Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for December 07, 2020

Nobody with a brain is hugging anybody right now.

Today, to hug, one must have arms at least 6 feet long.

If Pig charged for his hugs, he might get a lot more people interested in him. Of course, he’d have to keep an eye out for the cops.

See today’s “Over the Hedge”:

https://www.gocomics.com/overthehedge/2020/12/07

I am one of those people. I blame not getting enough hugs as a child.

i’m happy to give free hugs to any woman who won’t slug me…

Now “Free Bugs”

Free hugs- really expensive medical bill.

Depends who the hugger is. If it’s Katy Perry, for example…

Free Hugs? So no more social distancing, Pig?

I hope that’s not meant to be judgemental towards people who don’t want hugs. Ever heard of autism, pig? Or social anxiety? Surely he’s not saying those people are scary…I hope!

If someone offers you a “free hug”, check all your pockets to make sure it was really free.

Later, Rat nabbed the sign and changed it to ‘free jugs’.Gastronomy business is going down the drain.

We’ve mostly adopted the practice of bowing to each other. Some people actually prefer it. For my part, I will be glad when we can resume hugging and shaking hands (as appropriate)

The “FREE HUGS” at the White House are to die for…..

With the world being a lot more scary maybe he should give free Huggies.

Pig how many seconds does a free hug last ? … Croc Power !

Of course they are among us. Those who like hugs aren’t anymore.

Chubby Huggs from Get Fuzzy is probably not happy these days!

My daughter hates being hugged!

After hearing Rat, Pig ran home and burried himself under the covers…

Now Pig needs a hug.

Hugging is practically illegal now.

I’m scared of anyone offering free hugs this year. I hope we will be able to hug again soon. I miss my friends’ embraces.

can’t wait till this is over so we can get back to bad puns

Huh. Used to have a lady in our book club who was a hugger. Never meant a damn thing. All just for show. . .

I have hugged with none of my friends for the whole pandemic.If I see them it’s twenty feet away with masks on.

I grew up in a non hugging family. My mom remarried into a family of huggers and she couldn’t understand why I didn’t hug everyone. Now I would love a hug.

Hugs make me feel uncomfortable. i only have 2 people i tolerate hugs from, my best friend and her daughter who has hugged me since she was a toddler. Someday i might actually hug back, but I have my doubts.

Pastis’ love of puns in comics has a first-rate pedigree.

https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/2020/12/07?ct=v&cti=1541831

Even before “social” distancing, the comfort distance between people varied widely with the culture.

Don’t worry Pig! People who don’t like hugs simply don’t participate. No worry to you, or to them.

This is stupid. People who don’t like hugs aren’t the ones you need to fear. Those who hug you to put you off your guard so they can pick your pocket or stab you in the back are the ones you should worry about!

Hate to admit it but I’m one of those – my British style upbringing. Why is it OK for people to say “I’m a hugger” and move right in but if you say “I’m not a hugger” you get treated like you are scary?

Hugs and other contact ought to be limited to people in your immediate “bubble,” i.e., your spouse and kids, if they’re still living with you. Other bubbles are possible, but they will have to be extremely limited and are not really recommended.

Pig shows another flash of wisdom.

Used to have a coworker who was SUPER into hugs. Both sides of my family are super-huggy, so it didn’t bother me, but most of my other coworkers disliked her because of it. That’s when I learned that a LOT of people in the world don’t like hugs.

Don’t fret. Most people like to be held or at least have the occasional hug by a friend, a relative, loved one AND even a stranger. Don’t put away your stand yet. This period in time will eventually pass and hopefully be forgotten…..

Hugging a pig is about the only way to hold them and even they they squeal a lot. I have heard you can train them to a leash but that takes time.. If you’re going for a quickie.. hugging works.

A little hug becomes huge instantly, if you just add silent e.

We non-contact people are no scarier than hug-crazed pigs, Pig….

Does Rat go up to lemonade stands and tell kids that not everyone likes lemonade?

Awwwww!!! I would pay Piggy $30 to get a hug from that sweetie! <3 (Pigs cannot transmit the ’rona as far as I know . . . )

I’m very selective when it comes to hugs. Especially naked ones.

Just thinking, the whore business must be tanking.

I have hated being hugged by strangers since I was the cute little girl that all the ugly, smelly, bald, lipless old men with yellow teeth wanted to hug and kiss. Just old men, never older women. My parents would make me do it partly because they thought it was cute and partly because they thought children should be obedient. I grew up with a terror of old men.

Parents: do not make your children hug or kiss any strangers or, for that matter, any non-strangers they don’t want to hug or kiss.

please, please, just shoot him. pork chops for dinner, and bacon for breakfast.

It depends VERY STRONGLY on who’s offering the hug.

Then they (we) don’t have to partake. Nobody’s forcing them (us).

Perfect love casts out fear.

Keep your damn dirty disease-ridden hugs to yourself, pervert!

I am one of those anti-hug people. Some of us were abused as kids, others feel people have a right to personal space and respect despite race, gender, age, etc…and some of us are/were both.

There is one impostor among us

pig is really tall in this strip

Me