TITLE The Bastich By Hart
PANEL 1 (BASTICH sits at his computer typing away.) BASTICH: Ah, what better place to wage my Presidential campaign than among the cheerful denizens of IRC..!
PANEL 2 (FAITH walks up behind BASTICH wearing a T-shirt with a large Star Trek Starfleet insignia.) CAPTION: Later... FAITH: Are you having any luck, 'Stich? BASTICH: No, not really. It's hard to get noticed on these chat lines...
PANEL 3 (FAITH talks as BASTICH pensively holds his hand to his chin.) FAITH: That's funny I've never had any trouble getting attention on IRC... BASTICH: Hmmm...I wonder why...
PANEL 4 (BASTICH suddenly points into the air.) BASTICH: Well, DUH..!
PANEL 5 (FAITH once again walks up to BASTICH as he types away at his computer.) CAPTION: Later still... FAITH: How's it going now, 'Stich? BASTICH: Much better, now that I've changed my "Real Name" field to "Barbara Anne Stich." Now EVERYONE wants to talk about the issues with me!
PANEL 6 (BASTICH turns toward FAITH with a smile.) FAITH: You're posing as a woman to get voter support online..? Wow, I wouldn't have thought these guys would be that open minded... BASTICH: Yeah, it's amazing what five minutes in a private..."chat room"...will get you these days..!
CREDITS (c) 1996 Joshua Adam Hart
Commentary
Bastich's presidential run continues. I'm not sure of the accuracy of the "cheerful denizens of IRC" but we'll run with it.
I cringe at this one nowadays, but of course Bastich would cash in on the knuckleheaded misogyny that would fuel GamerGate and all sorts of incel gatekeeping in geekdom for decades to come.