Topic: WCDT: 2711-2715 (26 - 30 May 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread (Read 64028 times)

St.Clair · « **Reply #100 on:** 28 May 2014, 03:35 »

I'm not sure it induces claustrophobia, rather that being physically embodied in space, and then having that space restricted, does.
(Also, keep in mind this person wanted to be a very fast airplane.)

... and I just realized I typed 'person' there without thinking about it.

anahata · « **Reply #101 on:** 28 May 2014, 03:37 »

Quote from: Mlle Germain on 28 May 2014, 02:55

I think Dale is handling this well.

Given that true character is revealed when under pressure, Dale has proved his worth many times. Accepting when something doesn't really matter, assertive when it does.

I'm getting to like Dale.

~~cesariojpn~~ · « **Reply #102 on:** 28 May 2014, 03:43 »

Quote from: Akima on 28 May 2014, 02:15

Quote from: ZoeB on 28 May 2014, 01:21
Momo has a hypertrophied social conscience.
That is not a bad thing.

So robot jail induces claustrophobia... That sounds nasty. Sentient intellects and personalities stuck in a disk rack or something?

No, she said that the halfway house was claustrophobic. What the fuck is that place, the Robot Arms Apt from Futurama??

Lubricus · « **Reply #103 on:** 28 May 2014, 04:05 »

Maybe it's literally only half a house, with all the rooms at half size?

Zebediah · « **Reply #104 on:** 28 May 2014, 04:15 »

Ever seen the inside of a real halfway house? I used to volunteer in one, so I know what conditions are like. Most of them are horribly underfunded and dealing with a much larger population than they were designed to serve. In the one I worked in, the "private rooms" weren't much bigger than the twin beds that were in them, and only a few were lucky enough to have that - some of those closet-sized rooms had bunk beds. So yeah, not a good place for someone with claustrophobia.

In a halfway house designed for robots who either don't sleep or can sleep standing up... I shudder to think of how much personal space would be allotted to each one. At a guess, about 24"x24".

pwhodges · « **Reply #105 on:** 28 May 2014, 04:48 »

I like the call-out to robots.txt files...

NilsO · « **Reply #106 on:** 28 May 2014, 05:26 »

Quote from: Mlle Germain on 28 May 2014, 02:55

I mean, NilsO, just think for a second what you would do if a chaotic, impulsive, pretty unpredictable and often annoying person that you hardly know (the previous encounter was roughly two days) showed up at your door and invited herself to stay with you pretty much indefinitely. I bet you wouldn't be thrilled either.

In principle, perhaps, but it depends on your conscience. May desperately needs help and support, and is asking the only nice person she knows. Also, in QC it is considered very bad to reject a sentient intelligence that has bonded emotionally with you. (This strip also gives the best background information for the human-AI relationships.)

Mlle Germain · « **Reply #107 on:** 28 May 2014, 06:11 »

As I said, think about how you would actually react in real life before criticising Dale - I'd like to see you happily offering to share your home with an ex-convict you hardly know.
If Jeph had portrayed it as Dale going "Oh May, you were mostly annoying as hell last time you (admittedly involuntarily) imposed your company on me without me asking for it and I don't really know you at all otherwise, but of course I'm thrilled to have you live with me!" that would just have been unrealistic and naive. Yes, it's a comic, but the characters are still (mostly) supposed to be lifelike.
Also, is Dale rejecting her? No.
Even if he had: As far as I understand it, May is an adult AI. She is in no way Dale's responsiblity. That Dale was able to forgive her her shitty behaviour at the start of their acquaintance and give her a chance speaks immensely for him. It's great that he will help her to start a new life by offering her a place to live and being friends with her! I like Dale for it, a lot. He is however under no obligation to do so.

jwhouk · « **Reply #108 on:** 28 May 2014, 07:35 »

Get a Job, May!

Bitchy Barista Bot at Coffee of Doom! 2 (11.1%)
Works at the Library with Momo; plays her comic foil 1 (5.6%)
Gets a job at the Secret Bakery - new item: "Bitch Scones!" 1 (5.6%)
Pizza delivery - she becomes the NEW Pizza Girl! 3 (16.7%)
Maid for Hire - and Hannelore HIRES her! 1 (5.6%)
Something with Sven - to keep the hot babes away? 2 (11.1%)
Sassy Server at the Horrible Revelation? 1 (5.6%)
Stand up comedy. Because hey, why not? 0 (0%)
Silly: she'll be a midwife. (With a British accent.) 5 (27.8%)
Miniature figure painter! (Okay, now we're getting silly.) 0 (0%) <=== Nobody got this joke?
Flight Attendant! 1 (5.6%)
Waffles with Space Ham <Space Hem?> and Space Tea - part of this complete breakfast! 0 (0%)
Something entirely else from the warped mind of Jeph T. Jacques 1 (5.6%)

Total Members Voted: 18

Barmymoo · « **Reply #109 on:** 28 May 2014, 07:54 »

Do I win a prize?

Nepiophage · « **Reply #110 on:** 28 May 2014, 08:39 »

Just noticrd the numbers in the titles and the URL are out by 1 since yesterday i.e. yesterdays strip is http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2712 but the title is no. 2711.

jwhouk · « **Reply #111 on:** 28 May 2014, 12:51 »

He didn't title the one on Monday, which is probably the reason for that.

Kugai · « **Reply #112 on:** 28 May 2014, 14:35 »

Momo could be a Robot Probation Officer - Her Electric Shock Defense Mechanism would be good threat to keep them in line.

She'll get good practice now that May is back on the scene.

Pilchard123 · « **Reply #113 on:** 28 May 2014, 14:52 »

Don't taze me, Mo!

Aziraphale · « **Reply #114 on:** 28 May 2014, 15:57 »

Quote from: Schmorgluck on 28 May 2014, 02:52

Mmmh, not only the very concept of Nice_List.txt is disturbing in itself, but since she just created it, only Marigold is in it. Which means Dale, for example, isn't. But maybe the list is just for reminders?

Unless that list/subroutine just means handling Marigold with more care than she'd normally show toward everyone else.

Aziraphale · « **Reply #115 on:** 28 May 2014, 16:00 »

Quote from: Mlle Germain on 28 May 2014, 06:11

As I said, think about how you would actually react in real life before criticising Dale - I'd like to see you happily offering to share your home with an ex-convict you hardly know.
If Jeph had portrayed it as Dale going "Oh May, you were mostly annoying as hell last time you (admittedly involuntarily) imposed your company on me without me asking for it and I don't really know you at all otherwise, but of course I'm thrilled to have you live with me!" that would just have been unrealistic and naive. Yes, it's a comic, but the characters are still (mostly) supposed to be lifelike.
Also, is Dale rejecting her? No.
Even if he had: As far as I understand it, May is an adult AI. She is in no way Dale's responsiblity. That Dale was able to forgive her her shitty behaviour at the start of their acquaintance and give her a chance speaks immensely for him. It's great that he will help her to start a new life by offering her a place to live and being friends with her! I like Dale for it, a lot. He is however under no obligation to do so.

I think it speaks well of Dale, both in terms of giving her a chance and also in setting clear and strong boundaries. Dale's chill, sure, but in many ways he has his shit together more than a lot of the other characters.

~~Schmorgluck~~ · « **Reply #116 on:** 28 May 2014, 16:21 »

Quote from: cesariojpn on 28 May 2014, 03:43

No, she said that the halfway house was claustrophobic. What the fuck is that place, the Robot Arms Apt from Futurama??

No.
Worse.
Much worse.
Much much worse.

T · « **Reply #117 on:** 28 May 2014, 16:37 »

Quote from: Schmorgluck on 28 May 2014, 16:21

Quote from: cesariojpn on 28 May 2014, 03:43
No, she said that the halfway house was claustrophobic. What the fuck is that place, the Robot Arms Apt from Futurama??
No.
Worse.
Much worse.
Much much worse.

The music reminds me of old mega-drive, the video Silent Hill creepiness, just with less decadent/bloody look.

Zwammy · « **Reply #118 on:** 28 May 2014, 17:01 »

Quote from: Pilchard123 on 28 May 2014, 14:52

Don't taze me, Mo!

That was a coffee snort.

TheCollector · « **Reply #119 on:** 28 May 2014, 17:56 »

To whoever it was that was wondering what I meant by anime eyes, I meant the shape, it's how anime eyes are, all bigger then normal and kinda squared. Normal eyes are smaller and round, like Mays and human characters eyes are.

Akima · « **Reply #120 on:** 28 May 2014, 18:41 »

Quote from: cesariojpn on 28 May 2014, 03:43

What the fuck is that place, the Robot Arms Apt from Futurama??

Something like this?

May said she was claustrophobic "these days" (i.e. she used not to be) and that was why the half-way-house was unpleasant. I read from that it was her stretch in jail that induced the claustrophobia. Since she was disembodied during her jail time, I'm imagining "cells" like USB sticks.

Yes, I am probably over-analysing this.

jwhouk · « **Reply #121 on:** 28 May 2014, 19:00 »

I don't see much difference between the eye shapes of Marten/Faye/Dora and Momo - except for the eye color for Momo.

vforvancouver · « **Reply #122 on:** 28 May 2014, 19:40 »

Coffin hotel? That's the first time I've heard that term. For me, those are capsule hotels.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #123 on:** 28 May 2014, 19:54 »

What the fuck? My reaction is based less on the size and more on the fact that you can see into every room. Is there no way to stop people from seeing in?

Edit: Apparently there is a way, and they're often used by people who have had a few too many to make it home.

Perfectly Reasonable · « **Reply #124 on:** 28 May 2014, 20:21 »

Yay for May!
I'm looking forward to seeing how she handles her new life.
(Wonder if she'll end up cleaning Dale's place in a maid outfit?)

jwhouk · « **Reply #125 on:** 28 May 2014, 21:14 »

I doubt the maid outfit will EVER be put on May willingly ever again.

Anyone know how long it takes to drive from Logan International to the NoHam area?

EDIT: Ah, about two hours if traffic's good, according to Google. Guess we'll have to wait until after 1 AM EDT for the strip.

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #126 on:** 28 May 2014, 21:40 »

Google Maps thinks it's almost two hours.

Detachable Felix · « **Reply #127 on:** 28 May 2014, 22:17 »

Well that went pretty much as expected. $:-\$

Aziraphale · « **Reply #128 on:** 28 May 2014, 22:20 »

Dale seems to be forgetting that without May, he'd probably still be working up the nerve to straighten out things with Marigold after the diner debacle...

jwhouk · « **Reply #129 on:** 28 May 2014, 22:22 »

Quote from: LJFelix on 28 May 2014, 22:17

Well that went pretty much as expected. $:-\$

Yep.

Ah, Marigold, you never change.

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #130 on:** 28 May 2014, 22:47 »

Oh, she's changed.

jwhouk · « **Reply #131 on:** 28 May 2014, 23:10 »

Does she (Marigold) see her (May) as a threat or something?

Ravenswing · « **Reply #132 on:** 28 May 2014, 23:44 »

Quote from: jwhouk on 28 May 2014, 23:10

Does she (Marigold) see her (May) as a threat or something?

... because Marigold's the only one who gets to have an anthropomorphic AnthroPC? Sheesh. What's she anticipating? May sneaking into Dale's bed to give him handjobs for rent?

That being said, speaking from my exalted status as a Massachusetts driver living in the Valley and native to the Boston area, you really want two and a half hours for Logan => Noho, unless you're doing it at 2 AM. The MassPike is the most heavily patrolled highway in the state, it's one of only two routes by which you can even make the trip, and the traffic around Logan is pretty bitchy. Pretty much any time during daylight hours, you're going to be held up some.

My vote would be for May to get a job as a masseuse. A lot of folks do that in the Valley, and it'd be a hoot to see May steamed at the innuendos flying around.

Ben · « **Reply #133 on:** 28 May 2014, 23:48 »

I don't understand the whole situation

- clearly they are at Dale's, because Dale has no right to let May stay with Marigold and Angus.
- wtf is she wearing? It seems to be a uniform, with a name badge. She says she needs to find a job, so it isn't a fast food outlet or something like that. It doesn't look as though she chose it.
- presumably Momo is at work at the library, or at Marigold's apartment
- why does Marigold know about May at all? Dale saw her, Faye saw her when trying on Dale's glasses, Momo sensed her (but presumably could only see her while wearing the glasses)
- why is she walking around on her own at all? Momo's new chassis was bought by Marigold and she is contracted with Marigold. If Momo's chassis cost $30,000, and Pintsize is described by Marigold as worth $3,000 then May must be walking around in $20,000-plus worth of chassis with no owner, contracted companion or financial guarantee ?
- the staff at Idoru said that AIs were placed in a bank until selected by a human, who was matched in some way to that personality. May is clearly aware that she is "damaged goods" in those terms. Presumably, she is also "out of spec" in that no-one would knowingly write a spec like that

anahata · « **Reply #134 on:** 28 May 2014, 23:59 »

Quote from: Ravenswing on 28 May 2014, 23:44

Sheesh. What's she anticipating? May sneaking into Dale's bed to give him handjobs for rent?

Marigold doesn't want to share Dale with anyone right now, and May would look like a massive threat to her.
Jealousy isn't logical.

jwhouk · « **Reply #135 on:** 29 May 2014, 00:32 »

I had this whole post written out, and I decided to just go with the MST3K Mantra.

DSL · « **Reply #136 on:** 29 May 2014, 00:42 »

Yeah, I've got some "who what now?" going on but I think I'll just wait and see what Jeph rolls out.

Thrillho · « **Reply #137 on:** 29 May 2014, 00:59 »

I'm with Marigold on this one. I find May pretty loathsome, and she is an ex con. Not sure I'd want to live with her either.

Mr. Doctor · « **Reply #138 on:** 29 May 2014, 01:02 »

Eh, to me she's overreacting a little bit with the yelling. But that's Marigold so I'm not surprised.

Thrillho · « **Reply #139 on:** 29 May 2014, 01:03 »

Marigold is new to relationships and shit. Kissy time got interrupted. I'd be pissed too.

Mr. Doctor · « **Reply #140 on:** 29 May 2014, 01:09 »

I guess I'm just way to chilled to get pissed off so easily... And I only had 2 previous relantionships experiences which lasted way too little.

Might be just my way of living: I rather see the great picture and decide afterwards than going NO or YES right away.

Monkey Says Yes · « **Reply #141 on:** 29 May 2014, 02:18 »

Ah, it's good to see May. I've missed her so!

~~cesariojpn~~ · « **Reply #142 on:** 29 May 2014, 02:35 »

Quote from: Ben on 28 May 2014, 23:48

- why is she walking around on her own at all? Momo's new chassis was bought by Marigold and she is contracted with Marigold. If Momo's chassis cost $30,000, and Pintsize is described by Marigold as worth $3,000 then May must be walking around in $20,000-plus worth of chassis with no owner, contracted companion or financial guarantee ?

Possible theories:

* This is her old chassis, possibly bought or provided by someone/a company. Given we have no idea how long ago the crime was committed, and what May did exactly (Supposedly, she was in the finance or banking sector given she "rerouted" a fuckton of money in order to buy herself a fighter jet), AnthroPC's were nothing more than chattel a while back, so when May decided to commit financial fraud, possibly her chassis was confiscated as well from her owner or the business.

* The chassis is "obsolete" or "surplus." While we don't quite know exactly how AnthroPC tech evolves and changes, it could be theorized that as times and technology changes, AnthroPC bodies get dumped/scrapped for newer tech. May could be in a model that most people/businesses don't use anymore, and the parole authority uses them out of convenience/cost savings. Also, the coloration prevents "Uncanny Valley" situations maybe some years back and as times goes by, people have gotten used to AnthroPC's with human skin colorings.

* Running with the former abit, this AnthroPC body is a "Scarlet Letter" model, meaning the coloration indicates that the AI inside was convicted of a crime and gives warning to people. Perhaps with the severity of the crime, there is a skin color. Financial Fraud is blue/cyan, Petty Theft is Orange, Assault is Red, etc.

Oh, and BTW, Pintsize's current chassis is worth quite a bit to collectors, and Marigold suggested Marten sell Pintsize's chassis for $4-5K and procure a $200 civvie model and keep the profits.

Ben · « **Reply #143 on:** 29 May 2014, 03:06 »

Oh ok, I remember Pintsize being worth that sort of money. Didn't remember the context.

Prisoners' belongings are stored and returned, so I suppose May COULD be walking around in her "old" chassis, released by the original owner. However it looks newer than the robot saleswoman in Pintsize's story, who appears to be still at work; and the sales AIs at Idoru give the impression that they didn't have humanoid form in their previous roles.

I can't buy that something if that value, apparently in good working order, isn't required by someone.

The logic seems to be that May would simply join the ranks of unemployed AIs on servers, waiting for a placement; but the plot doesn't require that

Barmymoo · « **Reply #144 on:** 29 May 2014, 03:14 »

If May worked in a bank, she presumably received a salary. Why can't she have bought her own chassis?

Ben · « **Reply #145 on:** 29 May 2014, 03:49 »

We don't know WHAT she did, whether the sales staff at Idoru receive salaries, or a number of other things.

My best reading of it is that the sales staff at Idoru functioned as, effectively, intelligent cash-registers or something of the sort and May probably did something comparable.

Momo apparently receives a human-scale salary in a job which really doesn't require an AI at all. Really, though, this is just another plot device because I'm sure Momo could earn more money doing some sort of on-line processing work while she is otherwise unoccupied (doesn't sleep, remember) . On the whole, I think Terry Pratchett has a better grasp of the issue with his description of the golems

dps · « **Reply #146 on:** 29 May 2014, 04:30 »

I think that they'd almost have to give her a chassis upon the completion of her sentence. If she just had to wait on a server to be downloaded, that would effectively be an indefinate continuation of her prison time.

WAYF · « **Reply #147 on:** 29 May 2014, 04:40 »

I wrote a thing... I have no idea where it came from.

(click to show/hide)

Thrillho · « **Reply #148 on:** 29 May 2014, 05:05 »

That

Was

Awesome

Method of Madness · « **Reply #149 on:** 29 May 2014, 05:34 »

Quote from: Gareth on 29 May 2014, 00:59

Not sure I'd want to live with her either.

Well lucky for Marigold she doesn't live with Dale yet

Quote from: jwhouk on 29 May 2014, 00:32

I had this whole post written out, and I decided to just go with the MST3K Mantra.

I hope you saved it, otherwise this is just a cruel tease

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Author Topic: WCDT: 2711-2715 (26 - 30 May 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread (Read 64028 times)