this post was submitted on 07 Jun 2024
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[–] [email protected] 161 points 6 months ago (8 children)

I don't get it. Where is the joke. (Seriously, I'm lost)

[–] blotz 93 points 6 months ago (1 children)

The joke is the absurd and funny statement, "ladies, my wife is single (and you should date her (implied))". Basically they are best friends who broke up and now they are supporting the other dating by joking absurdity of the situation.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 37 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

I guess they are acting right away instead of waiting for the paperwork to get sorted out.

Not really seeing this as a haha funny moment as much as it is two people who realize their marriage isn't going to work out having a calm and rational discussion followed by being supportive of each other. Well, it isn't long enough to show the passenger being supportive, but kind of assume they must be based on context.

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[–] Brkdncr 53 points 6 months ago

The link has extra panels and a comment from the artists that explains it more. This isn’t a joke so much as it is explaining their situation in a joking manner.

[–] Jackthelad 43 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Amicable divorces are apparently funny?

I don't know. It's an odd one.

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[–] [email protected] 28 points 6 months ago (22 children)

Comics don't have to have a joke, they can just tell a story. This is a nice story of two people who care for and support each other in spite of discovering their selves and life goals don't sync with continuing the original relationship. They manage to break up the romance with each feeling freed rather than dumped, so they can continue to be friends. Hopefully their eventual new partners will appreciate this.

[–] scrion 18 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

The artist / writer literally mentions their joke in the bonus panel and they'd "die if they stopped being funny".

The funny part is supposed to be: my wife is single.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Pretty sure it's that they were a lesbian couple but one realises they're a guy and the other realises they want kids so they break up but remain besties and try to set the other up

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[–] livjq 81 points 6 months ago (5 children)

To all of the people saying this is sad, not all relationships have to last forever.

It's okay to get separated, even if you are married. It's actually good to realize your differences, decide that you work better apart, and provide support to an ex-spouse emotionally while you move on with your life as well.

[–] Zeritu 38 points 6 months ago (16 children)

I'm not sure that I fully agree. I mean, to each their own etc., but what you're describing seems to be more suited for relationships without marriage. The whole idea of being married is that your discuss this stuff before your wedding and then don't just get separated because you "don't feel it anymore". The idea is that, if you feel like you drifted apart, that your work on that and don't just get out of that relationship on a whim. That's the promise you give. And even if you agree with your partner to just go separate ways (yeah yeah, consenting adults can do whatever the fuck they want, sure), a divorce has the significant chance to screw you financially for decades. I mean, I don't know how it is in the US, but I've seen too many people who got their finances completely fucked by partners that they consentingly parted ways with, who they swore would treat them fairly. Too many houses repossessed, too many careers ruined.

Is it okay to get separated? Sure. It's obviously also okay to remain close and support each other, of course. But this comic promotes a lighthearted approach to something that deserves a much more careful and serious take that I don't agree with. Those first few panels should have made them get counselling, not divorced.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 6 months ago (11 children)

People change. They discover things about themselves. Their goals change. Of course anyone thinking of getting married should try to uncover any potential deal breakers before committing, but it's still no guarantee they won't encounter unsolvable problems later.

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[–] Tattorack 74 points 6 months ago (5 children)

Alright... So lesbian relationship. One of them decides they're not a woman anymore. They both decide to devorce..................

Maybe I'm missing something, but is there supposed to be a joke somewhere in here?

[–] Gradually_Adjusting 23 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Their mutual regard for one another transcends what they want from the relationship, which contrasts humourously with hetero norms of trying to change one other to get what you want

[–] Moneo 50 points 6 months ago (8 children)

Being selfish is hetero normative? I'm probably being defensive but this feels like a weird statement to make.

[–] Zorque 13 points 6 months ago

It's societally normative, as is heterosexuality. Correlative, not causative.

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[–] Tattorack 20 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Ok, but... That's not something that's funny.

It would work in a greater narrative, perhaps, where we as readers know the characters. Not this one off thing.

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[–] [email protected] 52 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (4 children)

There’s a weird feel from this comic for me. I’m glad that these two people could have an amicable divorce. I think the thing that feels off is how casual the decision feels in the comic. I suspect this might be why some people are having a negative reaction as well.

Even if you think marriage isn’t forever, it’s still a promise to love and care about someone, to cherish them and share your life with them. I think if you’ve been in a marriage and seen your loved one through hard times together, this comic just feels capricious. A discussion about ending such an important component of your life happening in the span of two panels in a car ride just feels abrupt and unserious.

I imagine in real life the conversation was more serious and the impact of changing you relationship from one of romantic love to friendship weighed on both parties more than the comic has space to show.

If you’ve loved and supported your spouse through difficult and unexpected change or been the recipient of that love and support, this comic can feel dismissive. If you’ve gone through the heartache of losing your special person, even if they are still a part of your life, the celebratory tone sounds wrong.

I am happy that they can separate and still care about each other, but I also understand why people feel like something is wrong about the comic.

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[–] MehBlah 39 points 6 months ago

I guess not all comic strips have to be funny or you know make sense.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 6 months ago (6 children)

Can't believe this out of all things completely confused Lemmy. When I saw this I thought it was sweet, not funny. Not every comic has to be haha funny. I can just hope for half of this experience if I ever feel like I'm no longer compatible with one of my partners.

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[–] bokherif 35 points 6 months ago (2 children)

What the fuck is this bullshit

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[–] FatTony 32 points 6 months ago
[–] [email protected] 29 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

whomesome comic
Lemmy: where's the joke tho?

Very nice though, amicable breakups/divorces are good.

[–] Zannsolo 28 points 6 months ago (6 children)

I'm slightly confused, was this a lesbian relationship where the driver came to realize they are more gender fluid or a trans man? The rest I get.

[–] scrion 12 points 6 months ago

I was confused too, but the blog mentions his pronouns as he/him, so that's the interpretation I also arrived at.

[–] AEsheron 10 points 6 months ago

Seems like it, they are announcing that the wife is single to the ladies after all.

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[–] Larry 28 points 6 months ago (2 children)

They start discussing how to split their assets and suddenly it becomes less peaceful

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 6 months ago (1 children)

That's not funny that's just sad

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[–] soloner 25 points 6 months ago (4 children)
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[–] [email protected] 23 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Is this supposed to be...a good outcome? I'm sad now!

[–] captain_oni 20 points 6 months ago

I think if you're able to stay good friends with an ex-partner after a divorce, that's a good outcome.

Ending a relationship it's always, at least, a bit sad. But if that means that the people involved can continue to pursue happiness, and they can do that without resenting each other, that's cause of celebration.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 6 months ago (5 children)

I feel like the fourth panel is what throws me off and left me scratching my head. Based on the previous one I'd imagine both of them to hype each other up, not just the man saying his former wife is single.

[–] RageAgainstTheRich 20 points 6 months ago

I liked it. I think its sweet. They can still be besties (best friends) because they realize they aren't compatible romantically. I think its a sweet comic ❤️

[–] [email protected] 18 points 6 months ago

I'm sure someone finds this relatable

[–] SeattleRain 12 points 6 months ago (5 children)

Tossing relationships like this away is a sign of narcissism. It's fine to move on but it's definitely maladapted to be giddy about it.

[–] untorquer 16 points 6 months ago

"Several months ago" ... Not exactly suggesting it would happen over night. Recognizing a schism and supporting eachother through the changes in life is preferable to doing so depressed and hatefully, no?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 6 months ago (8 children)

Amicable divorces are narcissistic?

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[–] Thcdenton 11 points 6 months ago (1 children)
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