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| | ==Explanation== | | ==Explanation== |
| | + | {{incomplete|Initial cut, please add to this.}} |
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| − | [[Black Hat]] is writing in a diary (probably his, but possibly not; see below). His entry starts with the common idiom "Dear diary". In a regular diary entry, this opening is used to give the impression of writing to a trusted friend, the diary being anthropomorphized to take that friend's role. However, where other people would write about their day or put their feelings into words, Black Hat's diary entry consists of a standard phishing scam attempting to request some private information in exchange for a large cash amount which does not exist. In this case, the scam is the infamous [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/nigerian-scams Nigerian Royalty scam], where the 'royalty' needs bank details to give money, when it will in fact be taken. [[Black Hat]] apparently is so used to tricking people that even his own anthropomorphized diary is not safe from his pranks. Alternatively, the entry is intended for anyone who looks at his diary without his permission. It's also possible he has obtained someone else's diary and is somehow trying to scam the diary's owner, although it's not clear how that might work. Or, since it is a rather obvious scam, he may simply be trying to scare the diary's owner, perhaps the same child as he traumatized in [[1776|the previous comic]] with a reindeer mutated to look like a spider.
| + | Black Hat is writing in a diary (probably his, but possibly not see below). Many people will fantasize in their diary about being royalty and/or very rich. Black Hat's entry has both of these, but is written in the form of a standard phishing scam. Although, with a diary, it's only likely to find victims which are surreptitiously stealing a look at his private diary. But, knowing Black Hat, that my be his point. |
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| − | This comic creates a stark contrast by putting together elements that seem similar, but do not belong together, for comedic effect.
| + | It's also possible he has obtained someone else's diary and is somehow trying to scam the diary's owner, although it's not clear how that might work. The title text mimics a standard way to get off some mailing lists, so perhaps it's Randall's diary that Black Hat is molesting and the title text is Randall expressing a desire to be disassociated form it. |
| − | * Combining old-school hand written media (a diary) and memes from the electronic age (a phishing attempt as usually found in spam mail).
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| − | * Contrasting the very personal, intimate atmosphere of "Dear diary" with something that is normally automatically replicated to millions of mail addresses.
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| − | * Opening up with a sentence that might come from a real personal diary (many people will fantasize about being rich or famous in their diaries), and following up with something that nobody would expect from a personal diary.
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| − | It is possible that the diary is actually the journal from the [[:Category:Journal|Journal]] series, and that ever since being outdone by [[Danish]], he no longer uses it for recording all the things he would say if he were nice.
| + | ==Transcript== |
| − | | + | Black hat writing in his diary at a table: |
| − | The title text is similar to [[1675: Message in a Bottle]], which also uses the word "unsubscribe" in an unusual way. The title text also mimics a standard way to get off some mailing lists, so perhaps it's [[Randall]]'s diary that Black Hat is molesting, and therefore the title-text is Randall expressing a desire to be disassociated from it.
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| − | ==Transcript==
| + | Dear diary, |
| − | :[Black Hat is seated at a table, writing with a pencil in a diary.]
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| − | :Writing: Dear Diary,
| + | Hello. I am the Crown Prince of Nigeria. I have recently come into a large fortune, but... |
| − | :Writing: Hello. I am the Crown Prince of Nigeria. I have recently come into a large fortune, but...
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| | {{comic discussion}} | | {{comic discussion}} |
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| − | [[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
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