Suggestion: Super OCD

The current isn't terrible. It relies a lot on the text, and is rather heavy on the casual use of the term 'OCD' (as basically a synonym for being preoccupied with unimportant details), but I would call to wait for a better image.

I believe this is a better image. It shows the same level of obsessiveness, and is better at showing both that this is a compulsion and that it is a disorder by the fact that Wadsworth is clearly worried and anxious about checking that things are as he needs them to be. The fact that the only text is his unspoken Madness Mantra doesn't hurt either.

The current suggests he's doing it naturally without thinking about it, and the suggestion is about being obsessive about it and can't focus on anything else. The former's more what's common in fiction, and the latter a little closer to how it is in Real Life (but still focusing on the wrong thing).

...sort of. The use in fiction is focused on the eccentric behaviour and rituals, whereas in real life the important part is what the rituals signify. So yes, the Broodhollow example is closer to actual psychiatry. But it's also closer to the use in fiction, because the current doesn't show that ritualistic element as well.

I won't deny that that issue is a motivating factor for me in all the Madness Tropes. :P

edited 30th May '13 7:40:11 PM by Noaqiyeum

"...casual use of the term 'OCD' (as basically a synonym for being preoccupied with unimportant details)..."

I hate that. We have to say "super OCD" to mean "actually the psychological disorder, not just 'obsessive'". OCD is a debilitating condition.

edited 30th May '13 4:11:08 PM by rodneyAnonymous

Let's not get sidetracked here by bitching about inaccurate depictions in media (otherwise, we'd be here all day) and let's get back to the point of this topic. I like the OP's suggestion. It fits both, the "casual" definition and the medically accurate definition in a way that ANYONE - regardless of understanding - would agree is OCD.

Plus, I feel Penny Arcade gets a little over-referenced sometimes and it's somewhat refreshing to see a web comic that isn't Penny Arcade.

edited 30th May '13 7:32:02 PM by peasant

How's this?

Markedly better than the current.

The question in my mind though is whether the final panel alone would suffice.

I just don't like the texture of it. It gives me a weird feeling.

Edit: Non-resized crop of just the last panel:

edited 31st May '13 6:53:16 AM by AnotherDuck

to 6 from me.

I actually uploaded the same pic as last night, but the gist of the suggestion seemed to me to be what is covered in the two-panel version.

Either works, I think... so I guess I lean toward the single-panel version, if everyone agrees the previous panel is gratuitous.

I approve of 10.

I actually like the current better. A significant part of the trope is about the misrepresentation of OCD in fiction, so them casually bantering it about like that makes it illustrative of more of the trope.

Though I like the suggestion, especially since I'm certain there's more Penny Arcade on the site than... whatever that is. But I just think the current is better.

In that respect, I would say that the current is poor because it isn't critical of the misconception (like Unfortunate Implications tropes are, for example).

Crowner's hooked.

Pre-weekend bump for votes.

Well, it's not much of a consensus, but it's enough. The new pic's up, potholed, and tagged, and the example is added to the page. Caption or no? I lean toward no.

There's enough text in the image already.

Agreed.

I agree with this as well.

Good enough. Locking up.