Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for November 04, 2011

Seems to me that the primary problem – with the cartoon characters & with most of us critics – is a lack of perspective. We have forgotten what was driving us when we made some foolish mistakes, and the heat of the moment prevented us from considering the circumstances of rash actions..Tj has been hearing Brad grouse about Ann’s treatment of him & HE has the solution – get Toni to set things right. Problem was that he didn’t consider Brad’s feelings, Toni’s interpretation, Ann’s reaction – he just wants resolution..Toni heard TJ and put it together with how she feels being treated by Ann and put off by Brad and she reacted uncharacteristically by confrontation with Ann. She didn’t strike her – just intimated corporate punishment and physical attack if she didn’t stop. Problem: she didn’t anticipate the consequences..Brad is smarting from dismissal from the fire department, and is concerned about money. He looks for an immediate solution and selects something familiar that is likely to provide a short-term answer. Sure, he should have looked around, but he’s blinded by need and makes the easy choice. Then he’s concerned about losing THAT job so he doesn’t want anything to rock the boat. He asks Toni to play it cool & he reluctantly agrees to anything (we suppose) that the Boss Lady wants. He does what he thinks is the best thing and is now reacting to the unfairness of it all by lashing out at Toni. See, no simple “it’s all his/her fault.” Greg is showing us the human condition when we’re under stress and have bad things happen to us.