And Stay Out
Cidu Bill on Oct 9th 2008
Yeah, always a good plan on general principle, but what’s the connection to the first few panels and what’s the joke?
Filed in Bill Bickel, CIDU, The Norm, comic strips, comics, humor, prisons | 13 responses so far
Steve Grant Oct 9th 2008 at 12:26 am 1
I think the idea is that if those growth rates extrapolate unchecked into the future, before long everyone will be in prison. Not a side-splitter for me, either.
[jec] Oct 9th 2008 at 01:54 am 2
It’s 2258 when all 3.6 billion Americans will be in jail.
meep Oct 9th 2008 at 04:33 am 3
The joke I see is that he’s only got 4 fingers on each hand (if you count a thumb as a finger, and I do.)
furrykef Oct 9th 2008 at 06:07 am 4
I think the joke is that there is one. (I’m not kidding: I really think that’s what it is.)
I noticed the four fingers thing, too, but I don’t think it’s part of the joke. If he were counting on his fingers and had to stop at three, then it might have been the joke, but he’s not counting.
- Kef
Steven Hunter Oct 9th 2008 at 09:46 am 5
Besides, his logic is all wrong. The population increased by 1% which would be something like 3 million. The prison population increased by 3%, which would be something like 216 thousand people.
Such is the illusion of percentages to the uninformed.
Tim Oct 9th 2008 at 10:07 am 6
“If you can”?!? Is this the direction our minds have taken us? I’ve read of the victim mentality, but this takes the cake.
Cindi Oct 9th 2008 at 10:10 am 7
Sex = population growth
more sex in prison … faster population growth
faulty reasoning = faulty conclusion
Steve Grant Oct 9th 2008 at 10:56 am 8
#5 - The logic is okay. He’s not saying that the prison population will outstrip the general population in one year, only that it will some day. I’m too lazy to check #2’s math, but that’s the idea.
Birdseed Oct 9th 2008 at 06:46 pm 9
Does him being dressed as a catholic priest have anything to do with it?
Andrew Oct 9th 2008 at 06:59 pm 10
I think that’s just the perspective framing his skinny neck like a clerical collar against the back of his turtleneck.
Rainey Oct 11th 2008 at 12:19 pm 11
The prison rate is growing faster than the population. This could be the result of greater crime, more efficient law enforcement, or people reducing the population by murder and being sent to prison.
Ian Osmond Oct 12th 2008 at 03:11 pm 12
Simply put, if your prison population is growing faster than your general population, you’re doing something wrong, as a culture, not as individuals. People don’t change from year to year — so, if the prison population is growing faster than the general population, it’s because your government is getting more repressive.
Hence, the “if you can.” A prison population growing faster than a general population either means a breakdown of social order leading to general chaos and lawlessness which the government is trying to crack down on, or just plain governmental crackdown as repression.
Is it funny? No, it’s grim. But it’s accurate.
Andrea Oct 12th 2008 at 11:23 pm 13
Honestly, I think you’re all overthinking this. It’s a quick joke — if the prison population is growing faster than the general population, people are getting sucked! in! to prison!
You could be next! Watch out!