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[cesariojpn]

Modified portion:

...... And after meeting Cosette, can you blame Padma for thinking he's gay??     

I don't get it

I don't get it either. Is Padma just hotwired into believing some weird Gay Stereotype that i'm not privy too?

[DSL]

My take on Padma so far: Uncomplicated in her worldview, meaning that she operates from a set of simple preconceptions about people. She's also without guile.

[Y]

Steve never said Cosette was prettier than her. Steve said that Padma is not prettier than Cosette. Logically that means Cosette is more or equal pretty than Padma according to Steve. Although that line seem to imply that they're both equally pretty.

Cosette is pointing with her two fingers at her two eyes and then at Padma.

It's a (slightly?) threatening way to let Padma know "I'm watching you!"

I remember that one from the 'Meet the Parents' movie trilogy.

[Carl-E]

My guess it after her brief run in with 'Miss Balbricker' Cosette just now, she wonders why Cosette hasn't turned him gay.

Just a guess on my part, but probably close to Padma's thoughts.

Good lord, Kugai, you know better than that - no one can "turn someone gay". 

They already need to be gay - and it's the failed hetero relationship that finally brings them out of the closet! 

Of course, Steve's had a few of those...

and it's been posited that "Being a lothario is just a cover for latent homosexuality" -- (Painless the dentist in M*A*S*H, 1970)

[ysth]

The customer is always right...


but did she buy anything?

[Carl-E]

"Large coffee and a less fresh bagel, please."

"Would you like some dried out cream cheese with your bagel?"

[TheEvilDog]

and it's been posited that "Being a lothario is just a cover for latent homosexuality" -- (Painless the dentist in M*A*S*H, 1970)

Oh I loved that film, thanks for reminding me of it, need to dig it out next time I go home.

"I wonder how such a degenerated person ever reached a position of authority in the Army Medical Corps."
"He was drafted."

[Method of Madness]

Steve never said Cosette was prettier than her. Steve said that Padma is not prettier than Cosette. Logically that means Cosette is more or equal pretty than Padma according to Steve. Although that line seem to imply that they're both equally pretty.

Cosette is pointing with her two fingers at her two eyes and then at Padma.

It's a (slightly?) threatening way to let Padma know "I'm watching you!"

I remember that one from the 'Meet the Parents' movie trilogy.

Fixed that for ya.

[St.Clair]

Just in case we needed another reminder of Cosette's crazy.

[TheEvilDog]

But nowhere near as crazy as some of the other women in the comic 

[Method of Madness]

But nowhere near as crazy as some of the other women in the comic 

Which one?  You mean the one with the crippling psychological problems*?

*That's all of them do you get it

[SJCrew]

Um, yeah, Cosette had better back off. Some one needs to tell her Padma knows how to throw down.

[jwhouk]

Back up one strip: I believe that Marten offered to take Steve and Cosette to TSB, and in the conversation that followed, it came up that Steve was flirting with Padma. Though I'll bet the way it went was this:

Steve: The Secret Bakery?
Marten: Yeah, that's where Padma works.
S: Oh, yeah, her.
Cosette: "Her"?
M: Yeah. We ran into her last night at the Horrible Revelation. Steve talked to her for a bit.
S: (looks away)
C: Talked to her? What were you talking to her about?
S: Oh, you know. I was just being friendly.
M: (rolls eyes) So that's what you call that.
C: What? (angry look) What were you doing?
S: Well... Marten thinks I was flirting with her.
C: (PUNCH to Steve's arm)

[cesariojpn]

My take on Padma so far: Uncomplicated in her worldview, meaning that she operates from a set of simple preconceptions about people. She's also without guile.

Okay, but how in the hell is Steve......"oozing" a gay stereotype that Padma is inferring too? None of the known Gay Stereotypes I know doesn't quite fit Steve.

[Carl-E]

Doesn't need to be a stereotype, could just be a hunch. 

Also, there's a common myth about ladies' men and latent homosexuality...

I also get the feeling that Steve has a bit of a "metrosexual" vibe, what with the hair and the grooming (compared to Marten), and the waterfall pics.  Then there was the touchy-feely "WE ARE BROS!!" episode, probably witnessed by Padma (and the rest of the bar). 

More like an educated guess on her part. 

[no one special]

Cosette gave Martin another "in" to talk to Padma!  She's a WAY better wingman than Steve is.

[Method of Madness]

Cosette gave Martin another "in" to talk to Padma!  She's a WAY better wingman than Steve is.

Or maybe Steve planned this entire thing!

[Mad Cat]

Am I the only one who's waiting for one of the existing mainline characters to screw up and out themselves as a secret racist with a dirt-stupid comment to or about one of the new characters who inhabit The Secret Bakery?

And no, I'm not taking about Pintsize. I don't know who it might be. I hope it's not Hanners. She had enough mental maladies as it is without adding "misunderstood" bigot to the mix.

[Kugai]

My guess it after her brief run in with 'Miss Balbricker' Cosette just now, she wonders why Cosette hasn't turned him gay.

Just a guess on my part, but probably close to Padma's thoughts.

Good lord, Kugai, you know better than that - no one can "turn someone gay". 

They already need to be gay - and it's the failed hetero relationship that finally brings them out of the closet! 

Of course, Steve's had a few of those...

and it's been posited that "Being a lothario is just a cover for latent homosexuality" -- (Painless the dentist in M*A*S*H, 1970)

Of course I frakin' well know that!

But not everyone is as rational as you or I - something we both know I suspect.

[jwhouk]

Am I the only one who's waiting for one of the existing mainline characters to screw up and out themselves as a secret racist with a dirt-stupid comment to or about one of the new characters who inhabit The Secret Bakery?

And no, I'm not taking about Pintsize. I don't know who it might be. I hope it's not Hanners. She had enough mental maladies as it is without adding "misunderstood" bigot to the mix.

I don't think Hanners would be the likely subject. Remember what she said to her mom about her great-great grandfather Thaddeus Whitehall Chatham.

[Akima]

Am I the only one who's waiting for one of the existing mainline characters to screw up and out themselves as a secret racist with a dirt-stupid comment to or about one of the new characters who inhabit The Secret Bakery?

I hope so... I totally love Faye's expression in the last panel of today's comic.

[cesariojpn]

We don't get to see Dora's actual sit-down with the psychologist with her telling about how Sven wet the bed till he was 16, or how he blew up Barbies for fun??
You no fun!!

[steveh11]

Um, as one who's never been near a 'therapist', I'm missing the point as much as Dora is.

[westrim]

Missing the point seems to be happening more often for characters who used to constantly throw sharp and obscure banter at each other like it was a ... banter throwing contest?

Um, as one who's never been near a 'therapist', I'm missing the point as much as Dora is.

The point is she isn't supposed to talk about herself- she's supposed to reveal aspects of her personality and what shaped them so that corrective measures can be taken on whatever is out of whack. And a lot of what is out of whack with her has to do with her brother. If talking about yourself does the revealing that's fine, but that isn't necessarily part of the process.

[CEOIII]

Dora thinks the therapy session was pointless since she and her therapist didn't talk about her, but you don't go into therapy to talk about yourself, you go into therapy to talk about your problems.

And she spent the session talking about Sven.

[no one special]

Um, as one who's never been near a 'therapist', I'm missing the point as much as Dora is.

The point is that therapists like to talk about whatever's on your mind, as that is often a symptom or symbol of what really needs to be discussed.  Basically, Dora wouldn't have talked about her brother for 45 minutes if there wasn't something there that really needed to come out, and that was likely a good starting point for some of what Dora needs to talk about (whether she wants to or not).  Therapists are sneaky (and helpful) like that. 

Talk therapy is about the patient, but a good therapist has a penchant for recognizing that things you happen to talk about are on your mind for a reason, and for delving and digging so they can find what that reason is, so that you can face it and deal with it, and hopefully understand it.

[Kugai]

And talking about Sven is, I think, getting to the root of a lot of Dora's issues.

[steveh11]

Thanks, but <shrug>.  I guess that's as clear an explanation as I should expect, but I confess it's like explaining a rainbow in terms of wavelengths of light to a blind man.  Anything 'psych-' still seems to me to be the fuzziest of science, barely above alchemy.  I guess it's an individual thing - like a rabbit's foot, if it helps, it helps.

[DSL]

And talking about Sven is, I think, getting to the root of a lot of Dora's issues.

And so the punchline works on two levels: Dora resents the spotlight not being on her -- and she doesn't get that that's the point.
Three levels: Faye gets the point.

[The Seldom Killer]

And talking about Sven is, I think, getting to the root of a lot of Dora's issues.

And so the punchline works on two levels: Dora resents the spotlight not being on her -- and she doesn't get that that's the point.
Three levels: Faye gets the point.

I rather thought that the punchline was more that a lot of Dora's issues stem from her relationship with her brother and his relationship with women (womaniser, cad, bounder etc...) and that she doesn't get that point, Faye get's it etc...

[DSL]

I think we're saying different versions of the same thing.
You have to tell Dora she's the prettiest.

[snubnose]

[...]  Anything 'psych-' still seems to me to be the fuzziest of science, barely above alchemy.  [...]

LOL

Alchemy is well respected ... only we call it now chemistry.

And psychology is about the most complex item we know about, the human mind.

Just because you cant press it into formulas doesnt mean its not very serious.

[KingoHrts]

This comic reminds me of a story George Burns used to tell about his first movie.  He worked of course, with his wife Gracie Allen who was the ultimate ditz.  They were offered $2500 to translate their vaudeville act for a 20 minute short film.  He says that when they turned the camera on and said "Action", he turned to her and said, "Gracie, How's your brother?".  Exactly 20 minutes later he stopped Gracie in mid-sentence, turned to the camera and said, "We just made $2500".

[akronnick]

Of course the ditzie Gracie was just a character she played. In real life, she was the real brains of the operation.

[jwhouk]

If she was, how did George manage to live so freakin' long?

And Dora doesn't get it, of course.

[steveh11]

[...]  Anything 'psych-' still seems to me to be the fuzziest of science, barely above alchemy.  [...]

LOL

Alchemy is well respected ... only we call it now chemistry.

And psychology is about the most complex item we know about, the human mind.

Just because you cant press it into formulas doesnt mean its not very serious.

Well, my point is that (to me) psych is still an immature science, which is at about the same level of maturity as alchemy wrt chemistry.  But like I said, I've never had any experience of any kind of 'therapy', short of novels, film/TV and now comics.

[The Seldom Killer]

I think we're saying different versions of the same thing.
You have to tell Dora she's the prettiest.

I'd disagree on that point. I don't think that Dora has a high need to be considered the prettiest or be the centre of attention.

I do think that her closest relationship with a man (Sven) has coloured her approach to relationships and to accept behaviour from her partners that she see's him giving to his. I suspect that this has now led her to expect poor treatment and now cannot seek emotional security within a relationship. Such are the dangers of looking up to someone who is both a poor role model and unaware of their impact on you.

Quite a well written parallel  here that at the same time Dora is effectively sabotaging a good thing, Sven is showing remorse for the sort of behaviour that has caused that. My advise to Marten is to kick Sven in the nads and then get him to wingman him into a good relationship.

At this point I'm now going to headdesk myself for analysing fictional characters with a side order of facepalm for even considering offering them advice.

[akronnick]

If she was, how did George manage to live so freakin' long?

And Dora doesn't get it, of course.

Well, George was no slouch either.

[Arancaytar]

I can see why Dora isn't visiting Dr. Corinne as well, but come on, that would have been hilarious.

[iduguphergrave]

I'm glad Dora's finally seeing a therapist but I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a little cheated we didn't get to see it.  Then again, there'll definitely be more.

Also, I've never heard of someone having a counselor of the opposite gender. None of mine have been. I'd feel a little self-conscious if a man was my therapist; I'd feel like I was talking to my dad.

[Carl-E]

If she was, how did George manage to live so freakin' long?

And Dora doesn't get it, of course.

Well, George was no slouch either.

Granted - he was an excellent comedian, good with a joke, great timing and delivery.  But Gracie...

She was, literally, a character when she was on stage.  You have to see some of their early stuff - she wove the most bizzarrly logical but hysterically funny reality about any topic he brought up, usually off the top of her head.  And all George had to do was be a straight man for it.  She wasn't just the brains of their act, she was  their act.  He was just the conduit between her and the audience.  

He often said that he couldn't believe how lucky he was.  In some ways, he rode on her coattails for the last 30 years of his life.

[Odin]

I'd feel like I was talking to my dad.

Tell me about your father...

[Jabberwocky]

There needs to be some kind of call to the website to get the current comic number, otherwise you'll be having to constantly update the code. 

Yeah, it was just a quick-and-dirty example.  I assume the latest comic number can be pulled from the site code.
(Still, even with the hard-coded value, it gives newer strips than ohnorobot.)   

[steveh11]

I'd feel like I was talking to my dad.

Tell me about your father...

<Respirator noise>
"*I am your father!"
 

[willpell]

(Apparently my comment on 1876 was taken much more seriously than I intended so I'll refrain from continuing with it.)

Re:  1877

#1:  Am I the only one who doesn't recognize Cosette as a brunette (despite the rhyme)?

#2:  I could swear that nearly every white female character in the strip other than Faye has been drawn with the exact face Cosette makes in panel 2.  Am I insane?

#3:  A metrosexual is a dude who everyone thinks is gay because he uses product in his hair and gets manicures and that kinda thing.  What do you call the opposite, a guy who is so manly and butch that everyone thinks he's gay?  Apparently whatever the term is, Steve is one of these.

[Odin]

(Apparently my comment on 1876 was taken much more seriously than I intended so I'll refrain from continuing with it.)

Re:  1877

#1:  Am I the only one who doesn't recognize Cosette as a brunette (despite the rhyme)?

#2:  I could swear that nearly every white female character in the strip other than Faye has been drawn with the exact face Cosette makes in panel 2.  Am I insane?

#3:  A metrosexual is a dude who everyone thinks is gay because he uses product in his hair and gets manicures and that kinda thing.  What do you call the opposite, a guy who is so manly and butch that everyone thinks he's gay?  Apparently whatever the term is, Steve is one of these.

Steve is most definitely not the macho end of the gay spectrum. Those guys are generally huge body builder-types with musculature like The Governator back when he was in Stay Hungry.

[iduguphergrave]

Tell me about your father...

Anything about my father or just the molestation?

[wjen]

Also, I've never heard of someone having a counselor of the opposite gender. None of mine have been. I'd feel a little self-conscious if a man was my therapist; I'd feel like I was talking to my dad.

I have almost always had counsellors/therapists of the opposite sex, even though there seem to be 5x as many female counsellors as male ones. I think it's something to do with feeling judged by women (issuuuueees), I feel far far more comfortable with a male counsellor. The only time I had a female counsellor she was rubbish, I think that may have also affected it  


I've registered purely to say this (I managed to stay away for so long! Dammit)

[ecstaticjoy]

Tell me about your father...

Anything about my father or just the molestation?

I don't want to be insensitive but LOL

[SJCrew]

Dora's left leg in panel 3 depresses me.