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That boy Sam told Momo that she kissed on a dare

4 (19%)

A guy she met at Little Wilderness Adventurers (he's into snakes too)

1 (4.8%)

Sam's BFF who we just haven't seen before

0 (0%)

A fan of Sam's sprays and/or Let's Plays who wanted to meet his artistic idol

3 (14.3%)

A random kid Sam met on the street and decided is her BFF

3 (14.3%)

A relative of a regular cast member who we haven't met before

1 (4.8%)

A transfer student to her school; she's over-interpreting the instruction to 'show him around'

6 (28.6%)

Other (please specify in comments)

3 (14.3%)

Total Members Voted: 20

[BenRG]

New character time and welcome to the cast Emmett! I've no doubt that everyone is as interested as I am to find out who he is and what his role will be. Likely a serious introvert given the traditional floppy "I don't care about my appearance" look and the way that talking to Faye nearly caused serious injury. Given how extrovert Sam is, it's kind of an artistic obligation for her to have a seriously-withdrawn best friend, so I feel pretty assured in this analysis.

However, who is he really?

Personally, I think that he's a fan of either Sam's sprays or, more likely (given the direction the strips have gone in recently) a fan of Sam's LP videos on-line who has travelled far, maybe from the other side of  town, to meet his famous idol!

By the end of this visit, his world is likely going to have been changed forever.

Oh, additionally, I'm expecting Sammett to be a ship with a violently fanatical following no later than the end of this week. Hell, I'm sure that there are already fan-fictions in the works even as I type this!

[Mr_Rose]

Because you’re looking on the wrong aisle Bubbles; the ones in your size are in Sporting Goods, in the Camping section.
Or you could ask Emily to knit you one but you have to promise not to look too closely at the weave…

[DaiJB]

"Other"  (Natch)

Emmett is a relative of Marigold (same hair and social skills as Original Marigold), visiting Marigold's family.
(I assume Marigold's father lives in the vicinity, seeing as how he visited her that one time: #2198).
Like Marigold, Emmett is a reclusive shut-in, and only agreed to come along because he'd met Sam online and wanted to meet Skullmaster in real life.
Naturally, Sam being Sam, she wanted him to meet everyone she knows, much to his discomfort. 

[Wombat]

My first guess about Emmett was that they might use they/them pronouns, but I suppose we'll see. I'm interested to learn more about Sam, so I'm looking forward to her and Emmett's interactions.

[Farideh]

I voted 'relative'. Like DaiJB, I feel Emmett has Marigold-like vibes. They might be a cousin, or even a younger sibling?

[Gyrre]

I hadn't considered Emmett being a relative of Marigold but it does make sense.

I have another guess as well, but I'll keep quiet about that until we find out.

[Perfectly Reasonable]

'pimchutoo' is shy-code for 'Pleastameetcha too'.

The 'b-word' is 'bro-bots'.

( emmett is one of Sams sprays that has achieved 3 dimensionality and sentience )

[SubaruStephen]

It’s not a hoodie, but Bubs can borrow my bathrobe, I ordered the biggest one I could find online, turns out it’s gigantic, makes a 6’1” man look like a Jawa.

[John Allenson]

Project, get/make Bubbles a hoodie.

[Wingy]

I expect Emmett is also intimidated by and interested in Faye's rack, but has no way to acknowledge that internally or externally.  This might cause much hilarity in strips to come.

[hedgie]

Possibly, but the blush didn't start when it was just Faye, and it's quite possible that the 7' reddish robot, who, despite being nice and personable, even without armour, is only somewhat less intimidating than Crushbot..

[dutchrvl]

My guess: a relative of marigold who happens to use they/them pronouns, or possibly be a transgender man

[Farideh]

Oh no, more butts disease!

[Gyrre]

It’s not a hoodie, but Bubs can borrow my bathrobe, I ordered the biggest one I could find online, turns out it’s gigantic, makes a 6’1” man look like a Jawa.

But does it fit in the shoulders? That's usually where I have the most trouble (5'5" with a 17.5"  shoulder span).

[hedgie]

Okay, I’m probably overthinking things, and obviously, conversation could have happened between strips, but it is somewhat bothersome that, as far as a reader goes, Faye and Bubbs are assuming pronouns. 

[larn]

Okay, I’m probably overthinking things, and obviously, conversation could have happened between strips, but it is somewhat bothersome that, as far as a reader goes, Faye and Bubbs are assuming pronouns.

Faye refers to Emmett as "them" while Emmett is out of earshot, which while not guaranteed to be non-offensive is about as safe as she can get until Emmett gains the ability and opportunity to speak. I don't think Bubbles has used any pronouns for Emmett.

[DaiJB]

Not gonna lie, I'd probably poke the disembodied robo-butt too...

[BenRG]

Yeah, so it's confirmed that Sam and Emmett are both high-school age teenagers. Bubbles is right, observing their behaviour hasn't told them much so far!

[oddtail]

Okay, I’m probably overthinking things, and obviously, conversation could have happened between strips, but it is somewhat bothersome that, as far as a reader goes, Faye and Bubbs are assuming pronouns.

Faye refers to Emmett as "them" while Emmett is out of earshot, which while not guaranteed to be non-offensive is about as safe as she can get until Emmett gains the ability and opportunity to speak. I don't think Bubbles has used any pronouns for Emmett.

That's my thought. Starting with "they/them" is the most reasonable option when you don't know someone's pronouns yet.

At least in English, grammar is not as gendered as some other languages, where you *have* to pick a grammatical gender when speaking to/about someone, whether you want it or not. So it's mostly just things like pronouns (and not even second-person pronouns or anything) that one needs to be careful about.

[dutchrvl]

Hehe, 'yank' while pulling away a Canadian

[hedgie]

Faye refers to Emmett as "them" while Emmett is out of earshot, which while not guaranteed to be non-offensive is about as safe as she can get until Emmett gains the ability and opportunity to speak. I don't think Bubbles has used any pronouns for Emmett.

Thank you for proving that my brain was not properly engaged.  I didn't even think of that.

[zmeiat_joro]

Emmett seems like a schoolmate? Maybe?

[Wombat]

Oof, popularity politics. In middle school, I remember some issues with that, but my high school was big enough that it barely registered. Apparently there was this group of "popular girls" in my grade who called themselves the Great Eight, and as this was recounted to me a couple years after graduation, I had never even heard of several of the girls.

ETA: Oh, yeah, new comic.

[Farideh]

Kids having bureaucracy is nothing new, I'm afraid.

[Perfectly Reasonable]

I sat at the unpopular kids' table.

( thats how it became the unpopular kids table )

[BenRG]

I have no doubt that the teachers informally support this process and 'lose' any complaints about it. If certain kids are openly and systematically excluded and othered, it reduces the likelihood that they'll have to intervene when the socially-dominant kids decide to 'physically chastise' them for 'not knowing their place'.

Yes, I was at the bottom of the pile, socially, at school myself. Why do you ask?

[dutchrvl]

The social hierarchy at my middle/high school luckily wasn't too bad.
I was part of a small group who always had good grades and who played geeky card/board games during every single break.
I'm pretty sure we would've been the 'unpopular' table, except we were lucky to be good at sports, which in hindsight probably equalized everything fairly nicely

[Perfectly Reasonable]

So that's what the "Securities and Exchange Commission" is really about? It would explain so much about our economy. Now I need to have a serious talk with my broker.

[Wombat]

New comic

Oooh, Emmett is adorable. In my experience, being 12 is the worst, but being 14 is up there in terms of horribleness.

[badbum61]

Emmett has the wisdom of the ages.
(pun not intended, but now that I think of it...heh)

[badbum61]

From grades 10-12 I most often just sat in the art classrooms or music practice rooms during my lunch breaks. I realize now that it was the blossoming stages of my social anxiety and I consider myself extremely lucky that the teachers never forced me to go back to the cafeteria.

No cafeterias or tables at schools in Oz (at least, not the ones I went to), but yeah, joining the brass band gave me access to areas away from the jocks and (most of the) bullies. Hooray for music nerds!

[Is it cold in here?]

From a second-degree connection, writing to a godchild:

> I want to share one simple easy rule. The key to enlightenment and

> existential bliss covering years 2-18.

>

> Nerds Rule.

>

> People are social creatures. Our brains are tuned to see everything that

> we do or say or own in relationship to what it says to other people about

> us. From the shoes you wear to the car you drive and the way you talk and

> the things you say, people search these actions for meaning, and find a

> way to assign them value in terms of competition and status. Our minds are

> exquisitely designed for this task, and so we live in a world of ladders &

> social hierarchies that permeate every aspect of lives. People that excel

> at this function enjoy tremendous advantages in life. Status, popularity,

> access. These are cool people – ones we are designed to envy and emulate.

>

> On the flip side of the spectrum there are nerds. People whose brains

> aren't designed to navigate these complicated social webs. They have

> difficulty figuring out what other people expect of them - what they

> should do, how they should look, what they should be - and so they are

> consigned to a lower echelon. Status, popularity, access, cool – they have

> admission to none of these.

>

> But being a nerd has distinct advantages. The inability to succeed at

> status seeking behavior liberates you from having to pursue it and defend

> it. Nerds learn to do what they like instead of doing the things that

> others expect of them. Freed from cliques and social sets, they choose

> their friends more organically based on affinities & shared interests.

> Outsider status lets them look at their world with a more critical eye.

> The modesty of their present circumstances teaches them to be patient &

> keep an eye on the future.

>

> In short, being a nerd helps you figure out who you are, what you want, &

> who you want to be with, largely freed from the constraints of the

> expectations of others. You gain self-knowledge, wisdom, perspective,

> delayed gratification, identification with the little guy. These are the

> constituent parts of decent people. It's what good friends, good husbands,

> good fathers are made of.

>

> So here's my life lesson for you. Winning is often a losing strategy, and

> the reverse holds true as well. Take pity on the New York Yankees and the

> King of the Prom. They've got destination sickness - nowhere to go but

> down. Status, once achieved, becomes an end in itself, & must be

> maintained. It's a lifetime spent on defense.

>

> So, when you're sorting through today's presents – throw out the Marc

> Jacobs sunglasses, keep the cello, then go out into the world & get your

> nerd on. And if you're not lucky enough to be born a nerd, go find some &

> let them to take you in. They'll show you how it's done.

>

> Nerds are nice that way.

[Wombat]

From a second-degree connection, writing to a godchild:

Mixed about the longer message, but just wanted to share that I momentarily forgot about godparents and godchildren and all that, and thought this was going to be in connection to, like, a god who is a child. For a moment I thought I was in another week's thread and it was meant in connection to Yay, the closest character I could identify as a "god child."
Anyway.

[Farideh]

I remember being 14. NEVER AGAIN. I enjoy being an adult way more than I ever 'enjoyed' being a teenager.

Re. IICIH's message to a godchild: I agree with most of it, except for throwing out the sunglasses. You can never have too many pairs of sunglasses.

[Gyrre]

I have no doubt that the teachers informally support this process and 'lose' any complaints about it. If certain kids are openly and systematically excluded and othered, it reduces the likelihood that they'll have to intervene when the socially-dominant kids decide to 'physically chastise' them for 'not knowing their place'.

Yes, I was at the bottom of the pile, socially, at school myself. Why do you ask?

The physical stuff stopped for me pretty quickly after a failed locker stuffing attempt. Having your target push the door open against two aggressors tends to make individuals rethink the physical aspect of things no matter how short you are. Still doesn't stop the verbal abuse though.

[Penquin47]

I did being 14 and my freshman year of high school the same year.  10/10 would recommend to anyone.  Gets all the hell over with at once.

I also moved from Germany to Maryland that year so knew exactly nobody at my high school.  I looked older than 14, so people who didn't have classes with me likely assumed I was older than a freshman and didn't mess with me.  Even some people who did have classes with me might not have realized, depending what classes we had together. 

[SubaruStephen]

It’s not a hoodie, but Bubs can borrow my bathrobe, I ordered the biggest one I could find online, turns out it’s gigantic, makes a 6’1” man look like a Jawa.

But does it fit in the shoulders? That's usually where I have the most trouble (5'5" with a 17.5"  shoulder span).

Oh, it’s waaay too big, my shoulders are 22”, and the shoulders on this terrycloth circus tent are 31”!

[BenRG]

Okay, so Emmet is crushing on Sam confirmed. Given how Emmet is so very shy, it is unlikely that she knows about it. Honestly, Jeph, leave some character development mysteries! Don't have the new kid stand in mid-panel and narrate his Fandom entry for us!

Also... Yeah, the character art, especially the nose, needs some work there.

Finally, are we going to get some kind of flashback (maybe through Amanda) of Faye's school days at some point?

[St.Clair]

I think we all just had that flashback.

[ankhtahr]

I'm surprised nobody has picked up Sam's usage of "they" to refer to Emmett in yesterday's comic (second panel), so I feel like it's safe to assume Emmett uses they/them.

Which, as a person who has discovered they prefer those pronouns significantly over the last few years, made me squee with glee! It still surprises me how much representation means to me…

Edit: typo

[Baphomet]

Sorry to be late here, but would someone mind explaining yesterday's punchline? I now know that timbits are a type of candy, but don't get why whipping them at someone's head is a stereotype.

[baronvonfritz]

OMG being 14 WAS horrible, so was 15, 16, & 17. Things started getting better after that.  Life pretty much has rocked from 23 onwards.

[pwhodges]

I'm surprised nobody has picked up Sam's usage of "they" to refer to Emmett

Oh, I noticed; but I saw no reason to comment on it, because it doesn't strike me as strange.

[Wombat]

Sorry to be late here, but would someone mind explaining yesterday's punchline? I now know that timbits are a type of candy, but don't get why whipping them at someone's head is a stereotype.

Timbits aren't a candy, they're a brand of doughnut holes sold by Tim Hortons, a popular Canadian coffee (etc) chain.

I'm surprised nobody has picked up Sam's usage of "they" to refer to Emmett

Oh, I noticed; but I saw no reason to comment on it, because it doesn't strike me as strange.

I was honestly more surprised when I came here at the beginning of the week and saw people going with he/him.

[ankhtahr]

Oh, I noticed; but I saw no reason to comment on it, because it doesn't strike me as strange.

I'm not saying that it'd be strange, my surprise was meant in the context of the speculation further up in the thread

I was honestly more surprised when I came here at the beginning of the week and saw people going with he/him.

Yeah, that surprised me as well. I'd have thought people here wouldn't just assume, but rather go with „they“ until further information was revealed.

[Farideh]

I think the 'he/him' pronouns at the beginning were based on the name, since 'Emmett' is a masculine name. And I did notice that Sam uses the 'they/them' pronouns, just didn't get around to mentioning it.

[Perfectly Reasonable]

I wonder how tall Emmett would be if he stood up straight and stopped trying to disappear between his shoulder blades?

( the robutt is less interesting than i expected )

[usrbingirl]

manifesting emmett x sam enby x transmasc or enby x enby

[John Allenson]

I wonder whether there's any significance to Emmett's name meaning "Truth".  I haven't noticed Jeph going in for that type of symbolism - at least in human names.  Corpse Witch, Pintsize, and Yay Newfriend tend to be pretty much on point.

[Sorflakne]

So I just now noticed when Emmett says 'about', it's spelled 'aboat'.