Dilbert cartoon first published on Sunday 23rd September 2001

Dilbert//4544, first published 25 years ago on Sunday 23rd September 2001

Tags

schematic office politics ruin teds career say bad things rumor mill ted is history backfired tested phil quit

Official transcript

Dilbert is sitting at his desk drawing a map. He says, "I've created a schematic of office politics in my company."

Dogbert says, "Nicely done."

Dilbert says, "Let's say I want to ruin Ted's career."

Dilbert continues, "I could say bad things to Tina about Ted. Tina carpools with Ming and Ming takes yoga classes with Carol."

Dilbert continues, "And Carol is a secretary for Ted's boss. So Ted would be history."

Dilbert continues, "Of course it wouldn't be ethical to test the system."

Dogbert replies, "Unless..."

Dogbert points to the map and continues, "..You use the Phil-Alice-Larry circuit to get Ted rehired."

Dilbert replies, "Yup, yup."

Dilbert concludes talking to Tina with, "...And that's why Ted is worthless."

He pauses and then asks, "Hey, where's Phil today?"

Tina replies, "He quit."

Dilbert asks Dogbert at home, "Why do I listen to you?"

Dogbert responds, "Because of a little thing I call charisma."

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

I'VE CREATED A SCHEMATIC OF OFFICE POLITICS IN MY COMPANY.

LET'S SAY I WANT TO RUIN TED'S CAREER..

I COULD SAY BAD THINGS TO TINA ABOUT TED. TINA CARPOOLS WITH MING AND MING TAKES AND CAROL IS A SECRETARY FOR TED'S BOSS, 50 TED WOULD BE HTCTORY NICELY DONE.

OF COURSE IT WOULDN'T BE ETHICAL TO TEST THE SYSTEM.

UNLESS.

..YOU USE THE PHIL-ALICE-LARRY CIRCUIT TO GET TED REHIRED.

YUP YUP YOGA CLASSES WITH CAROL.

..AND THAT'S WHY TED IS WORTHLESS.

HEY, WHERE'S PHIL TODAY?

HE QUIT.

WHY DO I LISTEN TO YOU?

BECAUSE OF A LITTLE THING I CALL CHARISMA

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

Comic Strip Title: "The Phil-Alice-Larry Circuit"

Summary:

• Ted, the main character, is frustrated with his job and decides to quit.
• He claims that the company's use of the Phil-Alice-Larry circuit to get Ted rehired is worthless.
• Ted's coworker, Carol, is a secretary for Ted's boss and is described as charismatic.
• The comic strip pokes fun at office politics and the quirks of the characters.

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