I don't think this is an original thought and I'm probably missing fan content that has already pointed that out but I still believe it's funny. Also happy pride :]

I'm so happy that u are pointing it out because is one of my favorite things to explore with the Membrane family (specially in rp) (⁠☆⁠▽⁠☆⁠)

I believe that it goes somewhat unnoticed because the IZ universe has a society that is already advanced in technology (the skool having collars that make sure no kid escapes, the holographic screens in many devices, etc). But it's very clear once we start noticing those details like the ones you have pointed out, them having a literal cooking robot (Foodio 3000), Gaz having the most advanced and probably expensive consoles in the comics and thus getting bored quickly because she gets to buy all that is new, and so on!

They live in a very privileged life thanks to their father's status, and that not only affects the Membrane siblings perception of life (specially Dib's due to his lack of friends), but their social life too. I like to think that once they reach adolescence, the people around them start searching for them out of interest.

Just imagine, being friends with one of the Membrane siblings; the children of the most successful scientist of the modern era. How much social media attention can you get from that? How many expensive gifts could you get from them? The status of being able to stand beside them and brag about it online, the popularity that you could gain from it; the teenage dream. Hell, maybe even some teachers try to be more friendly towards them in the hopes that they can gain something from them, like their father recognizing their efforts at educating the siblings and thank them with an expensive gift.

I don't think that Dib and Gaz are fond of this; we know that Gaz doesn't play around and would reject any attempt of friendship from these people, while Dib would probably fall into it just to be disappointed once he realizes that they are just interested in his status rather than himself. Either way I think Gaz is the one they seek out the most because Dib is perceived as someone difficult to reach due to his self centered nature and, you know, because he's a freak.

I also don't think that the siblings like to brag about having money, again, they have their own priorities like Gaz with her games and Dib with his paranormal fixation, they think that living as a high-class family isn't that big of a deal, but are self-conscious enough to buy expensive gifts to those they consider friends. For example in a zadr context, I always loved the idea of Dib taking Zim to a mall just to buy anything that catches Zim's attention like alternative clothing, plushies, some cool looking knives, etc. He knows that he has money to throw to the ceiling but doesn't realize how lucky he is to do so, he just knows that it feels nice to share it with someone. It's Zim the one to give him the perspective of someone that has lived through hell as a defective alien where the system constantly tries to torn apart, that he had to fight against the privileged group of Irkens that existed thanks to lower class ones to get where he is now, unlike Dib that was basically born with his life set up so he would never worry about getting food on the table.

And that also opens this conversation about Zim feeling confused at Dib's constant refusal to act like society wants. He could live a perfect life if he just decided act like a "normal person," but instead chooses to pursue his passions and be perceived as a freak. Zim has tried to act in accordance with Irken society, believing that it's the best for him even if the system is made against defects like him, and it troubles him why Dib would choose to do the opposite. He learns to admire that from Dib, while Dib learns to admire Zim's strenght at facing a hard life. I want to showcase this contrast in Perfect Nothing too, I want to explore Dib's new life as a nepo baby and how adjusting to what society percieves as "normal" does not equal a happy life

The show is actually pretty weird about how it handles the Membrane family's social status.

Like, Membrane is ultra famous and has brought his children to big events witnessed world wide, but Dib and Gaz have no trouble being anonymous in public like any average kid. Dib isn't even believed by Membrane's own security staff when he says he's his son, despite the obvious family resemblance. There's a visible security system with an electrified fence at their house, but they never seem to have any issues with stalkers or mobs of fans gathering in front of their place.

But also, despite how famous and successful Membrane is, they're living in a pretty average looking middle class neighborhood in a basic 2-story house and the kids are going to a shitty, underfunded public skool instead of living in a mansion or a high rise penthouse apartment and attending some fancy-ass private academy.

It could be that a lot of the work Membrane Labs does is non-profit. PEG was designed to give everyone free energy and Foodio was meant to solve world hunger. Membrane Labs seems more focused on creating things to solve social problems than on creating products to sell to increase Membrane's personal wealth.

I don't think this is an original thought and I'm probably missing fan content that has already pointed that out but I still believe it's funny. Also happy pride :]

I'm so happy that u are pointing it out because is one of my favorite things to explore with the Membrane family (specially in rp) (⁠☆⁠▽⁠☆⁠)

I believe that it goes somewhat unnoticed because the IZ universe has a society that is already advanced in technology (the skool having collars that make sure no kid escapes, the holographic screens in many devices, etc). But it's very clear once we start noticing those details like the ones you have pointed out, them having a literal cooking robot (Foodio 3000), Gaz having the most advanced and probably expensive consoles in the comics and thus getting bored quickly because she gets to buy all that is new, and so on!

They live in a very privileged life thanks to their father's status, and that not only affects the Membrane siblings perception of life (specially Dib's due to his lack of friends), but their social life too. I like to think that once they reach adolescence, the people around them start searching for them out of interest.

Just imagine, being friends with one of the Membrane siblings; the children of the most successful scientist of the modern era. How much social media attention can you get from that? How many expensive gifts could you get from them? The status of being able to stand beside them and brag about it online, the popularity that you could gain from it; the teenage dream. Hell, maybe even some teachers try to be more friendly towards them in the hopes that they can gain something from them, like their father recognizing their efforts at educating the siblings and thank them with an expensive gift.

I don't think that Dib and Gaz are fond of this; we know that Gaz doesn't play around and would reject any attempt of friendship from these people, while Dib would probably fall into it just to be disappointed once he realizes that they are just interested in his status rather than himself. Either way I think Gaz is the one they seek out the most because Dib is perceived as someone difficult to reach due to his self centered nature and, you know, because he's a freak.

I also don't think that the siblings like to brag about having money, again, they have their own priorities like Gaz with her games and Dib with his paranormal fixation, they think that living as a high-class family isn't that big of a deal, but are self-conscious enough to buy expensive gifts to those they consider friends. For example in a zadr context, I always loved the idea of Dib taking Zim to a mall just to buy anything that catches Zim's attention like alternative clothing, plushies, some cool looking knives, etc. He knows that he has money to throw to the ceiling but doesn't realize how lucky he is to do so, he just knows that it feels nice to share it with someone. It's Zim the one to give him the perspective of someone that has lived through hell as a defective alien where the system constantly tries to torn apart, that he had to fight against the privileged group of Irkens that existed thanks to lower class ones to get where he is now, unlike Dib that was basically born with his life set up so he would never worry about getting food on the table.

And that also opens this conversation about Zim feeling confused at Dib's constant refusal to act like society wants. He could live a perfect life if he just decided act like a "normal person," but instead chooses to pursue his passions and be perceived as a freak. Zim has tried to act in accordance with Irken society, believing that it's the best for him even if the system is made against defects like him, and it troubles him why Dib would choose to do the opposite. He learns to admire that from Dib, while Dib learns to admire Zim's strenght at facing a hard life. I want to showcase this contrast in Perfect Nothing too, I want to explore Dib's new life as a nepo baby and how adjusting to what society percieves as "normal" does not equal a happy life

The show is actually pretty weird about how it handles the Membrane family's social status.

Like, Membrane is ultra famous and has brought his children to big events witnessed world wide, but Dib and Gaz have no trouble being anonymous in public like any average kid. Dib isn't even believed by Membrane's own security staff when he says he's his son, despite the obvious family resemblance. There's a visible security system with an electrified fence at their house, but they never seem to have any issues with stalkers or mobs of fans gathering in front of their place.

But also, despite how famous and successful Membrane is, they're living in a pretty average looking middle class neighborhood in a basic 2-story house and the kids are going to a shitty, underfunded public skool instead of living in a mansion or a high rise penthouse apartment and attending some fancy-ass private academy.

it would be so awesome

Hundreds gathered in San Francisco’s Chinatown as city leaders and community members celebrated the opening of the world’s first Chinese LGBTQ museum. Mayor Daniel Lurie joined supporters for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the OUT Museum, a space dedicated to preserving and sharing Chinese queer history and culture. The museum was founded by Chinese artist and LGBTQ advocate Xiangqi Chen, who spent more than 20 years promoting queer visibility in China before moving to the United States in 2023.

Dawwwww that's a pretty cute interpretation of it (⁠人⁠*⁠´⁠∀⁠｀⁠)⁠｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+ I still hold that episode close to my heart, it still hurts so much

My intention with ghost Dib is to use him in the same way that Umineko uses magic to distort the storytelling, and also giving them a bigger meaning that the blind heart can't catch (without love it cannot be seen). I'm so fascinated with the closed room murders and the use of magic/ghosts to trick the reader into believing that a witch did it because of how good the culprit hid their steps.

He's going to be the horror factor for all of the protagonists, allucinations that torture them by reflecting his pain as a ghost that is clinging for dear life so it doesn't dissapear by Dib's rejection, and that helps Zim and Gaz to know what did Dib went through in the asylum, while it makes Membrane reflect on his decisions. He can't speak because his throat is so damaged due to his constant screaming at being tortured, so his presence is quiet yet heavy too.

If I had to compare ghost Dib and Dib's dynamic with Umineko's characters, it would be the way Kanon constantly rejects Beatrice's existence (the witch) as something evil, believing that she is a cruel entity that wants to see their downfall. What Zim is for Ghost Dib is what Battler is for Beatrice, too

That's all I'm gonna yap about because I'll probably end up telling spoilers about the visual novel, but I think it's a bit clear (⁠*⁠´⁠ω⁠｀⁠*⁠)