1173: Steroids

2013-02-15T15:45:10Z

173.2.55.66:

{{comic
| number = 1173
| date = February 13, 2013
| title = Steroids
| image = steroids.png
| titletext = A human is a system for converting dust billions of years ago into dust billions of years from now via a roundabout process which involves checking email a lot.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic is about steroid usage to enhance one's performance; it is likely inspired by {{w|Lance Armstrong}}'s recent confession to blood doping in a televised interview with {{w|Oprah Winfrey}} (although Armstrong's confessions did not itself include {{w|anabolic steroid}} use; "steroids" is a common catch-all phrase often misused to reference other forms of doping).

The comic states that humans are essentially made up of chemicals, and they need other chemicals to survive -- for example, food, water and air are made up of chemicals. Humans also have a propensity for competition to find out which person is the fastest and strongest.

This comic is making the point that the criteria about which chemicals (steroids) humans may or may not take in to be considered the strongest or fastest is an artificial criteria. This is demonstrated by [[Megan]] explaining the whole concept to a non-humanoid entity; when framed the way Megan frames it, the explanation sounds rather trivial and silly.

This comic is one of many instances where Randall attempts to trivialize sports.

The title text changes the perspective again by suggesting that humanity itself is trivial in the grand scheme of things and that really all we are is a "transition" state between old dust and new dust, with a bunch of emailing in between.

The comic was published on {{w|Ash Wednesday}} (Western liturgical start of Lent). The dust to dust reference calls to mind the charge, "Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust you shall return," which is traditionally spoken by priests as they place ashes on the foreheads of observers on Ash Wednesday, in addition to the idea that all atoms in the universe other than Hydrogen, Helium, and some Lithium, were created after the big-bang via {{w|Stellar nucleosynthesis}}, with further production and dispersal via {{w|Supernova nucleosynthesis}}. Thus the reference by {{w|Joni Mitchell}} in the song {{w|Woodstock (song)}}: "We are stardust..."

==Transcript==
[Megan is talking to an energy based intelligence]
:Something: Explain to me this "steroid scandal."
:Megan: Well, uh... We humans are sacks of chemicals which stay alive by finding other chemicals and putting them inside us.
:Megan: We hold contests to see which humans are fastest and strongest.
:Megan: But some humans eat chemicals that make them ''too'' fast and strong.
:Megan: And they '''win contests'''!
:Something: That does sound bad.
:Megan: It's awful!
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]

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1173: Steroids