Dilbert creator Scott Adams says he will die soon from same cancer as Joe Biden
Dilbert’s legacy and office culture
- Many recall Dilbert as uniquely capturing white‑collar absurdity in the 1990s–2000s: pointy‑haired bosses, failing upward, cancelled projects, and security vs usability.
- Readers share favorite strips and anecdotes where comics eerily matched layoffs, security policies, and meeting dynamics; some used strips in teaching (e.g., contracts, law) or internal portals until management objected.
- Several note the strip froze a specific era (cubicles, telnet, PacBell‑style telco culture); more recent AI/remote‑work jokes are seen as secondhand and less insightful.
Adams’ public evolution and politics
- Many say they enjoyed his early blog and books on business, persuasion, and career strategy, and credit ideas like “systems vs goals,” “talent stacks,” and energy management.
- A recurring theme is watching him “radicalize in real time,” especially around Trump: shifting from insightful persuasion analysis to identity‑bound defense and controversy for engagement.
- Commenters discuss his Trump “master persuader” framing and “Trump Derangement Syndrome”; some see this as useful persuasion analysis, others as a rhetorical shield to dismiss legitimate criticism.
- There is extensive debate on conservatism, empathy, and “both parties are the same,” with conflicting claims over which side distorts reality more.
Manifesting, woo, and rationality
- Long subthread on Adams’ “affirmations” chapters (e.g., writing goals repeatedly, stock‑market “premonitions”).
- Some interpret this as magical thinking or multiverse‑style reality steering; others reframe it as focused attention and self‑conditioning that can change behavior but not physics.
- Several argue that such “woo” spans both left and right, overlapping with self‑help, The Secret, and “law of attraction” cultures.
Prostate cancer and PSA screening
- Multiple personal stories of prostate cancer (including late‑stage diagnoses) and treatment: hormone therapy, radiation, chemo, immunotherapy.
- Commenters explain why routine PSA screening fell out of favor: high false‑positive rates, overdiagnosis of slow cancers, invasive biopsies, and limited mortality benefit.
- Others, especially with family history, insist on PSA tests and imaging, arguing that overtreatment risks are acceptable compared to surprise metastatic disease.
- Some question Biden’s diagnostic timeline; others note that guidelines often stop PSA testing around 70–75, even for prominent patients.
Empathy, enemies, and mortality
- Adams’ expressed sympathy for Biden’s family is noted as more generous than current norms; some regret that such empathy often appears only after personal illness.
- Long discussion on “radius of empathy” and whether left‑ vs right‑leaning people differ in baseline empathy or just in who counts as their in‑group.
Art vs. artist and cancel culture
- Many separate enjoyment of classic Dilbert from disapproval of Adams’ later views; others discarded books/merch because the association now feels too uncomfortable.
- Arguments cover boycotts vs “voting with your wallet,” how much responsibility we bear for funding living creators, and historical examples of beloved but awful figures in arts and science.
- Some stress that “cancel culture” has always existed in different forms; what’s new is which views are socially sanctioned or punished.
Trust, anonymity, and workplaces
- Dilbert‑like stories of “anonymous” surveys and suggestion boxes being deanonymized are common, breeding long‑term distrust.
- A few describe serious efforts to design genuinely anonymous survey systems, noting how hard this is once free text and privileged access are involved.
Skepticism and timing
- A minority question Adams’ reliability and wonder if the prognosis might be overstated or later “walked back,” citing past performative or confusing health claims.
- Others, referencing recent video appearances, find his condition visibly serious and see no plausible upside in faking terminal cancer.