explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

3113: Fix This Sign

2025-07-09T22:05:55Z

2600:100F:B13F:CB34:0:1E:BAC1:7001: The caption says "my new company," so it would seem to be Randall

{{comic
| number = 3113
| date = July 9, 2025
| title = Fix This Sign
| image = fix_this_sign_2x.png
| imagesize = 448x405px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = We're building on our earlier success getting web developers to pay to change the backslashes in our displayed payment URL to forward slashes.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a MISALIGNED COLUMN. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

[[Randall Munroe|Randall]] has created a sign with a number of issues, such as bad kerning and alignment, that graphics designers might be disturbed by. Fortunately these graphics designers can donate money to have the sign's issues fixed.

Fix kerning: Kerning refers to the spacing between letters in a typeface, previously addressed in [[1015: Kerning]]. Kerning issues can result in letters text appearing too far apart, as if there were a space in between, or too close as if the letters were merged. In some instances combinations of letters can appear like other letters. A well known example of this is the r and n in kerning merging into "keming", which is depicted in the comic with the R and N close together, although in uppercase this merging doesn't happen. The N and I in this word are also very close together, the I and S in "THIS" in the sign's title are too far apart, and the I and the S in "SIGN" are too close to each other (also in the title).

Align columns: Here the dollar amount and the text itself are not aligned with the rest of the entries.

Fix text size: The size of this entry is smaller than the rest of the other entries. As with the misaligned columns, such variances could be displeasing to the eye or distracting.

Fix typo: The title of the sign says "'''doanate''' to fix this sign!" Someone who is easily annoyed by random typos could be compelled to donate just to get the typo fixed.

Fix centering: The title of the sign of off-center, being slightly to the right.

Fix rotation: The title of the sign is tilted slightly, with "doanate" being higher than "sign", and the rest of the sign is also off-kilter a bit.

The title text refers to another common annoyance seen in signs: the use of backslashes in URLs. URLs are defined to use forward slashes (/) rather than backslashes (\), which are instead used in Windows pathnames. Due to the widespread usage of both URLs and Windows pathnames, it is not uncommon for someone to instinctively use backslashes in URLs, which isn't always supported. (Forward slashes in Windows paths, however, ''are'' supported via Win32-to-NT path conversion.) This annoyance was also discussed in [[727: Trade Expert]].

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
A single panel containing a large, elevated sign with Ponytail in front of it.

The sign has a large title reading "Doanate to fix this sign!". Below that on the left is a faux QR code with a link https://[illegible].com, and on the right a list of donation requests: 
::$10 fix kerning 
:$20 align columns [this entry is mis-aligned] 
::$20 fix text size [this entry is in a smaller font than the others] 
::$50 fix typo 
::$50 fix centering 
::$100 fix rotation

Ponytail, looking at her phone, is saying "Grrr..." and possibly going to the sign's website to donate.

Text below panel: "My new company's business model is based on extorting graphic designers."

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

Talk:3113: Fix This Sign

2025-07-09T22:02:30Z

2600:100F:B13F:CB34:0:1E:BAC1:7001:

I'm not certain, but this feels like Black Hat's doing (who's doing this for the irritation factor, not the money). [[Special:Contributions/2001:1C02:1A9D:9700:9DCE:6FD1:E813:D91B|2001:1C02:1A9D:9700:9DCE:6FD1:E813:D91B]] 20:15, 9 July 2025 (UTC)
:He could easily be doing it for both. Putting up this sign and then not fixing it when people actually pay sounds like the stunt he would pull. [[Special:Contributions/2601:647:8500:1E09:8424:D57A:75C9:D207|2601:647:8500:1E09:8424:D57A:75C9:D207]] 20:38, 9 July 2025 (UTC)
:The caption says "my," so it seems this would be Randall.--[[Special:Contributions/2600:100F:B13F:CB34:0:1E:BAC1:7001|2600:100F:B13F:CB34:0:1E:BAC1:7001]] 22:02, 9 July 2025 (UTC)
What happens when everything is bought? Does the sign just stay up? Does it reset after a while? Is it removed? [[Special:Contributions/2601:647:8500:1E09:8424:D57A:75C9:D207|2601:647:8500:1E09:8424:D57A:75C9:D207]] 20:40, 9 July 2025 (UTC)

the s and the i in "SIGN" are also too close to each other [[User:An user who has no account yet|An user who has no account yet]] ([[User talk:An user who has no account yet|talk]]) 22:00, 9 July 2025 (UTC)

3113: Fix This Sign

2025-07-09T21:24:26Z

2600:100F:B13F:CB34:0:1E:BAC1:7001: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3113
| date = July 9, 2025
| title = Fix This Sign
| image = fix_this_sign_2x.png
| imagesize = 448x405px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = We're building on our earlier success getting web developers to pay to change the backslashes in our displayed payment URL to forward slashes.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a MISALIGNED COLUMN. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

The comic depicts a sign with a number of issues, such as bad kerning and alignment, that graphics designers might be disturbed by. Fortunately these graphics designers can donate money to have the sign's issues fixed.

Fix kerning: Kerning refers to the spacing between letters in a typeface, previously addressed in [[1015: Kerning]]. Kerning issues can result in letters text appearing too far apart, as if there were a space in between, or too close as if the letters were merged. In some instances combinations of letters can appear like other letters. A well known example of this is the r and n in kerning merging into "keming", which is depicted in the comic with the R and N close together, although in uppercase this merging doesn't happen. The N and I in this word are also very close together, and the I and S in "THIS" in the sign's title are too far apart.

Align columns: Here the dollar amount and the text itself are not aligned with the rest of the entries.

Fix text size: The size of this entry is smaller than the rest of the other entries. As with the misaligned columns, such variances could be displeasing to the eye or distracting.

Fix typo: The title of the sign says "'''doanate''' to fix this sign!" Someone who is easily annoyed by random typos could be compelled to donate just to get the typo fixed.

Fix centering: The title of the sign of off-center, being slightly to the right.

Fix rotation: The title of the sign is tilted slightly, with "doanate" being higher than "sign", and the rest of the sign is also off-kilter a bit.

The title text refers to another common annoyance seen in signs: the use of backslashes in URLs. URLs are defined to use forward slashes (/) rather than backslashes (\), which are instead used in Windows pathnames. Due to the widespread usage of both URLs and Windows pathnames, it is not uncommon for someone to instinctively use backslashes in URLs, which isn't always supported. (Forward slashes in Windows paths, however, ''are'' supported via Win32-to-NT path conversion.) This annoyance was also discussed in [[727: Trade Expert]].

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
A single panel containing a large, elevated sign with Ponytail in front of it.

The sign has a large title reading "Doanate to fix this sign!". Below that on the left is a faux QR code with a link https://[illegible].com, and on the right a list of donation requests: 
::$10 fix kerning 
:$20 align columns [this entry is mis-aligned] 
::$20 fix text size [this entry is in a smaller font than the others] 
::$50 fix typo 
::$50 fix centering 
::$100 fix rotation

Ponytail, looking at her phone, is saying "Grrr..." and possibly going to the sign's website to donate.

Text below panel: "My new company's business model is based on extorting graphic designers."

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

3113: Fix This Sign

2025-07-09T21:23:54Z

2600:100F:B13F:CB34:0:1E:BAC1:7001:

{{comic
| number = 3113
| date = July 9, 2025
| title = Fix This Sign
| image = fix_this_sign_2x.png
| imagesize = 448x405px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = We're building on our earlier success getting web developers to pay to change the backslashes in our displayed payment URL to forward slashes.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a MISALIGNED COLUMN. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

The comic depicts a sign with a number of issues, such as bad kerning and alignment, that graphics designers might be disturbed by. Fortunately these graphics designers can donate money to have the sign's issues fixed.

Fix kerning: Kerning refers to the spacing between letters in a typeface, previously addressed in [[1015: Kerning]]. Kerning issues can result in letters text appearing too far apart, as if there were a space in between, or too close as if the letters were merged. In some instances combinations of letters can appear like other letters. A well known example of this is the r and n in kerning merging into "keming", which is depicted in the comic with the R and N close together, although in uppercase this merging doesn't happen. The N and I in this word are also very close together, and the I and S in "THIS" in the sign's title are too far apart.

Align columns: Here the dollar amount and the text itself are not aligned with the rest of the entries.

Fix text size: The size of this entry is smaller than the rest of the other entries. As with the misaligned columns, such variances could be displeasing to the eye or distracting.

Fix typo: The title of the sign says "'''doanate''' to fix this sign!" Someone who is easily annoyed by random typos could be compelled to donate just to get the typo fixed.

Fix centering: The title of the sign of off-center, being slightly to the right.

Fix rotation: The title of the sign is tilted slightly, with "doanate" being higher than "sign", and the rest of the sign is also off-kilter a bit.

The title text refers to another common annoyance seen in signs: the use of backslashes in URLs. URLs are defined to use forward slashes (/) rather than backslashes (\), which are instead used in Windows pathnames. Due to the widespread usage of both URLs and Windows pathnames, it is not uncommon for someone to instinctively use backslashes in URLs, which isn't always supported. (Forward slashes in Windows paths, however, ''are'' supported via Win32-to-NT path conversion.) This annoyance was also discussed in [[727: Trade Expert]]

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
A single panel containing a large, elevated sign with Ponytail in front of it.

The sign has a large title reading "Doanate to fix this sign!". Below that on the left is a faux QR code with a link https://[illegible].com, and on the right a list of donation requests: 
::$10 fix kerning 
:$20 align columns [this entry is mis-aligned] 
::$20 fix text size [this entry is in a smaller font than the others] 
::$50 fix typo 
::$50 fix centering 
::$100 fix rotation

Ponytail, looking at her phone, is saying "Grrr..." and possibly going to the sign's website to donate.

Text below panel: "My new company's business model is based on extorting graphic designers."

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>