Dilbert

Dilbert is a fictional character and the main character and protagonist of the comic strip of the same name, created by Scott Adams. The character has ideas which are typically sensible and occasionally even revolutionary, but they are rarely pursued because he is powerless. He is frustrated by the incompetence and malevolence of his co-workers (most often the Pointy-Haired Boss) and often is sarcastic and snide. He was voiced by Daniel Stern in the television show. Character description In May 1995, the Press Enterprise called Dilbert a once-in-a-decade "angst-ridden anti-hero, a Nietzschean nebbish, an us-against-the-Universe Everyperson around whom our insecurities collect like iron shavings to a magnet". Michael Smith, a marketing professor at Temple University, called Dilbert "the Snoopy of the business world". Dilbert's unusual name was suggested to Scott Adams by a co-worker; Adams later found that the name likely came from a cartoon character, Dilbert Groundloop, an inept aviator used by the United States Navy during World War II. In an interview with The New York Times Adams said that he based Dilbert's character on someone he knew, saying: "I worked around engineers for most of my 16 years of corporate life. Dilbert is actually designed after one person in particular. Interestingly, that person is not aware that he is the model for Dilbert. I didn’t know him well and never mentioned it to him." In December 1995, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle noted Dilbert's "thick glasses, to deflect all attempts at eye contact", his "two pens in pocket, in case one goes bad in a crucial situation", his "oversized waistline, the result of a zero-impact exercise plan", and pants, "strategically cuffed above the ankle to remain dry in case of sudden floods". Dilbert usually has no visible mouth or eyes. In more recent strips the mouth has been drawn on occasions when Dilbert is eating, furious, nervous, or in agony. On October 10, 2013, Dilbert's mouth was drawn for the first time as he was speaking normally. Necktie In nearly every strip, Dilbert's tie is curved upward. Scott Adams, the creator of the Dilbert comic strip, explained the tie as a further example of Dilbert's lack of power over his environment, and there is "no sexual or satanic meaning" to it. A second explanation given by Adams in the Dilbert FAQ is that "he is just glad to see you".