explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1180: Virus Venn Diagram

2023-11-20T14:48:51Z

172.70.91.229: /* Explanation */ Correctly punctuated (if you must).

{{comic
| number = 1180
| date = March 1, 2013
| title = Virus Venn Diagram
| image = virus venn diagram.png
| titletext = Within five minutes of the Singularity appearing, somebody will suggest defragging it.
}}

==Explanation==
Randall uses an {{w|Euler diagram}} (technically not a {{w|Venn diagram}}) to make fun of clueless computer users. The circles in the diagram don't overlap, meaning problems that people suspect are caused by viruses are never really caused by viruses, and problems that are actually caused by viruses are never suspected by people to be caused by a virus.

When computers don't function as expected, a common response from ordinary users is "Maybe it has a {{w|Computer virus|virus}}?". However, most of these situations can be explained by faulty hardware (freezing, blue screen, etc.) or software (crashes, errors, apparent lack of response to input, etc.), a general lack of maintenance (too slow to start up, too much clutter on screen, etc.), or user error. A virus can potentially cause those symptoms, but it's much more common for them either to cause immediate and massive damage (rendering the computer completely unusable, wipe the disk, display obvious propaganda, etc.), or to remain stealthy with no obvious symptoms (logging keystrokes, exfiltrating sensitive information, receiving commands in the background, etc.). Of course there is no clear separation and there is always some overlap between the two scenarios, so the diagram is not meant to be taken literally.

The title text refers to the {{w|technological singularity}}, a hypothetical point in the future when {{w|superintelligence}} emerges in computers, so that they can build new computers with ever increasing intelligence. It is seen as impossible to predict what would happen beyond this point; hence the term "singularity". [[1084: Server Problem]] makes a joke on this.

"Defragging" is short for {{w|disk defragmentation}}, an easy, user-friendly action that PC users can undertake to supposedly make their computers run faster. It is therefore a common all-round recommendation to do this, regardless of the problem. [[Randall]] suggests the same clueless users would encounter the singularity and attempt defragging. It probably won't help much.{{Citation needed}}

==Transcript==
:[Euler diagram with two circles that don't intersect. One circle is green, while the other is slight dark blue.]
:Green circle: Computer problems that make people say "Maybe it has a virus?"
:Blue circle: Computer problems caused by viruses

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Euler diagrams]]
[[Category:Venn diagrams]] 
[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:Singularity]]

2845: Extinction Mechanisms

2023-10-23T13:39:29Z

172.70.91.229: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2845
| date = October 23, 2023
| title = Extinction Mechanisms
| image = extinction_mechanisms_2x.png
| imagesize = 307x438px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = The Late Heavy Bombardment was followed a few billion years later by the Comparatively Light but Oddly Specific Bombardment.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by an EXTREMELY WELL-AIMED SPACE ROCK - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:2844: Black Holes vs Regular Holes

2023-10-23T02:42:54Z

172.70.91.229: Explaining my joke. Also "SERN" is spelt this way deliberately. I am not referring to CERN.

FIRST! hehehe [[User:SomeoneIGuess|someone, i guess]] ([[User talk:SomeoneIGuess|talk]]) 17:05, 20 October 2023 (UTC)
<br/>
Alright, working on transcript now. [[User:SomeoneIGuess|someone, i guess]] ([[User talk:SomeoneIGuess|talk]]) 17:08, 20 October 2023 (UTC)
: Done! [[User:SomeoneIGuess|someone, i guess]] ([[User talk:SomeoneIGuess|talk]]) 17:16, 20 October 2023 (UTC)
:: Transcripts should really not be markup-tables, ideally. I know some (that describe tables) are, but you really need to set it all out in 'Transcript markup', such as:
:: [A table with three columns, the column headers are:] ... ... ...
:: [Row:] ...thing which the row says... [Black hole:] ...foo... [Normal hole:] ...bar...
:: ...etc
:: You need to think about how a screen-reader might interact with this text. Not all can 'deconstruct' an HTML table and make as much sense as a good description.
:: Although kudos for you for typing the text in, which the rest of the description should at least pad out fairly easily. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.79.131|172.69.79.131]] 18:46, 20 October 2023 (UTC)

Also got some of the explanation in, but i don't know too much. if anyone can improve on it please go ahead [[User:SomeoneIGuess|someone, i guess]] ([[User talk:SomeoneIGuess|talk]]) 17:33, 20 October 2023 (UTC)

[[User:DougM|DougM]] ([[User talk:DougM|talk]]) 18:05, 20 October 2023 (UTC) I think I disagree with his assessment that regular holes are not a result of the big bang. Convince me regular holes would exist without it?
:Only in the sense that ''everything'' is ultimately caused by the big bang. But "created by" is not the same as "caused by" -- we usually interpret creation as a more direct process. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]])

The LHC caused a regular hole by being built deep in the ground. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.200.142|172.70.200.142]] 18:08, 20 October 2023 (UTC)

"Regular" holes? Like square? Or perhaps strictly periodic in nature? [[Special:Contributions/172.69.79.131|172.69.79.131]] 18:36, 20 October 2023 (UTC)
:Regular == ordinary, normal. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 16:37, 22 October 2023 (UTC)
::An awful Americanism. If it isn't actually periodic, or of maximum symmetry, it shouldn't be called "regular". If it's "the usual or common thing" then there are already other words. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.79|141.101.98.79]] 18:15, 22 October 2023 (UTC)
:::So I put common gasoline in my car? [[User:Nutster|Nutster]] ([[User talk:Nutster|talk]]) 18:56, 22 October 2023 (UTC)
::::Maybe you do. I tend to put standard (E10, these days) unleaded petrol in mine! [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.49|162.158.74.49]] 21:15, 22 October 2023 (UTC)

Everyone knows that SERN used the LHC to create Kerr black holes to make jelly. Randall must be an agent of the Organization if he's trying to hide it. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.90.132|172.70.90.132]] 18:57, 20 October 2023 (UTC)
:I could not locate any references to Kerr black holes and jelly. Is that an original concept?[[User:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For]] ([[User talk:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|talk]]) 14:39, 22 October 2023 (UTC)
::If you get too close to a black hole, Kerr or otherwise, much of your body will resemble jelly, then resemble spaghetti, then quark soup. Excuse me while I prepare lunch. [[User:Nutster|Nutster]] ([[User talk:Nutster|talk]]) 18:54, 22 October 2023 (UTC)
::I believe this was a pun on the Kerr brand of mason jars, which one could use to make jelly at home. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.214.204|172.69.214.204]] 23:30, 22 October 2023 (UTC)
::It was a reference to the [https://steins-gate.fandom.com/wiki/SERN Steins;Gate franchise] (spoilers). "Jelly" refers to the result of [https://steins-gate.fandom.com/wiki/Episode_05:_Starmine_Rendezvous SERN's human experiments] (also spoilers). [[Special:Contributions/172.70.91.229|172.70.91.229]] 02:42, 23 October 2023 (UTC)

"Fatal to get a big one in your body"? Even medium-sized black hole is significantly bigger than human body, how would it fit inside? That said, being even just near any black hole is fatal: if it's not big enough to eat you, it's small enough to release dangerous amount of radiation. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 21:20, 20 October 2023 (UTC)
: An Earth-mass black hole would be about 1.8 cm in diameter, which could pass through a human, but it would indeed be totally disruptive. [[User:Nutster|Nutster]] ([[User talk:Nutster|talk]]) 18:54, 22 October 2023 (UTC)

:Not necessarily if it's small enough. We don't know what would happen to a black hole of Planck mass. If it's stable, then it wouldn't really affect you, because it would be unable to radiate and also unable to accrete matter gravitationally. It would orbit the Earth as a WIMP doing practically nothing. Even if it's unstable and evaporates while releasing a colossal amount of energy (about 1.2 × 10¹⁶ TeV), it might not be a problem, because the particles might be moving too fast to transfer any meaningful amount of energy to your body. They would basically just pass right out of you with no effect. But of course we don't really know. [[User:EebstertheGreat|EebstertheGreat]] ([[User talk:EebstertheGreat|talk]]) 21:50, 20 October 2023 (UTC)

I would have liked to see a row: There are songs about them: Yes (e.g., Spaghettification by Christine Lavin) and Yes (e.g., Sea of Holes by the Beatles) [[User:Matchups|Matchups]] ([[User talk:Matchups|talk]]) 00:32, 21 October 2023 (UTC)
: Don't forget that Soundgarden song: Regular Hole Sun. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.247.62|172.69.247.62]] 05:19, 21 October 2023 (UTC)

2261: Worst Thing That Could Happen

2023-09-18T13:20:38Z

172.70.91.229: /* List of worst things */ Improved wikilinking

{{comic
| number = 2261
| date = January 29, 2020
| title = Worst Thing That Could Happen
| image = worst_thing_that_could_happen.png
| titletext = Before I install any patch, I always open the patch notes and Ctrl-F for 'supervolcano', 'seagull', and 'garbage disposal', just to be safe.
}}

==Explanation==

[[Ponytail]] and her friends are considering upgrading some part or program of their computers. They may feel the need to upgrade because the software they are currently using has some vulnerability that is only patched in newer revisions (this comic was released just two weeks after the [https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/windows-7-end-of-life-support-information end of extended support] for {{w|Windows 7}}), or because they want to have access to some new feature. As part of the decision-making process, Ponytail asks her friends, "What's the worst that could happen?" If the computers they are discussing are privately owned, she may be concerned about losing personal data or having to learn new software interfaces. On the other hand, if they are discussing a corporate computer system, there may also be business-related risks. If their company relies on functionality offered by their current system that has been deprecated or modified in the updated version (such as in [[1172: Workflow]], or as with many specialized tools or machines in the real world), they may suffer downtime while they modify the rest of their workflow. Even if the upgraded system should continue to fit their needs, they may need to take some downtime to perform the update and deal with the risks of something going badly along the way, and there may be major costs associated with license subscriptions and support contracts. "What's the worst that could happen?" is also a common {{w|rhetorical question}}; Ponytail may be expressing a belief that nothing bad could happen as a result of the upgrade, and not expecting an answer.

Unfortunately, Ponytail's friends answer with their ideas for the worst things that could happen ''ever'', not ''as a result of the upgrade'', as Ponytail meant, or they are taking the question to the logical extreme and invoking {{w|chaos theory}}. The result is a list of "worst things" ridiculously unconnected to a computer upgrade. At the end, however, [[Megan]] interprets these as possible results of the upgrade, and advises against upgrading. A [[#List of worst things|list with explanations]] can be found below. Ponytail facepalms at her friends' overly-literal senses of humor.

Alternatively, Ponytail could be facepalming at the fact that the worst thing which could happen, according to her team, is that they are put on a ridiculous game show in which, if they answer a question incorrectly, they are chucked in garbage disposal. This may be bad, but it is nowhere near as bad as an erupting supervolcano or nuclear war.{{Citation needed}} However, [[Cueball]] has shown anxiety and difficulties in social situations, such as the less-than-helpful advice in [[1917: How to Make Friends]], so he (and likewise [[Hairy]] and Megan) may consider that embarrassment on the game show (which might then be immortalized online) is worse than instantaneous death in a nuclear war.

Megan and Cueball have previously experienced a severely-botched upgrade in [[349: Success]], in which Cueball somehow caused them to end up in shark-infested waters off the coast of a deserted island when he was just trying to get their computer to dual-boot BSD.

The title text talks about searching upgrade release notes for some of the things listed to be sure none are potential side effects of an upgrade. "Ctrl-F" is a common keyboard shortcut for "find text string" in many programs. Since Randall is just reading but not changing the patch notes, a web browser, PDF viewer, or word processing program such as Adobe Reader or Microsoft Word might have been used.

===List of worst things===
*The list of "worst things that could happen" discussed by the team are:

{| border =1 width=100% cellpadding=5 class="wikitable"
|'''Thing''' || '''Notes'''
|-
|"{{w|Supervolcano}}." || A supervolcano is a volcano that would (or does) eject over 1,000 cubic kilometers of material when it erupts. The United States in particular is home to a supervolcano in {{w|Yellowstone National Park}}. When it erupts, the results will be catastrophic to the entire world, possibly triggering a volcanic winter, massive crop die-offs (and subsequent cascading extinctions up the food chain), and the destruction of human civilization. This probably would not be set off by any sort of software update.{{Citation needed}}
|-
|"{{w|Robot uprising}}." || An artificial intelligence overthrows humanity and takes over the world. Hairy is probably concerned with a violent uprising in which the robots are determined to exterminate humanity, as in, for example, the {{w|Terminator (franchise)|''Terminator''}} films, rather than [[1450: AI-Box Experiment|an AI who just wants to stay in a box]]. Randall has written about robot uprisings (both violent and humorous) in [[:Category:Artificial Intelligence|several comic strips]]. If Ponytail's company is involved in artificial intelligence, a robot uprising could be a remotely plausible worst-case scenario from a botched upgrade.
|-
|"Everyone falls down a {{w|well}} at once." || There have been several well-publicized incidents in which a real person fell down a well, such as [https://www.biography.com/personality/baby-jessica Baby Jessica] and {{w|Category:Cases of people who fell into a well|these people}}. If ''everyone'' fell down a well at once, there would be nobody to get them out, which would be a pretty bad thing. It's unclear how this upgrade could cause this outcome, making this suggestion preposterous.
|-
|"Instead of hitting the tallest thing around, lightning starts hitting the nicest." || {{w|Lightning}} generally strikes the tallest object under a thunderstorm, a topic addressed in {{what if|16|''What-if #16: Lightning''}}. {{w|Lightning rods}} are built to take advantage of this effect to protect nearby important objects from the lightning. If lightning started hitting the ''nicest'' thing around, then it would presumably strike whatever it was that the lightning rods are meant to protect (nice buildings, nice people, [https://history.nasa.gov/SP-350/ch-7-3.html nice rockets]). If the computer that's being upgraded is connected to the [[1620: Christmas Settings|Universe Control Panel]], this change could be a plausible negative consequence of the update.
|-
|"{{w|Seagulls}} all get {{w|handguns}}." || Guns in the hands of humans account for the large majority of homicides and suicides in the USA. Letting handguns be wielded by seagulls, which lack the impulse control and cognitive thinking required to make the ownership of a handgun somewhat safe, would make this much worse. Seagulls are not particularly known for their intelligence, self control, or kindness toward others. At popular beaches, seagulls are known to aggressively harass humans for their food; if they wielded handguns, a great deal of violence would ensue. Even if mayhem and death were not due to intentional use (i.e., if the seagulls were capable of learning that use of a handgun would get them food or something else they might like), they would happen from accidental use.
|-
|"A really '''''slow''''' nuclear war." || No {{w|nuclear war}} involving two sides launching nuclear weapons at each other has ever been fought, but experts generally agree that an all-out nuclear war between superpowers would end very quickly and very badly for all parties involved (as well as all parties not involved). A "slow" nuclear war might play out as a series of tit-for-tat individual launches rather than a single apocalyptic exchange, but the destruction of cities and release of fallout would be the same. Perhaps the anticipation of when exactly it's "your turn" to be a target would make the slow war a worse experience.

Much of the computer networking technology used today has its roots in research into hardening nuclear command and control systems against an incoming first strike, and many works of fiction have depicted nuclear war (or the risk of nuclear war) resulting from computer and software errors in systems that are supposed to "upgrade" the decision-making process, such as ''{{w|WarGames}}'' and "{{w|Fail-Safe (novel)|Fail-Safe}}". If Ponytail's company is involved in the defense industry, a nuclear war could be a plausible worst-case scenario from a botched upgrade.
|-
|"We have to go on a game show where they show you photos of people you've met once and ask you their names, and if you get one wrong a trapdoor opens and you fall into a garbage disposal." || The premise of this game show seems to play on Munroe's frequent references to anxiety about social situations. For people who have troubles remembering names, encountering someone you've met once before can be harrowing, as you may know that you ''should'' know their name, but be unable to recall it, creating embarrassment and awkwardness (particularly if the person remembers your name with ease). The concept is that fear could be exploited in the form of a game show. Many popular game shows feature contests where contestants who fail are subjected to pain and/or humiliation, such as the ''{{w|Ninja Warrior}}'' franchise. This case is particularly exaggerated, as the inability to remember even a single name would result in being dropped into a garbage disposal, which would virtually guarantee serious maiming and/or death. The reaction of the strip characters suggests that they all share a lack of confidence in their ability to remember the names of casual acquaintances, making such a game show one of the "worst things" they could encounter.
|}

==Transcript==
:[Ponytail is standing in front of a desk with a computer. One of her hands is on the keyboard. Behind her, Cueball, Hairy, and Megan are looking at the computer screen.]
:Ponytail: We should upgrade. What's the worst that could happen?
:Cueball: Supervolcano.
:Hairy: Robot uprising.
:Megan: Everyone falls down a well at once.

:[Zoom in on Cueball, Hairy, and Megan. Cueball has turned toward the other two.]
:Cueball: Instead of hitting the tallest thing around, lightning starts hitting the nicest.
:Megan: Seagulls all get handguns.
:Hairy: A really '''''slow''''' nuclear war.

:[Large panel with the original setting. Ponytail has turned towards the other three but is now facepalming, as Cueball gesturing with his hands at chest-height are still looking at the other two facing him.]
:Cueball: We all have to go on a game show where they show you photos of people you've met once and ask you their names, and if you get one wrong a trapdoor opens and you fall into a garbage disposal.
:Hairy: '''Ooh,''' that's a good one.
:Megan: Yeah, let's put off the upgrade.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:Volcanoes]]
[[Category:Robots]]
[[Category:Artificial Intelligence]]
[[Category:Weather]]
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Nuclear weapons]]