THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Comic Discussion => QUESTIONABLE CONTENT => Topic started by: Rghfrgl on 14 Dec 2014, 10:33

Title: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Rghfrgl on 14 Dec 2014, 10:33
Exciting preview. (http://jephjacques.com/post/105127483165/uh)  :claireface:
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 14 Dec 2014, 10:38
Favorite new Claireface. 

Please be wonderful pun, please be wonderful pun, please oh please.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Pilchard123 on 14 Dec 2014, 10:38
This week:

The Reminiscences of Mrs. Augustus
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: MooskiNet on 14 Dec 2014, 10:40
No forensic analysis of the tumblr pic?  Color me disappointed.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: cesium133 on 14 Dec 2014, 10:51
No forensic analysis of the tumblr pic?  Color me disappointed.
Well, clearly it's a mugshot from when Claire snaps and kills Clinton.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 14 Dec 2014, 11:09
Kill Clinton before he and Emily have gone on their first date?  She'd better not!
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: cesium133 on 14 Dec 2014, 11:12
No, this is after their first date goes too well, causing Cthulhu to inhabit Clinton's body.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 14 Dec 2014, 11:14
I guess that's acceptable.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 14 Dec 2014, 12:26
My call? Emily repeatedly proving that there is no such thing as 'as weird as you can get'. At the end, Clinton will either be running screaming down the street or smitten for life!
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Kugai on 14 Dec 2014, 12:44
She's watching Marten in the shower
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 14 Dec 2014, 12:54
She's watching Marten in the shower

"That's IT.  I have HAD IT.  Pintsize is banned from the bathroom entirely.  How the hell does someone paste macro shots of human assholes to a shower wall, anyway?  How am I supposed to get these off?  These industrial-strength chemicals aren't doing a goddamn thing..."
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 14 Dec 2014, 13:10
No forensic analysis of the tumblr pic?  Color me disappointed.

I think that this is her and Marten bantering and/or making bets at how long Clinton's sanity can hold out.

Actually, on the subject of Clinton fleeing, I've been looking at Friday's strip (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2854) again. In panel 4, does it look to anyone else that Clinton is trying to stop Robo-hand from running away?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Kugai on 14 Dec 2014, 13:12
Either that, or doing what it did with Faye.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Pilchard123 on 14 Dec 2014, 13:13
Not until you mentioned it.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Undrneath on 14 Dec 2014, 13:43
As fun as it would be I don't think Emily would be a good long term match for Clinton
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 14 Dec 2014, 14:30
No forensic analysis of the tumblr pic?  Color me disappointed.

Well I don't recognize the background but there's a shadow on the side she's not looking towards, so possibly Tai/Claire/Marten Triple team date set upping?

Anyone notice most of the baristas were paired off, and now it's happening to the librarians?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Endellion on 14 Dec 2014, 14:39
Exciting preview. (http://jephjacques.com/post/105127483165/uh)  :claireface:

An absolutely adorable claireface. I hope that's going to come in Monday's comic, although I think it'll be more Clinnnntonnnnnnnn.

Also. Counting down the time until someone makes that face their avatar.

5...4...3

Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: valkygrrl on 14 Dec 2014, 17:23
Also. Counting down the time until someone makes that face their avatar.

*Waits for the newest member of the Claire Clone Club*

Just one? I'm a few...
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: jwhouk on 14 Dec 2014, 17:36
As fun as it would be I don't think Emily would be a good long term match for Clinton

Is there any pairing in this whole comic that would be a "good long term match"?

Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: wlewisiii on 14 Dec 2014, 18:03
As fun as it would be I don't think Emily would be a good long term match for Clinton

Probably not, no, but it would be a growth experience for both and that's a big theme of our illustrious author.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 14 Dec 2014, 18:57
She's watching Marten in the shower

"That's IT.  I have HAD IT.  Pintsize is banned from the bathroom entirely.  How the hell does someone paste macro shots of human assholes to a shower wall, anyway?  How am I supposed to get these off?  These industrial-strength chemicals aren't doing a goddamn thing..."
Time to call Hannelore.  She can clean anything that isn't blood-related.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: sluthy on 14 Dec 2014, 19:08
Comic!

...wat.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 14 Dec 2014, 19:09
Poor Clinton
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: bhtooefr on 14 Dec 2014, 19:10
I actually cannot even.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: jwhouk on 14 Dec 2014, 19:13
I have a feeling that Emily is one of those people for whom "mellow yellow" is, indeed, a mind-altering drug.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BrusselSprouts on 14 Dec 2014, 19:14
Emily isn't just weird. She's a mad genius being pulled down by the system. She's a super villain waiting to happen.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 14 Dec 2014, 19:18
Emily isn't just weird. She's a mad genius being pulled down by the system. She's a super villain waiting to happen.

Take cover, her spark is coming through!
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Schmorgluck on 14 Dec 2014, 19:24
Okay that's... BenRG put it better than I could.
My call? Emily repeatedly proving that there is no such thing as 'as weird as you can get'.
I already knew that because I read Dr McNinja (http://drmcninja.com/), but Emily does a good job as well.

At the end, Clinton will either be running screaming down the street or smitten for life!
Can't it be both? With Pepe le Pew-like chases maybe?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Stoon on 14 Dec 2014, 19:24
Emily isn't just weird. She's a mad genius being pulled down by the system. She's a super villain waiting to happen.

Take cover, her spark is coming through!
Yes!  Help the satellites become friends with each other.  Then, when they've become friends and gathered together, UNLEASH THE VOLCANOES FROM THE VOLCANO SEEDER OF HELMUT OF SIENA!
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: sluthy on 14 Dec 2014, 19:26
That last panel. Still not sure what she's doing in the last strip/first panel here but then it heads toward normality. Until the last panel - a normal laugh would have closed eyes, a maniacal laugh would have crazy (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1997) eyes. This looks like she's going back to panel one. I repeat...wat.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 14 Dec 2014, 19:32
Marten and Claire have probably fled the building by now.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 14 Dec 2014, 19:33
Marten and Claire have probably fled the building by now.

As have any new freshman
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 14 Dec 2014, 19:35
Emily isn't just weird. She's a mad genius being pulled down by the system. She's a super villain waiting to happen.

Take cover, her spark is coming through!
Yes!  Help the satellites become friends with each other.  Then, when they've become friends and gathered together, UNLEASH THE VOLCANOES FROM THE VOLCANO SEEDER OF HELMUT OF SIENA!

Until they start carving bits of South America with their lasers out of boredom.  Of course, that'd be after a space gate explosion.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: brown paper bag on 14 Dec 2014, 19:44
When I think of Emily, I think of this:

 (http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sitcom_char_8984.jpg)

Crap like this needs to stop.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: explicit on 14 Dec 2014, 19:56
Ya, I'm pretty attracted to unstable too. Things can't get boring if you have to wear armor to bed.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BrusselSprouts on 14 Dec 2014, 19:56
Maybe this arc will be what stops the Flanderization? She has a chance of actually having a character arc now, though one might argue the damage has been done
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Method of Madness on 14 Dec 2014, 19:58
As fun as it would be I don't think Emily would be a good long term match for Clinton

Is there any pairing in this whole comic that would be a "good long term match"?


Wil and Penelope?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BrusselSprouts on 14 Dec 2014, 20:01
As fun as it would be I don't think Emily would be a good long term match for Clinton

Is there any pairing in this whole comic that would be a "good long term match"?



I would argue that Marten and Claire have a good foundation for a long term relationship. Especially since their relationship started out of mutual interest,  rather than drama
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: sluthy on 14 Dec 2014, 20:06
Faye and Angus were a good couple until work collided with issues.

EDIT: Not to mention Steve and Cosette who, despite bonding over not much more than lust at least to start with, are now the second longest main cast coupling in the story.

I was just about to say longest, but then realised Wil and Pen got together over 300 strips earlier.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Penquin47 on 14 Dec 2014, 20:22
Satellites can't be friends?  Why not?  That sounds like a good thing!

Emily is weird.  And scary.  But I love her and would totally hang out with her in real life.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: brown paper bag on 14 Dec 2014, 20:24
Pretty much all the main characters started out with some defining quirk that was supplemented by a developing personality. We had Dora starting out as an over the top flirty goth, Faye was a broken girl who was aggressive and punched Marten a lot because she had a crush and that makes physical assault okay, Hannelore was just a basket case who usually didn't even need provocation to freak out. They all got more interesting over time, became more nuanced with realistic human personalities. Marigold grew away from being a stuck-up douchy gamer nerd. Wil went from overly dramatic poet to a relatively temperate barkeep. Even Clinton went from a total creep with no sense of personal space to a protective brother and relatively agreeable guy to hang out with.

Then we have Emily. She started out a bit weird and enjoyed squashed bananas in a glass but was generally friendly and kind. Now crazy is her thing. Craaaazyyyyyyyy.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 14 Dec 2014, 20:51
We don't know what, if any, mental issues Emily has.  She just might be a bit odd.  The issues of most other characters have been explored already.  Despite her strangeness, she's competent enough at her job, as well as her major, is relatively happy, compared to most of the main cast, and can function, even if it's only in her unique way.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Nyithra on 14 Dec 2014, 21:06
Doesn't this seem a little over the top, even for Emily?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Ravenswing on 14 Dec 2014, 21:10
Doesn't this seem a little over the top, even for Emily?

Certainly my notion.  Emily's always been endearingly loopy, but I don't care much for the last two strips' worth of padded cell, batshit-insane.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 14 Dec 2014, 21:24
Maybe she's on a new medication and needs to lower the dose?
That would explain the increase in weirdness as the stuff would take a while to reach full strength.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: brown paper bag on 14 Dec 2014, 21:26
We don't know what, if any, mental issues Emily has.  She just might be a bit odd.

Odd is fine. Mental issues are fine. Lack of mental issues are fine. I just hope she won't only be all about the crazy, because it would mean that Jeph can't think of any interesting ways to develop her character.

Kinda like Sven. He's the one immutable object in the comic. His character has grown the way slime grows on raw meat in the hot sun. He started as a selfish and dishonest philanderer, and after his long absence during which he reflected on his life (meaning Jeph spent a long time scratching his head about what to do with him), Sven came back as a full-blown sociopath who couldn't even get the basic concept of other people having minds and desires and plans of their own.

Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: greekstreek on 14 Dec 2014, 21:38
We don't know what, if any, mental issues Emily has.  She just might be a bit odd.

Odd is fine. Mental issues are fine. Lack of mental issues are fine. I just hope she won't only be all about the crazy, because it would mean that Jeph can't think of any interesting ways to develop her character.


I just don't want this to devolve into serious mental issues flippantly masquerading as cute eccentricity, and have that be the end of it. This comic takes characters seriously enough that if Emily is actually mentally ill she should be given a story that realistically addresses that problem instead of just dismissing it as "oh Emily, she so craaazy". This behavior goes a shade beyond eccentric for me.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Nyithra on 14 Dec 2014, 21:41
We don't know what, if any, mental issues Emily has.  She just might be a bit odd.

Odd is fine. Mental issues are fine. Lack of mental issues are fine. I just hope she won't only be all about the crazy, because it would mean that Jeph can't think of any interesting ways to develop her character.


I just don't want this to devolve into serious mental issues flippantly masquerading as cute eccentricity, and have that be the end of it. This comic takes characters seriously enough that if Emily is actually mentally ill she should be given a story that realistically addresses that problem instead of just dismissing it as "oh Emily, she so craaazy". This behavior goes a shade beyond eccentric for me.
I agree and as a person who has dealt with mental illness myself I don't really appreciate a craaaazyy character being played for humor.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 14 Dec 2014, 21:42
Or Claire could have forewarned her of Clinton coming, and asked her to kick it up a few notches
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: KOK on 14 Dec 2014, 21:52
Until now Emily has just been "marching to a different drummer". Now she is really crazy.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Nepiophage on 14 Dec 2014, 21:55
Satellites can't be friends?  Why not?  That sounds like a good thing!

No, you might get OUR military satelites fraternizing with THEIR ones. Then they might refuse to obliterate THEIR cities on command -- and THEN where would we be?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 14 Dec 2014, 22:09
I just don't want this to devolve into serious mental issues flippantly masquerading as cute eccentricity, and have that be the end of it. This comic takes characters seriously enough that if Emily is actually mentally ill she should be given a story that realistically addresses that problem instead of just dismissing it as "oh Emily, she so craaazy". This behavior goes a shade beyond eccentric for me.
I doubt it would.  Jeph has had to deal with a lot of that stuff himself, so I don't think that he'd casually dismiss it, not to mention the depictions of Hanners and Faye.  If there's something odd going on in Emily's brain, I'm sure it'll be dealt with appropriately.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: bucky_2300 on 14 Dec 2014, 22:18
Yeah, this is actually just shitty writing of the "LOL SO RANDUM XD" variety that got tiresome after the second repetition. It's not insensitive to the mentally ill, it's not turning a character into a funhouse mirror version of herself, it's just bad writing. Which, if I'm frank, is getting far more common than it used to be. I'd be happy to see QC go back to the old thrice-weekly update schedule if it meant that it didn't go down the same road as SNL.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: jwhouk on 14 Dec 2014, 22:21
Uh, yeah, right.



Of course, you could take the simpler route - a lot of her "issues" is because of what happened to her computer project.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: JLM on 14 Dec 2014, 22:29
Two things:

1) Panel 4 Emily is the best Emily face.

2) I actually knew someone kind of like this when when I was in college. In probably the only moment she was ever serious with me, it was inferred that there was some serious trauma in her past that she wasn't capable of dealing with, so she decided to go full on weirdo.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ysth on 14 Dec 2014, 22:36
I don't get the response of some.  Nothing she's done is crazy.  She just has very individualized responses.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 14 Dec 2014, 22:51
I still hold that it's a plot on Claire's part, then Emily and Clinton will actually get to like each other and it will all come out
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 14 Dec 2014, 22:52
Or Claire could have forewarned her of Clinton coming, and asked her to kick it up a few notches

Oh PLEEEEEEASE let it be this!
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: brown paper bag on 14 Dec 2014, 22:57
I don't get the response of some.  Nothing she's done is crazy.  She just has very individualized responses.

If someone like Emily joined my group of friends and behaved exactly as portrayed by the last two comics, I wouldn't be thinking "Wow, Emma's so random and imaginative! She must not care what people think of her. She's such a free spirit. That's someone I want to be friends with!".

I'd be thinking: "Whoa. This girl has some kind of mental and emotional issues. She's telling stories about hacking satellites and some kind of magic coming from her laptop in school. She thinks the government is going to kill her parents if she explains more. Something is seriously wrong with her."

You see, I once knew a guy at university in student residence who completely lost his shit. He actually believed he had invented a universal software interface which could interact with and hijack anything electronic or electrical, and he said he controlled it via a bluetooth headset. He actually believed this and he was scaring the other students. He offered to show me how it worked and thumped a couple of keys on a keyboard to prove it and acted sincerely like he had just achieved some technical marvel. I don't know if he had schizophrenia or some other disorder, but I do know that he had a complete mental break from reality and we were afraid he'd hurt himself or others. I got hold of the building manager and we called his parents to come and pick him up. He never came back and I never saw him again.

It's not cute and innocent. It's not "individualized". It's not deep or profound. It's not even funny. Please pardon my language, but it's fucking terrifying.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: greekstreek on 14 Dec 2014, 23:00
I don't get the response of some.  Nothing she's done is crazy.  She just has very individualized responses.

See, I think this is more my point - I disagree with you. I think her current depiction goes beyond weird and into the realm of (oddly depicted) mental illness. I think your response is probably the one Jeph intended, I.e. He is going for cute eccentric not legit psychosis, but I think he's missing the mark, and that's troubling me a bit.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: brown paper bag on 14 Dec 2014, 23:10
Okay, this perfectly describes what I'm talking about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYNa7OtmGzY&list=UUuInCtO3ampjhV_PYd1qJCA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYNa7OtmGzY&list=UUuInCtO3ampjhV_PYd1qJCA)
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 14 Dec 2014, 23:30
Emily isn't crazy, she's just childish almost to the point of developmental delay. This is combined with a genius-class intellect and a total lack of understanding of social norms that screams 'auteur' to me.

Either that or the interrogation she underwent after the EMP incident unseated her mind a bit. It might explain why she doesn't really 'get' the threat made to her family.

My feeling is that her project would have hooked all satellites, including reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering spacecraft, onto the internet. The objective was to allow their CPUs access to chatrooms. The unanticipated side-effect was that anyone could access their raw data feeds. You can understand why the NRO might be a tiny bit upset.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Pilchard123 on 14 Dec 2014, 23:39
Maybe really did encounter a Great Old One that day.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: snubnose on 14 Dec 2014, 23:45
Kinda like Sven. He's the one immutable object in the comic. His character has grown the way slime grows on raw meat in the hot sun. He started as a selfish and dishonest philanderer, and after his long absence during which he reflected on his life (meaning Jeph spent a long time scratching his head about what to do with him), Sven came back as a full-blown sociopath who couldn't even get the basic concept of other people having minds and desires and plans of their own.
Err, I never liked Sven, but even I wouldnt call him "sociopath". Also, I dont see how Sven has been inconsistent, yet. He is simply very skilled in one area of social interaction - but not that good in other areas.

Is there any pairing in this whole comic that would be a "good long term match"?
Even Sven and Faye had been a better match.

I agree and as a person who has dealt with mental illness myself I don't really appreciate a craaaazyy character being played for humor.
Seriously ? We kill characters for political correctness now ?! You have fun with that, but I'm sorry, I wont participate.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Nyithra on 14 Dec 2014, 23:50
How is what I said in anyway implying political correctness and killing character? I have had no problem with how Emily has acted up until these last two comics. It seems as though she is just acting 'random' in order to play it up for laughs.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 14 Dec 2014, 23:54
I had this fun idea where the satellites ganged up and tried to stop war via the "bigger stick" argument. Obviously the DoD couldn't have that and sent Agents back in time to EMP the project before the Satellites could take over
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: osaka on 14 Dec 2014, 23:56
The "High as Hell" point is the one I'm going with right now. That, or she's spent 40h reading about insects again.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 14 Dec 2014, 23:57
It's cute, really and oh-so in-character.

Emily thinks of all the satellites up there and is sad because they are lonely. So, she decided to do something about it! The silly men in black suits said that it was bad but she doesn't really understand why. Because it is part of the game, she'll keep their secret; silly people! Pretending that they would hurt her parents! Tee-hee-hee!

She is one of those powerful but vulnerable minds that could be misused by the unscrupulous. I think, eventually, she'll be imprisoned on the space-station to protect her from misuse.

P.S.: I think Emily sees Claire's secret in the same way: She'll keep the secret because Claire asked her to but she may not understand why.  I do believe that Emily is aware that she is unusual and that may be why she wants to be more like Claire, who is the most normal person that she knows.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Akima on 15 Dec 2014, 00:08
Maybe really did encounter a Great Old One that day.
It would explain a lot. She climbed the Mountains of Madness.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: FacelessDeviant on 15 Dec 2014, 00:26
I'm hoping we'll find out why she's this strange. Could be Old Ones, could be mental issues or even drugs?

Anything is possible, I suppose.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: osaka on 15 Dec 2014, 00:44
Maybe really did encounter a Great Old One that day.
It would explain a lot. She climbed the Mountains of Madness.

She stared at Cthulhu. And he only wanted some milk and cookies.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: TinPenguin on 15 Dec 2014, 00:59
She is one of those powerful but vulnerable minds that could be misused by the unscrupulous. I think, eventually, she'll be imprisoned on the space-station to protect her from misuse.

Yeah, a lot of people in straitjackets think they are geniuses.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 15 Dec 2014, 01:02
She is one of those powerful but vulnerable minds that could be misused by the unscrupulous. I think, eventually, she'll be imprisoned on the space-station to protect her from misuse.

Yeah, a lot of people in straitjackets think they are geniuses.

That's the point, I think: Emily doesn't think she's a genius. She knows that she doesn't really fit into most people's definitions of 'normal'. However, writing computer programs that casually shred the most advanced security systems on Earth so that spy satellites can be on Facebook is just something that comes to her intuitively. It's no more noteworthy to her than talking or writing is to someone else.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: brown paper bag on 15 Dec 2014, 01:17
Emily doesn't think she's a genius. She knows that she doesn't really fit into most people's definitions of 'normal'. However, writing computer programs that casually shred the most advanced security systems on Earth so that spy satellites can be on Facebook is just something that comes to her intuitively. It's no more noteworthy to her than talking or writing is to someone else.

Or, if we go about this by applying the standards of reality rather than fiction to Emily, she might be out of her goddamn mind and hallucinating that she wrote that program and not a text file full of nonsense.

If her behavior is fleshed out as a manifestation of a real mental imbalance, that would be good character development. If it's just quirky old Emily who can smell music and write world-destroying software with no real emotional depth or reality attached to what she does, then it's flanderization.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 15 Dec 2014, 01:19
If she hallucinated it and wrote a text file of nonsense, why did the Govt. EMP her computer from orbit?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: brown paper bag on 15 Dec 2014, 01:24
If she hallucinated it and wrote a text file of nonsense, why did the Govt. EMP her computer from orbit?

Clinton saw her laptop melt from overheating and heard outlandish rumors, probably started by Emily.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: osaka on 15 Dec 2014, 01:26
A compiler wouldn't even parse a text file of bullshit, so it probably was code.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Thrillho on 15 Dec 2014, 01:30
This is adorable.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: brown paper bag on 15 Dec 2014, 02:12
A compiler wouldn't even parse a text file of bullshit, so it probably was code.

Now it's just quibbling over details. Point being, it could have been code that summoned Cthulhu, or just badly written convoluted code that overheated the cpu. If you want to take the comic at face value (and one should never be so dull as to take a fictional story at face value), then Emily is just a manic pixie dreamgirl in a world of magic and wonder and thus far has no actual relatable character to her.

It would be like Jeph deciding Claire has a working uterus and ovaries and can have babies despite being trans without at least developing the story and her character to explain how and why that could be plausible. "Because magic" is a lazy literary tool.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 15 Dec 2014, 02:29
I think we have passed the point of over assumption/analyzing the three recent comics,\. if she remains this way for the duration of the week, I'll jump on the bad writing boat. At this point I think Emily is just acting a little stranger than usual.

Beside, I don't think Jeph would hand wave with magic, "Hanners Dad" maybe
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Baphomet on 15 Dec 2014, 03:13
Why is she mentally ill, now? Clinton says her program displayed eldritch runes, then prompted government agents to show up and EMP it. She says the program made satellites be friends and that the government threatened her family if she revealed its secrets. Outlandish though it may sound, her story checks out. I mean, this is also the comic where a perverted robot got access to a military laser chest cannon because a sentient truck was having sex with another truck. I could buy "The satellites' view from the stars gives them insight into the dark horrors of space undreamt-of by man" about as readily as "an A.I. achieved apotheosis and magically put a farewell message on all computers, even those not connected to the internet, as it ascended to a higher plane of existence," which is also another thing which has been established as part of the history of this comic universe.

Her "Clinnnn-tonnn" thing is weird, yeah. I knew people in high school who behaved similarly. Most of them disappeared by college, but I suppose I could see some having kept the "quirkiness" that long. Especially if she's playing the "so smart she's dumb" archetype, which she might be given her apparent skill at...artificial orbital intelligence psychology? Let's just say "programming".

I dunno. I don't exactly like her character, but I don't think she needs some kind of clinical diagnosis to belong in the world the comic takes place in.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: MrNumbers on 15 Dec 2014, 03:42
She is one of those powerful but vulnerable minds that could be misused by the unscrupulous. I think, eventually, she'll be imprisoned on the space-station to protect her from misuse.

I'm seriously thinking of Leonard of Quirm from Terry Pratchett's Discworld right now.

Doodling things like guns and bombs in the margins of automatic vegetable peeler patents because nobody could be horrible enough to actually use one. Of course not. Just an interesting mental exercise.

Of course, Emily is more of the Pinkie from My Little Pony flavour of this brilliant madness, or Nora from RWBY, both of which I believe are incredibly polarizing but whom I love dearly.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 15 Dec 2014, 03:53
And the real secret is that Emily, despite being a bit odd is actually trolling everyone.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: brown paper bag on 15 Dec 2014, 04:09
There's a quote from Alan Moore which kind of describes my issue with some of Jeph's writing. I think he does extremely well with 99% of his characters and story arcs, but sometimes he throws something (or someone) in which strains credibility for me:

"In my work as an author, I traffic in fiction. I do not traffic in lies. Although I'll admit the distinction is a nice one, and perhaps not easy for the layman to make. With fiction, with art and writing, it's important that even if you're dealing with areas of complete outrageous fantasy, that there is an emotional resonance. It is important that a story ring true upon a human level, even if it never happened."
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ZoeB on 15 Dec 2014, 04:36
Why is she mentally ill, now? Clinton says her program displayed eldritch runes, then prompted government agents to show up and EMP it. She says the program made satellites be friends and that the government threatened her family if she revealed its secrets. Outlandish though it may sound, her story checks out.

This is not funny. It's as unfunny as someone's father blowing his brains out in front of his daughter.

If we're lucky, there will be a serious story arc exploring psychosis, and how psychotics can be helped by understanding and compassion.

If we're very lucky, the Elder Gods will be involved instead.

If we're unlucky, the QCverse has a dark side, where parents of those who know too much really do get killed by the "good guys", and prisoners get tortured.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: TinPenguin on 15 Dec 2014, 05:08
Eh, but is there seriously anyone here who's never said "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." in jest?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 15 Dec 2014, 05:10
Eh, but is there seriously anyone here who's never said "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." in jest?

Yeah, I get where you're coming from. However, given that the NRO actually decided to annihilate her laptop, I think we are behoved to at least wonder if she's being serious!
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: cesium133 on 15 Dec 2014, 05:11
If we're unlucky, the QCverse has a dark side, where parents of those who know too much really do get killed by the "good guys", and prisoners get tortured.
If we're unlucky the QCverse is just like the real universe?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: osaka on 15 Dec 2014, 05:12
There's a quote from Alan Moore which kind of describes my issue with some of Jeph's writing. I think he does extremely well with 99% of his characters and story arcs, but sometimes he throws something (or someone) in which strains credibility for me:

"In my work as an author, I traffic in fiction. I do not traffic in lies. Although I'll admit the distinction is a nice one, and perhaps not easy for the layman to make. With fiction, with art and writing, it's important that even if you're dealing with areas of complete outrageous fantasy, that there is an emotional resonance. It is important that a story ring true upon a human level, even if it never happened."

But me, a Computer Science student, and quite possibly not the only one around, is quibbling over details because I simply say that a compiler wouldn't parse a text file of bullshit.

Actually, cthulhu-summoning code is something I've had to hand in a couple of times. Surprisingly enough, it passed grades.

Eh, but is there seriously anyone here who's never said "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." in jest?

Me. But that's because, if I were to do it literally, I wouldn't tell either. Whatsapp exists, mobile telecoms exist. The information can be out of my control much faster than I'd want it to.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Zebediah on 15 Dec 2014, 05:25
Am I the only one who interpreted the laugh in the final panel as a sign that Emily is just messing with Clinton? She knows people think she's weird, so she's having a bit of fun at Clinton's expense.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: osaka on 15 Dec 2014, 05:30
Emily's expression through the whole comic is weird enough for me to think that "messing with Clinton" is not her MO. I'm still buying the "High as Hell" premise, and upon a more lucid reading, "I just had one too many CAF-POWs" is also plausible.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 15 Dec 2014, 06:00
Well, this is in MA, perhaps she did her undergrad studies at Miskatonic university.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Somnus Eternus on 15 Dec 2014, 06:12
I think we have passed the point of over assumption/analyzing the three recent comics,\. if she remains this way for the duration of the week, I'll jump on the bad writing boat. At this point I think Emily is just acting a little stranger than usual.

Beside, I don't think Jeph would hand wave with magic, "Hanners Dad" maybe

AC-tually, if Emily is really secretly a savant who developed that kind of technology, then would it be beyond the realm of possibility that she'll end up at some point working with HannerDad on the space station?

And I don't think she's being crazy - we've seen stranger.  I think she's a little flighty, but I don't think I'd put her into the "psychotic" box just yet.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: dexeron on 15 Dec 2014, 06:31
Is it possible that Emily's neither quite as "crazy" as depicted, nor intentionally trolling?  I mean, yes, Emily is actually, still, well... EMILY, but maybe she's also just nervous and is blabbering without a filter.  I know I've said some pretty idiotic things when nervousness took over my talking, to the point where an hour later I've thought back and said: "Wait, did I actually SAY that?!  Out LOUD?"

(Although I do think it would be hilarious is this is all just a test for Clinton, and Emily's way of seeing if someone is worth dating.  "Survive the whackiest I can throw at you, and you are worthy of a first date.")
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: MooskiNet on 15 Dec 2014, 06:36
The title of the comic suggests that the over-the-top nature of the last two panels is not accidental, so I'm going to assume Jeph has a plan that doesn't involve psychotic breaks on Emily's part.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: starkruzr on 15 Dec 2014, 06:41
Maybe this is what she does when she detects a guy is hitting on her and she's not interested (or wants to test them to see how mentally flexible they are)? Let's face it, it would keep most men away. As evidence, I submit to you this thread.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: snubnose on 15 Dec 2014, 07:00
[...] Let's face it, it would keep most men away. [...]
Really ? I find her behavior most amusing. I would probably only hit even harder on such a woman, would I meet somebody like that in reallife.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: A Duck on 15 Dec 2014, 08:46
Okay, something's up.
Claire game Emily a heads up or something.
Emily is weird, but not THAT weird.

Or maybe she IS that weird. We haven't actually seen much of her.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: osaka on 15 Dec 2014, 08:51
She's been holding back on weird, but since Marten and Claire got kinda late she proceeded to get high as hell and watch Adventure Time with Miss Hubbert. (http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=2203)
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: NilsO on 15 Dec 2014, 10:30
Why is Emily staring at the roof? Maybe it is just her way of concentrating or associating; or recalling her previous interactions with Clinton. It could also be that she just thinks the name is funny. But it sure looks weird.

My guess is that Clinton is quite desperate for a girlfriend, so he is not scared away (yet). But I also think Emily will be quite oblivious to his interest in her. She will happily agree to Clinton's suggestions, at least until he tries to kiss her. Perhaps the previously suggested camping trip (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2482) will become a reality? Let us see if Clinton can pitch a tent (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pitch+a+tent)! :mrgreen:
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Pilchard123 on 15 Dec 2014, 10:36
She's been holding back on weird, but since Marten and Claire got kinda late she proceeded to get high as hell and watch Adventure Time with Miss Hubbert. (http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=2203)

I did wonder if Tai's been a little less careful with some psychoactive substance than she could have, off-panel.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: jwhouk on 15 Dec 2014, 11:05
Contact high, you think?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 15 Dec 2014, 11:28
Contact high, you think?

As a student in SF whose sister went to Smith I think that theory holds too much validity
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: retrosteve on 15 Dec 2014, 11:51
Either Emily is putting one over on us (perhaps, as suggested, Claire gave her a heads-up), or she's being flanderized from CloudCuckooLander to Talkative Loon (in TvTropes terms)

I'd kind of prefer that this be a setup. I'd hate to lose Emily to Loonland.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 15 Dec 2014, 12:58
Eh, but is there seriously anyone here who's never said "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." in jest?


In jest? .......no.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Kugai on 15 Dec 2014, 13:30
They've altered her Meds again.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Somnus Eternus on 15 Dec 2014, 13:49
Eh, but is there seriously anyone here who's never said "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." in jest?


In jest? .......no.

...And in all sincerity?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Kugai on 15 Dec 2014, 14:04
<<<<CLASSIFIED>>>>
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: FunkyTuba on 15 Dec 2014, 15:05
I want to know what will happen when Emily meets Raven... Has that already happened on screen?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Method of Madness on 15 Dec 2014, 15:35
Mountains of Madness.
Had to look twice to realize it said "Mountains" :roll:
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 15 Dec 2014, 15:45
Sadly we have yet to see a meeting between Emily and Raven.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ankhtahr on 15 Dec 2014, 17:12
Emily looked through Tai's collection of beautifully printed paper, always licking her finger before flipping pages. She wondered why the paper had perforations though.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: MooskiNet on 15 Dec 2014, 17:15
Emily looked through Tai's collection of beautifully printed paper, always licking her finger before flipping pages. She wondered why the paper had perforations though.

Filed under "If it's not true, it should be."
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Method of Madness on 15 Dec 2014, 17:50
Maybe she was just watching Adventure Time with "Miss Hubbert".
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 15 Dec 2014, 17:55
We have comic! and Claire is enjoying this a bit too much, as is her job as sister
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Rghfrgl on 15 Dec 2014, 18:03
 That's not fair Claire. Not everyone can be a comedic genius like you.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 15 Dec 2014, 18:14
Augustus Family Joke Battle Go!
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Estron on 15 Dec 2014, 18:15
Tuesday comic: Marten and Claire as Statler and Waldorf.  "Is that -- interpretive dance?" had me LingOL.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ASB84 on 15 Dec 2014, 18:19
Yeah, this is actually just shitty writing of the "LOL SO RANDUM XD" variety that got tiresome after the second repetition. It's not insensitive to the mentally ill, it's not turning a character into a funhouse mirror version of herself, it's just bad writing. Which, if I'm frank, is getting far more common than it used to be. I'd be happy to see QC go back to the old thrice-weekly update schedule if it meant that it didn't go down the same road as SNL.

Sadly, I'm inclined to agree. If nothing else, it's losing its punch and appeal in my opinion.

To be honest, I've found my interest and enjoyment of the strip waning in recent months because of that. I guess that's on me as I'm in the minority in that regard, and as long as the majority is pleased with the content and the direction, frankly my gripes aren't worth a proverbial hill of beans. In short, I can either suck it up and stick it out to see if I like what's coming next, or take a break from it (temporarily or otherwise). It's a shame, because I think Jeph is very talented and QC is something he can be extremely proud of, and I've really enjoyed reading it. The "Defeat Awkardness" shirt that I bought is one of my favourites. But it is getting to a point where I don't have that same connection or enjoyment as a fan, so it might be time to move on if I don't start feeling it again, or at least take a break and see how I feel after an archive binge a little down the road.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Estron on 15 Dec 2014, 18:47
This -- this could be perfect.

Marten's an observer.  He goes through life making fun of everything, usually with indie music references.  Claire is the same, although her observations usually involve wordplay and literary allusion.

Now they each have an audience to play to and be challenged by.  Someone with whom to volley, spar, match wits.

And then, makeouts.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 15 Dec 2014, 18:50
I'd say I see double dates in the future but since I'd flat refuse to double with my sister there I can't really see it.

Also where is the resident shipper, Tai?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 15 Dec 2014, 18:59
With Momo, getting high, and watching "Adventure Time".
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: FunkyTuba on 15 Dec 2014, 19:01
I'm enjoying this story arc immensely. I like how today's strip went from Marten amused and Claire horrified to Marten horrified and Claire amused.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: TRVA123 on 15 Dec 2014, 21:10
Wait, wait a minute.......

Does Emily go to SMIF? if so, how can she be in a computer class with Clinton? If not, how can she be an intern at the SMIF library?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 15 Dec 2014, 21:14
I believe we covered this last week but five of the colleges in the area will share classes for their students with each other, and at least one is Co-Ed
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Kugai on 15 Dec 2014, 22:05
Interesting


And somewhat compelling




I wonder if they'll do a Rain Dance next.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Perfectly Reasonable on 15 Dec 2014, 22:29
I firmly believe that Emily's code -did- compile. Then it hijacked the compiler.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: jheartney on 15 Dec 2014, 22:54
Emily thinks of all the satellites up there and is sad because they are lonely. So, she decided to do something about it! The silly men in black suits said that it was bad but she doesn't really understand why. Because it is part of the game, she'll keep their secret; silly people! Pretending that they would hurt her parents! Tee-hee-hee!
I think this hits it on the head. Not mental illness, not trolling, not testing Clinton, just a determinedly juvenile viewpoint. And yes, it was real code that really was dangerous. But Emily wrote it thinking it was just a way to make the satellites less lonely. (I'm assuming if they have AI's to hand out to random slackers like Marten, then the satellites have AI's too.)

It is a bit rich for Claire to be denigrating Clinton's humor skilz; she's the queen of execrable puns. Bear in mind that the only character to laugh at them was Emily, and it's not clear she even got the joke.

Clinton's in for a wild ride.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 15 Dec 2014, 23:26
Dang... Now I want to see Emily dance! Actually, what I want is to see today's strip from Emily and Clinton's POV so that we can verify how accurate are Marten and Claire's impressions of events. It's quite possible that Emily and Clinton are having a very different conversation than the one Marten and Claire think that they are having!

So, I was right: the portrait of Claire was her bantering with Marten. It's interesting that they have such compatible viewpoints. Now... Did Claire really want this to work? She certainly gives that impression in panels 2 and 4.

I still think that poor Clinton will end the day dazed, confused, with a girlfriend and not understand how. This will set the tone for his association with Emily.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Rghfrgl on 15 Dec 2014, 23:34
So, I was right: the portrait of Claire was her bantering with Marten.

While I'm sure that's not wrong, as she'd still have to be standing in front of that window, it should be noted that's not actually the same pic in panel 4.

Puns may still be incoming.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 15 Dec 2014, 23:40
Puns may still be incoming.

It's a story arch involving Claire and Emily, puns are always incoming
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Thrillho on 16 Dec 2014, 00:46
I'm still a tiny bit irritated that Clinton's crass 'I'll not make trouble if I get introduced to a hot girl' thing has... well, worked.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Lubricus on 16 Dec 2014, 00:50
Has it worked? It's a bit early to tell, really. But I guess it will, this being a comic and all. And I sort of agree that it is a bit galling.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 16 Dec 2014, 01:21
I'm still a tiny bit irritated that Clinton's crass 'I'll not make trouble if I get introduced to a hot girl' thing has... well, worked.

It only 'worked' to the degree that he has been introduced to Emily Azuma, who seems to have bonded with him. If he makes something good of this, it will be due to his own effort, I think. Either way, I don't think he'll be trying this trick ever again.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Thrillho on 16 Dec 2014, 01:41
No, my point is that she didn't say 'no you're an asshole, that's a massively assholey thing to say'. Nor was it even played for laughs. It's become an actual plot development, which I find baffling.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 16 Dec 2014, 02:22
No, my point is that she didn't say 'no you're an asshole, that's a massively assholey thing to say'. Nor was it even played for laughs. It's become an actual plot development, which I find baffling.

I got the impression last week that it was meant to be a practical joke to punish him for his behaviour - expose Clinton to Emily and wait until he runs screaming down the road. I think two things basically altered Marten and Claire's diabolical plot:
Marten and Claire thus seem to have decided to play a watching brief to see if this could work. If it does, they'll just sit back and enjoy the show. If not, they'll intervene before either of them gets hurt.

FWIW, I think that Jeph genuinely had planned to play this for laughs until he sat down and thought about how the two characters might interact. Then he decided to actually explore this plot device seriously.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ZoeB on 16 Dec 2014, 03:57
Eh, but is there seriously anyone here who's never said "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." in jest?
Never in jest, no.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: snubnose on 16 Dec 2014, 04:41
Sounds like Clinton will die virgin and alone.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Method of Madness on 16 Dec 2014, 05:27
...does it?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Wildroses on 16 Dec 2014, 05:44
If we're unlucky, the QCverse has a dark side, where parents of those who know too much really do get killed by the "good guys", and prisoners get tortured.

I actually believe that one. The QC Universe is one which has Hannelore's mother being incredibly wealthy and influential despite her methods, and there was that early arc in which an agent from the Robotic Defense Agency (whom I'm assuming was the government as he claimed it was a matter of national security) tried to take Pintsize for having military issue weapons, which Marten had innocently bought from Best Buy after a major screw up (apologies for the incredibly lame pun). He had to be knocked out. That mini arc starts at 147 if you wanted to check yourself.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: KOK on 16 Dec 2014, 07:20
Wait, wait a minute.......

Does Emily go to SMIF? if so, how can she be in a computer class with Clinton? If not, how can she be an intern at the SMIF library?

Does Smif offer library science? I do not know how that works in the US, but I would expect those colleges that offer library science to have more students then they can reasonably employ as interns in their own library. The students would do their internship in many different libraries. Some of those might be college libraries.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Neko_Ali on 16 Dec 2014, 07:34
I look at it this way... Clinton did his usual thing of making a kind of rude, snarky request bantering with Claire. And she decided to give him exactly what he asked for, knowing that a) it was almost certain to end in disaster and b) it was going to be absolutely funny to watch. In the end though, she loves her brother even when she's exasperated at him and would like to see him happy. I mean if she really wanted see him crash and burn hard, she would have tried to set him up with Faye...
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: MooskiNet on 16 Dec 2014, 07:48
I mean if she really wanted see him crash and burn hard, she would have tried to set him up with Faye...

That's a good way to end up with a beer can on her head.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: J on 16 Dec 2014, 09:27
i really, really, really do not get why people seem to think emily is so un-dateable.

yes, she's a bit eccentric, but she's a fun eccentric. especially when compared to the various neuroses and insecurities that the rest of the cast has to deal with.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 16 Dec 2014, 09:40
I think I finally understand why "Cliiiinnn-tooonnn!" whilst staring at the ceiling. It's freaky but I have no problem believing Emily would do it. Saying 'Cliiinnn-tooonnn' makes the sinus glands vibrate in tingly ways. It is a fascinating sensation; not necessarily pleasurable but different. Leaning back just makes it stronger. I think that Emily was trying to experience it to the full.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Ms Emily Azuma. :lol:

Before anyone asks, no, I didn't verify this experimentally, at least not to the degree Emily has!
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Thrudd on 16 Dec 2014, 10:13
Before anyone asks, no, I didn't verify this experimentally, at least not to the degree Emily has!

Emily is a pigment of Jeph's imagination therefore any physical confirmation of your premise would result in a non-zero value.
Ergo, you fib good person.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: cesium133 on 16 Dec 2014, 10:25
Before anyone asks, no, I didn't verify this experimentally, at least not to the degree Emily has!

Emily is a pigment of Jeph's imagination therefore any physical confirmation of your premise would result in a non-zero value.
Ergo, you fib good person.
This certainly adds color to the conversation. We must, however, remember to keep the tone of this conversion civil; we must hue to the rules of the forum.  :claireface:

edit -- on second thought, I think the saturation of puns in this post is insufficient.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 16 Dec 2014, 11:33
The amount of puns in this thread might be insufficient, but your post covered the entire spectrum to the point of over-saturation, which feels shade-y.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ysth on 16 Dec 2014, 11:42
No, my point is that she didn't say 'no you're an asshole, that's a massively assholey thing to say'. Nor was it even played for laughs. It's become an actual plot development, which I find baffling.
What?  He threatened to not be happy for her unless she got him an introduction.  After saying he was ok with her and Marten.  That's not an assholely thing to say, that's him asking for a favour in a safe-for-him way (that is, without pointing out how desperately he needs it).

The amount of puns in this thread might be insufficient, but your post covered the entire spectrum to the point of over-saturation, which feels shady.
So you are saying s/he is all wet?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Kugai on 16 Dec 2014, 14:17
I think it was more colour commentary than anything.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ysth on 16 Dec 2014, 15:30
No off-colour commentary that I've seen yet.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 16 Dec 2014, 15:49
i really, really, really do not get why people seem to think emily is so un-dateable.

yes, she's a bit eccentric, but she's a fun eccentric. especially when compared to the various neuroses and insecurities that the rest of the cast has to deal with.

Because Emily does not exist.

I'm not being literal, although that's true. Emily has had almost no characterization beyond being strange, and surprisingly little of that. It doesn't help that the rest of the cast thinks of her in those terms, if they think of her at all.

We don't really know who she is. She's just a running gag, for the most part.

But wait, there's more.

As little as we know, we do know she looks up to Claire, enough that she was hurt when her hero worship backfired. We know she's not afraid of snakes. She's curious. But she's also incredibly inexperienced. There's no way to say how all of those things come together to make a person. It's easy to imagine that what we've seen is just the barest hint of her weird.

While people enjoy a little weird, constant weird has no feeling of surprise, no spark of adventure.

Also, I think the idea that Clinton is the other half of the date here puts a sour spin on the idea. There's a lot of negativity around Clinton. Some of it may be rubbing off.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 16 Dec 2014, 17:33
No, my point is that she didn't say 'no you're an asshole, that's a massively assholey thing to say'. Nor was it even played for laughs. It's become an actual plot development, which I find baffling.
What?  He threatened to not be happy for her unless she got him an introduction.  After saying he was ok with her and Marten.  That's not an assholely thing to say, that's him asking for a favour in a safe-for-him way (that is, without pointing out how desperately he needs it).

And keep in mind that Jeph is hardly portraying Clinton's demands as saintly or exemplary.  Hell, this is a comic where an annoying coffee shop customer (Angus) "got the girl" by pestering her relentlessly, even after being thrown across the room and told point-blank to go away (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=784).  Clinton being a jerk to his sister and asking to be introduced to one of her boyfriend's hot friends isn't the best way to go about getting a girlfriend, but at least he had the decency to stop bothering Hannelore when confronted about his actions. 

Granted, a sword was involved, but still.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ASB84 on 16 Dec 2014, 17:35
No, my point is that she didn't say 'no you're an asshole, that's a massively assholey thing to say'. Nor was it even played for laughs. It's become an actual plot development, which I find baffling.
What?  He threatened to not be happy for her unless she got him an introduction.  After saying he was ok with her and Marten.  That's not an assholely thing to say, that's him asking for a favour in a safe-for-him way (that is, without pointing out how desperately he needs it).

This.

I feel like Clinton's "demand" is being taken way too seriously. To me, it sounded like he was fine with the situation, but like you said, trying to ask a favour without it sounding awkward, and failing to do so. Him being happy for Claire and supportive of the relationship isn't truly contingent on being set up with one of Marten's friends; it was just an awkward segue, an attempt to not sound too desperate while asking if she and Marten know any single ladies that he could be introduced to, because frankly, he'd like to find someone as well.

In its own way, it's a conciliatory remark. Like when you talk through a situation with someone and assure them that yes, you're fine, as long as they get you a coffee/help move this table/something else mundane. It's not intended to be a condition for you being cool with the situation, a task they must do to ensure that you are.

I guess what we've seen of Clinton so far, the abrasiveness he's shown, has people less inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. I'm not feeling the hate myself, though. I am souring on Claire though, as the way she talks to and about Clinton, the fact she was hoping to upset him upon revealing her relationship with Marten to him, and her admission that he's fun to pick on...to be honest, she's got a bit of a nasty streak that I don't much care for. In bagging out Clinton, some poor behaviour on Claire's part is being swept under the rug.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 16 Dec 2014, 18:14
Has no one noticed that this is what Claire and Clinton do? Clinton is over protective, Claire is patronizing. Very true. But they also just pick on each other, because they have this sibling rivalry thing going.

Maybe it's not exactly Emily Post (I just didn't feel like another Emily post), but I doubt they take it as seriously as some in this forum do.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Rghfrgl on 16 Dec 2014, 18:47
Though I have forgiven her since she's a adorable fluffy red ball of puns, I have been mad (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2362) at Claire a few times for being a bit of a jerk (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2448), I can't really hate on her for giving some of that to Clinton even if we are being a bit hard on him. He deserves at least a little shit and under it all it's clear they love each other.

And it should be noted though she did joke about reveling in Clinton's reaction, she didn't actually do that when she told him.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Stoon on 16 Dec 2014, 19:44
Well, Clinton's doing better than I ever have. 
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 16 Dec 2014, 19:45
Aw, poor Clinton.  Had his shoulders squared and everything.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 16 Dec 2014, 19:48
Beaten to the comic in under a minute!

If we assume this is the first time he's asked a girl out, he is doing rather well. He's asked and given her an out without being a jerk


Warning - while you were typing, Clinton squared his shoulders. You may wish to Cube your post

Dangit man! I've been double ninja'd!

Edit: Typos
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Neko_Ali on 16 Dec 2014, 19:50
I think he's standing on tip-toes as well. Or he had a spontaneous growth spurt of a couple of inches...
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 16 Dec 2014, 20:02
Yeah, I'm glad he gave her an easy out.  Then again, her question might mean that she *wanted* it to be a date.  Last young lady I asked out had some common interests, and I knew she liked whisky, but was a little inexperienced there.  Still almost felt like Clinton did when I asked if she wanted to go whisky tasting for my birthday.  I just gave her the where and when, and when she didn't show, didn't ask her why, and figured if anything at that point was going to happen, it'd be on her initiation.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 16 Dec 2014, 20:07
Yeah, I'm glad he gave her an easy out.  Then again, her question might mean that she *wanted* it to be a date.  Last young lady I asked out had some common interests, and I knew she liked whisky, but was a little inexperienced there.  Still almost felt like Clinton did when I asked if she wanted to go whisky tasting for my birthday.  I just gave her the where and when, and when she didn't show, didn't ask her why, and figured if anything at that point was going to happen, it'd be on her initiation.

I think the key point on Clinton's part was "If you want"
I wonder how much romantic experience Emily has?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Nyithra on 16 Dec 2014, 20:14
Clinton's certainly doing better than I would trying to ask someone out.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 16 Dec 2014, 20:16
Emily has had one relationship (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2568), but it wasn't fruitful.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 16 Dec 2014, 20:27
Emily has had one relationship (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2568), but it wasn't fruitful.
Life's given Emily lemons...and she made a hat out of them. :?

Clinton asking her out really caught her by surprise, she hasn't said or done anything strange for 3 panels, I think that's a record.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: mustang6172 on 16 Dec 2014, 20:29
And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too, I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 16 Dec 2014, 20:31
I hope their date includes a trip to an arcade, because I want to see Emily play pac man.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Rghfrgl on 16 Dec 2014, 20:34
I just gave her the where and when, and when she didn't show, didn't ask her why, and figured if anything at that point was going to happen, it'd be on her initiation.

Taking the initiative sucks though. It's not actually helping to put that on her. It was probably a lot more stress on both of you by not just being more direct. If interested maybe she tried working up the nerve but couldn't. If not, she probably felt really awkward next time she saw you, even if you didn't bring it up. Getting a straight yes or no is a lot better for both of you. And increases your chances on top of that since you look more confident.

While you were typing people made puns without you!
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Penquin47 on 16 Dec 2014, 21:06


And keep in mind that Jeph is hardly portraying Clinton's demands as saintly or exemplary.  Hell, this is a comic where an annoying coffee shop customer (Angus) "got the girl" by pestering her relentlessly, even after being thrown across the room and told point-blank to go away (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=784).  Clinton being a jerk to his sister and asking to be introduced to one of her boyfriend's hot friends isn't the best way to go about getting a girlfriend, but at least he had the decency to stop bothering Hannelore when confronted about his actions. 

Granted, a sword was involved, but still.

Yeah.  Faye even called Angus's problem - too many John Cusack movies where persistence overcomes all.  And then: HE WAS RIGHT.  To me, that's way worse than Clinton wanting to meet one of Marten's hot friends, even if he did go about it badly.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Endellion on 16 Dec 2014, 21:14
Aww dang it Clinton, I had the HMS Emilton all set up and ready to go.

On looking at panel 3, would it be decidedly creepy/weird if Clinton had a Claireblush?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 16 Dec 2014, 21:24
Aww dang it Clinton, I had the HMS Emilton all set up and ready to go.

On looking at panel 3, would it be decidedly creepy/weird if Clinton had a Claireblush?

That ship is has just been boarded by the Author, who will deem if it has enough canon to enter the shipping lanes.

Actually I think he should be blushing, especially if he is hot under the collar
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 16 Dec 2014, 21:28
I think the key point on Clinton's part was "If you want"
I wonder how much romantic experience Emily has?
Hmm.  The "if you want" seems like he was trying to be casual and not put on her spot before, and that final bit was his nerves talking.  Like how he was trying to be confident, but it faltered, and I was hoping for him to evolve as a character, so he isn't such an annoying twit who will likely be featuring much more frequently in the comic.  If he had replied to Emily "like a date", she might have just gone ahead with it, feeling pressured, and the whole thing flamed out.  Whether or not they end up hooking-up, the whole thing should (ideally) happen organically.  It does almost seem as though Jeph is "sparing the spares" right now, and might be in the process of winding things down (although that could take years).


Yeah.  Faye even called Angus's problem - too many John Cusack movies where persistence overcomes all.  And then: HE WAS RIGHT.  To me, that's way worse than Clinton wanting to meet one of Marten's hot friends, even if he did go about it badly.
True, on both counts, but sometimes it "works".  I didn't like the way the whole Fangus thing started out (even before her promotion, I'm sure Dora would have let her ban him from the store for being creepy if she wanted to.  Sometimes people have a shell, where they push people away, and persistence is the only way to go if one wants to build the foundation for a relationship.  I know I've been on both sides of that situation (hence the hedgehog nick). 

I must point out, there, that there's a difference between persistence and stalker-ish behaviour (the latter of which ought to set off warning bells).
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: valkygrrl on 16 Dec 2014, 22:13

Actually I think he should be blushing, especially if he is hot under the collar

Maybe he's wearing makeup so we don't see it. It would explain why we never see him with the freckles Claire has.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Undrneath on 16 Dec 2014, 22:43
I think this may be the most "normal" I have ever seen Emily there may actually be potential here.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: bucky_2300 on 16 Dec 2014, 22:45
So this is my second post in a row on the same topic, but I'd like to point out that a clear sign of the fact that this is just shitty writing is that these WDC threads used to take only a few hours to get to 4 pages, and now it's taking half the week.

I wonder why no one's talking about them.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Method of Madness on 16 Dec 2014, 22:47
I'm thrilled that the WCDT is slowing down. It was so hard to catch up when it was dozens of pages a week.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Lubricus on 16 Dec 2014, 22:47
So this is my second post in a row on the same topic, but I'd like to point out that a clear sign of the fact that this is just shitty writing is that these WDC threads used to take only a few hours to get to 4 pages, and now it's taking half the week.

I wonder why no one's talking about them.
You can't infer anything about the comic's quality from the number of posts on the forum. The forum activity is tied to what goes on in the comic, not how well it is written.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Rghfrgl on 16 Dec 2014, 23:11
So this is my second post in a row on the same topic, but I'd like to point out that a clear sign of the fact that this is just shitty writing is that these WDC threads used to take only a few hours to get to 4 pages, and now it's taking half the week.

I wonder why no one's talking about them.

I'd say he might be in a bit of a rut, probably from the workload of 7 comics a week, but that's not really fair. The giant 30 page megathreads were because a major event was happening, where you were finally getting a payoff after teasing something for a few years. And on top of that it got a lot of outside attention and new readers because Claire's trans.

Of course it's going to cool down after that. And it should, because that's the right way to pace a story.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 16 Dec 2014, 23:18
I must point out, there, that there's a difference between persistence and stalker-ish behaviour (the latter of which ought to set off warning bells).

I remain unconvinced that Angus wasn't being stalkerish. I'm only willing to concede that he really did't worm his way into Faye's social circle. That was all Marigold.

But everything about his courting method, including the ambush kiss, seems kinda creepy to me.

Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: snubnose on 16 Dec 2014, 23:28
Hrr, hrr.

And now all of a sudden Emily is the saner one.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Lubricus on 16 Dec 2014, 23:29
A saner Emily? A sign of the end-times, surely!
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 16 Dec 2014, 23:34
Frankly, this was one of the outcomes that I was expecting, at least on Clinton's part. If this is the first time that he's actually got this far with a girl, nervousness and inexperience is making him choke.

I'm expecting Emily to be disappointed and tell Clinton that she had hoped that he wanted to date her. He'll say that he does want to date her. She'll yell "Yes please!" And drag him off to make out with him in a storage cupboard. Having evidently solved the problem of Emily, we see the happy Claire from Jeph's Tumblr as she and Marten wrap up the story on Friday.

It's anyone's guess as to whether Clinton will survive this. Either way, though, what a ride!
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 16 Dec 2014, 23:40
Frankly, this was one of the outcomes that I was expecting, at least on Clinton's part. If this is the first time that he's actually got this far with a girl, nervousness and inexperience is making him choke.

I'm expecting Emily to be disappointed and tell Clinton that she had hoped that he wanted to date her. He'll say that he does want to date her. She'll yell "Yes please!" And drag him off to make out with him in a storage cupboard. Having evidently solved the problem of Emily, we see the happy Claire from Jeph's Tumblr as she and Marten wrap up the story on Friday.

It's anyone's guess as to whether Clinton will survive this. Either way, though, what a ride!

Heck I choke when asking out and I'm not new to dating. Can we place bets on Clinton's survival?

Edit: Looking at Emily's body language I'd say she's interested
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: osaka on 17 Dec 2014, 00:07
Five bucks say Clinton's hand goes straight to the titties (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1911).

I must say, Clinton's faring better than I would. I'm usually pretty chill, but I never work up enough courage to ask someone out. Kinda sad, come to think of it.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Akima on 17 Dec 2014, 00:17
How did Clinton fall at the last hurdle, having survived Emily-weirdness up to that point without screaming and running away?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 17 Dec 2014, 00:18
Five bucks say Clinton's hand goes straight to the titties (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1911).

I call $5 it goes for her butt (she's not as well endowed upstairs as Faye.)
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: MrNumbers on 17 Dec 2014, 01:13
How did Clinton fall at the last hurdle, having survived Emily-weirdness up to that point without screaming and running away?

Because until this point it's been contingent on his ability to handle strange. This is the guy with the robot hand and transexual sister, he has a rather high tolerance for it, once he immerses himself in it. That was fine.

Now? Now it's contingent on his confidence and self-esteem. Clinton's self-esteem.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 17 Dec 2014, 01:19
How did Clinton fall at the last hurdle, having survived Emily-weirdness up to that point without screaming and running away?

Because until this point it's been contingent on his ability to handle strange. This is the guy with the robot hand and transexual sister, he has a rather high tolerance for it, once he immerses himself in it. That was fine.

Now? Now it's contingent on his confidence and self-esteem. Clinton's self-esteem.

Precisely; socialising with a weird-but-nice girl is one thing. Asking a tall and exotically beautiful woman out on a date is a completely different and far more frightening thing.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: techkid on 17 Dec 2014, 02:42
In that moment, Clinton sounded and reacted exactly like I would.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ysth on 17 Dec 2014, 06:40

Actually I think he should be blushing, especially if he is hot under the collar

Maybe he's wearing makeup so we don't see it. It would explain why we never see him with the freckles Claire has.
I'd assumed that was from avoiding the Big Ball of Fire in the Sky.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Magniras on 17 Dec 2014, 07:00
In that moment, Clinton sounded and reacted exactly like I would.

Like a generic harem anime main character?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: MooskiNet on 17 Dec 2014, 07:15
In that moment, Clinton sounded and reacted exactly like I would.

Like a generic harem anime main character?

Like a socially inept human being trying like hell not to appear socially inept while asking a stranger on a date.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 17 Dec 2014, 07:29
I must point out, there, that there's a difference between persistence and stalker-ish behaviour (the latter of which ought to set off warning bells).

I remain unconvinced that Angus wasn't being stalkerish. I'm only willing to concede that he really did't worm his way into Faye's social circle. That was all Marigold.

But everything about his courting method, including the ambush kiss, seems kinda creepy to me.
Seemed creepy to me, especially using real world logic.  I'm more likely to use the MST3K mantra here, than I would if it actually happened.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: osaka on 17 Dec 2014, 07:36
In that moment, Clinton sounded and reacted exactly like I would.

Like a generic harem anime main character?

Like a socially inept human being trying like hell not to appear socially inept while asking a stranger on a date.

So, a generic harem anime main character.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Schmorgluck on 17 Dec 2014, 08:23
What I find amusing is that there's been a recent El Goonish Shive comic (http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1986) that invoked the same issue about is or isn't a date, only with reversed genders. Maybe it's because I come from a culture in which the notion of "date" doesn't really exist, so maybe I only have a faint grasp of it, but I don't understand the need to put into strictly defined categories the fact of deciding to hang out.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 17 Dec 2014, 08:50
How did Clinton fall at the last hurdle, having survived Emily-weirdness up to that point without screaming and running away?

Because, his sister's scorn aside, Clinton has shown no signs that he suffers from Dale's "I'm afraid to talk to women." In fact he's never shown a particular hesitation to talk to anyone.

Talking to Emily--even in the hopes of getting a date, wasn't triggering his fear. He even asked her out smoothly. But having her return the volley by directly asking if it was a date pretty much put him on the spot, which upped his fear of rejection factor.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Method of Madness on 17 Dec 2014, 09:06
I come from a culture in which the notion of "date" doesn't really exist
People don't date in France? Please elaborate.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Rghfrgl on 17 Dec 2014, 10:45
Tonight! Either...

In earshot of the happy new couple 'I'm sorry Clinton. I'm already in love with Marten!'

-or-

Emily walks by Clinton and gives Claire a power hug (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2572). 'New sister!'
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 17 Dec 2014, 10:56
Tonight! Either...

In earshot of the happy new couple 'I'm sorry Clinton. I'm already in love with Marten!'

-or-

Emily walks by Clinton and gives Claire a power hug (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2572). 'New sister!'

IMHO, we're not quite there yet. First, Emily has to give Clinton puppy-dog eyes (no, meaning giving him a soulful gaze, not actually giving him a puppy-dog's eyes, as plausibly in-character that would be) and mournfully tells him that she'd rather hoped that he was asking him out on a date.

Last panel will be a shocked Marten and Claire looking on as Emily loudly announces that she's dragging Clinton into a storage closet so  they can do "The kissy-kissy thing".
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: celticgeek on 17 Dec 2014, 11:01
Emily and Clinnnnnnnnnnnnn-tonnnnnnnnnnn sitting in a closet
K I S S    ......wait, what?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Pilchard123 on 17 Dec 2014, 11:05
I come from a culture in which the notion of "date" doesn't really exist
People don't date in France? Please elaborate.

If it's anything like my very limited understanding of the UK (or at least South-West UK), then 'dating' as a - for want of a better word - formal thing isn't so common. It's more commonly two people who enjoy each other's company just hanging out (possibly with other people). If anything more comes of it, then so be it. If not, likewise.

EDIT: Removed some stuff that I decided I didn't want here just yet.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Kugai on 17 Dec 2014, 12:14
He needs a drink to put out those flames
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Method of Madness on 17 Dec 2014, 13:27
I come from a culture in which the notion of "date" doesn't really exist
People don't date in France? Please elaborate.

If it's anything like my very limited understanding of the UK (or at least South-West UK), then 'dating' as a - for want of a better word - formal thing isn't so common. It's more commonly two people who enjoy each other's company just hanging out (possibly with other people). If anything more comes of it, then so be it. If not, likewise.

EDIT: Removed some stuff that I decided I didn't want here just yet.
How's that not dating?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: MooskiNet on 17 Dec 2014, 13:47
I come from a culture in which the notion of "date" doesn't really exist
People don't date in France? Please elaborate.

If it's anything like my very limited understanding of the UK (or at least South-West UK), then 'dating' as a - for want of a better word - formal thing isn't so common. It's more commonly two people who enjoy each other's company just hanging out (possibly with other people). If anything more comes of it, then so be it. If not, likewise.

EDIT: Removed some stuff that I decided I didn't want here just yet.
How's that not dating?

I think the difference is separating the two by intent.  Here in the U.S. (at least in my experience), 'dating' and 'hanging out' are separated by the intent to pursue a relationship for the former and the lack of same for the latter.  I think Schmorgluck was saying intent really doesn't come into the question of what to call it when you're hanging out.

Sure would save a lot of mental gymnastics if that were the case here.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Neko_Ali on 17 Dec 2014, 14:05
Or would cause more confusion and wondering. In the US at least there is a lot of emphasis put on organizing your relationships. Hanging out as friends and dating are considered quite different things, and a lot of confusion comes in when the status isn't out in the open and people don't know how the other person feels.  Basically there is a whole lot of (largely unnecessary, but there) baggage that comes in separating the two. In other countries it is different of course, but this is the perspective of a US person, like those in the comic.

For what it's worth, I think Emily will probably turn out to be happy with the 'hanging out' being a date. She hasn't had a lot of luck so far.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Schmorgluck on 17 Dec 2014, 16:45
I've been on at least one occurrence of what could be called a date by North-American standards. It was when I invited a girl to join me in attending a concert in a bar, back in January of 1998. Let's call her Marie.
We had made out the month before, after meeting informally at a friend of mine's apartment. I knew Marie casually from high-school, and she ended up at that meetup because her younger brother was friends with the younger brother of one of my close friends. We were sitting next to each other, chatted, and hit it off quite well, and ended up making out, good-heartedly pestered by her brother as I accompanied them to their home. Then it was holiday break, that I largely spent wondering what was at hand. Came January, I went into ridiculous ploys to get back in touch with Marie, ploys that almost (or maybe partially) worked, until I finally called my friend's home, to get his younger brother, in order to get his friend's home's number (it was before cellphones were widespread in France, FYI), so I could talk to Marie and invite her to meet at that concert. I guess that counts as a "date" by North-American standards.

I've been in at least one occurrence of fucking up what could be called a date by North-American standards. In 2002, a female co-worker I met in a training program we had in the tech service company we both worked on, and I got along with quite well, invited me to hang out in Paris on a saturday. Let's call her Hélčne. Hélčne and I were both transplants into the Paris area, it really wasn't about going to the common tourist traps of the "City of Lights". She lead me to her favourite Corsican bistrot (at this point I have to mention she was Alsatian), we walked around, in non-touristing areas, it was pretty cool. At the end of the day, when we parted at the train station to return to our respective suburbs, I... pecked her on the cheek. And it was goodbye see you monday. Looking back, remembering how she was looking at me at that moment, I know she was expecting a real kiss. Took me too long to figure it out. I hope she didn't take it too hard. I hope she didn't take it as her being not pretty enough.

There's also that case of a girl (let's call her Dajla) giving me her number and my not calling her back because I wasn't sure what to call her back about. It took me about eight years to understand that I should just have called Dajla back to hang out somewhere and see if something came out of it. Which would maybe have been a date by North-American standards.


Don't count on me to judge that Clinton fucked up in any way here.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 17 Dec 2014, 17:15
I'm not sure that intent is the only thing that qualifies a "date", though it generally is included.  I might have never been on one, despite having had girlfriends in the past, and went out and did things with them (minds out of the gutter) with the hope of doing (minds in the gutter) later.  It seems that some people want the grand romantic gestures (tm) for it to qualify, although that's of course, not universal.  One woman I dated once complained to me that we had never been out on a "date", after years together.  I was rather baffled, even knowing the usual (US) meaning of the term, since we went out and did plenty of things, museums, dining, the opera, seeing films, concerts, walks along the $whatever, going out for drinks after, and quite often NSFW things when we got back.  I really did wonder how none of that could be considered a "date", but I guess that I never pulled out of the '80s teen film stops.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Method of Madness on 17 Dec 2014, 17:16
I don't think he did fuck up, at least not beyond repair.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Rghfrgl on 17 Dec 2014, 17:22
I don't think he did fuck up, at least not beyond repair.

She'll say yes, if nothing else, so Jeph has future material.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 17 Dec 2014, 18:03
She'll say yes, if nothing else, so Jeph has future material.

Although any squeeable moments, if there are any (doubtful), will only distract us from Marten and Claire.  But maybe we'll get lucky and they'll get sent on the same bus ride as Wil and Penelope.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: explicit on 17 Dec 2014, 18:07
I come from a culture in which the notion of "date" doesn't really exist
People don't date in France? Please elaborate.

Maybe... it's just one giant orgy all year? Can such a land exist?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 17 Dec 2014, 18:13
New comic, and three great Clairefaces!  Also, judging from the lengths of Clinton's arms in panel 1, is it possible Reed Richards is their father?

Edit: Also, it looks like Clinton's hand grew back!  Had to take a screenshot before Jeph fixes it:

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7528/16021014646_9206472d9d_m.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: brew on 17 Dec 2014, 18:14
Short jokes? Seriously?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: St.Clair on 17 Dec 2014, 18:14
That (those?) is/are indeed the best Claireface(s).  And the two of them are so acting like siblings here, it's adorable.

Warning - while you were reading the thread has grown a few inches... or just found a phone book to stand on.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: jwhouk on 17 Dec 2014, 18:30
Clinton, of course, could just say, "Well, I'm still taller than you. You just use ten tons of mousse on your hair."

Claire's response: "It's not mousse! I just use a very good conditioner!"
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Nyithra on 17 Dec 2014, 18:59
I dunno why people are so weird about girls being taller than the guy in a couple. Do tall girls not deserve love?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 17 Dec 2014, 19:06
Tall girls deserve NOTHING!

But, no one else deserves anything, so it's okay.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Method of Madness on 17 Dec 2014, 19:21
That's a depressing outlook on life.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 17 Dec 2014, 19:21
I dunno why people are so weird about girls being taller than the guy in a couple. Do tall girls not deserve love?
They certainly do.  My last crush wasn't taller than me, but she *was* tall, as in about the height of the average (by US standards) height guys, I'm just freakishly tall.  Even if I was shorter, the attraction wouldn't have been any less.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Penquin47 on 17 Dec 2014, 19:22
If a girl is taller than her male friend, it threatens his role as protector and decider.  Same for women being older/in better shape/smarter/whatever other ridiculous thing you want to apply to relationships.  The man's masculinity is threatened by having a partner who is superior to him in any way other than boobs.

It's wrong, based on ridiculous gender expectations, and rather silly.  Nonetheless it persists.  Heck, I'll admit to being weirded out by it sometimes, although I know I shouldn't be.  (More on the age than the height thing.)
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ASB84 on 17 Dec 2014, 19:39
Clinton: Well, good for you, man. Still need to work on those social skills and whatnot, but that awkwardness and joy at not completely messing things up with a lady made you a hell of a lot more relateable.

Claire: Pot, meet kettle. Seriously. I'm not going to enjoy you being a more prominent character after all, am I? Ah well...
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 17 Dec 2014, 19:42
That's a depressing outlook on life.

Life is depressing. And do is Outlook. But one expects that of Microsoft products.

To me, the idea that anyone deserves anything is depressing. I'm pretty sure the vast majority of violence and inhumanity in life is rooted in "I deserve."
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 17 Dec 2014, 19:44
I dunno why people are so weird about girls being taller than the guy in a couple. Do tall girls not deserve love?

They deserve MORE love (because there's more of them to love)!

Tall girls deserve NOTHING!
(http://th03.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2010/159/7/7/screw_u_by_lefgozerdesign.jpg)

If a girl is taller than her male friend, it threatens his role as protector and decider.  Same for women being older/in better shape/smarter/whatever other ridiculous thing you want to apply to relationships.  The man's masculinity is threatened by having a partner who is superior to him in any way other than boobs.

That never bothered me at all, the last woman I considered to be "my Girlfriend" was the same height as me (I'm 6 foot 1) and I LIKED that, taller woman have an "exotic" feel to them (especially to tall guys), and I loved not having to bend down to hug/kiss/other stuff.
What I didn't like was that she broke up with me :cry:, and that she had the same shoe size  :-\ I don't know why, it's not like she'd ask to borrow my workboots or anything.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: cesium133 on 17 Dec 2014, 19:50
But one expects that of Microsoft products.
Word.  :claireface:
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Stoon on 17 Dec 2014, 19:51
If a girl is taller than her male friend, it threatens his role as protector and decider.  Same for women being older/in better shape/smarter/whatever other ridiculous thing you want to apply to relationships.  The man's masculinity is threatened by having a partner who is superior to him in any way other than boobs.

It's wrong, based on ridiculous gender expectations, and rather silly.  Nonetheless it persists.  Heck, I'll admit to being weirded out by it sometimes, although I know I shouldn't be.  (More on the age than the height thing.)
That may be the most insultingly sexist thing I've ever read.  Towards both males and females.

I've always been attracted to tall women. 

The first woman I ever fell in love with was almost 20 years older than me.  I was in my early 20s at the time.

The smarter the woman is, the more attractive she is to me.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Rghfrgl on 17 Dec 2014, 19:56
Panel 1 Claire is so sinister.

I like it.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Method of Madness on 17 Dec 2014, 19:57
But one expects that of Microsoft products.
Word.  :claireface:
I wouldn't say that kind of joke will help you Excel, but I suppose it Works. :clairedoge:
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 17 Dec 2014, 19:57
If a girl is taller than her male friend, it threatens his role as protector and decider.  Same for women being older/in better shape/smarter/whatever other ridiculous thing you want to apply to relationships.  The man's masculinity is threatened by having a partner who is superior to him in any way other than boobs.

It's wrong, based on ridiculous gender expectations, and rather silly.  Nonetheless it persists.  Heck, I'll admit to being weirded out by it sometimes, although I know I shouldn't be.  (More on the age than the height thing.)
Depends on the man.  It's mostly conditioning, and not something inherent, at least I hope.  I have never felt threatened, even when the girl/woman (depending on what age I was at the time) was a *lot* smaller than me, and still much stronger, both in terms of physical strength, and emotional endurance.  I've also happily been with women who were my intellectual superiors.  I wish that more men could be more secure with themselves, and I'm not trying to put myself on any sort of pedestal.  Nor do I have a fetish for chicks who could kick my arse.  Human behaviour can't be summed-up so neatly.

After reading all the replies that have been posted since I started to type, I'll admit to being *mostly* attracted to petite women, but I'm not exclusive.  I have a type, but their brain-meats are what I'm mostly after (and not in a zombie way).  No matter what someone's build is, or their age, the thing I need is to be able to identify with someone, share her interests, or at least enough to make things interesting.  I actually hope that I'm not alone by only wanting to be with someone, to be someone whom I would like to spend my time with rather than someone that I'd just want to shag.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Half Empty Coffee Cup on 17 Dec 2014, 19:58
Panel 1 Claire is so sinister.

I like it.
Actual Best Claireface. The picture linked in the first post, now shown in the last panel, was a red herring all along!
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 17 Dec 2014, 20:07
New comic, and three great Clairefaces!  Also, judging from the lengths of Clinton's arms in panel 1, is it possible Reed Richards is their father?

Edit: Also, it looks like Clinton's hand grew back!  Had to take a screenshot before Jeph fixes it:

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7528/16021014646_9206472d9d_m.jpg)

He has a synthetic covering doesn't he? He might have put it on while leaving the library.
OR it's the power of love. Take your pick
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Penquin47 on 17 Dec 2014, 20:10
If a girl is taller than her male friend, it threatens his role as protector and decider.  Same for women being older/in better shape/smarter/whatever other ridiculous thing you want to apply to relationships.  The man's masculinity is threatened by having a partner who is superior to him in any way other than boobs.

It's wrong, based on ridiculous gender expectations, and rather silly.  Nonetheless it persists.  Heck, I'll admit to being weirded out by it sometimes, although I know I shouldn't be.  (More on the age than the height thing.)
That may be the most insultingly sexist thing I've ever read.  Towards both males and females.

I've always been attracted to tall women. 

The first woman I ever fell in love with was almost 20 years older than me.  I was in my early 20s at the time.

The smarter the woman is, the more attractive she is to me.

Yeah, I agree.  And from what I've seen in the responses, this place seems to take that general attitude.  Of course, this forum tends to have a very welcoming and inclusive attitude in general.  (One of the reasons I *like* coming here.)  This was based on observations of high school students, not personal opinion, and I hope it came through that I think it's a crappy attitude.

My parents: same height, both 5'10".  Dad is eleven months older.  Mom served in the Army after graduating college in 4.5 years with a Master's on a ROTC scholarship and being a student athlete (lettered in swimming at a D1 school).  Dad dropped out of college after marrying Mom and never went back to finish his degree, and stayed home with me and my brother.  I would argue that my dad is smarter than my mom, but Mom's the one with the fancy credentials.

My first boyfriend was a little shorter than me, which I was okay with.  He was also six years older than me, which was a little weird to me.  My second boyfriend was nearly a foot taller than me, which I liked.  He was within a year of my age and I honestly don't remember which of us was older.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 17 Dec 2014, 20:10
He has a synthetic covering doesn't he? He might have put it on while leaving the library.
OR it's the power of love. Take your pick

He carries around a glove that looks exactly like a human hand just in case he wants to hide his prosthesis?  What, does he keep it in his pocket?

Is it inflatable?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Method of Madness on 17 Dec 2014, 20:12
I thought he actively chose not to wear the synthetic covering.

To me, the idea that anyone deserves anything is depressing. I'm pretty sure the vast majority of violence and inhumanity in life is rooted in "I deserve."
I think we have very different meanings of the word "deserve".
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 17 Dec 2014, 20:13
Comic Fixed

In record time, too.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Method of Madness on 17 Dec 2014, 20:14
Ha, it was still a regular hand, and then I refreshed again and it CHANGED BEFORE MY VERY EYES :parrot:
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 17 Dec 2014, 20:17
Arms are still freakishly long though.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 17 Dec 2014, 20:18
But one expects that of Microsoft products.
Word.  :claireface:
I wouldn't say that kind of joke will help you Excel, but I suppose it Works. :clairedoge:

Not to be a Windows Defender, but MS products have outgrown the bad reputation they used to have. :claireface:
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Blackbird on 17 Dec 2014, 20:19
I dunno why people are so weird about girls being taller than the guy in a couple. Do tall girls not deserve love?

Tall girls have to be lesbians.  Yes, all of them.  Every last glistening inch of... errr, I mean.... You know what, I'm getting out of this one, might as well roll with it.  Come to mama, you luscious amazons, come to mama.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: cesium133 on 17 Dec 2014, 20:21
But one expects that of Microsoft products.
Word.  :claireface:
I wouldn't say that kind of joke will help you Excel, but I suppose it Works. :clairedoge:

Not to be a Windows Defender, but MS products have outgrown the bad reputation they used to have. :claireface:
I wouldn't know; I don't have Access to MS products on this Linux machine. But you make a Power Point, though.  :claireface:
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Blackbird on 17 Dec 2014, 20:22
But one expects that of Microsoft products.
Word.  :claireface:
I wouldn't say that kind of joke will help you Excel, but I suppose it Works. :clairedoge:

Not to be a Windows Defender, but MS products have outgrown the bad reputation they used to have. :claireface:

I didn't get this one at first, but i laughed as zune as it hit me.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 17 Dec 2014, 20:23
He carries around a glove that looks exactly like a human hand just in case he wants to hide his prosthesis?  What, does he keep it in his pocket?

Is it inflatable?

We know he has one to cover his prosthetic (which he normally doesn't wear because ROBOT HAND). I don't see why it would be inflatable as it just covers his hand, but since other gloves are I don't see why not.

Ha, it was still a regular hand, and then I refreshed again and it CHANGED BEFORE MY VERY EYES :parrot:

The hand! IT changes!

Warning - while you were typing 4 new hands were drawn. You may wish to review your own.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: stephber on 17 Dec 2014, 20:32
But one expects that of Microsoft products.
Word.  :claireface:
I wouldn't say that kind of joke will help you Excel, but I suppose it Works. :clairedoge:

Not to be a Windows Defender, but MS products have outgrown the bad reputation they used to have. :claireface:

I didn't get this one at first, but i laughed as zune as it hit me.

You may have to ask Bob about these puns. He may have Access to better material...  :psyduck: .... or at least have the Publisher throw out the Project.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: cesium133 on 17 Dec 2014, 20:35
You may have to ask Bob about these puns. He may have Access to better material...  :psyduck: .... or at least have the Publisher throw out the Project.
I asked a Spanish-speaking person how many MS puns were in that last sentence and he said DOS.  :claireface:
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 17 Dec 2014, 20:48
You may have to ask Bob about these puns. He may have Access to better material...  :psyduck: .... or at least have the Publisher throw out the Project.
I asked a Spanish-speaking person how many MS puns were in that last sentence and he said DOS.  :claireface:

Really? I must need new glasses, cause I counted and got 95, then 98, then 2000.

XP

Then I gave up and looked out the door and gazed at the Vista.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: cesium133 on 17 Dec 2014, 20:57
You may have to ask Bob about these puns. He may have Access to better material...  :psyduck: .... or at least have the Publisher throw out the Project.
I asked a Spanish-speaking person how many MS puns were in that last sentence and he said DOS.  :claireface:

Really? I must need new glasses, cause I counted and got 95, then 98, then 2000.

XP

Then I gave up and looked out the door and gazed at the Vista.
I stopped worrying about it and read a Basic description of the noble gases, from helium to Xenix.  :claireface:
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 17 Dec 2014, 21:14
(Insulting graphic)

I didn't deserve that.

Also, enlarging my text? Were you trying to make a Powerpoint? It seems that way on the Surface. I can acknowledge the effort, but I won't award any XP for it.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ZoeB on 17 Dec 2014, 21:19
They say that Chicken Soup can't hurt. But what about Hen Tea?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Rghfrgl on 17 Dec 2014, 21:21
Tall girls have to be lesbians.  Yes, all of them.  Every last glistening inch of... errr, I mean.... You know what, I'm getting out of this one, might as well roll with it.  Come to mama, you luscious amazons, come to mama.

QC has taught me that lesbians are small and adorable.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: valkygrrl on 17 Dec 2014, 21:32
They say that Chicken Soup can't hurt. But what about Hen Tea?

Hentai?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 17 Dec 2014, 21:33
(Insulting graphic)

I didn't deserve that.

Yes, yes you did.  :-P
Sincerly, Every Tall Woman on Earth.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 17 Dec 2014, 21:34
They say that Chicken Soup can't hurt. But what about Hen Tea?

Hentai?

No, thats when Tai gets in an experimental teleporter with a bucket of KFC.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: sluthy on 17 Dec 2014, 22:16
How is Claire getting ahead of herself?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: vforvancouver on 17 Dec 2014, 22:19
(Insulting graphic)

I didn't deserve that.

Yes, yes you did.  :-P
Sincerly, Every Tall Woman on Earth.

I don't know if this is being passive aggressive or aggressively passive, or something.  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 17 Dec 2014, 22:47
You may have to ask Bob about these puns. He may have Access to better material...  :psyduck: .... or at least have the Publisher throw out the Project.
I asked a Spanish-speaking person how many MS puns were in that last sentence and he said DOS.  :claireface:

Really? I must need new glasses, cause I counted and got 95, then 98, then 2000.

XP

Then I gave up and looked out the door and gazed at the Vista.
I stopped worrying about it and read a Basic description of the noble gases, from helium to Xenix.  :claireface:

Vaporware.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 17 Dec 2014, 22:49
(Insulting graphic)

I didn't deserve that.

Yes, yes you did.  :-P
Sincerly, Every Tall Woman on Earth.

I don't know if this is being passive aggressive or aggressively passive, or something.  :psyduck:

It's imitation outrage, used in a kidding manner. (I figure I should say that in case ReindeerFlotilla thinks I'm being serious. Or anyone else for that matter.)
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 17 Dec 2014, 22:52
(Insulting graphic)

I didn't deserve that.

Yes, yes you did.  :-P
Sincerly, Every Tall Woman on Earth.
Global Moderator Comment I wish I had logged in earlier and caught this before it got bad. Everyone please avoid trading insults.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: osaka on 17 Dec 2014, 23:20
I'm going to defend RF here since he (?? correct me if I'm wrong) said that nobody deserved anything. But only slightly because it's not a joke one should make.

Then again, not a fan of the taller girls. I haven't seen many curvy tall girls in my life. Won't say no to one tho, it's not like they're monsters or anything. (And even if they were, I don't look like I give half a damn)
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 17 Dec 2014, 23:25
I agree with everyone who has said that this strip shows classical squabbling siblings in Claire and Clinton. Clinton really brings out the worst in Claire, doesn't he? She as much as said so at the lake party. I guess that's just older siblings in general!

Now, what did Marten mean? I got that Claire was saying that Clinton is one of those guys who feel that their masculinity is threatened if their SO is significantly taller. How is that 'getting ahead of herself'? Only a guess but, under her snark, Claire is as optimistic about this as Clinton is. Marten is warning them not to be thinking too far ahead.

It's sort of nice that, even though she can't stop teasing him, Claire still wants, on a certain level, for Clinton to be happy.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ysth on 17 Dec 2014, 23:31
But one expects that of Microsoft products.
Word.  :claireface:
I wouldn't say that kind of joke will help you Excel, but I suppose it Works. :clairedoge:
I've had about enough of this ribbon, though.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 17 Dec 2014, 23:57
(Insulting graphic)

I didn't deserve that.

Yes, yes you did.  :-P
Sincerly, Every Tall Woman on Earth.

So you believe tall women should be treated differently. What do you have against short women? And women of unremarkable height?

I only have OneNote for you, you heightist: I'm disappointed in you. You won't get a Halo with that attitude.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 18 Dec 2014, 00:01
(Insulting graphic)

I didn't deserve that.

Yes, yes you did.  :-P
Sincerly, Every Tall Woman on Earth.

I wish I had logged in earlier and caught this before it got bad. Everyone please avoid trading insults.


T'was being ironic, there. Sorry if it came off serious. I thought all the Microsoft puns would set the tone.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: stephber on 18 Dec 2014, 00:08
(Insulting graphic)

I didn't deserve that.

Yes, yes you did.  :-P
Sincerly, Every Tall Woman on Earth.

I wish I had logged in earlier and caught this before it got bad. Everyone please avoid trading insults.


T'was being ironic, there. Sorry if it came off serious. I thought all the Microsoft puns would set the tone.

I believe the Microsoft puns just gave you a BSOD.  :: PT410X gives you a happy dance ::
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 18 Dec 2014, 00:53
(Insulting graphic)

I didn't deserve that.
Yes, yes you did.  :-P
Sincerly, Every Tall Woman on Earth.

I wish I had logged in earlier and caught this before it got bad. Everyone please avoid trading insults.


T'was being ironic, there. Sorry if it came off serious. I thought all the Microsoft puns would set the tone.

I don't want to anger the moderators, so I'll take all the puns, teases, zingers, and anecdotes about my "preference" for tall women, write an x on a cardboard Box, dump everything in it, and stuff the XBox in the basement.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: snubnose on 18 Dec 2014, 01:27
Personally I simply prefer shorter women because everything that makes women look cuter, including short statue, attracts me.

While a woman like Katherine Zeta-Jones has very little hold of me. Beautiful, yes, but tall and very adult looking.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: MrNumbers on 18 Dec 2014, 03:33
Personally I simply prefer shorter women because everything that makes women look cuter, including short statue, attracts me.

While a woman like Katherine Zeta-Jones has very little hold of me. Beautiful, yes, but tall and very adult looking.

Whilst I know what you meant, you are aware that you just implied that if a girl looks adult to you, it's a turn-off?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 18 Dec 2014, 03:50
Aye, that bit disturbed me as well.  I have dated rather younger looking women in the past, but I've certainly reached that age where anyone who looks under about 25 or so looks "too young".
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Zebediah on 18 Dec 2014, 04:37
My wife is tall for a woman - 5' 10.5". I'm taller, though - 6' 4". I've never dated a woman taller than me for the simple reason that there aren't that many of them. I did dance with a woman taller than me once - she was 6' 5" and on the UNC women's basketball team. She was quite attractive, as young women in good physical condition tend to be.

Of course, I could mention the year I dated a woman who was 4'6" tall. We got a lot of strange looks.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 18 Dec 2014, 05:10
I'm almost as tall as you, and, given the sexual dimorphism in our species, I'm unlikely to meet any woman who is as tall as I, or even close.  But I liked it when exes were wearing heels, mainly because they suddenly became closer in height, and and I didn't feel like I was walking with (or dancing with) someone from the Shire. 

But for $DEITY'S sake, this shite is getting *really* sexist.  Well, it has been.  Too much about how women "ought to be", and whatnot.  People have different preferences, granted, but that is not the end-all or be-all of dynamics b/n people. 
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 18 Dec 2014, 05:23
But for $DEITY'S sake, this shite is getting *really* sexist.  Well, it has been.  Too much about how women "ought to be", and whatnot.  People have different preferences, granted, but that is not the end-all or be-all of dynamics b/n people.

It's interesting that you mentioned sexual dimorphism. It is hardly a rule and there are exceptions (often extreme exceptions). That said, I wonder the degree to which our concept of 'attractive' and 'desirable' is all wrapped up in instinctive coding about what is the appearance of (a) a member of our species and (b) a healthy mate.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: explicit on 18 Dec 2014, 05:55
Hm, I'm 5'11" and I've pretty much only dated women about a foot shorter than me (I think, 4'11", 5'1", 5'2", 5'4", 5"4 out of people I've had a relationship over 3 months with). I'm not entirely sure it's a preference, I just know that every girl I've wanted to date who's about my height only liked guys much taller than me. I think it's more that shorter girls are more open to me? But I'm not positive, never really been able to figure out what I like in a person.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: jwhouk on 18 Dec 2014, 06:49
I dunno why people are so weird about girls being taller than the guy in a couple. Do tall girls not deserve love?

I'll ask my wife. She's only about 7 inches taller than me.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: jwhouk on 18 Dec 2014, 07:20
But one expects that of Microsoft products.
Word.  :claireface:
I wouldn't say that kind of joke will help you Excel, but I suppose it Works. :clairedoge:

Grrrroooooooooaaannn. That pun's about as bad as Windows Me.


EDIT: ...aaaaand then he read the rest of the thread.  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Tem200 on 18 Dec 2014, 08:09
I'm almost as tall as you, and, given the sexual dimorphism in our species, I'm unlikely to meet any woman who is as tall as I, or even close.  But I liked it when exes were wearing heels, mainly because they suddenly became closer in height, and and I didn't feel like I was walking with (or dancing with) someone from the Shire. 

 :laugh:

I'm somewhat short, and for me, walking with tall men is like Rosie Cotton going on a date with Legolas. It just is not that comfortable, and I don't get why some people prefer height differences of any sort.

The demand that the man always be taller is sexist on top of that, but other than that ... why would anyone prefer a girlfriend or boyfriend they can only kiss using a stepladder? If you fall in love you fall in love, but to actively seek out people who are taller or shorter (and reject people of about the same height as oneself because of that) - why?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: MooskiNet on 18 Dec 2014, 08:15
I'm almost as tall as you, and, given the sexual dimorphism in our species, I'm unlikely to meet any woman who is as tall as I, or even close.  But I liked it when exes were wearing heels, mainly because they suddenly became closer in height, and and I didn't feel like I was walking with (or dancing with) someone from the Shire. 

 :laugh:

I'm somewhat short, and for me, walking with tall men is like Rosie Cotton going on a date with Legolas. It just is not that comfortable, and I don't get why some people prefer height differences of any sort.

The demand that the man always be taller is sexist on top of that, but other than that ... why would anyone prefer a girlfriend or boyfriend they can only kiss using a stepladder? If you fall in love you fall in love, but to actively seek out people who are taller or shorter (and reject people of about the same height as oneself because of that) - why?

Attempting to apply logic to attraction is a losing game at best.  You like what you like, and hopefully it's legal.  The rest is finding someone with compatible tastes.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Tem200 on 18 Dec 2014, 08:21

Attempting to apply logic to attraction is a losing game at best.  You like what you like, and hopefully it's legal.  The rest is finding someone with compatible tastes.

I apply logic because, apparently, others apply something resembling rational thought, by stating that they would "never date a guy who is shorter/a woman who is taller" than them. Which does not fall into the field of "you like what you like". 

Also, the question should not be whether it is legal as much as whether it is ethical.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: poofdepoof on 18 Dec 2014, 10:44
But for $DEITY'S sake, this shite is getting *really* sexist.  Well, it has been.  Too much about how women "ought to be", and whatnot.  People have different preferences, granted, but that is not the end-all or be-all of dynamics b/n people.

It's interesting that you mentioned sexual dimorphism. It is hardly a rule and there are exceptions (often extreme exceptions). That said, I wonder the degree to which our concept of 'attractive' and 'desirable' is all wrapped up in instinctive coding about what is the appearance of (a) a member of our species and (b) a healthy mate.

I'm 5'1" and I've often discovered, as a coincidence, that many of the boys I'm attracted to have been precisely my dad's height. My dad isn't particularly tall (5'6"), and honestly most people, guys and girls, are taller than me anyway, so it's not like I'm just looking for "taller"... So maybe there's a point to all that "instinctive coding" bit - my dad is my closest model to what a married man and father looks like, so maybe my subconscious is pointing me to those kinds of people?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Estron on 18 Dec 2014, 11:58

Actually I think he should be blushing, especially if he is hot under the collar

That may not be where he's hot.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Kugai on 18 Dec 2014, 12:04
To paraphrase Spock, logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end.


I've just realised, Claire and Clinton are Dexter and DeeDee  :-D
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: questionablydiscontent on 18 Dec 2014, 12:18
They say that Chicken Soup can't hurt. But what about Hen Tea?

Hentai?

No, thats when Tai gets in an experimental teleporter with a bucket of KFC.
Not to be confused with Hantai which is manga full of HannelorexTai porn.
The ship none of the icebergs saw coming.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: MooskiNet on 18 Dec 2014, 15:08
Doritos - the official snack of the Northampton Eight String Guitar Club.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Schwungrad on 18 Dec 2014, 17:58
But for $DEITY'S sake, this shite is getting *really* sexist.  Well, it has been.  Too much about how women "ought to be", and whatnot.  People have different preferences, granted, but that is not the end-all or be-all of dynamics b/n people.

I think we should also distinguish between aesthetic preferences (which are perfectly legitimate, but do hopefully not overshadow other considerations) and the observations (that of course also differ between individuals) that a certain height difference might be percieved as advantageous or disadvantageous in certain situations. E.g. my ex-girlfriend was slightly taller than me, and never once did the thought cross my mind that she would be even more attractive if she were a bit shorter. But in the few social situations where she felt obligated to wear shoes with heels (and thus increase the height difference, because western fashion for whatever reason does not feature height-enhancing shoes as a standard part of men's formal wardrobe, and I'm not enough of a rebel to boldly defy such conventions), I did feel uncomfortable about the height difference.

On another note, I love Claire's tongue-sticking face. And I find it kinda hypocritical of her to mock her brother's shortness, seeing as she is the same height.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 18 Dec 2014, 18:23
I think that I have mentioned before that I differentiate having a "type" from saying only "x" is beautiful || attractive, so I share your view that one can go against "type" due to other considerations.

On the second note, Claire loves mocking her brother for any reason she can.  Much like how at the lake house party, she said that Clinton's hand fell off from wanking too much.  She likes tormenting her younger brother.  It's a thing that siblings do, no matter how hypocritical.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: eschaton on 18 Dec 2014, 18:41
My two cents as a guy whose 5'8" - just at the bottom side of average, but not quite short.

In my single life, I mostly dated short women (generally around 5'2" give or take a few inches).  But I also dated women my height or an inch or two taller a few times.  My general experience was that women on the taller side were actually pretty open to dating shorter guys, because many guys their own height wanted shorter women, and if they just stuck to guys taller than they were they'd end up ruling out a lot of potential partners.  The only women I found were really picky about not dating guys in my height range were more women who were around 5'6", because 90% of guys were their height or taller and they could "afford" to be picky.

That said, I went on a few dates with women even taller (in the 5'11" to 6' range) and I just couldn't go through with it in their cases.  I don't care one whit about if a woman is a few inches taller than I am, but once they got in that range, they started having notably larger hands than I did.  And, not to sound homophobic or anything, but just holding hands with someone with larger hands than me just skeeved me the fuck out. 
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 18 Dec 2014, 18:44
Comic's up.  I think Emily needs to spend some time considering dogs (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=787) next.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 18 Dec 2014, 18:51
Or maybe she would just rather date French guys  :-D
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Rghfrgl on 18 Dec 2014, 18:52
You can think about dogs, but there's really not much to consider. They're pretty cool.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Kugai on 18 Dec 2014, 18:53
I wonder if she considers the Lillies as well.


Things just get interestinger and interesinger.




Warning - while you were typing a new bed of Lillies was planted. You may wish to review your garden.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Method of Madness on 18 Dec 2014, 18:58
You can think about dogs, but there's really not much to consider. They're pretty cool.
And fuzzy!
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: bhtooefr on 18 Dec 2014, 19:02
For what it's worth, as a 6'1" guy... I find that my aesthetic preferences are somewhere around 5'0"-5'4". However, I certainly find women outside of that range attractive (and in my case, it's not even a "women should be tiny and weak and submissive" thing, I think my aesthetic preferences in general are just heavily influenced by one particular woman in my past - the rest of my preferences tend to be for women who are smarter than me and could kick my ass (which isn't hard, but...))

And, I've not really had to deal with the practicalities of a big height difference, although with the woman in my past (who was like 5'1" or 5'2"), I doubt it would've been an issue.

As far as dating someone taller than me... that would just be weird. I'm used to being one of the taller people in an environment, and at most having to look levelish at people, so looking up at someone is something that I find strange in all human interactions.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 18 Dec 2014, 19:12
So, Emily doesn't know what her type is?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: MrNumbers on 18 Dec 2014, 19:17
You're being needlessly cruel Claire. Just think of all your brother's wonderful redeeming qualities like...

... like...

Like his... hand?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 18 Dec 2014, 19:20
Hey, it probably has some...interesting...settings...
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Method of Madness on 18 Dec 2014, 19:22
So, Emily doesn't know what her type is?
I don't know what my type is.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: hedgie on 18 Dec 2014, 19:22
Helvetica?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: jwhouk on 18 Dec 2014, 19:24
Tahoma. Definitely Tahoma.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Method of Madness on 18 Dec 2014, 19:25
You guys know me better than I know myself apparently :P
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Undrneath on 18 Dec 2014, 19:33
I'm more of a Times New Roman kinda guy myself
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Neko_Ali on 18 Dec 2014, 19:44
What, no love for Comic Sans?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: wlewisiii on 18 Dec 2014, 20:06
I'm more of a Times New Roman kinda guy myself

Heh.

I actually do prefer this typeface to others. For whatever reason I find it soothing to read a book printed in it.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 18 Dec 2014, 20:09
So, Emily doesn't know what her type is?

Now that I think of it, Emily is probably Wing-dings.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: DSL on 18 Dec 2014, 20:12
I kern see this leading to a font of puns, and justifiably so.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: explicit on 18 Dec 2014, 20:35
So, Emily doesn't know what her type is?
I don't know what my type is.

My type usually includes a vagina. But I don't want to limit to myself.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: DrBear on 18 Dec 2014, 20:43
What, no love for Comic Sans?
To quote Steve Landesberg, "You and I have nothing to say to each other."

----
(the context-on "Barney Miller," intellectual Dietrich (Landesberg) is waxing eloquent about the comedic genius of the Three Stooges, especially Curly. Wojo (Max Gail) breaks in with "I like the ones with Shemp," causing the above quote.)
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: LeeC on 18 Dec 2014, 20:44
Can't help feel like Claire is being mean about her brother.  Like seriously.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: celticgeek on 18 Dec 2014, 20:58
I considered The Frogs today:  "Brekekekčx-koŕx-koáx"  ( Aristophanes)
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: lot_jockey on 18 Dec 2014, 22:06
Can't help feel like Claire is being mean about her brother.  Like seriously.

Yeah, it's not a good look. She's not being supportive of her brother at all. I wonder what Marten thinks about this?

As a side note, Jeph has done a great job drawing Claire's face the past few days.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Rghfrgl on 18 Dec 2014, 22:26
In her defense I have it on good authority that brothers are all big smelly jerks.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Gladstone on 18 Dec 2014, 22:29
I am a brother and I can verify this.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 18 Dec 2014, 23:24
Can't help feel like Claire is being mean about her brother.  Like seriously.

Claire has a big disadvantage: Clinton is her brother and, consequently, she will always see him through the prism of their siblinghood, both positively and negatively. Simply put, the fact that he's her little brother means, to a certain extent, she will always see him as that little boy with a smear of dirt on his nose who pestered her when she was younger.

I'm wondering if Emily and Marten will enable Claire to see Clinton from an outsider's perspective and thus see him without her sibling preconceptions.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Nepiophage on 18 Dec 2014, 23:33
So, Emily doesn't know what her type is?

Now that I think of it, Emily is probably Wing-dings.

Or Miskatonic (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1753)
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 19 Dec 2014, 00:04
In her defense I have it on good authority that brothers are all big smelly jerks.
I am a brother and I can verify this.

As a little brother I would like to state:
All brothers = Sweaty jerks
Some brothers =/= big
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: SubaruStephen on 19 Dec 2014, 00:12
In her defense I have it on good authority that brothers are all big smelly jerks.

They are?

*is an Only Child*
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: snubnose on 19 Dec 2014, 00:15
*shrug*

I'm the second tallest and oldest of my siblings, three brothers and one sister.

Well, my oldest brother is a jerk, though definitely not smelly, rather the exact opposite.

All other siblings are super nice.

Then again I have the easiest time to talk with my oldest brother. Simply because he talks a lot.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Lubricus on 19 Dec 2014, 00:21
My brother is eight years younger than me, smells nice, and is a really good guy. Does that mean I am the big, smelly jerk?  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 19 Dec 2014, 00:26
It's worth remembering how difficult Claire and Clinton's relationship is. Because of this, Claire has a hard time imagining anyone being interested in him 'that way'. It's purely a personal flaw. As I've said, Emily and Marten may help broaden her perspectives and step beyond her prejudices. As Emily said, it's something to consider!
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Lubricus on 19 Dec 2014, 00:30
Consider Phlebas!
He was once handsome and tall as you

Sorry, I couldn't resist...
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Storel on 19 Dec 2014, 00:42
Consider the ant, thou sluggard...
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Doc on 19 Dec 2014, 00:53
Frogs don't like to be considered.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 19 Dec 2014, 01:00
(When I) Consider everything that grows
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: swapna on 19 Dec 2014, 02:41
I don't think it's a sibling-relationship or Clinton-being-redeemed-arc... it's just Claire and Clinton again, and they're not.. much... fun...
They're just not nice. I mean, Clinton is pretty much established as a jerk (sometimes well-meaning, but.. you know.. treating Hanners and Claire the way he did is creepy and/or patronising).

Claire herself is also not really a nice person. One thing is the way she treats her brother - she's the older one, she should be more mature and help Clinton be a better person instead of just making unhelpful jokes (Yes, jokes have their place in a sibling relationship, but so has helpful advice and support. And also calling out when they behave like patronising jerks.). She's also not really nice with the rest of the cast - she's got not much of a filter, but expects everybody else to be on best behaviour (as evidenced by her freaking out by.. Clinton not having a filter).
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: snubnose on 19 Dec 2014, 02:47
Besides - what IS Emily's type, anyway ?  :-o :?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Loki on 19 Dec 2014, 03:51
What, no love for Comic Sans?
No one loves Comic Sans. Except legasthenics.

You can think about dogs, but there's really not much to consider. They're pretty cool.

Quote from: Audrey Huxley
Whereas (his voice became confidential and eager), if they could discover a technique for shortening the period of maturation what a triumph, what a benefaction to Society!

"Consider the horse."

They considered it.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: pwhodges on 19 Dec 2014, 04:02
What, no love for Comic Sans?

Faye wants a word with you. (http://bancomicsans.com/main/pdf/bunnypunch.pdf)

(Don't tell her, but I quite like it actually.)
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Zebediah on 19 Dec 2014, 04:14
My type is O negative. The Red Cross loves me.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: BenRG on 19 Dec 2014, 04:37
I still think Claire's behaviour is very interesting. Notice the first thing she said to Emily was: "Thank you for putting up with my brother." Her first assumption is that Clinton had made himself a pest and that Emily had been inconvenienced by him. Then, in panel 3, she immediately assumes that Emily's puzzlment means that doesn't want to 'hang out' with him and offers to tell him to back off.

What do we learn? Fundamentally, Claire doesn't like Clinton very much and can't see why anyone else would want to spend time with him. It's sad but, sometimes, siblings just end up this way. Claire doesn't really like Clinton. Clinton doesn't really trust Claire to be able to look after her own best interests (these two issues possibly being related and feeding off of each other). I could see a future situation where they basically drift out of contact and don't worry about it too much because they don't feel the need to be in contact.

Finally: Well, of course Emily doesn't really know 'her type'. Since when has she had the chance to find out what 'her type' is? I wonder how Clinton will react to being an experimental subject?
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: jwhouk on 19 Dec 2014, 05:37
What, no love for Comic Sans?

Faye would like to have a word with you.

EDIT: DANGIT! Ninja'd by an old timer! ;)
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 19 Dec 2014, 05:59
I would remind everyone to B+ about what people's types are and the fonts they are in

EDIT: Grammar
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ZoeB on 19 Dec 2014, 06:11
Claire - you're falling into a stereotype. Yes, I know sisters are supposed to behave like that to brothers, and brothers are supposed to expect that. I know that given your unusual history together it might even be seen by both of you as affirming reality, but it doesn't have to be like that. Those stereotypes are best left in SitComs and rancid old movies.

You can be nonconforming to the stereotype, and still not be outcast. So can your weird brother, who's had to live much of his life being different, what with the loss of his hand and all. His act of rebellion is not to kowtow to society, and wear a synthetic flesh covering, but to be out'n'proud. To make a virtue of necessity, throwing it in the face of all those who teased him about it.

Not every girl in your situation has a brother who sees her as just a pesky teasing sister. You should thank your lucky stars for him, pain in the petunias though he may be sometimes.

Sticking out your tongue like that is permissible. Being catty is not.

Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ZoeB on 19 Dec 2014, 06:16
I would remind everyone to B+ about what people's types are and the fonts they are in

I always wondered why they put my blood group in my school reports for some subjects. A+

And since it's nearly Christmas....

(http://25.media.tumblr.com/32075a1c149c5ebe19d062456b6e0457/tumblr_mfkefxYyTj1rhpn4yo1_400.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: valkygrrl on 19 Dec 2014, 06:54
Oh nos, down in history :(
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: jwhouk on 19 Dec 2014, 07:03
Oh nos, down in history :(

PHWEEET!

"Valkygrrl, four minute double minor, double punning!"

Go to penalty box, feel shame.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: cesium133 on 19 Dec 2014, 07:07
You know, "he'll go down in history" could also be read as innuendo...  :roll:
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: MooskiNet on 19 Dec 2014, 07:45
Sticking out your tongue like that is permissible. Being catty is not.

Amateur psych mode engaged:

I think Claire is taking the validation she's received as a result of being Marten's nominal girlfriend as an indicator that she's climbed a ladder that her brother is still standing at the bottom of.  Like everyone else in the QC verse, she's got some growing to do, and realizing that finding a romantic partner doesn't make her better than her brother is probably going to be part of that growth.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Neko_Ali on 19 Dec 2014, 07:55
I really don't see that, Mooski. I mean the theory could be valid except we've seen that this is how she treats Clinton all the time. To her, he is her annoying brother to be tolerated, even if he is really weird. And he's 'really fun to pick on'. I don't see this as any different that she's ever been towards him. She just can't see him any other way than through her own personal lens, so the idea that someone might be interested in him romantically is just to weird for her.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: MooskiNet on 19 Dec 2014, 08:07
I really don't see that, Mooski. I mean the theory could be valid except we've seen that this is how she treats Clinton all the time. To her, he is her annoying brother to be tolerated, even if he is really weird. And he's 'really fun to pick on'. I don't see this as any different that she's ever been towards him. She just can't see him any other way than through her own personal lens, so the idea that someone might be interested in him romantically is just to weird for her.

True, she's been generally nasty to him in all but a few of the interactions they've had, but I'm seeing a "nyah nyah nyah" aspect to it that didn't exist before - panel two of yesterday's (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2858) comic probably has a lot to do with it.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Natswash on 19 Dec 2014, 08:29
I really don't see that, Mooski. I mean the theory could be valid except we've seen that this is how she treats Clinton all the time. To her, he is her annoying brother to be tolerated, even if he is really weird. And he's 'really fun to pick on'. I don't see this as any different that she's ever been towards him. She just can't see him any other way than through her own personal lens, so the idea that someone might be interested in him romantically is just to weird for her.

True, she's been generally nasty to him in all but a few of the interactions they've had, but I'm seeing a "nyah nyah nyah" aspect to it that didn't exist before - panel two of yesterday's (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2858) comic probably has a lot to do with it.

Jeph could still be working out their relationship to his satisfaction
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Half Empty Coffee Cup on 19 Dec 2014, 09:27
Eh. Nobody hates each other quite like siblings. I don't think I'll ever be able to look at my brother without having, in the back of my mind, every moment he wrestled me to the ground. Every moment he got away scot free. Every moment he forced a choice on me through being stubborn. Every moment he made into a competition when it wasn't. Every moment he confounded me with pareidolia (he's falling into a the-world-will-end-soon mindset).

Frankly, if I ever have a family, he won't be allowed to see them. The past haunts the present.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: bhtooefr on 19 Dec 2014, 09:40
Also, regarding the comments that Claire is being hypocritical by height-cracking on someone the same height as her... There are differing societal implications to their respective heights due to their different genders. Claire is short, but not abnormally so for a woman (and her dating a taller partner is also societally normal for her gender), whereas Clinton is abnormally short, and Emily seems to be abnormally tall combined with it being societally abnormal for a man to date a taller woman.

That doesn't make it right for Claire to do that (it's still punching down), but it's not exactly hypocritical.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Emperor Norton on 19 Dec 2014, 10:04
I honestly don't see either of them as being problematically nasty towards the other. Just seems like normal siblings, especially ones that haven't lived apart for a significant period of time. I don't know if Clinton lives at home still, but even if he doesn't, he would have only been out of the house at most like 3 years, and we know that Claire still lives at home (I'd bet that Clinton still lives at home as well). They've never moved to the point where they have enough personal space to experience not seeing each other every day. That is usually where you start seeing your sibling as less "annoying little bother".
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: questionablydiscontent on 19 Dec 2014, 10:27
Consider a drama about an ex-fed trying to capture a modern-day Charles Manson.


















(http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/634/985/2d7.gif)
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Rghfrgl on 19 Dec 2014, 10:43
In seriousness I thought yesterday Claire was fine while today not as much. She's pretty quick to try and throw a wrench in the date she set up. Which means the whole point was to have a laugh rather than set him up(As opposed to have a laugh AND set him up).

I'm not going to start hating Claire because of it. Clinton's slut shamed Claire and has been controlling(If unsuccessfully so). But I wouldn't mind some development from it. I'd love if Marten or Emily called her on it(Maybe it could be Marten and Claire's first fight) and it lead to Claire and Clinton talking things out.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: kiss-o-kill on 19 Dec 2014, 11:45
oh hey remember how Cute and Quirky it was when Raven spent the morning considering dogs? they even rhyme!! wow!!! quirky!!!!!
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Kugai on 19 Dec 2014, 13:18
Just my 2 Shekels worth.....




My guess is that Claire and Clintons relationship has gone through a lot of ups and downs

Remember, Claire started out as Clintons older brother, and depending on how things went down after Claire 'Came out' and how it went down when she began her transition from male to female, it probably had some effect on their relationship - good or bad.

It may be that this is normal for them, a sort of 'Default' setting that has grown up over the years as a way for Clinton to cope with the change and for Claire to deal with whatever shit she may have gone through with both him and others.

Don't forget too, Clinton has shown a protective streak towards Claire, so whatever went on before she came onto the scene in the Comic, they have, I think, settled things between each other.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 19 Dec 2014, 13:33
Wow

Many hate

Much comment

Wow


In soviet Russia, Dog considers you.

It seems likely to me that Claire is just honestly surprised that Emily isn't rejecting Clinton.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 19 Dec 2014, 13:50
(he's falling into a the-world-will-end-soon mindset)
The world ends every Planck Second and is rebuilt anew for the next one. Truly, Time is the most powerful (and, by a very large margin the busiest) of all the remaining gods. Fortunately for the continued integrity of the universe, she is also the most widely worshipped; after all, nearly every person of every culture, anywhere, carries an icon of their devotion to Her everywhere with them, and most have several in their homes…
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Blackbird on 19 Dec 2014, 13:54
I think one thing that's being glossed over is that this is Claire talking to Emily, who from what we've seen is by far her closest female friend.  If Claire were talking to anyone else, I'd agree, she's being a bitch to Clinton, but in this case, I don't see it.  It reads more like she's trying to defuse a potentially disastrous situation between two people she cares about alot (with a little bit of "my bff is too good for my dorky little brother" thrown in), not just being a jerk to be a jerk.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Emperor Norton on 19 Dec 2014, 14:00
In seriousness I thought yesterday Claire was fine while today not as much. She's pretty quick to try and throw a wrench in the date she set up. Which means the whole point was to have a laugh rather than set him up(As opposed to have a laugh AND set him up).

I'm not going to start hating Claire because of it. Clinton's slut shamed Claire and has been controlling(If unsuccessfully so). But I wouldn't mind some development from it. I'd love if Marten or Emily called her on it(Maybe it could be Marten and Claire's first fight) and it lead to Claire and Clinton talking things out.

Did I miss a comic, I don't remember this at all? (bolded part, I added the bolding).
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: NemoX on 19 Dec 2014, 14:43
Woot! Finals are done and I can once again catch up on QC and what do I find? shenanigans!

I mean, it was established before that Clinton had somewhat accepted our boy protagonist as being a nice enough guy, but even so, I think he seemed to take it a lot better than was expected. He obviously learned second hand about Claire and Marten so I'm assuming maybe Clairemom, along with a warning speech about him making a big deal out of it. Otherwise I'd AT LEAST expect the very normal and understandable amicable face in front of sister, while pulling the boyfriend aside and telling him "take care of her/don't hurt her or else". Because let's be honest, its what happens most of the time irl so one can't even argue it'd be cliche'd.

that said....

Quote
In seriousness I thought yesterday Claire was fine while today not as much. She's pretty quick to try and throw a wrench in the date she set up. Which means the whole point was to have a laugh rather than set him up(As opposed to have a laugh AND set him up).

^ this

tho I doubt Marten would argue with Claire about anything in this respect since well, it was kinda his idea after all.
Also, I don't remember the name of the guy that originally came to confiscate Pintsize's laser, but I wonder if it was also him who contacted Emily with her satellite software.
 
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Rghfrgl on 19 Dec 2014, 14:48
Quote
Did I miss a comic, I don't remember this at all? (bolded part, I added the bolding).

Guilting her for getting drunk at the wedding.

If I'm using the term right? My understanding being it's not really being about actually being or not being a slut, but holding women to a unreasonable standard that you can't really meet unless you like never leave the house.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Neko_Ali on 19 Dec 2014, 15:37
Not really using the term correctly. He wasn't angry at Claire because she might have done something with Marten. He was angry and concerned that she got drunk with a bunch of people she didn't know besides Marten. His concern that she let down her guard to much, and as a trans person that could have ended very badly. Though honestly, it wouldn't have been likely to with that group. And you don't have to be trans to get into trouble while drunk. But that was the implication behind their conversation. Especially given that Claire commented right after that she understands the danger she lives with every day, thank you very much over protective little brother.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Estron on 19 Dec 2014, 15:50
I have read the best expression over in the DoA comments:

"Ship sunk by canon fire."
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: ZoeB on 19 Dec 2014, 17:09
Oh nos, down in history :(

+1 for getting it so quickly. I wasn't expecting such a swift reply.  (APPLAUSE)
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: valkygrrl on 19 Dec 2014, 18:11
Just lucky timing. My email beeped to tell me I had a PM and that brought me to the forum right around when you posted.
Title: Re: WCDT December 15-19, 2014 (2855-2859)
Post by: Storel on 20 Dec 2014, 09:58
I honestly don't see either of them as being problematically nasty towards the other. Just seems like normal siblings, especially ones that haven't lived apart for a significant period of time. I don't know if Clinton lives at home still, but even if he doesn't, he would have only been out of the house at most like 3 years, and we know that Claire still lives at home (I'd bet that Clinton still lives at home as well). They've never moved to the point where they have enough personal space to experience not seeing each other every day. That is usually where you start seeing your sibling as less "annoying little bother".

Exactly. I'm beginning to think most of the people here have either never had siblings, or at least have never had a sibling relationship that wasn't totally dysfunctional. My twin sister and I were totally like Clinton and Claire when we were both still living at home. We got along much better the more distance there was between us. But even at our worst, we knew we could always count on the other to back us up against anyone else, and we always loved each other. (Even when sometimes we didn't LIKE each other much.)

I think people are blowing Claire's "nastiness" totally out of proportion. This is not a "sitcom" sibling relationship, this is a perfectly normal sibling relationship. We've seen moments of affection between them both. And yeah, sometimes it sounded kind of grudging, but that's how you talk to people you have a long-term, somewhat snarky, somewhat adversarial relationship with. You don't want to sound too "mushy" with your brother or sister, so you couch the affection as reluctant or grudging, but the other person can tell by your tone that there's' real affection underneath. And tone is the one thing Jeph can't show in a webcomic. Chill out, people.