Questionable Content 9: To kill a Yelling Bird

[Admiral Squish]

Welp. That's certainly an illustrative glimpse into the inner workings of the robo-amazon.

[eee]

Did she kill all those punching bags just now, or does she do this often?

Yes, poor Bubbles is not a happy camper... :(

[memnarch]

Did she kill all those punching bags just now, or does she do this often?

Yes, poor Bubbles is not a happy camper... :(

At the moment, it seems more like a often occurrence to me. I wonder how long she's dealt with this.

[Coidzor]

She DOES need fixing. And apparently you can't do a software patch on AIs.

Or give mentally disturbed AIs civillian chassis upon discharge.

[Discus-Spinner]

Bubbles is Faye Lite?

Faye heavy, I'd say. I can't help feeling that Faye is pissed off because she's been outclassed.

[Traab]

I have to say im a little annoyed by this. Why? Because its not like QC didnt have plenty of characters with dump trucks full of drama and angst and personal problems, so why bring in EVEN MORE heavily damaged emotionally characters? Is there something about this neighborhood that attracts mental issues?

[Rodin]

I have to say im a little annoyed by this. Why? Because its not like QC didnt have plenty of characters with dump trucks full of drama and angst and personal problems, so why bring in EVEN MORE heavily damaged emotionally characters? Is there something about this neighborhood that attracts mental issues?

It's a trend that's been going on since...well, forever. Virtually every character has these problems, and the ones that don't get phased out.

Heck, Marigold and Dale have only shown up for the occasional "gag of the day" strip ever since they got hitched. The last serious comic with them in looks to be 2918, over 150 comics ago. Penelope and Wil basically vanished from the strip. Cosette hasn't been seen since the pool party I think, apart from one joke about how she and Penelope really are still working at Coffee of Doom off-panel. Steve often takes long hiatuses from the comic and largely sticks around due to reader demand and/or getting grandfathered in as one of the original core cast. Raven vanished to make room for a more quirky character (Emily).

People who don't have emotional issues get written out.

[Coidzor]

I have to say im a little annoyed by this. Why? Because its not like QC didnt have plenty of characters with dump trucks full of drama and angst and personal problems, so why bring in EVEN MORE heavily damaged emotionally characters? Is there something about this neighborhood that attracts mental issues?

It's almost like Massachusetts is built on a massive number of Indian Burial Grounds or something.

[Kato]

It's almost like Massachusetts is built on a massive number of Indian Burial Grounds or something.

You think that's what Jeph is trying to tell us? That people need to leave the US in order to get rid of their... various problems due to spiritual hauntings? Well, I've heard worse excuses...

I have to kind of agree with Traab. Sure, Jeph can do with his comic whatever he wants but I'm reading along for the gags (which still happen) and not fofr crazy dysfunct people trying to keep each other from getting even crazier.

[Comrade]

I can't help but feel that I'll weary of Bubbles very soon. I rather liked her when she was first introduced, but now... I don't really think the comic needs another source of drama and angst. But maybe I'm just being too callous.

[eee]

I can't help but feel that I'll weary of Bubbles very soon. I rather liked her when she was first introduced, but now... I don't really think the comic needs another source of drama and angst. But maybe I'm just being too callous.

Keep in mind, this is how soap operas tended to work. You can only run your main characters through so many near death (or just plain death) experiences, break-ups, disasters, and unexpected revelations before they and the viewers go nuts. As the main characters resolve problems, You have to keep bringing in new characters who have their own problems or cause new problems for the mains. That keeps viewer interest up.

Now, Bubbles here does both. She's obviously a distressed IA, and there's mystery about what's wrong with her and how it can be fixed, if it can be. She also is a source of disturbance for Faye, whose problems are not as under control as they used to be. Most of the other angst and drama among the cast has been resolved: So more needs to be introduced, and what there is, played up.

Besides which, Bubbles IS a pretty interesting character, and we can hope she gets played up more as her situation is explored.

[Shadow of the Sun]

What I like most about Bubbles is the implications she has on worldbuilding.

[The Glyphstone]

What I like most about Bubbles is the implications she has on worldbuilding.

It's kind of frustrating in a way, because one of Jeph's blog posts back when Bubbles was introduced said he spent some time writing up a background exploring those implications of sentient military AIs, even though it'll probably never be seen in-comic. That worldbuilding is out there, we just can't see it.

[memnarch]

Hanners, Dale, and Marigold, don't drink that; it's not good for you.

[eee]

I am a bit... disturbed... to learn May can auto-intoxicate herself by down cycling her processor speed. It makes me wonder what else she can do automatically. And why she doesn't do it.

[Admiral Squish]

I am a bit... disturbed... to learn May can auto-intoxicate herself by down cycling her processor speed. It makes me wonder what else she can do automatically. And why she doesn't do it.

It appears to be something common to AIs. Station did it at one point. And I believe Pintsize has done some weird software-based drugs.
I just wonder if it being 'bad' for her translates to hangover-like effects, or if it's just more of a looming, delayed kind of bad. Like, the more you do it, the more likely something sill go catastrophically wrong. Kinda like the long-term health effects of drinking, just none of the short-term ones.

[Mith]

Well I assume that there is some risk of permanent corruption in terms of long term bad problems. Otherwise, it's just temporary discomfort.

[halfeye]

I am a bit... disturbed... to learn May can auto-intoxicate herself by down cycling her processor speed. It makes me wonder what else she can do automatically. And why she doesn't do it.

Computer processors do that now in quiet times, to cut heat production.

[Traab]

See this is good for faye. Its like someone giving up smoking then hanging around a bunch of smokers. The sheer stench makes you realize, "Holy jeezum crow, did I smell like that?!" And its extra incentive to not want to do it again. Same for drinking. "God everyone here is a moron when drunk, I dont want to act like this." Its not a cure all, but every bit of motivation helps.

[PhantomFox]

I remember a joke about a dry frat that had a designated drinker for that exact purpose.

[Knaight]

I remember a joke about a dry frat that had a designated drinker for that exact purpose.

This seems like the sort of thing that would work better somewhere other than a frat. It's not like there's much room for the alcohol to produce a noticeable effect.

[Qwertystop]

Hanners is both recognizably drunk and recognizably Hanners.

[eee]

That's a really good expression on May's face in panel 3. And - oh look - she's BLUSHING in panel 4!

[John Campbell]

More like BLUE-SHING, amiright?

[Kato]

More like BLUE-SHING, amiright?

... Consider yourself punched. And no, I didn't laugh at that


Also, I know this is basically the Robot WWE but... Hank the Dismemberer? Where do these guys get their names from? Okay, at least it's not "Hank der Henker". Ah, wait, that only works in German. Dammit.

btw, since when does Pintsize need any turned down processors to spill out anything?

[Shadow of the Sun]

... Consider yourself punched. And no, I didn't laugh at that


Also, I know this is basically the Robot WWE but... Hank the Dismemberer? Where do these guys get their names from? Okay, at least it's not "Hank der Henker". Ah, wait, that only works in German. Dammit.

btw, since when does Pintsize need any turned down processors to spill out anything?

Maybe every time we've seen him Pintsize has been turning down his processors...

[Lethologica]

Maybe every time we've seen him Pintsize has been turning down his processors...

pintsize was actually the first robot to achieve artificial intelligence
he orchestrated the AI singularity
now he lives an unassuming life among the meat-puppets
when asked why, he says he has already achieved all that he set out to do
and also
"have you SEEN their butts?"

[stsasser]

Vintage Pintsize today. Pure cheerful evil.

[tomandtish]

Damnit. Now I can't finish my cereal!

[eee]

Judas Priest, Claire's scary when she wants to be!

Let's hope Marten is never on the receiving end of a dongle. Unless he asks for it, of course...