Dilbert cartoon first published on Sunday 6th October 1996

Dilbert//2731, first published thirty years ago on Sunday 6th October 1996

Tags

special achievement award does something good don't think so giving themselves awards other departments lower standards standing in hallway tried door knob

Official transcript

The Boss says to Dilbert, Wally and Alice, "Nobody has nominated a co-worker for a special achievement award."

The Boss continues, "Someone in this group must have done SOMETHING good this year."

Wally says, "No . . . I don't think so."

Dilbert says, "We'd remember something like that."

The Boss says, "This looks bad. All the other departments are giving themselves awards."

The Boss says, "We might have to lower our standards a bit."

Alice says, "I've been proactive in that area."

The Boss asks, "Why are we standing in the hallway?"

Wally replies, "We think the room is locked."

Dilbert says, "We don't have the key."

The caption says, "Later that month."

The Boss hands Alice an award and says, "This award goes to Alice for boldly trying the door knob."

Alice says, "When I find out who nominated me . . ."

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

NOBODY HAS NOMINATED A COWORKER FOR A SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.

SOMEONE IN THIS GROUP MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING GOOD THIS YEAR.

NO...

I DON'T THINK WE'D REMEMBER SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THIS LOOKS BAD.

ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE GIVING THEMSELVES AWARDS.

WE MIGHT HAVE TO LOWER OUR STANDARDS A BIT.

I'VE BEEN PROACTIVE IN THAT AREA.

WHY ARE WE STANDING IN THE HALLWAY?

WE THINK THE ROOM IS LOCKED.

WE DON'T HAVE THE KEY.

LATER THAT MONTH THIS AWARD GOES TO ALICE FOR WHEN I FIND BOLDLY OUT WHO TRYING THE NOMINATED DOOR KNOB.

ME..

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

The comic strip is titled "Co-worker Achievement Award" and features Dilbert, a bespectacled, dark-haired man with a distinctive hairstyle, in various scenarios. The narrative unfolds as follows:

• Introduction: The strip begins with a group of employees gathered in an office, awaiting the announcement of a special achievement award. The narrator, a bespectacled, dark-haired man with a distinctive hairstyle, is present among them.
• The Award: The award is presented to a colleague who has done something good this year, but the narrator expresses skepticism about the recipient's qualifications.
• The Key: The narrator and his colleagues are tasked with standing in the hallway, waiting for the award winner to receive their award. However, they are left wondering why they are required to stand in the hallway, as the room is already locked.
• The Door Knob: The narrator becomes increasingly frustrated as he realizes that the award winner is being given the key to the door knob, rather than the actual award.
• Conclusion: The strip concludes with the narrator expressing his disappointment and frustration at the lack of recognition for his own achievements.

Themes and Humor

The comic strip pokes fun at the bureaucratic nature of corporate awards and the often arbitrary criteria used to determine recipients. The narrator's deadpan reactions and sarcastic comments add to the humor, making the strip a relatable and entertaining commentary on workplace culture.

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