“…just not very cogent” Love it! certainly not the punchline I was in any way expecting — and all the more impactful thereby.
However, Mo asking for validation strikes me as out of character ( within the framework of the body-double we follow each week, I mean ): this guy is about as self-aware as a mayfly. Anyone care to contextualise it for me? Or, maybe, I’m over-thinking it?
This reminds me of Gattaca, where people are only valid of their genes are manipulated by eugenics before birth to be the best kind of human. In that context, Mo would most certainly be invalid, despite his grandiose thoughts to the contrary. Even Moses would be invalid. Jesus, well…that’s debatable.
It seems to me that this is a way that some people can justify being rude or obstructive, rather than seeing what is expected and going along with it.
We’re social beings and live in societies. While we prize personal freedom (sometimes to an extreme, especially in America, but that attitude’s spreading globally), it’s also important to conform in many ways, and the number of ways increases as society gets more complicated.
Not driving through red lights, not waving your middle aged pecker at teenage girls, not yelling in a restaurant; these are good examples of conformity. But ordinary politeness is just as important.
When your authentic self is a jerk (tosser, asshole, bell end) then better to wrap it with some pleases, thank yous, and if you don’t minds.
Or, you can be that authentic jerk and expect validation.
Ha! So I’m not overthinking this: there is something there.
Thank you, Author, for the Word . This is a great excuse to reread the archives. I don’t offhand recall any deep discussions of Mo’s dual nature: it was either about the burka itself or into cross-dressing/ transgender issues.
Thank you, Son of Glenner. I’m no wordsmith, but I enjoy language, and the mayfly’s frantic frenetic mating during otherwise deadly-dull hot days feels quite removed from introspection, don’t you think?
Seriously, did a trans person run over your dog or something? You are starting to get stuck in a groove. Personally I transitioned 20 years ago. Surgery, ect. I don’t walk around in stereotype clothes wondering how “valid” I am. Or asking people to validate me for that matter. Or CONSTANTLY going on about it. I understand being sick of the “transgender community” I know I’ve had more than enough of it. But not everybody is like this schmuck. Some people simply want body mind congruity.
Seriously, did a trans person run over your dog or something? You are starting to get stuck in a groove.
No. Neither has a Christian or a Muslim ever been responsible for the death of one of my pets. J&M is a satirical comic which makes fun of irrational beliefs. It’s been stuck in the same groove for over 15 years. Thank you for reading it. Stay well.
Mo, it’s only human to want validation. You can get it from people who want similar validation (a social group, a support group, or a group on the ‘net), or from a therapist. But it’s not realistic to expect validation from J or Moses.
What is an authentic self, anyway? Each of us is multi-faceted, and express different facets depending on the situation, what we’re doing, the people we’re interacting with, etc. I think it is rare to find even one other person who knows and appreciates all of one’s facets.
two cents’ worth: Always proof-read your comment before hitting the “Submit Comment” button, now that the post-edit facility is no more. Author has already told us that it was not closed down deliberately and that there is not much s/he can do about it. (Is it still OK to use “s/he”? – I often find that more appropriate than using “they” as a singular.)
BTW, Author – the pubs in England are about to re-open (not yet here in Scotland, alas), so I hope we shall soon be hearing from the Barmaid. I have been greatly missing her common sense remarks and punchlines. Please? Pretty please? Please on bended knee?
Jesus & Mo (the characters) are absurd, blinkered, and oddly very sweet. J&M (the cartoon) is brilliant: sharp, delicious, irresistible. Salman Rushdie
Jesus and Mo cartoons are wonderfully funny and true. Richard Dawkins
Jesus and Mo make the world a better place, bless their little hearts. Ophelia Benson
In a world defined by outrage and offence and liberal spinelessness, Jesus and Mo is a treasure, whose value we should never fail to recognize. Read them. Laugh. And think. Kenan Malik
The brilliant, celebrated, freaking hilarious atheist comic strip ... Greta Christina
...rays of sanity in a befuddled world. Keri Hulme
The liveliest depictions of Muhammad currently available... Malise Ruthven
J & Mo is the funniest and most consistently thought-provoking cartoon strip on the Net. In a saner world, it would run in a major newspaper. Nelson Jones, Heresy Corner
Consistently amusing, frequently thought-provoking and often heart-warming. New Humanist
Jesus & Mo is one of the most wonderful things on the internet.. JT Eberhard
Wittily captures much of the absurdity of religious apologetics. Mano Singham
I love jesusandmo.net cartoons - witty and sharp! Katha Pollitt
Often hilarious, frequently wry, these cartoons do what all the best cartoons do: they tell the truth through humour. Terry Sanderson, NSS President
...a wonderfully acid British cartoonist... Nick Cohen
I love the scrappy mockery of Jesus and Mo. Freedom of speech
includes the freedom to mock any person, any thing, any activity, and
any belief -- and J&M stands up for this unflinchingly Richard Stallman
...empowering, important and deeply progressive, not to mention hilarious... Council of Ex-Muslims
April 24, 2008
I’m a library card! I’m an annual bus pass! I’m a coupon good for a free Starbucks paper cup! I AM VALID.
“…just not very cogent”
Love it! certainly not the punchline I was in any way expecting — and all the more impactful thereby.
However, Mo asking for validation strikes me as out of character ( within the framework of the body-double we follow each week, I mean ): this guy is about as self-aware as a mayfly. Anyone care to contextualise it for me? Or, maybe, I’m over-thinking it?
This reminds me of Gattaca, where people are only valid of their genes are manipulated by eugenics before birth to be the best kind of human. In that context, Mo would most certainly be invalid, despite his grandiose thoughts to the contrary. Even Moses would be invalid. Jesus, well…that’s debatable.
I looked this up. It turns out (and I didn’t know this before) that being your authentic self is yet another thing you can convince people of.
Here, for example: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/01/08/this-is-what-happens-when-you-unlock-your-authentic-self/
It seems to me that this is a way that some people can justify being rude or obstructive, rather than seeing what is expected and going along with it.
We’re social beings and live in societies. While we prize personal freedom (sometimes to an extreme, especially in America, but that attitude’s spreading globally), it’s also important to conform in many ways, and the number of ways increases as society gets more complicated.
Not driving through red lights, not waving your middle aged pecker at teenage girls, not yelling in a restaurant; these are good examples of conformity. But ordinary politeness is just as important.
When your authentic self is a jerk (tosser, asshole, bell end) then better to wrap it with some pleases, thank yous, and if you don’t minds.
Or, you can be that authentic jerk and expect validation.
OtterBe: I love your phrase: “as self-aware as a mayfly”!
I suppose in the grand scheme of things, we are all about as significant as a may-fly.
OtterBe, Mo changes when he’s in a burka.
Ha! So I’m not overthinking this: there is something there.
Thank you, Author, for the Word . This is a great excuse to reread the archives. I don’t offhand recall any deep discussions of Mo’s dual nature: it was either about the burka itself or into cross-dressing/ transgender issues.
Thank you, Son of Glenner. I’m no wordsmith, but I enjoy language, and the mayfly’s frantic frenetic mating during otherwise deadly-dull hot days feels quite removed from introspection, don’t you think?
Is it possible the Mo also loses IQ points when he puts on that verdamnte burqa? I’m beginning to think so.
Seriously, did a trans person run over your dog or something? You are starting to get stuck in a groove. Personally I transitioned 20 years ago. Surgery, ect. I don’t walk around in stereotype clothes wondering how “valid” I am. Or asking people to validate me for that matter. Or CONSTANTLY going on about it. I understand being sick of the “transgender community” I know I’ve had more than enough of it. But not everybody is like this schmuck. Some people simply want body mind congruity.
Dana W asks:
No. Neither has a Christian or a Muslim ever been responsible for the death of one of my pets. J&M is a satirical comic which makes fun of irrational beliefs. It’s been stuck in the same groove for over 15 years. Thank you for reading it. Stay well.
I’m just grateful that Mo is not provoking uncontrollable lust. Who can forget
https://www.jesusandmo.net/comic/ball/ ?
Mo, it’s only human to want validation. You can get it from people who want similar validation (a social group, a support group, or a group on the ‘net), or from a therapist. But it’s not realistic to expect validation from J or Moses.
What is an authentic self, anyway? Each of us is multi-faceted, and express different facets depending on the situation, what we’re doing, the people we’re interacting with, etc. I think it is rare to find even one other person who knows and appreciates all of one’s facets.
“and express” should have been “and we express.” I hope I’ve avoided a POTWA!
two cents’ worth: Always proof-read your comment before hitting the “Submit Comment” button, now that the post-edit facility is no more. Author has already told us that it was not closed down deliberately and that there is not much s/he can do about it. (Is it still OK to use “s/he”? – I often find that more appropriate than using “they” as a singular.)
BTW, Author – the pubs in England are about to re-open (not yet here in Scotland, alas), so I hope we shall soon be hearing from the Barmaid. I have been greatly missing her common sense remarks and punchlines. Please? Pretty please? Please on bended knee?
J&M is THE BEST satirical comic which makes fun of irrational beliefs. Long may it prosper.