Editing 2858: Thanksgiving Arguments

{{comic
| number    = 2858
| date      = November 22, 2023
| title     = Thanksgiving Arguments
| image     = thanksgiving_arguments_2x.png
| imagesize = 740x272px
| noexpand  = true
| titletext = An occasional source of mild Thanksgiving tension in my family is that my mother is a die-hard fan of The Core (2003), and various family members sometimes have differing levels of enthusiasm for her annual tradition of watching it.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by an OVERLY POLITICAL THANKSGIVING DINNER. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

The comic features a conversation between [[Cueball]] and [[Megan]], discussing the dynamics of family gatherings during {{w|Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving}}, specifically about the topics of political arguments and how to navigate them. This was a topical comic, as Thanksgiving in the United States in 2023 was on November 23, the day after the posting of this comic.

In the first panel, Cueball is depicted sitting at a computer, presumably writing an article or blog post titled "How to Win Political Arguments with Your Awful Relatives at Thanksgiving Dinner." This sets up the premise of the comic, implying that political discussions during family gatherings can be contentious and that there is a desire to "win" these discussions, treating them as debates or conflicts rather than dialogues. In addition, the relatives concerned (who are perhaps usually avoidable, except during seasonally expected gatherings) are considered "awful" – a personal opinion that is possibly reciprocated, although it would actually be worse if it is not.

The second panel shifts to Megan, who challenges the assumption that political arguments are common at Thanksgiving by referencing surveys that indicate most families don't actually engage in political arguments during the holiday, with [[Randall]] citing [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/poll-nobody-fights-thanksgiving_n_5deece02e4b07f6835b7eab6 an article in ''Huffington Post''] in support of her statement. This panel introduces a counterpoint to Cueball's assumption, suggesting that the narrative of inevitable political conflict might be exaggerated or not universally applicable. In the third panel, Megan opines that Cueball's relatives have "fine" political opinions. She proposes that Cueball could instead write a post about the topics his relatives argue about.

The fourth panel concludes with Cueball writing about a recurring argument that takes place at his family's Thanksgiving dinner.  That argument is not about politics but rather ''{{w|Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker}},'' which was poorly received for a Star Wars film, but may nonetheless have some fans with less trenchantly negative opinions.  It is left ambiguous exactly what fervent opinions are raised among Cueball's relatives, but they do seem to cause some tension. Thus Cueball's family apparently does have a 'tradition' of recurring ideological arguments, for at least the last four years, but they are centered around a topic that is less serious and more in the realm of pop culture. The punchline lies in the juxtaposition of the expectation of serious political debates with the reality of a trivial argument that has become a peculiar (and necessarily quite recently inaugurated) tradition, highlighting the idiosyncrasies of family gatherings.

The comic humorously encapsulates the heightened expectation of political debates at family gatherings, a cultural narrative especially prominent during Thanksgiving. However, the actual experience often deviates from this expectation, with families either avoiding such topics or engaging in entirely different kinds of disputes. The comic satirically suggests that these arguments might be over trivial matters, such as pop culture references, rather than the anticipated political disagreements. This portrayal subtly critiques the societal assumption about family conflicts during holidays and implies that the reality is much more nuanced and varied, with each family having its unique quirks and traditions that may or may not align with common stereotypes.

The title text extends this theme by introducing another layer of familial tradition that could be a source of tension, albeit mild. In this case, the mother's devotion to the 2003 movie ''{{w|The Core}}'' (widely considered a contender for "{{w|The Core#Reception|all-time-worst 'science in a movie' winner}}") and her insistence on watching it annually during Thanksgiving becomes a humorous bone of contention within the family. The varying levels of enthusiasm for this tradition among family members illustrate the comic's broader commentary on family dynamics: that tensions during gatherings often arise from personal idiosyncrasies and peculiar family rituals, rather than from the expected ideological clashes. It underscores the idea that while families may not always share the same passions, these unique and sometimes eccentric traditions define the character and the memories of family gatherings.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is sitting on an office chair at his desk typing on his stationary computer as Megan walks up behind him. The text he writes is shown above the screen with a zigzag line going from a starburst on the screen.]
:Text: ''How to win political arguments with your awful relatives at Thanksgiving dinner''

:[Closeup of Megan in a frame-less panel. Below Megan there is a footnote relating to the asterisk at the end of her sentence.]
:Megan: You know, despite all the posts about it, surveys show most families don't actually argue about politics at Thanksgiving.<sup>*</sup>
:Footnote: <sup>*</sup><nowiki>https://www.huffpost.com/entry/poll-nobody-fights-thanksgiving_n_5deece02e4b07f6835b7eab6</nowiki>

:[Zoom back on to Cueball and Megan. Cueball has turned around in his chair, hands on his lap, looking up at Megan.]
:Megan: Take ''your'' relatives. Their political opinions are basically fine.
:Megan: Maybe you should write about what ''they'' argue about?

:[Closeup of Cueball typing on his computer. The text he writes is again shown above the screen with a zigzag line going from a starburst on the screen. Megan speaks to him from off-panel, her speech line coming from a starburst at the right edge of the panel.]
:Text: ''How to win arguments about '''The Rise of Skywalker''' at your Thanksgiving dinner''
:Megan (off-panel): Aunt Katie ''does'' bring that up a lot, doesn't she.
:Cueball: This'll be year four.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Social interactions]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Star Wars]]
[[Category:Holidays]]
[[Category:Fiction]] <!--The Core-->