05-04-13 Something you are not telling me

[Spidrift]

I'm hoping it's less gay or uninterrested and just that Ruby is prudish

But prudish isn't an orientation, it's a state of mind - one that can be explained, or changed, or otherwise used to fuel plots. But then her orientation would still be an open question, of at least academic interest. More than that, in fact, as a prude can be distracted or flustered in circumstances where their buttons are being pushed despite their prudishness.

I would not be surprised if Monday's comic does not provide ANY further illumination toward what's going on with Ruby. Either it's going to be further hilarious misunderstanding as in Stonefoot's version, or Ruby continues to evade, dodge and block Amber's inquiries like a professional boxer, simply because she really does NOT want to talk with her sister about her sexuality or lack thereof - I get the impression that Ruby isn't comfortable talking to Amber about that kind of thing, and may never be. It wouldn't surprise me if Ruby just ended the conversation by walking away and going to bed, leaving both Amber (and the readers by extension) further frustrated and confused.

Quite possibly - basically, G&S may just decide to spin this gag out for as long as possible, keeping the question of what's going on inside Ruby's head as one of the ongoing mysteries of the comic.

On the other hand, well, they've got to do something with Ruby now she's here. I assume that she'll eventually interact with the title character, for one thing, and traditionally, a flaming queen character like Dillon will react to a reserved, small-c conservative character like Ruby by treating her as some kind of living dress-up doll. At which point, having Ruby just be cryptic and surly will merely block the joke.

You know I thinking were getting a very good image of what Jacqui would have been like had Chloe not intervened.

Nah. Jacqui simply hadn't hit puberty properly at that point. Chloe caused her to hit it at the sprint, but I suspect that she'd have come through it somehow, eventually. Ruby is acting like a pre-pubertal geek (such as the young Jacqui); something has actively kept her back in that mode.

[Bambikles]

On the other hand, Ruby could be bi or lesbian. Personally, I'd rather she were a lesbian, because that would introduce a new kind of character to the SDB/ Ma3 world. (I don't think there are any major lesbian characters so far.)

And I'd rather she weren't. Not that I wouldn't like a fully lesbian character in the verse. But please, not of the man-hating/despising type. That's so clichéd: "she doesn't like men, she MUST be a lesbian! / she's a lesbian, she MUST hate men!"

It's much mor fun and interesting, in my opinion, to have a straight man-hating female character (and actually Ruby's childish disgust is more entertaining than the typical "all men are bastards because all the one I dated were" character type...for now) and a lesbian who likes hanging out and having fun with guys (which we currently don't have. Bi characters do not count).

[sukebe senpai]

Wait, so Ruby came into foray wearing a mini skirt straight out of Otaku Fantasy Land (Sailor Moon anyone?), gave Dilllon a gratuitous panty shot, and then she started all this prudish stuff, with all this negativity towards men and the nightgown that even a 90-year-old grandma would refuse to wear. And she's not a lesbian. It all makes great sense.

[JoybuzzerX]

I'm hoping it's less gay or uninterrested and just that Ruby is prudish

But prudish isn't an orientation, it's a state of mind - one that can be explained, or changed, or otherwise used to fuel plots. But then her orientation would still be an open question, of at least academic interest. More than that, in fact, as a prude can be distracted or flustered in circumstances where their buttons are being pushed despite their prudishness.

Nope, it's not. But it'd be a far more interresting reason for her attitude (or even her being jealous of her sister) than her trying to keep her orientation secret.

[Artemisia]

On the other hand, Ruby could be bi or lesbian. Personally, I'd rather she were a lesbian, because that would introduce a new kind of character to the SDB/ Ma3 world. (I don't think there are any major lesbian characters so far.)

And I'd rather she weren't. Not that I wouldn't like a fully lesbian character in the verse. But please, not of the man-hating/despising type. That's so clichéd: "she doesn't like men, she MUST be a lesbian! / she's a lesbian, she MUST hate men!"

Sigh...actually, it might not be that she hates me in a misandrist way. Most lesbians don't hate men, we're just exasperated with them. Honestly, most men tend to act as if they have a proprietorial stake in everything, and it's that proprietorial and privileged attitude that makes most lesbians not exactly hate men, but be rather hostile towards them.

Actually, that attitude from men that they somehow own everything in sight irritates all women, but straight women have to put up with it and adjust. Lesbians don't have any reason to put up with men's nonsense, so they (we) tend to just put out this hostility towards men until we find men who aren't like that and we can tolerate.

Unlike gay men and straight women, there's no real solidarity between lesbians and straight men.

[Don Alexander]

Sigh...actually, it might not be that she hates me in a misandrist way.

Self-burn for the win!

[Nev]

I don't know, Art. I feel like the things you're describing are more specific to you as a person than they are to lesbians as a crowd. Or perhaps most lesbians in your experience share those views. In mine, however, it's really not the case for the majority.

[Artemisia]

Don...that was a typo.

And Nev, that's my experience and something I've talked to a lot of the lesbians in my immediate sphere. It's why I tend to be hedgey about it being universal. Most of it comes from my discussions about how to deal with men since I don't deal with men very well.

[Spidrift]

Wait, so Ruby came into foray wearing a mini skirt straight out of Otaku Fantasy Land (Sailor Moon anyone?), gave Dilllon a gratuitous panty shot, and then she started all this prudish stuff, with all this negativity towards men and the nightgown that even a 90-year-old grandma would refuse to wear. And she's not a lesbian. It all makes great sense.

I've come to the conclusion that Ruby's miniskirt has the same explanation as the school uniforms (incorporating miniskirts) in the supernatural comics; manga-influenced art convention. It doesn't mean anything.

Though in fact, if all schools in Giz-created universes now have uniforms for girls incorporating miniskirts, Ruby may dress like that as a sign of immature emotional development. She's still in pre-pubescent schoolgirl mode. It's not sexual, it's the opposite.

But it'd be a far more interresting reason for her attitude (or even her being jealous of her sister) than her trying to keep her orientation secret.

But "She's prudish" doesn't really explain anything. It's just a description of the thing that needs to be explained.

[Stonefoot]

OK, a possible theory about Ruby's short skirts: They're a trap (no, not that kind of trap, have you been spending all your time on TVTropes?). She's setting guys up to say things about her (very sexy) legs which she will take (or misinterpret, as needed) as being sexist and abusive. She can then judge them as 'total horndogs' who don't deserve consideration as actual human beings and push them away. Then they're gone and she's 'safe' and all can return to 'normal'.

[Spidrift]

There may well be a bit of that involved, though obviously not on any sort of conscious level.

[Artemisia]

I actually still think she's sexy in that nightgown...

[Stonefoot]

I have to agree with that. 'Sexy' is all in the mind after all, and the nightgown naturally leads to 'what's under that' thoughts....

[Spidrift]

However, it's not something that's ever likely to be worn by someone who's setting out to look "sexy", unless they were playing to a specific, known audience. Whereas the miniskirt inescapably says "Hello world, these are my legs".

[Stonefoot]

But what's sexier than "sexy even though she's not trying to be"?