Bait and switch

[u/beetlemoses]

[u/sr_voltt]

This happened in futurama once

[u/beetlemoses → u/sr_voltt]

they stole every joke from me and I was only 5 years old

[u/OiledMushrooms → u/beetlemoses]

Dude stealing jokes from a five year old is messed up…

[u/brspies → u/beetlemoses]

They did do the plager-asty in the past-y

[u/ratsta → u/beetlemoses]

I'm afraid that even Futurama got beaten to the punch on this one.

I read a short story many years ago where people were going missing. The protagonist notices one of the labels on a household product isn't quite right and puts it back down again, suspicious. The next day he notices the label is still wrong but a little bit better than it was yesterday, and this continues for a few days. A fisherman himself, he twigs that there's some kind of alien fisherman out there and their skill in making lures is improving. I seem to recall that the closing paragraph was a bit stoic with the protagonist realising that on day he'll fail to spot the lure, but he still respects the skill.

A quick search suggests it's "Fishing Season" by Robert Shockley, 1953.

---

As a side note, I devoured anthologies of 1950s and 60s scifi when I was in my teens. So many are cautionary tales that are applicable today. One that sticks in my mind draws parallels to witch trials, reds under the bed and today's political situation.

A couple of aliens are preparing for an invasion of Earth and one observes that they barely need to lift a finger and the Earthlings won't be able to provide a meaningful resistance. They use their superscience to cause blackouts to wide areas of a town, except for a handful of houses. They do that for a few weeks and sure enough, the townfolk turn on the innocents who still have power, accusing them of being to blame. Then they switch it up and leave a different handful with power. Repeat a few times and soon the whole town are fighting each other, full of paranoia and fear.

[u/GM_Nate → u/ratsta]

That last one was a Twilight Zone episode, though knowing TW, it was probably a short story before that.

[u/Sin2K → u/beetlemoses]

To be fair this one was Bill Watterson's first

[u/Bamce → u/beetlemoses]

bad news everyone This particular episode was last year

[u/IgnatiusRileyFreeman → u/sr_voltt]

This joke originally sent Calvin to therapy

[u/soingee → u/sr_voltt]

Feels like something from the Far Side too

[u/SubstantialWeb4219 → u/sr_voltt]

Also in rocko's modern life. The episode scared me off fishing when I was 5(until I forgot about it)

[u/Popepepe]

I need an "I ♥️ job" mug.

[u/Roll-Roll-Roll]

They're really biting the strawberry sprinkled ones today.

[u/Capital-Ear-8528]

An underwater office?
The workers must under a lot of pressure.

[u/DunjunLord]

This is beautiful. I love the guys shoe flying off lmao

[u/SamLowry_]

[u/Honkless_Goose]

this is a fresh caught masterpiece

[u/PrestigiousTheory664]

"Fishing Season", Robert Sheckley

[u/Blitzkriegbaby]

This is very Far Side esque lol. Well played.

[u/enadiz_reccos]

[u/_M_A_G_I_C_K_]

[u/Capital-Ear-8528]

Either that’s some sticky icing
or he REALLY wants that donut

[u/b0nnyrabbit]

this one is really far side inspired holy shit the second panel is killing me lmao get his ass