Chimpanzees are notorious for smiling only when they are angry. In January 2020 at the Sacramento Zoo, I saw a bunch of chimpanzees smiling at each other and shrieking as if to wake the dead. It was pretty frightening.
I am with Olivercrosbyboak. Rat does look psychotic like he has just gone postal somewhere like his job as a coffee barista and killed Pig along with a few other people along the way or he is planning it out in his mind. Most definitely creepy as Goat has observed…..
I cracked up at this. There was this one Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode where Agent May and Agent Coulson go undercover to a party, and May has to smile a lot during that time to fake enjoying herself. Afterwards, she says that her face hurts from smiling too much.
The best way to really jack someone up who’s already mad and yelling at you is to keep your voice lowered, speak softly and smile. That will really get their blood pressure exploding off the charts.
Actually, I have found that if I lower my own voice, and speak calmly, it tends to de-escalate the situation. At some point, the shouter realizes they are the only one doing all the screaming and yelling, yet somehow, I’ve gained the advantage in the argument.
Meanwhile back at today’s comic strip,(where BTW, none of the critters are wearing under or outerwear….Smile, it makes people wonder what you’re up to. (Now you can even see those smiles.)
i like stuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuufffffff about 3 years ago
rat looks phycotic
BE THIS GUY about 3 years ago
The first reaction to Rat smiling is suspicion.
Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus Premium Member about 3 years ago
This make Rat proud of himself.
DanielRyanMulligan1 about 3 years ago
With sheldon cooper and the joker on the list, Rat is in good company for the creepiest smile club!
Kveldulf about 3 years ago
Stephan finally made it easy to see he doesn’t photocopy the panels — panel 2 has a coffee cup!
BasilBruce about 3 years ago
How did Rat feel before he started smiling?
B UTTONS about 3 years ago
Pig did the laundry and now all Rat’s underpants are thongs.
Templo S.U.D. about 3 years ago
I’ll stick with Walter’s jolly mouse over Stephan’s grouchy rat when it comes to smiling rodents, thank you.
Kind&Kinder about 3 years ago
Life is a maze, Rat, get over it.
hariseldon59 about 3 years ago
We’ve already seen what can happen when Rat smiles.
https://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2005/01/23
ronaldspence about 3 years ago
Let a smile be your umbrella and you may just drown…
Robin Harwood about 3 years ago
Angry is better than miserable.
jmarkoff2 about 3 years ago
Chimpanzees are notorious for smiling only when they are angry. In January 2020 at the Sacramento Zoo, I saw a bunch of chimpanzees smiling at each other and shrieking as if to wake the dead. It was pretty frightening.
darkwingdave about 3 years ago
Maybe someone just had their Happy Helmet taken off.
AndreasMartin about 3 years ago
This must be how supervillains come to be.
iggyman about 3 years ago
How’s that song go? “Smiling Faces tell Lies” The Temptations!
TampaFanatic1 about 3 years ago
I am with Olivercrosbyboak. Rat does look psychotic like he has just gone postal somewhere like his job as a coffee barista and killed Pig along with a few other people along the way or he is planning it out in his mind. Most definitely creepy as Goat has observed…..
Breadboard about 3 years ago
Rat you forgot the sunglasses for that type of smile ;-)
Gent about 3 years ago
That’s great Rat. Now you can be Batman’s Joker.
Gent about 3 years ago
“Never trust a smiling cat”
— Garfield the cat.
…
“Never trust a smiling rat”
— Rat the rat.
Geophyzz about 3 years ago
I tried it – and it works!
Zebrastripes about 3 years ago
Rat is containing himself…
tripwire45 about 3 years ago
Like the time in the movie “Terminator 2” when young John Conner tried to get the Terminator to smile.
1953Baby about 3 years ago
Actually, I find smiling REALLY disarms a lot of people. They think I’m “nice” or “sweet.” Heh, heh, heh. . .
ZemrzyK1 about 3 years ago
The latest research proves that a forced smile is bad for the psyche.
vics_machine Premium Member about 3 years ago
I’ve heard it said it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile, but it’s worth the extra effort.
Arav727 about 3 years ago
I dont think anything would make rat happy except kicking someone
Lee26 Premium Member about 3 years ago
I’ve never seen Rat smile. And, Goat is correct. It IS creepy!
Willywise52 Premium Member about 3 years ago
Feelin’ pretty damn creepy too…
Querao (you can also call me quinn) about 3 years ago
Rat wears skin if you count that as clothing.
unfair.de about 3 years ago
“Creepy” was my first thought. As if Rat has transformed into a Family Circus character.
Bookworm about 3 years ago
My father used to tell me, “Always wear a smile, son. It makes people wonder what you’ve been up to.”
Mr. Snuffles about 3 years ago
Rat’s smile here is my spirit animal
Nougat about 3 years ago
I cracked up at this. There was this one Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode where Agent May and Agent Coulson go undercover to a party, and May has to smile a lot during that time to fake enjoying herself. Afterwards, she says that her face hurts from smiling too much.
Nougat about 3 years ago
Rat’s just out of practice
Ellis97 about 3 years ago
Rat should never been happy.
Otis Rufus Driftwood about 3 years ago
Rat ruins another good thing.
Nyckname about 3 years ago
For some reason, me smiling improves my mood, but brings everyone else down.
Mike Williams about 3 years ago
Reminds me of an anime character my son has talked about, which is called, “Shinobu Kocho”.
GaryCarr about 3 years ago
Suddenly Rat reminds me of the mice on the cover of Steppenwolf’s third album " At Your Birthday Party ".
Radish the wordsmith about 3 years ago
Rat is smiling because he is miserable, he must like it.
rick92040 about 3 years ago
The physical act f smiling CAN improve your mood. I’m living proof.
Goat from PBS about 3 years ago
Well, Rat, I had better be going…uh… NON-SPECIFIC EXCUSE!
The One follower about 3 years ago
ew rat!
Rokittman about 3 years ago
Now thats creepy alright!
The Waffles are my friends about 3 years ago
Did he steal Goat’s Prozac again?
DCBakerEsq about 3 years ago
Smile. It makes people wonder what you’re up to.
Linguist about 3 years ago
The best way to really jack someone up who’s already mad and yelling at you is to keep your voice lowered, speak softly and smile. That will really get their blood pressure exploding off the charts.
Actually, I have found that if I lower my own voice, and speak calmly, it tends to de-escalate the situation. At some point, the shouter realizes they are the only one doing all the screaming and yelling, yet somehow, I’ve gained the advantage in the argument.
Troglodyte about 3 years ago
Smile at every stranger you meet…makes ’em wonder, “Now what the f*** is he up to?!” :D
Ermine Notyours about 3 years ago
Rat looks like he’s about to crash through a wall and offer kids Kook Aid.
WCraft Premium Member about 3 years ago
Then the Lawrence Welk members must’ve had really good moods!
marilynnbyerly about 3 years ago
If the smile isn’t in the eyes, too, back away fast.
redback about 3 years ago
botox
christelisbetty about 3 years ago
Meanwhile back at today’s comic strip,(where BTW, none of the critters are wearing under or outerwear….Smile, it makes people wonder what you’re up to. (Now you can even see those smiles.)
wolfboy oz boy about 3 years ago
does not look he is making you angry
Can-dog about 3 years ago
I’m trying it now my cheekbones hurt :|
Lightpainter about 3 years ago
“ Let’s put a SMILE on that face!” —- The Joker
Thinkingblade about 3 years ago
Given his normal mood … that probably is an improvement.
Can-dog about 3 years ago
I tried it-my cheekbones hurd
a nerdy trans girl about 3 years ago
stephan got away with saying hell. GOOD JOB!!!!
Sisyphos about 3 years ago
Rat puts on his Happy Face and suddenly I realize: You’re It!
Ceeg22 Premium Member about 3 years ago
It makes me happy to creep you out
Kirbo about 3 years ago
oh god that has scarred my mind for the rest of my life
Souris Voleur about 3 years ago
I hardly recognize him.
Darth Revan II over 2 years ago
Whoa… that is terrifying! KILL IT WITH FIRE!
Comicfan (C) about 2 years ago
Cursed image.
SuperCharged5- about 2 years ago
the last time rat smiled he exploded