For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for May 07, 2010

  1. Whatwouldblue
    mrslukeskywalker  over 14 years ago

    We all tried to see what we could get away with. My little nephew asked if he could axe me a question, and I went parental on him. It turns out he knew perfectly well how to say ASK.

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  2. Whatwouldblue
    mrslukeskywalker  over 14 years ago

    Gweedo, on half of my comics, when I hit the green, post comment button, I’m getting square download screens popping up, asking me to save my comment to my computer. It isn’t my comment that I’ll be downloading if I hit the buttons. And yes, it’s only on this site, and the download says it’s from this site. Maybe you’re using a different browser.

    Paul Jones She’s right to correct him now so he knocks it off and doesn’t take it too far. He’s only testing her. If your kid lisped, would you correct it or wait until later when it was already habitual?

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  3. Theskulker avatar ic07
    TheSkulker  over 14 years ago

    MrsLuke, Maybe it’s something in your setup or your browser and not this site. No one else seems to be having a problem.

    Before you throw stones it’s best to make sure your own house is in order.

    What browser are you using?

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  4. Missing large
    rajalabritt191  over 14 years ago

    MrsLuke: Is it even possible to correct lisping??

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    jgarrott  over 14 years ago

    tantebitte, yes it is. I teach at a school that trains physcal, occupational and speech therapists. The younger it’s caught, the easier it is to correct.

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    Allison Nunn Premium Member over 14 years ago

    I agree with you Paul Jones. Michael looked panicked. If mine looked panicked I would hear them out, then I would see if I needed to correct their grammar after I heard the story. When we get upset/excited we all forget manners/grammar at times! I don’t notice perfect grammar from Mrs. Luke, so pot calls the kettle black….

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    davidenie  over 14 years ago

    Oh, how I know the feeling!!!!

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  8. Cathyfacepalm
    gobblingup Premium Member over 14 years ago

    I’d probably correct him the first time and let the rest go. Correct him when he’s less excited.

    I did have a problem with a double posting on Cathy, but it doesn’t seem to be happening now.

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  9. Bambi by brunamf
    Jascat  over 14 years ago

    I have Firefox also, and have had problems when I push the “post comment” button. I get the weird page, then when I get GoComics back, it seems the comment hasn’t been saved…hit the “post comment” button again, then it posts twice!

    It only happens on GoComics, though; no problems posting on any other site…

    As for Elly, I think she should have listened to what Mike had to say. Grammar lessons can be taught at any time…he’ll learn :-)

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  10. Missing large
    illusional.apathy  over 14 years ago

    Did anyone notice that even Mike’s final statement is wrong. It’s either “I forgot” or “I’ve forgotten”. Kept up the bad grammar to the very end.

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    collieflower  over 14 years ago

    As a former English teacher, I admit to correction grammar, but did listen to what the children were trying to tell me. Bad grammar makes me wince to this day.

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    collieflower  over 14 years ago

    As a former English teacher, I admit to correction grammar, but did listen to what the children were trying to tell me. Bad grammar makes me wince to this day.

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  13. What has been seen t1
    lewisbower  over 14 years ago

    Both my parents had undergrad degrees in English, Doctorates in Psychology. Their offspring seldom got corrected in grammar. Do you think parental example might work? Wonder why I don’t swear either.

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  14. Chimppaperwork
    heligmyer  over 14 years ago

    You have to catch the bad grammar as it happens, or the correction has less impact. But you also have to remember what the kid has said so far, so that if you throw him off, you can help him get back on topic: “Which guys? What did you and Lawrence see?”

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  15. Moi est theo
    jaeldid66  over 14 years ago

    I’ve forgotTEN.

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  16. 061
    pawpawbear  over 14 years ago

    Looks like controversy surrounds this strip on a daily basis. I sure miss it when I’m on the road. I didn’t even get to read MrsLuke’s deleted post on Wednesday.

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  17. Beehive
    poohbear8192  over 14 years ago

    In the first three panels Elly looks positively smug, and in the fourth she looks positively nurturing.

    That smugness sends a bad message. “What you are saying is not important until you say it ‘right’.” “Don’t bother me until you know how to talk!”

    If I were Mike, I’d feel more and more belittled for trying to get his mother’s attention.

    Then all of a sudden Mom’s nice.

    No wonder Mike is confused.

    Lynn is showing us how easy it is for our good intentions to be sabotaged by our careless execution.

    Neither kids or parents are perfect. That’s life.

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  18. Mermaid
    MermaidStitcher  over 14 years ago

    Let him say what he has to say. Then correct the whole of it. That why he gets his thought across. Also he will remember the correction not the interuptions.

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  19. J0262810
    Wildmustang1262  over 14 years ago

    illusional.apathy said, about 3 hours ago

    Did anyone notice that even Mike’s final statement is wrong. It’s either “I forgot” or “I’ve forgotten”. Kept up the bad grammar to the very end.

    I already noticed it. You are right. Michael should say, “I forgot.” or “I’ve forgetten.”

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    Comic-Nut  over 14 years ago

    It’s so funny that Michael became a published writer given this early “tutelage” from his mother. Mine did the same to me as a youngster and now I am also a professional writer. Note that professional in this context does not relate to internet posts or blogs either. I create and publish works for a number of corporate clients.

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  21. Silverknights
    JanLC  over 14 years ago

    My brother’s kids used “me and …” all the time. I would say “I didn’t know … was so mean” and would always get (heavy sigh) “… and I” as a reply. We had fun with it, but now as adults they still say “me and …”.

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  22. Willy wonka factory
    dsom8  over 14 years ago

    In reality, you would correct your child’s grammar right off. In reality, he’d probably not make 3 (4) gaffes in a row. In reality, you’d also listen to what the child is really saying. In reality, you’d help him remember what he had forgotten. In reality, the situation would probably not have been funny.

    (In reality, maybe some people should read War and Peace and not For Better Or For Worse.)

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  23. Cathy aack
    lindz.coop Premium Member over 14 years ago

    I’ve been having problems with the comics not showing up – just a green box, but when I hit on the options (add to collection or whatever) it shows the comic. Also had trouble posting and got the multiple posts. So, there probably are some issues with the site.

    What Elly might have done is let him get it all out, take note of the situation and then correct the grammar. Nobody likes to be interrupted – even for grammar correction, but waiting too long diminishes the impact.

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  24. Missing large
    opa6x57  over 14 years ago

    I know - the correct usage is ‘I have forgotten’, or ‘I forgot’. But, that grammar rule is MUCH more obscure than the first three grammar rules the kid broke.

    What I’m trying to say - is that the first three mistakes are not only mistakes, but they are glaringly obvious mistakes. Nearly every adult American would be able to immediately identify the correct usage in those three cases - and as a result, make a judgement on the upbringing of the child in question.

    The 4th mistake is much more likely to escape notice in common speech.

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  25. W6bxq
    W6BXQ, John  over 14 years ago

    I’m running Firefox here and so far have had no problems such as described. Also, I don’t use AdBlock+ or NoScript. Unfortunately I have no suggestions to give.

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  26. Falconchicks1a
    RinaFarina  over 14 years ago

    Ellie illustrates perfectly the mistake of not knowing which issue has higher priority. When I was trying to say something, and I used bad grammar or mispronounced something, and someone in my family corrected me, I perceived it (and I still do) as a power struggle. That’s why Ellie looks so smug. “What you have to say isn’t important, compared to the fact that I am one-up on you - I know that you did something wrong.”

    It was very upsetting at the time, because I didn’t understand what was going on. Now, I would be able to come back with a rejoinder to defend myself with - to show that I am not wrong, that what I want to say is more important than the grammar I use to say it with.

    That yes, you’re trying to put me down, but now it just doesn’t work any more.

    Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! What a liberated feeling!

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  27. Whatwouldblue
    mrslukeskywalker  over 14 years ago

    Once again, I make an innocuous comment, not even about the strip, and certainly not about anyone here, and the personal, insults and the MrsLuke bashing continues from the high and mighty hypocrites. Boy, who is it that has the real problem around here? You’re like petty little Gnats.

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  28. Missing large
    WaynCharl  over 14 years ago

    Can’t we all just get along ?? Relax…and enjoy.

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