The Day Pedantry Won: When a Marketing Presentation Became an Asterix Comic
Let’s set the scene: It’s the mid-2000s, you’re trapped in the beige wilds of a marketing department, and your colleague Paul is pacing furiously, dictating a PowerPoint presentation in real time. Suddenly, he insists that you put an “Asterix” in front of every bullet point. You, a self-confessed pedant with a score to settle, can practically smell the opportunity. What follows is a masterclass in malicious compliance, linguistic nit-picking, and the unexpected power of French comics.
If you’ve ever had a coworker who insisted they’re right, even when the dictionary says otherwise, this story is for you. Also, if you grew up loving Asterix the Gaul, get ready for a nostalgic twist you never saw coming.
The Great “Asterix” vs. “Asterisk” Debate
Our hero (let’s call them OP, as Reddit does) had just emerged from an argument with Paul about how to pronounce the letter “H” (aitch vs. haitch—yes, this is the kind of department it was). So when Paul demanded an “Asterix” on every bullet, OP’s inner language cop could not resist.
Cue the classic exchange:
“You mean asterisk, not Asterix,” OP said.
“It’s an ASTERIX. ...RIX. It’s a little star if you don't know what it is,” Paul retorted.
What followed was a stubborn refusal by Paul to accept correction, even after an offer to fetch the dictionary. Multiple commenters, like u/Cyanide_de_Bergerac, pointed out that the “asterix” pronunciation isn’t just a one-off mistake—it's a linguistic shift that’s so common even dictionaries sometimes acknowledge it. One even noted that “haitch” is perfectly legit in some English dialects, proving that language is rarely black-and-white.
But OP, powered by the righteous fury of yesterday’s argument, was determined to comply maliciously.
When Malicious Compliance Meets Childhood Nostalgia
Here’s where the story takes a legendary turn. For those unfamiliar, Asterix is not a little star, but the star of a beloved French comic series, “Asterix the Gaul.” Our OP, with a twinkle in their eye and Google Images at the ready, pasted triumphant images of Asterix the Gaul wagging his finger into every bullet point.
Paul, expecting a neatly bulleted list, instead got a parade of mustachioed, wing-helmeted cartoon Gauls.
“WHAT’S THIS? A VIKING?” Paul demanded.
“I’m confused. It’s Asterix. He’s a Gaul, not a Viking. It’s what you demanded. I did double check with you.”
Reddit exploded with laughter and puns. Top-voted comments like u/Hairy_Nectarine_687’s “Next thing you know, he will say that the Washington monument looks like an Obelix” riffed on the comic's secondary character. Others, like u/Number_169, joked that OP was a bit “Dogmatix” about pronunciation, referencing Asterix’s loyal canine.
Meanwhile, some (naturally, in true Reddit fashion) debated the finer points of comic book history—was Asterix really French or Belgian? (Answer: He’s French, as confirmed by multiple pedantic commenters. Tintin is Belgian!) And for the medically inclined, u/drewmana chimed in with a curveball: “Asterixis is a flapping tremor found in patients with liver disease related encephalopathy.” OP admitted that would have been trickier to depict in PowerPoint, but hey, options are options.
When Being Right Feels So, So Good (or Does It?)
The best part? This was not just a one-off. Apparently, Paul had a habit of doubling down on his mistakes, whether it was “aitch/haitch” or “Asterix/asterisk.” Yet, OP’s “compliance” finally brought the saga to an end. As OP recalled, “It was his second loss in two days and if memory serves, the last time we had an argument like that.”
Commenters were divided on whether this was true malicious compliance or just a glorious exercise in pedantry. u/GermanBlackbot argued, “This is basically the definition of Malicious Compliance. Following an instruction exactly despite knowing the outcome is not intended by the instructor.” Others, like u/Spl4sh3r, countered that since Paul clearly meant the little star, OP was just being difficult for the sake of it.
But isn’t that the point sometimes? As u/mikemojc philosophized: “A person is never so convicted of their error as when their own words are used against them.” And as u/CoderJoe1 quipped, “I bet it galled him.” OP’s reply? “It certainly did. He couldn’t believe I had the gall.”
The Power of Puns, Pedantry, and Petty Victories
Like any great office tale, this one is made legendary by the peanut gallery. The comment section erupted in wordplay worthy of the comic itself: “I’Menhir for these puns,” “OP is a bit Dogmatix,” “He’s certainly creating a Cacaphonix with his obstinacy.” Even Julius Caesar got a nod: “You have a lot of Gaul…” “But not enough!”—the kind of banter only a shared love of comics and language can inspire.
Some readers, like u/moresnowplease, fondly recalled reading the comics as kids. Others, like u/apexdryad and OP themselves, shared stories of their own workplace pronunciation battles, from “Custard” at Little Bighorn to a Metallica fan convinced the song “Orion” was actually “Onion” (because, you know, layers).
And then there’s poor John, the third colleague in the story, who wisely kept his head down and stayed out of the fray. As OP noted, “John stayed out of all of our stupid arguments. Very wise.”
Conclusion: Why We Love (and Need) Office Petty Wars
So, what’s the moral? Sometimes, the best way to end a never-ending debate is to give someone exactly what they asked for—especially if it means filling a corporate presentation with cartoon Gauls. The next time a coworker insists they’re right, consider if a little malicious compliance (and a lot of puns) might just make your day.
Did you ever have a workplace showdown over language or office “best practices”? Have you ever wielded the mighty power of pedantry for good (or evil)? Share your stories below—and don’t forget to raise an Obelix in honor of all those small but satisfying office victories!
Original Reddit Post: Colleague was adamant he wanted 'Asterixes' on his presentation. You got it buddy.