# 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:** 130
**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:** [June 27, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2583 "2022-06-27T19:23:57Z")
You guys have got me to the point where I felt the need to check it myself. I just looked up the number of a local store and dialed their seven digit number. The call went through. I then looked up the number of a different store in my town and called them, this time using the eleven digit number (adding one plus the area code). This call also went through. Expanding my experiment, I tried again with two more stores, this time still in my area code but outside my exchange. Both of these calls also went through. So in my area, you apparently can use either the seven or eleven digit number and both will work. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2584 "2022-06-27T19:46:24Z")
do aurelia and marigold know each other? i know a lot of people know each other through the coffee house … ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2585 "2022-06-27T19:49:43Z")
Their streamer IDs, MommyMilkers420 and BurgerOni (respectively), apparently collaborate at times, but they’re about to meet in person for the first time that we know of. I don’t recall ever seeing an in-person encounter between them, but Marigold has met Aurelia’s kids. ---
**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:** [June 27, 2022, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2586 "2022-06-27T20:30:36Z")
If you don’t mind saying, what area code are you in? Ten digit required dialing started when they started overlaying area codes - multiple area codes in the same geographic area for the use of mobile phones. They did this because continually splitting area codes into smaller areas, with the added grief of forcing half the residents to use a new area code, was getting out of hand. But it makes sense that even if you’re not required to dial 10 digits for calls in the same area code, you’re allowed to. The whole phone lookup/switching mechanism has changed enormously in the past few decades. ---
**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:** [June 27, 2022, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2587 "2022-06-27T20:39:42Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > If you don’t mind saying, what area code are you in? Ten digit required dialing started when they started overlaying area codes - multiple area codes in the same geographic area for the use of mobile phones. I live in the 585 area code, which is a single area code region. I noted earlier that I was aware that there are multi-code regions where you must always dial the area code. But as I demonstrated with my experiment today, this isn’t necessary in a single code region. I’ll note that western Massachusetts, including Northampton, is a single area code region (413). So Aurelia and Marigold wouldn’t need to dial an area code to make a local call. That said, I found out that it’s now possible to always use area codes in a single code region even if it’s not necessary. So I’ll acknowledge this has a thin veneer of plausibility. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2588 "2022-06-27T20:39:53Z")
I’m in 916, and ten-digit is mandatory here. ---
**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:** [June 27, 2022, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2589 "2022-06-27T20:42:12Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > I’m in 916, and ten-digit is mandatory here The 916 region is a multi-code region. It’s actually the 916/279 region. ---
**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:** [June 27, 2022, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2590 "2022-06-27T20:55:00Z")
I really think it’s more than a “thin veneer”. Given the changes in how phone lookups occur, I’d be surprised if there are still any areas that won’t put through a 10 digit call to the same area code, especially between two mobile phones. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2022, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2591 "2022-06-27T21:55:14Z")
Does Marigold know Clinton and Claire are Aurelia’s children? ---
**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:** [June 27, 2022, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2592 "2022-06-27T22:09:11Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Does Marigold know Clinton and Claire are Aurelia’s children? ⁢ No, because she’s never met Aurelia. She does however know that MommyMilkers420 has kids who have appeared on stream. She just presumably didn’t recognize them. I’m guessing they **all** use voice changers, not just her. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2593 "2022-06-28T00:03:06Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I really think it’s more than a “thin veneer”. Given the changes in how phone lookups occur, I’d be surprised if there are still any areas that won’t put through a 10 digit call to the same area code, especially between two mobile phones. The change wasn’t that long ago within single code regions (like the one where the series is set). I remember having it be an issue within the last couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2594 "2022-06-28T00:03:28Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > I’m in 916, and ten-digit is mandatory here. I’m in 209. Us, too. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2022, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2595 "2022-06-28T00:06:51Z")
And [of course Randall did something about this sort of thing](https://xkcd.com/1129/). Same nominal area code, especially with mobiles and number portability, does not necessarily tell you where you are “hometowned” (\*) > [@BigT](#): > > She does however know that MommyMilkers420 has kids who have appeared on stream. She just presumably didn’t recognize them. I’m guessing they **all** use voice changers, not just her. From the strips where we see Clinton and Claire joining their mother’s stream, it seemed evident to me they, too, were completely avatared both visual and audio. … ( \* BTW, number portability is contingent on the carriers having a “presence” in that area code. Buncha people with ATT 787/939 numbers resident in the states, and with stateside numbers resident in Puerto Rico, were faced in 2021 with _having_ to change carrier or get a new “loal” number, after ATT divested operations in Puerto Rico.) ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2022, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2596 "2022-06-28T00:27:31Z")
my aunt’s cell phone has a totally different area code than where we live because she ordered the cellphone through the website/mail and shes always had to add the area code to everything ---
**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:** [June 28, 2022, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2597 "2022-06-28T00:40:04Z")
So you think the post-singularity comic strip with robots and super powerful emergent intelligence entities is actually a few years behind us in communications technology? ---
**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:** [June 28, 2022, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2598 "2022-06-28T00:49:24Z")
I mean, it is still 2006 (or 2007). And AI were an accident that hasn’t changed life all that much for humans other than having a new group of people. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2022, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2599 "2022-06-28T00:56:44Z")
Also, every AI would also likely have their own phone number. They’re probably on 11-digit numbers at this point. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2022, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2600 "2022-06-28T01:10:02Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I mean, it is still 2006 (or 2007). ? > [@BigT](#): > > And AI were an accident that hasn’t changed life all that much for humans other than having a new group of people. The first AI wasn’t an accident - it was [created and studied for 5 years in an AI research lab](https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2085). Yay was an accident though. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2022, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2601 "2022-06-28T01:10:29Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > So you think the post-singularity comic strip with robots and super powerful emergent intelligence entities is actually a few years behind us in communications technology? Not sure what your point is. I don’t see what robots and emergent AI’s have to do with this. My point is that I’ve lived in a single code region like the one that the webcomic is set in. As recently as two years ago, you couldn’t use an eleven digit phone number to call somebody local; you’d get an error message telling you to redial the number without the area code. Of course, you had to dial eleven digits to call anyone in another area code. So people in single code regions were always aware of who was in their area code and who wasn’t. And as I’ve pointed out this is recent - like 2020. Because of this thread, I’ve found out that I can now choose to dial eleven digit numbers for local calls. I’m still able to use seven digit numbers and that’s what I’ve been doing. A change that allowed me to use eleven digit numbers as an option happened without me even noticing it and had no effect on how I made phone calls. I think most people in single code regions have been the same; we’ve kept using seven digit numbers because it’s easier and it’s the way we had been doing it. But I acknowledge that Aurelia and Marigold might be exceptions. When dialing eleven digit numbers for local calls became an option for them some time in the last couple of years, they may have coincidentally both embraced the idea for some reason. They may have decided to use all eleven digit numbers even when they didn’t need to. And they may have quickly lost the habit (which they must have had) of noticing which phone numbers were local and which weren’t. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2022, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/2602 "2022-06-28T01:23:29Z")
Or, Marigold may have just clicked the phone number in whatever IM app they were using to communicate, not even noticing the area code, and letting the phone do the work for her. Like every other person under the age of 30 does these days. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=129) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=131)