1176: Those Not Present

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Those Not Present

Title text: 'Yeah, that squid's a total asshole.' [scoot scoot]

Explanation

Cueball doesn't want to hang out with people who badmouth others who aren't present. He leaves this conversation and gets into one about giant squids (a topic peculiar enough for Megan and Beret Guy). Although this topic may even be considered childish or socially awkward, this is still better than the social group that he was in.

The title text hints that the second conversational group isn't any nicer, by badmouthing the giant squid, who obviously, is not present.

Transcript

Every time someone says something negative about a person who's not in the room, I scoot my chair back a few inches.

[Cueball, Ponytail and two other people are sitting at a table drinking.]

Person: He's not so bad, but his friends...

[Cueball scoots away from table.]

Scoot scoot

Ponytail: His band is never gonna take off if...

[Cueball scoots further away.]

Scoot scoot

[Megan, Beret Guy, and Harry come into view.]

Off-screen: Yeah, his sister is even weirder.

Off-screen: Did you see she had...

Scoot scoot

Beret Guy: ...and there's a video, but it's blurry...

[Cueball turns around and leans his arm on his chair.]

Cueball: What're you talking about?

Hairy: Giant squid!

Cueball: Mind if I join you?

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Discussion

Seems pretty straight forward. The more a group talks badly of a person who's not present, a bad habit, the less Munroe wants to be associated with it. Therefore, he slowly scoots away, until he eventually reaches an other group, who, hopefully, won't have said bad habit. 95.35.63.88 05:28, 20 February 2013 (UTC)

I don't think there's much more to say about this one. Alpha (talk) 06:39, 20 February 2013 (UTC)

There's much more to say about it, actually. The comic is pointing out that it is the nature of certain groups to talk about those not present. The scooting from one to another (which is doing the same thing, even when the subject is something like squid), shows that there's no escape from the continuous gossip.24.70.188.179 15:56, 20 February 2013 (UTC)

One can make assuptions about the age of those in the first group because of the shape of the beverage vessels. A wine or champagne glass might be used for it's name sake. Suggesting that they are older than the legal drinking age. Though the conversation seems like one expected in high school or college. -- 74.215.40.250 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~) Is this actually this simple or are we missing something? 134.226.83.27 14:03, 20 February 2013 (UTC)

I was actually expecting it to proceed to some sort of equilibrium situation where the various groups slowly force him into some stationary position at a distance from each group relative to their various levels of behind the back talking.Schmammel (talk) 15:22, 20 February 2013 (UTC)

I was expecting the same thing--Dangerkeith3000 (talk) 16:08, 20 February 2013 (UTC)

I was expecting the first group will start talking about him, when he's away. 37.108.11.242 23:31, 20 February 2013 (UTC)

They will. But that doesn't affect him, because he doesn't want to be associated with them anyway. It might be the reason why he doesn't want to associate with them. As the conventional warning against indulging in gossip goes: "Be wary of people that say things about others behind their backs, because they might do the same about you." Of course, the real reason we ought not to engage in gossip is beyond niceties. Contrary to what most people believe, it isn't about with-holding all criticism. It's about fair representation, and accurate communication. However, given umwelt, it's not like everyone will have the same viewpoint anyway. Still, understanding that and being non-judgmental involves no slagging-people-behind-their-back, or consigning them to inferiority or incapability. Even if you do it to their faces 220.224.246.97 12:19, 21 February 2013 (UTC)

Is that person actually called Harry? 117.194.203.214 16:23, 20 February 2013 (UTC)

Nope, it was made up in 1028: Communication to describe generic male characters with hair. Alpha (talk) 20:51, 20 February 2013 (UTC)

Technically, by scooting away, they are free to talk badly about him, as he is no longer present. 173.245.54.9 02:15, 10 June 2014 (UTC)

What can we learn from this?

I've learned that talk shows don't work, unless they allow the person they are talking about to represent their point of view. If you see someone doing this on purpose, switch the channel as you are not missing much. - e-inspired 24.51.197.187 19:11, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

A dissenting view

Evidently Randall is not familiar with the concept of "Minnesota Nice". Where people from Minnesota burst from repression if they don't criticize others when they're not present. Trash-talking people while safely outside their presence is for some reason a perfectly reasonable pressure-release valve for them; the only sin is indiscretion, which isn't really defined, but for them, the only crime is allowing the "victim" to learn that they were "attacked". 173.245.54.52 19:32, 30 October 2015 (UTC)