Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for September 26, 2022

At least, Calvin realizes he’s rejecting reality; that can be considered progress.

He’s accepting failure.

sure, Calvin, let’s go with that

Watterson a ahead of his time. That’s all I’ll say

You’ll probably be more grounded next week

I reject your reality and substitute my own

i admire that you all have opinions about reality. My experiences lately with it have led me to proceed with caution when trying to assess its nature.

When this strip was written, it was funny because it was plausible but considered rare. Today, that strategy is common and we all expect it of the “other” side. Except today we call it curation rather than selection and “fact checking” gives it an appearance of validity.

However, the consequences of not doing it are probably not optional.

The reality I accepted, was do my homework or have a conversation with the belt

Succeeding, yet still failing.

I see another trip to the principal’s office……

Already prepared for a future in politics at 7!

Reality is a concept.

Reality bites!

I used that “optional” excuse once when I was that age because of the teacher’s phrasing, but it didn’t work.

With Descartes, it was “I think, therefore I am.” With some people today it’s “I want it to be, therefore it is.”

Wait til REALITY hits you in the face..a rude awakening….

either of them sounds about right.

“alternative facts” is what he accepts.

Calvin must be a commenter over at Prickly City

God I love that kid!

’Tis the endemic of our time.

30 years ago!

That’s why he brings home a redacted report card. All of the bad hidden.

All work is optional, unless you want something. I’ve seen the results of “optional work” on the side of the road with pieces of cardboard asking for money. …sad

I’ll forget Nostradamus and go with Bill Watterson.

Some people will think that Hobbes is part of the reality that Calvin chooses to accept. I used to think so myself. As I have explained before, I started out believing that Hobbes was part of Calvin’s fantastic imagination.

After a few months, I read my first collection which was “Something Under The Bed Is Drooling”. I still believed that Hobbes and the Monsters In The Bedroom were part of Calvin’s imagination. This started to change as I noticed that some of the strips showed a living Hobbes without Calvin. I still largely believed that Hobbes was part of Calvin’s imagination but I started to look out for strips which showed a living Hobbes without Calvin and to remember them.

As I mentioned one day last week, Watterson explained in The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book, “I do not see Hobbes as a toy who miraculously comes to life when alone with Calvin. Nor do I see Hobbes as a product of Calvin’s imagination…Calvin sees Hobbes one way. Everyone else sees him another way.”

As Watterson didn’t intend Hobbes to be a toy who comes to life or part of Calvin’s imagination, I assume that he did not see Hobbes as a toy at all. This ties in with the fact that when Hobbes is alone he is the same as when Calvin is alone with him. It is only when someone other than Calvin looks at Hobbes that we see Hobbes as the stuffed toy that I originally believed him to be.

Epigram for our times:

“It’s not denial. I’m just selective about the reality I accept.”

― Bill Watterson

Calvin is showing at a young age his qualifications to be president.

Wow, Calvin is sure sounding Presidential.

I didn’t realize that Calvin went to Egypt and swam in the big river there.

We already knew Calvin exists in many different realities anyway…

Calvin almost always denies reality. Hobbes is a perfect example.

reality is vastly overrated

“Kids these days are a complete waste. I was perfect at that age.” – old people

Usually it is just the last question (extra credit) that is optional. I know this isn’t going to make me any friends but I did my elementary school homework on the bus on the way home. After that, my time was my own.

OMG! I’m married to Calvin!

Especially in school – the only sense of reality seems to be Moe. Certainly not his daydreams.

The proof of his statement is Hobbes.

Calvin is like everyone else!

I tried that once in the eighth grade. Deliberately convinced myself an assignment was not due. My mother was not amused.

If this isn’t already on a T-shirt, it should be. I think it would sell really well.

Until reality bites you in the @$$…

I don’t accept other people’s reality…. Nurses and Aides hear that all the time on the Psychiatry Units.

Ha! I’ll bet Calvin didn’t even bother with his homework.

I know there has been a long simmering debate about whether kids should have homework or not. I would say for now if the teachers assign homework you do it.

It is difficult to comprehend Bill. Way too smart.

So THAT’S where Adam Savage of Mythbusters got it. “I reject your reality and substitute my own!”

“It’s not denial.” Which is denial. Perfect.

Sounds like a Republican.