Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for May 11, 2013

Dear Dad!

Way too many athletic shoe ads!

It’s not the shoe ads (Keds, kids, Keds!). It’s the breakfast cereal.

$5 wouldn’t have bought a trendy pair of sneakers anyway.

And the workers in the athletic shoe factories aren’t paid enough to become winners!

but, lombardi(to some the greatest coach ever), said that winning is the only thing.

Come on Dad, just do it!

good Dad

Hi Hobbes thank you from your post on yesterday… really am happy so much all comics strip I understand the word but some can not .. Nobody nerve to me i love any friends….In Thailand SO HOT and some day 42c

Typical spoiled kid. “Make them take the prize away from Susie and give it to ME!” Makes for a good strip though, and I still love Calvin :D

Watterson was and still is ahead of his time. In this day of social promotion and stroking kids’ self-esteem, panel 2 would be perfectly reasonable.Calvin would complain to the school counselor, who would agree and force the teacher to appease him.

Notice how Dad is down on Calvin’s level talking to him in the fourth panel. This is a great thing for parents to do when communicating with their children, rather than “talking down to them.”Of course, it may have been necessary for Bill Watterson to draw Dad this way today, because he had to fit a lot of dialogue above both of their heads in a single panel.

I must have missed those ads, the only thing I’ve ever seen the tea-partiers say is “stop your whining, and get out there and reach your potential”.

Click here: Peanuts (February 15, 1982)Click here: Peanuts (November 6, 1967)Here is one from near the end of Charles Schulz’s life. This strip is autobiographical because Schulz was highly competitive throughout his entire life. He never “got used to losing.” Click here: Peanuts (March 7, 1998)Charles Schulz’s extreme competitiveness went hand-in-hand with his deep insecurity and lack of self-confidence, which he also expressed through Charlie Brown. It is amazing how a man who suffered so much in these ways his entire life was able to bring so much joy to so many millions of others, partly because of his own suffering.Of course, the fact that someone is highly competitive does not necessarily mean that they are insecure and lack self-confidence, and Calvin is a perfect example of that. He hates losing just as much as Charlie Brown does, but for the opposite reason. Calvin has too much self-confidence at times, including occasional delusions of grandeur (like two days ago).Growing up to become a “normal,” well-adjusted person, who doesn’t lack self-confidence but who also doesn’t suffer from delusions of grandeur, can be a difficult thing to achieve. Perhaps the most effective approach is to read some of Calvin and some of Charlie Brown every day, and average them out.On the other hand, growing up to become a “normal,” well-adjusted person, who enjoys competing and winning, but who also graciously accepts losing as a normal part of life and an inevitable one, can also be a very difficult thing to achieve. Neither Calvin nor Charlie Brown can be of much help in this area.

Most of us feel “Dad’s virtue” when they are ready to retire. Just like me, we are the losers of the world., but we made it this long.

Next time you have a thought….. just let it go.

I can see why he is an only child.

I’m not sure Omius deleted his own comment. He doesn’t seem the type. More likely, enough people (like myself) flagged it, and a moderator took it off.It doesn’t seem to do any good to reply to the troll. Just flag his trolling comments when you see them.

Calvin thought his poster was a shoe-in, but dad is just trying to commercialize Calvin’s anger.

Calvin likes winning more than plaintifffs.

Given your attitude, Calvin, I can’t say I feel too sorry for you.

I think he has, Dad… I really do.

LOL xxx

I cant remember ever hearing or reading about Trumps father,he must have had one?

Some loosers do not win but have an important place in their circle, they are accepted and fill out an important funktion!

And they would be missed, if they would not fill out their funktion!

As a basketball coach once said “if winning isn’t everything, then why keep score.”

Love panel 2 where Calvin’s father rolls up his eyes

Hello all. Glad dad got down to Calvin. Not sure if Calvin listened.I have passed one subject and did a test on Friday finally got my grade and missed less on last test to a D. The other three F’s Hard subject. On each quiz made sure 100% + participated in not very many discussions. I in my middle age trying to learn more taking on-line classes. I do not want student loans have to pay back. I am midway through my subjects. Taking one subject this summer. I hope to take two this fall. All I can afford.

Obviously Dad doesn’t know much about Spiff the Spaceman….I have a pair of Asics that have worn like iron -I wear them everyday (unless it’s raining) all summer long – I’ve had them for years – amazing shoes. I also have Spenco crosstrainer inserts in ’em = the only way to go…

I like Dad’s reaction in the 2nd panel. Yup, he’s been through stuff like this too many times already.

give him a trophy for “participation”…isn’t that how it’s done today to protect their little feelings?