explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

423: Finish Line

2016-11-01T06:08:10Z

162.158.255.156: /* Explanation */ grammar fix

{{comic
| number =423
| date =May 14, 2008
| title =Finish Line
| image =finish_line.png
| titletext =The question with Lucy and the football was always whether, on some level, she believed the things she said.
}}

==Explanation==
[[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] are playing {{w|Mario Kart}}, with Cueball's {{w|Luigi}} character ahead of Megan's {{w|Mario}} towards the end of the race. Megan begins waxing philosophically on how she sometimes stops right before the '''Finish line''' (hence the title), because she knows that she has already won and then she do not need the machine to tell her so. She says it proves she doesn't act like a rat going through a laboratory maze in pursuit of cheese.

This talk makes Cueball realize that winning a video game isn't really important, and how by speeding through a racing level like the game asks you to do, you sometimes miss the fun of simply exploring the level and enjoying the extraordinary level of detail and work that went into it. He thus exclaims it was a good call and slows down - expecting Megan to join him exploring.

In the end, it was just a ruse by Megan who speeds past him and wins, much to her glee. "It's more fun than a blue shell", she says, referring to the Mario Kart item that, when fired, will inevitably hit the race leader and cause him to crash. [[Randall]] has rather adamantly expressed his opinion about blue shells before in [[290: Fucking Blue Shells]].

Cueball's response suggests that he has been fooled before by Megan's ''Be a rebel'' speech. Something she can pull off against him again and again. This leads to the subject of the title text.

Note: In MKWii, people sometimes troll others by stopping right at the finish line. When the person behind them gets close they just cross the line and cause 2nd place to lose.

The title text refers to the comic strip ''{{w|Peanuts}},'' and the running gag where fussbudget {{w|Lucy van Pelt|Lucy}} would hold an {{w|american football}} for lovable loser {{w|Charlie Brown}} and he'd come running at it full speed, only to have Lucy pull the football away at the last moment and send Charlie Brown crashing to the ground. What made it funny was that each time, Lucy would find some way to convince Charlie Brown that ''this'' time, she wouldn't pull the football away, and he'd try again — but lo and behold, of course she did. (See example of this, in the collection of moments shown in the very {{w|Peanuts#End_of_Peanuts|last Peanuts comic}}).

The title text ask the important question if Lucy believed the things she said - even if she would eventually pull the ball away. If so it would be easier to fool Charlie. Maybe Cueball suggests that Megan believes what she says up to the point where she wins...

==Transcript==
:[Luigi with green clothes in a green go-cart is clearly in the lead of a game of Mario Kart with Mario in red clothes in a red go-cart is so far behind that he seems much smaller. Two speech bubbles with arrows pointing at the two shows what Megan and Cueball, shown later, says to each other]
:Megan (playing Mario): Sometimes I stop right before the finish line.
:Cueball (playing Luigi): Why?

:[A small square panel is inserted at the bottom of the first, crossing over the frame to the next panel and below the bottom of these panel. It shows Megan sitting on the floor leaning up against a coach while holding the game control in both hand looking at the large TV in front of her only partly inside the frame. Her speech bubble is like the previous panel, pointing at her with an arrow, but most of the bubble is inside the first panel and also breaking into the next panel.]
:Megan: 'Cause I know I've won.

:[Scene moved to look in from the direction of the TV at the coach. Cueball is sitting on the other end of the coach to the left holding his hands out to either side while looking down at Megan on the floor, who is still holding her remote in both hands playing the video game.]
:Megan: It proves I'm playing for fun, on my own terms. That I don't need validation from the machine.
:Megan: That I'm not a rat pulling a lever.

:[Scene moved to the side, showing both the coach with Cueball in it holding his hands up, Megan in front on the floor working the remote and the entire TV. Speech from the TV is shown in a broken bubble.]
:Cueball: ...Man. Good Call. Let's stop and explore the course for a-
:Game: ''Player Two wins''
:Cueball: Hey!
:Megan: Ha ha!

:[Zoom in on the coach still from the side, Cueball leaning forward with the game control in his hand on the arm rest and Megan on the floor sitting more relaxed with the remote in one hand.]
:Cueball: Dammit, I'm a sucker for your "Be a Rebel" speech.
:Megan: It's more fun than a blue shell.

==Trivia==
*Luigi's appearance is a reference to his appearance in the DOS game Mario is Missing. His odd visuals in this game are the source of a meme known as Weegee.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Video games]]
[[Category:Mario Kart]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]
[[Category:American football]]

Talk:1564: Every Seven Seconds

2015-08-15T04:54:26Z

162.158.255.156:

Not true, but where did it come from? http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/thinksex.asp [[Special:Contributions/108.162.249.155|108.162.249.155]] 11:55, 14 August 2015 (UTC)

Sorry SteveMB, but I don't think we need to tell the joke again in order to explain it. [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1564%3A_Every_Seven_Seconds&diff=99634&oldid=99632]. [[User:Xhfz|Xhfz]] ([[User talk:Xhfz|talk]]) 12:58, 14 August 2015 (UTC)
:While this may be true, I actually found the first explanation to be much more valuable and insightful than this two mini-paragraph drab. The author of this new version doesn't even make the distinction between thinking about sex every seven seconds and thinking about having sex every seven seconds. [[User:Jarod997|Jarod997]] ([[User talk:Jarod997|talk]]) 13:04, 14 August 2015 (UTC)
::Agreed. Although the first explanation wasn't perfect, it was better than the replacement. The title text explanation in this version is missing the point. We should look to re-incorporate some/most of the original explanation. --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 13:08, 14 August 2015 (UTC)
:::The first explanation says nothing about sociologists. I added that when I realized I had missed it, and Pudder realized it was missing when he read my terse explanation, but not when he read the verbose explanation that SteveMB wrote. Note also that we always explain the difficult terms first ''(seven seconds'' in this case). The original "explanation" actually is a retelling of the joke. [[User:Xhfz|Xhfz]] ([[User talk:Xhfz|talk]]) 13:29, 14 August 2015 (UTC)
:::: The sociologist joke explanation was missing, I noted that when I added the incomplete tag, not because of your comment. In adding your explanation you wiped a lot of existing explanation, perhaps you believe it isn't necessary, but its frustrating because your explanation is frankly no better. In particular, your version of the title text explanation is simply missing the point. (The point that was previously explained!) --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 13:34, 14 August 2015 (UTC)

The title text is misunderstood. It's about <<sex in every 7 seconds>> he thinks, how unplausible ''that'' would be. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.97.202|141.101.97.202]] 13:39, 14 August 2015 (UTC)

You all may be right about the title text. [[User:Xhfz|Xhfz]] ([[User talk:Xhfz|talk]]) 13:44, 14 August 2015 (UTC)

Please compare
{|class=wikitable
!Verbose!!Terse
|-
|Cueball is raising skeptical objections to something, first dismissing the notion out of hand ("There's no way that's true."), then noting that it would cause obvious and unmistakable effects that are not, in fact, observed ("It would interfere with basic cognition."), then deciding that the idea is tied to an absurd worldview ("Such a ridiculous view of masculinity."), then raising the question of how anyone would even know whether or not the claim is true ("How would you even ''study'' that?"). These objections, particularly the second and third one, and the title "Every Seven Seconds" suggest that the statement Cueball is dismissing is the oft-stated assertion that men think about sex every seven seconds.
<br>
The title text confirms this inference...
|In this joke Cueball seems to be raising skeptical objections to this myth ''[the seven-seconds myth]''. The title of the comic (Every seven seconds) hints strongly about it, and all comments lead us to believe that Cueball wants to debunk the myth. However in the punchline we learn that Cueball is a sociologist who disbelieves in a team of his colleagues actually studying such a difficult subject (the same objection raised in BBC's reference).
|-
|}
The first explanation says nothing about sociologists, and falls into the trap of believing that the joke is simply about debunking an urban myth. I fell into that trap myself, but soon I realized my mistake. [[User:Xhfz|Xhfz]] ([[User talk:Xhfz|talk]]) 13:51, 14 August 2015 (UTC)

I think the Explanation is missing the obvious connotations to this joke. For example, ''"Cueball is a sociologist who disbelieves in a team of his colleagues actually studying such a difficult subject"'' what does this even mean? The explanation is that sociologists (implied: all sociologists) think about the urban myth every seven seconds and the thought bubbles in the comic are their possible thoughts. Each thought bubble would take place predictably every seven seconds. The setup is that thinking about sex every seven seconds would be dysfunctional and unproductive in addition to making working, social interactions, etc... nearly impossible as explained by the sociologists thoughts. The punch line is that thinking about how ridiculous it is to think about sex every seven seconds is just as dysfunctional and unproductive even if the thought time is spent refuting the original notion as understood in third person.--[[User:R0hrshach|R0hrshach]] ([[User talk:R0hrshach|talk]]) 16:27, 14 August 2015 (UTC)
:Agreed, nowhere does the comic imply that Cueball is thinking about any "team". His thoughts are about how ridiculous the fact is. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.156|162.158.255.156]] 04:54, 15 August 2015 (UTC)

Talk:1559: Driving

2015-08-04T16:59:46Z

162.158.255.156:

They're probably in California, seeing as that's the only place self-driving cars are actually on the road. [[User:Wmss|Wmss]] ([[User talk:Wmss|talk]]) 09:46, 3 August 2015 (UTC)

If there are self-driving cars, what about self-filling cars? So these cars are able to make long distances without the driver's interaction. Maybe he is sleeping. [[User:GeorgDerReisende|GeorgDerReisende]] ([[User talk:GeorgDerReisende|talk]]) 10:47, 3 August 2015 (UTC)
: Yeah, for some reason that does not exist yet -- the self-driving car on the other hand DOES exit and I can see them driving down my street every day [[User:Spongebog|Spongebog]] ([[User talk:Spongebog|talk]]) 01:07, 4 August 2015 (UTC)

::People have no problem entrust the self-driving cars with their lives, but did you saw how much the petrol costs? Too risky. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 10:26, 4 August 2015 (UTC)

Should've used hitchBOT instead of a rock. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.82|108.162.216.82]] 12:46, 3 August 2015 (UTC)

Could this have been a semi-tribute? Showing how some malicious people will abuse technology that is programmed to be too trusting? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.138|108.162.216.138]] 20:56, 3 August 2015 (UTC)
: Could you explain with an example [[User:Spongebog|Spongebog]] ([[User talk:Spongebog|talk]]) 01:07, 4 August 2015 (UTC)

I disagree with the part of the explanation that claims that the comic must take place in the continental US. The title text doesn't specify "exactly two" border crossings; it merely implies that there is more than one. That could be anywhere in mainland (or attached-to-the-mainland-by-bridge) North America, north of the Darien Gap, except for most of Canada (from most of the population centers of Ontario, Google Maps wants to route through Michigan, for a total of three border crossings). [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.149|108.162.221.149]] 14:18, 3 August 2015 (UTC)
:Correct. It "implies" more than one, but doesn't require it. Only that there be at least one. So they could be in Canada. Essentially anywhere on the continent (or an island connected by bridge to the mainland (e.g., Florida Keys)) north of the Darien Gap but outside Alaska. - Equinox [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.172|108.162.238.172]] 23:15, 3 August 2015 (UTC)
::I disagree. Randall makes comic in the mainland US and if there is no indication we are outside it is safe to assume they are in the mainland US. And the title text clearly indicated more than one border crossing. You are making it way to complicated. I have corrected accordingly.--[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 12:02, 4 August 2015 (UTC)

It is likely that the car's owner can locate it via the Internet, via an app and location logic provided by the car's manufacturer. E.g., OnStar. {{unsigned ip|108.162.216.157}}

"At the time of the release of this comic there were no places where these cars could be used privately." That is not true, as there are no restrictions on vehicle use on private property. --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.212.7|108.162.212.7]] 16:35, 3 August 2015 (UTC)
: You are correct, and I have fixed that -- the true statement is that they are not for sale to private individuals [[User:Spongebog|Spongebog]] ([[User talk:Spongebog|talk]]) 01:03, 4 August 2015 (UTC)

The only US state that both borders Canada and permits self-driving cards is Michigan. Assuming that the logic in self-driving cars prevents them from driving on streets where they are not legal, the conversation would have to take place in that state (but then again, wouldn't the car know that it is not allowed to drive in Alaska?) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.92.64|162.158.92.64]] 19:38, 3 August 2015 (UTC)
:Maybe it's exactly a matter of what knowledge the car has. It ''could'' be linked up to something proprietry, or possibly a Cortana information-engine, to control a virtual "GPS fence", based on current legal and possibly licence-based limits. I'll bet it can be reprogrammed to ignore/extend such limits, though. (Which is why I'm dubious about the idea of 'hard limiting' flying drones from entering restricted airspace. A little hardware/software/firmware hacking should be simple enough for anyone who needs to get around such limits.)
:I can also imagine the following conversation: "How far does your car's self-driving system let you go on automatic?" "I'll ask her..."(/Alaska...) [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.188|141.101.98.188]] 00:33, 4 August 2015 (UTC)
:Yes the car would know that it was not permitted to drive in Alaska, however that would not prevent it from setting of with that destination in mind assuming that the person would take over control and entering manual driving in places where automatic were not permitted. [[User:Spongebog|Spongebog]] ([[User talk:Spongebog|talk]]) 01:03, 4 August 2015 (UTC)
::In that case, the "border" in the title text could be a state border... [[User:Sabik|Sabik]] ([[User talk:Sabik|talk]]) 06:13, 4 August 2015 (UTC)
:::But you are still assuming this is the present. If this comic is set in the future they could be anywhere in the US and drive all the way through the country, then through Canada and finally to the destination in Alaska. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 12:02, 4 August 2015 (UTC)
::::I think you mean North Montana, hasn't been called Canada in years [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.156|162.158.255.156]] 16:59, 4 August 2015 (UTC)