2015-02-08
Explanation
The Joke
The comic presents a sociological narrative about how society has changed. It begins by noting that in old books, kids encounter strangers and are not scared -- we live in a safer society now, but we do not have that sort of casual trust anymore. Sociologists had a theory: people used to live in small local bands where they knew everyone, but now we live in large, ever-churning groups. Technology provided a solution: build a trustworthiness rating system for all humans, so the only "strangers" would be people not in the system.
This created problems. People now need a "won't-skin-you-and-wear-you badge," and a kindergarten teacher has to show a "not-a-pedophile card." Computerized trust is not friendship -- it is just assurance that someone will not kill you, which ironically destroys a person's star rating. Human trust began to atrophy, as people would not even trust a babysitter's club without third-party profit-motivated confirmation. "We are all islands now." A character realizes they never understood how lonely safety could be. But "fortunately, technology will save us again" -- a tablet displays "14 people in your area long for human affection. Do you wish to contact any of them?" with Yes and No buttons.
The Humor
The comic is a darkly satirical commentary on how technology simultaneously solves and creates social problems. Each "solution" to a trust problem generates a new, worse problem. The rating system meant to replace organic human trust actually destroys it, turning every human interaction into a verified transaction. The punchline is the cyclical irony: the same technology that caused isolation now offers to fix loneliness -- but through yet another impersonal digital interface that mirrors the very dating apps and social platforms that contributed to the problem in the first place. The final screen mimics the format of online dating notifications, suggesting the "solution" will only perpetuate the cycle. The comic also satirizes the absurdity of credential-creep, where badges and certifications replace genuine human judgment.
References
The comic references several real sociological concepts: Dunbar's number (the idea that humans evolved to live in small bands of around 150 people), the concept of social capital as described by Robert Putnam in Bowling Alone, and modern trust-verification platforms like Yelp ratings, background checks, and dating apps. The "won't-skin-you-and-wear-you badge" is a darkly humorous reference to serial killer tropes.