Rock climbing lessons are harnessed with a safety rope. Goat doesn’t think rat is going to do very well at it and will be continually falling (rappelling) back to the mat. Rat didn’t get it until he was on his way.
I’d thought of the homonym, “repelling.”
I was thinking his first experience at rock climbing was . . . walking along a sidewalk?
Lost has it. Rat is *excellent* at repelling.
@John K., rapelling is not “being caught when you fall.” It’s “using ropes to descend a grade.” It’s not a sign of making a mistake.
carlfink, rappelling on purpose is not a mistake. Rappelling when you mean to climb, is. That’s how I read John K’s comment.
I think it’s the wrong interpretation of the comic, but I think you misread his intent.
“I was thinking his first experience at rock climbing was . . . walking along a sidewalk?”
Monty Python did that joke almost 50 years ago, in season 3.
Panel 2: “I think you’ll be great at [repelling].” “Thanks.” Panel 3: “Duh, HEY! WAIT A MINUTE! I RESEMBLE THAT REMARK!”
I was rather amused when I saw the equivalent British mountaineering term on a sign somewhere in southwest England: abseil (German for “down rope”).
Arthur, I would define rappelling as a way of intentionally descending on ropes. I would not define falling and being saved by ropes as “rappelling when you mean to climb” – I would say that in that case you’re just falling, not rappelling.
I think we’re all reading John K’s statement the same way – it’s just a question of whether it’s reasonable to call that set of actions “rappelling.” (Or, at least, whether Pastis thinks it’s reasonable.)
I took it as: how is he going to take a rock-climbing lesson when his surroundings are flat as a pancake? This occurs to him in a delayed reaction as he is walking along a dead-flat sidewalk.
Big Chief, I don’t know about where Pastis is, but here in Chicago if you want to go rock climbing you mostly do it indoors. I have one student who climbs 7 days a week.
I’m just waiting for a chance to compliment a climber I know about his outstanding “rappelsiveness.”
Comics I Don't Understand 
Rock climbing lessons are harnessed with a safety rope. Goat doesn’t think rat is going to do very well at it and will be continually falling (rappelling) back to the mat. Rat didn’t get it until he was on his way.
I’d thought of the homonym, “repelling.”
I was thinking his first experience at rock climbing was . . . walking along a sidewalk?
Lost has it. Rat is *excellent* at repelling.
@John K., rapelling is not “being caught when you fall.” It’s “using ropes to descend a grade.” It’s not a sign of making a mistake.
carlfink, rappelling on purpose is not a mistake. Rappelling when you mean to climb, is. That’s how I read John K’s comment.
I think it’s the wrong interpretation of the comic, but I think you misread his intent.
“I was thinking his first experience at rock climbing was . . . walking along a sidewalk?”
Monty Python did that joke almost 50 years ago, in season 3.
Panel 2: “I think you’ll be great at [repelling].” “Thanks.” Panel 3: “Duh, HEY! WAIT A MINUTE! I RESEMBLE THAT REMARK!”
I was rather amused when I saw the equivalent British mountaineering term on a sign somewhere in southwest England: abseil (German for “down rope”).
Arthur, I would define rappelling as a way of intentionally descending on ropes. I would not define falling and being saved by ropes as “rappelling when you mean to climb” – I would say that in that case you’re just falling, not rappelling.
I think we’re all reading John K’s statement the same way – it’s just a question of whether it’s reasonable to call that set of actions “rappelling.” (Or, at least, whether Pastis thinks it’s reasonable.)
I took it as: how is he going to take a rock-climbing lesson when his surroundings are flat as a pancake? This occurs to him in a delayed reaction as he is walking along a dead-flat sidewalk.
Big Chief, I don’t know about where Pastis is, but here in Chicago if you want to go rock climbing you mostly do it indoors. I have one student who climbs 7 days a week.
I’m just waiting for a chance to compliment a climber I know about his outstanding “rappelsiveness.”
Rappelzel, Rappelzel, rappel your hair.