Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for February 26, 2024

This is not going well. Something’s got to change. A little honest confession from Bern about her “helper compulsion” would be a good start. 8^ )

Yeah, perhaps Bernice could be fixed . . . if you know what I mean . . . as Donkey from SHREK would call it, “The Bob Barker treatment.”

Yes, B is going nuts trying NOT to help. But meanwhile, despite Piro’s objections to helper Halper, there he sits…

If you don’t tell Luann and Tara to stop they never will. On the other hand having told Bernice to not try to fix him she persists. Piro would be better offer sulking with Leslie who won’t try to fix Piro because Leslie couldn’t care less.

She’s trying not to overdo it – which is difficult for her

Bernice, why you did not offer I’m the peanuts sooner, You kept on talking when he ask you not, this is out of Bernice depth.

Give her credit for trying to restrain herself.

These days it seems like G & K need to return to Tiffany for new inspiration.

Come on Bern; just let him do the talking. You say nothing unless you’re trying to add yourself to a list of people he no longer wants to be around.

We’re asking Bernice to take her entire view of her world and her self and twist it 180° all at once. She’s been a bossy busybody control freak all her life. Her whole way of being is one big, strong, adamant habit. “All at once” isn’t going to happen.

Yeah she can’t stop nor will she, she doesn’t know how. Her carer choice is REALLY not for her.

Funny, I was thinkin that when Piro looks in to th can of nuts, they all have Bernice’s face on em

Buster Keaton? (That does sound fun!)

Okay, I’m docking Piro a quarter point and putting it in Bernice’s column.

Yes, she’s failing the ‘I just want to vent’ test.

But to be fair, she’s being put in a “Don’t think of a pink elephant” situation.

It is human nature help one’s friends when they are in trouble. When you rattle on and on about how miserable you are being in a swamp with the water rising, you only have so much room to get your nose out of joint if they slip into wanting to help a friend.

Especially if that friend you seek out is someone who you know is seriously pursuing the path of being a helping professional.

And no, it doesn’t matter whether Bernice is as suited to the career about as well as a pig is suited to fly. You know that’s who she is.

Sure, wave a red cape in front of a bull and ask it to promise not to charge.

But don’t be surprised, or get snarky, when you end up with a hole in your head if you keep it up long enough.

Yes, yes she is.

The man just wants you all to chill

Nobody owes Piro anything and it’s up to Piro to pull his head out of his butt and come to terms with whatever makes him boo hoo all over Bernice.

No, she can’t.

Bernice and Bets have something in common—both are totally self-absorbed!

Piro, it’s time for you to walk out the front door—and head for the nearest bar. You might find a couple of REAL shrinks there!

Time to grow up Pop, tell them how you feel, instead of brooding all the time.

I knew it, Bernice goes nuts over Piro.

Think about her last name.

Nil would actually be besr.. to go and not talk.

Yes, she is nuts.

If someone gets mad at you because they tell you their problems and then you try to help then they just want attention.

She’s doing it for her not him

Denial ain’t just a river, Bernice.

NUTS? NUTS! EXACTLY!

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Yes, Bernice. You’re nuts. Piro is being VERY clear about what he needs— NO ADVICE— and even though ‘no advice’ is what would help him right now, YOU. CAN. NOT. DO. IT.

At least Bern is trying not to butt in. She seems to be having trouble not saying anything. I know it’s hard for her. Tara and Luann don’t seem to want to help him, just competing for his attention.

He likes to be alone, leave him alone!

Yeah, he’s got ‘em.

Well, I STILL say that Piro is giving Bernice considerably more “leeway” than he gave Tara and Luann.

Still.

It looks like what patience he has with Miz Haliper is quickly evaporating.

Methinks he’ll be a-leaving the DeGroot Homestead forthwith.

He might even head over to Tiffany’s house.

Not that he’d get any “peace” over there.

Speaking of Tiffany……., ;-)

This arc is really being a pleasant surprise. Bernice is really trying not to ask questions os saying inappropriate things and she’s doing what she can to make Piro relax. It’s nice to see her try so hard, but I have a doubt. Is she doing it for Piro’s well-being or to be better than Tara and Luann? Better not to think about it. I wonder which fun silent movie she chose? Buster Keaton? Chaplin? Harold Lloyd? Or Greg Evans’ always favourites duo, the legendary Lauren and Hardy? If the movie is Buster Keaton’s “Seven Chances” it would be a big sign of where Bernice wants to take her relationship with Piro.

wanna bet this week ends with him shutting b up with a lip lock?

Actually Les and Piro might get along well. Both have very dysfunctional families, both like to sit alone and ruminate and it’s true that Les would never try to “fix” Piro—that would be too much like work.

Bernice, Piro’s not broken, quit trying to fix him.

Hit the bricks ! Looser!

I have no patience for people who want to wallow in self pity. His imitating a brick wall – not communicating with anyone – is getting old.He needs to get mad, tell his parents that he didn’t get them pregnant, and his half/step siblings are not his responsibility.

Piro should not talk to people he knows and expect them to not be themselves. Bernice, Tara and Luann are all just being themselves.

They’ve got the roles reversed here. It took me almost thirty years of marriage to learn that sometimes when women talk about a problem, they just want to talk about it, and don’t want a solution. When men talk about a problem, they want a solution.

It’s a natural human reflex. Women want to nurture-fix people problems, guys want to analyze and refer or hands-on do-it-themselves fix everything.

To borrow a quote from the illustrious Foghorn Leghorn, Bernice is “as subtle as a hand grenade in a barrel of oatmeal”.

“Deez nuts!”

Berniece is soooo needy it is pathetic.

Can we move on from this ingrate ?Who cares what his misfortunes are? Three reasonably attractive young women are showing concern for him, and he offers only surliness. I wonder what Tiffany’s doing..

Uh-huh. So Piro told Bernice to stop. Couldn’t he tell the other girls, too? It worked with me, since I used to care too much for people. Painful, but life’s like that.

It’s a chick thing. Go hang out with the dudes. They’ll say “S’up?” and you can say “Nuthin’.” and not another word would be spoken.

It’s hard to refrain from giving advice.

The irony is that the running narrative about men is that they feel compelled to fix the situation when women just want them to listen.

Bernice hasn’t learned the first rule of counselors. Listen to their clients.

Piro continues to cultivate his base of female sympathy givers by cleverly telling them not to care. Why doesn’t he go home to see how his mom is and maybe help out a little?

I am so tired of this whiny little puke.

I’m kind of appalled at the lack of compassion for Piro. Did any of you read the panel which describes what he’s dealing with right now (and on an ongoing basis)? I’m not sure I could deal with all that in a constructive way—and he TRIED to deal with it in a constructive way by visiting Bernice…but she can’t supply what he needs, namely, an ear. All she can offer is a mouth which delivers the formulaic “fixes” she has for people in her head. Despite the existence of the expression, very few people can “pull themselves up by their bootstraps.”

Piro just needs to relax and be a man, if you get my drift…………………….

“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” S.R. Covey

Some people can’t be helped because they simply do not want to be helped. If you listen, you’d figure it out.

Most people “listen” with the intent to respond. They’re just waiting for a pause so they can interject their thoughts.

Real listening is when you just open your ears with the intent to fully appreciate what the other person is saying. Rare quality.

Hang with Ox, he’s uncomplicated

“Sweets for the sweet” so… nuts?

Girls try to fix things and people, it’s in their nature. Though I can see things from his point, Piro should be glad.

I preach reading and trying to understand the story on its on relative merits, given how the toon is humorous in theme with the underlying events and issues being presented, if one looks, driven, I agree by the characters. Bern is very idealistic, good-hearted, and to put it simply, is not presented as being grown up to understand that she doesn’t have all the answers, and in fact is still unaware of the right questions, That being said, I think she could make a fantastic healing professional once she matures. As to Walt/Piro, in spite of the blazingly obvious ENORMOUS CHIP ON HIS SHOULDERS (not unexpected given the horror show his family is) ironically Bern may just be kind of friend (not ready to predict more, and its not needed unless GnK decide it is) he needs. She does care also, she is fighting with herself to try to do it his way, leaving room for obvious misdirection plays. Wednesday will be crucial as a set-up. Wait before jumping to conclusions as to what will happen. Those who do so quickly end up with sore noses being led around by them so much (lol).

I have said this before, Luann is not a “fix upper”, she is a “cheer upper”; she just has a natural tendency to try to make people feel better. She does end up helping people sometimes (like when she helped Jack decide to be a vet tech), but it’s not because she starts out thinking she has all the solutions for everything (that would be against her entire character anyway, she is too unsure of herself). And much as I dislike Tara, she is not trying to “fix” Piro by taking him on adventures, just make him feel better (though there’s a possibility she thinks that’s all he needs, and she definitely isn’t doubting herself like Luann).

But Bernice here? Bernice IS the person that think she has the solutions to everything and everyone, and if she ever doubts herself, she will just bring up a book as backup. Piro is coming to a realisation; but where does this story lead us? Will Luann arrive home and somehow connect to Piro? Will Bernice realise something about herself? Will it just lead nowhere?

Usually, its the men who try to fix women. Now Bernice, etal, know how hard it is to just let someone talk without fixing.

Who is minding the kids while Piro wallows in self pity?

All Piro does every day is go around to everyone he can find to subject them to his whiny poor-me story. I agree with the person who said he should go try it on Les, but since his whole ploy is to get attention from girls I guess that won’t happen.

Hint to Piro:. If you want to let it all out but don’t want listener to react, start a journal. Paper/electronics are silent.

But she IS trying and all she does is because she cares. Be patient with her.

Maybe instead of trying to “fix” Piro, the gang can simply pitch in & help babysit the 6 kids?

This is just another one of those negative, re-occurring “bad parent” (but with no explanation) characterizations that G&K are so fond of using.

Ann – ran out on Les, habitual scammer.

Jonah – dumps Shannon off all the time.

Irma – treats her adult son like a little boy.

Frank – pretty much stays as low key as possible.

Nancy – likes the friend better than her daughter.

Mrs. Halper – kind of strict, just not cool enough

Bet’s Parents – just messed up in general.

Tara’s Parents – not around, they’re messed up too.

Piro’s New Dad – supports their home, Piro’s sick mom and seven children (one of them goes to college) – he’s a jerk, no reason, just "cause.

Women don’t seem to remember the last twenty times they felt down and that it will pass. They want to talk about it and talk about it.

Men know it will pass and faster if they do other things besides talking about it.

I’m not talking about life-changing trauma but the little upsets that occur in every life.

Finding a solution to his babysitting situation is different from “fixing” him.She should have stopped after “movie together”. But Piro should give her credit for trying to stop. AND he could tell her what he expects from her, or anyone for that matter.

SOMEBODY is nuts.

The movie will be Charlie Chaplin in EASY STREET

Bernice is trying; she’s at least catching herself before going too far.

People who care find it very, very hard not to try to help. Even when the best thing to do is just listen, or just be there.

The nuts will turn out to be “red hots”, and Piro dives for the water faucet

Seems to me that it’s Bernice, Luann and Tara who have the issues, and Piro is the sane one. Anyone would be unhappy in his circumstances. He doesn’t need cheering up, he needs solutions to his problems. As his cousin, Tara should volunteer to help with those kids or find other of their relatives who can. And there must be other ways some of this burden can be taken from his shoulders.

No, she can’t.

Piro is going to be sick and tired of the entire Luann cast!

Following this arc, I’m being reminded of the days, weeks … months following August 28, 2010, 11:11 a.m. when I became a widower. Everyone who knew absolutely NOTHING of what I was going through, assured me that they knew EXACTLY what I was going through and told me how to “fix” it. I really hope this guy gets his solitude and maybe the quiet company of some somber and sober friends.

FIVE more days of this mishegass? Ugh.

I do think that part of the annoyance on Piro’s part is that Bern didn’t let him finish his sentence before jumping in; I believe she interrupted before he had a chance to finish his thought.

Is that a comment about how you can’t stop trying to fix someone, withoutreaaly knowing how, Bernice? Or, is about yourself in general?

Dude needs to transfer out of this stupid strip and over to ZITS.

Les’ insights are often blunt, but seemingly not meant to be hurtful—anymore than truth hurts. A draught of bitter tonic might be just the thing Piro needs.

If I wanted to be irresistible to women I would just change my name… to Well Enough. Women can’t leave Well Enough alone.

maybe he just can’t be fixed.