On Saturday, 10/6/07, my Dilbert comic will only be slightly amusing. It would have been highly amusing but I had to change two words for my editors. I can’t show you the entire comic because it hasn’t run in papers yet, but I’ll show you the one panel that caused a problem. The context is Dilbert’s coworker asking for an opinion on his Powerpoint presentation. This is Dilbert’s response in the middle panel. (click to enlarge)
I thought I could get away with “turtle head” because the naughty meaning isn’t universally known and an actual turtle’s head would fit Dilbert’s analogy just as well. So there was a degree of deniability built in. And turtles are cute, damn it!
There is nothing more frustrating than writing a perfect sentence and not being able to publish it. That’s why I love having this blog. Otherwise, it’s just me and the cat having a laugh at how witty I could have been. And it’s creepy when the cat laughs because I can never be sure we’re laughing at the same thing.
So I changed “turtle head” to “wino’s spittle” and you’ll see that on Saturday. Sigh. It could have been something special.
Just for historical reference, a very early (and extremely funny) Dilbert strip features Prairie Dog Workers. I cut it out and taped it to my guitar. I'd explain the strip, but I wouldn't do it justice.
Posted by: Dempsey | December 27, 2007 at 03:07 AM
boletoda
Posted by: cgetbasm | November 18, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Lol, I didn't know what a turtle head was either, until I read the definition kindly supplied by Steve - damn laughed so hard I nearly experienced one myself. Too damn scared to read what a wino's spittle is all about...
Posted by: Foo | October 23, 2007 at 11:42 PM
Scott, What is "Wino's Spittle" ??
Posted by: TurtlesHead | October 07, 2007 at 01:38 AM
I saw the "wino spittle" version in the paper this morning, before I saw this in the blog. I thought "wino spittle" was hilarious, completely random and horribly evocative. Turtle head conveys nothing to my mind, so the reference is lost on me. Sorry you were thwarted in what you wanted to say, but I think the wino spittle one is even funnier.
Posted by: BettyJean | October 06, 2007 at 11:42 PM
I actually don't know what a Wino's Spittle is, but the turtle head reference I totally get. XD
All in all, I like the turtle head refernce a lot more. I feel a bit left out because Wino's Spittle is so specific to an ethnic group/race that it's almost an inside joke.
Someone please explain to me what a Wino's Spittle is?
Posted by: Dave C | October 06, 2007 at 11:02 PM
The published version of this comment has apparently prompted some visits to my blog, "Slobber and Spittle". I wondered why all sorts of folks were googling the phrase "wino spittle", and I ended up here.
Thanks, I think.
http://cujo359.blogspot.com/2007/10/hazards-of-blogging-why-people-read-you.html
BTW, I agree that the turtle head reference works better, providing you understand it.
Posted by: Cujo359 | October 06, 2007 at 03:36 PM
I just read the comic. You are right. They should have gone with 'turtle head'.
Posted by: Mike E | October 06, 2007 at 02:52 PM
Did someone propose putting gravy on a cake? Ewwww.
Posted by: NotNasser | October 06, 2007 at 01:32 PM
I just read the "wino's spittle" instead of "turtle's head" strip on the site today. You are right - they ruined it. If I had drawn it, I think I would have withdrawn the whole strip. Mind you, the whole point of the strip DOES seem to be to slip something past the censors. The strip does depend on the reader knowing about the 'turtle's head' reference - i.e. the colleague's presentation was a load of waffle with only a small glimpse of what it really is - crap. 'Spittle' doesn't do that at all. It's all a bit childish really - which is why I enjoyed the original. If you like this childish smut you should buy Roger's Profanisaurus, or read the Viz comic, as an earlier reader suggested. But you have to appreciate NE British 'culture' to get the most from Viz.
Posted by: Jim Geraghty | October 06, 2007 at 12:06 AM
You should change it to editors' spittle instead!
Posted by: alea21 | October 05, 2007 at 08:07 AM
Thanks Scott. I will print that at exactly the right size and tape it over the newspaper version.
Posted by: Brad | October 04, 2007 at 11:51 PM
Though a day late, I'd like to chime in with: "Yes, it's a confused jumble of useless information with a loggerhead of unsupported conclusions" I'll see if this still has the power to render me rolling on the floor in the morning....
Posted by: Steve | October 04, 2007 at 09:31 PM
The following link was given:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=turtlehead
Try also:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=turtle+head
as I think the latter has better definitions than the former.
Posted by: BTTFVGO | October 04, 2007 at 06:05 PM
Is there always this much fecal humour removed from the strip?
I'm just wondering if Dilbert is secretly a blue strip and is just editing back to reality, or what?
Posted by: C Johnson | October 04, 2007 at 05:52 PM
? ? ? Listening to the Carpenters ? ? ? backwards ? ? ?
Posted by: Ed | October 04, 2007 at 05:00 PM
I seldom blog about a blog, but I just had to inform my readers of this unique term.
Posted by: Sometimes Saintly Nick | October 04, 2007 at 10:42 AM
I think I'm too dumb for Dilbert. After finally getting what a turtle head is, I struggled for a while yesterday trying to fully understand how it's funny, how it's funny with the slang meaning, and how it's funny if you don't know the slang meaning.
I came up with reasons; I think I get it now, but I don't think a joke is supposed to involve so much work. I think wino's spittle would have a shorter stumped period for me. But I'm clearly on the slower end of your readers' spectrum.
Posted by: Nomi | October 04, 2007 at 09:22 AM
Spotting the North American Turtle Head should not be difficult.
Before they come to the surface, they often make a, for lack of a better term, a sort of belching noise.
For those who are deaf, you should know that the burp often is accompanied by a terrible odor.
Some people will say that this will smell like shit, but, and I use that word in all it's meanings, others say when it's your own turtle the smell is like roses.
For reasons unknown,this is especially true for Republicans.
http://boskolives.wordpress.com/
Posted by: jerry w. | October 04, 2007 at 06:57 AM
Yes, "Turtle Head" comes from the Austin Powers movies -- Fat Bastard talks about it at one point when he REALLY has to go to the bathroom.
It was used in Austin Powers but it's been around a lot longer than that.
Posted by: Twenty Major | October 04, 2007 at 06:52 AM
What's a turtle head?
I mean, other than part of a turtle.
Posted by: Andrew Denny | October 04, 2007 at 06:52 AM
There's a song from "The Carpenters", I don't remember which one right now, that when is played backwards, you can hear someone say "turtle head" in the background. It only works with vinyl, though.
Posted by: Leonel | October 04, 2007 at 06:39 AM
Your editors should get off their high horses in re censorship, especially considering I was watching a KID'S TV programme the other day with a young relative, and the young girl hosting the show was talking about how "pissed off" she was...
I mean if they can expose seriously young children to, what would have, in my youth been swearing...
Go figure.
Posted by: Nix | October 04, 2007 at 05:46 AM
Well. USA have one of the largest porno film production indutries in the world and there are people that get offended by "turtle head". Those are the condradictions that make USA great and dumb and the same time.
Posted by: Ivan | October 04, 2007 at 05:30 AM
It is worrying when the cat laughs. especially in that devilish 'i know something you don't' way.
Posted by: Liz | October 04, 2007 at 05:10 AM