Some Theories Confirmed

I'm still curious about the relationships between the nodes. Do they have exactly the same idea of self or do they differ?

Bagge

Good call, Dan. For whatever reason I was reading it incorrectly as the “i” sound. Makes perfect sense now that I’m reading it properly. Mea culpa. *sets fire to English degree*

Foal Papers

Nah...if something is embodied multiple times, it is *multiply-embodied", pronounced with an ee sound at the end rather than an "i" sound (the latter as in the name of the mathematical operator). You've got me thinking why that is now. Embodied is the past tense of embody, and is a verb. Multiple is an adjective, whereas multiply is being used as an adverb. and in this case is classed as an adverb of time so is placed before the verb it modifies.

Daniel Piercy

Should “multiply-embodied” not be “multiple-embodied”?

Foal Papers

Just guessing that neither of them wants to report it to the landlord, for fear of an increase in rent, or even eviction.

awgiedawgie

A portion of poker is randomization, each node of the group mind would be dealt to from a well shuffled deck, betting would be weird, and bluffing would be impossible but other than that it is still poker

Adam

Would have been a decent theory up until this appearance by Spookybot in tights and a sports bra. Plural pronouns because there's literally many of them, but at least one of them is probably female, to the extent that an AI can be female. Then again, it's not at all like all the AIs we've seen have had distinctly sexed bodies at all, lots of them are classical sexless robots but clearly have a mental sex going on. So I'm gonna guess Spookybot goes for the androgynous look because it's unsettling and because there are multiple consciousnesses at play who might be in control of the body at any given time and it's probably easier for the ones that lean more male to not have a set of Double-Ds to contend with.

Sean

How long has that hole in the ceiling been there? https://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3903

Elf Sternberg

My theory is that Spookybot is the product of a ZX81, a tequila-fueled midnight coding session and 3 simultaneous lightning strikes.

Thomas Boys

Well there was this washed-up console cowboy who got offered a job......

FluoroNinja

There are not good billionaires, they have to stop being billionaires for that.

Luzahn

QC-verse is very compelling, because in general people (and AIs) are less asshole-ish than in ours (probably because of less resource scarcity?). In our universe I would love to see Spookybot using their power to dig up all the dirt on powerful people: billionaires, owners of private prisons and private armies, opioid peddlers, Bible-thumping fundamentalists etc. But at the same time I fear that it would risk to propel SB towards Terminator/Matrix solution. So, for the time being, let's just enjoy their quirky relationship in this beautiful fictional world.

Evgeniy Semyonov

I don't know how several linked nodes of a group mind could play a game of poker. Unless they can unlink temporarily, of course.

I think the colourer fells asleep; the outline ink is there.

Chris Crowther

Spookybots right arm disappears in the third panel

I'm mildly disappointed that we didn't arrive home to find four other Spooks bodies already sitting in Roko's apartment, drinking her tea and playing poker.

Looks like several people were right about Spookybot's multiple consciousness "we" identity. Maybe that's WHY they chose a gender-neutral-seeming body and dress style? I think it's cool that Jeph chose to bring that question and discussion straight into the comic. PS: Have I mentioned before how MUCH I love Jeph's characters and world-building? It's my favorite story about a blended AI/human everyday world.

Kerin Schiesser

Assuming Melon’s volcano was made using thermite (instead of the old vinegar-and-baking-soda trick), it could have burned up enough by the time it reached Roko’s floor to not burn a hole clear through.

awgiedawgie

We’ve only ever seen them mention once that they don’t have a name. That doesn’t really seem like much of a “protest”.

awgiedawgie

or the Goodie/Baddie/Whatsit from the Ancillary Series by Leckie.

jeff fearnow

No, the Singularity was the point at which AIs and humans became legally equally known as “people”. They have equal rights, and therefore equal responsibilities. Momo, for example, was originally acquired as Marigold’s companion AI. Now, however, even though she still feels a close friendship with Marigold, she is a housemate who is free to come and go as she pleases. She has her own room, and pays her own part of the rent.

awgiedawgie

Melon plays The Floor is Lava for realsies.

Andrew

Ok, that is frighteningly good, Somber Pony.

Joseph Bonnar

CeilingMelon?

SpookyPenguin

Winston hangs out with Pintsize... He's not afraid of deviant sex, I think.

Joseph Bonnar

If AIs get piercings, do they use bone and leather?

Sleepy John

I am concerned they may develop into "The All Thing" from the Hyperion Cantos...

Obliviontoad

Although not confirmed this is what I suspected about Spookybot. They were probably developed by some secret agency. Now I want Spookybot to meet Steve.

Brent Catherman

The far ends of the clue spectrum meet at last.

Sleepy John

Is there a matching hole in Roko’s floor? What cruelly ironic character might live there... Crushbot?

Andrew

I lava what you've done with the place...

Chris Gallaty

I think spookybot protests too much about not having a name. Then again, if your name was Gary maybe you wouldn't admit it :-).

David Durant

Is this a call back to that weird comic where they talked about the concept of the singularity?

Gamera

Roko: Sorry about Melon... she's a little... Spooky: Oh you have nothing to apologize for. AI's with her level of extreme fractialization might be erratic, even a little disturbing, but there's nothing wrong with it. Roko (looking a little baffled): Oh. I think you're the first person that hasn't been put off by her. Spooky, looking at the hole with a smile: "Let me guess: you were trying to put away the dishes?" Roko (now looking worried as Melon sticks her head out the hole):Uhhh... Melon gasping: How did you know? Roko: Yeah, I'm a little baffled myself. Spooky: I could tell from the powder residue, and the most efficient means of storage is to reduce volume to as little as possible. By melting the dishes, she could store them more efficiently. Roko (Looking a little disturbed): That... honestly makes kinda sense. Spooky: AI's with her degree of fractalization might seem odd, but they can arrive at rather astonishingly astute conclusions. Melon: Like your distributed process matrix in the programming substrata? Spooky, now looking a bit disturbed. "Quite..."

Somber Pony

That's canonical.

Jason Zions

With Arthur's cooking, I'm thinking that deposit is *long* gone: https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3643

Peter Jensen

Ceiling-Melon watches you....go about your day. ^_^

Hijinks! Hijinks! Hijinks!

Leona

So Spookybot is a realtion to the Geth.

Rosilin

Spookybot and Melon together.... this is going to be amazing!

Anton

Welp....it WAS a nice reality.... to be fair, who DOESN'T get along with Melon, and what is wrong with them??

Shawn K. Younkin

Lava accident? Someone isn't getting their security deposit back.

Michael Boettger

I could easily see Spookybot being completely intimidated by Melon.

Clifton Royston

Looks like spookybutt has round speech bubbles again. Hmmmm

Smazzie

I'm expecting "wait, your THAT Melon?"

Matt Grayson

Spookybot and Melon together. That's... well. It's either the best thing ever or the universe will implode. I'm good either way.

Celine Chamberlin

Oh god. Spookybot meets Melon. Worlds collide. Cats dance with dogs. Lions play poker with lambs. Winslow finds something he actually isn’t afraid of!

Miyaa

melon :3

At least the plot threads are still together... Hi Melon!

Max D S