767: Temper

Temper

|< < Prev #767 (July 16, 2010) Next > >|

Title text: Mr. Rogers projected an air of genuine, unwavering, almost saintly pure-hearted decency. But when you look deeper, at the person behind the image... that's exactly what you find there, too. He's exactly what he appears to be.

|< < Prev Random Explanation Next > >|

Explanation

Actor Mel Gibson was the subject of controversy a few days before this comic came out because a telephone rant was taped and released to the public. He laughed off the call, saying simply "I have a bit of a temper." In a broader sense, it's almost cliche for celebrities who cultivate friendly and charming public personas to be revealed as behaving badly in their personal lives. Most savvy viewers will tend to be suspicious of any celebrity who always seem kind and caring, as such could be part of a carefully curated image, and does not necessarily reflect the person's true nature.

Fred Rogers was a minister and television personality best known for his children's educational show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, which aired on American public television for over 30 years. Because of his program's popularity and longevity, 'Mister Rogers' became not only an icon of children's programming, but a beloved figure in American culture, with generations of children growing up with him.

Rogers' on-air persona was consistently warm and friendly, actively trying to make children feel special and loved, and teaching lessons about creativity, character, and kindness. While urban legends emerged about him having some kind of dark past, all of these were entirely false. In truth, his life was entirely untainted by any kind of real scandal, and people who knew him uniformly agree that he was just as caring and compassionate in real life as he was on the air.

This comic contrasts Rogers with a typical celebrity scandal. It presents Rogers fictionally recorded having a fight with his wife. The title and caption set up the expectation of a dramatic, Mel Gibson-style explosive rage, but the actual comic presents Rogers handling a family conflict with a calm, open, and loving attitude consistent with his real personality. The title text does the same, setting up for a shocking reveal and failing to meet it.

Transcript

[A black frame with the text [NO VIDEO] in the center, speech is in bubbles.]

Voice: Sometimes, when we disagree, I feel frustrated. But I never forget how lucky I am to have you in my family.

Voice: Always remember how special you are.

[Caption below the panel]:

1981: An audio recorder on the set catches Fred Rogers fighting with his wife.

  Add comment        Create topic (use sparingly)       Refresh 

Discussion

A blade with no temper is a letter opener or a butter knife. One that keeps its temper perfectly is good enough for the best swords. -- Weatherlawyer (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

I think he is also referenced in what if 146, stop Jupiter. Should it be added? {{162.158.154.229 12:38, 3 April 2017 (UTC)}}

One time, someone stole Fred Rodger's car but gave it back and sincerely apologized once he realized whose car he stole. Or so I've been told. 162.158.78.196 (talk) 23:57, 5 April 2018 (UTC) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

What about the controversy in which he told his wife to stay in the closet and not come out as gay?《プロキシ》(XKCD中毒者) 18:07, 24 October 2025 (UTC)

I see absolutely no credible (or even incredible) hint out there that echoes that idea. She survived him, and lived until 2021, plenty of time to have outed herself if she'd have wanted to. Meanwhile Fred Rogers identified himself as being platonically bisexual and seemingly happily married to Sara Joanne Rogers (neé Byrd), so it would seem even more unlikely to have persuaded her to have denied this, even to preserve his legacy. I call shenanigans on this suggestion, or you're thinking of two entirely different people entirely, or just an existing conspiracy theory that hasn't even been considered popular enough to spread.

But maybe I'm wrong, and my Google Fu has failed me (or been got at by the Mister Rogers Protection Agency!)... Please do add (however wrong it is) a link to what you mean, if it wasn't entirely your own invention. 2.98.65.8 19:15, 24 October 2025 (UTC)
        Add comment