July 7th, 2017
7 Jul 2017 · page 712 of 1306
You tell 'em, Benji
Cast: Benjamin Thackerey, Sidney Malik
Comments (81)
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I suspect Sid is going to get his degree out of this....
But knowing Sid, he might try to hand it on to Ben. ;)
Probably the third degree from Ms Harriet when she wants to know what took him so long.
I Summon Sid's Parents!
Ben: You're in trouble now! WE SUCK!
Pride: OH NNNNOOOOOOOOOO
I mean, I could guess it was headed in this general direction, but still, Pride's unabashed horror is making me giggle.
NOOOO! Self-deprecating comments! My one weakness! How am I to flatter those who so blatantly insult themselves? Who would Do such a thing?!?
Well, not you, obviously.
Bwahaha! I am truly laughing out loud.
Makes sense! Two people so chronically, utterly insecure that even when they do something right for a change, they're still waiting for the other shoe to drop, to render their efforts meaningless. To be confronted with such a black-hole of self-esteem must be terribly, terribly appalling for poor Pride.
=== even when they do something right for a change ===
Ben does right practically always, Sid does it nearly practically always, there is no change for that and there's no connection with their complexes, self-esteem and neuroses.
Or, plutôt, Ben's coprophobia is the consequence of his insecurity. But that's all, I think.
He's afraid of poop?
He's afraid of dirt, poop y compris :)
Nope - [coprophobia is strictly a fear or aversion to poop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coprophobia "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coprophobia")
(Typing, as i originally did, "f" instead of "r" on the "or" really changed the mmeaning...)
[Fear of dirt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysophobia "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysophobia") is known as "Mysophobia" (or any of several alternate names).
Thank you, I'll remember.
In English we usually just say germophobia ; )
Benji's face in panel five is the face of a man who was born for this moment.
Panel five is PURE JOY
...and who said Ben didn't have a sense of humor?
Surely not me! :)
I want to upvote this more.
I went ahead and upvoted for you.
I'm upvoting your comment in order to upvote the top comment in this tree by proxy.
I'm so ready for Sid's inability to win at school to finally come to light. It's Time.
Quite a gamble from Ben, actually. As far as I recall, he don't know that Sid's expelled. And clearly Sid got a lot of raw magical talent that Ben knows about.
Nah. Sid's got the attention span of a magpie-goldfish and has no sense of self-preservation. Ben knows what he's doing.
As far as Ben knows, he's probably lying about Sidney.
I think he still envies Sidney the raw talent he knows Sid has, and the quality education he thinks Sidney's received.
Interesting to see he's learned the Way of the Gab. ;)
It isn't as if he says the absolute truth about himself, either. :)
On other hand, being useless for a Deadly Sin is really a good thing. :))
Well honestly it was never really Sid's fault. He got kicked out because of a malform has been following him around and stealing people's shit. And despite being kicked out of school before finishing his education he's still a pretty good wizard.
A malform in the shape of a magpie.... Gee who does that remind me of?
I'm ready to see him actively make the choice of where to go from there. Does he decide college isn't for him, or does he go back and finish his degree because he wants to and not just because his parents want him to?
Panel 3: Sid's reflection looms in the mirror Pride places in front of him
Panel 4: Ben covers Sid's eyes
Perfect. Also, holy cow, it seems like Ben is killing it in this chapter.
Ok, that made me snort in my coffee. grrr :D
I really like to see, time and again, that Deadlies aren't able to comprehend anything beyond areas of their influence. Luxuria's words to Henry about love, Invidia's reaction at Voss' refusal of its offer (and his behavior there in general). And now, Pride meets low self-esteem. :)
The fourth and fifth panel made my week, no less. :)
It is comforting to know the enemy is so blind and limited, isn't it? ^_^
If they possessed greater complexity or a capacity for growth, they would probably not be the enemy .... and they certainly wouldn't be deadly sins!
I hope, I wish, I pray Ben isn't caught! He is on the verge to experience a sense of pride, IMHO. The main thing for him now is not to see himself in the mirror.
Take off your glasses, Ben!
>Take off your glasses, Ben!
Oh, that would be a good idea - presumably he can't get caught in the mirror if he can't actually see his reflection. Nearsightedness saves the day!
Haha, ALL Ben's weaknesses are now his greatest weapons!
Well, I suppose that Ben has quite a good skill of focusing on the goal without thinking about himself and his self-esteem, because he uses to fight his self-doubt. Now, a touch of pride may be a different matter.
I like panel 3: the same post in the mirror - classy piece of artwork there.
And yes, dat panel 5 face. Realising that his greatest weakness is now his strength.
And I think that actually - here and now - Ben knowing Sid is much more talented than himself, has spontaneously and immediately undertaken to defend him in this (most dangerous for such a brilliant wizard as Sid :D) situation.
Though "Follow my lead" is rather dangerous just now - but we always see Ben braving danger if he has to!
It's beautiful, to me!!!
Ben's my second fav, just after Mal! Or, plutôt, they share first and second places in my personal rating.
I like them all. ... But I'm mainly here for Harry and Sid's love story.
Ben is one of my favourites, too.
^_^ He has great reserves of courage and determination, did he but realize it.
And the art is perfect!
Pride here is litterally enshrouding them, and they seem so tiny and helpless among all this purple!
And this helplessness and tinyness (runty Ben's specially) contrasts beautifully with Ben's posture - without pride but full of dignity!
:)
"Without pride but full of dignity" is pretty good description of Ben overall.
Prepare, oh spirit of Pride, for your worst nightmare. I am he that shall be your undoing, for I am Chronic-Low-Self-Image-Man! Fortified with the biting, depreciating wit of the O'Mally, I am an unstoppable force!
Unstoppable, that is, by you. The rest of the challenges of life stop me routinely. That is why I suck. And THAT! is why you are done for!
=== The rest of the challenges of life stop me routinely. ===
Though I don't think Sloth (and perhaps Lux too) do have such a big effect on him :)
Oh, I am gonna love the next couple of pages, I think!
Sid: "Oh, how tempting!"
Ben: YOINK "Down."
Ha! Go, Ben - it's your turn to save the day!
Oh dear, I adore Pride's expressions. They put me in mind of a Technicolor cross between a Skeksis, and a Pkunk from Star Control II.
Ouch. My poor brain. -_-
That was a trip through time, right there.
doffs Doctor #4 hat and trips over super-long scarf
I've always thought Pride was a bit like The Chamberlain from the Dark Crystal.
/preens
Getting Usopp flashbacks.
It's YOUR TIME TO SHINE, BEN, you get 'em babe.
Sid "THAT'S your big plan-"
Pride "EEEEEEAAAAAAAKKK!!!"
Sid "Okay, it seems to be working, nice jo-"
Ben "DON'T SAY IT!"
Sid "oh, right... sorry..."
Almost, but if I may suggest a revision...
Sid: That's your big plan-
Pride: EEEEEEEEAK!
Sid: Okay, it seems to be working, good for u-
Ben: You can't keep a single line of thought for a single minute, you useless snob?!
Sid: T_T
Ben's low sense of self-esteem is finally coming in handy....!
Poor guy. ^^;
Sidney, Sidney, Sidney. That was a very transparent trick, and you still fell for it! Shame on you, dear boy. :-/
I think Sid is too impulsive to make complete control over his feelings even when he realises their danger. One may recall his rash words that betrayed them out to Envy.
Well, if Ben reacted now in the same way Verity did then, it might help, for a moment... but Ben isn't Verity, thankfully. :)
Yeeeees I have been waiting for this!
One reason Pride and Envy get along so well: they don't often compete, since people tend to only fall hard for one of them.
And, given how easily Ben got caught by Envy...
Careful now, Ben, you're looking pretty proud of your plan here.
Ewww -- nasties in front of you, eh, Pride? xD
Excuse me while I explode into appreciative hearts.
I like the way Sid's last word has the last couple of letters start to fade. He almost fell for it!
Love the detail of his under-eye shadows in panel five! Sloth's going to be tricky...
Come on Sid, steal something off pride!
I sense 'a cunning plan m'lord' ;)
On one hand this is kinda funny. But it sorta bugs me that this is how they're beating Pride. Humility doesn't mean treating yourself like garbage!
The whole reason Pride is considered a deadly sin is because it blinds you to your faults. Pride is traditionally the "greatest" sin because dealing with Pride is a pre-requisite for beating the other sins - you can't address issues of Greed, Wrath, and such if you don't first acknowledge that you have a problem. You can have self-worth without falling into Pride, you just have to recognize that you aren't perfect and you have room to grow. Language issues aside, "feeling proud of yourself" isn't wrong - it's when you take it into full-blown arrogance that you've got a problem. Kind of like how you can eat when you're hungry without being a glutton, or you can work for a salary without being greedy, etc.
Then again, that would be less funny and a lot harder to convey in the comic! Given that this is literally a deadly sin made manifest, perhaps taking humility to an absurd extreme really is the best option.
Also, just so we're clear, the comic is freaking amazing and I love it! I always feel nervous offering even minor quibbles about a FREE WEBCOMIC, especially one that is consistently high-quality. The philosophy of sin and virtue is something that's always fascinated me, that's all.
About treating themselves like garbage: Ben may say "we are useless", but his body language tells us something very different. :)
About the rest, I think it is a general pattern of dealing with Deadlies. Feeling proud of yourself isn't wrong in common sense, as wishing to eat a tasty breakfast isn't and being angry over your grandad was shot isn't, too. Still, in the presence of over-powerful Deadly Sins, these feelings are dangerous, they feed Sins and make you vulnerable before them.
And as far as our heroes, all of them, aren't ideal persons with entirely healthy emotions and complete control over them (or saints, for this matter), it is quite a practical way for them to fight the Deadlies with their (opposite) weaknesses.
It is my personal take on this subject. :)
I really think Heylir has the right of it. In just this encounter alone Ben has seen Wolfe, probably the most humble person he knows, get trapped just by being happy with slight praise and Sidney almost suffer the same fate. He knows Sidney's right about fighting it with opposite emotion, and he's seen through the other encounters that when dealing with the Deadlies you either have to go big or not at all. So like with every other time he has a plan in place and a problem in front of him he's going to boldly stride forward and give it his all.
And Sabreur, while I wouldn't presume to speak for Kate (and she is welcome to correct me if I'm wrong or speaking out of turn) I don't think there's anything particularly wrong with offering constructive criticism or asking a question about the plot if you don't understand as long as it is A.) actually constructive and B.) worded as nicely as you just did.
Honestly, Pride isn't something you really can defeat, as even getting a plan that starts to work against it is something that could be construed as prideful. Ben is already looking pretty pleased with his gambit...
All Pride has to do in this situation is basically say, "Wow, you sure are good at being humble, probably the best I have ever seen at it, you would be a great addition to my collection..."
The only way you can truly be practicing humility, is to be doing it without the intention of not being prideful / receiving any gain. They need to essentially beat pride via luck for it realistically work.
:) It is a piece of classic, yes: "Catch him at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, “By jove! I’m being humble”, and almost immediately pride — pride at his own humility — will appear. If he awakes to the danger and tries to smother this new form of pride, make him proud of his attempt — and so on, through as many stages as you please. But don’t try this too long, for fear you awake his sense of humour and proportion, in which case he will merely laugh at you and go to bed." :))
"Going to bed" isn't an option for our heroes, alas. Still, sense of humour is a feeling that can help against Pride. Like, for an instance, senses of fear (for oneself and others), shame and guilt are.
=== Humility doesn't mean treating yourself like garbage! ===
Does Ben's look seem to you as humilated? :D Or Sid's?
They don't humilate themselves, but they both are humbly enough to not fall before Pride.
To know your flaws - isn't a humilation, it's rather a way to not be humilated - if you, for example, take on an impossible task and are not able to cope with it.
I agree -- to know your faults, your limitations, your weaknesses, and to find joy in these things, to find the strength that lies within being weak, being vulnerable, is not treating yourself like garbage. It's a way to begin to live without an unhealthy reliance on yourself, and to begin to allow others to be as important to you as you are...
Completely useless, yet you made it here?
I would say, you have such fine talents of exceptional quality to venture into such a place that no others have done.
You have truly great skills and wits, now imagine what you could accomplish with added confidence.
Feel great and proud...
Let us say "No thanks, it's too much for me" to temptations, as Samwise the Wise did. :)
Too much, oh you be too humble.
No one else has performed such a feat.
Come look, look at that wonderful face in the mirror...
Loving this comic!
Something I just noticed about this page. Ben is basically implementing Sidney's plan from a few pages, he's just better at actually implementing it because he's both more focused and has less self-esteem than Sidney does.
The more I read this chapter the more I am reminded of the earlier comment referring to Ben as Senor Inferiority Complex.