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==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
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{{w|Roomba}} is a brand of domestic cleaning robots manufactured by the company {{w|iRobot}}. The robots are designed to automatically vacuum floors. Although these robots are controlled by a quite simple software without any artificial intelligence, some owners tend to humanize them in the same way that others humanize their pets. There are [[:Category:Roomba|several other comics]] related to a Roomba.
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{{w|Roomba}} is a brand of domestic cleaning robots manufactured by the company {{w|iRobot}}. The robots are designed to automatically vacuum floors. Although these robots are controlled by a quite simple software without any artificial intelligence, some owners tend to humanize them like pets.
  
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[[Megan]] presents a {{w|pet carrier}} to [[Cueball]] the {{w|veterinarian}} assistant. She says that her "dog" is “crawling around eating dirt”, which sounds like certain types of behavioral problems one encounters in dogs, but is precisely what Roombas are made for. (However, the vacuum bag may need to be cleaned.) The vet then comments that it is a Roomba, to which Megan responds that the device (which has nothing to do with an animal) is a cross-breed, and agrees that there probably is “some Roomba” in it. She thus acknowledges the existence of Roombas, but still treats them as if it were an animal. It's common to talk about domestic dogs this way, but cross-breeding dogs with machines is impossible.{{Citation needed}} The vet then goes on to say, with endless patience, that a Roomba is not a pet. This is taken by Megan as if the doctor said that her Roomba-like device is a non-domesticated animal (like a monkey, a fox, or the birds referred to in the title text) that can but should not be kept in captivity. In the last panel she consequently releases the vacuum cleaner and it whirs to its 'freedom'.
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There are several other comics related to a Roomba:
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* [[413: New Pet]]
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* [[506: Theft of the Magi]]
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* [[908: The Cloud]]
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* [[1183: Rose Petals]]
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* [[1193: Externalities]]
  
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The second customer, [[Hairy]], has his dog on a leash, but is also carrying a pet transporter for the dog. Most likely he has arrived with the dog in the transporter (perhaps using public transportation) but has now taken it out so it can walk for itself, making the carrier much lighter.
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[[Megan]] presents a {{w|pet carrier}} to what appears to be a veterinarian. She says that her "dog" is “crawling around eating dirt”, which sounds like certain types of behavioral problems one encounters in dogs, but is precisely what Roombas are made for.  What makes the cartoon even more hilarious is that when the vet comments that it is a Roomba, Megan responds that the device (which has nothing of an animal) is a hybrid, while only reluctantly admitting that it has “some Roomba” in it. The vet then goes on to say, with endless patience, that a Roomba is not a pet. This is taken by Megan as if the doctor said that the Roomba-like device is a non-domesticated animal (like a monkey, a fox, or the birds referred to in the title text) that can but should not be kept in captivity. In the last panel she consequently releases the vacuum cleaner and it whirs to its freedom.  
  
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The {{w|Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918|Migratory Bird Treaty act}} from the title text contains a list of over 800 bird species that are not allowed to be captured or killed. If the Roomba were to be classified as a native American bird and were added to the list, keeping them as pets would constitute capturing and would be considered illegal. This, of course, shows how confused Megan is. She previously stated the Roomba to be a dog and now apparently believes it is a bird, even though dogs are not birds{{Citation needed}} and neither is the Roomba.{{Citation needed}}
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The second customer has a dog on a leash but is also carrying a pet transporter which is clearly too small for the dog. Perhaps he has another small dog in there, or perhaps the implication is that he too has a Roomba.
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The {{w|Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918|Migratory Bird Treaty act}} from the title text contains a list of over 800 bird species that are not allowed to be captured or killed. If the Roomba were to be classified as a native American bird and were added to the list, keeping them as pets would constitute capturing and would be considered illegal.
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
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:[Megan arrives with a pet carrier, Cueball stands at a desk as a veterinarian, and Hairy is waiting behind a rope, standing next in line with a dog on a leash and a pet carrier.]
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:[ [[Megan]] arrives with a pet carrier, [[Cueball]] standing at a desk as a veterinarian, with [[Hairy]] waiting behind in line with a dog and a pet carrier.]
 
:Megan: There's something wrong with my dog. He keeps crawling around eating dirt.
 
:Megan: There's something wrong with my dog. He keeps crawling around eating dirt.
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:[Cueball holds content of Megan's pet carrier, a roomba. Cueball discusses with Megan.]
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:[Cueball takes out the contents of the carrier, revealing a Roomba, and Megan waits for Cueball's input. She is standing behind the desk with the carrier on the desk.]
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:Cueball: This is a roomba.
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:Cueball: This is a Roomba.
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:Megan: Well, he's a mix. Probably some roomba in there.
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:Megan: Well, he's a mix.  
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:[The roomba lies on the table, Cueball discusses with Megan.]
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:Megan: Probably some Roomba in there.
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:Cueball: A roomba is not a pet.
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:[The Roomba now lies on the table next to the carrier between the two.]
 
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:Cueball: A Roomba is not a pet.
 
 
:Megan: You're right. It's wrong to keep a beautiful creature like this in a house.
 
:Megan: You're right. It's wrong to keep a beautiful creature like this in a house.
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:[Megan is outside left to a tree, encouraging the roomba to drive away from Megan which it does.]
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:[Megan is outside left to a tree, arms up in the air, encouraging the Roomba to drive away.]
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:Megan: Go! Be free!
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:Megan: Go!  
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:Roomba: WHIRRR
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:Megan: Be free!
 
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:Roomba: ''Whirrr''
 
  
 
{{comic discussion}}
 
{{comic discussion}}
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[[Category:Robots]]
 
[[Category:Robots]]
 
[[Category:Roomba]]
 
[[Category:Roomba]]
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[[Category:Animals]]
 

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