explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:1426: Reduce Your Payments

2014-09-26T06:31:54Z

Flai:

It's a chemical reduction. Here's the wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reducing_agent[[Special:Contributions/199.27.133.109|199.27.133.109]] 04:25, 26 September 2014 (UTC)

This needs more help by a professional chemist... And I need to go to work... So if anyone continues clarification work - thanks, else I'll do a little more after work/afterwards[[User:Tier666|Tier666]] ([[User talk:Tier666|talk]]) 05:21, 26 September 2014 (UTC)

I tried to clear up some things, but I am not a chemestry expert either.. --[[User:Flai|Flai]] ([[User talk:Flai|talk]]) 06:31, 26 September 2014 (UTC)

Talk:1426: Reduce Your Payments

2014-09-26T06:31:35Z

Flai:

It's a chemical reduction. Here's the wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reducing_agent[[Special:Contributions/199.27.133.109|199.27.133.109]] 04:25, 26 September 2014 (UTC)

This needs more help by a professional chemist... And I need to go to work... So if anyone continues clarification work - thanks, else I'll do a little more after work/afterwards[[User:Tier666|Tier666]] ([[User talk:Tier666|talk]]) 05:21, 26 September 2014 (UTC)

> I tried to clear up some things, but I am not a chemestry expert either.. --[[User:Flai|Flai]] ([[User talk:Flai|talk]]) 06:31, 26 September 2014 (UTC)

1426: Reduce Your Payments

2014-09-26T06:30:30Z

Flai: /* Explanation */ Tried fixing the tone, links work now for me.

{{comic
| number = 1426
| date = September 26, 2014
| title = Reduce Your Payments
| image = reduce_your_payments.png
| titletext = I tried oxidizing them, but your bank uses some really weird paper and it wouldn't light.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This explanation states what is obvious in the comic without explaining. A description of Sodium borohydride's effects on paper are required. }}

In this comic [[Black Hat]] walks into a room where Cueball is sitting in an armchair. Blackhat says to Cueball that he can reduce his mortgage bills, while holding a docket of paper presumably Cueball's bill.
Black Hat uses the same formulation many internet advertisements use: "Discover this (strange/new/amazing...) trick to (lose weight/reduce your mortgage bills/meet amazing women)" to gather clicks.
Cueball wants to know how and Blackhat responses by mentioning {{w|Sodium_borohydride|sodium borohydride (NaBH<sub>4</sub>)}}.

In Chemestry sodium borohydride os a strong {{w|Reducing_agent|reducing agent}}, meaning in a chemical reaction it will "reduce" something else, by taking away an oxygen-molecule of it. This comic is a typical switcharound-pun. Cueball expects the value (on a bill) you have to pay reduced, while Blackhat uses the chemical meaning of reducing. Cueball, realizing this, then proceeds to say "I hate you", when he realizes the pun.

The title text implies that Blackhat has attempt to oxidize (as the contrary of the chemical "reduce") the paper mortgage bill by burning it but the paper would not light.

The "weird trick" by Blackhat actually works, yet in an unexpected manner, and does not solve the actual problem.

==Transcript==
[Cueball siting on sofa Blackhat walks into frame from behind]

Blackhat: I discovered this weird trick for reducing your mortgage payments!

Cueball: What?

Blackhat: Sodium borohydride.

Cueball: ...I hate you.

I tried to oxidize them, but your bank uses some really weird paper and it wouldn't light.

{{comic discussion}}

1426: Reduce Your Payments

2014-09-26T06:29:17Z

Flai: Rewritten stuff.

{{comic
| number = 1426
| date = September 26, 2014
| title = Reduce Your Payments
| image = reduce_your_payments.png
| titletext = I tried oxidizing them, but your bank uses some really weird paper and it wouldn't light.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This explanation states what is obvious in the comic without explaining. More explanatory tone plus a description of Sodium borohydride's effects on paper are required. Also the Sodium borohydride link is broken}}

In this comic [[Black Hat]] walks into a room where Cueball is sitting in an armchair. Blackhat says to Cueball that he can reduce his mortgage bills, while holding a docket of paper presumably Cueball's bill.
Black Hat uses the same formulation many internet advertisements use: "Discover this (strange/new/amazing...) trick to (lose weight/reduce your mortgage bills/meet amazing women)" to gather clicks.
Cueball wants to know how and Blackhat responses by mentioning {{w|Sodium_borohydride|sodium borohydride (NaBH<sub>4</sub>)}}.

In Chemestry sodium borohydride os a strong {{w|Reducing_agent|reducing agent}}, meaning in a chemical reaction it will "reduce" something else, by taking away an oxygen-molecule of it. This comic is a typical switcharound-pun. Cueball expects the value (on a bill) you have to pay reduced, while Blackhat uses the chemical meaning of reducing. Cueball, realizing this, then proceeds to say "I hate you", when he realizes the pun.

The title text implies that Blackhat has attempt to oxidize (as the contrary of the chemical "reduce") the paper mortgage bill by burning it but the paper would not light.

The "weird trick" by Blackhat actually works, yet in an unexpected manner, and does not solve the actual problem.

==Transcript==
[Cueball siting on sofa Blackhat walks into frame from behind]

Blackhat: I discovered this weird trick for reducing your mortgage payments!

Cueball: What?

Blackhat: Sodium borohydride.

Cueball: ...I hate you.

I tried to oxidize them, but your bank uses some really weird paper and it wouldn't light.

{{comic discussion}}