For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for January 21, 2019

oh, you’re no help at all, John

John, like Elly and Annie, seems to have no expectation that Steve’s cheating will have an effect on the Nichols family, in spite of the fact that the only other cheating husband in this comic strip (Dr. Ted McCaulay) ended up getting divorced. Frankly Elly should be more than a little concerned the only reason her husband gives for not cheating on her is that it would be too much work.

John must go along with the old definitions of bigamy and monogamy. Bigamy is having one wife too many and monogamy is having one wife too many.

Reminds me of a convo I had with my husband once. I asked if he was jealous of men who could legally marry more than one woman and he laughed and said, “No way!!! Having one wife is challenging enough but having more under one roof would be madness!!!” I couldn’t agree more.

Guys, some readers in here debated on whether April would actually be re-run when it comes the time for her to be born. I think yes because Lynn posts April strips on her Twitter and on her website. I saw a more updated hairstyle on April in one of her Twitter posts which were clearly re-drawn and re-colored because the old strips tended to be colored in soft tones but the April strips had more bold and deep colors. So, I believe in a year or two, Elly will announce a third pregnancy.

I have to admit, that is a very shallow way to look at it, John.

And John just blew it.

This is how men think, unfortunately.

Well, sheesh, Elly—you only said that she thinks he’s having an affair. I’m sure John would react differently if it was a proven fact.

He’s a dead man.

John, you sir, are a a true idiot.

More responsibility isn’t the first thing on a cheaters mind.

Don’t castigate John ! He’s right. Maintaining one relationship is hard enough, without taking on a second.

Having an affair is more trouble than it’s worth. Better to expend the time and energy in your marriage. The rewards, in the long run, far outweigh the difficulties.

Why would it be any of his business? Don’t go getting yourself involved in someone else’s marriage, it will not turn out well for you.

The problem is most cheaters don’t think, until that is, the divorce lawyer serves them with papers. By then it is waaaay too late, and waaaay too expensive.

Reading the comments on this storyline is very discouraging for good men who are decent human beings first and men second. It’s really insulting to imply that “men”, painted with a very broad brush by some commenters, have to be treated like babies by their wives in order for them to not to behave like immoral jerks.

Whether it’s sex or politics, one side always has a derogatory belief about the other side’s reasoning.

Growing up, I heard the term “son of a gun” used for something neat or congratulatory. For example, if Elly said “Steve and Annie’s son has just earned the rank of Eagle Scout” then it would have been expected that the response would be “Son of a gun!” in admiration of the family accomplishment. That probably makes sense now why the remark was considered inappropriate for this current story.

Okay, what does the manual say you are supposed to respond with when you are told that sort of news. On the spur of the moment the best you can do is try not to irritate your own mate while she is obviously irritated at someone else’s mate. Don’t engage, just listen and shake your head in disbelief.

Didn’t Lynn Johnston’s husband, Rod, on whom John was largely based, leave her for another woman (and clean out their joint bank account) back in 2007? Grim but unintentional foreshadowing! Or am I remembering it wrong?

There many reasons not to have an affair, this is just one.

First, I find it ironic and, a bit, disturbing that Elly goes from suspicion (“Anne thinks…”) in the 1st panel to absolute surety (“A man cheats…”) in the 2nd panel. Her and Anne had been talking about this all day, while this bomb was just dropped on John. I agree with Jan C’s comment, the vocal tone of John’s statement “Son of a Gun” would better express his thoughts much better than the words. However, in the 3rd panel, John stopped at “I’m just surprised.” It is my personal belief that neither spouse should be unfaithful to the other, regardless of perceived injustice or temptation. I, also, believe in minding my own business, especially with respect to someone else’s marriage/relationship. Since Anne dumped this on Elly, Elly was, obviously, caught up in the heat of the suspected injustice. Look at her face in the 3rd panel. For John, the key thought should have been “Silence is Golden.”

Who says it’s a relationship? Most likely (if he actually is doing it) it’s a dalliance with very little emotional attachment.

Maybe John just doesn’t give a rats ass. Not all of us men get emotionally involved in other people’s lives. Hence son of a gun.