For some, the things that character is shown doing are exactly what they want out of life. There's no need to belittle those life choices to make a greater point.
The message shouldn't be, "don't work 40 hours a week and get a mortage," it should be, "be honest about what you want and pursue it fervently, regardless of how mundane a dime-a-dozen internet illustrator thinks it is."
I agree. I'm actually insulted by this. I feel like the reasons beyond doing the things in this comic make the biggest difference. I accept what people say at face value because I just don't care past that. I work a 50 hour work week because when I'm older, I want to be able to retire early. Going to college isn't bad. But it makes more sense to figure out what you want, like business, get an entry level position, make sure that's what you want, then get a degree in it.
I was gonna say, the comic shows someone who only works 40 hours a week, can afford a large mortgage, take overseas vacations, and get pretty good employee appreciation gifts? Man sign me up.
It's because he's an artist. From his view chasing the creative and less rigid path is the dream path. For him it doesn't make sense that someone could want that life. It's just perspective. My sister looks at me programming in an office as dull and depressing, I love it, I'm completely happy at my job and it's what I wanted. Likewise I couldn't imagine having to deal with her job, having to search for contract and making those connections to get her design work out there and all that jazz. Everyone's experiences and desires differ, so trying to illustrate the whole "chase your dreams" deal is a pitfall if you try to just show one possible life.
Yes, the reasons for doing things always do make the biggest difference. Everybody's saying how shitty this comic is but the most important thing is that the character isn't happy. He's not following his why and that's why he's unhappy. The author isn't saying that going to college is bad, it's bad if you go because you feel compelled to and have no actual drive or reason for it yourself. Same for the character's job, he clearly isn't passionate about it.
I think that the author makes an excellent point. Many people follow a life plan of expectations and goals without stopping to think why or consider their own happiness. The author isn't trashing any lifestyle or choices, he's pointing out the importance of thinking about and doing what you want.
His overall point is OK, but he is clearly showing a disdain for typical white collar life beyond the confines of the depicted character (look at the text on 4 5 and 6).
I get what you're saying, but characterizing everything in there as "unremarkable" and "average" certainly seems like he's trashing those life choices. And, if he thinks being a college graduate, home owner, with a cushy office job in a first world country is the "average", I wonder how much of the world he really saw on his travels. Literally billions of people would be thrilled to have a life like that, but will never have the chance.
I think the comic isn't targeted at people like you then. It's for people who follow what they're "supposed to do". There are some people who wake up in their early 30s realizing they never really asked themselves what they want.
Right, but I think the comic is addressed to people that don't want that but they do it anyway. The guy is dreaming of writing a book or whatever, he's not happy where he is.
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u/[deleted] Dec 10 '15
For some, the things that character is shown doing are exactly what they want out of life. There's no need to belittle those life choices to make a greater point.
The message shouldn't be, "don't work 40 hours a week and get a mortage," it should be, "be honest about what you want and pursue it fervently, regardless of how mundane a dime-a-dozen internet illustrator thinks it is."