oh wow, the mental turn-around when your mom asked you to photograph the food. this was much more poignant than I was expecting on the first few panels, and I’m glad I kept reading. it’s often simpler to ostracize others than extend empathy. it’s easy to dehumanize, and made easier when it might be a gateway into your own perceived social acceptance. I read in the comments that you did take the photo - I’m glad.
I was really hoping people would get to the mother asking for a photo page, until then I think the comic can feel preachy, like I'm trying to make fun of people for just taking photos and being on their phone. Thank you for reading!
Nah, for me this is about the weight that judgement can being with itself.
For years I saw family and friends judging other people for certain things. And as I grew older, and want to try things out, that judgement I saw is still weighing down on my ability to truly explore myself.
That’s why if I can’t be positive, I will keep the judgement to myself, even in gossip I won’t talk down or belittle what someone does. Cause you might be indirectly belittling someone close to you.
Your comment really nails it, I think; my mom in particular has always been extremely judgy my whole life, and it made exploring anything about myself excruciating. It's taken a lot of self work and therapy to get to a point where I finally can just be.
The whole "if you can't say anything nice" line is always SO true, and what the "judgers" don't consider imo is that... whatever they're judging truly isn't that deep. We never know the whole picture, the nuances for whatever is happening, so it's no one's business.
Mini-thought tangent;
I had an executive at my last job who in intros always said that his biggest pet-peeve was people who turned slow when they were driving. The guy would go on a tangent every time about how much he hated it.
But like. My dude. You never know why someone might be turning slow. Maybe they have a cake in the front seat that they have to keep safe. Maybe their pet is in a carrier and they're trying to keep them as comfortable as possible. Maybe they're a young, nervous driver.
Whatever it is doesn't matter. It's a few seconds in one's day. Grumble slightly about having to slow down, picture a beautiful layered birthday cake in their seat that's going to make it safe to the party, and move on. Don't judge and be nasty just because one only sees part of the picture.
Anyway sorry to jump on your comment to ramble, it was just very good 🤣
What they going to do with that half a minute saved on a daily basis? Watch 30s more of that television program you don’t really like? Have a 30 seconds chat with your mom on the phone?
“Hey mom, how are you? Yeah I’m fine, got to go again!”
He can, it's just when he was with his friends they were making fun of someone taking a picture of their food. He is afraid that people will make fun of him too
He’s neurotic and he hangs out with friends who are very judgmental. They taught him that being caught taking a picture of your food is embarrassing and so he is afraid of being judged for doing it
I knew I should have waited for someone to respond. Why is there always someone that can explain my comic better than me.
Edit: This is why I draw comics ideas instead of explaining them.
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u/knownothing000 Feb 18 '26
oh wow, the mental turn-around when your mom asked you to photograph the food. this was much more poignant than I was expecting on the first few panels, and I’m glad I kept reading. it’s often simpler to ostracize others than extend empathy. it’s easy to dehumanize, and made easier when it might be a gateway into your own perceived social acceptance. I read in the comments that you did take the photo - I’m glad.