Life — July 14, 1921 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical illustration titled "People we can get along without" (item XX), subtitled "The old friend of the family, who asks 'what you intend to be when you grow up.'" The cartoon depicts two figures: a young boy in striped clothing standing stiffly on the left, and an elderly gentleman seated on the right, leaning forward with an intrusive expression while holding a cane. The satire targets a common social irritant—the well-meaning but bothersome adult relative or family friend who asks children predictable, uncomfortable questions about their future plans. The humor relies on recognizing this as a universal, mildly annoying social interaction. The boy's stiff posture suggests discomfort with the intrusive questioning, while the old man's animated gestures emphasize his obliviousness to being unwelcome. The satire gently mocks both generational condescension and awkward family social dynamics.