Parker was at the door. You were all wrong, except those of you who were right.
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I underestimated Parker’s resourcefulness. Denny looks profoundly sullied from letting her through. Maybe the loud knocking noise was Parker, not Denny like I figured.
That, I did not see coming by a long-shot. Somehow I was carrying this idea that Parker could be both obsessive and lustful as reguards Stasia, but not at the same time.
Great work, Bobby and Eisu! I love how shocked Guy looks at Parker’s scheme. It’s like he’s thinking; “Who are you and what did you do with my best friend?”
Denny’s a security guard, right? I know this is just a comic, but we have a security guard at the theater where I work, and if it looked like someone was even THINKING about punching him in the nuts, even as a ruse, they’d find themselves being hurled out a second story window.
And as for Parker’s plan, if Guy doesn’t blow up at her and tell her to forget it, I’m guessing Stasia will.
Im asking myself whats the more weird thing that Parker said to Guy. That they should blackmail a Popstar to a threesome (happy raep), or that she told him that she won’t look at him. unsatisfying 3some ever.
Yeah, it’s a bit cringe-worthy. Not setting up anything actually — moment’s over. Minor spoiler: It of course won’t actually work — Guy wouldn’t even tell Stasia about it. Conversation’s over.
not really sure what to say here except awsome page as always
I probably would have given some sort of sarcastic responce like:
“Let me get this straight, you want me to ask the woman to whom I have been married for all of X hours and whom I haven’t slept with if my best friend could join in on the first night? And ontop of that, if she refuses you want me to threaten her career? Gonna have to think about that one!”
It’s like that awkward moment in Chasing Amy, when he thought the way to fix everything was to have a threesome. Of course, that one didn’t involve blackmail; but it definitely went terribly wrong.
Well, that I think removed much discussion until the next page… so, I know I’m being SUPER greedy now, but “NEXT PLEASE!”
Sorry, I don’t mind the update confusion at all, in fact part of the reason I keep coming back, apart from the comic that I can’t get enough of, is the guesses at what will come next, and the discussion about the reality of the guesses…
This definitely lowered my opinion of Parker a bit. I still like her craziness earlier, but this…this wasn’t the same kind of cute/demented obsessiveness that all her earlier actions had. I just don’t like her as much now.
Could I request no more even minor spoilers? The uncertainty and speculation adds to the anticipation while waiting for the next update… It is the positive aspect of having to follow the story in fits and starts. I know I could just not read the comments, but that’s one of the other pleasurable things here. Reading the various uninformed speculations enhances the wait by creating more possibilities to imagine, exactly opposite to the way that reading a spoiler reduces them.
“Parker went to punch between his legs and he jumped up in fear as she punched/knocked on the door between his knees.”
Note that I don’t consider that a spoiler — I really like how you clue us in with funny explanations for what has already happened, especially since we don’t have to believe them
This page made me laugh out loud… XD Especially the last textbubble from Parker and Guys face. This is absolutely priceless.
But wow, either Parker is totally confuzed and pumped up because of the current situation or she’d really go to unbelievable lengths as a fan XD
I think I just inhaled my apple… WHOLE when I saw that. I choked so hard my sister was about to call 911. That was soooo unforeseen. Absolutely love the comic but that was just like, “I’m so going to hell for laughing at that”
>.
Aww, please don’t be mean to me, bugstomper. If you are reading this, make sure you imagine a girl to be saying all of this in a friendly tone with an occasional bit of sarcasm thrown in for humor, not spite. That’s my way of saying I am not at all trying to be mean, but it’s really hard to figure out because you can’t hear my voice as I’m trying to ’splain myself here. Actually, if you want to pretend I’m evil, go for it. I can’t stop you.
I like the minor spoilers. Just don’t read them if they’re there. And don’t give any excuses like, “I have to read everything.” I like to read everything, too, but it’s very obvious that we’re in the minority. But you can give the, “I read it by accident because the spoiler warning was too close to the spoiler.” Why not guess for a while, then look at the spoiler? That’s what I like to do. There’s still a lot more guessing involved, like how the conversations are going to play out in the next page. I start by guessing everything on my own. If I’m done guessing, I look at the spoilers. If I’m not, I don’t and I hope nobody else repeats the comment. And if someone does, oh, well. There’s a lot more to guess, especially the stuff that is not explained on the next page. If you have an imagination, spoilers shouldn’t have to spoil anything! They should help you add to and refine your guesses.
Anyway, I also like to keep bugs alive and unsquished. They are really fun to shove in front of people’s faces. Pwease stop stomping the bugs. They’re cute, too, in their own ways.
I agree with the “no more spoilers” request, they’re impossible not to read if you hit that post… one of the main things which gets me hooked on a webcomic for a long period of time is the “not knowing what’s going to happen next” factor.
OMG! That is the most awesome strip ever. I knew it would eventually be coming, but mayn, Parker is a trip. She’s literally ready to get down on her knees and beg him. XDDD
I think my brain switched off for a while when Parker suggested a threesome, and blackmail too. And she says it like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
IMO the reason we’re all so disappointed in Parker (me included) is coz this ruins our image of Parker as a crazy but not too insane fangirl.
Parker, how could you??
That was so unexpected! I found it so funny, and Parkers face is so serious, I can’t help but feel sorry for her. But that face she has in the blackmail part is so so evil. If I were Guy, I’d call Denny to take her away.
Ha ha, oh my god! I did NOT see that coming. Take THAT, anyone who thinks this comic is predictable. Not that I know of anyone who thinks that. Just… in case? Eisu, your art is amazing. Guy’s expression in the last panel is awesome.
The damn Wiki for “Marry Me” insanely says that it’s predictable — “Despite its early life span so far, and its ‘predictable’ story . . .” Doesn’t make any sense to me. Lots of other errors on there too, but oh well.
Love the comic great story. What parker is sugesting…… No way that parker is even gonna think about it. I hope he say just four word: “Denny throw her out” even if she’s a friend, asking something like that is just too pathetic.
I am half expecting Guy to call Denny over and have Parker forcibly removed from the building. But only half. I’m just hoping that Stasia doesn’t ask Guy for an explanation. He seems a little too honest to lie and lying now would hurt his ability to give Stasia the advice she needs later.
Parker comes off a little less lovable from this, although I’ll admit the impact of the scene in the movie could be drastically different depending on how the actress playing Parker delivers her lines.
blaugh, i’m sick of parker by now, her fan girl tactics are gettin on my nerves…plus she’s dragging down the story momentum
wish denny had clocked her >:)
I don’t see why everyone is hating Parker for this. I thought it was quite in line with the character Bobby gave her. You have to keep in mind that she is a crazed fangirl who will do anything (including take on Denny) to get to Stasia. Parker also knows Guy pretty well, right? They are best friends after all. She knows there’s no chance of this ever working. At the same time, she has to try SOMETHING. This is her idol we’re talking about. I think Parker doesn’t believe it will work at all. She 1) wanted to see Guy’s reaction - and it’s about what she thought it’d be, but she had to check 2) is hoping that through this she and Guy might think up something else that would actually work, and 3) is holding out a tiny bit of hope that Guy’ll break his normal mold and say yes. By my thinking, Parker’s like, “If it never actually HAPPENS, it not blackmail. So what’s the harm of just asking?!”
All that to say I was able to laugh at Parker’s antics w/out seeing her as losing a ton of lovableness. She no less lovable, just a lot more fangirl.
Like many other people I too have lost a lot of my respect towards Parker. I was shocked that she would say this. That she could want something that inconveniences Stasia. “Inconveniences” is such a weak word now…
And as to “I won’t even look at you”… like as though that would change anything.
Well, anyhow. I still like the comic. But I wish she didn’t say this. Now I look forward to the next update even more, because I have to find out what happens, I have to see if she can get back the respect I had for her. If she can get back her dignity. Okay, bad word… she never had any of that. But she was, in a zealous and chaotic way, honourable. I wonder if she can get that back.
Parker only wants to have sex with Stasia.
Stasia only wants to have sex with Guy.
Guy may not want to have sex with anyone.
And NOBODY wants to have sex with Parker. (Denny?)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! That was amazing! I laughed so hard! Guy’s expression in the last panel is great! The last line is brillinat!!! “…AT ALL!” XD
“Bobby — if there are errors in the Wiki, can’t you edit it and make corrections? (Like you have time for that…nevermind!)”
I sadly do have time for it, but just don’t like messing with stuff like that — not a big enough deal. Don’t want to edit the page for a comic that I write either — would be weird. Also, the page will probably be down soon anyway for being non-notable or whatever, so doesn’t matter.
Oh, /Parker/.
[//shakes head.]]
But I’m inclined to agree with Beth Anne- Bobby’s been setting Parker up as a crazy, obsessed fangirl, right?
To me it sounds like something a crazy obsessed fangirl would say.
Poor, poor Denny.
Although I’m sure he’s used to being called a Troll.
Not very many people actually /like/ bodyguards.
T.T
Hmmm…I do loves Parker, yes, but…this creeped me out, a bit.
….it’s still phenomenally hot, since I’d take Parker before Stasia, but hey.
What can I say? Obsessive fangirls=A Winner Is You.
“I say anesthetics are more the thing she’d need right now.”
Oh jeez. XD You get a high-five for that! *High-fives Andy-o*
“blaugh, i’m sick of parker by now, her fan girl tactics are gettin on my nerves…plus she’s dragging down the story momentum
wish denny had clocked her >:)”
*Gasp* That’s so mean. ;_; I ♥ Parker… I’ll admit that she’s a little less of a cutesy-cuddly fangirl because of this page, but she’s still cool.
“Makes you wonder about Guy’s feelings for Parker.
She’s his best friend…
He puts up with all her crazy hijinx…
He’s not making moves on a beautiful woman, especially with Parker nearby…”
I dunno, -=2=-. I don’t think you should read so much into that… I mean, best friend, yeah. That doesn’t say he likes her that way, though. Puts up with her hyjinks… Again, that’s just something you do for your friends, y’know? And of COURSE he’s not hitting on Stasia with Parker nearby. Parker’s in crazy-love with Stasia. Would you hit on the guy/girl your best friend’s in love with? (You gets points for thinking outside the box, though.)
How is it that when sex is mentioned by a character, he/she loses respect? Just like the time when Guy asked is he and Stasia going to have sex tonight… I mean, they’re married (or at least they think they are), that was a valid question… and now, we have a crazy fangirl who is absolutely obsessed with Stasia and is a lesbian, so of course, being super attracted to Stasia to the point that she’d do a sign that says “Marry Me”, obviously she also wants to… well… try and get Stasia to bed, and now she sees and opportunity for her to do so and knowing Parker, is it so unbelievable that she’d actually try to go for it? I mean, the woman peed her pants and she’s found as funny but suggesting a threesome so that she can get Stasia in bed with her is disrespectful?
I don’t think it’s the sex that people find disrespectful. I think it’s that she’d blackmail Stasia to get it. That isn’t many degrees off rape, really. I mean, I know Parker doesn’t think of it that way, and that she is just obsessive and wacky, but that doesn’t really change much.
Anesthetics? Try a sedative and/or straightjacket!! ^^
Truly amazing work!! Although I keep wondering what’s keeping Guy from (a) calling those Nice Young Men In Their Clean White Coats, (b) switching Parker’s espresso for decaf or (c) slapping her in the face, screaming ‘PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER, WOMAN!! *whap* EVERYBODY’S LOOKIN!!’ LOL
Even though Parker gave me the skeeves in this one, I luv her anyway.
Well, I love the page, and it made me laugh out loud ( I had to hide it as a coughing fit so the boss wouldn’t find out. >_> ).
Oh Parker, you crazy, obsessive fangirl, you.
On a side note, I finally got around to reading Eisu’s No Pink Ponies. Good Lord, I love you Eisu. XD
Eisu: I think it’s just that sex is a controversial thing… then again, so is lesbianism. XD But sex is like, “Whoa, scandel!” y’know? It’s just the way the general public views it. I don’t think many people actually lost respect for Parker so much as they think she’s gone down a little on the nice-girl-o-meter… or… something. I’m too tired to word things, so hopefully you can put it together from that. XD
(If it makes you feel any better, I still ♥ Parker.)
I’m willing to give Parker the benefit of the doubt, THIS time, because of the likely tense situation. If she were to feel bad about this afterwards, or later, that would make me feel better about giving it to her.
Hmm, interesting tidbit: the wiki page no longer says it’s predictable. (wasn’t me that edited it, btw, I just noticed it when I was looking at it)
Anyway, I’m another lurker-by-nature, but this page definitely deserves a comment. “It won’t be awkward AT ALL.” This made me love Parker just a little more… what a devious little brat XD
I never had a huge amount of Parker (but I do not dislike her). Crazy fans always scare me. Anyway, the idea of Parker wanting to have sex with Stasia; that’s fine for her character. Parker suggesting blackmail to have sex… again, it suits the character, in my mind, but it does lose a little of my respect. Basically, blackmailing Stasia into a threesome would be considered rape. Even if Stasia agreed to the threesome, she was threatened into it. But, then again, if Stasia was into that sort of thing, and there was no blackmail threat, there is no rape.
And Guy trying asking about sex (which he doesn’t seem to care about anymore) was fine with me. He thought they were married, so it actually made the question cute, in a way. I agree with Valerie, though; most of the people who lose respect are the ones who find sex too negative or controversial.
“I think it’s that she’d blackmail Stasia to get it. That isn’t many degrees off rape, really.”
“Basically, blackmailing Stasia into a threesome would be considered rape.”
These comments are ridiculous. Just because Guy used the word “blackmail” doesn’t mean this would really be blackmail in the true sense of the word, and it’s not anywhere NEAR rape. Most logical people would think the smart thing for Stasia to do to help her career is to get rid of Guy instantly. It’s only her insane brain that makes her think that staying married to him forever is what would be best for her image. (And how big of a deal is what’s best for her image??? That means she should have SEX that she doesn’t want just so the public might see her in a better light???) She doesn’t know the guy, just met him tonight, but you think it amounts to rape for Guy to say that he’d “leave her” if she doesn’t have a threesome with he and Parker? Total nonsense. How is it rape when all Stasia would have to do is say, “Um, BYE, this sure made my decision easy”? This would not be blackmail and it wouldn’t even be remotely close to rape, and it’s obviously not going to happen anyway.
Valerie: It’s not the fact that Parker wants to have sex with Stasia - it’s the fact that she’s willing to blackmail her into it and threaten her if Stasia doesn’t go through with it. In most developed parts of the world, that wouldn’t just be considered unethical - it’d be criminal. It’s not even remotely comparable to peeing on herself, or making a ‘Marry Me’ sign - as much as those actions exhibited a scary level of obsession, they didn’t hurt anyone. This one does.
It’s like watching a five year old kid mimic his favourite wrestling star. It’s cute and funny when he’s wearing his underwear on the outside of his pants, and even when he’s cutting up the curtains to make a cape. It’s not cute or funny when he practices out his moves on his two year old sister.
Bobby: The pertinent point is that Parker believes that Guy has sufficient leverage, and is trying to get him to use it. It doesn’t matter if she’s delusional, and her ridiculous suggestion would never work - the fact is that she’s willing to threaten Stasia in order to get something out of her.
“It’s not the fact that Parker wants to have sex with Stasia - it’s the fact that she’s willing to blackmail her into it and threaten her if Stasia doesn’t go through with it.”
Parker has absolutely nothing to threaten Stasia with. Parker can’t control what Guy does. Guy is the person who at least has SOMETHING (sort of, not really) to “threaten” Stasia with, and he’s said nothing about actually threatening her — he looks shocked by Parker’s suggestion. Parker has no power here whatsoever, so she can’t make any threats.
“In most developed parts of the world, that wouldn’t just be considered unethical - it’d be criminal.”
Total nonsense. You’re saying it’s criminal to want to have sex with someone.
“. . . as much as those actions exhibited a scary level of obsession, they didn’t hurt anyone. This one does.”
Once again, Parker has absolutely ZERO capacity to hurt Stasia, unless she were to maybe punch her in the face, which she obviously doesn’t plan on doing.
“It’s not cute or funny when he practices out his moves on his two year old sister.”
Not making any sense again.
“The pertinent point is that Parker believes that Guy has sufficient leverage, and is trying to get him to use it. It doesn’t matter if she’s delusional, and her ridiculous suggestion would never work - the fact is that she’s willing to threaten Stasia in order to get something out of her.”
Don’t understand. No matter how “crazy” Stasia might seem, she clearly has at least some brain in her head and isn’t completely retarded. There’s obviously no way in hell that Stasia could possibly get to the point where she thinks, “OK, I absolutely HAVE to have sex with these people right now.” No way in hell, and this is obvious to anyone who has read the story so far and has a brain in their head. You’re saying you can actually picture a scenario where Guy tells Stasia that he’ll break up with her if she doesn’t have a threesome and then you can also picture her responding with “Oh crap, guess I have to!”??? I just don’t understand this whatsoever, don’t know where you guys are coming from. It also should definitely not be assumed that Parker actually believes that Stasia would do this because of the threat. Most likely she thinks there’s a 99% chance that it wouldn’t work WHATSOEVER, but in that 1% chance of it actually working she’d think that it would work because Stasia actually likes Parker and wants to have a threesome with her and Guy. It wouldn’t be because she feels like they have sufficient “leverage,” in Parker’s mind, but this is just a way to get the ball rolling on that basically. It also could just be a test for Guy to see how he’d react — that’s at least part of it. Parker knows almost EVERYTHING about Stasia and she knows that Stasia isn’t retarded enough to actually think that she’d HAVE to have sex with them because of this. Only the stupidest person in the world would think they’d have to over this situation.
Eisu: How is it that when sex is mentioned by a character, he/she loses respect?
Oh, it is not the mention of sex, it is begging for it. Begging is sort of a declaration of bankruptcy: it is made clear that no value considered as adequate will be offered in return. That’s not an attractive proposition for something as personal as sex.
Alright I’m retarded I forgot you couldn’t type the less than sign.. :-/
This is how the rest of my comment was supposed to go:
EISU I heart you (I followed you here from No Pink Ponies which is also awesomely hilarious).
I think anyone who is offended by Parker on this page is just taking her antics too seriously. It’s not like Stasia is dumb and pliable, if Guy were to even go along with Parker’s crazy ideas.
“It’s not even remotely comparable to peeing on herself, or making a ‘Marry Me’ sign - as much as those actions exhibited a scary level of obsession, they didn’t hurt anyone. This one does.”
See, first, you pointed this post to Valerie, when the poor girl said nothing of this (the comparable to pee-ing or Marry Me sign), it was me who said it… secondly, what I was saying was that Parker is a lesbian who’s willing to do a Marry Me sign for a straight woman, is it so hard to believe that she wants to have sex with Stasia? And yeah, her method of wanting to have sex with Stasia might be with a “leverage” from a friend, but hell, she said so herself, Stasia’s not into that, so a window of opportunity for a threesome is open, she thought she’d take a chance… and thirdly, no one is threatening anyone yet. She’s asking GUY to ask Stasia, she didn’t threaten Stasia even so no one is threatened and no one is hurt so seriously, how does this go into the whole “disrespectful cos it’s rape” thing? It’s an obsessed fan (keyword: obsessed) who wants to sleep with her idol, that’s all there is to it… her situation is different than say a straight guy who’s obsessed over Stasia, she’s a female who likes her own gender and the person she likes “don’t go that way”, so she has to try certain other unorthodox methods if the window of opportunity opens itself… it’s not really that disrespectful or hard to figure especially since we know that Parker’s crazy… this thought, logically speaking (well, logical in the Parker sense) should be crossing her mind…
Bobby: I’ll start from the end of your reply, since my response will address issues relating to the beginning.
“It wouldn’t be because she feels like they have sufficient “leverage,” in Parker’s mind, but this is just a way to get the ball rolling on that basically. It also could just be a test for Guy to see how he’d react — that’s at least part of it. Parker knows almost EVERYTHING about Stasia and she knows that Stasia isn’t retarded enough to actually think that she’d HAVE to have sex with them because of this. Only the stupidest person in the world would think they’d have to over this situation.”
The problem is that none of that really comes across in the strip itself. Very few people who have commented here have seen the logical jump between Parker’s words and the rationalisation you have accorded to her. It requires the reader to not only have faith in your ability as a storyteller (i.e: assume that the basis of the story, Stasia’s insistence that she stay married to Guy, is actually going to be handled rationally), and in the intelligence of your cast (i.e: ‘nobody’s dumb enough to believe that, therefore Parker/ Stasia can’t be dumb enough.’)
I think you’ll find that neither will be particularly common so early into the comic/ movie. People have been saying that they can’t wait until the next strip to ‘redeem’ Parker because they accept that there could be a reason beyond the obvious for Parker’s actions, but they just can’t see it. You act as though the reasons you accorded to Parker above should be transparent and obvious to all who read the comic, yet out of all the people who’ve commented, how many have seen through the apparent blackmail plan to the motivations you mentioned? You say that ‘it wouldn’t be because Parker thought they had sufficient leverage’ - well, that’s what Parker says to Guy.
This being the case, I’m going to respond to the rest of your post disregarding your explanation, just based on what I was able to glean from the comic itself:
“Parker has absolutely nothing to threaten Stasia with. Parker can’t control what Guy does. Guy is the person who at least has SOMETHING (sort of, not really) to “threaten” Stasia with, and he’s said nothing about actually threatening her — he looks shocked by Parker’s suggestion. Parker has no power here whatsoever, so she can’t make any threats.”
Yes, of course - but Parker believes she’s got power. Or rather, that Guy’s got the power, and that he’ll harness it on her behalf. Her apparent _expectation_ is that if Guy goes to Stasia and tells her to have a threesome, Stasia will be forced to acquiesce. It doesn’t make a difference if her reasoning is flawed, and if her idea is the most ridiculously idiotic proposition imaginable - it’s making people uneasy because it shows that she’s _willing_ to indulge in blackmail and to disregard the feelings and desires of the person she ‘loves’ in order to get what she wants out of her. Not that she has, or even that she will, but that she’s capable of it. She _believes_ she has leverage, and she _believes_ that Guy can blackmail Stasia into a threesome, and she acts on those beliefs. The fact that Guy refuses her, and that the idea isn’t a workable one to begin with, is really beside the point as far as her character is concerned.
“Total nonsense. You’re saying it’s criminal to want to have sex with someone.”
I’m saying nothing of the sort. I’m saying that it’s criminal to blackmail someone into sex, and that Parker was (apparently) willing to do so. Hence, Parker is capable of criminal actions.
Eisu:
“he’s asking GUY to ask Stasia, she didn’t threaten Stasia even so no one is threatened and no one is hurt so seriously, how does this go into the whole “disrespectful cos it’s rape” thing? It’s an obsessed fan (keyword: obsessed) who wants to sleep with her idol, that’s all there is to it… her situation is different than say a straight guy who’s obsessed over Stasia, she’s a female who likes her own gender and the person she likes “don’t go that way”, so she has to try certain other unorthodox methods if the window of opportunity opens itself… it’s not really that disrespectful or hard to figure especially since we know that Parker’s crazy… this thought, logically speaking (well, logical in the Parker sense) should be crossing her mind…”
I’ve gone into that already - it’s NOT rape, but it’s making people uneasy because it’s only one step removed from it. I.e: If Guy actually went through with it, and Stasia agreed out of a real fear for her career, it would be. Hence the reason why people are getting uneasy - it tells them that this character’s obsession extends beyond the cute and cuddly into the sinister.
I’ll respond more later — rushing to the Dodger game right now, but gotta respond to this quickly –
“I’ve gone into that already - it’s NOT rape, but it’s making people uneasy because it’s only one step removed from it. I.e: If Guy actually went through with it, and Stasia agreed out of a real fear for her career, it would be.”
LOL. Under no conceivable circumstance WHATSOEVER could this be anything remotely CLOSE to rape. Never. Makes no sense. It’s not one step removed or 20 steps removed. It’s nowhere in the same ballpark. It would just be Stasia being completely retarded and choosing to have sex with people for insanely stupid reasons if that was her reasoning behind it. Not blackmail or rape.
“yet out of all the people who’ve commented, how many have seen through the apparent blackmail plan to the motivations you mentioned?”
Um, most people — all the ones who are saying “Best strip ever!” and such, and who are strongly disagreeing with you and one or two others who say they think it’s horrible. It’s similar to the people who hated Guy just for bringing up the question of wondering if they’d have sex tonight like 20 pages ago. Some people are just really uncomfortable with anything like that, that’s all.
parker’s face in the last panel really gives her a look of desperation, it’s cute. i am still not sure if i love her or hate her, i think i like her character but if she were a person in knew in real life i would be constantly annoyed by her.. or something like that.
i also seriously don’t get why people seem so upset with this strip, i mean really, it’s just silly. but everyone reads things differently, at least they all seem to like the comic no matter what
Wow, you guys. Do we have to have a heated debate on every single page? Can’t we just talk about something friendly? XD
I think the bottom line, though, is that everyone’s going to have a different view of Parker based on how they’re seeing things. Some people will like Parker more because they’ll see this as a funny situation, some people will like Parker less because they’ll think she’s trying to take advantage of Guy/Stasia, some people will like Parker the same amount but will see her character in a new light, etc.
Bobby sir, it’s just how readers understand things, y’know? We all see things differently. If anything important is misunderstood, it’s usually figured out on a later page.
Anyway, for the record, I still ♥ Parker. I’ll admit that I was sliiiightly shocked at her suggesting this to Guy, but that’s because I’ve been viewing her as a “cute and cuddly” kind of person. Her character is still awesome, in my opinion. I just saw another side of her. That’s no reason to dislike someone.
But again, that’s just my point of view on it. Other people may have taken things differently. It’s nothing big, just different minds at work.
I’m fairly sure I understand why people are associating Parker’s attempting to get into bed with Stasia via Guy with blackmail.
Guy says: “And you think I should blackmail her? Don’t you love Stasia? And currently hate me?”
Parker, of course, completely ignores the first part of the sentance; and responds to the way she feels about Stasia by presenting her idea. However, the word “blackmail” has got lodged in our brains due to the weight it carries; combine that with a threesome- another potentially weighty ideal- and that’s where the “blackmail into sex” comes in.
If you actually skip that word, it sounds a lot more like Parker trying to convince her best friend to try to convince his new wife to maybe, one day, have that threesome. Now whilst I’d agree that Parker is trying to apply pressure onto Stasia, at no point did SHE say, or even suggest, that it would be close to blackmail.
However, I must say, I did lose a little respect for Parker here- and I will explain exactly why. Sex is often considered an intimate act, which is- I hesitate to use the word, but it’s late and I can’t think of anything better- almost sacred in the eyes of many. Parker is trying to apply pressure to somebody she supposedly cares about in order to get sexual gratification- with full knowledge that Stasia wouldn’t enjoy it, as she’s “not into that”. She shows less respect for Stasia and her wishes than I would expect from her; and therefore, I lost a little for her as well.
Nothing wrong with wanting to have sex with someone. However, Parker doesn’t really know Stasia as a person yet. So this is coming across as pure lust, not love. I think that a lot of the objections to Parker’s actions here are based on that. (That and the ‘I’m a lesbian, but I’m willing to have sex with you as long as I can have sex with her’ just seems… off.)
I like how both the Artest and Writer defend their characters, but I agree with Bobby and Eisu. We haven’t been able to see the character’s past, or their inner thoughts. We have no idea what they are dreaming, or feeling. Granted, Eisu does a good job with the artwork, but the only one who truly understands the characters is the guy who made them: Bobby.
And Ghost in the Machine, I would call it infatuation, not lust. She’s obsessed with Sasha, not having sex with her. And second, I agree with you. I don’t see Parker going throught GUy to get with Sasha.
(I just responded to Ghost’s because it wasn’t long and ranty.)
I don’t think it was supposed to be about blackmail. I think parker just wanted guy to try to convince her. Not blackmail. He mentions the blackmail not parker. From what I got from the page was this, she ment if u asked stasia for something then stasia would really consider it because she wants to make the marriage work. But we all know that the question will never make it back to the room.
Anyway I think we should just set up one of those “patiently waiting” benches (that I remember valerie mentioning on a diff post) and just relax.
The law is very clear that any kind of coercion (Including blackmail/extortion, and specifically threats to public image) is rape.
Furthermore, blackmail is blackmail if the person being blackmailed perceives the release of the information as a threat to them, and the person doing the blackmailing knows that the person believes the information going public is a threat to them. It doesn’t matter whether the average Joe thinks it is blackmail material or not. (Although it can make jury trials unpredictable if the blackmail is predicated on irrational assumptions). Also, this situation would actually be extortion rather then blackmail, but the same principles apply.
So it doesn’t matter that Stasia should not be worried about the theoretical threat being made. All that matters is that Stasia is worried about this issue, and Parker knows it.
Of course, people tend to suggest crazy things sometimes- especially when life has become weird. So I find it plausible that Parker isn’t really intent on blackmailing Stasia and instead she is just a lot of talk. Which is why most conspiracy charges require an actual act in furtherance of the crime.
So Parker has not done anything criminal yet, but she has suggested something that would be criminal if she pursued it.
That’s just the way the law is. Of course, blackmail/extortion cases are a pain to prosecute so alot of people get away with it- and with the apparent irrationality of Stasia (Pop Star marrying some stranger? Not much sympathy from a jury), I think most prosecutors would decline to make top charges. They’d probably push for a plea deal with a slap on the wrist at best- unless they had some concrete evidence of a conspiracy.
I dont see why Parkers ’suggestion’ surprises anyone. at least 90 percent of a homosexual relationship is sexual, and the ‘love’ for someone of the same sex is usually sexual in nature.
“Um, most people — all the ones who are saying “Best strip ever!” and such”
Basil Fawlty is a hilarious character. He’s still an arsehole. I never said that I didn’t find the strip funny - I just don’t find Parker likeable.
“and who are strongly disagreeing with you and one or two others who say they think it’s horrible.”
One or two others? Try >10 - on a brief sweep through the comments, Zahoe, Kalikajira, Particle man, Tibbar de gniw, Ghost in the machine, Linz, Lord klingsor, Goatboy khan, Jessica, Carny, and Fwizzie have all commented that they’re either been creeped out by Parker, or that they’ve lost respect for her. Add to those posters like Proxess and Christopher Howell, who found the strip funny in spite of an acknowledged creepiness (or perhaps because of it). You can add me to that group.
We’re currently on just over 100 comments, with about 40 individual posters (that’s an estimate - feel free to correct me). You’re looking at a quarter to a third of your audience (those who have seen fit to comment) who seem to have missed your point.
“It’s similar to the people who hated Guy just for bringing up the question of wondering if they’d have sex tonight like 20 pages ago. Some people are just really uncomfortable with anything like that, that’s all.”
I’ve just gone through the strip you mentioned - 3 individual posters found Guy’s question off putting - Russ, Sean and Elliot Kane. Of the three, Russ and Sean seemed to lose respect for Guy not so much because he mentioned sex, but because he was being tactless - something you, Bobby, acknowledged.
You can believe that this controversy derives from ’some people’ being really uncomfortable with anything to do with sex, if you want, but really, you’re missing the point. Do you think the response would be more positive if, instead of asking Guy for a threesome, Parker had asked him to get Stasia to give them lots of money?
Jade: No, I think it has more to do with the fact that Parker first points out to Guy that he has leverage over Stasia, thus being the character to introduce the prospect of blackmail into the strip.
Aye aye, Captain! *Sits on the metaphorical bench*
…Aw, dang it. I can’t sit quietly over this, hang on. *Stands up*
“I dont see why Parkers ’suggestion’ surprises anyone. at least 90 percent of a homosexual relationship is sexual, and the ‘love’ for someone of the same sex is usually sexual in nature.”
I don’t like that comment. I’m female. I’ve dated (and been in love with) a girl. We never had sex, even though we could have. I don’t see why you’re saying that 90% of the love in a same-sex relationship needs to be sexual. If it’s like that for same-sex, it should be like that for opposite-sex, too. It’s not, though. Love is love, thanks much. Love and lust are totally different things. Don’t confuse them.
Now, I’m going back to my nice little bench. Do me a favor and stop the stereotypes, ‘kay? Not cool. *Sits on the metaphorical bench*
I agree with Tim, the reason that I lost respect for Parker wasn’t that she had an actual chance of blackmailing/extorting/coercing Stasia into having a threesome, it’s that she believed there was a chance and was willing - indeed, eager - to try it. Not only that, but she was willing to do so without a thought for Guy and Stasia’s feelings. Now, I can see this being just a crazy, spur of the moment Parker thing, but just the fact that she not only entertained the idea but was willing to give it a try is what made me lose respect for her. Up until now the impression I got of Parker was that of a crazy fangirl, but also a good friend to Guy, and someone who genuinely cared about both Stasia and Guy. This strip really hurt that impression. Now, if she drops this or apologizes later (I hope she’ll apologize, but eh, not my story) it won’t have as big an impact as it does right now. However, seeing as I don’t have any more of the story to go on, right now, I’ve lost respect for her because her behavior is extremely selfish, and out of character, at least for how I had pictured her.
So, no, Bobby, it has nothing to do with me being prudish or disliking talk about sex. I think discussion of sex is normal, and even healthy. It would probably be better if we had a little more talk about it instead of everyone treating it as a taboo subject. It has everything to do with character development and my disappointment with how Parker acted in this situation. Do I still laugh at Parker’s antics, yes. But she’s not as likable right now as she was. Hopefully further strips will change that. This is a great story, and I look forward to the rest of it.
“One or two others? Try >10 - on a brief sweep through the comments, Zahoe, Kalikajira, Particle man, Tibbar de gniw, Ghost in the machine, Linz, Lord klingsor, Goatboy khan, Jessica, Carny, and Fwizzie have all commented that they’re either been creeped out by Parker, or that they’ve lost respect for her.”
It’s definitely one or two others (at the most) who have said this would be RAPE, which is what I was talking about. Did I ever once say that people shouldn’t be creeped out by it??? No, never. I simply said that it’s not rape and could never be rape and that it’s crazy to blow it so out of proportion like that.
“You’re looking at a quarter to a third of your audience (those who have seen fit to comment) who seem to have missed your point.”
That’s nonsense. Somewhere around 1-3 people have said they think it would be rape (possibly only two, I’m not sure), and those people are just insane. It’s perfectly fine for people to be creeped out by Parker here, but to think it’s rape is just nonsense.
Carny, you don’t know the law very well at all. You’re telling me that if some girl had a stick of gum and some guy walked by and said, “Hey, can I have that gum?” and then the girl said, “Only if you have sex with me first,” that would be RAPE if the guy then agreed to have sex with the girl to get the gum? That’s what you’re saying. It’s a very similar scenario here, in terms of how compelled Stasia would be to actually agree to these demands.
Guy’s expression in the last panel is probably his best one ever.
@Bobby and Eisu: Please don’t get yourself too worked up about this. The story’s going along fine as it is (especially seeing as this is supposed to be a one-strip gag). There’ll always be people who start getting wierd viewpoints about these kind of jokes as soon as sex get’s involved. Personally, I don’t think the joke went too far (if something like this would have happened in the real world, someone like parker would have probably tried this way sooner) and you should trust your readership to understand that a little more. Like any artist, you’re not required to explain to us the meaning of your art.
“that would be RAPE if the guy then agreed to have sex with the girl to get the gum? That’s what you’re saying. It’s a very similar scenario here, in terms of how compelled Stasia would be to actually agree to these demands.”
It’s not similar at all; the guy is being offered something that he desires, but which will not be hurt by the absence of. Parker’s whole argument to Guy is predicated on the belief that Stasia would consider Guy breaking up with her as a real injury to her career, and hence be hurt by it. In her own words, ‘[Stasia] thinks it’ll kill her career to break up with [Guy]’. She’s asking Guy to threaten Stasia’s career in order to coerce her into sex. How that is even remotely comparable to a girl offering a guy gum if he has sex with her, I really fail to see. A more pertinent example would be if the girl said to the guy, ‘I recorded you stealing from the school yesterday. If you don’t have sex with me I’ll pass on the recording to the police’.
Rape is differently defined around the world, but I believe most legal systems consider sex under coercion to be a form of rape. If Parker isn’t attempting to get Guy to coerce Stasia into sex, what is she doing?
Now that my brain has recovered from the unexpected freeze, crash, shutdown, and, eventually, hard reboot that your newest installment pulled, here is what I have to say:
At first I thought Parker was just another fangirl.
Then I thought she was a high-level crazy fangirl.
“Rape is differently defined around the world, but I believe most legal systems consider sex under coercion to be a form of rape.”
Yes, and it all depends on the type of coercion. For example, that gum scenario wouldn’t be rape, but it is a form of attempted coercion — just a really stupid attempt, though, similar to Parker’s, with no chance of working unless the person simply wants to have sex anyway. It’s impossible for Stasia to think that it would kill her career if she “breaks up” quickly with the stranger who she just apparently married on a whim. Ugh, we could go on like this for ages — you’re just not going to understand apparently. You’re taking it all WAY too seriously. There could be a million different ways to interpret exactly what Parker might be thinking, but none of those million different ways should have the word “rape” ever enter the picture. Sure, it could be taken to be pretty creepy, fine, but when everyone involved, especially Parker, knows that Stasia is not completely retarded and would never think that she’d actually be forced into doing this and have no choice in the matter, then there’s no way that rape could ever be an issue here. I think it’s practically IDENTICAL to the gum comparison. I mean COME ON, Stasia is SUPER RICH, flies around in private jets, and that’s AFTER giving 97% of her money to charity! It’s not like it matters if her image MIGHT be slightly hurt by not staying with Guy forever. Even if her career WAS killed, who gives a crap? She’s still a millionaire! It’s IMPOSSIBLE for breaking up with this stranger to kill or even hurt her career, really, but EVEN if it did kill it, she’d still be totally set for LIFE. So there’s no coercion. It’s not like she’d be going to jail over this or like she’d be living on the streets after this or like any physical harm would come to her or anything bad AT ALL BASICALLY! If no harm can come to her from this, other than the CHANCE that it might slightly hurt her image (and remember that she said this after she was given advice by her very close friend and sister that the SMART THING TO DO IS END IT WITH GUY RIGHT AWAY), then it’s not coercion and it’s nowhere near rape. Logically, Stasia should want to just end it with Guy right away — that’s what would logically be best for her career and probably for herself too, and her sister has told her this even, someone she trusts. But anyway, yeah, keep thinking it’s rape, no problem.
Wow……….normally I browse through the comments to see what Bobby comes up with….but this time it’s just too much effort to see people arguing with the creator. *sits with Bobby because Bobby is the creator and Bobby is God of this little world*
You just have to love the disgruntled Denny/Wall, and Oh My God, Double You Tee Eff ness of Guy.
Bobby, the point isn’t whether it actually would hurt Stasia’s career, it’s the fact that she believes it, and Parker knows she believes it and is willing to exploit that. What makes something coercion or blackmail or extortion is not the actual damage the threat would do if it was carried out, it’s the damage the person thinks it would do, and obviously Stasia thinks it would do a lot of damage to her career.
If someone is threatened with a realistic looking toy gun into having sex, it’s considered rape. It doesn’t matter that the threat wasn’t and could not be real - indeed, was ridiculous. What matters is the person’s belief that the threat was real, and the person holding the toy gun’s knowing that they believed that and being willing to exploit it.
This is essentially what Parker is doing. Yes, we know that it wouldn’t really hurt Stasia in any major way. That’s not the point, either here, or in court if it went there. In court, it could indeed be considered extortion or coercion or even blackmail into having sex. Which is definitely considered rape in the US. Whether or not it would be considered that would depend on how many people on the jury would look at it like you - that there wasn’t a real threat, therefore there was no rape - and how many would look at it like me, tim, and a couple others - there was a perceived threat, therefore it was rape, regardless of how much actual damage it could do.
I don’t see the reason why so many people are upset. I just took it as Parker knowing that Stasia obviously likes Guy (to some point, or she wouldn’t have married him), probably would have sex with HIM, so as a favor to him she might include Parker in the equation. Sure, she phrased it in terms of “do whatever he wants” or whatnot, but I doubt she’d really blackmail Stasia. I mean - she’s obviously in love with the woman, obviously wants to at least be tolerated by her, and making Stasia unhappy or force her into sex would obviously not be the way to go. I think she’s sane enough to see that. Also, I think in the back of her head she probably knows Guy would never in a million years say yes if it’s a really bad idea, so maybe she’s just suggesting to see how he would react.
It’s a bit like getting upset ’cause one of the characters jaywalked or something. Sure, it’s illegal, in an obscure kinda way, and disrespectful to, uh, people driving cars, and could possibly be dangerous but… does it really warrant public outrage?
Anyway. I thought it was funny, and cute in an insane way. Poor Parker, I hope she finds someone she can devote those attentions to
To all the “rape” people: Listen, I think we should just chill out and take a few deep breathes and watch what happens in the comic before getting all worked up over this one strip. Or, you could just go away and not read this comic at all. Frankly, either way would be better than yelling at its creators constantly.
“Bobby, the point isn’t whether it actually would hurt Stasia’s career, it’s the fact that she believes it . . .”
Huh??? Did you miss the parts where I said about 20 times already that Stasia obviously is nowhere near stupid enough to believe it? Should I quote myself about 20 times right now? Re-read my posts please.
“. . . and obviously Stasia thinks it would do a lot of damage to her career.”
Once again, no she doesn’t. She’s nowhere near retarded enough to think that it would be so damaging to her career that she’d have to allow herself to be “raped” to avoid it. Re-read my posts. Her best friend and main adviser already told her that the smart thing to do is to end it with Guy ASAP!
To get a response like this for the work you two do, you’re obviously doing something right. And I must add that the last line on the page is my favourite thus far. Very amusing.
“Coming to think about it, we’re the people who need those anesthetics, not Parker.”
XD!! *High-fives* Welcome to the bench.
Dragonmage, you should come sit on the bench too. You’d fit in. XD
But, um, as much as I do love this little bench, I have to direct a comment to Bobby…
Bobby sir, you said that there’s no way she’d believe that breaking up with Guy would hurt her career, but didn’t she say something along the lines of “Oh no, must stay with Guy” before? My memory could just be messing with me, so correct me if I’m wrong.
Valerie, she could definitely think that it could hurt her career, but nowhere NEAR to the point of thinking it’s such a dramatic thing that she’d have to have sex with people to avoid it. Her closest adviser told her that the smart thing would be to end it with Guy right away! So it’s not like a DONE DEAL, that it would hurt her career. It’s not like the example Tim gave about someone having evidence of you doing something criminal that you’d go to jail for if it’s released or any crap like that. It’s a guessing game and Stasia, in a crazy moment, had the idea to stay with Guy forever. But common sense tells her it’s probably not the smartest thing to do, as Janny already said. Also, once again, why would she care so much if it hurt her career??? She’s a MULTI-MILLIONAIRE and she gives most of her money to charity. And again, she’s NOT retarded. Only reason for her to possibly agree to this just because of the “hurting her image/career” aspect if she’s COMPLETELY RETARDED. Like stupidest person in the world. And Parker obviously knows that she’s not.
Nearly fell off my chair reading the comic!
As for all the people shouting “RAPE!”, even though Bobby himself has already mentioned why there wouldn’t be any (Parker might be insane enough to think this might work, Stasia ISN’T.), bloody well get over yourselves.
Seriously, wtf makes you think you can see inside of the characters heads better than the person who writes them?
Bobby, people usually care about their careers, whether they have money or not. It disturbs me a little that you’re suggesting a career wouldn’t matter if you have enough money. I mean, yeah, we all wanna be rich. Who wouldn’t? But careers are about things you love doing, not the money you make.
In ths particular case, though, Stasia seems almost sick of her career. So who knows?
Annnd Bobby, as much as I ♥ you, Eisu, and the comic… um, would it be okay to ask that you please use the word “retarded” a little less? Maybe I’m overly sensitive, but my brother and sister both have some problems, so it bugs me when people use it as a negative term so much…
You know that analogy with the gum? It might not be rape, but it’s still sexual assault. Okay, maybe gum is too minor. Let’s substitute in a job instead of gum. A guy wants a promotion but can’t have it unless he has sex with his boss. Now what do you consider it? The gum was a very bad example and had absolutely nothing to do with this case. I am not trying to start an argument with the stupid gum thing, I’m just saying you were a bit hasty with the analogy. It is absolutely nothing like what people are assuming from the comic. Okaaay, moving on.
Even though I do realize that almost no one here is going to change his or her opinion, you have to consider a few points to put some people at a bit more understanding. They’re Bobby’s character’s and he’s going to defend them to his death. We’re all stubborn now and we would like to defend our own oinions. We do understand that Stasia is not stupid enough to go through with this. We seem to get that she’s not really stressed enough to be coerced, either. But that’s not the point. The point is the intent. The way it’s worded. What would hold up in court? Just because the word ‘blackmail’ is used doesn’t mean it’s blackmail. I get that. The point is that Parker wants sex with Stasia. She can only get it through Guy, because he presumably has power (one of the key factors in what most consider rape is dominance) over her. Now, IF (I know she WON’T, but please just look from a slightly different view for the moment) Stasia went through with this, she wouldn’t know the reasons behind it. I’m sure, if she really was stupid, she would just agree with anything that Guy said. Later, if she wisened, the law would be on HER side. Yeah, I do get that she was just told to break up with Guy a couple of times, and that it’s the best thing to do. What I’m trying to do right now is look at it from what Parker is saying, not what Stasia was just informed, and not how we know Stasia would react.
Again, I realize that she won’t do it. But IF everything went as Parker desired, it’s at least some form of sexual assualt or rape or something along those lines. Leave the actual term to the people who got better than a B+ in their college law classes. Parker didn’t intend it as rape, but she is trying to take advantage of the situation to involve sex. There are plenty of people out there who would go through with it in this situation. And, sure, they’re stupid, but that usually means they don’t have the legal capacity to make an informed decision. The consent is not valid because of the duress and the lack of capacity.
In closing, no, Stasia isn’t stupid. Thank you for elaborating on that point and sticking with your characters. Thank you for telling us that Parker didn’t intend to rape Stasia. We get it. We’re stubborn. I know I am. But my mind is also open. Maybe not quite enough for my brains to fall out, but it’s still open enough to take note of what others are saying. Bobby, you just seem like you’re arguing because you love your characters. You definitely have plenty of validity in what you’re saying, but you have to remember that not everyone is basing their thoughts on what will happen or what should, but what could. They’re allowed to think, too. If you didn’t want them to have opinions, why let them think at all? Just give everybody the entire comic script. Or immediately tell everyone that what they are assuming is correct or incorrect about the whole of the comic. Let’s not have anymore mysteries here. Imaginations suck.
Now to change the subject: I love this comic. Yay!
“Bobby, people usually care about their careers, whether they have money or not. It disturbs me a little that you’re suggesting a career wouldn’t matter if you have enough money.”
But it’s not only about that, Valerie. It’s a complicated thing. It’s not just because I’m saying she doesn’t need her career — the most important part by far is that common sense says that this would HELP HER CAREER to end it with Guy instantly! As I’ve said 2,000 times now. The only reason I’ve mentioned the aspect of how losing her career isn’t that important is to take it a step further and say that even if it DID hurt her career (which it basically COULDN’T — think about it), that’s still nowhere near reason enough for her to allow herself to be blackmailed and RAPED! You have to look at the entire picture here. Many factors play a role in making it beyond stupid for Stasia to even entertain the idea of doing this just to avoid her image/career being POSSIBLY SLIGHTLY damaged.
“You know that analogy with the gum? It might not be rape, but it’s still sexual assault.”
No, it’s not sexual assault at all.
“A guy wants a promotion but can’t have it unless he has sex with his boss. Now what do you consider it?”
Um, obviously that’s illegal. That’s nowhere near like what was suggested in the comic. The gum analogy is perfect for it, though.
“Again, I realize that she won’t do it. But IF everything went as Parker desired, it’s at least some form of sexual assualt or rape or something along those lines.”
No, it’s definitely not.
“There are plenty of people out there who would go through with it in this situation.”
Huh? There’s no one. Unless they badly wanted to have sex with Parker.
“Bobby, you just seem like you’re arguing because you love your characters.”
Makes no sense whatsoever, completely wrong. I’m arguing because people are saying insanely stupid wrong things (RAPE!) and I’m correcting them.
“You definitely have plenty of validity in what you’re saying, but you have to remember that not everyone is basing their thoughts on what will happen or what should, but what could.”
Doesn’t make any sense. I’m also talking about what could.
“If you didn’t want them to have opinions, why let them think at all?”
Shaking my head, don’t know what the heck you’re saying. I can choose to not let people think now? Wow!
“Or immediately tell everyone that what they are assuming is correct or incorrect about the whole of the comic. Let’s not have anymore mysteries here. Imaginations suck.”
No clue what you’re saying. Ask a specific question and I’ll answer it.
jesus god.
I’ve been reading some of the comments and rape? Parker is crazy but she would NEVER forcibily rape stasia. She says herself, that she is in love with stasia so obviously she wouldn’t want to hurt her, but apart from that - it’s a joke! I seriously doubt Parker would actually go through with any blackmail or hurt Stasias career in any way and i SERIOUSLY doubt stasia would allow any blackmail like that because come on- the blackmail itself is stupid! Guy leaving Stasia wouldn’t affect her career anymore than it does him being with her.
It’s a joke! Argh!
Hello, I’ve enjoyed this comic so far, but I do have to agree that her last statements have lowered my respect for Parker. Bobby, you said that it might help Stasia’s career if she ends it with Guy, but I don’t think she believes that yet or she would have already ended it. It is clear that she would much rather avoid having a threesome than to end it with Guy, but ending it with Guy is still something she does not want to do, but would be forced to do if Guy pressed it. I don’t think the consequences of what she is being forced to do matter as much, whether it be to end it with guy, lose a large sum of money, lose a stick of gum, or get physically injured. Regardless of what the consequences are, the person forcing those consequences believes that they have enough leverage to make them do what they want.
For example, if a mugger pulled a knife on someone and demanded their wallet, the mugger is hoping that the person will consider the consequence of being stabbed sufficient leverage to give up their wallet. However, if that person had a black belt in karate, they might easily be able to disarm the mugger, so it could be stupid for them to give up their wallet. The point being regardless of the perceived threat or what actually happens, I have now lost respect for the person holding the knife for attempting to commit robbery.
In this case Parker has not committed rape and is not going to. However if Guy does what Parker is asking him to do, then no matter how poor the attempt is, they are still attempting to rape Stasia by forcing a consequence, no matter how small, that Parker is hoping will be sufficient leverage to get her to have sex with them. So whether you want to call it asking Guy to use some form of leverage to assist her in a poor attempting to force Stasia to have sex with her, it is still asking to attempt it that has caused me to lose respect for her.
I understand some characters are not meant to have the most respect and that losing respect can make characters more interesting, especially if they try to redeem themselves. It just seems to me by the way you are defending your characters that this loss of respect was unintentional.
I think the basis of the arguement here is the people who think that Stasia is “retarded enough” to think that her career is in danger enough that she would HAVE TO have the threesome in order to keep Guy and Parker there, and then people who think that Stasia would have her wits about her NOT to do something as stupid as think that a threesome could save her career.
“I don’t think the consequences of what she is being forced to do matter as much, whether it be to end it with guy, lose a large sum of money, lose a stick of gum, or get physically injured. Regardless of what the consequences are, the person forcing those consequences believes that they have enough leverage to make them do what they want.”
I don’t know how many times I’m going to be forced to say this, but there’s no way in hell Parker actually thinks she has significant leverage under any circumstance to make Stasia do this. I’ve said this like 20 times and it should be obvious by now. I’ve explained it in massive detail. I’ve said that Paker more than anyone else even knows that Stasia wouldn’t be stupid enough to think she’d have to do this.
Also, it should be made clear again that there’s no chance in the world of either scenario here “ending Stasia’s career.” She’s getting huge publicity out of this either way and it’s not like it’s hugely negative — she’s just seen as a little wacky, but it’s not like she hurt anyone or did drugs or anything illegal whatsoever. She just married some stranger, and she’s getting tons of press about it. None of the options (ending it with Guy now or staying with him for a while or staying with him forever) would greatly affect her career, really, and certainly none of them would drastically hurt her career. So there’s nothing about “saving her career” here — no, nothing like that.
Wow people got heated up about this. I just thought it was funny and made me laugh, although I seem to be one of the few who simply doesn’t give a damn about parker. I’m much more interested in guy and stasia.
But honestly, we’ve seen that parker can be a bit silly and not think things through before she proposes them. I read this as just another example of that. She wants Stasia and has “Brainwave” and immediately runs off to blurt it out to Guy.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I often have really stupid and sometimes not always nice ideas that I don’t realise are as bad as they are until I stop and think.
Stopping and thinking isn’t something I’d give parker much credit for… she doesn’t seem to be the type.
The point I and several others have been trying to make is that whether or not Parker even believes that it will work, the fact that she would suggest it is what has made us lose respect for her. Obviously from the comic she is not doing it in a joking kind of way, she’s at least saying it in a way to make Guy take her seriously. Seeing it from Guy’s viewpoint, especially as he doesn’t know Stasia, it’s basically asking him to force the woman he just married into having a threesome. Which, from what I have seen of Guy and can infer from that, he would at least consider wrong.
I’m not trying to tell you how you should do your comic. I’m not saying Stasia would go along with it. I’ll concede that Parker may know that Stasia would not go along wit
July 5th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Hahah best strip ever
July 5th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
So fu*king wonderfull. Best strip yet.
July 5th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Stupid dubble post
July 5th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
I underestimated Parker’s resourcefulness. Denny looks profoundly sullied from letting her through. Maybe the loud knocking noise was Parker, not Denny like I figured.
What in the world did that girl do?
July 5th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
That, I did not see coming by a long-shot. Somehow I was carrying this idea that Parker could be both obsessive and lustful as reguards Stasia, but not at the same time.
July 5th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Parker went to punch between his legs and he jumped up in fear as she punched/knocked on the door between his knees.
July 5th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Ouch, poor Denny. D: Good thing he can jump.
Great work, Bobby and Eisu!
I love how shocked Guy looks at Parker’s scheme. It’s like he’s thinking; “Who are you and what did you do with my best friend?”
July 5th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Denny’s a security guard, right? I know this is just a comic, but we have a security guard at the theater where I work, and if it looked like someone was even THINKING about punching him in the nuts, even as a ruse, they’d find themselves being hurled out a second story window.
And as for Parker’s plan, if Guy doesn’t blow up at her and tell her to forget it, I’m guessing Stasia will.
July 5th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
“You were all wrong.”
Except for all the people who thought it was Parker.
July 5th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Right now, I have Guy’s expression in panel 6.
Haha, Parker can’t be serious of course.
Right?
July 5th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Greatest page ever.
I can’t stop laughing, and I’m at work.
July 5th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
two words: desperate fangirl
HAHAHAHA *falls over cackling
July 5th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Im asking myself whats the more weird thing that Parker said to Guy. That they should blackmail a Popstar to a threesome (happy raep), or that she told him that she won’t look at him. unsatisfying 3some ever.
July 5th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
OH MY GAWD
Parkeerrrrrr!! Ahhh!! XD
“It won’t be awkward AT ALL.”
Awww, I ♥ that crazy bitch. XD
July 5th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
What Valerie said! Hehe. That would be the pinnacle of awkward.
July 5th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
HAHAHA!
I ADORE that Parker has absolutely NO shame.
July 5th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
“Parker went to punch between his legs and he jumped up in fear as she punched/knocked on the door between his knees.”
Wouldn’t he hit the ceiling it he jumped? =P
I’m going to die of laughter if Parker manages to get that one through.
“Hey Stasia, I know we’ve only been married for about a day (or something), but would you concider a threesome?”
I bet that’ll do the trick…
July 5th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
holy crap
July 5th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Wow. Why am I not surprised whatsoever. I thought this would come up eventually.
Oh dear, what are we going to do with you, Parker. =)
July 5th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Totally, Andy-o. XD
“Oh dear, what are we going to do with you, Parker. =)”
Give her some chocolate to calm down those hormones. XD
July 5th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
I don;t know…for some reason, this made me like Parker a little less.
I just didn’t see her as the type to sink that low.
Obsessive yes…unashamed check…blackmail sex…not so much…
I’m sure Bobby is setting up something wonderful here and that it will flow much less shockingly, but this just made me cringe a little.
Laugh hysterically, but cringe a little, too.
Good job, guys!
July 5th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Yeah, it’s a bit cringe-worthy. Not setting up anything actually — moment’s over. Minor spoiler: It of course won’t actually work — Guy wouldn’t even tell Stasia about it. Conversation’s over.
July 5th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
not really sure what to say here except awsome page as always
I probably would have given some sort of sarcastic responce like:
“Let me get this straight, you want me to ask the woman to whom I have been married for all of X hours and whom I haven’t slept with if my best friend could join in on the first night? And ontop of that, if she refuses you want me to threaten her career? Gonna have to think about that one!”
or at least something like that.
July 5th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
It’s like that awkward moment in Chasing Amy, when he thought the way to fix everything was to have a threesome. Of course, that one didn’t involve blackmail; but it definitely went terribly wrong.
July 5th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Well, that I think removed much discussion until the next page… so, I know I’m being SUPER greedy now, but “NEXT PLEASE!”
Sorry, I don’t mind the update confusion at all, in fact part of the reason I keep coming back, apart from the comic that I can’t get enough of, is the guesses at what will come next, and the discussion about the reality of the guesses…
So ya… I’ll go back to just reading again…
Oh and this did hurt my like of Parker a bit…
July 5th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
This definitely lowered my opinion of Parker a bit. I still like her craziness earlier, but this…this wasn’t the same kind of cute/demented obsessiveness that all her earlier actions had. I just don’t like her as much now.
July 5th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
“Bobby Crosby Says: […] Minor spoiler”
Could I request no more even minor spoilers? The uncertainty and speculation adds to the anticipation while waiting for the next update… It is the positive aspect of having to follow the story in fits and starts. I know I could just not read the comments, but that’s one of the other pleasurable things here. Reading the various uninformed speculations enhances the wait by creating more possibilities to imagine, exactly opposite to the way that reading a spoiler reduces them.
“Parker went to punch between his legs and he jumped up in fear as she punched/knocked on the door between his knees.”
Note that I don’t consider that a spoiler — I really like how you clue us in with funny explanations for what has already happened, especially since we don’t have to believe them
July 5th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
My reaction to Parker’s reaction:
BL%^DY H$&L!!!
July 5th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Parker’s creepy factor just went up 10 fold….
July 5th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
This page made me laugh out loud… XD Especially the last textbubble from Parker and Guys face. This is absolutely priceless.
But wow, either Parker is totally confuzed and pumped up because of the current situation or she’d really go to unbelievable lengths as a fan XD
July 5th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
Every straight guy’s fantasy… lol.
I like how everything just happens to Guy, and he’s just a hapless passive protagonist, but I hope that he actually does something definitive soon.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
I think I just inhaled my apple… WHOLE when I saw that. I choked so hard my sister was about to call 911. That was soooo unforeseen. Absolutely love the comic but that was just like, “I’m so going to hell for laughing at that”
>.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
can anyone say “side comic” purely on this incident in some fan board somewhere… or to any extremist
an RP based on this one
ROFL
you two have done it again
congrats
July 5th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Aww, please don’t be mean to me, bugstomper. If you are reading this, make sure you imagine a girl to be saying all of this in a friendly tone with an occasional bit of sarcasm thrown in for humor, not spite. That’s my way of saying I am not at all trying to be mean, but it’s really hard to figure out because you can’t hear my voice as I’m trying to ’splain myself here. Actually, if you want to pretend I’m evil, go for it. I can’t stop you.
I like the minor spoilers. Just don’t read them if they’re there. And don’t give any excuses like, “I have to read everything.” I like to read everything, too, but it’s very obvious that we’re in the minority. But you can give the, “I read it by accident because the spoiler warning was too close to the spoiler.” Why not guess for a while, then look at the spoiler? That’s what I like to do. There’s still a lot more guessing involved, like how the conversations are going to play out in the next page. I start by guessing everything on my own. If I’m done guessing, I look at the spoilers. If I’m not, I don’t and I hope nobody else repeats the comment. And if someone does, oh, well. There’s a lot more to guess, especially the stuff that is not explained on the next page. If you have an imagination, spoilers shouldn’t have to spoil anything! They should help you add to and refine your guesses.
Anyway, I also like to keep bugs alive and unsquished. They are really fun to shove in front of people’s faces. Pwease stop stomping the bugs. They’re cute, too, in their own ways.
July 6th, 2007 at 12:13 am
I agree with the “no more spoilers” request, they’re impossible not to read if you hit that post… one of the main things which gets me hooked on a webcomic for a long period of time is the “not knowing what’s going to happen next” factor.
July 6th, 2007 at 12:19 am
OMG! That is the most awesome strip ever. I knew it would eventually be coming, but mayn, Parker is a trip. She’s literally ready to get down on her knees and beg him. XDDD
July 6th, 2007 at 12:48 am
I think my brain switched off for a while when Parker suggested a threesome, and blackmail too. And she says it like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
IMO the reason we’re all so disappointed in Parker (me included) is coz this ruins our image of Parker as a crazy but not too insane fangirl.
Parker, how could you??
And poor Denny, he looks so annoyed. xD
July 6th, 2007 at 2:16 am
Lmao! Love Guy’s jawdrop in the last panel! Priceless!
July 6th, 2007 at 2:37 am
“Give her some chocolate to calm down those hormones. XD”
LMAO!
I say anesthetics are more the thing she’d need right now.
xD
July 6th, 2007 at 2:42 am
That was so unexpected! I found it so funny, and Parkers face is so serious, I can’t help but feel sorry for her. But that face she has in the blackmail part is so so evil. If I were Guy, I’d call Denny to take her away.
July 6th, 2007 at 2:44 am
Ha ha, oh my god! I did NOT see that coming. Take THAT, anyone who thinks this comic is predictable. Not that I know of anyone who thinks that. Just… in case? Eisu, your art is amazing. Guy’s expression in the last panel is awesome.
July 6th, 2007 at 2:47 am
The damn Wiki for “Marry Me” insanely says that it’s predictable — “Despite its early life span so far, and its ‘predictable’ story . . .” Doesn’t make any sense to me. Lots of other errors on there too, but oh well.
July 6th, 2007 at 2:58 am
Love the comic great story. What parker is sugesting…… No way that parker is even gonna think about it. I hope he say just four word: “Denny throw her out” even if she’s a friend, asking something like that is just too pathetic.
July 6th, 2007 at 3:21 am
Well umm, it was kinda predictable…. I don’t know how you all didn’t see it coming at some point but meh.
On a happy note, it had me laughing so hard I cried. First time thats happened in a while
July 6th, 2007 at 3:24 am
It won’t be awkward at all; yeah, right!
July 6th, 2007 at 3:47 am
Okay, THAT one made me actually like Parker.
July 6th, 2007 at 3:58 am
I am half expecting Guy to call Denny over and have Parker forcibly removed from the building. But only half. I’m just hoping that Stasia doesn’t ask Guy for an explanation. He seems a little too honest to lie and lying now would hurt his ability to give Stasia the advice she needs later.
Parker comes off a little less lovable from this, although I’ll admit the impact of the scene in the movie could be drastically different depending on how the actress playing Parker delivers her lines.
July 6th, 2007 at 4:06 am
LMAO best Guy strip ever! Nice to see he’s already looking after his lil’ woman ^____^
July 6th, 2007 at 4:54 am
blaugh, i’m sick of parker by now, her fan girl tactics are gettin on my nerves…plus she’s dragging down the story momentum
wish denny had clocked her >:)
July 6th, 2007 at 5:54 am
Huh…
Makes you wonder about Guy’s feelings for Parker.
She’s his best friend…
He puts up with all her crazy hijinx…
He’s not making moves on a beautiful woman, especially with Parker nearby…
July 6th, 2007 at 5:59 am
… oh my GOD
July 6th, 2007 at 6:51 am
*giggles*
July 6th, 2007 at 7:09 am
I don’t see why everyone is hating Parker for this. I thought it was quite in line with the character Bobby gave her. You have to keep in mind that she is a crazed fangirl who will do anything (including take on Denny) to get to Stasia. Parker also knows Guy pretty well, right? They are best friends after all. She knows there’s no chance of this ever working. At the same time, she has to try SOMETHING. This is her idol we’re talking about. I think Parker doesn’t believe it will work at all. She 1) wanted to see Guy’s reaction - and it’s about what she thought it’d be, but she had to check 2) is hoping that through this she and Guy might think up something else that would actually work, and 3) is holding out a tiny bit of hope that Guy’ll break his normal mold and say yes. By my thinking, Parker’s like, “If it never actually HAPPENS, it not blackmail. So what’s the harm of just asking?!”
All that to say I was able to laugh at Parker’s antics w/out seeing her as losing a ton of lovableness. She no less lovable, just a lot more fangirl.
July 6th, 2007 at 7:31 am
Like many other people I too have lost a lot of my respect towards Parker. I was shocked that she would say this. That she could want something that inconveniences Stasia. “Inconveniences” is such a weak word now…
And as to “I won’t even look at you”… like as though that would change anything.
Well, anyhow. I still like the comic. But I wish she didn’t say this. Now I look forward to the next update even more, because I have to find out what happens, I have to see if she can get back the respect I had for her. If she can get back her dignity. Okay, bad word… she never had any of that. But she was, in a zealous and chaotic way, honourable. I wonder if she can get that back.
July 6th, 2007 at 7:44 am
Not awkward at all?
Try awkward *squared.*
Parker only wants to have sex with Stasia.
Stasia only wants to have sex with Guy.
Guy may not want to have sex with anyone.
And NOBODY wants to have sex with Parker. (Denny?)
July 6th, 2007 at 8:12 am
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! That was amazing! I laughed so hard! Guy’s expression in the last panel is great! The last line is brillinat!!! “…AT ALL!” XD
July 6th, 2007 at 9:00 am
Bobby — if there are errors in the Wiki, can’t you edit it and make corrections? (Like you have time for that…nevermind!)
July 6th, 2007 at 9:00 am
LMAO!!! Parker is such a spaz…. she called my d-dawg a troll!!!
my poor Denny…
July 6th, 2007 at 9:05 am
I have a feeling Guy is very not interested…
July 6th, 2007 at 9:51 am
“Bobby — if there are errors in the Wiki, can’t you edit it and make corrections? (Like you have time for that…nevermind!)”
I sadly do have time for it, but just don’t like messing with stuff like that — not a big enough deal. Don’t want to edit the page for a comic that I write either — would be weird. Also, the page will probably be down soon anyway for being non-notable or whatever, so doesn’t matter.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Oh, /Parker/.
[//shakes head.]]
But I’m inclined to agree with Beth Anne- Bobby’s been setting Parker up as a crazy, obsessed fangirl, right?
To me it sounds like something a crazy obsessed fangirl would say.
Poor, poor Denny.
Although I’m sure he’s used to being called a Troll.
Not very many people actually /like/ bodyguards.
T.T
July 6th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Sorry I cant leave a very interesting post, I’m currently in fits of giggles over Parker xD
July 6th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Parker definitely has a one-track mind. Not satisfied with being in Stasia’s pants, she still wants to get into Stasia’s pants!
July 6th, 2007 at 11:22 am
Hmmm…I do loves Parker, yes, but…this creeped me out, a bit.
….it’s still phenomenally hot, since I’d take Parker before Stasia, but hey.
What can I say? Obsessive fangirls=A Winner Is You.
July 6th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
This was great. Guy’s expression in the last panel is priceless.
July 6th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
yes yes YES! BWHAHAHAHA!
July 6th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Gah. I started laughing so hard I had trouble breathing. Lordy.
I love the expression on Guy’s face. Priceless.
July 6th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
“I say anesthetics are more the thing she’d need right now.”
Oh jeez. XD You get a high-five for that! *High-fives Andy-o*
“blaugh, i’m sick of parker by now, her fan girl tactics are gettin on my nerves…plus she’s dragging down the story momentum
wish denny had clocked her >:)”
*Gasp* That’s so mean. ;_; I ♥ Parker… I’ll admit that she’s a little less of a cutesy-cuddly fangirl because of this page, but she’s still cool.
“Makes you wonder about Guy’s feelings for Parker.
She’s his best friend…
He puts up with all her crazy hijinx…
He’s not making moves on a beautiful woman, especially with Parker nearby…”
I dunno, -=2=-. I don’t think you should read so much into that… I mean, best friend, yeah. That doesn’t say he likes her that way, though. Puts up with her hyjinks… Again, that’s just something you do for your friends, y’know? And of COURSE he’s not hitting on Stasia with Parker nearby. Parker’s in crazy-love with Stasia. Would you hit on the guy/girl your best friend’s in love with? (You gets points for thinking outside the box, though.)
July 6th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
How is it that when sex is mentioned by a character, he/she loses respect? Just like the time when Guy asked is he and Stasia going to have sex tonight… I mean, they’re married (or at least they think they are), that was a valid question… and now, we have a crazy fangirl who is absolutely obsessed with Stasia and is a lesbian, so of course, being super attracted to Stasia to the point that she’d do a sign that says “Marry Me”, obviously she also wants to… well… try and get Stasia to bed, and now she sees and opportunity for her to do so and knowing Parker, is it so unbelievable that she’d actually try to go for it? I mean, the woman peed her pants and she’s found as funny but suggesting a threesome so that she can get Stasia in bed with her is disrespectful?
July 6th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
(just so you know, that wasn’t an angry post, it was a for real curious post)
July 6th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
I don’t think it’s the sex that people find disrespectful. I think it’s that she’d blackmail Stasia to get it. That isn’t many degrees off rape, really. I mean, I know Parker doesn’t think of it that way, and that she is just obsessive and wacky, but that doesn’t really change much.
July 6th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
I’m not gonna say I expected what parker said, but I will say I liked it.
I think it went fine with her character. Goofey ass s#!%, but still with her character.
Now to wait for his response. Which will be interesting.
July 6th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Anesthetics? Try a sedative and/or straightjacket!! ^^
Truly amazing work!! Although I keep wondering what’s keeping Guy from (a) calling those Nice Young Men In Their Clean White Coats, (b) switching Parker’s espresso for decaf or (c) slapping her in the face, screaming ‘PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER, WOMAN!! *whap* EVERYBODY’S LOOKIN!!’ LOL
Even though Parker gave me the skeeves in this one, I luv her anyway.
July 6th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Well, I love the page, and it made me laugh out loud ( I had to hide it as a coughing fit so the boss wouldn’t find out. >_> ).
Oh Parker, you crazy, obsessive fangirl, you.
On a side note, I finally got around to reading Eisu’s No Pink Ponies. Good Lord, I love you Eisu. XD
July 6th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Eisu: I think it’s just that sex is a controversial thing… then again, so is lesbianism. XD But sex is like, “Whoa, scandel!” y’know? It’s just the way the general public views it. I don’t think many people actually lost respect for Parker so much as they think she’s gone down a little on the nice-girl-o-meter… or… something. I’m too tired to word things, so hopefully you can put it together from that. XD
(If it makes you feel any better, I still ♥ Parker.)
July 6th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
I’m willing to give Parker the benefit of the doubt, THIS time, because of the likely tense situation. If she were to feel bad about this afterwards, or later, that would make me feel better about giving it to her.
July 6th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Hmm, interesting tidbit: the wiki page no longer says it’s predictable. (wasn’t me that edited it, btw, I just noticed it when I was looking at it)
Anyway, I’m another lurker-by-nature, but this page definitely deserves a comment. “It won’t be awkward AT ALL.” This made me love Parker just a little more… what a devious little brat XD
July 6th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
I never had a huge amount of Parker (but I do not dislike her). Crazy fans always scare me. Anyway, the idea of Parker wanting to have sex with Stasia; that’s fine for her character. Parker suggesting blackmail to have sex… again, it suits the character, in my mind, but it does lose a little of my respect. Basically, blackmailing Stasia into a threesome would be considered rape. Even if Stasia agreed to the threesome, she was threatened into it. But, then again, if Stasia was into that sort of thing, and there was no blackmail threat, there is no rape.
And Guy trying asking about sex (which he doesn’t seem to care about anymore) was fine with me. He thought they were married, so it actually made the question cute, in a way. I agree with Valerie, though; most of the people who lose respect are the ones who find sex too negative or controversial.
July 6th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
O_o wow, that’s . . . i dunno what that is but what weirds me out even more if i know some people who would probably say something similiar.
July 7th, 2007 at 2:10 am
“I think it’s that she’d blackmail Stasia to get it. That isn’t many degrees off rape, really.”
“Basically, blackmailing Stasia into a threesome would be considered rape.”
These comments are ridiculous. Just because Guy used the word “blackmail” doesn’t mean this would really be blackmail in the true sense of the word, and it’s not anywhere NEAR rape. Most logical people would think the smart thing for Stasia to do to help her career is to get rid of Guy instantly. It’s only her insane brain that makes her think that staying married to him forever is what would be best for her image. (And how big of a deal is what’s best for her image??? That means she should have SEX that she doesn’t want just so the public might see her in a better light???) She doesn’t know the guy, just met him tonight, but you think it amounts to rape for Guy to say that he’d “leave her” if she doesn’t have a threesome with he and Parker? Total nonsense. How is it rape when all Stasia would have to do is say, “Um, BYE, this sure made my decision easy”? This would not be blackmail and it wouldn’t even be remotely close to rape, and it’s obviously not going to happen anyway.
July 7th, 2007 at 2:21 am
Valerie: It’s not the fact that Parker wants to have sex with Stasia - it’s the fact that she’s willing to blackmail her into it and threaten her if Stasia doesn’t go through with it. In most developed parts of the world, that wouldn’t just be considered unethical - it’d be criminal. It’s not even remotely comparable to peeing on herself, or making a ‘Marry Me’ sign - as much as those actions exhibited a scary level of obsession, they didn’t hurt anyone. This one does.
It’s like watching a five year old kid mimic his favourite wrestling star. It’s cute and funny when he’s wearing his underwear on the outside of his pants, and even when he’s cutting up the curtains to make a cape. It’s not cute or funny when he practices out his moves on his two year old sister.
July 7th, 2007 at 2:24 am
Bobby: The pertinent point is that Parker believes that Guy has sufficient leverage, and is trying to get him to use it. It doesn’t matter if she’s delusional, and her ridiculous suggestion would never work - the fact is that she’s willing to threaten Stasia in order to get something out of her.
July 7th, 2007 at 2:47 am
“It’s not the fact that Parker wants to have sex with Stasia - it’s the fact that she’s willing to blackmail her into it and threaten her if Stasia doesn’t go through with it.”
Parker has absolutely nothing to threaten Stasia with. Parker can’t control what Guy does. Guy is the person who at least has SOMETHING (sort of, not really) to “threaten” Stasia with, and he’s said nothing about actually threatening her — he looks shocked by Parker’s suggestion. Parker has no power here whatsoever, so she can’t make any threats.
“In most developed parts of the world, that wouldn’t just be considered unethical - it’d be criminal.”
Total nonsense. You’re saying it’s criminal to want to have sex with someone.
“. . . as much as those actions exhibited a scary level of obsession, they didn’t hurt anyone. This one does.”
Once again, Parker has absolutely ZERO capacity to hurt Stasia, unless she were to maybe punch her in the face, which she obviously doesn’t plan on doing.
“It’s not cute or funny when he practices out his moves on his two year old sister.”
Not making any sense again.
“The pertinent point is that Parker believes that Guy has sufficient leverage, and is trying to get him to use it. It doesn’t matter if she’s delusional, and her ridiculous suggestion would never work - the fact is that she’s willing to threaten Stasia in order to get something out of her.”
Don’t understand. No matter how “crazy” Stasia might seem, she clearly has at least some brain in her head and isn’t completely retarded. There’s obviously no way in hell that Stasia could possibly get to the point where she thinks, “OK, I absolutely HAVE to have sex with these people right now.” No way in hell, and this is obvious to anyone who has read the story so far and has a brain in their head. You’re saying you can actually picture a scenario where Guy tells Stasia that he’ll break up with her if she doesn’t have a threesome and then you can also picture her responding with “Oh crap, guess I have to!”??? I just don’t understand this whatsoever, don’t know where you guys are coming from. It also should definitely not be assumed that Parker actually believes that Stasia would do this because of the threat. Most likely she thinks there’s a 99% chance that it wouldn’t work WHATSOEVER, but in that 1% chance of it actually working she’d think that it would work because Stasia actually likes Parker and wants to have a threesome with her and Guy. It wouldn’t be because she feels like they have sufficient “leverage,” in Parker’s mind, but this is just a way to get the ball rolling on that basically. It also could just be a test for Guy to see how he’d react — that’s at least part of it. Parker knows almost EVERYTHING about Stasia and she knows that Stasia isn’t retarded enough to actually think that she’d HAVE to have sex with them because of this. Only the stupidest person in the world would think they’d have to over this situation.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:40 am
The facial expressions in this comic are priceless. On this page, pretty much every panel is hilarious.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:54 am
Awesome. Love Guy’s face in thelast panel ^^
July 7th, 2007 at 5:06 am
Eisu:
How is it that when sex is mentioned by a character, he/she loses respect?
Oh, it is not the mention of sex, it is begging for it. Begging is sort of a declaration of bankruptcy: it is made clear that no value considered as adequate will be offered in return. That’s not an attractive proposition for something as personal as sex.
July 7th, 2007 at 8:21 am
Like the world would belive a _CRAZY_ fangirl claiming to have a threesome with Stasia (if that ever happened)
xD
July 7th, 2007 at 9:47 am
I’ve been reading this comic for a while but this is the first time I’m commenting because.. this page made me laugh so hard.
EISU I
July 7th, 2007 at 9:49 am
Alright I’m retarded I forgot you couldn’t type the less than sign.. :-/
This is how the rest of my comment was supposed to go:
EISU I heart you (I followed you here from No Pink Ponies which is also awesomely hilarious).
I think anyone who is offended by Parker on this page is just taking her antics too seriously. It’s not like Stasia is dumb and pliable, if Guy were to even go along with Parker’s crazy ideas.
I can’t wait to see what happens next!
July 7th, 2007 at 11:29 am
*spits out tea*
I love Guy’s face in the last panel
July 7th, 2007 at 11:31 am
Holy f…!
Parker seems to be reaaally desperate! Oh, god! Please never let this path of joy end. And Guy… his expression is really priceless. Awesome!
July 7th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
“It’s not even remotely comparable to peeing on herself, or making a ‘Marry Me’ sign - as much as those actions exhibited a scary level of obsession, they didn’t hurt anyone. This one does.”
See, first, you pointed this post to Valerie, when the poor girl said nothing of this (the comparable to pee-ing or Marry Me sign), it was me who said it… secondly, what I was saying was that Parker is a lesbian who’s willing to do a Marry Me sign for a straight woman, is it so hard to believe that she wants to have sex with Stasia? And yeah, her method of wanting to have sex with Stasia might be with a “leverage” from a friend, but hell, she said so herself, Stasia’s not into that, so a window of opportunity for a threesome is open, she thought she’d take a chance… and thirdly, no one is threatening anyone yet. She’s asking GUY to ask Stasia, she didn’t threaten Stasia even so no one is threatened and no one is hurt so seriously, how does this go into the whole “disrespectful cos it’s rape” thing? It’s an obsessed fan (keyword: obsessed) who wants to sleep with her idol, that’s all there is to it… her situation is different than say a straight guy who’s obsessed over Stasia, she’s a female who likes her own gender and the person she likes “don’t go that way”, so she has to try certain other unorthodox methods if the window of opportunity opens itself… it’s not really that disrespectful or hard to figure especially since we know that Parker’s crazy… this thought, logically speaking (well, logical in the Parker sense) should be crossing her mind…
July 7th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
I think Guy might lose his jaw before the night’s over, poor man.
Parker’s logic never fails to astound me.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Bobby: I’ll start from the end of your reply, since my response will address issues relating to the beginning.
“It wouldn’t be because she feels like they have sufficient “leverage,” in Parker’s mind, but this is just a way to get the ball rolling on that basically. It also could just be a test for Guy to see how he’d react — that’s at least part of it. Parker knows almost EVERYTHING about Stasia and she knows that Stasia isn’t retarded enough to actually think that she’d HAVE to have sex with them because of this. Only the stupidest person in the world would think they’d have to over this situation.”
The problem is that none of that really comes across in the strip itself. Very few people who have commented here have seen the logical jump between Parker’s words and the rationalisation you have accorded to her. It requires the reader to not only have faith in your ability as a storyteller (i.e: assume that the basis of the story, Stasia’s insistence that she stay married to Guy, is actually going to be handled rationally), and in the intelligence of your cast (i.e: ‘nobody’s dumb enough to believe that, therefore Parker/ Stasia can’t be dumb enough.’)
I think you’ll find that neither will be particularly common so early into the comic/ movie. People have been saying that they can’t wait until the next strip to ‘redeem’ Parker because they accept that there could be a reason beyond the obvious for Parker’s actions, but they just can’t see it. You act as though the reasons you accorded to Parker above should be transparent and obvious to all who read the comic, yet out of all the people who’ve commented, how many have seen through the apparent blackmail plan to the motivations you mentioned? You say that ‘it wouldn’t be because Parker thought they had sufficient leverage’ - well, that’s what Parker says to Guy.
This being the case, I’m going to respond to the rest of your post disregarding your explanation, just based on what I was able to glean from the comic itself:
“Parker has absolutely nothing to threaten Stasia with. Parker can’t control what Guy does. Guy is the person who at least has SOMETHING (sort of, not really) to “threaten” Stasia with, and he’s said nothing about actually threatening her — he looks shocked by Parker’s suggestion. Parker has no power here whatsoever, so she can’t make any threats.”
Yes, of course - but Parker believes she’s got power. Or rather, that Guy’s got the power, and that he’ll harness it on her behalf. Her apparent _expectation_ is that if Guy goes to Stasia and tells her to have a threesome, Stasia will be forced to acquiesce. It doesn’t make a difference if her reasoning is flawed, and if her idea is the most ridiculously idiotic proposition imaginable - it’s making people uneasy because it shows that she’s _willing_ to indulge in blackmail and to disregard the feelings and desires of the person she ‘loves’ in order to get what she wants out of her. Not that she has, or even that she will, but that she’s capable of it. She _believes_ she has leverage, and she _believes_ that Guy can blackmail Stasia into a threesome, and she acts on those beliefs. The fact that Guy refuses her, and that the idea isn’t a workable one to begin with, is really beside the point as far as her character is concerned.
“Total nonsense. You’re saying it’s criminal to want to have sex with someone.”
I’m saying nothing of the sort. I’m saying that it’s criminal to blackmail someone into sex, and that Parker was (apparently) willing to do so. Hence, Parker is capable of criminal actions.
Eisu:
“he’s asking GUY to ask Stasia, she didn’t threaten Stasia even so no one is threatened and no one is hurt so seriously, how does this go into the whole “disrespectful cos it’s rape” thing? It’s an obsessed fan (keyword: obsessed) who wants to sleep with her idol, that’s all there is to it… her situation is different than say a straight guy who’s obsessed over Stasia, she’s a female who likes her own gender and the person she likes “don’t go that way”, so she has to try certain other unorthodox methods if the window of opportunity opens itself… it’s not really that disrespectful or hard to figure especially since we know that Parker’s crazy… this thought, logically speaking (well, logical in the Parker sense) should be crossing her mind…”
I’ve gone into that already - it’s NOT rape, but it’s making people uneasy because it’s only one step removed from it. I.e: If Guy actually went through with it, and Stasia agreed out of a real fear for her career, it would be. Hence the reason why people are getting uneasy - it tells them that this character’s obsession extends beyond the cute and cuddly into the sinister.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
I’ll respond more later — rushing to the Dodger game right now, but gotta respond to this quickly –
“I’ve gone into that already - it’s NOT rape, but it’s making people uneasy because it’s only one step removed from it. I.e: If Guy actually went through with it, and Stasia agreed out of a real fear for her career, it would be.”
LOL. Under no conceivable circumstance WHATSOEVER could this be anything remotely CLOSE to rape. Never. Makes no sense. It’s not one step removed or 20 steps removed. It’s nowhere in the same ballpark. It would just be Stasia being completely retarded and choosing to have sex with people for insanely stupid reasons if that was her reasoning behind it. Not blackmail or rape.
“yet out of all the people who’ve commented, how many have seen through the apparent blackmail plan to the motivations you mentioned?”
Um, most people — all the ones who are saying “Best strip ever!” and such, and who are strongly disagreeing with you and one or two others who say they think it’s horrible. It’s similar to the people who hated Guy just for bringing up the question of wondering if they’d have sex tonight like 20 pages ago. Some people are just really uncomfortable with anything like that, that’s all.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
loved the strip (as per usual)
parker’s face in the last panel really gives her a look of desperation, it’s cute. i am still not sure if i love her or hate her, i think i like her character but if she were a person in knew in real life i would be constantly annoyed by her.. or something like that.
i also seriously don’t get why people seem so upset with this strip, i mean really, it’s just silly. but everyone reads things differently, at least they all seem to like the comic no matter what
July 7th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Wow, you guys. Do we have to have a heated debate on every single page? Can’t we just talk about something friendly? XD
I think the bottom line, though, is that everyone’s going to have a different view of Parker based on how they’re seeing things. Some people will like Parker more because they’ll see this as a funny situation, some people will like Parker less because they’ll think she’s trying to take advantage of Guy/Stasia, some people will like Parker the same amount but will see her character in a new light, etc.
Bobby sir, it’s just how readers understand things, y’know? We all see things differently. If anything important is misunderstood, it’s usually figured out on a later page.
Anyway, for the record, I still ♥ Parker. I’ll admit that I was sliiiightly shocked at her suggesting this to Guy, but that’s because I’ve been viewing her as a “cute and cuddly” kind of person. Her character is still awesome, in my opinion. I just saw another side of her. That’s no reason to dislike someone.
But again, that’s just my point of view on it. Other people may have taken things differently. It’s nothing big, just different minds at work.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
I’m fairly sure I understand why people are associating Parker’s attempting to get into bed with Stasia via Guy with blackmail.
Guy says: “And you think I should blackmail her? Don’t you love Stasia? And currently hate me?”
Parker, of course, completely ignores the first part of the sentance; and responds to the way she feels about Stasia by presenting her idea. However, the word “blackmail” has got lodged in our brains due to the weight it carries; combine that with a threesome- another potentially weighty ideal- and that’s where the “blackmail into sex” comes in.
If you actually skip that word, it sounds a lot more like Parker trying to convince her best friend to try to convince his new wife to maybe, one day, have that threesome. Now whilst I’d agree that Parker is trying to apply pressure onto Stasia, at no point did SHE say, or even suggest, that it would be close to blackmail.
However, I must say, I did lose a little respect for Parker here- and I will explain exactly why. Sex is often considered an intimate act, which is- I hesitate to use the word, but it’s late and I can’t think of anything better- almost sacred in the eyes of many. Parker is trying to apply pressure to somebody she supposedly cares about in order to get sexual gratification- with full knowledge that Stasia wouldn’t enjoy it, as she’s “not into that”. She shows less respect for Stasia and her wishes than I would expect from her; and therefore, I lost a little for her as well.
Just my thoughts.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Nothing wrong with wanting to have sex with someone. However, Parker doesn’t really know Stasia as a person yet. So this is coming across as pure lust, not love. I think that a lot of the objections to Parker’s actions here are based on that. (That and the ‘I’m a lesbian, but I’m willing to have sex with you as long as I can have sex with her’ just seems… off.)
July 7th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
I like how both the Artest and Writer defend their characters, but I agree with Bobby and Eisu. We haven’t been able to see the character’s past, or their inner thoughts. We have no idea what they are dreaming, or feeling. Granted, Eisu does a good job with the artwork, but the only one who truly understands the characters is the guy who made them: Bobby.
And Ghost in the Machine, I would call it infatuation, not lust. She’s obsessed with Sasha, not having sex with her. And second, I agree with you. I don’t see Parker going throught GUy to get with Sasha.
(I just responded to Ghost’s because it wasn’t long and ranty.)
July 7th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Seems like a sound plan to me.
I kinda feel bad for Parker. Does that make me a bad person?
July 7th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
I agree with valerie and jade.
I don’t think it was supposed to be about blackmail. I think parker just wanted guy to try to convince her. Not blackmail. He mentions the blackmail not parker. From what I got from the page was this, she ment if u asked stasia for something then stasia would really consider it because she wants to make the marriage work. But we all know that the question will never make it back to the room.
Anyway I think we should just set up one of those “patiently waiting” benches (that I remember valerie mentioning on a diff post) and just relax.
July 7th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
I’m afraid I have to disagree with you Bobby.
The law is very clear that any kind of coercion (Including blackmail/extortion, and specifically threats to public image) is rape.
Furthermore, blackmail is blackmail if the person being blackmailed perceives the release of the information as a threat to them, and the person doing the blackmailing knows that the person believes the information going public is a threat to them. It doesn’t matter whether the average Joe thinks it is blackmail material or not. (Although it can make jury trials unpredictable if the blackmail is predicated on irrational assumptions). Also, this situation would actually be extortion rather then blackmail, but the same principles apply.
So it doesn’t matter that Stasia should not be worried about the theoretical threat being made. All that matters is that Stasia is worried about this issue, and Parker knows it.
Of course, people tend to suggest crazy things sometimes- especially when life has become weird. So I find it plausible that Parker isn’t really intent on blackmailing Stasia and instead she is just a lot of talk. Which is why most conspiracy charges require an actual act in furtherance of the crime.
So Parker has not done anything criminal yet, but she has suggested something that would be criminal if she pursued it.
That’s just the way the law is. Of course, blackmail/extortion cases are a pain to prosecute so alot of people get away with it- and with the apparent irrationality of Stasia (Pop Star marrying some stranger? Not much sympathy from a jury), I think most prosecutors would decline to make top charges. They’d probably push for a plea deal with a slap on the wrist at best- unless they had some concrete evidence of a conspiracy.
July 7th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
I dont see why Parkers ’suggestion’ surprises anyone. at least 90 percent of a homosexual relationship is sexual, and the ‘love’ for someone of the same sex is usually sexual in nature.
goodness
July 7th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Bobby:
“Um, most people — all the ones who are saying “Best strip ever!” and such”
Basil Fawlty is a hilarious character. He’s still an arsehole. I never said that I didn’t find the strip funny - I just don’t find Parker likeable.
“and who are strongly disagreeing with you and one or two others who say they think it’s horrible.”
One or two others? Try >10 - on a brief sweep through the comments, Zahoe, Kalikajira, Particle man, Tibbar de gniw, Ghost in the machine, Linz, Lord klingsor, Goatboy khan, Jessica, Carny, and Fwizzie have all commented that they’re either been creeped out by Parker, or that they’ve lost respect for her. Add to those posters like Proxess and Christopher Howell, who found the strip funny in spite of an acknowledged creepiness (or perhaps because of it). You can add me to that group.
We’re currently on just over 100 comments, with about 40 individual posters (that’s an estimate - feel free to correct me). You’re looking at a quarter to a third of your audience (those who have seen fit to comment) who seem to have missed your point.
“It’s similar to the people who hated Guy just for bringing up the question of wondering if they’d have sex tonight like 20 pages ago. Some people are just really uncomfortable with anything like that, that’s all.”
I’ve just gone through the strip you mentioned - 3 individual posters found Guy’s question off putting - Russ, Sean and Elliot Kane. Of the three, Russ and Sean seemed to lose respect for Guy not so much because he mentioned sex, but because he was being tactless - something you, Bobby, acknowledged.
You can believe that this controversy derives from ’some people’ being really uncomfortable with anything to do with sex, if you want, but really, you’re missing the point. Do you think the response would be more positive if, instead of asking Guy for a threesome, Parker had asked him to get Stasia to give them lots of money?
Jade: No, I think it has more to do with the fact that Parker first points out to Guy that he has leverage over Stasia, thus being the character to introduce the prospect of blackmail into the strip.
July 7th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Aye aye, Captain! *Sits on the metaphorical bench*
…Aw, dang it. I can’t sit quietly over this, hang on. *Stands up*
“I dont see why Parkers ’suggestion’ surprises anyone. at least 90 percent of a homosexual relationship is sexual, and the ‘love’ for someone of the same sex is usually sexual in nature.”
I don’t like that comment. I’m female. I’ve dated (and been in love with) a girl. We never had sex, even though we could have. I don’t see why you’re saying that 90% of the love in a same-sex relationship needs to be sexual. If it’s like that for same-sex, it should be like that for opposite-sex, too. It’s not, though. Love is love, thanks much. Love and lust are totally different things. Don’t confuse them.
Now, I’m going back to my nice little bench. Do me a favor and stop the stereotypes, ‘kay? Not cool. *Sits on the metaphorical bench*
July 7th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
I agree with Tim, the reason that I lost respect for Parker wasn’t that she had an actual chance of blackmailing/extorting/coercing Stasia into having a threesome, it’s that she believed there was a chance and was willing - indeed, eager - to try it. Not only that, but she was willing to do so without a thought for Guy and Stasia’s feelings. Now, I can see this being just a crazy, spur of the moment Parker thing, but just the fact that she not only entertained the idea but was willing to give it a try is what made me lose respect for her. Up until now the impression I got of Parker was that of a crazy fangirl, but also a good friend to Guy, and someone who genuinely cared about both Stasia and Guy. This strip really hurt that impression. Now, if she drops this or apologizes later (I hope she’ll apologize, but eh, not my story) it won’t have as big an impact as it does right now. However, seeing as I don’t have any more of the story to go on, right now, I’ve lost respect for her because her behavior is extremely selfish, and out of character, at least for how I had pictured her.
So, no, Bobby, it has nothing to do with me being prudish or disliking talk about sex. I think discussion of sex is normal, and even healthy. It would probably be better if we had a little more talk about it instead of everyone treating it as a taboo subject. It has everything to do with character development and my disappointment with how Parker acted in this situation. Do I still laugh at Parker’s antics, yes. But she’s not as likable right now as she was. Hopefully further strips will change that. This is a great story, and I look forward to the rest of it.
July 7th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
“One or two others? Try >10 - on a brief sweep through the comments, Zahoe, Kalikajira, Particle man, Tibbar de gniw, Ghost in the machine, Linz, Lord klingsor, Goatboy khan, Jessica, Carny, and Fwizzie have all commented that they’re either been creeped out by Parker, or that they’ve lost respect for her.”
It’s definitely one or two others (at the most) who have said this would be RAPE, which is what I was talking about. Did I ever once say that people shouldn’t be creeped out by it??? No, never. I simply said that it’s not rape and could never be rape and that it’s crazy to blow it so out of proportion like that.
“You’re looking at a quarter to a third of your audience (those who have seen fit to comment) who seem to have missed your point.”
That’s nonsense. Somewhere around 1-3 people have said they think it would be rape (possibly only two, I’m not sure), and those people are just insane. It’s perfectly fine for people to be creeped out by Parker here, but to think it’s rape is just nonsense.
Carny, you don’t know the law very well at all. You’re telling me that if some girl had a stick of gum and some guy walked by and said, “Hey, can I have that gum?” and then the girl said, “Only if you have sex with me first,” that would be RAPE if the guy then agreed to have sex with the girl to get the gum? That’s what you’re saying. It’s a very similar scenario here, in terms of how compelled Stasia would be to actually agree to these demands.
July 8th, 2007 at 12:35 am
Guy’s expression in the last panel is probably his best one ever.
@Bobby and Eisu: Please don’t get yourself too worked up about this. The story’s going along fine as it is (especially seeing as this is supposed to be a one-strip gag). There’ll always be people who start getting wierd viewpoints about these kind of jokes as soon as sex get’s involved. Personally, I don’t think the joke went too far (if something like this would have happened in the real world, someone like parker would have probably tried this way sooner) and you should trust your readership to understand that a little more. Like any artist, you’re not required to explain to us the meaning of your art.
July 8th, 2007 at 12:48 am
“that would be RAPE if the guy then agreed to have sex with the girl to get the gum? That’s what you’re saying. It’s a very similar scenario here, in terms of how compelled Stasia would be to actually agree to these demands.”
It’s not similar at all; the guy is being offered something that he desires, but which will not be hurt by the absence of. Parker’s whole argument to Guy is predicated on the belief that Stasia would consider Guy breaking up with her as a real injury to her career, and hence be hurt by it. In her own words, ‘[Stasia] thinks it’ll kill her career to break up with [Guy]’. She’s asking Guy to threaten Stasia’s career in order to coerce her into sex. How that is even remotely comparable to a girl offering a guy gum if he has sex with her, I really fail to see. A more pertinent example would be if the girl said to the guy, ‘I recorded you stealing from the school yesterday. If you don’t have sex with me I’ll pass on the recording to the police’.
Rape is differently defined around the world, but I believe most legal systems consider sex under coercion to be a form of rape. If Parker isn’t attempting to get Guy to coerce Stasia into sex, what is she doing?
July 8th, 2007 at 1:15 am
Now that my brain has recovered from the unexpected freeze, crash, shutdown, and, eventually, hard reboot that your newest installment pulled, here is what I have to say:
At first I thought Parker was just another fangirl.
Then I thought she was a high-level crazy fangirl.
NOW I THINK SHE’S JUST CRAZY!!!
July 8th, 2007 at 1:24 am
Dear god… there is more text here then there was in my most recent essay on Virginia Wolfe…
This was awesome.
July 8th, 2007 at 2:32 am
“Rape is differently defined around the world, but I believe most legal systems consider sex under coercion to be a form of rape.”
Yes, and it all depends on the type of coercion. For example, that gum scenario wouldn’t be rape, but it is a form of attempted coercion — just a really stupid attempt, though, similar to Parker’s, with no chance of working unless the person simply wants to have sex anyway. It’s impossible for Stasia to think that it would kill her career if she “breaks up” quickly with the stranger who she just apparently married on a whim. Ugh, we could go on like this for ages — you’re just not going to understand apparently. You’re taking it all WAY too seriously. There could be a million different ways to interpret exactly what Parker might be thinking, but none of those million different ways should have the word “rape” ever enter the picture. Sure, it could be taken to be pretty creepy, fine, but when everyone involved, especially Parker, knows that Stasia is not completely retarded and would never think that she’d actually be forced into doing this and have no choice in the matter, then there’s no way that rape could ever be an issue here. I think it’s practically IDENTICAL to the gum comparison. I mean COME ON, Stasia is SUPER RICH, flies around in private jets, and that’s AFTER giving 97% of her money to charity! It’s not like it matters if her image MIGHT be slightly hurt by not staying with Guy forever. Even if her career WAS killed, who gives a crap? She’s still a millionaire! It’s IMPOSSIBLE for breaking up with this stranger to kill or even hurt her career, really, but EVEN if it did kill it, she’d still be totally set for LIFE. So there’s no coercion. It’s not like she’d be going to jail over this or like she’d be living on the streets after this or like any physical harm would come to her or anything bad AT ALL BASICALLY! If no harm can come to her from this, other than the CHANCE that it might slightly hurt her image (and remember that she said this after she was given advice by her very close friend and sister that the SMART THING TO DO IS END IT WITH GUY RIGHT AWAY), then it’s not coercion and it’s nowhere near rape. Logically, Stasia should want to just end it with Guy right away — that’s what would logically be best for her career and probably for herself too, and her sister has told her this even, someone she trusts. But anyway, yeah, keep thinking it’s rape, no problem.
July 8th, 2007 at 4:15 am
Ahh, this comic’s great. Great story, better-than-average art, funny strips etc. I can’t wait to see the next page.
July 8th, 2007 at 7:20 am
Coming to think about it, we’re the people who need those anesthetics, not Parker.
xD
*Wanders off to the metaphorical bench*
July 8th, 2007 at 7:43 am
Wow……….normally I browse through the comments to see what Bobby comes up with….but this time it’s just too much effort to see people arguing with the creator. *sits with Bobby because Bobby is the creator and Bobby is God of this little world*
You just have to love the disgruntled Denny/Wall, and Oh My God, Double You Tee Eff ness of Guy.
July 8th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Bobby, the point isn’t whether it actually would hurt Stasia’s career, it’s the fact that she believes it, and Parker knows she believes it and is willing to exploit that. What makes something coercion or blackmail or extortion is not the actual damage the threat would do if it was carried out, it’s the damage the person thinks it would do, and obviously Stasia thinks it would do a lot of damage to her career.
If someone is threatened with a realistic looking toy gun into having sex, it’s considered rape. It doesn’t matter that the threat wasn’t and could not be real - indeed, was ridiculous. What matters is the person’s belief that the threat was real, and the person holding the toy gun’s knowing that they believed that and being willing to exploit it.
This is essentially what Parker is doing. Yes, we know that it wouldn’t really hurt Stasia in any major way. That’s not the point, either here, or in court if it went there. In court, it could indeed be considered extortion or coercion or even blackmail into having sex. Which is definitely considered rape in the US. Whether or not it would be considered that would depend on how many people on the jury would look at it like you - that there wasn’t a real threat, therefore there was no rape - and how many would look at it like me, tim, and a couple others - there was a perceived threat, therefore it was rape, regardless of how much actual damage it could do.
July 8th, 2007 at 8:55 am
Ok! I’ve got the solution! Let’s call the authorities and make Parker go to jail! That’ll solve things… raper!
Jesuschrist… it’s an alternate universe people, she’s just proposing something… If I propose someone’s death, I’m not a murderer!
July 8th, 2007 at 10:09 am
I don’t see the reason why so many people are upset. I just took it as Parker knowing that Stasia obviously likes Guy (to some point, or she wouldn’t have married him), probably would have sex with HIM, so as a favor to him she might include Parker in the equation. Sure, she phrased it in terms of “do whatever he wants” or whatnot, but I doubt she’d really blackmail Stasia. I mean - she’s obviously in love with the woman, obviously wants to at least be tolerated by her, and making Stasia unhappy or force her into sex would obviously not be the way to go. I think she’s sane enough to see that. Also, I think in the back of her head she probably knows Guy would never in a million years say yes if it’s a really bad idea, so maybe she’s just suggesting to see how he would react.
It’s a bit like getting upset ’cause one of the characters jaywalked or something. Sure, it’s illegal, in an obscure kinda way, and disrespectful to, uh, people driving cars, and could possibly be dangerous but… does it really warrant public outrage?
Anyway. I thought it was funny, and cute in an insane way. Poor Parker, I hope she finds someone she can devote those attentions to
July 8th, 2007 at 10:26 am
I love Guy’s shocked face in the last panel
To all the “rape” people: Listen, I think we should just chill out and take a few deep breathes and watch what happens in the comic before getting all worked up over this one strip. Or, you could just go away and not read this comic at all. Frankly, either way would be better than yelling at its creators constantly.
July 8th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
“Bobby, the point isn’t whether it actually would hurt Stasia’s career, it’s the fact that she believes it . . .”
Huh??? Did you miss the parts where I said about 20 times already that Stasia obviously is nowhere near stupid enough to believe it? Should I quote myself about 20 times right now? Re-read my posts please.
“. . . and obviously Stasia thinks it would do a lot of damage to her career.”
Once again, no she doesn’t. She’s nowhere near retarded enough to think that it would be so damaging to her career that she’d have to allow herself to be “raped” to avoid it. Re-read my posts. Her best friend and main adviser already told her that the smart thing to do is to end it with Guy ASAP!
July 8th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
To get a response like this for the work you two do, you’re obviously doing something right. And I must add that the last line on the page is my favourite thus far. Very amusing.
July 8th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
“Coming to think about it, we’re the people who need those anesthetics, not Parker.”
XD!! *High-fives* Welcome to the bench.
Dragonmage, you should come sit on the bench too. You’d fit in. XD
But, um, as much as I do love this little bench, I have to direct a comment to Bobby…
Bobby sir, you said that there’s no way she’d believe that breaking up with Guy would hurt her career, but didn’t she say something along the lines of “Oh no, must stay with Guy” before? My memory could just be messing with me, so correct me if I’m wrong.
July 8th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Valerie, she could definitely think that it could hurt her career, but nowhere NEAR to the point of thinking it’s such a dramatic thing that she’d have to have sex with people to avoid it. Her closest adviser told her that the smart thing would be to end it with Guy right away! So it’s not like a DONE DEAL, that it would hurt her career. It’s not like the example Tim gave about someone having evidence of you doing something criminal that you’d go to jail for if it’s released or any crap like that. It’s a guessing game and Stasia, in a crazy moment, had the idea to stay with Guy forever. But common sense tells her it’s probably not the smartest thing to do, as Janny already said. Also, once again, why would she care so much if it hurt her career??? She’s a MULTI-MILLIONAIRE and she gives most of her money to charity. And again, she’s NOT retarded. Only reason for her to possibly agree to this just because of the “hurting her image/career” aspect if she’s COMPLETELY RETARDED. Like stupidest person in the world. And Parker obviously knows that she’s not.
July 8th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Nearly fell off my chair reading the comic!
As for all the people shouting “RAPE!”, even though Bobby himself has already mentioned why there wouldn’t be any (Parker might be insane enough to think this might work, Stasia ISN’T.), bloody well get over yourselves.
Seriously, wtf makes you think you can see inside of the characters heads better than the person who writes them?
July 8th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Bobby, people usually care about their careers, whether they have money or not. It disturbs me a little that you’re suggesting a career wouldn’t matter if you have enough money. I mean, yeah, we all wanna be rich. Who wouldn’t? But careers are about things you love doing, not the money you make.
In ths particular case, though, Stasia seems almost sick of her career. So who knows?
Annnd Bobby, as much as I ♥ you, Eisu, and the comic… um, would it be okay to ask that you please use the word “retarded” a little less? Maybe I’m overly sensitive, but my brother and sister both have some problems, so it bugs me when people use it as a negative term so much…
July 8th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
You know that analogy with the gum? It might not be rape, but it’s still sexual assault. Okay, maybe gum is too minor. Let’s substitute in a job instead of gum. A guy wants a promotion but can’t have it unless he has sex with his boss. Now what do you consider it? The gum was a very bad example and had absolutely nothing to do with this case. I am not trying to start an argument with the stupid gum thing, I’m just saying you were a bit hasty with the analogy. It is absolutely nothing like what people are assuming from the comic. Okaaay, moving on.
Even though I do realize that almost no one here is going to change his or her opinion, you have to consider a few points to put some people at a bit more understanding. They’re Bobby’s character’s and he’s going to defend them to his death. We’re all stubborn now and we would like to defend our own oinions. We do understand that Stasia is not stupid enough to go through with this. We seem to get that she’s not really stressed enough to be coerced, either. But that’s not the point. The point is the intent. The way it’s worded. What would hold up in court? Just because the word ‘blackmail’ is used doesn’t mean it’s blackmail. I get that. The point is that Parker wants sex with Stasia. She can only get it through Guy, because he presumably has power (one of the key factors in what most consider rape is dominance) over her. Now, IF (I know she WON’T, but please just look from a slightly different view for the moment) Stasia went through with this, she wouldn’t know the reasons behind it. I’m sure, if she really was stupid, she would just agree with anything that Guy said. Later, if she wisened, the law would be on HER side. Yeah, I do get that she was just told to break up with Guy a couple of times, and that it’s the best thing to do. What I’m trying to do right now is look at it from what Parker is saying, not what Stasia was just informed, and not how we know Stasia would react.
Again, I realize that she won’t do it. But IF everything went as Parker desired, it’s at least some form of sexual assualt or rape or something along those lines. Leave the actual term to the people who got better than a B+ in their college law classes. Parker didn’t intend it as rape, but she is trying to take advantage of the situation to involve sex. There are plenty of people out there who would go through with it in this situation. And, sure, they’re stupid, but that usually means they don’t have the legal capacity to make an informed decision. The consent is not valid because of the duress and the lack of capacity.
In closing, no, Stasia isn’t stupid. Thank you for elaborating on that point and sticking with your characters. Thank you for telling us that Parker didn’t intend to rape Stasia. We get it. We’re stubborn. I know I am. But my mind is also open. Maybe not quite enough for my brains to fall out, but it’s still open enough to take note of what others are saying. Bobby, you just seem like you’re arguing because you love your characters. You definitely have plenty of validity in what you’re saying, but you have to remember that not everyone is basing their thoughts on what will happen or what should, but what could. They’re allowed to think, too. If you didn’t want them to have opinions, why let them think at all? Just give everybody the entire comic script. Or immediately tell everyone that what they are assuming is correct or incorrect about the whole of the comic. Let’s not have anymore mysteries here. Imaginations suck.
Now to change the subject: I love this comic. Yay!
July 8th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
“Bobby, people usually care about their careers, whether they have money or not. It disturbs me a little that you’re suggesting a career wouldn’t matter if you have enough money.”
But it’s not only about that, Valerie. It’s a complicated thing. It’s not just because I’m saying she doesn’t need her career — the most important part by far is that common sense says that this would HELP HER CAREER to end it with Guy instantly! As I’ve said 2,000 times now. The only reason I’ve mentioned the aspect of how losing her career isn’t that important is to take it a step further and say that even if it DID hurt her career (which it basically COULDN’T — think about it), that’s still nowhere near reason enough for her to allow herself to be blackmailed and RAPED! You have to look at the entire picture here. Many factors play a role in making it beyond stupid for Stasia to even entertain the idea of doing this just to avoid her image/career being POSSIBLY SLIGHTLY damaged.
“You know that analogy with the gum? It might not be rape, but it’s still sexual assault.”
No, it’s not sexual assault at all.
“A guy wants a promotion but can’t have it unless he has sex with his boss. Now what do you consider it?”
Um, obviously that’s illegal. That’s nowhere near like what was suggested in the comic. The gum analogy is perfect for it, though.
“Again, I realize that she won’t do it. But IF everything went as Parker desired, it’s at least some form of sexual assualt or rape or something along those lines.”
No, it’s definitely not.
“There are plenty of people out there who would go through with it in this situation.”
Huh? There’s no one. Unless they badly wanted to have sex with Parker.
“Bobby, you just seem like you’re arguing because you love your characters.”
Makes no sense whatsoever, completely wrong. I’m arguing because people are saying insanely stupid wrong things (RAPE!) and I’m correcting them.
“You definitely have plenty of validity in what you’re saying, but you have to remember that not everyone is basing their thoughts on what will happen or what should, but what could.”
Doesn’t make any sense. I’m also talking about what could.
“If you didn’t want them to have opinions, why let them think at all?”
Shaking my head, don’t know what the heck you’re saying. I can choose to not let people think now? Wow!
“Or immediately tell everyone that what they are assuming is correct or incorrect about the whole of the comic. Let’s not have anymore mysteries here. Imaginations suck.”
No clue what you’re saying. Ask a specific question and I’ll answer it.
July 8th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
jesus god.
I’ve been reading some of the comments and rape? Parker is crazy but she would NEVER forcibily rape stasia. She says herself, that she is in love with stasia so obviously she wouldn’t want to hurt her, but apart from that - it’s a joke! I seriously doubt Parker would actually go through with any blackmail or hurt Stasias career in any way and i SERIOUSLY doubt stasia would allow any blackmail like that because come on- the blackmail itself is stupid! Guy leaving Stasia wouldn’t affect her career anymore than it does him being with her.
It’s a joke! Argh!
July 8th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Uhhhgh. My head.
Why people, WHY.
Damn,
Anyway I agree with mihoshik.
Plus I didn’t think rape at all.
I saw it more like she’ll listen to u if u ask kinda thing.
Example: “Hey stasia, so how about for our honeymoon we have it a threesome with parker. It might be fun.”
Not: “Oh you don’t wanna sleep with me and parker, fine then I’m gonna break up with you so your career will be over. HAHAAHAHAH.”
Yeah so…. Anyway I’m gonna go find this bench now.
I think I need a hug.
July 8th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
dude, ya know that form now on ppl will be hoping it’ll actualy happen?
you’re a very cruel person…
July 8th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Hello, I’ve enjoyed this comic so far, but I do have to agree that her last statements have lowered my respect for Parker. Bobby, you said that it might help Stasia’s career if she ends it with Guy, but I don’t think she believes that yet or she would have already ended it. It is clear that she would much rather avoid having a threesome than to end it with Guy, but ending it with Guy is still something she does not want to do, but would be forced to do if Guy pressed it. I don’t think the consequences of what she is being forced to do matter as much, whether it be to end it with guy, lose a large sum of money, lose a stick of gum, or get physically injured. Regardless of what the consequences are, the person forcing those consequences believes that they have enough leverage to make them do what they want.
For example, if a mugger pulled a knife on someone and demanded their wallet, the mugger is hoping that the person will consider the consequence of being stabbed sufficient leverage to give up their wallet. However, if that person had a black belt in karate, they might easily be able to disarm the mugger, so it could be stupid for them to give up their wallet. The point being regardless of the perceived threat or what actually happens, I have now lost respect for the person holding the knife for attempting to commit robbery.
In this case Parker has not committed rape and is not going to. However if Guy does what Parker is asking him to do, then no matter how poor the attempt is, they are still attempting to rape Stasia by forcing a consequence, no matter how small, that Parker is hoping will be sufficient leverage to get her to have sex with them. So whether you want to call it asking Guy to use some form of leverage to assist her in a poor attempting to force Stasia to have sex with her, it is still asking to attempt it that has caused me to lose respect for her.
I understand some characters are not meant to have the most respect and that losing respect can make characters more interesting, especially if they try to redeem themselves. It just seems to me by the way you are defending your characters that this loss of respect was unintentional.
July 8th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Aww, Captain. XD *Hugs* Welcome to the nice little bench of friendly niceness and waiting.
July 8th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
I think the basis of the arguement here is the people who think that Stasia is “retarded enough” to think that her career is in danger enough that she would HAVE TO have the threesome in order to keep Guy and Parker there, and then people who think that Stasia would have her wits about her NOT to do something as stupid as think that a threesome could save her career.
July 8th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
“I don’t think the consequences of what she is being forced to do matter as much, whether it be to end it with guy, lose a large sum of money, lose a stick of gum, or get physically injured. Regardless of what the consequences are, the person forcing those consequences believes that they have enough leverage to make them do what they want.”
I don’t know how many times I’m going to be forced to say this, but there’s no way in hell Parker actually thinks she has significant leverage under any circumstance to make Stasia do this. I’ve said this like 20 times and it should be obvious by now. I’ve explained it in massive detail. I’ve said that Paker more than anyone else even knows that Stasia wouldn’t be stupid enough to think she’d have to do this.
Also, it should be made clear again that there’s no chance in the world of either scenario here “ending Stasia’s career.” She’s getting huge publicity out of this either way and it’s not like it’s hugely negative — she’s just seen as a little wacky, but it’s not like she hurt anyone or did drugs or anything illegal whatsoever. She just married some stranger, and she’s getting tons of press about it. None of the options (ending it with Guy now or staying with him for a while or staying with him forever) would greatly affect her career, really, and certainly none of them would drastically hurt her career. So there’s nothing about “saving her career” here — no, nothing like that.
July 8th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
*Stretches* Maaaan, it’s good to not be arguing. Really, it’s fun. You guys should try it. XD
July 8th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Yeah lets all relax now
The mr. Bobby guy has explained it so people just relax and enjoy.
Btw valerie is there anything to drink on this bench or should I go pick some up?
July 8th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
It’s a comic. It needed a punchline. The threesome was the joke and the last speech bubble was a great punchline. It’s funny. I laughed. Chill out.
July 8th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
I like the bench…
Wow people got heated up about this. I just thought it was funny and made me laugh, although I seem to be one of the few who simply doesn’t give a damn about parker. I’m much more interested in guy and stasia.
But honestly, we’ve seen that parker can be a bit silly and not think things through before she proposes them. I read this as just another example of that. She wants Stasia and has “Brainwave” and immediately runs off to blurt it out to Guy.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I often have really stupid and sometimes not always nice ideas that I don’t realise are as bad as they are until I stop and think.
Stopping and thinking isn’t something I’d give parker much credit for… she doesn’t seem to be the type.
July 8th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
The point I and several others have been trying to make is that whether or not Parker even believes that it will work, the fact that she would suggest it is what has made us lose respect for her. Obviously from the comic she is not doing it in a joking kind of way, she’s at least saying it in a way to make Guy take her seriously. Seeing it from Guy’s viewpoint, especially as he doesn’t know Stasia, it’s basically asking him to force the woman he just married into having a threesome. Which, from what I have seen of Guy and can infer from that, he would at least consider wrong.
I’m not trying to tell you how you should do your comic. I’m not saying Stasia would go along with it. I’ll concede that Parker may know that Stasia would not go along wit