https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=173.245.50.140explain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-05-30T10:06:59ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=301:_Limerick&diff=88771301: Limerick2015-04-06T21:39:04Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 301<br />
| date = August 10, 2007<br />
| title = Limerick<br />
| image = limerick.png<br />
| titletext = Fun game: try to post a YouTube comment so stupid that people realize you must be joking. (Hint: this is impossible)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
A {{w|limerick (poetry)|limerick}} is a well-known type of poem that is usually humorous or bawdy. Technically, a limerick is primarily [http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/meter.html anapestic trimeter]: each line contains three "feet", each foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. The rhyme scheme is AABBA: the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, as do the shorter third and fourth lines. Almost anyone can instantly recognize a limerick after hearing the first line.<br />
<br />
{{w|Slashdot}} is a venerable techie site. On many sites, the user base can vote comments "up" or "down", but at Slashdot, only moderators (these are randomly drawn from the pool of registered users) may up or down vote comments, and the moderator may select a reason for his or her up or down vote. Instead of a simple +1, a comment may be voted +1 (Funny). Similarly, instead of -1, a comment may be voted -1 (Off-topic). +5 is the maximum positive score. A comment rated +5 (Insightful) has been upvoted at least 5 times, and has a plurality of "Insightful" votes.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]]'s limerick says that he does not like Slashdot anymore, because his sarcastic comments are being treated as "insightful" by the very people he's being sarcastic to.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the notoriously awful comments on YouTube.<br />
<br />
In both cases, [[Randall]] is invoking {{User:173.245.50.140|Poe's_Law|Poe's Law}}. Both sites have become so full of extremes that you can no longer mock the extremists without looking like a sincere extremist yourself.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball sitting at computer, typing.]<br />
:Cueball: I used to find slashdot delightful,<br />
:Cueball: but my feelings of late are more spiteful;<br />
:Cueball: my comments sarcastic<br />
:Cueball: the iconoclastic<br />
:Cueball: keep modding to plus five (Insightful).<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88767Template:w2015-04-06T21:35:50Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[[Wikipedia:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}{{!}}{{{2|{{{1|}}}}}}]]|{{PAGENAME}}{{!}}{{PAGENAME}}]] at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]}}</includeonly><noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to Wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the wikipedia page for the page you use the template on<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88587Template:w2015-04-06T03:21:04Z<p>173.245.50.140: Undo revision 88574 by 173.245.50.140 (talk)</p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}}}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}|{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}}}}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=303:_Compiling&diff=88583303: Compiling2015-04-06T02:48:23Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 303<br />
| date = August 15, 2007<br />
| title = Compiling<br />
| image = compiling.png <br />
| titletext = 'Are you stealing those LCDs?' 'Yeah, but I'm doing it while my code compiles.'<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Programming is essentially writing instructions for a computer to follow, in a specific {{w|Programming_language|programming language}}, which is designed to be human readable to make the programmers' job easier. However, for the computers to follow these instructions, they need to be translated into {{w|Machine_code|machine code}}— a "language" that computers "speak". Such conversion from human-readable source code into {{w|computer-executable_files|computer-executable files}}is performed by ({{w|Compiler|compilers}}), and takes certain time — depending on the size of the project and the power of the computer doing the compilation, it may measure in hours. As of 2015 the {{w|Linux_Kernel|Linux Kernel}}contains over 19 million lines of code, a massive job for any compiler.<br />
<br />
In general, programming languages are implemented in two ways: interpreters and compilers. Interpreters convert the code at the time when it is currently running ({{w|PHP}}for one example), but compilers convert the source code all at once into executable files. After compiling, the resulting code will run much faster than interpreted code, since it has already been translated into the proper binary language. However, compiling code can take a long time, especially if the compiler is set up to correct {{w|syntax_error|syntax errors}}. When Cueball is caught wasting time at work, he argues that such pastime is not any worse than any other at this moment, as no modifications can be made to the code that he should otherwise be working on until it finishes compiling, anyway.<br />
<br />
The title text takes this a step further. Cueball claims that ''all'' activities are equally benign while the code is compiling — and that includes committing illegal acts, such as stealing {{w|LCD}}monitors.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:The #1 Programmer Excuse for Legitimately Slacking Off: "My code's compiling."<br />
:[Two programmers are sword-fighting on office chairs in a hallway. An unseen manager calls them back to work through an open office door.]<br />
:Manager: Hey! Get back to work!<br />
:Cueball: Compiling!<br />
:Manager: Oh. Carry on.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Programming]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=303:_Compiling&diff=88582303: Compiling2015-04-06T02:47:04Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 303<br />
| date = August 15, 2007<br />
| title = Compiling<br />
| image = compiling.png <br />
| titletext = 'Are you stealing those LCDs?' 'Yeah, but I'm doing it while my code compiles.'<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Programming is essentially writing instructions for a computer to follow, in a specific {{w|Programming_language|programming language}}, which is designed to be human readable to make the programmers' job easier. However, for the computers to follow these instructions, they need to be translated into {{w|Machine_code|machine code}}— a "language" that computers "speak". Such conversion from human-readable source code into {{w|computer-executable_files|computer-executable files}}is performed by ({{w|Compiler|compilers}}), and takes certain time — depending on the size of the project and the power of the computer doing the compilation, it may measure in hours. As of 2015 the {{w|Linux_Kernel|Linux Kernel}}contains over 19 million lines of code, a massive job for any compiler.<br />
<br />
In general, programming languages are implemented in two ways: interpreters and compilers. Interpreters convert the code at the time when it is currently running ({{w|PHP}}for one example), but compilers convert the source code all at once into executable files. After compiling, the resulting code will run much faster than interpreted code, since it has already been translated into the proper binary language. However, compiling code can take a long time, especially if the compiler is set up to correct {{w|syntax error|syntax errors}}. When Cueball is caught wasting time at work, he argues that such pastime is not any worse than any other at this moment, as no modifications can be made to the code that he should otherwise be working on until it finishes compiling, anyway.<br />
<br />
The title text takes this a step further. Cueball claims that ''all'' activities are equally benign while the code is compiling — and that includes committing illegal acts, such as stealing {{w|LCD}}monitors.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:The #1 Programmer Excuse for Legitimately Slacking Off: "My code's compiling."<br />
:[Two programmers are sword-fighting on office chairs in a hallway. An unseen manager calls them back to work through an open office door.]<br />
:Manager: Hey! Get back to work!<br />
:Cueball: Compiling!<br />
:Manager: Oh. Carry on.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Programming]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=303:_Compiling&diff=88581303: Compiling2015-04-06T02:46:34Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 303<br />
| date = August 15, 2007<br />
| title = Compiling<br />
| image = compiling.png <br />
| titletext = 'Are you stealing those LCDs?' 'Yeah, but I'm doing it while my code compiles.'<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Programming is essentially writing instructions for a computer to follow, in a specific {{w|Programming_language|programming language}}, which is designed to be human readable to make the programmers' job easier. However, for the computers to follow these instructions, they need to be translated into {{w|Machine_code|machine code}}— a "language" that computers "speak". Such conversion from human-readable source code into {{w|computer-executable_files}}is performed by ({{w|Compiler|compilers}}), and takes certain time — depending on the size of the project and the power of the computer doing the compilation, it may measure in hours. As of 2015 the {{w|Linux_Kernel|Linux Kernel}}contains over 19 million lines of code, a massive job for any compiler.<br />
<br />
In general, programming languages are implemented in two ways: interpreters and compilers. Interpreters convert the code at the time when it is currently running ({{w|PHP}}for one example), but compilers convert the source code all at once into executable files. After compiling, the resulting code will run much faster than interpreted code, since it has already been translated into the proper binary language. However, compiling code can take a long time, especially if the compiler is set up to correct {{w|syntax error|syntax errors}}. When Cueball is caught wasting time at work, he argues that such pastime is not any worse than any other at this moment, as no modifications can be made to the code that he should otherwise be working on until it finishes compiling, anyway.<br />
<br />
The title text takes this a step further. Cueball claims that ''all'' activities are equally benign while the code is compiling — and that includes committing illegal acts, such as stealing {{w|LCD}}monitors.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:The #1 Programmer Excuse for Legitimately Slacking Off: "My code's compiling."<br />
:[Two programmers are sword-fighting on office chairs in a hallway. An unseen manager calls them back to work through an open office door.]<br />
:Manager: Hey! Get back to work!<br />
:Cueball: Compiling!<br />
:Manager: Oh. Carry on.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Programming]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=303:_Compiling&diff=88580303: Compiling2015-04-06T02:46:03Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 303<br />
| date = August 15, 2007<br />
| title = Compiling<br />
| image = compiling.png <br />
| titletext = 'Are you stealing those LCDs?' 'Yeah, but I'm doing it while my code compiles.'<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Programming is essentially writing instructions for a computer to follow, in a specific {{w|Programming_language|programming language}}, which is designed to be human readable to make the programmers' job easier. However, for the computers to follow these instructions, they need to be translated into {{w|Machine_code|machine code}}— a "language" that computers "speak". Such conversion from human-readable source code into {{w|computer-executable files}}is performed by ({{w|Compiler|compilers}}), and takes certain time — depending on the size of the project and the power of the computer doing the compilation, it may measure in hours. As of 2015 the {{w|Linux_Kernel|Linux Kernel}}contains over 19 million lines of code, a massive job for any compiler.<br />
<br />
In general, programming languages are implemented in two ways: interpreters and compilers. Interpreters convert the code at the time when it is currently running ({{w|PHP}}for one example), but compilers convert the source code all at once into executable files. After compiling, the resulting code will run much faster than interpreted code, since it has already been translated into the proper binary language. However, compiling code can take a long time, especially if the compiler is set up to correct {{w|syntax error|syntax errors}}. When Cueball is caught wasting time at work, he argues that such pastime is not any worse than any other at this moment, as no modifications can be made to the code that he should otherwise be working on until it finishes compiling, anyway.<br />
<br />
The title text takes this a step further. Cueball claims that ''all'' activities are equally benign while the code is compiling — and that includes committing illegal acts, such as stealing {{w|LCD}}monitors.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:The #1 Programmer Excuse for Legitimately Slacking Off: "My code's compiling."<br />
:[Two programmers are sword-fighting on office chairs in a hallway. An unseen manager calls them back to work through an open office door.]<br />
:Manager: Hey! Get back to work!<br />
:Cueball: Compiling!<br />
:Manager: Oh. Carry on.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Programming]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=303:_Compiling&diff=88579303: Compiling2015-04-06T02:45:38Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 303<br />
| date = August 15, 2007<br />
| title = Compiling<br />
| image = compiling.png <br />
| titletext = 'Are you stealing those LCDs?' 'Yeah, but I'm doing it while my code compiles.'<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Programming is essentially writing instructions for a computer to follow, in a specific {{w|Programming_language|programming language}}, which is designed to be human readable to make the programmers' job easier. However, for the computers to follow these instructions, they need to be translated into {{w|Machine_code|machine code}}— a "language" that computers "speak". Such conversion from human-readable source code into {{w|computer-executable files}}is performed by ({{w|Compiler|compilers}}), and takes certain time — depending on the size of the project and the power of the computer doing the compilation, it may measure in hours. As of 2015 the {{w|Linux_Kernel}}contains over 19 million lines of code, a massive job for any compiler.<br />
<br />
In general, programming languages are implemented in two ways: interpreters and compilers. Interpreters convert the code at the time when it is currently running ({{w|PHP}}for one example), but compilers convert the source code all at once into executable files. After compiling, the resulting code will run much faster than interpreted code, since it has already been translated into the proper binary language. However, compiling code can take a long time, especially if the compiler is set up to correct {{w|syntax error|syntax errors}}. When Cueball is caught wasting time at work, he argues that such pastime is not any worse than any other at this moment, as no modifications can be made to the code that he should otherwise be working on until it finishes compiling, anyway.<br />
<br />
The title text takes this a step further. Cueball claims that ''all'' activities are equally benign while the code is compiling — and that includes committing illegal acts, such as stealing {{w|LCD}}monitors.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:The #1 Programmer Excuse for Legitimately Slacking Off: "My code's compiling."<br />
:[Two programmers are sword-fighting on office chairs in a hallway. An unseen manager calls them back to work through an open office door.]<br />
:Manager: Hey! Get back to work!<br />
:Cueball: Compiling!<br />
:Manager: Oh. Carry on.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Programming]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=303:_Compiling&diff=88578303: Compiling2015-04-06T02:45:07Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 303<br />
| date = August 15, 2007<br />
| title = Compiling<br />
| image = compiling.png <br />
| titletext = 'Are you stealing those LCDs?' 'Yeah, but I'm doing it while my code compiles.'<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Programming is essentially writing instructions for a computer to follow, in a specific {{w|Programming language|programming language}}, which is designed to be human readable to make the programmers' job easier. However, for the computers to follow these instructions, they need to be translated into {{w|Machine code|machine code}}— a "language" that computers "speak". Such conversion from human-readable source code into {{w|computer-executable files}}is performed by ({{w|Compiler|compilers}}), and takes certain time — depending on the size of the project and the power of the computer doing the compilation, it may measure in hours. As of 2015 the {{w|Linux Kernel}} contains over 19 million lines of code, a massive job for any compiler.<br />
<br />
In general, programming languages are implemented in two ways: interpreters and compilers. Interpreters convert the code at the time when it is currently running ({{w|PHP}}for one example), but compilers convert the source code all at once into executable files. After compiling, the resulting code will run much faster than interpreted code, since it has already been translated into the proper binary language. However, compiling code can take a long time, especially if the compiler is set up to correct {{w|syntax error|syntax errors}}. When Cueball is caught wasting time at work, he argues that such pastime is not any worse than any other at this moment, as no modifications can be made to the code that he should otherwise be working on until it finishes compiling, anyway.<br />
<br />
The title text takes this a step further. Cueball claims that ''all'' activities are equally benign while the code is compiling — and that includes committing illegal acts, such as stealing {{w|LCD}}monitors.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:The #1 Programmer Excuse for Legitimately Slacking Off: "My code's compiling."<br />
:[Two programmers are sword-fighting on office chairs in a hallway. An unseen manager calls them back to work through an open office door.]<br />
:Manager: Hey! Get back to work!<br />
:Cueball: Compiling!<br />
:Manager: Oh. Carry on.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Programming]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=301:_Limerick&diff=88577301: Limerick2015-04-06T02:43:51Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 301<br />
| date = August 10, 2007<br />
| title = Limerick<br />
| image = limerick.png<br />
| titletext = Fun game: try to post a YouTube comment so stupid that people realize you must be joking. (Hint: this is impossible)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
A {{w|limerick_(poetry)|limerick}}is a well-known type of poem that is usually humorous or bawdy. Technically, a limerick is primarily [http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/meter.html anapestic trimeter]: each line contains three "feet", each foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. The rhyme scheme is AABBA: the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, as do the shorter third and fourth lines. Almost anyone can instantly recognize a limerick after hearing the first line.<br />
<br />
{{w|Slashdot}}is a venerable techie site. On many sites, the user base can vote comments "up" or "down", but at Slashdot, only moderators (these are randomly drawn from the pool of registered users) may up or down vote comments, and the moderator may select a reason for his or her up or down vote. Instead of a simple +1, a comment may be voted +1 (Funny). Similarly, instead of -1, a comment may be voted -1 (Off-topic). +5 is the maximum positive score. A comment rated +5 (Insightful) has been upvoted at least 5 times, and has a plurality of "Insightful" votes.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]]'s limerick says that he does not like Slashdot anymore, because his sarcastic comments are being treated as "insightful" by the very people he's being sarcastic to.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the notoriously awful comments on YouTube.<br />
<br />
In both cases, [[Randall]] is invoking {{rw|Poe's_Law|Poe's Law}}. Both sites have become so full of extremes that you can no longer mock the extremists without looking like a sincere extremist yourself.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball sitting at computer, typing.]<br />
:Cueball: I used to find slashdot delightful,<br />
:Cueball: but my feelings of late are more spiteful;<br />
:Cueball: my comments sarcastic<br />
:Cueball: the iconoclastic<br />
:Cueball: keep modding to plus five (Insightful).<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=301:_Limerick&diff=88576301: Limerick2015-04-06T02:43:15Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 301<br />
| date = August 10, 2007<br />
| title = Limerick<br />
| image = limerick.png<br />
| titletext = Fun game: try to post a YouTube comment so stupid that people realize you must be joking. (Hint: this is impossible)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
A {{w|limerick_(poetry)|limerick}}is a well-known type of poem that is usually humorous or bawdy. Technically, a limerick is primarily [http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/meter.html anapestic trimeter]: each line contains three "feet", each foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. The rhyme scheme is AABBA: the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, as do the shorter third and fourth lines. Almost anyone can instantly recognize a limerick after hearing the first line.<br />
<br />
{{w|Slashdot}}is a venerable techie site. On many sites, the user base can vote comments "up" or "down", but at Slashdot, only moderators (these are randomly drawn from the pool of registered users) may up or down vote comments, and the moderator may select a reason for his or her up or down vote. Instead of a simple +1, a comment may be voted +1 (Funny). Similarly, instead of -1, a comment may be voted -1 (Off-topic). +5 is the maximum positive score. A comment rated +5 (Insightful) has been upvoted at least 5 times, and has a plurality of "Insightful" votes.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]]'s limerick says that he does not like Slashdot anymore, because his sarcastic comments are being treated as "insightful" by the very people he's being sarcastic to.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the notoriously awful comments on YouTube.<br />
<br />
In both cases, [[Randall]] is invoking {{rw|Poe's Law}}. Both sites have become so full of extremes that you can no longer mock the extremists without looking like a sincere extremist yourself.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball sitting at computer, typing.]<br />
:Cueball: I used to find slashdot delightful,<br />
:Cueball: but my feelings of late are more spiteful;<br />
:Cueball: my comments sarcastic<br />
:Cueball: the iconoclastic<br />
:Cueball: keep modding to plus five (Insightful).<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88574Template:w2015-04-06T02:42:02Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}}}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}|{{#if:{{{1}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}}}}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88573Template:w2015-04-06T02:41:30Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}}}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}|{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}}}}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88572Template:w2015-04-06T02:40:27Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}}}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}|{{#if:{{{1|}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}}}}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88571Template:w2015-04-06T02:40:00Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}}}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}|{{#if:{{{1|}}|{{{1}}}|}}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88570Template:w2015-04-06T02:38:27Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}}}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}|{{{1}}}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=301:_Limerick&diff=88569301: Limerick2015-04-06T02:37:49Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 301<br />
| date = August 10, 2007<br />
| title = Limerick<br />
| image = limerick.png<br />
| titletext = Fun game: try to post a YouTube comment so stupid that people realize you must be joking. (Hint: this is impossible)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
A {{w|limerick_(poetry)|limerick}}is a well-known type of poem that is usually humorous or bawdy. Technically, a limerick is primarily [http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/meter.html anapestic trimeter]: each line contains three "feet", each foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. The rhyme scheme is AABBA: the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, as do the shorter third and fourth lines. Almost anyone can instantly recognize a limerick after hearing the first line.<br />
<br />
{{w|Slashdot}}is a venerable techie site. On many sites, the user base can vote comments "up" or "down", but at Slashdot, only moderators (these are randomly drawn from the pool of registered users) may up or down vote comments, and the moderator may select a reason for his or her up or down vote. Instead of a simple +1, a comment may be voted +1 (Funny). Similarly, instead of -1, a comment may be voted -1 (Off-topic). +5 is the maximum positive score. A comment rated +5 (Insightful) has been upvoted at least 5 times, and has a plurality of "Insightful" votes.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]]'s limerick says that he does not like Slashdot anymore, because his sarcastic comments are being treated as "insightful" by the very people he's being sarcastic to.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the notoriously awful comments on YouTube.<br />
<br />
In both cases, [[Randall]] is invoking {{rw|Poe's_Law|Poe's Law}}. Both sites have become so full of extremes that you can no longer mock the extremists without looking like a sincere extremist yourself.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball sitting at computer, typing.]<br />
:Cueball: I used to find slashdot delightful,<br />
:Cueball: but my feelings of late are more spiteful;<br />
:Cueball: my comments sarcastic<br />
:Cueball: the iconoclastic<br />
:Cueball: keep modding to plus five (Insightful).<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=301:_Limerick&diff=88568301: Limerick2015-04-06T02:37:17Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 301<br />
| date = August 10, 2007<br />
| title = Limerick<br />
| image = limerick.png<br />
| titletext = Fun game: try to post a YouTube comment so stupid that people realize you must be joking. (Hint: this is impossible)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
A {{w|limerick_(poetry)|limerick}} is a well-known type of poem that is usually humorous or bawdy. Technically, a limerick is primarily [http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/meter.html anapestic trimeter]: each line contains three "feet", each foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. The rhyme scheme is AABBA: the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, as do the shorter third and fourth lines. Almost anyone can instantly recognize a limerick after hearing the first line.<br />
<br />
{{w|Slashdot}} is a venerable techie site. On many sites, the user base can vote comments "up" or "down", but at Slashdot, only moderators (these are randomly drawn from the pool of registered users) may up or down vote comments, and the moderator may select a reason for his or her up or down vote. Instead of a simple +1, a comment may be voted +1 (Funny). Similarly, instead of -1, a comment may be voted -1 (Off-topic). +5 is the maximum positive score. A comment rated +5 (Insightful) has been upvoted at least 5 times, and has a plurality of "Insightful" votes.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]]'s limerick says that he does not like Slashdot anymore, because his sarcastic comments are being treated as "insightful" by the very people he's being sarcastic to.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the notoriously awful comments on YouTube.<br />
<br />
In both cases, [[Randall]] is invoking {{rw|Poe's_Law|Poe's Law}}. Both sites have become so full of extremes that you can no longer mock the extremists without looking like a sincere extremist yourself.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball sitting at computer, typing.]<br />
:Cueball: I used to find slashdot delightful,<br />
:Cueball: but my feelings of late are more spiteful;<br />
:Cueball: my comments sarcastic<br />
:Cueball: the iconoclastic<br />
:Cueball: keep modding to plus five (Insightful).<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88567Template:w2015-04-06T02:36:10Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}}}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}|}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88566Template:w2015-04-06T02:35:42Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}}}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}|[1]}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88565Template:w2015-04-06T02:34:52Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|PAGENAME}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}|[1]}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88564Template:w2015-04-06T02:34:27Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|PAGENAME}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}|}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88563Template:w2015-04-06T02:34:05Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|PAGENAME}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88562Template:w2015-04-06T02:32:36Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88561Template:w2015-04-06T02:31:52Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}|}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=301:_Limerick&diff=88560301: Limerick2015-04-06T02:30:58Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 301<br />
| date = August 10, 2007<br />
| title = Limerick<br />
| image = limerick.png<br />
| titletext = Fun game: try to post a YouTube comment so stupid that people realize you must be joking. (Hint: this is impossible)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
A {{w|limerick (poetry)|limerick}} is a well-known type of poem that is usually humorous or bawdy. Technically, a limerick is primarily [http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/meter.html anapestic trimeter]: each line contains three "feet", each foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. The rhyme scheme is AABBA: the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, as do the shorter third and fourth lines. Almost anyone can instantly recognize a limerick after hearing the first line.<br />
<br />
{{w|Slashdot}} is a venerable techie site. On many sites, the user base can vote comments "up" or "down", but at Slashdot, only moderators (these are randomly drawn from the pool of registered users) may up or down vote comments, and the moderator may select a reason for his or her up or down vote. Instead of a simple +1, a comment may be voted +1 (Funny). Similarly, instead of -1, a comment may be voted -1 (Off-topic). +5 is the maximum positive score. A comment rated +5 (Insightful) has been upvoted at least 5 times, and has a plurality of "Insightful" votes.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]]'s limerick says that he does not like Slashdot anymore, because his sarcastic comments are being treated as "insightful" by the very people he's being sarcastic to.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the notoriously awful comments on YouTube.<br />
<br />
In both cases, [[Randall]] is invoking {{rw|Poe's_Law|Poe's Law}}. Both sites have become so full of extremes that you can no longer mock the extremists without looking like a sincere extremist yourself.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball sitting at computer, typing.]<br />
:Cueball: I used to find slashdot delightful,<br />
:Cueball: but my feelings of late are more spiteful;<br />
:Cueball: my comments sarcastic<br />
:Cueball: the iconoclastic<br />
:Cueball: keep modding to plus five (Insightful).<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=301:_Limerick&diff=88559301: Limerick2015-04-06T02:30:28Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 301<br />
| date = August 10, 2007<br />
| title = Limerick<br />
| image = limerick.png<br />
| titletext = Fun game: try to post a YouTube comment so stupid that people realize you must be joking. (Hint: this is impossible)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
A {{w|limerick (poetry|limerick}} is a well-known type of poem that is usually humorous or bawdy. Technically, a limerick is primarily [http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/meter.html anapestic trimeter]: each line contains three "feet", each foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. The rhyme scheme is AABBA: the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, as do the shorter third and fourth lines. Almost anyone can instantly recognize a limerick after hearing the first line.<br />
<br />
{{w|Slashdot}} is a venerable techie site. On many sites, the user base can vote comments "up" or "down", but at Slashdot, only moderators (these are randomly drawn from the pool of registered users) may up or down vote comments, and the moderator may select a reason for his or her up or down vote. Instead of a simple +1, a comment may be voted +1 (Funny). Similarly, instead of -1, a comment may be voted -1 (Off-topic). +5 is the maximum positive score. A comment rated +5 (Insightful) has been upvoted at least 5 times, and has a plurality of "Insightful" votes.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]]'s limerick says that he does not like Slashdot anymore, because his sarcastic comments are being treated as "insightful" by the very people he's being sarcastic to.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the notoriously awful comments on YouTube.<br />
<br />
In both cases, [[Randall]] is invoking {{rw|Poe's_Law|Poe's Law}}. Both sites have become so full of extremes that you can no longer mock the extremists without looking like a sincere extremist yourself.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball sitting at computer, typing.]<br />
:Cueball: I used to find slashdot delightful,<br />
:Cueball: but my feelings of late are more spiteful;<br />
:Cueball: my comments sarcastic<br />
:Cueball: the iconoclastic<br />
:Cueball: keep modding to plus five (Insightful).<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=301:_Limerick&diff=88558301: Limerick2015-04-06T02:29:49Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 301<br />
| date = August 10, 2007<br />
| title = Limerick<br />
| image = limerick.png<br />
| titletext = Fun game: try to post a YouTube comment so stupid that people realize you must be joking. (Hint: this is impossible)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
A {{w|limerick (poetry)|limerick}} is a well-known type of poem that is usually humorous or bawdy. Technically, a limerick is primarily [http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/meter.html anapestic trimeter]: each line contains three "feet", each foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. The rhyme scheme is AABBA: the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, as do the shorter third and fourth lines. Almost anyone can instantly recognize a limerick after hearing the first line.<br />
<br />
{{w|Slashdot}} is a venerable techie site. On many sites, the user base can vote comments "up" or "down", but at Slashdot, only moderators (these are randomly drawn from the pool of registered users) may up or down vote comments, and the moderator may select a reason for his or her up or down vote. Instead of a simple +1, a comment may be voted +1 (Funny). Similarly, instead of -1, a comment may be voted -1 (Off-topic). +5 is the maximum positive score. A comment rated +5 (Insightful) has been upvoted at least 5 times, and has a plurality of "Insightful" votes.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]]'s limerick says that he does not like Slashdot anymore, because his sarcastic comments are being treated as "insightful" by the very people he's being sarcastic to.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the notoriously awful comments on YouTube.<br />
<br />
In both cases, [[Randall]] is invoking {{rw|Poe's_Law|Poe's Law}}. Both sites have become so full of extremes that you can no longer mock the extremists without looking like a sincere extremist yourself.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball sitting at computer, typing.]<br />
:Cueball: I used to find slashdot delightful,<br />
:Cueball: but my feelings of late are more spiteful;<br />
:Cueball: my comments sarcastic<br />
:Cueball: the iconoclastic<br />
:Cueball: keep modding to plus five (Insightful).<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88557Template:w2015-04-06T02:27:17Z<p>173.245.50.140: Undo revision 88553 by 141.101.98.177 (talk)</p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}}{{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}|}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=301:_Limerick&diff=88556301: Limerick2015-04-06T02:22:11Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 301<br />
| date = August 10, 2007<br />
| title = Limerick<br />
| image = limerick.png<br />
| titletext = Fun game: try to post a YouTube comment so stupid that people realize you must be joking. (Hint: this is impossible)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
A {{w|limerick (poetry|limerick}} is a well-known type of poem that is usually humorous or bawdy. Technically, a limerick is primarily [http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/meter.html anapestic trimeter]: each line contains three "feet", each foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. The rhyme scheme is AABBA: the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, as do the shorter third and fourth lines. Almost anyone can instantly recognize a limerick after hearing the first line.<br />
<br />
{{w|Slashdot}} is a venerable techie site. On many sites, the user base can vote comments "up" or "down", but at Slashdot, only moderators (these are randomly drawn from the pool of registered users) may up or down vote comments, and the moderator may select a reason for his or her up or down vote. Instead of a simple +1, a comment may be voted +1 (Funny). Similarly, instead of -1, a comment may be voted -1 (Off-topic). +5 is the maximum positive score. A comment rated +5 (Insightful) has been upvoted at least 5 times, and has a plurality of "Insightful" votes.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]]'s limerick says that he does not like Slashdot anymore, because his sarcastic comments are being treated as "insightful" by the very people he's being sarcastic to.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the notoriously awful comments on YouTube.<br />
<br />
In both cases, [[Randall]] is invoking {{rw|Poe's Law}}. Both sites have become so full of extremes that you can no longer mock the extremists without looking like a sincere extremist yourself.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball sitting at computer, typing.]<br />
:Cueball: I used to find slashdot delightful,<br />
:Cueball: but my feelings of late are more spiteful;<br />
:Cueball: my comments sarcastic<br />
:Cueball: the iconoclastic<br />
:Cueball: keep modding to plus five (Insightful).<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=301:_Limerick&diff=88555301: Limerick2015-04-06T02:21:20Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 301<br />
| date = August 10, 2007<br />
| title = Limerick<br />
| image = limerick.png<br />
| titletext = Fun game: try to post a YouTube comment so stupid that people realize you must be joking. (Hint: this is impossible)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
A {{w|limerick (poetry|limerick}} is a well-known type of poem that is usually humorous or bawdy. Technically, a limerick is primarily [[http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/meter.html anapestic trimeter]]: each line contains three "feet", each foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. The rhyme scheme is AABBA: the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, as do the shorter third and fourth lines. Almost anyone can instantly recognize a limerick after hearing the first line.<br />
<br />
{{w|Slashdot}} is a venerable techie site. On many sites, the user base can vote comments "up" or "down", but at Slashdot, only moderators (these are randomly drawn from the pool of registered users) may up or down vote comments, and the moderator may select a reason for his or her up or down vote. Instead of a simple +1, a comment may be voted +1 (Funny). Similarly, instead of -1, a comment may be voted -1 (Off-topic). +5 is the maximum positive score. A comment rated +5 (Insightful) has been upvoted at least 5 times, and has a plurality of "Insightful" votes.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]]'s limerick says that he does not like Slashdot anymore, because his sarcastic comments are being treated as "insightful" by the very people he's being sarcastic to.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the notoriously awful comments on YouTube.<br />
<br />
In both cases, [[Randall]] is invoking [http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Poe%27s_Law Poe's Law]. Both sites have become so full of extremes that you can no longer mock the extremists without looking like a sincere extremist yourself.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball sitting at computer, typing.]<br />
:Cueball: I used to find slashdot delightful,<br />
:Cueball: but my feelings of late are more spiteful;<br />
:Cueball: my comments sarcastic<br />
:Cueball: the iconoclastic<br />
:Cueball: keep modding to plus five (Insightful).<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88551Template:w2015-04-06T02:15:16Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}}{{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}|}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88550Template:w2015-04-06T02:14:43Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|{{PAGENAME}}}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88549Template:w2015-04-06T02:12:27Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}}}{{!}}{{PAGENAME}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88548Template:w2015-04-06T02:11:22Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}}}|{{PAGENAME}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the page the article the template substituted to is about.<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88547Template:w2015-04-06T02:10:23Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}}}|{{PAGENAME}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the Wikipedia main page<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88546Template:w2015-04-06T02:02:43Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}}}|{{PAGENAME}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the Wikipedia main page<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88545Template:w2015-04-06T02:01:56Z<p>173.245.50.140: Undo revision 88544 by 173.245.50.140 (talk)</p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}}}|{{PAGENAME}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}}}|]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the Wikipedia main page<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88544Template:w2015-04-06T01:58:07Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}}}|{{{PAGENAME}}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}}}|]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the Wikipedia main page<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88543Template:w2015-04-06T01:53:08Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}}}|{{PAGENAME}} {{#if:{{{2|}}}|{{{2}}}}}|]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the Wikipedia main page<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88542Template:w2015-04-06T01:51:19Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}}}|{{PAGENAME}} {{{2}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w||}}</nowiki> by itself links to the Wikipedia main page<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88541Template:w2015-04-06T01:49:37Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}}}|{{PAGENAME}} {{{2}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w||}}</nowiki> by itself links to the Wikipedia main page<br />
**{{w||}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88540Template:w2015-04-06T01:47:28Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{{1}}} {{{2}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w||}}</nowiki> by itself links to the Wikipedia main page<br />
**{{w||}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88539Template:w2015-04-06T01:46:49Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{{1}}} {{{2}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w||}}</nowiki> by itself links to the Wikipedia main page<br />
**{{w||}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88538Template:w2015-04-06T01:45:54Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{{1|}}} {{{1}}} {{{2}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w||}}</nowiki> by itself links to the Wikipedia main page<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88537Template:w2015-04-06T01:44:50Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{if #{{{1|}}} {{{1}}} {{{2}}}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w||}}</nowiki> by itself links to the Wikipedia main page<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:w&diff=88536Template:w2015-04-06T01:38:17Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{{1}}} {{{2}}}]</includeonly><br />
<noinclude><br />
A template to make a link to wikipedia.<!-- For a tag to have "at [[Wikipedia:|Wikipedia]]" without being a link to the page name, use {{Tl|wat}} - this is useful for see-also lists.--><br />
<br />
==Usage==<br />
*<nowiki>{{w}}</nowiki> by itself links to the Wikipedia main page<br />
**{{w}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|}}</nowiki> links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page}}<br />
*<nowiki>{{w|Page|Display}}</nowiki> prints "Display" which links to the wikipedia article on "Page"<br />
**{{w|Page|Display}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Templates]]<br />
</noinclude></div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=301:_Limerick&diff=88534301: Limerick2015-04-06T01:32:49Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 301<br />
| date = August 10, 2007<br />
| title = Limerick<br />
| image = limerick.png<br />
| titletext = Fun game: try to post a YouTube comment so stupid that people realize you must be joking. (Hint: this is impossible)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
A {{w|limerick (poetry)|limerick}} is a well-known type of poem that is usually humorous or bawdy. Technically, a limerick is primarily [[http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/meter.html anapestic trimeter]]: each line contains three "feet", each foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. The rhyme scheme is AABBA: the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, as do the shorter third and fourth lines. Almost anyone can instantly recognize a limerick after hearing the first line.<br />
<br />
{{w|Slashdot}} is a venerable techie site. On many sites, the user base can vote comments "up" or "down", but at Slashdot, only moderators (these are randomly drawn from the pool of registered users) may up or down vote comments, and the moderator may select a reason for his or her up or down vote. Instead of a simple +1, a comment may be voted +1 (Funny). Similarly, instead of -1, a comment may be voted -1 (Off-topic). +5 is the maximum positive score. A comment rated +5 (Insightful) has been upvoted at least 5 times, and has a plurality of "Insightful" votes.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]]'s limerick says that he does not like Slashdot anymore, because his sarcastic comments are being treated as "insightful" by the very people he's being sarcastic to.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the notoriously awful comments on YouTube.<br />
<br />
In both cases, [[Randall]] is invoking [http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Poe%27s_Law Poe's Law]. Both sites have become so full of extremes that you can no longer mock the extremists without looking like a sincere extremist yourself.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball sitting at computer, typing.]<br />
:Cueball: I used to find slashdot delightful,<br />
:Cueball: but my feelings of late are more spiteful;<br />
:Cueball: my comments sarcastic<br />
:Cueball: the iconoclastic<br />
:Cueball: keep modding to plus five (Insightful).<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=301:_Limerick&diff=88533301: Limerick2015-04-06T01:32:21Z<p>173.245.50.140: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 301<br />
| date = August 10, 2007<br />
| title = Limerick<br />
| image = limerick.png<br />
| titletext = Fun game: try to post a YouTube comment so stupid that people realize you must be joking. (Hint: this is impossible)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
A {{w|limerick (poetry)|limerick}} is a well-known type of poem that is usually humorous or bawdy. Technically, a limerick is primarily [[http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/meter.html anapestic trimeter]]: each line contains three "feet", each foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. The rhyme scheme is AABBA: the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, as do the shorter third and fourth lines. Almost anyone can instantly recognize a limerick after hearing the first line.<br />
<br />
{{w|Slashdot}} is a venerable techie site. On many sites, the user base can vote comments "up" or "down", but at Slashdot, only moderators (these are randomly drawn from the pool of registered users) may up or down vote comments, and the moderator may select a reason for his or her up or down vote. Instead of a simple +1, a comment may be voted +1 (Funny). Similarly, instead of -1, a comment may be voted -1 (Off-topic). +5 is the maximum positive score. A comment rated +5 (Insightful) has been upvoted at least 5 times, and has a plurality of "Insightful" votes.<br />
<br />
[[Cueball]]'s limerick says that he does not like Slashdot anymore, because his sarcastic comments are being treated as "insightful" by the very people he's being sarcastic to.<br />
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The title text refers to the notoriously awful comments on YouTube.<br />
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In both cases, [[Randall]] is invoking [http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Poe%27s_Law|Poe's Law]. Both sites have become so full of extremes that you can no longer mock the extremists without looking like a sincere extremist yourself.<br />
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==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball sitting at computer, typing.]<br />
:Cueball: I used to find slashdot delightful,<br />
:Cueball: but my feelings of late are more spiteful;<br />
:Cueball: my comments sarcastic<br />
:Cueball: the iconoclastic<br />
:Cueball: keep modding to plus five (Insightful).<br />
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{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>173.245.50.140https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=765:_Dilution&diff=88482765: Dilution2015-04-05T02:50:27Z<p>173.245.50.140: lovanta</p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 765<br />
| date = July 12, 2010<br />
| title = Dilution<br />
| image = dilution.png<br />
| titletext = Dear editors of Homeopathy Monthly: I have two small corrections for your July issue. One, it's spelled "echinacea", and two, homeopathic medicines are no better than placebos and your entire magazine is a sham.<br />
}}<br />
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==Explanation==<br />
{{w|Homeopathy}} is the belief that poisons, bacteria, and other harmful substances can actually cure the diseases they normally cause, if they are administered in sufficiently dilute form. The normal procedure is to prepare a solution, then successively dilute it with water or alcohol by multiple factors of 10. (There's also a "succussion" step between rounds, which basically consists of shaking or striking the mixture, but no serious mechanism for how this would affect anything has been provided.) In the medical world, it's widely believed to be total bunk, with countless scientific studies repeatedly showing it to have no more effectiveness than a {{w|placebo}}.<br />
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Here we find [[Cueball]], a firm believer in homeopathy, applying the idea to fertility by diluting his semen. 30X means that the semen has been diluted with water at a 1:10 ratio 30 times, so the solution contains 1 part semen to one-nonillion parts water. Since the average ejaculation contains 200 to 500 million sperm cells, this means the solution Cueball is holding has a 3.5x10<sup>-20</sup>% chance of containing even a single sperm cell. Clearly, [[Megan]] will not be getting pregnant from this, so she and Cueball will not be passing on their genes, which is why the comic states that the belief in homeopathy is not selected for.<br />
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{{w|Echinacea}} is a genus of flowers commonly used in herbal remedies to stimulate the immune system. Scientific studies have not shown that such an effect exists. The title text is intended to represent a letter to the editors of fictitious journal 'Homeopathy Monthly', starting with a minor complaint that they seem unable to perform the basic proof-reading and fact-checking necessary to correctly spell one of the most well-known herbal remedies. This is followed up by a complete dismissal of homeopathy as a whole and the magazine in particular.<br />
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==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball stands at a desk with a beaker in one hand and a turkey baster in the other. Megan lies in a bed in the same room.]<br />
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:Cueball: Okay, this time I've diluted the semen 30x.<br />
:Megan: We'll be ''sure'' to get pregnant now!<br />
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:Belief in homeopathy is not, evolutionarily, selected for.<br />
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{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Sex]]</div>173.245.50.140