2010-07-10
Explanation
This comic shows a scene where a bald monk or religious authority figure peers in to discover a red-haired man who shouts, "It's not sex! It's vagina-aided masturbation!" The caption below reads: "I am no longer a monk."
The humor centers on a ridiculous attempt at a semantic loophole. The man, presumably a monk who has taken a vow of celibacy, is trying to argue that what he is doing does not technically count as sex by redefining it as "vagina-aided masturbation." This is an absurd logical contortion meant to preserve the letter of his vow while completely violating its spirit. The watching monk's stern expression and the caption confirm that this creative reinterpretation was not accepted by his religious order.
The joke plays on the long tradition of people trying to find technicalities and loopholes in religious rules. Throughout history, various religious communities have grappled with adherents who try to technically comply with prohibitions while clearly engaging in the prohibited behavior. The comic takes this tendency to its most ridiculous extreme.
The votey panel shows the same man declaring "It's a miracle! Virgin sex!" -- doubling down on the absurd logic by claiming that if it is not "really" sex, then he is still technically a virgin, making the encounter a miraculous paradox. This further emphasizes how far someone will stretch definitions to avoid admitting they broke a rule.