Editing 1753: Thumb War
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|Just... More.}} | |
+ | A thumb war is a common game for children, in which two players hold hands and attempt to pin each other's thumb down. The game is often started with both players chanting "one, two three, four, I declare a thumb war, five, six, seven, eight, try to keep your thumb straight", referencing the goal of the game. | ||
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− | The | + | The standard concept is subverted here: Black hat interprets the simulation of hand-to-hand combat with thumbs differently, comparing it with real conflict. He shows this in further lines, invented by himself. |
− | The | + | The second rhyme, "finger guns proliferate." represents the idea that hand-to-hand combat is outclassed by combat with arms (guns, specifically). This holds true, of course, for any technological advancement able to make a significant difference in resulting military tactics in a war. Black hat transfers this into the "thumb war universe", introducing finger guns into the thumb hand-to-hand combat. The finger gun faction uses their military superiority to establish dominance, and thus proliferate, that is, extend territory or numbers. This is, of course, nonsensical. |
− | + | The third rhyme continues the counting until twelve, thus entering the two digit number space, the idea being that multiple digits (numbers) have united against a common foe, since one alone cannot protect itself, according to [[Black Hat]]. It is left open from what the thumbs are supposed to be protected, maybe multiple digits. This is funny because of the pun involved: Digits are glyphs of numbers (compare single-digit number vs. multi-digit number) as well as one's fingers. Thus, also "fingers can't protect themselves". | |
− | The thumb war | + | The last line is utterly nonsensical: Black hat states that, even though this useless thumb war goes on and on, the "thumb U.N.", the thumb war universe equivalent to our United Nations, won't try to put an end to it using diplomatic power. In real life, the U.N. has the power to mandate intervention using (blue-helmet) peace forces in war zones to put an end to violence or give out a mandate to nations so that they can intervene in some crisis on their own behalf. |
− | + | All of this is a nonsensical continuation of the original rhyme since fingers don't reproduce or own territory nor unite to form a common Organization. It is, instead, a quite cynical portrayal of our world, criticizing the "might is right" mentality that is the sad reality of our globe, and the government of the world by the militarily strongest nations. It puts the UN in an unfavorable light since it portrays it either as corrupt or apathetic, both equally bad. | |
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− | This | + | [[Hairy]], meanwhile, is bored and annoyed by all this and wants to stop playing. This could be a metaphor for how our industrialized, fun-oriented societies only care about entertainment and not the real problems mankind has. Hairy could portray a happy European or American, who is only satisfied with instant gratification, games, and joy instead of confronting the problems we western nations brought about as would be our responsibility or duty. |
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+ | Black Hat continues to make Hairy uncomfortable as an adult, such as in [[1210: I'm So Random]]. | ||
+ | In the title text, Hairy adds another verse, requesting to do something more appropriate for children, reading a picture book. | ||
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+ | This is the second time a young Black Hat has been used. The first was in [[1139: Rubber and Glue]]. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | + | [A young Black Hat and Hairy are sitting across from each other. A toy truck is on Black Hat's left, and a stack of blocks is on Hairy's right.] | |
− | :Black | + | |
− | :Black | + | :Black hat: One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war. |
− | :Black | + | :Black hat: Five, six, seven, eight, finger guns proliferate. |
− | :Black | + | :Black hat: Nine, ten, eleven, twelve, digits can't protect themselves. |
+ | :Black hat: Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, thumb U.N. won't intervene. | ||
:Hairy: I don't want to play with you anymore. | :Hairy: I don't want to play with you anymore. | ||
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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