The good mother answer is “of course, they will, honey.” The good father answer is “it’s what’s inside the counts, honey”. The good MIL answer is “it doesn’t really matter, men will chase anything”.
I would not have been able to identify the strip without the tags. I guess it’s understandable that the drawing style has changed over the past 22 years (as well as the AOL e-mail address).
Also, I’m sure there was the “Who the hell ARE these people?” issue.
A&J has never been in a newspaper available where I lived, nor has there been any significant availability of the strip in book form. (The first book is amazingly rare, while the second book didn’t appear until 20 years later) but it is a favorite of mine.
I can identify with Arlo even if I am not married to a Janis (alas). I forget this girl’s name, she was a friend of Gene’s while he still lived at home. She got phased out when Gene moved away to college, and landed a new significant other.
Ruth and her divorcee mother.
Not only do I not follow Ruth’s mother’s reasoning, I also disagree with her closing premise: based on her appearances in the strip, I think she’d be a TERRIBLE mother-in-law. Yes, she might have legitimate grievances against her ex-husband, but she might make Ruth’s future husband pay the price.
@ Bill – I think the word “great” was meant sarcastically: she thinks she will encompass all of the stereotypical M-I-L qualities, therefore being a superb example of everything that everyone dislikes about such M-I-Ls.
@Kilby – Okay, that makes sense.
Maybe she feels she understands men (a future son-in-law) better than she can relate to and understand her daughter?
” I think she’d be a TERRIBLE mother-in-law.”
Because honesty is terrible? Sorry, TERRIBLE?
“will men find me attractive”
Intent: “am I attractive to men”
Interptretation: “when men find me, will it be when I’m attractive?” Possible Corollary: “Can I avoid men finding me if I’m unattractive?”
A good mother is one who supports and encourages her daughter. She’s not that. A good mother-in-law is one who always thinks the son-in-law is always a pig. She is that.
“Yes, she might have legitimate grievances against her ex-husband, but she might make Ruth’s future husband pay the price”
That’s what mother-in-laws are supposed to do in her mind. She’d be great at it she thinks.
” I think the word “great” was meant sarcastically:”
Nothing sarcastic in her mind.
Janes, terrible to her son-in-law.
Because honesty is terrible to sons-in-law?
My sister married a guy named Bob. From somewhere or other she got a picture of a really ugly old woman that she put in a frame on a side table.
My mom asked, “Who is that?” Sis answered, “Oh, that’s Bob’s mother-in-law.”
Five minutes later Mom was like, “Hey, wait a minute!”
Comics I Don't Understand 
The good mother answer is “of course, they will, honey.” The good father answer is “it’s what’s inside the counts, honey”. The good MIL answer is “it doesn’t really matter, men will chase anything”.
I would not have been able to identify the strip without the tags. I guess it’s understandable that the drawing style has changed over the past 22 years (as well as the AOL e-mail address).
Also, I’m sure there was the “Who the hell ARE these people?” issue.
A&J has never been in a newspaper available where I lived, nor has there been any significant availability of the strip in book form. (The first book is amazingly rare, while the second book didn’t appear until 20 years later) but it is a favorite of mine.
I can identify with Arlo even if I am not married to a Janis (alas). I forget this girl’s name, she was a friend of Gene’s while he still lived at home. She got phased out when Gene moved away to college, and landed a new significant other.
Ruth and her divorcee mother.
Not only do I not follow Ruth’s mother’s reasoning, I also disagree with her closing premise: based on her appearances in the strip, I think she’d be a TERRIBLE mother-in-law. Yes, she might have legitimate grievances against her ex-husband, but she might make Ruth’s future husband pay the price.
@ Bill – I think the word “great” was meant sarcastically: she thinks she will encompass all of the stereotypical M-I-L qualities, therefore being a superb example of everything that everyone dislikes about such M-I-Ls.
@Kilby – Okay, that makes sense.
Maybe she feels she understands men (a future son-in-law) better than she can relate to and understand her daughter?
” I think she’d be a TERRIBLE mother-in-law.”
Because honesty is terrible? Sorry, TERRIBLE?
“will men find me attractive”
Intent: “am I attractive to men”
Interptretation: “when men find me, will it be when I’m attractive?” Possible Corollary: “Can I avoid men finding me if I’m unattractive?”
A good mother is one who supports and encourages her daughter. She’s not that. A good mother-in-law is one who always thinks the son-in-law is always a pig. She is that.
“Yes, she might have legitimate grievances against her ex-husband, but she might make Ruth’s future husband pay the price”
That’s what mother-in-laws are supposed to do in her mind. She’d be great at it she thinks.
” I think the word “great” was meant sarcastically:”
Nothing sarcastic in her mind.
Janes, terrible to her son-in-law.
Because honesty is terrible to sons-in-law?
My sister married a guy named Bob. From somewhere or other she got a picture of a really ugly old woman that she put in a frame on a side table.
My mom asked, “Who is that?” Sis answered, “Oh, that’s Bob’s mother-in-law.”
Five minutes later Mom was like, “Hey, wait a minute!”