A Penny Arcade strip you like and why

Bahimiron · 2011-10-18T11:50:22.000Z

Telefrog:

I don’t understand what is so hard about this.

Evidently.

sinnick · 2011-10-18T12:10:04.000Z

Telefrog:

I don’t understand what is so hard about this. They ask everyone to turn everything off during the takeoff and landing. Just do it. Are you really going to die if you don’t get ten extra minutes of your playlist or Angry Birds?

Are others really going to die if I do?

WarrenM · 2011-10-18T12:14:45.000Z

sinnick:

Are others really going to die if I do?

I don’t know, I’m not an expert on this sort of thing. However, I feel that the plane crashing is a greater risk to my health than you missing out on a few rounds of Angry Birds so how about you just do what the nice lady says, yeah?

Quitch · 2011-10-18T13:11:36.000Z

So because something isn’t hard we should do it? How about someone link to some supporting evidence, and I don’t mean a pilot saying so, I mean a study.

How about we do things because there’s a reason to do them, not simply because someone said to do it?

Telefrog · 2011-10-18T13:14:32.000Z

How about you go ahead and argue with the flight attendant while I turn my crap off. We’ll see who has a nicer reception at the end of the flight.

Quitch · 2011-10-18T13:20:26.000Z

My response is more to the idea that we shouldn’t challenge the very idea of turning off this equipment, simply because the act of doing so isn’t difficulty.

WarrenM · 2011-10-18T13:21:29.000Z

Quitch:

So because something isn’t hard we should do it? How about someone link to some supporting evidence, and I don’t mean a pilot saying so, I mean a study.

How about we do things because there’s a reason to do them, not simply because someone said to do it?

I think this shows somewhat how complacent we’ve become about flying. You’re sitting in a chair, surrounded by a huge machine, flying 10s of thousands of feet in the air - but it’s too much trouble to stop playing Angry Birds for 15 minutes while we get in the air and stabilize.

Quitch · 2011-10-18T13:27:07.000Z

I don’t think objecting to being asked to inconvenience yourself for no good reason, is unreasonable. Especially when you’re paying to be there.

Of course we’re complacent about it, it’s common and incredibly safe. Why wouldn’t we be?

Bahimiron · 2011-10-18T13:35:17.000Z

WarrenM:

playing Angry Birds for 15 minutes

I hope you recognize that being reductive in this manner (no one has mentioned playing Angry Birds but you) doesn’t actually help you in any way.

WarrenM · 2011-10-18T13:35:36.000Z

Quitch:

I don’t think objecting to being asked to inconvenience yourself for no good reason, is unreasonable. Especially when you’re paying to be there.

Sure. I just don’t think it’s a line in the sand worth drawing.

Of course we’re complacent about it, it’s common and incredibly safe. Why wouldn’t we be?

It’s a loss of perspective. If you stop to think about where you are and what you’re doing and don’t get a little freaked out, then you start to get complacent and … well, start complaining about crap like having to turn off your iPod for 15 minutes.

WarrenM · 2011-10-18T13:36:23.000Z

Bahimiron:

I hope you recognize that being reductive in this manner (no one has mentioned playing Angry Birds but you) doesn’t actually help you in any way.

Playing Angry Birds, listening to music, browsing the web, checking email, etc. Whatever works for you, fill that in.

Creole_Ned · 2011-10-18T13:44:51.000Z

How about that Penny Arcade, huh?

This isn’t a favorite strip of mine or anything but as I was perusing Olde Penny-Arcade I came across it and the art style appears to be independent of any other strip and also fairly creepy to boot. Anyone know what’s up with this?

214652626_ubHTZ-L-2.jpg800×360

For reference, this strip which precedes it by a few weeks, is more indicative of the style at the time:

214585342_k3T4c-L-2.jpg800×278

JoshV · 2011-10-18T14:07:44.000Z

WarrenM:

I don’t know, I’m not an expert on this sort of thing. However, I feel that the plane crashing is a greater risk to my health than you missing out on a few rounds of Angry Birds so how about you just do what the nice lady says, yeah?

What if they decided to make a rule that you had to do a prayer to god before the flight? I mean, I’m not at an expert on that sort of thing, but if it lessons the risk that the plane will, crash, maybe we should do it, yeah?

OrfBC · 2011-10-18T14:13:56.000Z

Ladies and gentlemen, the Internet!

Quitch · 2011-10-18T14:15:20.000Z

WarrenM:

It’s a loss of perspective. If you stop to think about where you are and what you’re doing and don’t get a little freaked out, then you start to get complacent and … well, start complaining about crap like having to turn off your iPod for 15 minutes.

Getting freaked out while being in a means of transport safer than the many other means of transport you take (where you don’t get freaked out) is the loss of perspective. Objecting to being asked to do pointless things is not. I mean, we’re flying in a feat of engineering, I don’t think it’s overboard to say let’s look at the studies.

It’s the air. Woo. I don’t get excited about not sinking into the sea like a rock or travelling at speeds on land my ancestors could only dream of, either.

Creole_Ned · 2011-10-18T14:17:33.000Z

Ladies and gentlemen, the Internet!

salwon · 2011-10-19T09:57:39.000Z

I think he explains that one in the first book (Attack of the Bacon Robots) - it was done before they had the website for something else, and they put it on PA after they got going. Note the black lines on Gabe’s shirt, which exist in both comics but disappear after a few months.

SlyFrog · 2011-10-19T10:46:15.000Z

WarrenM:

I mean … do you really think it’s worth the extra time on the runway to have them individually approve each device that people want to use during take off?

Yes. Or at least I think it worth them not making the assumption that it has electronics in it, it must be a cellphone.

If it were just a couple minute thing it would be one thing. But it’s not. It is patently stupid to have to turn off a portable DVD player because it might also be a cellphone.

I would also suggest -how damned important can it really be, given that they just rely on your integrity to actually turn it off?

I have great difficulty believe something is materially important to the safety of travelers and the national cellphone network if I can cleverly sabotage their efforts by just leaving my cellphone turned on in my pocket.

WarrenM · 2011-10-19T10:51:38.000Z

SlyFrog:

Yes. Or at least I think it worth them not making the assumption that it has electronics in it, it must be a cellphone.

If it were just a couple minute thing it would be one thing. But it’s not. It is patently stupid to have to turn off a portable DVD player because it might also be a cellphone.

I would also suggest -how damned important can it really be, given that they just rely on your integrity to actually turn it off?

I have great difficulty believe something is materially important to the safety of travelers and the national cellphone network if I can cleverly sabotage their efforts by just leaving my cellphone turned on in my pocket.

That would be at least 30 minutes of extra time on the tarmac while they check everyone’s devices. You’re insane. Switch it off.

Creole_Ned · 2011-10-19T11:35:55.000Z

salwon:

I think he explains that one in the first book (Attack of the Bacon Robots) - it was done before they had the website for something else, and they put it on PA after they got going. Note the black lines on Gabe’s shirt, which exist in both comics but disappear after a few months.

A-ha, I knew there had to be an explanation. Thanks for providing it!