Topic: WCDT New Year's Week 2012 (Jan. 2-6, 2091-95) (Read 68009 times)

jwhouk · « **on:** 01 Jan 2012, 12:12 »

New Year, New Week, New Poll.

Carl-E · « **Reply #1 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 13:45 »

Awwww - I was looking forward to more hallucinatory bandicoot antics.

Welu · « **Reply #2 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 16:07 »

You could try self-inducing them with bandicoot teleportation.

Kugai · « **Reply #3 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 19:28 »

This week

Hobbits

Fen · « **Reply #4 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 20:33 »

Way to start the year with more whine =/

akronnick · « **Reply #5 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 20:38 »

Marten looks happy.

It shall have to be paid for.

Near Lurker · « **Reply #6 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 20:42 »

That... is not a good look.

Wagimawr · « **Reply #7 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 20:51 »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J-y2rFfny8

iduguphergrave · « **Reply #8 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 21:07 »

If I'm reading this correctly (and I'm only pretty sure I am; this one took me awhile), I feel intense pity for Marten. It seems almost out of character for him to be lying to himself at this degree, but it could be a sign of how desperate he is to hold on to that feeling for as long as he can. Does that make sense?

jwhouk · « **Reply #9 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 21:09 »

Did it look to anyone else that Padma was about to say something there?

And #### it, he IS gonna break the two of them up while he's in NZ.

FunkyTuba · « **Reply #10 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 21:29 »

We're about at the point where we've just gotten to the top of the lift hill and the chains are about disengage from the cars.

My arms are both up.

Dr. ROFLPWN · « **Reply #11 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 21:37 »

Quote from: iduguphergrave on 01 Jan 2012, 21:07

If I'm reading this correctly (and I'm only pretty sure I am; this one took me awhile), I feel intense pity for Marten. It seems almost out of character for him to be lying to himself at this degree, but it could be a sign of how desperate he is to hold on to that feeling for as long as he can. Does that make sense?

I...I am not sure what is going on? I mean fffff Marten's not wrong? He was whinier a year ago--he's still whiny, but he's not nearly as bad as when he started the comic I mean fuck

What did he say wrong why does she look like that

FFFFFFFFFfffff I hate this I wanted them to be happy till she left D:

iduguphergrave · « **Reply #12 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 21:47 »

I thought she said something important but Marten blocked it out or pretended he didn't hear her. Am I wrong? I was a little confused when I first read it.

jwhouk · « **Reply #13 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 21:59 »

No, it did look like she was supposed to say something there. Second time with her, I think... (laugh)

~~cesariojpn~~ · « **Reply #14 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 22:10 »

I figured she was gasping in shock.

haikupoet · « **Reply #15 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 22:31 »

Quote from: Dr. ROFLPWN on 01 Jan 2012, 21:37

Quote from: iduguphergrave on 01 Jan 2012, 21:07
If I'm reading this correctly (and I'm only pretty sure I am; this one took me awhile), I feel intense pity for Marten. It seems almost out of character for him to be lying to himself at this degree, but it could be a sign of how desperate he is to hold on to that feeling for as long as he can. Does that make sense?

I...I am not sure what is going on? I mean fffff Marten's not wrong? He was whinier a year ago--he's still whiny, but he's not nearly as bad as when he started the comic I mean fuck

What did he say wrong why does she look like that

FFFFFFFFFfffff I hate this I wanted them to be happy till she left D:

I'm guessing it's something along the lines of "I don't care and you're not helping. Please don't try to make those assumptions on my account."

Or at least that's what people seem to tell me when I accuse myself of being whiny and useless.

EcoReck · « **Reply #16 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 22:39 »

From what I'm seeing, Marten is acting selfish and disregarding Padma's feelings. As he said before, he just wants to live out the next few weeks worry free. But what about Padma?

Delator · « **Reply #17 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 23:00 »

I am still curious to see which of these two is playing it "too cool". Neither seems to want to reveal to the other how hard they've fallen.

haikupoet · « **Reply #18 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 23:04 »

Quote from: EcoReck on 01 Jan 2012, 22:39

From what I'm seeing, Marten is acting selfish and disregarding Padma's feelings. As he said before, he just wants to live out the next few weeks worry free. But what about Padma?

Now, see, this is interesting to me, because I might just say something like this and it wouldn't occur to me that it might come off as selfish. If there's a subtext to what she's saying, I wouldn't pick up on it.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #19 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 23:32 »

Also, a year ago he wasn't single. (Well, a year ago in the QCU, it's been slightly more than a year in our universe)

Carl-E · « **Reply #20 on:** 01 Jan 2012, 23:40 »

She just doesn't look happy.

But that's hard to tell in the dark. So I'm guessing marten's not going to pick up on it for a while. But she'll say something soon.

Probably to Elliott.

Skaltura · « **Reply #21 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 00:20 »

Aww yeah, Marten Reed, gents, fucking it up New Years style.

Y · « **Reply #22 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 00:21 »

Quote from: Method of Madness on 01 Jan 2012, 23:32

Also, a year ago he wasn't single. (Well, a year ago in the QCU, it's been slightly more than a year in our universe)

Wait, It's been more than a year ago since the breakup?(in our time)

jwhouk · « **Reply #23 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 00:34 »

Quote from: Y on 02 Jan 2012, 00:21

Quote from: Method of Madness on 01 Jan 2012, 23:32
Also, a year ago he wasn't single. (Well, a year ago in the QCU, it's been slightly more than a year in our universe)

Wait, It's been more than a year ago since the breakup?(in our time)

1799 vs. 2091, yeah.

I would posit that it's probably only been... six, seven months?... since the breakup.

snubnose · « **Reply #24 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 01:18 »

New Comic: awesome !

I dont get todays poll though. What is "NZ" ? Can one eat that ?

pwhodges · « **Reply #25 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 01:20 »

Jeph is going on holiday for the first time for many years, and he's going to New Zealand (NZ). He has written the comics for this period in advance.

sitnspin · « **Reply #26 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 02:09 »

Marten completely missed a chance to talk seriously about this situation. Padma was clearly trying to open up here, and Marten just brushed it aside with attempted levity. He is definitely being selfish and self-involved here. I think he is trying so hard to just "be cool" about the situation and not let himself be concerned about the outcome, that he is ignoring how it might be affecting her. His comment was dismissive of her feelings. Self-deprecation can be healthy, but it can also come off as invalidating the thoughts and feelings of others.

snubnose · « **Reply #27 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 02:24 »

Quote from: pwhodges on 02 Jan 2012, 01:20

Jeph is going on holiday for the first time for many years, and he's going to New Zealand (NZ). He has written the comics for this period in advance.

Ooooh cool ! I didnt knew that. I am surprised he didnt take any vacation for so long ... if I would live from making comics (but I dont have the necessary talent for that), thats how I would get a lot of vacation out of it.

Mister D Nomms · « **Reply #28 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 02:28 »

This is going to be a sad week.

TinPenguin · « **Reply #29 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 02:29 »

Have to say, I didn't really get this one before reading the comments here. But I think I can understand Padma's expression in the last two panels now.

Marten may or may not be acting selfishly, but he is obviously oblivious to it if he is. I think that as far as he's concerned, Padma was saying how happy she is. He's pleased she'd like to have met him earlier, but he doesn't realise it's a genuine regret.

Skewbrow · « **Reply #30 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 02:37 »

Marten, Marten. The lady in your arms is in some kind of a distress, and you are just wearing a goofy grin. Ok, you have an excuse, but please...

May be their discussion will continue in tomorrow's strip?

I hope.

Dr. ROFLPWN · « **Reply #31 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 03:07 »

...I think now I get this more and frankly it's really tragic because you can see exactly how the mistakes got made. I mean, hell, with Marty's history, it's hard to blame him for going "Well, this is going to end sooner rather than later, might as well live in the moment."

So this is Padma trying to tell him "hey, I seriously have relationship-level feelings for you, and if we'd met a year ago maybe I could've asked you to come with me or at least had more time with you and I want to have a future..." and he's just like "Yeah, oh well, let's just have fun!

"

...I just...shit isn't fair, yo.

VonKleist · « **Reply #32 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 04:15 »

Uh-oh,
sounds like someone´s getting their ass dumped :O

Welu · « **Reply #33 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 04:20 »

I think her question is her showing she's really liking Marten and he's unintentionally brushed her off a bit. As someone who thinks of dancing a second after a serious conversation about her grandmother being sick, this was probably really hard for her to say seriously.
Marten has been freaking out about this too so I think it's kind of unfair to jump to he's being selfish. More oblivious. It's most likely post-coital stupidity. Padma could follow up now with, "No, I'm serious." (which could have been what she might have said in Panel 3?) and that should get his attention, no problem.

Marten's been the one wanting to pursue something with Padma for a while before he even knew she was leaving. Then he started getting signals she wanted something just fun before she left and encouraged to think that by Steve. They've just passed each other on the crossroads, I think.

They're both at blame for not discussing what the hell they're doing before or at the start of getting into this.

Skaltura · « **Reply #34 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 06:24 »

Quote from: Dr. ROFLPWN on 02 Jan 2012, 03:07

...I think now I get this more and frankly it's really tragic because you can see exactly how the mistakes got made. I mean, hell, with Marty's history, it's hard to blame him for going "Well, this is going to end sooner rather than later, might as well live in the moment."

So this is Padma trying to tell him "hey, I seriously have relationship-level feelings for you, and if we'd met a year ago maybe I could've asked you to come with me or at least had more time with you and I want to have a future..." and he's just like "Yeah, oh well, let's just have fun! "

...I just...shit isn't fair, yo.

I think what Marten's doing here is - unconsciously - trying to rip this thing apart before it gets too serious, he has convinced himself (with healthy prodding by Steve and his "Yo dude, like, relax and enjoy it while it lasts bro" advice - I am exaggerating, because fuck it, Steve has been a total douchebag in most of his recent appearences) that it will end. And so, this time, Marten Reed will not be follow the girl across the country, he will not passively watch it all go up in flames while this limp metaphorical firehose that he calls a spine curls up in the fetal position. No, this time, Marten Reed will be cool, and since he has no fucking idea what that means and how to do it, he will fuck it up.

Warning: above post is conjectured, cluster-f-bomb ridden, clueless WMG.

AnAverageWriter · « **Reply #35 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 06:46 »

And 2012 starts with a sad.

Dammit, Marten.

sitnspin · « **Reply #36 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 07:15 »

Marten is an idiot. He has always been a bit of one, but he is kicking it into overdrive.

When I say he is being selfish and self-involved, i don't mean he is doing it intentionally. I don't think he is deliberately brushing off her feelings, but he is missing some pretty big signals. In his attempt to play it cool and not freak out about the situation, he is taking it to the opposite extreme.

I am not sure Marten has ever been good at reading signals from the ladies.

In Padma's defense, she is TRYING to get her feelings out there, but considering Marten is displaying that he just sees this as casual (likely in response to how he perceives her to see it) she'd be taking a risk to put it too bluntly. She's testing the waters here and he totally missed it.

I think they are both misreading each other.

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #37 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 07:51 »

Yes, exactly. I don't think Marten has any idea that Padma meant that to be Important and not Flirty.

Mr. Doctor · « **Reply #38 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 08:32 »

Quote from: Welu on 02 Jan 2012, 04:20

They're both at blame for not discussing what the hell they're doing before or at the start of getting into this.

There's nothing more to say about this comic tbh, this quote says it all to me.

Border Reiver · « **Reply #39 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 08:43 »

Isn't that why bloody near every releationship has some problems?

Who discusses everything they want out of a relationship with that person before they start? The whole relationship thing tends to be an evolutionary process with most of us humans.

Wreck Smurfy · « **Reply #40 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 09:02 »

Quote from: Is it cold in here? on 02 Jan 2012, 07:51

Yes, exactly. I don't think Marten has any idea that Padma meant that to be Important and not Flirty.

PADMA: Don't you know I'm crazy about you?

MARTEN: Um, no, but if you hum a few bars I'll see if I can pick it up.

DSL · « **Reply #41 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 09:02 »

Marten, the over-thinker, is trying to live in the moment. Padma, who describes herself as not always thinking before acting, is starting to think things through. Each is trying to compensate for a self-perceived weakness, and in so doing, will only make things worse. Further pillow and post-pillow talk has the potential to alleviate or exacerbate.
Neither Marten nor Padma is evil, or stupid, not the way Jeph writes them. Were they real people, I'd say cut 'em some slack and hope it ends with the two at least liking each other.
The story parallel I see here is "The Gift of the Magi," in which a young couple with little money buys each other small Christmas gifts each knows will mean a great deal to the other -- but to afford the gifts, each makes a material sacrifice that renders the gifts useless. Of course, from this, the couple discovers What's Important ...

Sidhekin · « **Reply #42 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 09:19 »

I think it's time for one of my favourites:

Quote from: George Bernard Shaw

The problem with communication is the illusion that it has already occurred.

Marten thinks Padme has already communicated what this means and what their future may be. She's just having fun. And she'll be leaving.

But really, she hasn't ... yet.

pwhodges · « **Reply #43 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 09:39 »

My feeling is that you all (and Jeph, if the prevailing interpretation is correct) are being a bit hard on Marten here. It's not really completely reasonable to expect a perfectly modulated response to a remark with so few cues to the underlying thoughts.

Carl-E · « **Reply #44 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 09:42 »

Quote from: Welu on 02 Jan 2012, 04:20

They've just passed each other on the crossroads, I think.

This metaphor is just perfect. Marten's crossed from serious to living in the moment, and Padma's crossing the other way - possibly for the first time. I think I read in those eyes of hers someting she's not felt before, and that she's really pretty scared about it.

I have faith in Jeph that it's not going to be a total disaster, but that there will be enough trouble along the way for a few uncomfortable moments and equally uncomfortable laughs.

haikupoet · « **Reply #45 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 10:00 »

Quote from: pwhodges on 02 Jan 2012, 09:39

My feeling is that you all (and Jeph, if the prevailing interpretation is correct) are being a bit hard on Marten here. It's not really completely reasonable to expect a perfectly modulated response to a remark with so few cues to the underlying thoughts.

I tend to agree. Marten can't really know what's going on here. What I think is going on is that Padma wants him to ask her to stay, and I have a funny feeling Padma had or will have a conversation with her grandmother telling her to go for it. She's already said she can stay a few extra weeks, so there's got to be something along those lines going on.

Welu · « **Reply #46 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 10:02 »

Thanks, Carl-E. I've been writing today so feeling quite lyrical in my posts.

Quote from: Border Reiver on 02 Jan 2012, 08:43

Who discusses everything they want out of a relationship with that person before they start? The whole relationship thing tends to be an evolutionary process with most of us humans.

It's not really practical in most normal getting together situations. However when they both knew she'd be leaving soon, they should have had a bit more sense. They don't need an all night conversation where they discuss every detail of the possible future. One of them just needed to ask, "So, is this potentially serious or just for fun?" Even if the answer was, "We'll see how it goes." then there would be less uncertainty and they'd know how the other feels, even if that feeling is also confused.
The big missed opportunity to do was when Padma said she might stay for a few more weeks.

themacnut · « **Reply #47 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 10:31 »

Discussion wouldn't have helped, especially if said discussion happened right after the first or even second time they slept together. They both would have agreed it was just for fun, and they'd enjoy it while it lasted (or Marten would have gotten so whiny about Padma leaving she would've decided he just wasn't worth the trouble, dumped him on the spot and not spoken to him again) . Even Padma announcing she could postpone leaving would have been seen by Marten as postponing the end, and therefore extending the fun awhile longer.

Marten is too clueless to catch any subtle signs that Padma's feelings have changed, so she's going to have to come right out and say so. Otherwise, they'll just carry on as before, with Marten (unintentionally) brushing off any signals from Padma that she wants things to be more serious between them, until the time comes when she can't postpone leaving any longer, or it gets too painful for her to carry on like things are still casual between them, and then she'll dump Marten, possibly after a big fight between them where Padma basically accuses Marten of not being able to read her subtle signals and maybe using her for sex.

And Marten will be left broken-hearted and confused.

Carl-E · « **Reply #48 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 10:41 »

No, Padma's more straight forward than that. She'll say someting.

As soon as she figures out what the hell she's going through...

sitnspin · « **Reply #49 on:** 02 Jan 2012, 10:49 »

The other problem with communication is that in order to communicate clearly, you have to know what it is you want to say. Between that and thinking you HAVE communicated it when you haven't, most problems with human relationships (romantic and otherwise) are summed up nicely.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Poll

THE MOMENT OF THE WEEK:

Author Topic: WCDT New Year's Week 2012 (Jan. 2-6, 2091-95) (Read 68009 times)

AnAverageWriter