649: Static

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
Revision as of 12:12, 4 March 2024 by 172.69.195.84 (talk) (r/technicallythetruth)
Jump to: navigation, search
Static
I firmly believe that nothing can go wrong on a project if you're wearing one of those wrist things.
Title text: I firmly believe that nothing can go wrong on a project if you're wearing one of those wrist things.

Explanation

Antistatic wrist straps are important safety tools for electronics work such as handling computer parts. The wrist strap provides a conduction path directly from one's skin to an electrical ground, preventing the buildup of static electricity which, if accidentally discharged upon touching part of a circuit, can damage sensitive electronic components.

Condoms, on the other hand, are an important safety tool for sex, as birth control and protection from STIs.

The last panel implies that in his confusion, Cueball put on a condom in order to replace the RAM in his computer the previous week. Geek Squad is the computer service department of the Best Buy chain of American electronics superstores. So Cueball implies that he put on a condom while working in Best Buy, for performing computer repair, and was fired for indecency.

The title text conveys the irrational[citation needed] belief that nothing can go wrong on a project while wearing an antistatic wrist band. In reality, the wrist band will only protect your electronics from electrostatic discharge, and there are plenty of other things that could go wrong on an electronics project, such as bad soldering, installing the wrong component, mechanical damage through excessive force, blunt force trauma, or even electric shock from an exposed live voltage. Or the text could be referring to even non-electronics projects, in which case the wrist band would really be pointless.

Transcript

[It's pitch black. Only Cueball and Megan's dialogue can be seen.]
Megan: Hang on, I can't see—did you put on a condom?
Cueball: It's okay. I've got a wrist thing on.
Megan: A what? Let me see that.
fumble
Megan: This is an anti-static strap.
Cueball: You mean it doesn't...
Megan: No. Why would you even THINK that?
Cueball: I guess I was mixed up.
Cueball: Wait, so when I was replacing that RAM last week...
Megan: Yeah, I THOUGHT that was weird.
Cueball: Oh, but it explains why the Geek Squad fired me.


comment.png add a comment! ⋅ comment.png add a topic (use sparingly)! ⋅ Icons-mini-action refresh blue.gif refresh comments!

Discussion

Is there a double where Cueball presumes the antistatic wristband will prevent against semen discharge like static discharge? 173.245.52.169 19:41, 23 May 2019 (UTC)

It could, to be pedantic, be any combination of any characters appearing or not appearing in other comics. Fan theory: This is the only comic where the sexual aspects of the intricate-intimate relationship of White Hat and Black Hat are being explored. --172.69.55.204 00:01, 30 November 2020 (UTC)

Don't you need to have an erection to put the condon on properly? I guessnhe was really excited to work for best buy...


I came here and the CSS was all gone - but then I came here here (to the discussion) and the CSS was back on both the discussion & main page. can anyone please explain why? B for brain (talk) (youtube channel wobsite (supposed to be a blag) 11:45, 20 January 2024 (UTC)