So What’s With the Bap Bap Bap?
Cidu Bill on Dec 7th 2009
Is that supposed to be a “trying to destroy his cell phone right in front of his parents” sound effect?
Filed in Bill Bickel, CIDU, Zits, cell phones, comic strips, comics, humor | 11 responses so far
Fnord Dec 7th 2009 at 11:18 am 1
It’s a “percussive maintenance” noise. Something is wrong with the phone so he is whacking it to see if that helps.
Elyrest Dec 7th 2009 at 12:42 pm 2
“Percussive maintenance” - nice phrase!
Dan Dec 7th 2009 at 12:54 pm 3
Would a teenager do this, I wonder? People of a certain age, who remember a time when there were only over-the-air channels on TV, know that smacking the side of the set would get it to work. But a kid growing up today probably wouldn’t think of that..
Elyrest Dec 7th 2009 at 01:51 pm 4
Dan - I may be wrong, but it seems to be a very natural reaction to whack something if it doesn’t work. I’m sure Jeremy has seen his parents do it. I whack flashlights when they don’t come on. I have to restrain myself from whacking my computer ALL the time.
src666 Dec 7th 2009 at 02:01 pm 5
In my house, percussive maintenance has long been a standard practice, whether the problem is technological (TV, etc.) or biological (kids). This is a tradition that will live on.
Bob Dec 7th 2009 at 04:02 pm 6
If the teenager is in the percussive section of the band, everything gets percussive maintenance whether it needs it or not.
Scott Dec 7th 2009 at 05:55 pm 7
Jeremy has probably seen Star Wars. which contains the best example of percussive maintenance I can think of. In any case, is trying to get a new phone, so breaking this one wouldn’t be a problem (for him.)
turquoise cow Dec 7th 2009 at 06:28 pm 8
the best example i can think of regarding percussive maintenance happens when the remote control works. sometimes, the batteries are dying and hitting the remote against your hand actually works. usually, it doesn’t.
anyway, this seems more of the technique of an older, not-electronically-savvy person (such as the father), and not so much a teenager.
turquoise cow Dec 7th 2009 at 06:29 pm 9
that should be “when the remote control *doesn’t* work.” d’oh.
furrykef Dec 7th 2009 at 10:55 pm 10
Dan - I’m 25 and I’m well aware of “smacking something to try to get it to work” idea. I doubt it’d be different if I were 10 years younger.
I also have to do it to get my computer’s DVD drive to open. After pressing the button, I just give the computer a good bonk or two on the top, and it’ll cause it to open.
By the way, I have to admit I’m tired of “cell phones can make calls?” jokes as much as Bill is tired of global warming jokes. It’s just the same joke being recycled over and over.
- Kef
Ian Osmond Dec 8th 2009 at 12:36 pm 11
For what it’s worth — I have successfully used percussive maintenance on my laptop, my flatscreen TV, and a PalmPilot. I don’t know if it would work on an iPhone, but I strongly suspect it would. Percussive maintenance is still a useful skill on modern electronics.