THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Comic Discussion => QUESTIONABLE CONTENT => Topic started by: Gyrre on 30 May 2021, 18:12

Title: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Gyrre on 30 May 2021, 18:12
I wonder who Beepatrice's new coworker will be?

As well as what the strip on my birthday will bring.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: shanejayell on 30 May 2021, 18:37
Well, THAT didn't go where I expected.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Gus_Smedstad on 30 May 2021, 19:00
I dunno. Seems pretty predictable to me, really. I mean, aside from Pintsize getting emotional and all. But I'm pretty sure Jeph decided he wanted to move on from Pintsize's old appearance, which is now rather out of place compared to the rest of his art, and this is his way of working his desire into the strip.

That said, I can totally see how being a short bot without proper fingers would feel very, very limiting compared to a humanoid body. It's a very plausible rationalization for the art change.

I still don't personally care much for the new body. Maybe it's just the shirtless and pink hotpants look. None of the other near-human AI characters (Bubbles, Roko, Beeps, Millie, Melon) goes about mostly naked. Punchbot's always naked but's he's pretty industrial. Pintsize was always fully naked before, but that wasn't remarkable given his overall appearance. Not that there's anything sexy or offensive about new blue robot chest, but it's still kind of offputting.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: MrNumbers on 30 May 2021, 19:07
I just watched a friend spend two years memeing themself into realizing they're trans through funny jokes ha ha, this is the realest Pintsize has ever been.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: St.Clair on 30 May 2021, 20:12
what are these, these feelings, ugh.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Farideh on 30 May 2021, 20:28
When pranks turn into uncomfortable self-actualization.


Which makes me wonder if the new emotions are tied to the new chassis? How much of that is hardware-specific for AIs?
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Tyr on 30 May 2021, 21:06
Considering that Pintsize's original body was probably a first-gen AnthroPC, I suspect at least part of the appeal here is even a 'low grade' modern sensorium is at least a kilometer better than his old one.  On top of that, factor in the increase in self-sufficiency his longer limbs gives him and you can kind of understand why the new chassis grew on him so quick. 
Title: Congratulations, Pintsize!
Post by: Dock Braun on 30 May 2021, 21:12
There was a time I was a simpler person. Eventually, an uneasy felling would gnaw at me, that I'd scarcely attend to, if at all recognize. And I'd live quite happily---I'd thought---in that simple grind. It really was quite fun, but subconsciously, knowing I'd even more enjoy something even more, wore me down well. I miss it sometimes, and I occasionally go back into that state of mind, and---as one might say---shoot the shit.
Eventually, something changed, and I'd never go back. I don't recall very well at all what came first, in my journey to myself, but it was as Pintsize is now; I'm glad Jeph is going this way about Pintsize---a favourite character of mine, beloved now ever stronger.
So I never gasped in surprise, or at all felt this in any way contrary to the character. Even without whatever tenuous foreshadowing there might have been, the developments shown this past week: perfectly natural.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Dock Braun on 30 May 2021, 21:28
Which makes me wonder if the new emotions are tied to the new chassis? How much of that is hardware-specific for AIs?

So I would wonder: Were he to return to his prior chassis, would he be satisfied with his prior chassis? If the chassis is mostly responsible for the new feelings.

What if it's a marketing trick? Psst. Hey, kid! Come try on this body. Absolutely free! And then they never wanna return to their old. An interesting way to avoid planned obsolescence? :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: awkwardness on 30 May 2021, 21:36
Pintsize hates showing that he's not completely a bad comedic douchebag...but Claire really hits him hard: she's his kryptonite, the one who actually gets him and sees through his smokescreen.

I honestly hope that he doesn't stay in this chassis, it's just not him and he doesn't need the growth that having a bigger body might give him as he's growing all on his own
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: awkwardness on 30 May 2021, 21:38
When pranks turn into uncomfortable self-actualization.


Which makes me wonder if the new emotions are tied to the new chassis? How much of that is hardware-specific for AIs?

He has shown this kind of emotion before, he hides it but Claire has gotten him to emote like this before. I suspect that it's her ability to get you to be a friend and confess things that you can't confess to others.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: DaiJB on 30 May 2021, 22:25
"aw buddy"
Yeah, I can understand Pintsize's response - he's never (as far as I can see in the archives) had any experience in any chassis other than his original (and its near-identical replacement).
Now, the new experiences are pouring in on him - greater dexterity, more modern senses, probably upgraded capacity, not to mention the extra height. "Prison cell" indeed!

However, I don't think you can tame Pintsize that easily - I foresee a rejuvenated prankster, with greater powers of chaos! He may keep the old chassis just for the yuks - maybe go back to it when being small and annoying is useful to him...  :-D
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: traroth on 30 May 2021, 23:00
We waited for a very veeeeeeery long time to see one of Pintsize's jokes going horribly wrong. And there it is.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Shjade on 30 May 2021, 23:29
I just watched a friend spend two years memeing themself into realizing they're trans through funny jokes ha ha, this is the realest Pintsize has ever been.

I guess it would make sense for Claire to be the first one to pick up on and gently tug that particular thread. Could prove to be a very interesting conversation if Pintsize's open to having it.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: ihaveavoice on 31 May 2021, 02:01
I just watched a friend spend two years memeing themself into realizing they're trans through funny jokes ha ha, this is the realest Pintsize has ever been.

I've seen a number of people talk about how indulging an urge to cosplay as a character of a particular gender made them feel more comfortable in their skin than they ever have before. I also saw a tiktok awhile back of someone experiencing gender euphoria from a haircut, and it was the purest thing ever.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Gyrre on 31 May 2021, 02:18
Dammit.
Now I'm mad at myself for not just listing a bunch of noncommittal neutral phrases for the poll (i.e. "we shall see", "time will tell", "let's see where Jeph takes this", etc).

If I think of a different poll, I'll swap it out.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Gyrre on 31 May 2021, 02:51
When pranks turn into uncomfortable self-actualization.


Which makes me wonder if the new emotions are tied to the new chassis? How much of that is hardware-specific for AIs?

He has shown this kind of emotion before, he hides it but Claire has gotten him to emote like this before. I suspect that it's her ability to get you to be a friend and confess things that you can't confess to others.
Is it some combination of her personality, innate and practiced ability, and her personal presentation/appearance that allows her to coax out these confessions?

I have people confide all manner of things to me without prompting, so I'm genuinely curious what the authorial reasoning is beyond 'plot'. I'm barely more than 5'5" (165 cm) and wear glasses myself, but I'd wadger I outweigh Claire by around 100 lbs and have much broader shoulders, as I really do have 'big bones' in a non-euphamistic fashion.[1]

[1] Finally got a competent shoe guy, and my shoe size is a US men's 9½ 4E. But I still have to bump up to a 6E width because weird feet. I have to get a men's 2XL labcoat so I can move my arms more than ~10° forward. My labcoat fits like a long trenchcoat and I have to cuff up the sleeves, but I haven't ripped out the shoulders from any of this set of coats, so I'll deal with it.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: jesslc on 31 May 2021, 10:05
Some of the comments in last week's thread reminded me of a theory that I've held for quite a while now but haven't seen discussed anywhere yet. This seems to be an opportune time to put it out there and see what other people think of it.

In my opinion, Pintsize has been shifting over time to being Claire's companion AI instead of Marten's. (By "over time" I mean since Claire started staying over at Marten's regularly, before she moved in). In support of my theory:

1) The dynamic between Claire and Pintsize
Eg. Today's comic, Claire approach to Pintsize's attempts to troll her (the birdseed incident, the wolf urine sticky note), the support Pintsize provided when Claire was freaking out about her exams, Claire cuddling Pintsize when she was anxious that she had messed up with Marten. (Actually I think we've seen Claire cuddling Pintsize twice in the past.)

I feel like Claire and Pintsize's dynamic resembles Marigold & Momo dynamic way more than Marten & Pintsize's dynamic ever did. Not that there's just one way to be a companion AI, but some similarities struck me.

2) Do you remember when we learned ages ago that Marten shouldn't have been assigned Pintsize as his companion AI? Take a look at that mini arc again: https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2333

Momo says in 2336 that being scared of Gordon would have thrown off the biometrics and Marten shouldn't have been assigned Pintsize as his companion.

Marten is not really an anxious person in my opinion. Sometimes he gets anxious in response to something (eg Gordon on his head) but most of the time he's pretty equanimous. Claire on the other hand does have a tendency towards anxiety which we see fairly often. For that matter, "has no chill" has been one of the defining characteristics of all the Augustuses since their introduction. I think Claire clearly comes across as someone who has worked on her anxiety a lot and manages it quite well most of the time, but it's still there in lots of ways. (Speaking as someone who's been there - in my experience, you don't really stop being an anxious person, you just get a lot better at managing it).

So Marten, who is normally a pretty equanimous person, was assigned a companion AI at least partially based on biometrics taken at a time when he was extremely anxious. Now years later, Marten has girlfriend who has a tendency towards anxiety and she seems to get along with Pintsize much better than he ever did.

Coincidence? I think not.

The part I can't explain so well is that Dora has anxiety issues too. Though I do see Dora's issues as somewhat different to Claire's. In my opinion Dora's issues seem to mostly be around control and trusting people. Whereas I don't think Claire seems to have a lot of trouble trusting individuals, her anxiety is more generalised.

From a meta perspective, we didn't get the reveal of Marten being inaccurately assigned Pintsize until quite a while after he and Dora had broken up. So it probably wasn't until that point that Jeph gave any thought to what sort of person Pintsize might actually be a good companion for. This, of course, assumes the shift I think I've been seeing is deliberate on Jeph's part - it could just be that I saw a pattern where there wasn't meant to be one. But I have been thinking that it might be a deliberate writing choice and I'm definitely going to take the current comic as further confirmation! I mean - can you imagine Pintsize having this vulnerable conversation with Marten? I can't.  :claireface:

Because of this theory, I don't see Pintsize ever leaving the Marten/Claire household. But if they ever end up doing a long distance relationship for some reason, I think Pintsize would probably go with Claire rather than Marten. Say if Claire got offered a 3 or 6 month contract position to cover someone going on sabbatical/maternity leave/etc and it's on the other side of the country. (I don't know if this happens much in the US, but it's not that uncommon here. One of the public libraries I used to work at advertised a position like this once & I've seen other organisations advertising "maternity leave contract" positions in the past too. Since they're not permanent contracts, most people already in the field wouldn't bother applying, so they can be a good way for a newbie to get some experience, maybe even a foot in the door.)
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: notStanley on 31 May 2021, 10:41
Would Pintsize give up cake batter just because he changed chassis?  I think not.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Shjade on 31 May 2021, 11:49
Is it some combination of her personality, innate and practiced ability, and her personal presentation/appearance that allows her to coax out these confessions?

I'm sure it varies from person to person, situation to situation, etc., but in my experience?

Timing. It's mostly timing.

You can be the most understanding, trustworthy person in the world, and it doesn't mean a thing if they're not in a place to talk about it when you're there to listen. Being that kind of person and being available for those conversations more often increases the odds of it coming up. But unless someone's paying you to listen to them for therapy, I don't think you're generally going to get people to open up through effort on your part most of the time (and might make things worse trying).

Note: I'm not licensed for anything, this isn't Official Mental Health Advice, just my perspective.

Different topic: that's an insightful point, jesslc. Would never have occurred to me, but I can see it. Totally plausible.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Farideh on 31 May 2021, 14:28
I will accept your theory as canon, jessic.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: shanejayell on 31 May 2021, 20:09
Comic's up.

Is kinda awww... then goes right back to usual Pintsize.  :roll:
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Farideh on 31 May 2021, 20:35
You know, I could handle the hot pink pants, and the hot pink tie, but the socks and sandals combination broke my brain.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: DaiJB on 31 May 2021, 22:46
See?! I told you - you can't hold Pintsize down for long!  :-D

(Not human-like anatomy, then? I'll admit that surprised me a bit - I expected Pintsize to at least have somewhere to attach his giant Robo-appendage  :-P)
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: sitnspin on 31 May 2021, 23:06
Considering there are dildos you can hook up to a computer via USB in our world, I'd say he still has that option.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Annemoon on 01 Jun 2021, 03:33

Is it some combination of her personality, innate and practiced ability, and her personal presentation/appearance that allows her to coax out these confessions?

I feel like there are a few factors that trigger it.

- Non judgement: You come across as someone who doesn't judge quickly, or signal to them that you wouldn't judge them.
- Show that you have room to have these conversations
--> both of these are usually signaled partly by being open about your own issues, talking about them to others and notably to this person
- show interest
- give space to let them come to you when they are ready to talk
--> these two above have some inner conflict, e.g. a lot of people need _some_ "asking questions" for it to come up, but at the same time room to not speak and speak at one's own terms.
This is where that timing thing comes in btw
In my experience, ask in the general direction, but don't pry, let follow up come out on their terms, and keep silences people usually need to time to decide what to say,
so by just keeping your mouth shut for a while in these occasions you usually give them some space to do that.

That's what I've learned on this over the years.
Of course you also shouldn't be a gossip :P

Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Gyrre on 01 Jun 2021, 05:21
Is it some combination of her personality, innate and practiced ability, and her personal presentation/appearance that allows her to coax out these confessions?

I'm sure it varies from person to person, situation to situation, etc., but in my experience?

Timing. It's mostly timing.

You can be the most understanding, trustworthy person in the world, and it doesn't mean a thing if they're not in a place to talk about it when you're there to listen. Being that kind of person and being available for those conversations more often increases the odds of it coming up. But unless someone's paying you to listen to them for therapy, I don't think you're generally going to get people to open up through effort on your part most of the time (and might make things worse trying).

Note: I'm not licensed for anything, this isn't Official Mental Health Advice, just my perspective.

Different topic: that's an insightful point, jesslc. Would never have occurred to me, but I can see it. Totally plausible.

So I'm just going to keep getting random coworker confessions in the breakroom and be the person the distraught distant relative at the funeral comes to for comfort? *deep sigh*
[The latter has only happened once so far.]


EDIT: Come to think of it, I got a message out of the blue the other day on one of the other forums I frequent requesting advice. I won't share their username or what they were asking for guidance with but their opening line was "I've seen your posts on the extended forum and you really seem to have a lot of insight." I don't have much recent experience with what they were going through, so all I could do was be honest about it and throw out a few ideas. Hopefully I wasn't completely useless.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: John Allenson on 01 Jun 2021, 09:43
Perhaps the rule concerning no discussion about private parts could be relaxed about Pintsize.

It is a good metaphor for how Pintsize interacts with the world. https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=8 (https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=8)

Honestly, (My Opinion Only) I've felt that Pintsize has been pretty Asexual.  Which needs an explanation.  Pintsize seems to be fascinated with the concept of sexuality, he refers to it as human ingenuity.  Pintsize seems to use squicky sexual imagery to distress people.  But other than an early story line Pintsize has not shown interest in being intimate with anyone; in contrast to May or Bubbles.  It has been shown that he'll use descriptions of sex to distract others from what he's actually concerned about.  The various talk about things like 'toast fetish' seems to be play acting (unlike one robot with a fresh bread fetish).

I think Pintsize is already more interesting now that he's exploring a wider set of possibillities of sensation and expression.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: wiserd on 01 Jun 2021, 16:15
Well, THAT didn't go where I expected.

The USB port?
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: shanejayell on 01 Jun 2021, 18:43
New comic.

So... COULD Faye demolish a normal robot?
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: John Allenson on 01 Jun 2021, 18:59
So... COULD Faye demolish a normal robot?

She worked as a mechanic/doctor at a robot fight club.  She'd know how to disable a robot.
And that's if annoying Faye doesn't also irritate Bubbles.

I'd be glad to see an end to the Chaos Goblin schtick.
I am looking forward to seeing Momo and Winslow reacting to Pintsize 2.0.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: cesium133 on 01 Jun 2021, 19:07
I was going to point out that this is Pintsize 3.0, but there isn't much of a difference in appearance between Pintsize 1.0 and Pintsize 2.0, so I guess we could call those Pintsize 1.0 and Pintsize 1.1.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Farideh on 01 Jun 2021, 19:17
I'm not sure how I feel about the full-size Pintsize. Time will tell.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Shjade on 01 Jun 2021, 20:47
I guess he's Gallonsize now?
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: QuestionableIntentions on 01 Jun 2021, 20:49
Wat? No more Chaos Goblin? Instead another insecure hipster? Whyyyy?  :mrgreen:

And can I just say how much I love Claire telling people how they should behave, how they should be? And telling them what their bodies should mean for them? I want to see her reaction if someone did that to her.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Platypodes on 01 Jun 2021, 20:58
Anyone else get the sense that Jeph decided that a wacky grope-bot with magical fingerless hands doesn't fit with how the strip evolved, so he's just gonna give him a new body and a new personality in one fell swoop?
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: cesium133 on 01 Jun 2021, 21:02
I guess he's Gallonsize now?

With all that Canadian Tire money, he's Litresize.

(I can't see the word 'litre' spelled the Canadian way and not mentally pronounce it 'leetra'. It just looks wrong.)
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Farideh on 01 Jun 2021, 21:10
Wat? No more Chaos Goblin? Instead another insecure hipster? Whyyyy?  :emotrex:

And can I just say how much I love Claire telling people how they should behave, how they should be? And telling them what their bodies should mean for them? I want to see her reaction if someone did that to her.


I didn't interpret the comic that way. I saw it more as Claire trying to help Pintsize identify his emotions ("is this how you feel?" rather than "this is what you're feeling"). If he had replied "no, that's not it", she would have accepted that. Also remember that Claire knows Pintsize quite well, better than Marten does in some ways. She knows how far she can go.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Gus_Smedstad on 01 Jun 2021, 22:01
Again, I'm not really surprised by the direction this is going. I was having trouble visualizing much of the old Pintsize behavior in the new, teenager body. A joke about filling his body with birdseed and having birds nest in his mouth (remember that one?) doesn't really work with the new body.

I'm mostly OK with that. Characters defined by their zaniness (hello Melon!) aren't very interesting to me. I don't really find "look how nuts this character is" to be all that funny. I think really good absurdist humor is tougher to pull off than it looks. Not everyone can be Monty Python.

We're pretty much getting an entirely new character with a familiar name.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: TV4Fun on 02 Jun 2021, 00:09
RIP the last vestige of pre-Cerebus Syndrome (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CerebusSyndrome) QC.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: badbum61 on 02 Jun 2021, 01:36
Claire, I imagine, would have particular insight into inhabiting a body that doesn't express how you feel within...so she's perfectly placed to have this conversation with Economysize.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: John Allenson on 02 Jun 2021, 04:56
RIP the last vestige of pre-Cerebus Syndrome (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CerebusSyndrome) QC.
It's more growing the beard.  A lot of the characters are now in healthier and/or happier places than they had been.
Hannelore is certainly less creepy than she had started out as.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: BenRG on 02 Jun 2021, 05:20
Well, someone send me a Personal Message when the wedding starts. Apart from that, there isn't much call for me to be around right now.

May be Jeph should consider renaming this strip B. U. D. D. I. E. S. or something similar? I'm actually serious. This isn't Questionable Content really, it's a thematically and atmospherically different work with very different ground rules.

When did that happen? I think after Faye and Bubbles got together. There really was the feel that the idea jar was empty. There was a sudden tidal wave of new/promoted to main cast characters and a lot of the old cast were demoted to supporting status that really suggested a move to a whole new strip with a whole new set of ideas and intentions behind it.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Gus_Smedstad on 02 Jun 2021, 06:20
Mentioning the “Cerebus effect” trope makes me think of the other thing Cerebus is know for, which is Dave Sim’s descent into misogyny and madness, which greatly overshadows anything else the poster may be trying to say.

Anyway, it’s true the strip has changed a lot in tone. Don’t see a lot of storylines about jet propelled roombas these days.

I do remember Hannelore as she was initially, rather than the over-the-top neurotic abruptly morphed into. I thought that version was more interesting than the neurotic. I suspect, though, you’re talking about her transition from neurotic to mostly well-adjusted person after her journey to Dagobah. I’m certainly OK with that change, though I notice she hasn’t healed to the point where she’s gotten physical with anyone. I don’t think she will, either, since she’s very much in the background these days, and the days of Hannelore-centered stories are gone.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Grognard on 02 Jun 2021, 07:29
I am honestly disappointed in Jeph and today's comic.

Nice use of Hate Speech there.

For someone who is socially progressive and wants people to come together to find a better way forward...

"ACAB" and "Defund the Police" is hardly that and is in no way "funny".

If these statements, directed at a different people group, would get me banned from this board: then it shouldn't be in the comic and it is never "funny".

Jeph: you had easily a dozen different ways to make this strip funny: You CAN do better than this/ you SHOULD do better than this.... you almost had it with the fashion police.

I know I'm not the author, nor the artist, and I don't know the stresses of production ... but I believe in you and believe you can do better.

Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Potato Farmer on 02 Jun 2021, 07:52
I'm having difficulty seeing Pintsize in this new body.

With all the other AIs I was like "Sure, same person, different form." But with Pintsize it seems... awkward. Maybe because unlike the other AIs he's been in the comic from the very beginning and his old chassis was very iconic.

Of course, I imagine that for trans people this sounds very similar to being told that the people around them are having trouble adjusting to their new gender and appearance (if they've taken that step).
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: DaiJB on 02 Jun 2021, 08:25
I am honestly disappointed in Jeph and today's comic.

Nice use of Hate Speech there.

For someone who is socially progressive and wants people to come together to find a better way forward...

"ACAB" and "Defund the Police" is hardly that and is in no way "funny".

If these statements, directed at a different people group, would get me banned from this board: then it shouldn't be in the comic and it is never "funny".

Jeph: you had easily a dozen different ways to make this strip funny: You CAN do better than this/ you SHOULD do better than this.... you almost had it with the fashion police.

I know I'm not the author, nor the artist, and I don't know the stresses of production ... but I believe in you and believe you can do better.

What? Are we reading the same strip? It is #4538, right? The one with Claire and neo-Pintsize talking feelings? Where's the "hate speech"? Where are all these references you speak of?

I'm just confused.  :?
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: oddtail on 02 Jun 2021, 09:01
Ignoring that it's not in the comic...

Wait, "Defund the Police" is hate speech how...?

"ACAB" is arguable I guess, but how is "this institution should receive less funding" hate speech? That makes no sense.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: sitnspin on 02 Jun 2021, 09:47
Being a cop is a choice. Being a bastard is a choice. If you choose to uphold a corrupt and abusive system you are in fact a bastard. ACAB isn't a joke, it is true.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Marco on 02 Jun 2021, 10:11

2) Do you remember when we learned ages ago that Marten shouldn't have been assigned Pintsize as his companion AI? Take a look at that mini arc again: https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2333


This was stablished waaay back: https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=11 (https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=11)
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Wingy on 02 Jun 2021, 10:27
Ignoring that it's not in the comic...

Wait, "Defund the Police" is hate speech how...?
It makes sense to a Conservative - it's a dog whistle statement meaning, in essence, the police are the bad guys, so let's get rid of them entirely and let anarchy rule.

Of course, to the people saying such things, only a small minority actually mean "let anarchy rule".  The rest are having a "we keep dumping duties and no funds on the police, let's remove the extra duties to groups more trained for such and transfer any related funding with them." moment that's poorly expressed as "defund the police".  But I'm an "ignorant librull" (yes, that's the proper conservative spelling), so what do I know??!??
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: _Islanio on 02 Jun 2021, 11:16
I see as positive the body (and consequently, personality) change in Pintsize. With more time, we'll get used to his new looks. And, as stated by Claire, with a less weirdo behaviour.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 02 Jun 2021, 12:23
Grognard, you do not make things up. You just don't. Am I looking in the wrong place, or has Jeph removed it since you posted? I checked to the end of the page, for today and yesterday.

Global Moderator Comment Arguing about Jeph's choices belongs here. Arguing about the police needs to go in DISCUSS.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: cesium133 on 02 Jun 2021, 13:37
It looks like Jeph removed it. It was definitely there last night, and it was there on the Patreon post.

Edit — wait, I’m confused. I think what Grognard is referring to is in the Patreon post for tonight’s comic, not the one from last night.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: TV4Fun on 02 Jun 2021, 14:17
He's responding to tomorrow's comic that's up on Patreon.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 02 Jun 2021, 15:41
Let's please not discuss Patreon posts until they're published for free.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Shjade on 02 Jun 2021, 17:14
May be Jeph should consider renaming this strip B. U. D. D. I. E. S. or something similar? I'm actually serious. This isn't Questionable Content really, it's a thematically and atmospherically different work with very different ground rules.

I dunno, it seems like a few people in this thread find the current content questionable, for some reason.

It still feels like the same comic to me, just moving forward and expanding. Except for the lack of much to do with Marten and music, maybe, but while that was always a Thing for him, it was never really central to the comic, so it doesn't feel odd that it's more or less fallen off even if I notice the absence.

I mean heck, for the poster who suggested it's overly dramatic now with the Cerebus remark, this bit opened with Pintsize slapping googly eyes on his face to prank people in the morning. Extreme melodrama there, not lighthearted at all.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: baronvonfritz on 02 Jun 2021, 17:23
At the risk of sounding like a ridiculous fanboy...   I've been reading QC since finding out that Faye's breasts are a powerful narcotic.  The humor, the wit, the exploration of Jeph's life through the expressions that are the characters has been awesome all these years.  The idea barrel isn't empty, it never was a barrel to begin with.  It's always been just Jeph, as an open book: thoughts, concepts, abstractions, emotions, exploration, ideas, hopes, redemption; viewed through the constructs of his universe.  People, as they get older, change, so too his characters.  Some grow if they are self aware, others, with little self reflection, just get older, and maybe just eat cereal, thinking about a past adventure from Russia.  We've watched a cast of aspects endure the sharp angst of youth, confront past trauma, suffer through alcoholism, find love, lose love, find happiness for the ones they loved, overcome deeply rooted anxieties, explore what it means to be sentient, and still be able to find levity in the balance. I've been questioning when Pintsize was going to have his day, I look forward to the content, and welcome this new Quartsize.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: shanejayell on 02 Jun 2021, 19:34
Didn't Pintsize have a tie on?
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Farideh on 02 Jun 2021, 19:50
He took it off during the previous comic (I had to go back and check).


I feel ill equipped to comment on the 'ACAB' uttering by Pintsize.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: shanejayell on 02 Jun 2021, 19:54
Its a thing.

Tho considering QC takes place in a parallel universe to ours, would the police stuff that hit here have happened there?
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Torlek on 02 Jun 2021, 20:22
Given that we've seen QC cops either be Super Troopers (https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=749) or basically real cops (and, like real cops, the not bad ones seem to do fuck all about the bad ones) (https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3837) and most of the characters seem to have a level of outright fear of the police, I'd say it's a pretty fair bet that a significant enough minority of cops in QC-verse are very much bastards.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Oenone on 02 Jun 2021, 20:56
Wat? No more Chaos Goblin? Instead another insecure hipster? Whyyyy?  :emotrex:

And can I just say how much I love Claire telling people how they should behave, how they should be? And telling them what their bodies should mean for them? I want to see her reaction if someone did that to her.


I didn't interpret the comic that way. I saw it more as Claire trying to help Pintsize identify his emotions ("is this how you feel?" rather than "this is what you're feeling"). If he had replied "no, that's not it", she would have accepted that. Also remember that Claire knows Pintsize quite well, better than Marten does in some ways. She knows how far she can go.

This has been a long time coming in ways Marten didn’t notice. The first few strips of this blasted comic had Marten going out, with Pintsize’s encouragement, even as Pintsize joked about feeling lonely and not necessarily liking the limitations of that body.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: John Allenson on 02 Jun 2021, 21:00
I do want to see what Pintsize first ideas for clothing were.

Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Farideh on 02 Jun 2021, 21:09
Are you sure about that? :D
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Gus_Smedstad on 02 Jun 2021, 22:40
I do want to see what Pintsize first ideas for clothing were.

I'm figuring something crotchless.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 02 Jun 2021, 23:10
The police at the sledding party were mellow.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Gyrre on 02 Jun 2021, 23:44
May be Jeph should consider renaming this strip B. U. D. D. I. E. S. or something similar? I'm actually serious. This isn't Questionable Content really, it's a thematically and atmospherically different work with very different ground rules.

I dunno, it seems like a few people in this thread find the current content questionable, for some reason.

It still feels like the same comic to me, just moving forward and expanding. Except for the lack of much to do with Marten and music, maybe, but while that was always a Thing for him, it was never really central to the comic, so it doesn't feel odd that it's more or less fallen off even if I notice the absence.

I mean heck, for the poster who suggested it's overly dramatic now with the Cerebus remark, this bit opened with Pintsize slapping googly eyes on his face to prank people in the morning. Extreme melodrama there, not lighthearted at all.

I can see where the argument is coming from. Though, the old cast turn up oftenenough that I'm not sure if we should have a full Narbonic-Skin Horse thing (ending one comic officially and moving to another story set in the same universe with some ties to the original story).
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 03 Jun 2021, 00:12
I would not take any bets that Pintsize is speaking for Jeph here, or that Pintsize is being serious.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Tova on 03 Jun 2021, 00:59
My impression is that Jeph is very fond of writing “He’s/She’s not wrong” under the comic when a character is speaking for him.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Gyrre on 03 Jun 2021, 02:04
I do want to see what Pintsize first ideas for clothing were.

As long as it's not ahego hoodies (i.e. very upsetting).
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: notStanley on 03 Jun 2021, 08:23
If Claire gets the job testing toys, what does that do to her librarian aspirations?  Would she abandon the toys crew, gleefully, or with regret?  Once committed would she stay a year or two?  Has she thought about that yet?  Or just panicking about short term cash flow?
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Shjade on 03 Jun 2021, 09:23
Combine jobs. Stealth-test toys at the library to test discretion/subtlety.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: baronvonfritz on 03 Jun 2021, 11:09
Oh heheheheh, fashion police are bastards  :laugh: Lawdy, don't take it so seriously, looks like Jeph hasn't.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Oenone on 03 Jun 2021, 13:34
The police at the sledding party were mellow.

Was the cast still majority white?
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Farideh on 03 Jun 2021, 14:04
Was the cast still majority white?


Yeah, but the cops weren't (https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1389)
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Y on 03 Jun 2021, 14:40
Today I thought ACAB when a cop showed up on a reality tv show, well until he started stripping.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Wombat on 03 Jun 2021, 18:09
I do want to see what Pintsize first ideas for clothing were.

As long as it's not ahego hoodies (i.e. very upsetting).
One time I was working in a high school and a girl was wearing one of those, and I didn't really know what to do about it.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: shanejayell on 03 Jun 2021, 18:43
New comic up.

"Dildo tours!"
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: dutchrvl on 03 Jun 2021, 18:47
Grognard, you do not make things up. You just don't. Am I looking in the wrong place, or has Jeph removed it since you posted? I checked to the end of the page, for today and yesterday.


Arguing about Jeph's choices belongs here. Arguing about the police needs to go in DISCUSS.


I had a longer post about why I think the term ACAB is problematic in general, but removed it since it was more in general.
Let’s just say that while I heavily support defunding the police, I am also strongly against the term ACAB, and am a little disappointed that Jeph used it. Then again, QC has gradually moved towards mostly being a mouthpiece to tackle societal issues that Jeph cares deeply about, so its not really surprising.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: dutchrvl on 03 Jun 2021, 18:52
Anyone else get the sense that Jeph decided that a wacky grope-bot with magical fingerless hands doesn't fit with how the strip evolved, so he's just gonna give him a new body and a new personality in one fell swoop?

I’d argue that the ‘vessel’ or body a person (can) present in is likely to heavily affect a characters personality, especially if it’s a massive change from previously.
I think it makes sense pintsize will have a different personality in this body, and one that will evolve too.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Gyrre on 03 Jun 2021, 20:15
Combine jobs. Stealth-test toys at the library to test discretion/subtlety.

 :-o :-o :-o
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: de_la_Nae on 03 Jun 2021, 21:40
APPLIED DILDONICS
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: John Allenson on 03 Jun 2021, 21:49
Since neither Momo nor Winslow had a personality change when they changed their chassis I don't see why Pintsize would either.

Granted, I think Pintsize will have to change the ways he expresses his personality.  But there have been indications through the years that a lot of his 'chaos goblin' persona is an act.  After all, he has managed to maintain friendships with Momo, Bubbles, and Winslow.  I don't expect his humanoid chassis will all of a sudden change him into a rape-bot any more than when he got lasers in his stomach turning him into a murderbot.

About today's comic.
It sounds like the dildo factory might need someone really good at paperwork.  There may yet be a job for Claire.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Gus_Smedstad on 03 Jun 2021, 22:01
APPLIED DILDONICS

Beat me to remarking on the company name, and how much I liked it.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: BenRG on 03 Jun 2021, 23:08
Here's a solid prediction: Librarians have to be organised; Beepatrice is not organised. Librarians need to know how to use office equipment; Beepatrice has a borderline-phobic response to office equipment. Claire is going to end up trying to help Beepatrice tidy up the office. Within 10 strips, she'll be the office manager (possibly after Beepatrice literally begs her to take the job).

Unless Jeph can think of anything funny to happen, Claire's job will never be central to any further strip ever again, only a background detail.

You read it here first.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Farideh on 04 Jun 2021, 00:14
Hmmm, you never know. Jeph likes to take the long path. Claire's job might become a main topic again in a year's time or something.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: _Islanio on 04 Jun 2021, 05:31
I dunno, seemed more like a joke that lasted more than a strip. Jeph's probably gonna mess around with the idea of she getting a job somewhere else, and Marten having to deal with (again) the long distance stuff, at least for a while. Factory tour might be fun to see tho.
Lots of potential jokes.
As for Pintsize's personality, it'll have to change. Some of his more extreme jokes just won't work. Also, his previously mentioned ram limitation might no longer be a thing. He'll "open the doors of perception" in some way.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Perfectly Reasonable on 04 Jun 2021, 08:36
Psst!
Someone with library skillz would be -great- with paperwork...
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Dock Braun on 04 Jun 2021, 15:18
:mrgreen: Applied Dildonics' data-entry positions are filled.not sorry
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: DaiJB on 04 Jun 2021, 19:11
As for Pintsize's personality, it'll have to change. Some of his more extreme jokes just won't work. Also, his previously mentioned ram limitation might no longer be a thing. He'll "open the doors of perception" in some way.

No more hanging from the ceiling or duct-taping himself to the wall?   :-D

Also he's going to have to tiptoe around Faye (as he stated earlier, his new bod is less resilient than the old one) - but most of all, he can't rely on being overlooked by being small. He'll have to use a more subtle approach to pranks, rather than the old whoopee cushion\bucket-of-water-over-the-door approach we've come to expect from Pintsize.
So, yes, a certain change in his personality is on the cards - and if handled well, it would be a sign of growth (I suppose horrible little goblins can grow too!)   
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Sorflakne on 04 Jun 2021, 23:07
I do want to see what Pintsize first ideas for clothing were.

As long as it's not ahego hoodies (i.e. very upsetting).
One time I was working in a high school and a girl was wearing one of those, and I didn't really know what to do about it.
Had to look it up.  She was wearing one of those?  Back in my day, a kid would be told to turn his shirt inside out or change it if wearing a South Park shirt, even if there was no swearing or dead Kennys on it.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Gyrre on 06 Jun 2021, 03:51
I do want to see what Pintsize first ideas for clothing were.

As long as it's not ahego hoodies (i.e. very upsetting).
One time I was working in a high school and a girl was wearing one of those, and I didn't really know what to do about it.
Had to look it up.  She was wearing one of those?  Back in my day, a kid would be told to turn his shirt inside out or change it if wearing a South Park shirt, even if there was no swearing or dead Kennys on it.
Same.
Ditto for Beavis and Butthead stuff.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: sitnspin on 06 Jun 2021, 09:02
Hell, I got in trouble for wearing a Dead Kennedys "In God We Trust, Inc" t-shirt in high school.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 06 Jun 2021, 09:24
You (plural) should petition to change that stupid motto back. Because right now it’s rhyming awful hard with “we disavow all responsibility”, no?
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: shanejayell on 06 Jun 2021, 16:35
We know what happened to the old body....

https://somethingpositive.net/comic/pintsized-recycling/
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Wombat on 06 Jun 2021, 18:53
I do want to see what Pintsize first ideas for clothing were.

As long as it's not ahego hoodies (i.e. very upsetting).
One time I was working in a high school and a girl was wearing one of those, and I didn't really know what to do about it.
Had to look it up.  She was wearing one of those?  Back in my day, a kid would be told to turn his shirt inside out or change it if wearing a South Park shirt, even if there was no swearing or dead Kennys on it.
I generally don't agree with dress codes and don't like enforcing them, though there have been a couple times I've told kids to put on or zip up a jacket or something (these were when their shirts contained explicit depictions of drugs). But in this case, my role in the class wasn't one where I had the authority to enforce the dress code even if I wanted to. There was also a classroom teacher, but she didn't seem to "get" the hoodie, so I was stuck on if I should explain the ahego hoodie to her or not. Then a student needed help and then class ended, and the girl went on her ahego hoodie wearing way.
Title: Re: WCDT May 31st - June 4th (4536-4540)
Post by: Wingy on 09 Jun 2021, 11:31
I'm figuring something crotchless.
Skirts and dresses fit into that category, but Pintsize has always come across as male to me.  I shall wait and see.