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Simple Solutions

🕑 Added 2022-11-08 02:10:21 +0000 UTC

Comments

Ruth Merriam

That's just fucking brilliant, and where do I purchase some? Also upholstery fabric, because cats. And hair. So much hair.

Am Queue

This isnt' making *love* conditional. However, I see no problem with setting boundaries of the sort, I need you to be taking care of this so I can feel like this will be a mutually functional relationship.

Amanda L

I imagine they have special anti-static clothes, like how you have to wrap PC components in antistatic bags to prevent damaging them. So that might repel cat hair too.

Ruth Merriam

Why isn't Yay covered in Hercules's hair?

darklion

I think that's a silly question to ask--there are too many counterfactuals to consider in such a circumstance. For example, if it hadn't worked, maybe we weren't the right kind of people to be together in the first place. But you can never say for sure. Human relationships have that ambiguity to them where trying to predict all possible outcomes is not productive. It is better to proceed from a position of not doing inherently harmful things with the hope that the good consequences will outweigh the bad. You don't know anyone that well. Suffice to say that I think your form of "tough love" has no place in healthy relationships. Making love conditional leads inevitably to unhealthy neuroses.

MercuryBuddha

Am I the only one that just clued into the cat's name being a reference to the Elton John song?

ValdVin

It must be serious when Yay lets Hercules go from their grasp. I just took it as a matter of faith that they absentmindedly (sic) try walking out the door with him every time.

Kriss Pang

I see YaySpooky is a a student of the "It has to get worse before it gets better" school of thought...!

Stephen Wells

It will either solve the problem or replace it with a different problem.

Bill Silvia

I'm not sure a Boston accent is going to solve the problem.

Joseph Bonnar

I tot I taw a PUDDY TAT! I did! I Did see a puddy tat!

PixelThis

Plus she /really/ likes to meddle.

Jim Feldman

Rene had the hots for El at one point, but she might be the voice of reason that Elliot would listen to.

OldGoat

Yes, it is toxic emotional blackmail, but what Elliot is doing is toxic enough to destroy a relationship. So, the partner has to decide how important that relationship is, and what are they willing to do to maintain it. Since we're on to a medical metaphor ("toxic"), nearly all drugs that are powerful enough to do any good are potentially toxic (if you don't believe me, Google "Tylenol overdose). @darklion, your girlfriend's method worked, and good on the both of you, but would you still be together if it hadn't?

KCkittysnores

Some people would pay for that.

CaseyAEC

Unless Elliot cuts Yay off for what they did. But in his current state, I doubt he would do that. Poor gentle bear.

Stephen Wells

Nobody could live through being cussed at by Roko AND May.

Matt Pedone

Yeah, frame it as just someone to talk to, not GET HELP WITH YOUR ANXIETY BEFORE YOUR HEAD A-SPLODES!

Mad Marie

Everyone above seems to have overlooked the single most important part of this comic: Hercules tail!

Bagge

They both migh be up for it if asked

darklion

Yeah that's fucking terrible. I'm so glad my gf didn't do that to me when I fell down a mental hole. She was just like, "here, our university has crisis counseling, do you want to try that?" Emotional blackmail was and is still my parents' go-to to obtain cooperation from me, so she knew better, but it also isn't in her nature to be so unkind.

darklion

My experience in these matters tells me is that you have to somehow use those parts of a person that are currently well-functioning to anchor a person's moving forwards. So for example if an Elliot is getting up every day and feeding himself, and going to work, it means his sense of personal responsibility is operating and he's generally taking care of himself. You have to get an Elliot to see "once a week, going to a quiet place to talk with someone understanding" as something he could add to that routine, like going grocery shopping. It's a lot less intimidating then.

Stephen Wells

Previous QC experience suggests that Elliot and Clinton need to get cussed out by either May or Roko.

Ktulu

Just one thing. It's essentially emotional blackmail. It may work but it's toxic.

Ace of Hearts

well they are trying

OldGoat

Right idea, Yay, but not a great implementation. Elliot's not the kind of hyper-masculine testosterone poisoned nitwit to refuse to be helped. Clinton, tell Elliot the only thing that could make you break up with him is if he doesn't see a counselor. AND MEAN IT. I know whereof I speak, because I have seen it work.