2014-10-02
Explanation
The Joke
The comic traces the evolution of instant messaging technology through an absurd trajectory. It starts with the factual observation that instant messaging was originally designed for long-distance communication, then notes it became "a new form of laziness" (people messaging each other from the same room). The comic then introduces a fictional next step: engineers developing "long-distance sex" technology involving a socket device. The punchline comes in two parts: first, a couple uses the technology despite being in the same room (mirroring the laziness of instant messaging), and then an acquaintance suggests they can participate in the sex "from here" without being invited, highlighting the creepy implications of remote intimacy technology.
The Humor
The humor works on multiple levels. First, there is the observational comedy about how communication technology designed for long distances gets used by people sitting right next to each other. The comic then takes this pattern to an absurd extreme by applying it to sexual technology. The escalation follows a logical structure (technology designed for distance gets used for laziness), but the application to sex makes it both funnier and more disturbing. The final panel adds an extra layer of dark humor: if intimacy becomes remote, then uninvited participants become a real concern -- essentially turning the creepy "can I join?" proposition into something even more unsettling because the person does not even need to be physically present.