I hated being told “be yourself” by teachers etc when I was a kid. I was myself. That appeared to be the problem. Then I realised that when teachers, camp monitors etc said “be yourself” what they meant was “be like everyone else” and some even meant “be like me.”
When the teen advice columns counseled,“Just be yourself” to be popular, I thought to myself, “That’s not working out so well. Time to be someone else.”
Be yourself. Unless you can be a unicorn, then, be a unicorn. Or if you can, be Batman. Or maybe you could be the Apostle Paul. Hm. Well, be yourself: you may surprise everybody. Including yourself.
BE THIS GUY 8 months ago
Try being like Abe Lincoln
BasilBruce 8 months ago
Years ago, Rat made “motivational” posters, including my all-time favorite:
“YOU’VE JUST GOT TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
Because Lord Knows Everybody Else Thinks You’re A Melonhead"
ronaldspence 8 months ago
You keep being you Pig!
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member 8 months ago
What does this say about my mindset? I first interpreted Pig’s new maxim as referring to identity theft.
oldpine52 8 months ago
That would motivate an identity thief.
red_tape 8 months ago
The way i heard that was ‘be yourself. everyone else is taken.’
blunebottle 8 months ago
Yes, there are lots of people who I wish would be someone else.
Cornelius Noodleman 8 months ago
I think I’ll be Pastis.
markkahler52 8 months ago
A lot of people can do that without even thinking about it!
iggyman 8 months ago
How about “Improve Yourself”?!
orinoco womble 8 months ago
I hated being told “be yourself” by teachers etc when I was a kid. I was myself. That appeared to be the problem. Then I realised that when teachers, camp monitors etc said “be yourself” what they meant was “be like everyone else” and some even meant “be like me.”
rasputin's horoscope 8 months ago
When the teen advice columns counseled,“Just be yourself” to be popular, I thought to myself, “That’s not working out so well. Time to be someone else.”
ACK! Premium Member 8 months ago
Always be yourself. Unless you can be Batman. Then be Batman.
mrwiskers 8 months ago
Know thyself. Priceless.
Procat Premium Member 8 months ago
Must be talking about politicians.
Doug K 8 months ago
“Don’t be you.”
prrdh 8 months ago
I’m surprised Despair, Inc. hasn’t recruited Pig. He’d be much better at demotivational posters.
DaBump Premium Member 8 months ago
Be yourself. Unless you can be a unicorn, then, be a unicorn. Or if you can, be Batman. Or maybe you could be the Apostle Paul. Hm. Well, be yourself: you may surprise everybody. Including yourself.
wongo 8 months ago
“Identify” as someone else.
Huckleberry Hiroshima 8 months ago
I’ll try Elvis.. a-HEM … YOU AIN’T NOTHIN’ BUT A HOUND DOG…. never mind, I hurt my throat and my knees and my hip.
monya_43 8 months ago
The be yourself recommendation doesn’t work well if one is a rude, selfish jerk and a narcissistic liar.
Ellis97 8 months ago
Sometimes, you have to change yourself for the best, especially if you’re mean and rude to everyone. Like a certain rodent we all know and tolerate.
F-Flash 8 months ago
Be like Frank Sinatra, I gotta be me, I gotta be me.
Goat from PBS 8 months ago
“Be yourself” is really bad advice. You know why? Because we humans are evil, so saying “Be yourself” is essentially telling a person to be evil.
Better yourself. I’m trying to.
Count Olaf Premium Member 8 months ago
Rat would be someone else and use their credit cards and debit card at a few ATMs. Write a few large checks to himself, too. No wonder we all ❤️ Rat.
Ishka Bibel 8 months ago
You know the way you are? Don’t be that way.
fritzoid Premium Member 8 months ago
Be the person Mr. Rogers believes you are.
Zebrastripes 8 months ago
I’ll stick to the original sign. Who wants a fake me?
KEA 8 months ago
I tried being someone else, but I was arrested for identity theft.
sarah413 Premium Member 8 months ago
Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. Oscar Wilde
oish 8 months ago
Rule #1 : Be Benevolent
Rule #2 : If you can’t (or won’t) be benevolent, then at the very least, be non-malevolent.
fritzoid Premium Member 8 months ago
“There’s only on rule that I know of, babies. God d@mn it, you’ve got to be kind.”
- Kurt VonnegutWCraft Premium Member 8 months ago
So much truth here.
John Jorgensen 8 months ago
Do you want to be somebody else? Are you sick of feeling so left out? Are you desperate to find something more before your life is over?
Bonus points if you’re picturing Conan O’Brien and the hunky newcomer dreamily staring at each other.
Tom Toro creator 8 months ago
Most motivational advice translates to “Be more like me.”
zeexenon 8 months ago
In the ’80s someone put up “Loose Lips Sink Ships.” It was Bell Telephone Laboratories near our DOD work District.
B UTTONS 8 months ago
in small print
except Elon or elite 0.001%, Donald or any politician, Putin or any other despot.
happyainthappy 8 months ago
Being someone else is g ood advice for Rat
jimboklein 8 months ago
Always be yourself
Unless you can be Batman
In that case
Be BATMAN!
AndrewSihler 8 months ago
OK, but as has been pointed out, the problem with “being someone else” is that the job is already taken.
Otis Rufus Driftwood 8 months ago
He gave Rat the first ‘Be someone else’ poster.
Sisyphos 8 months ago
I am not so much inspired as bemused by Pig….