Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for March 05, 2011

Finally - Hobbes returns!

Blaming hobbes, eh?

Accidents will happen, and when they do, it’s always good to have a buddy who will stick up for you.

The culprit happened to be a buddy of mine, I closed the case and we went on playing….

Yesterday, Rumplesnitz said:

<< Hobbes – Watterson never meant for us to believe in Hobbes, just in a child’s imaginative creativity. >>

Hi Rumplesnitz

That’s a common interpretation, but actually Bill Watterson is a very complex person, and he’s created a very complex comic strip. Please see the quotations below. (I’ve compressed some of them to save space.)

My opinion is that asking whether or not Hobbes is real, is like asking whether or not Snoopy’s thoughts are real. If we become too literal and restrictive, we defeat our own imaginations and we destroy the magic of the comic strip.

Not only that, but Hobbes is real. :>)

– Hobbes

Quotations from Bill Watterson:

“The strip doesn’t assert that Hobbes is implicitly, explicitly just a product of Calvin’s imagination. That’s the assumption that adults make because nobody else sees Hobbes in the way that Calvin does.”

“I really have no knowledge about imaginary friends. It would seem to me, though, that when you make up a friend for yourself, you would have somebody to agree with you, not to argue with you. So Hobbes is more real than I suspect any kid would dream up.”

“The fantasy/reality question is a literary device, so the ultimate reality of it doesn’t really matter that much anyway. In other words, when Dorothy’s in Oz, if you want to make this obviously a dream, it becomes stupid – you confine yourself…. There are inner workings in the Wizard of Oz that are too coherent for a dream…. The literary merits, the purpose of writing it that way, are better served by some ambiguity than by making everything very obvious.”

“When Hobbes is a stuffed toy in one panel and alive in the next, I’m juxtaposing the “grown-up” version of reality with Calvin’s version, and inviting the reader to decide which is truer. Most of the time, the strip is drawn simply from Calvin’s perspective, and Hobbes is as real as anyone… I try to get the reader completely swept up into Calvin’s world by ignoring adult perspective… The viewpoint of the strip fluctuates, and this allows Hobbes to be a ‘real’ character.”

“The whole intrigue of Hobbes is that he may or may not be a real tiger. The strip deliberately sets up two versions of reality without committing itself to either one.”

Yes, Hobbes returned……………………….to the scene of the crime!!!

G’Morning, Marg, Mike & Grog!

So the culprit was Hobbes all along. He was probably hungry and made the mess accidentally, while looking for a can of tuna.

A table lamp is not the same thing as a toy, somebodyshort. There’s a reason that our mothers never allowed us to play ball in the house, after all!

Calvin needs to learn to be responsible and think of other people’s needs besides his own. Someone besides the lamp could just as easily have been hurt by Calvin’s carelessness, so I don’t see how your analogy makes for any sort of defense of Calvin’s behavior. An adult wouldn’t have gotten away with damaging property that didn’t belong to him; why should Calvin therefore not be punished for damaging his parents’ property in the course of breaking a house rule?

@legaleagle48 - I’m guessing either you’re childless or any kids you had wanted to leave home about the age of 12. LOL - Jeez

Seems Dad has come to the rescue.

I’m shocked, Hobbes. You’re usually the the voice of reason.

somebodyshort, remind me never to let your kids anywhere near my things. I don’t think even you have enough respect for other people’s property.

SOMEBODYSHORT—-it’s parents like you that have kids that get in trouble in life…..you are supposed to help them understand that actions have consequences. Love them enough to help them fly………….

Calvin’s comments on the effects of Dad working on him are just too hilarious. Best series I have read. It is a pity he is closing the case.

@Hobbes/commenter: Thanks for the Bill Watterson quotations. Was this secondary research on your part, or primary research (a personal interview)? I especially like Quote #5.

I wish my kids were young enough to have Calvin and Hobbes over everyday to play. I’m not sure I would wand legaleagle or somebodyshort kids around the neighborhood.

Case closed. Mystery solved

Yes, it is best to rest the case; close the case.. All the dame wanted to know was what happened, but sometimes things get a little out of proportion.

Hi Florchi

No, I’ve never met Bill Watterson. Wish I could interview him, so that I could draw on his experience. Many people feel drawn to him, but I feel drawn by him. Some people say that he is my pen name, whatever that means.

The quotes are from a couple of interviews with Bill that were published in the 1980s:

http://ignatz.brinkster.net/chonk.html (Honk Magazine, 1987)

http://ignatz.brinkster.net/ccomicsjournal.html (Comics Journal, 1989)

– Hobbes

somebodyshort:

Thanks for unintentionally writing something controversial and accidentally stirring up a heated discussion. You saved me from having to do that today. :>)

I agree with everyone, if that’s possible. Kids need structure, rules and discipline, but parents need to treat them like kids, not adults. That requires making some concessions to help create an environment for them where they can be kids, while at the same time gradually teaching them how to grow into responsible adults.

– Hobbes

Hey Hobbes,

Far be it from me to challenge Mr. Watterson on his home turf, but I do have lots of experience with imaginary friends (mine) and now with exploring psychological archetypes, and Hobbes is what he is because he’s an archetypal figure. I suspect he is Calvin’s Trickster who yet can take on many other roles (including Oppositional), all from Calvin’s psychological Shadow.

All that means is that the roles emerge from Calvin’s Shadow or unconscious cognitive processes. They are most easily negative and critical, but sometimes can be positive and wisdom-imparting.

I have a lifelong alter ego who is as real - or as unreal, or as surreal - as Hobbes. I am not kidding. He’s been driving my speculative fiction, and has also been driving me quietly nuts (grin), all of my life from age six upward.

The thing is, it doesn’t matter if Mr. Watterson claims to know nothing about how his own creative process happens; because it comes from the unconscious, it would be a rare thing indeed if he did understand how his creativity really works. I did not until very, very recently and with special training and guidance. So I have a certain quiet skepticism about his own explanations. Few people understand themselves that well and our Egos can hide the truth about ourselves from ourselves even with the best of intentions.

Hobbes, thanks for sharing the quotes! The workings of a kid’s mind (or of an adult who never lets go of imagination!) are fascinating.

You know, Hobbes in Calvin’s mind reminds me of what a lot of authors say, that they dream up characters who become as real to them as anything else. They know that the characters aren’t materially real, but that in terms of having dimensions, they do seem real.

@Hobbes: Your comment: “Many people feel drawn to him, but I feel drawn by him.” Do you mean that figuratively or literally?

The buddy was likely one of his alter egos, with an assist from a tiger buddy.

I agree with all the people who disagree with somebodyshort. I happen to work in a supermarket and agree that her kids are probably the ones who eat the fruit before you get to the register or who take things from one aisle (say, meat) and leave it in the cereal aisle. “Oh, what’s the harm!” somebodyshort probably says… Her house and probably her life are in disorder, I’d bet. My kids were always taught to respect stuff, regardless of its value. Everyone has different ideas of what’s important to them. “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”

There is a middle ground between letting your kids be out of control animals, and running a gulag where kids must sit absolutely still and are only allowed movement when express permission is given, otherwise a beating is administered. It seems the more judgmental people here seem to believe there is only one extreme or the other.

It is possible to teach kids respect for other people AND allow them the freedom to be creative and even make mistakes that result in destruction.

Of course it was Hobbes! I knew it all along-wink, wink. Thank you Hobbes commentator for you comments and mostly, thank you Johanan Rakkav for your insights. I absolutely agree with you. I, too, have been exploring such aspects of myself. And, I was referring to this yesterday when I said that alot of young people don’t seem to have any imagintative humor. Allowing this aspect of you “self” to be/develop is a healthy part of growing up, I believe. It’s when it is repressed that trouble happens. That is why it is important for children to “get out” and play even if it means some accidents occur.

But, of course, when the accidents occur that result in destruction the children must learn that is not acceptable.

Wow! Lively debate today….it’s what makes the world go around…..imagine if we all did the same and thought the same….pretty boring!

JazzyBella:

I was just thinking exactly the same thing! :>)

Florchi wrote:

<< @Hobbes: Your comment: Many people feel drawn to him, but I feel drawn by him. Do you mean that figuratively or literally? >>

Hi Florchi

I only mean it humorous-ly.

How many times do I have to tell you! ^HOBBES has to be Watterson. Who else could understand Calvin and tiger Hobbes as well as he does. And I think he gave it away with the “drawn BY him” remark no matter what he just posted.

@ somebodyshort.

Pay no attention to the negative collective psyche displayed by so many who are quick to judge someone they’ve never met. It’s a gang mentality. Those who understand that ‘things’ are not even in the same category as ‘children’ understand what you mean.

If you don’t think there is a gang mentality here, just notice sometimes how many comments prefer to kiss the backside of a tiger than to speak their mind.

Perhaps you don’t agree with me, or anyone else for that matter, because you actually have your own mind and values. But God forbid you should actually speak it here if it’s not ‘in line’ with the collective.

Now comes the the “No, no, we want you to express yourself. It’s what makes this forum so wonderful”…..until you actually DO it. Then you simply become fodder for the canon.

@legaleagle

He’s 6 not 16. But perhaps you never damaged anything accidentally in the course of your life. Kids do.

@Hobbes I hadn’t thought of humorous-ly. Thanks for the links to the interviews.

I still would love the cartoon if Dad had tore a strip of the little fibber, Barbaratoo,in answer to your posting that lady would send her kids to your place or mine.

Calvin has more loyalty to his buddy Harvey, I mean Hobbes than his parents…

I think that Hobbes is a figment of Calvin’s conscience and Calvin gets into the most trouble when Hobbes is not around.

Children require discipline. If they are not disciplined at 4, 5, and 6, they won’t be able to control themselves when they are 14, 15 and 16. Discipline makes one think of the consequences before they get in trouble. I can remember my dad saying to me “Didn’t you stop to think that if you did that you would get in trouble?” To which I responded “yes. In that particular case I had weighed the options and decided to do the thing I knew was going to get me in trouble anyway. But at least I had the way of reasoning it out in my mind. I think that is what Hobbes helps Calvin to do and when Calvin decides he wants to do otherwise, that is when we don’t see him..

I think Hobbes had the “smart” idea of playing Calvinball in the house.

@legaleagle

He’s 6 not 16. But perhaps you never damaged anything accidentally in the course of your life. Kids do.

As a matter of fact, I did rogue53 – and I ALWAYS got called out on it when it happened, and and I was ALWAYS made to face the consequences of my choices.

Calvin’s description of his dad’s lecture (with the accompanying eyerolls) suggests that he just doesn’t get it. It’s not about forcing children into a bubble-wrap existence where they can’t move around or have any fun at all; it’s about teaching them that the universe does not revolve around them, and that every action always has a consequence – and sometimes, those consequences affect other people, too.

Calvin may only be six, but most six-year-olds actually have a greater sense of responsibility and accountability than he does. THAT’S the point that many of the posters (yours truly included) have been trying to make.

Yea,, You should of planed to abort the mission

rogue53:

I don’t know whether you realize how loaded your words sound in each paragraph that you wrote above, but you come across as a very unhappy person. I hope you get pleasure out of reading Calvin and Hobbes.

Years ago, one of our sons (6 years old), after being told, “I’m getting sick and tire of -blah blah blah!” replied:

“Well, I’m getting sick and tired of listening to you tell me!”

It was really hard to suppress the laughter but even harder to not tan his little bottom. He got a spanking out of it, but not a severe one.

Now in his middle ages, we still get a good chuckle out of it. He still thinks it was one of his greatest comebacks. Thankfully, he now has a kid that is his spittin’ personality who is definitely making him pay for his raising. Mom and I (and him, too) get a good chuckle out of that.

It’s a rough life in Sin City.

Obviously Hobbes is real. Just like Snuffy on Sesame Street. For years only Big Bird could see him, no adults. Then gradually the adults were “allowed” to see him. He was just very shy of strangers.

I think I have to come down on both sides. Yes, we love children, and accept them as they are, but our love also means that we discipline them and help them grow. An infant who is in diapers and just learning to walk who wobbles and falls against the coffee table, breaking it, is loved, not condemned. But a 15-year-old still in diapers and still wobbling against the table and breaking it–without some other condition, like spinal bifida perhaps–is showing something wrong.

Calvin is funny and charming in his little boy way–but were he a real boy, he would need dad’s best “chiropractic” efforts–to stretch him to grow into responsibility and love for others and all the things that make us really human, if we ever get there.

So, playing in the house and breaking a lamp? Be glad it’s not worse. Don’t stick him in the closet to punish him until bedtime. But don’t let him off the hook either. As someone mentioned, actions have consequences–and even if Hobbes broke the lamp playing football, not even Hobbes can play ball by himself. Calvin can certainly accept his proper share of the blame.

Dad is applying Dad logic, etc. to the situation, and Calvin, clearly, is having none of it as he remains in his fantasy dissociated from the reality around him. Hobbes, as usual, has it right - they should have gone outside with the football…

I think people are taking this way too seriously. This is a comic, and Calvin is a character in a comic strip. I don’t know any 6 year old with Calvin’s vocabulary or knowledge. You can’t compare Calvin to a real child. Whether Hobbes is real or not is irrelevant…he is real to Calvin, and that’s all that matters. Watterson wanted us to think, but more than that I think he wanted us to be entertained…he wanted us to laugh. People need to lighten up a bit.

Precisely cincity48…

@hobbes…. Actually you’d be wrong, again. I’m a very happy person, with a great wife and kids. I just don’t need my ego stroked daily to find enjoyment in life. Your attempt to dominate the thinking and correct others is pitiful. You seem to feel that since you took on that moniker that it gives your words more relevance than others, and you actually have others buying into it… lol. You feel the need to act the peacemaker, when one isn’t needed. It’s a COMIC strip for cryin’ out loud.

I just knew that Hobbes would get blamed for the whodunnit “Case Of The Broken Lamp” in the end!

rogue53:

Others judge us by the words that we write, and a high percentage of your words are negative. I would challenge you to try to go one month without saying anything negative about anyone on this site, and instead to begin contributing positive postings and encouraging other people. If you are truly a happy person who doesn’t need to get attention through negative means, you will be able to do it, and you may even discover that you enjoy it.

You have to wonder how much Calvin got from the lecture his father gave him. We are lucky to read his perspective of the crisis. Hobbes sums up the experience very succinctly.

@somebodyshort is right.

kids punished for everything, and behave good just because of fear, later make up for it when they grow up :-p

Somebodyshort O your so right on

I lived in fear and I turned out alright. After having lived it, I believe in tough love. I hate to think how I would have turned out without it.

rugue53, although I may occasionally agree with you, you have a way of saying things that make me think you are nothing more than a troll.

It.s been a great week. I’m sorry to see it end. My hat’s off to you, Bill!

Hobbes - Thanks for keeping the record straight. For sure this comic strip is a treasure.

Thanks rumplesnitz

You are right that it is a treasure, and I think it is more of a treasure than even Bill Watterson realized. As it withstands the test of time, its value continues to increase.

Actually “hobbes”, the majority of my words are not negative, unless you are once again thinking of yourself only. I find many of the comments to be funny and insightful. I tell you what, I’ll take your challenge. I won’t say anything I consider negative, if you will go a month without telling the rest of us how to live and think. Anything that starts with “We should” is just that. “We” shouldn’t do anything that we don’t feel is the right course, and believe it or not, not everyone here subscribes to your way of ‘thinking’. Sure, you like to sugar coat it, but the message is clear: “Think like I do, or you must be wrong.” I prefer to call it as I see it. You prefer to come off as the sweet one, when in actuality you simply come in through the back door to slam someone. Your little Valentine story is a great example of that. Have a nice day :)

rogue53:

Giving up making positive comments, in exchange for someone giving up making negative comments, is not a fair trade that a reasonable person would agree to. Today you have made it clear that you have missed the point of the Valentine’s Day story and you are not interested in my friendship. Other than that story, my comments that are not addressed to you directly are not intended for you to read, because I now know that you have no interest in them, other than using them as a means to make antagonistic comments. They are intended for you to skip over, as you said in the past that you would do. I am writing them for those who are introspective and who do find them to be helpful. And I will not be deterred by one antagonistic person making inappropriate personal attacks using loaded language. In fact, your antagonistic comments often result in negative comments about you from others, and they have been the cause of many of the positive comments that others have made about my postings. So you are not achieving your purpose through antagonism. You are achieving the opposite.

Rogue53, does that include any of the pages that Hobbes *doesn’t visit that the rest of us might?

Once again “hobbes”, you stroke your own ego by calling your life lesson lectures as only positive. You still consider it’s ‘your way or the wrong way’. I happen to disagree, but you have your league of followers, some who are naive enough to actually believe that you have some connection to the author of the strip. You like it that way. You feel it lends some kind of legitimacy to your comments. I find it to be self-serving and egotistical…

I’m sorry if you don’t like hearing it straight and consider it all negative. It’s simply one person’s opinion, but according to you, not worth as much as your own.

Some of you people read too much into this….it is what it is- funny. Both kids and parents get it, because they understand both childhood and parenthood.

There are no psychological overtones or behavioral issues to contemplate here. Just enjoy the comic.

Some of the grown-up’s here bicker worse than actual children do! Why can’t we all just learn to get along? If you don’t like the postings of someone here, then skip over them, move on to the next one and quit dragging innocent bystanders into your little hissy fits! I certainly hope some of you people with children set better examples for them in your home life than you do here in your virtual life because it’s really ugly to “watch” sometimes!!!!!

“I always leave when the talk gets philosophical.” - Calvin (previous strip)

:-)

im so happy