Prattle Call

This week’s new Dustinland comic is about the nervous polite chit chat that most meetings begin with. This is not limited to remote meetings, although they seem to make it a bit worse. But even in the office you have it. There’s that silence when everyone is just filing in and the first attendees feel the need to fill the void with something, but we’re not all friends so we all just wind up talking about the most nothingness of nothings. It’s honestly not even talking, it’s more like a ritual of politeness, like bowing.

I think the most painful for me personally is people from warm sunny places like LA talking about the weather. Either that or “got any weekend plans?”

Drink In

This week’s new Dustinland comic is about how it feels to scroll around on Linked In. I mean, sure it’s definitely a useful tool for connecting, filling positions, theoretically finding a job (so I hear)… but it also has the negative affect of taking everything shitty and anxiety-provoking about social media and points that toward work. It’s odd because when you see that need for validation combine with very real career goals, it just gets icky. And then you’re like, well how much of this is me just projecting… I mean, it just sucks.

I don’t understand people who go on there regularly, to be honest. I just use it when I absolutely need to and that’s it. I even feel bad posting the occasional humble brag on there. It just feels gross. But again, maybe that’s just me.

You know, I had a boss once, who, after hearing me complain about the industry said, “Dustin, you can’t hate the game. You have to play the game.”

Back To Work

This week’s new Dustinland comic is about the current debate on whether we should all start going back to the office or not. And in this strip I literally debate myself, because I do see both sides of the issue.

All joking aside, if you ask me — which nobody will — I think what people want is freedom. They want to be treated with respect and given the ability to make their own decisions about how to be successful at work. For some people, that may mean 5 days a week in the office. For others, 1. Or zero. Of course, that is a very difficult thing for a large organization to achieve. Big groups thrive on order and routine, so it’s unlikely there will be a lot of “do whatever you want.”

But I think frame 7 of the strip really nails it — no matter what, you still won’t be happy.

Workin For The Weekend

This week’s new Dustinland comic is about how sometimes the weekend feels like an endless routine of chores, which is disappointing after looking forward to it all week.

Of course sometimes the weekend is super fun. But not always. This comic is about the not always times.

Also it is annoying to have that “how was everyone’s weekend?” conversation, especially when it’s with people you barely know, because if you went to the beach, sure, that’s fun to share, but if your kid had a fever or if you played roller hockey in an abandoned corporate park… then it’s weird.

Quit, Flee, It’s Your Best Shot

This week’s new Dustinland comic is about The Great Resignation — the crazy time we’re in, where everyone went from the 2020 approach of “I’m just so thankful I have a job” to “FUCK THIS I quit.”

First, you need to know this comic must be sung to the tune of Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.”

Second, I think it’s pretty clear I’m a bit cynical about this whole trend. However, I’m not THAT cynical. I genuinely do hope the workers of the world can use this opportunity to better themselves, to push for better wages and policies, collectively or as individuals. And I am part of this movement, I did just find a new job, and I’m enjoying it! So don’t take this strip the wrong way — I truly wish you the best of luck in changing your situation for the better.

That being said… I do think that COVID has uncovered something much deeper in our society. A more philosophical discontent that will not be fixed by simply switching jobs or even careers. I also don’t think we’re at the beginning of some mega change in capitalism where employees have all the power to demand whatever they want. And that’s sort of what I’m warning against in this strip. Basically — do you, but do it now, while you still can.

Dustinland 1,000

Yup, this is indeed the 1,000th Dustinland comic. Actually, there’s been more if you count the ones I did in college, but I started numbering them when I first launched the site in 2000.

When this week’s strip ends with a big I DID IT, it’s not just referring to all the comics I made. It means I’ve defeated self-doubt. And that’s something we all deal with, I think. Artists and other creative types especially, but all of us really, especially in this digital world where everyone is on display, and we’re all able to rank and compare ourselves to everyone else at all times. 

When you reach some sort of milestone, you can’t help but step back and look at your life and wonder if you’re a success. And that’s the problem — success isn’t a thing that’s clearly defined. I’ve seen some of the most accomplished people I know still be driven by doubt. You even see it with celebrities who’ve succeeded at the highest levels, still trying to prove something to the world, to themselves. 

Since there is no end goal to success, what it really comes down to is not what you’ve done, but whether you’ve enjoyed doing it. And after over 20 years and 1,000 comics, I can say with 100% certainty that I’ve enjoyed writing and drawing Dustinland, and I can’t thank you all enough for reading along. 

Resignation

This week’s new Dustinland comic is about what it’s like to start a new gig during a pandemic.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love working from home. But I love the freedom to WFH when I want or need to. What is wearing on me is the need to WFH all the time. It just starts to get depressing being in the same room all day, every day, and then even when you’re in this sort of life-changing situation, you’re still there, and the feeling of newness that usually comes with a new job is muted.

Have you experienced this? That would mean you’re part of The Great Resignation — the huge amount of people getting new jobs during 2021. Hence the title. See what I did there?

Reopen Season

This Dustinland comic is about my recent experience of going into the office for the first time in 15 months. It was actually kind of nice after the weirdness wore off. But the night before, the morning of, and about the first few hours — basically up until lunch — all super weird. Just hard to explain. Crazy to think one day we’ll all look back at this as some wacky time. Just kidding, we’ll look back at this all fondly as our robot overlords whip up with old iPhone charging cords. Just kidding, AI will exterminate us. Just kidding, climate change and global resource wars will have finished us off first. Just kidding, everything is gonna be great!

PS Did you catch the Bo Burnham reference in the strip?

Essential

This new Dustinland comic is about the people keeping our society functioning right now… or better yet, it’s about how it feels to not be one of them. I mean, in terms of the complexity of the way our economy works, everyone is “necessary” in the sense that all these parts keep the money moving, keep tax dollars flowing… basically us “unessential” white collar workers do help pay the essential workers. But it still feels weird working from home and having some person making minimum wage bring food to my house like a servant. I’m grateful of course. I have a great life. These are just weird times that make certain things about our civilization hit home.

Future Preppin

This week’s new Dustinland comic is not actually a Father’s Day comic, but the timing works out nicely so let’s just say that it is. I mean, it is about parenting, and I am a father, so there you go. Close enough! Seriously though, the pressure in the comic is real.