Why is it an indictment of mobile phones?
It’s a comment on the ease of, and resulting banality of much modern communication, but does the comic look better to you when Girl is sitting lonely on the hill, wondering where all her friends are?
Yes people managed “perfectly well” in the days before people were constantly communicating, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t have managed better.
Romeo and Juliet didn’t have to die; the kingdom didn’t have to be lost for want of a nail; and a multitude of petty misunderstandings and mistakes that made a million people’s lives a little shittier and a little more frustrated all could have been avoided.
What’s so bad about that?
As much as I dislike cell phones, I didn’t read this comic as an attack against cell phones. I’m not sure where you’d get that idea. I thought it was just a funny riff on the idea of communication.
I do not have chisanderson’s brain to piece apart, but I might say that a coinciding viewpoint and interpretation might be: “The ease of communication that exists with texting and email encourages higher talking/thinking ratio, resulting in communication which is either valueless or required greater investment to be effective.”
But Cat and Girl is almost never exclusively down on something, but more reflective. As evidenced by the title (“Great Flakes in History”), I think it’s more a reflection of how connections can fail to be made due to miscommunication, no matter how swift the chosen communication medium.
I was reading it as an indictment of cell phones, as these messages are typical of those made with cell phones. In fact, it’s hard to manage getting out the message “I’m on a bus” with anything but a cell phone. The cell phone enables the flaking out depicted in the comic; the idea of being this kind of flake without a cellphone is, for me, the absurd juxtaposition that generates the humor of the strip.
That was my take, personally.
And, I’m sorry for analyzing a joke like that. I know it’s really not funny.
Have you ever considered publishing an ebook or guest authoring on other blogs? I have a blog based on the same ideas you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my readers would value your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e mail.
October 12, 2010
I’m going to imagine the shark tore off those pieces of the sail.
October 12, 2010
Soooooo good.
October 12, 2010
oh my god the thought of somebody literally on a bus with a campfire already made my morning
imagination is FUN with this comic!
October 12, 2010
This is the best indictment of cellphones I’ve ever seen.
October 12, 2010
Why is it an indictment of mobile phones?
It’s a comment on the ease of, and resulting banality of much modern communication, but does the comic look better to you when Girl is sitting lonely on the hill, wondering where all her friends are?
Yes people managed “perfectly well” in the days before people were constantly communicating, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t have managed better.
Romeo and Juliet didn’t have to die; the kingdom didn’t have to be lost for want of a nail; and a multitude of petty misunderstandings and mistakes that made a million people’s lives a little shittier and a little more frustrated all could have been avoided.
What’s so bad about that?
October 12, 2010
This is awesome.
October 12, 2010
Frosted?
Our survey said…
October 12, 2010
As much as I dislike cell phones, I didn’t read this comic as an attack against cell phones. I’m not sure where you’d get that idea. I thought it was just a funny riff on the idea of communication.
October 12, 2010
I do not have chisanderson’s brain to piece apart, but I might say that a coinciding viewpoint and interpretation might be: “The ease of communication that exists with texting and email encourages higher talking/thinking ratio, resulting in communication which is either valueless or required greater investment to be effective.”
But Cat and Girl is almost never exclusively down on something, but more reflective. As evidenced by the title (“Great Flakes in History”), I think it’s more a reflection of how connections can fail to be made due to miscommunication, no matter how swift the chosen communication medium.
Also, Grrl in not one dress, but two!
October 12, 2010
This reminds me of the Monty Python’s semaphore version of Wuthering Heights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqiUGjghlzU
October 13, 2010
I was reading it as an indictment of cell phones, as these messages are typical of those made with cell phones. In fact, it’s hard to manage getting out the message “I’m on a bus” with anything but a cell phone. The cell phone enables the flaking out depicted in the comic; the idea of being this kind of flake without a cellphone is, for me, the absurd juxtaposition that generates the humor of the strip.
That was my take, personally.
And, I’m sorry for analyzing a joke like that. I know it’s really not funny.
October 13, 2010
Aha! #dialogue, back to the future. Awesome! More of that, pretty please!
October 13, 2010
Cat Cameo was in the Navy with ocean swells towering over the ship. NOT fun at all. But the comic was funny.
October 14, 2010
Brian, Grrl was the sender of the last message clearly, but it looks as if Girl is receiving. Otherwise, makes no sense.
December 21, 2010
a funny thing happened on the way to the forum? is that the reference for the first two lines of panels?
April 24, 2012
Have you ever considered publishing an ebook or guest authoring on other blogs? I have a blog based on the same ideas you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my readers would value your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e mail.