EvenThe Far Sideknows that one of the biggest annoyances in life is working. Gary Larson knows that no one likes it, yet they’re forced to do so until the day comes when they can finally stop and retire in peace.The Far Sidegot a lot of mileageout of riffing on the daily drudgery people experience.
The Far Sidehad plenty of work-centricstrips. Sometimes they dealt with workplace drama, other times they focused on how overbearing one’s boss can be. But no matterwhatThe Far Sidewas commenting on, strips like the following 10 kept people laughing and pining for the day when they could finally leave the work life behind.
10Elevator Music
Publication Date: November 26th, 1990
When it comes to workplace annoyances, what’s worse than something like hearing the same elevator music every day? Amazingly, Larson found a way to make the experience worse by having a man ride an elevator where the ear-grating ambiance is provided by a live orchestra playing in the tiny space.
The Far Sidealways had clever, over-the-top ways of exaggerating. Sure, no one actually deals with live elevator music (at least, one hopes). But when one is already in a negative head space over having to go to work, hearing any kind of non-preferred music, live or otherwise,can make the situation even more irritating.
9Unappreciated at Work
Publication Date: February 11th, 1988
There’s hardly a more universal experience in this world than dealing with a boss who is constantly on one’s case. In thisFar Sidestrip, Larson takes a page out of Frankenstein and gives it his own unique twist. Namely, havingDr. Frankenstein rip Igor a new one over his screw-ups.
Everyone makes mistakes at work, and the only thing that makes it worse is being hounded after, no matter how much a person owns up to their error.The Far Sideexpertly communicates how much this kind of experience sucks and makes the reader anticipate a time they never have to work for anyone ever again.
8Punk Accountants
Publication Date: May 21st, 1990
Many work in places that don’t always allow for individuality thanks to strict dress codes. But even the most buttoned-up pencil pushers can feel a longing to express who they are and Larson runs with that idea in this strip. Here, a couple of accountants have ‘gone punk’ and modded their bodies with accounting-themed piercings and tattoos.
Ludicrous, yes, but this speaks to how people in places that demand a certain look wish they didn’t have to hide themselves for the sake of a company. While it sucks some don’t get the freedom to express themselves 24/7 until retirement,it’s certainly a plus side to finally being able to quit.
7“Red-Noser”
Publication Date: August 5th, 1992
While higher-ups can often make work hell, the same can be said for one’s co-workers. Workplace drama isn’t funny, butThe Far Sidebegs to differ with this strip, which shows a coterie of clowns huddled outside their boss’s office while he meets with Binky,whom the clowns accuse of being a ‘red-noser’.
In a perfect world, no one would have to deal with such juvenile, clique-y behavior. But that’s just not how humans (in this case, clowns) are wired. It’s a sad state of affairs that does nothing to make the job better and unfortunately, it’s the kind of thing that lasts until one stops working.
6Career Search
Publication Date: July 15th, 1992
What’s the one worse thing than having a job? Being on the job hunt. And yes, there’s aFar Sidestrip that really deals with the pains of looking for work. Here, Captain Hook is talking things over with a career counselor, who isn’t providing much help at finding Hook more meaningful (or suitable) employment.
No one likes the grind of looking for a job. It’s draining, it’s nerve-wracking, and it really doesn’t help when consulting people like this career counselor. It’s the kind of strip that makes one realize that while there’s a certain set of challenges to retiring,it’s nowhere near as frustrating as actively looking for work.
5Dinosaur Models
Publication Date: March 2nd, 1985
Who hasn’t been in the middle of work and gotten distracted by something more fun?The Far Siderecognizes this kind of thing can happen to anyone, even professionals. Here, a couple of researchers are taking a break from their paleontology workto play with the dinosaur models as if they were toys.
Even if it’s someone’s passion, work is work and sometimes people just want to take a break and unwind in the middle of their job. While that’s not a freedom afforded to many, retirement at least gives people a chance to wind down completely and pursue whatever hobby they’d like (even if it is model dinosaurs).
4Dog Meeting
Publication Date: May 4th, 1994
Work is one thing, but what can be even more of a drag is meetings. Larson shows just how easily one can lose focus in a meeting with thisFar Sidestrip. A meeting of dogs comes to a halt when the canine conducting the meeting stops to shame attendee Mr. Sparky for licking his privates.
The good thing about retirement is that when one is done with work, they never have to attend these kinds of meetings again. While no one’s seeing anyone recreate Mr. Sparky’s actions at a real life meeting (one dearly hopes),meetings can certainly be energy-draining after years of attending them.
3Office Pranks
Publication Date: June 4th, 1983
Everyone has that one co-worker that just loves stirring the pot.The Far Sidetakes the concept of the office prankster and takes it to its most horrifying extreme in this strip. A scientist is diligently working on a missile, ignorant of the fact that, right behind him, another scientist is about tosurprise him by popping a paper bag.
Most office pranks are nowhere near as deadly as presented in this strip, but they can be annoying. Anyone who’s ever dealt with a particularly bothersome in-office prankster likely welcomes the idea of retirement knowing that they’ll never have to put up with outrageous or even dangerous pranks ever again.
2That Big, Dumb Geek
Publication Date: April 2nd, 1990
Everyone has the right to express how they feel about others, but in the workplace, it’s dangerous. In this strip, Lewis sees his boss and internally begins to insult him, remarking how much he hates his guts. But thanks to the meta nature of this strip,the boss can see his underling’s thoughts in a bubbleand fires him.
Aside from the hilarious fourth wall twist of thisFar Sidegag, this makes a good point. People are limited by what they want to say at a job. But once someone is retired, they’re welcome to curse out their boss as much as they want (it’s just a shame Lewis couldn’t wait).
1Done with Work
Publication Date: June 16th, 1982
Even those who like doing what they do welcome the opportunity for a break.The Far Sideknows that people are simple creatures, and nothing says that better than this strip. While a group of scientists have been busy, they all stop once they hear the ice cream man passing by and rush out to get a treat.
When retirement finally comes, it can bring up a lot of feelings, but above all, one must embrace the feeling of freedom that it comes with. Just as these scientists are ready to drop everything for the sake of a frozen novelty,so should retirees welcome their newfound free time to pursue their desires.
