People Assume 2015-03-26

[Akeche]

I'm curious why Atsali is having this conversation with Jin instead of with Monica - after all she is the one who had the major self-consciousness issues regarding her body during her teen years.

I'd doubt M's in a position to be giving anyone advice right now.

[Sgt. Howard]

hmmm... yea, well I would certainly fail that test...

[jwhouk]

We have already seen that Atsali is sensitive to siren stereotypes, so she might see people projecting even when they aren't.

"If all you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail."

[Dave]

my guess, she is aware enough to read up on her heritage is find out the common perceptions/stereotypes/assumptions/tropes(?) that the rest of the paranormal community has about Sirens.

Atsali is probably also quite capable of understanding' peoples interactions with each other and any emotional exchanges.

What she is clueless (probably a defensive survival trait inherited via both her parents?) about is 'reading' peoples emotions when those emotions are directed at her.

It coud very well be an inherited thing, as you say... what Kath said, rather implied that it's a species characteristic. In a way, it might be a part (or consequence) of the Sirens' power of luring and fascinating. If you (as a race) have developed the power to induce strong feelings in others at will... overwhelmingly strong feelings of love and lust... then it would make sense for you to "not take them personally" and not react to such feelings as if they were real and meaningful. Sirens apparently have the reputation for being sexual predators, and predators in general don't gain a benefit from being sensitive and sympathetic to the feelings of their prey.

So, although Atsali is very clear about not wanting to follow the stereotypical behavior patterns for which Sirens are disliked, she may still have some of her race's evolved "emotional insulation" to deal with. That, plus the fact that she's still young, of course... she was tossed into physical adulthood pretty abruptly and her emotional "age" hasn't caught up.

In a way, what she's dealing with reminds me a bit of some aspects of a mild case of Asperger syndrome - an impaired ability to sense and interpret social cues and nonverbal communications. The way she "overrode" what Jin was trying to say, and just kept talking about her own view of the situation, was another "being oblivious to another person's communication" moment and sorta fits the same pattern... another bit of "nerdy" behavior.

[captnq]

I'm sorry, but Atsali's figure is almost to the point of comedy. I don't find her sexy in the least. If I was in Jin's position, I think I would sigh, rub the bridge of my nose, then stand up and look Atsali straight in the eye, "You might not believe this, but not everyone on the planet finds you attractive."

She's far too young, and when she has been drawn in color she's way too pale. Disturbingly pale. I never found freckles cute. She's way too tall and while I like breasts, there's a point where they are TOO big and it... well, freaks me out. Her proportions are all wrong, as far as I'm concerned. I look at her and it's like looking at some sort of... alien. She went past the uncanny valley into "the angles are all wrong" in an almost lovecraftian sort of way.

Not that I would ever say anything like that to a person's face. Each person is beautiful in their own way. I just don't find her ATTRACTIVE. I got it! Atsali looks like a life sized Barbie Doll. Neck too long. Bust too big. She's just not "right".

Hey, I wonder if that was intentional. Like, a subtle statement about children's toys, or something.

Now her mother... *Rawr*
The artist nailed that one, no doubt about it.

[eee]

I'm curious why Atsali is having this conversation with Jin instead of with Monica - after all she is the one who had the major self-consciousness issues regarding her body during her teen years.

At a guess...

Monica has her own issues. As her break up with Kevin, and her endless angsting over mentoring Callista, shows. Jin laid most of her internal problems to rest long ago. She didn't have much choice; the Calender Machine cycle would be repeated endlessly if she didn't get a grip on herself and events. Monica might be better able to advise 'Sali about having big boobs and where to get bras; Jin can tell her how to deal with the world's obsession with her boobs and heritage.

Also, Monica's dark side is not under control. Jin's is. Jin accepted that she could do great evil, but decided not to except as needed. Atsali has had the collective knowledge and feelings of the surviving Ethians rammed into her brain, AND then helped destroy them. I suspect she needs someone older and wiser and a lot more cunning than she to help her deal with the guilt,stress, and capacity for destruction she now has. And Jin simply has a lot more experience in living than Monica has. Jin's rich, cultured, and in a loving, stable relationship with Alan, last we saw. I don't think Monica can claim all those attributes. For a young girl with lots of issues and doubts, Jin would be very attractive as a life coach...

Of course there is a danger of giving Jin too much control over her. I doubt Jin would willingly take it, but if Atsali needs a LOT of help, she might wind up giving 'Sali too much direction instead of letting her figure things out for herself.

[illiad]

I'm curious why Atsali is having this conversation with Jin instead of with Monica - after all she is the one who had the major self-consciousness issues regarding her body during her teen years.

I'd doubt M's in a position to be giving anyone advice right now.

last I heard was she was mentoring Cricket... she is atsali's aunt, so will be around.. her dark side IS under control, a lot more that a certain top gear presenter!!

[Elvis]

In your face!

[illiad]

I'm sorry, but Atsali's figure is almost to the point of comedy. I don't find her sexy in the least. If I was in Jin's position, I think I would sigh, rub the bridge of my nose, then stand up and look Atsali straight in the eye, "You might not believe this, but not everyone on the planet finds you attractive."

She's far too young, and when she has been drawn in color she's way too pale. Disturbingly pale. I never found freckles cute. She's way too tall and while I like breasts, there's a point where they are TOO big and it... well, freaks me out. Her proportions are all wrong, as far as I'm concerned. I look at her and it's like looking at some sort of... alien. She went past the uncanny valley into "the angles are all wrong" in an almost lovecraftian sort of way.

no, she is not meant to be attractive... you are obviously too old to remember how obsessed you were at 15.... and WHY Paul draws her that way!!

Not that I would ever say anything like that to a person's face. Each person is beautiful in their own way. I just don't find her ATTRACTIVE. I got it! Atsali looks like a life sized Barbie Doll. Neck too long. Bust too big. She's just not "right".

yes, chicken neck, chicken legs, siren looks to pull in the victims.. all youngsters look for...
http://wapsisquare.com/comic/fellow-explorer/

Hey, I wonder if that was intentional. Like, a subtle statement about children's toys, or something.

Now her mother... *Rawr*
The artist nailed that one, no doubt about it.

and her mothers age is????

[DilyV]

Did my post get deleted?

[Amethyst Shadow]

Geez.. I know a GUY that has the problem... he is so busy vocally moaning about all the stuff that go on around him, he cannot seem to hear the answers people are giving!!!
Atsali is not at all clueless, she just seems to be 'socially blind' - she cannot see the signs of people trying to 'make contact' with her...

I very nearly am that guy. I'm not much of a talker, but the social reverse tunnel vision...oh yeah. Most flirting and the like, go right over my head, clean miss. Yet I have no trouble seeing it all around me.

Good to know I'm no the only one.

There's a running gag within my group of friends that I "wouldn't know a woman was hitting on me unless she was using a baseball bat to do it".

[Halfbiscuit]

I can't decide if Pablo is being ironic or is just blissfully self-unaware by having Jin lecture Atsali about how she's a teenager and how people shouldn't sexualize her.

Pablo sexualizes and objectifies her constantly. He emphasizes her cleavage and puts boob-centric pinups of her up on weekends, FFS. It feels like one constant leer much of the time. Kinda squicky if you ask me.

Just sayin'.

[lake_wrangler]

Hey, I wonder if that was intentional. Like, a subtle statement about children's toys, or something.

Now her mother... *Rawr*
The artist nailed that one, no doubt about it.

and her mothers age is????

I seem to recall 36 being brandied about, some time back...

But then, I went and looked at the chronology in the Wapsi Wiki, to be reminded that Katherine was found as an infant in the Mapimi silent zone, in 1970. So she is at least 42 (since we have passed 2012 in-comic), but I can't tell you how far past it...

[captnq]

Now her mother... *Rawr*
The artist nailed that one, no doubt about it.

and her mothers age is????

Katherine Gilchrist? No idea.
But anyone woman who would kill and cook a squirrel for murdering her plants has just the right amount of crazy for me.

[kingklash]

Just repeat to yourself, "It's just a comic. I should really just relax."

(La la la!)

[Sgt. Howard]

Now her mother... *Rawr*
The artist nailed that one, no doubt about it.

and her mothers age is????

Katherine Gilchrist? No idea.
But anyone woman who would kill and cook a squirrel for murdering her plants has just the right amount of crazy for me.

AMEN!

[Dave]

But anyone woman who would kill and cook a squirrel for murdering her plants has just the right amount of crazy for me.

There's probably a long, complex adjective, with roots in Greek and Latin and Nahuatl, which means "One who has a deep appreciation for the true worth of a really good vine-ripened old-cultivar tomato."

She has lots of that.

[Sgt. Howard]

But anyone woman who would kill and cook a squirrel for murdering her plants has just the right amount of crazy for me.

There's probably a long, complex adjective, with roots in Greek and Latin and Nahuatl, which means "One who has a deep appreciation for the true worth of a really good vine-ripened old-cultivar tomato."

She has lots of that.

The phrase is common enough English- "Earth Mother" type. Among those who study elemental powers, she would be a 'terrain' or 'terran' - either spelling is correct... Miz Annie, the strong willed, red headed, green eyed, fair complexioned, curvy young lady who adores me is of this mold. She can raise any plant in any soil in any climate. She needs only fuss with something that's trying to die for a short bit to have it revive. Life springs from her in abundance, as she is that which brings life into the home. AND YES- killing a squirrel for plant desecration (or a rabbit, deer, 'possom, whatever) and cooking the carcass (assuming it's a decent meal) HAS HAPPENED here on Howard's Hilltop on several occasions.
Annie is an Earth Mother- so are Kathy, Bud and Mayaheul

[Warrl]

She can raise any plant in any soil in any climate. She needs only fuss with something that's trying to die for a short bit to have it revive. Life springs from her in abundance, as she is that which brings life into the home.

I knew a lady like that when I was a kid. We threatened to create a line of increasingly-large shovels, with a backhoe at the end of the line, and get a picture of her sticking a garden trowel into the ground at the front of the line. Because it wouldn't have surprised any of us much if she could make shovels grow.

[Sgt. Howard]

Miz Annie, the strong willed, red headed, green eyed, fair complexioned, curvy young lady who adores me is of this mold. l

Paul, if you are reading- do you see why I might write of a character who is in love with Phix?