Fayecing Consequences

Eh from Faye? Not really, like at the end she was a little snarky because of how Jim was acting but she seems genuinely upset with herself about letting Sam get hurt and apologetic about the whole situation, Jim definitely seems to have some kind of hate boner going on though, I mean she went there to apologize in person and totally admitted she made a mistake and Jim just seems to want to make her feel as guilty and shitty as he can. Like the thing about calling Bubs a positive influence especially was really harsh, Faye obviously cares for Sam but because she fucked up he insinuates that she's a *bad* role model when that's clearly not the case, Jim just seems really bitter and angry, probably because Sam messing up and hurting herself reflects badly on his parenting and he wants to deflect that onto Faye when she was trying to be the bigger person and admit she messed up.

Yeah I got that feeling too, generally jeph is good at handling delicate messages such as his portrayal of trans folk and stuff like that but the message here just feels...lacking, it doesn't feel natural like it does in other parts of the series, maybe jeph is just a bit off lately but it does feel rather ham handed I have to agree.

I think what is being generally missed here is that you get to take chances with yourself, and you get to take some, though many fewer, chances with your children, because that is just what raising children entails, but you don't get to take any chances with other people's children. You stand there watching till you pee down your leg if necessary.

In situations like this, I just pray it doesn't push her off the wagon.

Diptych

I agree. No question but everybody really cares about Sam, however they may be acting towards each other.

I was wondering if anyone would notice that!

Jeph Jacques

Thinking on this, the reason Jim is being so hard-nosed is because HE feels guilty deep down; he’s not giving his daughter any supervision, either, so when someone else fails in that regard, he comes down twice as hard on them. That said, everyone is trying to be grown up and mature in this situation, which is one of the things I love about QC.

Erin Hartshorn

Looking back, Jim effectively unloaded Sam on DORA and Faye ended up being more popular with Sam than Dora was. I get the impression that Jim has never really liked Faye but he recognises that SAM likes her and that has to be have some weight as Sam would probably be heartbroken if Jim forbade her to spend time with Faye ever again.

Ben Russell-Gough

I've said this before but "I am an asshole" is a major issue for Faye. It's going to take a very long while before she starts to come to terms with the fact that she CAN have good personal qualities.

Ben Russell-Gough

That which hurts instructs, and is usually remembered.

Seems like Faye took a bit of Bubbles' pep talk to heart as well

Bagge

Personally, I don't think that Faye feels any particular need to defend herself, because she considers herself in the wrong anyway.

Ben Russell-Gough

There's something vaguely surreal about this strip and there was also something surreal about the previous strip too. I find myself wondering exactly what was going through Jeph's mind. I say that because both strips have had the feeling of being FORCED somehow; even the characters seem to be a bit aware of how abnormal the conversation flow is.

Ben Russell-Gough

Heh fair enough. I don’t know the law, I’m just speaking from a responsibility/morality point of view. I think it’s unfair of Jim to effectively unload his daughter onto Faye without setting any sort of guidelines or instructions and then blowing up at her when something goes wrong. He knew the potential dangers, surely. Anyway yes, insurance is an essential!

JD

I don't agree. I think her father is taking a middle of the road approach. My father was an attorney at law, and he handled lawsuits over this sort of injury. Sam's father isn't suing. Nor is he banning Sam from the shop. He IS making it clear that she needs to be watched and needs to be protected. Yes, he is angry at Faye, and he isn't bothering to hide it. But as even Faye admits, that's fair. She screwed up, and it's just good luck the harm wasn't worse.

Being a learning experience doesn't mean it's a NECESSARY learning experience, especially for a 12 year old. More importantly is the fact that while she didn't get hurt that bad, she COULD have, because there was NOBODY watching her. This could've been a LOT worse. Jim's right to be angry.

Fart Captor

Maybe a bit, but Sam has repeatedly shown poor impulse control, and power tools can be a lot more dangerous than that one she already did something stupid with. If I were running the shop I'd have already come to the conclusion that she shouldn't be using power tools until she demonstrates more responsibility, and that's not necessarily precluded here, Jim is just asserting that his judgement is final in this, which I think is fair.

Dev

definitely feels way unnecessarily harsh

JD

Faye could have mentioned that SHE was going to tell Jim what happened, until Bubbles agreed that they would not do so, IF Sam would tell him herself. She's taking the fall - letting Jim say she's an asshole, even though she isn't - rather than risking him coming down any harder on the kid. It shows a lot of character for Faye - not just for coming and apologizing in the first place, but also for holding her tongue.

awgiedawgie

Then again, it's also possible that you didn't follow instructions...

awgiedawgie

"Never" basically just means indefinitely in this context. Sam won't be young an immature forever. One day she'll show she can be trusted with power tools, and even if she doesn't one day her dad will have no say in the matter. It's easier and kinder to just say "Never" though than string her along for years about how maybe one day in the future the policy will change.

Mitchell Sealy

Also, I feel like Jim will back off eventually, “never” is what he’s saying while he’s angry, but if she proves herself, I bet he’ll relent in the future.

Morgan V

Is no one (including Faye) going to mention the golden line in panel 4? The problem was Sam “laying her finger on” the power tool.

Morgan V

Agreed. And what isn't being noted is that he said 'In this situation.' Which is reasonable. She shouldn't have left Sam unsupervised at all. And part of that punishment isn't even on Sam- Fay left her alone, therefore isn't the one that her father wants to teach her about such things.

Chuck Dee

Seems... harsh.

MikeT

Yeah, you get instruction on how to use them if you're fortunate. More often than not you teach yourself how to do it. When you get stabbed, poked, gouged, burnt, frayed, fractured, shocked or whatever, you now know, hopefully, what not to do again. Or at the very least figure out to ask for help. Shit happens. You either learn from it or you don't. Last thing you need is someone helicoptering over you the whole time waiting to zoom in and rescue you from your mistakes. If you're never allowed to make mistakes you'll never learn. Some mistakes are more tragic than others. No amount of telling is ever as good as actual doing.

Ken

every kid needs some blood and pain in their life. Small, inconsequential pain, but enough to get their attention. Parents need to realize this is a learning experience. As to power tool, I have been using power tools for 55 years, and I have done more damage to myself with hand tools. YMMV

Tim Williams

I'm getting some serious "go fuck yourself" vibes from both Jim and Faye.

Nicholas Lopez

In a year or two she'll be old enough to take Shop Class and learn to use these tools with professional supervision. It's unfair to both Faye/Bubbles and Sam that they're dividing their attention between her lessons and the business this way. I know this probably feels like a big deal to Sam right now but I don't think the father is being terribly harsh here.

Mitchell Sealy

In my life experience, which has involved lots of tools, fucking up and hurting yourself means you either didn't follow instructions, didn't follow instructions, or didn't follow instructions. Written, verbal, pictogram, YouTube, somehow you fucked up. Which meant you weren't allowed to touch anything without asking, and if you did it anyway you were held accountable. And if you were allowed to, you were given a crash course on what tool did, how to use it and how not to. Better have payed attention, and remember where the first aid kit is. Beyond that? If it slips, cuts and you are bleeding out, hold tight and yell loud. No playing in the garage/shop/work area. It was at times an asshole approach but it was practical and realistic.

Tim Eldred

Yeah I've noticed that too, like he finds every reason he can to try and come down on her when she and Bubs have done nothing but try to include her and be positive role models, I mean hell I'd rather have Faye and Bubs watch my kid than most other people. Like the moment Faye heard Sam get hurt she ran to make sure things were okay and while she was freaked out she was treating the situation seriously and actually cared about Sam and her well-being, I mean cmon Jim, people make mistakes, I'd rather have an imperfect caretaker who legitimately cares over some perfect machine that would treat Sam like a number.

"Sam screwed up, and did what she was told NOT TO DO" Almost as if she's a small child.

Mitchell Sealy

No, it's not fair, it's bull. Sam screwed up, and did what she was told NOT TO DO, and she's lucky that she only lost her nail. You respect all powered tools (and firearms, and explosives, and anything with a sharp edge, or anything flammable), or you'll hurt yourself or other people. This is a lesson that you have to learn, and Sam is lucky her lesson was just a torn nail. Her Dad, forbidding her to use tools again, is bull because you learn your lesson, and if you want to work-you need to respect the tools you work with. Faye shouldn't have stepped away, but she had been watching the entire time and told Sam what NOT to do and she did it. Maybe Faye should have said, "Okay, going to the bathroom, five minute break," but that's hindsight. What is that expression "bad things create good experiences, and good experience come from bad things"? This is a bad thing that ends with a good experience. Sam learned, and now she needs to USE that good experience, get back up on the horse, and use the tools again.

z

I think Faye is mature enough to go see Jim without Bubbles telling her that it's a good idea.

Shawn K. Younkin

Does she want to play a game?

Tune in next time as Sam cuts off her foot with a hacksaw.

Gary Walker

Yeah I dunno. I grew up learning how to use power tools with my dad. Getting your fingernail chewed off would be called "natural consequences" of stupid behavior if you'd been told multiple times not to do a dumb thing and respect the power tools.

Gigglebyte

Dang, we missed the pep talk Bubbles gave Faye...

allanfranta

getting the impression Jim doesn't like Faye very much...

Peter McDevitt

He was fine with her playing with swords and using a blowtorch, until she hurt herself with a Dremel 😾 hypocrites don't get to call anyone assholes

gatherer818