Comments on: Tom the Dancing Bug: The Outer Reaches of Plot Twists http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 02:13:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-986114 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-986114 This is Russell's paradox. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell's_paradox In this case, if the machine failed, then the situation would be ironic. But if the situation is ironic, then the machine worked. But if the machine worked, then the situation would not be ironic. So then it must have failed. But if it failed, then that's ironic, which would mean that the machine worked.... It's an infinite loop. The situation alternates (or waffles) between being ironic and not ironic. Unless there's a Wittgenstein waffle-head nearby, poor Donald P. Hotchkiss is in some serious trouble. This seems to happen frequently in Tom the Dancing Bug. The comic takes a philosophical idea and makes it look totally absurd. And I never know, is the author making fun of the idea, or is he just making fun in general? Or is he making fun of his audience? Or is he making fun of the pinheads who waste their time thinking about these kinds of things? I get the sense that he's doing all of these things at once. For example, after 60% of all Maltby strips, I have to sit there quietly (shivering) and ask myself, "Is this author making fun of me? How did he know that I do these things?" And that of course is a classic Maltby moment. As soon as you think, "Is this whole thing about me" then you are a fool just like Maltby. But if you're a fool like Maltby, then the comic is about you, and you're not a fool. It's the same paradox. Welcome to the "bitterest of ironic situations". (And sorry for killing the joke.) This is Russell’s paradox.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell's_paradox

In this case, if the machine failed, then the situation would be ironic. But if the situation is ironic, then the machine worked. But if the machine worked, then the situation would not be ironic. So then it must have failed. But if it failed, then that’s ironic, which would mean that the machine worked….

It’s an infinite loop. The situation alternates (or waffles) between being ironic and not ironic. Unless there’s a Wittgenstein waffle-head nearby, poor Donald P. Hotchkiss is in some serious trouble.

This seems to happen frequently in Tom the Dancing Bug. The comic takes a philosophical idea and makes it look totally absurd. And I never know, is the author making fun of the idea, or is he just making fun in general? Or is he making fun of his audience? Or is he making fun of the pinheads who waste their time thinking about these kinds of things? I get the sense that he’s doing all of these things at once.

For example, after 60% of all Maltby strips, I have to sit there quietly (shivering) and ask myself, “Is this author making fun of me? How did he know that I do these things?” And that of course is a classic Maltby moment. As soon as you think, “Is this whole thing about me” then you are a fool just like Maltby. But if you’re a fool like Maltby, then the comic is about you, and you’re not a fool. It’s the same paradox.

Welcome to the “bitterest of ironic situations”. (And sorry for killing the joke.)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-986115 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-986115 Waffling irony! HA! You know, RB could make the punch lines a little more obvious, but would you still respect him in the morning if he did? Waffling irony! HA! You know, RB could make the punch lines a little more obvious, but would you still respect him in the morning if he did?

]]> By: NeonCat http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985361 NeonCat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985361 I could swear Tom the Dancing Bug used to be funny. I could swear Tom the Dancing Bug used to be funny.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985367 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985367 ah such irony of the iron of waffle irons (wants ferrous wheels) Zim: Hey, these waffles aren't bad, what's in em? Gir: There's waffle in em! Zim: YOU LIE! ah such irony of the iron of waffle irons (wants ferrous wheels)

Zim: Hey, these waffles aren’t bad, what’s in em?
Gir: There’s waffle in em!
Zim: YOU LIE!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985368 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985368 What are you talking about? This is the best one in a while, made me laugh out loud. What are you talking about? This is the best one in a while, made me laugh out loud.

]]> By: Jesse M. http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-987929 Jesse M. Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-987929 This sentence is <i>totally</i> sarcastic. This sentence is totally sarcastic.

]]> By: The Thompson Five http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985379 The Thompson Five Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985379 I need that font. Where can I get it? I need that font. Where can I get it?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985381 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985381 I say that it's pretty funny. It's classic TtDB, there just isn't a punch line so it's soft at the end. But it has dudes with waffle iron heads talking about irony. That's funny to me. They sorta look like Mayor McCheese. I say that it’s pretty funny. It’s classic TtDB, there just isn’t a punch line so it’s soft at the end.

But it has dudes with waffle iron heads talking about irony. That’s funny to me. They sorta look like Mayor McCheese.

]]> By: carsonic http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985382 carsonic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985382 Yeah, too bad he's now hilarious. Or perhaps you need to look up the definition of irony to fully get this strip? Yeah, too bad he’s now hilarious. Or perhaps you need to look up the definition of irony to fully get this strip?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-986155 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-986155 @17: we can in a sense resolve the paradox if we embed the ironic/not-ironic axis in a higher dimensional space, introducing the square root of non-irony and its dual as an axis orthogonal to the first. these imaginary ironic (imagirony) values are the fixpoints of situations which are only ironic in the case they are not. @17: we can in a sense resolve the paradox if we embed the ironic/not-ironic axis in a higher dimensional space, introducing the square root of non-irony and its dual as an axis orthogonal to the first. these imaginary ironic (imagirony) values are the fixpoints of situations which are only ironic in the case they are not.

]]> By: TenInchesTaller http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985395 TenInchesTaller Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985395 waffle.... irony? waffle…. irony?

]]> By: UncaScrooge http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985414 UncaScrooge Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985414 I had to put on my iRenew bracelet before this made any sense to me. I had to put on my iRenew bracelet before this made any sense to me.

]]> By: irksome http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985682 irksome Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985682 Waffle iron-y. Waffle iron-y.

]]> By: MrScience http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985690 MrScience Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985690 Oh.. OHHHhhhh. Oh.. OHHHhhhh.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-987500 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-987500 This is the first one I've read and quite enjoyed it. This is the first one I’ve read and quite enjoyed it.

]]> By: El Mariachi http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985454 El Mariachi Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985454 <a href="http://www.fontspace.com/casey-burns/squa-tront">This</a> is pretty close. They're both based on the <a href="http://www.prc68.com/I/Leroy.shtml">Leroy lettering</a> used in 1950s EC comics. This is pretty close. They’re both based on the Leroy lettering used in 1950s EC comics.

]]> By: The Hamster King http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985467 The Hamster King Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985467 It's ironic because they're IRONS. It’s ironic because they’re IRONS.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985989 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985989 Irony lost is irony found. Or is it the other way around? Irony lost is irony found.
Or is it the other way around?

]]> By: ShutUpAndRoll http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-1006994 ShutUpAndRoll Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1006994 Hahaha, genius. Irony is god's humorous gift to mankind! Hahaha, genius. Irony is god’s humorous gift to mankind!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-986530 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-986530 @17: You earned yourself comment of the week! http://gocomics.typepad.com/tomthedancingbugblog/2011/01/comment-of-the-week.html @17: You earned yourself comment of the week!
http://gocomics.typepad.com/tomthedancingbugblog/2011/01/comment-of-the-week.html

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985511 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985511 and because the situation waffles between being and not-being ironic. and because the situation waffles between being and not-being ironic.

]]> By: A D Jameson http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-993203 A D Jameson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-993203 Missing an indefinite article in the 11th panel? "Maybe it's ironic that your machine changed the world in [a] way that's bizarre, but not ironic." I adore your comics, thanks. A D Missing an indefinite article in the 11th panel?

“Maybe it’s ironic that your machine changed the world in [a] way that’s bizarre, but not ironic.”

I adore your comics, thanks. A D

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985785 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985785 Tom the Dancing Bug sure likes waffle irons. At least, I fondly remember their reaction shots. Tom the Dancing Bug sure likes waffle irons. At least, I fondly remember their reaction shots.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-988872 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-988872 A paradox situation set-up does not automatically equate with Russell's Paradox. Now, if the cartoon had anything to do with naive set theory..... A paradox situation set-up does not automatically equate with Russell’s Paradox. Now, if the cartoon had anything to do with naive set theory…..

]]> By: MrJM http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-985823 MrJM Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985823 I'm a little out of touch -- Do kids still use "he used to be funny" to say "I don't get it"? I’m a little out of touch — Do kids still use “he used to be funny” to say “I don’t get it”?

]]> By: Matthew Miller http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-987106 Matthew Miller Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-987106 Literal laugh out loud here. But also I want to add that the WHERE'S THE IRONY IN THAT??! frame is a stand-alone instant classic. Literal laugh out loud here.

But also I want to add that the WHERE’S THE IRONY IN THAT??! frame is a stand-alone instant classic.

]]> By: vollsticks http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-1002727 vollsticks Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1002727 Thanks for posting the link, I'd always wondered how they made that lettering. I reckon this comic may have gone over some people's heads...TTDB doesn't need punchlines to be funny! Thanks for posting the link, I’d always wondered how they made that lettering.
I reckon this comic may have gone over some people’s heads…TTDB doesn’t need punchlines to be funny!

]]> By: bardfinn http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-988401 bardfinn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-988401 Welcome to BoingBoing Cafe', today's special is Waffles with a side of Cheese paired with Whine -- we call it the TtDB Platter. We also have fresh-squeezed CableGate and our latest Chef's Special, The United States Government Improperly Subpoenaing The Details of An Officer of Another Government! *chews gum* What'll it be, hon? Welcome to BoingBoing Cafe’, today’s special is Waffles with a side of Cheese paired with Whine — we call it the TtDB Platter. We also have fresh-squeezed CableGate and our latest Chef’s Special, The United States Government Improperly Subpoenaing The Details of An Officer of Another Government!

*chews gum*

What’ll it be, hon?

]]> By: taj1f http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/tom-the-dancing-bug-31.html#comment-989439 taj1f Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-989439 These are along those lines as well: http://www.comicbookfonts.com/fonts/catalog.html?item=fonts:cl310&sid=0001O4wpMOixnCk6SM2o2h6 These are along those lines as well:

http://www.comicbookfonts.com/fonts/catalog.html?item=fonts:cl310&sid=0001O4wpMOixnCk6SM2o2h6

]]>