I dislike competative sports—especially involving kids. IMHO, it teaches them the wrong values—like the Vince Lombardi maxim: “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the ONLY thing!”
This “cootie” thing has always baffled me: it is only USA in spite of the historic American matriarcate. In Italy we are traditionally more “sexist”, but we never ever had such a stupidity, even in elementary school.
I remember cooties. There were a number of “rules.”
First of all, you can not get cooties from girls who are related to you. This includes sisters and up to first cousins.
Second, girls are only carriers for a limited time in their life: generally the grade school years. Boys can only catch cooties during this age range as well.
Third, age makes a difference. The closer the girl is to you in age, the more likely you are to get cooties from her.
Fourth, there is no such thing as natural immunity. Having caught a case of cooties does not mean that you will not catch them again.
Fifth, the only cure is quarantine. You must avoid all girls for an unspecified period of time.
Calvin will show how bad he is at playing sports. This, along with his antisocial behavior, explains why he never plays with other boys, and preferred to dream up a friend.
Susie is right. Stupidity breeds antibodies, but they usually work against increasing intelligence. There are those who start out ‘green’ and who gradually mature into adept, thoughtful individuals. Then there are those who start out ‘green’ and never reach a mature stage of thinking and doing anything beyond what suits them.
The baseball arc really hits home for me (pun not intended).I wanted to be playing sport with everyone else, except I was autistic (unknown at the time) and bullied out of particpation. Then later bullied because I was not longer interested in participating, because of the bullying.
I don’t recall my elementary school having recess baseball… but the kids (both the boys and girls) did often play kickball during recess, though I rarely joined; I usually used recess to just cut loose and unwind for a while.
″‘You! I’ve just awarded you the prize for the hundred-meter dash. Does it make you happy? […] No dodging, please. You have the prize — here, I’ll write it out: ‘Grand prize for the championship, one hundred-meter sprint.‘” He had actually come back to my seat and pinned it on my chest. ‘There! Are you happy? You value it — or don’t you?’ Mr. Dubois had looked surprised. ‘It doesn’t make you happy?’
‘You know darn well I placed fourth!’
‘Exactly! The prize for first place is worthless to you . . . because you haven’t earned it. But you enjoy a modest satisfaction in placing fourth; you earned it.‘”
I remember we were giving ourselves and each other cootie shots all the time when I was in fitst and second grade. I always wondered why we had to keep redoing it when it specifically said “Now I have it for life.”
I refused to play sports with the guys in school. I wanted to do gymnastics, girls or no girls. Teachers wouldn’t let me so I climbed the rope and worked out. Guess what grades I got? Not A’s.
BE THIS GUY about 1 month ago
If Susie is right, Calvin is immune for life.
codycab about 1 month ago
You think that’s bad, Calvin, wait until 2020.
C about 1 month ago
I reject your reality and insert my own
salakfarm Premium Member about 1 month ago
So Calvin will grow up to be an anti-vaxxer?
Bilan about 1 month ago
For more bad news, Susie is the star pitcher.
snsurone76 about 1 month ago
I dislike competative sports—especially involving kids. IMHO, it teaches them the wrong values—like the Vince Lombardi maxim: “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the ONLY thing!”
Hello Everyone about 1 month ago
It’s nice that Susie doesn’t care whether Calvin plays Baseball or not. She just wants to play with him.
KennethPrice2 about 1 month ago
Be careful Susie. He would jump off the teeter-totter causing you to bruise your infamous delicate heinie.
KA7DRE Premium Member about 1 month ago
“Ride…..ride my sea-saw…..have my seat….take my place…..it’s for free” – Moody Blues -
DaveG1960 about 1 month ago
Hobbes is going to be so jealous……
baraktorvan about 1 month ago
Unfortunately given the political climate today, she is wrong.
albertonencioni about 1 month ago
This “cootie” thing has always baffled me: it is only USA in spite of the historic American matriarcate. In Italy we are traditionally more “sexist”, but we never ever had such a stupidity, even in elementary school.
markkahler52 about 1 month ago
Facemask, Calvin. All you need…. allegedly….
phritzg Premium Member about 1 month ago
I like that Susie calls it a teeter-totter instead of a seesaw. That’s what we called them where I grew up.
Link from Twilight Princess about 1 month ago
Luckily I already got my shots.
Doug Taylor Premium Member about 1 month ago
COOTIE CENTRAL hahahahahahahaha
SquidGamerGal about 1 month ago
Why didn’t anyone tell Calvin?
Watcher about 1 month ago
it’s not about you.
dflak about 1 month ago
I remember cooties. There were a number of “rules.”
First of all, you can not get cooties from girls who are related to you. This includes sisters and up to first cousins.
Second, girls are only carriers for a limited time in their life: generally the grade school years. Boys can only catch cooties during this age range as well.
Third, age makes a difference. The closer the girl is to you in age, the more likely you are to get cooties from her.
Fourth, there is no such thing as natural immunity. Having caught a case of cooties does not mean that you will not catch them again.
Fifth, the only cure is quarantine. You must avoid all girls for an unspecified period of time.
Finally, girl cooties are not fatal.
mountainclimber about 1 month ago
Stupidity produces antibodies?
Evil: “Oh, Benson… Dear Benson, you are so mercifully free of the ravages of intelligence.”
Benson : “Oh, you say such nice things, Master.” (Time Bandits)
Just-me about 1 month ago
Relax Calvin, in a few years, you’ll look forward to associating with girls/women.
Robert4170 about 1 month ago
Calvin will show how bad he is at playing sports. This, along with his antisocial behavior, explains why he never plays with other boys, and preferred to dream up a friend.
sandpiper about 1 month ago
Susie is right. Stupidity breeds antibodies, but they usually work against increasing intelligence. There are those who start out ‘green’ and who gradually mature into adept, thoughtful individuals. Then there are those who start out ‘green’ and never reach a mature stage of thinking and doing anything beyond what suits them.
chuckcork1 about 1 month ago
The baseball arc really hits home for me (pun not intended).I wanted to be playing sport with everyone else, except I was autistic (unknown at the time) and bullied out of particpation. Then later bullied because I was not longer interested in participating, because of the bullying.
Elisabunny about 1 month ago
They sign up to play baseball? At our elementary school, it’s all spontaneous games, with both boys and girls playing.
artegal about 1 month ago
Circle, circle, dot, dot, dot. Now I’ve had my cootie shot.
ladykat about 1 month ago
Good comeback, Susie!
elvira.alejandro about 1 month ago
Who is the dumb around? Like says the song: before you accuse me, take a look yourself.
Angry Indeed about 1 month ago
I had to put up with three of them when I got home from school. Calvin, you have NO idea!
circleM about 1 month ago
I always like girls from kindergarten and up. Kinda of had to play along with the boys with that cootie stuff but never believed it.
wiley207 about 1 month ago
I don’t recall my elementary school having recess baseball… but the kids (both the boys and girls) did often play kickball during recess, though I rarely joined; I usually used recess to just cut loose and unwind for a while.
Robert4170 about 1 month ago
From Starship Troopers:
″‘You! I’ve just awarded you the prize for the hundred-meter dash. Does it make you happy? […] No dodging, please. You have the prize — here, I’ll write it out: ‘Grand prize for the championship, one hundred-meter sprint.‘” He had actually come back to my seat and pinned it on my chest. ‘There! Are you happy? You value it — or don’t you?’ Mr. Dubois had looked surprised. ‘It doesn’t make you happy?’
‘You know darn well I placed fourth!’
‘Exactly! The prize for first place is worthless to you . . . because you haven’t earned it. But you enjoy a modest satisfaction in placing fourth; you earned it.‘”
John Jorgensen about 1 month ago
I remember we were giving ourselves and each other cootie shots all the time when I was in fitst and second grade. I always wondered why we had to keep redoing it when it specifically said “Now I have it for life.”
Silence Dogood Premium Member about 1 month ago
Hilarious! No other comments necessary…
tammyspeakslife Premium Member about 1 month ago
Thanks Susie, I know what my favourite new quote will be to the next person who disrespects me
liberalnlovinit about 1 month ago
Calvin, I think Suzie just conned you out of the swing…
eced52 about 1 month ago
That must mean Calvin is overflowing with antibodies.
g04922 about 1 month ago
LOL… Calvin’s worst nightmare.
Otis Rufus Driftwood about 1 month ago
Perhaps we should be grateful Watterson retired the strip long before COVID.
Gamerkillss about 1 month ago
“stupidy produces antibodies” good one
klingon131 about 1 month ago
I refused to play sports with the guys in school. I wanted to do gymnastics, girls or no girls. Teachers wouldn’t let me so I climbed the rope and worked out. Guess what grades I got? Not A’s.
ArcticFox Premium Member about 1 month ago
Ah, yes. The ubiquitous cootie. I remember them well, having had more than my share of them!!!
Gus the goose about 1 month ago
Today is april 31st and apperently on april fools someone said there would be new and c and h comic this is inccorect