# For Better or For Worse - 12/21 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 21, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646 "2005-12-21T17:20:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/21 "2005-12-21T22:14:57Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Paul has only met Elizabeth once or twice and now his world revolves around her? I agree - it’s \*way \* too fast - and it seems Elizabeth thinks so, as well. I dno’t know if there’s going to be violence, but there will definitely be a confrontation between Paul and Warren. I’ve always thought Liz would prefer to be with Warren if not for the traveling and long distance issues ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/22 "2005-12-21T22:16:10Z")
I got the creepy vibe, too. I don’t want to hear my own husband say his whole world revolves around me. I would be really creeped out by a guy I just started seeing (long distance or not) saying it. It would be a huge red flag. Even if Paul turns out to be a totally decent, stand-up guy, it’s creepy that he thinks his whole world revolves around Liz already. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/23 "2005-12-21T22:51:30Z")
…This comic used to be FUNNY. WTF! ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/24 "2005-12-22T01:58:53Z")
> [@Push You Down](#): > > …This comic used to be FUNNY. > > WTF! Wasn’t she supposed to be _ending_ it soon? I have not been keeping up as I moved away from a market with FBOW in 1993, and when I’ve had a chance to have a look it seems it only keeps getting soapier and soapier. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/25 "2005-12-22T01:59:48Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Wasn’t she supposed to be _ending_ it soon? I have not been keeping up as I moved away from a market with FBOW in 1993, and when I’ve had a chance to have a look it seems it only keeps getting soapier and soapier. I think 2007 is supposed to be the last year. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/26 "2005-12-22T02:38:56Z")
I think the THIRD panel is the creepy one: > [@](#): > > Ever since you set up the telescope and we watched the stars - I’ve been saying “There’s a girl in my life!” Never mind that the entire town was there, and that was the night when he first met her - he interprets this as something she did for ‘them’? Not a good sign… ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/27 "2005-12-22T02:47:53Z")
In the late 70’s, when the strip started, I was working at a park, monitoring the play areas (kiddy pool life guard, “Hey! Stop running!” etc) One woman used to bring her two kids around all the time. young boy named Michael and a toddler named Elizabeth. (they were the same ages as the characters were at that time. AND her husband was a dental professional (actually an orthoodontist, but close enough) But her name was neither Lynn nor Ellie (I think it was Norma or Nancy - something with an N) ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/28 "2005-12-22T02:50:09Z")
> [@](#): > > (kiddy pool life guard, “Hey! Stop running!” etc) I should clarify that I would say that to the little yard apes when they were running around the concrete deck of the pool area, not on the grass etc ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/29 "2005-12-22T03:25:53Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I for one am having problems sorting out the army of men who fall for her within five minutes of meeting her. Maybe she’s using those same pheromones **Anastaseon** has been experimenting with. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/30 "2005-12-22T11:13:46Z")
Ooo, did you guys call that one [wrong.](http://www.uclick.com/client/wpc/fb/) ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/31 "2005-12-22T11:30:26Z")
according to lizardbreath’s monthly letter. they have been emailing and im-ing every day. (good writer according to liz) he has relatives in the town so he comes around on his off days. the town has been watching them very closely. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/32 "2005-12-22T14:28:44Z")
She is such a tramp. :mad: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/33 "2005-12-22T14:30:44Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Ooo, did you guys call that one [wrong.](http://www.uclick.com/client/wpc/fb/) Yeah, nothing that starts like this could ever go wrong. People _never_ like their stalker in the beginning of the relationship. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/34 "2005-12-22T17:21:28Z")
Or he could legitimately be a nice, caring, cool guy. Not that I don’t prefer the stalker inpretation, because hey, drama, but… you know. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/35 "2005-12-22T17:29:00Z")
I’m going with Mr. Right. Remember: Ellie liked him and his partner suggested he look up Elizabeth. Also, I think Lynn Johnson knows people would head up to Canada with torches and pitchforks if she were to let Elizabeth fall for yet another slime. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/36 "2005-12-22T17:33:23Z")
I’m betting that, since Lynn is planning to end the strip in '07, that this one is the “Wright” guy for Liz. I never thought he was creepy or stalker-ish–just a nice guy who’s fallen for her, maybe a little too hard. And from today’s strip it looks like it might be mutual. I think it’s kinda sweet, and I’m usually pretty cynical about such things. I _do_ wonder what’s going to happen with Warren, though. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/37 "2005-12-22T17:34:18Z")
how much of what happens to the Michael, Liz, April, and their friends is based on Lynn’s family’s actual experiences? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/38 "2005-12-22T17:34:22Z")
Isn’t this For Better or Worse, where the worst thing that ever happened was that a dog died? Heroically? It’s always for better, and never for worse. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/39 "2005-12-22T17:34:51Z")
I think the problem is we’re confusing creepy behavior with bad writing. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646/40 "2005-12-22T17:53:10Z")
> [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > Isn’t this For Better or Worse, where the worst thing that ever happened was that a dog died? Heroically? > > It’s always for better, and never for worse. 😃 Well, except the time that Lawrence came out and got kicked out of his parents’ house. And the time that Anthony got stuck in a loveless marriage because Elizabeth dumped him. And the time that Liz almost got raped by the workplace creep. And the time that Elly’s employee stole toys from the shop. FBoFW has always had a mix of comedy and family drama. Not quite soap opera-style drama, but it hasn’t always been “Get Fuzzy”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-better-or-for-worse-12-21/336646.md?page=3)