Weekend Workshop: Philosophical Sunday

I haven't done many edits recently, so I only one I have for you this weekend.

Based on The Amazing Spider-Man, 2014-04-23.

But I forgot to post on Friday so I'll just use this as a catch-up day.

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Blondie, 2014-04-25.

Wait, kindergarten? Elmo is only around four years old? I always assumed he was about ten. And even then, the fact that he's always hanging around in the Bumsteads' house was pretty weird, but if he's four then it's just bizarre.

Why is he always at the Bumsteads' anyway? We never see his parents, and he seems to just come and go as he pleases, so it's not like Dagwood is babysitting. He's just a four-year-old kid who comes around to spend time with his adult neighbour for no apparent reason.

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Bleeker the Rechargeable Dog, 2014-04-23.

If you were going to have a robot lift operator, surely it would just be the lift. You wouldn't have a little robot dog actually pressing buttons. The buttons are there because humans have to use them.

And the idea that these robots have dreams and preferences reminds us again that they are sentient, intelligent beings, and Skip's family owns them. This is a comic about slaves. But it's kind of worse than regular slaves, because they've been specifically designed to accept their slavery, and even to have particular attributes that make them better workers. It's like slavery and eugenics. Also, they're consumer electronics, so when they get a bit out of date they just get thrown out. Refurb is already a second-hand bit of rubbish bought only as an amusing novelty.

It hasn't come up for a while now, but there are strips where Karl demonstrates his awareness of these disturbing facts, and Bleeker just brushes it off like it's nothing. But, and this may seem crazy, Karl is actually the sanest character in this comic. Except maybe Lila, she seems OK.

Software updates

Bleeker the Rechargeable Dog, 2013-11-14.

In this universe, robots are sentient artificial intelligences who are bought and sold and forced to work for no pay. They're electronic slaves. But that's just the basic premise of the comic, I haven't gotten to what makes today's strip so crazy yet.

Here's the thing — there are software updates that modify the personalities of these robots. These sentient robots with complex thoughts and emotions. They're people. They're people being held as slaves and who have their personalities rewritten on the whims of their owners.

This comic is pretty dark.

Bleeker the Rechargeable Dog

"Looks like the Smiths are having a yard sale" says Karl conversationally.
"Yeah," says Bleeker, "lots of old gadgets and junk"
A horrifying realisation strikes Karl. "That'll be us someday" he says.
Bleeker groans. "Karl, don't start with that!"
"...What?" says Karl angrily. "It's just a matter of time"
Bleeker rolls his eyes.
"We're havin' a yard sale?!" asks Refurb. Poor, stupid Refurb. He'll be the first to go.

Comic

Bleeker: the Rechargeable Dog

Skip, Lila and Grammy K are standing on the footpath. Skip and Lila are holding skateboards.
"Grammy K," says Skip, "this is my friend Lila"
"When I was a child," replies Grammy K, "girls wore dresses!"
"...But then you couldn't do this!" says Lila, doing a handstand on her skateboard.
"Why can't you be more like that!?" Grammy K demands of Skip.
"Nice meeting ya!" calls Lila as she skateboards away.

Comic