consciousness
Original: consciousness on Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal
Transcript
Panel 1:
Human (Jeremy): Zorkrang, have your scientists discovered the nature of consciousness?
Alien (Zorkrang): What's consciousness?
Panel 2:
Human: I can't really define it, but I'd like to know what it is, you know?
Panel 3:
Human: I mean consciousness - like the thing that without it I'm not me.
Panel 4:
Alien: Do you mean executive decision making in the brain? That's mostly in the front part of your head. That's why humans punch at that part when they're having fights.
Panel 5:
Human: No, like consciousness! The ineffable unified ME!
Alien: Is this "consciousness" in the room with us now, Jeremy? Can you point to it?
Panel 6:
Human: I'm not hallucinating!
Panel 7:
Alien: You're asking if Zorblaxian scientists know what a thing is, and you insist it's a real, important thing, but you don't know what the thing is.
Panel 8:
Human: I hate when you make me feel stupid by saying what I've said back to me.
Alien: Is that consciousness?
Votey:
Human (Jeremy): Look, how am I supposed to argue with other people if we're all using a clear set of definitions?
Human (Jeremy): Zorkrang, have your scientists discovered the nature of consciousness?
Alien (Zorkrang): What's consciousness?
Panel 2:
Human: I can't really define it, but I'd like to know what it is, you know?
Panel 3:
Human: I mean consciousness - like the thing that without it I'm not me.
Panel 4:
Alien: Do you mean executive decision making in the brain? That's mostly in the front part of your head. That's why humans punch at that part when they're having fights.
Panel 5:
Human: No, like consciousness! The ineffable unified ME!
Alien: Is this "consciousness" in the room with us now, Jeremy? Can you point to it?
Panel 6:
Human: I'm not hallucinating!
Panel 7:
Alien: You're asking if Zorblaxian scientists know what a thing is, and you insist it's a real, important thing, but you don't know what the thing is.
Panel 8:
Human: I hate when you make me feel stupid by saying what I've said back to me.
Alien: Is that consciousness?
Votey:
Human (Jeremy): Look, how am I supposed to argue with other people if we're all using a clear set of definitions?
Alt text
An eight-panel SMBC comic. A naked red-haired human man (called Jeremy) talks with a tall green alien (called Zorkrang). Jeremy asks whether the alien's scientists have discovered the nature of consciousness; the alien asks what consciousness is. Jeremy admits he can't define it but wants to know what it is - "the thing that without it I'm not me." The alien offers that he might mean executive decision making in the brain's front part, which is why humans punch there in fights. Jeremy insists he means "the ineffable unified ME!" The alien, deadpan, asks "Is this 'consciousness' in the room with us now, Jeremy? Can you point to it?" - echoing the way one would humor a hallucinating person. Jeremy snaps "I'm not hallucinating!" The alien restates the situation: Jeremy is asking whether alien scientists know what a thing is, while insisting it's a real important thing he himself cannot define. Jeremy says he hates being made to feel stupid by having his own words repeated to him; the alien dryly asks, "Is that consciousness?" Votey (bonus panel): Jeremy, looking distressed, says, "Look, how am I supposed to argue with other people if we're all using a clear set of definitions?"
Transcribed by Claude Opus 4.8.