Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for May 03, 2023

And Goat went on with his day, quickly forgetting whatever Rat said.

The way I see it, Rat made two factual statements that weren’t connected in any way.

Rat has a real way with words, it’s a terrible way, but it’s a way…

Vaguely insulting compliments are the best

I know a few people who compliment like Rat. One is a cousin, another my best friend. I pretend not to notice.

HUSBAND: “You never have anything good to say about my relatives.”

WIFE: “That’s not true. I like your in-laws better than my in-laws.”

Rat is not wrong on both accounts.

So is that passive-aggressive, or just backhanded?

Vaguely? I don’t think Rat is being truthful here. I think he likes his compliments even more when they are obviously insulting.

Vaguely?

Goats answer could have been: You’re right, I also don’t care what intellectual challenged people say.

You’re a fart smeller, i mean a smart feller!

I know several people like that.

The dirty rats.

I used to use a phrase similar to that. Except instead of saying “anyone”, I would say (jokingly), “everyone”.

Rat will never say anything nice to anyone. He has no morals or principles and he’s proud of it.

Rat’s way with words is similar to mine.

Straightforward, blunt, and full of regret after the words leave my mouth.

It’s an oldie, but a classic. I laughed.

“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

A backhanded compliment is one way to take the wind out of the sails of someone who is a little too full of him/herself, assuming the backhanded part doesn’t fly over said individual’s head.

Hah! I use that line all of the time. It always gets a laugh.

Really, rat?

Like, “you’re extremely adequate in your work.”

Goat is smart enough to ignore Rats, half handed compliment.

You’re the best in your class

“People just love to play with words…” ~Men At Work (Colin Hay)

Hey Rat, You’re funny…..but looks aren’t everything.

I love to comment with double entendre, myself. Quadruple, including button pushing, when attacked.

I"M gonna start something just like rat…….Lebron is trash!!!fight me.

Took me a moment to get it lol

There are many times I’d like to slap Rat, which is also the biggest reason I’d like to hang out with him.

Pastis is also very smart, no matter what everyone else claims… :D

Don’t take this the wrong way, but…

Tell someone you love them today because life is short

But yell it at them in German because life is also confusing!

Good left-handed compliments are a form of artwork.

Goat should just take the compliment.

Rat, you are a sly fox (so to speak)!