My older brothers had half of the basement devoted to trains. Plywood on sawhorses, with wires everywhere underneath. By the time I was of age, there was hardly room to squeeze in any more tracks and trains.
Then, years later, it turns out my Father in Law was a big model RR guy. His attic looked like my basement growing up. Except he liked to make his own trees, buildings, whatever.
Do things that cannot be undone or forgotten easily, and you will live forever. This can be something evil, like mass shootings, invading foreign countries, terrorrizing people, destroying famous art, …Or you can do something good. Make the world a better place, not just for you but also for the generations after you. Invent something useful, perform scientific breakthroughs, help people, …
I see on some you-tube channels dedicated to model trains that you can now drop over $2000 for a single Locomotive from Lionel, some with a hand-held controller for the lights, sound chips, smoke and much more.
I’m going to use that line from panel 3 every time someone starts another pointless conversation I don’t want to be a part of: Them “Hey did you hear that that politician from the party I don’t like did something horrible?” Me: “We live and then we die…” Or anything involving social media.
Naught?! Reminds me of the wierdness of nautical miles: A sea or nautical mile is one-sixtieth of a degree of latitude, and varies from 6046 feet on the Equator, to 6092 feet at a latitude of 60°.
I wish Rat’s line would be true. But some people die and their atrocities live on, their ideas are still poisoning the minds of people and making their and others existence pointless or a constant pain or despair and agony.
BE THIS GUY about 2 years ago
WHO DOESN’T LIKE TRAINS?!
Only heathens and barbarians hate trains!
Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus Premium Member about 2 years ago
I’d like to play with model trains even now that I’m 65. I’d be the stationmaster.
BasilBruce about 2 years ago
For that speech in panel 3, Rat should get a kick in the caboose.
B UTTONS about 2 years ago
Rat: Call me when you want to demolish it.
Stocky One about 2 years ago
Not all is forgotten, and not all is for naught. We can strive to make our mark on the world.
DennisinSeattle about 2 years ago
My older brothers had half of the basement devoted to trains. Plywood on sawhorses, with wires everywhere underneath. By the time I was of age, there was hardly room to squeeze in any more tracks and trains.
Then, years later, it turns out my Father in Law was a big model RR guy. His attic looked like my basement growing up. Except he liked to make his own trees, buildings, whatever.
So Model Railroad fever can kick in at any time!
ronaldspence about 2 years ago
Rat is missing the point of spending time with friends, gaining the joy of seeing them thrilled by what we might find not as important.
TonysSon about 2 years ago
Rat prefers “Despot” over “Depot”
Imagine about 2 years ago
No train of thought. Or thought of trains.
TampaFanatic1 about 2 years ago
Rat probably likes trains but he likes being a jerk more.
SNVBD about 2 years ago
Do things that cannot be undone or forgotten easily, and you will live forever. This can be something evil, like mass shootings, invading foreign countries, terrorrizing people, destroying famous art, …Or you can do something good. Make the world a better place, not just for you but also for the generations after you. Invent something useful, perform scientific breakthroughs, help people, …
Your choice.
cdward about 2 years ago
Rat: What are you making us for dinner?
Goat: Nothing?
Rat: What? Why?
Goat: Because we live and then we die and everything we’ve done is undone and forgotten and all is for naught.
Procat Premium Member about 2 years ago
If Goat was Gomez Addams, Rat might want to help.
jonescientific about 2 years ago
And yet, the people who say that still eat dinner.
Masterskrain about 2 years ago
I see on some you-tube channels dedicated to model trains that you can now drop over $2000 for a single Locomotive from Lionel, some with a hand-held controller for the lights, sound chips, smoke and much more.
Doug K about 2 years ago
Having and Using a line that gets you out of everything is all for naught.
Wizard4168 about 2 years ago
Gotta ask, Goat, are you sure you actually want any “help” from Rat?
Croc Holliday about 2 years ago
I agree with Rat on this point; not being a religious person, I don’t believe there’s any grand meaning to it all. We’re here, and then we’re not.
Chithing Premium Member about 2 years ago
More existential angst. I would prescribe a double dose of Camus, but it would probably just make it worse.
Willywise52 Premium Member about 2 years ago
Unless you build a railroad line.
YippiKiAyMofo about 2 years ago
I’m going to use that line from panel 3 every time someone starts another pointless conversation I don’t want to be a part of: Them “Hey did you hear that that politician from the party I don’t like did something horrible?” Me: “We live and then we die…” Or anything involving social media.
mail2jbl about 2 years ago
Only thing missing was “Vanity of vanities!” from Ecclesiastes.
uniquename about 2 years ago
♪♫ I’m still young, but I know my days are numbered
1234567 and so on
But a time will come when these numbers have all ended
And all I’ve ever seen will be forgotten… ♫♪
- At My Funeral by the Crash Test Dummies
Ellis97 about 2 years ago
Rat just loves to make excuses, doesn’t he?
Wirepuncher about 2 years ago
I sold my model trains when I was in college to get flying lessons.
Geophyzz about 2 years ago
Looks like Goat will leave someone a very fine train set.
SusieB about 2 years ago
So much of what we do is trivial. Especially most jobs that I’ve had.
Goat from PBS about 2 years ago
I sure as heck hope not, Rat. Let’s not forget the victims of the Holocaust, Communism, 9/11, slavery…
Sakura Tomoe about 2 years ago
I don’t think it’s that Rat doesn’t like trains, but he definitely doesn’t like helping.
Zebrastripes about 2 years ago
Rat is always on the wrong track….he’s such a chooch!
harebell about 2 years ago
Goat should know better than to ask.
CaveCat87 about 2 years ago
Come on, Rat, stop being such a stick in the mud! If you actually took the time to help Goat, you might actually enjoy it!
figuratively speaking about 2 years ago
That’s right so you might as well enjoy what you can while you can.
aerotica69 about 2 years ago
As P. Opus once said “We’re born, we live, we go on some diets, we die.”
bunrabbit99 about 2 years ago
my new motto!!! thank, rat!!!
iggyman about 2 years ago
I live next to a rail line by choice, worked on a local railroad as a volunteer, and have a permanent layout, I got trains instead of brains!
zeexenon about 2 years ago
Naught?! Reminds me of the wierdness of nautical miles: A sea or nautical mile is one-sixtieth of a degree of latitude, and varies from 6046 feet on the Equator, to 6092 feet at a latitude of 60°.
Eric S about 2 years ago
I forgot my flash drive I forgot my flash drive I forgot my flash drive I forgot my flash drive I forgot my flash drive :D #sheldon
Realimaginary1 Premium Member about 2 years ago
Rat can be a real P.O.S.
knight1192a about 2 years ago
HO-scale or O? Certainly doesn’t look N or G, too big for N and too small for G. Personally, looks more O
unfair.de about 2 years ago
I wish Rat’s line would be true. But some people die and their atrocities live on, their ideas are still poisoning the minds of people and making their and others existence pointless or a constant pain or despair and agony.
briggs.roy078 about 2 years ago
That’s nihilsim for ya!
jth4510 about 2 years ago
Go N scale – more track smaller area!!
Sisyphos about 2 years ago
Profoundly pessimistic, Rat. You may qualify as a French-style Existentialist….
DaBump Premium Member about 2 years ago
We’re all gunna die. Death awaits us all, with nasty, big, pointy teeth! [thanks to Disney’s Atlantis, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail
pontiac59 about 2 years ago
Rat’s not wrong, if I had a dollar for every estate that sold off someone’s model trains that I then turned for a profit… well, I’d be a hundredaire
john about 2 years ago
It is a truth, described by Solomon, about how meaningless life is if all there is that matters is “under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11).
alantain 8 months ago
I can’t help thinking… so what? If I enjoy a hobby, it’s not a complete waste of MY time.