https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=2600%3A4040%3A52F7%3A9A00%3AB156%3A4FD2%3A1C09%3ABB84explain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-04-14T10:34:27ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=649:_Static&diff=410158649: Static2026-04-12T16:20:49Z<p>2600:4040:52F7:9A00:B156:4FD2:1C09:BB84: /* Explanation */ added incomplete tag</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 649<br />
| date = October 14, 2009<br />
| title = Static<br />
| image = static.png<br />
| titletext = I firmly believe that nothing can go wrong on a project if you're wearing one of those wrist things.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
{{incomplete}}<br />
<br />
{{w|Antistatic wrist straps}} are important safety tools for {{w|electronics}} work such as handling computer parts. The wrist strap provides a conduction path directly from one's skin to an {{w|electrical ground}}, preventing the buildup of {{w|static electricity}} which, if accidentally discharged upon touching part of a circuit, can damage sensitive electronic components.<br />
<br />
{{w|Condoms}}, on the other hand, are an important safety tool for sex, as {{w|birth control}} and protection from {{w|Sexually transmitted infection|STIs}}.<br />
<br />
The last panel implies that in his confusion, Cueball put on a condom in order to replace the {{w|RAM}} in his computer the previous week. {{w|Geek Squad}} is the computer service department of the {{w|Best Buy}} chain of American electronics superstores. So Cueball implies that he put on a condom while working in Best Buy, for performing computer repair, and was fired for indecency.<br />
<br />
The title text conveys the irrational{{cn}} belief that nothing can go wrong on a project while wearing an antistatic wrist band. In reality, the wrist band will only protect your electronics from {{w|electrostatic discharge}}, and there are plenty of other things that could go wrong on an electronics project, such as bad soldering, installing the wrong component, mechanical damage through excessive force (e.g. {{w|Blunt trauma|blunt force trauma}}) or even electric shock from an exposed live voltage. Or the text could be referring to even non-electronics projects, in which case the wrist band would really be pointless.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[It's pitch black. Only Cueball and Megan's dialogue can be seen.]<br />
<br />
:Megan: Hang on, I can't see—did you put on a condom?<br />
:Cueball: It's okay. I've got a wrist thing on.<br />
<br />
:Megan: A what? Let me see that.<br />
:''fumble''<br />
:Megan: This is an anti-static strap.<br />
<br />
:Cueball: You mean it doesn't...<br />
:Megan: No. Why would you even THINK that?<br />
:Cueball: I guess I was mixed up.<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Wait, so when I was replacing that RAM last week...<br />
:Megan: Yeah, I THOUGHT that was weird.<br />
:Cueball: Oh, but it explains why the Geek Squad fired me.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Sex]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with inverted brightness]]</div>2600:4040:52F7:9A00:B156:4FD2:1C09:BB84