# 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:** 77
**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 18, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1521 "2014-11-18T15:44:02Z")
Apparently it’s a sore subject with trans people. I don’t really understand it. On the QC message board, I understand the mods pretty much instantly lock threads where speculation about this appears, even long ones about innocuous topics that drift into this area. I don’t think they ban folks, but I really don’t hang out over there. But AFAICT, the whole topic is very much frowned upon. Which I guess I can respect, since I’m not trans and have no idea of trans folk sensibilities. But here’s the thing: whether us as readers speculate about this or not, at some point _Claire and Marten_ must discuss it. And that’s a fascinating conversation to witness, and apparently we won’t be privy to it. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1522 "2014-11-18T16:12:14Z")
Which is one hell of a thing since it’s sort of the overarching question surrounding their romance. ---
**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, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1523 "2014-11-18T16:17:43Z")
> [@](#): > > it’s none of your business what’s in somebody else’s pants Am I still allowed to wonder what’s under V’s robes in Order of the Stick? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1524 "2014-11-18T16:21:56Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Which is one hell of a thing since it’s sort of the overarching question surrounding their romance. Indeed. To me, it looks like he may have painted himself into a bit of a corner on this. ---
**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 18, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1525 "2014-11-18T16:40:26Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Which is one hell of a thing since it’s sort of the overarching question surrounding their romance. In what sense? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1526 "2014-11-18T17:07:05Z")
> [@astro](#): > > 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? Her exact words were [“I started transitioning in first year college”](http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2324). Given that she’s in Grad school I’d say she pretty far along. Jeph is probably saying NOYB because he gets enough stupid flak from fringe gender issues and Claire’s reveal was part of the storyline that drove him to stab himself. ---
**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 18, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1527 "2014-11-18T17:12:40Z")
> [@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. Indeed, we’ve heard all about Faye’s family trauma, Hannelore’s OCD, and Marigold’s sexual awakening. We’ve seen Marten and Dora in bed together, and there’s been plenty of discussion of Faye’s and Marigold’s breasts. Certainly, Jeph’s under no obligation to go into detail about any aspect of Claire’s transition that he doesn’t want to or doesn’t deem important to the narrative. He has every right to make artistic choices about how to work with Claire, and I’m sure he can write the story perfectly well without providing that particular reveal. To take an aggrieved tone, though, that it’s prurient to speculate about the intimate lives of his characters seems to misconstrue our shared history with all of these people. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1528 "2014-11-18T17:22:04Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > 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? [“Marine Man-Wich volumes 1-4”](http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=433) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1529 "2014-11-18T17:33:05Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > In what sense? It’s Chekhov’s genitals. 😉 ---
**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 18, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1530 "2014-11-18T17:44:03Z")
What, they showed Claire’s dick in act one, which means it has to go off in act three? ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1531 "2014-11-18T17:45:22Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > To take an aggrieved tone, though, that it’s prurient to speculate about the intimate lives of his characters seems to misconstrue our shared history with all of these people. That aggrieved tone is par for the course with Jeph though as I understand it. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1532 "2014-11-18T18:17:44Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Am I still allowed to wonder what’s under V’s robes in Order of the Stick? 😉 [It’s his La’slari’ln](http://www.giantitp.com/Images/GuestWeek2005/oots9901.gif) ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1533 "2014-11-18T18:21:04Z")
> [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](#): > > That aggrieved tone is par for the course with Jeph though as I understand it. Indeed. I like Jeph’s comic, and I like his Deathmole albums, but I think if I ever had to be in the same room as him for 5 minutes, I’d end up punching him in the face. The QC forums spend about 20% of their time discussing the comic and 80% of their time wondering if the accidentally offended someone. Personally, I think it’s highly unlikely that the SS Clariten sets sail and doesn’t end up making port in O-Town for both the characters (a celibate couple in QC? riiiiiiiiight), and given that Claire doesn’t seem like an anal adventurer, the chances that Jeph won’t obliquely state that she had surgery seem low. ---
**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 18, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1534 "2014-11-18T18:51:37Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > Personally, I think it’s highly unlikely that the SS Clariten sets sail and doesn’t end up making port in O-Town for both the characters (a celibate couple in QC? riiiiiiiiight), and given that Claire doesn’t seem like an anal adventurer, the chances that Jeph won’t obliquely state that she had surgery seem low. Are you kidding me? People like her are _total freaks_ in bed. They’re into all the crazy, kinky shit. Anal’s, like, foreplay to them. I’m talking, of course, about librarians. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1535 "2014-11-18T19:00:43Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > Personally, I think it’s highly unlikely that the SS Clariten sets sail and doesn’t end up making port in O-Town for both the characters (a celibate couple in QC? riiiiiiiiight), and given that Claire doesn’t seem like an anal adventurer, the chances that Jeph won’t obliquely state that she had surgery seem low. You know there are other options for a mutually satisfying sexual encounter other than vaginal or anal penetration, right? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1536 "2014-11-18T19:03:15Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > What, they showed Claire’s dick in act one, which means it has to go off in act three? Well, more like ‘having brought up Claire’ s status in act one, have it be a plot point by Act three’. In short, unless Claire’s status was somehow significant for the story at some point, why introduce it? So far, it has been largely without significance - except to demonstrate that Marten was cool with it. Which of course raises the question - exactly what is it that Martin is cool with, as a romantic/sexual interest? Female parts, male parts, or not knowing which? If it is all to be a secret never revealed to the audience, so that even asking about it is offensive - strikes me as silly to make a romantic/sexual drama based on that premise. Of course, in real life it isn’t anyone’s business - but this isn’t real life: it is an entertainment. ---
**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 18, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1537 "2014-11-18T20:14:04Z")
It’d be just like Jeph to lampshade it: Scene: outside Marten’s apartment building, we see the window of his apartment (first panel [here](http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1557)). There are voices within. Voice 1: “Okay, here we go. Nnngh.” Voice 2: “Arghflgl. Is that really going to fit?” Voice 1: “Just a little more…” Voice 2: “Ah! Go slow, go slow!” Cut to apartment. Claire and Marten are moving furniture. Claire: “I told you the couch wouldn’t fit on this end of the room!” And we’ll have no idea who was trying to fit what in where in the imaginary scenario. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1538 "2014-11-18T20:29:13Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > You know there are other options for a mutually satisfying sexual encounter other than vaginal or anal penetration, right? You know not everyone finds those other options mutually satisfying, right? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1539 "2014-11-18T20:48:15Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > It’d be just like Jeph to lampshade it: > > Scene: outside Marten’s apartment building, we see the window of his apartment (first panel [here](http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1557)). There are voices within. > Voice 1: “Okay, here we go. Nnngh.” > Voice 2: “Arghflgl. Is that really going to fit?” > Voice 1: “Just a little more…” > Voice 2: “Ah! Go slow, go slow!” > > Cut to apartment. Claire and Marten are moving furniture. Claire: “I told you the couch wouldn’t fit on this end of the room!” > > And we’ll have no idea who was trying to fit what in where in the imaginary scenario. Reminds me somewhat of the classic Fleisher cartoon “Barnacle Bill”. Bimbo (as Barnacle Bill) and Betty are in a room with the curtains drawn; the neighbours are seen gossiping; the curtains draw back - to show them playing checkers. 😃 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tBKAG0ut9Ds/hqdefault.jpg "Barnacle Bill - Bimbo and Betty Boop") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBKAG0ut9Ds) ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967/1540 "2014-11-18T20:48:39Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > You know not everyone finds those other options mutually satisfying, right? Quite frankly no, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anyone who can only get off through penetration. I’ve heard plenty of men _say_ that, but they’re all lying. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=76) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-quite-get-todays-questionable-content-strip/535967.md?page=78)