Katy-Ann

[Papuasblya]

One of the things I like about this comic is that many of its characters are slow developers -- I am using "develop" in the sense of photography, not in the sense of personal growth. We see people introduced briefly, and then six months later we see another facet brought out that may seem initially inconsistent but ultimately makes sense.

Katy-Ann is a great example of this. At first, we see her as a friendly, but somewhat light-headed person, not quite vacuous or a ditz but with only one note -- almost mindless cheerfulness. Now in the last couple of strips we watch her, using very spare language, show herself to be simultaneously constructive, mediating and possessing a sense of irony and sarcasm that manages to be very clear without being sharp or offensive. In that she's very similar to Jack, who is usually stone-silent except when (a) he's gently popping Stan's bubble or (b) he's had too much to drink. Both of them have this very calm and collected exterior but, as a testament to the great writing on this strip, we can see that they are thinking a lot harder than people give them credit for.

[Freemage]

All of which, of course, leads to the question, "What's her problem?"

Although the strip is currently getting to be a bit, "St. Penny vs. the Evil World", generally everyone in the strip is given some flaws. So Katy, to be true to the strip's overall nature, needs to have something. I can't see her being as judgemental as Charlotte, for obvious reasons, so she's probably not going to rip Penny over Sara's Silly Speculations.

I think, though, that Katy might be a little TOO non-judgemental. Deliberately blinding yourself to the flaws of others tends to lead to problems, as well.

[Little Wood]

I think Freemage is right, but I don't see how that's exactly a "flaw" in the sense that she also has a mischevious or rather "devilish" side. If she really was too non-judgmental then I would probably sympathize with her for being stuck in a really rotten web.

[Freemage]

Being too open-minded can lead to inaction, or ineffective action. For instance, really, in the scene that just happened, someone stepping up and pointing out the Aggie the hypocrisy of her behavior would've been a far better way of helping Penny cool down (especially if it scored a hit). However, since she didn't want to add to the confrontation, she got stuck with a relatively weak distraction attempt.

[iRobot]

All of which, of course, leads to the question, "What's her problem?"

Although the strip is currently getting to be a bit, "St. Penny vs. the Evil World", generally everyone in the strip is given some flaws. So Katy, to be true to the strip's overall nature, needs to have something. I can't see her being as judgemental as Charlotte, for obvious reasons, so she's probably not going to rip Penny over Sara's Silly Speculations.

I think, though, that Katy might be a little TOO non-judgemental. Deliberately blinding yourself to the flaws of others tends to lead to problems, as well.

I think she'll fall into the category of category of the type that "tries to help" when their help is misguided, unnecessary, or unwanted. The councillor to those who don't want or don't need one. Y'know, the other (non-judmental, non-offensive, just annoying) side to the crusader coin.

[Papuasblya]

I think she won't have any idea what to do, not because she is offended at the thought of one of her friends being different, but because she won't want to come off the wrong way. Her entire behavior so far appears to be based on the light-hearted premise that life is good, people are nice, confrontation is bad, we should all get along, don't be judgmental, etc. etc. Faced with the potential that one of her best friends is gay - and let's remember, unlike your average drooling adult webcomics readers, straight teens aren't necessarily enthusiastic about sexual minorities (disclaimer below for all of you who are loading your flamethrowers) - she may simply back off from Penny, as much from fear of offending her as from fear of that which is different. She may also simply disbelieve Sara, whose opinion she apparently takes with a grain of salt ("Sure, what harm could THAT do?"), but refuse to argue the point with her because, remember, Katy-Ann does not show a lot of enthusiasm for confrontation.

DISCLAIMER -- When I say straight teens are not necessarily enthusiastic about sexual minorities, I don't mean that they are necessarily disgusted or hateful about it. Some certainly are, but that's not what I am saying. I am saying that even if they accept the idea in principle, they are not about to run around with an armband that says "My close friend X is gay and let's celebrate that fact."

[daanton]

I think she won't have any idea what to do, not because she is offended at the thought of one of her friends being different, but because she won't want to come off the wrong way. Her entire behavior so far appears to be based on the light-hearted premise that life is good, people are nice, confrontation is bad, we should all get along, don't be judgmental, etc. etc. Faced with the potential that one of her best friends is gay - and let's remember, unlike your average drooling adult webcomics readers, straight teens aren't necessarily enthusiastic about sexual minorities (disclaimer below for all of you who are loading your flamethrowers) - she may simply back off from Penny, as much from fear of offending her as from fear of that which is different. She may also simply disbelieve Sara, whose opinion she apparently takes with a grain of salt ("Sure, what harm could THAT do?"), but refuse to argue the point with her because, remember, Katy-Ann does not show a lot of enthusiasm for confrontation.

DISCLAIMER -- When I say straight teens are not necessarily enthusiastic about sexual minorities, I don't mean that they are necessarily disgusted or hateful about it. Some certainly are, but that's not what I am saying. I am saying that even if they accept the idea in principle, they are not about to run around with an armband that says "My close friend X is gay and let's celebrate that fact."

Definitely someone here has an open mind and is still non-judgmental.

With me, if someone I know, who I've probably known a long time, turns out to be gay, sure, my first initial feeling would be: "no way, I can't believe it, he didn't seem to look or act that way before", but eventually I will come around to feel: "hey, that's the path he's chosen, I'm not going to fault him for that since I've already known him as a friend and so we'll continue to be friends". You cannot shun a person because he/she has discovered he/she is homosexual... especially when you've already known that person and known him/her to be honest, caring, responsible and all that.


Yeah, okay, you can probably tell I also read a lot of "For Better or For Worse" comics, so sue me, NOYB.
At least I'm being honest in what I feel about things...

[blueaster]

I think Freemage is right, but I don't see how that's exactly a "flaw" in the sense that she also has a mischevious or rather "devilish" side. If she really was too non-judgmental then I would probably sympathize with her for being stuck in a really rotten web.

where did you see this? i'm somewhat lost...

[elvencellist]

Definitely someone here has an open mind and is still non-judgmental.

With me, if someone I know, who I've probably known a long time, turns out to be gay, sure, my first initial feeling would be: "no way, I can't believe it, he didn't seem to look or act that way before", but eventually I will come around to feel: "hey, that's the path he's chosen, I'm not going to fault him for that since I've already known him as a friend and so we'll continue to be friends". You cannot shun a person because he/she has discovered he/she is homosexual... especially when you've already known that person and known him/her to be honest, caring, responsible and all that.


Yeah, okay, you can probably tell I also read a lot of "For Better or For Worse" comics, so sue me, NOYB.
At least I'm being honest in what I feel about things...

That probably sums up Katy-Ann pretty well. It's not so much how judgmental one will be when they discover one of their close friends is gay, I don't think.
I think it's more a question of how different are you going to act? Naturally, I think all of us act differently when we discover something about one of our closest friends that we would never suspect albeit it be bad or just different standing only with personality. If Katy-Ann WERE to discover Penny were gay, I don't think she'd have a problem with the fact alone, I think she would be more flustered over how she's supposed to treat Penny, how's she's supposed to react, whether or not she's coming off as too hostile or not, even if she's not being hostile at all. Some people are always afraid of offending someone, and this seems to me to describe Katy-Ann pretty well.

And this, trust me, is a very awkward stage to be at between two friends.

[daanton]

My point exactly.

[elvencellist]

I'm glad we agree.

I think I was rewording it for myself, haha.