explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

94: Profile Creation Flowchart

2013-02-23T10:38:09Z

66.254.204.68: added explanation

{{comic
| number = 94
| date = April 26, 2006
| title = Profile Creation Flowchart
| image = profile_flowchart.jpg
| titletext = This one goes out to xxCrazyPixie1987xx
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
AIM (short for AOL Instant Messenger) offered its users profile pages to share info about themselves or their friends. Randall notes that these pages fall into one of three categories:

* People without friends or significant others linked to their LiveJournal;
* People with friends and significant others would celebrate it all over their page;
* Sometimes people with friends would fill their profile with inside jokes only their friends could understand.

Both AIM and LiveJournal were known for their teenage user base, as shown by the title text's fictional AIM screen name.

==Transcript==
:[A flowchart is shown.]
:Have Friends? - No - Link to your LiveJournal
:Have Friends? - Yes, and want to alienate everyone else - INSIDE JOKES!
:Have Friends? - Yes - Have Boyfriend/ Girlfriend? - No - Angsty about it? - Yes - Link to your LiveJournal
:Angsty about it? - No - Yes you are - Angsty about it?
:Have Boyfriend/ Girlfriend? - Yes - A profile tribute is the greatest possible expression of love.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Internet]]

412: Startled

2013-02-23T08:11:26Z

66.254.204.68: added explanation

{{comic
| number = 412
| date = April 18, 2008
| title = Startled
| image = startled.png
| titletext = ...
}}

==Explanation==
[[Black Hat]] is one of the most cool-headed characters in the comic. Here, [[Megan]] notices Black Hat facing away from [[Cueball]] and her, and decides to play a simple, childish prank on him: sneaking up from behind and shouting "Boo!".

Not only does she succeed in startling Black Hat, he is so terrified that he hides himself completely in his hat. For a moment, it looks like Black Hat has disappeared altogether. But then his hat inches away, showing that he's still underneath, despite the obvious size difference.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and Megan standing to one side, looking and pointing at Black Hat who is facing away.]
:[Megan sneaks up on Black Hat.]
:[Close-up of Megan with hands raised.]
:Megan: Boo!
:[Black Hat looks shocked, and his hat jumps.]
:[The hat falls down over his head.]
:[The hat keeps falling, with only his legs still visible.]
:[The hat hits the ground.]
:''FWUMP''
:[Cueball and Megan look at the hat.]
:[The hat scurries away.]
:''SCOOCH SCOOCH SCOOCH''

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]

747: Geeks and Nerds

2013-02-23T07:51:20Z

66.254.204.68: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 747
| date = May 31, 2010
| title = Geeks and Nerds
| image = geeks and nerds.png
| titletext = The definitions I grew up with were that a geek is someone unusually into something (so you could have computer geeks, baseball geeks, theater geeks, etc) and nerds are (often awkward) science, math, or computer geeks. But definitions vary.
}}

==Explanation==
The words "geek" and "nerd" are both commonly used to describe people who are looked down upon due to being too intelligent and not socially conventional enough. Distinction between the two varies, but it commonly involves differences in range of interests, depth of interests, choice of hobbies, social capability, and so on.

The title text gives Randall's personal definitions: geeks are people passionately into something to a greater extent than casual hobbyists, while nerds are analytical logic-oriented people, often with underdeveloped social skills.

The comic makes the argument that if you care a lot about the distinction between a geek or a nerd, then you are way too invested in the result to not be both a geek and a nerd. There is also the possibility that you are a linguistics geek, but given the {{w|Disputes in English grammar|more pressing controversies linguistic geeks have to deal with}}, the strong interest one might have in the words "geek" and "nerd" is probably one only a nerd would have.

==Transcript==
:[There is a two-circle Venn diagram; the left circle is labeled "Geeks," the right "Nerds." The intersection is labeled "People with strong opinions on the distinction between geeks and nerds."]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Charts]]