Topic: WCDT 2922 to 2926 (23-27 March 2015) (Read 43115 times)

SomeCanadianWeirdo · « **Reply #200 on:** 25 Mar 2015, 21:24 »

First comment about new strip? I love Hannelore's expression in the final panel.

Consilium · « **Reply #201 on:** 25 Mar 2015, 21:27 »

Mini-poll: is Arthur going to be a lasting character? If so, will he be confined to appearing in the group?

ZoeB · « **Reply #202 on:** 25 Mar 2015, 21:44 »

S'OK Hanners. You're just not hardened to it yet. Cry away, it's healthy. It's those who remain unmoved that are the worry - those we can't help, they've lost their humanity.

And that saddens me too, I wish there was something we could do for them, difficult though it may be to be around them.

Compassion for good people who have had to struggle is the Basic course. The Advanced one is compassion for the toxic and obnoxious, those who would gladly see you dead and work towards that goal. They're human too you see - just neutralise their threat first, compassion doesn't mean being a doormat or victim.

~~valkygrrl~~ · « **Reply #203 on:** 25 Mar 2015, 21:49 »

After being tied down in a rubber room for years you really have to wonder what it takes to get to Hannelore.

Energia · « **Reply #204 on:** 25 Mar 2015, 22:04 »

I suspect Faye's 'Mm' has a different meaning to mine in similar social circumstances.

Energia · « **Reply #205 on:** 25 Mar 2015, 22:07 »

Quote from: ZoeB on 25 Mar 2015, 21:44

The Advanced one is compassion for the toxic and obnoxious, those who would gladly see you dead and work towards that goal. They're human too you see - just neutralise their threat first, compassion doesn't mean being a doormat or victim.

Would love to take that course.

Zog · « **Reply #206 on:** 25 Mar 2015, 22:25 »

Quote from: Energia on 25 Mar 2015, 22:04

I suspect Faye's 'Mm' has a different meaning to mine in similar social circumstances.

I saw it as more of a thoughtful and partly subvocalized uhuh than an ummm.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #207 on:** 25 Mar 2015, 22:47 »

Quote from: Zog on 25 Mar 2015, 22:25

Quote from: Energia on 25 Mar 2015, 22:04
I suspect Faye's 'Mm' has a different meaning to mine in similar social circumstances.

I saw it as more of a thoughtful and partly subvocalized uhuh than an ummm.

I read it as distracted, because she is looking off towards Hanners, who's crying hysterically

Platypodes · « **Reply #208 on:** 25 Mar 2015, 23:03 »

That's how I read it too.

Hey, it finally occurred to me to wonder--what did Hanners do with the crowbar? We last saw it before they went inside.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #209 on:** 25 Mar 2015, 23:13 »

I figured Hanners left it at the door because otherwise, she'd scare people off

Storel · « **Reply #210 on:** 25 Mar 2015, 23:43 »

She probably put it in the umbrella stand, if they had one.

Rghfrgl · « **Reply #211 on:** 25 Mar 2015, 23:59 »

You mean the crowbar hole?

BenRG · « **Reply #212 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 00:16 »

Poor Hannelore! Still, it proves what a wonderfully compassionate and empathetic woman she is. It might be necassary for Faye to find out if she really wants to come again if it's affected her so deeply! Anyway, I'm predicting a hug in her future... Oh, who am I kidding? I'm the one that wants to hug her!

The group is fairly subdued as they all go their ways. Is that normal or are they so disturbed by Hanners' crying jag that they're reluctant to talk lest they make her feel worse?

Quote from: valkygrrl on 25 Mar 2015, 21:49

After being tied down in a rubber room for years you really have to wonder what it takes to get to Hannelore.

Probably very little; lack of socialisation and experience has probably made her hypersensitive to emotional stimuli.

Quote from: Consilium on 25 Mar 2015, 21:27

Mini-poll: is Arthur going to be a lasting character? If so, will he be confined to appearing in the group?

I'd say that Arthur will definitely be back. I'm not sure of the context yet. I know what it is that I want but I don't know how likely it is yet.

anahata · « **Reply #213 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 01:49 »

If Hannelore's obvious need for a hug right now overcomes her aversion to physical contact with other people's bodies, that would indeed be a breakthrough.

(yes, I know it happened with her dad at the space station party, but that was definitely a one-off)

BenRG · « **Reply #214 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 02:05 »

Quote from: anahata on 26 Mar 2015, 01:49

If Hannelore's obvious need for a hug right now overcomes her aversion to physical contact with other people's bodies, that would indeed be a breakthrough.

(yes, I know it happened with her dad at the space station party, but that was definitely a one-off)

FWIW, it was my impression that Hannelore had been psyching herself up to hug her father for a while, probably starting even before the flight to the space station. It is the ability to accept and give spontaneous physical contact that would be a major breakthrough for her.

ASB84 · « **Reply #215 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 02:25 »

Hannelore is too kind-hearted for this grim world of ours.

Chiming in on David Whitaker possible being an alcoholic: I agree that there's no hard evidence and it's purely speculation, but I think it's a theory with a lot of merit. If it was ever revealed to be the case, then I think it's been foreshadowed very well, even if that wasn't the original intention (and of course, Faye herself insisted that he wasn't an alcoholic). It should be noted that Faye's mother did mention that he didn't have anything unusual in his system, though a negligible blood-alcohol level may not be classed as unusual, compared to hard drugs or the like. It's possible that given her strong anti-alcohol stance, Faye's mother simply glossed over that detail in that chat, or it could reasonably be retconned as such. It's one line of dialogue in what is now fairly early on in the strip, so it wouldn't be a particularly awkward retcon, especially since the rest of the backstory would fit together quite well...again, if Jeph decides to make that canon.

As for Arthur, I'm guessing he'll mostly just appear whenever Faye is at the meetings, along with the other members that we briefly met. I don't think the strip needs another principal cast member, and I think it's better for Faye - in-universe and from a narrative perspective - if that particular part of her arc is separate from her more familiar social circle, with the possible exception of Hanners.

Nepiophage · « **Reply #216 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 02:50 »

Quote from: BenRG on 26 Mar 2015, 02:05

FWIW, it was my impression that Hannelore had been psyching herself up to hug her father for a while, probably starting even before the flight to the space station. It is the ability to accept and give spontaneous physical contact that would be a major breakthrough for her.

Actually she hugged Marten spontaneously when she was hired by Dora. And she jumped on a fireman once.

snubnose · « **Reply #217 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 04:03 »

Quote from: ASB84 on 26 Mar 2015, 02:25

Hannelore is too kind-hearted for this grim world of ours.

Most people are, I think.

War Sparrow · « **Reply #218 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 05:55 »

Poor Hanners. Other people's pain can be pretty overwhelming.

I kind of hope we get a story arc about some of the group members. Drunk driving guy-is he a former Bro, who graduated before the others? Or is he an older brother of one of the Bros, who tries to mentor them all and make sure they do not end up in his position?

Or are they all just random generic characters created to give Faye a framework for therapy? Probably that one.

DSL · « **Reply #219 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 06:33 »

Quote from: Nepiophage on 26 Mar 2015, 02:50

Quote from: BenRG on 26 Mar 2015, 02:05
FWIW, it was my impression that Hannelore had been psyching herself up to hug her father for a while, probably starting even before the flight to the space station. It is the ability to accept and give spontaneous physical contact that would be a major breakthrough for her.

Actually she hugged Marten spontaneously when she was hired by Dora. And she jumped on a fireman once.

She seems to do better with the spontaneous stuff, at least when she initiates it. It's like she forgets to have inhibitions, and realizes afterward the world did not, on fact, come crashing down. (I know I can talk myself out of a lit of things, good and bad, by overthinking. And some of my best decisions have been the result of an "Oh, f**k it/this" moment, and plunging ahead.)

Isyrion · « **Reply #220 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 12:12 »

OMG Jeph damn you! You made Hanners cry! Just kidding but damn right in the feels...

CaptainFish · « **Reply #221 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 12:36 »

It's not an actual error, but I do feel like hearing the check-ins could've had some value. I'm guessing they were really uneventful because Faye delivered her story as if she was worse than everyone else in the room, but even then, seeing Faye react to mundane check-ins and become more hesitant to share might have been interesting. Also, contrasting the everyday issues with the 'heartbreaking tales of personal struggle' would've shown some hope.

I'm sure it just didn't fit into the pace Jeph is trying to establish, and he did hit the most dramatic moments, so no biggie.

St.Clair · « **Reply #222 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 13:14 »

Quote from: snubnose on 26 Mar 2015, 04:03

Quote from: ASB84 on 26 Mar 2015, 02:25
Hannelore is too kind-hearted for this grim world of ours.
Most people are, I think.

A couple of years back, I briefly imagined warning labels for the "Easily Sad". Only briefly, because I soon realized that you'd have to put them on just about everything.
Probably much simpler to turn it around and put those on us, as a warning to others.

~~valkygrrl~~ · « **Reply #223 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 19:50 »

Comic, there are so many ways that punchline could come from something really disturbing.

SomeCanadianWeirdo · « **Reply #224 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 19:54 »

Will the return of old style Pintsize please the commentatoriate? Stay tuned.

(This post brought to you by Cabaret Voltaire.)

DrBear · « **Reply #225 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 19:57 »

It's about time the QC Wiki had an entry for dildoes.

They've made more appearances in the comic than Sara and Gabby combined.

~~mustang6172~~ · « **Reply #226 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 19:58 »

I don't trust Pintsize, but I could really use that wish...

explicit · « **Reply #227 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 20:07 »

What if it... what if touching it was my wish?

Rghfrgl · « **Reply #228 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 20:23 »

The Dickicorn will only approach you if you're pure, however if you touch the horn you won't be pure anymore and he won't grant the wish. It's kinda a catch 22.

Dark Matter · « **Reply #229 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 20:24 »

Hopefully this will allay some of the complaints people had that Claire was no longer being written as her previous funny self.

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #230 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 20:26 »

Pintsize is officially a dickhead now.

SubaruStephen · « **Reply #231 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 20:33 »

Well....now we know what Faye did with her welder before she and Hanners went to the group.

explicit · « **Reply #232 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 20:39 »

Pintsize really loves penis. I just wanted to have everyone acknowledge that I acknowledged that.

Akima · « **Reply #233 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 20:48 »

Quote from: Consilium on 24 Mar 2015, 22:06

The Buddhists call that kind of realization "satori."

Well... That depends on the Buddhist, but speaking as a Chán Buddhist myself, that something of a trivialisation. It is comparing a bursting balloon to a nuclear bomb going off; satori is not a realisation; it is the realisation. As Wumen Huikai famously wrote:

"A thunderclap under the clear blue sky;
All beings on earth open their eyes;
Everything under heaven bows together;
Mount Sumeru leaps up and dances."

In the Telling Stories strip, I thought the group member sounded a bit... stereotyped, until it came to moustache-and-soul-patch guy at the end. Somehow, he had the ring of truth.

Quote from: War Sparrow on 26 Mar 2015, 05:55

Poor Hanners. Other people's pain can be pretty overwhelming.

Yes, especially as so often there is nothing one can do.

And descending from drama to farce; Pintsize with a dildo welded to his head. Does it represent his character, or is that a phallusy?

ASB84 · « **Reply #234 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 21:06 »

I'm torn. On one hand, I'm glad to see Marten and Claire just hanging out together as a couple and being involved in strips that involve humour and a punchline instead of being pure squee fodder; balancing out the cuteness and cutting through the treacle is important. On the other hand, I'm finding myself feeling a bit sorry for Clinton these days, so it kind of bugs me to see Claire dumping on him again, further establishing him as the resident butt-monkey/punching bag.

Actually...you know what? We have Pintsize with a dick on his head. That's a win for us all, a good day for humanity. All is right in the world.

It's his head cannon, and we must respect it.

jheartney · « **Reply #235 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 21:48 »

When did Marten start wearing Day-Glo shirts?

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #236 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 21:52 »

Too bad Pintsize's addition is gray. If it matched his existing chassis I'd be able to make a pun about blueballs.

~~valkygrrl~~ · « **Reply #237 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 22:35 »

It seems we've skipped right past the 'you didn't come home last night dear' part of Claire's story, which is a shame because I want to see her suffer through the safe sex lecture my mother felt the need to give after I'd already done the nasty.*

*My first time was actually unsafe because I'm a huge fucking idiot who put my life at risk just because I was horny. Don't be me.

Rghfrgl · « **Reply #238 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 23:10 »

Claire's way ahead of you.

Kugai · « **Reply #239 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 23:57 »

Pintsize's Upscale identity

Richard Head

BenRG · « **Reply #240 on:** 27 Mar 2015, 00:03 »

Okay, am I the only one who wants to hear the beginning of that joke? As it stands, it's meaningless and just a verbal lead-in to Pintsize's new body mod. Who would mistake Clinton for a dildo and why? Ah, I don't know; maybe I'm just thinking too hard about something that was always meant to be a throwaway.

Reading Jeph's note and following the link suggests to me that making Pintsize literally a dick-head is Marten and Faye's code for: "I've been in a bad place but I'm going to be okay."

FWIW - This is Claire's real initiation into the full insanity and surreality of Marten's everyday life.

explicit · « **Reply #241 on:** 27 Mar 2015, 00:10 »

Quote from: valkygrrl on 26 Mar 2015, 22:35

It seems we've skipped right past the 'you didn't come home last night dear' part of Claire's story, which is a shame because I want to see her suffer through the safe sex lecture my mother felt the need to give after I'd already done the nasty.*

*My first time was actually unsafe because I'm a huge fucking idiot who put my life at risk just because I was horny. Don't be me.

If it makes you feel smarter I've used protection abouuuuuttttt 40ish% of the time. In all fairness, a couple of past exes have been pretty dumb too.

I also didn't have a sex talk, my parents trusted the internet.

Nepiophage · « **Reply #242 on:** 27 Mar 2015, 00:48 »

Quote from: BenRG on 27 Mar 2015, 00:03

Okay, am I the only one who wants to hear the beginning of that joke?

I want to hear it too.

Also, the dildo is probably just held on by a suction cup. Google it if you dare.

~~rfrank dodelijk~~ · « **Reply #243 on:** 27 Mar 2015, 01:09 »

great strip. dildo on a robot's forehead is the funniest thing the author has managed in months.
is claire telling an enter the dragon joke? han and his interchangeable weapons hand sprung to mind as soon as I saw the first panel.
marten's shirt is horrible.
it's nice to see a strip that features claire but does not inspire the terrible noise.

Lubricus · « **Reply #244 on:** 27 Mar 2015, 02:45 »

Quote from: explicit on 27 Mar 2015, 00:10

I also didn't have a sex talk, my parents trusted the internet.

Half Empty Coffee Cup · « **Reply #245 on:** 27 Mar 2015, 02:49 »

Quote from: BenRG on 27 Mar 2015, 00:03

FWIW - This is Claire's real initiation into the full insanity and surreality of Marten's everyday life.

Wasn't that the paddle?

Quote from: rfrank dodelijk on 27 Mar 2015, 01:09

it's nice to see a strip that features claire but does not inspire the terrible noise.

The noise of people complaining?

(Yeah, I know you meant "squee", but I find the predictable complaining to be pretty terrible, too.)

Quote from: explicit on 27 Mar 2015, 00:10

I also didn't have a sex talk, my parents trusted the internet.

What?

I guess that's why you're so explicit?

BenRG · « **Reply #246 on:** 27 Mar 2015, 02:53 »

Quote from: Half Empty Coffee Cup on 27 Mar 2015, 02:49

Quote from: BenRG on 27 Mar 2015, 00:03
FWIW - This is Claire's real initiation into the full insanity and surreality of Marten's everyday life.
Wasn't that the paddle?

Nah, that's just standard newbie hazing stuff. She probably went through that at whatever college she got her BLS and likely at Smif when starting her MLS course. Her body language in that strip tells the story: She's obviously thinking: "Well, shit! This crap again!"

FWIW, I think that, if Pintsize could cry, he would have been crying tears of gratitude when Claire let him paddle her. He's a simple being and he has simple needs.

Omega Entity · « **Reply #247 on:** 27 Mar 2015, 05:50 »

Honestly, it's the expression on Pintsize's face in panel 2 that made me giggle like a schoolgirl he just looks so... Not specifically happy. Content? Proud? One with the world, and having reached the ultimate nirvana that is having reached his full potential?

The dickicorn lines just amplified it.

chaospersonified · « **Reply #248 on:** 27 Mar 2015, 06:32 »

Today's comic makes me happy.

Pintsize being Pintsize...

Claire in a context other than her relationship with Marten...

Dildos...

Who could ask for more?

tywren · « **Reply #249 on:** 27 Mar 2015, 09:24 »

Quote from: Half Empty Coffee Cup on 27 Mar 2015, 02:49

The noise of people complaining? (Yeah, I know you meant "squee", but I find the predictable complaining to be pretty terrible, too.)

People complain because every strip she's been in sense hooking up with Martin has suffered from sacran stigmata, which gets old reeeeeeally. With that said, i too am happy to see a strip with these two that isn't sickly sweet.

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Author Topic: WCDT 2922 to 2926 (23-27 March 2015) (Read 43115 times)

ASB84

ASB84