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So many questions...

Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 10:38 pm
by Keeshah
Oh all the Sociopolitical ramifications!

question #1.
Are all the animals in this world morphic/simi-morphic an sentient?
it seems all the ferals we have met so far are, (the rats/mice, an raccoons).
As well as all the Zoo animals.


question #2.
Were all the animals genetically altered?
(the peta guy talks about what humans have done to them. an Fido states "a dogs natural unquestioning loyalty is one of the few qualities that does not get passed to us pets")


question #3.
The Zoo animals are seeming to be held against there will, and made to "sing for there supper"..
As witnessed by the tigers reaction to the sign being read aloud again.. the kangaroo's trying to act like aussies, an the wolfs complaining about being tired after having entertained the crowds all morning.


question #4.
Is it possible for a human to have a lions, tigers, an bears, as a collared house pet?
Or is the list of acceptable pets restricted to Dogs, cats, an rabbits?


question #5.
How big an heavy are the pets?
some times they seem almost half the size of the humans, then there small enough to fit in a childs car seat, or a 5 gallon bucket..<smirk>, then big enough to take up all the space in a human sized chair, then their small an light enough to be carried one handed by a human.


question #6.
Are the pets trained an had behavior conditioning, before being allowed to be collared pets?
As they all say. Mon an dad. an never call there owner by there name.
Grape an peanut's owners seem to treat them like human children, to the point that grape had to remind dad she is just a pet, not a human child.


question #7.
What is the legal standing of a pet?
an the standing of a pet, vs. being a feral "pet"?


question #8.
What nasty bad things can happen to pet that loses, or removes it's collar?


question #9.
We know pets know about breeding. (I want to have your poppies!)
are they able too? allowed too? need both owners permission to do so?
did this question just go over the PG limit? :)

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 11:46 pm
by rickgriffin
Keeshah wrote:Oh all the Sociopolitical ramifications!

question #1.
Are all the animals in this world morphic/simi-morphic an sentient?
it seems all the ferals we have met so far are, (the rats/mice, an raccoons).
As well as all the Zoo animals.
All mammals, reptiles and birds. Some larger fish are (sharks), only pawwed mammals are bipedal.
question #2.
Were all the animals genetically altered?
(the peta guy talks about what humans have done to them. an Fido states "a dogs natural unquestioning loyalty is one of the few qualities that does not get passed to us pets")
No. Fido was referring to the fact that owners' personalities tend to rub off on pets, and that's not one of the acquired aspects.

question #3.
The Zoo animals are seeming to be held against there will, and made to "sing for there supper"..
As witnessed by the tigers reaction to the sign being read aloud again.. the kangaroo's trying to act like aussies, an the wolfs complaining about being tired after having entertained the crowds all morning.
That's not a question, but . . . yeah they're a lot like pets with a compulsory job and greater supervision.
question #4.
Is it possible for a human to have a lions, tigers, an bears, as a collared house pet?
Or is the list of acceptable pets restricted to Dogs, cats, an rabbits?
Do you think it's wise to own something that's taller than you and eight times as strong, and without the thousands of years of domestication?
question #5.
How big an heavy are the pets?
some times they seem almost half the size of the humans, then there small enough to fit in a childs car seat, or a 5 gallon bucket..<smirk>, then big enough to take up all the space in a human sized chair, then their small an light enough to be carried one handed by a human.
I haven't set that in stone, really. All I know is that they're tall enough to come about to waist height of a 6' human.
question #6.
Are the pets trained an had behavior conditioning, before being allowed to be collared pets?
As they all say. Mon an dad. an never call there owner by there name.
Grape an peanut's owners seem to treat them like human children, to the point that grape had to remind dad she is just a pet, not a human child.
Only to the extent that a regular child has undergone "behavior conditioning" to call his parents mom and dad . . . you know, "society" and all that jazz.
question #7.
What is the legal standing of a pet?
an the standing of a pet, vs. being a feral "pet"?
Depends on the state.
question #8.
What nasty bad things can happen to pet that loses, or removes it's collar?
They lose their ID and can be picked up for truancy.
question #9.
We know pets know about breeding. (I want to have your poppies!)
are they able too? allowed too? need both owners permission to do so?
did this question just go over the PG limit? :)
They're just like regular animals. Only difference is that they can talk and reason, and therefore somewhat mirror human standards in their relationships.

I decided I should answer these questions cause a lot of people are going to and I don't mind sharing some background info. Consider it a bonus!

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 12:00 am
by merkamerka
Keeshah wrote:Oh all the Sociopolitical ramifications!

question #1.
Are all the animals in this world morphic/simi-morphic an sentient?
it seems all the ferals we have met so far are, (the rats/mice, an raccoons).
As well as all the Zoo animals.


question #2.
Were all the animals genetically altered?
(the peta guy talks about what humans have done to them. an Fido states "a dogs natural unquestioning loyalty is one of the few qualities that does not get passed to us pets")


question #3.
The Zoo animals are seeming to be held against there will, and made to "sing for there supper"..
As witnessed by the tigers reaction to the sign being read aloud again.. the kangaroo's trying to act like aussies, an the wolfs complaining about being tired after having entertained the crowds all morning.


question #4.
Is it possible for a human to have a lions, tigers, an bears, as a collared house pet?
Or is the list of acceptable pets restricted to Dogs, cats, an rabbits?


question #5.
How big an heavy are the pets?
some times they seem almost half the size of the humans, then there small enough to fit in a childs car seat, or a 5 gallon bucket..<smirk>, then big enough to take up all the space in a human sized chair, then their small an light enough to be carried one handed by a human.


question #6.
Are the pets trained an had behavior conditioning, before being allowed to be collared pets?
As they all say. Mon an dad. an never call there owner by there name.
Grape an peanut's owners seem to treat them like human children, to the point that grape had to remind dad she is just a pet, not a human child.


question #7.
What is the legal standing of a pet?
an the standing of a pet, vs. being a feral "pet"?


question #8.
What nasty bad things can happen to pet that loses, or removes it's collar?


question #9.
We know pets know about breeding. (I want to have your poppies!)
are they able too? allowed too? need both owners permission to do so?
did this question just go over the PG limit? :)
Ima just answer a few of these as far as I know and have seen.


Question #1
Yes, as far as seen and so far they will all be morphic.

Question #2
No, they weren't that's just how this world works out. It's a webcomic so don't put too much logic behind it. IE- PETA is just stupid and Fido likes to act more courageous and needs to sound more "proud" around the group as to not seem like a kid and more as a personal figure, I mean he has a cat girlfriend in secret so.

Question #3
Make it serve more as this- they're more feral, the wolfs wouldn't be able to act in the civilized society and outside of it they'de probably die, so zoo life seems pretty great. And the kangaroo Aussie thing I am guessing is a personal joke.

Question #4
Probably restrictions for the humans unless they have a license or some other piece of material, that or have a better reason then "They just got it".

Question #5
Children Sized.

Question #6
Like I said before, it's a webcomic, don't look too far into it. If you're an adopted child your not going to call your mom Margeret, you're going to call then Mom, and the nice attitude and love towards their owners(family) is probably the same as that of a kid, you grow up, you're either disrespectful or respectful, but either way you're still their kid.

Question #7
Feral- Lives out on the streets/woods not exactly with human society
Pet- Lives with humans and has a family

Question #8
Dog/PetCatchers most likely getting them and taking them to call their family/information? Or maybe if they don't have one they're just not bothered as long as they don't disrupt society.

Question #9
Most Likely :x. And yeah, this is rick, so he's going to come in here and say, "U SHOULD KNOW BETTER", but to be perfectly honest everyone who even reads these are probably a furry/older person who wouldn't be freaked out over such.
As I see, yeah they could probably have kids, rick just wouldn't show the process/ make it more malicious by bringing in a already-family of pets in.


Also- Lolis.

ALSO- Rick ninja'd me, oh well, atleast he didn't go FFFFfflslfsfksflsfskfjslfjs over Question #9, and no I'm no going to erase this comment, it took me like 10 minutes to make, man.

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 12:07 am
by rickgriffin
merkamerka wrote: ALSO- Rick ninja'd me, oh well, atleast he didn't go FFFFfflslfsfksflsfskfjslfjs over Question #9, and no I'm no going to erase this comment, it took me like 10 minutes to make, man.
People have awfully strange assumptions about me

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 12:12 am
by merkamerka
rickgriffin wrote:
merkamerka wrote: ALSO- Rick ninja'd me, oh well, atleast he didn't go FFFFfflslfsfksflsfskfjslfjs over Question #9, and no I'm no going to erase this comment, it took me like 10 minutes to make, man.
People have awfully strange assumptions about me
Not my fault that I think this way :roll:.

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 12:20 am
by rickgriffin
Man, look, I try to be easygoing. There are a time and place for things but this forum is not for some of them. I'm most certainly not trying to rule with an iron fist and don't think that adhering blindly to some set of rules will maintain the kind of atmosphere I would like. I'm just asking for a semblance of politeness and decency and I'm sorry if in attempting to do that I step on anyone's toes.

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 12:26 am
by merkamerka
rickgriffin wrote:Man, look, I try to be easygoing. There are a time and place for things but this forum is not for some of them. I'm most certainly not trying to rule with an iron fist and don't think that adhering blindly to some set of rules will maintain the kind of atmosphere I would like. I'm just asking for a semblance of politeness and decency and I'm sorry if in attempting to do that I step on anyone's toes.
oh you~.

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 1:20 am
by Keeshah
They're just like regular animals. Only difference is that they can talk and reason, and therefore somewhat mirror human standards in their relationships.

I decided I should answer these questions cause a lot of people are going to and I don't mind sharing some background info. Consider it a bonus!


Well i appreciate you taking the time to answer..

I have always been fascinated with how a various societies would treat an interact with another intelligent race, even ones they created.
Would they be equals, or a slave race an so on.

An the background would be very helpful, an insightful for those on the role play forums..

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 9:38 am
by Kalvin
Okay, since this is up I have a few questions myself.

1. Do they have common compulsions with pets in real life? i.e. Cats chase string, dogs... lick themselves
2. Are pet stores like they normally are but with sentience or is it more like an orphanage?
3. What is obedience school like?

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 10:35 am
by rickgriffin
Kalvin wrote:Okay, since this is up I have a few questions myself.

1. Do they have common compulsions with pets in real life? i.e. Cats chase string, dogs... lick themselves
As many as I can get away with, yes.
2. Are pet stores like they normally are but with sentience or is it more like an orphanage?
Shelters are more like orphanages. Pet stores usually buy animals bred for the purpose of selling as pets.
3. What is obedience school like?
Sort of like boot camp.

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 12:06 pm
by Jimmy Jazz
Kalvin wrote:Okay, since this is up I have a few questions myself.

1. Do they have common compulsions with pets in real life? i.e. Cats chase string, dogs... lick themselves
2. Are pet stores like they normally are but with sentience or is it more like an orphanage?
3. What is obedience school like?
:P Role play powered Questions go!

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 2:03 pm
by AC Drawings
You know, Mr. Griffen, you weren't this quick to answer the questions in my interview. Or the fan art. Any comments you'd like to make about that?

Also, glad you answered those questions, 'cause those were thoughts that bugged me for a little bit.

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 2:47 pm
by rickgriffin
AC Drawings wrote:You know, Mr. Griffen, you weren't this quick to answer the questions in my interview. Or the fan art. Any comments you'd like to make about that?
You asked me to answer in-character, and I didn't want to do that, so I decided not to. I don't feel like I need to prove to anyone that I can write in-character, and I'm sorry, but I felt like you were daring me obliquely.

As for the fanart, um, I tend to forget at times because I hesitate too long in forming a reply *Giggles* But I appreciate all of it!

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 4:07 pm
by R-One
Funny... a lot of those questions were answered similar to how I'd have expected, save for the first one (which was wide open), and the last one (which seems more like a dare-to-answer than an actual question, least IMO) from the first list.

Question #7 (the pet/feral one) is probably going to pop up again tho, asking for more defined answers. Which I'd hazard to guess simply don't exist just yet. Ever since the coons and the zoo arcs, it's one that I've wondered about myself, but it was more of a one-time thing in each case, so it didn't hang around for long. Now, with the recent PETA story-arc, it's been brought back up in a sense, this time directly involving a "Housepet!" character. As well as some reasons for why he'd rather not be a feral. It'll probably die down a bit after a while, but at the least, there's potential story-material in there, which could still remain true to the mood of this comic if it was planned out well in advance as a future arc.

And I have to admit, the Obedience school / Boot camp Q&A was funny to read - " 'What's obedience school like for pets?' 'Boot camp.' " :lol:

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 4:29 pm
by Dissension
rickgriffin wrote: People have awfully strange assumptions about me
It's true.

Rick (or 'Mr. Griffin,' if you prefer), why have any rules at all? Wouldn't it make more sense to just let people do whatever they wanted?

I also find it disturbing that you hold to archaic, outmoded beliefs about morality. Would you care to comment on this?

Lastly, thanks for answering questions that a lot of people had regarding your comic. It's more proof that you want to make fans happy.

Having said that... angry fans, Rick's not you. Don't criticize him if his system of morals contrasts with yours. It should be enough that he listens to you guys and responds to questions on these forums and elsewhere. That he doesn't respond in a way satisfactory to you is just too bad.

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 6:40 pm
by Buckdida
This is cool stuff to know. As much as I love to speculate and analyze (one of the favorite things to do I my spare time) getting the facts is so much better.

As for people ragging on all the personality stuff, It's really, really hard to determine a person's personality over forums, instant messenger, facebook, or even a telephone conversation. You really don't know someone until you meet them in person! You can learn about a person over the internet, but not really know them until you actually meet them. So nobody can call anyone out on personality related things (unless blatantly illegal of course). At least, that's my opinion.

While I admit I'm a bit hardwired to be calculating, I think I still need to say: It's a forum. Loosen up, have fun, but be polite. Not very hard rules to follow!

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 12:04 am
by merkamerka
Rick. What exactly is the joke in the new comic, and don't tell me to look deeper into it because I still wouldn't get it.

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 3:45 am
by Brand
If that's the case then an explanation isn't going to help much.. so I wouldn't worry about it.

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 4:08 am
by Keeshah
Question #7 (the pet/feral one) is probably going to pop up again tho, asking for more defined answers. Which I'd hazard to guess simply don't exist just yet. Ever since the coons and the zoo arcs, it's one that I've wondered about myself, but it was more of a one-time thing in each case, so it didn't hang around for long. Now, with the recent PETA story-arc, it's been brought back up in a sense, this time directly involving a "Housepet!" character. As well as some reasons for why he'd rather not be a feral. It'll probably die down a bit after a while, but at the least, there's potential story-material in there, which could still remain true to the mood of this comic if it was planned out well in advance as a future arc.

Well... we did find out Ferals, an pets without there collars can be picked up an held by animal control. an pets will get charged with truancy.


And I have to admit, the Obedience school / Boot camp Q&A was funny to read - " 'What's obedience school like for pets?' 'Boot camp.' "

Why wouldn't it be like a boot camp.. you need to train the animal side via repetitive conditioning.. (you ever get a dog to learn sit on the first try?)
while instructing the intelligence side.

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 1:36 pm
by R-One
Keeshah wrote:
Why wouldn't it be like a boot camp.. you need to train the animal side via repetitive conditioning.. (you ever get a dog to learn sit on the first try?)
while instructing the intelligence side.
It's funny if you think of it in stereotypes. Think Army Boot Camp if that helps. :lol:

On a serious note, training a Housepets! pet would probably be both easier AND harder at the same time. They're sentient, meaning they can probably understand, at least after the first few times, what you're trying to teach them, but the question becomes if they're willing to learn. They're also a lot smarter than a human of similar age would be, so it's more like teaching a child in middle school, which is far more difficult than teaching a simple command to a pet - for starters, real dogs don't raise their hands (paws?) and ask why you're teaching them this, lol.

It probably also depends highly on the species as well - I have a hard time seeing anyone train a cat in much of anything, even with real cats, it's more often the exception, not the norm, when it comes to average house pets. Bear in mind this is all hypothetical to begin with - seeing as Rick's the one writing (drawing?) the rules, it's going to be whatever the hell he wants. At best, this is just a wild guess. :roll:

Re: So many questions...

Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 8:27 am
by Keeshah
R-One wrote:
Keeshah wrote:
Why wouldn't it be like a boot camp.. you need to train the animal side via repetitive conditioning.. (you ever get a dog to learn sit on the first try?)
while instructing the intelligence side.
It's funny if you think of it in stereotypes. Think Army Boot Camp if that helps. :lol:

On a serious note, training a Housepets! pet would probably be both easier AND harder at the same time. They're sentient, meaning they can probably understand, at least after the first few times, what you're trying to teach them, but the question becomes if they're willing to learn. They're also a lot smarter than a human of similar age would be, so it's more like teaching a child in middle school, which is far more difficult than teaching a simple command to a pet - for starters, real dogs don't raise their hands (paws?) and ask why you're teaching them this, lol.

It probably also depends highly on the species as well - I have a hard time seeing anyone train a cat in much of anything, even with real cats, it's more often the exception, not the norm, when it comes to average house pets. Bear in mind this is all hypothetical to begin with - seeing as Rick's the one writing (drawing?) the rules, it's going to be whatever the **** he wants. At best, this is just a wild guess. :roll:

You mean it wouldn't be like the training center in that Planet of the Apes movie? :P