Nah, that’s greeting card stuff. While Mr.Rogers had really good messages, remember (as he always did) that his audience was *children*. Some people should make changes, even if it’s hard.
Queezle
Maybe at some point Sarah finds some middle ground between this and hoe grouchy and grumpy she used to be. But for now, if she really wants to change, I am happy for her.
Rose by Any other Name
… that, um, typo there though.
Poor Sarah.
(Seriously, though, I laughed WAY harder than I should have. Best comment. 10/10 typo.)
Emil
She’s still not quite following Joyce’s good advice of going for small positive changes, as opposed to grand gestures…
well, it was pretty obvious that it’d be a toll on her energy but idk if she’d still act like this if it was just say, her and joyce in their dorm room since joyce ‘loves/accepts’ all sides of sarah and such
She’s been at this for like five minutes, you 2014 Toyota Camry.
Marillius
It is growth, but it is also an over correction. She’s a child so mistakes like that are bound to happen. She’ll find a good balance given time, practice and the support of her friends. This is ABSOLUTELY a step in the right direction. She just decided to take it at a run and managed to 30 steps forward and 8 steps to the right onto someone else’s path. With a bit of course correction and some love from her friends, it won’t be that hard to realize she CAN be this sometimes and not kill herself with it (practice will also help with the amount of energy it takes) but that she doesn’t have to go QUITE this far to be emotionally available and friendly to be a better person.
not that he’s completely imploded/self harmed or anything but i imagine ethan’s current state probably isn’t healthy in the long run even if he is dating asher for now (makes me wonder if there would’ve been a cut to sarah dressing up ‘brightly’/in pastels to contrast his wardrobe lol)
That “Considerable” suggests she’s forcing herself to act this way and isn’t going to be able to keep it up. Maybe she’ll be able to “fake until she makes it” and it becomes easy for her, but more likely she’ll burn herself out and relapse.
It is good to see that the more nefarious suggestions from yesterday aren’t true – assuming she’s telling the truth here. Also good to see that Jacob’s not angry like some thought and that she’s not outraged that he’d dare to demand answers. 🙂
Still it’s hard to see this as long-term character growth for Sarah, even if she is sincere about wanting to make this change.
I think she is trying to take a age from Aristotle’s works and cultivate virtue. Rather than simply win over Jacob, I interpret this strip as Sarah trying to turn her life around so she can win over people and form connections like Lucy does instead of being a grumpy loner who, in her mind, seems to have accidentally stumbled into friendship with Joyce (of course Sarah has worked hard to maintain that relationship).
Maybe she can fake till she makes it. You know, eventually have trust and amicability be second nature.
honestly i think it’d be more believable if she had acted like carla and more ‘arrogant’ and such like “F*ck y’all i’ll say and do what i want just stay away from me if you can’t deal with it”
or like frank from always sunny: “I don’t care if anybody doesn’t like that about me. They don’t have to stick around!”
that said ,she should just start acting ‘amicable’ around teachers and stuff if she plans to be a future lawyer. if not ‘ladder climb’ like raidah but maybe not in quite as cunning/nasty of a way (although while most of the audience probably doesn’t have any raidah ‘fans’ i don’t think she’s necessarily done anything too bad in that regard although i imagine walky and lucy aren’t gonna be part of their ‘brunch group’ for longer, not that walky would’ve rly been able to use his ‘connections’ anywyas)
Pretty much nothin’, but people love to buy computers with completely unnecessary glowies on ’em.
Needfuldoer
Computer parts covered in RGB lights have been a thing for a few years now. They don’t do anything for performance, but more RGB = more clout when you post setup pics to /r/PCMR.
You can even get cases that are pretty much computer parts terrariums so you can show off all the shiny blinkies.
Mark
The difficulty these days is finding parts that don’t jump up and shout “look at meeee!!!”
Aura
Well, if you turn all your rgb to blue, it helps keep your computer cool. You know, like how turning it all red makes it go faster.
Shadowsnail
Red coffeemakers go faster too!
zee
Add coolness factor
HueSatLight
computer fans with colored LEDs. Ironically in a Hue ring.
I’m hoping she’ll balance out. A few hours/days where it is very difficult, maybe a brief explosion, but eventually to where she can keep a bit better of an attitude, but without such an effort to go against her general nature (like, she can keep a neutral face, and still not like hanging out with many people, but she can also not dwell on how she’s into someone who doesn’t want the same thing as her)
i’d assume she’d only act like this in a group setting but still trade barbs with raidah if she came across them if not just neutral/avoid talking to ppl she’d dislike, like Jen even if she did tell her that she’s not gonna ‘respond to bait’ or whatever
But that’s not to say that Sarah can’t become more open and welcoming in the long term. Its just not a thing that one can flip on overnight. Just gotta ease into it, and not expect things to change quickly.
Thing is, while this might be more welcoming, it’s not more open. This is just a different layer of emotional armor. She’s faking it. It’s not real.
It’s a more socially acceptable way of hiding her vulnerabilities.
It’s like Becky in a way: “Nobody likes a Debby Downer”
How? Sarah said her attitude change isn’t motivated by him. Do we just choose not to believe her then?
Kimi
He might have been the final straw on the camel’s back, but I think that Sarah’s point in the comic is that this change has been brewing for a while. If anything, she might be more mimicking Joyce’s normally happy mood than Lucy’s disposition.
I do think that Jacob’s assumption that she is doing this to steal him away from Lucy is a bit rough to vocalize. It isn’t as if she went out of her way to be around him acting nicer, as they have the same friend group. It does seem like some of his inner emotions are leaking through where he doesn’t like this change for some reason or another. Maybe he preferred her cranky (even if he didn’t want to be in a relationship with her) or something along the lines of guilt or frustration. So far, with his pushing, it feels like he is making it a Jacob problem rather than a Sarah problem. Like he is trying to get a reaction from her and she mostly keeps on ignoring it.
Daibhid C
She says she realised the way she behaved wasn’t doing her any favours and that it’s not about “winning him back”. And I believe her. What she doesn’t say is why she realised the way she behaved wasn’t doing her any favours.
thejeff
Um yeah, we choose not to believe her. It’s pretty common for characters in this strip, just like people in real life, not to be open and honest about their motivations.
That’s in addition, as Daibhid C says, to her not actually saying that it wasn’t motivated by him, just that she wasn’t trying to steal him from Lucy. That I’ll provisionally accept, though if she was, she wouldn’t tell him here anyway.
Sirksome
That feels a little messed up. Sarah said she’s making an honest attempt at change not motivated by a desire to get Jacob, and the response is we don’t believe you. The point I’m making is even if Jacob was the catalyst for this change she’s not doing it for him, her self improvement is genuine attempt for her to achieve her own happiness.
To me. Hearing her say that and remaining skeptical or believing she will burn out shows a lack of faith in your friend. Sarah said what she’s doing. Even if she’s lying to herself isn’t it better to trust her?
thejeff
I mostly accept she’s not planning to get Jacob with this change, though she’s schemed before so and certainly wouldn’t admit here, so the possibility remains, but that’s different than “not motivated by him”, which she doesn’t say and which is almost certainly is.
So some of this is perhaps just a misunderstanding of your earlier statement to mean it wasn’t connected to him at all.
But I don’t think it shows a lack of faith to not expect someone to be able to sustain a radical personality change that they’re already admitting is a strain.
Jeremiah
I mean you probably shouldn’t have faith in your friends when they are doing something you think it’s very unhealthy. Being unquestionably supportive it’s not very good either.
Plain Marie
It’s not like Sarah owes anybody a full accounting of her motivations. She doesn’t have to justify herself.
thejeff
She does not. But that doesn’t mean her friends can’t ask her.
She could tell Jacob to fuck off, but she didn’t.
Considering the timing, it would be quite a coincidence if it had literally nothing to do with Jacob and Lucy. It might not be a transparent attempt to win over Jacob, but it seems like this incident may have been the catalyst for greater change.
222 thoughts on “Personable”
Ana Chronistic
Stepford Wife Take Two
Decidedly Orthogonal
Oh Sarah. You deserve to be loved just for who you *are*. –Mr Rogers-ish
Frelance
Nah, that’s greeting card stuff. While Mr.Rogers had really good messages, remember (as he always did) that his audience was *children*. Some people should make changes, even if it’s hard.
Queezle
Maybe at some point Sarah finds some middle ground between this and hoe grouchy and grumpy she used to be. But for now, if she really wants to change, I am happy for her.
Rose by Any other Name
… that, um, typo there though.
Poor Sarah.
(Seriously, though, I laughed WAY harder than I should have. Best comment. 10/10 typo.)
Emil
She’s still not quite following Joyce’s good advice of going for small positive changes, as opposed to grand gestures…
MadScientist520
That little regretful look on the last panel of the page after this linked one speaks volumes to her current behavior
shadowcell
so that’s not her breath, that’s smoke
True Survivor
and that is not cold flush: she’s melting from the inside out.
Needfuldoer
That’s not smoke, it’s steam!
EpochFlame
now it all makes sense
anon
well, it was pretty obvious that it’d be a toll on her energy but idk if she’d still act like this if it was just say, her and joyce in their dorm room since joyce ‘loves/accepts’ all sides of sarah and such
Sirksome
Oh, what? She’s just trying to be a better person? No way! I refuse to believe that!/s
Alongcameaspider
Growth and change as a person? That’s not allowed in this webcomic!
Jeremiah
I mean this less growth and more more changing an unhealthy coping mechanism for another.
Clif
Is it too early to start criticising Joyce for not being there for her?
Jeremiah
Yes.
James
On the one hand, trying to be more personable and cheerful isn’t a bad thing.
On the other hand, doing it specifically by just kind of suppressing all negative thoughts and impulses rather than dealing with them is.
Taffy
She’s been at this for like five minutes, you 2014 Toyota Camry.
Marillius
It is growth, but it is also an over correction. She’s a child so mistakes like that are bound to happen. She’ll find a good balance given time, practice and the support of her friends. This is ABSOLUTELY a step in the right direction. She just decided to take it at a run and managed to 30 steps forward and 8 steps to the right onto someone else’s path. With a bit of course correction and some love from her friends, it won’t be that hard to realize she CAN be this sometimes and not kill herself with it (practice will also help with the amount of energy it takes) but that she doesn’t have to go QUITE this far to be emotionally available and friendly to be a better person.
Axel
It’s taking an effort? Wow how disappointing and awful of her! /s also
anon
meanwhiel i’m sure there are ppl getting ‘worse’
not that he’s completely imploded/self harmed or anything but i imagine ethan’s current state probably isn’t healthy in the long run even if he is dating asher for now (makes me wonder if there would’ve been a cut to sarah dressing up ‘brightly’/in pastels to contrast his wardrobe lol)
thejeff
That “Considerable” suggests she’s forcing herself to act this way and isn’t going to be able to keep it up. Maybe she’ll be able to “fake until she makes it” and it becomes easy for her, but more likely she’ll burn herself out and relapse.
It is good to see that the more nefarious suggestions from yesterday aren’t true – assuming she’s telling the truth here. Also good to see that Jacob’s not angry like some thought and that she’s not outraged that he’d dare to demand answers. 🙂
Still it’s hard to see this as long-term character growth for Sarah, even if she is sincere about wanting to make this change.
anon
well, ppl do talk about going in to the ‘deep end’ tho in sarah’s case she probably needs to be somewhere between that and ‘baby steps’
NGPZ
Sarah, you quite literally acting like Patrick copying SpongeBob outta desperation, ya gonna burn out too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=errkWnCEv7E&t=20
True Survivor
I think she is trying to take a age from Aristotle’s works and cultivate virtue. Rather than simply win over Jacob, I interpret this strip as Sarah trying to turn her life around so she can win over people and form connections like Lucy does instead of being a grumpy loner who, in her mind, seems to have accidentally stumbled into friendship with Joyce (of course Sarah has worked hard to maintain that relationship).
Maybe she can fake till she makes it. You know, eventually have trust and amicability be second nature.
PS. Thanks for the Spongebob
anon
honestly i think it’d be more believable if she had acted like carla and more ‘arrogant’ and such like “F*ck y’all i’ll say and do what i want just stay away from me if you can’t deal with it”
or like frank from always sunny: “I don’t care if anybody doesn’t like that about me. They don’t have to stick around!”
that said ,she should just start acting ‘amicable’ around teachers and stuff if she plans to be a future lawyer. if not ‘ladder climb’ like raidah but maybe not in quite as cunning/nasty of a way (although while most of the audience probably doesn’t have any raidah ‘fans’ i don’t think she’s necessarily done anything too bad in that regard although i imagine walky and lucy aren’t gonna be part of their ‘brunch group’ for longer, not that walky would’ve rly been able to use his ‘connections’ anywyas)
GholaHalleck
I think she’s *been* acting like that and it’s done nothing good for her, doubling down will just make it worse.
Terry
There we go.
But good for you, Sarah. For real.
StClair
Well, that’s honest.
Reaver
Quick! Install more fans on the Sarah! She’s overclocked!
Nymph
I’m already a fan of Sarah.
NGPZ
*rimshot*
Reaver
WE NEED MORE! WITH RGB!
NGPZ
what is an RGB?
Clif
It’s a color code. Others are CMYK, HSL, HSB and HSV.
NGPZ
oh I know, but what RGB colors have to do with fans being able to cool Sarah down is what i don’t get XD
Taffy
Pretty much nothin’, but people love to buy computers with completely unnecessary glowies on ’em.
Needfuldoer
Computer parts covered in RGB lights have been a thing for a few years now. They don’t do anything for performance, but more RGB = more clout when you post setup pics to /r/PCMR.
You can even get cases that are pretty much computer parts terrariums so you can show off all the shiny blinkies.
Mark
The difficulty these days is finding parts that don’t jump up and shout “look at meeee!!!”
Aura
Well, if you turn all your rgb to blue, it helps keep your computer cool. You know, like how turning it all red makes it go faster.
Shadowsnail
Red coffeemakers go faster too!
zee
Add coolness factor
HueSatLight
computer fans with colored LEDs. Ironically in a Hue ring.
Yumi
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Yumi
As a close enough alternative
Dan
I think Sarah has enough judges on her as it is
Needfuldoer
Ruth Gader Binsburg
a/snow/mous/e
I’m glad someone said it 🙂
Taffy
Really Good Blowing™
zee
…….she could use a really good blowing from Jacob HEYO
Taffy
Oh, like her penis.
Esolo
I mean honestly, fair enough. I strongly predict that this isn’t gonna last, and she’s gonna explode, but fair enough. I hope I’m wrong!
Axel
I’m hoping she’ll balance out. A few hours/days where it is very difficult, maybe a brief explosion, but eventually to where she can keep a bit better of an attitude, but without such an effort to go against her general nature (like, she can keep a neutral face, and still not like hanging out with many people, but she can also not dwell on how she’s into someone who doesn’t want the same thing as her)
anon
i’d assume she’d only act like this in a group setting but still trade barbs with raidah if she came across them if not just neutral/avoid talking to ppl she’d dislike, like Jen even if she did tell her that she’s not gonna ‘respond to bait’ or whatever
Wraithy2773
0% chance of it holding at this level.
But that’s not to say that Sarah can’t become more open and welcoming in the long term. Its just not a thing that one can flip on overnight. Just gotta ease into it, and not expect things to change quickly.
thejeff
Thing is, while this might be more welcoming, it’s not more open. This is just a different layer of emotional armor. She’s faking it. It’s not real.
It’s a more socially acceptable way of hiding her vulnerabilities.
It’s like Becky in a way: “Nobody likes a Debby Downer”
ADLegend21
She’s holding back the hater bars from Meet the Grahams.
Sirksome
Some of the luster on old Jake here has faded. Dude is a little arrogant. Not everything a person does is about you bro.
Jeremiah
I don’t know considering everything it is a reasonable assumption to make (plenty of commenters did a few days ago).
StClair
perhaps, but in this case, he’s right.
Sirksome
How? Sarah said her attitude change isn’t motivated by him. Do we just choose not to believe her then?
Kimi
He might have been the final straw on the camel’s back, but I think that Sarah’s point in the comic is that this change has been brewing for a while. If anything, she might be more mimicking Joyce’s normally happy mood than Lucy’s disposition.
I do think that Jacob’s assumption that she is doing this to steal him away from Lucy is a bit rough to vocalize. It isn’t as if she went out of her way to be around him acting nicer, as they have the same friend group. It does seem like some of his inner emotions are leaking through where he doesn’t like this change for some reason or another. Maybe he preferred her cranky (even if he didn’t want to be in a relationship with her) or something along the lines of guilt or frustration. So far, with his pushing, it feels like he is making it a Jacob problem rather than a Sarah problem. Like he is trying to get a reaction from her and she mostly keeps on ignoring it.
Daibhid C
She says she realised the way she behaved wasn’t doing her any favours and that it’s not about “winning him back”. And I believe her. What she doesn’t say is why she realised the way she behaved wasn’t doing her any favours.
thejeff
Um yeah, we choose not to believe her. It’s pretty common for characters in this strip, just like people in real life, not to be open and honest about their motivations.
That’s in addition, as Daibhid C says, to her not actually saying that it wasn’t motivated by him, just that she wasn’t trying to steal him from Lucy. That I’ll provisionally accept, though if she was, she wouldn’t tell him here anyway.
Sirksome
That feels a little messed up. Sarah said she’s making an honest attempt at change not motivated by a desire to get Jacob, and the response is we don’t believe you. The point I’m making is even if Jacob was the catalyst for this change she’s not doing it for him, her self improvement is genuine attempt for her to achieve her own happiness.
To me. Hearing her say that and remaining skeptical or believing she will burn out shows a lack of faith in your friend. Sarah said what she’s doing. Even if she’s lying to herself isn’t it better to trust her?
thejeff
I mostly accept she’s not planning to get Jacob with this change, though she’s schemed before so and certainly wouldn’t admit here, so the possibility remains, but that’s different than “not motivated by him”, which she doesn’t say and which is almost certainly is.
So some of this is perhaps just a misunderstanding of your earlier statement to mean it wasn’t connected to him at all.
But I don’t think it shows a lack of faith to not expect someone to be able to sustain a radical personality change that they’re already admitting is a strain.
Jeremiah
I mean you probably shouldn’t have faith in your friends when they are doing something you think it’s very unhealthy. Being unquestionably supportive it’s not very good either.
Plain Marie
It’s not like Sarah owes anybody a full accounting of her motivations. She doesn’t have to justify herself.
thejeff
She does not. But that doesn’t mean her friends can’t ask her.
She could tell Jacob to fuck off, but she didn’t.
Bash
Considering the timing, it would be quite a coincidence if it had literally nothing to do with Jacob and Lucy. It might not be a transparent attempt to win over Jacob, but it seems like this incident may have been the catalyst for greater change.
shrub
Thank goodness. I’ve really disliked Sarah’s attitude as of late but this is something good.
I hope she can keep it up enough so that it becomes natural.
Good on her
GoblinBagsSumo
Exactly. She was often insufferable and pushy – which even coming from a good place is often toxic as hell.
NGPZ