Political Cartoons 2023: We're Fine!

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Debate & Discussion > Political Cartoons 2023: We're Fine!

Grape: Nov 16, 2017; Happily shilling for China!

I can't get over Russia standing by free and ready to go against poor militarily distracted America, giving away it's ammo to somewhere or other.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 05:14

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# ? May 24, 2024 17:52

steinrokkan: Apr 2, 2011; Soiled Meat

Pleasant Friend posted:

The comic itself is poo poo because its an obnoxiously wordy lecture, has art that looks like it belongs on a medical leaflet and I am always skeptical of anything that mixes a bunch of leftish sounding buzzwords and quotes with the selfish chud ideological blackhole of modern luddite/primitivism.

But its espeshally bad and cringy because its trying to do that thing where they wear the badge of an rear end in a top hat as mark of pride. It literally doesn't matter about the true history of Luddites unless you're going to obnoxiously Um Actually every single person you have to explain this to because in the modern English language that just means "Guy who is afraid/hates technology."

If being a Luddite makes cool guys like this hate you, sign me the gently caress on

# ? Jul 22, 2023 08:29

the_steve: Nov 9, 2005; We're always hiring!

Pleasant Friend posted:

The comic itself is poo poo because its an obnoxiously wordy lecture, has art that looks like it belongs on a medical leaflet and I am always skeptical of anything that mixes a bunch of leftish sounding buzzwords and quotes with the selfish chud ideological blackhole of modern luddite/primitivism.

But its espeshally bad and cringy because its trying to do that thing where they wear the badge of an rear end in a top hat as mark of pride. It literally doesn't matter about the true history of Luddites unless you're going to obnoxiously Um Actually every single person you have to explain this to because in the modern English language that just means "Guy who is afraid/hates technology."

Kellies Nomination: Worst Take on a Political Cartoon

# ? Jul 22, 2023 09:50

is pepsi ok: Oct 23, 2002

Pleasant Friend posted:

That student probably never read the book because Frankenstein's Monster was a rapist rear end in a top hat. Though I would more expect the Sun to defend the monster if they knew about that part.

Are you doing some kind of bit where you just utterly refuse to understand anything you read?

# ? Jul 22, 2023 13:18

100YrsofAttitude: Apr 29, 2013

China Daily

The joke by Cai Meng

US-led NATO war machine by Luo Jie

Economic coercion by Cai Meng

Charlie Hebdo

We haven't looked among the searchers.
Regarding Emile the missing child, who is still missing.

Euthanasia: It's easier when they're younger.

We need to know how to dissuade the old.
The two above are on right to die legislation.

"I'd like to know what Lan�on's talking about before dying."
Lan�on is a writer for CH.

Macron makes the government's road map.
"Have a good break."

Heat Wave: Before leaving on holiday remember to water Alain Delon.

Gender: Which one is correct?
On the difficulties faced by inter-sex individuals.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 13:33

Cloud Potato: Jan 9, 2011; "I'm... happy!"

Guardian:

"Ella Baron on the Tories looking precarious after byelections � Rishi Sunak�s party faced huge swings to Labour in Selby and to the Lib Dems in Somerton, narrowly clinging on to Boris Johnson�s former seat of Uxbridge"

Telegraph:

Sadiq Khan insists Ulez expansion will go ahead after Labour Uxbridge defeat

Matt:

Independent:

After Gainsborough.

The i paper:

King Charles to receive huge pay rise from UK taxpayers

Times:

# ? Jul 22, 2023 15:26

Apple Pie Hubbub: Feb 14, 2012; Take that, you greedy jerk!

# ? Jul 22, 2023 16:34

L. Ron DeSantis: Nov 10, 2009

Apple Pie Hubbub posted:

5

I don't know why this one in particular made me so mad, but I don't know whether to nominate it for Worst "A Thing Happened" or "Worst Overall."

# ? Jul 22, 2023 16:43

Chicken Parmigiana: Sep 12, 2007

Trapezium Dave posted:

Leunig:

Mmm, really cuts to the heart of things, doesn't it? Mmm.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 16:51

Discendo Vox: Mar 21, 2013; We don't need to have that dialogue because it's obvious, trivial, and has already been had a thousand times.

L. Ron DeSantis posted:

I don't know why this one in particular made me so mad, but I don't know whether to nominate it for Worst "A Thing Happened" or "Worst Overall."

It makes it clear that �try that in a small town� is constructed as a death threat.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 16:51

idonotlikepeas: May 29, 2010; This reasoning is possible for forums user idonotlikepeas!

L. Ron DeSantis posted:

I don't know why this one in particular made me so mad, but I don't know whether to nominate it for Worst "A Thing Happened" or "Worst Overall."

Tell you what:

Apple Pie Hubbub posted:

5

Kellies Nomination: Worst "A Thing Happened"
Kellies Nomination: Worst Overall

# ? Jul 22, 2023 17:06

Hihohe: Oct 4, 2008; Fuck you and the sun you live under

Sorry for the meme but these pissy little "small town" twerps got me riled up

# ? Jul 22, 2023 17:11

Crunch Buttsteak: Feb 26, 2007; You think reality is a circle of salt around my brain keeping witches out?

"Great" to see that McCoy has finally internalized "anyone who isn't with me is a pedophile who deserves death"

# ? Jul 22, 2023 17:44

I dont know: Aug 9, 2003; That Guy here...

Discendo Vox posted:

It makes it clear that �try that in a small town� is constructed as a death threat.

If anything it makes it more honest than the cartoonists who are pretending the song means something else.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 18:15

JamesBont: Oct 1, 2021

Hihohe posted:

Sorry for the meme but these pissy little "small town" twerps got me riled up

Forgive my ignorance, but who is this? I can't tell if this is pro- or anti- that song.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 18:16

By popular demand: Jul 17, 2007; IT *BZZT* WASP ME--
IT WASP ME ALL *BZZT* ALONG!

Gen. Sherman, AKA the one union guy who was not playing around.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 18:16

steinrokkan: Apr 2, 2011; Soiled Meat

JamesBont posted:

Forgive my ignorance, but who is this? I can't tell if this is pro- or anti- that song.

It's Kris Kristofferson, known for his relatively liberal values among country stars.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 18:33

JamesBont: Oct 1, 2021

Thanks for the clarification

# ? Jul 22, 2023 18:45

The Artificial Kid: Feb 22, 2002; Plibble

SimonChris posted:

The Nib: Tom Humberstone - I�m a Luddite (and So Can You!)

They make some interesting points a long the way, but what a stupid finish. The problem isn't technology giving us the option to automate things, the problem is how we've chosen to organise our society so that the option to automate becomes mandatory alienation of the worker.

I have no doubt that these artists cared about these issues on behalf of others in the past too, but it's a bit rich the way they're squealing like stuck pigs over Midjourney. They can still do art. What they're defending is their right to make a living from art, when they should be defending universal ownership of the means of production so we can all sit around drawing (or probably for most of us just jerking off). Midjourney good. Society that mandates nobody draw unless their art is the most cost effective fit for some commercial need bad.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 19:08

Hihohe: Oct 4, 2008; Fuck you and the sun you live under

The Artificial Kid posted:

They make some interesting points a long the way, but what a stupid finish. The problem isn't technology giving us the option to automate things, the problem is how we've chosen to organise our society so that the option to automate becomes mandatory alienation of the worker.

I have no doubt that these artists cared about these issues on behalf of others in the past too, but it's a bit rich the way they're squealing like stuck pigs over Midjourney. They can still do art. What they're defending is their right to make a living from art, when they should be defending universal ownership of the means of production so we can all sit around drawing (or probably for most of us just jerking off). Midjourney good. Society that mandates nobody draw unless their art is the most cost effective fit for some commercial need bad.

See?! now this is a good critisim

instead of just " A WORD MEANS WHAT I SAY IT MEANS YOU CANT JUST EXPLAIN IT SO IT MEANS SOMETHING ELSE"

# ? Jul 22, 2023 19:15

BonHair: Apr 28, 2007

Hihohe posted:

See?! now this is a good critisim

instead of just " A WORD MEANS WHAT I SAY IT MEANS YOU CANT JUST EXPLAIN IT SO IT MEANS SOMETHING ELSE"

Actually fascism is just a bundle of sticks bundled together to make it strong, which is a good metaphor for unionisation. Imma call myself a fascist whenever i agitate for worker's rights from now on.

I know, it's not the same, but words kinda become what they're commonly understood as, regardless of origin.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 19:23

Technowolf: Nov 4, 2009

# ? Jul 22, 2023 19:30

Adenoid Dan: Mar 8, 2012; The Hobo Serenader; Lipstick Apathy

Using history to teach about how workers are being oppressed in the same or similar ways is good. It's an opening to a conversation. It is not even in the same category as using the fasces as a symbol.

Technology is neither good nor bad, it's how we use it and the cartoon shows how these uses of it are bad and exploitative.

It makes a rhetorical point of being proud of opposing it and you can take that to mean it's anti technology in general or you can look at the whole message.

Edit: they've digitally produced a cartoon and published it on the internet. It's safe to assume they don't oppose technology in general.

Adenoid Dan fucked around with this message at 19:38 on Jul 22, 2023

# ? Jul 22, 2023 19:34

Hihohe: Oct 4, 2008; Fuck you and the sun you live under

BonHair posted:

Actually fascism is just a bundle of sticks bundled together to make it strong, which is a good metaphor for unionisation. Imma call myself a fascist whenever i agitate for worker's rights from now on.

I know, it's not the same, but words kinda become what they're commonly understood as, regardless of origin.

Yeah but you can still use the word differently as long as you predicate it on why you are using it the way you are as the comic was doing

The way i see it. the artist is very deliberately using luddite, a word some would say has a negative connotation, as a way to go into history to support thier views

The word luddite now has a new purpose. To open up this can of worms, it has a new meaning.

Anyone who says words cant change meaning almost overnight simply have to ask bugs bunny about nimrod.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 20:06

DalaranJ: Apr 15, 2008; Yosuke will now die for you.

L. Ron DeSantis posted:

I don't know why this one in particular made me so mad, but I don't know whether to nominate it for Worst "A Thing Happened" or "Worst Overall."

I wonder if this is a flash in the pan or if we should go ahead and create a new �Worst cartoon dog whistling about lynching� category

# ? Jul 22, 2023 20:39

Indiana_Krom: Jun 18, 2007; Net Slacker

I read the whole strip of comics and I agree AI putting artists out of business is a problem. One issue I have is the comic kind of operates on this assumption that art is only valuable if you can make money off of it, which is already horrible capitalistic brain rot.

As for doing away with automation, I'm a CNC operator. I set up a machine to do most of my work for me, automation is a huge part of my job. Will machines eventually get to the point where I don't even have to do that? Probably. Does that mean we shouldn't continue to automate? Hell no. It just means we need to seriously think and plan for when that does happen, and given the current pace of AI and the industry I think it will happen sooner than many people think. But I mean, the old saying about an automated factory going bust because nobody could afford to buy its product does still apply.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 20:43

the_steve: Nov 9, 2005; We're always hiring!

DalaranJ posted:

I wonder if this is a flash in the pan or if we should go ahead and create a new �Worst cartoon dog whistling about lynching� category

I'd say just go with LCB: Racism

# ? Jul 22, 2023 20:57

Kchama: Jul 25, 2007

Hihohe posted:

See?! now this is a good critisim

instead of just " A WORD MEANS WHAT I SAY IT MEANS YOU CANT JUST EXPLAIN IT SO IT MEANS SOMETHING ELSE"

The word has a different meaning now than what the comic insists it does, so there's a bit of irony in what you just said, as that was what the comic was trying to do itself. "Luddite doesn't mean what it means now, it actually means something else that I prefer that nobody currently recognizes (because the Neo-Luddites ruined it)."

I mean, it isn't the worst idea but the comic is legitimately way too long and wordy and that hampers the otherwise nice and evocative artwork. And yeah, the ending is a complete flop that kind of undermines the rest of it by actually bringing to mind the exact thing that the comic seems intent on separating from its Luddite definition.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 21:22

Electric Phantasm: Apr 7, 2011; YOSPOS

I looked up the lyrics in that small town song and lol the song is literally just those fake songs in that Key and Peele sketch someone linked a few pages back.

Satire truly is dead.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 21:40

Five Year Plan: Feb 18, 2009

Apple Pie Hubbub posted:

7

I�m just going ahead and making a new category. I hope it catches on!

Kellies Nomination: Maddest Whitey

# ? Jul 22, 2023 21:44

NotPerfect: Sep 29, 2021

The Nib might be shutting down but they just won an Eisner for best anthology, that's something right.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 21:47

Murdstone: Jun 14, 2005; I'm feeling Jimmy

Five Year Plan posted:

I�m just going ahead and making a new category. I hope it catches on!

Kellies Nomination: Maddest Whitey

who made the original 'Mad Whitey'?

# ? Jul 22, 2023 23:15

Vib Rib: Jul 23, 2007; God damn this shit is
fuckin' re-dic-a-liss
🍖🍖😛🍖🍖

Indiana_Krom posted:

I read the whole strip of comics and I agree AI putting artists out of business is a problem. One issue I have is the comic kind of operates on this assumption that art is only valuable if you can make money off of it, which is already horrible capitalistic brain rot.

It's deeply internalized, unfortunately. I have a friend who's an artist and is currently looking for another job because with rising cost of living he can't support himself anymore. He's pro-Socialist but we were having a conversation about what a better society would even look like and the argument Republicans always use of "if everyone's needs were met, nobody would ever work". And he reluctantly admitted they were sort of right, at least about him, and that he's only looking for a job because he needs to pay rent. That he wouldn't work if he didn't have to otherwise, just make art all day.
Societal pressures push people I know personally, who are otherwise very progressive and who are artists themselves, into believing that the work they do isn't a "real" job. To feel guilty about being an artist, doing something you love that makes other people happy, because it doesn't benefit some corporation.

# ? Jul 22, 2023 23:44

SteelMentor: Oct 15, 2012; TOXIC

100YrsofAttitude posted:

Euthanasia: It's easier when they're younger.

Another straight up Wyatt Man rear end cartoon in the space of like two days what the christ.

# ? Jul 23, 2023 01:20

Stultus Maximus: Dec 21, 2009; USPOL May

SteelMentor posted:

Another straight up Wyatt Man rear end cartoon in the space of like two days what the christ.

Je suis Charlie indeed.

# ? Jul 23, 2023 01:28

idonotlikepeas: May 29, 2010; This reasoning is possible for forums user idonotlikepeas!

Jeff Danziger

Lee Judge

Mike Smith

Jimmy Margulies

David M. Hitch

Mike Peters

"Heartless people aren't allowed into Heaven, so I hope you enjoy fire and pokey sticks."

Mike Thompson

David Horsey

Look at that loving background. Look at it.

David Horsey posted:

The rather perfect summer we are enjoying in Seattle feels like a needed respite from bad news.

The pages of this newspaper have been filled for many months with stories about the intractable homeless problem, overdose deaths from fentanyl, the slow recovery of downtown from the bleak days of the COVID-19 pandemic, random gun violence in several neighborhoods and the high cost of housing. It is enough to give people a sense that we are slipping too far from the most-livable city designation Seattle has long claimed.

There is another way to look at it, though. Some of those problems are the products of the city�s tremendous economic success. Seattle�s rise to be one of the nation�s richest cities may have exacerbated the homeless problem, but it also means a whole lot of people here are more prosperous than they were a few years ago. And those office buildings are not empty because jobs have disappeared, they are underutilized because well-paid tech workers got used to working from home during the pandemic and are resisting a return to the office.

Would we rather be living in a town in economic decline?

There is good news, too, and it is not hard to find. A recent Seattle Times story noted the ranking of Seattle�s park system as one of the best in the country. That is an amenity available to everyone, not just the affluent. Another story ranked the city�s most popular beaches, as rated by readers. How many cities not located in California, Hawaii or Florida even have beaches to rank? And, speaking of parks and water, after decades of debate over what to do about the Alaskan Way Viaduct, that old relic is gone and, in its place, a new waterfront park is well on its way to completion.

Is Seattle an awful place to live? Take a look at Lake Union on any sunny summer day and that idea will seem absurd. You will see a fleet of private boats cruising by, some of them trophy craft operated by people with money to burn, but also small boats with friends and family having a great day on the water. You will also see a heck of a lot of people paddling kayaks, rowing sculls, navigating on paddle boards and even a few piloting crazy-looking hot-tub boats. In parks at the north and south ends of the lake there will be big clusters of folks � all ages, all races, all economic groups � relaxing in the urban air.

Those are not unhappy people suffering in a desolate cityscape, they are citizens of one of the most beautifully situated cities on the planet.

And, this year, while much of the rest of the country is smothered by smoke from Canadian wildfires, our skies are blessedly blue. That can change quickly, but, for now, Seattle is enjoying a summer to remember.

# ? Jul 23, 2023 09:30

Angepain: Jul 13, 2012; what keeps happening to my clothes

quote:

Seattle’s rise to be one of the nation’s richest cities may have exacerbated the homeless problem, but it also means a whole lot of people here are more prosperous than they were a few years ago.

Jesus loving christ listen to yourself

# ? Jul 23, 2023 11:02