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December 21, 2007

Methinks Therefore Meams

Filed under: Arlo and Janis, Bill Bickel, CIDU, comic strips, comics, humor — Cidu Bill @ 12:02 am

methinks.gif

11 Comments »

  1. The original line, from Hamlet, implies that the objector would not be protesting so much if the accusation were not true.

    If that holds here, it’s rather self-deprecating on the part of Arlo, but there you have it.

    Comment by Powers — December 21, 2007 @ 8:58 am

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  2. Or maybe Arlo is implying that Janis thinks he is a loser, too.

    Comment by Robert Warden — December 21, 2007 @ 10:29 am

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  3. I usually associate that line (“Methinks…”) as a response to someone who seems to have a guilty conscience. It point out that the protester seems to need to convince even himself that what he is saying is saying is true.

    Comment by Pinny — December 21, 2007 @ 12:06 pm

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  4. I am completely creeped out by that last frame.

    Comment by Wit — December 21, 2007 @ 3:44 pm

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  5. Is it just me, or does Janis look an awful lot like the mother on “Shin Chan” (See http://www.animexpansion.com/Screencaps/Shinchan/ShinchanScreencaps.jpg)

    Comment by Steven Hunter — December 21, 2007 @ 3:55 pm

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  6. Why are we now pondering 12-year-old comics?

    Comment by Derek — December 21, 2007 @ 4:24 pm

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  7. Could it be that Arlo deliberately lost to the kid (as we all sometimes do)and wants credit for it? / also he may fear that she really thinks he is a looser.

    Comment by Frank — December 21, 2007 @ 8:34 pm

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  8. Derek: On his blog, Jimmy Johnson very often sets up a sequence of past strips with some comments. This was part of a set from one of the last 2 or 3 entries.

    The author has deemed this strip interesting enough for a second look this week. He’s had 12 years to hear from people who might not get it. So it must be us, right?

    http://www.arloandjanis.com/

    Comment by Kevin Andresen — December 21, 2007 @ 9:27 pm

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  9. To me there is also a bit of Arlo saying “Don’t you remember? You married a loser!” there. I am pretty sure the original line implies that the one who is protesting is the suspect, so if that were to hold here, then Janice is indeed being called a loser. I doubt Arlo would do that, though, and I think he is just using a bit of self-depreciating humor.

    Comment by bAT L. — December 22, 2007 @ 3:52 am

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  10. Arlo is kidding Janis in a self-deprecating way – in context, he’s saying “You wouldn’t be so harsh on Gene if deep down you didn’t think he was right about what he’s saying about me being such a loser” – but he has a smile on his face, so he means it in a joking way.

    Comment by Seth Finkelstein — December 22, 2007 @ 8:07 pm

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  11. I think Arlo is implying that Janis has also played video games with Gene and lost; she, in essence, is saying SHE’S not a loser.

    Comment by Karen Lynn — December 23, 2007 @ 11:14 am

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