Websnark: Given this is a sex-comedy webcomic, why are my favorite strips the nonsexual ones starring his niece?

« Please remember to take off your little shoes before *gingerly* stepping into our ball-pit.... | Main | I called my Dad to check my facts for this. »

Eric: Given this is a sex-comedy webcomic, why are my favorite strips the nonsexual ones starring his niece?

(From Least I Could Do! Click on the thumbnail for full sized niece based revenge!)

I have no deep analysis here. I will keep this brief.

My name is Eric.

From the first day I attended Nursery School at Auntie Francis's just across the bridge into Claire, New Brunswick, Canada, until the day I graduated high school, someone -- generally quite a few people -- called me "Rick." I think it mostly had to do with the Acadian dialect not being terribly fond of the "Er" sound at the front of a name. Or, possibly, it might have been that I went to nursery, grade, junior high and high school with a certain number of assholes.

So, I would empathize with Eric here, though he is something of a jerk.

However. Ashley is Eric's niece.

In addition to be an Eric, I am also an uncle. And, once upon a time, I was a nephew.

Specifically, I was a nephew to my Uncle Richard Burns, a lifelong educator and all around good man, who was popular with his various nieces and nephews because he was enthusiastic and funny. We called him Uncle Dick, which as an adult suggests any number of jokes to me, but as children meant we called him "Uncle Duck."

This drove him nuts (albeit enhanced for our amusement, I'm sure). He would insist that his name was Dick, not Duck. This ensured that I have to fight the urge to call him Uncle Duck even today, late into my thirties.

My own nieces may call me whatever they like. I understand the rules.

Eric Summers does not know the rules. And he therefore deserves whatever he gets.

Posted by Eric Burns-White at March 10, 2007 3:07 PM

Comments

Comment from: 32_footsteps posted at March 10, 2007 7:06 PM

You know, it's not like those of us who regularly go by "Rick" have it any better. When my younger sister was learning to speak, she called me "Icky" (as those were the days in which a young Richard goes by "Ricky" instead of "Rick"). Even when she finally wrapped her brain around the letter R, she would call me this.

Consequently, she's been teaching her son to call me "Uncle Ick," although it's been a while so I have no idea how well those lessons stuck.

And for the record, although I know the actual reason isn't related at all to this, I will sometimes swear my name was chosen simply so that as many different accents can foul up the pronunciation as possible. My name has many levels of terrible things that can be done to it.

Comment from: RAC posted at March 10, 2007 7:50 PM

My uncle John, who goes by Bud, was (what else?) Uncle Bug when I was a kid. He tolerated it, and it delighted my aunt to no end.

Comment from: Ford Dent posted at March 10, 2007 7:57 PM

I've still got an uncle Bud.

Helps tell him apart from his son, who shares his real first name. Plus when I was younger I got a kick out of calling him a beer.

Comment from: miyaa posted at March 10, 2007 8:09 PM

I just became an uncle for the very first time. I've already been chastised by my sister not to give my cousin Jenevieve the nickname "Jene." Also, Jenevieve has mastered the art of holding your breath until her face turns red to get everyone's attention that she needs attention. And my sister thinks she can train her like a dog. To quote Dave's mother-in-law, "Heh, heh, heh..."

I really need to think up evil things for my cousin to do to her mom when she's six.

Also, 32, I'm surprised no one ever called you, "the Rick."

Comment from: 32_footsteps posted at March 10, 2007 8:19 PM

Well, I avoid getting the definite article simple because I'm the only Rick I know, or that most of the people I know are familiar with. I know a few Richards, but they generally prefer to go by something else. I'm pretty much the only Rick by default - the definite article would be superfluous.

Though if anyone would give it to me, I wouldn't refuse.

Also, I'm not too worried about the definite article. The people I know already use my name as both an adjective and a verb. I'm trying to figure out how to become an adverb and complete the series.

Comment from: shadebug posted at March 11, 2007 6:12 AM

Of course, in British schools Eric is slang for an erection, so really you all got off easy.

Comment from: Denyer posted at March 11, 2007 3:41 PM

Which British schools are those, then?

Comment from: Matt Buchwald posted at March 13, 2007 9:24 AM

My wife's grandfather is name Christopher. He has a on (and thus my wife's uncle) named Christopher, who has a son (wife's cousin) named Christopher.

They are Grandpa, Butch, and Buddy.

Comment from: Prodigal posted at March 15, 2007 1:41 AM

Nieces totally rock. Just sayin'.

Websnark

Besides, the box comes with Ravage.