“Girls just need to learn to stop going ballistic about things that don’t mean anything.”
And boys need to learn to stop making remarks that THEY think are funny, when they know it hurts people. Boys constantly make comments about weight, etc. when they know we are sensitive about it. Guess we “girls” need to learn to make constant references to boys’ “equipment”.
Very concerning how Lynn has Ellie written as the violent spouse.
It wouldn’t last one strip if John ever reacted that way with a tool if she said something out of line while in his workshop because that would be considered spousal abuse. But somehow, Lynn gets away with a woman abusing her man because he deserved it or it was funny.
It was wrong back when this strip was first written and it’s still wrong now…
“Girls just need to learn to stop going ballistic about things that don’t mean anything.”
And boys need to learn to stop making remarks that THEY think are funny, when they know it hurts people. Boys constantly make comments about weight, etc. when they know we are sensitive about it. Guess we “girls” need to learn to make constant references to boys’ “equipment”.
And GIRLS need to learn that not everything that boys say is meant as a comment on weight or appearance. Sometimes, it’s best just to take what comes out of our mouths at face value (as we men do) and not secretly ask “And just what’s THAT supposed to mean?”
And Elly? Throwing the perfume bottle at John is NOT COOL. First of all, you deserved that zingerish comeback for overreacting to his original comment. Secondly, no man would ever have gotten away with such a physically violent reaction – he’d be slammed right, left and center (and rightly so, in my opinion.) Just because you’re a woman, that doesn’t mean you’re going to get a pass on pulling that little stunt.
Hey Ellie - You’re healthy and he’s apparently happy with your weight. Insult him back and get on with life. Most of the world is not cut out to be a runway model (thank goodness!).
catlady, we’re all too sensitive about this. John’s comment was intended as an endearment, like “sweetheart”. He was trying to be romantic, and got blasted for it.
Elly’s right about one thing: knowing how sensitive she is about her weight, that is the one thing that John needs to lay off of, whether it’s supposed to be an endearing “compliment” or if he’s just teasing her in good-natured fun. To us, our body weight is probably the biggest major “flaw” we truly hate about ourselves and having someone we love who’s supposed to love us in return saying things that they know will only hurt us is just mean and down-right cruel. How would these same men feel if we made fun of their beer bellies, love handles, balding heads, and small … er, “equipment”? Would they laugh and think it one big hilarious joke or would their feelings maybe be just a little bit hurt that this is what we really think of them … and we just don’t say it?!? I’ve been married for 22 years and it’s my opinion that if you truly love each other, then you do your best to avoid pushing those “hot buttons” that you know can hurt your partner which does nothing but cause unhappiness in your marriage.
But having said that, I don’t think Elly was right to throw her perfume bottle at John. That’s definitely abusive on her part. But on the other hand, you would think that, after having enough things thrown at him for his “teasing” remarks, John would know better than to say the things he does by now!
It scares me to see how many posters here read John’s question as an insult. There is something inherently wrong with people who perceive every comment or question as some kind of veiled insult or accusation. My room mate is like that, and it is extremely frustrating. I had been hoping that he was a rare breed. I guess not.
How did “pumpkin” ever get to be a generally-recognized term of endearment, anyway? I like pumpkins well enough, you understand, but it would never have occurred to me to think of one as cute, pretty, cuddly, etc.
(I prefer figures of speech that make some kind of literal sense…but that’s just me. You may well guess that my wife is a remarkably patient woman.)
Gretchensmom, you’re missing the point. “My litle pumpkin,” as thebird55 and others have pointed out, is not, and never has been, used as an insult or a comment on someone’s weight or physical appearance. Its usage has always been that of a term of endearment.
In other words, John was NOT teasing her about her weight – he was complimenting her by using a well-known term of affection. How was he supposed to know that she’d instantly take it as an attack on her weight? It simply would never have crossed his mind that she’d never take it as anything but an insult, because he himself would never take it as an insult. Not a man alive would.
And as for his second remark, I’d say that Elly had it coming. She has the annoying habit of getting self-righteous over perfectly innocent comments, based on issues that are hers and hers alone and that nobody else would even consider if she didn’t constantly bring them up. I, for one, am glad that John called her out on it.
Oh, and prfessr? “It’s just a comic strip” doesn’t cut it in here. This strip has clearly touched a nerve or two, so you yourself might want to lay off the judgmental, dismissive comments about how we choose to react to it. That’s just as rude and ignorant, in my opinion, as Elly’s overreaction to John’s “my little pumpkin.”
Catlady1,
“Guess we “girls” need to learn to make constant references to boys’ “equipment”.”
Can you explain to me what that means? I never heard of that kind of words that Girl need to learn to make contant references to the boys with “equipment.” :-)
It means, Wildmustang1262, that if men can make constant, insulting remarks concerning women’s weight, then women should be allowed make constant, insulting remarks concerning the size of a man’s genitals – his “equipment.”
And, as I said, that comment of catlady1’s, along with Gretchensmom’s similar comment, completely missed the point of Darkeforce’s comment that John’s “pumpkin” remark didn’t mean anything that Elly should have taken as an insult. John DIDN’T mean what he said as an insult to Elly, because a man WOULDN’T consider it an insult. Only a hypersensitive, paranoid woman like Elly would take an innocent question such as “How’s my little pumpkin?” and construe it as saying that she’s a fat cow.
PLEASE before you post comments, read what LYNNE has said at http://www.fborfw.com/strip_fix … it’ll help YOU THE READER understand the ‘jokes’ behind the panels.
Elly is based on Lynne, and John on Rod (Lynne’s husband) … so please please please read Lynnes comments on her website.
My husband has always called me Pumpkin, starting back when we first started dating. I never took it has referring to my weight, just a simple term of endearment that wasn’t overused by everybody else. Now that we have been married for 37 years and have grandkids, we call our oldest grand-daughter Pumpkin all the time…and she loves it as it is her special name. Get over it Ellie and take it as he meant it, a simple term of endearment.
OK Darkeforce why don’t you tell a lady that in person. But before you do, let me know so I can get as far away from you as I can.
She is going to be throwing something much bigger & heaver then a perfum bottle at you.
My original point was that spousal violence like that has no place in a modern family comic strip. Otherwise, when one of your kids beans another kid (or an adult) with a glass object, you can quip about how they should have read Lynn’s notes…
I am well aware that Elly is based partially on Lynn. And you can bet that Lynn never hurled objects at Rod. Or if she did, one can wonder if that was part of the reason why he left her back in 2007.
And yes, it is non-reality, but as with any strip based on the real (modern) world, the author has to take some responsibility in its content.
Ideally, Lynn should have tweaked that last pane before republication. Better yet, she could have just skipped it entirely and avoided any possible issues.
alviebird over 13 years ago
Note to self: Put brain in gear before engaging mouth.
JanLC over 13 years ago
Ellie, lighten up. It was an endearment. If you were in French Canada he’d call you his little cabbage.
You know, I actually remember wearing those little “dog collars” like the one Ellie has on. It was an eighties thing, I guess.
Donna White over 13 years ago
“Girls just need to learn to stop going ballistic about things that don’t mean anything.”
And boys need to learn to stop making remarks that THEY think are funny, when they know it hurts people. Boys constantly make comments about weight, etc. when they know we are sensitive about it. Guess we “girls” need to learn to make constant references to boys’ “equipment”.
jimgamer over 13 years ago
Girls make comments that hurts boys too !!!!!
WebSpider over 13 years ago
Very concerning how Lynn has Ellie written as the violent spouse.
It wouldn’t last one strip if John ever reacted that way with a tool if she said something out of line while in his workshop because that would be considered spousal abuse. But somehow, Lynn gets away with a woman abusing her man because he deserved it or it was funny.
It was wrong back when this strip was first written and it’s still wrong now…
legaleagle48 over 13 years ago
“Girls just need to learn to stop going ballistic about things that don’t mean anything.”
And boys need to learn to stop making remarks that THEY think are funny, when they know it hurts people. Boys constantly make comments about weight, etc. when they know we are sensitive about it. Guess we “girls” need to learn to make constant references to boys’ “equipment”.
And GIRLS need to learn that not everything that boys say is meant as a comment on weight or appearance. Sometimes, it’s best just to take what comes out of our mouths at face value (as we men do) and not secretly ask “And just what’s THAT supposed to mean?”
And Elly? Throwing the perfume bottle at John is NOT COOL. First of all, you deserved that zingerish comeback for overreacting to his original comment. Secondly, no man would ever have gotten away with such a physically violent reaction – he’d be slammed right, left and center (and rightly so, in my opinion.) Just because you’re a woman, that doesn’t mean you’re going to get a pass on pulling that little stunt.
EPIC FAIL on your part, Elly.
georgiiii over 13 years ago
Hey Ellie - You’re healthy and he’s apparently happy with your weight. Insult him back and get on with life. Most of the world is not cut out to be a runway model (thank goodness!).
JanLC over 13 years ago
catlady, we’re all too sensitive about this. John’s comment was intended as an endearment, like “sweetheart”. He was trying to be romantic, and got blasted for it.
Elaine Rosco Premium Member over 13 years ago
See..that’s why men are from Mars and women are from Venus!…..We just are not on the same planet!!
Gretchen's Mom over 13 years ago
Elly’s right about one thing: knowing how sensitive she is about her weight, that is the one thing that John needs to lay off of, whether it’s supposed to be an endearing “compliment” or if he’s just teasing her in good-natured fun. To us, our body weight is probably the biggest major “flaw” we truly hate about ourselves and having someone we love who’s supposed to love us in return saying things that they know will only hurt us is just mean and down-right cruel. How would these same men feel if we made fun of their beer bellies, love handles, balding heads, and small … er, “equipment”? Would they laugh and think it one big hilarious joke or would their feelings maybe be just a little bit hurt that this is what we really think of them … and we just don’t say it?!? I’ve been married for 22 years and it’s my opinion that if you truly love each other, then you do your best to avoid pushing those “hot buttons” that you know can hurt your partner which does nothing but cause unhappiness in your marriage.
But having said that, I don’t think Elly was right to throw her perfume bottle at John. That’s definitely abusive on her part. But on the other hand, you would think that, after having enough things thrown at him for his “teasing” remarks, John would know better than to say the things he does by now!
alviebird over 13 years ago
It scares me to see how many posters here read John’s question as an insult. There is something inherently wrong with people who perceive every comment or question as some kind of veiled insult or accusation. My room mate is like that, and it is extremely frustrating. I had been hoping that he was a rare breed. I guess not.
peter0423 over 13 years ago
How did “pumpkin” ever get to be a generally-recognized term of endearment, anyway? I like pumpkins well enough, you understand, but it would never have occurred to me to think of one as cute, pretty, cuddly, etc.
(I prefer figures of speech that make some kind of literal sense…but that’s just me. You may well guess that my wife is a remarkably patient woman.)
legaleagle48 over 13 years ago
Gretchensmom, you’re missing the point. “My litle pumpkin,” as thebird55 and others have pointed out, is not, and never has been, used as an insult or a comment on someone’s weight or physical appearance. Its usage has always been that of a term of endearment.
In other words, John was NOT teasing her about her weight – he was complimenting her by using a well-known term of affection. How was he supposed to know that she’d instantly take it as an attack on her weight? It simply would never have crossed his mind that she’d never take it as anything but an insult, because he himself would never take it as an insult. Not a man alive would.
And as for his second remark, I’d say that Elly had it coming. She has the annoying habit of getting self-righteous over perfectly innocent comments, based on issues that are hers and hers alone and that nobody else would even consider if she didn’t constantly bring them up. I, for one, am glad that John called her out on it.
Oh, and prfessr? “It’s just a comic strip” doesn’t cut it in here. This strip has clearly touched a nerve or two, so you yourself might want to lay off the judgmental, dismissive comments about how we choose to react to it. That’s just as rude and ignorant, in my opinion, as Elly’s overreaction to John’s “my little pumpkin.”
Wildmustang1262 over 13 years ago
Catlady1, “Guess we “girls” need to learn to make constant references to boys’ “equipment”.”
Can you explain to me what that means? I never heard of that kind of words that Girl need to learn to make contant references to the boys with “equipment.” :-)
legaleagle48 over 13 years ago
It means, Wildmustang1262, that if men can make constant, insulting remarks concerning women’s weight, then women should be allowed make constant, insulting remarks concerning the size of a man’s genitals – his “equipment.”
And, as I said, that comment of catlady1’s, along with Gretchensmom’s similar comment, completely missed the point of Darkeforce’s comment that John’s “pumpkin” remark didn’t mean anything that Elly should have taken as an insult. John DIDN’T mean what he said as an insult to Elly, because a man WOULDN’T consider it an insult. Only a hypersensitive, paranoid woman like Elly would take an innocent question such as “How’s my little pumpkin?” and construe it as saying that she’s a fat cow.
Allan CB Premium Member over 13 years ago
Afternoon Neighbours.
PLEASE before you post comments, read what LYNNE has said at http://www.fborfw.com/strip_fix … it’ll help YOU THE READER understand the ‘jokes’ behind the panels.
Elly is based on Lynne, and John on Rod (Lynne’s husband) … so please please please read Lynnes comments on her website.
Nelly55 over 13 years ago
thanx Allan
this was getting a little beyond silly
angelnurse over 13 years ago
My husband has always called me Pumpkin, starting back when we first started dating. I never took it has referring to my weight, just a simple term of endearment that wasn’t overused by everybody else. Now that we have been married for 37 years and have grandkids, we call our oldest grand-daughter Pumpkin all the time…and she loves it as it is her special name. Get over it Ellie and take it as he meant it, a simple term of endearment.
billdi Premium Member over 13 years ago
i don’t know what is more absurd, this strip or the lame defense of elly throwing a glass bottle at the back of john’s head.
Brother_James437 over 13 years ago
OK Darkeforce why don’t you tell a lady that in person. But before you do, let me know so I can get as far away from you as I can. She is going to be throwing something much bigger & heaver then a perfum bottle at you.
WebSpider over 13 years ago
My original point was that spousal violence like that has no place in a modern family comic strip. Otherwise, when one of your kids beans another kid (or an adult) with a glass object, you can quip about how they should have read Lynn’s notes…
I am well aware that Elly is based partially on Lynn. And you can bet that Lynn never hurled objects at Rod. Or if she did, one can wonder if that was part of the reason why he left her back in 2007.
And yes, it is non-reality, but as with any strip based on the real (modern) world, the author has to take some responsibility in its content.
Ideally, Lynn should have tweaked that last pane before republication. Better yet, she could have just skipped it entirely and avoided any possible issues.