Questionable Content 7: Will Work For Makeouts

[The Glyphstone]

You've got to remember that it was also Dale losing his virginity. No wonder he is happy.

That is a good point. Milestones for everyone!

[Lamech]

Did marigold have an art change? I swear she had an art change. Her hair is less frazzled, but I think there's more...

[Cikomyr]

Daaamn. It took me 9 years after my first date to score with my girlfriend.

[Connington]

I'm not quite sure if I'm entirely comfortable with the "casual sex makes you miserable, relation ship sex makes you happy" message, intended or not. Not to promote random casual sex but... Or it's not about casual sex but about Marten being Marten.

Little of column A, little of Column B.

Marten is definitely shown to be whining about something that he could totally see in a positive light if he wanted to. But the vast majority of QC's characters are either in a monogamous relationship or celibate.

The four exceptions that come to mind are (were) Sven, Veronica Reed, Tai, and Raven. Sven gets mocked by the other characters for his promiscuity and his character development is explicitly tied to a recent celibate stint, Mrs. Reed had a minor meltdown at her husband's second marriage over the fact that she's not in a meaningful relationship, Tai was shown as finding her poly lifestyle fun but unfulfilling, and is obviously in a monogamous relationship now, and Raven's boy-craziness hasn't been portrayed negatively, but it's not like she's ever slipped out of humor mode.

[Flickerdart]

Daaamn. It took me 9 years after my first date to score with my girlfriend.

Did you try pancakes?

[Discus-Spinner]

Did marigold have an art change? I swear she had an art change. Her hair is less frazzled, but I think there's more...

I think that the post-shower hair has a lot to do with it, but also, well, she normally looks permanently a bit stressed and slightly sweaty, sometimes with hives. Despite her worries about being thought a slut, I think that she's a bit more relaxed here than usual, and it suits her. Plus, she's not wearing glasses, which she normally somehow manages to huddle behind.

Though the artist may have unconsciously changed her appearance a little in the process of bringing that out. I couldn't swear that her nose hasn't shrunk slightly, or that her features haven't got a little more delicate.

[Kato]

Did marigold have an art change? I swear she had an art change. Her hair is less frazzled, but I think there's more...

Don't you know losing your virginity instantly makes you more attractive? This is the main reason people want to have sex in the first place
But in all seriousness, while I guess there might be small artistic changes I guess a big part comes down to the after shower hair (which imo looks much better on her)

The four exceptions that come to mind are (were) Sven, Veronica Reed, Tai, and Raven. Sven gets mocked by the other characters for his promiscuity and his character development is explicitly tied to a recent celibate stint, Mrs. Reed had a minor meltdown at her husband's second marriage over the fact that she's not in a meaningful relationship, Tai was shown as finding her poly lifestyle fun but unfulfilling, and is obviously in a monogamous relationship now, and Raven's boy-craziness hasn't been portrayed negatively, but it's not like she's ever slipped out of humor mode.

Well, I don't think there ever was a larger than average boy craziness about Raven but from that point of view it seems like Jeph does seem to have a tendency against casual sex, even if e.g. Tai's past wasn't potrayed in the same negative light as Sven's. (Or there ever was any negative attitude towards Veronica's career itself)

[Glass Mouse]

Well, I don't think there ever was a larger than average boy craziness about Raven (...)

Maybe I'm the weird one, but the little black book does seem unusually... boy-dedicated to me

This discussion is pretty interesting, because I'm sure Jeph's heart is in the right place, but it might just be the author's personal preference shining through. After all, he made sure to make an "Every orientation/prereference is cool" PSA during the Tai storyline when he realized that people misunderstood.
But yeah, for both Sven,Veronica, Tai and even Steve, casual sex ultimately ends up unfulfilling and something to grow out of.

Man, now I miss Raven.

[Discus-Spinner]

Arguably, the point is that random promiscuity doesn't suit everyone (as Marten has just found out), and characters who just fall into that pattern, for whatever reason (like "it's easier" or for boasting purposes), may find that they're not enjoying it. Equally, some people for whom it works at one point in their lives may find at other points that they're more comfortable being monogamous. Though the question then would be how many people switch the other way with equal comfort.

Or, author bias. Whatevs.

Incidentally, did anyone else notice in the latest strip that Marigold's phrasing was a classic example of a question expecting the answer "No"? It looks to me that she just wanted a bit of reassurance (and to make sure that she hadn't shocked Momo). The old Marigold would have been "Oh my god oh my god I'm a total slut and I'll never see Dale again".

[Cikomyr]

Did you try pancakes?

You have no idea

[Morph Bark]

I am constantly reminded of how much Marigold looks like one of my old classmates.

I wonder how she's doing these days.

[Starbuck_II]

Marigold, this is the second date. If it was the first date, then she'd be as slut, don't lie Momo.

[Discus-Spinner]

Marigold, this is the second date.

I don't know why they didn't count Anime Night as a date, but they didn't. Possibly because they stayed in rather than going out anywhere. But then, they stayed in on this occasion too. So it was arguably a zeroth date.

Prediction for next scene; Momo, reminded about questions of personal responsibility, asks about precautions taken. Marigold blushes a lot and umms and ahs. Next frame is Momo dragging Marigold to a clinic while lecturing her like a mother on speed.

[Coidzor]

Though the question then would be how many people switch the other way with equal comfort.

That's probably impossible to pull off without looking incredibly contrived, considering what would be necessary.

(Or there ever was any negative attitude towards Veronica's career itself)

The only negative I can recall is the quasi-canon interpretation that it's the reason why Marten is such a lilly-livered shadow of a man.

I don't know why they didn't count Anime Night as a date, but they didn't. Possibly because they stayed in rather than going out anywhere. But then, they stayed in on this occasion too. So it was arguably a zeroth date.

Virgins and other neophytes tend to have very rigid ideas as to what constitutes a date and that it has to be formally outlined as such in order to count ever.

[PhallicWarrior]

Dammit, Jeph. Every time you start working out the psychological kinks of your female characters you have to bring in a new one to keep from getting bored with them. THIS IS WHY YOUR CAST IS SO UNREASONABLY LARGE.

And honestly, this applies to male characters as well. When was the last time we saw Wil and Penny, for example? The main reason Marten doesn't get to be happy is that if he gets to be happy and stay he's basically lost the drama engine that made him central to the comic's earlier period. Poor guy. His reason for being is angst.

[Kato]

Incidentally, did anyone else notice in the latest strip that Marigold's phrasing was a classic example of a question expecting the answer "No"? It looks to me that she just wanted a bit of reassurance (and to make sure that she hadn't shocked Momo). The old Marigold would have been "Oh my god oh my god I'm a total slut and I'll never see Dale again".

Maybe a little bit but I wouldn't say that the other variant would have been her definitive response before.. Then again, I really don't get why Jeph even had to bring it up. Do we need to define when you are a slut now? You are not a slut if he made you pancakes? You are not a slut if you really like him? You are not a slut if it's only technically the first date? You are not a slut if you use maple syrup? Sorry, I'm taking things too serious again.

And honestly, this applies to male characters as well. When was the last time we saw Wil and Penny, for example? The main reason Marten doesn't get to be happy is that if he gets to be happy and stay he's basically lost the drama engine that made him central to the comic's earlier period. Poor guy. His reason for being is angst.

While I see your point... who would want to see a group of perfectly normal, well adjusted beings go about their everyday life?

[Discus-Spinner]

Maybe a little bit but I wouldn't say that the other variant would have been her definitive response before.. Then again, I really don't get why Jeph even had to bring it up. Do we need to define when you are a slut now?

I don't think this is about whether or not anyone is really a "slut". We know that the answer to that is "No". It's about Marigold still being a bit insecure, and phrasing that in stock terms, but getting over it pretty well with a bit of reassurance from Momo. (Even Marigold could have filled in that answer for herself if Momo hadn't been there. She just needed to hear someone say it.) And it's also about setting up that gag about Dale looking concussed, which was probably the real point of the strip.

[Cikomyr]

Dammit, Jeph. Every time you start working out the psychological kinks of your female characters you have to bring in a new one to keep from getting bored with them. THIS IS WHY YOUR CAST IS SO UNREASONABLY LARGE.

And honestly, this applies to male characters as well. When was the last time we saw Wil and Penny, for example? The main reason Marten doesn't get to be happy is that if he gets to be happy and stay he's basically lost the drama engine that made him central to the comic's earlier period. Poor guy. His reason for being is angst.

But.. but...

moar cast means moar shipping possibilities!!

[Cikomyr]

Okay. I like this joke.

does that makes me a bad person?

[mucat]

Claire, that was horrible!

No, I'm not just mad that it took me so long to get the joke. Why do you ask?

[Coidzor]

More groan-worthy than a pun.

Kind of impressive, actually.

[Kato]

Yeah, pretty terrible pun but... I grinned Then again, it's not hard to make me laugh.

[pasko77]

I facepalmed on faye's book.

[Starbuck_II]

More groan-worthy than a pun.

Kind of impressive, actually.

Now I totally want to carry Sticky Pads and like people's books.

[Marnath]

Now I totally want to carry Sticky Pads and like people's books.

It only really works if they're named Faye, though.

[Corneel]

It only really works if they're named Faye, though.

Or May.

[Yuki Akuma]

Oh God. Claire. She is the best character in this webcomic.

[Felius]

That was absolutely terrible! I kinda want to carry around sticky notes now.

[Porthos]

It only really works if they're named Faye, though.

People named "Faith" would work as well.

[Loreweaver15]

Gah, those links just served to remind me that Hannelore is far and away the most compelling character in the comic.