# 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:** 39
**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:** [April 15, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/761 "2011-04-15T01:39:31Z")
> [@Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](#): > > The sci-fi stuff is there because he introduced Pintsize in the very first strip, before he really knew what direction the comic would go in, and has had to live with that decision ever since. It’s understated because it doesn’t really fit. That’s my theory. > > That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily bad, though. At it’s best, it can add a bit of WTF quirkiness to what otherwise be a pretty conventional strip. The strip drifted for a bit before settling into a story about relationships. When’s the last time you heard a character talking about their favorite new band? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/762 "2011-04-15T02:06:09Z")
> [@Jeph Jacques on Twitter](#): > > ps everyone now shipping marten and hanners: hahahahaahhahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAAAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAA[pant pant pant]AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA [http://twitter.com/#!/jephjacques/status/58616741240123392](http://twitter.com/#%21/jephjacques/status/58616741240123392) It’s kind of ridiculous how every positive male/female interaction is assumed to be the beginnings of some new relationship, or every new character is a future love interest. ---
**Author:** ![Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ee7513/32.png) [@Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kim_o_the_Concrete_Jungle)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/763 "2011-04-15T05:41:42Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Clinton would try to use her just to get to her dad. Or - try to disassemble her looking for upgrades. :eek: He could be onto something. Check out Faye’s comment in the last panel of this old strip: > **[Questionable Content](https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=439)** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/764 "2011-04-15T06:45:35Z")
> [@Hades](#): > > [http://twitter.com/#!/jephjacques/status/58616741240123392](http://twitter.com/#%21/jephjacques/status/58616741240123392) > > It’s kind of ridiculous how every positive male/female interaction is assumed to be the beginnings of some new relationship, or every new character is a future love interest. These people don’t even require it to be a male/female dynamic. Anyone who’s nice to anyone means it’s going to be a relationship. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2011, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/765 "2011-04-15T12:01:46Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > These people don’t even require it to be a male/female dynamic. Anyone who’s nice to anyone means it’s going to be a relationship. This is true. Just look at the Hanners/Marigold shippers a little while ago. Or the Tai/Dora shippers. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2011, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/766 "2011-04-15T13:17:52Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > This is true. Just look at the Hanners/Marigold shippers a little while ago. Or the Tai/Dora shippers. To be fair, the Tai/Dora shippers have something to actually go on, since Tai is gay and Dora is bisexual. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2011, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/767 "2011-04-15T13:38:56Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > To be fair, the Tai/Dora shippers have something to actually go on, since Tai is gay and Dora is bisexual. Yeah, but it’s still not going to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/768 "2011-04-15T13:45:59Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Yeah, but it’s still not going to happen. Why not? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/769 "2011-04-15T13:53:48Z")
To be fair, Tai wants to lick every inch of Dora’s body. It’s what she does, you know? Edit: Wow, okay, the thread moved faster than I thought it did. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/770 "2011-04-15T14:10:16Z")
There was a strip (which I can’t find right now) with Tai and Marten talking at work, and Tai explains why she could never actually be with Dora (because Marten has “made deposits”, so to speak). ---
**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:** [April 15, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/771 "2011-04-15T14:51:52Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > There was a strip (which I can’t find right now) with Tai and Marten talking at work, and Tai explains why she could never actually be with Dora (because Marten has “made deposits”, so to speak). Do you really think that’s going to prevent Tai from making a move? [1881](http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1881) ---
**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:** [April 15, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/772 "2011-04-15T18:04:08Z")
The really funny thing about the shipping is that he’s surprised **every time** it happens. Dispite the fact **it happens every single time.** Not only are Tai and Dora orientation-compatible, (and sexual-attitude compatible, at that) Dora is the **only** such woman in the entire strip who has had more than one line. (If we ignore Marten’s mom, which we are) Additionally, they’re both canonically attracted to each other. By shipping standards, that’s bordering the ‘so likely it’s unlikely’ category. The happy batter joke aside, Tai doesn’t seem that neurotic. Even if it is a real issue, and not an excuse to keep her hands off her friends ex for a bit, it can probably be overcome. There are of course, many other ways it could not work. Dora could like girls enough to play with them, but not enough to have a real relationship with one. Or she could see Tai as a kid sister. (which is how they’ve always interacted) Or just as a kid in general. Or Tai could be so deep in Dora’s Friend Zone there’s no way out. (Does that happen in FF relationships? I’ve never heard a lesbian mention it) Or one or both of them could screw it up. They’re both, ah, passionate. – > [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > If she were a guy flipping out every time his girlfriend didn’t tell him someone asked her out or something, this would be some serious Ike Turner type shit. To clarify, I understand the flip-out thing, but I don’t get why it’s so often interpreted as ‘a pattern of abuse that means she needs to suffer!’ as opposed to ‘a character flaw that resulted in periodic jerk-activity and messed up an otherwise good relationship.’ There’s a big buffer zone between one and the other. While a gender flip Dora probably be less sympathetic, she’d be well behind DudeHanners (He stockpiles weapons, explodes when touched, likes looking at women but is disgusted by biology, acts like a crazy stalker, and IS a crazy stalker) and DudeMaragold. (chubby marginally-employed obsessive gamer with cleanliness issues, who’s constantly feeling sorry for himself and tries to emotionally blackmail women into making out with him) Perhaps the lesson is that we write people off to easily. Or possibly, transferring traditionally male character flaws onto cute women is endearing. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/773 "2011-04-15T18:43:51Z")
> [@Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](#): > > The sci-fi stuff is there because he introduced Pintsize in the very first strip, before he really knew what direction the comic would go in, and has had to live with that decision ever since. It’s understated because it doesn’t really fit. That’s my theory. I doubt that. Even if, for some reason, he felt compelled to keep Pintsize around (Plenty of other comics have dispensed with long time characters who no longer fit the feel of the strip. Sometimes including [title characters](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_%28comic_strip%29)), he could at least stop introducing new sci-fi elements, like Clinton the apparent cyborg, or the AI singularity thing that happened a while back. I think it’s pretty clear that Jacques wants to keep QC at a slight angle to the real world. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/774 "2011-04-15T21:31:10Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > This is true. Just look at the Hanners/Marigold shippers a little while ago. Or the Tai/Dora shippers. I’ve already stated my [views](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12338993&postcount=17). ---
**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:** [April 15, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/775 "2011-04-15T21:37:53Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’ve already stated my [views](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12338993&postcount=17). I guess that’s about three or four orders of magnitude less cruel than Hanners/Aubrey… ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/776 "2011-04-16T03:04:35Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I guess that’s about three or four orders of magnitude less cruel than Hanners/Aubrey… It’s not like Aubrey would cheat on Jason, anyway. She’s already got his balls in a jar – why break in anyone new? ---
**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:** [April 18, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/777 "2011-04-18T19:17:07Z")
Okay, today’s [strip](http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1906) seemed ambiguous. Is Padma supposed to seem clueless here? Or is it supposed to be that she’s happy because she put one over on Marten? ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/778 "2011-04-18T19:18:23Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Okay, today’s [strip](http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1906) seemed ambiguous. > > Is Padma supposed to seem clueless here? Or is it supposed to be that she’s happy because she put one over on Marten? I think she’s just really clueless. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/779 "2011-04-18T19:19:19Z")
NOT EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND YOU MARTEN GEEZ I’d go with “not giving a fuck” over “clueless”. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/780 "2011-04-18T20:02:33Z")
I took it the same way, **Bosstone**. She did her job. I don’t think it’s in her job description to sit around listening to random customers prattle on about their love/friendship lives. That’s what bartenders are for. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=38) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=40)