'Calvin & Hobbes' Creator Has A Message You Need To See

[kpete]

Bill Watterson's Uplifting Advice To College Grads, Illustrated In 'Calvin & Hobbes' Style



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/bill-watterson-advice-to-college-grads-illustrated-like-calvin-and-hobbes_n_3837271.html

[sufrommich]

1. I love this.nt

[liberal N proud]

2. K&R

[Hayabusa]

3. That is freaking beautiful.

[99Forever]

4. So very true.

[Supersedeas]

5. uplifting when there so much from so many brining you down

beautiful

[Dragonfli]

6. I can not recommend this enough! It is a wise man that knows what is true success.

A happy life and a smiling child is the pinnacle of success, happiness is true wealth.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

7. Important message with...

... an excellent presentation. Thanks for posting.

[Hydra]

8. True subversive that he is

[BillyRibs]

9. Thank you Bill!

I feel worthy again.

[Moostache]

10. I so loved Calvin and Hobbes...

Its nice to see ANYTHING new from Bill Waterson, but that message is perfect.

[littlewolf]

19. I agree so much! nt

[Bibliovore]

24. The words are Bill Watterson's (from 1995), but the art is Gavin Aung Than's

According to the linked post, the text is from a commencement speech Watterson gave in 1995, and the art is by cartoonist Gavin Aung Than, of Zen Pencils, in a deliberate mimicking/homage to Watterson.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/bill-watterson-advice-to-college-grads-illustrated-like-calvin-and-hobbes_n_3837271.html

[Spitfire of ATJ]

11. It's like I've posted elsewhere here. A long lost, nearly forgotten expression....

"It's only money."

[Doc Holliday]

44. I think that's changed.

Such a view regarding money is now considered by many to be subversive and downright unAmerican.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

55. "Real" Americans are supposed to hate everything too.

[kentauros]

59. As I've told many of my co-workers over the years:

"I work to live. I don't live to work."

They seem to understand that, and even agree with me. Yet, any time overtime is offered, they all jump at the chance. Whereas I'll always ask if it's mandatory. If not, I'm only working 40-hour weeks, unless there's an immediate deadline. I've had too many instances of burnout due to mandatory OT.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

62. Time and a half is closer to what actual pay should be.

[kentauros]

65. I guess that depends on the job.

I think I'm paid more than enough for the work I do. As with your initial statement, it's an attitude towards money as to whether you'll be paid whatever you feel is an "actual" rate.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

66. There are a lot of people in life sucking cubicles that can't afford lunch.

[kentauros]

67. You seem to be countering your original post of "It's only money."

I was agreeing with that as it's a positive attitude towards money and income, even if it might not sound that way to many. People that worship money, "live to work." I don't worship money, and why I only "work to live."

[Spitfire of ATJ]

68. The "it's only money" is a GOAL that we as a society haven't achieved yet....

The original labor movement gave us the 8 hour work week which allowed us the time to pursue a life beyond work.

Capitalism has been trying to take that away from us ever since. Often by forcing us to work two jobs.

[PrestonLocke]

12. Just to be clear, the quote is Watterson's, the artwork is by Gavin Aung Than

[Gidney N Cloyd]

13. I can't tell you how much I needed this today, right now. Thanks, kpete.

[blm]

14. This is why we love you, kpete.

.

[nolabear]

15. I posted this a couple of days ago. You clearly reach a wider audience.

I'm glad. It's awesome, and deserves a wider audience.

[hunter]

16. I'm a very fortunate human being.

Often the best word I've said is "No."

Should I die a homeless guy on the streets I will still own my soul.

[NikolaC]

17. K&R

Thanks for sharing this. It hits very close to home and I got a little choked up reading it .

[AdHocSolver]

18. The goal of the one percent is to make a happy life free of domination by the one percent...

...less possible.

The one percent already has more wealth than they could possibly use in ten lifetimes.

Their goal in league with the tea partiers and the religious right is to make it difficult, if not impossible, for those not members of their respective groups to live a happy and satisfying life.

Until the nonmembers of these groups understand this, there will be little improvement.

[NRaleighLiberal]

20. I love this. And I feel pretty fortunate to be managing to do it, as well....

thanks for posting it!

[calimary]

48. Shit! Look at those tomatoes! Are those yours?

GORGEOUS!!!!

[NRaleighLiberal]

50. they sure are! thanks....

[DirkGently]

21. Pure gold. n/t

[blackspade]

22. As a painter of little men/women....

I say, Hell Yes!

(not that I believe in hell)

[madokie]

23. So cool

I really love this guy

[demosocialist]

25. Thank you soooo much kpete I really needed this right now... you rock nt

[bluedeathray]

26. Lifetime Link.

Our abilities as a nation, to relieve ourselves of much of the burden of survival, allows us to pursue our own interests.

It seems weird that most of us don't, and choose instead to get on the treadmill of consumption.

This comic speaks to me on every level. And resonates through me as true, and self aware to an ultimate degree.

Thanks!

[defacto7]

27. Beautiful!

Big K&R

[myrna minx]

28. Wonderful! K&R

[democrank]

29. Terrific!

[GreenStormCloud]

30. You still have to buy food, pay the utilities, rent (or mortgage), etc.

It is great if the work you enjoy will do those things, but sometimes following your dream leads to the unemployment line.

Life is a balance. You need to pay attention to both what you enjoy and whether or not it makes enough to live on as you desire to live.

[Javaman]

31. +1 especially in this day in age..

what if you don't have a marketable talent? what if someone is over 50 and can't even hope to be rehired in a field they wish to pursue?

While I love Mr. Watterson's work, it's very easy for him to make this statement while he continues to rake in proceeds from his C&H books.

It seems to me that he quit AFTER he became an phenomenal success, not before.

I completely understand what he's trying to say, but his statement is certainly aimed at the young people in society, that don't have mortgages, don't have to pay property taxes and don't have 2. 5 children.

However, I'm not saying either that it's impossible to changes ones life and take a chance on whatever, but the odds of doing such a massive change in ones elder years and being successful in today's job climate is greatly stacked against them.

I continue to draw, play my guitar and dream my dreams of future past successes, but for me to suddenly want to make a living wage to cover all my current bills on a sudden whim to follow my dream, I would be very poor very quickly. And my responsibility to my happiness sometimes has to take a back seat to the responsibilities of those to my family.

His cartoon fantasyland is really wonderful but frankly it only pertains to about 1% of 1% of the total population.

[HumansAndResources]

34. Re: Mortgages / Rent and Property Taxes

Those need to go away. When we each have our equal share of the land and mineral-resources of the planet, we can afford to pay for the services we want / need.

In the meantime - a "baby-step" - how about no property-taxes on one's primary residence up to ~$250K ?? People should be able to to pay off their homes and be Left In Peace to enjoy them - not forced into the make-money hamster-wheel to pay the State for "permission" to live in their own dwellings.

[Fix The Stupid]

41. Totally agree with this.

How can one truly "retire" when they are forced to pay property taxes until they die?

I own a 1 acre property - 1000 sq. ft house....60 yrs old. I had to put a ton of money into this thing to get it liveable.

I pay $2400 a year in property taxes.

My neighbour has a 140 acre farm, 2 houses, 5 barns. He pays $1800 a year in property taxes - does this make any *#^@(()$ sense at all????

[Javaman]

58. does your neighbor get a ag tax exemption? nt

[Brigid]

32. Someone once said . . .

Nobody ever lay there on his deathbed wishing he'd spent more time at the office.

[reformist2]

33. A little bit out of touch - most people can't afford to quit their jobs, go off on their own.

[Babel_17]

35. Thanks for posting that (nt)

[morningglory]

36. The only glaring error in this lovely piece is the part where a baby plays happily alone in a play

pen while the artist works at the easel. Babies cry if they see you doing something besides dandling them on your knee. Just saying...

[TlalocW]

37. And a reply from a current (web) cartoonist

Not that I'm taking sides. I can appreciate the beauty of Watterson's message as well as the reality of this one...



TlalocW

[Recursion]

38. Bill Watterson is in his 50s (nt)

[JHB]

42. David Willis (author/artist of the rebuttal) is the one in his 30s...

...in the same age range as Watterson was when he was drawing Calvin and Hobbes.

I see both points. There's substantial truth to what Watterson says, but it's a lot easier for him to look back on his choices and see them as right when he had a huge success that essentially allowed him to retire before he was 40.

For the rest of working artists who do everything from cartoons to graphic design to film & tv storyboarding to thousands of other commercial art jobs, the same choice might leave them on the street and unable to support their families. Watterson's strip implies they're making the wrong choice, and Willis begged to differ.

[JHB]

53. ...and a not so subtle nod that it's easier to do that...

...when one income is sufficient to support the household with some modicum of security.

[Blue_Tires]

52. I get the 'reality check'

it's a legit message, but it could have been stronger minus the acid, bile, and snarky tone....

(unless it's like a self-parody or something)

[shebornik]

39. To the few negative responses above

You didn't get it. Instead you try to rationalize your fears of living in an irrational world (will I be able to pay the mortgage, I need a new car, what will the family and neighbors think.) so you can be comfortable doing what is expected of you. It doesn't hurt to dream,and it might be hard to live your dream, but if you don't dream you're probably right where you belong.

[heaven05]

40. beautifully put

I wish I had seen this 50 years ago.

[ermoore]

43. That was excellent

Thanks for sharing!

[Populist_Prole]

46. A wonderful montage and message

I didn't read it, as some posters apparrently have, as an exhortation to be idle, but rather a rejection of using more more more power/money/image as a metric for success.

It really resonates with me because I realize now, how much wisdom I had at a much younger age as I chose my career path. I wanted no part of the rat-race; win, lose, or draw. I got much static for this. I was pushed and suggested to push for more more more, but as time went on I saw those of my peers that did so were just miserable people that just made more money than I did.

[calimary]

47. Wow! WUNNNNNNderful!

And, for the first time, long enough! Watterson's work always left me wanting more. A LOT more. Love the way he draws! Love his style! And his messages, too! One panel, or one Sunday funnies spread, was NEVER enough.

[DakotaLady]

49. I was so hoping when ...

... 'our guy' was pulling the wagon up the hill with his young daughter that it would end with the two of them riding down the other side of the hill ... deja vu ~~~ weeeeeeeeeee.

ETA ... Thanks ever so much kepete for this awesome thread.

[Uncle Joe]

51. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[Xyzse]

56. That's beautiful

Thanks!

[JNelson6563]

57. Best message ever!

[barbtries]

60. this blog gave me much to ponder

http://www.lindsredding.com/2012/03/11/a-overdue-lesson-in-perspective/

besides being a really good read.

[LunaSea]

61. Thank you for that link!

This "self-winder" found much to ponder too.

[barbtries]

64. you're welcome!

[LanternWaste]

63. A most wonderful sentiment...

A most wonderful sentiment clouded only by those who carry a marketed cynicism in their pockets, ready to throw it in the direction of any who desire the very joy they deny themselves.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

69. Such brilliance. He stopped C and H because he got tired of being told to compromise his artistic

vision ans style.

He rarely, if ever, gives interviews, and all those Calvin peeing icons you see are rip offs, as he has never authorized the exploitation of his product, unlike Charles Schultz and Jim Davis with Peanuts and Garfield.

[AZ Progressive]

70. This is terribly outdated advice, IMO

Watterson is a beneficiary of America's boom times and when this country was much farther economically to the left.

Times have changed after 30+ years of Reaganomics / economic war on the American people and there is less financial security than has ever been, and just making ends meet is expensive. Following your dreams isn't easy unless you are blessed with wealthy parents or a well off spouse or have friends that let you live for free or already have a developed skill that you can easily make money from, or are exceptionally talented. If it's just a matter of going on your own to make your own business or do freelancing, I'd recommend learning a lot about business and small business courses. It's not just about you doing what you like, you need to meet the needs of your customers.

Also, raising a child is expensive and demands that one has to be able to maintain a good amount of income for more than 15 years (i.e. either a safe career which is becoming less and less certain, or making a successful small business that won't be crushed by big business.)

With how things are nowadays, meeting the costs of life are becoming harder than they have ever been and doing things like this is becoming more and more of a luxury.