Talk:817: Mutual

2018-07-29T18:49:36Z

172.68.186.64: Add comment

This is the comic strip that caused xkcdexplained.com to exclaim "fuck this I'm done" and discontinue updating the site. It's probably worth mentioning that: A) It's actually Megan and Cueball's thoughts that are thinking of each other; and B) Both of them are in positions that indicate loneliness or distress. Perhaps it is a commentary on the irony of mutually unrequited love. [[Special:Contributions/66.224.70.107|66.224.70.107]] 23:50, 21 March 2013 (UTC)

As an afterthought, if the universe needs to be observed in order to exist, who will observe it? Some super-universal entity?

: By your logic, yes. Unfortunately, your logic does not fully grasp the backend of quantum mechanics. No one's does. Feynman's didn't. Mine doesn't. And therefore, the measurement paradox (i.e. the philosophical interpretation of quantum mechanics) will remain up in the air until someone can frame it for our classically raised and trained minds. Or maybe they'll just go many-worlds on our asses? --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 02:39, 18 August 2013 (UTC)

::Thanks Quicksilver for the reply... accurate and succint, bravo. Of course, they've gone many-worlds on our asses an infinite number of times already... [[User:Squirreltape|Squirreltape]] ([[User talk:Squirreltape|talk]]) 19:21, 15 January 2014 (UTC)

:Title text is more likely a reference to [[wikipedia:Anthropic_principle|Anthropic_principle]]
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.254.40|108.162.254.40]] 11:32, 27 November 2014 (UTC)

::In the TV series {{w|The Prisoner}}, those inmates who refused to follow the rules were called "unmutual". Might this be a reference?
::--[[User:Lou Crazy|Lou Crazy]] ([[User talk:Lou Crazy|talk]]) 15:23, 21 March 2016 (UTC)

I'm thinking the title text may refer to Einstein's one quote: "If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed."--[[Special:Contributions/172.68.186.64|172.68.186.64]] 18:49, 29 July 2018 (UTC)

408: Overqualified

2018-02-19T17:43:01Z

172.68.186.64: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 408
| date = April 9, 2008
| title = Overqualified
| image = overqualified.png
| titletext = To anyone I've taken on a terrible date, this is retroactively my cover story.
}}

==Explanation==
[[Megan]]'s sister has a crush on [[Cueball]], but Cueball doesn't feel the same way about her sister. To alleviate the situation without hurting Megan's sister's feelings, Megan wants Cueball to deliberately take her sister out on a bad date to convince her that Cueball is not worth dating, so that her sister can move on without rejection. Cueball is excited to finally excel at dating. He claims to have been born for the task of giving a bad date. He promises to emulate one of his classic high school dates, indicating they went terribly as well. The joke is based on the reversal of expectations and Cueball's subsequent excitement at the chance to provide a terrible date. Megan's respose of "Oh God, don't overdo it" may also imply that she was one of Cueball's high school dates and doesn't her sister to be subjected to what she remembers of Cueball's relationship sills

The title text implies that [[Randall]] is reflecting on previous bad dates. When they occurred he had either no excuse or a poor excuse for why he was so awkward, but now "deliberately being mediocre" is going to be used as his explanation. It is similar to thinking of a good comeback to an insult after the fact; this is his retort to ships that sailed long ago.

==Transcript==
:[Megan on the phone.]
:Megan: I know you're not that into my sister, but she's really crushing on you.
:Cueball: Yeah, it's awkward.

:Megan: She's in a rough spot. It's a lot to ask, but could you take her out and... Dissuade her, without rejecting her?

:Cueball: Wait a second. Are you asking me to show her a mediocre time?
:Megan: I know it's a weird—

:[Cueball raising index finger.]
:Cueball: No, no! This is the mission I was ''born'' for.
:Megan: I figured you could handle it.
:Cueball: One of my classic high-school dates coming up!
:Megan: Oh God. Don't overdo it.
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Romance]]

explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:817: Mutual

408: Overqualified