For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for September 13, 2009

someone is feeling left out.

Its really sad when you dont know alot of peole, and have nothing to talk about with them.

Cheer up, Elly-at least the bird will talk to you. That is, if the bird is a parrot and not some other type of bird.

For once I have a shred of respect for this strip: Today’s installment is a sublime commentary on the sense of alienation and stifling lack of freedom that any thinking woman experiences in a conventional marriage.

Birds. Feathers. Flocking.

Birds of a feather …. yup, 4deerinmyyard.

@Flight Suit… It is not the conventional marriage (and which ones are those?) it is going to a spouse’s work related event (does not matter which spouse!) and discovering you not only don’t really know anybody but also that the ones of your gender are discussing things that are frivolous/meaningless. Been there (both halves!) and have managed to not only make it through, but also find a few kindred souls to talk to eventually… just look for someone else trying to talk to a bird….:)

I love Elly’s hairstyle. But I’m sure she’s counting the minutes til she can go home.

Ellie, I feel your pain!! This is how I feel when I have to go to my husband’s functions and I’m sure he feels the same way at mine. (I know nothing about manufacturing and he knows nothing about psychology-although he pretends to know) More dangerous than not knowing and keeping you mouth shut. But I love him anyway!

I ALWAYS feel like that around people.

I’m with Miba. I have found that when I do find the women and try to bring talk along to things I like like video games, literature, history, the latest Mythbusters etc, I tend to bore them to death. As they bore me to death if they mention clothes or makeup/spas. You’d be amazed how little people have in common to discuss just because they’re women.

I’ve definitely been to parties like this. It’s tough when you don’t have anything much in common with anyone. Of course, sometimes it’s surprising what you do find to talk about!

Doc have you been reading my mind again?

Poor Elly looks like a deer caught in the headlights in Panel 5. I’m sure she’s feeling what any intelligent woman would feel when confronted with conversations about dental procedures, facials or mascara.

I’m with catlady. Elly was looking forward to conversation with adults, and look what she gets!

Anyone else think that the guy welcoming them in, was Elly’s brother? Looks are similar.

Try telling the tennis/golf set that you are a quilter… At least the bird isn’t judgemental.

Ha,She needs to get out more.

she can always read what’s on the bottom of the cage

Flight suit: well said. (& notice that it appears that all of the dentists are male and the trailing spouses female - not one female dentist dragging her househusband along.)

Is that Uncle Phil in the first panel?

I guess Elly doesn’t speak Dentistese when at a dentist convention with John who already does know how to speak Dentistese.

Burgundy, I usually find the person whos standing alone, and talk to them.

Bird’s of the same dribble , or a vary short flight .

Masinadies - I’ll chat with you any time about Mythbusters, literature and history. I don’t really get into “girl” talk. Flightsuit - I’m a Librarian, wife, mother, musician, dancer and have a “conventional” marriage: I don’t feel trapped at all!

I also feel for Elli. My husband is retired and likes to go have breakfast with fellow retirees, I do not go. If I ever wind up in a place where people gather and I am odd out. I would go by myself and read. I always have a book. I know this is an old strip and I also think I remember this particular strip.

My conversation problem is, I like to talk about sports, guns, videogames, and history sometimes.

@Flight Suit, you put it very well. But you forgot about one situation that happened very rarely, because the situation didn’t arise too often: you didn’t have to be married, just a female carrying out a profession.

I worked for many years in the computer field, as a programmer/analyst. I joined various computer clubs and went to meetings, where there was a speaker, and afterwards people got together to talk and form connections. And nobody, I mean nobody, would speak to me. I didn’t know how to initiate a conversation, especially with people who were pretending I didn’t exist, so after awhile I stopped going.

Going to a party was only slightly different. You wanted to talk to the men, because you were interested in their technical discussions, but once again, they didn’t want to talk to you. The women were talking makeup, or babies, or they were in the kitchen helping to clean up (which no man was doing). It’s not that you didn’t want to talk about those topics, just not now. And if you didn’t come to help with the dishes, all the women would glare at you…

There was just nowhere for you to fit in. I hope that this has changed.

I suppose it was the same in other technical fields, such as medicine, architecture, engineering, science, and so on…

@summerdog, I remember how Ellie’s brother looks pretty well, and I don’t think this is him.

@dianecliff, musician?? dancer?? I’ll talk to you!! I’ll listen to you!! I love music!!

I have 2 kids and I’m a school teacher and I get sick to death of hearing about children! And I sure don’t want to hear about someone else’s hair and makeup either! To me “adult conversation” would have to do with science or art or literature (yes, I would love to talk about the latest episode of Mythbusters). However, I have yet to meet a bird that didn’t try to bite me, so I’d be stuck talking to the walls.

RinaFarina, this HAS changed - around here at least.

I feel that way right now actually. I’m at a large university that is more like a town than an actual campus. But I have yet to meet a single person with whom I can make an actual connection. My personality is somewhat on the darker, more realistic side and sitting down at a table where the hot topic of the day is how there isn’t anymore ketchup in the dispensers is simply unacceptable to me. I feel like Huey from the Boondocks. I’m surrounded by nothing but vapid, shallow morons who, despite having only known each other for two weeks, are already divvying up on who’s going to be sleeping with who. sigh Please, someone save me. I’ll be that kid in the DC sweater sitting in a corner reading Anne Rice. :)

I’m a guy, and that is what always happens to me at social events. Small talk always seems so pointless and meaningless to me.