Healthy Dialogue

I already said so much in this week’s new Dustinland comic about our response to Covid and the vaccine and everyone’s attitudes, which continue to develop and frankly get nastier over time… why say more here. But I do want to say that the goal of this comic is to express not just the obvious frustration I’ve had seeing everything about this issue (and every other) turn into a rage-fest, but also a sadness in terms of how I think we’ve been let down by some of the people we appeal to for help and guidance. Oh, and also regret that I too participated in some of the negativity.

Big picture, we need to be honest all the time. We can’t hide inconvenient facts — no matter what you believe. When those facts are uncovered, when lies are made clear, it creates an atmosphere of distrust, which leads to a world devoid of compromise. Hence the global slide toward fascism right now. And I don’t know if it can be stopped at this rate.

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.

Symptomatic Of

This new Dustinland comic is about how I’ve had COVID for about a week now. I think I am definitely on the mend, just mostly still a bit fatigued. The weirdest part of all this is all the symptoms. I feel like my body has gone through every possible symptom, one at a time, looking for a response to this new thing attacking it.

Did I mention I’m still kinda tired though? Yeah, that part sucks.

On the bright side, I haven’t had a drink in a whole week. Yay, I did it. So healthy.

I Did It

Hey it’s a new Dustinland comic about how I have COVID. Got it from my kiddo who got it from school. Meh. It’s okay. Mostly weird. Odd symptoms that come and go. Worst part is that I feel dumber.

Bliss 2 AKA “Not Monkeypox”

This week’s new Dustinland comic is not really about Monkeypox, but it sort of it. Basically, it’s about where I’m at right now, mentally speaking. Which is trying to avoid paying attention to stressful things I have no control over. Some people seem addicted to bad news and rage, and while I’m not saying to be uninvolved in the harsh realities that shape our world, I do think it is harmful to spend so much time either fuming or worrying.

And so… the dude abides.

Bub Life

This week’s new Dustinland comic is about a lot of things. Each frame could have been its own comic. But I’ve been mulling all this over in my mind for months, and this is, I think a good way to combine it all.

Basically, it follows the road from innocent Googling to all out violence — a road some people in America are already on, and some even reached the end of that road. It really does start off innocently. I’ve done it myself. Maybe you’ve never had an issue with vaccinations and you find it hard to believe so many other people do, so you search up some articles and stats about how safe vaccines are and how helpful they’ve been over the last 100 years or so. Or maybe you’ve always been distrustful of big pharma and never get flu shots, so you search up info on vaccine side effects. And then either way, you share those findings on social and throw in your opinion. You’ll see who agrees with you. You’ll find yourself in a battle of articles with those who don’t. You’ll dig in. They’ll dig in. Soon it becomes less about the facts and more about who you identify with and as. No one wants to back down. I stand for X and you stand for Y. I am US, you are THEM. And then, egged on by those who profit off outrage, eventually sides are drawn, everyone hates each other, no one can even talk anymore, and those who simply disagree with you are now the “enemy”.

It’s a scary time we live in, because both sides of every issue seem content to limit the rights of the other side. The ideals of democracy are being abandoned in favor of “progress”. And maybe there’s no other answer. I don’t know. The world has gotten quite crowded. The rules we govern by weren’t created for a world full of so many people, all being hypnotized by 24/7 propaganda.

This is the stuff that keeps me up at night. And this is why most of my comics are about “kids say the darndedest things!” I don’t know what to do anymore. So I do what I can. And all I can do is take care of myself and my family, try to stay sane, try to be at peace, try to do what I can to make this world a better place without losing my mind and being outraged at every waking moment. The Dude abides, if you will.

Vaccine Truth

This week’s new Dustinland comic will probably get some people real mad, including friends of mine, but it’s literally just a quick set-up punchline comic about being middle-aged. The part that will upset people is the part where I suggest there are no vaccine side effects. Of course, I am speaking from personal experience, and that is in fact the case for me. The other side will respond by saying “yeah but just wait, you don’t know what will happen in 5-20 years mRNA experiment myocarditis did you see the one study that guy who sells supplements did OMG sheeple Biden Pfizer Bill Gates Epstein!” And then I will respond by drinking heavily and crying.

You know, the worst thing about all this is seeing the fabric of shared truth disintegrate to the point where you can go on social media and find two distinctly different worlds where millions of people don’t just think they’re right — they KNOW they’re right — and they have the links to back it all up. You really can believe whatever you want right now, and THAT is truly scary, no matter who is right in this particular case.

Variant Gift Guide

This week’s new Dustinland comic is inspired by yet another variant, the oddly pronounced Omicron. I feel like it should have an N in it — Omnicron. But I guess that would make it some sort of ultimate variant and not just the next letter in the Greek alphabet.

But yeah, like the comic said, I am exhausted. Not so much by the virus, which is stupid and annoying and dangerous yet not terrifying. No, I am exhausted by humanity. We just suck. That’s what this virus has brought out more than anything, more than Trump, more than war, more than terrorism. Just seeing the way we are all dealing with this, it’s just sad and pathetic. So much anger, rage, selfishness, lunacy… I mean, if you had any hope for the future of mankind, this has to just completely wipe that out. Or not. Who knows. I give up.

Jokes!

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.

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?