Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for March 02, 2022

The kids will just give the bill collectors your number.

the ole mobile phone run around…but your call is very important to us, please stay on the line and we will answer in the order received!

Looks like Thomas caught something from his dad, who was once a lawyer but got over it.

He may be on to something. He reads bass clef, after all. (Or is that the other guy?)

Kids. You can’t live with ‘em and they can’t live without you.

That sounds like a Catch-22.

My brother would be a good debt collector.

I’m sorry. I’m of the “Kill a Robocaller for Jesus” ilk.

Thomas’ spam filter wasn’t working for a while.

Great for spammers too!

Go ahead. Call and text. He won’t answer either of them.

“It’s been sure nice talking to you, dad.” … And as he hung up the phone, it occurred to him, his son had grown up just like him.

“Will be…” :D

I always called my dad from my landline, but one time my car broke down on the way to his place so I called with my flip phone. His roommate answered completely defensive about giving me a straight answer. “Who are you!?” “I’m his son!” (They had my landline approved on their caller I.D., but not my cell.) They both were great about living beyond their means, which is why I’m usually so careful about not buying on credit.

Now I use a smartphone as my primary phone, and I’ve successfully figured out how to silence it. The only time I noticed it ringing was when I was listening to audio, and I heard a gap of silence for a second.

You have no idea. Our kids’ rooms are about ten meters away from the kitchen…yet we need ‘WhatsApp’ to tell them when it’s time for dinner, because otherwise they would not notice it. Modern times. And YouTube of course.

Heck with kids, I have a friend my age who is impossible to get in contact with. Doesn’t answer phone, messages or texts. He calls when he feels like it.

I have this gut instinct to always answer the call when my mother calls. Plus, there’s no decline option when she does.

press 4 to return to the main menu

I totally respect Stephen. Went through that with my son

Cat’s in the Cradle syndrome?

How long before phones dont come with a talk feature?

How can anyone ignore the alerts given on the cell?

“Curiosity killed the cat” way of thinking….

I have a moderate hearing loss, so the sound quality of a smart phone is very important to me. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem important to most smartphone manufacturers. It’s nice that the phone in my pocket takes great pictures and/or video. But—-OK, I’m old—-but my phone is for communication. If I can’t hear what’s being said, it’s useless.

Stephan should bring farina back but during covid.

Cancel Thomases phone account and problem solved!

Ding!

It’s an endless loop! Break it by sending an e-mail!

I created a silent ringtone as about the only time I ever used Garageband back in the early days… I assign custom ringtones to those I might want to talk to… I tell others to text if they want to call me…

That’s just sad

Family and friends each have their own ringtone. If anyone else calls, I look at my phone, and if I don’t recognize the number, I don’t answer. They can leave a message.

Sounds like my daughter only she never answers!

JOKE/PUN

Somebody’s cell phone goes off and the ringtone music is Beethoven.

Somebody asks t he phone owner what the title is and he says—“it’s FUR ELISE”.

And the other guy says—“If it’s for Elise,why doesn’t SHE answer the phone?”

My cellphone is my secondary phone. Only grab it when I leave the house in case of emergency. Only four numbers in my “contact list”. If anyone else calls, I don’t answer, because 9 times out of 10 on that phone, it’s a spammer. If someone wants to talk, they need to call my primary number, the internet based HOME phone.

It’s the old Circular Reference trick. Expect an Excel Police knock on the door very soon. They get so upset over them, their revenge is to never tell you where they are.

The only time I ever answer my phone is when someone I want to talk to emails me to let me know they are going to call.

Our sons will only answer a Discord post, so we have a family server.

How do you call people that have a big bill collection?

“Anyway, I’ve been trying to reach you about your extended warranty …”

Stephan’s middle name is Thomas

I feel the same way with my son. Unless he needs something, I can never get him on the phone, and he never answers texts! Grrr!

I had a bill collector calling several times a day. “Until you pay this off, the calls will continue.” I replied, “Not if I can’t pay the phone bill by Friday.” She backed off and only called about weekly. I managed to get her paid off a few weeks later.

What’s ironic, is that the parents are probably paying their phone bill.

Pastis rarely mentions his kids in the strip. I see why.

Welcome, Thomas Cartoon-Boy-Boy, to the wonderful world of PBS….

Ditch the cellphone or ditch Dad?

My phone has voice mail. It gives me a reason to not answer when it rings.

I have always been great at avoiding bill collectors. Want to know my secret? I guarantee you it will work for everyone. I paid my bills and I paid them on time! Never heard from a bill collector in my life!