1961: Interaction

2018-03-01T16:09:38Z

Rsssnspy6: #spellcheck

{{comic
| number = 1961
| date = February 28, 2018
| title = Interaction
| image = interaction.png
| titletext = [They do not move.]
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete| Needs to be expanded with regards to social anxiety. There are now several links to comics dealing with similar issues of having problems with normal social interactions. Should there instead be a category (please add more similar comics to the list to see if it makes sense.) If you have an idea for what the title of such category should be, perhaps add it here (and in the discussion). "Small talk" or "Social interactions" could be possible, but seems not quite adequate?}}

[[Cueball]] and [[White Hat]] are making small talk. White Hat begins the conversation with a typical greeting. Normally, a person would answer this question with a positive like, "Good," "Okay," "Can't complain," etc. But instead, Cueball answers with a very open and honest statement about the {{w|social anxiety}} he thinks he is successfully dealing with. White Hat then admits that he is experiencing the same thing, and the two congratulate each other for having a "normal" conversation with another human. After that, there is an awkward silence where neither knows what to talk about next. Finally, White Hat makes note of the awkwardness and Cueball suggests they stop before it gets worse.

So basically they have not managed to behave like regular human beings, and thus have nothing to congratulate each other for. Except for White Hat's opening line nothing in the conversation has in any way resembled normal behavior due to their serious issues with small talking/interacting with other people, even this simple '''interaction''' fails completely, hence the title of the comic.

The title text states, that after saying goodbye they don't move away, keeping up the uncomfortable silence, continuing to display their problems. Neither of them wish to be the first to turn away, or one or both are locked in the situation and has no clue how to finish it, even though they are both obviously aware of their problems and what makes them anxious.

The title text may be a reference to the final stage direction "''They do not move.''" in Samuel Beckett's play {{w|Waiting for Godot}}, where the protagonists frequently discuss leaving, but do not move.

[[Randall]] has previously made several comics with a similar theme showing Cueball's (or his Randall's own) problems with several social situations/interactions/small talk, especially this comic [[222: Small Talk]]. There are several more examples in this list, (please feel free to add more here):
*[[1324: Weather]]
*[[1640: Super Bowl Context]]
*[[1643: Degrees]]
*[[1650: Baby]]

It was more than two yeas ago he made the last of those type of comics. It seems that Randall this month returned to his [[1960:_Code_Golf#Revitalizing_old_themes|old themes]].

==Transcript==
:[White Hat and Cueball have just met and begins an interaction.]
:White Hat: How are you doing?
:Cueball: Really excited to be confidently handling this extremely basic social interaction!

:[White Hat holds is arms slightly out.]
:White Hat: Same here!
:Cueball: Hey, congrats!
:White Hat: You too!
:Cueball: Thanks!

:[In a frame-less beat panel, they just stand still.]

:[Same setting as in the first panel.]
:White Hat: And now it's falling apart before my eyes.
:Cueball: I'm gonna quit while I'm ahead.
:White Hat: Same.
:Cueball: See you later!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Social interactions]]

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1961: Interaction