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Maslow's Pyramid

Title text: The local police, building inspector, and fire marshal are all contesting my 'safety' assertion, or would be if they could reach me past all the traps.

Explanation

This explanation may be incomplete or incorrect: Created by a PHYSICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF A METAPHORICAL HEURISTIC MODEL - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a psychological model of human needs. It posits that humans needs are prioritized from basic physiological requirements to more abstract forms of comfort and happiness. The idea is frequently represented by a pyramid-shaped diagram ("Maslow's Pyramid,") with basic foundational needs near the bottom creating the stability to enable self-actualization at the top.

In this comic, Cueball has interpreted Maslow's Pyramid too literally. He attempts to achieve true happiness by physically building a pyramid that resembles a common representation of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, instead of attempting to meet the needs within the pyramid. Cueball complains that the pyramid provides only fulfills one of the five needs listed on its side: literal safety, plus shelter from the elements. The pyramid is useless for his social and emotional needs: everyone, including Cueball, thinks the pyramid was a poor idea.

The title text indicates that the pyramid probably doesn't meet the safety requirements established by local building codes, even though Cueball feels that it provides him with physical safety. This is apparently implemented with various traps, which are preventing the authorities from getting into the pyramid to verify compliance or serve him with a notice of non-compliance.

Transcript

This transcript is incomplete. Please help editing it! Thanks.

[Cueball is facing White Hat and Megan and pointing to a giant pyramid modeled after Maslow's hierarchy of needs, with each tier labeled after its need on the pyramid, and a comment next to it in the comic. From top to bottom:]

Self-actualization: [Red X] Honestly questioning my life choices here

Esteem: [Red X] People seem less impressed by it than I hoped

Belonging and Love: [Red X] Friends are worried about me

Safety: [Green Checkmark] Highly defensible

Physiological needs: [Red X] Provides basic shelter but no food, water, heat, etc

[Caption below the panel:]

I built Maslow's pyramid thing, but it's a total ripoff - it's only providing 20% of my needs.

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