Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for May 04, 2024

The wife hates it when you have fun by yourself.

The perks of sports that dad listed seem to be lost on a lot of people these days.

He definitely has socialization and trust issues; too bad his parents haven’t picked up on that!!!

I knew Dad would launch into his usual “build character” tirade! The best sports are the non-competitive ones, like golf and archery.

The biggest lesson will be how to lose graciously.

I like how Dad looks at his necktie in the last panel…

quoting Malcom I must say “I see no flaws in his logic”

Of course it’s allowed. I do things alone all the time.

This is why Pachinko was so popular among Asian men of Dad’s generation. You could turn your back on a room full of people and just play your own game with no input from anyone else.

You had a choice of finding wisdom, inner peace, and solitude or a job, wife, and children.

Responsibility is over rated, but only by your critics.

When did the game turn into softball?

Double entendre, much

The kid may have a point.

I like Calvin’s response to his Dad’s usual “builds character” line. I think it sums up his Dad’s view that “suffering builds character” very well.

Whoever said, a couple of days ago, that team sports build character, have a beer. You were right on the money.

You cannot argue with Calvins’ logic.

In the old days a guy would tell his wife he’s going out for a pack of smokes and never be heard from again.

Or he could be like me and just doesn’t like to play softball or baseball.

Some kids expand their vocabulary by hearing new words.

Nice spin, Calvin!

I am an engineer and pilot by education and training. Maybe i i should have been a social scientist. I would like to get a group of CEOs together and have them play a game of T-ball and see how long it takes them to turn it into a competition.

I don’t like the way Dad is contemplating his tie…

Dad’s comment is right on. Being an adult means tons of expectations and rules. That’s why he has that particular expression on his face as he looks at the tie. He looks as if he suddenly understands just how much control of his life it represents.

But Cal also nailed it. You only get full childhood freedom until you are about 9 or 10. Then the fact your life is controlled by rules you didn’t write sets in and you see the future. There are house rules and expectations, school rules, societal rules and eventually ‘rules of whatever road’ you follow.

Too true!

If I were that dad I would be all over that school about the bullying.

I agree with you, Calvin. Growing up sucks! :P

Calvin, I can so relate. As an introvert, I never wanted to join teams or compete. In school, I was talked to about my lack of leadership skills. I didn’t want to lead. I wanted to do what I was doing, do it well, and be left alone.

That’s what golf is for, Cavlin.

My barber gave up GOLF and stopping after work for a DRINK with the boys when he got MARRIED. They had 11 children.

So give pro wrestling a shot, Calvin

Well, dad, yes and no.

The advantage of team sports, is that you can blame somebody else for defeat. Individual sports when you lose, you lose. You can only blame the refs, or the rules.

I hate to break it to you Calvin but you’re not an introvert.

I don’t believe parents when they say “I want to make a better world for my child”. It always turns out that they just want to make their kids suffer the same way they did, out of a sick and selfish desire for validation.

Whaddya talking about, Dad? Who enjoys bicycling in the rain and the snow? Tent camping?

Wait…didn’t he sign up for baseball?

I foresee a vision of a teenage Calvin down in the basement, alone and angry, surfing the dark web on how to make homemade lethal weapons.

My father told me I HAD to play football. I told him in no uncertain terms that it wouldn’t happen. The coach was a jerk and many of the other players were bullies. I think I was the original Calvin, I had so many adventures alone. As a middle child, I was ignored and my adventures were wonderful.

Calvin mentions that he was “teased” so much that it forced him to do something he didn’t want to, and his dad doesn’t ask any questions about that. This is one of the few times I’m really pìssed at Calvin’s dad for adult reazons. “Teased” isn’t always the same as “bullied,” but a loving father would have wanted to find out for sure which is the case.

“When you grow up, it’s not allowed”

…says the guy who’s about to go bike 35 miles by himself…

My kids hated the harassment and injuries of team sports and became black belts in martial arts. That has paid off many times over the years!

I like spending some time with my family and a few friends, but I’m happiest when I’m by myself. I enjoy my own company the most.

Look what not playing sports did for Bill Watterson!

Since he does everything with Hobbes, he doesn’t do a lot by himself (except at school of course).

For a minute there I started thinking that Calvin might be related to what’s his name. Fortunately, his diatribe saved the day.

That’s what they used to be for… now it’s just about winning, bragging rights and something to point to when students are failing at everything else

After this, the 1994 rerun period just jumped to another story arc. You can read the rest of it starting at April 23, 1990.

When it comes to building character, Calvin’s dad need to show more rather then tell.

I’m a grown up and I mostly have fun by myself. No one tries to stop me.

I agree with Calvin about fun, but he does need to learn some self-discipline when it comes to things like school and homework.

So much depth of wisdom in this script.

I have to admit, he has a point.

If anyone here reads big Nate their has been a war going on about reviewing strips or not pretty stupid right?

Not just the wife. The government too.

words of wisdom from Calvin.

Any sport that requires getting 18 people together at the same time is not going to be a good carry-over sport into adult life. I was bullied at team sports in 8 different states as a boy. Maybe it built character for me but I bet those other guys are still bullies.

Calvin has a point.

Baseball, not softball

I love how dad is staring at his tie. The symbol of corporate bondage.