Fayecing Consequences
fair
Comments (32)
I think what is being generally missed here is that you get to take chances with yourself, and you get to take some, though many fewer, chances with your children, because that is just what raising children entails, but you don't get to take any chances with other people's children. You stand there watching till you pee down your leg if necessary.
I've said this before but "I am an asshole" is a major issue for Faye. It's going to take a very long while before she starts to come to terms with the fact that she CAN have good personal qualities.
In situations like this, I just pray it doesn't push her off the wagon.
That which hurts instructs, and is usually remembered.
Seems like Faye took a bit of Bubbles' pep talk to heart as well
There's something vaguely surreal about this strip and there was also something surreal about the previous strip too. I find myself wondering exactly what was going through Jeph's mind. I say that because both strips have had the feeling of being FORCED somehow; even the characters seem to be a bit aware of how abnormal the conversation flow is.
Heh fair enough. I don’t know the law, I’m just speaking from a responsibility/morality point of view. I think it’s unfair of Jim to effectively unload his daughter onto Faye without setting any sort of guidelines or instructions and then blowing up at her when something goes wrong. He knew the potential dangers, surely. Anyway yes, insurance is an essential!
Looking back, Jim effectively unloaded Sam on DORA and Faye ended up being more popular with Sam than Dora was. I get the impression that Jim has never really liked Faye but he recognises that SAM likes her and that has to be have some weight as Sam would probably be heartbroken if Jim forbade her to spend time with Faye ever again.
definitely feels way unnecessarily harsh
Faye could have mentioned that SHE was going to tell Jim what happened, until Bubbles agreed that they would not do so, IF Sam would tell him herself. She's taking the fall - letting Jim say she's an asshole, even though she isn't - rather than risking him coming down any harder on the kid. It shows a lot of character for Faye - not just for coming and apologizing in the first place, but also for holding her tongue.
Personally, I don't think that Faye feels any particular need to defend herself, because she considers herself in the wrong anyway.
Also, I feel like Jim will back off eventually, “never” is what he’s saying while he’s angry, but if she proves herself, I bet he’ll relent in the future.
"Never" basically just means indefinitely in this context. Sam won't be young an immature forever. One day she'll show she can be trusted with power tools, and even if she doesn't one day her dad will have no say in the matter. It's easier and kinder to just say "Never" though than string her along for years about how maybe one day in the future the policy will change.
Is no one (including Faye) going to mention the golden line in panel 4? The problem was Sam “laying her finger on” the power tool.
I was wondering if anyone would notice that!
Seems... harsh.
Maybe a bit, but Sam has repeatedly shown poor impulse control, and power tools can be a lot more dangerous than that one she already did something stupid with. If I were running the shop I'd have already come to the conclusion that she shouldn't be using power tools until she demonstrates more responsibility, and that's not necessarily precluded here, Jim is just asserting that his judgement is final in this, which I think is fair.
Yeah, you get instruction on how to use them if you're fortunate. More often than not you teach yourself how to do it. When you get stabbed, poked, gouged, burnt, frayed, fractured, shocked or whatever, you now know, hopefully, what not to do again. Or at the very least figure out to ask for help. Shit happens. You either learn from it or you don't. Last thing you need is someone helicoptering over you the whole time waiting to zoom in and rescue you from your mistakes. If you're never allowed to make mistakes you'll never learn. Some mistakes are more tragic than others. No amount of telling is ever as good as actual doing.
every kid needs some blood and pain in their life. Small, inconsequential pain, but enough to get their attention. Parents need to realize this is a learning experience. As to power tool, I have been using power tools for 55 years, and I have done more damage to myself with hand tools. YMMV
Being a learning experience doesn't mean it's a NECESSARY learning experience, especially for a 12 year old. More importantly is the fact that while she didn't get hurt that bad, she COULD have, because there was NOBODY watching her. This could've been a LOT worse. Jim's right to be angry.
I'm getting some serious "go fuck yourself" vibes from both Jim and Faye.
In a year or two she'll be old enough to take Shop Class and learn to use these tools with professional supervision. It's unfair to both Faye/Bubbles and Sam that they're dividing their attention between her lessons and the business this way. I know this probably feels like a big deal to Sam right now but I don't think the father is being terribly harsh here.
Agreed. And what isn't being noted is that he said 'In this situation.' Which is reasonable. She shouldn't have left Sam unsupervised at all. And part of that punishment isn't even on Sam- Fay left her alone, therefore isn't the one that her father wants to teach her about such things.
In my life experience, which has involved lots of tools, fucking up and hurting yourself means you either didn't follow instructions, didn't follow instructions, or didn't follow instructions. Written, verbal, pictogram, YouTube, somehow you fucked up. Which meant you weren't allowed to touch anything without asking, and if you did it anyway you were held accountable. And if you were allowed to, you were given a crash course on what tool did, how to use it and how not to. Better have payed attention, and remember where the first aid kit is. Beyond that? If it slips, cuts and you are bleeding out, hold tight and yell loud. No playing in the garage/shop/work area. It was at times an asshole approach but it was practical and realistic.
Then again, it's also possible that you didn't follow instructions...
No, it's not fair, it's bull. Sam screwed up, and did what she was told NOT TO DO, and she's lucky that she only lost her nail. You respect all powered tools (and firearms, and explosives, and anything with a sharp edge, or anything flammable), or you'll hurt yourself or other people. This is a lesson that you have to learn, and Sam is lucky her lesson was just a torn nail. Her Dad, forbidding her to use tools again, is bull because you learn your lesson, and if you want to work-you need to respect the tools you work with. Faye shouldn't have stepped away, but she had been watching the entire time and told Sam what NOT to do and she did it. Maybe Faye should have said, "Okay, going to the bathroom, five minute break," but that's hindsight. What is that expression "bad things create good experiences, and good experience come from bad things"? This is a bad thing that ends with a good experience. Sam learned, and now she needs to USE that good experience, get back up on the horse, and use the tools again.
"Sam screwed up, and did what she was told NOT TO DO" Almost as if she's a small child.
Dang, we missed the pep talk Bubbles gave Faye...
I think Faye is mature enough to go see Jim without Bubbles telling her that it's a good idea.
getting the impression Jim doesn't like Faye very much...
He was fine with her playing with swords and using a blowtorch, until she hurt herself with a Dremel 😾 hypocrites don't get to call anyone assholes
Yeah I dunno. I grew up learning how to use power tools with my dad. Getting your fingernail chewed off would be called "natural consequences" of stupid behavior if you'd been told multiple times not to do a dumb thing and respect the power tools.