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Comic Discussion => QUESTIONABLE CONTENT => Topic started by: BenRG on 26 Mar 2017, 13:22

Title: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 26 Mar 2017, 13:22
As is my new policy in this sort of poll, I'm giving two choices as Jeph sometimes switches gear mid-week.

What do I think? I think that Jeph may have us follow up Brün's sweet but generally-useless attempt to help Renee with her ability to interact with other people. Something tells me that having a tag-along who constantly tells people stuff like "What she means is..." and "I apologise for my friend; she cannot interact with her own species" won't make Renee's day any easier.

I'm also wondering if we might get a bit of Bubbles introspection about whether she needs to open up more to the world (both literally and figuratively). However, that would be a full week arc at least. I really hope that, if Jeph does follow this direction, we get to see the space-age cardigan in all its glory!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Kugai on 26 Mar 2017, 14:33
I suspect we'll see more of the Renee/Elliott Show intersperses with quick trips to Bubble,Faye and Pintsize.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Method of Madness on 26 Mar 2017, 20:16
Renelliot? I'm not shipping them, it just flows nicely. Also Brun learned how to make a joke! I think. Probably. Yeah, that guy's dead.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: JimC on 26 Mar 2017, 20:33
Yeah, that guy's dead.
Moment of black humour...
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Storel on 26 Mar 2017, 22:17
Just FYI, there is no umlaut in Brun's name.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: jheartney on 26 Mar 2017, 22:25
This is Brun's second humorous grotesque in which the comic ends with a female character shouting for it to stop. (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3430) heh heh heh
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Kugai on 26 Mar 2017, 22:56
BRUN!!!

Mind you, she naver said she was responsible for his death.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 26 Mar 2017, 23:29
Something tells me that Brun really needs to learn to express herself with more detail when it comes to certain matters. I'm pretty sure that she didn't mean that to sound like it meant what it sounds like it meant. I think. Come to think of it, she might enjoy being ambiguous when it comes to these things!

Brun, I'm wondering if you're only good at spotting creeps, not people who are genuinely interested in you. The former is a barkeep's survival skill, after all.

Yes, this one could get very, very complicated in the sense of 'romantic triangle with two competing Cyrano de Bergeracs' complicated!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: shanejayell on 26 Mar 2017, 23:40
.....

Well, that's a thing.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: jheartney on 27 Mar 2017, 00:27
Two possibilities:

1. Brun is an as-yet uncaught serial murderer (heh heh heh) (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3301) which explains the instant harpoon threat, as well as this supposedly dead dude who came on to her at the bar. Her blank affect masks a violent history.

2. Brun has a desert-dry humorous sensibility, and likes play-acting implied violent scenarios for fun (again, the harpoon; the leg cutoff business; today's tale of a dead creep at the bar).

Personally I'm leaning to 2.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: cesium133 on 27 Mar 2017, 05:05
Nah, I don't think it's possibility 1. This comic already has a cereal killer.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: brasca on 27 Mar 2017, 05:34
BRUN!!!

Mind you, she naver said she was responsible for his death.

I'm more curious as to whether it was the dude who claimed to have jacked off a dophin. 
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: cesium133 on 27 Mar 2017, 05:55
Nah, Dolphin Jack's still alive, last we checked (http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3248).
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: brasca on 27 Mar 2017, 14:06
Yes, but that was weeks ago, he might have recently died.  Perhaps while trying to fulfill his dream. 
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Storel on 27 Mar 2017, 14:49
Yes, but that was weeks ago, he might have recently died.  Perhaps while trying to fulfill his dream.

One can always hope.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Thrillho on 27 Mar 2017, 15:10
I think if I knew Brun in real life, I would fall crazy in love with the poor girl. She's swell, and hilarious, and strong.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Perfectly Reasonable on 27 Mar 2017, 17:39
Just FYI, there is no umlaut in Brun's name.

'Brün' is short for 'Brünhilde', you know.
(It's not my fault Jeph is too mingy to buy umlauts.)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Gyrre on 27 Mar 2017, 20:29
Bubbles, I believe you mean 'false dichotomy'.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: jheartney on 27 Mar 2017, 20:34
So the Peaches 'n Bubbles Robot Chop Shop will at last become a thing. Booyah!

Never heard of sploshing till this strip. While on the one hand I could happily have gone the rest of my days without discovering it, it seems harmless albeit wasteful.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Carl-E on 27 Mar 2017, 20:51
I guess, for Jeremy and Seven at least, some hands = handsome. 



I - I'm so sorry.  I'll just show myself out, now...
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: blee on 27 Mar 2017, 20:54
I do like Brun as well, and I do want to find out what her deal is... there is definitely a whole lot more going on there than we can see.

However, am I the only one who wants to see more Marten and Claire? I am just waiting for something to go horribly wrong between them, because it has been a while since I've cried over something that happens in a webcomic.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Storel on 27 Mar 2017, 20:58
Just FYI, there is no umlaut in Brun's name.

'Brün' is short for 'Brünhilde', you know.
(It's not my fault Jeph is too mingy to buy umlauts.)

I'm aware what it's short for. But when the person in question (Brun herself) does not spell or pronounce her name with an umlaut, I believe it behooves the rest of us to respect her wishes.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: cowtown on 27 Mar 2017, 21:06
Never heard of sploshing till this strip. While on the one hand I could happily have gone the rest of my days without discovering it, it seems harmless albeit wasteful.

You've never heard of Hoboken squat cobbler? Full moon moon pie? Boston cream splat?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Rincewind on 27 Mar 2017, 21:28
Hmmm.  It looks like my Social Interaction Challenge for today is to work Hoboken Squat Cobbler into a conversation.  :?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Sullivan on 27 Mar 2017, 22:05
Spoiler (but not for QC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41QTbnAlP60 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MkuHwpVA64
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Kugai on 27 Mar 2017, 23:13
Comic's up

And I think Bubbles would prefer the former

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 27 Mar 2017, 23:26
Global Moderator Comment So as to fix a typo in the subject line, i started a new empty thread with the correct information and will try a merge. Anything that goes wrong as a result is my fault.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 27 Mar 2017, 23:36
Jeremy and Seven are so cute and sweet together that they're turning into a real hazard for causing cavities!

Now, we have an interesting little detail here. Notice that Seven's face plate has gone pink. I wonder if that's her equivalent of blushing? I don't think we've ever had it established if this emulation of human subconscious emotional indications is conscious, programmed or, much like lots of behavioural emotional indicators in humans, learned from interaction. I think that the fact that Bubbles experiences them suggests that it certainly isn't conscious; can you imagine her consciously choosing to blush or look awkward and embarrassed?

I think I'm with Bubbles on this. She and Faye do not have only this or entering the sex industry as incoming-earning options. That said, you do have to wonder if this is something Faye has considered before in previous low ebbs in her life. I also wonder if Faye realises just how difficult it will be to start a business - The licenses, the qualification and the insurance. They're going to need an investor to help them set up!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: pwhodges on 27 Mar 2017, 23:56
'Brün' is short for 'Brünhilde', you know.

Spellings vary, you know.  Older sources (in German, that is) tend to have the name without the umlaut, and before the "u" it had a "y" (from Norse sources); it also comes with one or two "n"s, and other variants.  Given that people often use names in variant or archaic forms, there is no justification to trying to insist on an umlaut in this case.

Another name that may have an umlaut or not is Gunt(h)er.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: starkaudio on 28 Mar 2017, 04:55
Just an observation: If today's strip (tuesday) could be subtitled "Leg Meat".
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Method of Madness on 28 Mar 2017, 05:05
Global Moderator Comment So as to fix a typo in the subject line, i started a new empty thread with the correct information and will try a merge. Anything that goes wrong as a result is my fault.
That's how I always change titles. Looks like it turned out ok.

Also, Dubious Binary would make a good band name.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: brasca on 28 Mar 2017, 05:21
So the Peaches 'n Bubbles Robot Chop Shop will at last become a thing. Booyah!

Never heard of sploshing till this strip. While on the one hand I could happily have gone the rest of my days without discovering it, it seems harmless albeit wasteful.

I'm more curious about whether Faye learned about this on her own or if she found Pintsize's browsing history. 
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Orannis on 28 Mar 2017, 08:39
GFDI I think we know exactly what pics are gonna spawn on paheal after this one. The only question is whether this was a devious plot by Jeph to get art of Bubbles and Faye sitting on cakes.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Morituri on 28 Mar 2017, 10:54
Here's an amusing, possible scenario.  I suppose I could write it as a fanfic, but for now it's just an amusement.

Her parents, Onald and Martha, happened to deliver Brunhilde at a hospital in America where, like most Americans, the person running the records system had no notion of how to enter a ü at the computer keyboard, and wouldn't have considered the lack of an umlaut to be a misspelling anyway.  So, her birth certificate name is actually Brunhilde.  Her parents, again like most Americans, didn't really notice or take seriously that kind of spelling variation, calling her Brünhilde until, aged seven, she came home from school one day after a class in phonics, and announced to her father that they had been mispronouncing her name for her entire life. 

Onald, considering this, sees that his daughter is not particularly upset about it, and knows from earlier investigations that attempting to change it will involve, at the very least, some administrative fees, logistical difficulties in their schedules, and probably some tedious standing on queue in some dusty government building somewhere, an activity which he passionately hates.  So, forthwith he apologizes to Brunhilde for mispronouncing her name for her first seven years and considers the matter settled.

Martha, when she gets home that evening, is less sanguine about the whole matter, and begins to raise a protest.  Then Onald fixes her gaze with a stern eye and explains why he knows what the name change entails.  On his own, handwritten, birth certificate, there is an odd squiggle in front of his name.  His father had always maintained that it was intended to be a 'D', and his mother had claimed she wanted it to be an 'R', and finally, when recording the birth on their tax forms that year, they had dropped it altogether leaving him with the part of the name that both could agree on.  Later in life, at various moments when officials had looked at his actual birth certificate for various reasons, no-one had been confident enough of their reading of the squiggle to put an extra letter in front of his name if he wouldn't tell them what it was, so Onald he had remained.... 



It is telling that my own computer's spelling dictionary, set to American standard spellings, has placed a red squiggle under 'Brünhilde' above but accepts 'Brunhilde' as perfectly correct.

Short version though; her parents were American, and Americans, having invented typewriters with limited keyboards and later developed them into computers with limited character sets, have been dropping diacritics and accents without a second thought for generations now.  Even though modern computers make them available, Americans are simply accustomed to their absence.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Morituri on 28 Mar 2017, 12:50
On investigation, it appears to actually be standard in much of the US that diacriticals of any kind are off-limits for birth certificates.

There's no federal law on the matter, but various states have various laws and in some cases just acknowledged limitations of their data systems that they've decided don't need fixing.

https://www.thebump.com/a/baby-name-rules (https://www.thebump.com/a/baby-name-rules)

I particularly like Vermont:  “You may use trademarked names (IBM), diseases (Anthrax), and obscenities, but we highly recommend against it.”

There are kids whose names are emoji now.

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: cesium133 on 28 Mar 2017, 12:53
Well, IBM would be a pretty fitting name for an infant.  :clairedoge:
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Toe on 28 Mar 2017, 14:01
GFDI I think we know exactly what pics are gonna spawn on paheal after this one. The only question is whether this was a devious plot by Jeph to get art of Bubbles and Faye sitting on cakes.

There was already a pic of Faye sitting on a cake, years and years ago. It was also used as her Twitter profile pic.

https://twitter.com/fayewhitaker

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/37/d1/6c/37d16c26a9fb5e52ccf1333aa2783718.jpg)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Zebediah on 28 Mar 2017, 14:25
On investigation, it appears to actually be standard in much of the US that diacriticals of any kind are off-limits for birth certificates.

There's no federal law on the matter, but various states have various laws and in some cases just acknowledged limitations of their data systems that they've decided don't need fixing.

https://www.thebump.com/a/baby-name-rules (https://www.thebump.com/a/baby-name-rules)

I particularly like Vermont:  “You may use trademarked names (IBM), diseases (Anthrax), and obscenities, but we highly recommend against it.”

There are kids whose names are emoji now.

A friend of mine is a social worker in North Carolina. She once told me the story of a young teenage mother she was counseling, and of her efforts to talk her client out of naming her son "Shi'thead". Pronounced "shi-THEED", according to the mother. The girl was totally unable to see what her son's name looked like without the apostrophe and would not listen to reason.

I wonder whatever became of young Shi'thead. He'd be about sixteen now.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: explicit on 28 Mar 2017, 14:38
If I learned anything from when I was twelve it's that after sitting on the cake you're supposed to fart on it.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: DonInKansas on 28 Mar 2017, 15:40
Hmmm.  It looks like my Social Interaction Challenge for today is to work Hoboken Squat Cobbler into a conversation.  :?

The comic made me feel the same way about "dubious binary."
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: brasca on 28 Mar 2017, 16:46
On investigation, it appears to actually be standard in much of the US that diacriticals of any kind are off-limits for birth certificates.

There's no federal law on the matter, but various states have various laws and in some cases just acknowledged limitations of their data systems that they've decided don't need fixing.

https://www.thebump.com/a/baby-name-rules (https://www.thebump.com/a/baby-name-rules)

I particularly like Vermont:  “You may use trademarked names (IBM), diseases (Anthrax), and obscenities, but we highly recommend against it.”

There are kids whose names are emoji now.

A friend of mine is a social worker in North Carolina. She once told me the story of a young teenage mother she was counseling, and of her efforts to talk her client out of naming her son "Shi'thead". Pronounced "shi-THEED", according to the mother. The girl was totally unable to see what her son's name looked like without the apostrophe and would not listen to reason.

I wonder whatever became of young Shi'thead. He'd be about sixteen now.

Don't know, but I think Sue can relate
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 28 Mar 2017, 17:41
Veronica Reed and Jim both have business expertise and money to invest, and Faye could go to them with less baggage than she'd have consulting Dora.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Thrudd on 28 Mar 2017, 17:50
Veronica Reed and Jim both have business expertise and money to invest, and Faye could go to them with less baggage than she'd have consulting Dora.
Also one could showcase his baking and the other her filmography  :roll:
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: cesium133 on 28 Mar 2017, 18:57
Veronica Reed and Jim both have business expertise and money to invest, and Faye could go to them with less baggage than she'd have consulting Dora.
I can imagine it now: "Are you sure you don't want to start a cake-sitting website? You'd be so good at it!"
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: shanejayell on 28 Mar 2017, 19:00
I did NOT need to have my horizons broadened like this.  :lol: :-o
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Morituri on 28 Mar 2017, 20:10

A friend of mine is a social worker in North Carolina. She once told me the story of a young teenage mother she was counseling, and of her efforts to talk her client out of naming her son "Shi'thead". Pronounced "shi-THEED", according to the mother. The girl was totally unable to see what her son's name looked like without the apostrophe and would not listen to reason.

I wonder whatever became of young Shi'thead. He'd be about sixteen now.

It's true though, that in large chunks of the mideast, Shithead (with the pronunciation as you've given it) is in fact still an unremarkable name.  It was originally Indian, but has steadily declined in popularity since the Raj - in proportion to the length of time they've been in close contact with English speaking people.

We shouldn't laugh too hard.  Remember when Bob Dole was running for president?  In Saudi Arabia, 'Dole' - the only way to write it that evokes that particular pronunciation anyway - is the word for 'penis.'  The people who had to, on one hand, do translations of the news and on the other, pass censorship restrictions, were tied up in knots about it.

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Perfectly Reasonable on 28 Mar 2017, 20:44
Clinton's attempt to say her name is 'Brooon'. Which tells me that here is indeed an umlaut involved. Like a French 'u'.
So Brün is Brün. And Renée is Renée.
And anyone who feels otherwise can go sit on a cake.

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Tova on 28 Mar 2017, 20:54
Like Jeph, you mean.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Perfectly Reasonable on 28 Mar 2017, 21:08
I believe that a proper respect for diacritics is part of what makes America great.
...
...
...
I wish to apologize to any cake-sitters I may have offended. That was crude of me. The mention in the current comic is not an excuse.

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Kugai on 28 Mar 2017, 22:58
I do believe that that is quite the smirk that Bubbles has there.


And getting business advice from Dora - she's gonna enjoy that.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Mordhaus on 28 Mar 2017, 22:58
Ok, Bubbles smirking made my day. That is all.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: brasca on 28 Mar 2017, 23:22
I do believe that that is quite the smirk that Bubbles has there.


And getting business advice from Dora - she's gonna enjoy that.

Punchbot is a CPA.  He would probably be a good source too.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Storel on 28 Mar 2017, 23:27
I do believe that that is quite the smirk that Bubbles has there.


And getting business advice from Dora - she's gonna enjoy that.

Punchbot is a CPA.  He would probably be a good source too.

Especially since he's just starting the process of opening a legitimate business at the former skate rink. Not only will he be up on the latest regulations and permits, he may be interested in working out a business relationship with their repair business.

And yes, Bubbles's amused smile made my day.  8-)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 28 Mar 2017, 23:31
Something tells me that one of the big burdens Bubbles is going to have is stopping Faye from rushing off and doing things that she isn't ready (or even able) to do without forethought. This does seem to be a problem Faye has: "I have a great idea so I'm going to implement it now and my friends will back me up, even though I haven't discussed it with them, because it is a great idea!" It isn't malice, it's just over-enthusiasm. We've seen it manifested in many ways since the Time Skip, almost all of them turning out to be imposing on poor Bubbles in some way.

Based on panel 4, Bubbles is looking forward to Faye being the one reduced to squirming embarrassment for once. I'm pretty sure that Faye is worried about nothing but, as FDR said, fear is the worst thing you can fear.

A couple of interesting background events:

Panel 1: I think that the Jet Roomba has developed a taste for killing birds; it's pursuing yet another pidgeon in the upper-right corner.

Panel 2: You know, Bubbles was right, she makes just as many AIs nervous as she does humans! Just dig Blue Hair's nervous glance!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: jheartney on 28 Mar 2017, 23:45
There are both books and websites with plentiful advice on starting a business. Bubbles and Faye will need a space, tools, insurance and an LLC designation for their new entity. They'll want waiver forms for customers to fill out giving them permission to work on their chassis, not to mention inventory and billing software. They'll need to hire an attorney to set up the LLC and a CPA (hello Punchbot) to do (at a minimum) taxes. They'll need either a commercial small business loan to start up (meaning they'll need to write a business plan that'll pass muster at a bank), or find an investor or investors, or do a kickstarter of some sort.

There's a great starter space at the skating rink complete with tools, not to mention foot traffic from a great potential customer base. Bubbles may need to swallow her pride and use that space to start.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Tova on 28 Mar 2017, 23:53
That grin makes me think of May.

Many small businesses fail. They have much homework to do.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: JimC on 28 Mar 2017, 23:54
Clinton's attempt to say her name is 'Brooon'. Which tells me that here is indeed an umlaut involved.
In my experience in Britain there are people who pronounce their names any way they like, and why the hell not. If Brun wants a u as in super why the hell should she need to indulge in keyboard gymnastics or explain umlouts?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Perfectly Reasonable on 29 Mar 2017, 00:24
Exactly! I was thinking 'umlaut-deniers', but I like 'umlouts'. The question was how others should see her name as written. And have a chance of saying it properly.


Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Skewbrow on 29 Mar 2017, 01:01
I do believe that that is quite the smirk that Bubbles has there.


And getting business advice from Dora - she's gonna enjoy that.

Punchbot is a CPA.  He would probably be a good source too.

Quite. It may mean that Faye should stop drawing youknowwhat in his face though. As in starting last week.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 29 Mar 2017, 01:24
Quite. It may mean that Faye should stop drawing youknowwhat in his face though. As in starting last week.

It's a mistake to try to anticipate a personality as... unique as Punchbot. I find it plausible that he considers Faye's face-art to be an act of affection.

He may be right.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Shjade on 29 Mar 2017, 01:36
Bubbles' schadenfreude face in panel 4 is the best.

That is all.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Zog on 29 Mar 2017, 02:07
Bubbles' smile in panel four makes me happy.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: JoeCovenant on 29 Mar 2017, 02:54
We've seen it manifested in many ways since the Time Skip, almost all of them turning out to be imposing on poor Bubbles in some way...



WHooaaaaaa!!

"Time Skip"? (titled, no less!)

Have I missed something glaringly obvious?

(wouldn't be the first time!)


Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 29 Mar 2017, 03:10
"Time Skip"? (titled, no less!)

Have I missed something glaringly obvious?

(wouldn't be the first time!)

In "Been A While, I Guess" (Strip 3126 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3126)), the strip jumps forwards about three in-universe months from late summer to late autumn.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: JoeCovenant on 29 Mar 2017, 03:19
"Time Skip"? (titled, no less!)

Have I missed something glaringly obvious?

(wouldn't be the first time!)

In "Been A While, I Guess" (Strip 3126 (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3126)), the strip jumps forwards about three in-universe months from late summer to late autumn.

Well... there y'go!
The things you miss when binge reading...!

(But, on the other hand ! BEMBO!!!  "HAAAAMMMM!!!")  :)

(And I preferred those Dora and Emily models...)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: TinPenguin on 29 Mar 2017, 04:26
I coulda sworn that time-skip was only a little while ago, but it was 2015?! Did I have my own time-skip?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Method of Madness on 29 Mar 2017, 05:08
I have moments like that often. It makes me realize I've been part of this forum for a lot longer than I realized (and I've been a mod for five years, holy shit).
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: shanejayell on 29 Mar 2017, 07:28
*guiltily admits to not noticing the time skip*

 :-\
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Rincewind on 29 Mar 2017, 08:15
Bubbles smile and the positioning of her hands and arms kinda has a "saucy" feel.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Magniras on 29 Mar 2017, 10:55
The cutest smile I've seen in this strip. I want to protect that smile.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: heyjames4 on 29 Mar 2017, 13:40
Haven't posted in weeks.
I really like the composition of the panels in 3448.
Kudos to Jeph for keeping up art challenge self
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Kugai on 29 Mar 2017, 16:59
Jeph occasionally sticks in a Temporal Shift when he wants to shift the Comic along a bit and/or decides to 'Shift Gears'.  It tends to  happen in periods of Non Connected Storylines.I think the last shift was about the third one Ives seen here since I started reading the Comic.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: shanejayell on 29 Mar 2017, 17:59
Yeah, there was another short time skip when Faye went to work for Corpse Witch. We saw over several panels Faye change her look over time...
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Method of Madness on 29 Mar 2017, 18:34
Wait, I thought that was the skip we were talking about.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: blt on 29 Mar 2017, 19:12
I didn't notice the Rocket Roomba in Panel 1 until the third or fourth time I passed by the page lol.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Stoutfellow on 29 Mar 2017, 19:51
Comic's up!

Looking at panel 2, I have to wonder just how sharp Bubbles' hearing is.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Method of Madness on 29 Mar 2017, 20:03
Considering the question mark, pretty sharp.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Penquin47 on 29 Mar 2017, 21:51
Spookybutt is back!  Yay!  Friendship restored!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: brasca on 29 Mar 2017, 23:19
The attraction must be obvious if Dora noticed in the limited amount of times they've visited.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 29 Mar 2017, 23:24
Just to make the nightmare worse, that wall o'text Dora just uttered is only the basic summary! Like she said, Faye will probably need some closet space in which to cry about the whole mess!

Spookybutt is back!  Yay!  Friendship restored!

Oh, the friendship was restored a long time ago; no, Faye uses a nickname here because she's nervous and is trying to cover it with aggressive behaviour.

The attraction must be obvious if Dora noticed in the limited amount of times they've visited.

I've got the feeling that it is a topic of gossip in Coffee of Doom! Hell there may even be a staff pool going over whether it's Bubbles or Faye who makes the first move and when!

Of course, nothing happens in a vacuum. I've got the feeling that Bubbles heard that and it is going to be another thing for her to ponder about Faye's behaviour. Inadvertently, Dora may have rigged the game and made it more likely that someone does something!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: anahata on 29 Mar 2017, 23:28
The attraction must be obvious if Dora noticed in the limited amount of times they've visited.
I suspect that every time Faye has visited, she's been with Bubbles.

I've got the feeling that it is a topic of gossip in Coffee of Doom!

Yeah, that too.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Carl-E on 30 Mar 2017, 00:45
"Oh, that's simple!"... :-D :-D :-D :roll:
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Akima on 30 Mar 2017, 00:47
Oh, the friendship was restored a long time ago; no, Faye uses a nickname here because she's nervous and is trying to cover it with aggressive behaviour.
Perhaps is an unconscious call-back on Faye's part to times before "stuff happened", though. Dora hasn't been "spooky" for a long time, and her gothiness lies forgotten among the debris of discarded plot elements. Only the black hair-dye remains.

"Oh, that's simple!"... :-D :-D :-D :roll:
Hi Carl!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Gyrre on 30 Mar 2017, 01:51
Clinton's attempt to say her name is 'Brooon'. Which tells me that here is indeed an umlaut involved.
In my experience in Britain there are people who pronounce their names any way they like, and why the hell not. If Brun wants a u as in super why the hell should she need to indulge in keyboard gymnastics or explain umlouts?
If memory serves, that's from the new rich  trying to distance themselves from their commoner beginnings.
Part of the source for the 'Bucket' 'Boquet' joke in Keeping Up Appearances.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Method of Madness on 30 Mar 2017, 08:14
People's names have a legal spelling, but not a legal pronunciation, so a person could pronounce their name however they want without being wrong.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Zebediah on 30 Mar 2017, 08:20
"It's spelled 'Raymond Luxury-Yacht', but it's pronounced 'Throat-Warbler Mangrove'!"

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 30 Mar 2017, 08:23
Clinton's attempt to say her name is 'Brooon'.

This fits into a theory that I have that Clinton has an occasional habit of stretching out some sounds and syllable gaps when he's talking. Thus, 'Brun' becomes 'Broon' and 'Clinton' becomes 'Clinnn-tonnn' (yes, I think Emily was imitating his own way of saying his name).
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Morituri on 30 Mar 2017, 09:42
While it is true that no legal requirements are made of the pronunciation of names, it is at best unfortunate when someone has some of their identity elements in conflict.  It leads, at its least serious, to miscommunications about who someone is referring to.  At worst, cognitive dissonance can be crippling.

I say this as a cognitive dissident myself; I am very familiar with this issue from my own experience.

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Method of Madness on 30 Mar 2017, 09:48
I mean the person can pronounce their own name however they want. They should still be consistent, though.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: blt on 30 Mar 2017, 10:08
My name is mispronounced so often that there are times where I'll just give up and let it go if it's close enough.  Most of the time it's not worth the effort.

But I also know people for whom pronouncing Lalonde (for example) the wrong way ("La-loaned" vs "La-lawned") is a grave insult.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Storel on 30 Mar 2017, 13:02
"It's spelled 'Raymond Luxury-Yacht', but it's pronounced 'Throat-Warbler Mangrove'!"


"I am reminded at this point of a fellow I used to know whose name was Henry, only to give you an idea of what an individualist he was, he spelt it H-E-N-3-R-Y. The 3 was silent, you see."

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Kugai on 30 Mar 2017, 13:57
Given that Bubbles is a Combat Model, I would have been very surprised had she not heard  Dora's comment in Panel 2.   It should be interesting to see if she follows up on that.

Welcome to Dora's World Faye    Now you know what else she uses the Broom Closet for  ;D
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Buggman on 30 Mar 2017, 14:21
This fits into a theory that I have that Clinton has an occasional habit of stretching out some sounds and syllable gaps when he's talking. Thus, 'Brun' becomes 'Broon' and 'Clinton' becomes 'Clinnn-tonnn' (yes, I think Emily was imitating his own way of saying his name).

Maybe he has a pronounced native Massachusetts accent?

Btw, help me out here: Why is mis-sexualizing a straight person (as Dora is clearly doing to Faye) NOT a horrible faux pas? Faye has never demonstrated the least interest in the ladies, and Dora knows it.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Kugai on 30 Mar 2017, 14:31
Its just Dora teasing Faye like she usually does, and Faye's  comfortable enough and well used to Dora's humor to recognise it for what it is.   As for Faye being attracted to Bubbles, I think Bubbles herself is going to confront Faye about that going by her reaction in Panel 1.

Whether or not it goes that way or just remains a friendship?   Ultimately, that depends on which way Jeph jumps in this storyline. He has stated in the past that in QC World such relationships (Human/AI) are not unheard of 'Off Screen',  but he also said he'd probably never write one as Canon.

That could change though depending on what Jeph decides to do now or  in the future.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Tova on 30 Mar 2017, 15:36
This ongoing conversation about how people can choose the pronunciation of their name is all very well and good, but Clinton's effort is more or less how you pronounce Brunhilde, albeit lengthened.

Here.

https://www.howtopronounce.com/german/brunhilde/

Btunhilde is *not* pronounced the way Clibton pronounced it.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Zebediah on 30 Mar 2017, 15:58
Btw, help me out here: Why is mis-sexualizing a straight person (as Dora is clearly doing to Faye) NOT a horrible faux pas? Faye has never demonstrated the least interest in the ladies, and Dora knows it.

I think it's a subtle poke by Jeph at the Faye/Bubbles shippers.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Akima on 30 Mar 2017, 16:01
My name is mispronounced so often that there are times where I'll just give up and let it go if it's close enough.  Most of the time it's not worth the effort.
I don't expect English-speaking people to pronounce my name correctly (that is, as a Chinese-speaker would), but it is tiresome when they can't manage the close-approximation-in-normal-English-sounds that I use myself, and insist on using German or French pronunciations that are alien to both Chinese and English.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Method of Madness on 30 Mar 2017, 16:04
You mean after hearing you say it, or just by seeing it?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Tova on 30 Mar 2017, 16:30
Btw, help me out here: Why is mis-sexualizing a straight person (as Dora is clearly doing to Faye) NOT a horrible faux pas? Faye has never demonstrated the least interest in the ladies, and Dora knows it.

I think it's a subtle poke by Jeph at the Faye/Bubbles shippers.

That's what I'm assuming. It's also giving Faye the chance to respond in the negative.

My name is not mispronounced, but is misspelt all the time. It's an uncommon spelling, so I just accept it. But when I write it out and it's still transcribed incorrectly, especially on things like phone line applications, I get a little grumpy.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Method of Madness on 30 Mar 2017, 16:32
Anyone ever have people spell your name wrong when they're responding to you on Facebook? Even though, you know, your name is right there? That happens to me all the time, and my name is short. Sure, there are other legit ways to spell my name, but if my name is right in front of you, maybe spell it right.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Tova on 30 Mar 2017, 16:41
Yes! I have a couple of friends who misspell my name consistently on Facebook. I have a short name as well.  I'm more bemused than annoyed, to be honest. It's actually more common from friends, who I guess "know" my name and thus don't read it,  than strangers, who probably read my name carefully when responding.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Stoutfellow on 30 Mar 2017, 16:54
One of the professional organizations I belong to - and have belonged to for about thirty years - sometimes sends me e-mail about this or that. My name appears, correctly spelled, in the "To:" field. In the body of the message... well, they usually spell it right.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Perfectly Reasonable on 30 Mar 2017, 18:16
So should diacritics go into the melting pot? Your name is tied up with your family history.
Losing that is a sad thing. My grandfather's name (mine now) was probably mangled at Ellis Island.

My father's eldest brother was insistent that the family be 100% American. So that side of my family history never passed down to me.

On the other hand, my mother's mother was keen on genealogy. Thanks to her, I know that her people helped to found Rhode Island (and Providence Plantations). And I can claim ancestors who were on both sides of the American Revolution.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Sullivan on 30 Mar 2017, 20:29
So that's what I've been doing wrong! I don't have a closet to cry in!

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 30 Mar 2017, 23:31
New Comic!

I think that the point Jeph has been trying to make in this week's strips is the degree to which Faye's own feelings of uncertainty may have been holding her back on a lot of things; her worries about starting a business being only the most immediate. I'm also glad that he spent time to show us that Faye and Dora have regained their ease with each other.

Meahwhile... I really think that Tai is taking her new keep fit regime a bit too seriously. Bubbles look of polite surprise and incomprehension in panel 4 is a real laugh-out-loud moment. She thinks that she should be upset or offended but the whole situation is far too surreal for her to feel that emotion!

Also, we see Dora returning to her accustomed role as 'token sane one' but, unusually, she's having to do this with Tai!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: oeoek on 31 Mar 2017, 01:15
Ag well, after going up to basecamp Dale (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2550) now Mount Bubs has been conquered. Tai takes her climbing serious.
And I am sure Bubbles don't mind. Getting climbed beats a rubber mallet (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3150) by far.



(yes, I'm sorry, here's this week's lunch money for the pun jar, and I'll show myself out now).
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Neko_Ali on 31 Mar 2017, 04:38
She was at least asked before the rubber mallet incident. Bubbles just has the most interesting times when she visits the shop.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: JimC on 31 Mar 2017, 04:54
So should diacritics go into the melting pot?
Your name: do what you like! But be understanding of those who don't know where to find them on their keyboards!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: brasca on 31 Mar 2017, 05:05
Ag well, after going up to basecamp Dale (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2550) now Mount Bubs has been conquered. Tai takes her climbing serious.
And I am sure Bubbles don't mind. Getting climbed beats a rubber mallet (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3150) by far.



(yes, I'm sorry, here's this week's lunch money for the pun jar, and I'll show myself out now).

Well Tai politely commanded Dale to position himself so she could climb up him.  If it bothered Bubbles she'd say no, but thinking back to her tactic to make Marten more comfortable around her she might not mind a petite woman climbing on her since it further proves she's not afraid of her. 

And we can now confirm that the customer who was flexing with Elliot is Tai, but with a new look that was never worked into the plot. 

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: JoeCovenant on 31 Mar 2017, 06:20
Anyone ever have people spell your name wrong when they're responding to you on Facebook? Even though, you know, your name is right there? That happens to me all the time, and my name is short. Sure, there are other legit ways to spell my name, but if my name is right in front of you, maybe spell it right.

Get it in emails all the time...

Joe becomes  Jo.
REALLY grinds my gears.

I usually respond by dropping the last letter of *their* name !     
Which can be quite amusing when it ends in a consonant.  :)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: pwhodges on 31 Mar 2017, 06:44
Hodge is a not uncommon name, so I get that from time to time; any slight irritation fades within seconds - it's not worth pursuing.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Neko_Ali on 31 Mar 2017, 07:05
My name is Alison. I often shorten it to Ali. People decide that's to long and shorten it to Al.  :meh:
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 31 Mar 2017, 07:22
Are you really surprised? I mean, you're asking them to pronounce two whole syllables! That's far too stressful! :wink:
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: shanejayell on 31 Mar 2017, 07:25
*hums You Can Call Me Al*

I DID giggle when I hit the bit with Tai and Bubbles.  :-D
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: anahata on 31 Mar 2017, 08:34
And we can now confirm that the customer who was flexing with Elliot is Tai, but with a new look that was never worked into the plot.

I was never quite sure about that either, at the time.

The funny thing is, I don't think Tai has previously made dramatic changes in her appearance (or have I forgotten something?) but it seems very much in character for her to do that sort of thing.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: wlewisiii on 31 Mar 2017, 09:52
Names. I tend to confuse people by prefering William over Bill but my Grandpa was Bill Jr and there were at least 4 Bills in my class in high school. Eventually I just did it to make myself be more "me".

As for what other people call me, so long as it is fit for polite company I don't mind. But if someone tried to give me a nickname like the kind that former President Bush the Lesser used for his friends, I'd not respond.

As for Tai, I remember once reading a book on climbing and one of the FAQ's in it was "Do I have to be in great shape to start climbing" and the answer was "Don't worry about it, if you climb you _will_ get in shape. "
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: A small perverse otter on 31 Mar 2017, 11:28
Btw, help me out here: Why is mis-sexualizing a straight person (as Dora is clearly doing to Faye) NOT a horrible faux pas? Faye has never demonstrated the least interest in the ladies, and Dora knows it.

I think it's a subtle poke by Jeph at the Faye/Bubbles shippers.
IRL? Almost certainly so. I certainly got a chuckle about the harassment, and even more by Faye's "What? No!" response.

In the QC world, though, I think that the original poster is right is that Dora should be a little embarrassed for telling the joke.

First, mis-gendering/mis-sexualizing a cis-het can honestly cheapen the very real risk that non-conforming people face every day. Faye is perfectly safe as long as everybody thinks she's straight, but the "joke" is horrific to people who are afraid of being "Matt Sheparded" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard for reference. Shepard was kidnapped and murdered in a "safe college town", remember: a place very like Northampton).

And, before you point out that Dora is in a lesbian relationship, that's no excuse. Dora passes, but not everyone can. Hell, Tai can't pass! Dora should know better.

And this completely ignores the question of whether Bubbles finds the "joke" funny. We have no idea what sexuality even means to her. It certainly might not be funny to some humans -- why can Dora blithely assume that an AI won't be offended? She's treating Bubbles as a machine, not a person. No matter what else may or may not be true, *that* joke isn't funny in the QC world.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: War Sparrow on 31 Mar 2017, 13:17
My name is Alison. I often shorten it to Ali. People decide that's to long and shorten it to Al.  :meh:

I have a hypothesis that people are anti-end vowel. My name is short, usually misspelled, and people like to stick an r, s, or both at the end. My boss even did it.

This strip warms the cockles of my heart.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Kugai on 31 Mar 2017, 14:32
Certainly gives a new meaning to Mount Bubbles   ;D
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: jwhouk on 31 Mar 2017, 18:51
My name is mispronounced so often that there are times where I'll just give up and let it go if it's close enough.  Most of the time it's not worth the effort.
I don't expect English-speaking people to pronounce my name correctly (that is, as a Chinese-speaker would), but it is tiresome when they can't manage the close-approximation-in-normal-English-sounds that I use myself, and insist on using German or French pronunciations that are alien to both Chinese and English.

As I have a last name that is butchered regularly, I usually ask someone how they pronounce their name, then call them that (as best I can, of course).

And I would pronounce it "Ah-KEE-mah", as I read it right now...
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Zog on 31 Mar 2017, 20:42

And I would pronounce it "Ah-KEE-mah", as I read it right now...

That is how I would pronounce it also. Is this incorrect?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: 94ssd on 31 Mar 2017, 21:13
Tai appears to be missing her POW tattoo?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: pwhodges on 31 Mar 2017, 23:39
As I recall, Akima's forum name and avatar are is taken from the character Akima Kunimoto, a spaceship pilot in the 2000 American animated film Titan AE.  The character is voiced by Drew Barrymore.  As the name suggests, the character is Japanese, and so the pronunciation should be something like ah-kee-mah with no predominant stress on any syllable.

(Correction - I think her avatar is Dana Tan from the Batman Beyond series.)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Skewbrow on 01 Apr 2017, 00:42
My name is Alison. I often shorten it to Ali. People decide that's to long and shorten it to Al.  :meh:

I have a hypothesis that people are anti-end vowel. My name is short, usually misspelled, and people like to stick an r, s, or both at the end. My boss even did it.

I'm fairly sure this depends on the native language of people. My experience is that, when turning names into nicks, English speakers have a tendency to drop vowels from the end, often with a view of reducing the number of syllables. I guess they find the resulting word less stressful to pronounce. For Fiinnish speakers it is the opposite. For ease of pronunciation a word pretty much has to end with a vowel. Those difficult to pronounce groups of consonants, on the other hand, are in dire need of simplification. If the name does not end with a vowel we add one (often adding an extra syllable as a by-product). To take a semi-universal example: 'Christ' is the basis of many first names in the christian world, producing 'Chris', 'Kris', 'Christine', 'Kristina' and what not. For Finns the end result is 'Risto'. With a syllable break between 's' and 't'.

When my first name 'Jyrki' (one of the versions of 'Georgios' mutated into while travelling from the Mediterranean up North) is nickified, the common way is to drop the 'r', and replace the ending 'i' with 'ä', to comply with the rules of vowel harmony (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vowel_harmony), to produce 'Jykä' - a much easier to pronounce two syllable word.

 
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: TinPenguin on 01 Apr 2017, 00:57
I had the misfortune to grow up in a city with a local parish pronounced the same as my last name, but spelt differently. It's a common enough name in Lancashire, but Nottingham folk just could not spell it right.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Oenone on 01 Apr 2017, 06:26
IS Faye straight? For some reason I thought she was heterflexible/bi?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: JimC on 01 Apr 2017, 06:28
I'm fairly sure this depends on the native language of people.
More local even than that I think. If one considers the related topic of nick names then then a terminal y- Freddy, Jimmy, Smithy and the like is not uncommon in my part of Britain. But in Sydney, Aus, for example, its much more likely to be a terminal o...
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Gyrre on 01 Apr 2017, 14:26
So should diacritics go into the melting pot? Your name is tied up with your family history.
Losing that is a sad thing. My grandfather's name (mine now) was probably mangled at Ellis Island.

My father's eldest brother was insistent that the family be 100% American. So that side of my family history never passed down to me.

On the other hand, my mother's mother was keen on genealogy. Thanks to her, I know that her people helped to found Rhode Island (and Providence Plantations). And I can claim ancestors who were on both sides of the American Revolution.
For a great deal of familes it was WWII that caused many name changes. 'Van Braun' became 'Brown' and the USA's large amount of German heritage was collectively forgotten. A similar thing happened in Mexico as well at some point (just listen to the polka influence clearly present in a lot of traditional Mexican music).
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: shanejayell on 01 Apr 2017, 16:43
IS Faye straight? For some reason I thought she was heterflexible/bi?

Dunno. She didn't object to Dora joking about ravishing her once...
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: DSL on 01 Apr 2017, 19:11
IS Faye straight? For some reason I thought she was heterflexible/bi?

Dunno. She didn't object to Dora joking about ravishing her once...

Faye and Dora are friends from way back; I imagine allowances were made that would not extend to just anyone. Faye was distinctly irritated by Tai's drunken flirting, for example.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Akima on 02 Apr 2017, 05:53
As I recall, Akima's forum name and avatar are is taken from the character Akima Kunimoto, a spaceship pilot in the 2000 American animated film Titan AE.  The character is voiced by Drew Barrymore.  As the name suggests, the character is Japanese, and so the pronunciation should be something like ah-kee-mah with no predominant stress on any syllable.

(Correction - I think her avatar is Dana Tan from the Batman Beyond series.)
All exactly correct, and Dana Tan makes a reasonable "cartoon me". Ellen Yin from The Batman would be another possibility. I'm seeing a common thread here...

Tai appears to be missing her POW tattoo?
I'm not sure it would be visible from our "camera angle" as she's climbing Bubbles, but it wouldn't be the first time that tattoo slipped through the art-net. Tai does seem to have lost her glasses though. Contact lenses? Radial keratotomy? Enquiring minds want to know!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 02 Apr 2017, 14:32
Official Poll Results Post!
So, Now What?

1. Brun attempts to 'help' Renee in her relationship with Elliott (and with people in general) - 21 (27.6%)
2. Bubbles angst over whether she's "hiding" behind her armour - 13 (17.1%)
3. Just why did Bubbles have bed-head in Strip 3444? - 10 (13.2%)
=4. Clinton learns that he is a straight man in this particular romantic comedy - 9 (11.8%)
=4. Hannelore and Emily's Ordinary Day At Work (as if such a thing ever happens) - 9 (11.8%)
6. May's next probation hearing is due and she calls Momo as a character witness (!) - 6 (7.9%)
=7. Marten tries to get Claire to relax by taking her out on a dinner date; it couldn't be more stressful! - 3 (3.9%)
=7. Sam is still sick so Marigold has to take over her YouTube channel for a few nights - 3 (3.9%)
9. Pintsize pours out his troubled heart at the next support group meeting (much to everyone else's distress) - 2 (2.6%)
x. Dora and Sven have to stage an intervention when their parents are arrested for DUI - 0 (0%)
x. Other (specify in thread) - 0 (0%)


The big news is... Every option was wrong! :D That aside, I suspect that this poll reveals that, whilst Brun and Renee generate pretty strong negative feelings in some fans, others really do enjoy their double act.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Gyrre on 04 Apr 2017, 14:49
IS Faye straight? For some reason I thought she was heterflexible/bi?

Kinsey 1 or 2?
If memory serves, Kinsey 1s make up the largest percentage of the global population (~50%), with Kinsey 0s coming in second (20%~25%).
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Method of Madness on 05 Apr 2017, 05:05
Are there really that many Kinsey 0s? I find that to be incredibly unlikely.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: oddtail on 05 Apr 2017, 08:37
Are there really that many Kinsey 0s? I find that to be incredibly unlikely.

I think most people like to simplify things for themselves. "gay" and "straight" are simpler than the Kinsey scale. And there's also the fact that in a largely heteronormative society, people may not even conceive of being anything other than straight if they are in the "1" area. Which I guess would influence both their responses regarding their self-identification, and any research done on how the human population splits on the scale.

Or to put it another way - I think most people who are borderline 1 will register as 0s, both for self-identification and purposes of research.

Personal anecdote time, because it relates to the topic - I'm pretty much heterosexual. On the Kinsey scale, I think I oscillate somewhere around 1. Sometimes I think I'm closer to 0, sometimes - that I'm closer to 2. But, in practical terms, I'm pretty much straight and pretty much cis.

The only reason I think of myself as bi is that I'm a furry. To avoid TMI-ing anyone, I'll just say that with (mostly online) interactions with furries, I've been less straight than I normally am. I've had same-sex crushes, at the very least. There's also the fact that furs tend to be more open about sexuality, so that invites questioning phases in one's life.

And I'm not a rare exception. I've met MANY men (surprisingly many) who say that they are pretty much 100% straight in their everyday life, even after being introduced to the furry fandom, but somehow lean strongly towards bisexual "as" furries. Those people are very obviously 1s, sometimes 2s on the Kinsey scale. But if they hadn't been exposed to a certain community, they'd act, think and self-identify as pretty much 0s.

I don't know how it is with people who are not into weird hobbies/subcultures, but I'd imagine most people who are 1s will never indicate in any measurable way that they are. They will just default to 0s.

Personally, I think there are *very* few people who are actually 0s or 6s on the Kinsey scale, but they will be overrepresented in any measures taken to count them. Because that's how we work as humans.

EDIT: when I was typing up this post, my wife pointed out that the Kinsey scale is very... vague. To quote her "if a woman is straight but sometimes looks at another woman and goes 'niiiiiice legs', is she a 0 or a 1? It's hard to tell".
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 05 Apr 2017, 09:30
It could be defined behaviorally ...
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: sitnspin on 05 Apr 2017, 12:18
Or, you know, we could trust people and respect how they self identify without calling it into question.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Gyrre on 05 Apr 2017, 17:34
Are there really that many Kinsey 0s? I find that to be incredibly unlikely.

That's why I prefaced it with "if memory serves".

I know our estimate outnumbers that for Kinsey 6s 2:1, hetersexuals make up the bulk of the population, and that getting a good estimate for Kinsey 1s is difficult because they tend to be super insecure in their sexuality (especially American males).

It's been 6 years since I took Sociology and 7 years since Developmental Psychology. I've got all my notes in a box in storage.... at the bottom of the closet.


BTW, apologies if my original question seemed rude. I haven't been getting enough sleep lately.



@ Sitnspin: But science.  :-D

EDIT: Clarifying the last bit was meant as a joke.

Mod edit: Fixed broken tag.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Thrillho on 06 Apr 2017, 07:26
@ Sitnspin: But science.

I'm hoping this is a joke...
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3446 to 3450 (27th to 31st March 2017)
Post by: Gyrre on 06 Apr 2017, 07:48
@ Sitnspin: But science.

I'm hoping this is a joke...

It is.