explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

User talk:DollarStoreBa'al

2026-05-16T15:40:13Z

DollarStoreBa'al: Undo revision 412922 by DollarStoreBa'al (talk)

Speak through the interdimentional portal

[[User:DollarStoreBa'al/Mistakes|My mistakes]]

==General Chitchat and such==
Hey, as per your comment on [[Main Page#Create my user page]], I created your pages. Welcome to the wiki! Please always remember to sign your comments with <nowiki>--~~~~</nowiki>, and ask in the [[explain xkcd:Community portal|Community portal]] if you don't know something. If you want, you can read the [[explain_xkcd:Editor_FAQ#Why_can.27t_I_upload_pictures_or_create_pages.3F|the Editor FAQ]]! Welcome. --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 18:02, 25 February 2025 (UTC)

:Thanks! [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 19:11, 25 February 2025 (UTC)

:hi btw :) [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 15:11, 27 February 2025 (UTC)
::hello, how are you doing this fine morning, my dear fellow? [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 16:03, 27 February 2025 (UTC)

==Hiyo==
:I'm trying to lurk less and be friendly so I just thought I'd ah drop in :) [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 15:53, 3 March 2025 (UTC)
:: Bello. me editor guy who edit much. edit fun! [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 17:00, 3 March 2025 (UTC)
:::hahahahaha edit fun indeed. [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 15:20, 4 March 2025 (UTC)
::::Question: How do you add those user boxes that you have on your page? Those would be nice to have. [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 16:52, 6 March 2025 (UTC)
:::::copy and paste this and remove the nowiki tag:

<nowiki>{{Userbox | border-c = #255 | border-s = 1 | info-s = 9 | id = alastor jumpscare | info = [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|This user has a pet cannibal deer.]] | float = left}}</nowiki> and replace it with what you desire, for example:

<nowiki>{{Userbox | border-c = #255 | border-s = 1 | info-s = 9 | id = ;) | info = [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|This user _____ ]] | float = left}}</nowiki>

[[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:50, 11 March 2025 (UTC)

::::::Dude thanks! [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 13:48, 17 March 2025 (UTC)
:::::::You're very welcome dear. WEE WOO [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:18, 19 March 2025 (UTC)

==Wow==
Am I so cool that I got a mention on your user page just because I showed you how to make userboxes? I mean, if I am... thanks. [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:44, 25 March 2025 (UTC)
:Yes. Yes you are. [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 15:43, 25 March 2025 (UTC)
::YAY TYSM i will get you free jambalaya for you immediately due to that (if you're into that) [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:19, 28 March 2025 (UTC)

::: No need. Also, I see you're from Louisiana. [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 03:44, 29 March 2025 (UTC)]]
::::Haha or maybe I just like jambalaya :). Also you are not 4029 hHHA [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:17, 8 April 2025 (UTC)

==The 5s and Es and Os==
Reply to this if you've figured out what the meaning of the thingy on my user page is.
:it's base 3 [[User:CalibansCreations|'''Caliban''']] ([[User talk:CalibansCreations|talk]]) 09:07, 9 April 2025 (UTC)
:: :O [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:31, 9 April 2025 (UTC)
:: Nope! I'll give you a hint: talk to sam. [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 14:33, 9 April 2025 (UTC)
https://voca.ro/1Akmh0zRqa8Q [[User:CalibansCreations|'''Caliban''']] ([[User talk:CalibansCreations|talk]]) 16:02, 9 April 2025 (UTC)
:uhhh...[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 20:41, 11 April 2025 (UTC)
::sorry, that's not it. Don't know what to say to that.[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 17:54, 14 April 2025 (UTC)

You have one week! Hint: beep boooop --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[DSBContribs |'''''My life choices''''']] 16:30, 6 May 2025 (UTC)

:Morse code? [[User:BobcatInABox|BobcatInABox]] ([[User talk:BobcatInABox|talk]]) 19:33, 8 May 2025 (UTC)

::Morse code of what? You are very, very close.--'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[DSBContribs |'''''My life choices''''']] 20:47, 8 May 2025 (UTC)

Time's up! If you put this into [https://morsecode.world/international/translator.html/] and click play, you get the intro to Bad Apple. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[DSBContribs |'''''My life choices''''']] 14:44, 13 May 2025 (UTC)

:It's better than [[2869: Puzzles]] [[User:BobcatInABox|BobcatInABox]] ([[User talk:BobcatInABox|talk]]) 11:11, 14 May 2025 (UTC)

== Want to do some repetitive work? ==

Hey dollar, I noticed you're very active here! I don't have a ton of time, but I recently overhauled the template {{tl|comic}} to add many new features. While we figure out [[Header text]], would you be interested in editing the contents of about 50 pages (the early xkcd comics) to make these new features work? It's a lot of repetitive work, you'd just need to make the same small edits on 50 pages. (If you're interested in why the OG comics were in a different order, see [[LiveJournal]]). Just let me know and I'll finish the documentation for the template! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 17:13, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

:What exactly would I be doing to get these features to work? [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 17:18, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

::If it isn't super-complex wikitext things I can totally help! --[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al | Converse]] 19:21, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

Right so you'd just need to move things around and remove some useless code. This process adds a second white navigation bar at the bottom to browse the OG comics in the original order.
[https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1:_Barrel_-_Part_1&diff=374851&oldid=373457 You can follow this example]. The steps are:

Start from [[4|comic number 4]]:
#Based on the short sentence written above the explanation, add "ognumber =", "ogprev =", and "ognext =" (so the navbar can work)
#Add "oglink =", and move ONLY the link from "before" to "oglink" (so from HTTPS://..... until the end of the link, move that to "oglink")
#Now, from the edit preview, copy the original title.
#Delete everything in "before =" now that you moved the link
#Add "ogtitle =" and paste the original title that you copied.
#Finally, in "titletext", add two couples of apostrophes (<nowiki>''</nowiki>) in these places: https://imgur.com/a/BewKKr1
#Now save the changes, and click the new white "Next >" button you just created to go to the next one!
And you're done! It's much simpler when you try it. Of course you don't have to do it, feel free to work on the header text! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 20:41, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

me am do. --[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al | Converse]][https://www.explainxkcd.--[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 11:05, 26 April 2025 (UTC)com/wiki/index.php/S--[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 11:05, 26 April 2025 (UTC)pecial:Contributions/DollarStoreBa%27al My life choices] 20:51, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

:Oh and I added friendly errors for when you forget to add one of the "og" labels. Just note that if you don't provide "ognumber", the cool white navbar won't show up. Remember to always insert a pipe before a label, like this "'''|''' ognumber =". And once you get to comic 55 you're done! That's the last one --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 20:58, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

Hey, I don't really understand where I'm supposed to put these. --[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al | Converse]][https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa%27al My life choices] 21:01, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

Nevermind, I got this. --[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al | Converse]][https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa%27al My life choices] 21:05, 24 April 2025 (UTC)
:Erm nope the OGnumber, OGprev, and OGnext you should take from the first sentence above the explanation. For example [[24]] says it's sixth. Anyways, I found a pretty big bug in the template, so I guess we should stop until it's fixed. The Original title doesn't show up! Arghhh! I'll fix it.
:I'll let you know when you can continue. Thanks! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 21:18, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

alright, sounds good! Dang tho. Let me know and I'll get right back to it. --[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al | Converse]][https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa%27al My life choices] 13:45, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

:Hey, I, um, undid all your edits because they broke the template haha. I guess this was more complex that I thought! Don't worry, I'll finish them myself over time. I'm more experienced than I thought it seems! Thanks for trying to help anyways! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 18:52, 25 April 2025 (UTC)
::Reviewing them, it seems you were not isolating the link correctly and leaving there some HTML elements that closed other open HTML elements that weren't finished! It did look, interesting, at least! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 18:55, 25 April 2025 (UTC)
:::So sorry about that, I noticed those random Html elements. Thought they were part of the bug. oops. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[DSBContribs |'''''My life choices''''']] 22:45, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

::::No worries! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 11:05, 26 April 2025 (UTC)

==excuse me==

but it appears you have discovered that I was a spammer in a past account or maybe this account. who's to say anymore? anyway i'm trying to fix that hehe [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:02, 7 May 2025 (UTC)

==template==

What is a template? What’s a {{Trout}} and {{Whale}}?
 
If it looks weird, click edit [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!| Aprilfoolsupdate!]]([[User talk:Aprilfoolsupdate!|talk]]) 12:20, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

: I'm assuming you're asking what a template is and not about sea life. Templates are basically shortcuts that we use for commonly used things. For example, <nowiki>{{cn}}</nowiki> creates {{cn}}. You can create one pretty easily. I made those because they're commonly used on Wikipedia, and wanted to transfer them here. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 13:41, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

::how can I create one? [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!| Aprilfoolsupdate!]]([[User talk:Aprilfoolsupdate!|talk]]) 13:21, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

:::Here's something that may be able to help: <nowiki>{{AprilFoolsHelp}}</nowiki> --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 13:43, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

::::thxxxxxxxxx [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!| Aprilfoolsupdate!]]([[User talk:Aprilfoolsupdate!|talk]]) 13:46, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

:::::You are very welcome! I hope you are excited to start contributing to the wiki! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 13:46, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

::::::By the way, please don't be afraid to ask me any questions at all. If I can, I will help! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 13:48, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

:::::::Thanks [[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]], which is <nowiki>{{Thx$store}}</nowiki> (if I can call you that)

==Template Tips==
Ok. Sorry, needed to get that out of my system. Thank you for the supplement. Truly. It's a good warning. Just please don't start randomly insulting people towards the end. This is a wiki. Speak the facts, and nothing more. In this case, the facts are:
*Templates are easy to create.
*It's useful to learn from other templates.
Those are the facts. Now, you're done. Don't go on to insult them about how they're too stupid to do something useful.
:No insult intended, no mention at all of stupidity, just the obvious eagerness. Tried only to give caution not to run before you've learnt how (and, ideally, where) to walk. All edits show up, to anyone looking. The initial query had not been answered, when I started the reply, and I had to hastily rewrite things to fit back in on the end.
:To the above, I'd add:
:*Know what purpose your template will have.
:That way you're less likely to create something that you later regret, give or take a rename/delete. (If you want anything totally deleted, it may take a long time, a meanwhile you can only edit it 'clear', but still findable and the history checkable.) Most templates are ''not'' there to add pictures of sealife, but to grease the wheels of common (or not so common) Explanation page scenarios. And we might even thank you for a good shortcut for something we maybe never realised was needed before.
:For a more technical 'manual', {{w|Help:A quick guide to templates}} might be a useful next read, and from there jump around into other Help: items. There's a lot you ''can'' do, though you certainly won't want to use it all right from the start. Take your time and know ''why'' you're doing something, as well as ''what'.
:Good luck for the future, I've probably said as much as you need me to say for now. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.246.73|82.132.246.73]] 17:39, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

:While this is very useful, it would be nice if you posted this on [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!]]'s talk page. He's the one learning the ropes, and it would probably be very useful to him. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 17:47, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

==Requests/favors==
If you need anything done, reach out to me! I'll let you know what I can do to help you! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 19:49, 15 August 2025 (UTC)

Hi [[User:DollarStoreBa'al | DollarStoreBa'al]], are you good enough to have the link to my user page? [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!| Aprilfoolsupdate!]]([[User talk:Aprilfoolsupdate!|talk]]) 01:57, 18 August 2025 (UTC)

:Done! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 15:56, 18 August 2025 (UTC)

==Hello again Darling :D==
I'm back after the summer hello sir O) [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 13:59, 26 August 2025 (UTC)

:A fellow school-based follower of the truth, I see! Welcome back, and I wish thee well on your adventures. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 14:00, 26 August 2025 (UTC) P.S. I use monobook style now.

==Category thing==
Hey, can someone tell me why my talk page is on 'pages to delete?' {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|18:08, 27 August 2025 (UTC)}}
:I have tracked it down to {{diff|383609|this edit}} by [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!]], where they used a (fairly useless and unnecessary) template (that they created themselves) called <nowiki>Template:Thx$store</nowiki> to thank you for helping to teach them the process of creating a new template. Since I marked that template for deletion, when the comment calls for the template, it also marks your talk page for deletion. I have changed it so that the template is replaced with the text that it would substitute in and your page is no longer marked for deletion. Also signed off your unsigned comment. '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 18:30, 27 August 2025 (UTC)
::When someone says "I have tracked it down" you know they mean business. Thanks, that's quite reassuring. Another mystery IP (not sure if it's the same guy as today) did warn him not to make meaningless templates. Of course, I also made a meaningless template, so.... --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 18:33, 27 August 2025 (UTC)

== {{w|Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/ltbdl}} ==

they think we're the same person, ha. [[user:lett‪herebedarklight|raeb]] 02:29, 2 September 2025 (UTC)

:I did not think this is what I would come back to. That's wild and hilarious.

:They are raeb

:And I am Dollar

:And we are not the same person

--'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|'''''converse''''']] 13:42, 3 September 2025 (UTC)

::OMG THEY BANNED YOU WTF? I've pleaded your case, but idk if they'll respond. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|'''''converse''''']] 13:49, 3 September 2025 (UTC)
:::Okay, wait a second. A checkuser does checks on User IPs. If you were found guilty, that means that you were editing under the same IP as me. By any chance, do you go to school in Lincoln, NE? --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|'''''converse''''']] 14:04, 3 September 2025 (UTC)
::::one, revert your case pleading, it's silly and won't help, and two, we're "very unlikely" to be the same person according to checkuser, don't panic. maybe link them here. (i don't go to school in lincoln.) [[user:lett‪herebedarklight|raeb]] 15:00, 3 September 2025 (UTC)
:::::Ok, now it's weird. I didn't know you couldn't have alt accounts, even if you explicitly stated that they were, indeed, alt accounts. Seems a bit strict if you ask me. Also, 1+1=Window, not Yes. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|'''''converse''''']] 22:53, 3 September 2025 (UTC)

==Can you please help me==
I helped you with the userboxes. Now I need your help. How do I get my sig to be something besides what it is now? [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 19:34, 9 September 2025 (UTC)
:Hi there, Tori here. If you want to change your signature, go to your preferences page on the top right of the website (it's next to your Talk page and Watchlist). Scroll down until you see the signatures section and change it. If you need help figuring out wikitext, feel free to shoot me a message on my [[user talk:42.book.addict|talk page]]! '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 01:32, 10 September 2025 (UTC)

== Template:what if? chapters ==

Sorry, but what's the point of creating a template for what if chapters? What do you intend to use it for? '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 16:28, 3 October 2025 (UTC)
:I intended it as a workaround in order to edit two pages at once. (those being the blog page and the chapters page). I noticed there was a discrepancy between the tables on the two pages, and I created a workaround for it. Also, it's faster than copy-pasting, now that the load times are astronomical. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|converse]] 16:30, 3 October 2025 (UTC)
::Sounds good! '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 16:40, 3 October 2025 (UTC)
Ok I'm sorry but I had to change it back. Here are a few drawbacks:
#Now people reading our summaries can't edit them directly.
#The history is gone. You should've moved the page, not copy and paste. Both for copyright attribution (see {{w|WP:CWW}}) and for maintenance, to see when and why something was added.
#Now we need to transclude the table on 1 more page (servers!), and the pages that were already transcluding the page (except [[what if? (blog)]]) now are transcluding both the page AND the template.
And most importantly: there wasn't any discrepancy between the pages that transcluded the pages, just as there is no discrepancy now. The table was the exact same.

Could you explain what discrepancy you saw? The code and text behind the original [[What If? Chapters]] page, the blog page, the new template you created, and any other pages transcluding [[What If? Chapters]] was truly identical (and still is, just with the added issues listed above.).

Also; templates are not supposed to be edited frequently. A template is created in order to save time writing the same code on dozens or hundreds of pages. The table both needs to be edited and is only transcluded on a few pages. These are the pages in which the page was transcluded: [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Special:WhatLinksHere/What_If%3F_chapters&hidelinks=1&hideredirs=1] --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 10:04, 4 October 2025 (UTC)
:There were just some chapter summaries I saw that were different between the blog page and the chapters page. I'm not angry about this, thanks for bringing up the points which I am not advanced enough to see. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|converse]] 12:55, 6 October 2025 (UTC)
::Huh, that's odd. The only difference between the two is that the last header cell on the left becomes highlighted in yellow when transcluded. --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 19:16, 7 October 2025 (UTC)

== Current signature. ==

I've noticed that your signature does <all the fancy stuff><NEWLINE><space><timestamp>. Might be a good idea to remove the <NEWLINE> before the (presumably auto-appended) <space><timestamp> as it currently puts your
timestamp like this.

Which is ''probably'' not what you'd intended. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.74|82.132.245.74]] 20:47, 4 November 2025 (UTC)
:......Nope, didn't intend that. I'll see if I can fix it. (not signing this because... well, you know) --DSB {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|21:12, 4 November 2025 (UTC)}}
::I've found the issue. I was trying to make my signature in times new roman using [[Template:TNR]]. This template uses div for it's styling. For some reason, it's inserting <nowiki></div></nowiki> between the signature and timestamp rather than after. Is there a way to get the <nowiki></div></nowiki> to go after the timestamp rather than before (which is what I was intending)? Thanks! --DSB {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|21:18, 4 November 2025 (UTC)}}
:::Standard advice is to not use div-tags in your custom .sig, for exactly this reason. You should be able to do the same (except for the undesired newline-forcing) with span-tagging where you invoked div-tags.
:::The way it rendered (must basically have been subst:ed between what you used and how it renders), I didn't know you'd used the TNR template. If that's for character-length reasons then a "TNRspan" template (or something ''not'' four characters longer, if you're extremely tight for space) would have to be used.
:::Or change the TNR so <code><nowiki>{{TNR|span=yes}}</nowiki></code> will specially 'return' you your no-Div version (that's the nice-looking version; you could also have it do something like responding to <code><nowiki>{{{1}}}</nowiki></code> being "s" or "1", if you can only afford to extend by two extra characters). That makes the one template dual-use, instead of making another template.
:::TIMTOWTDI. But you'll know what you want to do, I can only give vague pointers. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.74|82.132.245.74]] 22:22, 4 November 2025 (UTC)
::::Weird. I changed the TNR template to <nowiki></nowiki> instead of <nowiki><div></nowiki>, but upon testing it's still doing that weird newline thing. {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|14:11, 5 November 2025 (UTC)}}
:::::Finally fixed. I can't get the timestamp to also be TNR, but at least it doesn't auto-newline. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 14:15, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
::::::That looks not too bad, though the timestamp is sans-serif again. Though ''might' in part be browser-dependant as to how it looks (mine may react only to the 'serif' and not the full 'Times New Roman', giving a TNR''-like'' serif-font that works good adjacent to the non-specific choice of sans-serif font. Also, at first glance, there's a mystery as to why the timestamp is '''''BOLD+ITALIC''' (or maybe STRONG+EMPHASIS, for the pedants).
::::::The structure is probably as follows, rewritten just for visual representation/explanation. Formatting that you do is in ()s, my explanatory notes are in ** and * pairs:
**start of 'fixed text' signature insertion**
(SPANopen style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;")
--
(BOLD+ITALICstart)
(LINKpage)User:DollarStoreBa'al
(LINKtext)
(SPANopen style="color:#E3C6BE")
DollarStoreBa'al
(SPANclose, i.e. end:style="color:#E3C6BE")
(LINKclose)
(SUPERSCRIPTopen)
(LINKpage)User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al
(LINKtext)
(SPANopen style="color:#CC9A8B")
Converse
(SPANclose, i.e. end:style="color:#CC9A8B")
(LINKclose)
(SUPERSCRIPTclose)
*expected to be an /implied/ (BOLD+ITALICSclose), here*
*check HTML source for why not?*
(SPANclose, i.e. end: style="font-family: Times New Roman...etc")
**end of 'fixed text' signature insertion**
**start of 'timestamp' signature insertion**
*BOLD+ITALICS is still active?*
*but all /other/ formats ended by the most recent (SPANclose)*
14:15, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
**end of 'timestamp' signature insertion**
::::::Without looking at exactly what you're doing behind the scenes, I'm not ''entirely'' sure, but I think the {{template|TNR}} includes a close-Span tag, preventing that from 'rolling on' into the timestamp bit.
::::::Exactly how the '''''BOLD+ITALIC''''' rolls on, I don't know without checking the HTML source. Might be an intentional function of the wikimarkup-to-HTML conversion that 'remembers' that formatting and reapplies it as necessary, at least until a 'forced' end-of-scope (end of a Div or P tag, a Br/Hr monotag, new ordered/unordered list item (or changing the list-level), table cell/row transitions, and then there's the next (same/different) ":"-prepended indented follow-up lines and (of course) double-newlines) to force even no-prefix lines into paragraph-breaks. All of these (and other less obvious wikimarkup scenarios) probably translate to a hard /div closure in the HTML.
::::::Does {{template|TNR}} currently close its own Span? Does removing that Span-end let it 'roll on' over the timestamp? If you do that, does the insert-signature process close off all remaining Spans ''after'' the timestamp? (Normally, a signature is followed by a newline+newline or at least a newline+:nextlinehasindents, but if you add a P.S. comment after a timestamp that benefits from an unclosed formatting rlling through, does anything add a closure to stop it rolling through onto the P.S...? Can't test this, myself, directly, but it'd be interesting to find out!)
::::::Note that I don't know if you intended TNR to be used anywhere else. But by changing it from Div-based to Span-based it changes how it looks if I "{{TNR|use it here}}", and if you then make it so that it open-Spans but never close-Spans then it would change the appearance of this paragraph even further.
::::::...ouch. Actually, I had assumed it would currently (as 'span-only', opening and closing) not linefeed, browserside, but currently it adds a forced break, and doesn't even have any way of knowing how many indents (if any) to add before the continuation text.
::::::Though if nobody else is using it for ''anything else'', it shouldn't matter. Just pointing out that (''if they are'') changes you make to fine-tune your signature ''could'' have collateral effects for other people who use TNR when it does one thing but then find that it's doing another thing.
::::::Creating a template 'just for your own use' is Ok-ish, but you might just want to note its purpose and (current) peculiarities in case someone thinks that it's intended for a more general purpose, and in a more logical manner than you've had to make it 'work' just for you.
::::::It's also known for templates to contain imbalanced markup, with either how it is used or the presence of a second 'closing' template (see {{template|cot}} and {{template|cob}}, that mark the 't'op and 'b'ottom of a 'co'llapsable area) making the final result properly balanced in the end. But mostly you'd expect internal closure of anything the template started, whether Spanny or Divvy in nature, or justify it and make it obvious without digging through the actual template-code itself.
::::::But I don't know how useful all of this is, to you or those coming along afterwards (before or after further template tweaks, etc). I'm just trying to pass on everything I think could be helpful, knowing that a lot of it could be 'beyond helpful', i.e. actually quite irrelevent. If not incomprehsible. (If not wrong, given I can't even test many assumptions, directly!) But here it is, anyway. HTH, HAND. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.244.89|82.132.244.89]] 16:24, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
:::::::I'm using the TNR template because it looks cool, but it also does have a purpose. It's used in early Taglines and header texts. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 16:53, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
:::::::Having tried many things, I've found that including the TNR template at all is messing up the timestamp. I'll see if there's another way to include the template without that, but idk if there is a way. In the meantime, here's my new Sig: --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 17:25, 5 November 2025 (UTC)

:{{outdent|:::::}}
:((I researched,cchecked and wrote the following followup whilst you were replying, just aboce. You've answered some of my points, plus seem happy with as it is now, but still posting it given the thought I put into it... ;) Not that I actually think that it's necessary as helpful as I might have hoped it to be, in the end! Absolutely no reply expected, if you're happy to say nothing more.))
:Ok, actually looked at the HTML source, now, neutering the 'raw' markup, whitespacing it and adding **commentary**:
**start signature, fixed text**
**default formatting**
<nowiki><</nowiki>span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;">
**formatting is now TNR**
--
<nowiki><</nowiki>b>
**formatting is TNR+Bold**
<nowiki><</nowiki>i>
**formatting is TNR+Bold+Italics**
<nowiki><</nowiki>a href="/wiki/index.php/User:DollarStoreBa%27al" title="User:DollarStoreBa'al">
**formatting is TNR+B+I and a link..**
<nowiki><</nowiki>span style="color:#E3C6BE">
**...which is coloured**
DollarStoreBa'al
<nowiki><</nowiki>/span>
**back to TNR+B+I link, no colour**
<nowiki><</nowiki>/a>
**back to TNR+B+I, no link
<nowiki><</nowiki>sup>
**TNR+B+I+Superscript**
<nowiki><</nowiki>a class="mw-selflink selflink">
**TNR+B++Sup and a link (to this page, in this specific instance)**
<nowiki><</nowiki>span style="color:#CC9A8B">
**TNR+B+I+Sup link is coloured**
Converse
<nowiki><</nowiki>/span>
**TNR+B+I+Sup link, no colour**
<nowiki><</nowiki>/a>
**TNR+B+I+Sup, no link**
<nowiki><</nowiki>/sup>
**TNR+B+I, normal-script again**
<nowiki><</nowiki>/span>
**this should have removed TNR, *and* the 'inner' B+I too...**
** (Although this is not what you wanted, it's what you should get!) **
**...but apparently we're now just with B+I**
** (This might be my own browser's interpretation, not everyone's.) **
**this is the inbuilt transition between fixed-sig and time-sig**
**a space is here, then...**
14:15, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
<nowiki><</nowiki>/i> ** (Your signature markup does not ask for this!) **
**just Boldness left**
<nowiki><</nowiki>/b> ** (Your signature markup does not ask for this!) **
**neutral format again**
**end of signature**
:What goes with the "TNR+B+I" going to "B+I", I don't know. Unless they've changed the HTML spec regarding this in the last decade or three.
:The wiki-server back end was smart enough to add the close-Italics and close-Bold, at the end of the signature (''perhaps'', knowing that these were imminent a 'smart' error-checking by the browser's HTML-renderer let their formats persist, when otherwise they would not have? ...odd, but possible). Possibly it would have also closed the TNR-span, after the B-closure,cif not already asked to do so by the end of the TNR-template?
:...so...
:#First 'fix', remove the <code><nowiki><</nowiki>/span></code> from TNR. See how that affects any newly applied signatures (it won't change old ones).
:#Also see how/if it changes the indent-loss above my "...ouch" line, above.
:#''Also'' also chase down if TNR gets used ''anywhere else'' in this wiki, at the moment, and check that you've not broken anything else that other people might have used it for.
:If the first fix works and the third thing isn't a problem (ignore the second issue, I'm happy for it to change), then you're sorted. Otherwise (no fix, or even further broken in ways that aren't any good for anyone) reverse the change to where it works best for everyone and accept it not working precisely how you think you want it.
:If it fixes, as suggested, I'd also be interested how signing with <code><nowiki>~~~~ and more text</nowiki></code> works. (i.e. does it TNR the "and more text"?) Not that it's important, just my own curiosity.
:And think about a more advanced explanation on TNR's page, if it's going to be 'an odd template' in any way, like being Span-opener without being a Span-closer.
:That's all. Over to you, nothing more I can do (I could change TNR's code, but not then test it with your signature), but ''maybe'' I've done enough to help. Without too much confusion. I'll let you sort the rest out on your own, unless there's anything specific that arises to follow-up with. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.246.131|82.132.246.131]] 17:45, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
::tbh I'm good. Besides, I have no clue how to convert that raw HTML into usable wikitext (idk how to code, planning to learn someday). Either way, works fine. Also, you commentary has made me realize how complex my sig actually is. Times New Roman+Bold+Italics, which is a link which is colored. {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|19:21, 5 November 2025 (UTC)}} 

Ummm... Do you know that your current signature is sort of 'unmunged'? As in, you're making the markup show by 'escaping' the markup characters entirely so they don't (properly) act as markup, but as literal text. (You had it working ok(ish), not sure when it went wrong, without scrolling through your Talk contributions.) [[Special:Contributions/82.132.236.186|82.132.236.186]] 17:34, 22 November 2025 (UTC)
:Addendum - had a deeper look, it was broken for 14:00, 20 November 2025, for [[Talk:3170: Service Outage]], but had worked until 20:27, 19 November 2025, for [[Talk:3168: Beam Dump]]. Whatever you did to your profile, between those two times, maybe undo it? Wasn't caused by any public page edit (like the TNR-template), nor can I think of how you'd break that without being obvious. Anyway, FYI.
:(My guess is that you copied it out to somewhere, to edit, that thing auto-obfuscated the markup for its own visual reasons, then the copy back was done of the 'ruined' markup version. I haven't gone through it with a toothcomb, to see what your intended hanges may have been. And maybe you even intended ''this''... Until I read a page 'normally', not just zourcewise, I hadn't spotted that your long signature-markup was now so... 'literal'. And can't imagine it should be. ) 17:57, 22 November 2025 (UTC)
::I may or may not have INTENTIONALLY unchecked 'treat above as wikitext', simply to confuse people :) --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 00:08, 23 November 2025 (UTC)
:::"Complicated signatures contain a lot of code ("markup") that is revealed in the edit window, and can take up unnecessary amounts of narrative space, which can make both reading and editing harder." -{{w|WP:SIG#Guidelines and policies|WP:SIG}} '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 02:10, 23 November 2025 (UTC)
::::Your signature literally has more characters than mine. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 02:24, 25 November 2025 (UTC)
:::::Does it matter? Your un-wikitexted signature takes up far more characters than 255 (498 to be precise). It's also a pain in the ass to read and is bound to confuse anybody who sees it. '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 02:48, 25 November 2025 (UTC)

== {{w|WP:REDIRECT}} ==
As per {{w|WP:REDIRECT#Purposes of redirects|Wikipedia policy}}, redirects are only to be made for typos that are "likely misspellings (for example, Condoleeza Rice redirects to Condoleezza Rice). Note: this criterion typically does not apply to redirects from typos in the template namespace; consensus is that such typos, unless they are very common, should remain as red links until they are fixed." '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 03:19, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
:Ahhhhhhh. Alright, noted. {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|14:17, 11 November 2025 (UTC)}}
::GOD DAMMIT!!!! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 19:05, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
:::Easily done. Don't worry. I nearly intervened myself, but thought you might fix it yourself soon enough.
:::it also makes me wonder if you have any opinions about [[explain xkcd:Community portal/Proposals#Additional templates to complement 'unsigned' ones|this recent idea]] that you reminded me of, if you/42 would consider it useful in such situations. It's not had any other input beyond the fellow anonIP originator, but (wordiness/edit-errors aside) I like what was said. It's a pity that nobody's even said they don't like it. Or don't understand it. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.246.151|82.132.246.151]] 20:14, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
::::I did skim through it a bit the other day when it was posted, but it was so dense that I probably only remember/understand 50% of it. The IP editor made some pretty good points, but it's not like I'm very good at making templates either. Maybe [[User:FaviFake]] or [[User:Lettherebedarklight]] can do something about it. '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 20:34, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
:::::I'm not actually too sure about this. How would be let newer users (who may not know about the template) to retrosign? --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 20:37, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
::::::Well, those who don't know how to (or that they have to) sign probably aren't the target audience. ;) There are plenty of templates that even I probably wouldn't remember until I went looking for what's there, or found out about by someone else using it. (It's how I know about {{template|outdent}}, for example.)
::::::But the principle's simple enough. Duplicate the unsigned templates as retrosigned ones, and remove the nagging bit. Favi or Darklight could do it simply enough, if they think there's reason to. I could do it, except for the little matter of not being allowed to. Also, I'm not the one trying to sell the idea, just seemed an apt de-stresing comment for the circumstance we had. (Nice though this conversation is, it really needs the propsal(s) to be replied to, if anything.) I'm just hoping you feel calmer, now, Ba'al... :p [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.237|82.132.245.237]] 03:42, 12 November 2025 (UTC)
{{outdent|::::::}}
Wait was that proposal written by you, IP? The format seemed AI-generated but i really did not read it for more than 10 seconds. [[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 18:38, 12 November 2025 (UTC)
:Having read it..... yeah, that's about as far from AI generated as you can get. I've seen IP use that format in the past, and the content is very explainxkcd-term heavy. I don't think AI would be able to generate the words 'unsigned templates as retrosigned'. Nobody except us understands what that means. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 18:52, 12 November 2025 (UTC)
::Not me-IP (the IP in the above bit), but probably one of the other long-standing-if-occasional-IPs that there must be.
::Also very much me-''like'', so the linguistic flourishes mesh well with what I understand/might write myself.
::In lieu of them saying anything more, themselves, I've already decided to do my bit to try to 'translate' the core idea to Muggle-speak. If I'm able to bridge the gap without being wrong about either/both! [[Special:Contributions/82.132.244.30|82.132.244.30]] 19:25, 12 November 2025 (UTC)
==3==
vv4dh<iwumbd i7rig s9 vddr aowe

BAABBABBABABABABAABBABABBAABAABABBBAABAABAAAAABBABABBABABBAAAABAAABBABABBAAAABAABABBBAABAABAAAAABBABABBABABBAAAABAABAABABABAAABBABBABBBAABAABAAAAABBABABABBABAAAABBAABAABB BAAABAABABABBABBAABBBAAAAAAAAAABABAABABAAAABAAAAAAABBBA

USETHEVISIONFROMYOURCHILDSEYE {{unsigned ip|204.137.100.1|08:19, 13 November 2025 (UTC)}}
:Oh, hello there! what do you have for us today, codeman? --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 14:22, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
::Starting from scratch, and dismissing (for the moment) the possibility of it being the 'cluetext' as a rotating key, the first looks polymorphic, in some manner, as the obvious repeat-letters that the known plaintext will have aren't all repeated in the ciphertext (and repeats in the ciphertext aren't matches in the known plaintext. It's also ''perhaps'' not subject to the main fatal flaw in Enigma (''other'' than the "the message-senders use predictable original plaintext" thing) that means that a character never maps to itself, as there are indeed (at least) two same->SAME mappings.
::Though given it is mapped to a changed-case (compared to what we expect from code#1) and includes alphabetic-to-punctuation-via-numeric transitions, my first assessment is that (with the exception of spaces being preserved/specially treated, as per usual) it also maps between A-Z input and a wider output.
::The most obvious idea is an XOR-based progression (prior code/plain character v.s. each subsequent one), but if done straight from ASCII codes that's going to give you far more weirdness than lower-cass-plus-occasional-punctuation. Which suggests perhaps a more proprietry enumeration/de-enumeration (it's not a shifted-6-bit output, so I won't try a shifted 5-bit input).
::...back to the cluetext. It's not the same-length as the ciphered phrase (if it had, I'd have assumed it was concocted as the "one time pad"), either with or without counting the spaces. But ''perhaps'' it's a Playfair cipher (less obvious than "PASSWORDPASWORDPASSWORD...", when analysing for patterns), but I haven't got time to check that properly, right now, and I still think there's a non-linear (but trivial) relationship. Perhaps simpler than what I've already thought of.
::The 'As and Bs' I haven't yet really looked into, beyond ruling out that it's a direct binary expansion (at least in 8-bits, 28 characters of that, and one spare bit, ignoring the space, or 32x 7-bits plus 1). It seems to be 225 A+Bs (3x3x5x5; so 3x75, 5x45, 9x25 and 15x15 (square, which ''might' be significant) are the main splits), if I'm not barking up the wrong tree. But I have other things to do right now, so the next flash of inspiration will have to wait. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.231.193|82.132.231.193]] 18:03, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
:::"Agreed. Let's reset. The previous codes both started with 'Transmission X of four'. This looks similar, so it's safe to assume that 'ds4cdebsjbsx u;g6w hf whyb' equals 'transmission three of four'. This is actually very good for us, because we can map each number to their translated version:
*d=t
*s=r
*4=a
*c=n
*d=s (perhaps a mistake)
*e=m
*b=i
*j=s (wait...)
*b=s???????????????? 
Cool, that didn't work at all. It's probably double-encoded, or it's using a very strong code (maybe a vigenere?). Whatever it is, substitution doesn't work on it. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 19:05, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
::That was my first-g [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.151|82.132.245.151]] 21:40, 13 November 2025 (UTC)

The Bs and As appear to be either a bacon Cipher (UO LUM E ZERO ONE ONE ZERO ONE TWO ZERO MINUS FOUR ALL CAP) or a Caesar Cipher, though if it's the latter it would need to be double-encoded like last time, because the most coherent option it's giving me is POOP POP POP OP OP OP OOP POP OPPO OP OOP OP P POOP OOP OO OO OPPO POP POP OPPO OO OP OO OPPO POP POO OOP OOP OP P POOP OOP OO OO OPPO POP POP OPPO OO OP OOP OOP OP OP OO OPPO P POP P POOP OOP OO OO OPPO POP OPPO POO OOP POOP OOP P POO OP OOP OP OPPO P POOP P POO OO OO OO OOP OP OOP OP OO OOP OO OO OO OP P PO. Something tells me they weren't trying to make potty jokes.
:::Based on the fact that we're on this specific wiki, I'll assume that it's the first one for now. It's referencing Volume 0 (I think I know where they got the idea for this). The rest of the numbers are now 110120-4. I'll go check the page. 18:52, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
::::Page 110120 has this poem on it, in the 'cypher' section:
THE START OF THE TENTH-FAVORITE WORD USED BY BENDER 
THE TOON THAT WENT SOUTH WHILE COMMANDED BY ENDER 
THE NUMBER OF LIGHTS THAT PICARD SAID WERE ON 
AND THE CLASS OF THE PLANET WHERE KIRK SHOUTED "KHAAAN!" 
THE RINGS FOR THE MEN MINUS RINGS FOR THE ELVES 
AND THE PRODUCT MOD 10 OF A FIVESOME OF TWELVES 
THE END OF A CODE NES GAMERS KNOW 
AND THE BASE USED TO MODEL HOW QUICKLY THINGS GROW 
WHEN THEY'RE XOR'D TOGETHER THE CHECKSUM IS "E" 
WHICH WILL TELL YOU YOU'VE GOT THE PENULTIMATE KEY 
::::...This is the penultimate key, if there are four messages. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 19:05, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
:::::I've not had any further time to look at this, but:
:::::*If I were devising an actually useful secret code, the first one (which is clearly a character-to-character mapping, though not a static one) would involve a little more trickery than an 'unsalted' progression, and the second (clearly a bitwise represenation) should probably be repackaged back into a full 'alphanumeric' token set (e.g. base64 or UUEncoded 'text friendly' outputs, but perhaps rotated a bit to disguise the tell-tale signs of that kind of output.
:::::**In fact, I might have used Gray-Code tables, even a mini form of a LZW-ish token-stream compression algorithm, to further thwart analysis by making it not even a consistent change in entropy from original character to the resulting output string. With such a single short 'message', it probably could have defied any realistic form of frequency-analysis, or at least made for hypothetically 'sensible' alternative decodings emerge from parts of the data, when choosing the 'right' wrong decoding methods.
:::::*However, bear in mind that (though with greater challenges, from the #1 code to #2, so presumably even more for #3) these are codes that are ''supposed to be cracked''. Well, maybe #4 (or even the final set of 4x4 characters that's ultimately puzzle #5) will be 'fiendish'-level, but #3 shouldn't be more than 'devilishly difficult' to work out.
:::::*I didn't know "Bacon Cipher", by that name, but it looks like you've got that worked out by (assisted) brute force. I might have tripped up over the U+V and I+J equivalences, initially, but the composer has clearly used the 'classical' version in a straight manner.
:::::*Taking that as done, though, we're left with the backforming of the TRANSMISSION message, if only so we know what (different) apparent nonsense the "x@hc" should become. Where I'd focus, is on what caused "ISSI" to be "bsjb". Why, three characters later, has the encoding ended up on the same output char (could suggest a three-character Playfair key), yet the 'S' characters, positioned "S..SS" became "d..sj" (so ''not'' a 3-char key). Positioning the 'clue phrase' against the characters gives "V..I" against the "I..I"->"b..b", so it's not being the same by dint of coincidentally similar transformations from the keyphrase.
:::::But that's still an analysis that I'm doing with the presumption of it being deliberately somewhat obscure (having somehow 'discovered' part of the encoding secret). It's probably only going to be more hidden in plain sight, as part of the 'game', but still helps to know how you'd approach a more deliberately obscure method of coding. Hence how I broke the semaphor one ...well, mostly... without realising that it actually was semaphor. (If you hadn't have settled the Bacon Code solution, I might have tried looking at it being morse-based, with ambiguous character/word boundaries.)
:::::Anyway, when I pop back here and find that you/someone else has fully solved it, I'll probably kick myself for entirely missing the most obvious answer. Also I can't seem get "CE4Q60AE" (or alternatives/variations that I've tried) to give me a checksum of "E" (or 0xE?). So, if that's actually important, I might have something else wrong. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.151|82.132.245.151]] 21:40, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
::::::YOUARERIGHT {{unsigned ip|204.137.100.1|14:03, 14 November 2025 (UTC)}}
:::::::About what? What are we right about? --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 14:04, 14 November 2025 (UTC)

== User rights ==

I noticed you created my [[User:GreyFox|user page]] but did not create my talk page or give me the rights to do so myself. Why is this the case? [[User:GreyFox|GreyFox]] ([[User talk:GreyFox|talk]]) 17:25, 24 November 2025 (UTC)
:OMG so sorry. Fully forgor. Should be fixed now. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 02:25, 25 November 2025 (UTC)

== Minor edits ==

Just FYI, you can mark in preferences under the editing tab for all edits to be marked as minor so that we don't clog up the Recent Changes page so much, as people can click "Hide minor edits". '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 21:30, 2 December 2025 (UTC)
;...whoops. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 21:30, 2 December 2025 (UTC)

== /WORKPAGE ==

Wow. While doing maintenance work, I found your workpage. I've always known it existed, but just brushed it off and let you work alone. I don't know how much it means to you, but I'm really proud and happy of how far you've come. In just a couple months you've been able to make a pretty sizable impact here. By the way, I love the work you've been doing on there. Please keep it up! <3 '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 10:40, 3 December 2025 (UTC)
:It means a lot to me. Thanks for the encouragement! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 14:00, 3 December 2025 (UTC)

== Have another look at the Disappearing Sunday Update images ==

*[[:File:Disappearing Sunday Update with number 2185.png]] - has a browser address bar
*[[:File:Archive with Disappearing Sunday Update.png]] - Thumbnail History versions had an address bar, and it *used* to have the 'disappeared comic', perhaps least useful of the three, as it currently is, being the only one of the three not currently linked-to. Might be worth trying to find out what Kynde was trying to do, there.
*[[:File:Archive with Disappearing Sunday Update and date.png]] - was marked for deletion, as "identical", but it wasn't, had a hover-text date on it. Don't know if that's still useful (not being used as a linked image?), but I wouldn't make that my first deletion, especially as it's a linked-to page.
...needs double-checking, really, to make sure that things that aren't totally useless are not thrown out just because they look useless at a glance. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.239.140|82.132.239.140]] 18:57, 4 December 2025 (UTC)
:Good catch, and now fixed. Thanks for letting me know! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 18:59, 4 December 2025 (UTC)

== exp template thing? ==

Please could you have a look at [[Template talk:explain]]? [[Special:Contributions/78.144.255.82|78.144.255.82]] 19:40, 10 December 2025 (UTC)

...also, why exactly did you think [[Template:exp]] was needed? Looks like it once existed but was actually removed because (except for some other relic uses, that also seemingly aren't used) it serves no actual purpose. [[Special:Contributions/78.144.255.82|78.144.255.82]] 19:57, 10 December 2025 (UTC)
:Yeahh... delete. My brain sharted in public. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 20:11, 10 December 2025 (UTC)

==Hi==
I have not been on this wiki in a while, I just wanted to say hi XD [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 18:18, 15 December 2025 (UTC)
:''I've been expecting you...'' --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 21:28, 15 December 2025 (UTC)

==...==

:I come back to this wiki to assure y'all I haven't quit, and I check on you, and THERE'S A GIANT NOTICE WITH HAMILTON LYRICS ON IT. I mean, it is "The Story of Tonight", granted, W song, but what in the world have you been up to... [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]])
::A reminder to myself. Keeps the depression from setting in. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]]''''' 17:27, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
:::No but that's actually so sweet 🥹 [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 15:54, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

User talk:DollarStoreBa'al

2026-05-16T15:40:05Z

DollarStoreBa'al: Undo revision 412923 by DollarStoreBa'al (talk)

{{DISPLAYTITLE:User:'''DollarStoreBa'al'''}}
<div class="sticky-decoration" style="position:fixed;left:0px;top:0px;z-index:-1;opacity:0.5;pointer-events:none;">[[File:Mount Hood reflected in Mirror Lake, Oregon.jpg|2000px]]</div>
{| align="justified" padding="2px" cellspacing="1" width="100%" style="margin:0px 0 0 0; background:none"
| rowspan="2" class="BGorange1" style="text-align:center; padding:.5em .5em .5em .5em; background-color:#c9c9c9; border:4px ridge #ffffff; box-shadow:.1em .1em .5em rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); box-shadow:.1em .1em .5em light-dark(rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75), rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.75)); {{Round corners}}"|

Speak through the interdimentional portal to communicate with me... or just type in this box.

[[User:DollarStoreBa'al/Mistakes|My mistakes]]

==General Chitchat and such==
Hey, as per your comment on [[Main Page#Create my user page]], I created your pages. Welcome to the wiki! Please always remember to sign your comments with <nowiki>--~~~~</nowiki>, and ask in the [[explain xkcd:Community portal|Community portal]] if you don't know something. If you want, you can read the [[explain_xkcd:Editor_FAQ#Why_can.27t_I_upload_pictures_or_create_pages.3F|the Editor FAQ]]! Welcome. --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 18:02, 25 February 2025 (UTC)

:Thanks! [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 19:11, 25 February 2025 (UTC)

:hi btw :) [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 15:11, 27 February 2025 (UTC)
::hello, how are you doing this fine morning, my dear fellow? [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 16:03, 27 February 2025 (UTC)

==Hiyo==
:I'm trying to lurk less and be friendly so I just thought I'd ah drop in :) [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 15:53, 3 March 2025 (UTC)
:: Bello. me editor guy who edit much. edit fun! [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 17:00, 3 March 2025 (UTC)
:::hahahahaha edit fun indeed. [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 15:20, 4 March 2025 (UTC)
::::Question: How do you add those user boxes that you have on your page? Those would be nice to have. [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 16:52, 6 March 2025 (UTC)
:::::copy and paste this and remove the nowiki tag:

<nowiki>{{Userbox | border-c = #255 | border-s = 1 | info-s = 9 | id = alastor jumpscare | info = [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|This user has a pet cannibal deer.]] | float = left}}</nowiki> and replace it with what you desire, for example:

<nowiki>{{Userbox | border-c = #255 | border-s = 1 | info-s = 9 | id = ;) | info = [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|This user _____ ]] | float = left}}</nowiki>

[[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:50, 11 March 2025 (UTC)

::::::Dude thanks! [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 13:48, 17 March 2025 (UTC)
:::::::You're very welcome dear. WEE WOO [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:18, 19 March 2025 (UTC)

==Wow==
Am I so cool that I got a mention on your user page just because I showed you how to make userboxes? I mean, if I am... thanks. [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:44, 25 March 2025 (UTC)
:Yes. Yes you are. [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 15:43, 25 March 2025 (UTC)
::YAY TYSM i will get you free jambalaya for you immediately due to that (if you're into that) [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:19, 28 March 2025 (UTC)

::: No need. Also, I see you're from Louisiana. [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 03:44, 29 March 2025 (UTC)]]
::::Haha or maybe I just like jambalaya :). Also you are not 4029 hHHA [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:17, 8 April 2025 (UTC)

==The 5s and Es and Os==
Reply to this if you've figured out what the meaning of the thingy on my user page is.
:it's base 3 [[User:CalibansCreations|'''Caliban''']] ([[User talk:CalibansCreations|talk]]) 09:07, 9 April 2025 (UTC)
:: :O [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:31, 9 April 2025 (UTC)
:: Nope! I'll give you a hint: talk to sam. [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 14:33, 9 April 2025 (UTC)
https://voca.ro/1Akmh0zRqa8Q [[User:CalibansCreations|'''Caliban''']] ([[User talk:CalibansCreations|talk]]) 16:02, 9 April 2025 (UTC)
:uhhh...[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 20:41, 11 April 2025 (UTC)
::sorry, that's not it. Don't know what to say to that.[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 17:54, 14 April 2025 (UTC)

You have one week! Hint: beep boooop --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[DSBContribs |'''''My life choices''''']] 16:30, 6 May 2025 (UTC)

:Morse code? [[User:BobcatInABox|BobcatInABox]] ([[User talk:BobcatInABox|talk]]) 19:33, 8 May 2025 (UTC)

::Morse code of what? You are very, very close.--'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[DSBContribs |'''''My life choices''''']] 20:47, 8 May 2025 (UTC)

Time's up! If you put this into [https://morsecode.world/international/translator.html/] and click play, you get the intro to Bad Apple. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[DSBContribs |'''''My life choices''''']] 14:44, 13 May 2025 (UTC)

:It's better than [[2869: Puzzles]] [[User:BobcatInABox|BobcatInABox]] ([[User talk:BobcatInABox|talk]]) 11:11, 14 May 2025 (UTC)

== Want to do some repetitive work? ==

Hey dollar, I noticed you're very active here! I don't have a ton of time, but I recently overhauled the template {{tl|comic}} to add many new features. While we figure out [[Header text]], would you be interested in editing the contents of about 50 pages (the early xkcd comics) to make these new features work? It's a lot of repetitive work, you'd just need to make the same small edits on 50 pages. (If you're interested in why the OG comics were in a different order, see [[LiveJournal]]). Just let me know and I'll finish the documentation for the template! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 17:13, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

:What exactly would I be doing to get these features to work? [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 17:18, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

::If it isn't super-complex wikitext things I can totally help! --[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al | Converse]] 19:21, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

Right so you'd just need to move things around and remove some useless code. This process adds a second white navigation bar at the bottom to browse the OG comics in the original order.
[https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1:_Barrel_-_Part_1&diff=374851&oldid=373457 You can follow this example]. The steps are:

Start from [[4|comic number 4]]:
#Based on the short sentence written above the explanation, add "ognumber =", "ogprev =", and "ognext =" (so the navbar can work)
#Add "oglink =", and move ONLY the link from "before" to "oglink" (so from HTTPS://..... until the end of the link, move that to "oglink")
#Now, from the edit preview, copy the original title.
#Delete everything in "before =" now that you moved the link
#Add "ogtitle =" and paste the original title that you copied.
#Finally, in "titletext", add two couples of apostrophes (<nowiki>''</nowiki>) in these places: https://imgur.com/a/BewKKr1
#Now save the changes, and click the new white "Next >" button you just created to go to the next one!
And you're done! It's much simpler when you try it. Of course you don't have to do it, feel free to work on the header text! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 20:41, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

me am do. --[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al | Converse]][https://www.explainxkcd.--[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 11:05, 26 April 2025 (UTC)com/wiki/index.php/S--[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 11:05, 26 April 2025 (UTC)pecial:Contributions/DollarStoreBa%27al My life choices] 20:51, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

:Oh and I added friendly errors for when you forget to add one of the "og" labels. Just note that if you don't provide "ognumber", the cool white navbar won't show up. Remember to always insert a pipe before a label, like this "'''|''' ognumber =". And once you get to comic 55 you're done! That's the last one --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 20:58, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

Hey, I don't really understand where I'm supposed to put these. --[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al | Converse]][https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa%27al My life choices] 21:01, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

Nevermind, I got this. --[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al | Converse]][https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa%27al My life choices] 21:05, 24 April 2025 (UTC)
:Erm nope the OGnumber, OGprev, and OGnext you should take from the first sentence above the explanation. For example [[24]] says it's sixth. Anyways, I found a pretty big bug in the template, so I guess we should stop until it's fixed. The Original title doesn't show up! Arghhh! I'll fix it.
:I'll let you know when you can continue. Thanks! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 21:18, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

alright, sounds good! Dang tho. Let me know and I'll get right back to it. --[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al | Converse]][https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa%27al My life choices] 13:45, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

:Hey, I, um, undid all your edits because they broke the template haha. I guess this was more complex that I thought! Don't worry, I'll finish them myself over time. I'm more experienced than I thought it seems! Thanks for trying to help anyways! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 18:52, 25 April 2025 (UTC)
::Reviewing them, it seems you were not isolating the link correctly and leaving there some HTML elements that closed other open HTML elements that weren't finished! It did look, interesting, at least! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 18:55, 25 April 2025 (UTC)
:::So sorry about that, I noticed those random Html elements. Thought they were part of the bug. oops. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[DSBContribs |'''''My life choices''''']] 22:45, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

::::No worries! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 11:05, 26 April 2025 (UTC)

==excuse me==

but it appears you have discovered that I was a spammer in a past account or maybe this account. who's to say anymore? anyway i'm trying to fix that hehe [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:02, 7 May 2025 (UTC)

==template==

What is a template? What’s a {{Trout}} and {{Whale}}?
 
If it looks weird, click edit [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!| Aprilfoolsupdate!]]([[User talk:Aprilfoolsupdate!|talk]]) 12:20, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

: I'm assuming you're asking what a template is and not about sea life. Templates are basically shortcuts that we use for commonly used things. For example, <nowiki>{{cn}}</nowiki> creates {{cn}}. You can create one pretty easily. I made those because they're commonly used on Wikipedia, and wanted to transfer them here. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 13:41, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

::how can I create one? [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!| Aprilfoolsupdate!]]([[User talk:Aprilfoolsupdate!|talk]]) 13:21, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

:::Here's something that may be able to help: <nowiki>{{AprilFoolsHelp}}</nowiki> --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 13:43, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

::::thxxxxxxxxx [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!| Aprilfoolsupdate!]]([[User talk:Aprilfoolsupdate!|talk]]) 13:46, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

:::::You are very welcome! I hope you are excited to start contributing to the wiki! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 13:46, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

::::::By the way, please don't be afraid to ask me any questions at all. If I can, I will help! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 13:48, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

:::::::Thanks [[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]], which is <nowiki>{{Thx$store}}</nowiki> (if I can call you that)

==Template Tips==
Ok. Sorry, needed to get that out of my system. Thank you for the supplement. Truly. It's a good warning. Just please don't start randomly insulting people towards the end. This is a wiki. Speak the facts, and nothing more. In this case, the facts are:
*Templates are easy to create.
*It's useful to learn from other templates.
Those are the facts. Now, you're done. Don't go on to insult them about how they're too stupid to do something useful.
:No insult intended, no mention at all of stupidity, just the obvious eagerness. Tried only to give caution not to run before you've learnt how (and, ideally, where) to walk. All edits show up, to anyone looking. The initial query had not been answered, when I started the reply, and I had to hastily rewrite things to fit back in on the end.
:To the above, I'd add:
:*Know what purpose your template will have.
:That way you're less likely to create something that you later regret, give or take a rename/delete. (If you want anything totally deleted, it may take a long time, a meanwhile you can only edit it 'clear', but still findable and the history checkable.) Most templates are ''not'' there to add pictures of sealife, but to grease the wheels of common (or not so common) Explanation page scenarios. And we might even thank you for a good shortcut for something we maybe never realised was needed before.
:For a more technical 'manual', {{w|Help:A quick guide to templates}} might be a useful next read, and from there jump around into other Help: items. There's a lot you ''can'' do, though you certainly won't want to use it all right from the start. Take your time and know ''why'' you're doing something, as well as ''what'.
:Good luck for the future, I've probably said as much as you need me to say for now. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.246.73|82.132.246.73]] 17:39, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

:While this is very useful, it would be nice if you posted this on [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!]]'s talk page. He's the one learning the ropes, and it would probably be very useful to him. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 17:47, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

==Requests/favors==
If you need anything done, reach out to me! I'll let you know what I can do to help you! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 19:49, 15 August 2025 (UTC)

Hi [[User:DollarStoreBa'al | DollarStoreBa'al]], are you good enough to have the link to my user page? [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!| Aprilfoolsupdate!]]([[User talk:Aprilfoolsupdate!|talk]]) 01:57, 18 August 2025 (UTC)

:Done! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 15:56, 18 August 2025 (UTC)

==Hello again Darling :D==
I'm back after the summer hello sir O) [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 13:59, 26 August 2025 (UTC)

:A fellow school-based follower of the truth, I see! Welcome back, and I wish thee well on your adventures. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 14:00, 26 August 2025 (UTC) P.S. I use monobook style now.

==Category thing==
Hey, can someone tell me why my talk page is on 'pages to delete?' {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|18:08, 27 August 2025 (UTC)}}
:I have tracked it down to {{diff|383609|this edit}} by [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!]], where they used a (fairly useless and unnecessary) template (that they created themselves) called <nowiki>Template:Thx$store</nowiki> to thank you for helping to teach them the process of creating a new template. Since I marked that template for deletion, when the comment calls for the template, it also marks your talk page for deletion. I have changed it so that the template is replaced with the text that it would substitute in and your page is no longer marked for deletion. Also signed off your unsigned comment. '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 18:30, 27 August 2025 (UTC)
::When someone says "I have tracked it down" you know they mean business. Thanks, that's quite reassuring. Another mystery IP (not sure if it's the same guy as today) did warn him not to make meaningless templates. Of course, I also made a meaningless template, so.... --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 18:33, 27 August 2025 (UTC)

== {{w|Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/ltbdl}} ==

they think we're the same person, ha. [[user:lett‪herebedarklight|raeb]] 02:29, 2 September 2025 (UTC)

:I did not think this is what I would come back to. That's wild and hilarious.

:They are raeb

:And I am Dollar

:And we are not the same person

--'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|'''''converse''''']] 13:42, 3 September 2025 (UTC)

::OMG THEY BANNED YOU WTF? I've pleaded your case, but idk if they'll respond. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|'''''converse''''']] 13:49, 3 September 2025 (UTC)
:::Okay, wait a second. A checkuser does checks on User IPs. If you were found guilty, that means that you were editing under the same IP as me. By any chance, do you go to school in Lincoln, NE? --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|'''''converse''''']] 14:04, 3 September 2025 (UTC)
::::one, revert your case pleading, it's silly and won't help, and two, we're "very unlikely" to be the same person according to checkuser, don't panic. maybe link them here. (i don't go to school in lincoln.) [[user:lett‪herebedarklight|raeb]] 15:00, 3 September 2025 (UTC)
:::::Ok, now it's weird. I didn't know you couldn't have alt accounts, even if you explicitly stated that they were, indeed, alt accounts. Seems a bit strict if you ask me. Also, 1+1=Window, not Yes. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|'''''converse''''']] 22:53, 3 September 2025 (UTC)

==Can you please help me==
I helped you with the userboxes. Now I need your help. How do I get my sig to be something besides what it is now? [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 19:34, 9 September 2025 (UTC)
:Hi there, Tori here. If you want to change your signature, go to your preferences page on the top right of the website (it's next to your Talk page and Watchlist). Scroll down until you see the signatures section and change it. If you need help figuring out wikitext, feel free to shoot me a message on my [[user talk:42.book.addict|talk page]]! '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 01:32, 10 September 2025 (UTC)

== Template:what if? chapters ==

Sorry, but what's the point of creating a template for what if chapters? What do you intend to use it for? '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 16:28, 3 October 2025 (UTC)
:I intended it as a workaround in order to edit two pages at once. (those being the blog page and the chapters page). I noticed there was a discrepancy between the tables on the two pages, and I created a workaround for it. Also, it's faster than copy-pasting, now that the load times are astronomical. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|converse]] 16:30, 3 October 2025 (UTC)
::Sounds good! '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 16:40, 3 October 2025 (UTC)
Ok I'm sorry but I had to change it back. Here are a few drawbacks:
#Now people reading our summaries can't edit them directly.
#The history is gone. You should've moved the page, not copy and paste. Both for copyright attribution (see {{w|WP:CWW}}) and for maintenance, to see when and why something was added.
#Now we need to transclude the table on 1 more page (servers!), and the pages that were already transcluding the page (except [[what if? (blog)]]) now are transcluding both the page AND the template.
And most importantly: there wasn't any discrepancy between the pages that transcluded the pages, just as there is no discrepancy now. The table was the exact same.

Could you explain what discrepancy you saw? The code and text behind the original [[What If? Chapters]] page, the blog page, the new template you created, and any other pages transcluding [[What If? Chapters]] was truly identical (and still is, just with the added issues listed above.).

Also; templates are not supposed to be edited frequently. A template is created in order to save time writing the same code on dozens or hundreds of pages. The table both needs to be edited and is only transcluded on a few pages. These are the pages in which the page was transcluded: [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Special:WhatLinksHere/What_If%3F_chapters&hidelinks=1&hideredirs=1] --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 10:04, 4 October 2025 (UTC)
:There were just some chapter summaries I saw that were different between the blog page and the chapters page. I'm not angry about this, thanks for bringing up the points which I am not advanced enough to see. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|converse]] 12:55, 6 October 2025 (UTC)
::Huh, that's odd. The only difference between the two is that the last header cell on the left becomes highlighted in yellow when transcluded. --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 19:16, 7 October 2025 (UTC)

== Current signature. ==

I've noticed that your signature does <all the fancy stuff><NEWLINE><space><timestamp>. Might be a good idea to remove the <NEWLINE> before the (presumably auto-appended) <space><timestamp> as it currently puts your
timestamp like this.

Which is ''probably'' not what you'd intended. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.74|82.132.245.74]] 20:47, 4 November 2025 (UTC)
:......Nope, didn't intend that. I'll see if I can fix it. (not signing this because... well, you know) --DSB {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|21:12, 4 November 2025 (UTC)}}
::I've found the issue. I was trying to make my signature in times new roman using [[Template:TNR]]. This template uses div for it's styling. For some reason, it's inserting <nowiki></div></nowiki> between the signature and timestamp rather than after. Is there a way to get the <nowiki></div></nowiki> to go after the timestamp rather than before (which is what I was intending)? Thanks! --DSB {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|21:18, 4 November 2025 (UTC)}}
:::Standard advice is to not use div-tags in your custom .sig, for exactly this reason. You should be able to do the same (except for the undesired newline-forcing) with span-tagging where you invoked div-tags.
:::The way it rendered (must basically have been subst:ed between what you used and how it renders), I didn't know you'd used the TNR template. If that's for character-length reasons then a "TNRspan" template (or something ''not'' four characters longer, if you're extremely tight for space) would have to be used.
:::Or change the TNR so <code><nowiki>{{TNR|span=yes}}</nowiki></code> will specially 'return' you your no-Div version (that's the nice-looking version; you could also have it do something like responding to <code><nowiki>{{{1}}}</nowiki></code> being "s" or "1", if you can only afford to extend by two extra characters). That makes the one template dual-use, instead of making another template.
:::TIMTOWTDI. But you'll know what you want to do, I can only give vague pointers. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.74|82.132.245.74]] 22:22, 4 November 2025 (UTC)
::::Weird. I changed the TNR template to <nowiki></nowiki> instead of <nowiki><div></nowiki>, but upon testing it's still doing that weird newline thing. {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|14:11, 5 November 2025 (UTC)}}
:::::Finally fixed. I can't get the timestamp to also be TNR, but at least it doesn't auto-newline. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 14:15, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
::::::That looks not too bad, though the timestamp is sans-serif again. Though ''might' in part be browser-dependant as to how it looks (mine may react only to the 'serif' and not the full 'Times New Roman', giving a TNR''-like'' serif-font that works good adjacent to the non-specific choice of sans-serif font. Also, at first glance, there's a mystery as to why the timestamp is '''''BOLD+ITALIC''' (or maybe STRONG+EMPHASIS, for the pedants).
::::::The structure is probably as follows, rewritten just for visual representation/explanation. Formatting that you do is in ()s, my explanatory notes are in ** and * pairs:
**start of 'fixed text' signature insertion**
(SPANopen style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;")
--
(BOLD+ITALICstart)
(LINKpage)User:DollarStoreBa'al
(LINKtext)
(SPANopen style="color:#E3C6BE")
DollarStoreBa'al
(SPANclose, i.e. end:style="color:#E3C6BE")
(LINKclose)
(SUPERSCRIPTopen)
(LINKpage)User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al
(LINKtext)
(SPANopen style="color:#CC9A8B")
Converse
(SPANclose, i.e. end:style="color:#CC9A8B")
(LINKclose)
(SUPERSCRIPTclose)
*expected to be an /implied/ (BOLD+ITALICSclose), here*
*check HTML source for why not?*
(SPANclose, i.e. end: style="font-family: Times New Roman...etc")
**end of 'fixed text' signature insertion**
**start of 'timestamp' signature insertion**
*BOLD+ITALICS is still active?*
*but all /other/ formats ended by the most recent (SPANclose)*
14:15, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
**end of 'timestamp' signature insertion**
::::::Without looking at exactly what you're doing behind the scenes, I'm not ''entirely'' sure, but I think the {{template|TNR}} includes a close-Span tag, preventing that from 'rolling on' into the timestamp bit.
::::::Exactly how the '''''BOLD+ITALIC''''' rolls on, I don't know without checking the HTML source. Might be an intentional function of the wikimarkup-to-HTML conversion that 'remembers' that formatting and reapplies it as necessary, at least until a 'forced' end-of-scope (end of a Div or P tag, a Br/Hr monotag, new ordered/unordered list item (or changing the list-level), table cell/row transitions, and then there's the next (same/different) ":"-prepended indented follow-up lines and (of course) double-newlines) to force even no-prefix lines into paragraph-breaks. All of these (and other less obvious wikimarkup scenarios) probably translate to a hard /div closure in the HTML.
::::::Does {{template|TNR}} currently close its own Span? Does removing that Span-end let it 'roll on' over the timestamp? If you do that, does the insert-signature process close off all remaining Spans ''after'' the timestamp? (Normally, a signature is followed by a newline+newline or at least a newline+:nextlinehasindents, but if you add a P.S. comment after a timestamp that benefits from an unclosed formatting rlling through, does anything add a closure to stop it rolling through onto the P.S...? Can't test this, myself, directly, but it'd be interesting to find out!)
::::::Note that I don't know if you intended TNR to be used anywhere else. But by changing it from Div-based to Span-based it changes how it looks if I "{{TNR|use it here}}", and if you then make it so that it open-Spans but never close-Spans then it would change the appearance of this paragraph even further.
::::::...ouch. Actually, I had assumed it would currently (as 'span-only', opening and closing) not linefeed, browserside, but currently it adds a forced break, and doesn't even have any way of knowing how many indents (if any) to add before the continuation text.
::::::Though if nobody else is using it for ''anything else'', it shouldn't matter. Just pointing out that (''if they are'') changes you make to fine-tune your signature ''could'' have collateral effects for other people who use TNR when it does one thing but then find that it's doing another thing.
::::::Creating a template 'just for your own use' is Ok-ish, but you might just want to note its purpose and (current) peculiarities in case someone thinks that it's intended for a more general purpose, and in a more logical manner than you've had to make it 'work' just for you.
::::::It's also known for templates to contain imbalanced markup, with either how it is used or the presence of a second 'closing' template (see {{template|cot}} and {{template|cob}}, that mark the 't'op and 'b'ottom of a 'co'llapsable area) making the final result properly balanced in the end. But mostly you'd expect internal closure of anything the template started, whether Spanny or Divvy in nature, or justify it and make it obvious without digging through the actual template-code itself.
::::::But I don't know how useful all of this is, to you or those coming along afterwards (before or after further template tweaks, etc). I'm just trying to pass on everything I think could be helpful, knowing that a lot of it could be 'beyond helpful', i.e. actually quite irrelevent. If not incomprehsible. (If not wrong, given I can't even test many assumptions, directly!) But here it is, anyway. HTH, HAND. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.244.89|82.132.244.89]] 16:24, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
:::::::I'm using the TNR template because it looks cool, but it also does have a purpose. It's used in early Taglines and header texts. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 16:53, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
:::::::Having tried many things, I've found that including the TNR template at all is messing up the timestamp. I'll see if there's another way to include the template without that, but idk if there is a way. In the meantime, here's my new Sig: --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 17:25, 5 November 2025 (UTC)

:{{outdent|:::::}}
:((I researched,cchecked and wrote the following followup whilst you were replying, just aboce. You've answered some of my points, plus seem happy with as it is now, but still posting it given the thought I put into it... ;) Not that I actually think that it's necessary as helpful as I might have hoped it to be, in the end! Absolutely no reply expected, if you're happy to say nothing more.))
:Ok, actually looked at the HTML source, now, neutering the 'raw' markup, whitespacing it and adding **commentary**:
**start signature, fixed text**
**default formatting**
<nowiki><</nowiki>span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;">
**formatting is now TNR**
--
<nowiki><</nowiki>b>
**formatting is TNR+Bold**
<nowiki><</nowiki>i>
**formatting is TNR+Bold+Italics**
<nowiki><</nowiki>a href="/wiki/index.php/User:DollarStoreBa%27al" title="User:DollarStoreBa'al">
**formatting is TNR+B+I and a link..**
<nowiki><</nowiki>span style="color:#E3C6BE">
**...which is coloured**
DollarStoreBa'al
<nowiki><</nowiki>/span>
**back to TNR+B+I link, no colour**
<nowiki><</nowiki>/a>
**back to TNR+B+I, no link
<nowiki><</nowiki>sup>
**TNR+B+I+Superscript**
<nowiki><</nowiki>a class="mw-selflink selflink">
**TNR+B++Sup and a link (to this page, in this specific instance)**
<nowiki><</nowiki>span style="color:#CC9A8B">
**TNR+B+I+Sup link is coloured**
Converse
<nowiki><</nowiki>/span>
**TNR+B+I+Sup link, no colour**
<nowiki><</nowiki>/a>
**TNR+B+I+Sup, no link**
<nowiki><</nowiki>/sup>
**TNR+B+I, normal-script again**
<nowiki><</nowiki>/span>
**this should have removed TNR, *and* the 'inner' B+I too...**
** (Although this is not what you wanted, it's what you should get!) **
**...but apparently we're now just with B+I**
** (This might be my own browser's interpretation, not everyone's.) **
**this is the inbuilt transition between fixed-sig and time-sig**
**a space is here, then...**
14:15, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
<nowiki><</nowiki>/i> ** (Your signature markup does not ask for this!) **
**just Boldness left**
<nowiki><</nowiki>/b> ** (Your signature markup does not ask for this!) **
**neutral format again**
**end of signature**
:What goes with the "TNR+B+I" going to "B+I", I don't know. Unless they've changed the HTML spec regarding this in the last decade or three.
:The wiki-server back end was smart enough to add the close-Italics and close-Bold, at the end of the signature (''perhaps'', knowing that these were imminent a 'smart' error-checking by the browser's HTML-renderer let their formats persist, when otherwise they would not have? ...odd, but possible). Possibly it would have also closed the TNR-span, after the B-closure,cif not already asked to do so by the end of the TNR-template?
:...so...
:#First 'fix', remove the <code><nowiki><</nowiki>/span></code> from TNR. See how that affects any newly applied signatures (it won't change old ones).
:#Also see how/if it changes the indent-loss above my "...ouch" line, above.
:#''Also'' also chase down if TNR gets used ''anywhere else'' in this wiki, at the moment, and check that you've not broken anything else that other people might have used it for.
:If the first fix works and the third thing isn't a problem (ignore the second issue, I'm happy for it to change), then you're sorted. Otherwise (no fix, or even further broken in ways that aren't any good for anyone) reverse the change to where it works best for everyone and accept it not working precisely how you think you want it.
:If it fixes, as suggested, I'd also be interested how signing with <code><nowiki>~~~~ and more text</nowiki></code> works. (i.e. does it TNR the "and more text"?) Not that it's important, just my own curiosity.
:And think about a more advanced explanation on TNR's page, if it's going to be 'an odd template' in any way, like being Span-opener without being a Span-closer.
:That's all. Over to you, nothing more I can do (I could change TNR's code, but not then test it with your signature), but ''maybe'' I've done enough to help. Without too much confusion. I'll let you sort the rest out on your own, unless there's anything specific that arises to follow-up with. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.246.131|82.132.246.131]] 17:45, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
::tbh I'm good. Besides, I have no clue how to convert that raw HTML into usable wikitext (idk how to code, planning to learn someday). Either way, works fine. Also, you commentary has made me realize how complex my sig actually is. Times New Roman+Bold+Italics, which is a link which is colored. {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|19:21, 5 November 2025 (UTC)}} 

Ummm... Do you know that your current signature is sort of 'unmunged'? As in, you're making the markup show by 'escaping' the markup characters entirely so they don't (properly) act as markup, but as literal text. (You had it working ok(ish), not sure when it went wrong, without scrolling through your Talk contributions.) [[Special:Contributions/82.132.236.186|82.132.236.186]] 17:34, 22 November 2025 (UTC)
:Addendum - had a deeper look, it was broken for 14:00, 20 November 2025, for [[Talk:3170: Service Outage]], but had worked until 20:27, 19 November 2025, for [[Talk:3168: Beam Dump]]. Whatever you did to your profile, between those two times, maybe undo it? Wasn't caused by any public page edit (like the TNR-template), nor can I think of how you'd break that without being obvious. Anyway, FYI.
:(My guess is that you copied it out to somewhere, to edit, that thing auto-obfuscated the markup for its own visual reasons, then the copy back was done of the 'ruined' markup version. I haven't gone through it with a toothcomb, to see what your intended hanges may have been. And maybe you even intended ''this''... Until I read a page 'normally', not just zourcewise, I hadn't spotted that your long signature-markup was now so... 'literal'. And can't imagine it should be. ) 17:57, 22 November 2025 (UTC)
::I may or may not have INTENTIONALLY unchecked 'treat above as wikitext', simply to confuse people :) --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 00:08, 23 November 2025 (UTC)
:::"Complicated signatures contain a lot of code ("markup") that is revealed in the edit window, and can take up unnecessary amounts of narrative space, which can make both reading and editing harder." -{{w|WP:SIG#Guidelines and policies|WP:SIG}} '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 02:10, 23 November 2025 (UTC)
::::Your signature literally has more characters than mine. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 02:24, 25 November 2025 (UTC)
:::::Does it matter? Your un-wikitexted signature takes up far more characters than 255 (498 to be precise). It's also a pain in the ass to read and is bound to confuse anybody who sees it. '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 02:48, 25 November 2025 (UTC)

== {{w|WP:REDIRECT}} ==
As per {{w|WP:REDIRECT#Purposes of redirects|Wikipedia policy}}, redirects are only to be made for typos that are "likely misspellings (for example, Condoleeza Rice redirects to Condoleezza Rice). Note: this criterion typically does not apply to redirects from typos in the template namespace; consensus is that such typos, unless they are very common, should remain as red links until they are fixed." '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 03:19, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
:Ahhhhhhh. Alright, noted. {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|14:17, 11 November 2025 (UTC)}}
::GOD DAMMIT!!!! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 19:05, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
:::Easily done. Don't worry. I nearly intervened myself, but thought you might fix it yourself soon enough.
:::it also makes me wonder if you have any opinions about [[explain xkcd:Community portal/Proposals#Additional templates to complement 'unsigned' ones|this recent idea]] that you reminded me of, if you/42 would consider it useful in such situations. It's not had any other input beyond the fellow anonIP originator, but (wordiness/edit-errors aside) I like what was said. It's a pity that nobody's even said they don't like it. Or don't understand it. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.246.151|82.132.246.151]] 20:14, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
::::I did skim through it a bit the other day when it was posted, but it was so dense that I probably only remember/understand 50% of it. The IP editor made some pretty good points, but it's not like I'm very good at making templates either. Maybe [[User:FaviFake]] or [[User:Lettherebedarklight]] can do something about it. '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 20:34, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
:::::I'm not actually too sure about this. How would be let newer users (who may not know about the template) to retrosign? --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 20:37, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
::::::Well, those who don't know how to (or that they have to) sign probably aren't the target audience. ;) There are plenty of templates that even I probably wouldn't remember until I went looking for what's there, or found out about by someone else using it. (It's how I know about {{template|outdent}}, for example.)
::::::But the principle's simple enough. Duplicate the unsigned templates as retrosigned ones, and remove the nagging bit. Favi or Darklight could do it simply enough, if they think there's reason to. I could do it, except for the little matter of not being allowed to. Also, I'm not the one trying to sell the idea, just seemed an apt de-stresing comment for the circumstance we had. (Nice though this conversation is, it really needs the propsal(s) to be replied to, if anything.) I'm just hoping you feel calmer, now, Ba'al... :p [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.237|82.132.245.237]] 03:42, 12 November 2025 (UTC)
{{outdent|::::::}}
Wait was that proposal written by you, IP? The format seemed AI-generated but i really did not read it for more than 10 seconds. [[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 18:38, 12 November 2025 (UTC)
:Having read it..... yeah, that's about as far from AI generated as you can get. I've seen IP use that format in the past, and the content is very explainxkcd-term heavy. I don't think AI would be able to generate the words 'unsigned templates as retrosigned'. Nobody except us understands what that means. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 18:52, 12 November 2025 (UTC)
::Not me-IP (the IP in the above bit), but probably one of the other long-standing-if-occasional-IPs that there must be.
::Also very much me-''like'', so the linguistic flourishes mesh well with what I understand/might write myself.
::In lieu of them saying anything more, themselves, I've already decided to do my bit to try to 'translate' the core idea to Muggle-speak. If I'm able to bridge the gap without being wrong about either/both! [[Special:Contributions/82.132.244.30|82.132.244.30]] 19:25, 12 November 2025 (UTC)
==3==
vv4dh<iwumbd i7rig s9 vddr aowe

BAABBABBABABABABAABBABABBAABAABABBBAABAABAAAAABBABABBABABBAAAABAAABBABABBAAAABAABABBBAABAABAAAAABBABABBABABBAAAABAABAABABABAAABBABBABBBAABAABAAAAABBABABABBABAAAABBAABAABB BAAABAABABABBABBAABBBAAAAAAAAAABABAABABAAAABAAAAAAABBBA

USETHEVISIONFROMYOURCHILDSEYE {{unsigned ip|204.137.100.1|08:19, 13 November 2025 (UTC)}}
:Oh, hello there! what do you have for us today, codeman? --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 14:22, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
::Starting from scratch, and dismissing (for the moment) the possibility of it being the 'cluetext' as a rotating key, the first looks polymorphic, in some manner, as the obvious repeat-letters that the known plaintext will have aren't all repeated in the ciphertext (and repeats in the ciphertext aren't matches in the known plaintext. It's also ''perhaps'' not subject to the main fatal flaw in Enigma (''other'' than the "the message-senders use predictable original plaintext" thing) that means that a character never maps to itself, as there are indeed (at least) two same->SAME mappings.
::Though given it is mapped to a changed-case (compared to what we expect from code#1) and includes alphabetic-to-punctuation-via-numeric transitions, my first assessment is that (with the exception of spaces being preserved/specially treated, as per usual) it also maps between A-Z input and a wider output.
::The most obvious idea is an XOR-based progression (prior code/plain character v.s. each subsequent one), but if done straight from ASCII codes that's going to give you far more weirdness than lower-cass-plus-occasional-punctuation. Which suggests perhaps a more proprietry enumeration/de-enumeration (it's not a shifted-6-bit output, so I won't try a shifted 5-bit input).
::...back to the cluetext. It's not the same-length as the ciphered phrase (if it had, I'd have assumed it was concocted as the "one time pad"), either with or without counting the spaces. But ''perhaps'' it's a Playfair cipher (less obvious than "PASSWORDPASWORDPASSWORD...", when analysing for patterns), but I haven't got time to check that properly, right now, and I still think there's a non-linear (but trivial) relationship. Perhaps simpler than what I've already thought of.
::The 'As and Bs' I haven't yet really looked into, beyond ruling out that it's a direct binary expansion (at least in 8-bits, 28 characters of that, and one spare bit, ignoring the space, or 32x 7-bits plus 1). It seems to be 225 A+Bs (3x3x5x5; so 3x75, 5x45, 9x25 and 15x15 (square, which ''might' be significant) are the main splits), if I'm not barking up the wrong tree. But I have other things to do right now, so the next flash of inspiration will have to wait. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.231.193|82.132.231.193]] 18:03, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
:::"Agreed. Let's reset. The previous codes both started with 'Transmission X of four'. This looks similar, so it's safe to assume that 'ds4cdebsjbsx u;g6w hf whyb' equals 'transmission three of four'. This is actually very good for us, because we can map each number to their translated version:
*d=t
*s=r
*4=a
*c=n
*d=s (perhaps a mistake)
*e=m
*b=i
*j=s (wait...)
*b=s???????????????? 
Cool, that didn't work at all. It's probably double-encoded, or it's using a very strong code (maybe a vigenere?). Whatever it is, substitution doesn't work on it. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 19:05, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
::That was my first-g [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.151|82.132.245.151]] 21:40, 13 November 2025 (UTC)

The Bs and As appear to be either a bacon Cipher (UO LUM E ZERO ONE ONE ZERO ONE TWO ZERO MINUS FOUR ALL CAP) or a Caesar Cipher, though if it's the latter it would need to be double-encoded like last time, because the most coherent option it's giving me is POOP POP POP OP OP OP OOP POP OPPO OP OOP OP P POOP OOP OO OO OPPO POP POP OPPO OO OP OO OPPO POP POO OOP OOP OP P POOP OOP OO OO OPPO POP POP OPPO OO OP OOP OOP OP OP OO OPPO P POP P POOP OOP OO OO OPPO POP OPPO POO OOP POOP OOP P POO OP OOP OP OPPO P POOP P POO OO OO OO OOP OP OOP OP OO OOP OO OO OO OP P PO. Something tells me they weren't trying to make potty jokes.
:::Based on the fact that we're on this specific wiki, I'll assume that it's the first one for now. It's referencing Volume 0 (I think I know where they got the idea for this). The rest of the numbers are now 110120-4. I'll go check the page. 18:52, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
::::Page 110120 has this poem on it, in the 'cypher' section:
THE START OF THE TENTH-FAVORITE WORD USED BY BENDER 
THE TOON THAT WENT SOUTH WHILE COMMANDED BY ENDER 
THE NUMBER OF LIGHTS THAT PICARD SAID WERE ON 
AND THE CLASS OF THE PLANET WHERE KIRK SHOUTED "KHAAAN!" 
THE RINGS FOR THE MEN MINUS RINGS FOR THE ELVES 
AND THE PRODUCT MOD 10 OF A FIVESOME OF TWELVES 
THE END OF A CODE NES GAMERS KNOW 
AND THE BASE USED TO MODEL HOW QUICKLY THINGS GROW 
WHEN THEY'RE XOR'D TOGETHER THE CHECKSUM IS "E" 
WHICH WILL TELL YOU YOU'VE GOT THE PENULTIMATE KEY 
::::...This is the penultimate key, if there are four messages. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 19:05, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
:::::I've not had any further time to look at this, but:
:::::*If I were devising an actually useful secret code, the first one (which is clearly a character-to-character mapping, though not a static one) would involve a little more trickery than an 'unsalted' progression, and the second (clearly a bitwise represenation) should probably be repackaged back into a full 'alphanumeric' token set (e.g. base64 or UUEncoded 'text friendly' outputs, but perhaps rotated a bit to disguise the tell-tale signs of that kind of output.
:::::**In fact, I might have used Gray-Code tables, even a mini form of a LZW-ish token-stream compression algorithm, to further thwart analysis by making it not even a consistent change in entropy from original character to the resulting output string. With such a single short 'message', it probably could have defied any realistic form of frequency-analysis, or at least made for hypothetically 'sensible' alternative decodings emerge from parts of the data, when choosing the 'right' wrong decoding methods.
:::::*However, bear in mind that (though with greater challenges, from the #1 code to #2, so presumably even more for #3) these are codes that are ''supposed to be cracked''. Well, maybe #4 (or even the final set of 4x4 characters that's ultimately puzzle #5) will be 'fiendish'-level, but #3 shouldn't be more than 'devilishly difficult' to work out.
:::::*I didn't know "Bacon Cipher", by that name, but it looks like you've got that worked out by (assisted) brute force. I might have tripped up over the U+V and I+J equivalences, initially, but the composer has clearly used the 'classical' version in a straight manner.
:::::*Taking that as done, though, we're left with the backforming of the TRANSMISSION message, if only so we know what (different) apparent nonsense the "x@hc" should become. Where I'd focus, is on what caused "ISSI" to be "bsjb". Why, three characters later, has the encoding ended up on the same output char (could suggest a three-character Playfair key), yet the 'S' characters, positioned "S..SS" became "d..sj" (so ''not'' a 3-char key). Positioning the 'clue phrase' against the characters gives "V..I" against the "I..I"->"b..b", so it's not being the same by dint of coincidentally similar transformations from the keyphrase.
:::::But that's still an analysis that I'm doing with the presumption of it being deliberately somewhat obscure (having somehow 'discovered' part of the encoding secret). It's probably only going to be more hidden in plain sight, as part of the 'game', but still helps to know how you'd approach a more deliberately obscure method of coding. Hence how I broke the semaphor one ...well, mostly... without realising that it actually was semaphor. (If you hadn't have settled the Bacon Code solution, I might have tried looking at it being morse-based, with ambiguous character/word boundaries.)
:::::Anyway, when I pop back here and find that you/someone else has fully solved it, I'll probably kick myself for entirely missing the most obvious answer. Also I can't seem get "CE4Q60AE" (or alternatives/variations that I've tried) to give me a checksum of "E" (or 0xE?). So, if that's actually important, I might have something else wrong. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.151|82.132.245.151]] 21:40, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
::::::YOUARERIGHT {{unsigned ip|204.137.100.1|14:03, 14 November 2025 (UTC)}}
:::::::About what? What are we right about? --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 14:04, 14 November 2025 (UTC)

== User rights ==

I noticed you created my [[User:GreyFox|user page]] but did not create my talk page or give me the rights to do so myself. Why is this the case? [[User:GreyFox|GreyFox]] ([[User talk:GreyFox|talk]]) 17:25, 24 November 2025 (UTC)
:OMG so sorry. Fully forgor. Should be fixed now. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 02:25, 25 November 2025 (UTC)

== Minor edits ==

Just FYI, you can mark in preferences under the editing tab for all edits to be marked as minor so that we don't clog up the Recent Changes page so much, as people can click "Hide minor edits". '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 21:30, 2 December 2025 (UTC)
;...whoops. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 21:30, 2 December 2025 (UTC)

== /WORKPAGE ==

Wow. While doing maintenance work, I found your workpage. I've always known it existed, but just brushed it off and let you work alone. I don't know how much it means to you, but I'm really proud and happy of how far you've come. In just a couple months you've been able to make a pretty sizable impact here. By the way, I love the work you've been doing on there. Please keep it up! <3 '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 10:40, 3 December 2025 (UTC)
:It means a lot to me. Thanks for the encouragement! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 14:00, 3 December 2025 (UTC)

== Have another look at the Disappearing Sunday Update images ==

*[[:File:Disappearing Sunday Update with number 2185.png]] - has a browser address bar
*[[:File:Archive with Disappearing Sunday Update.png]] - Thumbnail History versions had an address bar, and it *used* to have the 'disappeared comic', perhaps least useful of the three, as it currently is, being the only one of the three not currently linked-to. Might be worth trying to find out what Kynde was trying to do, there.
*[[:File:Archive with Disappearing Sunday Update and date.png]] - was marked for deletion, as "identical", but it wasn't, had a hover-text date on it. Don't know if that's still useful (not being used as a linked image?), but I wouldn't make that my first deletion, especially as it's a linked-to page.
...needs double-checking, really, to make sure that things that aren't totally useless are not thrown out just because they look useless at a glance. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.239.140|82.132.239.140]] 18:57, 4 December 2025 (UTC)
:Good catch, and now fixed. Thanks for letting me know! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 18:59, 4 December 2025 (UTC)

== exp template thing? ==

Please could you have a look at [[Template talk:explain]]? [[Special:Contributions/78.144.255.82|78.144.255.82]] 19:40, 10 December 2025 (UTC)

...also, why exactly did you think [[Template:exp]] was needed? Looks like it once existed but was actually removed because (except for some other relic uses, that also seemingly aren't used) it serves no actual purpose. [[Special:Contributions/78.144.255.82|78.144.255.82]] 19:57, 10 December 2025 (UTC)
:Yeahh... delete. My brain sharted in public. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 20:11, 10 December 2025 (UTC)

==Hi==
I have not been on this wiki in a while, I just wanted to say hi XD [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 18:18, 15 December 2025 (UTC)
:''I've been expecting you...'' --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 21:28, 15 December 2025 (UTC)

==...==

:I come back to this wiki to assure y'all I haven't quit, and I check on you, and THERE'S A GIANT NOTICE WITH HAMILTON LYRICS ON IT. I mean, it is "The Story of Tonight", granted, W song, but what in the world have you been up to... [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]])
::A reminder to myself. Keeps the depression from setting in. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]]''''' 17:27, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
:::No but that's actually so sweet 🥹 [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 15:54, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

User talk:DollarStoreBa'al

2026-05-16T15:39:44Z

DollarStoreBa'al:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:User:'''DollarStoreBa'al'''}}
<div class="sticky-decoration" style="position:fixed;left:0px;top:0px;z-index:-1;opacity:0.5;pointer-events:none;">[[File:Mount Hood reflected in Mirror Lake, Oregon.jpg|2000px]]</div>
{| align="justified" padding="2px" cellspacing="1" width="100%" style="margin:0px 0 0 0; background:none"
| rowspan="2" class="BGorange1" style="text-align:left; padding:.5em .5em .5em .5em; background-color:#c9c9c9; border:4px ridge #ffffff; box-shadow:.1em .1em .5em rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); box-shadow:.1em .1em .5em light-dark(rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75), rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.75)); {{Round corners}}"|

Speak through the interdimentional portal to communicate with me... or just type in this box.

[[User:DollarStoreBa'al/Mistakes|My mistakes]]

==General Chitchat and such==
Hey, as per your comment on [[Main Page#Create my user page]], I created your pages. Welcome to the wiki! Please always remember to sign your comments with <nowiki>--~~~~</nowiki>, and ask in the [[explain xkcd:Community portal|Community portal]] if you don't know something. If you want, you can read the [[explain_xkcd:Editor_FAQ#Why_can.27t_I_upload_pictures_or_create_pages.3F|the Editor FAQ]]! Welcome. --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 18:02, 25 February 2025 (UTC)

:Thanks! [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 19:11, 25 February 2025 (UTC)

:hi btw :) [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 15:11, 27 February 2025 (UTC)
::hello, how are you doing this fine morning, my dear fellow? [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 16:03, 27 February 2025 (UTC)

==Hiyo==
:I'm trying to lurk less and be friendly so I just thought I'd ah drop in :) [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 15:53, 3 March 2025 (UTC)
:: Bello. me editor guy who edit much. edit fun! [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 17:00, 3 March 2025 (UTC)
:::hahahahaha edit fun indeed. [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 15:20, 4 March 2025 (UTC)
::::Question: How do you add those user boxes that you have on your page? Those would be nice to have. [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 16:52, 6 March 2025 (UTC)
:::::copy and paste this and remove the nowiki tag:

<nowiki>{{Userbox | border-c = #255 | border-s = 1 | info-s = 9 | id = alastor jumpscare | info = [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|This user has a pet cannibal deer.]] | float = left}}</nowiki> and replace it with what you desire, for example:

<nowiki>{{Userbox | border-c = #255 | border-s = 1 | info-s = 9 | id = ;) | info = [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|This user _____ ]] | float = left}}</nowiki>

[[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:50, 11 March 2025 (UTC)

::::::Dude thanks! [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 13:48, 17 March 2025 (UTC)
:::::::You're very welcome dear. WEE WOO [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:18, 19 March 2025 (UTC)

==Wow==
Am I so cool that I got a mention on your user page just because I showed you how to make userboxes? I mean, if I am... thanks. [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:44, 25 March 2025 (UTC)
:Yes. Yes you are. [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 15:43, 25 March 2025 (UTC)
::YAY TYSM i will get you free jambalaya for you immediately due to that (if you're into that) [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:19, 28 March 2025 (UTC)

::: No need. Also, I see you're from Louisiana. [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 03:44, 29 March 2025 (UTC)]]
::::Haha or maybe I just like jambalaya :). Also you are not 4029 hHHA [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:17, 8 April 2025 (UTC)

==The 5s and Es and Os==
Reply to this if you've figured out what the meaning of the thingy on my user page is.
:it's base 3 [[User:CalibansCreations|'''Caliban''']] ([[User talk:CalibansCreations|talk]]) 09:07, 9 April 2025 (UTC)
:: :O [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:31, 9 April 2025 (UTC)
:: Nope! I'll give you a hint: talk to sam. [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 14:33, 9 April 2025 (UTC)
https://voca.ro/1Akmh0zRqa8Q [[User:CalibansCreations|'''Caliban''']] ([[User talk:CalibansCreations|talk]]) 16:02, 9 April 2025 (UTC)
:uhhh...[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 20:41, 11 April 2025 (UTC)
::sorry, that's not it. Don't know what to say to that.[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 17:54, 14 April 2025 (UTC)

You have one week! Hint: beep boooop --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[DSBContribs |'''''My life choices''''']] 16:30, 6 May 2025 (UTC)

:Morse code? [[User:BobcatInABox|BobcatInABox]] ([[User talk:BobcatInABox|talk]]) 19:33, 8 May 2025 (UTC)

::Morse code of what? You are very, very close.--'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[DSBContribs |'''''My life choices''''']] 20:47, 8 May 2025 (UTC)

Time's up! If you put this into [https://morsecode.world/international/translator.html/] and click play, you get the intro to Bad Apple. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[DSBContribs |'''''My life choices''''']] 14:44, 13 May 2025 (UTC)

:It's better than [[2869: Puzzles]] [[User:BobcatInABox|BobcatInABox]] ([[User talk:BobcatInABox|talk]]) 11:11, 14 May 2025 (UTC)

== Want to do some repetitive work? ==

Hey dollar, I noticed you're very active here! I don't have a ton of time, but I recently overhauled the template {{tl|comic}} to add many new features. While we figure out [[Header text]], would you be interested in editing the contents of about 50 pages (the early xkcd comics) to make these new features work? It's a lot of repetitive work, you'd just need to make the same small edits on 50 pages. (If you're interested in why the OG comics were in a different order, see [[LiveJournal]]). Just let me know and I'll finish the documentation for the template! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 17:13, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

:What exactly would I be doing to get these features to work? [[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]] ([[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al|talk]]) 17:18, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

::If it isn't super-complex wikitext things I can totally help! --[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al | Converse]] 19:21, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

Right so you'd just need to move things around and remove some useless code. This process adds a second white navigation bar at the bottom to browse the OG comics in the original order.
[https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1:_Barrel_-_Part_1&diff=374851&oldid=373457 You can follow this example]. The steps are:

Start from [[4|comic number 4]]:
#Based on the short sentence written above the explanation, add "ognumber =", "ogprev =", and "ognext =" (so the navbar can work)
#Add "oglink =", and move ONLY the link from "before" to "oglink" (so from HTTPS://..... until the end of the link, move that to "oglink")
#Now, from the edit preview, copy the original title.
#Delete everything in "before =" now that you moved the link
#Add "ogtitle =" and paste the original title that you copied.
#Finally, in "titletext", add two couples of apostrophes (<nowiki>''</nowiki>) in these places: https://imgur.com/a/BewKKr1
#Now save the changes, and click the new white "Next >" button you just created to go to the next one!
And you're done! It's much simpler when you try it. Of course you don't have to do it, feel free to work on the header text! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 20:41, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

me am do. --[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al | Converse]][https://www.explainxkcd.--[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 11:05, 26 April 2025 (UTC)com/wiki/index.php/S--[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 11:05, 26 April 2025 (UTC)pecial:Contributions/DollarStoreBa%27al My life choices] 20:51, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

:Oh and I added friendly errors for when you forget to add one of the "og" labels. Just note that if you don't provide "ognumber", the cool white navbar won't show up. Remember to always insert a pipe before a label, like this "'''|''' ognumber =". And once you get to comic 55 you're done! That's the last one --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 20:58, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

Hey, I don't really understand where I'm supposed to put these. --[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al | Converse]][https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa%27al My life choices] 21:01, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

Nevermind, I got this. --[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al | Converse]][https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa%27al My life choices] 21:05, 24 April 2025 (UTC)
:Erm nope the OGnumber, OGprev, and OGnext you should take from the first sentence above the explanation. For example [[24]] says it's sixth. Anyways, I found a pretty big bug in the template, so I guess we should stop until it's fixed. The Original title doesn't show up! Arghhh! I'll fix it.
:I'll let you know when you can continue. Thanks! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 21:18, 24 April 2025 (UTC)

alright, sounds good! Dang tho. Let me know and I'll get right back to it. --[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al | Converse]][https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa%27al My life choices] 13:45, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

:Hey, I, um, undid all your edits because they broke the template haha. I guess this was more complex that I thought! Don't worry, I'll finish them myself over time. I'm more experienced than I thought it seems! Thanks for trying to help anyways! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 18:52, 25 April 2025 (UTC)
::Reviewing them, it seems you were not isolating the link correctly and leaving there some HTML elements that closed other open HTML elements that weren't finished! It did look, interesting, at least! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 18:55, 25 April 2025 (UTC)
:::So sorry about that, I noticed those random Html elements. Thought they were part of the bug. oops. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[DSBContribs |'''''My life choices''''']] 22:45, 25 April 2025 (UTC)

::::No worries! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 11:05, 26 April 2025 (UTC)

==excuse me==

but it appears you have discovered that I was a spammer in a past account or maybe this account. who's to say anymore? anyway i'm trying to fix that hehe [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 14:02, 7 May 2025 (UTC)

==template==

What is a template? What’s a {{Trout}} and {{Whale}}?
 
If it looks weird, click edit [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!| Aprilfoolsupdate!]]([[User talk:Aprilfoolsupdate!|talk]]) 12:20, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

: I'm assuming you're asking what a template is and not about sea life. Templates are basically shortcuts that we use for commonly used things. For example, <nowiki>{{cn}}</nowiki> creates {{cn}}. You can create one pretty easily. I made those because they're commonly used on Wikipedia, and wanted to transfer them here. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 13:41, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

::how can I create one? [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!| Aprilfoolsupdate!]]([[User talk:Aprilfoolsupdate!|talk]]) 13:21, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

:::Here's something that may be able to help: <nowiki>{{AprilFoolsHelp}}</nowiki> --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 13:43, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

::::thxxxxxxxxx [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!| Aprilfoolsupdate!]]([[User talk:Aprilfoolsupdate!|talk]]) 13:46, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

:::::You are very welcome! I hope you are excited to start contributing to the wiki! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 13:46, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

::::::By the way, please don't be afraid to ask me any questions at all. If I can, I will help! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 13:48, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

:::::::Thanks [[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]], which is <nowiki>{{Thx$store}}</nowiki> (if I can call you that)

==Template Tips==
Ok. Sorry, needed to get that out of my system. Thank you for the supplement. Truly. It's a good warning. Just please don't start randomly insulting people towards the end. This is a wiki. Speak the facts, and nothing more. In this case, the facts are:
*Templates are easy to create.
*It's useful to learn from other templates.
Those are the facts. Now, you're done. Don't go on to insult them about how they're too stupid to do something useful.
:No insult intended, no mention at all of stupidity, just the obvious eagerness. Tried only to give caution not to run before you've learnt how (and, ideally, where) to walk. All edits show up, to anyone looking. The initial query had not been answered, when I started the reply, and I had to hastily rewrite things to fit back in on the end.
:To the above, I'd add:
:*Know what purpose your template will have.
:That way you're less likely to create something that you later regret, give or take a rename/delete. (If you want anything totally deleted, it may take a long time, a meanwhile you can only edit it 'clear', but still findable and the history checkable.) Most templates are ''not'' there to add pictures of sealife, but to grease the wheels of common (or not so common) Explanation page scenarios. And we might even thank you for a good shortcut for something we maybe never realised was needed before.
:For a more technical 'manual', {{w|Help:A quick guide to templates}} might be a useful next read, and from there jump around into other Help: items. There's a lot you ''can'' do, though you certainly won't want to use it all right from the start. Take your time and know ''why'' you're doing something, as well as ''what'.
:Good luck for the future, I've probably said as much as you need me to say for now. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.246.73|82.132.246.73]] 17:39, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

:While this is very useful, it would be nice if you posted this on [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!]]'s talk page. He's the one learning the ropes, and it would probably be very useful to him. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 17:47, 7 August 2025 (UTC)

==Requests/favors==
If you need anything done, reach out to me! I'll let you know what I can do to help you! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 19:49, 15 August 2025 (UTC)

Hi [[User:DollarStoreBa'al | DollarStoreBa'al]], are you good enough to have the link to my user page? [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!| Aprilfoolsupdate!]]([[User talk:Aprilfoolsupdate!|talk]]) 01:57, 18 August 2025 (UTC)

:Done! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 15:56, 18 August 2025 (UTC)

==Hello again Darling :D==
I'm back after the summer hello sir O) [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 13:59, 26 August 2025 (UTC)

:A fellow school-based follower of the truth, I see! Welcome back, and I wish thee well on your adventures. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 14:00, 26 August 2025 (UTC) P.S. I use monobook style now.

==Category thing==
Hey, can someone tell me why my talk page is on 'pages to delete?' {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|18:08, 27 August 2025 (UTC)}}
:I have tracked it down to {{diff|383609|this edit}} by [[User:Aprilfoolsupdate!]], where they used a (fairly useless and unnecessary) template (that they created themselves) called <nowiki>Template:Thx$store</nowiki> to thank you for helping to teach them the process of creating a new template. Since I marked that template for deletion, when the comment calls for the template, it also marks your talk page for deletion. I have changed it so that the template is replaced with the text that it would substitute in and your page is no longer marked for deletion. Also signed off your unsigned comment. '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 18:30, 27 August 2025 (UTC)
::When someone says "I have tracked it down" you know they mean business. Thanks, that's quite reassuring. Another mystery IP (not sure if it's the same guy as today) did warn him not to make meaningless templates. Of course, I also made a meaningless template, so.... --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al |DollarStoreBa'al]][[User talk:DollarStoreBa'al |'''''Converse''''']][[Special:Contributions/DollarStoreBa'al|'''''My life choices''''']] 18:33, 27 August 2025 (UTC)

== {{w|Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/ltbdl}} ==

they think we're the same person, ha. [[user:lett‪herebedarklight|raeb]] 02:29, 2 September 2025 (UTC)

:I did not think this is what I would come back to. That's wild and hilarious.

:They are raeb

:And I am Dollar

:And we are not the same person

--'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|'''''converse''''']] 13:42, 3 September 2025 (UTC)

::OMG THEY BANNED YOU WTF? I've pleaded your case, but idk if they'll respond. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|'''''converse''''']] 13:49, 3 September 2025 (UTC)
:::Okay, wait a second. A checkuser does checks on User IPs. If you were found guilty, that means that you were editing under the same IP as me. By any chance, do you go to school in Lincoln, NE? --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|'''''converse''''']] 14:04, 3 September 2025 (UTC)
::::one, revert your case pleading, it's silly and won't help, and two, we're "very unlikely" to be the same person according to checkuser, don't panic. maybe link them here. (i don't go to school in lincoln.) [[user:lett‪herebedarklight|raeb]] 15:00, 3 September 2025 (UTC)
:::::Ok, now it's weird. I didn't know you couldn't have alt accounts, even if you explicitly stated that they were, indeed, alt accounts. Seems a bit strict if you ask me. Also, 1+1=Window, not Yes. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|'''''converse''''']] 22:53, 3 September 2025 (UTC)

==Can you please help me==
I helped you with the userboxes. Now I need your help. How do I get my sig to be something besides what it is now? [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 19:34, 9 September 2025 (UTC)
:Hi there, Tori here. If you want to change your signature, go to your preferences page on the top right of the website (it's next to your Talk page and Watchlist). Scroll down until you see the signatures section and change it. If you need help figuring out wikitext, feel free to shoot me a message on my [[user talk:42.book.addict|talk page]]! '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 01:32, 10 September 2025 (UTC)

== Template:what if? chapters ==

Sorry, but what's the point of creating a template for what if chapters? What do you intend to use it for? '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 16:28, 3 October 2025 (UTC)
:I intended it as a workaround in order to edit two pages at once. (those being the blog page and the chapters page). I noticed there was a discrepancy between the tables on the two pages, and I created a workaround for it. Also, it's faster than copy-pasting, now that the load times are astronomical. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|converse]] 16:30, 3 October 2025 (UTC)
::Sounds good! '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 16:40, 3 October 2025 (UTC)
Ok I'm sorry but I had to change it back. Here are a few drawbacks:
#Now people reading our summaries can't edit them directly.
#The history is gone. You should've moved the page, not copy and paste. Both for copyright attribution (see {{w|WP:CWW}}) and for maintenance, to see when and why something was added.
#Now we need to transclude the table on 1 more page (servers!), and the pages that were already transcluding the page (except [[what if? (blog)]]) now are transcluding both the page AND the template.
And most importantly: there wasn't any discrepancy between the pages that transcluded the pages, just as there is no discrepancy now. The table was the exact same.

Could you explain what discrepancy you saw? The code and text behind the original [[What If? Chapters]] page, the blog page, the new template you created, and any other pages transcluding [[What If? Chapters]] was truly identical (and still is, just with the added issues listed above.).

Also; templates are not supposed to be edited frequently. A template is created in order to save time writing the same code on dozens or hundreds of pages. The table both needs to be edited and is only transcluded on a few pages. These are the pages in which the page was transcluded: [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Special:WhatLinksHere/What_If%3F_chapters&hidelinks=1&hideredirs=1] --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 10:04, 4 October 2025 (UTC)
:There were just some chapter summaries I saw that were different between the blog page and the chapters page. I'm not angry about this, thanks for bringing up the points which I am not advanced enough to see. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|converse]] 12:55, 6 October 2025 (UTC)
::Huh, that's odd. The only difference between the two is that the last header cell on the left becomes highlighted in yellow when transcluded. --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 19:16, 7 October 2025 (UTC)

== Current signature. ==

I've noticed that your signature does <all the fancy stuff><NEWLINE><space><timestamp>. Might be a good idea to remove the <NEWLINE> before the (presumably auto-appended) <space><timestamp> as it currently puts your
timestamp like this.

Which is ''probably'' not what you'd intended. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.74|82.132.245.74]] 20:47, 4 November 2025 (UTC)
:......Nope, didn't intend that. I'll see if I can fix it. (not signing this because... well, you know) --DSB {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|21:12, 4 November 2025 (UTC)}}
::I've found the issue. I was trying to make my signature in times new roman using [[Template:TNR]]. This template uses div for it's styling. For some reason, it's inserting <nowiki></div></nowiki> between the signature and timestamp rather than after. Is there a way to get the <nowiki></div></nowiki> to go after the timestamp rather than before (which is what I was intending)? Thanks! --DSB {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|21:18, 4 November 2025 (UTC)}}
:::Standard advice is to not use div-tags in your custom .sig, for exactly this reason. You should be able to do the same (except for the undesired newline-forcing) with span-tagging where you invoked div-tags.
:::The way it rendered (must basically have been subst:ed between what you used and how it renders), I didn't know you'd used the TNR template. If that's for character-length reasons then a "TNRspan" template (or something ''not'' four characters longer, if you're extremely tight for space) would have to be used.
:::Or change the TNR so <code><nowiki>{{TNR|span=yes}}</nowiki></code> will specially 'return' you your no-Div version (that's the nice-looking version; you could also have it do something like responding to <code><nowiki>{{{1}}}</nowiki></code> being "s" or "1", if you can only afford to extend by two extra characters). That makes the one template dual-use, instead of making another template.
:::TIMTOWTDI. But you'll know what you want to do, I can only give vague pointers. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.74|82.132.245.74]] 22:22, 4 November 2025 (UTC)
::::Weird. I changed the TNR template to <nowiki></nowiki> instead of <nowiki><div></nowiki>, but upon testing it's still doing that weird newline thing. {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|14:11, 5 November 2025 (UTC)}}
:::::Finally fixed. I can't get the timestamp to also be TNR, but at least it doesn't auto-newline. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 14:15, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
::::::That looks not too bad, though the timestamp is sans-serif again. Though ''might' in part be browser-dependant as to how it looks (mine may react only to the 'serif' and not the full 'Times New Roman', giving a TNR''-like'' serif-font that works good adjacent to the non-specific choice of sans-serif font. Also, at first glance, there's a mystery as to why the timestamp is '''''BOLD+ITALIC''' (or maybe STRONG+EMPHASIS, for the pedants).
::::::The structure is probably as follows, rewritten just for visual representation/explanation. Formatting that you do is in ()s, my explanatory notes are in ** and * pairs:
**start of 'fixed text' signature insertion**
(SPANopen style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;")
--
(BOLD+ITALICstart)
(LINKpage)User:DollarStoreBa'al
(LINKtext)
(SPANopen style="color:#E3C6BE")
DollarStoreBa'al
(SPANclose, i.e. end:style="color:#E3C6BE")
(LINKclose)
(SUPERSCRIPTopen)
(LINKpage)User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al
(LINKtext)
(SPANopen style="color:#CC9A8B")
Converse
(SPANclose, i.e. end:style="color:#CC9A8B")
(LINKclose)
(SUPERSCRIPTclose)
*expected to be an /implied/ (BOLD+ITALICSclose), here*
*check HTML source for why not?*
(SPANclose, i.e. end: style="font-family: Times New Roman...etc")
**end of 'fixed text' signature insertion**
**start of 'timestamp' signature insertion**
*BOLD+ITALICS is still active?*
*but all /other/ formats ended by the most recent (SPANclose)*
14:15, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
**end of 'timestamp' signature insertion**
::::::Without looking at exactly what you're doing behind the scenes, I'm not ''entirely'' sure, but I think the {{template|TNR}} includes a close-Span tag, preventing that from 'rolling on' into the timestamp bit.
::::::Exactly how the '''''BOLD+ITALIC''''' rolls on, I don't know without checking the HTML source. Might be an intentional function of the wikimarkup-to-HTML conversion that 'remembers' that formatting and reapplies it as necessary, at least until a 'forced' end-of-scope (end of a Div or P tag, a Br/Hr monotag, new ordered/unordered list item (or changing the list-level), table cell/row transitions, and then there's the next (same/different) ":"-prepended indented follow-up lines and (of course) double-newlines) to force even no-prefix lines into paragraph-breaks. All of these (and other less obvious wikimarkup scenarios) probably translate to a hard /div closure in the HTML.
::::::Does {{template|TNR}} currently close its own Span? Does removing that Span-end let it 'roll on' over the timestamp? If you do that, does the insert-signature process close off all remaining Spans ''after'' the timestamp? (Normally, a signature is followed by a newline+newline or at least a newline+:nextlinehasindents, but if you add a P.S. comment after a timestamp that benefits from an unclosed formatting rlling through, does anything add a closure to stop it rolling through onto the P.S...? Can't test this, myself, directly, but it'd be interesting to find out!)
::::::Note that I don't know if you intended TNR to be used anywhere else. But by changing it from Div-based to Span-based it changes how it looks if I "{{TNR|use it here}}", and if you then make it so that it open-Spans but never close-Spans then it would change the appearance of this paragraph even further.
::::::...ouch. Actually, I had assumed it would currently (as 'span-only', opening and closing) not linefeed, browserside, but currently it adds a forced break, and doesn't even have any way of knowing how many indents (if any) to add before the continuation text.
::::::Though if nobody else is using it for ''anything else'', it shouldn't matter. Just pointing out that (''if they are'') changes you make to fine-tune your signature ''could'' have collateral effects for other people who use TNR when it does one thing but then find that it's doing another thing.
::::::Creating a template 'just for your own use' is Ok-ish, but you might just want to note its purpose and (current) peculiarities in case someone thinks that it's intended for a more general purpose, and in a more logical manner than you've had to make it 'work' just for you.
::::::It's also known for templates to contain imbalanced markup, with either how it is used or the presence of a second 'closing' template (see {{template|cot}} and {{template|cob}}, that mark the 't'op and 'b'ottom of a 'co'llapsable area) making the final result properly balanced in the end. But mostly you'd expect internal closure of anything the template started, whether Spanny or Divvy in nature, or justify it and make it obvious without digging through the actual template-code itself.
::::::But I don't know how useful all of this is, to you or those coming along afterwards (before or after further template tweaks, etc). I'm just trying to pass on everything I think could be helpful, knowing that a lot of it could be 'beyond helpful', i.e. actually quite irrelevent. If not incomprehsible. (If not wrong, given I can't even test many assumptions, directly!) But here it is, anyway. HTH, HAND. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.244.89|82.132.244.89]] 16:24, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
:::::::I'm using the TNR template because it looks cool, but it also does have a purpose. It's used in early Taglines and header texts. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 16:53, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
:::::::Having tried many things, I've found that including the TNR template at all is messing up the timestamp. I'll see if there's another way to include the template without that, but idk if there is a way. In the meantime, here's my new Sig: --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 17:25, 5 November 2025 (UTC)

:{{outdent|:::::}}
:((I researched,cchecked and wrote the following followup whilst you were replying, just aboce. You've answered some of my points, plus seem happy with as it is now, but still posting it given the thought I put into it... ;) Not that I actually think that it's necessary as helpful as I might have hoped it to be, in the end! Absolutely no reply expected, if you're happy to say nothing more.))
:Ok, actually looked at the HTML source, now, neutering the 'raw' markup, whitespacing it and adding **commentary**:
**start signature, fixed text**
**default formatting**
<nowiki><</nowiki>span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 16px;">
**formatting is now TNR**
--
<nowiki><</nowiki>b>
**formatting is TNR+Bold**
<nowiki><</nowiki>i>
**formatting is TNR+Bold+Italics**
<nowiki><</nowiki>a href="/wiki/index.php/User:DollarStoreBa%27al" title="User:DollarStoreBa'al">
**formatting is TNR+B+I and a link..**
<nowiki><</nowiki>span style="color:#E3C6BE">
**...which is coloured**
DollarStoreBa'al
<nowiki><</nowiki>/span>
**back to TNR+B+I link, no colour**
<nowiki><</nowiki>/a>
**back to TNR+B+I, no link
<nowiki><</nowiki>sup>
**TNR+B+I+Superscript**
<nowiki><</nowiki>a class="mw-selflink selflink">
**TNR+B++Sup and a link (to this page, in this specific instance)**
<nowiki><</nowiki>span style="color:#CC9A8B">
**TNR+B+I+Sup link is coloured**
Converse
<nowiki><</nowiki>/span>
**TNR+B+I+Sup link, no colour**
<nowiki><</nowiki>/a>
**TNR+B+I+Sup, no link**
<nowiki><</nowiki>/sup>
**TNR+B+I, normal-script again**
<nowiki><</nowiki>/span>
**this should have removed TNR, *and* the 'inner' B+I too...**
** (Although this is not what you wanted, it's what you should get!) **
**...but apparently we're now just with B+I**
** (This might be my own browser's interpretation, not everyone's.) **
**this is the inbuilt transition between fixed-sig and time-sig**
**a space is here, then...**
14:15, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
<nowiki><</nowiki>/i> ** (Your signature markup does not ask for this!) **
**just Boldness left**
<nowiki><</nowiki>/b> ** (Your signature markup does not ask for this!) **
**neutral format again**
**end of signature**
:What goes with the "TNR+B+I" going to "B+I", I don't know. Unless they've changed the HTML spec regarding this in the last decade or three.
:The wiki-server back end was smart enough to add the close-Italics and close-Bold, at the end of the signature (''perhaps'', knowing that these were imminent a 'smart' error-checking by the browser's HTML-renderer let their formats persist, when otherwise they would not have? ...odd, but possible). Possibly it would have also closed the TNR-span, after the B-closure,cif not already asked to do so by the end of the TNR-template?
:...so...
:#First 'fix', remove the <code><nowiki><</nowiki>/span></code> from TNR. See how that affects any newly applied signatures (it won't change old ones).
:#Also see how/if it changes the indent-loss above my "...ouch" line, above.
:#''Also'' also chase down if TNR gets used ''anywhere else'' in this wiki, at the moment, and check that you've not broken anything else that other people might have used it for.
:If the first fix works and the third thing isn't a problem (ignore the second issue, I'm happy for it to change), then you're sorted. Otherwise (no fix, or even further broken in ways that aren't any good for anyone) reverse the change to where it works best for everyone and accept it not working precisely how you think you want it.
:If it fixes, as suggested, I'd also be interested how signing with <code><nowiki>~~~~ and more text</nowiki></code> works. (i.e. does it TNR the "and more text"?) Not that it's important, just my own curiosity.
:And think about a more advanced explanation on TNR's page, if it's going to be 'an odd template' in any way, like being Span-opener without being a Span-closer.
:That's all. Over to you, nothing more I can do (I could change TNR's code, but not then test it with your signature), but ''maybe'' I've done enough to help. Without too much confusion. I'll let you sort the rest out on your own, unless there's anything specific that arises to follow-up with. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.246.131|82.132.246.131]] 17:45, 5 November 2025 (UTC)
::tbh I'm good. Besides, I have no clue how to convert that raw HTML into usable wikitext (idk how to code, planning to learn someday). Either way, works fine. Also, you commentary has made me realize how complex my sig actually is. Times New Roman+Bold+Italics, which is a link which is colored. {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|19:21, 5 November 2025 (UTC)}} 

Ummm... Do you know that your current signature is sort of 'unmunged'? As in, you're making the markup show by 'escaping' the markup characters entirely so they don't (properly) act as markup, but as literal text. (You had it working ok(ish), not sure when it went wrong, without scrolling through your Talk contributions.) [[Special:Contributions/82.132.236.186|82.132.236.186]] 17:34, 22 November 2025 (UTC)
:Addendum - had a deeper look, it was broken for 14:00, 20 November 2025, for [[Talk:3170: Service Outage]], but had worked until 20:27, 19 November 2025, for [[Talk:3168: Beam Dump]]. Whatever you did to your profile, between those two times, maybe undo it? Wasn't caused by any public page edit (like the TNR-template), nor can I think of how you'd break that without being obvious. Anyway, FYI.
:(My guess is that you copied it out to somewhere, to edit, that thing auto-obfuscated the markup for its own visual reasons, then the copy back was done of the 'ruined' markup version. I haven't gone through it with a toothcomb, to see what your intended hanges may have been. And maybe you even intended ''this''... Until I read a page 'normally', not just zourcewise, I hadn't spotted that your long signature-markup was now so... 'literal'. And can't imagine it should be. ) 17:57, 22 November 2025 (UTC)
::I may or may not have INTENTIONALLY unchecked 'treat above as wikitext', simply to confuse people :) --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 00:08, 23 November 2025 (UTC)
:::"Complicated signatures contain a lot of code ("markup") that is revealed in the edit window, and can take up unnecessary amounts of narrative space, which can make both reading and editing harder." -{{w|WP:SIG#Guidelines and policies|WP:SIG}} '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 02:10, 23 November 2025 (UTC)
::::Your signature literally has more characters than mine. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 02:24, 25 November 2025 (UTC)
:::::Does it matter? Your un-wikitexted signature takes up far more characters than 255 (498 to be precise). It's also a pain in the ass to read and is bound to confuse anybody who sees it. '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 02:48, 25 November 2025 (UTC)

== {{w|WP:REDIRECT}} ==
As per {{w|WP:REDIRECT#Purposes of redirects|Wikipedia policy}}, redirects are only to be made for typos that are "likely misspellings (for example, Condoleeza Rice redirects to Condoleezza Rice). Note: this criterion typically does not apply to redirects from typos in the template namespace; consensus is that such typos, unless they are very common, should remain as red links until they are fixed." '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 03:19, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
:Ahhhhhhh. Alright, noted. {{unsigned|DollarStoreBa'al|14:17, 11 November 2025 (UTC)}}
::GOD DAMMIT!!!! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 19:05, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
:::Easily done. Don't worry. I nearly intervened myself, but thought you might fix it yourself soon enough.
:::it also makes me wonder if you have any opinions about [[explain xkcd:Community portal/Proposals#Additional templates to complement 'unsigned' ones|this recent idea]] that you reminded me of, if you/42 would consider it useful in such situations. It's not had any other input beyond the fellow anonIP originator, but (wordiness/edit-errors aside) I like what was said. It's a pity that nobody's even said they don't like it. Or don't understand it. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.246.151|82.132.246.151]] 20:14, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
::::I did skim through it a bit the other day when it was posted, but it was so dense that I probably only remember/understand 50% of it. The IP editor made some pretty good points, but it's not like I'm very good at making templates either. Maybe [[User:FaviFake]] or [[User:Lettherebedarklight]] can do something about it. '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 20:34, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
:::::I'm not actually too sure about this. How would be let newer users (who may not know about the template) to retrosign? --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 20:37, 11 November 2025 (UTC)
::::::Well, those who don't know how to (or that they have to) sign probably aren't the target audience. ;) There are plenty of templates that even I probably wouldn't remember until I went looking for what's there, or found out about by someone else using it. (It's how I know about {{template|outdent}}, for example.)
::::::But the principle's simple enough. Duplicate the unsigned templates as retrosigned ones, and remove the nagging bit. Favi or Darklight could do it simply enough, if they think there's reason to. I could do it, except for the little matter of not being allowed to. Also, I'm not the one trying to sell the idea, just seemed an apt de-stresing comment for the circumstance we had. (Nice though this conversation is, it really needs the propsal(s) to be replied to, if anything.) I'm just hoping you feel calmer, now, Ba'al... :p [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.237|82.132.245.237]] 03:42, 12 November 2025 (UTC)
{{outdent|::::::}}
Wait was that proposal written by you, IP? The format seemed AI-generated but i really did not read it for more than 10 seconds. [[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 18:38, 12 November 2025 (UTC)
:Having read it..... yeah, that's about as far from AI generated as you can get. I've seen IP use that format in the past, and the content is very explainxkcd-term heavy. I don't think AI would be able to generate the words 'unsigned templates as retrosigned'. Nobody except us understands what that means. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 18:52, 12 November 2025 (UTC)
::Not me-IP (the IP in the above bit), but probably one of the other long-standing-if-occasional-IPs that there must be.
::Also very much me-''like'', so the linguistic flourishes mesh well with what I understand/might write myself.
::In lieu of them saying anything more, themselves, I've already decided to do my bit to try to 'translate' the core idea to Muggle-speak. If I'm able to bridge the gap without being wrong about either/both! [[Special:Contributions/82.132.244.30|82.132.244.30]] 19:25, 12 November 2025 (UTC)
==3==
vv4dh<iwumbd i7rig s9 vddr aowe

BAABBABBABABABABAABBABABBAABAABABBBAABAABAAAAABBABABBABABBAAAABAAABBABABBAAAABAABABBBAABAABAAAAABBABABBABABBAAAABAABAABABABAAABBABBABBBAABAABAAAAABBABABABBABAAAABBAABAABB BAAABAABABABBABBAABBBAAAAAAAAAABABAABABAAAABAAAAAAABBBA

USETHEVISIONFROMYOURCHILDSEYE {{unsigned ip|204.137.100.1|08:19, 13 November 2025 (UTC)}}
:Oh, hello there! what do you have for us today, codeman? --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 14:22, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
::Starting from scratch, and dismissing (for the moment) the possibility of it being the 'cluetext' as a rotating key, the first looks polymorphic, in some manner, as the obvious repeat-letters that the known plaintext will have aren't all repeated in the ciphertext (and repeats in the ciphertext aren't matches in the known plaintext. It's also ''perhaps'' not subject to the main fatal flaw in Enigma (''other'' than the "the message-senders use predictable original plaintext" thing) that means that a character never maps to itself, as there are indeed (at least) two same->SAME mappings.
::Though given it is mapped to a changed-case (compared to what we expect from code#1) and includes alphabetic-to-punctuation-via-numeric transitions, my first assessment is that (with the exception of spaces being preserved/specially treated, as per usual) it also maps between A-Z input and a wider output.
::The most obvious idea is an XOR-based progression (prior code/plain character v.s. each subsequent one), but if done straight from ASCII codes that's going to give you far more weirdness than lower-cass-plus-occasional-punctuation. Which suggests perhaps a more proprietry enumeration/de-enumeration (it's not a shifted-6-bit output, so I won't try a shifted 5-bit input).
::...back to the cluetext. It's not the same-length as the ciphered phrase (if it had, I'd have assumed it was concocted as the "one time pad"), either with or without counting the spaces. But ''perhaps'' it's a Playfair cipher (less obvious than "PASSWORDPASWORDPASSWORD...", when analysing for patterns), but I haven't got time to check that properly, right now, and I still think there's a non-linear (but trivial) relationship. Perhaps simpler than what I've already thought of.
::The 'As and Bs' I haven't yet really looked into, beyond ruling out that it's a direct binary expansion (at least in 8-bits, 28 characters of that, and one spare bit, ignoring the space, or 32x 7-bits plus 1). It seems to be 225 A+Bs (3x3x5x5; so 3x75, 5x45, 9x25 and 15x15 (square, which ''might' be significant) are the main splits), if I'm not barking up the wrong tree. But I have other things to do right now, so the next flash of inspiration will have to wait. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.231.193|82.132.231.193]] 18:03, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
:::"Agreed. Let's reset. The previous codes both started with 'Transmission X of four'. This looks similar, so it's safe to assume that 'ds4cdebsjbsx u;g6w hf whyb' equals 'transmission three of four'. This is actually very good for us, because we can map each number to their translated version:
*d=t
*s=r
*4=a
*c=n
*d=s (perhaps a mistake)
*e=m
*b=i
*j=s (wait...)
*b=s???????????????? 
Cool, that didn't work at all. It's probably double-encoded, or it's using a very strong code (maybe a vigenere?). Whatever it is, substitution doesn't work on it. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 19:05, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
::That was my first-g [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.151|82.132.245.151]] 21:40, 13 November 2025 (UTC)

The Bs and As appear to be either a bacon Cipher (UO LUM E ZERO ONE ONE ZERO ONE TWO ZERO MINUS FOUR ALL CAP) or a Caesar Cipher, though if it's the latter it would need to be double-encoded like last time, because the most coherent option it's giving me is POOP POP POP OP OP OP OOP POP OPPO OP OOP OP P POOP OOP OO OO OPPO POP POP OPPO OO OP OO OPPO POP POO OOP OOP OP P POOP OOP OO OO OPPO POP POP OPPO OO OP OOP OOP OP OP OO OPPO P POP P POOP OOP OO OO OPPO POP OPPO POO OOP POOP OOP P POO OP OOP OP OPPO P POOP P POO OO OO OO OOP OP OOP OP OO OOP OO OO OO OP P PO. Something tells me they weren't trying to make potty jokes.
:::Based on the fact that we're on this specific wiki, I'll assume that it's the first one for now. It's referencing Volume 0 (I think I know where they got the idea for this). The rest of the numbers are now 110120-4. I'll go check the page. 18:52, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
::::Page 110120 has this poem on it, in the 'cypher' section:
THE START OF THE TENTH-FAVORITE WORD USED BY BENDER 
THE TOON THAT WENT SOUTH WHILE COMMANDED BY ENDER 
THE NUMBER OF LIGHTS THAT PICARD SAID WERE ON 
AND THE CLASS OF THE PLANET WHERE KIRK SHOUTED "KHAAAN!" 
THE RINGS FOR THE MEN MINUS RINGS FOR THE ELVES 
AND THE PRODUCT MOD 10 OF A FIVESOME OF TWELVES 
THE END OF A CODE NES GAMERS KNOW 
AND THE BASE USED TO MODEL HOW QUICKLY THINGS GROW 
WHEN THEY'RE XOR'D TOGETHER THE CHECKSUM IS "E" 
WHICH WILL TELL YOU YOU'VE GOT THE PENULTIMATE KEY 
::::...This is the penultimate key, if there are four messages. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 19:05, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
:::::I've not had any further time to look at this, but:
:::::*If I were devising an actually useful secret code, the first one (which is clearly a character-to-character mapping, though not a static one) would involve a little more trickery than an 'unsalted' progression, and the second (clearly a bitwise represenation) should probably be repackaged back into a full 'alphanumeric' token set (e.g. base64 or UUEncoded 'text friendly' outputs, but perhaps rotated a bit to disguise the tell-tale signs of that kind of output.
:::::**In fact, I might have used Gray-Code tables, even a mini form of a LZW-ish token-stream compression algorithm, to further thwart analysis by making it not even a consistent change in entropy from original character to the resulting output string. With such a single short 'message', it probably could have defied any realistic form of frequency-analysis, or at least made for hypothetically 'sensible' alternative decodings emerge from parts of the data, when choosing the 'right' wrong decoding methods.
:::::*However, bear in mind that (though with greater challenges, from the #1 code to #2, so presumably even more for #3) these are codes that are ''supposed to be cracked''. Well, maybe #4 (or even the final set of 4x4 characters that's ultimately puzzle #5) will be 'fiendish'-level, but #3 shouldn't be more than 'devilishly difficult' to work out.
:::::*I didn't know "Bacon Cipher", by that name, but it looks like you've got that worked out by (assisted) brute force. I might have tripped up over the U+V and I+J equivalences, initially, but the composer has clearly used the 'classical' version in a straight manner.
:::::*Taking that as done, though, we're left with the backforming of the TRANSMISSION message, if only so we know what (different) apparent nonsense the "x@hc" should become. Where I'd focus, is on what caused "ISSI" to be "bsjb". Why, three characters later, has the encoding ended up on the same output char (could suggest a three-character Playfair key), yet the 'S' characters, positioned "S..SS" became "d..sj" (so ''not'' a 3-char key). Positioning the 'clue phrase' against the characters gives "V..I" against the "I..I"->"b..b", so it's not being the same by dint of coincidentally similar transformations from the keyphrase.
:::::But that's still an analysis that I'm doing with the presumption of it being deliberately somewhat obscure (having somehow 'discovered' part of the encoding secret). It's probably only going to be more hidden in plain sight, as part of the 'game', but still helps to know how you'd approach a more deliberately obscure method of coding. Hence how I broke the semaphor one ...well, mostly... without realising that it actually was semaphor. (If you hadn't have settled the Bacon Code solution, I might have tried looking at it being morse-based, with ambiguous character/word boundaries.)
:::::Anyway, when I pop back here and find that you/someone else has fully solved it, I'll probably kick myself for entirely missing the most obvious answer. Also I can't seem get "CE4Q60AE" (or alternatives/variations that I've tried) to give me a checksum of "E" (or 0xE?). So, if that's actually important, I might have something else wrong. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.151|82.132.245.151]] 21:40, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
::::::YOUARERIGHT {{unsigned ip|204.137.100.1|14:03, 14 November 2025 (UTC)}}
:::::::About what? What are we right about? --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 14:04, 14 November 2025 (UTC)

== User rights ==

I noticed you created my [[User:GreyFox|user page]] but did not create my talk page or give me the rights to do so myself. Why is this the case? [[User:GreyFox|GreyFox]] ([[User talk:GreyFox|talk]]) 17:25, 24 November 2025 (UTC)
:OMG so sorry. Fully forgor. Should be fixed now. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 02:25, 25 November 2025 (UTC)

== Minor edits ==

Just FYI, you can mark in preferences under the editing tab for all edits to be marked as minor so that we don't clog up the Recent Changes page so much, as people can click "Hide minor edits". '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 21:30, 2 December 2025 (UTC)
;...whoops. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 21:30, 2 December 2025 (UTC)

== /WORKPAGE ==

Wow. While doing maintenance work, I found your workpage. I've always known it existed, but just brushed it off and let you work alone. I don't know how much it means to you, but I'm really proud and happy of how far you've come. In just a couple months you've been able to make a pretty sizable impact here. By the way, I love the work you've been doing on there. Please keep it up! <3 '''[[User:42.book.addict|42.book.addict]][[User talk:42.book.addict|Talk to me!]]''' 10:40, 3 December 2025 (UTC)
:It means a lot to me. Thanks for the encouragement! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 14:00, 3 December 2025 (UTC)

== Have another look at the Disappearing Sunday Update images ==

*[[:File:Disappearing Sunday Update with number 2185.png]] - has a browser address bar
*[[:File:Archive with Disappearing Sunday Update.png]] - Thumbnail History versions had an address bar, and it *used* to have the 'disappeared comic', perhaps least useful of the three, as it currently is, being the only one of the three not currently linked-to. Might be worth trying to find out what Kynde was trying to do, there.
*[[:File:Archive with Disappearing Sunday Update and date.png]] - was marked for deletion, as "identical", but it wasn't, had a hover-text date on it. Don't know if that's still useful (not being used as a linked image?), but I wouldn't make that my first deletion, especially as it's a linked-to page.
...needs double-checking, really, to make sure that things that aren't totally useless are not thrown out just because they look useless at a glance. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.239.140|82.132.239.140]] 18:57, 4 December 2025 (UTC)
:Good catch, and now fixed. Thanks for letting me know! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 18:59, 4 December 2025 (UTC)

== exp template thing? ==

Please could you have a look at [[Template talk:explain]]? [[Special:Contributions/78.144.255.82|78.144.255.82]] 19:40, 10 December 2025 (UTC)

...also, why exactly did you think [[Template:exp]] was needed? Looks like it once existed but was actually removed because (except for some other relic uses, that also seemingly aren't used) it serves no actual purpose. [[Special:Contributions/78.144.255.82|78.144.255.82]] 19:57, 10 December 2025 (UTC)
:Yeahh... delete. My brain sharted in public. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 20:11, 10 December 2025 (UTC)

==Hi==
I have not been on this wiki in a while, I just wanted to say hi XD [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 18:18, 15 December 2025 (UTC)
:''I've been expecting you...'' --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] 21:28, 15 December 2025 (UTC)

==...==

:I come back to this wiki to assure y'all I haven't quit, and I check on you, and THERE'S A GIANT NOTICE WITH HAMILTON LYRICS ON IT. I mean, it is "The Story of Tonight", granted, W song, but what in the world have you been up to... [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]])
::A reminder to myself. Keeps the depression from setting in. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]]''''' 17:27, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
:::No but that's actually so sweet 🥹 [[User:Definitely Bill Cipher|⯅A dream demon⯅]] ([[User talk:Definitely Bill Cipher|talk]]) 15:54, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

User talk:DollarStoreBa'al

2026-05-16T15:38:26Z

DollarStoreBa'al:

3246: Speedrun

2026-05-16T15:29:48Z

DollarStoreBa'al: clarifying what a TAS is.

{{comic
| number = 3246
| date = May 15, 2026
| title = Speedrun
| image = speedrun_2x.png
| imagesize = 288x343px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Usain Bolt holds the world record in the 100 meter speedrun.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a SPEEDRUNNING BOT. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
{{w|Speedrunning}} is the sport of completing a {{w|video game}} as fast as possible.
This comic shows Cueball sitting at a desk complaining that his speedrun got deleted off of [https://www.speedrun.com/ Speedrun.com], which is a popular leaderboard aggregator for speedrunners.

A {{w|tool-assisted speedrun}} (or TAS for short) is a type of speedrun where inputs can be manipulated after the fact to perfect a run. While this tool is mostly for experimenting with new strategies or finding areas where a time can be optimized, it is possible to cheat a run by passing off a tool-assisted run as a normal speedrun. ''{{w|Lateralus}}'' and ''{{w|Ænima}}'' are albums by the band {{w|Tool (band)|Tool}}. This comic makes use of a pun, where rather than using third party tools to assist him in beating a video game as quickly as possible, Cueball is getting "assistance" from the rock band Tool in the form of background music to help him concentrate, which would be considered 'third-party' if Tool was not directly related to the game. In real life, a speedrun would be unlikely to be removed based on the music one is listening to while completing it, though it may be considered similar to using a {{w|metronome}}, a [https://www.reddit.com/r/speedrun/s/ODqJcAWcKg controversial topic] due to the fact that a metronome could be very useful if the game one is playing requires some sort of rhythm or precision. The comic could also be referencing Alex Honnold’s ascent of the Taipei 101 tower, during which he listened to Tool. The comic was posted 25 years after the ''{{w|Lateralus}}'' album was released.

The title text is a pun on the word "speedrun". {{w|Usain Bolt}}'s 100-meter dash record is a world-record "speedrun" in the sense that it is literally a speedy run and also an attempt by someone to complete a task as fast as possible. It is very common for internet personalities to say they are 'speedrunning' when they are doing a task quickly, even when completely unrelated to gaming (e.g. [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sqjRfF2cYoE speedrunning petting a cat]). The notion of such a record being classified as a legitimate speedrun isn't farfetched as Speedrun.com has some leaderboards for [https://www.speedrun.com/series/IRL In Real Life] records. The use of "speedrun" to refer to an actual fast run may be considered to be a case of [[3123: Canon]].

It is possible that speedunning was on his mind due to the recent social media tend of {{w|Scientology speedrunning}}, in which someone attempts to get as deep as they can into a building belonging to the {{w|Church of Scientology}} before being kicked out. Because of this trend, the concept of speedrunning has been on many people's minds, regardless of whether or not they participate in the trend.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

:[Cueball is sitting at a desk with a laptop. Megan is standing behind him.]
:Cueball: Aw man, Speedrun.com removed my world record just because I listened to Lateralus and Ænima to get in the flow.
:Megan: Oh, a copyright thing?
:Cueball: No, they don't allow Tool-assisted speedruns.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Video games]]
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Puns]]

Talk:3246: Speedrun

2026-05-16T15:26:14Z

DollarStoreBa'al:

F1RST! I actually found the comic before Theusafbot did. [[User:RadiantRainwing|K9Dragon23, or RainWingSquares (talk)]] ([[User talk:RadiantRainwing|talk]]) 01:01, 16 May 2026 (UTC)
:I also did a crappy first draft explanation. [[User:RadiantRainwing|K9Dragon23, or RainWingSquares (talk)]] ([[User talk:RadiantRainwing|talk]]) 01:03, 16 May 2026 (UTC)
:: There goes the speedrun records [[User:King Pando|King Pando]] ([[User talk:King Pando|talk]]) 01:38, 16 May 2026 (UTC)
L0l, my br0ther and father g0t me in0 t00l [[Special:Contributions/216.25.182.141|216.25.182.141]] 02:59, 16 May 2026 (UTC)

Published on the 25th Anniversary of the song release right?

wasn't there an olympic runner who requested a song to be played with his preferred beats per minute, only to be rejected out of a concern for an unfair advantage? [[Special:Contributions/84.225.125.43|84.225.125.43]] 07:10, 16 May 2026 (UTC)

Wow! I needed this explanation. I knew nothing of speedruns, nor Tool. Usain Bolt I had heard of.--[[Special:Contributions/2A00:23CC:D248:8901:79C8:645F:821A:1BA3|2A00:23CC:D248:8901:79C8:645F:821A:1BA3]] 08:37, 16 May 2026 (UTC)

Cueball is such a tool. [[Special:Contributions/2A02:2455:1960:4000:2C98:4FB4:B92F:33B4|2A02:2455:1960:4000:2C98:4FB4:B92F:33B4]] 10:07, 16 May 2026 (UTC)

Shouldn't they remove Usain Bolt'd record as a TAS?--[[Special:Contributions/94.73.49.13|94.73.49.13]]
:No, he was the one that did the record, not a programmed computer. A robot that was programmed to perform a series of specific inputs that make it run really fast would be a TAS. --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User_talk:DollarStoreBa'al|'''''converse''''']] 15:26, 16 May 2026 (UTC)

Funny, I use Pneuma as my coding focus music.... [[Special:Contributions/2A0A:EF40:2D3:201:A4CA:7332:48F3:6525|2A0A:EF40:2D3:201:A4CA:7332:48F3:6525]] 12:27, 16 May 2026 (UTC)

2026-05-15T13:09:31Z

User:DollarStoreBa'al

2026-05-14T22:08:14Z

DollarStoreBa'al: Undo revision 412711 by DollarStoreBa'al (talk)

User:DollarStoreBa'al

2026-05-14T22:06:58Z

DollarStoreBa'al:

User:DollarStoreBa'al/Snadbocks/Userpagefont

2026-05-14T22:05:17Z

User:DollarStoreBa'al/Userpagefont

2026-05-14T18:11:36Z

DollarStoreBa'al: Redirected page to User:DollarStoreBa'al/Snadbocks/Userpagefont

#REDIRECT [[User:DollarStoreBa'al/Snadbocks/Userpagefont]]

User:DollarStoreBa'al

2026-05-14T18:10:42Z

2026-05-10T17:06:58Z

DollarStoreBa'al: