Right now basically everyone is competing over who is the most oppressed in the world. It’s a social currency, and many people are obsessed with pointing out who is more put upon. I bring this up in anticipation of an argument I expect I’ll have to have at some point in the comments. Jessica is complaining about being extremely competent and some number of people will think that is a very privileged position to be in. Fine. So what? Each person is given what they are given and have to live the life they live. The circumstances and happenstances of your birth don’t invalidate the difficulties you have in navigating your life. Of the two people sitting on that fictional bench Jo is the more disadvantaged, but she’s hearing out Jessica’s plight because she cares. She isn’t throwing her circumstances in her face in an attempt to minimize Jessica’s experience. Being sentient is a struggle. We awaken into a world we don’t choose and are expected to just figure things the fuck out. It is horrifying. We’re given no explanation. We just come into being and are burdened with the knowledge of ignorance. Jess has heard Jo’s trials and now Jo will hear hers. There are times when complaints need to simply be heard and not judged, or weighed against the struggles of others. The core of what this entire scene is about is Jess saying “I am having trouble being what I am.” The correct response to that statement is not “Well at least you aren’t something else.” It’s not helpful. “Well she should be grateful.” “You can be grateful and still struggle.”
Sometimes it’s okay for things to just be about what they are about.
You don’t need to bring in outside stuff.
Help someone be what they are, because at the end of it all they’ll still be what they are.

I don’t know how cohesive all of that was. I decided to just let it spill out of my head without a lot of analysis. I’m all the characters in this comic to one degree or another. Everything from Jo’s insight to Reggie’s arrogance is me interacting with myself. All of the contrary experiences I’ve had creating different selves to argue with. All, ultimately, in an attempt to understand what the point of being alive at all is. With a potentially vain hope that in doing so as a narrative I will help others face their journey through this miserable, amazing, existence we’ve been forced into. At least some of it must be worthwhile to some of you, so I can’t be completely wrong in my attempt.

I think sometimes people forget that I am just a person too.

Posts authored by Jackie

2660 Sometimes To Violence.