I don’t think Gunther has a problem with Bet’s social media career. He has a problem with his life being broadcast to strangers all the time. I think if they could set up some reasonable boundaries and sometimes just do things that for them, no fans allowed, Gunther and Bets could probably make it work.
I’m familiar. “Bustin’ chops” is good natured ribbing b/w people who disagree but know and respect each other’s point of view. I’m happy if that is what you intended, but it hasn’t felt that way to me so far.
I know it’s supposed to be a funny comic strip, but I find Gunther a fascinating exploration in co-dependency. Maybe I’m weird, but I have fun discussing that kind of thing and hearing other people’s thoughts and the reasons behind them.
Thank you, Evans, for not keeping them at each other’s throats! May it continue!
I hope this wasn’t just a way to get them together for business hijinks and Ann Eiffel battles, tho, w/ Gunther forgotten. I want Gunther and Bets to continue their relationship and help each other grow out of their hangups. Let Gunther grow into his own as young man.
It may shock Mordock, but I want good things for Gunther!
You’re familiar with comic conventions and the use of font size and styling to illustrate how what someone says sounds?
Well, that represents what the characters in the strip are “hearing” when others are “speaking.”
I’ve explained my interpretation of what I’ve read and tried to back up my reasoning in good faith. I’m not sure why people who disagree can’t do the same instead of insinuating it’s all in my head, or dismissing my criticism of what Gunther does by just stating as if it were a fact that I’d criticize him for doing the opposite.
@Mordock999. In point of fact, I would have praised Gunther for confidently introducing Bets as his girlfriend b/c they have already both agreed to be exclusive. It would have helped Bets feel more secure in the relationship and shown her that Gunther is capable of setting a healthy boundary between his friends and intimate partner. Instead his reluctance feeds her insecurities.
Interesting, but I’m not sure exactly how different that is from my interpretation. Bets is still surprised that this is “Tiffany, the Model” b/c Tiffany doesn’t measure up to what Bets thinks of as a model. Tiffany hears the incredulity in Bets’ question and feels judged. That’s why she is miffed at Bets.
Is that fair to say?
I agree that your interpretation of Tiff’s reaction is very plausible and explains well why Bets is miffed at Tiffany.
Disagreement is fine. We all interpret the text according to our own experience. I don’t WANT to see Bets unintentionally offending Tiffany, but that’s how I read the strip. I’d love to hear your interpretation. If Tiffany didn’t think Bets was implying that Tiffany did not look like a model, why did Tiffany act insulted? Why did she ask Bets what she meant by the comment?
Or, if you don’t think she was insulted at all, what is the point of the second panel in your opinion?
B/c he has a history of repeatedly interrupting their dates with texts and calls from his friends, showing that he has trouble making her a priority.
And b/c, after being asked to focus on her, he still took a phone call from another woman to schedule a photo shoot of lingerie (of all things!) while Bets is looking on, waiting to continue their date.
And b/c, after committing to a more exclusive relationship and saying “I’m all yours, Bets”, Gunther took her to meet Tiffany and while introducing her for the first time to this woman who is obviously a giant source of anxiety for Bets, Gunther . . . hesitates to call her his girlfriend.
It’s their entire relationship dynamic to date. Not just an “um.”
If Tiffany didn’t feel insulted after Bets asks “And you’re Tiffany? The MODEL?” Why did she give Bets an unfriendly stare and answer: “Yes. What are you saying?”
Bets didn’t mean to insult Tiffany, but she did. Tiffany didn’t mean to insult Bets, but she did. That’s the whole point of this strip, IMO.
Fat shaming is not just the act of cruelly denigrating fat people. It’s also the casual assumptions and biases that people with perfectly good intentions have w/o even realizing how shame inducing they can be.
Bets was surprised that this heavier set woman in front of her could be a model b/c she assumed that models must be tall and thin and statuesque w/ long legs. That assumption is the problem. Intentional or not, Bets’ reaction sent the message that Tiffany’s body is not good enough to be a model’s body.
That is a shaming message.
Whether Tiffany is confident enough in her own skin to shrug it off or not doesn’t change that message. If shame wasn’t involved, there’d be no reason for Tiffany to feel insulted.
I’m not saying Bets did something horrible and unredeemable. But she did unintentionally cause insult b/c of an un-examined bias that many of us have.
Bernice is going to make a terrible therapist.
Like really, really terrible.