Explain SMBC — the wiki for Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal

secrets-2

2024-02-16 View on smbc-comics.com → 1 revision
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secrets-2
Votey panel for secrets-2
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Explanation

In this comic, a teacher enthusiastically announces to a group of children that modern methods can now reveal all the secrets of the universe, determining the limits of thought itself. One child responds with excitement ("Wow! What's the thing?"), but the other two children demonstrate a complete lack of interest: one goes "HMMMAAAAAAHH!" (screaming/yawning in boredom) and the other declares "I will only care about things if they use cookies."

The humor lies in the contrast between the grandeur of the scientific promise being offered and the utterly mundane, childish responses it elicits. The comic satirizes the difficulty of communicating the wonder of science and knowledge to audiences who are fundamentally uninterested or motivated only by immediate, tangible rewards. It also works as a broader commentary on how the general public often reacts to profound scientific discoveries -- with indifference, distraction, or demands that the information be made entertaining or personally relevant to them. The one eager child is outnumbered by the apathetic majority, reflecting a common frustration among educators and science communicators.

View History (1) Original Comic