Editing 2579: Tractor Beam
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|Created by AN ANNOYING CUEBALL - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | |
+ | Randall is being pulled into a spaceship by a beam of light, called a {{w|tractor beam}} in the title. This is a {{tvtropes|AlienAbduction|common trope}} in science fiction, and usually pretty scary for the person involved. However, while Randall is being pulled up, he asks a series of questions about the beam, about the force on the ship, and about the ship itself. The punch line is the caption - the aliens, frustrated by Randall's questioning, release him and move on, to presumably find a different human to abduct and study. Many people have reported {{w|Alien abduction|being abducted by aliens}} in real life, though none of these have been confirmed. | ||
− | The first three questions deal with the properties of the beam – how it can be controlled to pull only him (and his clothes), not anything else. He also wonders whether the beam would still continue to lift his shoes if he took them off midway. Perhaps his apparel is only rising with him because it normally stays attached to him, perhaps it is similarly levitated with equal force or impulse. | + | The first three questions deal with the properties of the beam – how it can be controlled to pull only him (and his clothes), not anything else. He also wonders whether the beam would still continue to lift his shoes if he took them off midway. Perhaps his apparel is only rising with him because it normally stays attached to him, perhaps it is similarly levitated with equal force or impulse. Maybe even it is only his clothing that is being lifted, but with enough force to hoist him along with it, although done without sufficient finesse this could cause damage to the clothing or the person, such that it would be tempting to call this a {{tvtropes|NegativeSpaceWedgie|Space Wedgie}}. |
− | Next, | + | Next, Randall asks if his weight is pulling the ship downward. This would be the case, for example, if he were hoisted upwards by a rope instead of the beam, as equal but opposite forces act against each other, but not if the beam alters the nature of his surroundings such as with {{w|The First Men in the Moon|Cavorite}} or another means of {{w|gravitational shielding}} or alteration. |
− | Then he asks what will happen if a bat flies through the beam. Things that could happen include the beam breaking (and him falling downward) due to the projected effect being interrupted, the bat being pulled up ahead of him as it enters the effective volume of the levitating beam or else nothing at all as it is outside the | + | Then he asks what will happen if a bat flies through the beam. Things that could happen include the beam breaking (and him falling downward) due to the projected effect being interrupted, the bat being pulled up ahead of him as it enters the effective volume of the levitating beam or else nothing at all as it is outside the target area. It may presumably have a relationship with the same focal effect as that which avoids the ground upon which he previously stood being drawn upwards. If the bat casts a 'shadow' down the beam in some form (at least the accompanying illumination) this could also reference the appearance of the {{w|Bat-Signal}}. |
− | As the ship leaves, | + | As the ship leaves, Randall continues asking questions, as shown in the title text. |
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− | Whether | + | Whether Randall actually arrived onboard the ship is uncertain. If he started badgering the aliens with questions during the lift and then (as stated) was immediately set down again then he did not. Either way, they got fed up and decided to return him to the ground instead of sharing their knowledge, or just because they prefered someone less talkative. They may prefer or expect more scared, overawed, or surprised abductees but, by whatever alien criteria they judge their catches, it seems he isn't what they want. |
− | + | The excessive amount of questions, from a person that is presumably a trained scientist, implies that the principles of flying saucers and tractor beams are likely to be silly or illogical based on our current understanding of physics. | |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[ | + | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} |
+ | :[Cueball is in a flat area with scattered rocks, a flying saucer suspending him in the air with a beam of light.] | ||
:Cueball: Does this beam only lift me? How do you avoid pulling up dirt and leaves and stuff? If I kick off my shoes, will they fall? | :Cueball: Does this beam only lift me? How do you avoid pulling up dirt and leaves and stuff? If I kick off my shoes, will they fall? | ||
:Cueball: Is my weight pulling your ship downward? What will happen if a bat flies through the beam? | :Cueball: Is my weight pulling your ship downward? What will happen if a bat flies through the beam? | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Aliens]] | [[Category:Aliens]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] |