Actually, going to school in the pouring rain without an umbrella looks stupid…aren’t you going to make a good impression on your classmates when you arrive at school looking like a mop that hasn’t been wrung out yet?! LOL ;)
When everyone else has walked to school in the rain and you all are wet, being soaked for the first half of the school day has no stigma attached to it. Being totally or near totally dry would make you stand out as either “Pampered” or a wuss unable to handle a little rain.
Been there done that without the hassle from Mom. Just a typical school trip for the ’50’s and ’60’s.
It seems to me that some people here have forgotten what is like to be a kid (well at least a boy).
When I was a kid I didn’t know of a boy that would be caught dead carrying an umbrella!
Then again these days the kids wouldn’t need an umbrella because mom drives them to and from school, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them come to the school at recess time, to hold an umbrella over their kids heads.
Umbrella? Why not just put a “kick” me sign on his back while you’re at it. First rule of school: Don’t stand out among the other students – it just makes you a target for bullies.
Reminds me of the morning I stopped at my favorite bagel place during a heavy rain. The girls from the HS bus stop on the corner were inside, warm & dry, sipping coffee. The guys were still at the bus stop, shivering in soggy hoodies, looking like Michael.
when my grandsons were in about 5th and 6th grade, they used to wear those baggy athletic shorts to school EVERY day no matter how cold it was, my daughter just got tired of the fight that went with trying to get them to wear jeans. Now they are in high school and they wear weather appropriate clothes.
Ah, the male belief that testosterone repels rain.I was always amazed: women used umbrellas and stayed dry; men used stupidity and got wet.Of course, they were manly wet.In recent years, men have taken to using umbrellas. I think it began when they started walking those tiny almost-a-dogs, and realized they could carry a folding chair over their heads and no one would notice.
“……. As for Michael, let him get wet and catch a cold and maybe he will learn from that.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~No, he won’t. But I’m sure Elly will be so happy to have to deal with a kid who’s sick in bed with a cold. I raised my kids a bit differently (for my own sanity). When they complained about anything, I flat-out told them, “This house is not a democracy; it’s a tyranny – and I am the head-honcho tyrant.” I was always willing to listen to their viewpoint and consider it, but there was no question that my decision was final.I guess they liked my philosophy – they’re raising their own kids the same way.
I grew up near Seattle, which is synonymous with rain, and never took an umbrella with me to school, even the one-mile walk to school. That’s what baseball caps are for.
Yup…4 buckle boots and bright yellow raincoats with the strange looking hats! Kept us dry up to 2nd grade. Then we were too cool to wear those! Never used an umbrella! Too many moving parts!! :-)
It could be possible that Gordon could not afford an umbrella. Gordon’s family is poor. However, Michael’s mother handed him one point blank, so dearth of raingear is not the issue. Michael seems worried that umbrellas look stupid. Later on he can gloat to himself in bed while he has a bad cold “Dey neber saw me wif de umbrella!”
Back when this strip originally ran, Michael’s idea of use of an umbrella looking “stupid” was pretty much the norm of that era for kids. It was the same time frame where kids wouldn’t wear hats either. It was about “fashion” and fitting in with peers. Fortunately today, it seems that “fashion” and the requirements for “fitting in” do allow a bit more logic and kids now do regularly wear hats and use umbrellas when it rains. The “fashion” period where it was “stupid” for kids to use umbrellas and wear hats original era spanned from the earlyh 70s to about the mid-80s (the mid 80s was when this comic was first published).
Good things about today’s comic:-Elly suggests an umbrella in the first panel. She doesn’t nag or yell.- In the second panel, she tries to reason with Michael by reminding him that his books might be damaged.-By the third panel, she is asserting parental authority and insisting on the use of an umbrella, while Michael is demonstrating his disdain for any parental orders coming from his mother.-Bad thing about this comic: if Elly had just accepted Michael’s refusal in the first two panels, all the Ellyhaters like you and Ken would have jumped on this as evidence of her complete lack of interest in the welfare of her kid.-Long story short: there is nothing that Elly could be shown to be doing that would please an Ellyhater…
Here in SoCal we’re in the 2938th year of a major drought (OK, maybe I exaggerated slightly) that our kids don’t remember what rain is — let alone how one deals with it when walking to school.
The drought is actually about 3 years now — we’ve been promised this winter is an El Niño — but I’ll just wait and see.
No problem there. Didn’t take long tho for someone to blame it on Elly. Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with a Mom trying to protect her kid from discomfort (and possibly illness).
lightenup Premium Member over 9 years ago
No, you’re doing a good job looking stupid on your own. She just cares about you.
Templo S.U.D. over 9 years ago
I would hate to hear his excuse why his homework is wet. (Probably the dog was eating it.)
ORMouseworks over 9 years ago
Actually, going to school in the pouring rain without an umbrella looks stupid…aren’t you going to make a good impression on your classmates when you arrive at school looking like a mop that hasn’t been wrung out yet?! LOL ;)
LeoAutodidact over 9 years ago
It’s because his FRIEND, who he’ll be waiting with doesn’t have one!
KenTheCoffinDweller over 9 years ago
When everyone else has walked to school in the rain and you all are wet, being soaked for the first half of the school day has no stigma attached to it. Being totally or near totally dry would make you stand out as either “Pampered” or a wuss unable to handle a little rain.
Been there done that without the hassle from Mom. Just a typical school trip for the ’50’s and ’60’s.
CO Premium Member over 9 years ago
It seems to me that some people here have forgotten what is like to be a kid (well at least a boy).
When I was a kid I didn’t know of a boy that would be caught dead carrying an umbrella!
Then again these days the kids wouldn’t need an umbrella because mom drives them to and from school, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them come to the school at recess time, to hold an umbrella over their kids heads.
biglar over 9 years ago
Umbrella? Why not just put a “kick” me sign on his back while you’re at it. First rule of school: Don’t stand out among the other students – it just makes you a target for bullies.
Aaberon over 9 years ago
We had rain coats and rain hats and stupid looking overshoes. the fragrance of a rainy Autumn day will linger always.
verticallychallenged Premium Member over 9 years ago
Reminds me of the morning I stopped at my favorite bagel place during a heavy rain. The girls from the HS bus stop on the corner were inside, warm & dry, sipping coffee. The guys were still at the bus stop, shivering in soggy hoodies, looking like Michael.
petecocker over 9 years ago
I once walked home from elementary school in the rain with new boots under my coat ’cause I did not want to get them wet!
jeanie5448 over 9 years ago
when my grandsons were in about 5th and 6th grade, they used to wear those baggy athletic shorts to school EVERY day no matter how cold it was, my daughter just got tired of the fight that went with trying to get them to wear jeans. Now they are in high school and they wear weather appropriate clothes.
Can't Sleep over 9 years ago
Ah, the male belief that testosterone repels rain.I was always amazed: women used umbrellas and stayed dry; men used stupidity and got wet.Of course, they were manly wet.In recent years, men have taken to using umbrellas. I think it began when they started walking those tiny almost-a-dogs, and realized they could carry a folding chair over their heads and no one would notice.
goweeder over 9 years ago
“……. As for Michael, let him get wet and catch a cold and maybe he will learn from that.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~No, he won’t. But I’m sure Elly will be so happy to have to deal with a kid who’s sick in bed with a cold. I raised my kids a bit differently (for my own sanity). When they complained about anything, I flat-out told them, “This house is not a democracy; it’s a tyranny – and I am the head-honcho tyrant.” I was always willing to listen to their viewpoint and consider it, but there was no question that my decision was final.I guess they liked my philosophy – they’re raising their own kids the same way.
Guilty Bystander over 9 years ago
I grew up near Seattle, which is synonymous with rain, and never took an umbrella with me to school, even the one-mile walk to school. That’s what baseball caps are for.
sundogusa over 9 years ago
Yup…4 buckle boots and bright yellow raincoats with the strange looking hats! Kept us dry up to 2nd grade. Then we were too cool to wear those! Never used an umbrella! Too many moving parts!! :-)
USN1977 over 9 years ago
It could be possible that Gordon could not afford an umbrella. Gordon’s family is poor. However, Michael’s mother handed him one point blank, so dearth of raingear is not the issue. Michael seems worried that umbrellas look stupid. Later on he can gloat to himself in bed while he has a bad cold “Dey neber saw me wif de umbrella!”
JanLC over 9 years ago
Even if she had forced him to carry an umbrella, he would not open it. And probably ditch it at the earliest opportunity.
Pipe Tobacco Premium Member over 9 years ago
Back when this strip originally ran, Michael’s idea of use of an umbrella looking “stupid” was pretty much the norm of that era for kids. It was the same time frame where kids wouldn’t wear hats either. It was about “fashion” and fitting in with peers. Fortunately today, it seems that “fashion” and the requirements for “fitting in” do allow a bit more logic and kids now do regularly wear hats and use umbrellas when it rains. The “fashion” period where it was “stupid” for kids to use umbrellas and wear hats original era spanned from the earlyh 70s to about the mid-80s (the mid 80s was when this comic was first published).
Argy.Bargy2 over 9 years ago
Good things about today’s comic:-Elly suggests an umbrella in the first panel. She doesn’t nag or yell.- In the second panel, she tries to reason with Michael by reminding him that his books might be damaged.-By the third panel, she is asserting parental authority and insisting on the use of an umbrella, while Michael is demonstrating his disdain for any parental orders coming from his mother.-Bad thing about this comic: if Elly had just accepted Michael’s refusal in the first two panels, all the Ellyhaters like you and Ken would have jumped on this as evidence of her complete lack of interest in the welfare of her kid.-Long story short: there is nothing that Elly could be shown to be doing that would please an Ellyhater…
linsonl over 9 years ago
In my day, the bicycle was the ONLY way to get to school.
Fido (aka Felix Rex) Premium Member over 9 years ago
Here in SoCal we’re in the 2938th year of a major drought (OK, maybe I exaggerated slightly) that our kids don’t remember what rain is — let alone how one deals with it when walking to school.
The drought is actually about 3 years now — we’ve been promised this winter is an El Niño — but I’ll just wait and see.
lindz.coop Premium Member over 9 years ago
No problem there. Didn’t take long tho for someone to blame it on Elly. Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with a Mom trying to protect her kid from discomfort (and possibly illness).
ORMouseworks over 9 years ago
I tried to have an umbrella with me when it was raining on a school day…had a real need to Stay Dry from cold, wet rain…especially in down-pours! ;)