# Scott Adams says he is dying {Died January 13th, 2026 at age 68} **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comic-strips\ **Created:** [May 22, 2025, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677 "2025-05-22T18:14:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/242 "2026-01-14T01:49:55Z")
Yep. It is a very different thing to become wiser with age than to become shittier and stupider with age. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/243 "2026-01-14T01:57:39Z")
Adams was one of those creators who failed to notice when he needed to move on. As mentioned, he could have retired the daily strip 20 years ago and passed away still being celebrated. Brought me a lot of enjoyment in the 90s. But after too much time away from workplace environments he lost the edge and seemed to take the easy way to keep at it. Add to that the too-common “clever at one thing, therefore clever at anything” syndrome, which was already visible in some of his non-strip early writing. That really was his undoing IMO. In 2016 he did “call it” early on in the Trump campaign that the public _would_ buy what Trump was selling, but did do by invoking that he could detect a “master persuader”. Became too self-enamored of how _he_ had that much insight, and copped an “if you’re going to be mean to me about it then I’ll be forced to stay on Trump’s side” attitude. The embrace of Trumpworld allowed him to sustain the belief that he was the smartest guy in the room and _everyone else_ just didn’t get it. (Which when you look at it, WAS a key theme in the strip:That nobody had any common sense. ) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/244 "2026-01-14T02:16:04Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > For a quarter century, Scott Adams defined workplace humor, and if he had died around 15 years ago, his work would have remained popular long afterward. I used to use some Dilbert strips in the orientation materials for our new articling students each year. Had to throw them when he pulled his mask off, even though the ones I was using were funny and made points I wanted to make. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/245 "2026-01-14T02:48:00Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > My wife and I both greatly enjoyed Dilbert. There’s only so far you can go in terms of separating the art from the artist. Now, if exposed to any old Dilbert cartoon, I’ll be looking for subtle hints of his racism. His cartoons were mostly non-political, and focused almost entirely on bashing corporate stupidity and the stupidity of many of its employees. But I do recall one where Dilbert says (correctly) that longer prison sentences don’t reduce crime rates, and Dogbert replies sarcastically, “so your theory is that when criminals are in prison, others step in to take up the slack”. This is an absolutely cockeyed backwards take on the fact that lengthy sentences are associated with increased rates of recidivism. I also read Adams’s first book, and strongly disagreed with many of his suggestions for what he regarded as a good workplace culture. For example, his belief in a strict 9-to-5 work schedule. This could only come from someone who hated his job, and detested being made to work overtime. A truly good workplace culture – and I admit it’s rare – is one where employees **love** their job, and the aim of every good employer should be to come as close to that ideal as possible. I’ve had several such jobs, and I put in far, far more hours than I was technically being paid for, because I was having fun. I don’t know how or why Adams descended into insanity with his Trumpism, but there were signs of a regressive conservative mentality way back in his early history. I’m sure he was basically a good person and he brought the world a lot of laughter, so I’m sorry he’s gone. But his turn to all-out Trumpism was certainly bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/246 "2026-01-14T03:40:48Z")
“Dilbert” wasn’t the same after he ditched his distinctive necktie. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/247 "2026-01-14T08:19:04Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > But I do recall one where Dilbert says (correctly) that longer prison sentences don’t reduce crime rates, and Dogbert replies sarcastically, “so your theory is that when criminals are in prison, others step in to take up the slack”. > [@nearwildheaven](#): > > “Dilbert” wasn’t the same after he ditched his distinctive necktie. One certainly can’t fault you two for lack of consistency. You each made the same comments, almost immediately one after the other, in this thread back in May 2023. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/248 "2026-01-14T09:47:11Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > One certainly can’t fault you two for lack of consistency. You each made the same comments, almost immediately one after the other, in this thread back in May 2023. One’s memory isn’t what it used to be past a certain age. OTOH, apparently neither are one’s powers of observation. This thread didn’t exist in 2023. It was started in May, 2025! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/249 "2026-01-14T09:47:20Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > One certainly can’t fault you two for lack of consistency. You each made the same comments, almost immediately one after the other, in this thread back in May 2023. Well you have to give them credit for the impressive task of posting the comments 2 years before the thread started. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/250 "2026-01-14T10:01:16Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Well you have to give them credit for the impressive task of posting the comments 2 years before the thread started.   I bet that relativity was involved, somehow: _There was a young lady named Bright Who could travel much faster than light She departed one day In a relative way And arrived on the previous night._ ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/251 "2026-01-14T10:37:31Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > This thread didn’t exist in 2023 Hmmm, well it says May 23. I can’t help it if 'Mericans do dates wrong. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/252 "2026-01-14T11:06:58Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Hmmm, well it says May 23. > > I can’t help it if 'Mericans do dates wrong. The OP (and both of my earlier posts) say “May 22”. The scroll bar on the right (in the desktop view) says “May 2025” right at the top. While I freely acknowledge my feeble memory, have you considered the need for a new pair of spectacles? 😉 (Although you may be seeing dates and times in Aussie time. In addition to being permanently upside down, you folks are 16 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time!) ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/253 "2026-01-14T11:08:21Z")
Yes the time difference would be why I see your post as marked “May 23” > [@wolfpup](#): > > The scroll bar on the right (in the desktop view) says “May 2025” right at the top. Well yes there is that. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/254 "2026-01-14T12:38:24Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > But I do recall one where Dilbert says (correctly) that longer prison sentences don’t reduce crime rates, and Dogbert replies sarcastically, “so your theory is that when criminals are in prison, others step in to take up the slack”. This is an absolutely cockeyed backwards take on the fact that lengthy sentences are associated with increased rates of recidivism. Of course the RW answer to that is the only correct prison sentience is a life sentence. Recidivism requires release. Don’t want recidivism? Don’t release. Easy peasy. Bastards. > [@wolfpup](#): > > A truly good workplace culture – and I admit it’s rare – is one where employees **love** their job, and the aim of every good employer should be to come as close to that ideal as possible. I’ve had several such jobs, and I put in far, far more hours than I was technically being paid for, because I was having fun. Imagine how much more fun it’d have been to be paid for all those hours you donated. Or to have been chased out of the office by managers so you could go live your private life instead? I’m all for a good workplace culture. But ISTM preventing overwork is the (almost?) Prime Directive of good workplace culture. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/255 "2026-01-14T12:39:47Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Imagine how much more fun it’d have been to be paid for all those hours you donated. or to have been chased out of the office by managers so you could go live your private life instead? > > I’m all for a good workplace culture. But ISTM preventing overwork is the (almost?) Prime Directive of good workplace culture. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/256 "2026-01-14T12:43:22Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Do Pascal’s Wager people actually think God wouldn’t be fooled by a last-second conversion? This isn’t the NFL; you don’t get to win at the last second. I don’t see why not. From what I’ve read of the bible, consistency isn’t God’s strong suit. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/257 "2026-01-14T13:02:48Z")
I have never had a 9 to 5 job and usually worked an average of 60 hours a week. It was normally very enjoyable, varied, and creative. Now I enjoy many aspects of not working. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/258 "2026-01-14T16:08:39Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I have never had a 9 to 5 job and usually worked an average of 60 hours a week. It was normally very enjoyable, varied, and creative. Now I enjoy many aspects of not working I’m a teacher and have unusual hours as well. I often say, “Man, I really like teaching. Oh, I also really like _not_ teaching.” I mean, if I had $15 million, I’d definitely leave work behind me and not think much about it. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/259 "2026-01-14T16:13:36Z")
There’s a good _Behind the Bastards_ episode on Scott Adams, and yeah, he was always kind of a self-important asshole. He blamed the failure of his TV show on diversity, equity & inclusion. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/8nyEkHqP65c/maxresdefault.jpg "Part One: How The Dilbert Guy Lost His Mind | BEHIND THE BASTARDS") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nyEkHqP65c) ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/260 "2026-01-14T16:27:35Z")
Bado, a Canadian cartoonist, writes about him in his blog: > **[Wednesday, January 14, 2026 - Scott Adams 1957-2026](https://bado-badosblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/scott-adams-1957-2026.html#more)** > > From AP News. Scott Adams, whose popular comic strip “Dilbert” captured the frustration of beleaguered, white-collar cubicle workers and sat... ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677/261 "2026-01-14T17:48:42Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > The OP (and both of my earlier posts) say “May 22”. The scroll bar on the right (in the desktop view) says “May 2025” right at the top. While I freely acknowledge my feeble memory, have you considered the need for a new pair of spectacles? 😉 > > (Although you may be seeing dates and times in Aussie time. In addition to being permanently upside down, you folks are 16 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time!) I must admit that I sometimes also struggle with the whole date format on the right slider in discourse. Especially on older or long running threads it’s not always clear if something is from January 14th or if it’s January 2014. Also, the date format seems to change dynamically on the slider if you go back in history. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-says-he-is-dying-died-january-13th-2026-at-age-68/1018677.md?page=14)