Teen Angst
the angstiest teen who ever teened
Comments (46)
I am suddenly realizing that Sam looks just like what I imagine a child of Dora and Tai to look like.
One thing I haven't seen* is a discussion about the fight that happened after Sam threw the juice box. It doesn't sound like Emmett choked somebody due to bullying/deliberate misgendering. It sounds like they choked somebody during a full-on fight. Possibly to protect Sam from being injured? To me that is an entirely different situation, that maybe should be investigated more thoroughly. Doesn't excuse Sam from getting (mildly) violent but maybe explains Emmett's response better. Doesn't excuse bullies from provoking somebody by being vile little shits either. *I haven't read all the comments on all the relevant strips.
Also, I guess I some of Sam's current mood could be sparked by guilt from getting Emmett in trouble.
I love the instant softening of Faye's expression when she learns the real issue.
https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=4712 "Maybe we oughta rebrand as a daycare for teens who make bad decisions."
Of course the real reason they decided against it was they didn't want to compete with Karla's. https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3460
I see a dark and grim goth who needs a big hug. Edit: After asking permission to give a hug, of course.
Emmet needs advice on how not to be seen as aggressive. Kids learn by being a bit stupid & surviving. Bullies make me an angry dad.
Aw, Faye. Telling it like it is and getting right to the heart of things
We've said it before, we can say it again: Faye is excellent with kids (and teens).
Bad decisions all around. Faye knows a thing or three about that. Listen to her, Dark Goth Grim Sam.
On a more serious note, situations like Emmet's is where Restorative Justice comes in, seeking understanding of what everyone saw, felt and did, then identifying harm and seeking redress, remediation and healing. It's a process, not an event to be punished in a black and white manner. In the instances I've been part of as a tutor and mentor, the outcome was always understanding and growth, even when uncomfortable. In this case, the school seems way out of line, ignorant of any need for shared comprehension and resolution. These are LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, not merely punishment-triggering events. Working through difficulties and differences makes us all better. It's how we grow and mature.
As Faye said, school boards are veeery leery of lawsuits (and criminal charges, too). Not all of them know about restorative justice processes, nor are all school districts allowed to use it.
I suppose that, if a kid fights bullies to oppose bullying, and then gets in trouble for fighting, it would feel like they're in trouble for opposing bullying - and, thus, that the teachers are formally pro-bullying. To avoid this perception, schools should make sure to implement effective anti-bullying measures, such as... that's odd - the rest of this paper is blank. Well, I'm sure there's a school out there that's managed to stop bullying somehow? Right?
Kids have only been bullying eachother for *checks notes* several thousand years so I'm sure schools are about to crack this problem any day now
awwww, dumb stupid angy baaaaaaabyyyyyyy
That last face. Goth breakdown. I think Sam needs a hug.
I image she's also feeling pretty guilty - she threw a juice box to defend Emmett and now *they're* in deep for a fight Grimantha technically instigated.
Faye is the only one who could say half of what she said without Samantha running out into traffic right now. Faye and maybe Veronica.
Veronica is the literal 'voice of mom' to Samantha so it could go either way.
#1234 Honky Tonk Badonkadonk Seriously? Jeph you are a twisted musical naming progeny - researcher, Edited FFS it is a real song. Just like you warned us about
Well, I mean ”everybody being kinda stupid” sounds like a lot school and young adult situations, so…
And a not-insignificant portion of adult life too, for that matter.
Poor Grimantha. :(
One must go through the ritual cranky channels before one gets to the meat of the issue
And there it is, the real source of Sam's anguish. Other kids being jerks and adults being unfair she can handle, we've seen her do it. But the uncertainty and fear of losing her best friend, who is presumably grounded and not allowed to talk to her, not to mention the guilt of thinking it might be her fault? Yeah... yeah, that'll get to ya.
Anger is often a mask... as is grim moodiness come to think of it 🤔🤔
Next time on the Wednesday Afternoon QC Special, Sam confronts her fears about being a bad influence on Emmett while Anh finally finds the buttfor.
It turns out the buttfor were the juiceboxes we threw along the way...
oh nooooo :(
Oh, oh honey... :'C
Ah, there we go, Sam did feel somewhat responsible. I like Faye's tactic of going at a problem with a jackhammer; it doesn't always work the best but certainly gets to the root of the issue quickly.
Unfortunately when you said “jackhammer” and “root” in the same sentence my mind went to “root canal” which is certainly not something I or anyone else needs to think about right now, but yes you are correct
Becky already considers Sam a good influence and I think it's almost downright non-goth (sweet, even) how Sam doesn't want to lose that. (https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=4802 again -- we could do with more Becky actually).
Yes, just don't tell Grimantha that or she'll double down and burn a church or something.
They wasted time being cranky... grouchy... crotchety.
I'd say Faye was crotchey; Sam is too young for that adjective.
I definitely appreciate that Bubbles and Faye are both being clear that what Emmett did wasn't great, no matter how shitty the other kids were being. And that's totally separate from whether they "deserved" to be punished. Choking someone out is very dangerous, and this situation could have gone even worse.
Emmett is naturally rambunctious, even without influences.
Actually, it seems to have been the lack of any influences that made them so rambunctious, back in their boring home town.
Aww, poor Sam!
Awww, Sam. Been there, girl. ❤️
As a middle school teacher this is the most accurate thing ever
why yes tiny almost adult... life truly doesn't give a shit about fair
saving time being cranky is overrated
Nah, there's ALWAYS cranky time