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Trouble in Paradise perhaps?

Finding out that Evrina and Jess dated probably made her feel jealous and conflicted.

I think it’s more that Jess is more of a flirt and Jess may also be much more likely to step outside the relationship. Not that Jess has, but it may be more likely.

I know I knew more than a few bis in the time period of the comic who took that to mean it was okay to step outside the relationship as long as it was the opposite of who they were dating “I’m bi. I’m with you, but I want the other too!”

At least decent writing even if so, conceding to the reality that interpersonal relationships aren’t always going to be a campfire kumbaya session despite the assertions and insistences of people that goon-post and otherwise engage in wish fulfillment by proxy.

Was bisexuality or pansexuality not as well known in the late 2000s?

Atleast in my experience, Pansexuality was less well known at that time. In conparison people were verybaware of Bisexuality, but at the same time alot of bisexuals were just identified as straight or gay depending on who they were in a relationship with, so they often struggled with visibility.

Thats not getting into the times a persons bisexuality is just straight up denied because they are told they are just straight or gay. Kinda like what I’ve seen some Pan people go through being called “just bisexual” now.

Of course. Also it was said or implied that- in the times + setting of this comic that- Jess’ + Jo’s not being “100% heterosexual”, in Kansas- could get them a lot of harassment from some close-minded people.

Please take this as the well meaning question that it is, but what is the actual, practical difference between pansexual and bisexual? Because as far as I have been told, the only distinction is that pansexual is deliberately more inclusive of trans and non-binary people, but nothing in the definition of bisexual actually *precludes* trans and non-binary people, it just references being attracted to both male and female anatomy, rather than gender.

I ask because if, from a practical standpoint, the two terms describe functionally the same thing, which was the impression I had gotten from prior conversations with people who identify as one or the other, then I don’t see how it would be a problem for people who prefer to identify with the term pan to be referred to as bi and vice versa, because they are two terms for the same thing and neither is a slur, but you make it sound like there is an actual, functional difference and that referring to a pan person as bi is somehow incorrect or diminishing their identity. So I would appreciate if you could clarify, what, precisely, the issue is so I can understand better and be properly respectful in the future.

I think you could look at it more as bisexuals being attracted to “typical” men and women, while pansexuals like that as well as individuals who are less, let’s say, conventional in appearance.

Hey no problem, asking questions is always the road to actually learning more.
Please consider though, that I am answering as a non-pan person in this case, but as I understand it and has been explained to me, is that Pansexuality is “gender-blind”, they are attracted to people regardless of gender or how they present or express it. Where as bisexuality is attracted to different genders, but sometimes in different manners and to a different extent, and the actual genders, including presentation and expression of that gender, can play a significant role in that attraction.

I am a Pansexual myself. I’ll be honest, I never know what is gonna press my buttons & make me attracted. I know it’s not gender identity or percieved display of gender, but I can’t really quantify or explain any one common denominator between the people I’m attracted to. If i were to explain in a broader sense, I’d say I’m attracted to a wide range of body types & facial structures, but that’s just *physical* attraction as opposed to *emotional* attraction, which is different. Often times, I am more emotionally attracted to a person well before physical attraction takes place. Though, emotional attraction is often generalized as “love” i would define it more like I’m attracted to their personality. Now, I would define “Love” as an intense Emotional Attraction. Though, that’s not to say *all* intense Emotional Atrraction is the same. Cause i could just Love someone as a friend, as opposed to a potential life partner, or i could want them as a platonic life mate, which is similar in intensity but *feels* different. I am also polyamorous, & currently have 4 partners, one of whom is a Platonic Life Mate. I love each of them differently from one another but no less intensity between each of them. If they were all in a burning building, I’d like to think I’d prioritize getting them all out as safely and efficiently as possible, but if any of us had children in the building, the priority is clear. Personally, I’d give any of them an earful if they *didn’t* ensure *someone* was getting the kids if the roles were reversed & i was in the burning building while one of them was going through the scenario.

In the time period this comic is set gay marriage was still illegal in the United States, bisexuals were almost unheard of outside pornography and off-colour teen comedies, and the only time most people ever heard the term pansexual was in reference to science fiction.

It’s all good until one party wants to move on to an exclusive relationship. If the other party or parties aren’t ready to go there then the anxiety sets in. It is tough enough if you are straight or gay but if your SO is bi or pan then there are that many more obstacles in your path.

…why? Given the size of the planet’s population, ANY person who commits to an exclusive relationship is precluding an effectively endless number of other potential partners, regardless of sexuality. No one so much as meets more than a tiny fraction of all the people on earth, right, so even if bisexual people are attracted to twice as many people, we’re basically talking about infinity versus 2 times infinity here–doesn’t really matter.

The only argument I could really see applying here would be saying that, for example, if your partner likes clams and sausage, and you have a clam, they might wander off because they say they really need sausage sometimes. But I don’t know if that’s really that much different from an individual who is with a 100-pound petite girl who wanders off because they sometimes really want to be with a woman who has massive mammaries–again, so many body types, so many personality types, no one person hardly ever checks every single box for another person, so there is always effectively the same risk of any partner cheating because they sometimes want something you don’t have. It really is down more to the partner’s own ethics and self-control than it does things ABOUT them, like sexuality or body type, as far as I see it.

Naturally, if the only real purpose of your relationships is sex. However, if you want more from your relationship, then personality, rather than body type, becomes important. And studies have shown that for most people monogamous relationships are more emotionally satisfying.

If you want a monogamous relationship, but your partner doesn’t, then there is only one obstacle – your partner.

Nothing wrong with wanting to stop thinking for a bit, especially with a headache; try and have a nice weekend yourself .

Hi Jackie,

Please pardon me- I just wanted to mention that- if you know someone who needs a [walking aid?]…that is also a rolling seat, there is a type of walking frame called a rollator.

A relative of mine used one, + it is like a walking frame/a walker that has a seat/chair built into it.

I like the rollators that have a thing like- the back of a seat on them…meaning a back to their seats, so the person sitting on one can lean back on the seat, + have something to hold their back up.

Here’s an article on rollators:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walker_(mobility)#Rollators

I just wanted to pass that along, in case you or anyone else was interested.

I hope you’re having a good day,

Cheers.

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