Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for March 08, 2024

Soooo . . . is that failed attempt at repressing a smile (smirk?) in the last panel, and Luann’s comment an insinuation that Bernice wants to give Luann the advice she perceives that she really, really, really needs?

They don’t help friends or family, its a conflict of interests, they cant be Objective.

If Bernice wants to be a therapist, she should learn how to communicate gently, and without breaking confidences.“Piro does have a problem, but, it’s a practical problem, not an emotional problem. And he’s tired of people treating him as one who needs help. So lay off. I mean, you can be friendly with him — not too friendly, I have dibs — but you can treat him nicely. Just don’t try to fix him.”

I suspect Bernice is really referring to Luann as who really really needs help.

No Bernice I don’t give two cents, if Luann get’s hurt, Piro trusted you and only you

Yes, but what did Bernice say between yesterday’s strip and today’s? Because it seems someone said something that defused the tensions that were mounting? Another Evans cop-out, maybe?

WOW! Most rational dialogue between these two in like forever! 8^ )

helping people is a messy and complicated endeavor Bernice

So Luann is actually giving Bernice good advice on how to be good therapist? And Miss. " I’m infinitely more mature than you" is fighting the urge to gossip what she knows? Well, how about that.

But Bernice didn’t hurt Piro—she never uttered a word about his problems.

As for hurting Luann—well, her “friendship” is quite negligible!

Bernice would be like a traffic cop who gives wrong directions.

It seems to me that one of the first things Bernice would have learned in her classes is confidentiality and conflict of interest.

She probably should not even consider being a counselor if all she wants to be is a gossip.

Be careful which bar you offer therapy to people in.

Luann putting on the adult pants. More of this please.

What is the sound of paint drying? (this week’s arc).

Mebbe they’ll do some fencing with those puppet heads.

En Garde!

Wow, Luann’s maturity level grew three sizes that day.

Hope that tomorrow, we’ll see the last of these hateful puppets (blech).

Hopefully, Bernice soon realizes that she’s not cut out to be a Therapist and chooses another vocation.

Forget it, Burnoose… Pedro is just playing the Pity Kitty card to get into your… good graces. He’s already… ummm… conquered Sexy❤️Luann and Tantalizing❤️Tara… you’re the next notch… fool. WWA❤️ED? Stand him up and ghost the swine. Child, pleases… Burnoose may be a dweeb but she is far too good for Pedro. AND… Happy International Women’s Day! Our Be❤️ed Count is very fond of women ;). Like… Ann❤️Eiffel. TTFN and do something nice for a woman today. Count…OUT!

Just lay off the darn puppets, sheesh…

But LuAnn wouldn’t recognize a hint if she tripped over it and Bernice has given her plenty.

I don’t know! I think the transition worked well. Keep in mind that the Evans must close this part of the arc tomorrow since Sunday will be an unrelated story because of the timing of comic submission.

Seriously? Blah, blah, blah…

Words I never thought I’d write: “gee, I wonder what’s happening with Shannon right now?”

For one thing, therapists don’t treat friends.

Query: How would it hurt Luann to simply do just as you have done and say “Piro trusted me with some info but asked me not to share. So I can’t tell you all of it, but I can say that this puppet show is not something he needs right now.” If Luann gets mad or hurt by that then she’s doing this for herself and not for Piro and that’s her own issue to handle.

As I recall the only piece of advice Bern gave to Piro was to see a professional. In fact, I believe she recognized the importance of not jumping in to talk (i.e. give advice) while he was there and sharing his problems. It was hard for her but she did (at the time) recognize that need.

You’re the problem in this case Lu.

Sorry, but I just don’t see how this “hurts” Luann.

“Physician, heal thyself.”

Good advice, there, Luann. Maybe you should be the counselor.

Bingo! Luann nailed it. This is precisely why professional distance in counseling is a thing. You need to be able to insulate yourself from this.

Maybe just back off and let people sort things out now, Bernice. You’re only going to make things worse from here on in.

Maybe you two should just leave Piro alone.

I think Piro trusted Bernice as a friend and not as a therapist. Bernice has confused the situation because she wants to be seen as a therapist, maybe it’s also a strategy she uses to keep her distance and be able to continue telling herself she’s not attracted to Piro. Luann seems to understand the situation is giving her a crisis, she stop asking question and tries to reassure her. Luann is partly right, therapists, psychologists and counselors give advices to friends, but they don’t do it in the same way they give it to those they see as clients. Also, they don’t try to psychoanalyze their friends.

Bern is NOT a licensed therapist and therefore cannot give professional advice. She is just a rookie and can do more harm than good, which she already has.

I had to look back at yesterday’s strip ’cuz it felt like I missed something.

BY NOT SAYING ANYTHING IN THE FIRST PLACE!

Sometimes it’s best to just… let it go.

Hah!! Luann is as dumb as everybody thinks she is!! She just gave Bernice the best advice ever!!

The only thing that can save this story is Bernice deciding not to be a psychiatrist. One can only hope.

Attagirl Luann……….

“Quit looking at me! Mom! Make her stop looking at me!”

Like the Rock used to say, Bernice…. “Know your role and shut your mouth!” Sometimes, all you need to do is listen….

“…. Not that I know anyone like that, Luann.”

To keep up the appearance of being professional Bernice is looking for a way to say “Nya nya. He told me not you!” without sounding like she said it. Adulting is hard.

This just drags on and on, doesn’t it?

How do you pronounce Piro’s name? Like ‘pyromaniac’, or ‘hero’?

Phew…

One of the many things I learned while teaching was – never give unsolicited advice; Especially about relationships.

I don’t see any way Luann is getting hurt by not knowing Piro’s business. I see that being friends with Bernice is hurting Luann, but that’s been going on a long time.

Okay, this is turning into a comic strip done by Ingmar Bergman. Next story arc, please.

Bern and Lu; so much comment on them as characters rather than how they advance the underlying story. The real story to me is how Bern is being pulled by so many forces at once; LuAnn trying to pry information about HER from what Piro said (I didn"t see much recognition of Bern"s attempt to dissuade her from realizing that Piro told Bern he wanted Lu and Tara to back off, and by the way it shows they both, sub Rosa, are attracted to him) while Bern is dealing with her attraction to him, at the same time she advised him to see a professional, not a friend for the kind of help he needs, and trying to resist Lu’s persistence, even playing the loyalty to friend CARD. (sORry my tablet is acting up). My point is yes this is a character driven toon but too many have the immediate visceral reaction to characters on terms of liking them or not, rather than what is happening TO the characters. To me I’ve invested over 30 years following this strip daily Bern is not a true friend to Lu because of her sarcasm is so uninformed. They are true best friends, with human nature issues, presented humorously. Focus on the story, not Bern"s defensive sarcasm, or the other plot device of Lu"s dufusness.

Say it ain’t so! Luann is making more sense than Bernice today?

Bernice should say, “Just trust me when I say to NOT do this and leave it at that!”

Exactly!!

You give yourself way too much credit Bernice. Piro didn’t confide in you because you are a want to be therapist, he confided in you as a friend. Furthermore, fix yourself and leave Luann alone.

Whelp, there is the actual wisdom between those two out of the way for 2024, return next year for another piece, when the storyline has advanced by another month.

.Number one in life. You cannot save the world Bernice

Now Luann comes up with an intelligent observation!? Luann, as your supposed best friend, Bernice will continue to snarl at you, as a way of giving you some non-professional advice. But she is looking at you as one who could use some professional help.

We all have been observing and criticizing and speculating and advising and commenting about the improbability of Bernice actually becoming a licensed therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist. And that’s theme (by GnK) and nature of Bernice’s character, but should ANYONE reveal something to someone else, then it’s courteous to keep the information confidential.

This strip has jumped the shark!

Ahh, THERE’S the problem. Bernice thinks she knows better than everyone else about whatever they’re going through. Stop that, Bernice. Find another hobby and leave your psycho-analzying at the classroom door.

this is often why they refuse to take friends and family as clients. this exact reason.

Yes but you’re not a therapist.

But Bernice is right, for once