explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:2576: Control Group

2025-05-05T19:16:17Z

172.71.241.67:

This is my first explanation, feel free to improve upon it. [[User:KirbyDude25|KirbyDude25]] ([[User talk:KirbyDude25|talk]]) 00:30, 3 February 2022 (UTC)

Ran into your edit when I tried to submit mine, hah.
I don't actually like Know Your Meme that much but I'm not sure where else I could source that joke. Maybe it's unnecessary. [[User:Obw|Obw]] ([[User talk:Obw|talk]]) 00:36, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
:Sorry about that. Thanks for expanding my explanation, especially the description of the "study" aspect. I think the joke is fine, though we'll see what others think. [[User:KirbyDude25|KirbyDude25]] ([[User talk:KirbyDude25|talk]]) 00:43, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
:Your explanation of the title text actually helped me understand the joke there! I added a bit more to flesh out the explanation [[User:Obw|Obw]] ([[User talk:Obw|talk]]) 00:45, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
:Thanks! Your edits definitely helped clear up the study terminology. [[User:KirbyDude25|KirbyDude25]] ([[User talk:KirbyDude25|talk]]) 00:50, 3 February 2022 (UTC)

Is the text exceptionally large for an xkcd comic? I was seeing if my browser was zoomed in, but the previous comics are all a normal size [[Special:Contributions/172.70.134.215|172.70.134.215]] 00:55, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
:I noticed that, too. It looks about 1.5 times larger than normal. I don't think it means anything, though; Randall probably just made the image the wrong size by accident. [[User:KirbyDude25|KirbyDude25]] ([[User talk:KirbyDude25|talk]]) 01:00, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
:The image is the size normally used for the _2x version. In this case, the main image is the same size as the _2x version for some reason. Normal image: https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/control_group.png; 2x image: https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/control_group_2x.png; Normally the _2x version is double size for hi-DPI displays. I'm hoping that will get fixed and we'll get the normal size back. [[User:Orion205|Orion205]] ([[User talk:Orion205|talk]]) 01:11, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
::This size is way better though. Do people still use low-res monitors? When I check the website, it shows up as 478 x 613 pixels, which is absurdly small, even for a webcomic. - [[Special:Contributions/172.70.130.153|172.70.130.153]] 01:33, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
:::Some of us use "low-res" monitors. 1280x720 here, which I see as standard and not "low". [[User:Ralfoide|Ralfoide]] ([[User talk:Ralfoide|talk]]) 21:46, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
::::What decade is this?! Stores don't even sell 720p monitors anymore. When I bought my current tv, even HD less common than 4k. My PHONE is almost 4k, and it's over 4 years old at this point! - [[Special:Contributions/172.70.130.153|172.70.130.153]] 01:46, 4 February 2022 (UTC)
:::The site standard is to give the standard version, for various reasons not just confined to monitor (or, in my case, tablet) resolution. It doesn't happen here, but the double-wide version of some comics would often make my device shrink the rest of the page to make the image fit within the width.
:::(Ironically, my device seems to load the _2x in the original published context, in normal non-huge comics, ''without'' changing the xkcd site dimensions, so maybe there's a CSS solution to that, as well as it clearly heing the reason for the current problem due to hard-coded pixel-widths adding up to less than necessary to wholey contain the image-width.)
:::If the _2x version is necessary to see details (not the case here), a link to that version is given. Or if it has been uploaded as well, I suppose. But anyone can go to the source and get the _2x if they want it. But for this comic it adds little value. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.85.79|172.70.85.79]] 02:57, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
::::Is there some way to make it DEFAULT to the 2x version (here or on xkcd.com) without some kind of addons or external scripts? I didn't see any settings, and I don't want to register an account. - [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.166|162.158.74.166]] 03:05, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
:::::The bot that makes these pages now was set to use the _2x version by default briefly, but was asked to switch back to the normal size. See this talk page: [[User_talk:Theusaf]]. [[User:Orion205|Orion205]] ([[User talk:Orion205|talk]]) 21:03, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
:::: Why is the "standard" version so tiny? If anything, they should make the <1mp version mobile-only, and the standard should be desktop/hd - [[Special:Contributions/172.70.131.122|172.70.131.122]] 03:03, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
::::: I could give you several technical reasons why this is just not going to work here, without a lot of reworking that will probably involve breaking a significant number of readers of this site, but I don't think you'll be dissuaded. Like I said, it works 'natively' like that in the xkcd site, but it often breaks things here on explainxkcd (in my case, YMMV). It's been discussed under the Community Portal pages for this site, I know, but I'll leave it to you to find out how that went. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.159.29|162.158.159.29]] 03:15, 3 February 2022 (UTC)

Anyone know why the title text doesn't show properly? For me, the rows are on separate lines on xkcd.com but display on the same line over here, ruining the effect. Is there a hidden break character that's not displaying in the source? [[User:Zzyzx|Zzyzx]] ([[User talk:Zzyzx|talk]]) 03:07, 3 February 2022 (UTC)

Knowing if you are in the control group or not can falsify the results, which is why any self-respecting study (aka blind or double blind) won't tell their participants this information. [[User:Kimmerin|Kimmerin]] ([[User talk:Kimmerin|talk]]) 10:25, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
:Agreed. I think that Cueball is trying to put two over on Ponytail, as well as anybody else that annoys him about Wordle. [[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]]) 03:17, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

imo placeable could mean you get to place the correct or incorrect into the box? and the x/6 could have x be a variable, and the grey squares are actually blank to change to correct or incorrect? idk ive never played wordle [[Special:Contributions/162.158.187.158|162.158.187.158]] 13:23, 3 February 2022 (UTC)Bumpf
:It says "Placeble," without the second A (meaning described above). Perhaps your theory about the squares is correct, but I think it's more likely that they're just blank and that the "placebo" Wordle doesn't actually have a word to guess. [[User:KirbyDude25|KirbyDude25]] ([[User talk:KirbyDude25|talk]]) 13:32, 3 February 2022 (UTC)
::"Wordle" is just a portmanteau of "Word" and "Wardle" - so "Placeble" is likewise one of "placebo" and "Wordle". I don't think much more should be read into it. It would be interesting to think about how hard it is to not get any squares right in a Wordle puzzle, though. You'd have to get "lucky" on the first word. I'm not sure - can you enter the same word twice, or does the page stop you? [[Special:Contributions/172.70.135.154|172.70.135.154]] 15:18, 3 February 2022 (UTC)

Given the current context, it feels like there may also be some reference here to Wordle's 'virality', and allusion to virus-related vaccine and treatment studies.[[Special:Contributions/172.70.90.121|172.70.90.121]] 16:26, 3 February 2022 (UTC)

I think Randall accidentally put up tomorrow’s comic early, then took it down after a few minutes. It was a graph about how often he thinks about his nasal passages.[[User:Szeth Pancakes|Szeth Pancakes]] ([[User talk:Szeth Pancakes|talk]]) 00:02, 4 February 2022 (UTC)
:That sounds like [[2563: Throat and Nasal Passages]]. - [[User:Orion205|Orion205]] ([[User talk:Orion205|talk]]) 02:31, 4 February 2022 (UTC)
::Huh. The site must’ve glitched out on me. Either that, or I’m mentally disturbed. I’m probably just mentally disturbed.[[User:Szeth Pancakes|Szeth Pancakes]] ([[User talk:Szeth Pancakes|talk]]) 19:53, 4 February 2022 (UTC)

Does anyone else think this explanation is complete? It doesn't look like anything else needs to be added. [[User:KirbyDude25|KirbyDude25]] ([[User talk:KirbyDude25|talk]]) 13:15, 4 February 2022 (UTC)

Looks like it's normal size now on xkcd.com. Can someone update the image? [[User:KirbyDude25|KirbyDude25]] ([[User talk:KirbyDude25|talk]]) 14:15, 9 February 2022 (UTC)

I think this joke refers to the anti-vaxxer meme where someone refuses to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by saying: "I'm in the control group" to imply that the vacine hasn't been tested before being rolled out, and the people who take it are guinea pigs. Anti-vaxxers also believe that the disease is a hoax and the vaccine does nothing, hence the placebo joke. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.250.13|172.70.250.13]] 02:27, 6 March 2022 (UTC)

Replying to Edit Comment "Undo revision 376354 by 172.70.163.177 (talk) - You seem to never have shared a wordle. See https://x.com/search?q=wordle&f=live (Granted, it could be explained better.)" — As I don't have a TwiX account, can't even see that (just the "X" screen, ever since Musk prevented read-only). But please do try to explain that better, Wordle ''used'' to be entirely alphabetic, at the start. I had already uninstalled it before it got sold (interesting, but probably the wrong time to be tied to daily challenges), and never felt the need to bother sharing anything with anyone by any means, so no idea what has been done to it more recently or via any of the social media platforms that I don't use. [[Special:Contributions/172.71.241.67|172.71.241.67]] 19:16, 5 May 2025 (UTC)

Talk:3060: Omniroll

2025-03-12T21:58:33Z

172.71.241.67: Unsigned and misplaced comment 'signed' and moved. (I also don't understand it, so perhaps linguistically obscure.)

I wonder what the filling would be... [[Special:Contributions/172.69.20.143|172.69.20.143]] 02:35, 8 March 2025 (UTC)

At some point, this explanation will be complete. Then we can say "that's a wrap!"... [[Special:Contributions/172.69.79.190|172.69.79.190]] 02:36, 8 March 2025 (UTC)
: Unless it just rolls on forever.[[Special:Contributions/172.70.85.33|172.70.85.33]] 09:18, 10 March 2025 (UTC)

The ''real'' fun would come if this became popular enough to gain its own Wikipedia page. --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.33.252|162.158.33.252]] 03:13, 8 March 2025 (UTC)

People keep vandalizing it to add "Uranium Roll" and make the whole thing inedible. Not like it was getting eaten before, but still. [[Special:Contributions/172.71.159.66|172.71.159.66]] 03:20, 8 March 2025 (UTC)

This is reminiscent of the 2005 SNL skit [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evUWersr7pc Taco Town]. "''A crunchy all beef taco smothered in nacho cheese, lettuce, tomato, and special Southwestern sauce; wrapped in a soft flour tortilla with a layer of re-fried beans in between; wrapped in a savory corn tortilla with a middle layer of Monterrey jack cheese; wrapped in a deep fried gordita shell smeared with a layer of special 'guacomolito' sauce; wrapped in a corn husk filled with pico de gallo; wrapped in an authentic Parisian crepe filled with egg, gruyere, sausage and portobello mushrooms; wrapped in a Chicago-style, deep-dish, meat lover's pizza; rolled up in a blueberry pancake; dipped in batter and deep fried until it's golden brown; and served in a commemorative tote bag filled with spicy vegetarian chili.''" [[Special:Contributions/172.68.210.176|172.68.210.176]] 03:35, 8 March 2025 (UTC)

:Thank you, I came here to add a comment about Taco Town and am glad to see that someone beat me to it. [[Special:Contributions/104.23.187.188|104.23.187.188]] 23:40, 8 March 2025 (UTC)

:Here is a video of someone recreating and eating the Taco Town monstrosity: [https://youtu.be/UvIkojfQDxA?t=272 Binging with Babish 1 Million Subscriber Special: Taco Town & Behind the Scenes] [[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]]) 02:39, 9 March 2025 (UTC)

I was thinking more along the lines of the everything bagel in ''Everything Everywhere All at Once''. [[User:TomtheBuilder|TomtheBuilder]] ([[User talk:TomtheBuilder|talk]]) 04:32, 8 March 2025 (UTC)

I'd instead sell "Fruit by the Foot" by the meter to get to a synthesis. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.174.78|172.70.174.78]] 09:07, 8 March 2025 (UTC)

What would happen if omniroll were added to that Wikipedia page? Would we have a "set of all sets that contain themself" nonsense? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.155.49|162.158.155.49]] 14:51, 8 March 2025 (UTC)

:Aaaand "Omniroll" has already been added to the Wikipedia list. Good job, everyone! [[Special:Contributions/104.23.190.119|104.23.190.119]] 17:40, 8 March 2025 (UTC)
:: Oh dang, it's already been taken down. Sadge. [[Special:Contributions/104.23.187.173|104.23.187.173]] 17:47, 8 March 2025 (UTC)
::: The removal was tagged "The omniroll is not a real food, just an xkcd joke". Not with that attitude it isn't! I give us two days, and if no-one has done one in a week then I'll do it. [[User:SqueakSquawk4|SqueakSquawk4]] ([[User talk:SqueakSquawk4|talk]]) 21:02, 8 March 2025 (UTC)

Might be worth a <nowiki>[[Category:Omni]]</nowiki>, or similar. [[2653: Omnitaur]] and [[2738: Omniknot]], at least, then this. Maybe other ones might be recalled, but not right now by me. (An actual vague search seems to have the search-site really want to bring to note {{what if|12}}, as using "omnidirectional", but doesn't really count for at least three reasons.) [[Special:Contributions/172.70.58.5|172.70.58.5]] 17:43, 8 March 2025 (UTC)
:I think three is to few and searching did not find any other use of omni in this meaning, only something with omni directional wheels (as in the water in the what if.) So I would say no to that category at this moment.--[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 20:00, 9 March 2025 (UTC)

I should point out that if OmniRoll is added to Wikipedia as an entry, it should also be added to the "list of rolled foods", and then the OmniRoll would have to include *itself* as one of the ingredients, and it quickly becomes turtles all the way down. Just saying... {{unsigned ip|172.68.54.69|05:08, 10 March 2025}}

Drum roll, please [[Special:Contributions/172.68.54.167|172.68.54.167]] 11:46, 10 March 2025 (UTC)

As an example of why you shouldn't rely on Wikipedia for information, {{w|Pigs_in_blankets}} is included on the 'List of stuffed foods' and not on the 'List of rolled foods', which is clearly a travesty.[[Special:Contributions/172.70.85.70|172.70.85.70]] 14:40, 10 March 2025 (UTC)
: That article has seen a ton of edits since the xkcd was published a couple days ago, and not just joke suggestions to add Omniroll. Why not add Pigs in Blankets to the article yourself? [[Special:Contributions/172.70.110.33|172.70.110.33]] 14:57, 10 March 2025 (UTC)
:: Sorry - I guess I forgot to put the <humour/> tags around my comment.[[Special:Contributions/172.69.194.93|172.69.194.93]] 15:23, 10 March 2025 (UTC)

It makes sense not to, but why not add musician Jelly Roll to the recipe? [[User:GreyFox|GreyFox]] ([[User talk:GreyFox|talk]]) 18:10, 10 March 2025 (UTC)

I also saw it didn't appear to have pinwheels, so omnirolls must, by definition have a year to be a true omniwheel, otherwise, the list may change. {{unsigned ip|172.70.126.12|16:12, 12 March 2025}}