Hanlon’s Razor is more on point here. Me being me, I prefer the British version: “Many journalists have fallen for the conspiracy theory of government. I do assure you that they would produce more accurate work if they adhered to the cock-up theory.”
Yeah, Skin Horse really needs a P.R. person, because none of the currently active main characters is particularly articulate. Tip may be the best they’ve got, but, let’s face it, this isn’t really his métier. Gavotte was actually far more composed than any of the Skin Horse field team, but, even if she were still around, imagine a press interview with a swarm of bees.
Look at Artie. He spent years in the Narbonic comics speaking and arguing eloquently and articulately about subjects he was passionate, logical, and highly educated about, and it never worked out.
Why? Because his audience almost always consisted of a mad scientist, an IT nerd, and a homicidal psychopath, none of whom understood or cared about what he was saying.
Articulate and thoughtful people typically only ever sway other articulate and thoughtful people. If you’re on TV addressing the ignorant masses, speaking articulately will only alienate and frighten them. You need to speak to them in a language they can understand and care about.
Shepherds don’t manage flocks of sheep by reasoning with them. They exploit the stupidity and simplicity of the sheep, employing “language” that the sheep can understand and respond to, even if for entirely the wrong reaons. The shepherd tricks the sheep by having a fake “predator” chase them around barking, and exploits their natural tendency to blindly follow the sheep in front of them in order to get them to go where the shepherd wants them.
The average TV viewer is a blithering idiot who has the attention span of a goldfish and who can’t even spell “nuance”, much less comprehend it. If you try to explain the intricacies of our complicated world to them, their eyes glaze over and they zone out – or worse, they assume you’re some sort of conman trying to confuse them and rip them off.
You have to speak to them in sound bites and buzzwords that make them feel like they understand, even if they don’t. You need to not overwhelm them, and pace the delivery of your information to give them time to absorb it. You need to draw logical conclusions for them, and explain everything in simple, even crude terms that a child could understand. And you need to sum up at the end, to help them remember the things you literally said two minutes ago, because otherwise they won’t remember it in half an hour.
This is how comedy shows like Last Week Tonight, The Daily Show, and The Colbert Report manage to succeed. They talk about complicated issues in a simplified way, and they balance the serious business with levity and goofery.
Basically what I’m trying to say is, they need Tigerlily Jones and Moustachio to team up as a comedy “odd couple” duo, and report all the secret government weirdness on television in the form of a song and dance variety show.
I was about to say something like “hey, buddy, some of us read this as a respite from the harsh reality of the so-called real world”, but then you saved it with the final paragraph.
Isn’t that from the old SNL skit “the incredible colossal president”? Jimmy Carter (Dan Aykroyd) goes to survey the damage at the Three Mile Island meltdown and, while using some of his old nuclear navy skills, gets irradiated so much he starts to grow and grow and grow.
My theory is that androsexual and bisexual people would likely find Tip attractive, while gynosexual people would not, in both the real world and the Skin Horse universe. But I could be wrong.
We’re looking at a mirror? She’s been replaced by her mirror twin? She redecorated her skull? She had to wash her regular face and just threw this on? A minor error, which Shaenon will rectify soon, or at least in the book?
I just noticed this — going back and re-reading things, as I often do —
What happened to Unity’s tiger ears? She had them when Tip went to talk to the reporter, and now they’re gone. She’s changed clothes, but Tip hasn’t, so presumably it’s only later that evening.
So does this mean that they managed to thwart H.T.’s plot? It’s abundantly clear that there will need to be a lot of work to make the political system more robust before non-humans can be granted the vote.
Also, who is calling who attractive in the last panel?
The Shadow Government: almost as inept as the “official” government, but much sneakier…
Except when they aren’t, nyao.
Hey, private companies are inept, too: Humans have a way of being sneaky and finding ways of screwing up.
The most terrifying day of my professional life was the day that I realized that there were no Illuminati.
When the likeliest causes are brilliant conspiracy or incredible stupidity, put your money on stupidity.
An organization may by luck be greater than the sum of its parts, but it’s not like there’s anyone capable of overseeing it intelligently.
Never attribute to malice that which can just as adequately be explained by incompetence.
– Hanlon’s Razor
A friend used to have a bumper sticker that said something to the effect of “The world is run by a hidden cabal to which nobody I know belongs.”
There is no secret elitist conspiracy to conquer and enslave the World. They’re actually pretty open about it.
“If there are two or more ways to do something, and one of those ways can result in a catastrophe, then someone will do it.”
Which is why we can’t leave the running of the world to you lot.
(If someone screws up, it will be us, because we know better.)
Occam’s Razor and Murphy’s Law; the true rulers of the universe.
Hanlon’s Razor is more on point here. Me being me, I prefer the British version: “Many journalists have fallen for the conspiracy theory of government. I do assure you that they would produce more accurate work if they adhered to the cock-up theory.”
Moore’s Law of Mad Science: Every eighteen months, the minimum IQ necessary to destroy the world drops by one point.
McCullough’s Fourth Law: “Never attribute to a conspiracy what can be better explained by greed and/or stupidity.”
Yeah, Skin Horse really needs a P.R. person, because none of the currently active main characters is particularly articulate. Tip may be the best they’ve got, but, let’s face it, this isn’t really his métier. Gavotte was actually far more composed than any of the Skin Horse field team, but, even if she were still around, imagine a press interview with a swarm of bees.
Articulacy won’t help.
Look at Artie. He spent years in the Narbonic comics speaking and arguing eloquently and articulately about subjects he was passionate, logical, and highly educated about, and it never worked out.
Why? Because his audience almost always consisted of a mad scientist, an IT nerd, and a homicidal psychopath, none of whom understood or cared about what he was saying.
Articulate and thoughtful people typically only ever sway other articulate and thoughtful people. If you’re on TV addressing the ignorant masses, speaking articulately will only alienate and frighten them. You need to speak to them in a language they can understand and care about.
Shepherds don’t manage flocks of sheep by reasoning with them. They exploit the stupidity and simplicity of the sheep, employing “language” that the sheep can understand and respond to, even if for entirely the wrong reaons. The shepherd tricks the sheep by having a fake “predator” chase them around barking, and exploits their natural tendency to blindly follow the sheep in front of them in order to get them to go where the shepherd wants them.
The average TV viewer is a blithering idiot who has the attention span of a goldfish and who can’t even spell “nuance”, much less comprehend it. If you try to explain the intricacies of our complicated world to them, their eyes glaze over and they zone out – or worse, they assume you’re some sort of conman trying to confuse them and rip them off.
You have to speak to them in sound bites and buzzwords that make them feel like they understand, even if they don’t. You need to not overwhelm them, and pace the delivery of your information to give them time to absorb it. You need to draw logical conclusions for them, and explain everything in simple, even crude terms that a child could understand. And you need to sum up at the end, to help them remember the things you literally said two minutes ago, because otherwise they won’t remember it in half an hour.
This is how comedy shows like Last Week Tonight, The Daily Show, and The Colbert Report manage to succeed. They talk about complicated issues in a simplified way, and they balance the serious business with levity and goofery.
Basically what I’m trying to say is, they need Tigerlily Jones and Moustachio to team up as a comedy “odd couple” duo, and report all the secret government weirdness on television in the form of a song and dance variety show.
I was about to say something like “hey, buddy, some of us read this as a respite from the harsh reality of the so-called real world”, but then you saved it with the final paragraph.
“Is there any truth to the rumor that the President is one hundred feet tall?”
“Absolutely not! I don’t even know how these rumors get started!”
“Well, how about ninety feet?”
“No comment.”
Now that’s a Storyline I’d like to see, if only for the inevitable terrible interviews / press conferences montage
Isn’t that from the old SNL skit “the incredible colossal president”? Jimmy Carter (Dan Aykroyd) goes to survey the damage at the Three Mile Island meltdown and, while using some of his old nuclear navy skills, gets irradiated so much he starts to grow and grow and grow.
Damn, now I really want to see a press interview with a swarm of bees. Guest starring Eddie Izzard, of course.
Can we say that the reporter complimented Tip? And no doubt The Mojo went into effect.
Once again, another woman sees Tip as attractive—and I just don’t get it.
My theory is that androsexual and bisexual people would likely find Tip attractive, while gynosexual people would not, in both the real world and the Skin Horse universe. But I could be wrong.
Say it with me: it’s a superpower
Of course, I am seeing Tip as he’s drawn here. If I were standing next to him—ew, well, that’s just too creepy to contemplate.
Why is that too creepy to contemplate?
It isn’t suggested that Tip’s mojofield can override consent. And crossdressing isn’t contagious (unless you’re in denial; been there done that etc.)
c’mon… who is NOT forming a political organization to take over america?
The ones who are forming a non-political organizaton to take over America?
Taking over a country is an inherently political act. (ALL acts are political, but some are easier to spot than others.)
Is Unity supposed to be backwards?
Maybe this is a mirror image? Or Unity put herself together on the wrong side of the bed this morning?
We’re looking at a mirror? She’s been replaced by her mirror twin? She redecorated her skull? She had to wash her regular face and just threw this on? A minor error, which Shaenon will rectify soon, or at least in the book?
They brought the wrong one back from the alternate universe; that’s actually the zombie swamp thing.
“I can help you with that hump.” “What hump?”
I just noticed this — going back and re-reading things, as I often do —
What happened to Unity’s tiger ears? She had them when Tip went to talk to the reporter, and now they’re gone. She’s changed clothes, but Tip hasn’t, so presumably it’s only later that evening.
So does this mean that they managed to thwart H.T.’s plot? It’s abundantly clear that there will need to be a lot of work to make the political system more robust before non-humans can be granted the vote.
Also, who is calling who attractive in the last panel?
My guess is that it’s Tip calling the reporter attractive in a feeble attempt to distract her from her line of questioning.