Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for July 20, 2022

That’s why I like diners with counters. It looks like you’re having dinner with 15 people.

If anyone notices you, Pig, it only means that they’re not very happy with whomever they’re with.

“There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” – Oscar Wilde

Rat reveals another truth!

As my grandmother used to say, “You wouldn’t worry about people talking about you if you realized how seldom it happens.”

Dance as if nobody’s watching!

PS: I don’t like to eat alone whether it’s “out” OR “in”. But if I AM eating alone, I always have my Kindle with me…

You know, Rat’s a bit of an antisocial himself

I have never cared about opinions, I’m not antisocial, I will be civil and I mingle and chat…but I’ve never care or asked for opinions!

Eating alone is cheaper.

Pig will be keeping his reservation at Dickeys Barbecue Pit.

The Universe never talks to me.

Since when did Rat get to make common sense?

I needed this.

Well, I am thinking about Pig. I’m considering having a ham sandwich for lunch…

Having no social life DOES have its merits.

You must be worried about going to dinner alone if the food is you, Pig.

Did it all the time when I was on the road, not too many people looked or cared !

“this too shall pass”

Pig is assuming people will look up from their phones long enough to notice.

Me sure lotsa peoples thinking about Pig just before dinner. Mmmmm!

Eating alone means you do not have to think about talking with a mouth full of food ;-)

The only time I notice other diners is when they or their kids are being noisy and obnoxious. Dine alone – no skin of my nose!

I’ve eaten at a restaurant by myself before, and it wasn’t that bad

The “Ass-on-the-Hill” wouldn’t have had a better answer. Go for it

Rat’s been dropping a lot of truth bombs recently.

I don’t mind eating out alone. I just bring a book to read.

So what Rat is trying say is: “It isn’t about you”?

Live life like nobody else cares, it’ll be more fun.

Life’s too short.

You never try to keep the wild ones home

But mister don’t just sit there and wait

Go out on the town makin’ all of the rounds

It don’t matter if you’re your own date

Rat is correct again

Coincidentally enough, I don’t think about other people much! Win-Win!

Forget about going out to dine alone. Think about that next time you post something online :D

I eat out by myself all the time! It’s no big deal.

I often travel on my own, too. Once did a 5 week holiday in Paris….rented an apartment, explored, was great!

And guess what, dined out by myself every night! Met many interesting people and had no one else’s agenda to follow.

Never in my life have I had a problem dining out alone…

It took me far too many years to realize that I don’t and shouldn’t care what people think of me.

That’s neither good news nor bad news. It just is.

I always eat alone, no matter where i am. If people want to judge me, then let them. They are the ones staring at the guy eating by himself and being so antisocial that they would rather point and mock, than to invite me to join them, Far as I’m concerned that makes them the losers.

Bring a book or newspaper….yeah! That’s it!

When we’re young, we worry about what people think about us.

When we’re middle aged, we don’t care what people think about us.

When we’re old, we finally realize…….

People weren’t really thinking about us at all.

“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” Dolly Parton.

First good advice from Rat!

I used to take a book with me on smoke breaks so I had an excuse to be alone for fifteen minutes. I didn’t think anyone noticed me. Ten years after I quit smoking, people at the office are still recognizing me as “that woman who was always reading in the smoking shelter.”

Sage advice…and it comes from Rat!

I prefer eating alone… fewer criticisms

Actually. It’s pretty good advice. The sooner that we understand that each individual is not the center of the universe, the better we all will be…..

We can do that now, post Corona, so let’s go out.

Few things are sadder than a self-deluded influencer.

Eat alone in one of the Brazilian all-the meat-you can eat places——and you won’t want to stay long.

If you got to a buffet, or a place with a salad bar, take a hat with you.

In the past I would come back to my table and it has been cleared. Then I started leaving a hat on the table so the bussers would know I was still there.

There was a time when I felt that way but I got over it ages ago. Now it doesn’t even occur to me that there’s anything remotely unusual about a table for one. And no one’s ever, not once, acted in a way that made me feel I was being judged.

I enjoy dining alone because you can even get a seat in a crowded restaurant.

Well one of Wisconsin’s serial killers will try to make a silk purse out of your ear, sow or not, if you try to discuss politics or religion or Budweiser.

I don’t worry about what others think.

Like te C programming language, the universe doesn’t care.

I can’t figure out why I subscribe to this cartoon. Maybe the sardonic humor? The illogicality? The side view of social reality? Or the obvious, intelligentsia denouement?

We would worry less about what people thought about us if we really knew how seldom that do…

Not sure how that is ‘bad’ news.

So Rat, are you saying Pig is a bore…er…boar ?

One of my maxims: The universe is not out to get you. It barely even knows that you exist. Or care.

I went out to dinner alone myself. Never cared what people thought.

It’s true, people don’t really think that much about you. It only takes a moment to judge you, and then they are on to the next thing.

And Oscar Wilde.

Find the fanciest restaurant you can afford, ask for a table for one, read a book while eating and tip well. The staff will love to have you back.

Can’t tell if Rat is being dour or reassuring. Discuss.

That’s the way of it, Pig.

Being a single guy, I used to dine out alone a lot back before I retired….

Rat’s advice needs to be sorted carefully, but there are some gems like this.

Dance, and I will dance with you