2013-01-27
Original: 2013-01-27 on Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal
Transcript
Panel 1:
Woman (with glasses): We have asymmetric knowledge of each others' preferences.
Man (bearded): Okay.
Panel 2:
Woman: Given that fact, it would be a non-optimal expenditure of time and resources for me to buy you a gift myself.
Panel 3:
Woman: Therefore, I analyzed my past gift-buying behavior and determined the amount of time and wealth I typically would've spent.
Panel 4:
Woman: So, happy birthday. I allot you P of my dollars and T of my time, with α as a conversion factor.
(She holds up a sheet of paper with a graph and the equation: P = αT)
Panel 5:
Man (reading the paper): I think learning economics has made you respond inappropriately to other people's feelings.
Panel 6:
Woman (smiling broadly): Thanks!
Votey:
Woman (off-panel): Not a compliment.
Man (frowning): Thanks!
Woman (with glasses): We have asymmetric knowledge of each others' preferences.
Man (bearded): Okay.
Panel 2:
Woman: Given that fact, it would be a non-optimal expenditure of time and resources for me to buy you a gift myself.
Panel 3:
Woman: Therefore, I analyzed my past gift-buying behavior and determined the amount of time and wealth I typically would've spent.
Panel 4:
Woman: So, happy birthday. I allot you P of my dollars and T of my time, with α as a conversion factor.
(She holds up a sheet of paper with a graph and the equation: P = αT)
Panel 5:
Man (reading the paper): I think learning economics has made you respond inappropriately to other people's feelings.
Panel 6:
Woman (smiling broadly): Thanks!
Votey:
Woman (off-panel): Not a compliment.
Man (frowning): Thanks!
Alt text
A six-panel SMBC comic. A woman with glasses explains to a bearded man that because they have asymmetric knowledge of each other's preferences, it would be a non-optimal expenditure of time and resources for her to buy him a gift. She says she analyzed her past gift-buying behavior to determine the time and wealth she typically would have spent. For his birthday, she holds up a sheet of paper showing a graph and the equation 'P = αT,' allotting him P of her dollars and T of her time with α as a conversion factor. The man, reading the paper, says, 'I think learning economics has made you respond inappropriately to other people's feelings.' She beams and replies, 'Thanks!' Votey: In a rough black-and-white sketch, an off-panel voice says 'Not a compliment,' and the frowning man flatly replies, 'Thanks!'
Transcribed by Claude Opus 4.8.