# Brevity - I hate it when I don't understand cartoons **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 22, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343 "2010-03-22T15:25:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/1 "2010-03-22T15:25:57Z")
Not that I’m proud to demonstrate my own ignorance, but I don’t get this one. [Brevity](http://news.yahoo.com/comics/brevity;_ylt=Ak8qAA.SAEABRROlFN.jVc2z.sgF;_ylu=X3oDMTE0bW52ZnI4BHBvcwMxNQRzZWMDeW5fYWxwaGFfbGlzdARzbGsDYnJldml0eQ--) I could go into what I think it means, but I’ll just shut up and admit I don’t get it. A little help, please? Hell, it took me a minute to get today’s Ziggy :smack: ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/2 "2010-03-22T15:35:44Z")
I think he’s buying “American Way” magazine, which they give away for free on AMerican Airlines. But, that’s just a guess… ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/3 "2010-03-22T15:37:54Z")
Actually the [Ziggy](http://d.yimg.com/a/p/uc/20100322/largeimagezi100322.gif) one is a lot funnier. Perhaps about six months too late, but he probably drew it six months ago 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/4 "2010-03-22T15:42:53Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I think he’s buying “American Way” magazine, which they give away for free on AMerican Airlines. > > But, that’s just a guess… Ah! I couldn’t figure it out either. But that makes sense. I was thinking either that it was a comment on how bad American Airlines is (which I could totally get on board with) or, well, I don’t know. But I think you’ve got it. ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/5 "2010-03-22T16:00:12Z")
Add me to the list. As soon as I saw that this was about a cartoon (I didn’t remember that it was Brevity), I knew exactly which one you were talking about. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/6 "2010-03-22T16:01:10Z")
I guess I over analyze. I thought it was about buying airline tickets with cash, and the TSA hassle it causes. :rolleyes: The magazine makes a lot more sense. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/7 "2010-03-22T16:19:16Z")
The link in the OP just gives me a Yahoo ‘Page not found’ error: > [@](#): > > We did not find results for: brevity; ylt akqaa.saeabrrolfn.jvcz.sgf; ylu xodmtebwznibhbvcwmxnqrzzwmdewfywxwagffbglzdarzbgsdynjldmleq comics. Try the suggestions below or type a new query above. However, putting ‘Brevity Comics’ into a new search on that page took me to [Comics.com](http://Comics.com), with what I assume to be the [right comic (Mar 22)](http://comics.com/brevity/). ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/8 "2010-03-22T16:40:04Z")
I think the Brevity cartoon is a commentary that airlines are charging for everything nowadays. They’ve either stopped offering or charging for stuff that used to be free, such as pillows, blankets, peanuts, and … now their magazines. I would not say that the cartoon was good at making that message obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/9 "2010-03-22T16:45:55Z")
> [@nivlac](#): > > I think the Brevity cartoon is a commentary that airlines are charging for everything nowadays. They’ve either stopped offering or charging for stuff that used to be free, such as pillows, blankets, peanuts, and … now their magazines. I would not say that the cartoon was good at making that message obvious. I don’t think so. I think Post 2 has it right. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/10 "2010-03-22T17:43:32Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I don’t think so. I think Post 2 has it right. I didn’t get the cartoon at all either, but I think **nivlac** ’s interpretation in post #8 makes the most sense. Without the airline deciding to sell their magazines where would you even find one to buy? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/11 "2010-03-22T17:50:38Z")
BTW, those with other comics questions should visit the [Comics I Don’t Understand blog.](http://comicsidontunderstand.com/wordpress/) Besides hard to understand comics, there is the Arlo page, for slightly risque comics, and the Arlo Award, for sneaking a reference to sex past the censors. In 2000 there was the Chadwatch, collecting comics on chads, and now there is a special category for comics in the “hah hah, it is cold, so much for global warming” category. I don’t run it, I just participate, under a different name. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/12 "2010-03-22T17:52:15Z")
Now that we (I think) have cleared up the **Brevity** question, maybe someone can help me with today’s [Get Fuzzy](http://comics.com/get_fuzzy/2010-03-22/). Is Bucky hugging Satch, or trying to knock the bug / grape-nut out of his paw? Looks like a hug but I can’t figure out why. Normally he’d just smack him. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/13 "2010-03-22T18:08:37Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > I didn’t get the cartoon at all either, but I think **nivlac** ’s interpretation in post #8 makes the most sense. Without the airline deciding to sell their magazines where would you even find one to buy? No - I think that the guy in the comic made the same assumption (they must be charging for this magazine, since they’re charging for everything), and the wife is calling him an idiot - because it’s still a free magazine, and he shouldn’t overanalyze things like this to death. In any event, I’m e-mailing Guy and Rodd to see what’s what. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/14 "2010-03-22T18:19:27Z")
I puzzled over the Brevity too this morning, and toyed with the idea of making this thread. Then I came to the conclusion that the joke was that he was paying cash for a magazine called “American Way”, when everybody knows the American way is to pay with a credit card… I had no idea that it was a magazine that you get free on American Airlines. I fly at least once a year, but I guess I don’t fly that airline enough to notice the mag. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/15 "2010-03-22T18:24:37Z")
It only took me about 30 seconds to get the Brevity cartoon; Post 2 has it right. The Get Fuzzy cartoon is a total mystery. I kind of gave up on this strip a while back, and then the Trib dropped it altogether. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/16 "2010-03-22T18:28:25Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Now that we (I think) have cleared up the **Brevity** question, maybe someone can help me with today’s [Get Fuzzy](http://comics.com/get_fuzzy/2010-03-22/). Is Bucky hugging Satch, or trying to knock the bug / grape-nut out of his paw? Looks like a hug but I can’t figure out why. Normally he’d just smack him. I think he’s hugging him because he’s just so darn stupid. He provides Bucky with so much joke fodder, jumping on him for not only not being able to distinguish between a bug and a Grape-Nut, but for not knowing that Grape-Nuts cannot be resuscitated just reminds Bucky what a wonderful source of amusment/abuse Satchel is. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/17 "2010-03-22T18:45:40Z")
That was my take, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/18 "2010-03-22T19:19:07Z")
I came real close to posting a thread like this about Friday’s [Questionable Content](http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1625). I couldn’t figure out the title “It’s Her Favorite Webcomic, Of Course” - I kept thinking some line of dialogue in the strip was referring to a webcomic I was unfamiliar with. Then I finally noticed that Marigold is wearing an XKCD shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/19 "2010-03-22T19:34:47Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > I guess I over analyze. I thought it was about buying airline tickets with cash, and the TSA hassle it causes. :rolleyes: The magazine makes a lot more sense. That was what I thought too. Perhaps they assume that a lot of people are more familiar with American Airlines. I fly plenty, but not enough to know what magazine any one airline may have. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343/20 "2010-03-22T19:43:25Z")
It would have made more sense if the magazine was Sky Mall. Everyone knows what Sky Mall is. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brevity-i-hate-it-when-i-dont-understand-cartoons/533343.md?page=2)