My dad did say I had puny tails, and it was no joke. Ponytails were a big deal in those days. Long hair was admired. I wanted long hair so badly, I cried every time my mother cut it.
Fathers can do so much damage! And saying “you’re too sensitive” or “can’t you take a joke?” just makes it worse. I still remember the mean things my dad said to me. And don’t say “just forget it” because it’s not that easy.
Yes, this kind of thing is very normal from just about every male I’ve ever known, the joke and the “you’re too sensitive”. I try to ignore (avoid) people who do that, if they tend to joke about things that hurt my feeling (not my hair- it’s different for all of us). It’s very real- I’m sure most of us act more like this John than we’d like to admit, and with our frineds, it usually works (because we know how to (or not) rib them, and they know we love them)
Names for hair have always confused me. “Plait” always confused me when I read it, braids were only called braids, and pig tails were the small side ones, pony in the back, just now learning “bunches”.
@MiHorn, me too. My parents would say something mean and then say they were just teasing and I had to learn to take a joke. I can take a joke as well as anyone, but parents making fun of a child is not funny. And this strip wasn’t, either. He shouldn’t have said that to her. She was so proud of her hair, and he ruined it. Stuff like that doesn’t get forgotten.
I’ve grown to hate this new version of John. He’s such a di€k. And "too young to be so sensitive. What an a$$hole. Pardon the language. I know this is a family strip but it’s turning into a bit more of a real family strip than I would like.
I had “puny tails” in the 50’s. I also wanted beautiful long braided hair. All my friends had braids with the French braided sides blended in. How I envied those girls. My mother just wasn’t clever enough, or care enough to learn to do it.
We called those “tails” Cocker spaniel ears. None of the menin my life teased that cruelly. I forget that sometimes. I saddens me and I wasn’t the greatest mother then. But my kids do not remember the bad. Just the good.
I agree. When it was first published, I used to think it was funny. Times are changing.Elizabeth is not too young to be so sensitive. John is too old to be so insensitive.
That kind of put down was common in my generation, from Mom AND Dad. The idea was, if you complimented a kid (boy or girl but especially girls) they would get a big head and be too full of themselves. Owie. This ‘toon would have been better if it was Michael making the sarcastic remark. I got plenty of ribbing from my 3 bros, too, but it wasn’t as painful.
I grew up in a large family (7th of 8) and everyone teased everyone else. The problem for me was that my family was saying the same thing in jest that the kids at school were saying to be mean and I was too young to know the difference. Even now it hurts when we get together and someone tries to tease me “just for fun” and then they say that I overreact.
We called them ponytails no matter what, I always thought pigtails were short and ponytails were long though. As for John’s hurtful comment – I’m hoping that John wasn’t this cruel in real life. It looks like, according to Lynn’s notes, that her father was the cruel one that she portrayed here.
My advice to Elly and Lizzy is ’don’t get mad/sad, get even’. When Jon gets old and developes a ‘paunch’ or looses his hair, make a joke about it. When men dish it out, they rarely can take it. Maybe instead of hugging him after he was rescued following the ‘canoe insident’, they should have held their noses and asked him to ride in the trunk.
Aspergers about 9 years ago
COME ON JOHN. WHY HURT HER FEELINGS?
Gigantor about 9 years ago
If she has two of them, aren’t they pigtails? A ponytail is one in the back.
jgarrott about 9 years ago
I’d call those dog ears, and John indeed stepped in it BIG time.
mkd_1218 about 9 years ago
Careful, John! Your bully’s showing!
Mumblix Premium Member about 9 years ago
Lynn’s Notes:
My dad did say I had puny tails, and it was no joke. Ponytails were a big deal in those days. Long hair was admired. I wanted long hair so badly, I cried every time my mother cut it.
MIHorn Premium Member about 9 years ago
Fathers can do so much damage! And saying “you’re too sensitive” or “can’t you take a joke?” just makes it worse. I still remember the mean things my dad said to me. And don’t say “just forget it” because it’s not that easy.
A Hip loving Canadian... about 9 years ago
She’s not handling this well.
masnadies about 9 years ago
Yes, this kind of thing is very normal from just about every male I’ve ever known, the joke and the “you’re too sensitive”. I try to ignore (avoid) people who do that, if they tend to joke about things that hurt my feeling (not my hair- it’s different for all of us). It’s very real- I’m sure most of us act more like this John than we’d like to admit, and with our frineds, it usually works (because we know how to (or not) rib them, and they know we love them)
Names for hair have always confused me. “Plait” always confused me when I read it, braids were only called braids, and pig tails were the small side ones, pony in the back, just now learning “bunches”.
smorbie the great and beautiful about 9 years ago
@MiHorn, me too. My parents would say something mean and then say they were just teasing and I had to learn to take a joke. I can take a joke as well as anyone, but parents making fun of a child is not funny. And this strip wasn’t, either. He shouldn’t have said that to her. She was so proud of her hair, and he ruined it. Stuff like that doesn’t get forgotten.
eelee about 9 years ago
But the person making an insult it really means it but hiding behind the “jest” label.
goweeder about 9 years ago
There you go! Right there~Grounds for divorce!Child cruelty.
contralto2b about 9 years ago
At least we know where Michael gets it from.
toolgirl150 about 9 years ago
I’ve grown to hate this new version of John. He’s such a di€k. And "too young to be so sensitive. What an a$$hole. Pardon the language. I know this is a family strip but it’s turning into a bit more of a real family strip than I would like.
summerdog86 about 9 years ago
I had “puny tails” in the 50’s. I also wanted beautiful long braided hair. All my friends had braids with the French braided sides blended in. How I envied those girls. My mother just wasn’t clever enough, or care enough to learn to do it.
Templo S.U.D. about 9 years ago
Daughter sure cannot take a paternal prank.
Joan32 about 9 years ago
We called those “tails” Cocker spaniel ears. None of the menin my life teased that cruelly. I forget that sometimes. I saddens me and I wasn’t the greatest mother then. But my kids do not remember the bad. Just the good.
IQTech61 about 9 years ago
I agree. When it was first published, I used to think it was funny. Times are changing.Elizabeth is not too young to be so sensitive. John is too old to be so insensitive.
LV1951 about 9 years ago
We called them pigtails. Pony tail is one. Braids are braids.
LuvThemPluggers about 9 years ago
That kind of put down was common in my generation, from Mom AND Dad. The idea was, if you complimented a kid (boy or girl but especially girls) they would get a big head and be too full of themselves. Owie. This ‘toon would have been better if it was Michael making the sarcastic remark. I got plenty of ribbing from my 3 bros, too, but it wasn’t as painful.
tracybsmith about 9 years ago
Damn That was MEAN! I’ve noticed though, as long as I’ve read this comic, John seemed kind of mean. Some what verbally abusive.
tuslog64 about 9 years ago
We have to be so careful what we say to women, but they seem to have the right to hurl anything they want at us?
patlaborvi about 9 years ago
I grew up in a large family (7th of 8) and everyone teased everyone else. The problem for me was that my family was saying the same thing in jest that the kids at school were saying to be mean and I was too young to know the difference. Even now it hurts when we get together and someone tries to tease me “just for fun” and then they say that I overreact.
arye uygur about 9 years ago
I’m a male and when I was 14, my father told me, “Your mother and I are good-looking people, how did you come out so ugly?” I took it VERY seriously.
QuietStorm27 about 9 years ago
We called them ponytails no matter what, I always thought pigtails were short and ponytails were long though. As for John’s hurtful comment – I’m hoping that John wasn’t this cruel in real life. It looks like, according to Lynn’s notes, that her father was the cruel one that she portrayed here.
Fido (aka Felix Rex) about 9 years ago
John — forget about the #1 Dad mug for Father’s Day. (Unless the “#1” is digital…)
ObsiWan Premium Member about 9 years ago
You mean many an insult is weakly disguised as a jest
moosemin about 9 years ago
John! Teasing her is Michael’s job!
junemmoffatt about 9 years ago
John does the same thing to his wife. “Open mouth, insert foot”.
BeniHanna6 Premium Member about 9 years ago
That is one Stupid Father.
AliCom about 9 years ago
My advice to Elly and Lizzy is ’don’t get mad/sad, get even’. When Jon gets old and developes a ‘paunch’ or looses his hair, make a joke about it. When men dish it out, they rarely can take it. Maybe instead of hugging him after he was rescued following the ‘canoe insident’, they should have held their noses and asked him to ride in the trunk.
22Wu33/es Premium Member about 9 years ago
Those aren’t ponytails, they’re pigtails
slsharris about 9 years ago
And your’e too old to be that cruel to a child. Here he is folks, back at home after his stupidity-generated adventure, mean, and back to normal!
tea62 about 9 years ago
John. John. For that comment you’re in the dog house.
rfeinberg about 9 years ago
What an ASS!