Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for December 03, 2011

McLuhan was right – the medium really is the message!

Really, Goat, you walked right into that one.

I only have a tracfone…and I only got it last Christmas. This strip makes me think of how giraffes are most vulvernable when they are drinking and unable to observe the environment around them for predators. People who live on their phones/blackberrys/iPads are vulnerable to pickpockets or the occasional axe murderer.

don’t feel too bad, goat…rat does that around everyone.

Oh, how true.. You want “face time” now, you gotta have special equipment and the right app!

Not that I’m condoning Rat’s behavior, but the truth is that Goat can be something of a priggish bore.

Judging by the few I know personally, if you see two teenagers sitting together, but absorbed in their smartphone keyboards….

…..there’s about a 40% chance they’re texting each other.

If you ask why…. they roll their eyes.

No surprise — if you ask anything, they roll their eyes.

God only knows they probably weren’t talking to other people, but rather one another.

in my Homer’s voice “Dope”

Electronic leashes. Good way to ‘train’ a mammal…focus attention…Pavlov does the rest. Instant hypnotized generations…

so true!!…this really annoys me… like they’re SOOOO important!

You’d think Goat would have lots of laugh lines around his eyes, only they wouldn’t be laugh lines.

Did Rat just text “LOL”????

Sorry Goat, what was that? I was busy typing this comment.

…and my wife wonders why I still have the bagphone in my car….no one will break into the car for it. Would like to figure out how to make it mobile, though.

Goat, To get him back you should wear earphones.. So you don’t have to listen to him.

LOL xxx

Goat is SOOOO right!

This is why I would never buy an iPhone. People would see it and immediately assume I was a self-obsessed jerk.

People who are that absorbed by their cell phones should use them every waking minute; that way, they won’t reproduce.

It’s Rat, and he’s acting like Rat…

Marcus Audens — I’m new to this strip for about the past year, I have seen the rat occupy the place of a self-involved jerk. Goat seems to be a normal thoughtful personage and the pig is lovable but easily led. The desire that I have is to meet the creator of these characters who are so far apart and wo is able to put them together in an amusing way. That would be a real adventure!!!!!

Apparently, no.

I remember the first time I saw a couple do this, it seemed so messed up and superficial. Then with time it got to the point where it’s the norm for people you’re out to dinner with to talk on their phone or text at the same time :/

Yep, goat.

In 2019, you’ll change your tune. Otherwise you’ll lose your mind.