In an age informed largely by disdain for randos -- both IRL and on social media -- its root word, "random," is somewhat demonized by association. Random events brought on by random strangers can be annoying at best and downright dicey at worst. Like chance encounters in JRPGs, they increasingly activate a stressful fight-or-flight response without the benefit of status boost at the end. And without the prospect of making the royal "you" level up, what good is randomness?!

We're glad we asked ourselves! Allow us to respond.

Here at GoComics (dot) com, we created a "Random" button for a number of virtuous reasons. Situated in the browsing tab above each comic, the Random button sits sandwiched between the essential navigation arrows, right next to the calendar navigation widget.

See? Just look at it:

C'mon, *really* look at it:

As you can see, it is beautiful. Thus, the number one reason we created it was in service of aesthetics. Wanna make something of it? Vanity, like skateboarding, is not a crime.

The second reason we created it was functionality. On your presumed quest to read every single comic on the site, it's easy to become fatigued. One click on the "random" button and you're torn from the comforts of a chronological reading order and thrust into a curiosity-inspiring circumstance beyond your direct control. The Random button works within the framework of individual comic series, though, so it won't take you away from a given title. It's chaos, but organized chaos -- as in, organized by some algorithm.

One minute you might be reading a Wizard of Id strip from August 8, 2008. The next? Bam! It's April 4, 1994! Press the Random button again? Woop! It's July 7, 1997. Yes, we used a pattern here as an example. We're not an algorithm, give us a break.

Imagine if Vegas found a way to monetize betting on Random button click results. Or don't. We have no idea if imagining gambling is legal in your state.

So try the Random button today! Random is good. Random is your friend. Especially on this series.

Randos, however, are still randos and should be treated as such.