For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for July 08, 2024

I keep wondering when Mike is gonna at least trim and shape his beard so that it makes him more presentable and looking like he cares somewhat about his appearance. Time will tell, I guess..

My brother-in-law’s mother bugged him for years about his beard. Got her nowhere.

Mike pulled a feat – impressed his mom! It’s the moment she realizes he’s no longer a child but an adult of the real world.

It’s not the beard… It’s that deformed head of his.

Mike has already done a couple of successful articles: one for his school paper, and another on “Gordon’s Garage”. That alone should prove his credibility. And at least this assignment will get him out of that accursed night job!

I’ve known many reporters over the years, and Mike would fit right in.

Maybe, but their loss of credibility doesn’t affect your career.

He still looks like a slob.

Sounds good. show up to a job interview with tats all over your face and see how well it works out for you. . .

Mike’s mom can talk him till she is blue in her face!

What Mike needs is his girlfriend, what’s her name, Rhetta, to say she doesn’t like his beard! It rubs her the wrong way.

Luckily he will shave sometime later :D

A hairy face worked for Hemingway

Spoken like a true beatnik. Now come the poems recited in dimly lit coffee shops

A career where Michael would fit right in…

Undisclosed location. Several men are gathered around Michael being read an initiation oath, some wearing cowboy shirts, some wearing overalls, others in sleeveless jackets with the Rebel flag. Michael has just been presented a jacket like theirs.

Leader: His look was perfect for us. Gentlemen, let us welcome the newest member of the Dixie Mafia, Michael Patterson!!

Dixie Mafia members hoot and holler at Michael’s initiation

When Mike doesn’t get many (or any!) offers to be on assignments, maybe it might enter his head about the beard.

From the Herald:

Recently I was awaiting a flight in the terminal of the airport of a big city. Most of the people there presented a pretty sloppy appearance, with rumpled clothes, T-shirts with vulgar slogans, and girls with skirts so short they were in danger of exposing their underpants. There was an enlisted Marine who looked the exact opposite; with polished shoes and a uniform that looked like he picked it up from the cleaners 30 minutes ago. I approached this young man and said is it not obvious to him he looked like the odd man out and that he is out of touch with the times. His response was simple “The Marines don’t do that”. I then later learned there was a list they are taught during their recruit training:

*Marines don’t wear a scruffy uniform.

*Marines don’t wear long unkempt hair.

*Marines don’t slouch around with their hands in the pockets.

*Marines don’t fail to answer with a “Yes, Sir” or “No, M’aam” when talking to or being addressed by their superior officers.

*Marines don’t question lawful orders.

*Marines don’t lie, cheat, steal, or break their promises.*Marines don’t let down their fellow Marines, their families, or their country by succumbing to drug abuse, gambling, or extramarital sex.*Marines don’t abandon a fellow Marine in distress.

MARINES DO NOT DO THAT

Appearance is the first thing anyone can judge about you as you enter a room your appearance talks first, (unless your Fran Fine as her voice travels faster than sight). One needs to think about this on job interviews. The meeting starts in the waiting room and sometimes at the front door.

Yeah, you can get away with that if you are a man

If that was the case, women should shave!

Yeah, Mike, get a nose ring, a face, neck and arm tats, some eyebrow rings, and do unGodly things with your ears. THAT will give you credibility.

Back in the sixties, it was all about hair; if you had long hair or a beard you even had trouble finding a job. I thought we’d be over that by now. (Heavy sigh.)

Maybe he will shave someday.

Yeah, he’ll fit right in with present day “journalists”.

Sophistry.

Michael, you are correct in what you say. Sadly there are too many in this world that are all show and no go. Many in this world would be surprised to find out the number of people who are members of a group who possess what is called Stealth Wealth.

They were satisfied to make their fortune the hard way, through their own hard work and efforts while forgoing the fame that money could let them buy. They live modestly, dress modestly, act modestly, and are happy to be philanthropic without notice or recognition. They are the Joseph Leek’s, Leonard Gigowski’s, Margaret Southern’s, Ronald Read’s, or Sylvia Bloom’s of the world.

They left the world a better place. Far better than the upright, judgement people putting on airs in their self-righteous indignation.

I’m not impressed. Ever since Michael left for college and began to look like Farley I have generally avoided reading strips about him. See ya next week.

As a feminist, I read this a little differently. Elly finally realizes that Mike has become a man. He wants to be recognized for what he does, what he can do, not how he looks! That’s what women have been wanting for a long time and mostly not getting from men.

Ah, well. He’s young. He’ll learn… or not.

Everybody stay tuned…the lawn mower is coming!

Well, that and Mike doesn’t want to go in there looking 12!

If Elly would stop nagging him about it, he would probably shave.

First impressions do indeed matter

This is the beginning of Lynn Johnston trying to convince everyone that Michael is some sort of intellectual.

Many years ago, my eldest son went to a job interview wearing a t-shirt, low-handing jeans, and a long key chain from his back pocket. He said something very similar to Mike when he got back and I said nearly the same thing as Elly when he left. He said “people who only look at what I’m wearing are superficial and have a problem!” I said, “Did you get the job?” “No….” “Then YOU have a problem.” He dressed better after that.

He’s going on assignment? Did I miss something?

There aren’t a lot of strips I remember word for word from when they originally ran.

This is one of them.

At least trim it. Ya look like a bum!

We call that Sophomore sophistry. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Elly: a very incredibly credible response thought.

The old hippie should have heard herself in his comeback

The old hippie should have heard herself in his comeback.

I could never understand the reasons or the appeal of letting your facial hair grow into a long scraggly beard. They look so gross all tangled up with food stuck in them and perspiration. Imagine kissing someone with that grossness on their face and around their mouth? YUKK! Not to mention dangerous around machinery.

At least, he’s not covered in tattoos. I think those would affect his credibility more than his beard. And yes, I’m not a fan of tattoos.