Editing 1534: Beer

{{comic
| number    = 1534
| date      = June 5, 2015
| title     = Beer
| image     = beer.png
| titletext = Mmmm, this is such a positive experience! I feel no social pressure to enjoy it at all!
}}

==Explanation==
[[Hairy]] offers [[Cueball]] some {{w|beer}} from his fridge, and Cueball takes the opportunity to suggest that people should admit that beer tastes bad and stop pretending to like it. Hairy berates Cueball for making such an affirmation, and Cueball admits defeat, deciding to drink the beer anyway and pretend to like it to play his part in what he perceives to be a mass delusion.

There are two possible interpretations of this comic. One is that Cueball is right and that no one really likes beer, and everyone is just pretending in order to fit in. The other is that Hairy actually likes beer, but Cueball is adamant on this stance and would sarcastically consume alcohol rather then refusing it. The second is more likely, as Hairy later suggests to Cueball that he should stop drinking the beer if he dislikes it (implying that he himself, having taken a swig earlier, does enjoy it).

In the case where Cueball is correct, the comic would imply that beer doesn't actually taste good, and people instead pretend to like beer to conform to social norms. The theory is that this pretense is perpetuated by advertising and {{w|peer pressure}}, which present beer as a naturally pleasant beverage. In this interpretation, Cueball, having failed to break the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S1d3cNge24&t=47m34s mutual knowledge barrier], admits defeat and joins Hairy in pretending to enjoy beer.

The second case would mean that Cueball mistaken in assuming that nobody likes beer, either because he fails to {{w|empathy|empathize}} with those who have a different experience than his, or because he's heard from other people who also admitted not to like beer, and extrapolated that opinion to everyone (perhaps assuming that such admissions are underrepresented due to the {{w|Drinking culture|cultural bias in favor of drinking}}). 

It can also be interpreted as poking fun at people who loudly profess their distaste for beer. Cueball brings up his dislike for the taste of beer, a criticism that many people have. Instead of not saying anything or refusing to drink, Cueball would rather continue with it so they can complain more.

The title text expands on Cueball's perspective, stating ({{w|sarcastic|sarcastically}}) that he feels "no peer pressure" to like beer. The pressure to drink beer or other alcoholic drinks is a well-known phenomenon, especially among {{w|Peer pressure#Substance use and adolescents|adolescents and young adults}}.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and Hairy standing in front of a fridge.]
:Hairy: What do you drink? Stouts? Lagers?
:Cueball: Uh, anything's fine.

:[Cueball and Hairy holding beers and Hairy is drinking.]
:Cueball: ...do you ever think maybe we should just admit that all beer tastes kind of bad and everyone's just pretending?

:[Now Cueball drinks.]
:Hairy: Man, you are ''no'' fun at all.
:Cueball: Ok, got it. Not a word.
:Hairy: Dude, if you don't like it, don't drink it.
:Cueball: No, no, gotta do my part! Mmmmm!!!

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Sarcasm]]
[[Category:Food]]