this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2024
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Everett True Comics

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A place to appreciate the twentieth century comic character Everett True of "The Outbursts of Everett True." Feel free to check out the sticky.

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I shan't ask you twice, madame! (February 25, 1906) (midwest.social)
submitted 4 months ago by clark@midwest.social to c/truecomics@midwest.social
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[–] MossyFeathers@pawb.social 33 points 4 months ago (2 children)

My understanding of what's going on for people who are confused: she's playing the social "game" of "pretend I don't want the thing I actually want so I don't appear demanding and instead make the other person insist". Everett understandably finds that "game" annoying and basically tells her to go fuck herself for playing it.

Ironically it's actually kinda unintentionally progressive imo. He's basically forcing her to actually speak up and assert herself instead of playing the "make the man tell me to do" game.

It's kinda like how Japanese culture expects for you to deny a gift up to 3 times before accepting, but more gender-focused and misogynistic. Everett is basically saying "fuck that game, if you want the seat, take the seat; don't play games with me and waste my time."

[–] verity_kindle@sh.itjust.works 13 points 4 months ago

This was also my interpretation, as a former straphanger plebe. Take the courtesy that's offered, if only for the sake of expediency, it's hot, the bus smells, just siddown.

[–] clark@midwest.social 5 points 4 months ago

Ironically it's actually kinda unintentionally progressive imo. He's basically forcing her to actually speak up and assert herself instead of playing the "make the man tell me to do" game.

This is so true

[–] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 27 points 4 months ago (1 children)

How does one pronounce "lief"? LEEF? LIFE?

[–] criitz@reddthat.com 25 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Pronounced like leaf. Apparently it basically means "gladly". Seems to have died out in the early 20th century.

lief
/lēf/

adverb
Readily; willingly.
"I would as lief go now as later."

Gladly; willingly; freely; -- now used only in the phrases, had as lief, and would as lief.
"I had, or would, as lief go as not"

[–] emeralddawn45@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I imagine it's related to relief. Interesting. That's a relief = that makes me glad again.

[–] Squirrelsdrivemenuts@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It sounds a lot like the dutch "net zo lief" which translates to "just as lovely" and we still use it today in this context.

[–] verity_kindle@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 months ago

i learned! Thanks!!

[–] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 7 points 4 months ago

I've read it in older books with even older characters, but I've not once heard it said! Thank you.

[–] RootBeerGuy@discuss.tchncs.de 15 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Dang dude, she just didn't want to sit. Take a chill pill.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 41 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Except that she actually did want to sit and was just playing that silly overpolite game. True wasn’t playing tho.

[–] Rolando@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

Reminds me of the J-Drama /K-Drama called "Legal High".

[–] Asidonhopo@lemmy.world 12 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Lief? As in Erikson?

[–] breakcore@discuss.tchncs.de 23 points 4 months ago (1 children)

That would be Leif.

"Lief" I have never encountered before, it means gladly or willingly.

This is the second time this week I've learnt a new (old) word from Mr. True.

[–] Hawke@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

I’ve seen “liefer” for “rather” but not just “lief”on its own.

[–] GeneralEmergency@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (3 children)

This Everett guy is a bit of cunt isn't he.

[–] pixeltree@lemmy.blahaj.zone 20 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

He's the exasperated annoyed grumpy person in us that wants to overreact to everything, so absolutely. Kind of cathartic though, very relatable.

[–] njm1314@lemmy.world 18 points 4 months ago

Like every comic he goes from 0 to Violent rage immediately. I love it and I'm horrified by it the same time.

[–] verity_kindle@sh.itjust.works 7 points 4 months ago

Yeah, but he's a cunt for our times.