Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for March 02, 2022

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    BE THIS GUY  over 2 years ago

    The kids will just give the bill collectors your number.

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    ronaldspence  over 2 years ago

    the ole mobile phone run around…but your call is very important to us, please stay on the line and we will answer in the order received!

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    BasilBruce  over 2 years ago

    Looks like Thomas caught something from his dad, who was once a lawyer but got over it.

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    eromlig  over 2 years ago

    He may be on to something. He reads bass clef, after all. (Or is that the other guy?)

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    Concretionist  over 2 years ago

    Kids. You can’t live with ‘em and they can’t live without you.

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    Bullet Bronson Premium Member over 2 years ago

    That sounds like a Catch-22.

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    Cornelius Noodleman  over 2 years ago

    My brother would be a good debt collector.

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    Walter Kocker Premium Member over 2 years ago

    I’m sorry. I’m of the “Kill a Robocaller for Jesus” ilk.

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    B UTTONS  over 2 years ago

    Thomas’ spam filter wasn’t working for a while.

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    iggyman  over 2 years ago

    Great for spammers too!

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    momofalex7  over 2 years ago

    Go ahead. Call and text. He won’t answer either of them.

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    Doug K  over 2 years ago

    “It’s been sure nice talking to you, dad.” … And as he hung up the phone, it occurred to him, his son had grown up just like him.

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    James Wolfenstein  over 2 years ago

    “Will be…” :D

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    Ermine Notyours  over 2 years ago

    I always called my dad from my landline, but one time my car broke down on the way to his place so I called with my flip phone. His roommate answered completely defensive about giving me a straight answer. “Who are you!?” “I’m his son!” (They had my landline approved on their caller I.D., but not my cell.) They both were great about living beyond their means, which is why I’m usually so careful about not buying on credit.

    Now I use a smartphone as my primary phone, and I’ve successfully figured out how to silence it. The only time I noticed it ringing was when I was listening to audio, and I heard a gap of silence for a second.

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    AndreasMartin  over 2 years ago

    You have no idea. Our kids’ rooms are about ten meters away from the kitchen…yet we need ‘WhatsApp’ to tell them when it’s time for dinner, because otherwise they would not notice it. Modern times. And YouTube of course.

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    NeedaChuckle Premium Member over 2 years ago

    Heck with kids, I have a friend my age who is impossible to get in contact with. Doesn’t answer phone, messages or texts. He calls when he feels like it.

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    Ellis97  over 2 years ago

    I have this gut instinct to always answer the call when my mother calls. Plus, there’s no decline option when she does.

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    HOTLOTUS1  over 2 years ago

    press 4 to return to the main menu

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    Rexlibris.rutgers  over 2 years ago

    I totally respect Stephen. Went through that with my son

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    Lee26 Premium Member over 2 years ago

    Cat’s in the Cradle syndrome?

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    diskus Premium Member over 2 years ago

    How long before phones dont come with a talk feature?

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    Zebrastripes  over 2 years ago

    How can anyone ignore the alerts given on the cell?

    “Curiosity killed the cat” way of thinking….

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    stringer831  over 2 years ago

    I have a moderate hearing loss, so the sound quality of a smart phone is very important to me. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem important to most smartphone manufacturers. It’s nice that the phone in my pocket takes great pictures and/or video. But—-OK, I’m old—-but my phone is for communication. If I can’t hear what’s being said, it’s useless.

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    DannyDonkeyHatesPeople  over 2 years ago

    Stephan should bring farina back but during covid.

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    wongo  over 2 years ago

    Cancel Thomases phone account and problem solved!

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    Bill LaRocque Premium Member over 2 years ago

    Ding!

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    Goat from PBS  over 2 years ago

    It’s an endless loop! Break it by sending an e-mail!

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    garysmigs  over 2 years ago

    I created a silent ringtone as about the only time I ever used Garageband back in the early days… I assign custom ringtones to those I might want to talk to… I tell others to text if they want to call me…

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    Cameron1988 Premium Member over 2 years ago

    That’s just sad

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    Sue G  over 2 years ago

    Family and friends each have their own ringtone. If anyone else calls, I look at my phone, and if I don’t recognize the number, I don’t answer. They can leave a message.

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    kaycstamper  over 2 years ago

    Sounds like my daughter only she never answers!

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    198.23.5.11  over 2 years ago

    JOKE/PUN

    Somebody’s cell phone goes off and the ringtone music is Beethoven.

    Somebody asks t he phone owner what the title is and he says—“it’s FUR ELISE”.

    And the other guy says—“If it’s for Elise,why doesn’t SHE answer the phone?”

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    Albert Sims Premium Member over 2 years ago

    My cellphone is my secondary phone. Only grab it when I leave the house in case of emergency. Only four numbers in my “contact list”. If anyone else calls, I don’t answer, because 9 times out of 10 on that phone, it’s a spammer. If someone wants to talk, they need to call my primary number, the internet based HOME phone.

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    zeexenon  over 2 years ago

    It’s the old Circular Reference trick. Expect an Excel Police knock on the door very soon. They get so upset over them, their revenge is to never tell you where they are.

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    JLChi  over 2 years ago

    The only time I ever answer my phone is when someone I want to talk to emails me to let me know they are going to call.

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    mfrasca  over 2 years ago

    Our sons will only answer a Discord post, so we have a family server.

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    unfair.de  over 2 years ago

    How do you call people that have a big bill collection?

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    RWill  over 2 years ago

    “Anyway, I’ve been trying to reach you about your extended warranty …”

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    gerlach5  over 2 years ago

    Stephan’s middle name is Thomas

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    jbruins84341  over 2 years ago

    I feel the same way with my son. Unless he needs something, I can never get him on the phone, and he never answers texts! Grrr!

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    Tentoes  over 2 years ago

    I had a bill collector calling several times a day. “Until you pay this off, the calls will continue.” I replied, “Not if I can’t pay the phone bill by Friday.” She backed off and only called about weekly. I managed to get her paid off a few weeks later.

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    F-Flash  over 2 years ago

    What’s ironic, is that the parents are probably paying their phone bill.

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    Otis Rufus Driftwood  over 2 years ago

    Pastis rarely mentions his kids in the strip. I see why.

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    Sisyphos  over 2 years ago

    Welcome, Thomas Cartoon-Boy-Boy, to the wonderful world of PBS….

    Ditch the cellphone or ditch Dad?

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    Swirls Before Pine  over 2 years ago

    My phone has voice mail. It gives me a reason to not answer when it rings.

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    robert423elliott  almost 2 years ago

    I have always been great at avoiding bill collectors. Want to know my secret? I guarantee you it will work for everyone. I paid my bills and I paid them on time! Never heard from a bill collector in my life!

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