Quiz Time
The following is a "Sally Forth" email I recently received regarding this week's story. While reading it, try to determine the exact phrase that betrays a wholly deplorable--if not borderline repugnant--perspective on the part of the email's writer. It's not that subtle once your eyes lock in on it:
I know it's only a comic strip, Mr. Marciuliano; but it is beyond belief that two upper-middle class white people would have such an inane and irresponsible conversation about allowing a ten year old girl child to spend three summer months home alone.
Hint: It has nothing to do with Hilary's welfare (by the way, Hil goes to a neighbor's house when her parents are at work).
I know it's only a comic strip, Mr. Marciuliano; but it is beyond belief that two upper-middle class white people would have such an inane and irresponsible conversation about allowing a ten year old girl child to spend three summer months home alone.
Hint: It has nothing to do with Hilary's welfare (by the way, Hil goes to a neighbor's house when her parents are at work).
posted by Francesco Marciuliano at 3:15 PM
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16 Comments:
"...it is beyond belief that two upper-middle class white people would have such an inane and irresponsible conversation...."
I find it beyond belief that someone would make such a ridiculous comment, especially after noting that they are responding to "only a comic strip." What the hell kind of person would make a remark like that?
On the other hand, the first thought that came to mind as I read this was that this person obviously is not familiar with personalities such as Paris Hilton. That thought made me feel as snobbish as your correspondent, though.
Look, a girl child, daughter of Eve. It is the prophesey my Queen.
I know, I know ... I just wanted to say that. (singing) once in every lifetime, comes a love like this, oh i need you, you need me, oh my darling can`t you see we`re ...
I`ll shut up now.
It's a well-known fact that white people are entirely feeble and incapable of taking care of themselves in any way until the age of 18 at a minimum, and in many cases until 22 or, in the cases of MBA students, 25. This is why they need to ride in special car seats until middle school, not be allowed to leave their gated communities, and forced to attend private schools.
Non-whites, meanwhile, are extremely capable, clever, and self-reliant at a very early age, and can hold down jobs making clothes and electronics white people when they're as young as eight.
jf
Ahhh! Breathe the sweet, sweet, air of enlightenment, wait what is that horrible stench? I think its comming from that e-mail.
I read and think about comic strips every day (someone has to) but I have never been so moved by my underlying prejudice that I felt the need to e-mail an artist with a complaint..., and I read Gil Thorp.
Josh is on the right track, but not quite there. Leaving young girls alone to make their fortunes is common behavior among parents of all kinds, but everybody knows it's only the lower-middle-class Belglovian parents who are so insecure as to angst and discuss and think about it first.
As much as I think the Forth family is dysfunctional in a way not yet described in DSM-IV , the e-mailer is way off base by calling them white . Clearly, the Forths are off-white .
(What is DSM-IV? See
http://allpsych.com/disorders/dsm.html )
You know, I just reviewed the week, and I can't for the life of me find a conversation that stands out as the one that started this. Ces, did you get any clues?
Ces, congratulations on your little quiz being a kind of "ink-blot" for the minds of your readers! I was fascinated to see how many different phrases posters cast their vote for as being the "wholly deplorable--if not borderline repungnant perspective": upper middle-class, white, girl child, only a comic strip, etc.
"Only a comic strip" gets my vote.
ComicsNut
You know, I just reviewed the week, and I can't for the life of me find a conversation that stands out as the one that started this.
I don't think there was any conversation like this, either. It's like this (and I'm not trying to be witty here) : Since SF lacks any significant "tangential" info insofar as any back- or "aside" story goes, the average reader (other than the two or three real fans of the strip) see's it for what it's worth....a family that is hyper-concerned about everything dealing with "work" but not with "family". And there are so few references to Hil' having "a friend in the neighborhood", let alone next door (what? not "Old man Gezeltzer" or whatever his name is?!), that it's not surprising that the average reader might get confused.
And, of course, I realize I'm rambling. Where the hell is f-tufts ?! I need that damn drink ! ;)
I thought the point was the implication that a non-white family might consider doing such a thing.
Or a non "upper middle-class" family, for that matter.
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Hasn't Hil been ten forever? She must have gathered some skills in the numerous years she's been stuck in "forth" grade, while the rest of the world passes her by. Or better yet, maybe time in SF passes at the speed of Rex Morgan, MD or Mary Worth land. (Obviously, I spend way too much time reading the comics.) Anyway, it doesn't seem to me that Hil is comtemplating anything more dangerous than developing melanoma while waiting for someone to refill her glass of iced tea or lemonade.
Now I'm curious what all was deleted. /Just sayin...
I believe someone simply posted the same message twice by accident.
ces
I believe someone simply posted the same message twice by accident.
Ah. I thought I might have been on a Mike Patterson -esque bender and posted something I'd be happy to forget. ;)
/You ever make it to Boca Raton, ces ? If so, my wife and I will buy you and your wife a brew or five.
/fmbx3@aol.com
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