Dilbert cartoon first published on Sunday 13th September 1992

Dilbert//1247, first published 34 years ago on Sunday 13th September 1992

Tags

dogbert ratbert chips hear latest brain research proven stimulation conscious absurd rationalizations random interaction arguably control

Official transcript

Ratbert sits on the hassock eating potato chips. Dogbert says, "Hi, Ratbert, may I have some chips?"

Ratbert answers, "No, sorry. There are only enough for one."

Dogbert asks, "Did you hear about the latest brain research?"

Dogbert says, "Science has proven that the part of the brain responsible for conscious thought doesn't show any stimulation until AFTER you act."

Dogbert continues, "That means you never make conscious decisions; all you do is rationalize what you've done after the fact."

Dogbert continues, "Your life is nothing but a series of absurd rationalizations for the random interaction of chemicals in your brain."

Ratbert starts blinking. Ratbert falls over, drops the bag of chips and screams, "Aaagh!!! My life is absurd!!"

Dogbert sits on the hassock eating the chips. He says, "That was mean, but aruguably I couldn't control myself."

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

HI, RATBERT.

MAY I HAVE SOME CHIPS?

NO, SORRY. THERE ARE ONLY ENOUGH FOR ONE.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE LATEST BRAIN RESEARCH?

SCIENCE HAS PROVEN THAT THE PART OF THE BRAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSCIOUS THOUGHT DOESN'T SHOW ANY STIMULATION UNTIL AFTER YOU ACT.

THAT MEANS YOU NEVER MAKE CONSCIOUS DECISIONS; ALL YOU DO IS RATIONALIZE WHAT YOU'VE DONE AFTER THE FACT.

YOUR LIFE IS NOTHING BUT A SERIES OF ABSURD RATIONALIZATIONS FOR THE RANDOM INTERACTION OF CHEMICALS IN YOUR BRAIN.

BLINK BLINK AAAGH!!!

MY LIFE IS ABSURD!!

THAT WAS MEAN, BUT ARGUABLY I COULDN'T CONTROL MYSELF

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

The comic strip is titled "Ratbert's Absurd Rationalization" and features a conversation between Ratbert and Dilbert.

Scene 1: Ratbert's Introduction

• Ratbert is introduced as a dog who has been given chips, but is unsure if he has enough for one.
• He asks Dilbert if he has heard about the latest brain research, which suggests that the part of the brain responsible for conscious thought doesn't show any stimulation until after action.

Scene 2: Ratbert's Rationalization

• Ratbert rationalizes his actions by stating that since he never makes conscious decisions, all he does is rationalize what he's done after the fact.
• He claims that his life is nothing but a series of absurd rationalizations for the random interaction of chemicals in his brain.

Scene 3: Dilbert's Response

• Dilbert responds by saying that Ratbert's life is absurd, but he couldn't control himself.
• He agrees with Ratbert's statement that science has proven that the part of the brain responsible for conscious thought doesn't show any stimulation until after action.

Conclusion

• The comic strip pokes fun at the idea of rationalizing one's actions and the limitations of human control over our thoughts and behaviors.
• It uses humor to highlight the absurdity of Ratbert's rationalization and the complexity of the human brain.

generated by llama-3.2-11b-vision-instruct

Accompanying textual content, such as title, tags and transcripts, is shown here if we have it. Not every comic has all of these, and they seem to be a bit hit and miss even on the official website.