Talk:2890: Relationship Advice

Anybody else think that White Hat might be aromantic? 42.book.addict (talk) 18:47, 5 February 2024 (UTC)

I see no reason to assume he is talking about romance at all. All relationships can be difficult, whether romantic, sexual, platonic, familiar or professional. Tharkon (talk) 19:07, 5 February 2024 (UTC)

Yeah, I don't think the explanation (as of this reply) is really relevant, he just struggles to form any kind of meaningful relationship. 172.70.100.156 19:18, 5 February 2024 (UTC)

I would agree if he expressed disinterest or something, but I don't think negativity = aromantic.

I’m on the original user’s side. The language expressed in the comic is negative and disinterested, as White Hat thinks that relationships are gruelling and require a lot of resolve to engage in. 172.71.151.4 00:07, 6 February 2024 (UTC)

I thought White Hat's sentiments (at least in the first half) were common in alloromantic culture. "Relationships require work to maintain" is widespread advice.
My own interpretation is that it's parodying the attachment of a competitive and hopeless attitude to relationships, where allo people often seem to highly resent their partners. (Maybe some of them are aroace in denial, but that's another conversation…) Because of this attitude, White Hat has gotten so frustrated that he's told himself that relationships should literally feel like "work", and are all hopeless and joyless, to rationalize his own relationship troubles (implied by "are you okay?"). The punchline, "This is normal!", is lampooning how these unhealthy sentiments have become cultural norms, with White Hat standing in for them.
I'm not confident that my exact reading here is correct, but I do think the comic paints White Hat as hurting, misguided, possibly trying to tear down others' relationships, and an allegory for some wider theme in society. So it seems off to say that Randall would be allegorizing about aromantic people as such.
Also, I've heard that committed relationships, such as queerplatonic relationships, are important to at least some aromantic people. If White Hat were (knowingly) aro, he'd likely include these under his use of the word "relationships", right? ~AgentMuffin 16:02, 6 February 2024 (UTC)

Jeez. I can relate.... 172.70.178.143 19:15, 5 February 2024 (UTC)

I think it's pretty clear that the "offscreen voice" is one of Cueball or Ponytail, the frame is just close up on White Hat so we can't see which of his companions is responding. And "wary and unsure news"? I think a better expression would be "unsure agreement". Barmar (talk) 22:22, 5 February 2024 (UTC)

It looked like an ESL contribution to me, too. My choice of change (not seeing this until just now) was "...expresses a wary agreement". Covers all the various things from "I don't know where you're going with this, but I'll let you continue until I do" through "I know it's just the drink talking, but anything you say as I get you out of this bar and safely home" to "you're too handy with your fists, and ready to use them, I'm not gonna argue while you're in this mood".

If I were to classify WH's scenario, though, he's just had a sudden setback in some relationship, and it's the shock that's making him ramble. His companions know that something's happened, but are perhaps not fully aware of what it is that has hit him hard. - But I was never that good with social cues. If I'm anywhere close to general opinion then it's only because everyone else is equally lacking in the non-stick-figure body language and audible cues. ;) 172.69.194.20 00:31, 6 February 2024 (UTC)