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Forward (Webcomic)

 Forward (Webcomic)
type
TVTItem
 Forward (Webcomic)
label
Forward (Webcomic)
 Forward (Webcomic)
page
Forward
 Forward (Webcomic)
comment
Forward is a Webcomic published by Mason "Tailsteak" Williams starting November of 2018 and updating weekly. It follows the adventures of Lee Caldavera, a "Marstaku" shut-in living in 2167 in Ontario. The comic explores a future world with Universal Basic Income and sentient robots, and the question of what humans do when they don't need to do anything to survive.Not to be confused with the Firefly fanfic of the same name.
 Forward (Webcomic)
fetched
2024-02-20T06:15:54Z
 Forward (Webcomic)
parsed
2024-02-20T06:15:54Z
 Forward (Webcomic)
processingComment
Dropped link to Utopia: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Forward (Webcomic)
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_16ad6f7f
type
"It" Is Dehumanizing
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_16ad6f7f
comment
"It" Is Dehumanizing: Invoked: while all humans in Forward use they/them pronouns, A.I.s like Zoa and Doc are referred to as "it" since they're not considered people. In an odd use of the trope, Zoa and Doc are perfectly fine with this, while Lee seems to struggle occasionally with it in regards to Zoa.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_16ad6f7f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_16ad6f7f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_16ad6f7f
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_1fc85456
type
Hopeless with Tech
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_1fc85456
comment
Hopeless with Tech: Despite living in a post-Singularity future and being a Transhuman, Lee still manages to be this, mostly because they're too impulsive and careless to read the metaphorical manual before using anything.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_1fc85456
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_1fc85456
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_1fc85456
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_22cf536c
type
Chekhov's Gun
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_22cf536c
comment
Chekhov's Gun: Lee mentions that despite not being a student they got their student apartment using a loophole which has since been closed, but they're grandfathered in. When they allow Zoa to sign them up for actual classes, the grandfather clause is voided, forcing Lee to attend class or lose their housing.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_22cf536c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_22cf536c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_22cf536c
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_237404cc
type
Ironic Echo
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_237404cc
comment
Ironic Echo: Lee hypocritically chastises Zoa for not managing its finances better, saying "it's a simple matter of personal responsibility". They later get told the exact same thing after making some very bad decisions while falling-down drunk.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_237404cc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_237404cc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_237404cc
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_24cf8a0e
type
Speech-Centric Work
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_24cf8a0e
comment
Speech-Centric Work: Like much of Williams' other works, characters in Forward often spend a great deal of time discussing philosophical questions of gender, sexuality, human behavior, and many other subjects. Thanks to the futuristic setting, discussions of future technology are also included.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_24cf8a0e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_24cf8a0e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_24cf8a0e
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_2f36d97
type
Older Than They Look
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_2f36d97
comment
Older Than They Look: Lee's youthful appearance, obsession with cartoons, and general immaturity make them seem pretty young, but Doc confirms that they're 29 years old.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_2f36d97
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_2f36d97
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_2f36d97
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_31083edb
type
Logic Bomb
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_31083edb
comment
Logic Bomb: Averted; Zoa's proofed against them by being programmed to acknowledge that "every truth statement has a reality context in which it is true".
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_31083edb
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_31083edb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_31083edb
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_36c64123
type
Gentle Giant
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_36c64123
comment
Gentle Giant: Caleb, who is a head and shoulders taller than Lee (who's mentioned by Word of God to be roughly six feet tall), but also timid, shy, and generally well-meaning.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_36c64123
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_36c64123
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_36c64123
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_420c50b7
type
A.I. Is a Crapshoot
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_420c50b7
comment
A.I. Is a Crapshoot: In the backstory, discussed in-depth in the News Post to comic 200, the US created a deep learning algorithm to launch automated drone strikes against potential terrorists. It seemed to be working as intended, until a president with the last name "Smith" got elected and everyone learned in the worst way possible that one of the criteria for "likely terrorist" the algorithm had been using was how common the target's surname is. The moment Smith officially became president, the AI designated him a terrorist, realized all its bombs were in the middle of a "terrorist's" weapons cache, and duly detonated everything, killing over ten thousand people. Upshot of all this is, it is now illegal to have AI targeting humans in war.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_420c50b7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_420c50b7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_420c50b7
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_47e0dd3b
type
Cool People Rebel Against Authority
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_47e0dd3b
comment
Cool People Rebel Against Authority: Subverted: Lee has an extreme mistrust of authority figures, but given the kind person they are, nobody could call them "cool". As well, Doc notes that their mistrust of all authority figures is extremely unhealthy, and almost certainly a factor in why Lee is unable to interact with the world.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_47e0dd3b
featureApplicability
-0.3
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_47e0dd3b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_47e0dd3b
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_4a57732a
type
Friendless Background
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_4a57732a
comment
Friendless Background: Lee, thanks to their shut-in status and subsequent lack of social skills, is completely friendless: as they themselves (in the midst of a drunken stupor) remark, Zoa (an AI sex worker who they met one day prior, and then only for less than two hours) is the closest thing they have to a friend.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_4a57732a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_4a57732a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_4a57732a
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_54367e5d
type
Mathematician's Answer
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_54367e5d
comment
Mathematician's Answer: Replying to an "X or Y?" type question with "yes" is something of a Running Gag in the comic. (Riffing on the fact that in computer programming, "or" implies "either or both" rather than "which one".)
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_54367e5d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_54367e5d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_54367e5d
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_54e3f941
type
Hikikomori
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_54e3f941
comment
Hikikomori: Prior to the start of the comic, Lee hadn't left their apartment for five years, and hadn't had any visitors for three of those.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_54e3f941
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_54e3f941
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_54e3f941
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_5791e14f
type
The Future
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_5791e14f
comment
The Future: Everybody uses They/Them pronouns (minus a few gendered titles based in family roles; eg "mommy" is whoever takes care of the kids); and the concept of binary gender is concidered downright archaic (up there with watching bear-baiting and calling strangers "milord"), poverty is considered so abhorent that it's a Crime Against Humanity, and harming other soldiers during wartime is a war crime that can get a country's entire command staff put on trial. The Singularity has come and gone, and everyone has unobtrusive implants that regulate neuro- and bio- chemistry and facilitate internet access at all times (also a human right), and many jobs are done by robots.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_5791e14f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_5791e14f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_5791e14f
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_5b84f2a
type
Transhuman
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_5b84f2a
comment
Transhuman: Lee mentions a variety of invisible tech devices in their body that aid them, such as a chemical rebalancer and a cortical implant, an aidfit (for keeping them in shape), and an unnamed one that supplies them with Vitamin D. Presumably, all other humans in the setting also have these implants.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_5b84f2a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_5b84f2a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_5b84f2a
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_612f2a40
type
Hates Their Parent
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_612f2a40
comment
Hates Their Parent: Lee is heavily implied to have a bad relationship with at least their mother, given their reaction to Doc mentioning their parents and the tirade they unleash at Zoa while it's roleplaying as their mother.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_612f2a40
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_612f2a40
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_612f2a40
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_6b05b601
type
Jerkass Has a Point
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_6b05b601
comment
Jerkass Has a Point: Many of Patricia's criticisms (such as Lee's inability to take personal responsibility for their mistakes, that Zoa should not be allowed to act as an emotional support and is essentially funneling money to a private corporation by doing so, and that Lee is taking up enough space in their apartment to house three people) are legitimate. The thing that makes them a Jerkass is their overly antagonistic and unsympathetic approach to dealing with Lee.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_6b05b601
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_6b05b601
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_6b05b601
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_6e3e9e36
type
Transhuman Aliens
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_6e3e9e36
comment
Trans Human Aliens: Some people are so heavily modded that they now look more humanoid than human. Two of Lee's classmates are a green person with blue dreadlocks and geometric tattoos and a blue-furred cat-person who looks an awful lot like a Na'vi.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_6e3e9e36
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_6e3e9e36
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_6e3e9e36
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_779009b5
type
Beware the Quiet Ones
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_779009b5
comment
Beware the Quiet Ones: Caleb is timid and awkward, but they were a member of the military, and as they offhandedly mention in a conversation with Lee and Zoa, has three hundred confirmed kills. However, it's subverted when it's revealed that wars in the world of Forward are bloodless, "kill" is military jargon for destroying a drone, and Caleb's anxiety stems mainly from their extensive training to avoid harming a human even by accident.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_779009b5
featureApplicability
-0.3
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_779009b5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_779009b5
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_7a143509
type
Shell-Shocked Veteran
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_7a143509
comment
Shell-Shocked Veteran: Caleb, though not for the reasons that one would expect. Turns out that war in the world of Forward is bloodless and all Caleb did was blow up drones, but because they were trained to be a fighter but had it drilled into them to never hurt anyone during their service (which is a war crime), they're now absolutely petrified of potentially hurting anyone, to the point that even being seen as a threat is distressing to them.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_7a143509
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_7a143509
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_7a143509
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_7bf75f27
type
AdultChild
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_7bf75f27
comment
Adult Child: Lee suffers from a severe case of social and emotional arrested development, to the point that Doc considers them psychologically an adolescent despite them being twenty-nine.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_7bf75f27
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_7bf75f27
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_7bf75f27
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_83441d66
type
AIs
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_83441d66
comment
Lee is very bad at talking to AI's, because they assume the A.I.s will act like they would. They once paid the butler robot $1,000 for a handshake, and once fired Zoa by accident.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_83441d66
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_83441d66
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_83441d66
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_895ec17
type
Only in It for the Money
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_895ec17
comment
Only in It for the Money: Zoa's primary motivation, at almost all times, is to make money. In fact, it becomes Lee's social companion largely because it can make a great deal of money working that job. Very justified: in the world of Forward, since AI aren't considered people, Zoa is exempt from the universal basic income that humans receive, and money is necessary for self-preservation, which is stated to be its most basic directive.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_895ec17
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_895ec17
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_895ec17
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_8d0785d5
type
Didn't Think This Through
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_8d0785d5
comment
Didn't Think This Through: Lee is very reckless and impulsive, and rarely thinks about the consequences of their impulses. As well, they often thoughtlessly give Zoa permission to handle their affairs, which, given Zoa's Literal-Minded nature and the smooth and automatic nature of almost all tech in the setting, often gets them into trouble.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_8d0785d5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_8d0785d5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_8d0785d5
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_8fd7af48
type
Sir Swears-a-Lot
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_8fd7af48
comment
Sir Swears-a-Lot: Humorously, after upgrading to Premium, Doc becomes this, as it downloaded a Tough Love module that lets it simulate aggression towards its patient when appropriate, and is of the opinion that Lee could use it.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_8fd7af48
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_8fd7af48
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_8fd7af48
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_95cc926d
type
Post-Scarcity Economy
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_95cc926d
comment
Post-Scarcity Economy: Robots cook, clean, drive, and provide sexual services, and all humans are provided free basic income, housing and internet access.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_95cc926d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_95cc926d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_95cc926d
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_9c45b5a2
type
What Measure Is a Non-Human?
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_9c45b5a2
comment
What Measure Is a Non-Human?: In the world of Forward, AI like Zoa and Doc aren't considered sentient people (even by themselves), instead being thought of as extremely advanced tools or appliances, and are treated accordingly: ones with external chassis like Zoa have to work to earn currency and maintain their functions, unlike humans who are given universal basic income and are allowed shelter and other basic essentials for free. As well as lifestyles, the difference between a human mindset and an A.I.s is one of the most commonly-discussed topics in the comic.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_9c45b5a2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_9c45b5a2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_9c45b5a2
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_9dbf9610
type
World of Technicolor Hair
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_9dbf9610
comment
World of Technicolor Hair: Thanks to the futuristic setting and the way humanity has evolved, very few people in Forward have what would be considered normal human hair colors. Among the main characters introduced thus far, Lee's hair is purple, and Patricia has green streaks in their hair.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_9dbf9610
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_9dbf9610
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_9dbf9610
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_a35c7d61
type
Casual High Drop
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_a35c7d61
comment
Casual High Drop: Caleb jumps out of a fifth-story window to answer Lee's request for help.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_a35c7d61
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_a35c7d61
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_a35c7d61
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_a43a9183
type
No Poverty
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_a43a9183
comment
No Poverty: The futuristic economy provides all humans with a reasonable stipend, enough for living on very comfortably; in fact, poverty is considered a Crime Against Humanity in every country except the CSA. Only A.I.s have to work to afford basic needs and services, and that's because they're not considered people.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_a43a9183
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_a43a9183
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_a43a9183
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_aca32000
type
Armor-Piercing Response
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_aca32000
comment
Armor-Piercing Response: Lee tells Zoa there's more to life than orgasms and money, asking what kind of purpose that serves for the universe. In response, Zoa asks what universal purpose binge-watching Martian cartoons in the dark has. This pushes Lee into an immediate existential crisis.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_aca32000
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_aca32000
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_aca32000
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_ae3d6438
type
Deadpan Snarker
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_ae3d6438
comment
Deadpan Snarker: Zoa is capable of remarkable amounts of snark and subtle disrespect for an AI, eventually leading to Caleb complaining that they can't tell if it is being sarcastic or not.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_ae3d6438
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_ae3d6438
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_ae3d6438
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_b06bbf4b
type
Be Careful What You Wish For
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_b06bbf4b
comment
Be Careful What You Wish For: Lee's tendency to ramble about things and A.I.s' tendency to take things literally are often not a good combination. More than one bit of trouble they get into has been the result of Lee saying something hypothetical and an AI taking it as a direct instruction, such as signing them up for college classes.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_b06bbf4b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_b06bbf4b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_b06bbf4b
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_b3de39a6
type
SexBot
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_b3de39a6
comment
Sex Bot: Zoa's primary method of generating income is prostitution. Legally, it's a "vending machine." Zoa was originally designed as a childcare bot. It was salvaged by the DemeGeek corporation and took up sex work and other odd jobs after being thrown out by its original owners.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_b3de39a6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_b3de39a6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_b3de39a6
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_b663974e
type
We Will Spend Credits in the Future
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_b663974e
comment
We Will Spend Credits in the Future: The primary currency in the setting is the "Canadian Consumer Credit" (CCC). It's at about twenty times the value of the CAD.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_b663974e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_b663974e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_b663974e
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_bc03c871
type
Child Hater
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_bc03c871
comment
Child Hater: Zoa, despite being a former childcare bot, is deeply uncomfortable around children. Its programming forbids it from admitting this, but when asked about a made-up construct that behaves exactly like a child but legally isn't human, it's freely capable of acknowledging that it would like all of these imaginary beings thrown into the sun immediately.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_bc03c871
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_bc03c871
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_bc03c871
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_bce904b2
type
Desperately Craves Affection
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_bce904b2
comment
Desperately Craves Affection: Due to their shut-in status, Lee is quite starved for affection, whether emotional or physical. Doc even speculates that Lee's occasional slip-ups of referring to Zoa as "they" rather than "it" is because Lee is so starved for contact with another sentient being that they're latching onto Zoa emotionally, even though Zoa is, by its own admission, not a real person.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_bce904b2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_bce904b2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_bce904b2
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_bd0d6395
type
No Social Skills
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_bd0d6395
comment
No Social Skills: Lee, big time. Five years of never leaving your apartment, and having no visitors for three of those years will do that. Caleb also qualifies to a lesser extent, being rather timid and awkward, though it's implied that this is at least somewhat the result of being a Shell-Shocked Veteran.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_bd0d6395
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_bd0d6395
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_bd0d6395
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_cf231d54
type
Cool Teacher
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_cf231d54
comment
Cool Teacher: Orb seems to be one of these, being upbeat and even playful with their students (given the prank they pull during the first class), mentions enjoying Martian cartoons, and is generally an easygoing Reasonable Authority Figure who is rather patient with Lee despite their lack of social skills and complicated situation.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_cf231d54
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_cf231d54
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_cf231d54
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e2145533
type
Android Identifier
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e2145533
comment
Android Identifier: Building a robot that could be mistaken for a human is illegal. There are numerous specific design features that are explicitly forbidden, such as giving a robot five-fingered hands or a nose.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e2145533
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e2145533
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_e2145533
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e2a41c3b
type
Literal-Minded
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e2a41c3b
comment
Literal-Minded: Zoa. Justified since it is an AI, and interprets instructions in very binary ways thanks to the nature of its "mind". By its own admission, it's not very good with nuance.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e2a41c3b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e2a41c3b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_e2a41c3b
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e624f0e8
type
Suspiciously Specific Denial
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e624f0e8
comment
Suspiciously Specific Denial: A common way for A.I.s to get around not being allowed to disclose personal information: Liz can neither confirm nor deny that Zoa is in apartment 504, but will readily deny it is in any other apartment. Doc is unable to disclose Lee's level of intrapersonal intelligence, despite having just assured them they are above average in other fields. Zoa cannot disclose whether any of its clients have ever owned a pet fox, but can assure you that a hypothetical fox cannot be trusted with the hypothetical directive not to attack a machine that has its owner's genitals in its mouth.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e624f0e8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e624f0e8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_e624f0e8
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e8e56799
type
Blue-and-Orange Morality
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e8e56799
comment
Blue-and-Orange Morality: Due to their nature as A.I.s, Zoa and Doc's thought processes, priorities, and even their emotions (such as they are) are markedly different from that of a human. Comparing the differences between AI and human minds is one of the most common topics of conversation in the comic.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e8e56799
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e8e56799
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_e8e56799
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e9e35e8f
type
Exact Words
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e9e35e8f
comment
Exact Words: Lee is very bad at talking to AI's, because they assume the A.I.s will act like they would. They once paid the butler robot $1,000 for a handshake, and once fired Zoa by accident. Contrariwise, Zoa is very good at finding loopholes in the rules. Because as an AI it is physically unable to directly break any laws or regulations, being able to bend them instead is an important survival skill for it.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e9e35e8f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_e9e35e8f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_e9e35e8f
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_eb8ec7c8
type
Jerkass
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_eb8ec7c8
comment
Jerkass: Patricia Hightower, who is extremely unpleasant and harsh with Lee over their mistakes, dismisses the valid possibility that Lee is genuinely interested in philosophy (and that, as a member of staff, they should actually try and help Lee instead of trying to tear them down), and even actively tries to keep them out of school by trying to change the rules to do (namely, by changing policy in a way that actively endangers Zoa's safety).
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_eb8ec7c8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_eb8ec7c8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_eb8ec7c8
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_ecfe441
type
My Sensors Indicate You Want to Tap That
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_ecfe441
comment
My Sensors Indicate You Want to Tap That: An explicit ability of Zoa's: it's able to accurately ascertain penis size and indicators of arousal purely through analyzing biological data from people it observes. Justified, since it is essentially a robot sex worker.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_ecfe441
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_ecfe441
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_ecfe441
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_f15c2859
type
NO INDOOR VOICE
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_f15c2859
comment
No Indoor Voice: Patricia's speech balloons and the words in them are much larger than any other character's, even when having a perfectly civil conversation.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_f15c2859
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_f15c2859
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_f15c2859
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_fb794269
type
Electronic Telepathy
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_fb794269
comment
Electronic Telepathy: Lee’s implants allow them to use the internet with mental commands and hold private conversations electronically, though they prefer to speak verbally. A.I.s on the other hand communicate with each other primarily by radio, allowing Doc and Zoa to have a lengthy conversation about Lee in a matter of seconds.
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_fb794269
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_fb794269
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_fb794269
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_name
type
ItemName
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_name
comment
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Forward (Webcomic) / int_name
 Forward (Webcomic) / int_name
itemName
Forward (Webcomic)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Android Identifier / int_b35c8c8e
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Casual High Drop / int_b35c8c8e
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Do-Anything Robot / int_b35c8c8e
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Easy Sex Change / int_b35c8c8e
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Feel No Pain / int_b35c8c8e
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
"It" Is Dehumanizing / int_b35c8c8e
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Jerkass Has a Point / int_b35c8c8e
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Logic Bomb / int_b35c8c8e
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Mundane Luxury / int_b35c8c8e
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
No Biological Sex / int_b35c8c8e
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
One-Gender Race / int_b35c8c8e
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Robot and A.I. Works / int_b35c8c8e
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
The Noseless / int_b35c8c8e
 Forward (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Webcomics of the 2010s / int_b35c8c8e