For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for October 22, 2013

Even at a young age, males have a lot to learn when a female says “no.”

? Now where did he get that? Seemedpretty clear to me.

Or, she could simply relax, postpone all major chores that day, order take out for supper, have Michael help decorate the place, buy some pop and snacks, and have a terrific Hallowe’en party. The kids would always remember it.

We don’t know how much time has lapsed between the last two frames. It could be he wore her down a little or she may have said “maybe” just to shut him up!

I will agree with you that females never mean what they say but as for the ‘talk about it’ more, I’m not so sure.

Saying that the child has a right not to accept no if a good reason isn’t given is a bit disturbing. When he’s a teenager, will the girl he’s dating have to give a good reason for saying no? That said, why does every thread have to turn into a “We hate Elly” rally?

She doesn’t have to give a specific reason. She’s his mother. Needing a “specific reason” (i.e., an answer you like) from authority figures who have complete control over your life and changing the message to something you like better have something to do with how we’ve ended up where we are today.

As a postscript, man, I’d forgotten how much I couldn’t stand Michael as a kid. And I wasn’t that much older than he was, either, but he always seemed like a spoiled brat to me.

She said “Maybe you oughta ask one of YOUR moms!”

As a female, I never mean what I say? Do males always make sweeping overgeneralizations?

He just can’t take NO for an answer

If John ok’s a party knowing that Elly said no, it will be WWIII around there. If my husband did that to me I’d say, “Fine, but I will not be here. You will do it all and that includes clean up!” As for giving a reason as some said, my parents often said, “Because I said so!” and that was enough for us.

Everyone realizes that this is just a comic strip, and not real people, right?

I think you have made our point, Susan. “In real life…” This isn’t real life. It’s a comic strip. Elly isn’t a b***h, she’s a normal harried housewife who has to come up with a punch line every day. Any of us would come off as a bit of a b***h if every thing we said and did had to be a funny punch line.

And in real life, it didn’t

You’re right, and that did come out in the discussion, but it was pretty much unanimous that it’s not a good idea.