2009-11-05
Explanation
This comic shows a caveman presenting a freshly killed animal (with its rib cage exposed) to another caveman while shouting "MEEEAAAAAT!" The caption below reads: "Cavemen had much better pickup lines."
The joke plays on the idea that modern dating requires elaborate conversational gambits and clever pickup lines, while in prehistoric times, demonstrating that you could provide food would have been the most attractive and effective thing you could do. The caveman is essentially "picking up" a potential mate by showing off his hunting prowess -- offering raw meat as a direct demonstration of his value as a partner. In the caveman context, this is genuinely impressive and appealing, unlike the typically cringeworthy modern pickup line.
The votey panel is titled "Less Effective" and shows a caveman engulfed in flames, screaming "FIIIIIIRE!" This is a counterpoint to the main comic: while offering meat was a great caveman pickup line, showing off your discovery of fire by being on fire is decidedly less impressive. It plays on the idea that even in prehistoric times, there were ways to fail at showing off, and that some innovations are best demonstrated from a safe distance.