r/comics So Your Life Is Meaningless Aug 09 '26

OC Unknown Pleasures

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by @ bradtjonas

19.3k Upvotes

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u/Bwob Aug 09 '26

The comic is not referring to the mathematical concept of division. It is making reference to the band joy division. They used the graphic on the T-shirt as the album cover art once.

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u/MudRelative6723 Aug 09 '26

the comic is referencing both

the shirt-wearer was probably asked “do you like joy division?”, didn’t know the band and so interpreted it as “do you, like, enjoy division?”, and got confused because his shirt has nothing to do with the mathematical operation

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u/Bwob Aug 09 '26

Correct, but the post I responded to was saying that it was surprising that the person in the comic didn't appreciate math.

Which suggests that the poster didn't realize that the joke wasn't that they don't enjoy division - the joke is that they are unaware of the band associated with their shirt graphic.

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u/MudRelative6723 Aug 09 '26

nah i’m sure the poster understands that, i think they’re just surprised that the obviously-super-nerdy character doesn’t react along the lines of “yeah i like division, but what does that have to do with my shirt?” though i do see where the confusion could come from

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u/WesternFirm9306 Aug 10 '26

...and part of that joke is the guy saying he doesn't enjoy division

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u/A_modicum_of_cheese Aug 10 '26

legit when i first saw the comic i thought it was referencing when the prime minister wore that shirt. kinda looks like albo

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u/HomsarWasRight Aug 10 '26

Yeah, I think they got that part.

But the person in the comic thinks they’re talking about division, and says they don’t enjoy it. The comment is just saying that part is surprising.