Deflate my ego!

[JerrBear]

Being different in any way is hard. Standing out is hard. It doesn't matter if you're too tall or in a wheelchair or have a lisp. Being gay is hard, and I Sarah realizes this.

Haha tell me about it! (Is gay, in a wheelchair, half-filipino and half-caucasian, and a geek to boot! :C) )

[JerrBear]

I find it interesting, actually that no one has stepped forward with the idea that Marshall comes to an understanding of Sara's motivations so quickly and easily because he's found himself in the same sort of position before. How many times have people here said they believe Marshall to be gay? Heck, even Marshall has addressed the fact that people often think he's gay. It could be quite likely that he did a similar kind of "test" on himself as Sara just did -- whether he kissed a girl (probably someone before Karen) or tried to kiss a guy, the important part was that his conclusion was then the opposite of Sara's, with Marshall declaring himself straight.

(I actually almost feel a plot bunny nibbling at my ankles now. I really want to kinda explore that idea. Why does fanfic hit me at the weirdest times?)

That is a good theory.

[radiotrash]

I like today's strip but I'm disappointed to see that Marshall would think that Penny would set him up this way. Sure Penny isn't a saint but I just don't see her siccing someone after Karen's boyfriend, no matter how much she dislikes her.

Do you recall how Marshall and Penny met? Penny was taking pictures of him and Aggie so she could simultaneously shoot down both Aggie and Karen?

And then there's this:

http://www.pennyandaggie.com/index.php?p=460

Yeah but Penny didn't know it was going to be Marshall until she got there and when she did see it was him I think she assumed that Marhsall was cheating on Aggie or something of the sort and was just taking advantage of the situation. (Hello run-on sentence.) Also Marshall may have met Penny at the party but he didn't really know her, like in the strip above it's all Karen telling him how awful Penny is. And okay, yes Penny was first mean when she met Karen but she did help Karen see that if she wants to change herself she can and helped her achieve that. And for this Karen decided to turn against Penny (and Aggie)?

[Stratburst]

I'm actually starting to re-evaluate my original position that Aggie and Marshall weren't at all suited for each other. I was figuring that Aggie and Duane were going to hook up, unless Sara or Lisa convinced Aggie to go the Sapphic route. However, we can safely say that, at this stage, Aggie considers herself straight.

However, to my mind, it didn't seem like Aggie and Marshall had enough in common for them to forge a relationship.

But Marshall's thought bubble in Friday's strip: "That's one way to deflate my ego" seems like something Nick would say/think. T and Giselle already said that the first man a girl ever loves is her father, and Aggie could do a lot worse than looking at Nick as a template for guys she wants to date. And the fact that Marshall is displaying some Nick-esque qualities implies that he may not fade into "just a crush" territory for Aggie.

That is, unless Marshall makes it clear once and for all that he's not attracted to her . . .

[InkMonkey]

It could be quite likely that he did a similar kind of "test" on himself as Sara just did -- whether he kissed a girl (probably someone before Karen) or tried to kiss a guy, the important part was that his conclusion was then the opposite of Sara's, with Marshall declaring himself straight.

Cool. I kind of like that idea. I'm not sure if it entirely fits Marshall, but well, you never know.

[Killjoy]

Keep in mind that Sara hates labels, and that for many people "gay" is still a giant rainbow or pink label.

While she may have been annoyed by being "labelled" by the search engine, she was primarily annoyed that label was "gay" in the first place. No, I'd just say that Sara is one of those people who is terribly afraid of being alone. And even if her gayness doesn't preclude her from being part of the Bad Pennies, she'd still be alone in that she's the only gay person she personally knows. Assuming that the school en masse would be fine with her being gay that would still be the case. If one of her "outings" turned out to be true, if Riches two buddies started quoting bareback at each other, or if Penny and Aggie's mutual conflict was rooted in suppressed passion...Sara would be much more comfortable with being gay. Which of course was why she kept doing it.

Personally, I think she was more upset about someone assigning a label to her, than about any particular label.

http://www.pennyandaggie.com/index.php?p=294
http://www.pennyandaggie.com/index.php?p=299

Do you think she would have been so agitated if the marketing maching hadn't suggested "Hot Blondes Doing Trix With Pennies"?

Yes, I do. If it did upset her more, I think it was mainly because she's already, at least subconsciously, dealing with the "lesbian issue" at that point.

I'm not saying that the other reasons she's upset that have been suggested aren't contributing factors, but her disdain for being "labeled" or "pidgeonholed" is part of why it bothers her.

[sopdet]

It could be quite likely that he did a similar kind of "test" on himself as Sara just did -- whether he kissed a girl (probably someone before Karen) or tried to kiss a guy, the important part was that his conclusion was then the opposite of Sara's, with Marshall declaring himself straight.

Cool. I kind of like that idea. I'm not sure if it entirely fits Marshall, but well, you never know.

I actually have ended up writing a short fic. It's got a bit of polishing needed, but if people are interested I'll be happy to either link to it or post it here on the boards when it's done.

[Davidj]

I like today's strip but I'm disappointed to see that Marshall would think that Penny would set him up this way. Sure Penny isn't a saint but I just don't see her siccing someone after Karen's boyfriend, no matter how much she dislikes her.

Do you recall how Marshall and Penny met? Penny was taking pictures of him and Aggie so she could simultaneously shoot down both Aggie and Karen?

And then there's this:

http://www.pennyandaggie.com/index.php?p=460

Yeah but Penny didn't know it was going to be Marshall until she got there

Does that matter? Not only is Marshall unable to read Penny's mind, so he's going off Penny's furtive behaviour in the context of only knowing Penny via Karen's assessment of her character. He doesn't know anything about Aggie so he thinks Penny is spying on him, and Aggie is some poor innocent caught in the crossfire of Penny's war with Karen. And quite apart from that, she really was trying to bust up someone's love life in a sneaky manner. He just doesn't know who she was trying to mess with. There's only one real reason why Sara's action really would be beyond the bounds of the real Penny, and that's because Penny wouldn't do that to Sara. Penny does her own dirty work.

[Freemage]

I like today's strip but I'm disappointed to see that Marshall would think that Penny would set him up this way. Sure Penny isn't a saint but I just don't see her siccing someone after Karen's boyfriend, no matter how much she dislikes her.

Do you recall how Marshall and Penny met? Penny was taking pictures of him and Aggie so she could simultaneously shoot down both Aggie and Karen?

And then there's this:

http://www.pennyandaggie.com/index.php?p=460

Yeah but Penny didn't know it was going to be Marshall until she got there and when she did see it was him I think she assumed that Marhsall was cheating on Aggie or something of the sort and was just taking advantage of the situation. (Hello run-on sentence.) Also Marshall may have met Penny at the party but he didn't really know her, like in the strip above it's all Karen telling him how awful Penny is. And okay, yes Penny was first mean when she met Karen but she did help Karen see that if she wants to change herself she can and helped her achieve that. And for this Karen decided to turn against Penny (and Aggie)?

But holding Marshall accountable for that is saying he should know that was the case; he has no way to do so. Given his comment at the party--that she built herself up, "without help"--he's probably completely unaware of Penny's role as Prof. Henry Higgins to Karen's Eliza.

So the point is, don't blame Marshall for Karen's distortions. Similarly, don't hold him at fault when it was Penny's malice that created the impression she was up to no good. It's kind of like the old murder mysteries where some burglar would break into a house, only to find the lord of the manor already dead, then gets caught when the maid walks in while he's standing over the body. Of course he's the primary suspect!

[blazelust]

I'd just like to say that seeing you defending Marshall made me laugh, Freemage.

Also? I really, really feel sorry for Sara. Poor girl. I know some people are totally comfortable having a different sexuality from the norm, yes -- I'm one of them -- but others are not. Particularly Sara, because she hates being labeled. Also, as one of the most popular girls in the school, she's going to be in the spotlight all the time. I can tell you that being a gay/bisexual teenager is difficult, and it's twice as difficult when you're as insecure in your sexuality, like Sara is. Even if it's all water off your back, teenagers can be so, so cruel.

[Abby]

It could be quite likely that he did a similar kind of "test" on himself as Sara just did -- whether he kissed a girl (probably someone before Karen) or tried to kiss a guy, the important part was that his conclusion was then the opposite of Sara's, with Marshall declaring himself straight.

Cool. I kind of like that idea. I'm not sure if it entirely fits Marshall, but well, you never know.

I actually have ended up writing a short fic. It's got a bit of polishing needed, but if people are interested I'll be happy to either link to it or post it here on the boards when it's done.

I'm interested! Link it up, link it up!

[InkMonkey]

It could be quite likely that he did a similar kind of "test" on himself as Sara just did -- whether he kissed a girl (probably someone before Karen) or tried to kiss a guy, the important part was that his conclusion was then the opposite of Sara's, with Marshall declaring himself straight.

Cool. I kind of like that idea. I'm not sure if it entirely fits Marshall, but well, you never know.

I actually have ended up writing a short fic. It's got a bit of polishing needed, but if people are interested I'll be happy to either link to it or post it here on the boards when it's done.

Yeah, all right! That sounds good! Go ahead and send it my way.

[Azrael44]

Oy all.

Ok personal observation here: When it comes to things of this nature I have often wondered if there was something wrong with me. I mean there are these "hot-button" issues that people just get bent out of shape about one way or another, in this case homosexuality, and I just can not generate any angst over the subject. It just dose not matter to me one way or another if someone is gay, to my rememberance it never has mattered, and I do not understand why some people go up in flames over the subject. Also, I do not understand why some people need to give other people a hard time over their orientation. I guess it seems to me much ado about nothing, I mean love is love and gender seems largely irrelevant. Oddly enough this attitude on my part also seems inflame certain segments of the population. I could not possibly get any whiter being Scots-Irish and I guess some people think I should be a jack-booted, goose-stepping, red-necked anti-whatever. Anyway I hope I explained this clearly, very tired, work night watch, sleep now zzzzzzz ZZZZZZ zzzzz ZZZZZZZZZ *snork* and so it goes. Good day all.

[Sebastian]

On a slightly different note, I'm happy that Marshall seems to have improved in his personal-contact skills. He didn't wig out and walk away, and he explained what he was thinking right off the bat. He did better by Sara than he did by Karen-- probably because he loves Karen and had all the emotional baggage that implies, but still.

And probably because he and sarah wasn't naked in front of each other with her ogling his "package".

Apples and oranges, really.

[Sebastian]

Not to rain on anyone parade, but it is still possible she is not actually gay, I mean what are her proofs? That she is sexually confused (a teenager confused? That is unheard of) and that she kissed a guy she barely know in the middle of a hospitall in a stresful situation and didn't like it? Oh, that sound pretty definitive.