So far, the only really unpleasant thing about Toggle is his mother – who’s not too fond of Alex. I don’t know if GT is going this way, but it would be interesting if their romance was saved by the fact both know what their mothers’ opinions are worth.
If Alex is smart enough to attend MIT, she’s also smart enough to have already determined that the best way to avoid having a life like her mom’s is to listen carefully to her mom’s advice… and then do the exact opposite. Hence, the last panel is the best thing that could happen for Alex and Toggle.
puddleglum, you’re equating smarts with common sense. Many of the smartest people in the world have no special clue when it comes to interpersonal relations, emotional intelligence, and/or street smarts… often, it’s just the opposite. To my knowledge, the divorce rate of people who went to MIT is no less than of those who went to community college.
I still think GT is mocking chiefly himself and Boomer parents generally. J.J., Mike, Rick Redfern, and Prof. Shipley—-to name only the most recent of the wise elders in the strip—-have to feel like Trudeau when they see their follies being repeated by the youthful generation who seek (and hopefully reject) their ineffectual advice.
Nemesys, you take your inverse snobbery too far when you cite your “knowledge” of the divorce rate among college graduates. The national divorce rate is more than 50%, but the rate among those who married after college is less than 25%. A higher education not only helps with job stability, it strengthens emotional maturity.
Nemesys said: “puddleglum, you’re equating smarts with common sense. Many of the smartest people in the world have no special clue when it comes to interpersonal relations, emotional intelligence, and/or street smarts… often, it’s just the opposite.”
From my personal experience of the world, Nemesys is spot on. Higher education can help with job stability and strengthen emotional maturity, palin drome – except for all the unemployed and underemployed college grads out there, and all those with college degrees and/or genius-level IQs who live out their years on a therapist’s couch. A person’s life has many tendencies, but no certainties.
Avolunteer said: “There is no comparison between Toggle and Zeke. Toggle is no loser, he works hard to do all he can. Zeke on the other hand is a loser in all senses.”
palin, interesting straw men statistics, but they in no way refute the reverse snobbery statement that I actually made - in fact, they don’t relate to it at all. The choice of going to college at all vs. getting married factors in too many variables such as age, geography, financial stability, etc. to analytically compare divorce rates between “smart” and “not so smart” people, but it would be much more relevant if you could cite data that establishes a relationship between “smartness”, divorce rates, and the type of college attended (Ivy League or whatever).
I work with MD’s in my full time job, and with PhD’s in my part time position as a university adjunct. Many of these people are brilliant in their fields, but have a difficult time balancing their checkbooks or finding their way to the cafeteria. As to the quality of their romances, entire soap operas have been justifiably devoted to their “Medical Affairs” shenanigans.
Considering the topic at hand, think of the most brilliant people of all time – Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Einstein, whoever - and then investigate the stability of their love lives
Since they ran this story over a year ago (and still a good story line!) Alex and Toggle are still a couple. So looks like she was smart, and with common sense and did not take her mom’s advice.
Zeke’s a flake, Toggle is not. Having “been there” with those little “post combat oddities”, and genius IQ, but still finishing college and getting jobs, there is hope. With a spouse of 41 years who had the patience to weather the “storms”, we’ve watched friends with many different attitudes blow through three and even four marriages, with lots of excuses for the failures. Education can help, but it isn’t just the academics.
The secret is the willingness to share and care, about something more than just yourself. That is the difference between Zeke and Toggle, as well as the opposite side of the coin- I think of Liz Taylor for example. Alex isn’t a Liz.
dtroutma, it sounds like you’re saying that Zeke’s position is that of emotional entitlement , and it’s ok to slack off on his share of the relationship responsibility so long as he enjoys the bennie’s of it. Zeke might even say “From each, love according to his ability, to each, love according to his need.”
Toggle’s position seems more JFK-ish, as in “Ask Not What Your Relationship Can Do For You, Ask What You Can Do For Your Relationship”.
zekeś a freeloading leech, mamaś a codependent loser.
if anyone is reversed here, its the kids. toggle busts butt, and i dont see alex producing squat.
I am new here. I am a lifelong Republican and have been reading Doonesbury since the Nixon administration. I believe, regardless of political affiliation, that everyone needs a sense of humor. GT pretty much nails the issues 99% of the time. However, after reading the comments for this week’s storyline, I must say I haven’t seen gossip like this since Luke and Laura back in the 80s. You guys are psychoanalyzing comic strip characters! GT can write the story line anyway he wants, regardless of your comments. Please, get a life!
@nemesis, what you’re talking about is called EQ, emotional quotient, as opposed to IQ, intelligence quotient. I could write a lot about IQ, but basically it is supposed to measure intelligence, whereas EQ is supposed to measure the ability to get along with people, be comfortable in a social setting, form good relationships - things like that.
It is very common to have a high IQ and a low EQ. Some of the EQ skills can be learned, with more or less difficulty and more or less success. Typically, kids either come by them naturally or pick them up naturally as they grow up. Most people haven’t a clue about how to teach them.
Donald Benson Premium Member almost 14 years ago
So far, the only really unpleasant thing about Toggle is his mother – who’s not too fond of Alex. I don’t know if GT is going this way, but it would be interesting if their romance was saved by the fact both know what their mothers’ opinions are worth.
cdward almost 14 years ago
Alex and Leo are going to be just fine. But at least JJ acknowledges to Alex that Zeke is a mistake.
pksampso almost 14 years ago
What a difference one little “promise” can make.
Dkram almost 14 years ago
Bad advice. They need each other.
\\//_
Allison Nunn Premium Member almost 14 years ago
There is no comparison between Toggle and Zeke. Toggle is no loser, he works hard to do all he can. Zeke on the other hand is a loser in all senses.
puddleglum1066 almost 14 years ago
If Alex is smart enough to attend MIT, she’s also smart enough to have already determined that the best way to avoid having a life like her mom’s is to listen carefully to her mom’s advice… and then do the exact opposite. Hence, the last panel is the best thing that could happen for Alex and Toggle.
Nemesys almost 14 years ago
puddleglum, you’re equating smarts with common sense. Many of the smartest people in the world have no special clue when it comes to interpersonal relations, emotional intelligence, and/or street smarts… often, it’s just the opposite. To my knowledge, the divorce rate of people who went to MIT is no less than of those who went to community college.
cdhaley almost 14 years ago
I still think GT is mocking chiefly himself and Boomer parents generally. J.J., Mike, Rick Redfern, and Prof. Shipley—-to name only the most recent of the wise elders in the strip—-have to feel like Trudeau when they see their follies being repeated by the youthful generation who seek (and hopefully reject) their ineffectual advice.
Nemesys, you take your inverse snobbery too far when you cite your “knowledge” of the divorce rate among college graduates. The national divorce rate is more than 50%, but the rate among those who married after college is less than 25%. A higher education not only helps with job stability, it strengthens emotional maturity.
peter0423 almost 14 years ago
Nemesys said: “puddleglum, you’re equating smarts with common sense. Many of the smartest people in the world have no special clue when it comes to interpersonal relations, emotional intelligence, and/or street smarts… often, it’s just the opposite.”
From my personal experience of the world, Nemesys is spot on. Higher education can help with job stability and strengthen emotional maturity, palin drome – except for all the unemployed and underemployed college grads out there, and all those with college degrees and/or genius-level IQs who live out their years on a therapist’s couch. A person’s life has many tendencies, but no certainties.
Dragoncat almost 14 years ago
Avolunteer said: “There is no comparison between Toggle and Zeke. Toggle is no loser, he works hard to do all he can. Zeke on the other hand is a loser in all senses.”
And that is all that needs to be said.
Nemesys almost 14 years ago
palin, interesting straw men statistics, but they in no way refute the reverse snobbery statement that I actually made - in fact, they don’t relate to it at all. The choice of going to college at all vs. getting married factors in too many variables such as age, geography, financial stability, etc. to analytically compare divorce rates between “smart” and “not so smart” people, but it would be much more relevant if you could cite data that establishes a relationship between “smartness”, divorce rates, and the type of college attended (Ivy League or whatever).
I work with MD’s in my full time job, and with PhD’s in my part time position as a university adjunct. Many of these people are brilliant in their fields, but have a difficult time balancing their checkbooks or finding their way to the cafeteria. As to the quality of their romances, entire soap operas have been justifiably devoted to their “Medical Affairs” shenanigans.
Considering the topic at hand, think of the most brilliant people of all time – Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Einstein, whoever - and then investigate the stability of their love lives
gaebie almost 14 years ago
Since they ran this story over a year ago (and still a good story line!) Alex and Toggle are still a couple. So looks like she was smart, and with common sense and did not take her mom’s advice.
jpozenel almost 14 years ago
Fickle.
Dtroutma almost 14 years ago
Zeke’s a flake, Toggle is not. Having “been there” with those little “post combat oddities”, and genius IQ, but still finishing college and getting jobs, there is hope. With a spouse of 41 years who had the patience to weather the “storms”, we’ve watched friends with many different attitudes blow through three and even four marriages, with lots of excuses for the failures. Education can help, but it isn’t just the academics.
The secret is the willingness to share and care, about something more than just yourself. That is the difference between Zeke and Toggle, as well as the opposite side of the coin- I think of Liz Taylor for example. Alex isn’t a Liz.
Nemesys almost 14 years ago
dtroutma, it sounds like you’re saying that Zeke’s position is that of emotional entitlement , and it’s ok to slack off on his share of the relationship responsibility so long as he enjoys the bennie’s of it. Zeke might even say “From each, love according to his ability, to each, love according to his need.”
Toggle’s position seems more JFK-ish, as in “Ask Not What Your Relationship Can Do For You, Ask What You Can Do For Your Relationship”.
dfowensby almost 14 years ago
zekeś a freeloading leech, mamaś a codependent loser. if anyone is reversed here, its the kids. toggle busts butt, and i dont see alex producing squat.
chode78 almost 14 years ago
I am new here. I am a lifelong Republican and have been reading Doonesbury since the Nixon administration. I believe, regardless of political affiliation, that everyone needs a sense of humor. GT pretty much nails the issues 99% of the time. However, after reading the comments for this week’s storyline, I must say I haven’t seen gossip like this since Luke and Laura back in the 80s. You guys are psychoanalyzing comic strip characters! GT can write the story line anyway he wants, regardless of your comments. Please, get a life!
BigDog00 almost 14 years ago
Any day!
thirdguy almost 14 years ago
Chode78, Welcome, and well put!
RinaFarina almost 14 years ago
@nemesis, what you’re talking about is called EQ, emotional quotient, as opposed to IQ, intelligence quotient. I could write a lot about IQ, but basically it is supposed to measure intelligence, whereas EQ is supposed to measure the ability to get along with people, be comfortable in a social setting, form good relationships - things like that.
It is very common to have a high IQ and a low EQ. Some of the EQ skills can be learned, with more or less difficulty and more or less success. Typically, kids either come by them naturally or pick them up naturally as they grow up. Most people haven’t a clue about how to teach them.
RinaFarina almost 14 years ago
sigh… I flagged a piece of spam again - I guess it’s hard to eradicate completely
pouncingtiger almost 14 years ago
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.