explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:3099: Neighbor-Source Heat Pump

2025-06-09T12:22:46Z

2001:4450:8167:7900:186D:5DAB:3643:B673:

My aunt used to live in an apartment that, due to lousy insulation, had ''neighbor apartment'' heating, which is simpler '''and''' less risky than what Randall proposes. [[Special:Contributions/2001:1C02:1A9D:9700:6D49:4C64:123C:A502|2001:1C02:1A9D:9700:6D49:4C64:123C:A502]] 06:26, 7 June 2025 (UTC)
:similarly, if you live on an upper floor of an old building in a cold climate, you are likely already doing neighbor-source heating due to the magic of the {{w|Stack effect}}! i know people in top floor apartments who run their heating far less than i do :-) --[[User:Urwa|Urwa]] ([[User talk:Urwa|talk]]) 16:18, 7 June 2025 (UTC)
:similarly, I live in a skyscraper in Hamburg where winters can be quite cold. And my heating was kaput. And the next termin with a technician in spring. But the temperatures inside my apartment never fell to values where I would have to sleep in a pullover... [[Special:Contributions/2A02:2455:1960:4000:757C:FFAC:A492:CBCA|2A02:2455:1960:4000:757C:FFAC:A492:CBCA]] 07:13, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

The role of the title text in re-framing the joke: This is a great technical breakdown of the heat pump concept and the core premise of stealing a neighbor's conditioned air. However, I believe the current explanation understates the crucial role of the title text in delivering the full punchline by completely re-framing the situation.

The comic panel itself is deliberately ambiguous. A first-time reader might assume the protagonist lives in the house on the right and is tapping into the external unit of the "neighbor" on the left. In this scenario, the protagonist seems comically inept. They would be capturing the waste '''heat''' from their neighbor's air conditioner in the summer (when they need cooling) and the waste '''cold''' from their neighbor's heater in the winter (when they need heating) — ''the exact opposite of what they actually need''. The joke would be about their fundamental misunderstanding of how heat pumps work.

The title text, ''"The installation of the pipes on the inside of the insulation can be challenging, especially when the neighbor could come home at any minute,"'' completely flips this on its head. It clarifies that:
# The protagonist is the person on the '''left'''.
# The pipes have been secretly installed '''inside the neighbor's house''', using the neighbor's entire temperature-controlled living space as a perfect, stable heat source/sink.

This elevates the joke from being about a scientifically illiterate person to a hilarious, high-stakes covert operation conducted by a diabolically clever one. The true absurdity isn't just the concept of a "neighbor-source" pump, but the mental image of the protagonist sneaking into their neighbor's house to perform major HVAC work inside their walls.

I would suggest editing the explanation to highlight this reveal. The title text isn't just ''"addressing some of the issues"''; it's the key that transforms the butt of the joke from the protagonist into their unsuspecting neighbor.
[[User:Omermor|Omermor]] ([[User talk:Omermor|talk]]) 08:04, 7 June 2025 (UTC)
:The comic isn't ambiguous. The house on the left has extended its heat-pump 'source' pipes into the house on the right, and there's no other way to interpret it. [[Special:Contributions/92.23.2.228|92.23.2.228]] 18:16, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

I disagree with the GPT response. I think the panel is pretty clear about what’s going on. [[Special:Contributions/2607:FB90:E9E1:D3C0:B435:3354:D230:EA3|2607:FB90:E9E1:D3C0:B435:3354:D230:EA3]] 15:05, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

I tried editing earlier today, but was having problems getting it to go through. I was attempting to add in a comment about how this is essentially an extreme form of service leeching akin to connecting to a neighbor's WiFi without permission. [[User:RegularSizedGuy|RegularSizedGuy]] ([[User talk:RegularSizedGuy|talk]]) 02:23, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

I am pretty sure the panel is intentionally ambiguous, and I also believe Randal deliberately tried to deceive the reader into this false interpretation:<br>
We are conditioned to read and process information from left to right. This applies not just to text, but to diagrams, timelines, and action sequences. We instinctively look for a cause-and-effect or action-and-result relationship that flows in this direction.<br>
Randall uses this to set the trap: On the left is a house with a large, visible HVAC unit. On the right is a house with pipes running to it.<br>
Our left-to-right instinct immediately suggests a flow of action from the left to the right. The unit on the left is the "source" or "cause," and the house on the right is the "destination" or "effect."<br>
This visual grammar perfectly supports the initial, incorrect assumption that the protagonist lives on the right and is trying to tap into the neighbor's unit on the left. The layout makes this flawed interpretation feel natural and intuitive. We are visually nudged into seeing the protagonist as the inept buffoon. --[[User:Omermor|Omermor]] ([[User talk:Omermor|talk]]) 17:50, 8 June 2025 (UTC)
:I agree, but totally oppositely to the way you apparently see it. Even while reading "from left to right", we see that the house with the unit is the "cause" and the house on the right is subject to the "effect", the effect of being leached. Which, to me is totally unambiguous, a direct untrapped joke.
:Or, to look at it another way, the right-hand house does ''not'' have the heat-exchanger unit next to it. If you were led up to either building and asked to comment about that, you'd consider the HEU to be part of the left-hand house, and not something unsuspectingly inflicted upon its occupants. The conduit/piping to the right-hand house is clearly far more intentionally inconspicuous (so long as you aren't caught installing it), with purposeful distance to allay the suspicions that arriving home and finding something visibly into your walls from an appliance clearly associated with your own property. Ergo, the box is legitimately something belonging to the left house, the piping to the right house is illegitimate modification/'trespass' upon that other property. [[Special:Contributions/92.23.2.228|92.23.2.228]] 22:18, 8 June 2025 (UTC)
::I see what you mean, and I agree that the heat-exchanger unit is unambiguously part of the left house. But my interpretation was that the left house is using a regular HEU to heat/cool their house, while Randal, who lives on the right house, siphons the excess heat/cold put out by this unit, and channels it to his house via pipes. {{unsigned|Omermor|05:44, 9 June 2025
::This is a "Neighbour-Source" Heat Pump, not a "Neighbour's Heat Pump"-Source. And the "excess heat/cold" put out by this unit is the exact opposite of the "cold/heat" that the house takes, you'd be on firmer footing if you said that Right had plumbed themselves into Left's houseward pipes (which could have been easily drawn) to just extend the flow-cycle into two houses. Instead, it superficially looks like it's a Ground-Source HP, but with the 'ambient' pipes sneaking off into Right's walls rather than properly drilled down (and/or spread out, not quite so deep below a wider spread of land). [[Special:Contributions/92.23.2.228|92.23.2.228]] 09:38, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

How many? ''> difficult to interfere with the structure ..., by feeding pipes up into at least two of its wall cavities'' It is not necessarily '''two''' or more cavities. A single loop would gain some small benefit. A better plan would be to use the typical inside air handler (fins, fans) as the leeching machine. I think it is drawn symmetrical to look pretty. --[[User:PRR|PRR]] ([[User talk:PRR|talk]]) 21:04, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

next comic is [[3100: 17 SDGs]].

2765: Escape Speed/Screen-shots

2025-06-09T11:54:55Z

2001:4450:8167:7900:186D:5DAB:3643:B673:

Here is a collection of screen shots from the interactive comic [[2765: Escape Speed]] representing interesting situations, which may or may not be described in the explanation. It could be messages shown when collecting items, special places to see something different, or anything that might be interesting. List them under the different locations also used in the table in the main explanation.
{{incomplete|Last 11 screenshots!}}
<big>
:{{TOC}}
</big>
==Starting Planet==
Welcome messages:

"Greetings!":
[[File:2765 Greetings.png]]

"Welcome back, pilot.":
[[File:2765 Welcome back pilot.png]]

"Welcome back! We saved your progress.":
[[File:2765 Saved Progress.png]]
"Use the arrow keys, pilot." (On mobile devices, the message says, "Tap the sides of your screen, pilot.", just before the browser brings the page image to full screen.)
[[File:2765 Use arrow keys pilot.png]]

==Origin==
[[File:Origin Planet.png]]

[[File:Origin Planet1.png]]

[[File:Origin Planet2.png]]

[[File:Origin Planet3.png]]

[[File:Origin Planet4.png]]

[[File:Origin Planet12.png]]

[[File:Origin Planet13.png]]

[[File:Origin Planet5.png]]

[[File:Origin Planet6.png]]

[[File:Origin Planet7.png]]

[[File:Origin Planet8.png]]

[[File:Origin Planet9.png]]

[[File:Origin Planet10.png]]

[[File:Origin Planet11.png]]

[[File:Origin Planet14.png]]

[[File:Origin Planet15.png]]

==Hollow Planet==
[[File:Hollow Planet.png]]

[[File:Hollow Planet1.png]]

[[File:Hollow Planet2.png]]

[[File:Hollow Planet3.png]]

[[File:Hollow Planet4.png]]

[[File:Sixth Lagrange.png]]

==Star Destroyer==
[[File:Star Destroyer.png]]

==Click and Drag Planet==
[[File:Click and Drag Planet.png]]

==Subway Planet==
Entrance to New York

[[File:New York Subway.png]]

Entrance to Mexico City

[[File:Mexico City Subway.png]]

Entrance to San Francisco

[[File:San Francisco Subway.png]]

Entrance to Vancouver

[[File:Vancouver Subway.png]]

Entrance to Montreal

[[File:Montreal Subway.png]]

----
Characters on the Surface

[[File:Surface1 Subway.png]]

[[File:Surface2 Subway.png]]

[[File:Surface3 Subway.png]]

[[File:Surface4 Subway.png]]

[[File:Surface5 Subway.png]]

[[File:Surface6 Subway.png]]

==Boston Planet==
[[File:Boston Planet.png]]

==Projection of Earth==
===Americas===
[[File:Projection of Earth.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth1.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth2.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth3.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth4.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth5.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth6.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth7.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth8.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth9.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth10.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth11.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth12.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth13.png]]

===Africa, Europe, Asia===
[[File:Projection of Earth14.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth15.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth16.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth17.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth18.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth19.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth20.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth21.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth22.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth23.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth24.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth25.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth26.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth27.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth28.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth29.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth30.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth31.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth32.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth33.png]]

===Southeast Asian Islands, Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania===

[[File:Projection of Earth34.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth35.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth36.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth37.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth38.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth39.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth40.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth41.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth42.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth43.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth44.png]]

===Antarctica===

[[File:Projection of Earth45.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth46.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth47.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth48.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth49.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth50.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth51.png]]

[[File:Projection of Earth52.png]]

==What If? Planet==
*2765 Outside the center of the What If? Planet:
[[File:Outside center of what if planet.png]]

*2765 Inside the center of the What If? Planet:
[[File:2765 Inside center of what if planet.png]]

==Uzumaki==
[[File:Uzumaki.png]]

[[File:Uzumaki1.png]]

[[File:Uzumaki2.png]]

[[File:Uzumaki3.png]]

[[File:Uzumaki4.png]]

[[File:Uzumaki5.png]]

==Round Planet==
[[File:Round Planet.png]]

[[File:Round Planet1.png]]

[[File:Round Planet2.png]]

[[File:Round Planet3.png]]

[[File:Round Planet4.png]]

[[File:Round Planet5.png]]

[[File:Round Planet6.png]]

[[File:Round Planet7.png]]

[[File:Round Planet8.png]]

[[File:Round Planet9.png]]

==Jurassic Park Planet==
[[File:Jurassic Park Planet.png]]

[[File:Jurassic Park Planet1.png]]

[[File:Jurassic Park Planet2.png]]

[[File:Jurassic Park Planet3.png]]

[[File:Jurassic Park Planet4.png]]

[[File:Jurassic Park Planet5.png]]

[[File:Jurassic Park Planet6.png]]

[[File:Jurassic Park Planet7.png]]

[[File:Jurassic Park Planet8.png]]

[[File:Jurassic Park Planet9.png]]

==Andal==
[[File:Andal.png]]

[[File:Andal1.png]]

[[File:Andal2.png]]

[[File:Andal3.png]]

[[File:Andal4.png]]

==Comet 67P==
[[File:Comet 67P.png]]

[[File:Comet 67P1.png]]

[[File:Comet 67P2.png]]

[[File:Comet 67P3.png]]

[[File:Comet 67P4.png]]

[[File:Comet 67P5.png]]

[[File:Comet 67P6.png]]

==Guitar Ship==
[[File:Guitar Ship.png]]

[[File:Guitar Ship1.png]]

==Saturn==
[[File:Saturn Planet.png]]

[[File:Saturn Planet1.png]]

==Roche Lobe Earth==
[[File:Roche Lobe Earth.png]]

[[File:Roche Lobe Earth1.png]]

==Giant Spider==
[[File:Giant Spider.png]]

[[File:Giant Spider1.png]]

==Dark Matter Planet==
[[File:Dark Matter Planet.png]]

[[File:Dark Matter Planet2.png]]

==Shuttle Skeleton==
[[File:Shuttle Skeleton.png]]

== Diffraction Spikes Star==
[[File:Diffraction Spikes Star.png]]

==SafetySat==
[[File:SafetySat.png]]

==Spacetime Soccer Field==
[[File:Spacetime Soccer Field.png]]

[[File:Spacetime Soccer Field1.png]]

[[File:Spacetime Soccer Field2.png]]

==Voyager 1==
[[File:Voyager 1.png]]

==Voyager 2==
[[File:Voyager 2.png]]

==Crystal Sphere==
[[File:Crystal Sphere.png]]

==Crack in the Crystal Sphere==
[[File:Crack in the Crystal Sphere.png]]

==Open Space Outside the Crystal Sphere==
[[File:Open Space Outside the Crystal Sphere.png]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:2765}}
[[Category:Comic subpages]]