THANK you Tiff for finally saying something sensible. There’s good things and not so good things in every relationship. The question is whether or not they love each other enough to get past it.
Dos años de relación y es Tiffany quien le hace saber a Bets lo que Gunther piensa de ella. Bravo Gunther, tienes que depender de otros para poder avanzar.
So are we now supposed to believe Bets’ problems and past issues are all “fixed” because of Tiffany’s proclamation? Tiffany, who has never been in a serious relationship the entire run of this strip, and who probably gets all of her information about love and relationships from the Hallmark Channel?
Tiffany a paragon of wisdom suddenly, with hilarity of course. I’ve been saying a love with work involved is a real goal to achieve and that seems to be a path here. Looking good so far.
What does Tiffany know about “hard love” or ANY kind of love at all? I don’t recall seeing her in any steady relationship since the strip started. Is Tiffany gonna be there for Gunther when Bets decides to ghost him again for god knows how long? Bets’ selfish actions haven’t shown that she loves Gun at all. She clearly doesn’t. Gunther should walk away, but since he’s forever the “doormat”, odds are he won’t. And then he’ll deserve every hour of heartache she’ll give him.
Gunther didn’t get “oysters?,” and now he doesn’t get “hard love?” Bets – Drag Gunther into your cave and get it done. Then Gunther will probably be OK as a happy slave.
She said “hard”. Uh huh huh huh (Butthead laugh.) Poor Tiffany, she’s never had a boyfriend, so she really wouldn’t know. Hey, why can’t she go on a date some time, Evans?
OMG! A while ago, Gunther tried to play Dr. Phil when Tiffany needed it – with questionable success. Now Tiffany is Dr. Phil! It’s not what you know – it’s how you sell it.
Both of these inexperienced, youngsters think that they have found a treasure in each other, and both are afraid of losing it. Just step back, take a deep breath, and don’t get pregnant ……….you may not even like each other after another 6 months or a year.
Hey, Luannalyzers! Taking a quick poll here; no long replies, just want the raw data. All those who want to see Bets and Gunther stay together, please leave the number 1 as a reply. All those who do not want Bets and Gunther to stay together please leave the number 0 as a reply. Thanx!
Tiff’s observations of 5he two mirror her own interactions with each of them. Bets is clueless of her effect on people. Gunther does not articulate. Is this love, immature love that won’t last unless both do some serious changing—that’s the hard part. Still not sold on Bets’ trauma.
I love this romantic side of Tiffany ♡♡♡.I hope her speech will be able to give Bets the strength to try to continue her relationship with Gunther. Even if it’s scary and could hurt, Bets has to try! Gunther is certainly ready to help her and she can count on Tiffany too. I know many people say that Bets should see an analyst, maybe that’s true, but the analyst would also tell her to try to stay together with Gunther. Because in the end you have to face your problems, decide to take risks and change yourself. GO BETS! You’re not alone, you can do it!
The same people who put Bets down for being a social media presence don’t seem to realize some folks make a living this way, but it takes work. They cry because Gunther is missing study time that is important for his future, it takes work. Both are working on their future in different ways, some people can’t see that. Gunther is overwhelmed by Bets media presence, but has to object if it is that bad: he is an adult and can say no to whatever he wants.
Hmm. My dislike of Bets goes back awhile. I wasn’t impressed with all the social media nonsense, but I could let that self-indulgence go, though I felt like she was running all over Gunther from the start. He made clear he was uncomfortable with it and she dismissed his misgivings. Then came the incident with Tiffany desperately trying to raise funds. Gunther wanted to help a friend. Gunther’s girlfriend jumped in to assist them. Great, right? Only not so much, because she used her boyfriend’s good friend’s desperation as a way to profit herself by demanding a cut. It was selfish and self-serving. This was definitely not the time to turn something into a business transaction. So we have this constantly self-promoting young woman who has a problem with insisting everything is done her way and sees dollar signs in “helping” people. Flashforward a bit and she’s still running roughshod over her boyfriend – “I don’t care if you need to study. I want to play pirates NOW!” and not listening to anyone else. Tiff tells her, “I don’t do pirates. This is my project and my idea.” Bets simply doesn’t care. She wants pirates right now and everyone better fall in line because that’s what she wants.
So, yeah, guess what. There’s a good chance she’s been abandoned by people a lot in the past. There’s only so long people are willing to be treated the way she treats them. More important, though? At her level of self-absorption? Of course she’s going to make it sound like she’s been the victim of bad relationships. She probably believes it. Her “self-awareness” at the moment is not nearly as self-aware as she’s making it sound. If she says, “I’ve done some reflecting and realized my selfishness and relentless self-promotiom may have run people off in the past and I don’t want that to happen again.” then we’ll be looking at real potential growth and progress.
At least Tiff got Gunther and bets to take a step back and look from a different perspective. Sometimes an irrational approach works BECAUSE it’s not logical, it comes in where you don’t expect it.
Has Tiffany been channeling Bernice? That hard love business sound like it either game out of a psychology textbook, or, maybe a “bodice ripper” romance novel.
Tiff has been pretty funny throughout this whole arc- just egocentric and unable to see the truth of the situation. She just can’t see a world where she can’t just hammer people into their proper spaces as she sees them. No wonder Greg always found her so fun and easy to write for- she’s pure emotion and “id”.
Bets has been… well, overly-demanding and selfish for this whole relationship. Between her & Rosa (I think that was her name), Gunther has been having great success getting with pretty girls, but not so much with keeping them.
Is the whole fandom just waiting for the Gunth/Tiff ’ship? Because I know I have been. For like 20 years, lol.
LOL – lots of sympathy and defenders of cartoon “Bets” but here is the crux. I’ve known many victims/survivors from situations similar to what Bets describes herself, most way more considerate of others than she is. Whatever happened to her, it does not license her to treatGunther so selfishly. This relationship is nothealthy. Even if Bets addresses her relationship fears she is still a selfish B (for Bets :)) in the end.
I have to say, looks like Tiff’s actions were spot on here. Consider what we know:
When Tiff went to see Gunther, he was a wreck. However this works out, he is now at least able to function.
When Bets showed up expecting Tiff’s apology and refund, she appeared to be in control and moving on. It should be obvious that if Tiff had not set up this meeting, Bets would NEVER have gotten back to Gunther, she had obviously taken the easy route of just ignoring him and moving on.
But we also see that once Bets saw Gunther, she knew she had to say something, so it’s no surprise that, having for all intents dumped Gunther already, she tried to follow through and tell him it was over because she was not up to facing her fear of commitment. For Gunther’s part, his desire to please Bets was leading him to let her walk away without so much as a ‘thanks for the good times’.
Enter Hurricane Tiffany.
As ditzy as she may seem, she has caused both Gunther and Bets to step back and take another look at their position. I mean, it’s not like G & B are married or considering marriage right now, they are looking at the prospect of moving their relationship to a higher level of commitment, which is important but it also means they can decide to just keep the relationship where it was prior to the wrecked dinner incident, and discuss the future in smaller, easy to handle pieces. Seriously, that worked for me although I am terrible at sewing!
I don’t like this arc. Of Bets really did have relationship issues, this is something she should have told Gunther to begin with. She ghosted him for a month and when we see her again, she wants to break it off. Tiffany butting in does not help them. These are real-life issues they need to be hampered out before any form of “commitment” is made.
They excite each other in ways that breaks with their normal way of living. It took me many years to relax my way of thinking w/my wife. She’s a go/do/explore person, I’m enjoy home life guy. Nervous and slightly resistant at first then realized I’m really enjoying the new places. She learned to let me handle some of the “bumps along the road” portions of a trip and make it more enjoyable for her.
How long until the characters remember that Tiffany has never been in a relationship and therefore has no clue what she’s talking about in regards to romance or love? If you want to learn to drive better you don’t take advice from someone who’s never been behind the wheel.
There’s blood in the water and the sharks have arrived.
And of course, the “usuals” are trying to paint this as being all Gunther’s “fault.” Typical.
But I digress. Two takeaways from today’s Strip.
1) Tiffany just beautifully pointed out that all the positive traits in this so-called “relationship” are on Gunther’s side. All of negative traits are on Bets’ side. And THAT makes them a “match??” I don’t think so. I see it as yet another reason for Gunther to leave.
2) When Tiffany confronted Bets with that charge of being demanding and making Gunther do stuff he doesn’t want to do, her response was “I do?” She had no idea what she what she was doing him. But Tiffany, Les, Bernice, Luann and probably most of Bets’ social media “followers,” DID. But Bets didn’t know. She probably didn’t care. She was too focused on Her. Yet another reason for Gunther to run, not walk to the nearest exit.
Sure, sure. It’s just a comic strip. Because in real life a Gunther would have told Bets to go pound sand a long, long time ago.
Unfortunately, from what I can see here, it looks like it’s going to be business as usual between these two by Saturday. Bets will probably even have her phone out of her purse by then.
Damned shame. A breakup would be far more satisfying.
Besides. Bets’ “problems” shouldn’t be Gunther’s problems.
In tomorrow’s episode, I visualize Bets saying, “With our pirate costume thing, we were continuing to play like kids. Gun, are you really ready to move forward with this?” After a meek “Yes” from Gunther, Bets pulls him forward for a long slow kiss…
Lol! Wow! Tiffany cut through all the bs in two panels. And they acknowledged she’s correct. Further, at least Bets seems willing to try to do better. Gunther may not be onboard, he seems to be processing all that. Hard love or tough love? His analytical mind may want more discussion. Wonder who will kiss first and/or walk away. It’s still possible. ;-o
Bets admits that she has emotional issues. But instead of getting therapy to fix herself, she abuses other people. That is NOT okay. There is no excuse for the way Bets has treated Gunther.
Bets said she went on a date with Les and she claimed it was bad. BUT we have seen Les on what he thought was a date with Pru and he was a perfect gentleman. So Bets is the unreliable one in this situation. If her date with Les was bad, it was probably because of Bets.
I did predict a couple weeks ago that Tiffany would mediate the conversation between these two. I hope I am right in my prediction that Gunther will tell her to get therapy and Goodbye!
So happy about this term of events. Great job Tiffany. Bets and Gunther finally understand each other and realize they can be happy despite their flaws. I wish them the best! I hope Tiffany finds love too.
Tiffany isn’t the most objective mediator here. She gave a list of Bets’s faults in the relationship and the only thing she could think of where Gunther is concerned is that he was “truly devoted”? While I realize Bets was initially reacting to Gunther’s declaration of love, maybe Tiffany could have pointed out that Gunther had just been going along with things Bets wanted of him without standing up for what he wanted. Maybe Gunther needed to be more assertive about his own needs? More honest about what he wanted and how he felt about their conflicts? Perhaps he needed to stand up for his friends and their place in his life and that he will want to help them out even if he has a steady girl friend? (Okay, that one would be hard for Tiffany to point out objectively.)
The funny thing is I’ll bet that Les would have been a more perceptive (if harsher) mediator…
I find the “explanation” by Bets and the actions of Tiffany to get the two back together after Bets says they should break up…. to be rather disheartening and frustrating. I wish Tiffany would just stop trying to force them back together at this point.
However, for me, what really became the “deal breaker” for me in this whole scenario is that none of these revelations from Bets is a direct result of her own actions to try to fix things. To me, she seems only to be telling Gunther this information now because Tiffany tricked and forced her into meeting with Gunther. It seems to me that Bets was rather “ok” with just ignoring Gunther’s calls and texts for much, much longer than this…. perhaps forever even…. had she not been tricked into being face-to-face with Gunther. For this reason…. I truthfully think it would be better for BOTH Gunther AND Bets to split and go their separate ways.
Gunther has spoken of trying to contact Bets a variety of times following his “I love you” comment. But, as far as we can tell, Bets never replied in ANY fashion. I mean…. even if she was “not ready” to discuss the situation…. I would think she could have easily texted him something akin to “Gun… I cannot talk yet. I will contact you when I feel I am able to do so.” during any of the various calls/texts that Gunther had sent. Even something as nebulous as this would have been a whole lot better for Gunther to receive…. than the NOTHING he did receive. If Bets had really made any sort of move (before Tiffany’s forcing them together)…. I would then feel much better about them remaining a couple.
If I were Gunther at this point…. I would have developed (and likely would maintain) some pretty significant/serious trust issues with Bets. And, if you cannot trust …. what kind of relationship is it really?
Women don’t want nice guys who treat them with respect and kindness. Women want bad boys that they can attempt to tame. All Bets seemed to date ( from what we know of her history ) is bad boys who lied to her ( as she has dated Les ) and those who somehow hurt her. Gunther is so vanilla he might as well be an ice cream flavor.
I dated a woman who posted a lot of one of our days together on social media while we were going out. It was annoying for about ten minutes, then it wasn’t. It didn’t seem to be interfering with her presence with me or her attention to “us” or what we were doing. It was, in fact, no big deal. Just how people who like social media work. It didn’t work out, but not for that reason.
Later, I dated a woman who ghosted me for about a month while she was processing intense feelings. When she got back to me, we talked, we continued to date, she agreed not to do that again. It didn’t work out, but not for that reason (and she broke up with me in a polite and civilized manner, not by further ghosting) (and the reason it didn’t work out wouldn’t be accepted as a realistic storyline in Bollywood or a Mexican soap opera).
Bottom line: The things Bets is being most criticized for, are forgivable. I have been there and I have done that. Gunther and Bets have a lot in common and have gotten along well for a long time, and it looks like they can do so in the future, with more open communication.
The saving grace of this story is that Tiffany has finally found her calling as a couples-counselor / matchmaker. She can work from home and have Toni, Brad, Frank, Nancy, Irma and Mr. Gray in for marriage counseling. Then she can create a singles site (with Bets’ help) and line up dates for all the singles in town. All this while running for public office, volunteering at the dog shelter and supporting local charities. She’s a saint, honestly, just a saint.
Gunther needs to dump Betsy and date Tiffany. I’ve thought that since their tutoring days. Tiffany is better for him. Oddly enough I have friend like Betsy. This is a symptom of Borderline Personality Disorder. People like this dump people close to them to avoid the pain of being dumped by them.
Tiffany’s answer at the end is just WAY TOO QUICK !! … All this ‘Relationship Repair 101’, especially the last panel, amounts to but another ‘Easy A’ for Tiffany! Don’t get me wrong. I like how Tiffany has grown as a character, quirks and all!
And, as I said before, I don’t ‘hate’ Bets. But, she has issues, and Gunther absolutely DID NOT deserve the treatment he received over the past month.
They need some professional counseling – Bets for her issues – Gunther for his – and BOTH of them, together, for their sakes!
I want B&G to be together!! … But, this won’t get resolved this week! …
Bets is too broken to be in any relationship right now. Relationships like this devolve into hostage situations where one person eventually wants to move on but can’t because the other threatens to kill themselves if the first person leaves. That’s not healthy for anyone. After Bets gets some counseling maybe they can try again but for now, they should just be sci/fi convention buddies and not take it any deeper than that.
Personally after the yesterday’s comic the biggest question I had was if the author was going to go for Tiffany saying something that improved the situation or make it worse. Still do wonder on how it is going to be played in the story line. To me it seems that Bet is being sarcastic in her reply.
People are really intense about this comic—it strikes me as kind of odd. Just an observation. I know Brooke McEldowney is given a lot of grief for turning off his comments, but sometimes I can understand not wanting the noise. We shouldn’t rip on McEldowney because he doesn’t want to read your comments, we should rip on him because he’s a viola player. Why can’t people be reasonable?
Sorry, I’m a flutist. Most musicians survive by thriving off the tears of viola players.
But back to the comic that’s actually posted—I can see both sides. I’ve been on both sides. I’ve left relationships without an assertive exit, but I’ve also been abandoned. I don’t judge Bets, as that would be hypocritical, but I couldn’t be in a relationship with a person like Bets. I’d always wonder when the person would abandon me again, and it would never be a healthy relationship.
Tiffany is looking quite hot today. Bets is suffering by comparison. Tiffany is fundamentally decent, though damaged (as are we all). On the whole, though she’s a bit self-centered, she’s probably the better long term bet (pun intended).
I’m not as bothered by Bets as others here are. I notice her attitude has significantly evolved since she first arrived where she was defensive, offensive and angry in her posture. Now, not only is she talking about her feelings, she is even listening and open to the suggestions of an outsider (Tiff). Her facial expressions suggest she is more relaxed (not tensed up and ready for a fight). If this continues I’m guessing they will agree to stay together with (hopefully) some new found respect for each other’s feelings as well as their own. People will say that Gunther has always had this. But it takes two. Bets needed to come to the table; not only has she done that but she’s having her head examined and is not fighting back.
Tiffany has no business first of all offering even an opinion on this situation. She has no idea what she’s talking about, and she’s dangerous, IMO. “Hard love” makes for good fiction, but not good reality. Her advocating that they should stay in this kind of “love” is no different than if someone said to leave a knee wound infected but go ahead and run in the race anyway, because that would be “best”. (More interesting is not the same as “good”) She has analyzed the situation accurately, but saying that it’s a good thing is the worst kind of “advice” possible. I hope both Bets and Gunther ignore this airheaded advice.
Tiffany, it’s “tough love” but close enough. Bets was being evasive because she didn’t want to face her past but didn’t want to break gunther’s heart - yet she did anyway. So tiffany may have inadvertently…possibly have save the relationship. And IF tiffany does save guns and bets relationship, you’ll see her shout joyfully “yay, i’m a counselor” and try to compete with Bernice.
Rhetorical_Question almost 3 years ago
Yesssss !!!!!! right amount of Hard love
notbornyesterday almost 3 years ago
Ann Landers she ain’t.
AnyFace almost 3 years ago
Scarlet Shimmer almost 3 years ago
THANK you Tiff for finally saying something sensible. There’s good things and not so good things in every relationship. The question is whether or not they love each other enough to get past it.
AnyFace almost 3 years ago
linus82 almost 3 years ago
Dos años de relación y es Tiffany quien le hace saber a Bets lo que Gunther piensa de ella. Bravo Gunther, tienes que depender de otros para poder avanzar.
Prescott_Philosopher almost 3 years ago
Bets appears to be changing her position rather easily & quickly.
Joe1962 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Tiff the voice of reason.
capricorn9th almost 3 years ago
Tiff makes no sense. And I am amazed some readers in there is with Tiff. I am baffled.
Joe1962 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Hard love is not perfect it has to be work on continuously.
wantcomicsnow almost 3 years ago
So are we now supposed to believe Bets’ problems and past issues are all “fixed” because of Tiffany’s proclamation? Tiffany, who has never been in a serious relationship the entire run of this strip, and who probably gets all of her information about love and relationships from the Hallmark Channel?
beb01 almost 3 years ago
“And they lived happily ever after…..” Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!
ronaldspence almost 3 years ago
Wow…amazing how passionate art can be…even cartoon art.
Willow Mt Lyon almost 3 years ago
So are the fireworks on Saturday going to be positive or negative?
luann1212 almost 3 years ago
Tiffany a paragon of wisdom suddenly, with hilarity of course. I’ve been saying a love with work involved is a real goal to achieve and that seems to be a path here. Looking good so far.
lvlax almost 3 years ago
What does Tiffany know about “hard love” or ANY kind of love at all? I don’t recall seeing her in any steady relationship since the strip started. Is Tiffany gonna be there for Gunther when Bets decides to ghost him again for god knows how long? Bets’ selfish actions haven’t shown that she loves Gun at all. She clearly doesn’t. Gunther should walk away, but since he’s forever the “doormat”, odds are he won’t. And then he’ll deserve every hour of heartache she’ll give him.
Tyge Premium Member almost 3 years ago
GnK keep dancing around the issue. Perhaps something will be resolved sometime in the future.
kenhense almost 3 years ago
Gunther didn’t get “oysters?,” and now he doesn’t get “hard love?” Bets – Drag Gunther into your cave and get it done. Then Gunther will probably be OK as a happy slave.
Caldonia almost 3 years ago
She said “hard”. Uh huh huh huh (Butthead laugh.) Poor Tiffany, she’s never had a boyfriend, so she really wouldn’t know. Hey, why can’t she go on a date some time, Evans?
Tyge Premium Member almost 3 years ago
So GnK (via Tiffany) declare them to be in love therefore it is so!? How lame!
kenhense almost 3 years ago
OMG! A while ago, Gunther tried to play Dr. Phil when Tiffany needed it – with questionable success. Now Tiffany is Dr. Phil! It’s not what you know – it’s how you sell it.
Airman almost 3 years ago
Both of these inexperienced, youngsters think that they have found a treasure in each other, and both are afraid of losing it. Just step back, take a deep breath, and don’t get pregnant ……….you may not even like each other after another 6 months or a year.
Brdshtt Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Bets and Gunther are a perfect match. They both have an overbite and they both have eyebrows that are UNDER their hair line. A match made in H
Argythree almost 3 years ago
Song from ‘Needtobreathe’…
Queen Wolfen almost 3 years ago
Tiff in a nutshell:
https://media.giphy.com/media/ljssLLBmv6xrO/giphy.gif
Airman almost 3 years ago
First panel, Tiff could say the same thing about Rosa and Gunther.
Wilkins068 almost 3 years ago
Hey, Luannalyzers! Taking a quick poll here; no long replies, just want the raw data. All those who want to see Bets and Gunther stay together, please leave the number 1 as a reply. All those who do not want Bets and Gunther to stay together please leave the number 0 as a reply. Thanx!
PeterPirate almost 3 years ago
I called it! I called it yesterday!
“I can also envision Tiffany calling Bets on her crap over the next couple of strips. Tough love is tough.”
Tiffany FTW.
Ruth Brown almost 3 years ago
Tiff’s observations of 5he two mirror her own interactions with each of them. Bets is clueless of her effect on people. Gunther does not articulate. Is this love, immature love that won’t last unless both do some serious changing—that’s the hard part. Still not sold on Bets’ trauma.
Johnnyrico almost 3 years ago
Sometimes I don’t want to live on this planet anymore…
Enter.Name.Here almost 3 years ago
Gunther: “If she breaks out in song, we’re leaving.”
Bets: “Agreed.”
dadoctah almost 3 years ago
Well…she’s not wrong.
Aladar30 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
I love this romantic side of Tiffany ♡♡♡.I hope her speech will be able to give Bets the strength to try to continue her relationship with Gunther. Even if it’s scary and could hurt, Bets has to try! Gunther is certainly ready to help her and she can count on Tiffany too. I know many people say that Bets should see an analyst, maybe that’s true, but the analyst would also tell her to try to stay together with Gunther. Because in the end you have to face your problems, decide to take risks and change yourself. GO BETS! You’re not alone, you can do it!
cdillon85 almost 3 years ago
I like the raised eyebrow in Gunther in Panel #3.
Pointspread almost 3 years ago
The same people who put Bets down for being a social media presence don’t seem to realize some folks make a living this way, but it takes work. They cry because Gunther is missing study time that is important for his future, it takes work. Both are working on their future in different ways, some people can’t see that. Gunther is overwhelmed by Bets media presence, but has to object if it is that bad: he is an adult and can say no to whatever he wants.
D.E.N. almost 3 years ago
Well, I guess Bets is much happier now that she can dump Gunther and feel less freaked out and terrified.
jfarr41 almost 3 years ago
Hmm. My dislike of Bets goes back awhile. I wasn’t impressed with all the social media nonsense, but I could let that self-indulgence go, though I felt like she was running all over Gunther from the start. He made clear he was uncomfortable with it and she dismissed his misgivings. Then came the incident with Tiffany desperately trying to raise funds. Gunther wanted to help a friend. Gunther’s girlfriend jumped in to assist them. Great, right? Only not so much, because she used her boyfriend’s good friend’s desperation as a way to profit herself by demanding a cut. It was selfish and self-serving. This was definitely not the time to turn something into a business transaction. So we have this constantly self-promoting young woman who has a problem with insisting everything is done her way and sees dollar signs in “helping” people. Flashforward a bit and she’s still running roughshod over her boyfriend – “I don’t care if you need to study. I want to play pirates NOW!” and not listening to anyone else. Tiff tells her, “I don’t do pirates. This is my project and my idea.” Bets simply doesn’t care. She wants pirates right now and everyone better fall in line because that’s what she wants.
So, yeah, guess what. There’s a good chance she’s been abandoned by people a lot in the past. There’s only so long people are willing to be treated the way she treats them. More important, though? At her level of self-absorption? Of course she’s going to make it sound like she’s been the victim of bad relationships. She probably believes it. Her “self-awareness” at the moment is not nearly as self-aware as she’s making it sound. If she says, “I’ve done some reflecting and realized my selfishness and relentless self-promotiom may have run people off in the past and I don’t want that to happen again.” then we’ll be looking at real potential growth and progress.
FassEddie almost 3 years ago
It’s like that wise, old, Paula Abdul song says. “We come together because… Opposites Attract.”
DanielDrummond almost 3 years ago
At least Tiff got Gunther and bets to take a step back and look from a different perspective. Sometimes an irrational approach works BECAUSE it’s not logical, it comes in where you don’t expect it.
myfb1955 almost 3 years ago
Time to move on, please. Are Brad and Toni pregnant yet?
Perplexed almost 3 years ago
Pass the banana pie, please!
Twelve Badgers in a Suit Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Tiffany, you’re not helping as much as you think you are. Actually, this is kind of the opposite of help.
rrsltx almost 3 years ago
Those “cute” but irritating idiosyncrasies at the outset of a relationship often become resentful major irritants down the road.
CreativeChef almost 3 years ago
That’s B. S.
WilliamVollmer almost 3 years ago
Has Tiffany been channeling Bernice? That hard love business sound like it either game out of a psychology textbook, or, maybe a “bodice ripper” romance novel.
Decepticomic almost 3 years ago
I don’t want soft love! I want it to be hard love. Sooo harrrd… Everytime I think about it, it just gets harder…
Jabroniville Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Tiff has been pretty funny throughout this whole arc- just egocentric and unable to see the truth of the situation. She just can’t see a world where she can’t just hammer people into their proper spaces as she sees them. No wonder Greg always found her so fun and easy to write for- she’s pure emotion and “id”.
Bets has been… well, overly-demanding and selfish for this whole relationship. Between her & Rosa (I think that was her name), Gunther has been having great success getting with pretty girls, but not so much with keeping them.
Is the whole fandom just waiting for the Gunth/Tiff ’ship? Because I know I have been. For like 20 years, lol.
Ellis97 almost 3 years ago
I can’t believe it. Tiffany just confirmed that they were made for each other.
jea9hrkr almost 3 years ago
LOL – lots of sympathy and defenders of cartoon “Bets” but here is the crux. I’ve known many victims/survivors from situations similar to what Bets describes herself, most way more considerate of others than she is. Whatever happened to her, it does not license her to treatGunther so selfishly. This relationship is nothealthy. Even if Bets addresses her relationship fears she is still a selfish B (for Bets :)) in the end.
DanielDrummond almost 3 years ago
I have to say, looks like Tiff’s actions were spot on here. Consider what we know:
When Tiff went to see Gunther, he was a wreck. However this works out, he is now at least able to function.
When Bets showed up expecting Tiff’s apology and refund, she appeared to be in control and moving on. It should be obvious that if Tiff had not set up this meeting, Bets would NEVER have gotten back to Gunther, she had obviously taken the easy route of just ignoring him and moving on.
But we also see that once Bets saw Gunther, she knew she had to say something, so it’s no surprise that, having for all intents dumped Gunther already, she tried to follow through and tell him it was over because she was not up to facing her fear of commitment. For Gunther’s part, his desire to please Bets was leading him to let her walk away without so much as a ‘thanks for the good times’.
Enter Hurricane Tiffany.
As ditzy as she may seem, she has caused both Gunther and Bets to step back and take another look at their position. I mean, it’s not like G & B are married or considering marriage right now, they are looking at the prospect of moving their relationship to a higher level of commitment, which is important but it also means they can decide to just keep the relationship where it was prior to the wrecked dinner incident, and discuss the future in smaller, easy to handle pieces. Seriously, that worked for me although I am terrible at sewing!
rpmurray almost 3 years ago
Is Tiff ever going to lose those pounds she put on?
GirlGeek Premium Member almost 3 years ago
I don’t like this arc. Of Bets really did have relationship issues, this is something she should have told Gunther to begin with. She ghosted him for a month and when we see her again, she wants to break it off. Tiffany butting in does not help them. These are real-life issues they need to be hampered out before any form of “commitment” is made.
jrankin1959 almost 3 years ago
Just ask Howard Roark and Dominique Francon…
Fredricrex almost 3 years ago
Wow, way to go Tiff. !
artheaded1 almost 3 years ago
20-somethings learning how to communicate better. Maybe this will help, maybe they’ll both away screaming.
MuddyUSA Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Wow, what just happened?
phileaux almost 3 years ago
They excite each other in ways that breaks with their normal way of living. It took me many years to relax my way of thinking w/my wife. She’s a go/do/explore person, I’m enjoy home life guy. Nervous and slightly resistant at first then realized I’m really enjoying the new places. She learned to let me handle some of the “bumps along the road” portions of a trip and make it more enjoyable for her.
BJShipley1 almost 3 years ago
How long until the characters remember that Tiffany has never been in a relationship and therefore has no clue what she’s talking about in regards to romance or love? If you want to learn to drive better you don’t take advice from someone who’s never been behind the wheel.
Mordock999 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
There’s blood in the water and the sharks have arrived.
And of course, the “usuals” are trying to paint this as being all Gunther’s “fault.” Typical.
But I digress. Two takeaways from today’s Strip.
1) Tiffany just beautifully pointed out that all the positive traits in this so-called “relationship” are on Gunther’s side. All of negative traits are on Bets’ side. And THAT makes them a “match??” I don’t think so. I see it as yet another reason for Gunther to leave.
2) When Tiffany confronted Bets with that charge of being demanding and making Gunther do stuff he doesn’t want to do, her response was “I do?” She had no idea what she what she was doing him. But Tiffany, Les, Bernice, Luann and probably most of Bets’ social media “followers,” DID. But Bets didn’t know. She probably didn’t care. She was too focused on Her. Yet another reason for Gunther to run, not walk to the nearest exit.
Sure, sure. It’s just a comic strip. Because in real life a Gunther would have told Bets to go pound sand a long, long time ago.
Unfortunately, from what I can see here, it looks like it’s going to be business as usual between these two by Saturday. Bets will probably even have her phone out of her purse by then.
Damned shame. A breakup would be far more satisfying.
Besides. Bets’ “problems” shouldn’t be Gunther’s problems.
He got enough of his Own.
kenhense almost 3 years ago
In tomorrow’s episode, I visualize Bets saying, “With our pirate costume thing, we were continuing to play like kids. Gun, are you really ready to move forward with this?” After a meek “Yes” from Gunther, Bets pulls him forward for a long slow kiss…
tremaine53 almost 3 years ago
“Tiffany? Would you please get your breasts out of my face? Thanks in advance!”
tremaine53 almost 3 years ago
Tiffany’s line of deduction really leaves something to be desired, if you know what I’m saying….
txmystic almost 3 years ago
“Hard Love” sounds like a one-hit-wonder title for an ’80s hair-metal band…
dv1093 almost 3 years ago
I’d like to move on to some stories about Brad, Toni, and Shannon.
markwillman4 almost 3 years ago
Oh, Tiffany. In her own way she is a matchmaker.
YorkGirl Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Lol! Wow! Tiffany cut through all the bs in two panels. And they acknowledged she’s correct. Further, at least Bets seems willing to try to do better. Gunther may not be onboard, he seems to be processing all that. Hard love or tough love? His analytical mind may want more discussion. Wonder who will kiss first and/or walk away. It’s still possible. ;-o
locake almost 3 years ago
Bets admits that she has emotional issues. But instead of getting therapy to fix herself, she abuses other people. That is NOT okay. There is no excuse for the way Bets has treated Gunther.
locake almost 3 years ago
Bets said she went on a date with Les and she claimed it was bad. BUT we have seen Les on what he thought was a date with Pru and he was a perfect gentleman. So Bets is the unreliable one in this situation. If her date with Les was bad, it was probably because of Bets.
locake almost 3 years ago
I did predict a couple weeks ago that Tiffany would mediate the conversation between these two. I hope I am right in my prediction that Gunther will tell her to get therapy and Goodbye!
jamesamber29 almost 3 years ago
So happy about this term of events. Great job Tiffany. Bets and Gunther finally understand each other and realize they can be happy despite their flaws. I wish them the best! I hope Tiffany finds love too.
kauri44 almost 3 years ago
Tiffany isn’t the most objective mediator here. She gave a list of Bets’s faults in the relationship and the only thing she could think of where Gunther is concerned is that he was “truly devoted”? While I realize Bets was initially reacting to Gunther’s declaration of love, maybe Tiffany could have pointed out that Gunther had just been going along with things Bets wanted of him without standing up for what he wanted. Maybe Gunther needed to be more assertive about his own needs? More honest about what he wanted and how he felt about their conflicts? Perhaps he needed to stand up for his friends and their place in his life and that he will want to help them out even if he has a steady girl friend? (Okay, that one would be hard for Tiffany to point out objectively.)
The funny thing is I’ll bet that Les would have been a more perceptive (if harsher) mediator…
Callie Ray almost 3 years ago
Tiff, let Gunther and Bets settle their problems alone.
95 almost 3 years ago
Per all the comments: Training wheels for reality.
TwilightFaze almost 3 years ago
Tiffany, where were you 10 years ago? I could have used this.
Pipe Tobacco Premium Member almost 3 years ago
2
I find the “explanation” by Bets and the actions of Tiffany to get the two back together after Bets says they should break up…. to be rather disheartening and frustrating. I wish Tiffany would just stop trying to force them back together at this point.
However, for me, what really became the “deal breaker” for me in this whole scenario is that none of these revelations from Bets is a direct result of her own actions to try to fix things. To me, she seems only to be telling Gunther this information now because Tiffany tricked and forced her into meeting with Gunther. It seems to me that Bets was rather “ok” with just ignoring Gunther’s calls and texts for much, much longer than this…. perhaps forever even…. had she not been tricked into being face-to-face with Gunther. For this reason…. I truthfully think it would be better for BOTH Gunther AND Bets to split and go their separate ways.
Gunther has spoken of trying to contact Bets a variety of times following his “I love you” comment. But, as far as we can tell, Bets never replied in ANY fashion. I mean…. even if she was “not ready” to discuss the situation…. I would think she could have easily texted him something akin to “Gun… I cannot talk yet. I will contact you when I feel I am able to do so.” during any of the various calls/texts that Gunther had sent. Even something as nebulous as this would have been a whole lot better for Gunther to receive…. than the NOTHING he did receive. If Bets had really made any sort of move (before Tiffany’s forcing them together)…. I would then feel much better about them remaining a couple.
If I were Gunther at this point…. I would have developed (and likely would maintain) some pretty significant/serious trust issues with Bets. And, if you cannot trust …. what kind of relationship is it really?
DG almost 3 years ago
Women don’t want nice guys who treat them with respect and kindness. Women want bad boys that they can attempt to tame. All Bets seemed to date ( from what we know of her history ) is bad boys who lied to her ( as she has dated Les ) and those who somehow hurt her. Gunther is so vanilla he might as well be an ice cream flavor.
Need coffee almost 3 years ago
I dated a woman who posted a lot of one of our days together on social media while we were going out. It was annoying for about ten minutes, then it wasn’t. It didn’t seem to be interfering with her presence with me or her attention to “us” or what we were doing. It was, in fact, no big deal. Just how people who like social media work. It didn’t work out, but not for that reason.
Later, I dated a woman who ghosted me for about a month while she was processing intense feelings. When she got back to me, we talked, we continued to date, she agreed not to do that again. It didn’t work out, but not for that reason (and she broke up with me in a polite and civilized manner, not by further ghosting) (and the reason it didn’t work out wouldn’t be accepted as a realistic storyline in Bollywood or a Mexican soap opera).
Bottom line: The things Bets is being most criticized for, are forgivable. I have been there and I have done that. Gunther and Bets have a lot in common and have gotten along well for a long time, and it looks like they can do so in the future, with more open communication.
Go team Bun.
comic reader 22 almost 3 years ago
The saving grace of this story is that Tiffany has finally found her calling as a couples-counselor / matchmaker. She can work from home and have Toni, Brad, Frank, Nancy, Irma and Mr. Gray in for marriage counseling. Then she can create a singles site (with Bets’ help) and line up dates for all the singles in town. All this while running for public office, volunteering at the dog shelter and supporting local charities. She’s a saint, honestly, just a saint.
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault almost 3 years ago
Brilliant tactic!
Fight irrationality with irrationality!!
Make them too scared to go anywhere without each other.
HA!!
(And some people thought Tiffany was simple minded!! She sure showed them!)
ironman01 almost 3 years ago
Gunther needs to dump Betsy and date Tiffany. I’ve thought that since their tutoring days. Tiffany is better for him. Oddly enough I have friend like Betsy. This is a symptom of Borderline Personality Disorder. People like this dump people close to them to avoid the pain of being dumped by them.
raybarb44 almost 3 years ago
Not sure that “Hard Love” is the correct term, but Love, nonetheless is there…..
Le'Roy Hawkins almost 3 years ago
Run away and live in the woods, Gunther.
Code the Enforcer almost 3 years ago
Tiffany’s answer at the end is just WAY TOO QUICK !! … All this ‘Relationship Repair 101’, especially the last panel, amounts to but another ‘Easy A’ for Tiffany! Don’t get me wrong. I like how Tiffany has grown as a character, quirks and all!
And, as I said before, I don’t ‘hate’ Bets. But, she has issues, and Gunther absolutely DID NOT deserve the treatment he received over the past month.
They need some professional counseling – Bets for her issues – Gunther for his – and BOTH of them, together, for their sakes!
I want B&G to be together!! … But, this won’t get resolved this week! …
asrialfeeple almost 3 years ago
♪ ♫ Hopelessly devoted ♪ ♫
Anon4242 almost 3 years ago
Bets is too broken to be in any relationship right now. Relationships like this devolve into hostage situations where one person eventually wants to move on but can’t because the other threatens to kill themselves if the first person leaves. That’s not healthy for anyone. After Bets gets some counseling maybe they can try again but for now, they should just be sci/fi convention buddies and not take it any deeper than that.
Burgundy2 almost 3 years ago
I am really quite impressed how well Tiff has read the situation.
CO Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Personally after the yesterday’s comic the biggest question I had was if the author was going to go for Tiffany saying something that improved the situation or make it worse. Still do wonder on how it is going to be played in the story line. To me it seems that Bet is being sarcastic in her reply.
Serenade almost 3 years ago
People are really intense about this comic—it strikes me as kind of odd. Just an observation. I know Brooke McEldowney is given a lot of grief for turning off his comments, but sometimes I can understand not wanting the noise. We shouldn’t rip on McEldowney because he doesn’t want to read your comments, we should rip on him because he’s a viola player. Why can’t people be reasonable?
Sorry, I’m a flutist. Most musicians survive by thriving off the tears of viola players.
But back to the comic that’s actually posted—I can see both sides. I’ve been on both sides. I’ve left relationships without an assertive exit, but I’ve also been abandoned. I don’t judge Bets, as that would be hypocritical, but I couldn’t be in a relationship with a person like Bets. I’d always wonder when the person would abandon me again, and it would never be a healthy relationship.
Call me Ishmael almost 3 years ago
Tiffany is looking quite hot today. Bets is suffering by comparison. Tiffany is fundamentally decent, though damaged (as are we all). On the whole, though she’s a bit self-centered, she’s probably the better long term bet (pun intended).
STACEY MARSHALL Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Sensei Tiffany is very wise!
RSH almost 3 years ago
I’m not as bothered by Bets as others here are. I notice her attitude has significantly evolved since she first arrived where she was defensive, offensive and angry in her posture. Now, not only is she talking about her feelings, she is even listening and open to the suggestions of an outsider (Tiff). Her facial expressions suggest she is more relaxed (not tensed up and ready for a fight). If this continues I’m guessing they will agree to stay together with (hopefully) some new found respect for each other’s feelings as well as their own. People will say that Gunther has always had this. But it takes two. Bets needed to come to the table; not only has she done that but she’s having her head examined and is not fighting back.
w16521 almost 3 years ago
To everyone who is writing such hard serious comments here. You need to chill. Its just a comic strip after all.
Sisyphos almost 3 years ago
Gotta love Tiffany the Romance Counselor! Her analysis is not bad, and her solution could even work!
Bernie the Psych Major, eat your heart out (please!)….
finnygirl Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Tiffany has no business first of all offering even an opinion on this situation. She has no idea what she’s talking about, and she’s dangerous, IMO. “Hard love” makes for good fiction, but not good reality. Her advocating that they should stay in this kind of “love” is no different than if someone said to leave a knee wound infected but go ahead and run in the race anyway, because that would be “best”. (More interesting is not the same as “good”) She has analyzed the situation accurately, but saying that it’s a good thing is the worst kind of “advice” possible. I hope both Bets and Gunther ignore this airheaded advice.
gnmnrbl almost 3 years ago
Tiffany, it’s “tough love” but close enough. Bets was being evasive because she didn’t want to face her past but didn’t want to break gunther’s heart - yet she did anyway. So tiffany may have inadvertently…possibly have save the relationship. And IF tiffany does save guns and bets relationship, you’ll see her shout joyfully “yay, i’m a counselor” and try to compete with Bernice.
Perplexed almost 3 years ago
12:15 a.m. 650 comments? How many duplicates?
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault almost 3 years ago
Little was said about Bets’ surprise to learn that the things she asked kinda freaked Gunther out. She did not realize.
(and we’re at 721 ere I post this one)