Questionable Content/Headscratchers: Difference between revisions

 

== Male = Creepy? ==

** Hannelore's dad isn't a creep, just... weird. Sven's getting better. And Pintsize and Winslow aren't really "guys", although Pintsize is a major creep. So that leaves the male creep count at three or four. Considering that the comic's quickly approaching [[Loads and Loads of Characters]], it's not that high.

** Wait, Amir strikes me as one of the creepier ones. What was the age difference between him and Nat again?

**** Given that Tai offered to strike up a relationship with Dora's as-yet unborn sister, Amir scores very low on the age difference creep-ometer.

** Will (Sven's friend) doesn't strike me as particularly creepy. Sure, he writes sexy poetry about some girl he met, but she wasn't meant to see it.

**** He ''does'' have USB ports, and presumably blanking panels where more USB ports ''could'' go. The fact that the latter aren't where nipples would be on a human is neither here nor there...

**** [[Non-Mammal Mammaries|Why would Pintsize have nipples]]?

** I'd like to make a point about Dora and Sven's dad (Mr. Bianchi). He's not a creep, he's jovial. Many Mediterranean dads are like this (my dad probably would have done something similar). He knows his son is a womanizer and he did nothing more than pinch Faye's sides. If she knew Sven well enough to storm in his apartment like that I don't see why he'd assume that she'd very much bother with what he did. He's been shown to be an open guy in other occasions (when Marty went to dinner with Dora's family).

 

* It bugs me that every single character in the strip seems to have the same sense of humor. This has gotten better in recent strips, but I facepalmed when Steve met ''a random girl on the street'' that was not only able to sass back and forth with him, but was able to do so with jokes about corpses and working at the morgue. Admittedly, that was the low point of this feeling, and Meena's turned out relatively interesting, but still.

** This troper feels the same way, and also wonders how it is that so many people who've read Dune manage to come into contact. Out of a hundred people, some of them English literature majors, this troper only found 1 guy who'd read Dune --- the guy to whom this troper had recommended the book.

*** And not a single one of them has been [[Rape as Backstory|raped]].

** Hanners and Raven often don't (really) get jokes. (Well, in Raven's case, that just might be a degree of [[Obfuscating Stupidity]]). Penelope isn't always amused by the same things the other characters are.

*** Given the little 'bots seem to be the only regular use of super science it sort of seems like [[Reed Richards Is Useless]].

*** The only one that we see, because the story is about the Marten & co. Perhaps the power stations run on cold fusion and there are colonies on Mars. That doesn't impact the characters' day-to-day lives; the lights work when you switch them on, however they're powered.

*** I seem to recall Hanners saying "I will move to the moon" at one point in response to somebody's creepy joke or something. We assume she is using a hyperbole, but maybe there really are colonies on the moon! It's like saying she'll move to China, it's silly but still possible.

*** Hanner's also made a comment in one of the strips how her father neglecting her was a reasonable price for bringing cancer-killing nanobots into the world, so it's safe to assume that the QC world is rather advanced. Mostly due to Hanner's dad.

* Wait, it's an [[Alternate Universe]]? I always figured it was just set [[Twenty Minutes Into the Future]].

 

 

** More importantly, why is no one telling Faye to drop the sauce entirely? Most of the advice is along the lines of "you need to cut back a bit" or "you need to stop using it as a crutch." No one has a problem with her continuing to drink. I'll grant the AA method isn't necessarily best, but why is no one even suggesting it?

*** Arguments about what makes someone an alcoholic run all over the place, but most likely the better part of the cast don't think alcoholism is her real problem. She's already seeing a therapist and while she may drink more than is really healthy as a coping mechanism, it so far hasn't interfered with her ability to lead a normal life - the trauma of her father's death is much more significant in that respect.

*** OCD, by it's nature, doesn't manifest in particularly logical fashions, so the individual has very little control over what, in particular, upsets them. Given that the afflicted is generally fairly well aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational, they may not follow them through to what appear to be their logical conclusions. Or, as she put it, "a girl's got to have ''some'' contradictions".

* I thought all these people were being silly until [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1818 this sequence]. After Dora dumps him, Marten - who is ''tiny'' - gets through at least a fifth, possibly more, of whiskey (minus a measure or two for Hannelore) in a just a few hours, stays more-or-less upright, and keeps it down until morning. That's a ''disturbing'' tolerance.

* Jacques himself still tweets and makes updates about how drunk he is -- he probably still does that a bit, and it's reflected in the social lives of his characters.

* [[Sarcasm Mode|Social 20-somethings drink? SHOCK.]]

 

*** Do we know enough of the situation to really know that she's at fault ''at all'' for 'burning down' her apartment (and it wasn't just an example of their now-usual joking)? I swear, replacing this point once is [[Data Vampires]], twice is coincidence, three times does/would imply someone deleting or editing my responses.

* Jeph's reaction to his fanbase. The rants near the beginning of the comic seem to indicate that he was thankful/liked them or whatever, but that attitude has done a complete 180 in recent years. Admittedly, having people ship characters when you ask them not to is annoying, but still...

* It annoys me how Marten, Faye and Dora basically act like Hannelore's parents (this seems to be happening with Marigold as well). They take her out, look after her, make parental decisions about her, that kind of thing. Hanners (and Marigold) are essentially the children with the rest of the cast acting as impromptu parents. Maybe I'm reading into it too much.

** I think it's just a usual part of a sitcom-style cast: the central characters are normal and "grown-up" with other weirder or sillier ones around them, such as Chandler from ''[[Friends]]'' as opposed to Joey, or Steve and Susan in ''[[Coupling]]'' compared to Jeff or Jane.

** You're not the only one that reckons she comes off as a sociopath or similar. (Faye also abuses anyone she bloody well pleases - Raven's treatment as the [[Butt Monkey]] for her [[Does Not Understand Sarcasm]] nature didn't sit well with me.)

** I think it's worth mentioning that trope titles such [[Abuse Is Okay When It Is Female On Male]] aren't saying that that's true, just that this is noticeably present in fiction. Besides that, you do have a point, though very occasionally she gets called out on it.

** Does it say something about us that we have put that quote on the QC page?

*** Yes. That we are awesome.

**** Webcomic makers are known for being classy- didn't you get the memo?

***** Jacques is extremely touchy, yet is ''extremely'' liberal. It's a nasty mix. This is why he goes out of his way to avoid hurting ''anyone's'' feelings if they're on the left side of the spectrum, or typically gain sympathy from them. Polygamists, gays, lesbians, pornstars, fetishists, any possible minority, etc. People with psychological problems (who tend to draw more sympathy from the left) are joked about, but get sympathy. But nerds somehow are [[Acceptable Targets|fair game]], as are retarded people apparently, as he ''really'' loves using the word "Retarded" to describe people he doesn't like. What's particularly funny is how ''defensive'' he is over being criticized like that. This wiki wasn't even that ''negative'' of him -- he just didn't like the Shipping & a few criticisms!

* Angus is introduced as someone who comes to COD purely to get insulted by Faye. Every. day. Angus sees Faye in a bar, goes up to her, and bugs her. She tells him to go away. He refuses. She TOSSES HIM ACROSS THE BAR, and he GOES BACK AND GIVES HER HIS NUMBER. Later, when Faye ends up dropping Sven, Angus is somehow a wonderful and not-at-all creepy guy, beloved patron of COD,and a close personal friend to our heroes. WHAT. THE. HELL. This isn't character development! This isn't even character derailment! This is Jeph Jacques arbitrarily turning someone into a different person for no reason at all! And it's not the first time he's done it, either. Look at how he put Marten's bandmate on a bus by suddenly making her a spoiled bitch DESPITE ACTIVELY SHOWING HER BEING UNCOMFORTABLE WITH HER PARENT'S WEALTH IN AN EARLIER STRIP. Meena SUDDENLY seemed to get over ALL her issues with her Ex for no real reason, probably because Jeph couldn't be bothered to continue that storyline and thought making Steve a secret agent for no reason was funnier.

** Angus' interest in Faye is never suggested to be ''healthy'', by any stretch of the imagination. It's just that, as the characters get to know Angus, he seems less weird because it's easier to dismiss a stranger as a freak than someone that you know. Natasha has always been self-centered (for example, getting excited by the prospect of Hannelore's blood making her guitar look awesome) and really, being uncomfortable with being rich doesn't mean that she's completely awesome all the time. You don't have to be stuck-up to be a bitch. As for Meena... well, [[Rule of Funny]]. She's a briefly seen love interest to a secondary character. You might as well complain that it's out of character for Sara to be eaten by an allosaurus.

*** An nice guy with an unfortunate habit of talking off the top of his head when flustered, leading to occasionally coming across as extremely tactless.

* Strip [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=35 35]: Is Faye talking about escapades in high school, or is this just a [[Retcon]] / [[Characterization Marches On]]?

*** That would defeat the purpose.

* Angus's job bugs me. Advancing causes you believe in by pretending to be on the other side? Way to stifle reasoned debate. Describing it as "[[Stephen Colbert]] incorporated" isn't right, since at least he's honest/blatant about it; it's more like "[[Nineteen Eighty-Four|Emmanuel Goldstein]] incorporated," a "quiet those bastards at any cost" strategy wholeheartedly endorsed by every other character and the author.

* Wait, Toto wrote songs other then Africa?

** ...yes?

* Seriously, the thing happening with Dora's "trust issues" right now. As though, what, it's totally ludicrous to be upset that her boyfriend is on the couch with a girl, both in their underwear, while they used to be really really into each other? Especially considering that in QC's webcomic time it's only been something like a few months since then.

** Especially since she's [[Just Bugs Me/Questionable Content|seen for herself]] how Martin really wouldn't be the cheating type, her refusing to even think that maybe she was mistaken was what was ludicrous. Also, compare the way Dora reacted to the way Faye reacted in a [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=532 strikingly similar situation].

** Both Marten and Faye are sick of her shit, and it seems this arc will be addressing her issues and her supposed entitlement to overreacting and it being justified.

* [[Wangst]]. Everyone. Enough so that it may reach [[Narm]] levels, may break [[Willing Suspension of Disbelief]] or even worse...no, that's really it. Also, the suicide of her father [[Hype Backlash|was very ''very'' poorly executed.]] Ignore any and all puns, they were unintentional.

* Why is it that every time some proper drama looks like it might occur, it's defused a strip or two later? Marten is offended that Faye just told Angus about her issues after all the hoops she made him jump through? No worries, he's just ''that much'' of a nice guy. It's [[Status Quo Is God]] at an accelerated rate: not enough happens so that we get properly worried. A storyline is supposed to have a beginning, middle, and end. The current trend in QC is beginning, defusal. Unpleasantness happens in real life, and it's being solved way too easily right now.

** Hopefully he'll bottle his rage/anger/annoyance and explode at her again in the future. No-one is that good of a guy to just take that shit and barely even care about it.

*** Faye is the [[Broken Bird]] and so she is treated as if she is not truly responsible when she treats other people badly. She relies on you, she needs you, she's not self-sufficient, she's emotionally needy but pushy enough that you don't feel like you're taking advantage of her. Much easier to let her get away with everything and then take out your minor issue blowups on someone that is actually capable of functioning on her own, like [[The Scapegoat|Dora]].

* Why are all the males in this comic such unassertive weaklings? Seriously, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM just rolls over and takes all the shit the women dish out. They let their girlfriends push them around physically, mentally, and emotionally, and they never stand up for themselves. Marten I can understand, as it's obviously intended as part of his character, but the rest? Is this the norm in Northhampton, or is spinelessness considered a good character trait in New England? (This troper is from the Southwest). Either way, I just don't get it.

** To be honest, I'm really not seeing it; the only character other than Marten that really fits is Will, who has been established as something of a Man-Child and so prone to bowing to pressure. Amir, Steve and Sven have never exhibited particularly doormattish behaviour, and while Angus has occasional shades of it, that's largely because he is (now) dating [[Tsundere|Faye]], and he's as likely to come back with a sharp retort as to just roll over. And, yeah, there's Dave (Meena's room-mate, ex and now supposedly fiancée), but, in his case, that was a running joke.

* How can Marigold afford a [[WoW]] account?

** She doesn't have a job or visible means of support.

** She could have some kind of online employment.

*** Also, a couple of times it was mentioned she does other freelance website work.

 

* Does anyone else not really like Dora much any more? Okay, at first the whole insecurity thing was an acceptable flaw, but the last arc with her going all insane about Marten and Faye just put her in "Unreasonable Bitch" for me -- and I'm guessing our friend Mr Reed would agree. There ''was'' a perfectly good explanation, and Marten ''is'' a ''really'' honorable dude, but of course all she did was go flying off the handle. Seriously, one more outburst like that and I will hate her. This is either some kind of character assassination or...I dunno, but I'm hoping there's something else Jacques is trying to show.

** I've always liked Dora. I saw her as being unreasonable in the last arc, but I thought that she made amends when she apologized. You have to remember that 1) Marten is Dora's first "nice guy" boyfriend. All her other boyfriends were douches who cheated on her, so while her behavior was unreasonable, it makes sense when you think about her past and 2) Marten used to like Faye. A lot. In fact, Marten probably would have ended up with Faye if not for her "dad issues". So, it's possible that Dora could be insecure since she feels that she's the second choice.

*** What Faye said was that "if you had answered the door, it would've been you instead of Marty." Faye was looking for someone to talk to and Marten happened to be there. Dora massively overreacted, period, and Faye went up several notches in my book for calling her on it.

*** It's gotten even worse in recent strips. First, she doesn't bother to tell Marigold that Tai will probably hit on her, and then she looks at Marten's porn even though he doesn't want her too.

**** This Troper isn't going to speculate on how far ahead of time the break-up was planned (although I suspect the foreshadowing had started at least by the Toto conversation), but Dora's double-standards are established relatively early on. After she flips out over Marten getting a haircut without her prior approval, later on she decides to change her style and dye it and explains to Faye that she doesn't have to consult him over something so minor.

** I would like to point out that [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=532 Faye has caught Martin] in a similar position with a complete stranger, but instead of immediately thinking "Omg Martin's fuckin' another girl!" she is all "Well I know this looks bad, but I'm gonna assume that it's wacky misunderstandings and let you explain before flying off the handle." This is right after coming out to Martin about her issues and her dad's suicide, so if somebody as fucked up as Faye can step back from the situation enough to appreciate that it's probably not what it looks like, Dora comes off as really, REALLY unreasonable and bitchy. It was around there when I personally realized that this relationship was gonna end in the crapper.

* Strip [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=207 207]. Faye says she cut a vein, but blood only spurts like that if an artery is severed. What do you mean, "stop being such a pedant"?

** Lots of people don't bother to differentiate between the different blood vessels.

*** We don't see blood spurting, but there is blood on the kitchen ceiling. How else would it get there if it wasn't spurting?

**** She could have flailed a bit when she realized the blood was actively flowing and more hurriedly tried to grab a dishtowel, or even just flailed in panic while ''trying'' to find the towel.

** Honestly? I think he just lacks the talent. And I mean that in the best way possible: the man has never taken an art class, and has basically been groping blindly in order to get his art as far as it is today. Doesn't he still trace his backgrounds?

** On a similar note, [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1888 this] is "Captain Backhair"? Seriously? And as little as he has on his back, why does he have ''less'' on his chest and arms?

*** What about Faye with Sven's manager?

**** Again, not really a Wacky Misunderstanding. That one was about FAYE's issues -- the dude she supposedly is not interested in outside of the bedroom is seen around town with some random lady? Making supposedly not-interested Faye barge into his apartment and then freak seeing her there and making a fool of herself? Yep, she doesn't care about him at all, in no way is she denying her feelings and she is totally fine with just having a casual physical relationship.

** Some people simply are susceptible to flu and other minor viruses. Likewise, overexcerting yourself can lead to health problems. That's the professional disease of a dedicated webcomic-artist.

** I think I actually remember one Rant where Jeph pretty much said 'I was wondering why I was always getting sick, until a friend said "Dude, you travel round the country every other week and shake hands with hundreds of people. It's surprising you're not sick ''more'' often".'

* Okay, teeny tiny one here, but why is Martin the only one being drawn with tired bags under his eyes post-breakup? Clearly Dora took the split pretty hard too, so Martin's not the only one who was affected. Then why doesn't Dora have any visual indicator of sulky-sadness? It's just that every time I look at Martin I am smacked in the face with 'This dude just got his heart broken! He is so sad! Look at how miserable he is now!' but nothing like that from Dora, unless she's actively crying or talking about being affected. I get that it's probably because girls are supposed to be pretty [[Beauty Is Never Tarnished|no matter what]], but it still kinda bugs me.

** Probably because you're not supposed to sympathize with Dora. As much as Jeph seems to sometimes hate his fanbase, the whole breakup storyline has been pretty hardcore catering to the Dora Hatedom, and thus by giving visual cues to Marten to make him more sympathetic and not adding them to Dora, they can sit around on the forum saying "See! That heartless bitch broke his heart and made him miserable, and she doesn't even care enough to not be pretty!"

*** Really? Which strips are you talking about, because I just went for a quick look through them thinking I might be blind, but the only strips with Dora having eyebags are the one or two where it's because it's super-early in the morning and she's yawning. And of course I didn't mean she wasn't a wreck or anything like that, I know she is feeling pretty cruddy about it, it's just that the visual cues are there to remind you for Martin but not for her despite them both probably being about at the same level of crap-feelery.

*** ... okay, given what's happened with Padma, that last statement's no longer true. But he's lost the bags anyway

* Why does Marigold have long hair? Most women I've known with lifestyles like that have short hair, just because of how matted and nasty it could get. It's visible to a degree in the comic, but with what we know about her hygiene, it really should be much, ''much'' worse. Especially in a comic that's so often made fun of for women with short hair...

** Also... some women have longer hair. Not... really a Headscratcher...

* Exactly how... accurate... is Momo's new chassis? [[Barbie Doll Anatomy]] or not?

* So Sweet-Tits' tits...is it just me, or are they not really that sweet?

** I wouldn't know, I've never tasted them.

## Hannelore asked to be taken off the meds. I just got off some heavy-duty anti-anxiety stuff myself, and the reasons is that I wanted to try living without what I felt to be some kind of crutch. Or Hanners just didn't like some of the things she wound up doing while medicated.

 

[[Category:Web Comics/Headscratchers]]

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