Dilbert cartoon first published on Sunday 5th May 1996

Dilbert//2577, first published thirty years ago on Sunday 5th May 1996

Tags

square pattern move cubicle random pattern symetry waste of time 5 people downsized formed pentagon

Official transcript

The Boss tells Dilbert, "I need to move you one cubicle down."

Dilbert asks, "Why?"

The Boss replies, "That way my people will still be in a square pattern."

The Boss explains, "You're in a random pattern now. The symmetry is bad."

Dilbert says, "You want me to waste two days of work to move . . ."

Dilbert continues, "I'll have no phone and no network connection for a week . . ."

Dilbert continues, "I'll have to order new business cards and update my cubicle address on dozens of records."

Dilbert continues, "And you still won't have a SQUARE because there are FIVE of us."

A man stands in the door of Dilbert's cubicle holding a box. He tells Dilbert, "I got downsized. Apparently somebody complained that I formed a pentagon."

Dilbert replies, "That can happen."

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

I NEED TO MOVE YOU ONE CUBICLE DOWN WHY?

THAT WAY MY PEOPLE WILL BE IN A SQUARE PATTERN YOU'RE IN A RANDOM PATTERN NOW. THE SYMMETRY IS BAD.

YOU WANT ME TO WASTE TWO DAYS OF WORK TO MOVE...

I'LL HAVE NO PHONE AND NO NETWORK CONNECTION FOR A WEEK I'LL HAVE TO ORDER NEW BUSINESS CARDS AND UPDATE MY CUBICLE ADDRESS ON DOZENS OF RECORDS.

AND YOU STILL WON'T HAVE A SQUARE BECAUSE THERE ARE FIVE OF US.

I GOT DOWNSIZED.

APPARENTLY SOMEBODY COMPLAINED THAT I FORMED A THAT CAN PENTAGON.

HAPPEN

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

The comic strip is titled "Downsizing" and features Dilbert, a character known for his sarcastic wit and frustration with corporate bureaucracy.

Strip Summary

• The comic strip consists of nine panels, each with a unique color scheme and Dilbert's signature deadpan humor.
• The story begins with Dilbert's boss informing him that the company needs to move to a cubicle down the hall, citing the need for a "random pattern" and a "square pattern."
• Dilbert is skeptical, pointing out that the company is already in a square pattern and that he doesn't want to waste two days of work moving.
• His boss responds by saying that the company has downsized and that Dilbert needs to form a pentagon.
• Dilbert is outraged, pointing out that he can't form a pentagon with the available space and that his boss is making no sense.
• The boss becomes increasingly absurd, insisting that Dilbert can form a pentagon and that he needs to order new business cards and update his cubicle address on dozens of records.
• Dilbert finally loses his temper, telling his boss that he's had enough and that he's going to order new business cards and update his cubicle address on dozens of records.

Themes and Tone

• The comic strip is a commentary on the absurdity of corporate bureaucracy and the ways in which companies can be illogical and unreasonable.
• Dilbert's deadpan humor and sarcastic wit add to the comedic effect, making the strip a humorous and relatable commentary on the challenges of working in a corporate environment.

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