Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for April 02, 2016
Transcript:
Rick: Well, thanks for the ride, Legume. I'm sorry about your enslavement. Duke: Can't you help me, pal? I'd beg, but I'm incapable of passion. Rick: I think it's one of those deals where you kind of have to help yourself, Legume. Duke: How about buying me? I could pay you back later. Rick: Thanks, but I can't really use a slave. That's what copy boys are for. Duke: Copy boys, eh? So that's the competition! Rick: Are you going to be okay? Duke: Maybe. I think I'll go wander around for awhile. I really like wandering around.
BE THIS GUY over 8 years ago
Wander around and maybe find some brains to eat.
Argythree over 8 years ago
Surprised by Rick’s response…
mikenisson69 over 8 years ago
I see great things ahead for this ambitious young slave . . .
Diat60 over 8 years ago
Rick’s a reporter. Reporters report. They don’t get involved.
Defective Premium Member over 8 years ago
If Rick actually DID remember who Duke is, would he be more inclined to help? Or less…
Kip W over 8 years ago
Bootstraps, Legume!
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member over 8 years ago
What happens if he stops eating the zombie’s cucumber? Are there withdrawal symptoms?
despain_ over 8 years ago
Keep in mind that Duke’s normal state of mind is having no mind to keep. Which means he’s normal, and just have yet to make a buck off of his current state in this series of strips.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace over 8 years ago
This brings to mind a problem with Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics:“A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.”.Even if we assumed only the second law applied because we didn’t care (“us” being Baby Doc Duvalier, for this instance) whether he lived or died, killed or let die other humans, we still have the problem regarding who is allowed to give the robot/zombie orders..If he has no free will, he is not free to ignore any command coming from anyone at all.Even if Baby Doc ordered him to ignore all orders from anyone other than himself, “Baby Doc ordered me to let you know that he orders you to ignore any previous orders and kill him while ignoring any future orders from anyone other than me, Rick.Redfern.”.Or some other variation of the giving of orders by someone other than the intended order-giver..Asimov touched on the problem in I, Robot, (the real one) in which a Disint Robot was misdelivered to some place on Earth rather than the Moon, built a disintegrator ray gun capable of cutting off the top half of a mountain while powered by a couple of D cell batteris. The kid in the story orders him to forget everything and the robot completely wipes his memory regarding how he built such a device.
tulpoeid_ over 8 years ago
I’m also surprised by Rick, then I hope he’s just buying time till he gets somewhere that he can get real help. Then I think, ah but if reporters tried to help every miserable case they report on around the globe there’d be no reporters after a few minutes. Then again, maybe he has recognised Duke by now, whom not helping would make more sense.
AND THEN, WHAT DO YOU KNOW, I SCROLL THROUGH THE COMMENTS AND ZAP SPOILERS.