explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:1594: Human Subjects

2015-10-24T09:29:59Z

199.27.128.137:

The responses in panels 1, 3, and 4 show that Megan is trying to downplay the issues despite better knowledge. This is probably done to surprise the reader of the dialogue for better dramatic effect. Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.91.159|162.158.91.159]] 05:59, 23 October 2015 (UTC)

In the second panel, Megan makes a good point which Ponytail misses. If the control group had a high incidence of arson, while the experimental group did not (and assuming that proper protocols were followed in assigning subjects to groups), there is a possibility that the drug has the side-effect of suppressing the urge for arson [[User:Sysin|Sysin]] ([[User talk:Sysin|talk]]) 06:45, 23 October 2015 (UTC)
: Where is the point? "People where arrested for arson" - "Side effects" - "They where in the control group". That's not really a point for the side-effect of surpressing the urge for arson, is it? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.114.217|162.158.114.217]] 09:01, 23 October 2015 (UTC)
::If only people from the control group have been arrested, it is or could be. Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.91.213|162.158.91.213]] 10:58, 23 October 2015 (UTC)
:::In this case both the control and the test group must be full of arsonists and the question is why did Ponytail let them lose to commit arson in the first place. May bye a double-blind test?[[User:Jkotek|Jkotek]] ([[User talk:Jkotek|talk]]) 13:29, 23 October 2015 (UTC)

did [[Danish]] cut her hair? --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.8|108.162.216.8]] 11:22, 23 October 2015 (UTC)

also, the title text could allude to the fact that sociopaths (or successful ones at least) tend to be really adept at getting other people to write off or engage in their behaviours. that is, the IRB, despite the apparent awfulness of the actions of the subjects, on meeting them thought they were pretty cool and people should lay off. --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.8|108.162.216.8]] 11:28, 23 October 2015 (UTC)

Are those "citation needed" of any use? There is already a link to Wikipedia for sociopathy. Also, the invoked reasons ("Is an arsonist defined as a sociopath?", "Is a masochist the same as a sociopath?", "Is there an agreed upon definition of 'truly sociopathic behaviour', and is this it?") are not sound to me. Sociopathy is defined as "antisocial behavior", so are arson and sadism. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.66.23|141.101.66.23]] 11:32, 23 October 2015 (UTC)

: I elected to simply remove references to sociopathy. I think the comic uses the phrase "awful" people, and I don't think it is necessary to instill the article with controversy by defining the people as sociopaths or any other term. Simply describing their traits and noting that it is unusual and why should be sufficient. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.31|108.162.216.31]] 14:01, 23 October 2015 (UTC)

I realize that this area is for discussing the subject of the comic, but of all the comic strips out there this is the last one I would ever expect to include the "word" ''snuck''. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.26|108.162.216.26]] 13:23, 23 October 2015 (UTC)
:This area is mainly for discussing the improvement of the article. Unlike Wikipedia, here we also can discuss the subject of the comic. I addressed your comment, because I never had heard the word (no scare quotes) ''snuck'', but immediatly knew it was an alternate past tense of ''sneak''. I added this: ''Snuck'' is a dialectal past tense of ''sneak''.[http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/g08.html]. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.17|108.162.221.17]] 13:37, 23 October 2015 (UTC)

::With respect, I don't think the word "snuck" is uncommon or in any way unique to this comic. I don't think there is any valid need to include a line defining a common verb. If people don't know what the word "snuck" is, dictionary websites are aplenty, but let's not turn this site into one of those ones where every word is a link to a definition. Unless it's jargon or technical or a proper noun that needs explanation, I don't think definitions or links are really needed. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.31|108.162.216.31]] 14:01, 23 October 2015 (UTC)
:: Why use a dictionary when Conan can do it for you? :-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmoHSczX8pU {{unsigned ip|108.162.238.84}}

This comic could be referencing the growing realization that that the subjects of almost all psychology studies are not representative of the world population at large and of the great variety of humans found in the world. The subjects in psychology experiments are usually psychology students or other undergraduate students. Thus the subjects of these experiments are WIERD (Western Educated Industrialized Rich Democratic), these subjects are not close to worldwide normal. See this [//www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/psychology-studies-biased-toward-we-10-08-07/ Scientific American article] for more information. Thus this biases the results of psychology experiments in systematic ways, just as having a bunch of sociopaths as subjects would also systematically effect the results. --[[User:Benjamin|Benjamin]] ([[User talk:Benjamin|talk]]) 15:07, 23 October 2015 (UTC)

Might this comic be related to the increased effect of placebo in medical studies? The "awful people" explanation is one of the ones mentioned in the article: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34572482 [[Special:Contributions/141.101.79.49|141.101.79.49]]

:: Not really [[Special:Contributions/162.158.252.197|162.158.252.197]] 04:16, 24 October 2015 (UTC)

Does antisocial behavior really invalidate non-neuro/psychological drug trials? I don't think personality would change the progression and nature of other diseases. --[[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.137|199.27.128.137]] 09:29, 24 October 2015 (UTC)

1586: Keyboard Problems

2015-10-05T23:14:38Z

199.27.128.137: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1586
| date = October 5, 2015
| title = Keyboard Problems
| image = keyboard_problems.png
| titletext = In the future, a group of resistance fighters send me back in time with instructions to find the Skynet prototype and try to upgrade it.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Needs some rewording and reorganizing}}

This comic is how people diagnose and solve computer problems. Cueball and Megan are trying to solve a keyboard issue, but are somewhat incompetent at diagnosing the issue. Cueball in particular blames a broken keyboard on software or a keyboard virus.

In the comic, [[Cueball]] complains that some keys in his keyboard don't work. Generally speaking, this could be due either to a software problem (i.e. the keyboard driver not working properly, or some program ignoring keypresses) or to a hardware problem (the keyboard is physically damaged, typically because of dirt under the keys).

If the problem is in software, booting from a different operating system (e.g. an external recovery disk) should solve it, as the computer would not be using the faulty software. Conversely, if the problem is in hardware, changing the keyboard should solve the problem as the new keyboard is not physically damaged and has no dirt under the keys.

However, the problem stays there after booting from an external recovery disk (so it's not a software problem) and it has "followed Cueball since his last computer" (i.e. persists after changing to a new laptop with a new keyboard, so it's not a hardware problem). Cueball is reasonably puzzled.

[[Megan]] seems to be used to Cueball's computer behaving strangely, and she doesn't even attempt to explain or solve the problem. The only explanation she needs for the problem is that "it's Cueball's computer". The characters in this comic are probably the same as in [[1084: Server Problem]], [[1316: Inexplicable]], and possibly [[349: Success]].

Both Cueball and Megan are entirely clueless to the fact that the issue is likely a hardware issue with the keyboards, rather than a virus that spreads between computers. It's possible Cueball uses the computer in a dirty environment with food or dust clogging up all of his keyboards. Blaming such a broken-key problem on software or a virus is completely absurd.

The last panel is a reference to {{w|The Terminator}}, a 1984 movie often referenced in xkcd. In the movie, the artificial intelligence named Skynet initiates a nuclear war, destroying most of humanity, then it sends killing machines to finish the rest. These include flying drones - Megan suggests that if such robots come to Cueball's vicinity, they will (physically) crash since computers around Cueball can't seem to ever work properly, and so hiding in Cueball's house she should be safe from the robots.

The title text refers to main plot of the movie, or rather it's sequel {{w|Terminator 2: Judgment Day}} - as Skynet's army is losing the battle against human Resistance movement, it finds a way how to send a humanoid robot {{w|Terminator_(character)|T800}} back in time to kill the mother of the Resistance's leader. The Resistance in turn sends a soldier back in time to protect her. In the sequel, the situation repeats with more advanced {{w|T-1000}} being the killer and T-800 being the protector of the kid - future leader. Along the way, they manage to destroy research lab where future Skynet hardware is to be born. The title suggest alternative mission into the past, using Cueball's power to cause Skynet's malfunction instead of destroying it physically (as Skynet got created later anyways, despite the destruction of the research lab).

==Transcript==
:[Cueball] sits between two laptops. Megan stands behind him.]

:Cueball: Keys on my keyboard keep failing, even when I boot from an external recovery disk.
:Megan: Sounds like it's hardware, then.

:[Cueball moves over to the laptop behind him.]

:Cueball: Yeah... except the problem followed me from my ''last'' computer.
:Megan: You have the most ''bizarre'' tech issues.

:[Cueball picks up the keyboard from the rear computer and plugs it into the one in front of him.]

:Cueball: It must be spreading via keyboards. This one won't work with ''any'' computer now.
:Megan: When the robot apocalypse happens, I'm hiding out in your house. Any Skynet drones that come near will develop inexplicable firmware problems and crash.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:Terminator]]

55: Useless

2014-08-17T21:52:12Z

199.27.128.137: "a different one" indeed. LAZY.

{{comic
| number = 55
| date = January 27, 2006
| title = Useless
| image = useless.jpg
| titletext = Even the identity matrix doesn't work normally
}}

==Explanation==
[[Randall]] is attempting to apply mathematical systems to the concept of love to no avail. Specifically, he is attempting his "normal approach" which is a term used in mathematics for the method one typically uses to solve a certain type of problem. However, as love is not a mathematical value, his normal approach is useless. Simply put: He's saying that math has no way of describing love (or more precisely, ''he'' has no way of describing love, using only the tools of mathematics.)

From the top, going right, he tries the {{w|square root}} of love; the {{w|cosine}} of love; the {{w|derivative}} of love with respect to x; he left-multiplies love by a 2x2 {{w|identity matrix}}, and finally he defines a {{w|Function (mathematics)|function}} of love as a {{w|Fourier transform}}. These may all be "normal approaches" to solving certain math problems.

The long and the short of the comic is that this might be the thinking of someone who uses math to solve all their problems upon their discovering love, which can't be solved with math.

===Basic explanations of the functions===
:''Note: The Wikipedia links will provide far more detailed explanations of the mathematics.''
*The square root of x is the number which, when multiplied by itself, equals x.
*Cosine is a {{w|trigonometric function}} which, when given the measure of an angle in a {{w|right triangle}} as an input, outputs the ratio of the lengths of two sides of that triangle (for cosine it is the non-{{w|hypotenuse}} side adjacent to the angle and the hypotenuse).
*A derivative of a function is the rate of change of that function at a given value of x. It is a primary focus of {{w|calculus}}. A basic example is where "velocity" is the rate of change of displacement at a given time, the derivative of velocity is "acceleration" which is the rate of change of velocity at a given time.
*Identity matrices are matrices which consist of only zeros and ones, with zeros everywhere except along the {{w|main diagonal}}. Multiplying a matrix by the equal-sized identity matrix will result in the same output in the same way that multiplying a non-matrix by 1 does not change the original term. The title text suggests that multiplying love by the identity matrix does not return the same "love" value.
*A {{w|Fourier transform}} converts a function from one (sophisticated) function into an endless continuous series of (more simple) functions, where each next part is bringing the equation closer to the real result. This means that you can stop your calculations after a few iterations and you are very close to the real result, and it also can be used to deconstruct signals.

==Transcript==
:[Different mathematic equations, all with heart on left side, and all equal question mark. Equations are as follows:
:Square root of heart equals question mark
:Cosine of heart equals question mark
:Derivative of heart with respect to x equals question mark
:Identity matrix of heart equals question mark
:Fourier transform of heart equals question mark.]
:My normal approach is useless here

==Trivia==
*This is the fifty-second and last comic originally posted to LiveJournal. The previous comic was [[53: Hobby]].
*The version used on the [http://store.xkcd.com/products/useless t-shirt] and in ''[http://store.xkcd.com/products/xkcd-volume-0 xkcd: volume 0]'' is slightly different. The derivative is with respect to time (''t'') instead of ''x'', and the function at the bottom is a {{w|Laplace transform}}.
*This comic was adapted to a wedding cake featured on [http://www.cakewrecks.com/home/2011/6/26/sunday-sweets-geek-wedding-cakes.html an installment of "Sunday Sweets"], a regular feature on popular blog [http://cakewrecks.com Cake Wrecks].

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics posted on livejournal]]
[[Category:Romance]]
[[Category:Math]]

Talk:1317: Theft

2014-01-16T00:54:43Z

199.27.128.137: Contextual element question

This comic seems to be about the idea that true identity theft would require the thief to take on the identity perfectly. The thief in the comic is Randall Munroe making fun of himself and how he is often existential and is excited about space... 1st post--[[Special:Contributions/173.245.55.78|173.245.55.78]] 05:19, 15 January 2014 (UTC)

Maybe it's a shared account, so it really is Megan's own existentialism & Randall's love of space -- a true crisis!
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.57|108.162.216.57]] 15:10, 15 January 2014 (UTC)

Is it worth mentioning the contextual element where this comic correlates with the relase of news of a rash of identity theft during the last quarter of 2013?[[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.137|199.27.128.137]] 00:54, 16 January 2014 (UTC)

1298: Exoplanet Neighborhood

2013-12-02T17:40:12Z

199.27.128.137: Change if Randall makes up his mind again.

{{comic
| number = 1298
| date = December 2, 2013
| title = Exoplanet Neighborhood
| image = exoplanet_neighborhood.png
| titletext = It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Why the empty space around Earth?}}
The diagram is a graphically represented prediction of properties of hypothetical nearby exoplanets (planets not in our solar system), based on the assumption that the exoplanets that are currently known have a distribution of orbits, sizes, and star types that is similar to the actual distribution. Astronomers are particularly interested in exoplanets within 60 light years of Earth which lie in a {{w|Circumstellar habitable zone|habitable zone}}; that is, a planet whose orbit is within a certain range of distance from a star such that water could exist in a liquid state. The diagram categorizes exoplanets in two ways. The disc's color indicates the characteristics of the central star, with a reddish tone indicating (hypothetical) planets that orbit stars similar in characteristics to our sun, while grey indicates those that don't. The disc's size indicates the (hypothetical) exoplanet's size, with planets similar to Earth's size depicted in a slightly darker shade of either color.

It appears that the diagram is intended to cause the viewer to conclude that there are a significant number of Earth-sized planets orbiting Sun-type stars which could be habitable (and even more possibly-habitable planets around other types of stars or in other sizes).

The former title of the comic "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!" is an allusion to the former PBS television show [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Rogers'_Neighborhood "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood"] in which the same line presents itself in the opening song, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Rogers'_Neighborhood#Regular_songs "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"].

The comic is a link to a larger version of the comic, found [http://xkcd.com/1298/large/ here].

==Transcript==
:'''OUR NEIGHBORHOOD'''
:A portrait of all habitable-zone planets within 60 light-years of Earth (constructed from statistical data on typical planet sizes and orbits)

:[The image shows many planets in different colors and a legend shows planets at different sizes.]
:Planets around sun-like stars
:Planets around other stars
:[A marker on both sides:]
:Earth-sized planets

:[Center of the image.]
:Earth
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Large drawings]]

484: Flash Games

2013-11-11T18:53:57Z

199.27.128.137: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 484
| date = October 10, 2008
| title = Flash Games
| image = flash_games.png
| titletext = Although...who else can't wait for them to incorporate that Wiimote head-tracking stuff into games? Man, the future's gonna be *awesome*.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
This comic is poking fun at the fact that hard-core gamers will still play Flash games on the Internet, rather than use their incredibly expensive "superior" systems.

This is a reference to the opinion that some modern games are too focused on graphics and not enough on gameplay.

==Transcript==
:[On the left side of the panel, is a massive TV screen, large speakers, and similar devices, all connected to a "Game Station 20,000" console. Cueball, however, is over on the right side of the panel, on a modestly-sized computer.]
:Cueball: Ooh, I think I've got it figured out! Okay, one more hour.
:''Beep Plunk''
:The most powerful gaming systems in the world still can't match the addictiveness of tiny in-browser Flash games.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]