone blaming Faye for not communicating her dislike for what happened is looking at what happened here very differently than I am, and many others are. But she also sets up the fact that she doesn't want him to sacrifice this opportunity, either- if he gets the job, staying in Northhampton isn't a realistic possibility. And Faye is likewise NOT going to be okay with moving to NYC.  The only question is whether they can make a long distance relationship work. Maybe Faye deserves some blame for trying to let the conversation end on a positive note, but that's a really weak nail to be hanging the blame for the breakup solely on her.

He did say something about tabling it later, but that is ignoring that he did bring it up two more times, the more and more likely it seemed that he would get the part, only to be shot down before he could even get started.

http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2674
http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2740

I agree with the assessment that they both made mistakes, just trying to say that saying that it was his actions alone that lead to tabling the conversation until the end is a bit off.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 23 Oct 2014, 12:13
Just rewinding the discussion a bit, I KNEW that running purple dildo seemed familiar! (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2649)

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ItsNotATumor on 23 Oct 2014, 12:41
I agree with the assessment that they both made mistakes, just trying to say that saying that it was his actions alone that lead to tabling the conversation until the end is a bit off.

+1 agree here. He brings it up repeatedly, she shoos him away with don't be silly, knock 'em dead, it's your dream, etc. When he asks about her being ok, she responds with a hostile "For christ's sake", a blame shifting redirection tactic. He's the one checking on *her* state, and her response is as if he's having emotional issues.

Then, when he does get the part, it's just a complete wall. The decent thing to do would be, as his friend, make a celebration for him, let him be happy, and then sadly talk the next day that she can't come with him. "I'm sad that this won't work, but I'm so so happy that you got your dream job! We had a great time." But just turning away in silence? Dumping a bucket of ice water on his happy day? That's just plain mean.

I don't think she's trying to hurt his feelings here. I think she's just so self centered that it doesn't occur to her to even consider his feelings :/
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 23 Oct 2014, 12:54
I don't think she's trying to hurt his feelings here. I think she's just so self centered that it doesn't occur to her to even consider his feelings :/

I disagree - I think she has always considered his feelings in the sense that she didn't want to let him in on how shallow her own feelings for him were.  If he had not gotten the part, they may have gone on for some time, hanging out, talking, banging and whatnot, with him being deeply in love with her and her not so much with him.

Instead, he did get the job, and she's now having to make him understand that what they have isn't enough to make her pull chocks and follow him. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: osaka on 23 Oct 2014, 12:56
I don't think she's trying to hurt his feelings here. I think she's just so self centered that it doesn't occur to her to even consider his feelings :/

Considering Faye's characterization, I'm willing to say that she's trumped by her own feelings, asides from the sudden, crushing realization that she really didn't love Angus as much as she thought she did about 3 days ago - or that she wasn't as healed as she thought she was 3 days ago. It's not a good feeling, and given her past, it can be made much worse.

In fact, the realization that you don't care is sometimes more crushing than the consequences of the actions that you don't care about. Faye isn't sad that she's bound to end her relationship with Angus, or that she won't see Angus - she's sad because she has JUST realized that she's been faking her relationship for a while.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ItsNotATumor on 23 Oct 2014, 12:59
I think she has always considered his feelings in the sense that she didn't want to let him in on how shallow her own feelings for him were.  If he had not gotten the part, they may have gone on for some time, hanging out, talking, banging and whatnot, with him being deeply in love with her and her not so much with him.

I completely agree with this statement.

Quote
Instead, he did get the job, and she's now having to make him understand that what they have isn't enough to make her pull chocks and follow him.

Also agree. And her way of making him understand is just about the rudest possible way of doing so.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 23 Oct 2014, 13:01
INAT - Your definition of 'rude' is probably the weirdest one I've ever heard.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ItsNotATumor on 23 Oct 2014, 13:02
Considering Faye's characterization, I'm willing to say that she's trumped by her own feelings, asides from the sudden, crushing realization that she really didn't love Angus as much as she thought she did about 3 days ago - or that she wasn't as healed as she thought she was 3 days ago. It's not a good feeling, and given her past, it can be made much worse.

In fact, the realization that you don't care is sometimes more crushing than the consequences of the actions that you don't care about. Faye isn't sad that she's bound to end her relationship with Angus, or that she won't see Angus - she's sad because she has JUST realized that she's been faking her relationship for a while.

That's a very thought provoking and interesting point of view! Thanks for sharing that, made me think.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 23 Oct 2014, 13:05
In fact, the realization that you don't care is sometimes more crushing than the consequences of the actions that you don't care about. Faye isn't sad that she's bound to end her relationship with Angus, or that she won't see Angus - she's sad because she has JUST realized that she's been faking her relationship for a while.

Good point. She may well have decided "fake it 'til you make it" was worth a shot, and then realized that... well, she just wasn't making it. I think that she probably does/did love Angus, but it may have been lopsided on some level. I mean, most relationships have a certain ebb and flow where it comes to passion, but at the end of the day, there should be some kind of balance there (not sure if that's making sense).
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 23 Oct 2014, 13:19
ARRGH! We get it. Can Team Faye and Team Angus take a time out?

Please? That stuff was sooo last week.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: osaka on 23 Oct 2014, 13:22
That's a very thought provoking and interesting point of view! Thanks for sharing that, made me think.

It's a point of view that you can only acquire from experience. You never know how much it hurts to realize in a split second that you don't care about something until your whole family is crying the death of a loved one and you're just standing there, wondering whether or not there was a race to attend that evening.

Warning - while you were typing ReindeerFlotilla made this seem like a twilight saga argument

Please define. I wasn't siding with anybody, just sharing my own experience of when my grandmother died.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Boomslang on 23 Oct 2014, 13:25
If people are 'faking it', then I would only agree insomuch as they're trying to retain the relationship they had before all of this even though they know it's changed irrevocably.

If, on the other hand, someone is saying Faye was faking it period, as in did not love Angus in a real way, or at all, I completely disagree, and vice versa for Angus. The idea that this wasn't a real relationship because they couldn't figure out how to make it work is ignoring the sheer difficulty of making it work in this instance. Neither of them are willing to give up their autonomy and completely subsume themselves in the others life, and that's basically what would have to happen. If you consider that's fair to ask of one of them, I think there's so much of a gulf between us regarding relationships there is no conversation to be had.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 23 Oct 2014, 13:31
Warning - while you were typing ReindeerFlotilla made this seem like a twilight saga argument

That was the joke. (:

I'm just a dude on the internet, asking, "Why so Ƨerious?"
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Neko_Ali on 23 Oct 2014, 13:35
It wasn't even an issue of giving up autonomy here. It was a matter of Angus' dream career vs Faye's emotional state being at complete odds to one another. If Angus got the job, there was no happy ending to be had. Everyone from Angus and Faye on knew this. That's why it's been such an issue. Angus giving up on a golden opportunity just wasn't going to happen. It wouldn't be fair to him and it would damage his and Faye's relationship. Faye is not in a position where she can move, emotionally. They were both putting on a happy face and coasting, hoping things would work out... But when it came to crunch time, it couldn't. Their lives are going in separate ways. Obviously there was feeling and love there between them, or this wouldn't hurt.  But that's the way life is sometimes. In truth, love or comfort with someone isn't always enough. Not when everything else in your life is pulling in opposite directions.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: FunkyTuba on 23 Oct 2014, 13:41
Maybe Faye deserves some blame for trying to let the conversation end on a positive note, but that's a really weak nail to be hanging the blame for the breakup solely on her.

I agree that there's shared responsibility here. As to pinning "blame" on Faye there are stronger (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2674) nails to be found (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2740) .

Jumping past that (I think we all should) I see Faye here as having tested herself and not been happy with the result. She obviously *wanted* to be ok with Angus's New Thing, but she's not ready to (one or more of these):
a) live without that kind of immediately present boyfriend support
b) be able to trust him while in a LDR
c) put aside the linkage see sees between Angus and her dad
d) etc

But for me here's the important (and beautiful) part: Even if one wants to classify it as failure for Faye... it's still *progress*. Not only that, the outcome is far from certain. There are lots of passive-aggressive (conflict avoiding?) ways Angus could try to stretch this out in an effort to either spare her feelings or as a sincere though misguided attempt to "keep things together". They might even work!

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 23 Oct 2014, 13:49
If people are 'faking it', then I would only agree insomuch as they're trying to retain the relationship they had before all of this even though they know it's changed irrevocably.

If, on the other hand, someone is saying Faye was faking it period, as in did not love Angus in a real way, or at all, I completely disagree, and vice versa for Angus. The idea that this wasn't a real relationship because they couldn't figure out how to make it work is ignoring the sheer difficulty of making it work in this instance. Neither of them are willing to give up their autonomy and completely subsume themselves in the others life, and that's basically what would have to happen. If you consider that's fair to ask of one of them, I think there's so much of a gulf between us regarding relationships there is no conversation to be had.

Not faking it, period, so much as going into something she may not have been ready for or sure of. I think most relationships start that way to some degree; it's not like the movies, where we fall in love with someone at first sight all the time. It's more a matter of saying, "Well, this person may or may not be 'the one,' but let's see where this goes in the meantime, shall we?" I got the impression that she wasn't quite ready for Angus's "I love you" when he boarded the train, and may have felt, "Well, this is something, and feels like something. We'll call it love in the meantime and see if it develops into that." Someone gives you the seeds of something, and it's up to you to give them enough water and sunlight -- figuratively speaking -- to grow into something (or to allow you to grow into it). I'm not saying this to be pro-Angus, anti-Faye, or vice versa... I just think that sometimes people at different points in their lives try to make things work and fail, not because it's someone's fault but because they're at, or coming from, very different places.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Tova on 23 Oct 2014, 14:00
So regarding the whole Blame Angus vs. Blame Faye thing, I really don't have any strong opinions on the matter. But I thought it would be interesting to go back and re-read the strips where all of this was forming:

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2450 through http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2452

I think this is the primary series of strips, not even all that long, that establishes what just happened as a very real possibility.

I put it to to you that this was foreshadowed as far back as:

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2039

We all got distracted by the "I love you" thing, but this strip highlighted the fundamental difference between them that now apparently can't be reconciled.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 23 Oct 2014, 14:05
@ Tova,

Basically, the whole thought of going to, let alone living in New York scared Faye beyond words. Scared her enough that she made a semi-plausible excuse and then crawled into a bottle to avoid confronting the fact that her feelings for Angus weren't as strong as she thought they were.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Tova on 23 Oct 2014, 14:08
Yep exactly!

And I take it back: we really need to go way back here to their first (?) date:

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1734

Goals and ambition are a major theme of this comic.

Hindsight is a fine thing!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 23 Oct 2014, 14:37
@ Tova,

Basically, the whole thought of going to, let alone living in New York scared Faye beyond words. Scared her enough that she made a semi-plausible excuse and then crawled into a bottle to avoid confronting the fact that her feelings for Angus weren't as strong as she thought they were.

No. Faye got upset because of the I love you. She's not afraid of New York. She just doesn't like it.

Angus even got her past the overall dislike. Where was Faye during the wedding? (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2374) She really did skip that first trip because it would have been a hassle for a place she just wasn't keen on visiting. The fact that she didn't complain about the trip she did take suggests she didn't have an issue with NYC. She just confirmed that she doesn't want to live there.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 23 Oct 2014, 16:11
NYC with access to Angus's contacts would be a good place to attempt an art career.

Of course, Faye doesn't like change.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 23 Oct 2014, 16:52
NYC with access to Angus's contacts would be a good place to attempt an art career.

Of course, Faye doesn't like change.

Which is why I tend to agree with Ben that there's a strong element of fear there. I don't doubt that she doesn't like NYC (in other words, I don't think that's necessarily an excuse or a cover for something else). I just don't think that's the main issue. Remember Faye's feelings when she was afraid Marten might decamp for Cali when Padma was moving back; the prospect scared the shit out of her. Moving to NYC would mean much the same thing. It's one thing for Angus to move; this is what he's always wanted and worked toward. For Faye, it represents leaving behind her best friends and pretty much her entire support system for uncertain prospects, and an uncertain future with someone she seems to have lukewarm feelings for.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: osaka on 23 Oct 2014, 17:13
If people are 'faking it', then I would only agree insomuch as they're trying to retain the relationship they had before all of this even though they know it's changed irrevocably.

If, on the other hand, someone is saying Faye was faking it period, as in did not love Angus in a real way, or at all, I completely disagree, and vice versa for Angus. The idea that this wasn't a real relationship because they couldn't figure out how to make it work is ignoring the sheer difficulty of making it work in this instance. Neither of them are willing to give up their autonomy and completely subsume themselves in the others life, and that's basically what would have to happen. If you consider that's fair to ask of one of them, I think there's so much of a gulf between us regarding relationships there is no conversation to be had.

Not faking it, period, so much as going into something she may not have been ready for or sure of.

Yeah, that's what I meant when I said "faking it" in my post. For lack of a better term.

On "change": She has mentioned that she doesn't like change indeed. I don't like change either, and I do know that change can become a pretty down moment of your life. She might fear suddenly becoming the nervous wreck she was when her father *insert a euphemism here because I can only think of extremely harsh words*. And I do believe that neither she, nor Angus, nor anyone else in the QCverse that we know, nor me, nor many people in the forums, wants that.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: SubaruStephen on 23 Oct 2014, 17:15
Warning - while you were typing ReindeerFlotilla made this seem like a twilight saga argument

That was the joke. (:

I'm just a dude on the internet, asking, "Why so Ƨerious?"
That's slightly below being a dude on a radio satellite asking "Why so Sirius?"
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 23 Oct 2014, 17:18
Warning - while you were typing ReindeerFlotilla made this seem like a twilight saga argument

That was the joke. (:

I'm just a dude on the internet, asking, "Why so Ƨerious?"
That's slightly below being a dude on a radio satellite asking "Why so Sirius?"

With a pun that bad it should be 'why so Claire-ious?'  :claireface:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: osaka on 23 Oct 2014, 17:21
The puns around here, they're handed around with extreme lack of Claire.

 :clairedoge:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 23 Oct 2014, 17:22
I disagree. Faye is as passionate about her art as Marten is about his music.

Which is to say, not very.

It could be fear of failure, or fear of trying. That's possible. But there's not enough evidence to suggest that to be the case.

Her fear of abandonment probably played into her lack of happy for Angus. Of course, it is just as likely that she hadn't quite reached "in love" with him, as has been suggested.

After all, fear of NYC, fear of success, etc doesn't explain why a LDR was instantly ruled out at the moment of crisis. Fear of abandonment or lack of strong love does.

Admittedly, such things are irrational, by nature. But the rationale of emotion tends to be internally consistent.

Faye was afraid Angus would get the job. Yet she had no logical objection--or any emotional objection--to a LDR. She didn't just reassure Angus. She told Dora the same thing. She believed it made sense.

Except for some small part of her that knew the truth. Some time before the first audition, that small part decided that moving wasn't an option and the same to LDR.

For what reason? That's not completely clear. But whatever the reason, she knew, unconsciously, that it was over if Angus got the part. That might even explain why she handles it so poorly. If she had the epiphany, "I have known for weeks that this is what would happen. I just didn't admit it to myself," she probably would have found it just a bit difficult to have a straight talk with Angus.

Of course, that's also speculative. But not to the same degree as saying she fears New York. I dunno. Maybe I am projecting. I have a similar feeling about LA. I wouldn't move there except as a last ditch survival effort. But I am not afraid of it. I just don't like it. Everything Faye's done is in line with "don't like." I hesitate to extend that to mean fear, absent more evidence.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 23 Oct 2014, 17:23
Warning - while you were typing ReindeerFlotilla made this seem like a twilight saga argument

That was the joke. (:

I'm just a dude on the internet, asking, "Why so Ƨerious?"
That's slightly below being a dude on a radio satellite asking "Why so Sirius?"

But no worse than being Harry Potter asking, "why so, Sirius?"
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: snarkyone on 23 Oct 2014, 17:48
Warning - while you were typing ReindeerFlotilla made this seem like a twilight saga argument

That was the joke. (:

I'm just a dude on the internet, asking, "Why so Ƨerious?"
That's slightly below being a dude on a radio satellite asking "Why so Sirius?"

But no worse than being Harry Potter asking, "why so, Sirius?"
What about the weatherman asking "why so, cirrus?"
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 23 Oct 2014, 17:57
Warning - while you were typing ReindeerFlotilla made this seem like a twilight saga argument

That was the joke. (:

I'm just a dude on the internet, asking, "Why so Ƨerious?"
That's slightly below being a dude on a radio satellite asking "Why so Sirius?"

But no worse than being Harry Potter asking, "why so, Sirius?"
What about the weatherman asking "why so, cirrus?"

About the same as asking your iPhone, "Why so, Siri? Us?"
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 23 Oct 2014, 18:03
Warning - while you were typing ReindeerFlotilla made this seem like a twilight saga argument

That was the joke. (:

I'm just a dude on the internet, asking, "Why so Ƨerious?"
That's slightly below being a dude on a radio satellite asking "Why so Sirius?"

But no worse than being Harry Potter asking, "why so, Sirius?"
What about the weatherman asking "why so, cirrus?"

About the same as asking your iPhone, "Why so, Siri? Us?"

Or while watching "Two and a Half Men." Why so, series?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 23 Oct 2014, 18:07

Or while watching "Two and a Half Men." Why so, series?

All this punning must come from minds that are delirious.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: osaka on 23 Oct 2014, 18:08
Warning - while you were typing ReindeerFlotilla made this seem like a twilight saga argument

all this punning must be coming from a minds that are delirious
That was the joke. (:

I'm just a dude on the internet, asking, "Why so Ƨerious?"
That's slightly below being a dude on a radio satellite asking "Why so Sirius?"

But no worse than being Harry Potter asking, "why so, Sirius?"
What about the weatherman asking "why so, cirrus?"

About the same as asking your iPhone, "Why so, Siri? Us?"

Or while watching "Two and a Half Men." Why so, series?

Are you drawing a blank, valkygrrl?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: snarkyone on 23 Oct 2014, 18:09
Warning - while you were typing ReindeerFlotilla made this seem like a twilight saga argument

all this punning must be coming from a minds that are delirious
That was the joke. (:

I'm just a dude on the internet, asking, "Why so Ƨerious?"
That's slightly below being a dude on a radio satellite asking "Why so Sirius?"

But no worse than being Harry Potter asking, "why so, Sirius?"
What about the weatherman asking "why so, cirrus?"

About the same as asking your iPhone, "Why so, Siri? Us?"

Or while watching "Two and a Half Men." Why so, series?

Are you drawing a blank, valkygrrl?

Martin Blank?

(http://img2-1.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/040805/162615__blank_l.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 23 Oct 2014, 18:10


Are you drawing a blank, valkygrrl?

Don't know why it didn't show. Trimming the quotes made it work.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: jwhouk on 23 Oct 2014, 18:11
An observation: Each time a couple comes to the point where the words "I love you" are uttered by one or both of the individuals involved, the relationship ends within a few hundred strips.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 23 Oct 2014, 18:12
It's F5 time, F5 time, happy happy bandwidth bandwidth...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rghfrgl on 23 Oct 2014, 18:16
It's F5 time, F5 time, happy happy bandwidth bandwidth...

He's out playing D&D tonight, it'll probably be later.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 23 Oct 2014, 18:17
An observation: Each time a couple comes to the point where the words "I love you" are uttered by one or both of the individuals involved, the relationship ends within a few hundred strips.

Love is the way to destruction. Make your time.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: sitnspin on 23 Oct 2014, 18:56
An observation: Each time a couple comes to the point where the words "I love you" are uttered by one or both of the individuals involved, the relationship ends within a few hundred strips.

Just like real life.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: cesium133 on 23 Oct 2014, 19:02
Warning - while you were typing ReindeerFlotilla made this seem like a twilight saga argument

That was the joke. (:

I'm just a dude on the internet, asking, "Why so Ƨerious?"
That's slightly below being a dude on a radio satellite asking "Why so Sirius?"

But no worse than being Harry Potter asking, "why so, Sirius?"
What about the weatherman asking "why so, cirrus?"

About the same as asking your iPhone, "Why so, Siri? Us?"

Or while watching "Two and a Half Men." Why so, series?
Is it not October, the month of the World Series (U.S.)?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 23 Oct 2014, 19:11
Warning - while you were typing ReindeerFlotilla made this seem like a twilight saga argument

That was the joke. (:

I'm just a dude on the internet, asking, "Why so Ƨerious?"
That's slightly below being a dude on a radio satellite asking "Why so Sirius?"

But no worse than being Harry Potter asking, "why so, Sirius?"
What about the weatherman asking "why so, cirrus?"

About the same as asking your iPhone, "Why so, Siri? Us?"

Or while watching "Two and a Half Men." Why so, series?
Is it not October, the month of the World Series (U.S.)?

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: SubaruStephen on 23 Oct 2014, 19:12
Warning - while you were typing ReindeerFlotilla made this seem like a twilight saga argument

That was the joke. (:

I'm just a dude on the internet, asking, "Why so Ƨerious?"
That's slightly below being a dude on a radio satellite asking "Why so Sirius?"

But no worse than being Harry Potter asking, "why so, Sirius?"
What about the weatherman asking "why so, cirrus?"

About the same as asking your iPhone, "Why so, Siri? Us?"

Or while watching "Two and a Half Men." Why so, series?
Is it not October, the month of the World Series (U.S.)?


Oh, Gods above, what have I done?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Origamigryphon on 23 Oct 2014, 20:09
Aww, Hanners <3
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Half Empty Coffee Cup on 23 Oct 2014, 20:15
D'awww. (And the next week is strip after strip of each of Faye's other friends and acquaintances dropping by one by one to offer similar sentiments until only one remains...)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 23 Oct 2014, 20:18
Reassuring Hanners is reassuring <3

Interesting how Faye was already defensive and expecting flak from her on the first panel and then it was turned around on her. Makes me feel all fuzzy that she is being reminded she has friends and doesn't have to be tough and deal with this on her own :)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Krald on 23 Oct 2014, 20:19


^^ Best comedy of all time. you can keep your Judd Apatow crap
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aziraphale on 23 Oct 2014, 20:22
Reassuring Hanners is reassuring <3

Interesting how Faye was already defensive and expecting flak from her on the first panel and then it was turned around on her. Makes me feel all fuzzy that she is being reminded she has friends and doesn't have to be tough and deal with this on her own :)

And this is why I love Hannelore.

I don't think Faye was expecting flak. It might've been more that "Oh, crap" feeling you get when you go through something harsh and everybody wants you to rehash all the lurid details when all you'd like to do is find somewhere dark and warm in which to hide 'til you're ready to deal with people again.

Yes, I'm projecting a bit. But I just got the feeling it's something she doesn't want to rehash ad nauseam.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 23 Oct 2014, 20:35
Oh, Gods above, what have I done?

Let this be a lesson to you.

For serious.

Also.

Everybody needs a Hannelore.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Stoon on 23 Oct 2014, 20:38
I don't get it.  Don't Hannelore and Faye have the same therapist?  Or did Faye stop going or something?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 23 Oct 2014, 20:44
They did. It's unknown if they still do. Ellicott-Chatham money could pay for ALL the therapists, after all.  More likely, Hanners is just used to referring to her as "My therapist." Habit makes people say strange things sometimes.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Natswash on 23 Oct 2014, 21:23
Thank you Hanners for being a good friend, and for that image of bleeding fingers that will stay with me all night
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Nyithra on 23 Oct 2014, 21:25
Go Hanners!

I'm glad Faye was smiling in that last panel.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 23 Oct 2014, 23:15
I've noticed that, of late, whenever Hannelore appears, I want to hug her! She's just going through an adorable/vulnerable phase that pushes my buttons!

I see that she ultimately shares my concerns that Faye may crawl into a bottle or do something self-destructive in response to the crisis. It's always easier to deal with stuff when you have friends; maybe, if nothing else, this will remind Faye just how many good friends she has nowadays.

P.S.: Jeph is getting better and better with facial expressions.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: anahata on 23 Oct 2014, 23:29

Remember when [ Hanners ] would feature over a handful of strips, actually having sustained conversations with people? That'd be closer to the spotlight (or would at least suggest that she's part of the main cast). This is filler.

Two and counting...  :-)
Back in her role as everybody's fairy godmother.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: techkid on 24 Oct 2014, 04:03
If it wasn't for the fact that Hanners doesn't like being hugged (outside of immediate family (http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=2146), and friends (under socially acceptable circumstances) (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1709)), you would just want to give her a hug for giving what amounts to be the nicest bit of advice anyone could give someone.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Aimless on 24 Oct 2014, 04:17
I've noticed that, of late, whenever Hannelore appears, I want to hug her! She's just going through an adorable/vulnerable phase that pushes my buttons!

I miss the days when she was a real person rather than a gag :x
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 24 Oct 2014, 04:41
Faye is lucky to have Hannelore as a friend.

Hopefully she won't have to explode on Faye again.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 24 Oct 2014, 06:10
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Nepiophage on 24 Oct 2014, 06:56
The wrap-up of Claire and Angus's travails:

Do you mean Faye and Angus's travails?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 24 Oct 2014, 07:04
The wrap-up of Claire and Angus's travails:

Do you mean Faye and Angus's travails?

Whoops! You're right! To the editing window with me!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 24 Oct 2014, 07:04
The wrap-up of Claire and Angus's travails:

Do you mean Faye and Angus's travails?

He can be forgiven for having Claire on the brain; it's been twelve strips since we last saw her.

You mean you don't keep count?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rghfrgl on 24 Oct 2014, 09:44
Claire moves to NY with Angus, that way we have maximum sadness.

He also accidentally packs Momo and though he promises to send her back, keeps putting it off.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Krald on 24 Oct 2014, 09:45
Claire moves to NY with Angus, that way we have maximum sadness.

He also accidentally packs Momo and though he promises to send her back, keeps putting it off.

I did not know people were capable of such cruel thoughts
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: eschaton on 24 Oct 2014, 10:30
He also accidentally packs Momo and though he promises to send her back, keeps putting it off.

Momo's like the size of a 12-year-old girl now, pretty big to pack.

That said, we have never seen what happened to Momo's old body.  Maybe Marigold kept it?  Maybe Pintsize can get his hands on it!  :clairedoge:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Somnus Eternus on 24 Oct 2014, 10:42
He also accidentally packs Momo and though he promises to send her back, keeps putting it off.

Momo's like the size of a 12-year-old girl now, pretty big to pack.

That said, we have never seen what happened to Momo's old body.  Maybe Marigold kept it?  Maybe Pintsize can get his hands on it!  :clairedoge:

That's part 2 of their marketing plan for their singing dildos.

...And I just broke my own brain with that. :(
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: KOK on 24 Oct 2014, 11:33
A colleague of mine who does not know this comic read a single page. It has four characters. He identified two as nerds and two as normal humans. The nerds were Marigold and Clinton. The normal humans were Momo and Hannelore.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: FunkyTuba on 24 Oct 2014, 12:09
I don't get it.  Don't Hannelore and Faye have the same therapist?  Or did Faye stop going or something?

Even if they did have the same therapist (or not), there's no good reason they would know they're going to the same one. I'd guess that the therapist themself wouldn't come up in casual conversation.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: AJ_ on 24 Oct 2014, 12:22
IIRC, Hannelore was the one who referred Faye to Dr. Corrine
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Stoon on 24 Oct 2014, 12:25
I don't get it.  Don't Hannelore and Faye have the same therapist?  Or did Faye stop going or something?

Even if they did have the same therapist (or not), there's no good reason they would know they're going to the same one. I'd guess that the therapist themself wouldn't come up in casual conversation.
Um, Hanners referred Faye to her doctor,
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=557 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=557)
Doctor Corrine's first appearance:
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=649 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=649)
Faye and Hannelore talking about Doctor Corrine:
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=663 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=663)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Zebediah on 24 Oct 2014, 12:30
A colleague of mine who does not know this comic read a single page. It has four characters. He identified two as nerds and two as normal humans. The nerds were Marigold and Clinton. The normal humans were Momo and Hannelore.

So 62.5% right, then. I'm giving him half credit on Momo because, while not exactly human, she's the closest to normal in the main cast.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 24 Oct 2014, 12:46
I'm giving him half credit on Momo because, while not exactly human, she's the closest to normal in the main cast.

I agree and find that fact profoundly disturbing in its own right.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: swapna on 24 Oct 2014, 13:16
BenRG: why? I mean if Momo was a human she'd probably be boring - as a robot she can be the 'sensible person' without losing too much of her personality. Also, the 'normal person' programming had to go /somewhere/ when they produced Pintsize
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 24 Oct 2014, 13:20
Why? Because a robot is more persuasively human than, necessarily a real human. The philosophical implications would keep a drunken Clinton going for hours.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 24 Oct 2014, 13:37
A colleague of mine who does not know this comic read a single page. It has four characters. He identified two as nerds and two as normal humans. The nerds were Marigold and Clinton. The normal humans were Momo and Hannelore.

So 62.5% right, then. I'm giving him half credit on Momo because, while not exactly human, she's the closest to normal in the main cast.

Wait...

Nerds aren't human?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 24 Oct 2014, 13:44
Good advice for anyone

Dr. Hannelore is in,
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 24 Oct 2014, 14:20

Wait...

Nerds aren't human?

Well, we'd have to ask somebody outside of here....we are a bunch of people on the internet in a forum about a webcomic...I think we all kinda qualify as nerds. I'd like to think we aren't human. Secretly we are all cyborgs waiting for the right moment to strike at the pathetic puny humans and their delicate meat bodies. Mwahahahahahahahah!

ehem, I mean, we are all normal. yeah.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 24 Oct 2014, 14:28

Wait...

Nerds aren't human?

Well, we'd have to ask somebody outside of here....we are a bunch of people on the internet in a forum about a webcomic...I think we all kinda qualify as nerds. I'd like to think we aren't human. Secretly we are all cyborgs waiting for the right moment to strike at the pathetic puny humans and their delicate meat bodies. Mwahahahahahahahah!

ehem, I mean, we are all normal. yeah.

You fool! Thousands of years of careful preparation and for what? Report to Ocslime-1-Alpha-2 for reassignment!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 24 Oct 2014, 14:32
You fool! Thousands of years of careful preparation and for what? Report to Ocslime-1-Alpha-2 for reassignment!

acknowledged

initiating "get rid of witnesses" protocol. Will report once task is complete
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: swapna on 24 Oct 2014, 14:37
You fool! Thousands of years of careful preparation and for what? Report to Ocslime-1-Alpha-2 for reassignment!

acknowledged

initiating "get rid of witnesses" protocol. Will report once task is complete


Code: [Select]
acknowleged

Initiating 'obfuscation' protocol, stage one: "harmless banter" *Bzzzzz*

Soo, Momo-tan, eh? Haven't seen her for a while!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: osaka on 24 Oct 2014, 14:45
Does she qualify for the "tan" treatment anymore swapna? I'd say she's at least Momo-sama right now. Basically because now she doesn't only shock people out of their shoes - she's large enough to smack upside the head. And that usually derives in a certain degree of respect.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Nepiophage on 24 Oct 2014, 14:46

Wait...

Nerds aren't human?

We are SUPERHUMAN!!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Neko_Ali on 24 Oct 2014, 14:58

Wait...

Nerds aren't human?

We are SUPERHUMAN!!

We are De-Vo
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: swapna on 24 Oct 2014, 15:04
Does she qualify for the "tan" treatment anymore swapna? I'd say she's at least Momo-sama right now. Basically because now she doesn't only shock people out of their shoes - she's large enough to smack upside the head. And that usually derives in a certain degree of respect.


True, true. She's still cute, though, but you're right, she's more of a Momo-sama now.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: NemoX on 24 Oct 2014, 15:36
True, true. She's still cute, though, but you're right, she's more of a Momo-sama now.

So what would that make May? them being "friends" now and all
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Mlle Germain on 24 Oct 2014, 15:58
I don't get it.  Don't Hannelore and Faye have the same therapist?  Or did Faye stop going or something?

Even if they did have the same therapist (or not), there's no good reason they would know they're going to the same one. I'd guess that the therapist themself wouldn't come up in casual conversation.
Um, Hanners referred Faye to her doctor,
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=557 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=557)
Doctor Corrine's first appearance:
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=649 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=649)
Faye and Hannelore talking about Doctor Corrine:
http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=663 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=663)
This issue puzzled me also in today's comic. It would have seemed more natural if Hanners had said "Dr Corinne" instead of "my therapist". Thanks for already posting the links, Stoon, now I don't have to look for them to set FunkyTuba right.  :-P
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 24 Oct 2014, 16:10
It's so long since Dr Corrine was mentioned by name that I expect that a considerable majority of the readers wouldn't know who she was.  So the explanatory term serves better.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: SubaruStephen on 24 Oct 2014, 16:20

Wait...

Nerds aren't human?

We are SUPERHUMAN!!

We are De-Vo

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm more human than human.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: SubaruStephen on 24 Oct 2014, 16:26
That said, we have never seen what happened to Momo's old body.  Maybe Marigold kept it?

Maybe there's a core charge on 'bot bodies (like on car alternators and starters), so Marigold left it at the Idoru store in order to save a few hundred bucks on Momo's new body.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: bhtooefr on 24 Oct 2014, 16:33
http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2008 is the last we saw the old chassis, BTW.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: SubaruStephen on 24 Oct 2014, 16:37
Forgot about that one.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Detachable Felix on 24 Oct 2014, 17:48

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm more human than human.
Are we human though?
Or are we dancer?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 24 Oct 2014, 18:46
I'm a nerd. I just want to know if I'm still human.

Perhaps I've become a small candy.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 24 Oct 2014, 21:03
    Prediction for Next Week:
    The wrap-up of Faye and Angus's travails:

    [...]

    My hope is that Faye and Angus salvage their friendship and, in a future strip, Faye mentions having spoken to him by 'phone or having emailed him (after threatening Pintsize with dismemberment if he ever 'forgot' his confidentiality protocols).

And the week after that, everyone goes to the Horrible Revelation to help Faye (responsibly) drown her sorrows, and we get a dressing montage of Claire trying on Victorian finery.  Which is what SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED in strips 2793-2797 (and I'm still bitter that it didn't), although I suppose Victorian Claire followed by Claire + Marten snuggles followed by pancakes would've been too much for this forum to handle.  But maybe it'll happen someday...

Edit: Not that I mean to dictate how Jeph should tell the story; I was just surprised he passed up the Horrible Revelation and its ravishing outfits (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1471) for a different bar, is all...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 24 Oct 2014, 22:16

And the week after that, everyone goes to the Horrible Revelation to help Faye (responsibly) drown her sorrows, and we get a dressing montage of Claire trying on Victorian finery.  Which is what SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED in strips 2793-2797 (and I'm still bitter that it didn't), although I suppose Victorian Claire followed by Claire + Marten snuggles followed by pancakes would've been too much for this forum to handle.  But maybe it'll happen someday..


*dies of squee*
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Gladstone on 24 Oct 2014, 23:35
*dies of squee*

That's probably why Jeph didn't do it.  He knew the risks were too great.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 24 Oct 2014, 23:39
With great power comes great responsibility.

Heavy is the hand that holds the stylus.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 24 Oct 2014, 23:46
With great power comes great responsibility.

Heavy is the hand that holds the stylus.

Pfft! He probably spends an hour a day asking: "How can I mess with their heads next week?"  :lol:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 24 Oct 2014, 23:57
With great power comes great irresponsibility?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Krald on 25 Oct 2014, 00:40
There has been a lack of squee for 2 whole weeks! Break out the cats! (and some dogs)

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: KOK on 25 Oct 2014, 01:18
A colleague of mine who does not know this comic read a single page. It has four characters. He identified two as nerds and two as normal humans. The nerds were Marigold and Clinton. The normal humans were Momo and Hannelore.

So 62.5% right, then. I'm giving him half credit on Momo because, while not exactly human, she's the closest to normal in the main cast.
Wait...

Nerds aren't human?

A matter of translation. In Danish the word "menneske" meaning "human" is commonly used where English would use "person". Or in this case "mennesker" for "people". Yes, nerds are people, but my colleague does not seem to consider them normal people. (We are both software developers and
comic readers, BTW.)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 25 Oct 2014, 01:59
A matter of translation. In Danish the word "menneske" meaning "human" is commonly used where English would use "person". Or in this case "mennesker" for "people". Yes, nerds are people, but my colleague does not seem to consider them normal people. (We are both software developers and
comic readers, BTW.)

The internet should have invented an irony tag by now.

No worries. I was just playing with the turn of phrase. I'm sure nerds are human.

At least that's what all the blood tests have reported so far...

<.<
>.>
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Neko_Ali on 25 Oct 2014, 02:21

And the week after that, everyone goes to the Horrible Revelation to help Faye (responsibly) drown her sorrows, and we get a dressing montage of Claire trying on Victorian finery.  Which is what SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED in strips 2793-2797 (and I'm still bitter that it didn't), although I suppose Victorian Claire followed by Claire + Marten snuggles followed by pancakes would've been too much for this forum to handle.  But maybe it'll happen someday..


*dies of squee*

That's it. I knew it had to happen someday. I warned you, I warned you all! The Squeepocalypse is upon us! Repent and confess your sins to the Cute Ones!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: KOK on 25 Oct 2014, 04:20
The internet should have invented an irony tag by now.
:wink:
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Natswash on 25 Oct 2014, 05:23
A colleague of mine who does not know this comic read a single page. It has four characters. He identified two as nerds and two as normal humans. The nerds were Marigold and Clinton. The normal humans were Momo and Hannelore.

So 62.5% right, then. I'm giving him half credit on Momo because, while not exactly human, she's the closest to normal in the main cast.

Wait...

Nerds aren't human?
You mean none of you are other sentient AI? QC isn't the accounts of real people living in Northhampton?!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: techkid on 25 Oct 2014, 05:41
Negative. Say, are you going to be in the same position (or in that vicinity) for the next 64 minutes? (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2468)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Rghfrgl on 25 Oct 2014, 09:27
There has been a lack of squee for 2 whole weeks!

Technically Hanners squeed thursday!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 25 Oct 2014, 11:30
Technically Hanners squeed thursday!

That was interrupted by a sads. It was less a squee than it was a squ.

Well have to ask the French Judge if squ is sufficient to reset the clock.
You mean none of you are other sentient AI?
That depends on what your definitions of "are" are.

QC isn't the accounts of real people living in Northhampton?!
Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 25 Oct 2014, 12:26

No worries. I was just playing with the turn of phrase. I'm sure nerds are human.

At least that's what all the blood tests have reported so far...

<.<
>.>

There's one person here whose doctors were in doubt.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: eschaton on 25 Oct 2014, 15:42
The internet should have invented an irony tag by now.
:wink:

That's not the irony tag, that's the sarcasm tag. 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 25 Oct 2014, 15:51
The internet should have invented an irony tag by now.
:wink:

That's not the irony tag, that's the sarcasm tag.

Nope. It's the oblivious and ill-times sexual innuendo tag.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 25 Oct 2014, 16:00
I thought it was just a wink. 

As opposed to a wink and a nod...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: SubaruStephen on 25 Oct 2014, 16:32
I thought it was just a wink. 

As opposed to a wink and a nod...

Say no more, say no more, a wink's as good as a nod to a blind bat.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: pwhodges on 25 Oct 2014, 16:35
As opposed to a wink and a nod...
Say no more, say no more, a wink's as good as a nod to a blind bat.

You've both got the nod and the wink the wrong way round...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: MooskiNet on 25 Oct 2014, 16:35
The thread can make another page or so on the strength of a wink or a nod, depending on who it's from.  Who we got that can wink eloquently?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 25 Oct 2014, 19:31
As opposed to a wink and a nod...
Say no more, say no more, a wink's as good as a nod to a blind bat.

You've both got the nod and the wink the wrong way round...

Interesting.  Over here, the phrase "with a wink and a nod" means something unstated is understood, usually in a conspiratorial fashion. 

However, "a nod is as good as a wink" seems to mean that for someone who's ready, any signal will do.  But I've heard that one both ways - a wink is as good as a nod as well. 

Shall we take this to the "English is weird" thread? 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 25 Oct 2014, 19:35
It's Monty Python.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 25 Oct 2014, 19:38
It's Monty Python.

Yeah, SubaruStephen's part was.  Beside the point, though.  The usual idiom Paul was referring to really is "a nod is as good as a wink"
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 25 Oct 2014, 19:45
I meant that, in the Python sketch the nod precedes the wink. "A nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat," being the exact line. I don't know that the order of events carries any more significance in general English.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: SubaruStephen on 25 Oct 2014, 20:19
What?
Damn, he's right, I did get the order wrong.


'Scuse me while I go hang my head in shame...
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Natswash on 25 Oct 2014, 22:34
It's Monty Python.
Isn't everything?
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 25 Oct 2014, 22:39
It's Monty Python.
Isn't everything?

Sadly, no. I'm too brown, for example...

And not very funny.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Neko_Ali on 26 Oct 2014, 06:45
It's Monty Python.
Isn't everything?
Say no more, squire.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: snarkyone on 26 Oct 2014, 07:26
Say no more, squire.

E's not the squire, e's a very naughty boy!!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: sitnspin on 26 Oct 2014, 09:00
Bloody peasant!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Neko_Ali on 26 Oct 2014, 09:26
Help! Help! I'm being repressed!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: snarkyone on 26 Oct 2014, 09:38
What Jesus blatantly fails to appreciate is that it's the meek who are the problem.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: KOK on 26 Oct 2014, 10:56
The meek shall inhibit the earth.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: sitnspin on 26 Oct 2014, 11:53
The only way I can imagine the meek inheriting the earth is if the non-meek kill each other while at least some of the meek some how avoid being collateral damage.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: SubaruStephen on 26 Oct 2014, 12:56
"Blessed are the cheesemakers?"


*yes,yes they are.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Mr_Rose on 26 Oct 2014, 15:27
The only way I can imagine the meek inheriting the earth is if the non-meek kill each other while at least some of the meek some how avoid being collateral damage.
My favourite interpretation of that passage is that the meek that inherit the earth will be the ones left behind after the last colony ship departs for alpha centauri or wherever… 
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Detachable Felix on 26 Oct 2014, 15:30
I just assumed it was referring to that time when the meek were all placed on the 'B' Ark and sent off to crash into Earth.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Kugai on 26 Oct 2014, 16:16
Yes, and everyone on Golgafrinchan lived happy, productive lives


Until everyone died from a disease caught from a dirty telephone.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: valkygrrl on 26 Oct 2014, 17:04
What Jesus blatantly fails to appreciate is that it's the meek who are the problem.

Quote from: Mordred

Take courage - now there's a sport
An invitation to the state of rigor mort
And purity - a noble yen
And very restful every now and then
I find humility means to be hurt
It's not the earth the meek inherit, it's the dirt
Honesty is fatal, it should be taboo
Diligence - a fate I would hate
If charity means giving, I give it to you
And fidelity is only for your mate
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Stoon on 26 Oct 2014, 17:24
The only way I can imagine the meek inheriting the earth is if the non-meek kill each other while at least some of the meek some how avoid being collateral damage.
My favourite interpretation of that passage is that the meek that inherit the earth will be the ones left behind after the last colony ship departs for alpha centauri or wherever…
In those days spirits were brave, the stakes were high, men were real men, women were real women and small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri were real small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Carl-E on 26 Oct 2014, 18:13
Oh, no, not again...

(http://image.spreadshirt.net/image-server/v1/designs/15922142,width=178,height=178/Bowl-of-petunias.png)
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: DSL on 26 Oct 2014, 18:30
I never could get the hang of Tuesdays. Even if I started working on it on Sunday night.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: BenRG on 27 Oct 2014, 00:00
I just assumed it was referring to that time when the meek were all placed on the 'B' Ark and sent off to crash into Earth.

Under no circumstances would I define the inmates of the B-Ark as 'the meek'. Actually, their lack of meekness was, at least in some small part what got them exiled!
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Thrillho on 27 Oct 2014, 02:13
Actually, I think it might be Sven who will be the secondary male character but in what context I'm not sure.

Oh Christ no.

Depends upon how you do it.  There's nothing like taking a unlikable character and then eventually turning them around somewhat through redemption.  Look what it did for Jaime Lannister in ASOIAF.

I haven't read the books, I've only seen the TV show, and if you're referring to that, don't even get me started.
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: ZoeB on 27 Oct 2014, 04:53
I meant that, in the Python sketch the nod precedes the wink. "A nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat," being the exact line. I don't know that the order of events carries any more significance in general English.
Is the blind bat "East of Eden" *? African or European?

* Genesis 4:16
Title: Re: WCDT: 2816-2820 (20-24 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Post by: Thrudd on 27 Oct 2014, 12:06
It's Monty Python.
Isn't everything?
Not when its Black Adder, "Supreme Ruler of the Universe" or just a small cottage in Chelsea.