Dilbert cartoon first published on Monday 9th September 1996

Dilbert//2704, first published thirty years ago on Monday 9th September 1996

Tags

touchy feely institute teamwork exercise trust son blank checks excellent quality other people should have health

Official transcript

The Boss, Dilbert, Wally, Alice and Dogbert sit at a conference table. The Boss says, "I've hired the 'Dogbert Touchy-Feely Institute' to teach use about teamwork."

Dogbert says, "We'll start with an exercise about trust. I want each of you to sign blank checks and give them to me."

As they all hand Dogbert checks, Dilbert asks, "What will this teach us about trust?"

Dogbert replies, "It will teach you that trust is an excellent quality for other people to have."

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

I'VE HIRED THE "DOGBERT TOUCHY-FEELY INSTITUTE" TO TEACH US ABOUT TEAMWORK.

WELL START WITH AN EXERCISE ABOUT TRUST.

I WANT EACH OF YOU TO SIGN BLANK CHECKS AND GIVE THEM TO ME.

WHAT WILL THIS TEACH US ABOUT TRUST?

IT WILL TEACH YOU THAT TRUST IS AN EXCELLENT QUALITY FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO HAVE.

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

The comic strip is titled "Teach Us About Trust" and features Dilbert, a character known for his sarcastic wit and critiques of corporate culture.

The Comic Strip

• The strip begins with the boss announcing that he has hired the "Dogbert Touchy-Feely Institute" to teach the team about teamwork.
• The boss explains that they will start with an exercise about trust, where each employee will sign blank checks and give them to him.
• Dogbert, the institute's founder, asks what will teach them about trust, and the boss responds that it will teach them that trust is an excellent quality for other people to have.
• The employees are shocked and skeptical, and one of them asks if they can keep their money.

The Punchline

• The boss's response is that they can keep their money, but they will have to sign the blank checks anyway.
• The employees are frustrated and confused, and the strip ends with them looking at each other in dismay.

The Humor

• The comic strip pokes fun at the idea of corporate training programs and the ways in which they can be manipulative and exploitative.
• The use of the "Dogbert Touchy-Feely Institute" as a fictional organization adds to the humor, as it implies that the institute is a sham and that the boss is not serious about teaching his employees about trust.
• The strip also highlights the absurdity of the situation, where employees are being asked to sign blank checks without knowing what they are signing for.

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