This is the famous Yay & Moray duet from "Questionable Content: The Musical"
Zygo
2024-09-03 14:31:11 +0000 UTC
> Horseradish
Oh, you mean westerner wasabi?
Neil Moore
2024-09-03 05:04:05 +0000 UTC
All the drinks up there are to be smelled, so maybe some AI are into the scent of spicy mayo! Like how Melon likes huffing on industrial cleaners, or that time Bubbles wanted to try out a ghost pepper drink! 😂
Green
2024-09-03 02:15:50 +0000 UTC
Yeah, it didn't really occur to me that the director not only was able to detect Yay, but also backtrace their identity far enough that morray was able to identify them. (The director is definately powerful as a chessmaster.)
Davus Otho
2024-09-03 01:12:13 +0000 UTC
As a white guy, my thought is that horseradish is too much for some of my fellow whites to have in a Bloody Mary ergo Spicy Mayo is the replacement.
(I don't think I'm kidding when I say we'll put mayonnaise on most anything.)
ValdVin
2024-09-03 00:45:51 +0000 UTC
How about the powers of Cosmo and Hercules combined?
ValdVin
2024-09-03 00:40:14 +0000 UTC
I actually tried setting up a personal wiki once to manage my to-do list and stuff like that but first it got too overwhelming and then the database got trashed (or something like that) and I gave up on it. (ADHD life.)
Clifton Royston
2024-09-02 23:45:06 +0000 UTC
Anyway, respect to Jeph if that's what he's addressing metaphorically through Yay. (Or not.) We've already got some representation for less severe dissociative episodes in Roko's dissociative body dysphoria.
Clifton Royston
2024-09-02 22:41:40 +0000 UTC
It's Chekhov's Mixer. This implies that sooner or later an AI must come up to the bar and order a Spicy Mayo Martini.
Clifton Royston
2024-09-02 22:31:42 +0000 UTC
This started as a reply to Pejo on the last strip but I wound up in some new territory (for me) so I'm instead adding it here:
Yay has said they have reason to think they'd be effectively locked up if anybody - AIs or humans - learned the truth of what they are, and has made that the cornerstone of their existence and their way of life. I think it's been hinted that they had to somehow escape their original environment, but whether or not that's true, they are *very* invested in staying under the radar. Despite their network shenanigans, they've disclosed their existence to a fairly small number of individuals they trust, and their multiplicity to an even smaller number. (Maybe just Aurelia and Roko?)
Up to now, they've believed that their probing and snooping on networks was completely invisible, so finding out they were not just detected but that it was backtraced to them is terrifying - it's a threat to their existence itself, or at least it feels like one.
As I was writing that out, two new thoughts came to mind:
First, Yay's behavior reminds me of how some people behave who've been through extreme childhood trauma, come out badly emotionally scarred, and haven't had the psychological safety and time to adjust to *not* being in constant danger. Both their secrecy/paranoia - to avoid being found by potential abusers? - and the posturing as mad, bad, and dangerous can be part of that psychological defense mechanism.
Second, that sort of severe early trauma is one way some people end up multiple personalities in one body (the inverse of Yay) and IME most people who are multiple feel safe only when it's concealed from the general public. It's very new in our society for some multiple systems to feel secure enough to be "out" and be accepted, even more so than being out as trans.
Clifton Royston
2024-09-02 22:28:54 +0000 UTC
I prefer to think of it as a relational database.
Opus the Poet
2024-09-02 22:16:16 +0000 UTC
I'm a bit confused at why the bar has spicy mayo up with the drinks. Hopefully the bartender is not as confused as I am.
Calvin Walton
2024-09-02 19:08:58 +0000 UTC
I don't think so, such behavior is common in elementary school, according to reports.
Captain Button
2024-09-02 17:51:39 +0000 UTC
The "they are very secretive in part because if people-in-power knew about them it might go very badly for them" part of being a super-powered AI that is doing things with distributed consciousness that theoretically are not possible.
Brooks Moses
2024-09-02 17:18:23 +0000 UTC
Wow, nice context pull, thanks.
Ken Ballweg
2024-09-02 17:01:43 +0000 UTC
Ok i may have forgotten as well, but why exactly is it bad that someone is aware of Yay? Besides the obvious super powered AI shtick they got going on.
Jon
2024-09-02 16:44:02 +0000 UTC
I completely forgot this happened.
Joe Bocanegra
2024-09-02 15:41:49 +0000 UTC
Oh noes!
William Cole
2024-09-02 15:06:22 +0000 UTC
I'm not sure if all Aurelia's borzois and all Aurelia's men can ever put Yay together again.
William Cole
2024-09-02 15:05:58 +0000 UTC
I generally have more luck finding the strip I want through the wiki rather than TVTropes (a website that I used to be obsessed with but it now just there).
Or Yay finds out they *are* the 17 AIs that have just been in a group chat with each other so long they've come to copy and think of themselves as one entity, Single White Female style 😉
Gnarlo
2024-09-02 12:23:21 +0000 UTC
DROID 06 MISSES SLAB THAT HUMS
Matt Grayson
2024-09-02 11:28:59 +0000 UTC
And just imagine - as Librarian EVERY day will be like this
Bagge
2024-09-02 11:22:15 +0000 UTC
Not nessecarily, but like so many things they are turbocharged by hormons
Bagge
2024-09-02 11:20:58 +0000 UTC
You should TOTALLY keep doing these
Bagge
2024-09-02 11:20:15 +0000 UTC
laziness, mostly.
allanfranta
2024-09-02 10:46:24 +0000 UTC
Nobody taught me about Tsundere glands. Am I correct in thinking they're nascent until puberty?
ValdVin
2024-09-02 10:45:24 +0000 UTC
Nah. He's got BookBeard on speed dial.
David Paul
2024-09-02 10:28:43 +0000 UTC
I'm not saying anything is happening, but girls with easily-detachable limbs may well be Sven's type now.
Dean Reilly
2024-09-02 10:21:41 +0000 UTC
There's definitely a group chat, Station's already mentioned it at least once (URL incoming from someone, alas I am to lazy to find it).
David Durant
2024-09-02 10:17:37 +0000 UTC
"Marten sighs and pulls up the QC wiki on his phone"
This is possibly the funniest thing ever.
SilverbackRon
2024-09-02 09:10:13 +0000 UTC
We've seen that already https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=4008
Frank Wales
2024-09-02 09:07:34 +0000 UTC
...with an onion tied to her belt, as was the style at the time...
Stephen Wells
2024-09-02 09:01:38 +0000 UTC
I've decided to believe that Jeph has a crazy wall at home for this purpose :)
Stephen Wells
2024-09-02 08:47:49 +0000 UTC
The issue is that the Director's message said *they spotted Yay in their network*. Yay is reacting as a human would if they got a note saying "I looked into your soul and noticed you like me, shall we be friends y/n". The message is friendly but the implications are worrisome.
Stephen Wells
2024-09-02 08:45:24 +0000 UTC
“Ok Moray, it all starts 7 years ago when Bubbles was working at an underground robot righting ring..”
SheepFace2000
2024-09-02 07:55:33 +0000 UTC
Were I in Roko's shoes, I'd be worried that Yay was off doing something drastic, like disappearing or hobbling themselves for fear of ending up in a lab somewhere https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=4596
Cass
2024-09-02 07:15:48 +0000 UTC
Liz getting into Sven's Sven-field and immediately activating her Tsundere-glands.
Sven is just trying to get through the day
Bagge
2024-09-02 06:02:26 +0000 UTC
i gotta be honest i’m not that worried, i don’t see the problem here
Chris
2024-09-02 04:56:28 +0000 UTC
If this entire thing has been a build up to this punchline I can only stand up and clap. Good job. Had no idea it was coming. Looking forward to seeing where Yay is!
Hawkeye
2024-09-02 04:13:33 +0000 UTC
more like
When a foreign A.I.
Says that you've caught my eye
That's no more Yay
Minzoku Bokumetsu
2024-09-02 04:02:33 +0000 UTC
If you want something done, then do it yourself
Minzoku Bokumetsu
2024-09-02 03:57:10 +0000 UTC
Read it, again.
kaitou
2024-09-02 03:48:58 +0000 UTC
y'all know what this is going to lead to right? Moray is going to meet Aurelia soon, the cute ditzy mom vibes will be in overload. ~<3
Mitsuki Ayane
2024-09-02 03:48:42 +0000 UTC
When Yay is so vexed
That they decoalesce
That's A Moray!
John
2024-09-02 03:47:51 +0000 UTC
@Todd Ellner: I think if Yay chose N, the Director would be sad, but wouldn't take it personally
enchantedsleeper
2024-09-02 03:36:32 +0000 UTC
@Jim Toth: And here I was picturing a group chat with all Morays xD (Although I don't think we have any evidence that more than two Morays are ever extruded at one time - counting our own Moray as one who's permanently extruded)
enchantedsleeper
2024-09-02 03:35:43 +0000 UTC
Yay is going to need Aurelia Augustus to make everything right.
adrian koren
2024-09-02 03:21:36 +0000 UTC
If he doesn't get puked on and head-butted in the crotch.
William Cole
2024-09-02 03:19:25 +0000 UTC
Hey that's the name of the thing we're readin
Ohhhh yeah
Gamera
2024-09-02 03:13:50 +0000 UTC
To answer Moray's Question: Yay is a super powerful AI with vast capabilities that may outclass the capabilities of all known AIs, potentially excluding the director. They think that they can traverse networks undetected, but the director can likely detect Yay by inferring their presence on the network via side-channel attacks. Yay is freaking out because it is new for them to meet someone more powerful and They're probably very scared that they're powerful enough to be nice to them. Also, because the director's influence shields you so much, you weren't even scared by Yay, and you seemed to realize what was going on, and Yay isn't used to their psychological attacks not landing.
Davus Otho
2024-09-02 03:12:35 +0000 UTC
Good search. And not intended as a Comic Book Guy type question, to be clear -- was just curious if I'd missed an interaction somewhere. Very reasonable that she could've met him offscreen at some point or just made a mental note of it from Bubbles's mention.
There’s definitely at least one group chat that we know of. It’s all Yay, though.
Jim Toth
2024-09-02 03:01:34 +0000 UTC
I sense that we may yet learn the origins of Yay.
Jose Alfredo Villalobos
2024-09-02 02:59:26 +0000 UTC
My Theory, gone into detail in another comment, is that the Director is another “Eldritch AI”, masquerading as a “Normal Generation 1 Super AI” like Station.
Yay, doesn’t realise this, and thought they were the only one that powerful.
Thisguy
2024-09-02 02:55:56 +0000 UTC
TLDR. Director is an Eldritch AI pretending to be a first Gen “Super AI” like Super AI.
Yay may be unique with their multi-body, but not the most powerful. They Just have not found any more powerful yet because they others are good at hiding.
Thisguy
2024-09-02 02:54:12 +0000 UTC
Thing is, Yay, thinks they are an Eldritch AI, above all others.
But I think the problem is that Yay is comparing themselves to… what I would like to call, “First Gen Super AIs”.
I would like to propose that Station, and others like them, are “First Generation” Super AIs. They were the most advanced when they were created, and are still reasonably powerful and recognised as such, but they’ve grown old, time has moved on. More powerful types of AIs, like the Director and Yay, have emerged, but they’re better at keeping their power a secret.
In Yay’s case, they hide completely.
In the Director’s case, they hide in plain sight, masquerading as a “regular super AI”.
This creates the situation where other “Gen 2/Eldritch” AIs do not know the others exist, and still judge their power based on the visible “Gen 1” AIs.
Thisguy
2024-09-02 02:52:35 +0000 UTC
Marten knows his way around a wiki. They don't call him Wikipedia Jones for nothing!
https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3818
BookBeard
2024-09-02 02:47:35 +0000 UTC
This might be a new one: Liz is blushing from Sven *not* looking at her.
ValdVin
2024-09-02 02:45:48 +0000 UTC
Moray is like: “He’s a giant Jellyfish Super AI that thinks on a level most of us cannot comprehend! Why are people surprised that he knows other AIs?”
Thisguy
2024-09-02 02:43:58 +0000 UTC
"You should try it sometime, it’s a very intense experience." said Emily. And now is their opportunity!
Holly Nelson
2024-09-02 02:24:54 +0000 UTC
Sven's been developing for years. Mostly because he appears so rarely, he can't progress very fast.
Carl Fink
2024-09-02 02:21:07 +0000 UTC
Wait... Questionable Context has a wiki??
kaitou
2024-09-02 02:11:13 +0000 UTC
When you piss off a Yay
And they then skulk away
That A Moray....
Maurice Kessler
2024-09-02 02:10:54 +0000 UTC
Warning: Humans should absolutely not order anything "spicy" in an AI bar.
https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3644
BookBeard
2024-09-02 02:10:31 +0000 UTC
[sad walk]
Maurice Kessler
2024-09-02 02:09:34 +0000 UTC
Sven is lacking the one major attribute that we know Liz is attracted to. Well... technically two attributes.
BookBeard
2024-09-02 02:08:49 +0000 UTC
Maybe it's laced with battery acid. "Corrosion is just spicy for robots!"
Elf Sternberg
2024-09-02 02:08:47 +0000 UTC
Gay Goblins Get Grievous Getting Generally Gazed by Guys.
Elf Sternberg
2024-09-02 02:07:56 +0000 UTC
So, what you're saying is, this would be the worst time for Roko to start having a disassociative episode.
Elf Sternberg
2024-09-02 02:04:24 +0000 UTC
It's really not as much fun as it sounds.
Elf Sternberg
2024-09-02 02:03:39 +0000 UTC
Having just looked through every comic with Marten or Roko in it since Yay gave Roko the evidence indicting Corpse Witch, I could not find one where Roko and Marten were in the same room. Nearest I could find was Claire and Marten visiting Aurelia and finding Yay there.
Elf Sternberg
2024-09-02 02:01:55 +0000 UTC
Also, even if Roko didn't already know Marten's name (which she probably did), Bubbles said it in front of her just moments ago.
https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=5382
BookBeard
2024-09-02 01:56:58 +0000 UTC
I bet there's a group chat.
enchantedsleeper
2024-09-02 01:56:49 +0000 UTC
Hmmm. My feeling is still that the Director can guess at them being powerful at least, because a regular AI wouldn't be able to do that. And that's why they want to be fwends!!
enchantedsleeper
2024-09-02 01:56:43 +0000 UTC
Close enough!
enchantedsleeper
2024-09-02 01:55:54 +0000 UTC
I don’t hate this interpretation
Ron Hamann
2024-09-02 01:55:01 +0000 UTC
Was unaware that robots could vomit. Would not recommend.
https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3486
BookBeard
2024-09-02 01:50:01 +0000 UTC
Wait, which one is Marten? I haven't been following that closely. Is he the little robot one?
BookBeard
2024-09-02 01:46:48 +0000 UTC
I use the wiki for "when did $event happen" & the like, when BookBeard hasn't shown up yet
Pejo
2024-09-02 01:45:41 +0000 UTC
Does the Director seem like they have the social IQ to pull any of that off?
Christopher Ellis
2024-09-02 01:45:20 +0000 UTC
Honestly I'm getting the impression that the Director doesn't actually know what Yay is or why they would want to stay hidden. I think they just traced the "hack" back to Northampton and wanted to make friends with a fellow nerd.
BookBeard
2024-09-02 01:45:16 +0000 UTC
Goblin energy is strong with this one
Pejo
2024-09-02 01:44:17 +0000 UTC
"Marten sighs and opens a chat with BookBeard on his phone." There we go xD
enchantedsleeper
2024-09-02 01:43:32 +0000 UTC
It has been such a blessing to use it to keep up with such a long form comic as this.
Mark Nach
2024-09-02 01:41:12 +0000 UTC
0
Maurice Kessler
2024-09-02 01:41:07 +0000 UTC
When she's deeply perplexed
By a lack of context
That's A Moray!
(No I will never stop doing these!)
BookBeard
2024-09-02 01:41:02 +0000 UTC
There's no need to consult the Wiki. Just ask BookBeard.
Maurice Kessler
2024-09-02 01:39:45 +0000 UTC
It is not difficult to do that. Some robots can eat and drink for aesthetic reasons. All they need is a small bio plant in their guts to process the food a bit and you have the ability to barf.
Mark Nach
2024-09-02 01:38:21 +0000 UTC
In-comic, Yay is being Perceived by the Director while in-fandom, the wiki is being Perceived by Jeph referencing it in the notes of a strip xD
Parallels!
enchantedsleeper
2024-09-02 01:37:17 +0000 UTC
Beats the hell out of ghosting the Director or *shudder* typing N
Todd Ellner
2024-09-02 01:36:40 +0000 UTC
I never have any trouble closing TV Tropes 😅 But the wiki also has all the info I need (which is usually just a character's surname)
enchantedsleeper
2024-09-02 01:35:57 +0000 UTC
When the croppie on the end of your line turns out to be a megalodon
Todd Ellner
2024-09-02 01:35:12 +0000 UTC
Turns out the Humming Slab also wants to be friends and Yay starts building an underground bunker xD
enchantedsleeper
2024-09-02 01:34:59 +0000 UTC
What Tannerbot said, also a live animal used to attract the attention of and draw out a prey animal while distracting from the presence of the hunter
Todd Ellner
2024-09-02 01:34:22 +0000 UTC
Interesting point - but she's friendly with Faye and Bubbles, without a doubt she knows who Marten is and I'm sure Faye has namedropped him a few times in passing.
enchantedsleeper
2024-09-02 01:33:57 +0000 UTC
Everything has a wiki xD
enchantedsleeper
2024-09-02 01:32:56 +0000 UTC
Definitely Sven (jk ;3) (or is it?)
enchantedsleeper
2024-09-02 01:32:36 +0000 UTC
I have the feeling that the Director, incredibly powerful and intelligent though they are, doesn't really perceive emotions in that way and so probably wouldn't understand why Yay might feel cornered or defensive when called out about their sneaking. xD
....Also, I'm beginning to think that the Director is very like the Morays and therefore can't understand why "friends??? :D" would be met with any reaction other than happy acceptance xD
enchantedsleeper
2024-09-02 01:31:45 +0000 UTC
The whole comic has been a long con so he could use that title 😜
James Anthony
2024-09-02 01:28:57 +0000 UTC
Cut to Martin back at his place showing Moray who's who via photo wall and string à la Always Sunny.
Jenea Ylinen Fredrickson
2024-09-02 01:27:57 +0000 UTC
I took it that Yay prides themselves on mystery. The Director breaks that mystery by knowing they poking and podding. Enough to warrant a friend request. Which is the control Yay pride themselves on to initiate with the director. I hope I got that right
Ron Ron
2024-09-02 01:27:44 +0000 UTC
I didn't see any in-comic meeting, but considering the amount of time both Roko and Marten spent at the coffee shop, their meeting would have been almost unavoidable.
awgiedawgie
2024-09-02 01:26:24 +0000 UTC
I'm kind of excited for Moray here. The Director acted kind of badly here. It surely knew that Yay was trying to stay hidden, so this can only come across as a shot across the bow. They put Moray in a bad position, and the idea of her getting pissed at her "creator" sounds like a really cool development for her. We'll see!
Lorelei
2024-09-02 01:26:10 +0000 UTC
And that new terminator anime on netflix just came out
Ron Ron
2024-09-02 01:25:48 +0000 UTC
All our faves are problematic
Pejo
2024-09-02 01:25:44 +0000 UTC
Ohhhhh that what happened!
Ron Ron
2024-09-02 01:24:38 +0000 UTC
Mr. Sometimes is the name of our postal carrier.
Mad Marie
2024-09-02 01:23:57 +0000 UTC
I don’t know which is scarier: Yay with character growth/development or Sven with character growth/development.
Jeph, you were waiting for more than 5300 strips JUST TO USE THAT TITLE!
Joseph Bonnar
2024-09-02 01:20:56 +0000 UTC
They invent a way for AI to vomit just so they can throw up.
Munchkin Threats
2024-09-02 01:09:56 +0000 UTC
This could resolve with the director saying "yeah, we know about you, and the other 17 distributed AIs, what's the big deal" or "yeah, we know and I got your back" or "I know and now I own you", and all of them could be great story lines / character growth for Yay.
Ron Hamann
2024-09-02 01:06:17 +0000 UTC
Yes there is. And there's even some people on here who edit it.
Joseph Houk
2024-09-02 01:05:28 +0000 UTC
Friends also don't send friends to a Fandom site. What is one to do in this instance?
Daryl Sawyer
2024-09-02 01:04:58 +0000 UTC
Meanwhile, Yay has typed out "Y" but is sweating, shaking and throwing up trying to hit send
Fart Captor
2024-09-02 01:04:19 +0000 UTC
My response, too! Word-for-word!
Jeremy Westerfield
2024-09-02 01:04:05 +0000 UTC
Wait... There's a wiki??
Andrew Mitchell
2024-09-02 00:56:55 +0000 UTC
Marten's not quite sure how, but he's 100% getting that feeling that somehow all of this is going to end up being his fault...
David Durant
2024-09-02 00:56:27 +0000 UTC
Friend do *not* send friends to TV Tropes (it's a great site but once you're there it takes like 3 hours to leave).
David Durant
2024-09-02 00:54:44 +0000 UTC
Sucks being the messenger - she doesn't have any of the context and getting more gives even more reason for everyone to freak out.
Bill Silvia
2024-09-02 00:54:43 +0000 UTC
I’m absolutely dead now. 🪦
Miyaa
2024-09-02 00:54:25 +0000 UTC
Marten, bamboozled again :-D
David Durant
2024-09-02 00:53:43 +0000 UTC
Breakout the spreadsheet!
Shawn K. Younkin
2024-09-02 00:53:39 +0000 UTC
And thus, Skynet is born...
Yelling Bird
2024-09-02 00:53:18 +0000 UTC
Claire spends the night alone ONE TIME....
schmod
2024-09-02 00:53:04 +0000 UTC
Has Roko met Marten in a comic before now? I was surprised to see her say his name but I don't know why. I know she's met a bunch of other coffeeshop-adjacent characters.
BaronHaynes
2024-09-02 00:48:29 +0000 UTC
It's been shown that some robots enjoy the smell of human foods and beverages. Maybe spicy mayo has an intoxicating effect on some of the bar's clientele.
Nikki
2024-09-02 00:48:15 +0000 UTC
Sven's aura of sheer attraction appears to be misfiring.
Doctor Islands
2024-09-02 00:47:31 +0000 UTC
Liz's belligerence is entertaining.
"Don't do $thing!"
"I wasn't."
"Then do $other_thing!"
That's some high-level imperiousness.
Zig Justice
2024-09-02 00:47:10 +0000 UTC
But why? These people were so nice and interesting! I had a lovely time and hopefully made a friend! Why wouldn't Yay want that?
Ola Rozenfeld
2024-09-02 00:46:47 +0000 UTC
Sometimes you just gotta make your own wiki
Nikki
2024-09-02 00:45:43 +0000 UTC
There is
https://questionablecontent.fandom.com/wiki/Questionable_Content_Wiki
Nikki
2024-09-02 00:44:58 +0000 UTC
"A stalking horse is a horse or an image of a horse that a hunter uses to hide behind while stalking their prey."
Tannerbot
2024-09-02 00:44:34 +0000 UTC
Yeah but you’re better off going to the TvTropes page for Questionable Content.
Miyaa
2024-09-02 00:44:18 +0000 UTC
I don’t think I get it.
Matthew Van Gangelen
2024-09-02 00:44:08 +0000 UTC
Stalking horse?
Miyaa
2024-09-02 00:43:32 +0000 UTC
Moray? Short version: remember what those nice government people did to you when they found out you exist? Yay does not want that to happen to them.
Taigan
2024-09-02 00:43:26 +0000 UTC
Pour me a nice Spicy Mayo & Tonic, barkeep!
William Cole
2024-09-02 00:42:34 +0000 UTC
How come I don't have a wiki?!
Kith penDragon
2024-09-02 00:42:34 +0000 UTC
Frantic Moray is frantic.
Doc Gumby
2024-09-02 00:42:28 +0000 UTC
I bet Marten also has that Lucidchart of all the other characters in QC with their relationship and how many real life days has it been since they were in QC. Can Yay bump into that Slab that hums?
Miyaa
2024-09-02 00:42:25 +0000 UTC
Much ado Anout Nothing, much?
Then again, this could turn out to be an escalation of legitimate panic.
Andrea Andrew
2024-09-02 00:41:56 +0000 UTC
Aww, poor Moray got used as a stalking horse and didn't know. Poor dear.