2010-01-02
Explanation
This comic is titled "Debate Tips: Slippery Slope Arguments Usually Slip Both Ways." It shows two men in conversation, with one demonstrating an absurd slippery slope argument. He argues that if we illegalize gay marriage, then all marriage is in danger, and next we will have to illegalize straight marriage, and then even "marriage to Jesus." The joke takes the common anti-gay-marriage slippery slope argument (which typically claims that legalizing gay marriage will lead to increasingly absurd consequences) and reverses its direction to show that the same flawed logic works just as ridiculously in the opposite direction.
The comic makes a point about the logical fallacy of slippery slope arguments in political debates. Slippery slope reasoning claims that one action will inevitably lead to a chain of increasingly extreme outcomes, but as the comic demonstrates, you can construct an equally absurd chain of consequences going the other way. By applying the same rhetorical structure to argue that banning gay marriage would somehow lead to banning all marriage, Weinersmith exposes the inherent weakness of the argumentative technique itself rather than taking a side on any particular issue.
The votey panel continues the theme with another absurd slippery slope: "If we put the 10 Commandments up in public spaces, then we'''ll have to put up 11, 12, 13! Pretty soon, all building material on earth is used up!" This extends the satire to another culture-war topic, showing how slippery slope logic can make any position sound catastrophic if you let the chain of consequences run wild enough.