# 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:** 76
**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:** [November 7, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1501 "2014-11-07T16:41:29Z")
> [@Little\_Bird](#): > > Marten and Claire dating doesn’t feel right to me. She’s so much younger and less experienced than him and is so in awe of him that it just seems icky and exploitative for him to date her, like if a professor dated a student they had last semester. Legal and all, but just with weird power dynamics. I disagree; I think Marten is like a Fisher-Price “First Boyfriend” toy. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1502 "2014-11-07T17:21:01Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I disagree; I think Marten is like a Fisher-Price “First Boyfriend” toy. More like a “Stretch Armstrong” first-boyfriend-toy…very malleable and passive as all get-out, although he’s STARTING to change that. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1503 "2014-11-08T08:36:22Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > For an extreme example of this kind of thing, check out [Freefall](http://freefall.purrsia.com/). I’m fuzzy on the exact numbers, but I believe that, when I started reading it, that strip had been publishing for around six years, on a 5-days-a-week schedule, and had only covered a period of about two weeks in-universe. > > Of course, part of the reason for that is that’s it’s a 3-panel, joke-a-day strip, but it has a detailed, ongoing storyline. So it’s going to move slowly. > > ETA: Today’s strip would seem to indicate that _less than a month_ has passed since the beginning of the story. Which started in 1998. It’s apples to cherries, but _Grrl Power_ may be even [del]worse[/del] better. I think almost the entirety of its four-year run (264 updates, once or twice a week) has taken place in _under 20 hours._ ---
**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:** [November 8, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1504 "2014-11-08T16:46:44Z")
Anyone else wondering if Jacques is aiming for a Faye/Sven hookup? It seems more than coincidental that he had the scene with Sven returning and telling Faye he still loved her right before he sent Angus off to New York and had Faye break up with him. There was also the storyline with Dora cutting herself off from Sven, which wasn’t resolved. I suspect Jacques is planning on bringing all these elements together. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1505 "2014-11-08T18:13:31Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Anyone else wondering if Jacques is aiming for a Faye/Sven hookup? It seems more than coincidental that he had the scene with Sven returning and telling Faye he still loved her right before he sent Angus off to New York and had Faye break up with him. There was also the storyline with Dora cutting herself off from Sven, which wasn’t resolved. I suspect Jacques is planning on bringing all these elements together. I kinda hope so, as I’ve been shipping those two for, basically, ever. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2014, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1506 "2014-11-12T12:33:48Z")
I just realized this morning why reaction to Marten/Claire has been so unquestioning. I thought Jeph was going for “these people are so incredibly tolerant” but with today’s strip with Marten’s mother, I remembered that NOBODY KNOWS about Claire except Marten and her family. Which means there’s still some drama to be mined here. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2014, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1507 "2014-11-12T14:10:37Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I just realized this morning why reaction to Marten/Claire has been so unquestioning. I thought Jeph was going for “these people are so incredibly tolerant” but with today’s strip with Marten’s mother, I remembered that NOBODY KNOWS about Claire except Marten and her family. > > Which means there’s still some drama to be mined here. I think obviously that’s where this is going, though Jeph surprises me sometimes. However, as I wrote upthread, I’'m trying to think of anyone in this strip who is going to be shocked - SHOCKED! and FREAKED OUT at Claire’s gender status. Marten’s mom, the retired dominatrix? Pish, shit like that would be beyond pedestrian to her. I think there’s more potential for people to be insensitive and downright rude - probably unintentionally - upon being disclosed, and for Claire to be very hurt and Marten to be really pissed off at whomever would do this. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1508 "2014-11-12T15:31:47Z")
Hmm, reading what I wrote above makes me wonder: will Claire’s gender status even be a surprise to Marten’s mother? She seems uniquely qualified spot this from a mile away. The woman can identify the ass gape of one of Marten’s schoolmates from a goatse image after all, perhaps she’s known all along that Claire is trans, and the “reveal” will be her saying something like, “Claire seems nice; I didn’t know you went for trans ladies.” The other drama possibility is Marten’s mom treating Claire’s status as a fetish versus an identity, because _everything_ is a fetish to her. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1509 "2014-11-12T15:53:41Z")
I don’t think Marten’s mother is aware Clare is trans. Back when she got drunk at the wedding, she told the two of them she wanted grandchildren. This would be pretty inappropriate to say to a woman you knew was trans. (And Jacques later revised the strip to remove the line.) ---
**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:** [November 12, 2014, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1510 "2014-11-12T15:55:35Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > I think obviously that’s where this is going, though Jeph surprises me sometimes. However, as I wrote upthread, I’'m trying to think of anyone in this strip who is going to be shocked - SHOCKED! and FREAKED OUT at Claire’s gender status. Marten’s mom, the retired dominatrix? Pish, shit like that would be beyond pedestrian to her. I think there’s more potential for people to be insensitive and downright rude - probably unintentionally - upon being disclosed, and for Claire to be very hurt and Marten to be really pissed off at whomever would do this. You can say Marigold. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1511 "2014-11-12T16:03:34Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I don’t think Marten’s mother is aware Clare is trans. Back when she got drunk at the wedding, she told the two of them she wanted grandchildren. This would be pretty inappropriate to say to a woman you knew was trans. (And Jacques later revised the strip to remove the line.) So it’s been stricken from the record, and is therefore inadmissible, counselor. Never happened. Of course, this would be a perfect time for that line to reappear in continuity and cause drama: Marten’s mom expresses this as her reservation (grandchildren) with Marten dating Claire, drama ensues. Of course, that plot line would go entirely against her apparently delight at seeing them holding hands if she knew about Claire already. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1512 "2014-11-12T17:05:23Z")
I’m also waiting for Clinton to show up again and have one of those brother/boyfriend talks with Marten. “If you hurt her, the robot hand will make sure there’s not enough genetic material left in your man bits to clone the replacement body for you…” ---
**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:** [November 12, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1513 "2014-11-12T18:15:56Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Hmm, reading what I wrote above makes me wonder: will Claire’s gender status even be a surprise to Marten’s mother? She seems uniquely qualified spot this from a mile away. The woman can identify the ass gape of one of Marten’s schoolmates from a goatse image after all, perhaps she’s known all along that Claire is trans, and the “reveal” will be her saying something like, “Claire seems nice; I didn’t know you went for trans ladies.” On the other hand, she was married to Martin’s dad for years before she realized he was gay. She may be open minded, but “observant” doesn’t seem like her strong suit. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1514 "2014-11-12T19:15:30Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > On the other hand, she was married to Martin’s dad for years before she realized he was gay. She may be open minded, but “observant” doesn’t seem like her strong suit. Is that also because Martin’s dad didn’t realize he was gay either? I don’t recall the canon answer, if we have one. Your point is a good one, but does that also speak to Mom being crappy at relationships, a past and current theme with her? ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1515 "2014-11-12T21:38:47Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Is that also because Martin’s dad didn’t realize he was gay either? I don’t recall the canon answer, if we have one. Wasn’t there a gag once where Marten said that he wasn’t surprised to learn that his dad was gay, based on what was hidden in his sock drawer? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1516 "2014-11-18T08:27:54Z")
I know she indicated earlier than she was on female hormones but is the working assumption that Claire still has an intact, functional penis at this point or is this issue entirely up in the air? ---
**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:** [November 18, 2014, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1517 "2014-11-18T10:35:34Z")
Jeph’s official answer to that question: [ > [@](#): > > Dear everyone who ever asks about Claire’s junk: it’s none of your business what’s in somebody else’s pants. Stop it. ]([x.com](https://twitter.com/jephjacques/status/517429434958487553)) ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1518 "2014-11-18T14:57:06Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > Jeph’s official answer to that question: > > [URL=“[x.com](https://twitter.com/jephjacques/status/517429434958487553)”] It will still be interesting to see if it’s any kind of issue or worthy of remark. One thing to be aware of it, another to have the issue in your face, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1519 "2014-11-18T15:25:24Z")
Eh, I don’t think “none of your business” applies to fictional characters. Claire isn’t a real person we’re intruding upon, she’s an imaginary construct and wondering about how her creator has fleshed her out or how it might apply to the story he’s telling isn’t really analogous to if she was a living person. There’s no one to intrude upon or harm here. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1520 "2014-11-18T15:41:32Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Eh, I don’t think “none of your business” applies to fictional characters. Claire isn’t a real person we’re intruding upon, she’s an imaginary construct and wondering about how her creator **has fleshed her out** or how it might apply to the story he’s telling isn’t really analogous to if she was a living person. There’s no one to intrude upon or harm here. … I see what you did there. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=75) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=77)