r/southpark 1d ago

Discussion Once Cartman found out about the tape, why didn't he just sneak away,then ditch the costume, and played it cool without showing his hand to Butters and find another way to get the tape? Is he stupid?

Post image

Maybe because other people knew it was cartman playing robot?

393 Upvotes

81 comments sorted by

435

u/TheDungen 1d ago

Cartman is both very intelligent and deeply stupid.

84

u/RanisTheSlayer 23h ago

Intelligence +4, wisdom -2

168

u/SnooApples5554 1d ago

... he's also 8

45

u/Bacontoad Oh, I 'member. 🍇 18h ago

9 or 10. They graduated from 3rd to 4th grade in season 4.

-7

u/SnooApples5554 17h ago

UHm AkChUlLy

33

u/Bacontoad Oh, I 'member. 🍇 17h ago

3

u/AMonitorDarkly 10h ago

That joke doesn’t really land when you’re that wrong about something. They’ve been 9 for 25 years at this point.

-4

u/SnooApples5554 6h ago

Ok settle down nerd.

4

u/AMonitorDarkly 6h ago

Heh, I haven’t heard the word “nerd” used as a pejorative in a long time. Apparently that’s another thing you’re decades behind on.

0

u/SnooApples5554 5h ago

It's some light razzing. You should not be this invested lol

1

u/BAKA_2008 City wok 3h ago

"Nerd"? Weren't u the one who said "AlChUaLly" first?

1

u/BAKA_2008 City wok 3h ago

tfym "AkChUlLy* HE IS 9/10 yrs old

11

u/spooky-goopy 18h ago

also to quote Principle Victoria, he has an anger issue. explodes and makes a fool of himself.

2

u/juGGaKNot4 13h ago

Power Christian Principle Victoria that's right

99

u/Outrageous_Hamster_6 Kyle Broflovski supremacy 1d ago

Cartman probably thought Butters was gullible enough to let the location slip, or hide it somewhere only he would think was a good hiding spot.

Most likely, Cartman probably just thought being Butters’ slave would make Butters trust him enough to reveal the location.

Of course, the most logical answer is that Cartman is just an idiot.

-74

u/No_Split_2799 1d ago

He could've came up with another scheme to find the tape once he knew butters couldn't remember where he put it. Come up with another scheme all while playing it cool with butters. All cartman does is scheme lol. Or just be nice to him from now on until he found the tape lol

41

u/thelingeringlead 23h ago

Why are you arguing against speculation with your own speculation? You asked why and people are giving you their speculative takes which are no more or less valid than yours. Especially when it was addressed in the episode.

140

u/garbage1995 1d ago

He didn't know where the tape was hidden.

-124

u/No_Split_2799 1d ago

Yea I know that but imo, he could have played it cool and found out another way to find it once he saw butters couldn't remember where the tape was

82

u/SpicyPumpkin314 1d ago

Cartman was already in the house. He probably saw the situation as the best opportunity to find it.

51

u/ouijahead 23h ago

Well, see , then we wouldn’t have the awesome-o episode.

78

u/Banmers 1d ago

Because there would be no episode

48

u/V__ 1d ago

It would just be Adam Sandler on an island, falling in love with a coconut...

15

u/ithorc 19h ago

Rob Schneider is a coconut and he's about to find out...

4

u/CarefulBathroom5689 16h ago

Adam Sandler is like, in love with a girl, but it turns out shes a Labrador retriever, or something?

1

u/bruisedandbroke 13h ago

rob Schneider is a carrot

-18

u/UsernameFromEarlier 1d ago

Tom Hanks on an island falling in love with a ball, but close

14

u/Inevitable_Meet_7374 23h ago

You’ve never seen the episode huh?

-2

u/UsernameFromEarlier 22h ago

I dont remember that part

28

u/ArtHistorian2000 1d ago

Because he thought that it would be simpler to ask Butters for the tape while being a robot, but he couldn't predict he would fail at that point

21

u/ALinkToXMasPast 1d ago

Because Cartman's intelligence is basically Joker's intelligence...He's clever in a Disneyland manner where stuff usually goes accordingly for him because of luck just working in his favor...His plans are stupidly impractical, but he way too often gets the result he's looking for...

Awesome-O goes about as well as most of his plans should go...

I acknowledge that sometimes, his plan is genuinely smart...but not mostly...

13

u/Sad_Abroad1221 1d ago

Cartman did compete in the special Olympics sooooooooooooo

2

u/uginsthinkingbath 4h ago

Even more, he was a NASCAR driver

12

u/highflyingjesus- 1d ago

He is stupid, yes. He's the 1 in 4 that believe 911 was faked. He froze himself rather than wait for the wii. He thought he could fly. Etc etc etc.

10

u/metchasketch 1d ago

Yes. That's the point. Cartman is stupid. He stripped and walked across stage cause he thought he was invisible.

4

u/madys0n 1d ago

Bro it’s a cartoon.

5

u/svrgevnt 23h ago

Why are you applying real world logic to a cartoon where 8 year olds go to space or help satan with his relationship problems?

4

u/ToastThing 1d ago

Because it’s a cartoon and it’s written to be funny and interesting, not believable or realistic.

5

u/ChangingMonkfish 1d ago

Because that wouldn’t have been as funny

3

u/Ahlq802 1d ago

Your question is dumb but you reminded me of one of my favorite episodes so thank you! Time for a rewatch

3

u/DiscoTech1639 1d ago

Yes, why indeed, when he is known to be such a reasonable person

3

u/heydylanx Nice and Boring 1d ago

He’s 8

3

u/I_Am_AWESOME-O_ 1d ago

Because, he’d have to be nice to Butters forever (unless he found the tape), and he doesn’t have it in him.

5

u/Ifarted422 1d ago

They’re 10 year old kids they’re supposed to make mistakes and do crazy stuff thats their life

2

u/Fickle_Principle_811 1d ago

Diabolical doesn’t equal smart.

2

u/_FiscalJackhammer_ 1d ago

Because it’s a cartoon and it was funnier the way it was written.

2

u/Diligent-Blood-9153 1d ago

Simple answer...it wasn't in the script and would have made for a less memorable episode.

2

u/DrLewtvig 1d ago

He is infact stupid

2

u/apersonthingy 23h ago

If you think he was so stupid, why don't you give us your idea?

2

u/Takoyaki_Dice 23h ago

This is my favorite episode of Butters getting a win.

2

u/Thatsthepoint2 20h ago

How would Eric know? He’s retarded.

1

u/Mesastafolis1 22h ago

Your son is….. incredibly stupid.

1

u/diz4 21h ago

Then the episode would be over

1

u/divinecheese720 21h ago

Maybe Cartman was afraid that Butters would shoot him in the dick

1

u/PhulHouze 21h ago

You would write the most boring episodes. Leave it to Matt and Trey

1

u/Dmat798 20h ago

Why are you thinking this deeply about a comedy show. You ruin the show with this bullshit. Just watch and enjoy, this is not an anime. For fucks sake you children are ruining this show's fandom.

1

u/honesttruth2703 20h ago

You're asking about a plot point for a south park episode. Get a freaking life.

1

u/purpleturtlehurtler Midget in a Bikini 20h ago

Sunk-cost fallacy. He was already there.

1

u/metalmike0792 20h ago

Honestly as smart and scheming as Cartman can be he's constantly dragged back down by his emotions

He could have a 100% fool proof plan, just needing to stick to the plan, and his emotions get in the way and all of a sudden the plan's in the backseat and his obsessiveness and anger are running the show

1

u/Other_Log_1996 19h ago

If one must ask if Eric Cartman is stupid, they have no room to call him stupid.

1

u/PTSD1701 Southpark Fan 19h ago

If you have to ask whether he's stupid, you must be... you know.

1

u/Juhbellz 18h ago

Hes in 4th grade. Hes like 9

1

u/Alarming_Help564 18h ago

yes, he is very stupid

1

u/777pac 17h ago

Or he could’ve just told butters parents that. Butters was recording him without permission and could’ve got them to confiscate the tape

1

u/AdDapper8764 17h ago

Because he's Eric Cartman

1

u/Big-Beat-1443 17h ago

Because you aren’t a writer on the show

1

u/lifeslegacy3261 16h ago

Cartman is stupid

1

u/gravyfan93 16h ago

Like every other comment has said he's a kid and my other reason is he lacks focus and doesn't think ahead for most of his schemes like when he bought an amusement park without knowing about the cost of running an establishment like that.

1

u/wompod 16h ago

He becomes committed to the bit

1

u/CarefulBathroom5689 16h ago

Cartman is a dumbass

1

u/Artistic_Owl_808 15h ago

Cartman is a blob of bullshit artist

1

u/callmefreak 1h ago

Is he stupid?

Canonically, yes.