Another collab with Becky Hawkins!
This is one of those "frustratingly dense argument I've been hearing for decades" cartoons.
Here's the particular tweet that directly inspired this cartoon:
I guess I'd call this "argument by paronomasia." In English words and idioms have meanings which are determined by usage, not by etymology or component parts.
I'm not against etymology, of course. Etymology can be a fascinating history of how words came to be and how they evolved. But they don't dictate meaning.
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Becky agreed to let me show you a couple of the selfies she took as reference for drawing this strip. Enjoy!
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TRANSCRIPT OF CARTOON
This cartoon has four panels. Each panel shows a white man speaking directly to the reader; he has curly orange-ish hair and is wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt,
PANEL 1
MAN: Here's a newsflash for you stupid lefties! Sometimes words aren't literally true!
PANEL 2
The man smirks big and makes air quotes with his fingers.
MAN: Like when you call me a "homophobe" or "transphobe" just because I want those people fired from schools!
MAN: Idiot lefties! "Phobia" means "fear" but I'm not literally afraid! lol lol lol!
PANEL 3
He holds up a forefinger to emphasize his point. He's grinning big.
MAN: You called me "white supremacist" when I said Blacks are genetically stupid...
MAN: But I think Asians are better at math than whites! So I don't think whites are "supreme." lolol!
PANEL 4
The man leans closer to the camera, widening his eyes and pursing his lips in a "oooh spooky" expression, while making the "mind blown" gesture with his hands on each side of his head.
MAN: The "big apple" is not a fruit! "Boxing rings" are square! "Hot dogs" aren't dogs!
MAN: Aren't you amazed at how clever I am? Is your mind blooown?