My impressions from this comic are that I would hate the creator if I ever met them.
I think the joke is a typical take on ADHDers having “eyes bigger than their stomachs” for large tasks. Swimming in a lake is very fun, and can help one feel connected to nature. Swimming across a lake is a huge task, possibly requiring training, could take a long time, and is dangerous.
Why they decided to sit on the beach instead of swimming at all, I have no idea. Maybe it’s a “lakes are deep and scary because lake monsters” thing?
Literally was about to type almost exactly this as the explanation.
It is a very real thing for a lot of ADHD and other neurodivergent people, myself included (as well as plenty of other people with a variety of conditions that have similar symptoms), where “if you can’t do the thing you wanted to do it isn’t worth it to spend the effort to half-ass it” and just do something else, even though those two experiences don’t have to be compared to each other and have their own independent merits. It is a big psychological hang-up around rationing the limited energy one has that some experience which can be quite disabling; even if you know that you do it but still can’t bring yourself to compromise internally sometimes to just say “fuck it, I’m doing the thing for the sake of doing it, not to accomplish some predetermined goal”.
The “lakes are big and have scary monsters” implied by the panel of the lake and the “I have a primal feeling” lines could just be a joke on its own or a metaphor for what I described. Idk, I’m not the illustrator of this comic. I’m just some rando on the Internet theorizing for shiggles.
I’m not sure this is an ADHD nod, just poking fun at the irony of conflicting urges.
I’ve definitely felt this kinda weird urge, although once I get started and get the “fuck” and “no” urges I’m usually too invested and stubborn and stupid to actually stop.
That’s how I got it. I’m always stunned at how scared people around here are of getting in the creeks, lakes and rivers. Yeah, we got gators, but they run from you. Try to spot one, dare ya.
I’ve spent 100 hours on the local swamp and barely saw one running away. Same goes for cottonmouths. You’d have to literally trip on one to get bitten, and they get pretty fuckin’ vocal long before that happens. Now imagine less dangerous waters, people still scared.
YMMV if you jump in a lake full of 'em after dark. And that’s on you.
My impressions from this comic are that I would hate the creator if I ever met them.
I think the joke is a typical take on ADHDers having “eyes bigger than their stomachs” for large tasks. Swimming in a lake is very fun, and can help one feel connected to nature. Swimming across a lake is a huge task, possibly requiring training, could take a long time, and is dangerous.
Why they decided to sit on the beach instead of swimming at all, I have no idea. Maybe it’s a “lakes are deep and scary because lake monsters” thing?
Literally was about to type almost exactly this as the explanation.
It is a very real thing for a lot of ADHD and other neurodivergent people, myself included (as well as plenty of other people with a variety of conditions that have similar symptoms), where “if you can’t do the thing you wanted to do it isn’t worth it to spend the effort to half-ass it” and just do something else, even though those two experiences don’t have to be compared to each other and have their own independent merits. It is a big psychological hang-up around rationing the limited energy one has that some experience which can be quite disabling; even if you know that you do it but still can’t bring yourself to compromise internally sometimes to just say “fuck it, I’m doing the thing for the sake of doing it, not to accomplish some predetermined goal”.
The “lakes are big and have scary monsters” implied by the panel of the lake and the “I have a primal feeling” lines could just be a joke on its own or a metaphor for what I described. Idk, I’m not the illustrator of this comic. I’m just some rando on the Internet theorizing for shiggles.
I’m not sure this is an ADHD nod, just poking fun at the irony of conflicting urges.
I’ve definitely felt this kinda weird urge, although once I get started and get the “fuck” and “no” urges I’m usually too invested and stubborn and stupid to actually stop.
This is far from the first Devil’s Panties comic posted here and many of the others mention her ADHD. You’re missing the deep lore.
The way the lake is depicted in the third panel is intended to impart more of a fearful energy I think. So it’s probably the latter.
Gathering from previous examples of this comic I’d be surprised if the creator was taking a stab at neurodivergence.
I don’t find it as “taking a stab” more “illustrating a relatable experience in a humorous way”.
Okay, that’s possible but still wouldn’t warrant hatred, which was what the person I replied to was saying
Ah, I see your point
I assumed a ‘Camp Crystal Lake’ kind of what’s in the water vibe
That’s how I got it. I’m always stunned at how scared people around here are of getting in the creeks, lakes and rivers. Yeah, we got gators, but they run from you. Try to spot one, dare ya.
I’ve spent 100 hours on the local swamp and barely saw one running away. Same goes for cottonmouths. You’d have to literally trip on one to get bitten, and they get pretty fuckin’ vocal long before that happens. Now imagine less dangerous waters, people still scared.
YMMV if you jump in a lake full of 'em after dark. And that’s on you.