# 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:** 51
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1001 "2012-02-28T18:34:55Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > And of course Potter’s reaction next time we see her is going to be “Whoa… wait up there, AI, you were a little crass but it wasn’t anything I deserved to be made an instant millionaire over, even though I realize you’ll never miss it…” :dubious: Well, [no](http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2132), what we actually get is Potter flinging the money back in Station’s face for the sake of busting his balls, and while I see her point to an extent, many an employer might figure that a flesh’n’blood human should understand the professional implications of putting embarrassing photos on Facebook rather better than an AI should be able to understand sexual harassment. A _real_ tough cookie, Jeff, would have been able to make Station understand without the screaming, yelling and swearing. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1002 "2012-02-28T18:40:00Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Official Prediction: > > Since she’s now rich, she finagles her way out of duty immediately. When Marten, Marigold, and Hanners return to Earth, she’s with them on the shuttle flight. She gets to talking with Marten, they flirt a bit based off the picture Station flashed (which was a damn good picture, girl’s got legs), and since Potter’s loaded now she decides to move to Marten’s town and Marten winds up being her boytoy. Man I suck at predictions. But there’s still hope for making her Marten’s next love interest! There’s got to be some reason Jeph’s spending so much time on her. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1003 "2012-02-28T18:41:44Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > And of course Potter’s reaction next time we see her is going to be “Whoa… wait up there, AI, you were a little crass but it wasn’t anything I deserved to be made an instant millionaire over, even though I realize you’ll never miss it…” :dubious: Good call. Makes the character extremely idiotic, imho - she could have yelled at the AI _and_ have her $5 million. Instead she gives it back and stews until the AI calls her on it. ---
**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:** [February 29, 2012, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1004 "2012-02-29T05:40:55Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Well, [no](http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2132), what we actually get is Potter flinging the money back in Station’s face for the sake of busting his balls, and while I see her point to an extent, many an employer might figure that a flesh’n’blood human should understand the professional implications of putting embarrassing photos on Facebook rather better than an AI should be able to understand sexual harassment. A _real_ tough cookie, Jeff, would have been able to make Station understand without the screaming, yelling and swearing. I, ah, don’t see any screaming or yelling. At all. I do see three swears, used pretty much appropriately for emphasis. I’m also not seeing ‘flinging the money back in his face for the sake of busting his balls,’ I’m seeing ‘returning a vastly inappropriate gift in such a way that it teaches Station how to act around people.’ Because it was pretty clear that he DIDN’T understand what the problem with his behavior was previously, and that the huge-but-meaningless-to-him gift was a way to smooth everything over without actually dealing with it or examining his behavior. If how she dealt with it was so terrible/idiotic, what should she have done? – A bit preachy, sure, but that’s hardly a QC first. ---
**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 29, 2012, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1005 "2012-02-29T08:52:19Z")
Might there not be professional ethical issues at play as well - i.e. she might not have been allowed to keep the money anyway, being a military officer in a professional relationship with the station AI? By returning it first, she gets to make the gesture with “free” money, as it were. I don’t know that’s the case, I’m just asking. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1006 "2012-02-29T09:57:18Z")
> [@Ura-Maru](#): > > I, ah, don’t see any screaming or yelling. At all. > > I do see three swears, used pretty much appropriately for emphasis. > > I’m also not seeing ‘flinging the money back in his face for the sake of busting his balls,’ I’m seeing ‘returning a vastly inappropriate gift in such a way that it teaches Station how to act around people.’ Because it was pretty clear that he DIDN’T understand what the problem with his behavior was previously, and that the huge-but-meaningless-to-him gift was a way to smooth everything over without actually dealing with it or examining his behavior. > > If how she dealt with it was so terrible/idiotic, what should she have done? > > – > A bit preachy, sure, but that’s hardly a QC first. I, ah, beg to differ. Now, things are coming to a pretty pass when you go to Captain Socially-Awkward here for advice, but since you ask and with memories of assertiveness training to draw upon I think it might go something like this: Station: Lt Potter? The EC-Tech shares I transferred to your control have been returned to my account. Potter: Yeah, I gave 'em back. Station: Why? Potter: Station, I think you just don’t get what you did. You made a materially generous gesture to atone for it, and I appreciate that, but that’s not the point. It was foolish of me to put indecent pictures of myself in the public domain, but I shouldn’t have to confront them in the workplace. That’s embarrassing and hurtful. I’m a tough cookie and I can take a fair amount, but it upset me, and many more sensitive people than me would have been really hurt. I don’t want the money; I want an assurance that you understand why people don’t do that to people they care about - personally or as professional colleagues - and that you will not do anything like that again. Station: I - I am sorry, Lt Potter. I had no idea of the ramifications of my behaviour. You have my word that it will never happen again. Potter: Thank you. Also, Station, you’re too innocent by half and it would feel like taking money from a child. Even if you have plenty more, I’m the adult here - so take it back before I change my mind. Five mil is a big test of anyone’s integrity! And it all gets done without the shouting, swearing, talking about how much trouble she could have got Station into or moaning about how e gets too much of is own way in the first place. ---
**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:** [February 29, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1007 "2012-02-29T16:34:46Z")
Keep in mind it’s easy to stay rational when it’s somebody else’s public humiliation that’s being discussed. But people are a lot more emotional when it’s their own humiliation. Under the circumstances, I feel Lt Potter’s reactions were believable. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1008 "2012-02-29T17:20:38Z")
That’s one valid way to handle it, **Malacandra**. Potter’s is another. I don’t think she did anything wrong, and between the embarrassment of the picture and the shock of $5 mil, she was pretty well restrained, all things considered. Your response involves a hell of a lot of rationality _as well as_ time to think it out and consider the response. Hers was extemporaneous, so I think some imperfection can be allowed. When dealing with personalities there is never just one right answer or approach. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1009 "2012-03-13T12:36:37Z")
I’m a daily reader of QC. Usually I get a smile; today I laughed out loud. [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2142](http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2142) ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1010 "2012-03-13T12:38:19Z")
It’s about time someone showed interest in Marigold. I hope they don’t both die from the awkwardness first. ---
**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 13, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1011 "2012-03-13T13:42:17Z")
> [@Stauderhorse](#): > > It’s about time someone showed interest in Marigold. I hope they don’t both die from the awkwardness first. Raises an interesting point. Does Marigold realize that Dale has been flirting with her? It would be funny to see her reaction if she were to suddenly figure that out. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1012 "2012-03-13T14:53:41Z")
Marigold is miiiiiiineaghglhlgh Sigh. Fine. Apparently I need to find a real world geek girl with big boobs. FIIINE. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1013 "2012-03-13T15:28:38Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Raises an interesting point. Does Marigold realize that Dale has been flirting with her? It would be funny to see her reaction if she were to suddenly figure that out. But Dale is Alliance scum! ---
**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:** [March 14, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1014 "2012-03-14T22:08:35Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Marigold is miiiiiiineaghglhlgh > > Sigh. Fine. Apparently I need to find a real world geek girl with big boobs. FIIINE. I’ve been to enough cons to conclusively state: They’re out there, man. In _droves_. I’m, uh, kind of getting bored with the space station trip. I wish _somebody_ would hook up so they can go back to Earth and get on with their lives. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1015 "2012-03-15T02:02:09Z")
Why does the station orbit the Earth on its side? ---
**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:** [March 15, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1016 "2012-03-15T02:08:54Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Why does the station orbit the Earth on its side? For the view? ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1017 "2012-03-16T18:19:49Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I’ve been to enough cons to conclusively state: They’re out there, man. In _droves_. > > I’m, uh, kind of getting bored with the space station trip. I wish _somebody_ would hook up so they can go back to Earth and get on with their lives. I’m with you. I miss Dora. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1018 "2012-03-16T19:28:21Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Why does the station orbit the Earth on its side? That’s how the _Enterprise_ ususally does it. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1019 "2012-03-17T08:52:04Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > That’s how the _Enterprise_ ususally does it. But, rather more often than not, shows a horizontally-oriented segment of the planet on the viewscreen. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2012, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1020 "2012-03-22T13:11:56Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > I’m with you. I miss Dora. ☹ And we’re back! > **[Questionable Content](https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2149)** Or maybe it’s just a one-off, depending on the comment below the script. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=50) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=52)