The Straight And Narrow

Beepsatrice

Aquarion

There are some people that age who have figured it out. There are others who haven't. Experiments must be done, and the results need to be studied.

Some Ed

The Roadrunner I remember almost always said Meep Meep. In any event, I think Beep Beep only scales up to two Beeps. I prefer allowing the language to scale up to much larger messes o' Beeps.

Some Ed

wait, when did the shop move to Boston??

Joe

The Roadrunner said it best: Beep Beep.

Joseph Bonnar

We know Sam's kissed a boy (on a dare) so, I assume, she's not gay. Might be bi. *shrug*

David Durant

A bungling

C-Cubed

Millie's tone makes me think this isn't the first time Beeps has made a child cry accidently.

C-Cubed

See, it didn't feel implied and obvious to me that we agreed on Emmet's needs having probably been neglected, but I am glad we're on the same page there. What we still don't seem to agree about is the way Beeps handled it; I'm a little surprised you got the vibe that "Beeps said something true that made Emmet feel sad! That must never be allowed!" - to me that again feels like a strawman. Of course Beeps wasn't malicious (I don't think Beeps has a single malicious bolt in her body), but that doesn't mean her words can't have a negative impact. And that's what this all comes down to: the psychological impact on Emmet. I don't read Emmet's reaction as one of sudden realization, I read it as one of fear elicited by a threat ("If you're not good, you'll get punished!"), which I don't think is ever healthy, especially for a young teen whose self-worth is already extremely fragile. Also, as a final note, I really don't like the phrase "tough enough to hear such things without crying"; that's not a virtue, and holding it as such is harmful as it promotes burying one's emotions.

Daniel Blom Paulsen

@Daniel You're agreeing with me, which is fine. I don't arbitrarily take the opposite view of someone just because. I said: "But it is 100% necessary that Emmet find ways to let out that urge to try interesting things that also don't harm themselves, property or others around them." You said: "I get the feeling that nobody ever took the time to really talk with Emmet about it, to understand what compelled them to do these things, and to figure out how best to help them find safer and healthier pastimes and outlets." Those statements are more same than not. I agree that it generally pays to find "the need behind the need", I agree with you that the adults in Emmet's life were probably dropping the ball, or at least focusing on damage control and not the need behind the need, and not really getting as far as good mentoring. It kinda felt to me that was implied and sorta obvious. Beeps asked two questions and then made a single sentence, accurate and relevant observation that if Emmet continued it could have impacts such as not being able to see Sam. I don't think that rises to the level of "preachy lecture" or telling them they're not allowed to be normal as AmQueue claims. And hearing this shocked Emmet enough it's reasonable to conclude Emmet hadn't considered that, meaning Beeps pointing it out was probably useful and needed to be said out loud. I'm catching a vein of "Beeps said something true that made Emmet feel sad! That must never be allowed!" which I wanted to object to. Given Beeps wasn't malicious or cruel about it, I'm inclined to disagree with that sentiment. As I said, I find merit in Beeps thinking Emmet is tough enough to hear such things without crying. Could Beeps have been more tactful to get the point across without sugar coating it? Perhaps. But I think it's well within the foul lines.

Shane Wegner

A mess o' Beeps.

Stephen Wells

You're strawmanning heavily here, Shane; nobody is saying those things were good, nor that we should "let [Emmet] do them as much as they want". The point is how you talk to them about it, and you're doing exactly what Am Queue is saying here by coming down hard on the crime aspect. Preachy lectures are not a healthy approach to teaching anyone anything, especially teens, whose brains are still VERY much in development. Just listen to Emmet's reasoning; they were clearly understimulated and seeking any sort of outlet without thinking of the potential consequences. And since it was a reoccuring thing, I get the feeling that nobody ever took the time to really talk with Emmet about it, to understand what compelled them to do these things, and to figure out how best to help them find safer and healthier pastimes and outlets.

Daniel Blom Paulsen

an awkward

Gabriel Nichols

What’s the collective term for a group of Beepatrices?

Mad Marie

A daycare for Beepatrices who make bad decisions is also a possibility, come to think of it.

Stephen Wells

First thought on reading today's title: oh come on, none of the people in this room are straight.

Stephen Wells

Clifton, that was terribly eloquent. Walt, as a frequent punchline seeker myself, I understand the intent behind your humor and greatly respect your readiness to change tack and refrain from tripling down.

Mad Marie

Beeps kinda reminds me of Peridot

Look at who Sam & Emmett have connected with. The AIs seem as conflicted as the Human. That Faye is a learn by doing type is a plus. Bubbles and Beeps seem willing to play wingmen and avoid legal issues. So - you do training on simulators first. And I want to see Emmett supported.

Sparky

All right, the math joke didn't work, nor did my attempt to double down on the joke. Please accept my apologies, everyone.

Walt Donovan

😭🫂☺️ they will help her smooth her stuff out just by being themselves.

Carrie

Training simulators? Or, how about engaged communities with *good* healthcare and support systems Like the "good old days" but they can do penicillin and microsurgery an' stuff. :)

JourneymanWizard

She means well, and is technically right. But a young kid who is already hiding away under a hoodie and only barely opening up in the right company doesn't take well to an ultimatum, even a well-meant one. Kids don't necessarily realise that change/growth doesn't mean losing oneself.

Peter Lewerin

@AmQueue I can't agree based on the severity of the stories Emmet told, which to reiterate were: - Attempted to light explosive gasoline vapors (Reckless endangerment) - Making crop circles, almost got shot (Trespassing, destruction of property) - Snuck into construction site, operated backhoe, damaged town's water main (More trespassing, reckless endangerment, probably some OSHA stuff about not having a backhoe license, destruction of property damaging water mains sounds really expensive) - Stole beers, hurt foot badly, almost died of hypothermia (underage drinking, technically petty theft, self endangerment) These things are destructive, dangerous, and harmful to the community (not having fresh water for a while) and as such are crimes. I can't make your apparent jump to "But Emmet says these things are normal, so I guess we'll just have to let them do them as much as they want, or else we'll be crushing their spirit!" If Emmet commits low to mid grade mayhem-style crimes with harm to property and self anywhere near Sam, then yes there's one realistic outcome about how Sam's dad will have to react to that. What Beeps and Beeps-Advocates are NOT saying is "You're never allowed to be creative or express yourself". But it is 100% necessary and non-negotiable that Emmet find ways to let out that urge to try interesting things that also don't harm themselves, property or others around them. I'm not yet persuaded that teens are magical creatures that need to be talked to in some completely other language. If anything, I think they're grown up enough to hear "If you continue to do actions A and B, you will face totally undesirable outcomes X and Y, including the probable loss of friendship with Sam." Teens can hear that.

Shane Wegner

The problem isn't the meaning of what Beeps said, but the way it was said. That cliche may work for a more mature persona, but an early teen will hear, everything you've told us is Bad and you say it's your normal. Thus, if you act normal, you will lose what you see as the best thing about this new place. "I've got A friend..." ... Act normal, and you'll be back to miserable.

Am Queue

Well, Beeps means well. I think that running questionable decisions by mentors would be good. I worry about teens putting themselves in dangerous situations. I like both kids. I want them to be well rounded adults. The only answer is training simulators.

Sparky

Hi Walt, I would still assume good intent and that you were just trying for a cute joke, but you're starting to stretch it a bit. The question is not the feelings of the fictional cartoon characters, but the feelings of other readers of this comic who you're socializing with here, and I would think you could recognize that. Some readers are nonbinary, others like me have beloved family members who are nb. My own particular nb family member would probably laugh off your comment with another math joke, but some people have taken a lot of abuse from jerks on the way and have been through a lot more hell to get to that point of understanding their own identity. Assuming that you actually want to get along and not be a jerk, then your joke just didn't come off right; IMO the reason for that is you probably want to avoid accidentally implying you don't believe other people's identities are valid. TL;DR: Act too insensitive to other readers' feelings, and Jeph is likely to boot you right out of here. I've seen it happen to people who were being vocally rude about trans people, and non-binary identity is exactly the same issue.

Clifton Royston

I was about to say the same thing only less eloquently.

Emmett is Emmett. Accept them as they are. You’re not entitled to any answer beyond that, WD.

Foal Papers

This just made me realize my kid's hair is not too dissimilar to Emmett's, though with only 1 asymmetric dangling lock.

Clifton Royston

If anybody is wondering what Emmett is not that into (I was!) it turns out to be hockey. You can see it in one panel where they started to get heat stroke and had to take off the hoodie and sit in front of the fan. https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=4703

Clifton Royston

? these are cartoon characters. They have zero sensitivity. I'm entitled to ask if things are the same, slightly different, or VERY different in the future.

Walt Donovan

No, Walt. Emmett is non-binary, just as was said. If you are resistant to that idea, maybe this isn't the best comic for you to be reading.

Chris Vermeers

I’m actually with Beeps on this one. She inferred correctly that Sam’s dad has already dropped the hammer once and almost banned Sam from the shop. If Emmet pulled anything akin to those stories in the shop or Boston in general, maybe even just out of habit or boredom, being exiled as a bad influence is a distinct possibility. And yet that outcome is pretty easily avoided through choice and good decisions, and Beeps is accurately laying out the stakes and reminding Emmet of the motivations framing those decisions without saying they’re a good or bad person, telling them how to live their life, or laying down judgment on the past. I see not sugar coating it as a sign Beeps has faith in their ability to handle reality as it is.

Shane Wegner

I look forward to finding out whether WD gets booted or is just very insensitive.

Chloë Salzenberg

So, Emmett is ternary? Or unary? Quaternary? This is the future after all -- who knows what modifications are possible to the human form...

Walt Donovan

Emmett is non-binary, since only they/them pronouns have been used in the comic for them thus far.

Ian Dunbar

So Sam is a girl and Emmett is a girl, right? The second name is a bit confusing.

Walt Donovan

Beeps may be the first AI with hoof in mouth disease

Todd Ellner

I haven't had long hair in years, but I want Emmett's hair.

Tim Eldred