# 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:** 56
**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:** [October 18, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1101 "2012-10-18T02:21:47Z")
I’m not saying they’re similar in appearance. I’m saying they have similar traits. They’re all quirky naive innocents who say and do things that normal people would consider inappropriate. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2012, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1102 "2012-10-18T12:22:07Z")
So why isn’t Clinton wearing his robot hand? Yeah - he’s going swimming, but you’re telling me that technology in the age of the Singularity can’t get wet? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1103 "2012-10-18T16:33:01Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > So why isn’t Clinton wearing his robot hand? Yeah - he’s going swimming, but you’re telling me that technology in the age of the Singularity can’t get wet? I was wondering the same thing. But looking closely at the arm, there is a line that I think demarcates the robot hand. It’s just mostly tucked under his other arm. Actually, at first I was trying to figure out if it’s Clinton at all, but I can see his glasses on the towel too. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1104 "2012-10-18T17:46:11Z")
I think Steve is over-estimating Marten’s chances, even with Clinton as the only competition. Who is Marten going to meet at this party? It was just established that Emily doesn’t have another circle of friends outside of the library. Marten obviously already knows the women he invited. Momo came with Marten and Marigold. Tai recently admitted she doesn’t have other friends. So she would have just invited Dora. Gabby came alone. Claire came with Clinton. Theoretically, Claire might have also invited other people. But given what we’ve seen of Claire’s personality, the circle of Claire’s friends is probably limited and not very dateable. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1105 "2012-10-18T18:10:17Z")
Emily, Gabby, and Claire would likely be the only “choices”. But one, that’s kinda not kosher since they’re interns, and two, Emily is…creepy. Harmlessly creepy, but there’s something not quite right about that girl. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1106 "2012-10-18T19:04:36Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > I was wondering the same thing. But looking closely at the arm, there is a line that I think demarcates the robot hand. It’s just mostly tucked under his other arm. You’re right - I was thinking it went further down his forearm. Nope - just a hand. [QUOTE=Little Nemo] I think Steve is over-estimating Marten’s chances, even with Clinton as the only competition. Who is Marten going to meet at this party? [/QUOTE] Do you really think Steve cares about whether or not Marten is friends with any of them? He most likely just expects Marten to bang any of them. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1107 "2012-10-18T20:38:54Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m not saying they’re similar in appearance. I’m saying they have similar traits. They’re all quirky naive innocents who say and do things that normal people would consider inappropriate. I think it’s more accurate to say that, in this comic, the women tend to be the source of the humor, rather than providing the straight lines. Most Western comedy casts the men as the goofballs, and the women as the sensible and practical ones. QC largely inverts this particular cliche: Martin is arguably the most normal of the bunch, and is usually reacting to the antics of the rest of the cast, which is overwhelmingly female. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1108 "2012-10-18T21:16:10Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I think it’s more accurate to say that, in this comic, the women tend to be the source of the humor, rather than providing the straight lines. Most Western comedy casts the men as the goofballs, and the women as the sensible and practical ones. QC largely inverts this particular cliche: Martin is arguably the most normal of the bunch, and is usually reacting to the antics of the rest of the cast, which is overwhelmingly female. Penelope appears to be a straight man character - but as a result, she rarely appears in the strips. But there are other important female characters who don’t fit the description I made: Faye, Dora, Marigold, and Tai all have important roles in the plots but not as “quirky” characters. But adding quirkiness to the story seems to be the main role of Raven, Hanners, Padma, and Emily (although with Hanners, it can be argued that she eventually developed beyond mere quirkiness). The main role these character have had is to stand on the sidelines of the story and act amusingly offbeat. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1109 "2012-10-19T02:11:24Z")
I keep thinking, dang, Emily is tall. Who else is that tall in the strip? And single? Sven. (Or Wil, once Penelope breaks up with him.) ---
**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:** [October 19, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1110 "2012-10-19T02:45:16Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Penelope appears to be a straight man character - but as a result, she rarely appears in the strips. > > But there are other important female characters who don’t fit the description I made: Faye, Dora, Marigold, and Tai all have important roles in the plots but not as “quirky” characters. But adding quirkiness to the story seems to be the main role of Raven, Hanners, Padma, and Emily (although with Hanners, it can be argued that she eventually developed beyond mere quirkiness). The main role these character have had is to stand on the sidelines of the story and act amusingly offbeat. We seem to be reading different comics, is all I can say at this point. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1111 "2012-10-19T03:21:45Z")
My other thought is that Emily is Asian in the comic mostly because Jeph wanted to keep drawing an almond-eyed character and Padma left. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1112 "2012-10-19T03:25:09Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > We seem to be reading different comics, is all I can say at this point. No, I’m agreeing with you for the most part. Marten is the straight man character in the strip. He reacts to what the other characters say and do. On a totally unrelated note, here’s a fun game. Go to the comic and keep clicking the link for random strips. Marvel at the art changes. ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1113 "2012-10-20T04:04:34Z")
Okay, so on a whim I’ve been reading through the archives in order, because I didn’t stop to consider that there are more than two thousand strips in there. Anyway, this afternoon I came across [the strip where Hannelore is introduced](http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=515), and buh? She’s: [ul][li]In a public restroom;[/li][li]Not freaked out (at least not visibly) by a boy being in there peeing in the sink; and[/li][\*]SMOKING A CIGARETTE?![/ul] That shit just does not compute. ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1114 "2012-10-20T04:12:09Z")
Jeph’s excuse is that she was on some weird meds at the time, but he has admitted that he wasn’t sure how to write the character yet when he started. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2012, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1115 "2012-10-20T04:15:36Z")
[quote=“Chef\_Troy, post:1113, topic:535967”] Okay, so on a whim I’ve been reading through the archives in order, because I didn’t stop to consider that there are more than two thousand strips in there. Anyway, this afternoon I came across [the strip where Hannelore is introduced](http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=515), and buh? She’s: [ul][li]In a public restroom;[/li][li]Not freaked out (at least not visibly) by a boy being in there peeing in the sink; and[/li][li]SMOKING A CIGARETTE?![/ul] That shit just does not compute.[/li][/QUOTE] Yeah, Hanners was considerably less of a naif back when she first debuted. It didn’t take long for Jeph to bring her up to current speed, though. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1116 "2012-10-20T05:52:49Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Yeah, Hanners was considerably less of a naif back when she first debuted. It didn’t take long for Jeph to bring her up to current speed, though. There were also some dialog that more or less straightened this out, but doesn’t bear close examination: - Wait, Hanners, you used to smoke? Yeah, I did it to challenge my anxieties. - Wait, Hanners, you have piercings? Yeah, I did it for the same reason, and OH GOD I MUST HAVE SYMMETRICAL PIERCINGS, augh! augh! AUGH!!! Hahaha, just kidding! - Wait, Hanners, you were in a bathroom watching Marten pee? Yeah, my meds were weird that day, I wasn’t myself. I can forgive most of this, cuz Hanners is a good character. She wasn’t that character at the beginning, but I’ll give Jeph some leeway. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2012, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1117 "2012-10-23T07:58:02Z")
Okay, I have no idea. I’m hoping there’s some swimming game called Muskrat that I’m unfamiliar with. Because otherwise I’m just really confused. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2012, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1118 "2012-10-23T09:12:29Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Okay, I have no idea. I’m hoping there’s some swimming game called Muskrat that I’m unfamiliar with. Because otherwise I’m just really confused. I dunno, but I want Emily to be my next girlfriend. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2012, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1119 "2012-10-23T12:39:26Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Okay, I have no idea. I’m hoping there’s some swimming game called Muskrat that I’m unfamiliar with. Because otherwise I’m just really confused. I just assumed it was her running away because she saw a muskrat; and then Martin realized that’s what he was standing on. Dunno if that’s correct; but that’s how I read it. Not one of Jeph’s finer strips. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2012, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1120 "2012-10-23T13:02:07Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > I just assumed it was her running away because she saw a muskrat; and then Martin realized that’s what he was standing on. Dunno if that’s correct; but that’s how I read it. > > Not one of Jeph’s finer strips. That’s not Martin, that’s Steve. And I’m going to go with “Emily’s just weird, and is acting like a muskrat”. Muskrats swim with just their head out of the water, like Emily is. I think it’s just them being goofy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=55) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=57)