Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for January 12, 2024

Bets is certainly getting aggravated with Dez.

So why was it all fake? When they had fun at the comic-cons.. I think that was real.

I’m sure some of it was phony and other times it was more real.

.

Nothing to grieve? She doesn’t grieve the loss of that income??

Poor Bets. Using anger to cover the pain of her loss of affirmation. She needs to find a new source of affirmation. If it doesn’t involve Gun, the relationship is still in serious doubt.

denial, anger, depression then acceptance.

Okay, so she misses her adoring fans. Gunther couldn’t compete with them and he’s not gonna to and doesn’t want to. I think he’d be ok with her returning to social media without him. He’s gonna be busy with teacher assistant job and his classes. He can do without a silly little social media platform. But he realizes it’s her revenue and affirmation of herself or her existence or whatever it might be.

wow, she is losing it. yeah Gunther needs to drop this dumpster fire and move on. She can’t do Normal, she doesn’t know who she is without social media and its quite sad.

Hey Bernice, you should have Dez as your tutor. She is so much better at therapy.

If that’s the happy you, then how about a little less happy.

Give her a break; quitting something that has been a way of life for a long time is hard. She’s doing OK, just going through some stages.

Bets, comes to a understanding, that what she was doing on social media not really real, and did not make her happy.

ENUF! (Shakespeare)

Dez, knock it off with the mind games. Bets doesn’t want to participate in them, and I don’t blame her.

If Bets is trying to convince herself of the verity of her argument, she’s not doing a very good job.

And STILL no Gunther. The longer he stays away….

Wow lookin at Bets in th last picture I’d rather have a rabid Rottweiler running straight towards me fangs bared

Bets started the social media site before meeting Gunther. Her problem is rooted to why she doesn’t visit her family for Christmas?

Bets to replace her fake attraction with a real attraction?

Personally, I think its about time for some background on these young ladies, and maybe their conversation will reveal something. They live in a vacuum, no last names, no parents, no siblings, no past, no future. Nothing.

Is it my imagination or is Dez’ skin color getting redder every day?

Bets needs to figure out what she liked about social media — the dressing up, the acting out, the admiring audience — and transfer it to something a little less flimsy. Maybe switch majors to theater or RTF? Or add one as a double major with Business? She could work on costumes, act and receive applause onstage or as a filmmaker. Quill might make a reappearance to talk to her about theater possibilities. It’s OK for her to enjoy the limelight. We’d all be the poorer for it if no one wanted to create.

It’s kind of funny how Bets can tell hard truths to people, but when her friends do likewise with her she gets mad bigtime. If anyone said what she just said OF COURSE the friend she said it to would realize that Bets misses having the creative outlet and having made friends online with people who appreciate what she did. It’s really understandable I dunno why Bets is getting so curt when Dez isn’t the type to treat it like it’s pathetic cause it’s not pathetic to miss having a creative outlet.

Bets sure looks happy in the last panel… or not.

Sitting on the couch under a blanket every day, watching shows on your laptop and eating snacks might be fun once in a while, but under the circumstances, it seems as if Bets is depressed and seeking comfort. She’s trying to be a “good girlfriend,” but Gunther liked her when she was doing more interesting things…and yes, she was happier!

This is worse than breaking up from drugs, alcohol, or a boyfriend?

Instagram, here I come

Dez needs to give Bets some space. I am with Willow Mt Lyon’s post above. While Dez is not as intrusive as an armchair psychologist like Bernice she should realize that Bets can probably do without the sarcasm. Of course you know Gunther is going to walk right into this and try to figure out why Bets is coiled up like a rattlesnake while Dez sneaks off to drink some shroom tea leaving Gunther with a very awkward situation to tend to, likely resulting in a fight if Gunther says anything concerning social media.

Life was better in the early 2000s before social media.

Denial and anger is one of the grief stages, Bets. You’re doing good, just work through the rest of them.

“Yes! This is the real, happy me! I’ll show you, even if I have to throw a fit and trash the place to prove it!”

It’s sad that she feels like she has to give up everything that makes her HER for the sake of a relationship. I’m sure Gunther doesn’t want that. They need to talk. I’m just glad she’s at least talking with Dez.

“NO DEZ, NO IT ISN’T!”

I’ll never become an influencer.

I think Bets is on a river in Egypt.

FAKE? Was the relationship with Gunther just another story to keep your readers hooked?

shes having a hard time getting out of stage 2. but how long was she in stag 1?

Hm. She’s not happy, she’s still bitter about not having to show her whole life to the world. I wonder if Gunther’s eavesdropping, since he was on his way home.

I love seeing how much Dez wants to help Bets. Both she and Tiffany always help her and Bets helps them. A beautiful representation of friendship. But for once I would like to see Tiffany and Bets help a Dez in trouble. By the way, I have a sad feeling Stef will come and ruin everything.

If Bets were an actress, an artist, a musician, a dancer, a gymnast or anything else that is performed before an audience there would be no discussion. Why are G&K continuing to grind the old social media axe? We get it. They hate social media. But then THEY make their money through social media – so their perspectives and values are screwed up….as usual, and this is already boring.

When does Gunny come to her rescue? She needs him.

Is this Denial?

If someone were to keep asking me over and over again if I’m sure I was happy, I’d get a bit unhappy too.

Don’t base your life on what other people think of you. I mean, have you met “other people”.

It’s a bit of a tragic meltdown, this metaphor of addiction withdrawal. It’s hard to let go of things, especially if they defined you to everyone else. Therapeutic activity is very important, lest things devolve into a 988 situation…which just might be what the Evans are doing, to make a point, or show support.

Keith Emerson R.I.P. He felt that he was losing that which defined him. When the darkness combined with opportunity, we lost a legend. While Bets is no legend, I do see a parallel, and have illustrated it.

This is why Dez is the best character in this strip! She’s so insightful. Bets IS grieving the loss of her identity.

I had a niche blog for about five years. I had a few hundred followers. But every so often, people either greet me or e-mail me, saying they enjoyed my blog. I bet Bets, even after stopping, will get that in spades.

She looks angry, she misses it more than she’s letting on.

Send for Bernice!

You know what Bets?

If your “followers” truly “enjoyed” what you did for them, they would have found some sort of way to reach out to you to show their concern and tell you how much they missed you.

So far they haven’t.

That should tell you everything you need to know.

Besides, social media is like the old Roman Colosseum.

Where the spectators are rooting for the lions.

And you ain’t a lion. ;-)

Did not seem like a happy answer to me.

I. AM. VERY. VERY. HAPPY.

How come so little is written about Toni+ Brad. Can’t remember the last time they were involved in the comic strip. Last thing I remember, is them talking about a baby.

This is a tedious storyline. Please move on.

She needs to go rip off Gunthers clothes and get busy.

Which is worse dez or Bernice

Girl’s got issues

Wasn’t Bets making a decent money through many followers? Sudden lack of income can be jolting.

Doesn’t everyone wish they had this kind of daily drama in their lives?

Does Bets have any family? They never seem to come up in conversation.

Hasn’t this dead horse been beaten long enough? We get it: Bets is having a hard time kicking her social media addiction. I’m not sure why that point had to be repeated 5 days in a row.

Bets threw the baby out with the bathwater. All to be a doting girlfriend for a guy like Gunther? Sheesh. I don’t think her social media talent needs analyzing, it’s her common sense that needs some work.

So many people not understanding that Dez is offering understanding and compassion here. Makes me really sad that none of you ever had someone to help you through hard times.

It could be Dez that Bets wants you to shut up and leave her alone as she adjusts.

I think Dez is a better psychologist than Bernice.

Don’t be a nag, Dez.

“Breaking up is hard to do,….”

That’s the face of someone stuck with Gunther Berger. Like I said, ditch him and go back to “influencing”.

Grieve the loss of your monetization!

The Evans need to drop this character from the strip. Bets is such a pain!

Yell louder, my beloved Bets. That way all will know how happy you are.

It’s not giving up her social media life for Gunther that is bothering Bets it’s losing all the money she was making from it.

luan has become uninteresting and stupid. deleted

Yeah, Dez is wrong here. And in the worst possible way.

Of course she’s unappy now, she just quit an addiction. She will adjust and be happier, but she needs time.

Dez is pushing and ex-abuser toward “just a dose” of heroine.

Sorry, Bets, but from now on your life revolves around Gunther and pleasing him.

Tea Time!

Not a good time for her to quit smoking

That is happy shouting.

“Move on” is perhaps the worst advice about grief, especially in terms of loss due to death. You don’t “move on,” you live differently, you adapt, you overcome, but “move on” implies that you don’t look back or take anything of that loved one (divorce, change of plans, or death) with you. You do, you can’t help it, so examine it and carry it with you in an appropriate way.

I feel a relapse coming on.

Dez is a much better psychologist than Bernice.

It is risky getting between an addict and her drug.

Tomorrow,the cast from AIRPLANE comes in,takes turns slapping Bets in the face and yelling “Snap Out Of It!”

My two LEAST favortie, most annoying characters… annoying each other.

Dez makes a better conselor than Bernice, and, she’s not even trying.

Left FB long ago. Semi-regret is that many sites only have FB links. Hasn’t been a real probem though. I f___ing hated FB!

Billy-Joel-My-Life-seems good here-"-I don’t need you to worry for me, ‘cause I’m alright-I don’t want you to tell me it’s time to come home-I don’t care what you say anymore, this is my life-Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone-I never said you had to offer me a second chance (I never said you had to)-I never said I was a victim of circumstance (of circumstance)-I still belong (still belong)-Don’t get me wrong (get me wrong)-And you can speak your mind-But not on my time-I don’t care what you say anymore, this is my life-Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone-(Keep it to yourself, it’s my life)

I agree with @RSH. Leave Bet’s alone and let her settle in.

In some ways Bets is right— depending on how you define happiness. Many of us smile and are “happy” while working because it’s part of the job.

Being an adult is part performance. Much more so being an internet celebrity

Someone protests to much.

I think Bets has broken me, I don’t know if I can read this anymore…

I’m seeing some similarities between “Luann” and “Calvin and Hobbes”, today.

She’s obviously not happy, she’s not making money. Either go back to vlogging and make some money or give up social media and move on? It’s not the Gunther and Bets show

Dez should drop it, if this was Bernice everyone would be calling her out.

The lady doth protest too much.

Who is she trying to convince? Dez knows better. Actually, I think we all do!

This may not be as clear cut an issue as we thought.

Me thinks madame doth protest too much!

Perhaps Dez should be a psychology major.

Happy, Happy, Happy!

And we know who is going to get the blame for this, when he shows up, don’t we

Oh, yeah, sure. Bets looks so happy as she screams at Dez in panel 3!…

I’m seeing a parallel between Luann’s discussion with Bernice, and Bets’ discussion with Dez. Both Luann and Bets are similar in their defensiveness about a perceived changing status quo. But Bernice and Dez are dissimilar in their responses. Bernice immediately wants to “fix” Luann, while Dez tries to make sure that she is understanding Bets’ point of view.