Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for October 07, 2016
October 06, 2016
October 08, 2016
Transcript:
Rat: What the heck is this?
Mailman: Phonebook. We leave them on everyone's porch.
Rat: But not one person in the world uses these anymore. There's an internet now and smart phones.
Mailman: Big news.
Sign reads, " Acme Phonebooks"
Later, a lot of people on the internet tell Rat that they do use the phone book and list the reasons for it, and Rat whines, “I’m trying to feel superior! Stop reminding me I’m not!”
If we could download a searchable phone book, that would be a boon. Otherwise, these books are just waste of some good oxygen-producing trees and ground rags.
My brother will call me from his smartphone to ask me to look up a small local business in my phone book yellow pages to find out what their hours are. Not everything is on the web.
I’ve had a new phone book on my shelf every year for quite a while. I haven’t actually used one in about a decade. I can even remember the last time I did. I was looking for a doctor and it took me to look under physicians. Never bothered again.
A phone book is often easier to use than the Internet. If, that is, you have one for the area you’re calling (Although I’m surprised that you can’t download complete books for different areas from the “phone company”) And you’re not looking for a cell phone number. And you’re used to looking things up in a physical book; some people are surprisingly inept at that. Go Comics seems not even to allow me to do simple paragraph breaks now (unless it starts working again with this post).
A lot of times around special occasions people like to post cards, for like Thanksgiving and Christmas, some for Halloween later this month. Not complaining, but it would have been nice if some forethought were used. Here’s what my card would look like, in classic GC style:
I used to get ONE book a year before the internet, now I get TWO twice a year. I haven’t looked in one for over a decade.
I’m confused by the new policy, I still see comments even though they aren’t BOLD! Could GoComics post what the heck is going on other than the stupid OUR APOLOGIES thing!
No one has complained about the fact that looking up most white-page information now costs money on the Internet. And I have to pay the phone company for a directory listing, so both ways are making money.
I know you can look up Yellow Pages listings on their web-page, and I’ll wager they have a phone app as well. Which means your phone listing advertising is still useful, as the ad goes both in the book and on the web and on the app.
I tried to drop the yellow pages ad for my business, called in and was told OK, then 3 months later, the bill keeps coming.The automatic renewal is now canceled, but I’m stuck paying until next September.
Would hate to not have my phone book. Don’t need a smartphone. The internet might be fine for looking up a phone number for a business I know about, but it’s garbage for finding somebody in comparison to the yellow pages.
It’s interesting, I actually haven’t had a phone book left outside my apartment door in years. I used to get them and now I don’t.
Have they given up on distributing them in my area, or have they just given up distributing them to residences that primarily attract a younger crowd, who are more likely to throw the book away the moment they see it?
I tried to use the internet to look up a phone number, but I wasn’t able to. I tried at least 10 different sites. They all toke several minutes to “process”, and “build a database”, then they wanted to show me criminal records, legal etc, and wanted me to pay for it. I couldn’t find any site that would just show me a simple white page-like telephone number. I finally gave up.
Recall too, the entire country didn’t jump into the technology age as quickly as the major cities, and coastal states did. Some folks depend on a phone book because they don’t use the 411 service, internet or have use of a smartphone. Some are a bit apprehensive using a wireless item, believing it can be monitored or intercepted. (yes, everything can be, but don’t frighten them with that just yet). Either way, ACME is in trouble, as they fade into history.
BE THIS GUY about 8 years ago
Didn’t they notice the declining ad revenues?
knight1192a about 8 years ago
Both of which make it even harder to look up a number.
cdgar about 8 years ago
BIG NEWS? Where’s he been for the last 25 years?
Sherlock Watson about 8 years ago
Later, a lot of people on the internet tell Rat that they do use the phone book and list the reasons for it, and Rat whines, “I’m trying to feel superior! Stop reminding me I’m not!”
Templo S.U.D. about 8 years ago
S’pose, Rat, not everyone has a Smartphone or the Internet, then they’d still want a phonebook?
Kind&Kinder about 8 years ago
If we could download a searchable phone book, that would be a boon. Otherwise, these books are just waste of some good oxygen-producing trees and ground rags.
Oshietekun about 8 years ago
Hmm, hard to imagine smashing the Roadrunner with a phone book, but I guess if you’ve tried everything else . . .
dadoctah about 8 years ago
My homeowners association classifies phone directories as “debris” and threatens to fine you if one gets left outside your door.
alaskajohn1 about 8 years ago
@GoComics, none of the above posts qualify:
*Our apologies, but to fight off abuse from the spammers, we now limit our comments to include text with bold and italics only.
bigcatbusiness about 8 years ago
Acme. Great idea for rejection.
macky87 about 8 years ago
My brother will call me from his smartphone to ask me to look up a small local business in my phone book yellow pages to find out what their hours are. Not everything is on the web.
asianwoof about 8 years ago
’Okay Google,
What are phonebooks used for?"
Defective Premium Member about 8 years ago
I’ve had a new phone book on my shelf every year for quite a while. I haven’t actually used one in about a decade. I can even remember the last time I did. I was looking for a doctor and it took me to look under physicians. Never bothered again.
Chad Cheetah about 8 years ago
Time to go back to selling weapons to coyotes.
Kaputnik about 8 years ago
A phone book is often easier to use than the Internet. If, that is, you have one for the area you’re calling (Although I’m surprised that you can’t download complete books for different areas from the “phone company”) And you’re not looking for a cell phone number. And you’re used to looking things up in a physical book; some people are surprisingly inept at that. Go Comics seems not even to allow me to do simple paragraph breaks now (unless it starts working again with this post).
Jeff0811 about 8 years ago
A lot of times around special occasions people like to post cards, for like Thanksgiving and Christmas, some for Halloween later this month. Not complaining, but it would have been nice if some forethought were used. Here’s what my card would look like, in classic GC style:
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
NeedaChuckle Premium Member about 8 years ago
I used to get ONE book a year before the internet, now I get TWO twice a year. I haven’t looked in one for over a decade.
I’m confused by the new policy, I still see comments even though they aren’t BOLD! Could GoComics post what the heck is going on other than the stupid OUR APOLOGIES thing!
Carl Rennhack Premium Member about 8 years ago
I have a phone book under my 8-track tape player!
e.groves about 8 years ago
I have a smartphone and internet and I still use the phone book. The yellow pages, anyway. Plus there are some good coupons.
JudyAz about 8 years ago
Ahh, the phone book. Like a lot of novels, a lot of characters but no plot.
Peam Premium Member about 8 years ago
The Internet is hopeless as a doorstop and smartphones are way too crunchy.
Ermine Notyours about 8 years ago
I wonder if the company chose the name “Acme” because it would be first in the phone book.
booktrout about 8 years ago
a town of 25,000 -- 3 phonebooks annually
Dapperdan61 Premium Member about 8 years ago
Honestly please don’t keep distributing phone books unsolicited. My recycling bin is already too full
gordol about 8 years ago
For once, I agree with Rat.
angelfiredragon about 8 years ago
eh not everyone has internet, 20% of the USA still can’t get anything except dialup and many of those companies are going to be stopping it soon.
I still use these, I like the smaller ones so I put them under the seat of my car to use while I’m out and about.
Number Three about 8 years ago
The classic old Yellow Pages.
xxx
HappyDog/ᵀʳʸ ᴮᵒᶻᵒ ⁴ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵘⁿ ᵒᶠ ᶦᵗ Premium Member about 8 years ago
No one has complained about the fact that looking up most white-page information now costs money on the Internet. And I have to pay the phone company for a directory listing, so both ways are making money.
Phatts about 8 years ago
I know you can look up Yellow Pages listings on their web-page, and I’ll wager they have a phone app as well. Which means your phone listing advertising is still useful, as the ad goes both in the book and on the web and on the app.
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray about 8 years ago
Picked this little gem up at Alley Oop
UU Admin GoComics PRO Member said, 6 minutes ago
Questions about the change to our commenting system are addressed in our latest blog post:
http://blogs.gocomics.com/2016/10/talking-bout-ch-ch-ch-ch-changes-or-some-explanation-on-recent-updates-to-gocomics.html
Left a note too !
grainpaw about 8 years ago
I tried to drop the yellow pages ad for my business, called in and was told OK, then 3 months later, the bill keeps coming.The automatic renewal is now canceled, but I’m stuck paying until next September.
Purple-Stater Premium Member about 8 years ago
Would hate to not have my phone book. Don’t need a smartphone. The internet might be fine for looking up a phone number for a business I know about, but it’s garbage for finding somebody in comparison to the yellow pages.
John Gibson Premium Member about 8 years ago
Rat meant “Not one person under 75”
hashtab about 8 years ago
It’s interesting, I actually haven’t had a phone book left outside my apartment door in years. I used to get them and now I don’t.
Have they given up on distributing them in my area, or have they just given up distributing them to residences that primarily attract a younger crowd, who are more likely to throw the book away the moment they see it?
Carl R about 8 years ago
I tried to use the internet to look up a phone number, but I wasn’t able to. I tried at least 10 different sites. They all toke several minutes to “process”, and “build a database”, then they wanted to show me criminal records, legal etc, and wanted me to pay for it. I couldn’t find any site that would just show me a simple white page-like telephone number. I finally gave up.
Sisyphos about 8 years ago
Smarmy Rat is such a big dork!
Just about everything he said today is WRONG.
So, I figure panel 3 is totally sarcastic….
wiatr about 8 years ago
No pocket phone here and I sure ain’t gonna fire this beast up just to look up a number.OTOH, I may only look up a number 2-3 times a year.
CodeMouse92 about 8 years ago
Huh, I actually prefer phone books to internet lookup…and I’m a programmer and IT!
toohana about 8 years ago
Recall too, the entire country didn’t jump into the technology age as quickly as the major cities, and coastal states did. Some folks depend on a phone book because they don’t use the 411 service, internet or have use of a smartphone. Some are a bit apprehensive using a wireless item, believing it can be monitored or intercepted. (yes, everything can be, but don’t frighten them with that just yet). Either way, ACME is in trouble, as they fade into history.