Elephant Town Chapter 10 (pages 4-5)

The feels, but I'm also trusting you with this, wherever it goes

Paul is breaking my heart!

Ben Hatke

Hrmmm I suppose that could sound alienating🤔. But that is exactly what's happened to him at his workplace. Obviously many different people benefit from therapy even if they are deemed healthy or stable. But men who seem to have this warped view of women and have behaviors similar to Paul are people you'd really want to get help before they hurt themselves (suicide, like how he was gonna take those pills before) or someone else. You also wonder what's happened to this person that's made them this way cuz it's not like he's never been around females. And because many of us can't even imagine being part of the incel community, we're essentially looking from the outside in. Having to research and scroll through those forums in order to develop Paul's character......you're bound to come across toxicity😖

Dea'ja Caldwell

Fun fact: I sought out Dr. Nerdlove for advice on how to write Paul's character. :)

Danielle Corsetto

...the phrase "people like him" is very...alienating. Yes, therapy has definitely helped people like ME.

Theadora

RIGHT, if this is his starting point, things are gonna go some interesting places before his arc is done. And I'm feeling a ton of tension over whether how much darker those places could be! Is this his lowest point and we're gonna see him start to change, or have we not even scraped the bottom yet?

I agree! I am equal parts revolted, empathic and fascinated by this character. It’s like he needs a therapist, Dr. Nerdlove and a healthy guided support group to learn how to interact with people and take care of himself. I am also 100% understanding of his coworker too.

Parks

Oh boy, I love Paul pages, he's in my opinion the most interesting character so far (and All the characters we've seen so far are complex an nuanced and interesting in their own way). I feel for Mallory for sure, but also for Paul. I'm a girl, and there are times when I feel too loud, too clumsy, too awkward make contact with other people, never comfortable in my own shoes, and yet have had the Fortune to be surrounded with positive interactions and loving people around me. Paul seems so lost, and the fact everyone in his workplace knows he's THAT GUY is so much cringe. I really like the way you portray him. Also, I was perusing the archives and it just hit me how much Kris' dream boyfriend looks like Paul (a much more kept together and groomed version, but still...). Food for thought. Maybe I'm the last person on earth to notice this, lol. Anyway, I look forward to Elephant town every Monday, so thank you, thank you for sharing this with us.

I recoiled so hard.

Cab

Those little stars when he touched her finger are magnificent. But. . .EWWWWWWW. I'm with Mallory and her instant twitch-back reaction. Saved by the office mate. Who needs lunch anyway?

Ruth Merriam

How did Paul get this far in life without being blinded by pepper spray? I understand the incel "women won't talk to me" thing, but "accidentally" reaching for a napkin at the same time so his hands touch hers is something that even a 15 year old boy would reject as stupid.

Chris Kalin

amazing how much therapy would help people like him

Robin the Bun

It doesn't even have to be a House kind of situation. I've been at and seen any number of work environments with employees that were not all that great to interact with (and were not amazing at their job, or didn't really need someone amazing to do their job). The Office and Office Space are comedy and satire, technically, but they are also a little too real at the same time. - - Neal

NJGR

Paul has some massive growing up to do.

Becky Fish

SAME. I want to see how/if he redeems himself😶

Dea'ja Caldwell

My thought process started out with "Why do they even keep him on staff, if he's such a known problem?" But then that got me imagining a Doctor House type series where there's some hypercompetant lead who's kept on staff in spite of not being a team player because he's the only one who can do what he does. Except instead of being rude and surly in a super cool way he's just like profoundly unpleasant to interact with in a not at all glamorous fashion like this guy.

Mitchell Sealy

Yeesh, touching her hand as she reached for the napkin didn't seem at all accidental. Not cool, Paul. Not cool.

Fox

I was going to say Paul is the missing stair of his office, but maybe not if coworkers are coming to each other's aid. - - Neal

NJGR

I know he's not exactly the fan favorite but I am fascinated to see what Paul's story leads to

Arrrrgh you cringe and pity him at the same time😖 it's like yeeeesh man get a therapist and a decent friend. Does Paul even have any friends outside of those forums and that incel community?😨

Dea'ja Caldwell