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* ObviouslyFakeSignature: In some strips, Dogbert sells autographs supposedly made by famous people. In one such strip, he offers a baseball signed by Jesus. In another, he offers a ball signed by Martin Luther. When the prospective customer says he was looking for one signed by Martin Luther ''King'', Dogbert tells him to come back in a few minutes.
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* CrazyWorkplace: The strip centers itself on the absurdities occurring at Dilbert's workplace, featuring [[OnlySaneByComparison Dilbert]] himself, his PointyHairedBoss, and a gaggle of rotating co-workers and even absurd creatures like {{Funny Animal}}s.
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Renamed to Clone Angst, cutting non-examples, ZCEs, and no-context potholes.


-->'''"Wally":''' [[CloningBlues Well, that just ruined my day.]]

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-->'''"Wally":''' [[CloningBlues Well, that just ruined my day.]]
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* UnionsSuck: In one Sunday strip, Dogbert forms a union that he says will help Dilbert and his coworkers. However, the last panel has him saying they should talk about union dues, implying he actually started it for his own benefit.
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Scott Adams' newspaper comic about Dilbert, a software engineer in a soulless and bureaucratic corporate machine. The strip is principally a {{Satire}} of the corporate world.

It wasn't always, though. Originally when it began in 1989, the comic focused mostly on Dilbert's personal life, with his workplace being an incidental setting. However, Adams worked at a similar high-tech company at the time and his spot-on jabs at the culture made the office-themed strips the most popular. After realizing this, Adams gradually reworked the comic to focus almost entirely on Dilbert's workplace. In the process, the other employees at the company became more prominent characters while prior supporting characters became TheArtifact and were {{Demoted To Extra}}s unless they could integrate themselves into the workplace setting.

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Scott Adams' ''Dilbert'' is a newspaper comic strip written and illustrated by Scott Adams about Dilbert, a software engineer in a soulless and bureaucratic corporate machine. The strip is principally a {{Satire}} of {{satire}} about workplace life and the corporate world.

It wasn't always, though. Originally when it When the strip began in 1989, the comic focused mostly on Dilbert's personal life, with his workplace being an incidental setting. However, Adams worked at a similar high-tech company at the time time, and his spot-on jabs at the culture made the office-themed strips the most popular. After realizing this, Adams gradually reworked the comic to focus almost entirely on Dilbert's workplace. In the process, the other employees at the company became more prominent characters while prior supporting characters became TheArtifact [[TheArtifact artifacts]] and were {{Demoted To Extra}}s unless they could integrate themselves into the workplace setting.



It was also made into a short-lived, but [[WesternAnimation/{{Dilbert}} critically acclaimed animated show]], and [[TheBoardGame a board game]].

''Dilbert'''s syndicated run ended in March 2023 following the fallout from racist remarks made by Adams. Adams then paywalled the [[http://www.dilbert.com/ Dilbert website]] and announced that he would be rebooting the strip in a more adult style, titled ''Dilbert Reborn''.


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It was also made into a short-lived, but [[WesternAnimation/{{Dilbert}} a short-lived but critically acclaimed animated show]], and [[TheBoardGame a board game]].

''Dilbert'''s syndicated run ended in March 2023 following the fallout from racist remarks made by Adams. Adams then paywalled the [[http://www.dilbert.com/ Dilbert the strip's website]] and announced that he would be rebooting the strip in a more adult style, titled style under the name ''Dilbert Reborn''.

Reborn''.
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* RecursiveReality: Dilbert becomes conscious of the fact that his world is a living parody and is shocked to learn that there is a comic called "Dilbert" detailing his life. When Dogbert reveals that their reality is the creation of a three dimensional being who frequently uses Dogbert as a mouthpiece Dilbert rejects the whole situation as absurd and moves on.

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* RecursiveReality: Dilbert becomes conscious of the fact that his world is a living parody and is shocked to learn that there is a comic called "Dilbert" detailing his life. When Dogbert reveals that their reality is the creation of a three dimensional being who frequently uses Dogbert as a mouthpiece Dilbert rejects the whole situation as absurd and moves on.on (although it [[https://web.archive.org/web/20230304194750/https://dilbert.com/strip/2021-08-03 eventually does become his religion]]).
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* BuffetBuffoonery: [[https://web.archive.org/web/20230228085304/https://dilbert.com/strip/1990-01-05 An always-open all-you-can-eat]] tempts Dogbert to stay there forever, foreshadowing the cartoon where it actually happens to Dilbert's dad.
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* WearingItAllWrong: One early strip (back during the George H.W. Bush administration) has Dogbert comment that the US President is still a normal guy: "He puts his pants on one leg at a time, just like the rest of us." The final panel shows the President not just wearing his pants on his head, but trying to shove his upper body into one leg. His wife facepalms and thinks, ''Not again...''

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* WearingItAllWrong: [[https://web.archive.org/web/20230301200746/https://dilbert.com/strip/1989-12-28 One early strip strip]] (back during the George H.W. Bush administration) has Dogbert comment that the US Vice President UsefulNotes/DanQuayle is still a normal guy: "He puts his pants on one leg at a time, just like the rest of us." The final panel shows the President Veep not just wearing his pants on his head, but trying to shove his upper body into one leg. His wife facepalms and thinks, ''Not again...''
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* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: For the first couple of years, the strip focused less on office humor and more on Dilbert's personal life; overall, it read like a "ComicStrip/{{Garfield}} for Nerds." Then Adams learned the office strips were the most popular, and the rest is history. In addition, the office-based characters didn't start stabilizing into the lineup we know until around 1992 (prior to that Dilbert's co-workers had been largely interchangeable); by 1994 the characters had been set in stone. There was also more political satire in earlier strips, something Adams largely abandoned, on the grounds that he wasn't good at political humor, and that jokes about UsefulNotes/DanQuayle and UsefulNotes/MikhailGorbachev tend not to age well.

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* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: For the first couple of years, the strip focused less on office humor humor[[labelnote:*]](readers didn't even get confirmation that Dilbert worked in an office until [[https://web.archive.org/web/20230302002441/https://dilbert.com/strip/1989-08-04 nearly four months]] after the comic started)[[/labelnote]] and more on Dilbert's personal life; overall, it read like a "ComicStrip/{{Garfield}} for Nerds." Then Adams learned the office strips were the most popular, and the rest is history. In addition, the office-based characters didn't start stabilizing into the lineup we know until around 1992 (prior to that Dilbert's co-workers had been largely interchangeable); by 1994 the characters had been set in stone. There was also more political satire in earlier strips, something Adams largely abandoned, on the grounds that he wasn't good at political humor, and that jokes about UsefulNotes/DanQuayle and UsefulNotes/MikhailGorbachev tend not to age well.
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* SoulCrushingDeskJob: Every character in Dilbert works such a job[[labelnote:exceptions]](except for Dogbert and Ratbert [[NewJobAsThePlotDemands who have whatever job is needed]] to ''make'' the desk jobs soul-crushing, rarely-seen [[TheArtifact artifact characters]] like Bob, Dilmom or the [[AlmightyJanitor garbageman]], and some one-shot characters like [[https://web.archive.org/web/20230301170158/https://dilbert.com/strip/2009-01-18 the plant waterer]])[[labelnote]]. The strip takes place in a bureaucratic hell-hole (with a boss who may literally be Satan) of an office populated by illogical and uncooperative employees who all seem to enjoy making each other miserable.

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* SoulCrushingDeskJob: Every character in Dilbert works such a job[[labelnote:exceptions]](except for Dogbert and Ratbert [[NewJobAsThePlotDemands who have whatever job is needed]] to ''make'' the desk jobs soul-crushing, rarely-seen [[TheArtifact artifact characters]] like Bob, Dilmom or the [[AlmightyJanitor garbageman]], and some one-shot characters like [[https://web.archive.org/web/20230301170158/https://dilbert.com/strip/2009-01-18 the plant waterer]])[[labelnote]].waterer]])[[/labelnote]]. The strip takes place in a bureaucratic hell-hole (with a boss who may literally be Satan) of an office populated by illogical and uncooperative employees who all seem to enjoy making each other miserable.
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* SoulCrushingDeskJob: Every character in Dilbert works such a job. The strip takes place in a bureaucratic hell-hole (with a boss who may literally be Satan) of an office populated by illogical and uncooperative employees who all seem to enjoy making each other miserable.

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* SoulCrushingDeskJob: Every character in Dilbert works such a job.job[[labelnote:exceptions]](except for Dogbert and Ratbert [[NewJobAsThePlotDemands who have whatever job is needed]] to ''make'' the desk jobs soul-crushing, rarely-seen [[TheArtifact artifact characters]] like Bob, Dilmom or the [[AlmightyJanitor garbageman]], and some one-shot characters like [[https://web.archive.org/web/20230301170158/https://dilbert.com/strip/2009-01-18 the plant waterer]])[[labelnote]]. The strip takes place in a bureaucratic hell-hole (with a boss who may literally be Satan) of an office populated by illogical and uncooperative employees who all seem to enjoy making each other miserable.
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** Interestingly the TV show not only played it straight, but dealt with a more realistic problem and outcome where they have to update the company's outdated mainframe rather than the crazy, apocalyptic themes of other [=Y2K=] based comedy.

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** Interestingly the TV show not only played it straight, but dealt with a more realistic problem and outcome where they have to update the company's outdated mainframe rather than the crazy, apocalyptic themes of other [=Y2K=] based comedy. That's a different episode and [[DangerousOrbitalDebris a different cause]].
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* PointyHairedBoss: TropeNamer

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%% * PointyHairedBoss: TropeNamer



* PowersuitMonkey: Zimbu, who becomes a rival for Dilbert's job.

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%% * PowersuitMonkey: Zimbu, who becomes a rival for Dilbert's job.



* ProfessionalSlacker: Wally.
* ProtagonistTitle: First name variant.

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%% * ProfessionalSlacker: Wally.
* ProtagonistTitle: First name variant.Comic's protagonist is Dilbert and the comic is called...Dilbert.



* TheSlacker: Wally.

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%% * TheSlacker: Wally.



* WeaselCoWorker: Every subordinate tries this at least some of the time. Wally in particular.

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%% * WeaselCoWorker: Every subordinate tries this at least some of the time. Wally in particular.

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removed aversions as those aren't typically listed and replaced a disambig'd trope


* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Deliberately averted in the Elbonians, who have an utterly nonsensical combination of cultural traits to justify using them as stand-ins for any situation involving crazy/evil/stupid foreigners without offending anyone.
* FantasyKitchenSink

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* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Deliberately averted in the Elbonians, who have an utterly nonsensical combination of cultural traits to justify using them as stand-ins for any situation involving crazy/evil/stupid foreigners without offending anyone.
%% * FantasyKitchenSink



* MakeMeWannaShout: When Loud Howard gets hysterical, his voice is known to hurl people backward several feet and cause building walls to crumble.



* MediaScaremongering: Though not technically featured in any particular strip, Scott Adams has [[http://blog.dilbert.com/post/102964934001/fact-checking-adams-law-of-slow-moving-disasters noted]] that whenever humanity has become aware of a serious problem years in advance, it has been averted. When the PowersThatBe said, "Panic!", people went out and '''solved the problem.'''
-->Can anyone give me an example of a potential global disaster that the '''general public''' saw coming, ''with at least a ten year warning'', and it actually happened as predicted?



* SuperScream: When Loud Howard gets hysterical, his voice is known to hurl people backward several feet and cause building walls to crumble.



* TVGenius: Averted with the garbageman, who is the smartest man in the world and yet ''continues to be a garbageman''.
** It apparently makes perfect sense, but you have to be the smartest man in the world to understand why.



* UndeadAuthor: parodied

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%% * UndeadAuthor: parodied

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Hollywood Dateless is no Allegedly Dateless, and character only counts if the character has dates and it treated like they don't


* AllegedlyDateless: Dilbert does get a lot of first dates, but they almost always end badly. He did have an actual relationship several years ago, but there were constant references to this violating the very laws of nature. (Also [[WordOfGod Adams discovered he couldn't draw the girlfriend character to look older than twelve.]])



* HollywoodDateless: Dilbert does get a lot of first dates, but they almost always end badly. He did have an actual relationship several years ago, but there were constant references to this violating the very laws of nature. (Also [[WordOfGod Adams discovered he couldn't draw the girlfriend character to look older than twelve.]])
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* PiecemealFundsTransfer: The PointyHairedBoss says that he can only approve purchase orders up to $10,000, so he can't get the engineers the $1 million equipment they need without them filling out a hundred ten-thousand-dollar purchase order requests.
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* TemporalAbortion: In one comic, Dilbert describes to the Pointy-Haired Boss how the deadline for an assignment is blatantly impossible--so instead, he's going to focus all his efforts on inventing a time machine. The PHB assumes Dilbert intends to use the time machine to go back and finish the assignment on time, but Dilbert corrects him: he's actually planning to find the PHB's parents in the past and educate them on the proper use of contraceptives.
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changing to web archive


** [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2006-10-25/ This.]]
** [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2010-12-16/ This.]]

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** [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2006-10-25/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170910072028/http://dilbert.com/strip/2006-10-25 This.]]
** [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2010-12-16/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170825015041/http://dilbert.com/strip/2010-12-16 This.]]



* InsaneTrollLogic: frequently invoked with the Boss, Catbert and other management characters. [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1999-03-20/ Here]] is a classic example:

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* InsaneTrollLogic: frequently invoked with the Boss, Catbert and other management characters. [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1999-03-20/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20161009195243/http://dilbert.com/strip/1999-03-20 Here]] is a classic example:



* ItCameFromTheFridge: In [[http://dilbert.com/strip/2014-04-20 this]] strip, the mold in the fridge gains sentience and gets a job at the company's [[InhumanResources Human Resources department]].

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* ItCameFromTheFridge: In [[http://dilbert.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20230304013405/https://dilbert.com/strip/2014-04-20 this]] strip, the mold in the fridge gains sentience and gets a job at the company's [[InhumanResources Human Resources department]].



* LostInTransmission: In this [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2004-08-09/ strip,]] the PointyHairedBoss calls Dilbert and says "Go through my desk and look up the billing codes". Due to poor cell phone reception in the Boss's area, what Dilbert hears is "Go throw my desk off the building." Due to the fact that nobody likes the boss, Dilbert and Alice do just that [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2004-08-10/ the next strip.]]

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* LostInTransmission: In this [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2004-08-09/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20150919223457/http://dilbert.com/strip/2004-08-09 strip,]] the PointyHairedBoss calls Dilbert and says "Go through my desk and look up the billing codes". Due to poor cell phone reception in the Boss's area, what Dilbert hears is "Go throw my desk off the building." Due to the fact that nobody likes the boss, Dilbert and Alice do just that [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2004-08-10/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20150926193501/http://dilbert.com/strip/2004-08-10 the next strip.]]



* MiseryPoker: The recurring character Topper is built around this trope, bragging (or complaining) that his accomplishment or suffering is greater than whoever he's talking to. [[http://dilbert.com/strip/2001-01-04 He'll go to extreme lengths to prove it.]]

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* MiseryPoker: The recurring character Topper is built around this trope, bragging (or complaining) that his accomplishment or suffering is greater than whoever he's talking to. [[http://dilbert.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20230307082902/https://dilbert.com/strip/2001-01-04 He'll go to extreme lengths to prove it.]]



* MundaneUtility: In an early strip, Dilbert invents an antigravity chemical, which is marketed as... uh... that is... look, [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1991-02-26/ just read it.]]

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* MundaneUtility: In an early strip, Dilbert invents an antigravity chemical, which is marketed as... uh... that is... look, [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1991-02-26/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20190811122239/https://dilbert.com/strip/1991-02-26 just read it.]]



* NoIntelligentLifeHere: Used in [[http://dilbert.com/strip/1993-12-13 this strip from 1993]], where Dilbert is trying to rein in his co-worker's sales pitch:

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* NoIntelligentLifeHere: Used in [[http://dilbert.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20220521151445/http://dilbert.com/strip/1993-12-13 this strip from 1993]], where Dilbert is trying to rein in his co-worker's sales pitch:



* NoMouth: Dilbert, except when he's [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2006-10-31/ suitably pissed off.]]

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* NoMouth: Dilbert, except when he's [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2006-10-31/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170910072033/http://dilbert.com/strip/2006-10-31 suitably pissed off.]]



** It's been theorized that Wally's last name is [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1992-02-16/ Norman.]]

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** It's been theorized that Wally's last name is [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1992-02-16/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20180226024130/http://dilbert.com/strip/1992-02-16 Norman.]]



* OurVampiresAreDifferent: [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2004-12-12/ One-time, but hey, it works.]]

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* OurVampiresAreDifferent: [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2004-12-12/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170823005559/http://dilbert.com/strip/2004-12-12 One-time, but hey, it works.]]



* PeoplePuppets: [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2011-04-06/ Literally, even]].

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* PeoplePuppets: [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2011-04-06/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170825171345/http://dilbert.com/strip/2011-04-06 Literally, even]].



* PlayingGamesAtWork: [[http://dilbert.com/strip/1995-01-22 This]] strip.

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* PlayingGamesAtWork: [[http://dilbert.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20230301130003/https://dilbert.com/strip/1995-01-22 This]] strip.



* PsychicPowers: Multiple examples, a couple of Dilbert's weird dates are telepathic, in one arc Ratbert displays telekinesis and ESP until a skeptic [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1998-01-17/ "disproves"]] it, and it in the late "noughties" Asok turns out to have learned some immense powers at the Indian Institute of Technology.

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* PsychicPowers: Multiple examples, a couple of Dilbert's weird dates are telepathic, in one arc Ratbert displays telekinesis and ESP until a skeptic [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1998-01-17/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170606033328/http://dilbert.com/strip/1998-01-17 "disproves"]] it, and it in the late "noughties" Asok turns out to have learned some immense powers at the Indian Institute of Technology.



* RetCon: When the nation of India made homosexuality a crime (yes, really), Scott Adams retaliated by turning Asok gay. This was announced by Dogbert [[NoFourthWall directly to the reader]]. Later, an in-universe reason of [[http://dilbert.com/strip/2013-09-28/ "rewiring neural pathways"]] is given.

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* RetCon: When the nation of India made homosexuality a crime (yes, really), Scott Adams retaliated by turning Asok gay. This was announced by Dogbert [[NoFourthWall directly to the reader]]. Later, an in-universe reason of [[http://dilbert.com/strip/2013-09-28/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20230304142745/https://dilbert.com/strip/2013-09-28 "rewiring neural pathways"]] is given.



* SixDegreesOfKevinBacon: [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1997-07-19/ Parodied]].

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* SixDegreesOfKevinBacon: [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1997-07-19/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20210724173153/https://dilbert.com/strip/1997-07-19 Parodied]].



** The PointyHairedBoss [[http://dilbert.com/strip/2012-03-11 asks an employee]] a question using a nonsensical mashup of technical jargon. The bewildered employee replies that his question makes no sense, adding, "What the heck is wrong with you?". Dilbert satisfies the PHB by giving him an even ''bigger'' trainwreck of technical jargon, which [[SuckinessIsPainful stuns the co-worker into traumatized silence]].

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** The PointyHairedBoss [[http://dilbert.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20230301211224/https://dilbert.com/strip/2012-03-11 asks an employee]] a question using a nonsensical mashup of technical jargon. The bewildered employee replies that his question makes no sense, adding, "What the heck is wrong with you?". Dilbert satisfies the PHB by giving him an even ''bigger'' trainwreck of technical jargon, which [[SuckinessIsPainful stuns the co-worker into traumatized silence]].



* TheyKilledKenny: A variation appears in the form of Ted the Generic Guy. He is repeatedly fired for more or less ridiculous reasons, only to be back to be fired again in true NegativeContinuity style. (He also died in at [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2006-05-07/ least]] [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2010-06-15/ three]] [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2008-04-25/ strips]].) Either there are a lot of guys named Ted, or this trope is in play. The cartoon implies that Ted is so generic, nobody can find or identify him, so other people get the blame for his work.

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* TheyKilledKenny: A variation appears in the form of Ted the Generic Guy. He is repeatedly fired for more or less ridiculous reasons, only to be back to be fired again in true NegativeContinuity style. (He also died in at [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2006-05-07/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20210301141052/http://dilbert.com/strip/2006-05-07 least]] [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2010-06-15/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20171113202520/http://dilbert.com/strip/2010-06-15 three]] [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2008-04-25/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170417191254/http://dilbert.com/strip/2008-04-25 strips]].) Either there are a lot of guys named Ted, or this trope is in play. The cartoon implies that Ted is so generic, nobody can find or identify him, so other people get the blame for his work.



* TrollingTranslator: [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1992-12-02/ This]] strip has translators at the UN intentionally giving wrong translations as a "reckless prank" in the words of the narrator.

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* TrollingTranslator: [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1992-12-02/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20180326050015/http://dilbert.com/strip/1992-12-02 This]] strip has translators at the UN intentionally giving wrong translations as a "reckless prank" in the words of the narrator.



* WeaponsGradeVocabulary: Alice has foul language that actually affects people. She then accidentally did it to her boss at meeting about it. [[http://dilbert.com/strip/2015-04-09 This]], then at [[http://dilbert.com/strip/2015-04-10 meeting]].

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* WeaponsGradeVocabulary: Alice has foul language that actually affects people. She then accidentally did it to her boss at meeting about it. [[http://dilbert.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20230304031114/https://dilbert.com/strip/2015-04-09 This]], then at [[http://dilbert.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20230308065950/https://dilbert.com/strip/2015-04-10 meeting]].



* WildlifeCommentarySpoof: This strip: [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1993-04-11/]]

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* WildlifeCommentarySpoof: This strip: [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1993-04-11/]][[https://web.archive.org/web/20200426174915/https://dilbert.com/strip/1993-04-11 is here]]



* YouAnsweredYourOwnQuestion: During a sales presentation in [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1995-06-04/ this strip]]
* YouDidntAsk: [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2011-06-12/ Apparently, when asking the lab to do a test, the question "Can you do it?" is not implied]].

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* YouAnsweredYourOwnQuestion: During a sales presentation in [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1995-06-04/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20180319103901/http://dilbert.com/strip/1995-06-04 this strip]]
* YouDidntAsk: [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2011-06-12/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20201112024857/https://dilbert.com/strip/2011-06-12 Apparently, when asking the lab to do a test, the question "Can you do it?" is not implied]].



* YouSayTomato: Dogbert quoted this in a 1992 strip...to compare stimulating the economy to giving himself a tax break. [[http://dilbert.com/strip/1992-03-30 Seen here.]]

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* YouSayTomato: Dogbert quoted this in a 1992 strip...to compare stimulating the economy to giving himself a tax break. [[http://dilbert.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20230308055443/https://dilbert.com/strip/1992-03-30 Seen here.]]
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changing to web archive


* AlliterativeName: A lot of the oneshot characters have alliterative names that [[{{ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin}} describe their major personality flaws]], such as [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2007-05-13/ Disgruntled Doug]], [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2001-05-20/ Jittery Jeff]], and [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2002-03-13/ Medical Mel.]]

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* AlliterativeName: A lot of the oneshot characters have alliterative names that [[{{ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin}} describe their major personality flaws]], such as [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2007-05-13/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20171127212327/http://dilbert.com/strip/2007-05-13 Disgruntled Doug]], [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2001-05-20/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20171230025709/http://dilbert.com/strip/2001-05-20 Jittery Jeff]], and [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2002-03-13/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20171006140303/http://dilbert.com/strip/2002-03-13 Medical Mel.]]



* AlwaysABiggerFish: In [[http://dilbert.com/strip/1999-02-07 one strip]], Mordac is about to confiscate Dilbert's stuff. Then Catbert shows up, furious at Mordac for having made his personal printer a shared device, and shreds him.

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* AlwaysABiggerFish: In [[http://dilbert.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20230307143833/https://dilbert.com/strip/1999-02-07 one strip]], Mordac is about to confiscate Dilbert's stuff. Then Catbert shows up, furious at Mordac for having made his personal printer a shared device, and shreds him.



** In one of the most extreme cases ''ever'', would you ever have guessed that the woman in [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1990-11-08/ this strip]] is supposed to be [[spoiler:Alice]]?

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** In one of the most extreme cases ''ever'', would you ever have guessed that the woman in [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1990-11-08/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170715171545/http://dilbert.com/strip/1990-11-08 this strip]] is supposed to be [[spoiler:Alice]]?



* AscendedExtra: Loud Howard in the animated version. In the strip he's a one-off joke - how many strips can Adams draw with Howard's speech balloons filling most of the panel? Lampshaded by Dogbert [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2006-10-11/ here]]. In the animated series the actor can shout as loud as he wants.

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* AscendedExtra: Loud Howard in the animated version. In the strip he's a one-off joke - how many strips can Adams draw with Howard's speech balloons filling most of the panel? Lampshaded by Dogbert [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2006-10-11/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170803070721/http://dilbert.com/strip/2006-10-11 here]]. In the animated series the actor can shout as loud as he wants.



* CardboardBoxOfUnemployment: [[http://dilbert.com/strip/2009-01-22 This particular strip]] plays the trope straight, showing Dilbert with a "box full of junk" as he tries to give his PointyHairedBoss a TakeThisJobAndShoveIt after he's been fired. (It doesn't go so well for Dilbert, to the extent that the strip manages to throw in a VomitDiscretionShot between the second and third panels.)

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* CardboardBoxOfUnemployment: [[http://dilbert.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20230302213015/https://dilbert.com/strip/2009-01-22 This particular strip]] plays the trope straight, showing Dilbert with a "box full of junk" as he tries to give his PointyHairedBoss a TakeThisJobAndShoveIt after he's been fired. (It doesn't go so well for Dilbert, to the extent that the strip manages to throw in a VomitDiscretionShot between the second and third panels.)



* TheChainOfHarm: Seen in [[http://dilbert.com/fast/2003-03-29/ this Dilbert strip]].

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* TheChainOfHarm: Seen in [[http://dilbert.com/fast/2003-03-29/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20171229005645/http://dilbert.com/strip/2003-03-29 this Dilbert strip]].



* ChessMotifs: The continual, seemingly haphazard process of office relocations made the employees feel like pawns. Then the PHB brought in [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1994-11-27/ the new dress code]].

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* ChessMotifs: The continual, seemingly haphazard process of office relocations made the employees feel like pawns. Then the PHB brought in [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1994-11-27/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20201112021023/http://dilbert.com/strip/1994-11-27 the new dress code]].



** Not just the business world, though - whenever the strip touches on anything outside of business, it makes it look just as bleak. This is made clear by a government agent in [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1993-07-08/ one strip]]:

to:

** Not just the business world, though - whenever the strip touches on anything outside of business, it makes it look just as bleak. This is made clear by a government agent in [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1993-07-08/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170907172613/http://dilbert.com/strip/1993-07-08 one strip]]:



* CrazyPrepared: A necessary tactic when your managers and co-workers are chronically incompetent, actively malicious, or both -- i.e. all the time at Dilbert's workplace. Even [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2000-11-05/ generic Ted]] and [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1997-09-15/ lazy Wally]] know how to bust out this trope, and Dilbert lampshaded it at least once when he was [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1992-09-06/ too prepared]]. Alice [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2003-09-07/ certainly doesn't mess around]], either.

to:

* CrazyPrepared: A necessary tactic when your managers and co-workers are chronically incompetent, actively malicious, or both -- i.e. all the time at Dilbert's workplace. Even [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2000-11-05/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170606154301/http://dilbert.com/strip/2000-11-05 generic Ted]] and [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1997-09-15/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20171113205448/http://dilbert.com/strip/1997-09-15 lazy Wally]] know how to bust out this trope, and Dilbert lampshaded it at least once when he was [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1992-09-06/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20171001192845/http://dilbert.com/strip/1992-09-06 too prepared]]. Alice [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2003-09-07/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170709054258/http://dilbert.com/strip/2003-09-07 certainly doesn't mess around]], either.



* DrivenToSuicide: [[http://dilbert.com/strip/1989-10-17 A plant does this so it can stop having to listen to Dilbert talk.]]

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* DrivenToSuicide: [[http://dilbert.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20230303234559/https://dilbert.com/strip/1989-10-17 A plant does this so it can stop having to listen to Dilbert talk.]]



* DumbassHasAPoint: Done by the PointyHairedBoss when describing the other departments as being staffed with professional liars. [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2011-02-20/ It kind of scares Dilbert]].

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* DumbassHasAPoint: Done by the PointyHairedBoss when describing the other departments as being staffed with professional liars. [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2011-02-20/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20201112021112/https://dilbert.com/strip/2011-02-20 It kind of scares Dilbert]].



* EvilInc[=/=]IncompetenceInc: Depending on the joke. The most common is motivating their employees without giving them any additional money, benefits or freedom. [[http://dilbert.com/strip/2012-12-20 This strip]] explains why.

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* EvilInc[=/=]IncompetenceInc: Depending on the joke. The most common is motivating their employees without giving them any additional money, benefits or freedom. [[http://dilbert.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20230302005257/https://dilbert.com/strip/2012-12-20 This strip]] explains why.



* EyeBeams: The CEO has them, apparently. [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome We only get to see]] [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2012-10-22/ their effects on Asok, though]].

to:

* EyeBeams: The CEO has them, apparently. [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome We only get to see]] [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2012-10-22/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170418212723/http://dilbert.com/strip/2012-10-22 their effects on Asok, though]].



* ForInconveniencePressOne: The [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2004-03-18/ automated sadistic phone system]] used in the payroll department.

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* ForInconveniencePressOne: The [[http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2004-03-18/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170609114009/http://dilbert.com/strip/2004-03-18 automated sadistic phone system]] used in the payroll department.



* GladYouThoughtOfIt: Dilbert realized that deliberately invoking this on his boss was about the only way to get funding for an idea Dilbert came up with. Considering [[GladIThoughtOfIt his]] [[PointyHairedBoss boss]], he's right. Dilbert refers to this as "bossifying" his idea, and an example can be seen [[http://dilbert.com/strip/2014-01-12 here]]...

to:

* GladYouThoughtOfIt: Dilbert realized that deliberately invoking this on his boss was about the only way to get funding for an idea Dilbert came up with. Considering [[GladIThoughtOfIt his]] [[PointyHairedBoss boss]], he's right. Dilbert refers to this as "bossifying" his idea, and an example can be seen [[http://dilbert.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20210120215223/http://dilbert.com/strip/2014-01-12 here]]...



* GoldenMeanFallacy: Parodied in [[http://dilbert.com/dyn/str_strip/000000000/00000000/0000000/000000/00000/1000/100/1159/1159.strip.gif this strip]].

to:

* GoldenMeanFallacy: Parodied in [[http://dilbert.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20170906141624/http://dilbert.com/dyn/str_strip/000000000/00000000/0000000/000000/00000/1000/100/1159/1159.strip.gif this strip]].



* HiddenDepths: In [[http://dilbert.com/strip/2016-03-20 one particular Sunday strip]], Mordac reveals that he lost the file with his job description five years ago. He thought back to when his parents taught him that he could be anything he wanted to be, which led him to act as the Preventer of Information Services.

to:

* HiddenDepths: In [[http://dilbert.[[https://web.archive.org/web/20210420144243/http://dilbert.com/strip/2016-03-20 one particular Sunday strip]], Mordac reveals that he lost the file with his job description five years ago. He thought back to when his parents taught him that he could be anything he wanted to be, which led him to act as the Preventer of Information Services.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
changing to web archive


** Explored again when the [[c main cast receives a permanent wardrobe change in October 2014]] that alters their signature suit-and-tie formals into business casuals consisting of polo shirts with lanyard-ed badges and identically colored slacks. Unsurprisingly this new dress code is aptly named "Business Dorky" and is viewed as even more dehumanizing than before. The old dress code lingered in the Sunday strips (which are drawn on a different schedule) for several more weeks before the new design was phased in.

to:

** Explored again when the [[c [[https://web.archive.org/web/20210305044853/http://dilbert.com/strip/2014-10-13 main cast receives a permanent wardrobe change in October 2014]] that alters their signature suit-and-tie formals into business casuals consisting of polo shirts with lanyard-ed badges and identically colored slacks. Unsurprisingly this new dress code is aptly named "Business Dorky" and is viewed as even more dehumanizing than before. The old dress code lingered in the Sunday strips (which are drawn on a different schedule) for several more weeks before the new design was phased in.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
changing to web archive


* AncientConspiracy: [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/1989-07-17/ Dilbert and Dogbert puzzling out]] that every species thought "extinct" is still around, but [[HesJustHiding hiding out]].

to:

* AncientConspiracy: [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/1989-07-17/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170906143220/http://dilbert.com/strip/1989-07-17 Dilbert and Dogbert puzzling out]] that every species thought "extinct" is still around, but [[HesJustHiding hiding out]].



* AssPull: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] as a LiteralMetaphor [[http://www.dilbert.com/2013-10-21/ here]], when the accounting trolls are asked about their budgetary processes.

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* AssPull: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] as a LiteralMetaphor [[http://www.dilbert.com/2013-10-21/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170906171827/http://dilbert.com/strip/2013-10-21 here]], when the accounting trolls are asked about their budgetary processes.



%%* BrutalHonesty: [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2003-09-28/ A rare moment when the PHB gives it a try.]]

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%%* BrutalHonesty: [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2003-09-28/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20180720002253/http://dilbert.com/strip/2003-09-28 A rare moment when the PHB gives it a try.]]



* ComputerEqualsMonitor: All other methods having failed, Alice attempts to close Skype by [[http://www.dilbert.com/2013-11-06/ "drowning" her monitor]].

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* ComputerEqualsMonitor: All other methods having failed, Alice attempts to close Skype by [[http://www.dilbert.com/2013-11-06/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20221119015358/https://dilbert.com/strip/2013-11-06 "drowning" her monitor]].



** Explored again when the [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2014-10-13/ main cast receives a permanent wardrobe change in October 2014]] that alters their signature suit-and-tie formals into business casuals consisting of polo shirts with lanyard-ed badges and identically colored slacks. Unsurprisingly this new dress code is aptly named "Business Dorky" and is viewed as even more dehumanizing than before. The old dress code lingered in the Sunday strips (which are drawn on a different schedule) for several more weeks before the new design was phased in.

to:

** Explored again when the [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2014-10-13/ [[c main cast receives a permanent wardrobe change in October 2014]] that alters their signature suit-and-tie formals into business casuals consisting of polo shirts with lanyard-ed badges and identically colored slacks. Unsurprisingly this new dress code is aptly named "Business Dorky" and is viewed as even more dehumanizing than before. The old dress code lingered in the Sunday strips (which are drawn on a different schedule) for several more weeks before the new design was phased in.



* ItsBeenDone: Dilbert's [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/1989-07-27/ Max-10 energy transfer model]].

to:

* ItsBeenDone: Dilbert's [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/1989-07-27/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170906150700/http://dilbert.com/strip/1989-07-27 Max-10 energy transfer model]].



* KillAndReplace: Killing your customers and replacing them with body doubles that place bigger orders is a preferred technique in [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2009-02-05/ the sales department]].

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* KillAndReplace: Killing your customers and replacing them with body doubles that place bigger orders is a preferred technique in [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2009-02-05/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170906123616/http://dilbert.com/strip/2009-02-05 the sales department]].



* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: [[http://www.dilbert.com/2011-10-20/ In this strip]]

to:

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: [[http://www.dilbert.com/2011-10-20/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20180624202719/http://dilbert.com/strip/2011-10-20 In this strip]]



* MotionlessMakeover: Dogbert [[http://www.dilbert.com/fast/1993-06-21/ takes advantage of Dilbert being in a "game trance" and stacks dishes on his head.]]
* MultiBoobage: This [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2012-01-18/ strip]]

to:

* MotionlessMakeover: Dogbert [[http://www.dilbert.com/fast/1993-06-21/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20210113045442/https://dilbert.com/strip/1993-06-21 takes advantage of Dilbert being in a "game trance" and stacks dishes on his head.]]
* MultiBoobage: This [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2012-01-18/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20180105212542/http://dilbert.com/strip/2012-01-18 strip]]



* OhWaitThisIsMyGroceryList: [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2000-01-09/ "Your pros are..waffles, eggs, bananas and milk."]]

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* OhWaitThisIsMyGroceryList: [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2000-01-09/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170906142625/http://dilbert.com/strip/2000-01-09 "Your pros are..waffles, eggs, bananas and milk."]]



** [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/1989-07-05/ Jequirity]].

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** [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/1989-07-05/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170906122115/http://dilbert.com/strip/1989-07-05 Jequirity]].



* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/1994-10-14/ This strip]].

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* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/1994-10-14/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20171010132543/http://dilbert.com/strip/1994-10-14 This strip]].



* UnusualEuphemism: [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/1989-09-15/ "Oh, carp."]]
** [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/1989-07-23/ "Oh, worms!"]]
** [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/1989-10-22/ "Oh phlegm!"]]

to:

* UnusualEuphemism: [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/1989-09-15/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170906161616/http://dilbert.com/strip/1989-09-15 "Oh, carp."]]
** [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/1989-07-23/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170906134959/http://dilbert.com/strip/1989-07-23 "Oh, worms!"]]
** [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/1989-10-22/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20170906160002/http://dilbert.com/strip/1989-10-22 "Oh phlegm!"]]



* YouKnowWhatYouDid: parodied in [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2006-07-04/ this]] strip.

to:

* YouKnowWhatYouDid: parodied in [[http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2006-07-04/ [[https://web.archive.org/web/20180401064116/http://dilbert.com/strip/2006-07-04 this]] strip.

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