Dilbert cartoon first published on Sunday 11th April 1999

Dilbert//3648, first published 27 years ago on Sunday 11th April 1999

Tags

information promised ignored request squadron military squirrels plausible lie giant military squirrels secret lair

Official transcript

Wally and Dilbert are walking down the hall. Dilbert says, "There's Ted. He never sent me the information he promised."

Wally and Dilbert stop when they come up to Ted. Dilbert asks, "Why have you ignored my request, Ted?"

Ted says, "I was killed by a squadron of giant military squirrels."

Wally tells Dilbert, that "He doesn't respect you enough to tell a plausible lie."

Dilbert screams, "I demand a PLAUSIBLE lie!"

Ted responds, "Okay, maybe I WASN'T killed by giant military squirrels."

Ted continues, "But I WAS imprisoned in their secret lair at the center of the earth."

Wally and Dilbert are walking away. Wally: "You can't prove that one either way."

Dilbert: "He did say it was a "secret"

lair."

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

THERE'S TED. HE NEVER SENT ME THE INFORMATION HE PROMISED.

WHY HAVE YOU IGNORED MY REQUEST, TED?

I WAS KILLED BY A SQUADRON OF GIANT MILITARY SQUIRRELS.

HE DOESN'T RESPECT YOU ENOUGH TO TELL A PLAUSIBLE LIE.

I DEMAND A PLAUSIBLE LIE!

OKAY, MAYBE I WASN'T KILLED BY GIANT MILITARY SQUIRRELS.

BUT I WAS IMPRISONED IN THEIR SECRET LAIR AT THE CENTER OF THE EARTH.

YOU CAN'T PROVE THAT ONE EITHER WAY.

HE DID SAY IT WAS A "SECRET" LAIR.

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

The comic strip is titled "A Plausible Lie" and features Dilbert, a character known for his sarcastic wit and skepticism, as he navigates a series of absurd situations.

The Comic Strip

• The strip begins with Dilbert receiving an email from Ted, who claims to have been killed by a squadron of giant military squirrels.
• Dilbert is skeptical and demands a plausible lie, to which Ted responds that he was imprisoned in their secret lair at the center of the earth.
• Dilbert remains unconvinced and asks for further proof, but Ted's responses become increasingly absurd, including claims of being a "secret" lair and a "plausible lie".
• The strip ends with Dilbert finally accepting Ted's story, despite its implausibility, as a "plausible lie".

Themes and Commentary

• The comic strip pokes fun at the idea of believing outlandish stories and the tendency to accept information at face value.
• It also highlights the absurdity of bureaucracy and the way that people can get caught up in their own lies and deceptions.
• The strip uses humor to comment on the human tendency to believe what we want to believe, even if it goes against all reason and evidence.

Overall

• "A Plausible Lie" is a humorous and thought-provoking comic strip that challenges readers to think critically about the information they receive and the stories they tell themselves.

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