# 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:** 30
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/581 "2011-01-12T09:44:26Z")
> [@Double\_Foolscap](#): > > I don’t like the way that Marten is being painted as the bad guy in this situation. If anything, he should feel liberated from a relationship **so deep in bullshit the diversion of two rivers wouldn’t clear it.** Thank you for the new saying to add to my vernacular. 🙂 That’s the kind of high class humor I expect around here. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/582 "2011-01-12T14:21:16Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > The walls are the same color as the living room… No, they’re not. The living room walls are shown as white with pale blue at the bottom, where these walls are shown as pale blue with darker blue at the bottom. I’d say the most plausible scenario is that Dora ushered Sven out and closed the door behind him. What we’re seeing is him in the hallway having just realized he’s being locked out. We weren’t shown the ushering out, but that’s actually good storytelling. It’s more powerful to show the set-up and the result, letting us fill in the picture, than to show every step in between. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/583 "2011-01-12T15:39:36Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > So this is what, the second time Dora kicked someone out of their house/bed? It certainly seems as if Marten has been surrounding himself with people who need to be slapped upside the head. Really, this strip’s characters need to start showing redeeming qualities soon — a lot of the protagonists just… aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/584 "2011-01-12T16:12:17Z")
> [@straight\_man](#): > > Really, this strip’s characters need to start showing redeeming qualities soon — a lot of the protagonists just… aren’t. With a few execptions, very few of these folks are normal. Of course, ‘normal’ would make for a very serious challenge to the cartoonist. How does one make ‘normal’ folks interesting? Of the main folks, I think maybe only Angus has his head bolted down tight. Possibly Tai, as well. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/585 "2011-01-12T17:17:18Z")
> [@straight\_man](#): > > It certainly seems as if Marten has been surrounding himself with people who need to be slapped upside the head. It’s a college town. There are LEGIONS of slappable heads there. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/586 "2011-01-12T17:30:01Z")
> [@Tranquilis](#): > > With a few execptions, very few of these folks are normal. Of course, ‘normal’ would make for a very serious challenge to the cartoonist. How does one make ‘normal’ folks interesting? > > Of the main folks, I think maybe only Angus has his head bolted down tight. Possibly Tai, as well. I don’t know about Tai. She’s been going through some relationship crises too. I agree with you on Angus. And Penelope seems pretty level-headed. Steve apparently has been in some weird situations but he hasn’t been the cause of them. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/587 "2011-01-12T18:10:19Z")
Slap Hanners upside the head and die. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/588 "2011-01-12T18:21:17Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I don’t know about Tai. She’s been going through some relationship crises too. Yeah, but I don’t think she was the actual cause of them - I’d have to re-do the archives to check that. She talks a pretty kinky game, but I get the distinct ‘not all that weird’ vibe off her. > [@](#): > > I agree with you on Angus. And Penelope seems pretty level-headed. Steve apparently has been in some weird situations but he hasn’t been the cause of them. Granted on Penelope. Steve, I don’t have a real feel for, one way or another. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/589 "2011-01-12T18:38:47Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Slap Hanners upside the head and die. :mad: See, she _does_ have redeeming qualities (in fact, is basically a nice person). I’m not complaining that everyone is weird! ---
**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:** [January 12, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/590 "2011-01-12T19:26:43Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > No, they’re not. The living room walls are shown as white with pale blue at the bottom, where these walls are shown as pale blue with darker blue at the bottom. They look the same to me. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/591 "2011-01-12T19:48:26Z")
The only person I like in the strip is Hannelore. And maybe Sven, he may be a player but he seems honest about it. The other people all irritate me in some way or another. Faye in particular gets on my nerves - punching and insulting people all the time, and thinking it’s OK. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/592 "2011-01-12T19:57:25Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > The only person I like in the strip is Hannelore. I was just reading the “Jail Strip Searches, Men, and Women” thread and I misread what you wrote as “The only person I’d like to strip is Hannelore.” ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/593 "2011-01-12T19:59:13Z")
I love QC, but sometimes reading it reminds me of why I stopped watching _The Real World_ after season 3 or 4: I outgrew the “characters.” ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/594 "2011-01-12T20:59:57Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > The only person I like in the strip is Hannelore. And maybe Sven, he may be a player but he seems honest about it. The other people all irritate me in some way or another. Faye in particular gets on my nerves - punching and insulting people all the time, and thinking it’s OK. Hanners, Sven and Marigold are the ones I like. Everyone else always seems to be bitching and moaning about some random crap. Faye, is really starting to make some progress too and I’m warming up to her. ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/595 "2011-01-12T21:37:19Z")
Hrm. I thought moderately-to-very dysfunctional cast the primary appeal of the comic, not something to be tolerated for the rest of it. More than that, I like the fact that they’re mostly flawed characters who would be written off in most stories, but aren’t here. For the record, Tai manages to be noticeably self-centered even in a cast that’s pretty universally self-centered (Martin, Dora, and Hanners are exceptions, and they’ve all had moments), Steve is comically high strung, and Penelope is (or at least was) “the bitterest girl in the world,” prone to long rants about how everything wrong in her life was everyone else’s fault. Angus’ only real problem seems to be a tendency to let his mouth get ahead of him. On the door thing, I’d assumed that Dora had locked herself in the bathroom, but upon closer inspection, I agree Sven’s in the outside hall, with the apt number behind his speech balloon. – I’m afraid I have to issue a retraction. Several weeks ago I wrongfully identified a restaurant as Bueno Y Sano, when upon further research, it was clearly Local Burger. I apologize for any difficulty or expense that this mistake might have caused. On an unrelated note, Local Burger is awesome, and I wish I’d gotten around to trying it earlier. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/596 "2011-01-12T21:41:24Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > The walls are the same color as the living room… > [@Gary\_T](#): > > No, they’re not. The living room walls are shown as white with pale blue at the bottom, where these walls are shown as pale blue with darker blue at the bottom. > [@Miller](#): > > They look the same to me. Not quite, but paying too much attention to lighting effects is a mistake, IMO. The fact that the doorknob has a key slot and there’s another key slot immediately below the doorknob tells us plainly that the door Sven finds himself on the wrong side of separates the inside of the house/apartment/condo from the outside. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/597 "2011-01-12T21:44:43Z")
> [@Ura-Maru](#): > > a cast that’s pretty universally self-centered (Martin, **Dora** , and Hanners are exceptions (Emphasis mine.) Wait, what? Dora? The last several months of strips have all been based on the fallout of her being incredibly self-centred - and not as a one-off thing, as a pattern that finally set Marten off. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/598 "2011-01-12T22:29:30Z")
> [@tr0psn4j](#): > > Hanners, Sven and Marigold are the ones I like Yes, and Marigold! She makes an effort to be nice to people (i.e. helping Angus with Faye). ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/599 "2011-01-12T23:18:27Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > Dora? The last several months of strips have all been based on the fallout of her being incredibly self-centred - and not as a one-off thing, as a pattern that finally set Marten off. The last several months of real time, which has been a few weeks in comic time. Outside of her relationship with Marten, she’s consistently been empathetic and concerned with others. Off the top of my head, I remember (deep breath) her talking Faye through her first, ‘you have real problems and should probably get some help’ conversation, trying to smooth out Penelope’s bitterness, and later her relationship, steering the ‘Faye’s an alcoholic’ incident into a positive direction, helping Faye to aquire recreational devices, gently trying to push Faye, Marten and Penelope to think of the future, commissioning a sculpture from Faye to kick her out of a depressive cycle, multiple instances of preventing Faye from bullying Marigold, talking Marigold through the aftermath party incident, and acting as a substitute parent for Hanners on several occasions. And reacting to unattractive people’s sex lives with a ‘good for them’ instead of ‘auugh gonna puke!’ Even in that relationship, she was hardly all about herself. She seemed to make a real effort to avoid crushing him, even to the point of moving in with him and Faye, instead of splitting them up. (Which was probably a mistake, given how things worked out, but still) I’m not saying she’s perfect. She’s got serous trust issues and a bad self-image, which led to some self-centered and jealous behavior in her relationship with Marten, and lashes out indiscriminately when hurt or scared, which has lead to a few real jerk moments. When her Psychological Disadvantages aren’t being triggered, though, she’s been consistently one of the more decent people in the comic. – And without said issues, she’d be approaching ‘fantasy girlfriend’ levels of awesome . . . ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/600 "2011-01-13T00:09:00Z")
> [@Ura-Maru](#): > > Outside of her relationship with Marten, she’s consistently been empathetic and concerned with others. Off the top of my head, I remember (deep breath) her talking Faye through her first, ‘you have real problems and should probably get some help’ conversation, trying to smooth out Penelope’s bitterness, and later her relationship, steering the ‘Faye’s an alcoholic’ incident into a positive direction, helping Faye to aquire recreational devices, gently trying to push Faye, Marten and Penelope to think of the future, commissioning a sculpture from Faye to kick her out of a depressive cycle, multiple instances of preventing Faye from bullying Marigold, talking Marigold through the aftermath party incident, and acting as a substitute parent for Hanners on several occasions. And reacting to unattractive people’s sex lives with a ‘good for them’ instead of ‘auugh gonna puke!’ In other words, she busies herself helping fix everybody else’s problems to distract from her own 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=29) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=31)