Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire

[averagejoe]

Under most circumstances, you can't do a decent visual gag strip slay unless the art itself works in your favor; today's strip is manna from heaven.

I always thought that the idea of manna was that it really isn't good or evil, so it wouldn't really come from heaven...

oh, what? Just making idle conversation.

[comment expressing dislike of DD]

[Friv]

I always thought that the idea of manna was that it really isn't good or evil, so it wouldn't really come from heaven...

oh, what? Just making idle conversation.

[comment expressing dislike of DD]

Manna was the holy food that God sent down from heaven to sustain the Israelities when Moses was leading them through the desert.

Don't confuse it with this whole "magic power" thing that gets used in a lot of fantasy settings. ;)

[Green Bean]

I always thought that the idea of manna was that it really isn't good or evil, so it wouldn't really come from heaven...

It's a reference to a story in the Bible where the Jewish people are lost in the desert, and God sends them manna to sustain them.

Edit: I just got ninja'd. Biblically.

[averagejoe]

Manna was the holy food that God sent down from heaven to sustain the Israelities when Moses was leading them through the desert.

Don't confuse it with this whole "magic power" thing that gets used in a lot of fantasy settings. ;)

I didn't know that. Interesting.

Nah, I wasn't taking that from fantasy settings, I never trust those things for any actual myth.

[sihnfahl]

I didn't know that. Interesting.

There was also a significant 'control' issue through the manna. The stuff went bad the next day, so they had to gather it again (except on Fridays, naturally).

Keep following the manna and survive, or walk off on your own and risk starving to death. Lovely, isn't it?

[colonelslime]

And the idea of Mana as magic power actually comes from Voodoo, where objects could retain mana and be used for magic spells. Voodoo took the name from the Bible, since Voodoo itself is based upon both Judeo-Christian and African traditions, mixed together by the Slaves brought over to the US.

Also, since when does using his powers give Dominic a Nose-bleed? He's done some equally strong stuff before, but he never got nosebleeds before. Does this imply that Siggy gave Dom Brain Damage? My hope is yes.

[Tirian]

Wow. I seem to like the layout of the past week's strips. A lot. So much, in fact, that I left Mookie completely humbled by the kind forum posts and e-mails I sent him.

*shudder*

Is anyone else concerned that Dominic's omniscience and infallibility has infected Mookie himself? He seems to be under the impression that writing words will impart blind dualism on our reality as much as it does on his webstrip.

[Myrdhale]

Taking it one step furhter though, later, in the advent of Voodoo practises, Mana (one N!)) came to mean a spiritual force that items, people, things can be charged with. It was a sacred power that granted Authority and energy to whatever it inhabited, and Items said to have Mana were held in great reverence.

Considering Voodoo is cribed off of Christianity in several forms, my guess would be Manna lead to Voodoo's Mana which lead to the Mana we think of more commonly today.

Edit I: wow... ... haha... hahaha *crazy laugh*

Funniest Ninja ever.

Edit II: Also, upon researching it, it appears that some Polyneasian cultures had the Idea of Mana in their spiritual beliefs before Voodoo cam about. So Maybe the two words sounding similar is just a coincidence.

[Tekraen]

Wow. I seem to like the layout of the past week's strips. A lot. So much, in fact, that I left Mookie completely humbled by the kind forum posts and e-mails I sent him.

*shudder*

Is anyone else concerned that Dominic's omniscience and infallibility has infected Mookie himself? He seems to be under the impression that writing words will impart blind dualism on our reality as much as it does on his webstrip.

GYA HA HA HA HA!

Yes, that's come up once or twice(a page) in the past.

[Winterwind]

Is anyone else concerned that Dominic's omniscience and infallibility has infected Mookie himself? He seems to be under the impression that writing words will impart blind dualism on our reality as much as it does on his webstrip.

The real question is, how did he manage to find these "kind mails and forum posts", while simultaneously completely missing all the criticisms. It takes one heck of a powerful perception filter to accomplish that.

[Tekraen]

The real question is, how did he manage to find these "kind mails and forum posts", while simultaneously completely missing all the criticisms. It takes one heck of a powerful perception filter to accomplish that.

Filter anything with 'suck', 'horrible' or 'no-talent' into the spam inboxes, and that should cut out most of his mail.

[Winterwind]

Filter anything with 'suck', 'horrible' or 'no-talent' into the spam inboxes, and that should cut out most of his mail.

Add 'Mary Sue' (and variations thereof), 'constructive', 'criticism', 'change', 'different', 'morals', 'perfect', 'rape', 'redemption' and 'SuperGreg', and it might actually start to work.

[sihnfahl]

Also, since when does using his powers give Dominic a Nose-bleed? He's done some equally strong stuff before, but he never got nosebleeds before. Does this imply that Siggy gave Dom Brain Damage? My hope is yes.

Well, it's not his powers that do it. It's high effort in the mindscape.

Here and here, for example.

It's a common trope; excessive use of mental powers can cause nosebleeds. It's indicative of high blood pressure in the head; people with high blood pressure and thin nasal walls, under exertion, tend to get nosebleeds, for example. The capillaries are so close to the surface that the weak walls give way, leading to the bleed.

[colonelslime]

Well, it's not his powers that do it. It's high effort in the mindscape.

Here and here, for example.

It's a common trope; excessive use of mental powers can cause nosebleeds. It's indicative of high blood pressure in the head; people with high blood pressure and thin nasal walls, under exertion, tend to get nosebleeds, for example. The capillaries are so close to the surface that the weak walls give way, leading to the bleed.

Ironically, I actually have that problem, but my mind still jumped straight to brain damage. I think I may .... hate Dominic!!!! Does this mean I'm going to Aberghast Cathedral?

[Tekraen]

Add 'Mary Sue' (and variations thereof), 'constructive', 'criticism', 'change', 'different', 'morals', 'perfect', 'rape', 'redemption' and 'SuperGreg', and it might actually start to work.

I operate on the assumption that if any criticism comes Mookie's way, it's going to have one of the first three if it has any that you've stated.

@colonelslime: Yes. Report to Aberghast Cathedral for mandatory re-education. Purge the unclean!

FOR THE ORACLE!

[Green Bean]

@colonelslime: Yes. Report to Aberghast Cathedral for mandatory re-education. Purge the unclean!

FOR THE ORACLE!

Hail Dominus, ruler of the mind and body!

[Winterwind]

I operate on the assumption that if any criticism comes Mookie's way, it's going to have one of the first three if it has any that you've stated.

I assume somebody, at some time, will have tried to voice her or his concerns to Mookie in an as kind way as possible in the hope of maybe getting through. Apparently, it didn't work.

Question: If the punishment for criticising Dominic (the Great Manipulator be praised!) is going off to Aberghast Cathedral... what's the punishment for criticising Mookie, then?

[ElfLad]

It's a common trope; excessive use of mental powers can cause nosebleeds.

Friend Sihnfahl! Vandals(who are totally not me) have been slandering Brother Dominic's name on that site.

[sihnfahl]

Question: If the punishment for criticising Dominic (the Great Manipulator be praised!) is going off to Aberghast Cathedral... what's the punishment for criticising Mookie, then?

Wait, wait, you mean to say they're not the same person?!

[Winterwind]

Wait, wait, you mean to say they're not the same person?!

Good answer.

[Tom_Violence]

Is anyone else concerned that Dominic's omniscience and infallibility has infected Mookie himself? He seems to be under the impression that writing words will impart blind dualism on our reality as much as it does on his webstrip.

Errr... I think you've got your causation round completely the wrong way there.

[DocFrance]

To me, it looks more like he's been doing some really bad lines.

[Winterwind]

To me, it looks more like he's been doing some really bad lines.

That was my first thought as well.

...Get outta my head, you fiend!

[Tekraen]

That was my first thought as well.

...Get outta my head, you fiend!

...He's impersonating Dominic!

Ship him to Aberghast Cathedral!

[Winterwind]

...He's impersonating Dominic!

Ship him to Aberghast Cathedral!

You have spoken Dominic's name without adding at least four praising bynames! Heretic! Off to Aberghast Cathedral with you!

Oh crap! So have I just now!
Off to Aberghast Cathedral with me!

[Morty]

Man, this Aberghast Cathedral must be five times as big as Nottre Dame.

[AmberVael]

If this keeps up, the sending people off to the Cathedral will become a SMBG forum game.

[Green Bean]

You have spoken Dominic's name without adding at least four praising bynames!

Blasphemer! All true servants of Dominus know that the only thing powerful enough to portray Him is Himself. Describing Him with mere weak words is tantamount to lessening Dominus! Send the heretic to Aberghast Cathedral!

[Tekraen]

Man, this Aberghast Cathedral must be five times as big as Nottre Dame.

I honestly envision it as a sprawling complex the size of Cleveland, with an extensive subterranean network rivalling that of Dante's Inferno.

I'll let you know when I'm back from my mandatory re-education to worship the Dominus, Seer of Souls, Oracle of Oracles, Guiding Hand of Humanity, Hallowed be His Name.

[Winterwind]

Man, this Aberghast Cathedral must be five times as big as Nottre Dame.

Maybe it looks something like one of the Ministeries from 1984.

If this keeps up, the sending people off to the Cathedral will become a SMBG forum game.

I think it has already, except for the fact it happens to be here instead.

Blasphemer! All true servants of Dominus know that the only thing powerful enough to portray Him is Himself. Describing Him with mere weak words is tantamount to lessening Dominus! Send the heretic to Aberghast Cathedral!

Deviant heretic, this is not how He wanted us to praise His All-Seeing Glory!
By the Dominus Who Pulls Our Strings, there is a schisma in the Church of Deegan! Bring in the Inquisition!
(Oh, and ship h_v to Aberghast Cathedral)

I'll let you know when I'm back from my mandatory re-education to worship the Dominus, Seer of Souls, Oracle of Oracles, Guiding Hand of Humanity, Hallowed be His Name.

Guess I'll be coming with you then.
Like all the others here.