Bernice kind of has a point to a degree: there are some people who do put forth the effort in trying to do something, and then there are some people who do put forth the effort in trying to do something. “Effort,” in this case, is a subjective term, and it doesn’t seem like Luann’s idea of putting forth effort may be more effortless than she thinks.
I think it comes down to how hard one tries. I can try my hardest to understand trigonometry, but that doesn’t mean that I will become good at it. But just because I don’t master it, doesn’t mean that the effort was wasted.
Bernice means to say: What do you think is stopping you from having a clean room? What would it mean to you if your room were cleaner? Can you make a plan to work some basic cleaning into your routine, so your room is mostly clean, most of the time? But she’s more excited about making connections with what she’s learning than she is about helping Luann.
“….. not that I don’t enjoy being psychoanalyzed with every breath. It shows she finds me fascinating. And all those people on the other side of the screen find me interesting.”
Bernice seems to prove pure joy in analyzing Luann. But it’s hard to understand if it’s the enthusiasm of a student or the morbidity of someone who depersonalizes others to make fantasies about them. Of course Luann is annoyed by how she acts! But I have to agree with Bernice on one thing. Luann should choose resolutions that she can accomplish. Let’s hope Bernice will also sets resolutions on how to be a better person and tries to achieve them, helped by Luann.
The psychology book is correct about repeated failure. 80,000 is a LOT of resolutions to make. Appears, though, Luann will still be friends with Bernice.
Luann is right. Bernice is a terrible friend. She’s rude, has no manners, puts people down, thinks she’s better than everyone else and she’s a bore. I don’t get what Luann sees in her.
“Bakery Science Major” = Food Production Engineer. G&K are at fault for this poor arc. Also, showing Bernice going into the STEM field would have been inspiration to young women to pursue the science to help society.
It’s just a bit of post-holiday time-filling. Greg had a week’s worth of New Year’s resolution jokes to get through. Things should return to being more interesting next week.
Someone wrote a piece online about how CHEERS indulged in ‘smart-shaming.’ Characters like Diane, Frasier, and Lilith, and anyone else who tried to say anything educated, became objects of ridicule, as if the average person automatically interprets intelligence as pomposity and arrogance and nothing else.
But, of course, Cliff was an idiot, and he got his share of derision. I suppose we learn to like an average somewhere in between.
Bernice has no idea how to actually talk to or interact with people, so she attempts to mask that by approaching EVERY. SINGLE. SITUATION. with psychobabble and jargon. Case in point, she couldn’t even tell Puddles needed to go outside and blathered at him about the pain he must be feeling at being separated from his people.
I also think she is studying psychology in a misguided attempt to help fix herself, because she definitely has some problems that need addressing, but she isn’t handling them. Just masking.
This has been a plot device 75,000 years ago! Darn, I’m really ancient. The effort is worth the try, but as TG reminds, quoting from that computer generated puppet Yoda, “no try, do”
So What? So What? There’s the problem right there. Luann has never taken resolutions (or anything else) seriously and she never puts any kind of a demand on herself to improve. She always just wants to push it off on other people, and she brings this reaction from Bernice on herself – with her objectionable behavior that would be impossible for any psych major to ignore. Expecting other people to take responsibility for her actions, or non-actions, is arrogant, rude and childish. No normal person would seriously consider her request. At least Bernice is trying to get her to realize the flaw in her thinking – Nancy and Frank gave up years ago.
We all know Luann won’t make any change in her life here, and no resolution will be achieved. So it begs the question: what is the point of all this? There’s no character development (unless I’m wrong and Luann DOES achieve something, which I highly doubt) and we’re not learning anything about the characters that we didn’t already know. So is this just more filler, or is there a point other than beating an already-dead horse?
Though I take back all my complaints if Luann ends up giving Bernice a fistful of knuckles.
In grad school, I had two roommates, one studying landscape architecture and one studying Russian literature. I learned a lot about landscaping and read the first half of the first chapter of Anna Karenina. I doubt either of the roommates learned anything valuable about physics.
What is Luann’s major? Education? Or undecided?It seems they’re sitting in her bedroom or Bernice’s. It’s not shown as a mess. If her bedroom needs to be cleaned, Bernice could suggest helping her get started, making sure she isn’t doing all the work. Analyzing isn’t helping either.
restitutive fantasy (countable and uncountable, plural restitutive fantasies) (psychology) An imaginary reality created by someone to avoid what they cannot handle emotionally. maybe Denise hit the nail on the head
Denise IS Luann’s best friend, always has been. Bernice has been there from day one for Luann to complain to about life, and usually with helpful suggestions. Yesterday, she asked Luann to help her keep her resolutions. If she didn’t want feedback, she shouldn’t have asked.
If I had a friend like Bernice… Oh wait, I wouldn’t. I do not know what Luann sees in her. We need a Jack and Luann storyline. Or Toni and Brad without Shannon storyline. Just NOTHING with BURNice.
lvlax 12 months ago
TRANSLATION: “Why can’t I have a best friend who is actually a best friend??”
With how slow time passes in the Luanniverse.. 80,000 years is probably pretty accurate. ;)
.
So is it just me or is anyone else actually missing the Cabin Arc ?
J. Scarbrough 12 months ago
Bernice kind of has a point to a degree: there are some people who do put forth the effort in trying to do something, and then there are some people who do put forth the effort in trying to do something. “Effort,” in this case, is a subjective term, and it doesn’t seem like Luann’s idea of putting forth effort may be more effortless than she thinks.
Bedrock 12 months ago
I believe the action of repetition with the expectation of a different, more desirable result is called “insanity.”
ronaldspence 12 months ago
would you settle for a best friend who is, i don’t know…friendly?
Tyge 12 months ago
Tryin’ is lyin’, Luann. “Do. Or do not. There is no try.” — Yoda
Tyge 12 months ago
Say! That would be great to have a BFF bakery chef in training!
To give her credit though, apparently she makes great crepes! 8^ )
Yuban333 12 months ago
I think it comes down to how hard one tries. I can try my hardest to understand trigonometry, but that doesn’t mean that I will become good at it. But just because I don’t master it, doesn’t mean that the effort was wasted.
ericbrower 12 months ago
Before you go any further Bernice; how many personality quirks have you resolved to change? And FAILED?!
red_tape 12 months ago
forget the major, luann, just find a friend. bernice ain’t it.
Wilde Bill 12 months ago
After all this time, she should realize that Bernice is not her best friend.
cmxx 12 months ago
A bakery major! The best best friend ever!
priyansh.jeziel 12 months ago
I see many ruined lives in Bernice’s future, should she continue on this career path. (Or maybe she’ll become a Dr. Ruth)
Azul0858 12 months ago
Bernice means to say: What do you think is stopping you from having a clean room? What would it mean to you if your room were cleaner? Can you make a plan to work some basic cleaning into your routine, so your room is mostly clean, most of the time? But she’s more excited about making connections with what she’s learning than she is about helping Luann.
Joe1962 12 months ago
Luann tell Frank you need to put a sign in the front yard haring for a New friend.
aesirson4 12 months ago
This strip has jumped the shark-time to retire it(ya,ya I know l-if I don’t like it stop reading,well trust me…everyone with a clue has)
rheddmobile 12 months ago
She needs a best friend who’s a maid.
nightflight 12 months ago
Keep it simple, like Kip. His major is football and he’s getting a minor in carnal knowledge.
Wilkins068 12 months ago
Luann needsta go back to th first day of the comic an skip over th second day. That’s when Bernice came in
charlenelin1201 12 months ago
How do you gently tell someone to stop being so full of herself.
snsurone76 12 months ago
I’ve a feeling that when Bernice hangs out her shingle, her clientele will be VERY small.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace 12 months ago
“….. not that I don’t enjoy being psychoanalyzed with every breath. It shows she finds me fascinating. And all those people on the other side of the screen find me interesting.”
JoeMuc2009 12 months ago
yawn…
Mordock999 Premium Member 12 months ago
“80,000 years??”
Wasn’t there an “ice age” going on around about then, despite the fact that there NO Internal Combustion Engines around?
Oops.
Shouldn’t have mentioned that. ;-)
[DUCKS]
eced52 12 months ago
Does she really think Luann is going to understand this stuff?
Aladar30 Premium Member 12 months ago
Bernice seems to prove pure joy in analyzing Luann. But it’s hard to understand if it’s the enthusiasm of a student or the morbidity of someone who depersonalizes others to make fantasies about them. Of course Luann is annoyed by how she acts! But I have to agree with Bernice on one thing. Luann should choose resolutions that she can accomplish. Let’s hope Bernice will also sets resolutions on how to be a better person and tries to achieve them, helped by Luann.
Bernedoodle 12 months ago
Who knows Luann? Bakery Science BF could happen when you yeast expect it
Huckleberry Hiroshima 12 months ago
It’s not about her major. She’s a narcissistic control freak no matter her major.
OneTime59 12 months ago
The psychology book is correct about repeated failure. 80,000 is a LOT of resolutions to make. Appears, though, Luann will still be friends with Bernice.
Ellis97 12 months ago
Luann is right. Bernice is a terrible friend. She’s rude, has no manners, puts people down, thinks she’s better than everyone else and she’s a bore. I don’t get what Luann sees in her.
French Persons' Celebration of Peeved Harry Dinkle Premium Member 12 months ago
Bernice is a fruitcake, so that could put her into the “bakery science” category.
Rose686 12 months ago
Some of my friends did sciences and languages and I had ones that did business like me!
mgl179 12 months ago
Sorry Bernice, some of the most successful people are the ones who tried and failed repeatedly, until they succeeded.
There is nothing wrong with trying and failing if one learns something from it.
STACEY MARSHALL Premium Member 12 months ago
Bring on the donuts!
ctolson 12 months ago
Or at least a best friend who isn’t half baked.
Lescoe Brandon 12 months ago
“Bakery Science Major” = Food Production Engineer. G&K are at fault for this poor arc. Also, showing Bernice going into the STEM field would have been inspiration to young women to pursue the science to help society.
chris_o42 12 months ago
Perhaps, Bernice, you might make a resolution to avoid being a snarky, condescending know-it-all, and for once just try to be a supportive friend?
Lord Hearteater 12 months ago
It’s just a bit of post-holiday time-filling. Greg had a week’s worth of New Year’s resolution jokes to get through. Things should return to being more interesting next week.
Thomas Scott Roberts creator 12 months ago
Someone wrote a piece online about how CHEERS indulged in ‘smart-shaming.’ Characters like Diane, Frasier, and Lilith, and anyone else who tried to say anything educated, became objects of ridicule, as if the average person automatically interprets intelligence as pomposity and arrogance and nothing else.
But, of course, Cliff was an idiot, and he got his share of derision. I suppose we learn to like an average somewhere in between.
6foot6 12 months ago
It’s like shes walking around with her fingers in her ears saying, I’m not listening!!!!
carrissima 12 months ago
Bernice has no idea how to actually talk to or interact with people, so she attempts to mask that by approaching EVERY. SINGLE. SITUATION. with psychobabble and jargon. Case in point, she couldn’t even tell Puddles needed to go outside and blathered at him about the pain he must be feeling at being separated from his people.
I also think she is studying psychology in a misguided attempt to help fix herself, because she definitely has some problems that need addressing, but she isn’t handling them. Just masking.
ThreeDogDad Premium Member 12 months ago
Bernice is destined to be the crazy cat lady that no one talks to.
luann1212 12 months ago
This has been a plot device 75,000 years ago! Darn, I’m really ancient. The effort is worth the try, but as TG reminds, quoting from that computer generated puppet Yoda, “no try, do”
Don Bagert Premium Member 12 months ago
Surprisingly, Kansas State University actually has a four-year Bachelor of Science in Bakery Science and Management!
DawnQuinn1 12 months ago
Why is she still your best friend? She is an arrogant pain in the “rump”
oakie817 12 months ago
free donuts!
comic reader 22 12 months ago
So What? So What? There’s the problem right there. Luann has never taken resolutions (or anything else) seriously and she never puts any kind of a demand on herself to improve. She always just wants to push it off on other people, and she brings this reaction from Bernice on herself – with her objectionable behavior that would be impossible for any psych major to ignore. Expecting other people to take responsibility for her actions, or non-actions, is arrogant, rude and childish. No normal person would seriously consider her request. At least Bernice is trying to get her to realize the flaw in her thinking – Nancy and Frank gave up years ago.
Tomorrow Luann gives Mrs. Horner her list! LOL!
BJShipley1 12 months ago
We all know Luann won’t make any change in her life here, and no resolution will be achieved. So it begs the question: what is the point of all this? There’s no character development (unless I’m wrong and Luann DOES achieve something, which I highly doubt) and we’re not learning anything about the characters that we didn’t already know. So is this just more filler, or is there a point other than beating an already-dead horse?
Though I take back all my complaints if Luann ends up giving Bernice a fistful of knuckles.
mountainclimber 12 months ago
In grad school, I had two roommates, one studying landscape architecture and one studying Russian literature. I learned a lot about landscaping and read the first half of the first chapter of Anna Karenina. I doubt either of the roommates learned anything valuable about physics.
tcayer 12 months ago
Making a resolution is meaningless unless you act to make it happen. Just putting it on the list won’t accomplish anything.
YorkGirl Premium Member 12 months ago
What is Luann’s major? Education? Or undecided?It seems they’re sitting in her bedroom or Bernice’s. It’s not shown as a mess. If her bedroom needs to be cleaned, Bernice could suggest helping her get started, making sure she isn’t doing all the work. Analyzing isn’t helping either.
Rachel Yacovissi 12 months ago
My best friend has a masters in psychology she has never tried to use her degree on me but she is a good listener.
paulscon 12 months ago
restitutive fantasy (countable and uncountable, plural restitutive fantasies) (psychology) An imaginary reality created by someone to avoid what they cannot handle emotionally. maybe Denise hit the nail on the head
tremaine53 12 months ago
Bernice is Luann’s best friend?!? That’s depressing!
paulscon 12 months ago
Denise IS Luann’s best friend, always has been. Bernice has been there from day one for Luann to complain to about life, and usually with helpful suggestions. Yesterday, she asked Luann to help her keep her resolutions. If she didn’t want feedback, she shouldn’t have asked.
Angry Indeed Premium Member 12 months ago
If Bernice is your “Best Friend”, there’s the problem, Luann.
Oarsman 12 months ago
Your friends are the people whose faults you accept.
andersjg Premium Member 12 months ago
Beware of friends full of “psycho-babble”.
Dale 15 12 months ago
Watching paint dry is pretty interesting…by comparison.
[Unnamed Reader - 14b4ce] 12 months ago
Make a New Year’s resolution not to waste time making New Year’s resolutions.
Rista 12 months ago
In just shy of 70 years I have yet to make a New Years resolution. I think I have a good streak going here. No need to break it now.
mindjob 12 months ago
My Nerdar has been tripped
Nick Wright 12 months ago
“In this essay, I will…”
The Quiet One 12 months ago
That’s a great question Luann. In fact I was going to say time for a new friend that isn’t stuck on her self.
bilbrlsn 12 months ago
Resolved, get a best friend who is a Bakery Science Major!
Oops, another revolution that failed. Hi, Bernice!
bwest.devore37 12 months ago
she needs to kick Bernice to the curb.
melodymucisa 12 months ago
The more I read these, the more I dislike Bernice. I wish Greg had never written Delta out of the strip!
namelocdet 12 months ago
Luann, you need a new best friend.
Susan123 12 months ago
Because Bernice likes feeling superior.
kittysquared Premium Member 12 months ago
If I had a friend like Bernice… Oh wait, I wouldn’t. I do not know what Luann sees in her. We need a Jack and Luann storyline. Or Toni and Brad without Shannon storyline. Just NOTHING with BURNice.
Dr. Caligari 12 months ago
Is it just me or is Bernice getting tedious?
Sisyphos 12 months ago
You made Bernie your BFF, Luann. You. So, deal with it, or cut her off….
llbmay 12 months ago
I was hoping that the DeGroots would find out that they were in the wrong cabin the whole time
tinstar 12 months ago
I always found it very easy to get tired of Bernice, rather quickly.