THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

  • 13 Nov 2024, 10:22
  • Welcome, Guest
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

Poll

Who's the Boss?

Dora
- 8 (18.6%)
Roko
- 11 (25.6%)
Beepatrice
- 0 (0%)
Beatrice
- 0 (0%)
Marten
- 1 (2.3%)
Claire
- 0 (0%)
Bubbles
- 6 (14%)
Faye
- 0 (0%)
Tai
- 4 (9.3%)
Dr John Ellicott-Chatham
- 9 (20.9%)
Jim
- 2 (4.7%)
Corpse Witch
- 0 (0%)
Other (please specify in comments)
- 2 (4.7%)

Total Members Voted: 41


Pages: 1 [2] 3   Go Down

Author Topic: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)  (Read 19837 times)

dna_level_c

  • Not quite a lurker
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 16
  • I am a dude-type person. I just like Emily.
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #50 on: 26 Feb 2020, 16:33 »

Does this comic need a third Arthur? We already have support-group!Arthur and Arthur!companion-of-Melon.

( did i do the !thing! right? )

Bubbles' potted succulent is also called Arthur.
Logged
Apes in the plan, and we're all here to prove it.

Gyrre

  • Born in a Nalgene bottle
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,288
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #51 on: 26 Feb 2020, 17:26 »

Really?

I guess I can see Spock and Data - but the T-1000?

I'll admit that I don't have much contact to 'spectrumfolk' outside of this site, but it's not obvious to me that 'they' would naturally identify with 'robot' characters.

No critique or objections on the wish for representation, mind you - just curiosity.

Like 4 people I can think of offhand for seeing themselves represented in the T-1000, and I only actually met one of them. The others were in online forums.
Definitely watch the vid I posted.

EDIT: typo fix
« Last Edit: 26 Feb 2020, 21:02 by Gyrre »
Logged
Quote
a real-ass gaddam sword
Quote
"Broken swords and dragon bones scattered on the way back home."

Too stubborn to die, just like the rest of my family.

cesium133

  • Preventing third impact
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6,148
  • Has a fucked-up browser history
    • Cesium Comics
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #52 on: 26 Feb 2020, 17:37 »

Does this comic need a third Arthur? We already have support-group!Arthur and Arthur!companion-of-Melon.

( did i do the !thing! right? )
I think at this point, "Arthur" is a code name for any character whose name Jeph can't remember.
Logged
The nerdy comic I update sometimes: Cesium Comics

Unofficial character tag thingy for QC

Zebediah

  • Born in a Nalgene bottle
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,278
  • I'm a bandicoot!
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #53 on: 26 Feb 2020, 17:40 »

Very soon all of the characters will be named Arthur.
Logged
"It CAN'T be a bad decision, it resulted in CARROT CAKE!"

cesium133

  • Preventing third impact
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6,148
  • Has a fucked-up browser history
    • Cesium Comics
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #54 on: 26 Feb 2020, 17:52 »

This is a comic about an indie-rock guy named Arthur, who has a roommate named Arthur, and previously dated a coffee shop owner named Arthur, who is now engaged to be married to Arthur, who is Arthur's boss at the college library. Arthur is currently dating Arthur, a former intern at the library. Arthur lives with her robot girlfriend, Arthur, and they own a robot repair shop together. Arthur's brother, Arthur, is a student at UMass, who has a crush on Arthur, who really likes clocks, and Arthur, who works at a local bakery with Arthur, who also has a crush on Arthur. Arthur lives in the same apartment building as a former police officer robot, Arthur, and her wacky friend, Arthur. Arthur has a roommate who is a horrible cook, but I don't remember his name.
Logged
The nerdy comic I update sometimes: Cesium Comics

Unofficial character tag thingy for QC

SmilingCat

  • Pneumatic ratchet pants
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 340
  • You is friend or food?
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #55 on: 26 Feb 2020, 18:26 »

........

Well, that at least explains things. Youch.

Fun fact, volunteer organizations with little in the way of funding to pay people tend to end up with more enthusiasm than competence. It's all a fun noble cause until the world hits you in the face with a truckload of reality.
Logged

alc40

  • Emoticontraindication
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 67
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #56 on: 26 Feb 2020, 18:38 »

The name has been fixed to Nelson in the most recent comic (4208), though the preceding ones still say Arthur.
Logged

shanejayell

  • Duck attack survivor
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,524
    • Church of Yuri
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #57 on: 26 Feb 2020, 20:22 »

And more backstory..

I'm amused that an AI can literally just go 'Fuck it, I'm a statue now.'

Torlek

  • Higher than Ol' Scratch
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 669
  • When in doubt, throw an FFT at it.
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #58 on: 26 Feb 2020, 20:57 »

Whatever his name, ArthurNelson has shown that he's the smartest one in the room.
Logged
Quis pater tibi est?

Mr Intrepid

  • Bizarre cantaloupe phobia
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 216
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #59 on: 26 Feb 2020, 21:11 »

Maybe Nelson and Arthur are siblings, like Lemon and Melon.  They each work there part time.
Logged

SeattleCrochetWoman

  • Plantmonster
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 38
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #60 on: 26 Feb 2020, 21:12 »

Personally, I generall y don't even think of the AIs as AIs until the context of the strip is something inherently robot-y .

Me either. Most of their problems are the same as ours. May’s problems with her chassis correspond to someone with no health insurance who has physical problems that aren’t life-threatening, but that negatively impact their day-to-day existence.
Logged

BenRG

  • coprophage
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7,861
  • Boldly Going From The Back Seat!
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #61 on: 26 Feb 2020, 23:14 »

If I believed in that sort of thing, I'd start saying that this advocacy group has some sort of curse. In truth though, it is just a reminder that 'fully funded' and 'well run' are not automatically intersecting sets. Just because you personally like someone doesn't meant that they can do the job that you want them to do.

I wonder if the 'existential crisis' was basically what Beepatrice has gone through a few times since we met her: "I don't know what I'm doing! Why am I even here? I'm a huge fake!"

For some reason, I can see Roko going to the museum to see her ultimate boss on occasion, talking into thin air about what is going on at the group for a while before getting annoyed and calling the garden statue a coward for abandoning the group and storming off. Final panel is the statue thinking: "Turing! I'm glad I retired when I did!"

In any case, they are now in a perfect position for Hannelore to step in to follow her own sense of responsibility. After all, we've not confirmed that there is no existing authority structure for her to subvert!
Logged
~~~~

They call me BenRG... But I don't know why!

St.Clair

  • 1-800-SCABIES
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 898
  • not actually a saint
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #62 on: 26 Feb 2020, 23:27 »

Hm.  (Golden Age of) Science Fiction author, female, deceased, probably lived/active on the East coast and the Boston area in particular, liked robots (though that may be more common in a world where they actually exist)... anyone care to take a guess?  Do you think Jeph had someone real in mind?

(If not for the 'she', I'd have gone with Asimov as the obvious pick.)
Logged

Tova

  • coprophage
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7,725
  • Defender of the Terrible Denizens of QC
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #63 on: 26 Feb 2020, 23:56 »

Roko never stopped to wonder why she'd never been introduced to any other volunteers, I guess.
Logged
Yet the lies of Melkor, the mighty and the accursed, Morgoth Bauglir, the Power of Terror and of Hate, sowed in the hearts of Elves and Men are a seed that does not die and cannot be destroyed; and ever and anon it sprouts anew, and will bear dark fruit even unto the latest days. (Silmarillion 255)

BenRG

  • coprophage
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7,861
  • Boldly Going From The Back Seat!
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #64 on: 27 Feb 2020, 00:08 »

Hm.  (Golden Age of) Science Fiction author, female, deceased, probably lived/active on the East coast and the Boston area in particular, liked robots (though that may be more common in a world where they actually exist)... anyone care to take a guess?  Do you think Jeph had someone real in mind?

Dorothy Fontana, one of the real creators of Star Trek, come to mind. She was a New Jersey girl.
Logged
~~~~

They call me BenRG... But I don't know why!

Blackjoker

  • FIGHT YOU
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 433
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #65 on: 27 Feb 2020, 01:24 »

Roko never stopped to wonder why she'd never been introduced to any other volunteers, I guess.

she may have assumed this was a central office type of thing or maybe just that a lot of ai weren't as directly interested as their status is still fairly new
Logged
I strongly reccomend that we daily check our walrus slots to ensure that we are able to avoid walrus backup.

Gyrre

  • Born in a Nalgene bottle
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,288
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #66 on: 27 Feb 2020, 01:49 »

Hm.  (Golden Age of) Science Fiction author, female, deceased, probably lived/active on the East coast and the Boston area in particular, liked robots (though that may be more common in a world where they actually exist)... anyone care to take a guess?  Do you think Jeph had someone real in mind?

Dorothy Fontana, one of the real creators of Star Trek, come to mind. She was a New Jersey girl.

Thank you. My brain went 'yes', then 'file not found'.
Logged
Quote
a real-ass gaddam sword
Quote
"Broken swords and dragon bones scattered on the way back home."

Too stubborn to die, just like the rest of my family.

Killspree

  • Emoticontraindication
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 51
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #67 on: 27 Feb 2020, 03:08 »

She wrote a fair number of the TOS trade paperbacks as well. D.C. Fontana
Logged

BenRG

  • coprophage
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7,861
  • Boldly Going From The Back Seat!
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #68 on: 27 Feb 2020, 03:48 »

Someone on the Subreddit has suggested Ursula K LeGuin. Apparently, she wrote the story about the sexy starship captain and the sexy starship getting up to interesting things with robot manipulator arms that Millefeulle likes so much.
Logged
~~~~

They call me BenRG... But I don't know why!

Stoutfellow

  • Curry sauce
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 261
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #69 on: 27 Feb 2020, 03:58 »

Someone on the Subreddit has suggested Ursula K LeGuin. Apparently, she wrote the story about the sexy starship captain and the sexy starship getting up to interesting things with robot manipulator arms that Millefeulle likes so much.

UKL spent most of her life on the West Coast, though; why would she establish a nonprofit in Massachusetts rather than Portland, Oregon?
Logged

Wingy

  • Asleep in the boner patch
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 789
  • Is my cape on right?
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #70 on: 27 Feb 2020, 04:38 »

Asimov's last wife Janet is an SF author.  She died about this time last year.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Asimov
Logged
This space intentionally left almost blank.

Tova

  • coprophage
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7,725
  • Defender of the Terrible Denizens of QC
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #71 on: 27 Feb 2020, 04:40 »

UKL spent most of her life on the West Coast, though; why would she establish a nonprofit in Massachusetts rather than Portland, Oregon?

To be fair, I don't think anyone's suggesting that Jeph was trying to write Ursula K LeGuin's biography. Just that he had some real SF writer in mind when writing this bit of backstory. I don't think that where she lived would have played on his mind.
Logged
Yet the lies of Melkor, the mighty and the accursed, Morgoth Bauglir, the Power of Terror and of Hate, sowed in the hearts of Elves and Men are a seed that does not die and cannot be destroyed; and ever and anon it sprouts anew, and will bear dark fruit even unto the latest days. (Silmarillion 255)

Perfectly Reasonable

  • Bling blang blong blung
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,070
  • Be nice to everybody. So you're better than them.
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #72 on: 27 Feb 2020, 09:02 »

Being a garden sculpture is a nice low-pressure occupation. Especially if you're fond of pigeons.

Next time a barista asks for my name, I will stand tall and say "Arthur".
Logged
What would I do if I were smart?
I guess first I'd stop taking the stupid pills.

Morituri

  • William Gibson's Babydaddy
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2,276
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #73 on: 27 Feb 2020, 11:22 »

Garden sculpture seems like a nice "retirement" kind of option.

Especially if you're genuinely interested in people and enjoy being around them, but just can't take the pressure of directly interacting with them.

Being a kinetic sculpture means being free of other people's expectations and social pressure.  Free to express yourself in movement, without any pressure to limit that expression to fit people's needs or requirements.  And, in some way, if you can express peace and beauty, to bring people happiness. 

I think of this described boss as a painfully shy person who has trouble communicating, creating a new (non)persona by taking up a career as a sort of performance artist.

It may still be possible to interact with them via email.
Logged

Baz_Yat

  • Emoticontraindication
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 52
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #74 on: 27 Feb 2020, 13:53 »

I think it's Yay. Or... something related to them.
Logged

Romanticide

  • Plantmonster
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 34
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #75 on: 27 Feb 2020, 14:27 »

Maybe my priorities aren't in order but... It doesn't sound that bad...
The organization is having growing pains, but having a big revolving door of volunters doesn't sound as terrible of having the lots and lots of people that are doing more harm than good, mistakes at the moment seem limited to four people and stakes seem limited at the moment at not having much be done.
Things might look not okay at the moment but aren't unfixable, and they are still trying and searching for the people that can do and can remain.
Logged

Perfectly Reasonable

  • Bling blang blong blung
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,070
  • Be nice to everybody. So you're better than them.
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #76 on: 27 Feb 2020, 19:14 »

The more I think about it, the more the idea of being a sculpture appeals to me. You're out in the sun and the fresh air, and in the public eye. It's a great reason to get yourself bronzed or gilded. And as a literal embodiment of Art, you can do Interpretive Dance in Ultra Slow Motion.
Logged
What would I do if I were smart?
I guess first I'd stop taking the stupid pills.

Emperor Norton

  • I'm Randy! I'm eternal!
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 665
  • Emperor of the United States, Protector of Mexico
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #77 on: 27 Feb 2020, 19:19 »

I wish I had the energy at the moment to photoshop the Arlo meme to "I've only had Agatha for two panels, but if anything happened to her I'd kill everyone in this room and then myself."
Logged

shanejayell

  • Duck attack survivor
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,524
    • Church of Yuri
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #78 on: 27 Feb 2020, 19:57 »

The more I think about it, the more the idea of being a sculpture appeals to me. You're out in the sun and the fresh air, and in the public eye. It's a great reason to get yourself bronzed or gilded. And as a literal embodiment of Art, you can do Interpretive Dance in Ultra Slow Motion.

Bird poop, tho.

Well, Roko now finds herself Boss by default. At least it'll look good on her resume?

Hi Agatha!

BenRG

  • coprophage
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7,861
  • Boldly Going From The Back Seat!
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #79 on: 27 Feb 2020, 23:25 »

I sort of guessed that Roko would end up boss because there was no-one else who wanted to do it and was capable of doing it.

I'm already fascinated with Agatha. What's the story behind the sort-of-bear chassis? It's not very high-fidelity so I'm wondering if she used to work at a family fast food restaurant in the animatronic entertainment hour section. Double-purposing entertainment and cleaning staff would make economic sense but I imagine that it would lead to a lot of bitter entertainers - Bitter that they have to clean and bitter that the cleaners are better with the little brats than they are!

Countdown started until Melon or Emily starts hugging Agatha and won't let go...

Also, will she be QC's equivalent of The World's Smartest Garbage Man?
Logged
~~~~

They call me BenRG... But I don't know why!

cybersmurf

  • Bling blang blong blung
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,085
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #80 on: 28 Feb 2020, 02:47 »

I sort of guessed that Roko would end up boss because there was no-one else who wanted to do it and was capable of doing it.


Well, duh!

Quote

Countdown started until Melon or Emily starts hugging Agatha and won't let go...

I rather expect something in the likes of Faye hugging armored Bubs - unexpected headaches.
Logged
I solemnly swear I'm up to no good.

andrybak

  • Emoticontraindication
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 50
    • How to help out QC wiki
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #81 on: 28 Feb 2020, 04:20 »

Okay. I'm going to wild guess that the little guy is either named Arthur Nelson, or Nelson Arthur. Because with the newest comic, that's the same little guy, isn't it?
The name has been fixed to Nelson in the most recent comic (4208), though the preceding ones still say Arthur.

For those, who want him named Arthur, there is #4201, where he's still called Arthur.
Logged

Wingy

  • Asleep in the boner patch
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 789
  • Is my cape on right?
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #82 on: 28 Feb 2020, 04:49 »

Poor Roko.  Reality isn't what it seems, she's saddled with a bunch of extra responsibility, and right after a dissociative episode and a major disappointment.  I expect she'll embark on a wanderjahr shortly, at least mentally if not physically.  [Edit: fix speling]
« Last Edit: 28 Feb 2020, 05:22 by Wingy »
Logged
This space intentionally left almost blank.

awkwardness

  • Bizarre cantaloupe phobia
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 202
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #83 on: 28 Feb 2020, 05:06 »

Giant robot bear? Might as well call her the security guard since nobody will break into the office with her working!
Logged

awkwardness

  • Bizarre cantaloupe phobia
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 202
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #84 on: 28 Feb 2020, 05:07 »

Poor Roko.  Reality isn't what it seems, she's saddled with a bunch of extra responsibility, and right after a dissociative episode and a major disappointment.  I expect she'll embark on a wanderjhar shortly, at least mentally if not physically.

I think she needs this more than she realizes: it grounds her in reality, helps her see that her issues pale in comparison with what others are going through, and she gets to help others while helping herself.

It's a win-win for her, therapy without knowing it's therapy
Logged

awkwardness

  • Bizarre cantaloupe phobia
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 202
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #85 on: 28 Feb 2020, 05:11 »

The more I think about it, the more the idea of being a sculpture appeals to me. You're out in the sun and the fresh air, and in the public eye. It's a great reason to get yourself bronzed or gilded. And as a literal embodiment of Art, you can do Interpretive Dance in Ultra Slow Motion.

Bird poop, tho.

Well, Roko now finds herself Boss by default. At least it'll look good on her resume?

Hi Agatha!

And snow...and rain...and vandalism. Rain is a the mortal enemy of sculptures, it wears the metal or stone down especially if it's in a coastal location like New York or Boston.
Logged

Zebediah

  • Born in a Nalgene bottle
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,278
  • I'm a bandicoot!
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #86 on: 28 Feb 2020, 05:56 »

I'm already fascinated with Agatha. What's the story behind the sort-of-bear chassis? It's not very high-fidelity so I'm wondering if she used to work at a family fast food restaurant in the animatronic entertainment hour section.

You really don’t want a high-fidelity bear chassis in a place that has actual bears. Which Northampton does - I’ve seen them in my backyard, and they’ve been reported on the Smith College campus a few times. A realistic-looking robot bear strolling through downtown Northampton would cause a mild panic.

Shoot, even in that chassis she probably has Animal Control called on her at least once a week.
Logged
"It CAN'T be a bad decision, it resulted in CARROT CAKE!"

Mr Intrepid

  • Bizarre cantaloupe phobia
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 216
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #87 on: 28 Feb 2020, 06:57 »

Agatha and the town fairie's reindeer could do an interpretive dance about the the eternal symbiotic relationship between hunter and prey.   Agatha wouldn't hurt the reindeer, of course.  Although , considering the reindeer's natural habitat, she could wear a white costume to simulate a polar bear.
Logged

David F

  • Emoticontraindication
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 52
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #88 on: 28 Feb 2020, 09:46 »

It may still be possible to interact with them via email.

Or interpretive dance.  It'd be interesting to see Emily try...
Logged

Gyrre

  • Born in a Nalgene bottle
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,288
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #89 on: 28 Feb 2020, 11:32 »

Giant robot bear? Might as well call her the security guard since nobody will break into the office with her working!
Lotsa folks wear two hats at their job these days.

I'm the QA line inspector and the QA lab assistant.
Logged
Quote
a real-ass gaddam sword
Quote
"Broken swords and dragon bones scattered on the way back home."

Too stubborn to die, just like the rest of my family.

Case

  • comeback tour!
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 5,580
  • Putting the 'mental' into judgemental
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #90 on: 28 Feb 2020, 12:22 »

I expect she'll embark on a wanderjahr shortly, at least mentally if not physically.  [Edit: fix speling]

Huh? Is wanderjahr a regular Ameringlish term?

The original term refers to journeyman-years (it's three years plus a day), and ... it has very little to do with a sabbatical or similar.
Logged
"Freedom is always the freedom of the dissenter" - Rosa Luxemburg
"The first rule of the Dunning-Kruger club is you don’t know you're a member of the Dunning-Kruger club. People miss that." - David Dunning
"Brains are assholes" - SitnSpin

Stoutfellow

  • Curry sauce
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 261
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #91 on: 28 Feb 2020, 12:40 »

It's not a common word, but I've seen it used more than once, in the more expansive sense Wingy used.
Logged

Morituri

  • William Gibson's Babydaddy
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2,276
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #92 on: 28 Feb 2020, 13:26 »

The places I've lived (which excludes the north and eastern parts of the US) I never heard the word but occasionally saw it written. 

The far more common term for that sort of thing would be "walkabout," an imported word from Australia.

Thing is, we use that one differently than the Australians do, too.  It's not as though we're walking on routes we regard with anything like the reverence the aborigines put into it; those routes, and the landmarks along them, are mnemonics for a vast cycle of stories and devotions that an individual person on walkabout keeps stored in their head. 

Not the same stories for every person, but the same set of paths serve as mnemonics to string their stories along.  And their cultural memory gets preserved that way.

Whereas when we use the word "walkabout" we usually mean that we got bored and/or restless and needed to be up and doing something or out away from other people for a while.  Which has some similar elements to a pilgrimage, but it's very different from what the aborigines are doing on their walkabout.
Logged

JimC

  • Beyond Thunderdome
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 571
  • Alice liked fluffy toys...
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #93 on: 28 Feb 2020, 14:27 »

Separated by an ocean and a common language: when I see the word custodian in connection  with a charity I tend to assume some kind of senior role, and I was wondering whether bear = garden sculpture = founder's AI friend, but I checked an online dictionary, so am I right in thinking the role is what the R side would call a caretaker?
Logged

Autistic Vulture

  • Balloon animal serial killer
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 81
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #94 on: 28 Feb 2020, 16:00 »

Separated by an ocean and a common language: when I see the word custodian in connection  with a charity I tend to assume some kind of senior role, and I was wondering whether bear = garden sculpture = founder's AI friend, but I checked an online dictionary, so am I right in thinking the role is what the R side would call a caretaker?

That seems at least reasonably close.
Logged

Morituri

  • William Gibson's Babydaddy
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2,276
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #95 on: 28 Feb 2020, 16:15 »

I'll have you know there's nothing common about this language.  To begin with, English has a vocabulary the size of three reasonable languages.  Which, of course, it got by stealing words wholesale from dozens.  English also uses positional grammar, like most languages; but admits of a ridiculous variety of word orders, also stolen from every reasonable language on earth, for slightly different kinds of emphasis or mood.  English uses eleven to thirteen different vowels, depending on your dialect, which is absolutely ridiculous.  And we write them using only five letters.  Speaking of which, our phonology and orthography got a divorce a few centuries back, and are now hardly speaking to each other.

Common....  I swear, that's the sort of thing people can say if they've never seen the way ordinary languages work.

Oh, and in response to your question...  New England use?  Yeah, 'Custodian' is probably a building-maintenance job.  In the Midwest, the same job is a 'Janitor' and on the West coast of the US, it's a 'Sanitation Engineer.'  None of these actually stick very close to their region of origin; people move around and take their verbal tics with them. 
Logged

Tova

  • coprophage
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7,725
  • Defender of the Terrible Denizens of QC
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #96 on: 28 Feb 2020, 16:19 »

I'll have you know there's nothing common about this language.

Common as in, "shared by different countries," not common as in "garden-variety", Morituri.

Yeah. Language. Sheesh.
Logged
Yet the lies of Melkor, the mighty and the accursed, Morgoth Bauglir, the Power of Terror and of Hate, sowed in the hearts of Elves and Men are a seed that does not die and cannot be destroyed; and ever and anon it sprouts anew, and will bear dark fruit even unto the latest days. (Silmarillion 255)

jwhouk

  • Awakened
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 11,022
  • The Valley of the Sun
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #97 on: 28 Feb 2020, 17:42 »

The more appropriate English term (at least in the US) would be "sabbatical."
Logged
"Character is what you are in the Dark." - D.L. Moody
There is no joke that can be made online without someone being offended by it.
Life's too short to be ashamed of how you were born.
Just another Joe like 46

Perfectly Reasonable

  • Bling blang blong blung
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,070
  • Be nice to everybody. So you're better than them.
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #98 on: 28 Feb 2020, 20:09 »

Isn't that what Hanners just did?

When I saw "Agatha the giant robot bear" I did a Google search. And there is such a beast. But then the comments stopped making sense entirely -- so I realized I had missed an update.

English was nearly squeezed out of existence. So now it attacks preemptively.

And Beeps has definitely abdicated responsiblity to Roko.
"You don't have to run the place. Just tell us what to do."
« Last Edit: 28 Feb 2020, 20:23 by Perfectly Reasonable »
Logged
What would I do if I were smart?
I guess first I'd stop taking the stupid pills.

Is it cold in here?

  • Administrator
  • Awakened
  • ******
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 25,163
  • He/him/his pronouns
Re: WCDT strips 4206 to 4210 (24th - 28th February 2020)
« Reply #99 on: 29 Feb 2020, 08:59 »

Bubbles is tied down starting a new business now and that's more than full time, but I can't help imagining her leadership qualities being applied to energizing the charity.

Maybe she knows other veterans in search of purpose. There may even have been others like her. May they please not be named Blossom and Buttercup.
Logged
Thank you, Dr. Karikó.
Pages: 1 [2] 3   Go Up