For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for January 20, 2024

He’s a writer. You won’t understand if you’re not a writer or at least involved in the arts.

Mike is already shaping up for his future career. Hope his “friends” don’t sabotage it.

Today a lot of younger folk hate using the phone and will just send a text.

I have a friend who’s arthritis is so bad, she really can no longer use her right hand for fine motor skills anymore. She taught herself to use her left hand, but now, that hand too is becoming unusable for the same reason. She sent me what will probably be one of her last handwritten cards over Christmas. I’ll hang on to that one forever because I know how very hard that must have been for her to do. It’s too easy anymore to text or use the computer (voice recognition) and it’s taken the ‘personal’ out of things.

IGNORE THEM!! You’re being romantic-something that they don’t have a clue about it!!

This is the beginnings of Lynn Johnston trying to shape Michael into some sort of intellectual… it doesn’t work..

So if the fellow named Weed is a blind man, then how did he know Michael was writing? Could Weed hear the ball point pen scratching on paper?

Or CAN Weed see but he just loves to wear dark sunglasses at night?

Another reason why they do not teach cursive.

Mike’s look in the last panel is priceless.

I guess handwriting is a sensual experience to Michael.

Note that Weed isn’t suggesting sending an email. That wasn’t an option when this comic was originally written. The suggestion is that he write the email on a computer, print it out, and mail it.

Just making it clear he’s not getting a reply today. Nor does he have the option of just switching to texting.

It was some years ago now but Stephen King wrote one of his novels in longhand. Yes, it took more time but he was amazed to find he had to do much less editing once the first draft was completed as compared to the books he had written on the computer..

I know what Mike is talking about. I work at keeping a journal and when I do write, it is on paper and with a fountain pen. I have gotten to where I really do not like writing with a ballpoint or rollerball. The fact you must write more slowly than typing allows your thoughts to be better formed and organized. I must admit, however, that sometimes a thought will be lost while completing my ideas on another one. Oh, and yes, I am old.

I know this strip is from a while ago, but I have seen several articles about Gen Z going back to paper and pen for notes. Some have even used fountain pens!!! Can Top Hats and Spats be far behind??

The added benefit is that writing long hand helps you remember more of what you’ve written

I find it much easier to write using my desktop. You can’t cut and paste, insert words, re-phrase, delete, etc. etc. on paper easily. Not to mention spell check. You can be more free and easy and experiment. If I had to write my stuff longhand, I probably wouldn’t write.

That will spell trouble!

As a fountain pen enthusiast, I can attest that Michael is correct. Writing by hand is linked to improved creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving skills. Studies have shown that students who take notes with pen and paper are more engaged with the material than those who simply transcribe lectures using a laptop.

Since Lynn Johnston loves puns, a good one could be where Michael is on a date with Rhetta and her entire family, but her brother is not keen on a dinner of liver and onions. Everyone could break out in song:

Lorne

Lorne

Lorne down the liver!

Soon enough Lynn Johnston will get back to her usual ALF plots. That stands for:

April

Lawrence

Farley

Michael just failed a test and he is more concerned with handwriting a letter to Rhetta?

Does not seem like Michael is very good at priorities or time management.

Just remember Michael, there is nothing more personal than a hand written Dear John letter.

Another gentle hint of what Mike’s future career will be