# I don't quite get today's "Questionable Content" strip **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comic-strips\ **Created:** [April 13, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967 "2010-04-13T17:48:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 107
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2122 "2017-02-17T00:07:26Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I see Bubbles, Pintsize etc as Banksian drones, Station and that ilk as “normal” Ship or Orbital Minds, and Spooky as the GSV _Grey Area_ Yes, Jeph has definitely read up on the Culture, but the problem with your analogy is that the Special Circumstances Minds aren’t more powerful than other Minds, just meaner. Presumably the Minds controlling the System class GSV _Empiricist_ are as/more powerful than GCU Minds like _Grey Area_. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2123 "2017-02-17T00:08:48Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I get it now. The whole strip is about life after the AI singularity! > > Sure makes a lot more sense to me now . . . [Yep.](http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1777) ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2124 "2017-02-17T00:46:29Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > I did kind of wonder in this arc about Jeremy and the moral implications of creating an AI that has the capability to want to read comics but is a one-armed immobile object that is thus incapable of obtaining them other than via others. You can buy comics online… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2125 "2017-02-17T14:02:41Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > You do know what a p-zombie is supposed to be, right? No, actually. I’ve always been more of the Turing test fan for sentience. In other words, if it appears conscious, it is conscious. Otherwise, I can’t really know if anyone else is conscious, and that totally messes up any morality I have, since it’s based on other people being people like me. Interesting idea, though. Jeph has brought up before whether even the AI we currently know are conscious. In fact, that UN speech above has the relevant parts. Still, since I treat them as conscious entities, I see no reason not to treat SpookyBot as conscious. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2126 "2017-02-17T15:29:41Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Yes, Jeph has definitely read up on the Culture, but the problem with your analogy is that the Special Circumstances Minds aren’t more powerful than other Minds, just meaner. I was more referring to the _Meatfucker_’s talents for mind-ripping and the like. > [@](#): > > Presumably the Minds controlling the System class GSV _Empiricist_ are as/more powerful than GCU Minds like _Grey Area_. I didn’t get that impression, I gathered that all era-cohort Minds (not small-m minds like drones) were of more-or-less equal capacity and the distinction was more based on how old the Mind was. I think this is backed up by the fact that a Mind can move from a Ship to an Orbital without major changes being indicated. Also note that as you say, at least some GSVs are run by multiple Minds. The _Empiricist_, for instance, has 7 - so power is not scalable, clearly. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2127 "2017-02-17T15:50:35Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I was more referring to the _Meatfucker_’s talents for mind-ripping and the like. > > I didn’t get that impression, I gathered that all era-cohort Minds (not small-m minds like drones) were of more-or-less equal capacity and the distinction was more based on how old the Mind was. I think this is backed up by the fact that a Mind can move from a Ship to an Orbital without major changes being indicated. Also note that as you say, at least some GSVs are run by multiple Minds. The _Empiricist_, for instance, has 7 - so power is not scalable, clearly. Yeah, you’re right. I actually thought about it more, and the utterly hilarious scene in _Excesssion_ when the Core Group gets taken over by the Interesting Times Gang, who immediately expel the procedure-worshipping chairperson Mind(s?). The ITG was old, but some of them were relatively small ships, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2128 "2017-02-18T21:11:24Z")
I just re-read Bubbles’ [explanation](http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3376) for what Corpse Witch did, and it sounds like Corpse Witch may have the opportunity to become very wealthy once the news gets out. It doesn’t sound like what Corpse Witch did was illegal, just highly unethical, with a possibility of not even that, with a willing subject. So, AI’s out there who want to kind of forget something now have the opportunity to do so. Particularly handy once they’re a few centuries old and really don’t need to remember what they read in the newspaper 150 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2017, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2129 "2017-02-18T23:40:06Z")
Can’t we just get back to Emily doing goofy stuff? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2130 "2017-02-19T00:05:59Z")
She was remarkably lucid when she was jacked into Bubbles’ head. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2131 "2017-03-22T04:09:57Z")
I don’t recognize the redhead showing off her muscles in today’s (22 March 2017) strip (#3443). Is she new or have I forgotten her? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2132 "2017-03-22T04:24:51Z")
It’s Tai. Marten and Claire’s boss, Dora’s girlfriend. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2133 "2017-03-22T05:08:59Z")
If that’s Tai, she’s been doing a lot more than rock climbing … I mean, I get that it might give you muscles, but the waist and the booty? [This](http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2553)is Tai before… ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2134 "2017-03-22T05:29:30Z")
It’s Tai. Nobody else has an elbow tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2135 "2017-03-22T06:00:31Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > It’s Tai. Nobody else has an elbow tattoo. And it explains why she suddenly jumped up when Dora complimented Elliot. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2136 "2017-03-22T06:23:17Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > If that’s Tai, she’s been doing a lot more than rock climbing … I mean, I get that it might give you muscles, but the waist and the booty? [This](http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2553)is Tai before… That was at least one if not two art style shifts ago. Everyone is wider now. [Here is her most recent appearance.](http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3357) [And here is probably the comic that inspired her to start working out](http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3154). (In case you think I’m some uberfan, it’s not that. I just have installed [Questionable Extensions](https://questionablextensions.net/), which, among other things, tags all the characters and lets me easily jump to the previous comic where they appeared. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2137 "2017-03-22T13:46:43Z")
It’s not just the body. The face is different. I hadn’t forgotten Tai, or her star tattoo, but I really found today’s rendition of her unrecognizable. Ah well. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2138 "2017-03-22T15:25:37Z")
It’s the lack of glasses ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2139 "2017-03-22T16:04:00Z")
Look! Tai has taken off her glasses! Why, she’s _beautiful!_ She’s also got the plug things in her ears. Maybe she and Dora had it done together? And it looks like she got herself an uber-butch haircut because Dora liked it on Faye. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2140 "2017-03-22T20:56:57Z")
Hmm? Far as I can tell, she’s wearing the same plugs she was back during Jeph’s ‘everyone is a stick’ style. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2141 "2017-03-22T22:44:07Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Look! Tai has taken off her glasses! Why, she’s _beautiful!_ > > \*\*She’s also got the plug things in her ears. Maybe she and Dora had it done together? \*\*And it looks like she got herself an uber-butch haircut because Dora liked it on Faye. [Nah, they’ve both had plugs for a while.](http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2553) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=106) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=108)