Editing 1984: Misinterpretation
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | [[Cueball]] is complaining that people are mad at him | + | [[Cueball]] is here complaining that people are mad at him because of misinterpretation. However, the off-screen voice sarcastically points out that communication involves work on behalf of the speaker as well as the listener. Cueball claims that he is being "perfectly clear", but if there is room for misinterpretation on behalf of the listener, then he is not. |
− | + | In the title text, Cueball then answers that he cannot possibly account for the many possible interpretations which the message, potentially reaching the whole world, could acquire. The reply comes once again sarcastically, deriding his point and saying that a middle ground between taking up such an effort and entirely avoiding it must be reached. This avoidance is phrased using a [[762: Analogies|simile]] as "covering your eyes and ears and yelling logically correct statements into the void", implying that no one would understand the logical sentences (thus the void), and would instead read them more naturally – and also that ignoring the appalled reaction of listeners to their own interpretation of the sentences is similar to covering your eyes and years, which makes communication more difficult through speech, text and sign language. | |
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− | In the title text, Cueball then answers that he cannot possibly account for the many possible interpretations which the message, potentially reaching the whole world, could acquire | ||
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− | This avoidance is phrased using | ||
It is clear that Cueball is acting as a straw man to further Randall's point, and the off-panel character is portrayed as the (sarcastic) voice of reason. | It is clear that Cueball is acting as a straw man to further Randall's point, and the off-panel character is portrayed as the (sarcastic) voice of reason. | ||
− | Randall returns to a recurring theme in his comics | + | Randall returns to a recurring theme in his comics regarding the responsibility of the speaker for how they are interpreted. Having gradually gotten less subtle, this theme is now laid bare, there being no joke other than the sarcasm. |
− | + | *The title text of [[1028: Communication]] notes that "Anyone who says that they're great at communicating but 'people are bad at listening' is confused about how communication works." | |
− | *The title text of [[1028: Communication]] notes that | ||
*The title text of [[1860: Communicating]] also asserts that the responsibility of a misunderstanding lies with the speaker, not the listener — a theme explored in the comic via the character Humpty Dumpty. | *The title text of [[1860: Communicating]] also asserts that the responsibility of a misunderstanding lies with the speaker, not the listener — a theme explored in the comic via the character Humpty Dumpty. | ||
− | *The comic [[1911: Defensive Profile]] implies that a person who boasts of having | + | *The comic [[1911: Defensive Profile]] implies that a person who boasts of having "no filter" in their (social media) speech is actually merely insecure about making people mad with their statements. |
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[Cueball | + | :[This single-frame comic shows Cueball sitting at a desk in front of a laptop with his hands above the keyboard indicating he is typing in rage.] |
:Cueball: Ugh, people are mad at me again because they don't read carefully. | :Cueball: Ugh, people are mad at me again because they don't read carefully. | ||
− | :Cueball: I'm being perfectly clear. It's not | + | :Cueball: I'm being perfectly clear. It's not ''my'' fault if everyone misinterprets what I say. |
− | :Off- | + | :Off-screen voice: Wow, sounds like you're great at communicating, an activity that famously involves just one person. |
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
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