Questionable Content XVI: Yes, Butt

[Wraith]

Tuesday 26th January:

So after all of this time of trying to make those two a thing... who else feels like those two have no real chemistry?

Wednesday 27th January:

No, they totally have chemistry! Look, this person who I just invented says so! You don't need to see it happen if a random stranger says so, right!?

Not for the first time, I am wondering if Jeph reads this forum in disguise.... Either that or its a question that has been asked by more than one person as of late. I'm not sure which is better.

I hope that Clinton tells Willow to get lost. This is exactly the sort of behaviour that Claire indulged in that got them into a fight, and she had the benefit of being his sister and knowing enough about him to make an educated assumption; Strange women approaching you in the street distributing opinions is no basis for a system of romance!

[Morquard]

I hope that Clinton tells Willow to get lost. This is exactly the sort of behaviour that Claire indulged in that got them into a fight, and she had the benefit of being his sister and knowing enough about him to make an educated assumption; Strange women approaching you in the street distributing opinions is no basis for a system of romance!

Yes, I hope so too. That woman who's name I already forgot, sticks her nose where it doesn't belong and should be told so in no uncertain terms.
However I feel, Jeph is gonna use this as a "Clinton making friends" scene, and we'll be seeing those three again

[John Cribati]

And here, Clinton takes a cue from Marten and being stalked into friendship.

[Max_Killjoy]

So after all of this time of trying to make those two a thing... who else feels like those two have no real chemistry?

I see no chemistry here, just awkwardness and Elliot being vaguely attracted.

To me, there's a growing sense of this being a sort of "obligatory relationship" to fill a spot on the representation bingo card.

[Maryring]

Tuesday 26th January:



Wednesday 27th January:



Not for the first time, I am wondering if Jeph reads this forum in disguise.... Either that or its a question that has been asked by more than one person as of late. I'm not sure which is better.

I hope that Clinton tells Willow to get lost. This is exactly the sort of behaviour that Claire indulged in that got them into a fight, and she had the benefit of being his sister and knowing enough about him to make an educated assumption; Strange women approaching you in the street distributing opinions is no basis for a system of romance!

Though I guess it works for acquiring monarchs.

But yeah. This one feels even worse because this person has seen pretty much nothing of them, so who is she to talk about their relationship? A relationship needs more than "he cute". Visual appeal works as a starting point, but for there to be chemistry they have to share at least some interest, that isn't a third person they're both pining for at least.

[Willie the Duck]

I see no chemistry here, just awkwardness and Elliot being vaguely attracted.

To me, there's a growing sense of this being a sort of "obligatory relationship" to fill a spot on the representation bingo card.

I somehow doubt it. Jeph clearly thinks there's chemistry there, regardless of what we think.

Regardless, "Willow Dragonfang?" One, I hope that's a self-granted moniker, and two, even then that's the kind of thing I thought you outgrew at 23. Yes, I am aware that I'm saying that on an elfgame-centric webcomics message board while bearing a handle derived from a ~35 year old comic from the back of Dragon magazine.

[Wraith]

Well, this is a Meet-Cute if ever I've seen one.

....Goddammit.

[Mechalich]

Regardless, "Willow Dragonfang?" One, I hope that's a self-granted moniker, and two, even then that's the kind of thing I thought you outgrew at 23. Yes, I am aware that I'm saying that on an elfgame-centric webcomics message board while bearing a handle derived from a ~35 year old comic from the back of Dragon magazine.

This is the comic that named an AI Police Officer Roko Basilisk. The 'referential names in extremely poor taste' bridge was crossed long ago.

[Traab]

I somehow doubt it. Jeph clearly thinks there's chemistry there, regardless of what we think.

Regardless, "Willow Dragonfang?" One, I hope that's a self-granted moniker, and two, even then that's the kind of thing I thought you outgrew at 23. Yes, I am aware that I'm saying that on an elfgame-centric webcomics message board while bearing a handle derived from a ~35 year old comic from the back of Dragon magazine.

Keep in mind most of the people we deal with are around college age in this comic, so growing out of a name at 23 is still possible. These arent a bunch of midlife crisis suffering 40-50 year olds or anything.

[Eldan]

Further evidence for my theory that this comic takes place in a world without the concept of personal boundaries.

[Wraith]

Keep in mind most of the people we deal with are around college age in this comic, so growing out of a name at 23 is still possible. These arent a bunch of midlife crisis suffering 40-50 year olds or anything.

Kind of justified in that baby AIs don't have names; they have serial numbers until they form enough of a personality to understand the concept of 'name' and choose one for themselves; they have no frame of reference except that which they have picked up along with their sentience, so a weird name (by our standards) for an AI is almost a part of their shared culture.

"Willow Dragonfang", however, is a Tumblr handle. Either that or her parents were seriously New-Age-Hippy-types, for which that alone validates their shunning from society.

Further evidence for my theory that this comic takes place in a world without the concept of personal boundaries.

Martin and Clinton are the only two to have successfully made the Quantum Leap from their own universe, where 'privacy' is more than just 17 points in a game of Scrabble. Arguably they may have picked up Sven along the way from the Inconsiderate Horndog Dimension, but it's hard to tell.

[Willie the Duck]

Keep in mind most of the people we deal with are around college age in this comic, so growing out of a name at 23 is still possible. These arent a bunch of midlife crisis suffering 40-50 year olds or anything.

Right, her age is stated in todays comic. My point is that it sounds to me like something you start calling yourself at 14-16, and grow out of by 18-19.

This is the comic that named an AI Police Officer Roko Basilisk. The 'referential names in extremely poor taste' bridge was crossed long ago.

Well yes (although as previously pointed out, the AIs seem to be different from the humans in that regard), QC is clearly just in general a weirder universe than ours (this part not even being one of the weirder).

Well, this is a Meet-Cute if ever I've seen one.
....Goddammit.

Further evidence for my theory that this comic takes place in a world without the concept of personal boundaries.

To be fair, the one super-constant of the strip is that it follows sitcom logic, and I could easily see this kind of thing happening to Pheobe from Friends or one of the Big Bang Theory guys or whatnot.

Now, given that the Brun-Clinton-Elliot threesome ship has been sunk, how quickly do you think Willow will be subbed in for a sizable chunk of Jeph's fanbase?

[Shogo]

It already feels like Clinton has more chemistry with Willow than with Elliot. Not the least of which because Clinton x Elliot would kind of feel forced to me, especially when it feels like some characters are pressuring Clinton into it more than anything else.

[AvatarVecna]

It already feels like Clinton has more chemistry with Willow than with Elliot. Not the least of which because Clinton x Elliot would kind of feel forced to me, especially when it feels like some characters are pressuring Clinton into it more than anything else.

I thought it was just me. Although I think Clinton x Elliot would still make a really cute couple, but shipping instincts have never really cared about what the author wants to happen.

[Wraith]

To be fair, the one super-constant of the strip is that it follows sitcom logic, and I could easily see this kind of thing happening to Phoebe from Friends or one of the Big Bang Theory guys or whatnot.

I think that my only objection to that particular situation is that in the examples given, every single character referred to is a toxic narcissist and I loathe them. Just that, nothing huge

Seriously though, they're horrible people who bring suffering to themselves and everyone around them and the archetypes that they have spawned are a blight upon popular culture. It isn't "cute" to fetishize gay people and manipulate them into a relationship purely for one's own hobby/amusement, especially when they're so clearly as uncomfortable as Elliot and Clinton. They're the nigh-textbook example of two people who need to get their lives in order and figure themselves out before embarking on ANY kind of relationship - even Faye and Dora worked that one out, and they're dumbasses

In fact, this Willow character is putting me in mind of What's-Her-Face; Faye's sister's girlfriend, the one who no one had ever met before, but immediately took it upon herself to steer Faye into a course of action for which Girlfriend approved but otherwise had no significant details or context. I don't think that *anyone* liked that scene which was little more than a crowbar to the kneecaps of the story, so hopefully we aren't going to get a re-tread.

[Max_Killjoy]

I think that my only objection to that particular situation is that in the examples given, every single character referred to is a toxic narcissist and I loathe them. Just that, nothing huge

Seriously though, they're horrible people who bring suffering to themselves and everyone around them and the archetypes that they have spawned are a blight upon popular culture. It isn't "cute" to fetishize gay people and manipulate them into a relationship purely for one's own hobby/amusement, especially when they're so clearly as uncomfortable as Elliot and Clinton. They're the nigh-textbook example of two people who need to get their lives in order and figure themselves out before embarking on ANY kind of relationship - even Faye and Dora worked that one out, and they're dumbasses

In fact, this Willow character is putting me in mind of What's-Her-Face; Faye's sister's girlfriend, the one who no one had ever met before, but immediately took it upon herself to steer Faye into a course of action for which Girlfriend approved but otherwise had no significant details or context. I don't think that *anyone* liked that scene which was little more than a crowbar to the kneecaps of the story, so hopefully we aren't going to get a re-tread.

Since it would probably go way off topic fast, is this thing with 90s sitcom characters being "toxic narcissists" broken down anywhere?

It's been a long time since I watched any of those shows.

[Rodin]

Since it would probably go way off topic fast, is this thing with 90s sitcom characters being "toxic narcissists" broken down anywhere?

It's been a long time since I watched any of those shows.

Not a big sitcom person here, but it sounds like what I'd call "Seinfeld Syndrome". In the final episode of Seinfeld they're put on trial for being horrible people by every person they've screwed over the course of the series. While the Seinfeld cast are more horrible than most the same principle can be applied to other sitcoms. When you look at their actions under any kind of real-world analysis they come off as terrible people. They don't talk about their problems, they come up with a zany scheme. They insult each other, they cheat on each other, etc. etc.

Sitcom characters in general tend to go for what they want above all else, act in ways that would burn any normal relationship to the ground, and then get forgiven at the end of the episode with an "Awwwww" from the laugh track.

[Max_Killjoy]

Not a big sitcom person here, but it sounds like what I'd call "Seinfeld Syndrome". In the final episode of Seinfeld they're put on trial for being horrible people by every person they've screwed over the course of the series. While the Seinfeld cast are more horrible than most the same principle can be applied to other sitcoms. When you look at their actions under any kind of real-world analysis they come off as terrible people. They don't talk about their problems, they come up with a zany scheme. They insult each other, they cheat on each other, etc. etc.

Sitcom characters in general tend to go for what they want above all else, act in ways that would burn any normal relationship to the ground, and then get forgiven at the end of the episode with an "Awwwww" from the laugh track.

I get why the Seinfeld characters were considered horrible -- I found the show largely unwatchable.

[DaFlipp]

You know what, I have to give it to Jeph Jacques, he has a system that works for him. Every once in awhile he just decides "I'm going to draw some new people, and if I like how the new people look, they're gonna become characters with names and all. Maybe they'll join the main crew, maybe they'll just hover around the edges for a week or so, who's to say! Also they will almost all be quirky females because this is my world and that's what I like to draw."

I want to stress as hard as possible that none of the above is intended as a criticism. QC's lasted a *long* time in large part because of the above - rotating in new characters with new problems and perspectives means that older characters can actually settle into relationships and enjoy their character development without internal conflict constantly rearing its ugly head and resetting the status quo (which so often leads to "How the hell are these people still friends after all that" syndrome that plagues a lot of long-running webcomics, sitcoms, etc.).

Yeah, sometimes I miss old characters that Jeph clearly ran out of material for (*holds up a milk carton with Raven's face on the side*) but I'm content with QC doing its thing.

[Rodin]

You know what, I have to give it to Jeph Jacques, he has a system that works for him. Every once in awhile he just decides "I'm going to draw some new people, and if I like how the new people look, they're gonna become characters with names and all. Maybe they'll join the main crew, maybe they'll just hover around the edges for a week or so, who's to say! Also they will almost all be quirky females because this is my world and that's what I like to draw."

I want to stress as hard as possible that none of the above is intended as a criticism. QC's lasted a *long* time in large part because of the above - rotating in new characters with new problems and perspectives means that older characters can actually settle into relationships and enjoy their character development without internal conflict constantly rearing its ugly head and resetting the status quo (which so often leads to "How the hell are these people still friends after all that" syndrome that plagues a lot of long-running webcomics, sitcoms, etc.).

Yeah, sometimes I miss old characters that Jeph clearly ran out of material for (*holds up a milk carton with Raven's face on the side*) but I'm content with QC doing its thing.

It's a strategy that has its upsides and downsides. He introduced 3 library interns to give Marten something to do. He liked writing Claire and Emily but couldn't figure out anything to do with Gabby, so Gabby was quietly written out eaten by an allosaurus. Claire turned into one of my favorite characters, while Emily just became Raven 2.0 and never evolved beyond "lolrandom".

Heck, go all the way back. Hannelore was just a random chick Marten met at a bar.

Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. In this particular case I feel like Clinton has enough unresolved issues that adding a new character to his story isn't the best idea.

[Eldan]

We can just pray that Emily and Raven never meet. I don't think the universe could handle it.

[Mechalich]

We can just pray that Emily and Raven never meet. I don't think the universe could handle it.

The cast page, after literal years of terminal inaccuracy, actually got updated recently. Raven was downgraded into the 'deprecated characters' category. So a meeting, or in fact any appearance by Raven at all, is unlikely.

[Max_Killjoy]

The cast page, after literal years of terminal inaccuracy, actually got updated recently. Raven was downgraded into the 'deprecated characters' category. So a meeting, or in fact any appearance by Raven at all, is unlikely.

There's a cast page?

The comic's front page doesn't seem to have a link to it.

[Morquard]

There's a cast page?

The comic's front page doesn't seem to have a link to it.

Its in the very top row, between ABout and Merchandise

[Max_Killjoy]

Its in the very top row, between About and Merchandise

Ah, have to allow the site's scripts to run.

OK, that's a little sad seeing some of the characters who've been shoved into "might never see again" in favor of more Melon, Lemon, and whoever these new random goofs are.

[theangelJean]

:reads the cast page:

Marigold's surname is actually Farmer?

[Shadow of the Sun]

:reads the cast page:

Marigold's surname is actually Farmer?

Yeah, Jeph thought he was clever giving her a WoW name joke.

[MoonCat]

When on earth did Tilly start dating Station?

[John Cribati]

When on earth did Tilly start dating Station?

I acknowledge the stupid dad joke I could make, but I’ll show restraint and just say that we learned that things were at least headed that way last time we saw Tilly talking to Hanners.

[MoonCat]

I acknowledge the stupid dad joke I could make

rackum frackum walked into that didn't I hmmph