Bye bye Dilbert

[Dave Gray]

Seems Mr Adams went on a rant and his comic strip is being dropped by a lot of newspapers.

[David G]

And an ugly rant it was.

[Mrleft88]

Good riddance.

[Rich Jones]

What a jerk.
I really liked the Dilbert strip.

[Durnik]

strange. he's never made a secret of his bigotry. still, 'bout time.

[Osborne Russell]

The impression is strong that he underwent his formative experiences in a cubicle. You want to talk about cubicles, he's the guy. A virtuoso. The message is, how cubicles spawn a worldview bound to be slapped down hard by reality outside.

Physician, heal thyself.

[C. Ross]

Good riddance indeed.

He stopped being funny or original about 30 years ago. He became derivative and then nuts.

[Osborne Russell]

If the premise is transcending circumstances, then you must transcend your circumstances.

If we cancel him, what can we draw from him?

[Chip-skiff]

Never cared for the comic. But then I've never been a passive-aggressive office drone.

[Osborne Russell]

Never cared for the comic. But then I've never been a passive-aggressive office drone.

There, but for fortune.

[WI-Tom]

If the premise is transcending circumstances, then you must transcend your circumstances.

If we cancel him, what can we draw from him?

The notion that someone's racist rant catching up to them with actual consequences attached is in any way "cancelling" him is ludicrous. It's also a straight-up right-wing/Trumpist talking point. Why carry water for them, OR? Have you full-on joined the Trump horde, or are you just working for them as an independent contractor?

Tom

[Jimmy W]

If the premise is transcending circumstances, then you must transcend your circumstances.

If we cancel him, what can we draw from him?

Just what do you want to draw from just another racist? There isn't a shortage of them.

[Ian McColgin]

Right. http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...hlight=Dilbert

[Osborne Russell]

The notion that someone's racist rant catching up to them with actual consequences attached is in any way "cancelling" him is ludicrous. It's also a straight-up right-wing/Trumpist talking point. Why carry water for them, OR? Have you full-on joined the Trump horde, or are you just working for them as an independent contractor?

Tom

There's consequences, and then there's consequences. I would interrogate the S out of him, without mercy, I have the motivation and I know how to to do it and you know it. I ain't carrying no water for no one. The consequences that I would impose have their purpose, which distingush them from "consequences" in general; which I am eager to explain.

Whereas cancellation means game over, GTFOOH Dilbert. That has an opportunity cost. We are not in a position to spurn potential allies as the tide of orcs approaches.

[Osborne Russell]

Just what do you want to draw from just another racist? There isn't a shortage of them.

But they're not ipso facto alike, for pertinent purposes; that is a gross failure of discernment.

It is said that Abraham Lincoln was a racist, as if . . . he weren't a Titan of anti-racist history, the history of . . . the struggle. Like all of his predecessors, like all of our predecessors . . . i.e. Abraham Lincoln. With respect, you fail to appreciate the fundamental continuity of western F ing civilization of which your are a member for better or for worse.

[WI-Tom]

There's consequences, and then there's consequences. I would interrogate the S out of him, without mercy, I have the motivation and I know how to to do it and you know it. I ain't carrying no water for no one. The consequences that I would impose have their purpose, which distingush them from "consequences" in general; which I am eager to explain.

Whereas cancellation means game over, GTFOOH Dilbert. That has an opportunity cost. We are not in a position to spurn potential allies as the tide of orcs approaches.

You said Dilbert's strip being removed from newspapers was "cancelling" him.

That's utter nonsense. It's a natural consequence of his employers not wanting to be associated with a racist. They have no obligation to continue publishing his work. That's not "cancellation"--that's a racist a$$hole losing his job for being a racist a$$hole.

When you say he has been cancelled, you ARE carrying water for Trumpists. And I'm curious why you'd want to identify yourself that way.

Tom

[Osborne Russell]

They published him; they ceased. Cancellation, in contractual language.

[WI-Tom]

They published him; they ceased. Cancellation, in contractual language.

Pfft. Would you call it "cancellation" if a school fired a teacher because they discovered a history of child abuse in that teacher's background check?

See, you seem to be thinking--as many un-thorough thinkers in the U.S. do--that "free speech" is an absolute right, and anything that restricts that right is anti-American. Problem is, violation of "free speech" principles involve government action, not private action (as here).

He hasn't been "cancelled." He has revealed himself to be a racist a$$hole, and employers quite rightly are deciding they don't want to be identified with him in any way. As is their right.

He is free to seek other platforms. Nothing prevents him from doing so.

Tom

[epoxyboy]

Never cared for the comic. But then I've never been a passive-aggressive office drone.

Interesting comment - here's some context .
I've spent the better part of 40 years working in an engineering office. I've lost count of the number of times where we (engineers) give them (management) our best educated guess as to how long it will take to turn the pipe dream du jour into reality.
Without fail, we're told it should only take some fraction of that time, and equally without fail, we're the ones who have delivered "late" when the stretch goal fantasy bs management timeline is not met.
After repeatedly living that experience, to see it being cartooned was pretty damn funny. Call it passive-aggressive if you want, but honest to God, it gets pretty effing tedious when the launch meeting for every project starts with a deadline dreamt up in ignorance of reality.

Pete

[Osborne Russell]

Pfft. Would you call it "cancellation" if a school fired a teacher because they discovered a history of child abuse in that teacher's background check?

Insufficient data. History is history, the teacher, teaching, is now.

See, you seem to be thinking--as many un-thorough thinkers in the U.S. do--that "free speech" is an absolute right, and anything that restricts that right is anti-American. Problem is, violation of "free speech" principles involve government action, not private action (as here).

Free speech is about limiting the dick wad government. Cancelling is private, but for all that, scarcely less oppressive.

He hasn't been "cancelled." He has revealed himself to be a racist a$$hole, and employers quite rightly are deciding they don't want to be identified with him in any way. As is their right.
He is free to seek other platforms. Nothing prevents him from doing so.

Tom

Except that in the meantime he is without a job, as you might be, should you transgress. Talk about fetishizing the free market.

[WI-Tom]

Free speech is about limiting the dick wad government. Cancelling is private, but for all that, scarcely less oppressive.

So, you are saying employers should NOT have the right to fire employees who present themselves as racist a$$holes? And this would be better... why?

(By the way, your characterization of government is sophomoric in the extreme; and even then, speech can be regulated in many situations; U.S. fetishization of "free speech" is moronic, and ignores the very real harms that, say, hate speech can do--harms not only in normalizing racism and hurting individuals, but harms done to the very notion of a democratic system of governance, by sending a clear message that certain colors/religions/genders etc. are allowed to be shut out from the benefits of full citizenship).

Except that in the meantime he is without a job, as you might be, should you transgress. Talk about fetishizing the free market.

I am all for expanding workers' rights, OR, as anyone who has paid any attention to my posts over the years ought to know. I've lost jobs when I've stood up for what I thought was right.

But those rights ought not extend to "employees can do whatever they want and expect to keep their jobs." Due process, yes. Carte blanche, no.

When you act like a racist a$$hole, it's childish to expect people to ignore that fact just so you can keep your cozy little niche in life. Life don't work that way. Never has.

Tom

[Garret]

Originally, it was a very funny & bitingly accurate representation of life in a cubicle. Having spent some time in one, I have to say he nailed it, along with a lot of corporate idiocy. However, as said, the strip lost its way & after Adams' rant, it's no great loss.

I am 100% good with newspapers canceling the strip after this. Note that he has not been canceled, the strip has. Entirely appropriate.

[Paul Pless]

I am 100% good with newspapers canceling the strip after this.

what are these 'newspapers' of which you speak?

[Garret]

what are these 'newspapers' of which you speak?

Sadly true. There are still a few here in VT, though what was the biggest one is now a shadow of its former self. Gannet bought it, ran it downhill & then a local alternative rag started ramping things up & has largely taken over - even though weekly instead of daily. What used to be a 1" thick Sunday paper (after removing the ad flyers) 25 years ago is now about 20-30 pages max.

It's still kind of a newspaper if I read it online - as I do with the NYT & WaPo.

[Rigadog]

Never care d for Dilbert. Give me Calvin and Hobbes, something that makes me feel good about Tigers and children

[Breakaway]

Re cancellation; Adams was/is not an employee. He works for himself. There will be contractual obligations. So, while the strip was pulled, he will likely be paid through to the expiration of his current contracts.

Kevin


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Figment]

Just a guy who happened to develop a particular talent and then spent a few decades listening to people tell him how brilliant he is. I think any of us could become an asshole in that circumstance.

I'm sure he's delighted. His ideological credentials have skyrocketed. I imagine that he doesn't need the income at this point, and if he does he'll surely make more from this bit of renewed-celebrity than he's losing from the dilbert strips.

Cancel culture is a myth. Evidence: Mel Gibson still makes movies in hollywood.

[Paul Pless]

Cancel culture is a myth.

really? i bet tár cleans up at the oscars. . .

[Chris Woodward]

[QUOTE]Adams could not immediately be reached for comment by Reuters on Saturday. But on his YouTube channel, he confirmed his comic was being dropped - and said he had expected that to happen."By Monday, I should be mostly canceled. So most of my income will be gone by next week," he said. "My reputation for the rest of my life is destroyed. You can't come back from this."
Adams' initial remarks came in response to a conservative Rasmussen Poll that appeared to show that 26% of Black respondents said they disagreed with the statement "It's okay to be white." Another 21% said they were not sure./QUOTE]

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/dil...ms-2023-02-26/

Yeah yeah I know. According to you, pasting this proves that I'm a racist Trumper.
How many of you elitist white men actually live and work within the black community?

[L.W. Baxter]

what an incredibly dumb poll question. dumb, but clever.

i don't trust rasmussen to conduct a poll that meaningfully reflects something other than reactionary prejudices.

adams is a perfect a tool for their use; naturally self-centered and inclined to resentment.

[Figment]

This thing, the MTG "national divorce" thing... what's the catalyst for these recent cries of irreconcilable differences from the right? This sentiment that we can't find commonality so we might as well segregate and lean-into the differences?

[Figment]

really? i bet tár cleans up at the oscars. . .

I need you to expand on that, please. (This is my first awareness of Tar, I had to google it)

[Art Haberland]

The epitome of FAFO (fuck around and find out)

[Chris Woodward]

This thing, the MTG "national divorce" thing... what's the catalyst for these recent cries of irreconcilable differences from the right? This sentiment that we can't find commonality so we might as well segregate and lean-into the differences?

[QUOTE]By midcentury, some projections show the white race in the United States will no longer be the majority race. Already, if all the minority races are combined, minorities comprise 40% of the population. When Black, Hispanic, Asian and other races combine their power, how do you think they will respond? Will there be retribution? Will they behave toward whites as whites have behaved toward them? /QUOTE]

This is from an opinion piece that David G. posted on the Nikki Halley thread. https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story...r/69918553007/

I think it explains the crux of the fear that white nationalists have with minorities.

[Paul Pless]

^ yet more evidence david g has an unhealthy obsession with all things university of alabama