Question for engineers.

Just guessing, but I think it shows the rumpled nature of most engineers. We are not known for being snappy dressers.

Tom

 

I'm certainly NOT an engineer, but I'm going to have to go with Creator Scott Adams's explanations...

Scott Adams said in an interview with groundreport.com "No one really knows, including me. Dilbert started as a doodle before I knew he would be famous. I don't remember what I was thinking the day I decided to curl his tie up."

A) It could be a metaphor for his inability to control his environment.
B) He's just glad to see you...

Adams has offered no definitive explanation for this, but he has explained the tie at least as a further example of Dilbert's lack of power over his environment. A second explanation given by Adams in the Dilbert FAQ is that he is just glad to see you. Adams has also hinted that the tie may be displaying an aversion to him.

AND also Dilbert's tie curves up to give him some individuality. He works at one of those office settings where he is really just another number and paycheck...nobody special. He could be replaced at any time and nobody would notice. I think the curve of his tie makes him stand out, even though nobody ever really comments on it.

Frankly, myself, I'd have to go with his trying to give himself some individuality in his "cubicle farm".

 

Maybe it's because his tie is made from terylene, a material developed by ICI in Britain during the 50s. It was used in ties for a while, not successfully. It was weird stuff, with a soapy feel and was somewhat stiff, if you can imagine that. Wouldn't hold a knot either..

Dilbert's tie reminds me of it.

 

Scott Adams can plead ignorance all he wants but the truth is that it's a chemical reaction to the ink used to print the strip, which is particularly intense in reaction to "straight lines," and causes them to contort to ridiculous extent.

 

There was a story about an engineer who knew some 'big wigs' were coming. Tired of being ignored, he threaded some copper wire in his tie and bent it in the Dilbert shape. My understanding is the 'big wigs' took no notice.

Sad to say, my wife is just the opposite and has a 'dress code' standard she insists upon ... unless I sneak out to work early enough that she doesn't catch me.

Bob Wilson

 

I always thought it was because we were sloppy eaters and always managed to dunk our ties into whatever we're eating for lunch. I usually have to send my ties out along with my shirts to be drycleaned, after only rotating through them a couple of times

 

There was one famous instance where Dilbert's tie was flat.

 

In answer to your most recent question daniel... Ties are simply a cheap way to keep food off an expensive shirt Unless you buy the expensive ties, then you're just trying to show off.

 

As an engineer, I haven't worn a tie for five years (my last interview) other than for my cousin's wedding last fall. But I have noticed my shirt collar is always turned up on the right side and curled under on the left side. I don't know why that is, unless it has something to do with how I put it in the closet...?

 

Maybe his tie has been starched at some point.

Notice the way in which a starched shirt front (as worn with an evening suit) will roll up if it comes clear of your cummerbund . . . . .

 

If they did that, i'd eat out a lot more!

 

Well, some clients expect their "hired guns" to look snappy. I'd rather dress in a tee and Wrangler jeans, and once in a blue moon I can

But usually, the client expects me to look impressive

 

What you should be asking yourself is why does Dilbert wear a tie in the first place?

 

I think it is, there was a strip where they were introducing (or expanding) casual Fridays, and this frightened Dilbert because now he'd have to think about what to wear and make fashion choices.

My shirt collar today again curls up on the right and under on the left.

 

Engineer dress varies by region. It's much more casual on the West Coast. The Midwest still labors under the old smokestack industry notion of working hard and dressing well. I used to have a hard time convincing upper management that my programmers were not goofing off when they sat and looked at the ceiling. If they weren't typing, they weren't working.

Tom