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i39m-quirky

2016-06-28 View on smbc-comics.com → 1 revision
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i39m-quirky
Votey panel for i39m-quirky
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Explanation

The Joke

A man announces he's happy because he's decided that all of his character flaws are actually "funny, quirky personality charms." He no longer has to live up to personal standards or pay attention to constructive criticism -- people should just appreciate how interesting he is. He then lists things he likes: "I'm so quirky! I may or may not like several things!" When a woman points out that he has "vanilla preferences," he declares himself "the best at quirky" and rushes off, delighted.

The Humor

The comic satirizes the trend of rebranding one's personality defects and generic tastes as endearing "quirkiness." The character has essentially decided that self-improvement is unnecessary because everything about him -- including his flaws -- is charming. The funniest element is that his example of being "quirky" is utterly bland: "I may or may not like several things" is the most non-specific, generic statement possible, yet he presents it as proof of his fascinating uniqueness. The woman's dry observation that these are just "vanilla preferences" punctures the delusion, but he's so committed to the bit that even being called basic becomes evidence that he's "the best at quirky." The comic captures the modern tendency to confuse self-acceptance with a refusal to engage in any self-reflection whatsoever.

View History (1) Original Comic