Dilbert cartoon first published on Sunday 1st April 2001

Dilbert//4369, first published 25 years ago on Sunday 1st April 2001

Tags

hardening given more work central nervous system suddenly stiff ripening asok apathy cream air hole

Official transcript

The Boss says to Catbert, "Would you like to join me for a hardening?"

Catbert asks, "What's that?"

The Boss explains, "A hardening is when an employee is given more work than his central nervous system can handle."

The Boss holds his arms out stiffly and says, "His whole body suddenly goes stiff."

Catbert says, "I'm in."

The Boss says, "I've been ripening Asok all month."

Catbert says, "Purrr purrr."

The Boss and Catbert look at Asok as he sits as his computer and thinks to himself, "So much work... no time."

The Boss, handing Asok a piece of paper, says, "Asok, I have another assignment for you."

Asok responds, "Gaaa!!!"

Wally and Dilbert peer over Asok's cubicle. Wally says, "I heard a hardening. Get the Apathy Cream."

A solid mask of Apathy Cream has been applied to Asok's face. Wally says, "He'll be okay when the apathy sinks in."

Dilbert says, "We forgot the air hole."

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN ME FOR A HARDENING?

A HARDENING IS WHEN AN EMPLOYEE IS GIVEN MORE WORK THAN HIS CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM CAN HIS WHOLE BODY SUDDENLY GOES STIFF.

I'VE BEEN RIPENING ASOK ALL MONTH.

WHAT'S THAT?

SO MUCH WORK.

NO TIME.

HANDLE.

ASOK, I HAVE ANOTHER ASSIGNMENT FOR YOU.

I HEARD A HARDENING.

GET THE APATHY CREAM.

GAAA!!!

I'M IN.

HE'LL BE OKAY WHEN THE APATHY SINKS IN.

Purer Purrr WE FORGOT THE AIR HOLE.

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

Comic Strip Title: "Hardening"

Summary:

The comic strip, titled "Hardening," revolves around the concept of hardening, a process where an employee is given more work than their central nervous system can handle. The strip features Dilbert, a bespectacled character, who is tasked with this assignment by his boss.

Panel-by-Panel Breakdown:

• Panel 1: Dilbert is asked to join his boss for a hardening session, where he will be given more work than his central nervous system can handle.
• Panel 2: Dilbert's boss explains that hardening is a process where an employee is given more work than their central nervous system can handle.
• Panel 3: Dilbert's body suddenly goes stiff, indicating the effects of hardening.
• Panel 4: Dilbert's boss tells him he's been ripening asok all month, implying that Dilbert has been working too hard.
• Panel 5: Dilbert's body is shown to be stiff, with his limbs frozen in place.
• Panel 6: Dilbert's boss tells him to get the apathy cream, which is a humorous reference to the idea that hardening can lead to apathy.
• Panel 7: Dilbert's boss tells him he'll be okay when the apathy sinks in, implying that the hardening process will eventually wear off.
• Panel 8: Dilbert's boss forgets the air hole, which is a humorous reference to the idea that hardening can lead to forgetfulness.

Key Takeaways:

• The comic strip satirizes the concept of hardening and the effects it can have on employees.
• The strip highlights the absurdity of the situation and the humorous way that Dilbert's boss handles it.
• The comic strip uses humor to comment on the challenges of working in a corporate environment.

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