That would mean something that isn't consistent with the person we know. It would mean he'd be a guy who doesn't think that upset children are trying to ruin his day, spit on his efforts to provide for them and disrespect his authority. That ain't John Patterson!
You have a good point there. One of the advantages of making every character to be like Lynn Johnston is that they are remarkably consistent in their arrogance. The guy who would have had the most problem with John Patterson would be Rod Johnston and unfortunately for him, he was married to John Patterson.
Seriously. You'd think John would have learned how to deal with this situation over years and years of being a dentist who takes child patients. Then you remember that Pattersons never learn anything and find the very concept objectionable.
Learning something means being defeated and humiliated so it's better to plod stupidly on like an idiot. Losing the stupid notion that he was the only child in history who ever did or ever could feel fear, embarrassment or sadness would make a better man of him....which is why he doubles down: he'd have to admit that he's why Bethany is terrified of the big man trying to jab a needle in her mouth.
Looking at the comic strip, you would never want to take your kid to see Dr. John Patterson. After the time when he got mad at Elizabeth backtalking him and inserted a device in her mouth in revenge, I would not take a child anywhere near him.
This may have been a problem for the real life doctor, Rod Johnston, who has a waiting room jammed with toys and wore a silly bowtie to work. Rod Johnston may have been terrific with kids, but he might have suffered from these stories in comparison. Nevertheless, it might have been different for him in Lynn Lake, where he was the only dentist around for 100 miles. Kids taken to see him there would have no choice but him. On the other hand, he did want to be the flying dentist where he flew around the First Nations groups of Winnipeg providing free dentistry. That sort of activity is the anti-John Patterson.
( ... )
Reply
Reply
You have a good point there. One of the advantages of making every character to be like Lynn Johnston is that they are remarkably consistent in their arrogance. The guy who would have had the most problem with John Patterson would be Rod Johnston and unfortunately for him, he was married to John Patterson.
Reply
He's probably one of the few people who could legitimately name a fictional jackass as a co-respondent in a divorce proceeding.
Reply
I'll tell you about a dentist who had a problem patient: he had an affair with one of the people she was treating like a peon.
Reply
Seriously. You'd think John would have learned how to deal with this situation over years and years of being a dentist who takes child patients. Then you remember that Pattersons never learn anything and find the very concept objectionable.
Reply
Learning something means being defeated and humiliated so it's better to plod stupidly on like an idiot. Losing the stupid notion that he was the only child in history who ever did or ever could feel fear, embarrassment or sadness would make a better man of him....which is why he doubles down: he'd have to admit that he's why Bethany is terrified of the big man trying to jab a needle in her mouth.
Reply
Looking at the comic strip, you would never want to take your kid to see Dr. John Patterson. After the time when he got mad at Elizabeth backtalking him and inserted a device in her mouth in revenge, I would not take a child anywhere near him.
This may have been a problem for the real life doctor, Rod Johnston, who has a waiting room jammed with toys and wore a silly bowtie to work. Rod Johnston may have been terrific with kids, but he might have suffered from these stories in comparison. Nevertheless, it might have been different for him in Lynn Lake, where he was the only dentist around for 100 miles. Kids taken to see him there would have no choice but him. On the other hand, he did want to be the flying dentist where he flew around the First Nations groups of Winnipeg providing free dentistry. That sort of activity is the anti-John Patterson.
Reply
So profesh, John. 🙄
Reply
John is a professional Patterson and they do have standards.
Reply
Leave a comment