Calvin looks very comfy and secure in the last panel, there are days, that I wouldn’t mind dressing like that. Of course, I might get some weird looks from the kids on my bus, and their parents.
Good Morning, all! Calvin has the right idea for preventing collateral damage from the next attack. I wish we could do this in real life, without being locked up in a looney bin!
Yesterday’s and today’s topics are on the psychology of raising children, and I have been thinking about the fascinating psychology of the readers in this discussion group.
We have readers who are very traditional child-rearers and readers who are not. We have readers who like to explore the psychology of Calvin and Hobbes with long, in-depth discussions, and those who say that they prefer comments that are short one-liners.
Some readers participate in many separate discussion groups and they comment on many different comic strips each day, whereas some readers comment only on Calvin and Hobbes. Naturally, some of the readers in the “many-comic-strips-per-day” camp are also in the “prefer-comments-that-are-short-one-liners” camp.
Some readers are older and some are younger. Some are more computer-and-technology-savvy than others, and can easily research comments that they do not understand. Many are in the U.S., but many are not. Some are strongly religious and some are not. Some try to convert others to their way of thinking, and some do not. Some are focused mainly on enjoying fantasy, and others are focused mainly on discussing reality. (Some like to believe that I am Hobbes, and others do not….)
Calvin and Hobbes often touch on complex psychological and religious issues, but in deceptively simple and highly entertaining ways. Therefore, they can be followed and enjoyed by a large variety of people on more than one level. Charles Schulz’s “Peanuts” was like this, especially during the early decades.
Since Calvin and Hobbes are both simple and complex, and since they touch on so many psychological and religious issues, perhaps it is no surprise that they attract such a diverse group of readers who comment in this discussion group.
But I believe that there is one thing that all of the readers here have in common. It is the enjoyment of the simple daily pleasure of checking in on Calvin and Hobbes, to see what they are up to today.
Good morning Fran. I agree that we all could use a little more love.
Personally, I really enjoy the diversity of people in this discussion group. If we all thought alike, we would all quickly lose interest and stop participating.
Yes, we are a wonderfully diverse group which is what makes the comments section so enjoyable, although some cartoonists do not seem to enjoy them.
The child psych books were a waste of money, especially if they were authored by Dr. Spock who advocated a hands-off approach to raising a child. He stated you should just let the child develop on his/her own without parental guidance. This had a profound affect that helped foster the attitude today that a person in entitled to what he/she wants and it should just be given to him. Instant gratification without having to work for something seems to be the current attitude. I cringe every time I hear someone say “I know my rights, I know I’m entitled”. Bovine feces.
I’m just expressing my opinion because “I’m entitled to”.
Calvin is my fav. comic of all times! Right up there with Charlie Brown & Snoopy!
I wish we could all be as free to imagine as Calvin. There are too many restrictions in the adult world! If we could all be free to be ourselves without worry as to if the rest of the world thinks we are nuts or not!! He is un inhibited and in his own way brave. And i say screw the psych. books….he is wonderful the way he is!!
Did you know that Dr. Spock (the “child psychologist”, not the Star Trek character) once ADMITTED he was entirely wrong? He discovered that when he got married, and “inherited” a couple of kids in the deal. NOTHING he wrote actually worked!
Hi wellhoney. The “Genius” label is not self-selected. It is automatically attached to the name of everyone who pays $11.95 per year instead of using a free account. By implying that the decision to spend our money on this Web site involves high intelligence, GoComics is using psychology to manipulate all of us – even those of us who don’t like to think about psychology.
I love that no matter how rotten my day is, I can come here, and see something that will make me smile! ( I could be talking about Calvin, or some of the posts that are made ;-) )
It’s good to see Calvin stopped worrying about Santa for another 360 days! I love the way Hobbes ambushes Calvin. One more point to “confirm” that Hobbes is real? I mean, would he ambush himself?
Nothin’ abnormal about Calvin’s psychology! If you had a crouching tiger waitin’ to pounce on your hidden dragon, you’d strap on on coupla pads and a helmet too!
Calvin lives in his own world of reality. I loved Calvin and Hobbes from the very first strip. It’s art and one of the highest forms of communication. You have a succession of boxes and derive meaning from each box, multiplied by each preceeding box. Each frame is it’s own paradigm which provides context to the next frame. In this way comic strips can pack a very powerful experience of real communication. I think our brain probably thinks in comic strips, not language per se, especially in children. I guess my brain never matured because I have practically every book, including the 3 volume collected works of Calvin and Hobbes and I once sent a letter to Mr. Watterson and received a reply. I thought the man was a genius, and I was so sad when the last strip appeared. I love how FREE Clavin is to experience life, to think what he wants, to feel what he feels. I always thought of Calvin and Hobbes as a kind of manifesto of child psychology. and human relationships. Yeah, I guess I read too much into the strip.
By the way.my favourite frame in this strip is the last. Mom isn’t ordering him to take those pillows and helmet off. She is not understanding why he would wear them, but sees no harm in his behaviour, just her own valuation of child psychology books thrown out the window with the costs of purchasing those books as a complete waste of money. Great mom, without a doubt.
After Calvin grows up, his mother, if she is still sane, might be motivated to write a book herself about her experiences with him as he grew up. Adults put seat belts and airbags for use in dangerous situations. Calvin’s football helmet and pillows a page right out of the big people’s book…..
You’re dead on fran650. Blah, blah, blah gets old. Some feel a need to help the rest of us ‘understand’ the complexity of a 7 year old. For others it a place to argue. I guess I’m in the camp of simple pleasure. If I want psychobabble, ( –noun
writing or talk using jargon from psychiatry or psychotherapy without particular accuracy or relevance), I’ll pay for it elsewhere. By the way, this is not a “discussion group”.
margueritem almost 14 years ago
LOL!
margueritem almost 14 years ago
somebodyshort said, 3 minutes ago
They all are. Now if they wrote parent psychology books kids might have a chance
I agree!
garfield246 almost 14 years ago
Poor Calvin…
josh_bisbee almost 14 years ago
Just think back to when you were a kid. Much more effective, and costs nothing.
Of course, with a kid like Calvin, that probably doesn’t work.
SWEETBILL almost 14 years ago
Looks like Calvin is prepared for war. He needs a tiger pyscho book for his defense.
pouncingtiger almost 14 years ago
Mom doesn’t know how vivid Calvin’s imagination can be.
Panel 3 caption: INCOMING!!!!!!!!!
I love Hobbes’ expression in the first panel and Calvin’s in the third.
rentier almost 14 years ago
In every panel a part of tiger, that remindes me on my landscapepaintings in my childhood with cowhalves in every edge!
PetrusS almost 14 years ago
Calvin probably can write a parent-psychology book himself:
How to drive your parents insane
Yukoner almost 14 years ago
You don’t need psychology, just love.
Kirokithikis almost 14 years ago
Insanity is hereditary … you get it from your children
Dino-1 almost 14 years ago
Yukoner; I agree, like the Beatles song says, “Love is all there is.”
rentier almost 14 years ago
Yukoner Wonderful, I agree, too!
heidiweidel almost 14 years ago
I have always loved this one.
thirdguy almost 14 years ago
Calvin looks very comfy and secure in the last panel, there are days, that I wouldn’t mind dressing like that. Of course, I might get some weird looks from the kids on my bus, and their parents.
GROG Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Calvin wouldn’t take the time to read a Parent psychology book if there was one.
Good Morning, Marg, Mike & ♠Lonewolf♠.
Delirium108 almost 14 years ago
Aren’t those the books Calvin used to try and tame Hobbes?
mike.firesmith almost 14 years ago
**Good morning Marg! Good morning Fran and Kizzzy! Good Morning L’Wolf! Good Morning Grog!**
The kid lives way outside the curve.
cleokaya almost 14 years ago
Those tiger claws will have feathers fluttering from room to room.
larney45 almost 14 years ago
Good Morning, all! Calvin has the right idea for preventing collateral damage from the next attack. I wish we could do this in real life, without being locked up in a looney bin!
Hobbes Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Yesterday’s and today’s topics are on the psychology of raising children, and I have been thinking about the fascinating psychology of the readers in this discussion group.
We have readers who are very traditional child-rearers and readers who are not. We have readers who like to explore the psychology of Calvin and Hobbes with long, in-depth discussions, and those who say that they prefer comments that are short one-liners.
Some readers participate in many separate discussion groups and they comment on many different comic strips each day, whereas some readers comment only on Calvin and Hobbes. Naturally, some of the readers in the “many-comic-strips-per-day” camp are also in the “prefer-comments-that-are-short-one-liners” camp.
Some readers are older and some are younger. Some are more computer-and-technology-savvy than others, and can easily research comments that they do not understand. Many are in the U.S., but many are not. Some are strongly religious and some are not. Some try to convert others to their way of thinking, and some do not. Some are focused mainly on enjoying fantasy, and others are focused mainly on discussing reality. (Some like to believe that I am Hobbes, and others do not….)
Calvin and Hobbes often touch on complex psychological and religious issues, but in deceptively simple and highly entertaining ways. Therefore, they can be followed and enjoyed by a large variety of people on more than one level. Charles Schulz’s “Peanuts” was like this, especially during the early decades.
Since Calvin and Hobbes are both simple and complex, and since they touch on so many psychological and religious issues, perhaps it is no surprise that they attract such a diverse group of readers who comment in this discussion group.
But I believe that there is one thing that all of the readers here have in common. It is the enjoyment of the simple daily pleasure of checking in on Calvin and Hobbes, to see what they are up to today.
– Hobbes (for some of you)
– The Hobbes poster (for others of you)
– One of Calvin’s biggest fans (for all of you)
fran650 almost 14 years ago
And some like to think others care about their pointless, long winded ramblings.
Yukoner, you have it exactly right.
G’morning all.
Miss.Fit almost 14 years ago
ROFL…!!!!!!
Hobbes Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Good morning Fran. I agree that we all could use a little more love.
Personally, I really enjoy the diversity of people in this discussion group. If we all thought alike, we would all quickly lose interest and stop participating.
TN-REDD almost 14 years ago
Wait for it….wait for it……GOTCHA………!!
EastEmi almost 14 years ago
LOLOL!
Rise22 almost 14 years ago
What IF Hobbes is real? Some things are better left to the imagination, eh?
musicnut1986 almost 14 years ago
Yes, we are a wonderfully diverse group which is what makes the comments section so enjoyable, although some cartoonists do not seem to enjoy them.
The child psych books were a waste of money, especially if they were authored by Dr. Spock who advocated a hands-off approach to raising a child. He stated you should just let the child develop on his/her own without parental guidance. This had a profound affect that helped foster the attitude today that a person in entitled to what he/she wants and it should just be given to him. Instant gratification without having to work for something seems to be the current attitude. I cringe every time I hear someone say “I know my rights, I know I’m entitled”. Bovine feces.
I’m just expressing my opinion because “I’m entitled to”.
kpreethy almost 14 years ago
LMAO
kpreethy almost 14 years ago
LMAO
kpreethy almost 14 years ago
LMAO
spacelady_76 almost 14 years ago
Calvin is my fav. comic of all times! Right up there with Charlie Brown & Snoopy! I wish we could all be as free to imagine as Calvin. There are too many restrictions in the adult world! If we could all be free to be ourselves without worry as to if the rest of the world thinks we are nuts or not!! He is un inhibited and in his own way brave. And i say screw the psych. books….he is wonderful the way he is!!
hopeandjoy2 almost 14 years ago
Good Grief!!! I just love them (Calvin and Hobbes) and I love my kids who are grown and I still have fun being around them!!!
ratlum almost 14 years ago
Mom must be a slow learner, if she just realizes that now.
Gretchen's Mom almost 14 years ago
Crouching, pouncing tiger … screaming, self-protecting Calvin!
wellhoney almost 14 years ago
My guess is that “Genius” had a lot of time on his hands today.
Why not just enjoy Bill Watterson’s wonderful sense of humor?
Have a good day everyone.
Charles Evans Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Mom, you’re going to need more than books to get this kid to 18. Good luck with that.
RadioTom almost 14 years ago
Did you know that Dr. Spock (the “child psychologist”, not the Star Trek character) once ADMITTED he was entirely wrong? He discovered that when he got married, and “inherited” a couple of kids in the deal. NOTHING he wrote actually worked!
Hobbes Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Hi wellhoney. The “Genius” label is not self-selected. It is automatically attached to the name of everyone who pays $11.95 per year instead of using a free account. By implying that the decision to spend our money on this Web site involves high intelligence, GoComics is using psychology to manipulate all of us – even those of us who don’t like to think about psychology.
Dberrymanal1 almost 14 years ago
Child psychology is a pile of horse sh-t! The only thing brats like Calvin understand is the woodshed!
lin4869 almost 14 years ago
Love it! (And thanks for the comments, Hobbes…)
pouncingtiger almost 14 years ago
I love Hobbes’ pouncing tactics.
UBarW almost 14 years ago
I love that no matter how rotten my day is, I can come here, and see something that will make me smile! ( I could be talking about Calvin, or some of the posts that are made ;-) )
bmonk almost 14 years ago
My first thought was like Cleokaya’s: those pillows are not gonna help one little bit!
At least the child psychologists do recognize that kids are not just miniature adults, which was the feeling for many centuries before ours.
Now we just need a psychology system that actually works….
JTGAM almost 14 years ago
It’s good to see Calvin stopped worrying about Santa for another 360 days! I love the way Hobbes ambushes Calvin. One more point to “confirm” that Hobbes is real? I mean, would he ambush himself?
rumplesnitz almost 14 years ago
Nothin’ abnormal about Calvin’s psychology! If you had a crouching tiger waitin’ to pounce on your hidden dragon, you’d strap on on coupla pads and a helmet too!
COWBOY7 almost 14 years ago
Go get him, Calvin! LOL
chovil almost 14 years ago
Calvin lives in his own world of reality. I loved Calvin and Hobbes from the very first strip. It’s art and one of the highest forms of communication. You have a succession of boxes and derive meaning from each box, multiplied by each preceeding box. Each frame is it’s own paradigm which provides context to the next frame. In this way comic strips can pack a very powerful experience of real communication. I think our brain probably thinks in comic strips, not language per se, especially in children. I guess my brain never matured because I have practically every book, including the 3 volume collected works of Calvin and Hobbes and I once sent a letter to Mr. Watterson and received a reply. I thought the man was a genius, and I was so sad when the last strip appeared. I love how FREE Clavin is to experience life, to think what he wants, to feel what he feels. I always thought of Calvin and Hobbes as a kind of manifesto of child psychology. and human relationships. Yeah, I guess I read too much into the strip.
chovil almost 14 years ago
By the way.my favourite frame in this strip is the last. Mom isn’t ordering him to take those pillows and helmet off. She is not understanding why he would wear them, but sees no harm in his behaviour, just her own valuation of child psychology books thrown out the window with the costs of purchasing those books as a complete waste of money. Great mom, without a doubt.
khpage almost 14 years ago
After Calvin grows up, his mother, if she is still sane, might be motivated to write a book herself about her experiences with him as he grew up. Adults put seat belts and airbags for use in dangerous situations. Calvin’s football helmet and pillows a page right out of the big people’s book…..
rogue53 almost 14 years ago
You’re dead on fran650. Blah, blah, blah gets old. Some feel a need to help the rest of us ‘understand’ the complexity of a 7 year old. For others it a place to argue. I guess I’m in the camp of simple pleasure. If I want psychobabble, ( –noun writing or talk using jargon from psychiatry or psychotherapy without particular accuracy or relevance), I’ll pay for it elsewhere. By the way, this is not a “discussion group”.