# 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:** 47
**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, 2012, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/921 "2012-01-12T07:35:55Z")
She broke a date, didn’t return calls, then after about a week made an apparent booty call when she’s about to leave town. I would expect he was hurt, perhaps a little angry, and probably didn’t even feel like being with her at that point. I don’t see any fault in his actions. ---
**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, 2012, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/922 "2012-01-12T07:37:53Z")
I think the last panel makes it pretty clear that he \*did \*want to be with her. ---
**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, 2012, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/923 "2012-01-12T07:46:27Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Definitely a dick move. I disagree. > [@](#): > > Not returning his calls for a week is bad, but not, “Fuck off out of my life forever,” bad. Where’s this “out of my life” stuff? I don’t see it. > [@](#): > > At least, not without giving her a chance to explain. She had a chance to make a sincere apology (which probably would have been enough) and proffer an explanation when she called. The “sorry, been busy” depicted doesn’t really measure up on either count. ---
**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, 2012, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/924 "2012-01-12T08:02:08Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I think the last panel makes it pretty clear that he \*did \*want to be with her. I would grant that he had mixed feelings. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/925 "2012-01-12T08:20:16Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > I don’t know, I don’t think he was being a dick. If I kept calling someone and they kept blowing me off, they can’t really expect me to jump for joy when they suddenly deign to grace me with their presence at the last minute. I’m with you on that. I might have done the same thing, and well regret it later. It’s a painful feeling. Ouch, Marten, ouch… ---
**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, 2012, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/926 "2012-01-12T08:33:59Z")
The other thing is that if he had gone to see her, he’d probably have ended up having regrets over that meeting as well. He’d either say or do something he’d regret. Or even if everything went well, he’d have more regrets over her leaving. ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/927 "2012-01-12T13:46:44Z")
One more meeting probably wouldn’t have done anything to alleviate what he’s feeling; it might just make them both feel worse about it. I really expected her to reconsider moving. Poor, poor Marten. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/928 "2012-01-12T15:55:02Z")
With communications skills like these, their relationship wasn’t going to go anywhere anyway. ---
**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, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/929 "2012-01-12T21:08:49Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > Where’s this “out of my life” stuff? I don’t see it. Padma: “I’m leaving tomorrow, and I’d like to see you one last time.” Martin: “Yeah, actually, I am busy. Have a safe trip.” Assuming neither of them makes an effort to see the other before “tomorrow” (in strip time), they’re almost certainly never seeing each other again. > [@](#): > > She had a chance to make a sincere apology (which probably would have been enough) and proffer an explanation when she called. The “sorry, been busy” depicted doesn’t really measure up on either count. Not much of a chance, IMO. I don’t think she was expecting to be cut off at the knees that abruptly. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/930 "2012-01-12T23:06:23Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > With communications skills like these, their relationship wasn’t going to go anywhere anyway. True, that, but this relationship is still very young. If my wife and I talked like this _now_, it would be worrisome, but if we did when we were 3-odd weeks involved, not at all. With Marten’s luck, one last hook-up would’ve gotten her pregnant. Better he cut it off on _his_ terms for once. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/931 "2012-01-12T23:30:13Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Padma: “I’m leaving tomorrow, and I’d like to see you one last time.” > > Martin: “Yeah, actually, I am busy. Have a safe trip.” > > Assuming neither of them makes an effort to see the other before “tomorrow” (in strip time), they’re almost certainly never seeing each other again. > > Not much of a chance, IMO. I don’t think she was expecting to be cut off at the knees that abruptly. She should probably have returned his call sooner, then. Good to see Marten show some sign of growing a pair. No-one’s so damn busy packing they don’t have five minutes to make a phone call. And once you’ve pulled the plaster off, what’s the point sticking it back on all over again? ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/932 "2012-01-13T00:12:48Z")
Yeah, Padma had her chance but she blew him off for a week. Now that she wants to see him he’s supposed to drop everything and rush to her side? For once he isn’t being a total doormat. He was right not to show up at her work. He did his part, and apparently she didn’t want to see him. Man do I dislike Faye and Dora. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/933 "2012-01-13T00:20:06Z")
Pfft. Padma’s a bitch for avoiding the inevitable for a week. (Although, if we’re being honest, how many of you wouldn’t probably just avoid thinking about a promising but early relationship on the cusp of a transcontinental move?) But Marten is also a bitch because when she does call him, he tells her he’s busy instead of being honest. I vote for dickery all around. You think he’s got balls? I say he’s just as wussy as ever. ---
**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 13, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/934 "2012-01-13T03:33:04Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > …“Fuck off out of my life forever,”… > [@Gary\_T](#): > > Where’s this “out of my life” stuff? I don’t see it. > [@Miller](#): > > Padma: “I’m leaving tomorrow, and I’d like to see you one last time.” > > Martin: “Yeah, actually, I am busy. Have a safe trip.” I guess I was thrown by the “Fuck off” and “forever” part, which I seem to have taken more literally than you intended. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/935 "2012-01-13T04:10:36Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > But Marten is also a bitch because when she does call him, he tells her he’s busy instead of being honest. I vote for dickery all around. You think he’s got balls? I say he’s just as wussy as ever. That’s a good point, that I didn’t even think about. He should have at least told her why he was mad at her. ---
**Author:** ![lyssla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@lyssla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lyssla)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/936 "2012-01-13T20:59:35Z")
> [@MikeG](#): > > Totally whooshed by the reference in #2089 today. What’s randy supposed to be and what’s a bankai? I feel old 🙂 This is pretty old and perhaps you got your answer elsewhere, but Randy is a bandicoot. (That’s a type of marsupial! She has a pouch full of babies!) [Randy | Questionable Content Wiki | Fandom](http://questionablecontent.wikia.com/wiki/Randy) ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/937 "2012-01-13T21:14:08Z")
Lyssla, I was referring to a strip wherein Randy manifests in a hallucination as a weird manga creature. ---
**Author:** ![lyssla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@lyssla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lyssla)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/938 "2012-01-13T21:31:41Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > (Although, if we’re being honest, how many of you wouldn’t probably just avoid thinking about a promising but early relationship on the cusp of a transcontinental move?) Agreed! Actually I am pretty sympathetic to Padma, there is a lot of stuff to take care of when you are making a transcontinental move in order to be your grandmother’s live-in caretaker. She’s feeling torn about her responsibilities to her family versus selfishly wanting to be escapist and stay in MA with Marten. It’s a lot easier to avoid that whole tangled knot of emotions by just not thinking about it, especially when she’s probably got a million last-minute things to take care of before she moves across the country. As for Marten, yes, Padma’s not being such a great human being to him right now, but IMHO he’s also acting like a bitch for being pissy and sulking at home. He should have just put on his big boy panties and went to see her in person. Padma’s got enough stress on her plate without Marten being all emo-angst about her not returning his calls for a week. (Also, a week does not seem like _that_ long a period of time to me.) It’s a lot easier to express emotions in person and in all likelihood seeing her off would have been a cathartic experience for both of them. ---
**Author:** ![lyssla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@lyssla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lyssla)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/939 "2012-01-13T22:09:29Z")
> [@Ura-Maru](#): > > Ok, this time I feel like I’m missing something. (Not today’s, [Monday’s](http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2091)) > > Padma looks like she’s reacting to . . . something in panel 3, but I can’t figure out what. Marten’s line is about as un-upsetting as it could possibly be. > [@squeegee](#): > > I _think_ the intent is: Panel 2) Padma wants to say something “serious” to Marten. Panel 3) Marten is casual. Padma opens her mouth to say something. Panel 4) Padma swallows that thought. > [@Malthus](#): > > I took it that Padma was about to do some whining for sympathy about something (having to do with events over the past year). She shut up because she thinks Martin will be unsympathetic. Building on those interpretations, and that Padma’s [stated reason](http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2095) for not hanging out with Marten last Friday was that she was “feeling down” and “wouldn’t be fun to hang out with,” I’m thinking that bit of pillow-talk may have also contributed to Padma’s flaky behavior. At some point she and Marten were going to need to face the elephant in the room, but Marten’s flippant response to her broaching the subject sort of stifled her momentum. Then rather than dealing with the emotional drama of it all (which Marten probably wouldn’t appreciate anyway since he seemed to want to keep things light), it just became easier to push it all into the back of her mind and ignore his phone calls until it was too late. > [@MikeG](#): > > Lyssla, I was referring to a strip wherein Randy manifests in a hallucination as a weird manga creature. Oops sorry, misread your question! [whooosh] ---
**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 14, 2012, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/940 "2012-01-14T06:54:36Z")
I’m getting annoyed at the female characters in this strip. Faye, Dora, and now Padma all seem to expect Marten to accept all their self-admitted craziness. But at the same time, they get mad at him for being so easy going. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=46) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=48)