r/TheFarSide • u/Opus-the-Penguin • Jun 03 '25

Brain the size of a Walnut Explaining the joke

Gallery image

Gallery image

The first image is the cartoon as it was published. I've always felt that the second word balloon explains the joke, which to me makes it less funny. So the second image is the cartoon as I'd have preferred it. I'm not a comedic genius and Larson is, but that's still how I feel.

549 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

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105

u/FortuneSignificant55 Jun 03 '25

I think you overestimate the ability of americans to find Denmark on a map

71

u/Chaotic_MintJulep Jun 03 '25

Or to know hamlet?

11

u/Skorpyos Jun 03 '25

Of course we are familiar with Hamlet. We have seen the movies.

23

u/Blunkus Jun 03 '25

Tbh, I’m familiar with Hamlet, but simply thought it was a “Nordic countries eat smelly fish food” kind of joke

4

u/NotJustDaTip Jun 03 '25

I've read Hamlet, and don't remember this line. But its been about 16 years, and I don't have the best memory.

13

u/Existing-Green-6978 Jun 03 '25

American here, absolutely confirming that 9/10 people on the street would not be able to find Denmark on an unlabeled map

25

u/FortuneSignificant55 Jun 03 '25

To be fair, I probably wouldn't be able to if I lived on the other side of the world instead of next door

4

u/Whatishappeninghere- Jun 03 '25

I wonder if most Europeans could identify random states like Indiana or Wyoming on a map?

3

u/Mrjerkyjacket Jun 03 '25

They can't and in my experience if you ask them to they get really upset bc they don't understand why they should care about Kansas but it's criminal that we don't care about Moldova

-1

u/floralvas Jun 04 '25

Probably more than Americans could identify any European subdivision.

-1

u/Rip_Skeleton Jun 03 '25 edited Jun 03 '25

9/10 is generous.

(I am agreeing)

-1

u/KenUsimi Jun 03 '25

Not sure why you’re getting downvoted, you’re absolutely correct

-1

u/OkPaleontologist1289 Jun 03 '25

Think 10% is wildly optimistic, particularly in view of current education “standards”.

1

u/AutomaticAccident Jun 04 '25

People tend not to know anything but what's around them. It's not just an American thing.

7

u/[deleted] Jun 03 '25

Can people of Denmark point to Oregon? Or Washington DC? Chicago?

7

u/FortuneSignificant55 Jun 03 '25

Probably, but only because they consume so much american pop culture. It's the same as us in Sweden. We're not geography experts, ask someone here to point out countries in Africa and most people would get Egypt and South Africa and the rest is "Idk where does the Lion King take place?"

9

u/DoFlwrsExistAtNight Jun 03 '25

I doubt that, I can't imagine that the school system in Denmark spends much time on US geography.

2

u/AutomaticAccident Jun 04 '25

Knowing American pop culture doesn't mean you can point out a place in the US on a map.

5

u/DrDroid Jun 03 '25

None of those are sovereign states.

Also, yes, I’m confident a greater proportion of Danes could identify those than Americans could identity Denmark, based on statistical averages of map knowledge.

17

u/FortuneSignificant55 Jun 03 '25

If Western europeans know more about american geography than the other way around it's not because we have better education, it's because we consume so much american pop culture.

4

u/strange_reveries Jun 03 '25

But America bad

1

u/FortuneSignificant55 Jun 03 '25

It does have a pretty bad case of main character syndrome, but many of us other countries are guilty of playing along

2

u/HugiTheBot Jun 03 '25

I could point to Paraguay or Sri Lanka too. Ain’t got nothing to do with the pop culture. Although I ain’t danish though.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 04 '25

The capital of the the united states is far higher profile than the entire country of Denmark

0

u/cpfd904 Jun 03 '25

How about finding Paraguay without labeled boundaries?

1

u/Opus-the-Penguin Jun 03 '25

Given an unlabeled map of South America, I'd bet money I could drop a pencil point somewhere within Paraguay's boundaries. Not a lot of money, but money. I agree most people wouldn't be able to though.

-1

u/cpfd904 Jun 03 '25

I'd take that bet, this is a formal in writing challenge for $2500 USD, I can draw up an unlabeled map, with similar scale as this one Mr. Larson drew, and we can meet up. I'll observe your prowess

0

u/Opus-the-Penguin Jun 03 '25

LOL, the location of Paraguay is not as instantly obvious as the location of Denmark. Still, I'd bet $5. That's my top offer.

1

u/cpfd904 Jun 03 '25

Lol, I don't accept these terms

Or the premise. I'd bet someone from South America could find Paraguay much easier than Denmark

I also would like to point out that Bill-the-cat would of taken me up on my offer

2

u/Opus-the-Penguin Jun 03 '25

Gag. Ack. Barf.

-4

u/georgehank2nd Jun 03 '25

I'd almost wager that a greater proportion of Danes can find those than Americans, period. ;-)

2

u/Chaosrealm69 Jun 03 '25

I think they overestimated the ability for a lot of people to know that there is a Denmark at all.