2011-10-19
Explanation
This comic contrasts the foundations of romantic relationships versus parental relationships. The top panel is labeled "Basis of Romantic Relationships: Mutual Acceptance" and shows two people facing each other lovingly, with a shared thought bubble reading "I love your quirks and foibles and struggles and secrets." The bottom panel is labeled "Basis of Parental Relationships: Mutual Denial" and shows an older man (a father) sitting next to his adult daughter, with a shared thought bubble that reads "Never drove drunk, never enjoyed sex, never did drugs, never all of that at once."
The humor lies in the sharp contrast between how romantic partners relate to each other through honest acceptance of each other's flaws, while parents and children maintain their relationship through a tacit agreement to pretend that neither party ever did anything wild or irresponsible. The parent denies ever having done reckless things, and the child implicitly agrees not to challenge that fiction, even though both know better.
The votey (bonus panel) adds a third category: "Basis of Nerd Relationships: Trivia!" showing two bespectacled people enthusiastically bonding over shared obscure knowledge, suggesting that nerds skip emotional vulnerability entirely and connect through exchanging fun facts instead.