Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for July 08, 2023

You’d think Goat would know Rat better by now.

Rat looks like a gang member, and he just dealt some “crack.”

Rat’s hat came with a bat, Goat’s opinion came with consequences…

Pig, tell him it looks cool!

No one who starts with “Be honest” wants to hear your honest opinion. And they’re a spouse, you’re in double trouble. Probably best to say something like “Honestly, I just realized I’ve got to go in to work RIGHT NOW!”

Mindless violence? Sure, why not.

Words to live by

Very poor taste pun coming up. You have been warned.

There was this choir director who was hired to form a choir at a school for the intellectually handicapped. He taught singing with behavior modification. When they sang well, he would give them a Coke and a candy bar. But then they all began gaining weight, so he switched to giving them a diet cola and an apple. They became quite famous. Perhaps you’ve even heard of them: The Moron Tab ‘n’ Apple Choir.

i’ve never seen a goat with a pig’s nose.

This comic should be banned. It has too much violence.

’Tis true.

The hat may or may not look cool on you, but you do not look cool under that hat.

You may want “honesty” and “hitting people in the head with a club.” They’re not mutually exclusive concepts :D

Where do I click to get this cool new PBS merch?

The hat’s cool. You’re hot-tempered. Makes lukewarm in total.

Often times someone who says they want honesty (especially total honesty) is not prepared to hear it.

What network hired Rat?

This is why I honestly don’t want to be around Rat. Ever.

If Rat doesn’t want honestly, then I’ll say something untrue about him: Rat is a sweet, kindhearted, intelligent and generous rodent being.

Rat imitating Pierre of the North Woods

“Be honest” these days means, “Tell me what I WANT to hear.”

It’s sad.

Who knew? LOL! Don’t ask-don’t tell!

It’s like the meme, “No one wants to hear your opinion. They want to hear their opinion coming out of your mouth.”

So Goat is a…crackhead?

(runs. hides.)

I hope he took the cannoli

The Count doesn’t get it. The Count thinks he looks very cool. However, The Count must admit not approving the CRACKing of Goat. Save that for Jef the Cyclist or the pseudo intellectuals with man buns who hang out at the coffee shop. You know who you are.

You’re wrong, Rat. When I ask for an honest opinion, that’s what I want.

I think this comic strip needs a police officer, similar to how it has a cartoon censor (though I haven’t seen him for a while).

If you are at a ball game, the crack of the bat is exciting, not so much with this strip.

Do these pants make me look fat?

Goat should wear a motorcycle helmet when he’s telling the brutal honest truth to Rat

Don’t even answer him if he buys a new pair of jeans and asks if it makes his derrière look big.

Rat, let me introduce you to my friend, Dee Kahn.

Looks like a Goth Santa.

No Court Jester for YOU!

“I know you see through me,

But there’s no tenderness beneath your honesty."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNcmOBVvuxs

Hugo Matuschek: Don’t let me influence you. I want your opinion, your honest opinion. (Pirovitch disappears into the stock room)

Social media.

That is sad but true.

Someone may truly want your honesty. Just be warned that they may react very poorly to it.

I’m guessing Goat was unaware Rat was weaponized, Such awareness might have changed Goat’s answer.

Hats only work on Guard Duck.

I must be the only person in the world who appreciates honesty. I find the stupid games people play to be boorish and small minded.

I consider myself a very fortunate man…my wife has never asked me “does this (dress, skirt, pants, etc.) make me look fat?”

Whenever Rat asks for your honest opinion, run!

I thought this was going in the direction of “no you don’t look cool, you look hot in that beanie as it’s Summer.”

The closer the relationship you have with someone you asks you to be honest, the less honest you want to be. Applies to married people mostly. :)