explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:1183: Rose Petals

2013-03-08T17:01:28Z

Haruspex:

Can anyone explain what Roomba is? {{unsigned|194.105.120.80}}

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roomba
[[Special:Contributions/131.251.254.81|131.251.254.81]] 09:14, 8 March 2013 (UTC)

: "... but out onto the street."
Is it really? It looks to me like it's going down the hallway seen in the background of the 3rd panel. <br/>[[User:Wwoods|Wwoods]] ([[User talk:Wwoods|talk]]) 16:28, 8 March 2013 (UTC)

It is, really. When you look at the door in the 3rd panel, you can see another house across the street, then closer a sidewalk, then closer the street, then closer another sidewalk and a walkway leading up to the door. There is then a mat in front of the door (presumably a welcome mat, or at least a mat for wiping your feet). In the 4th panel you can see the the sidewalk expansion joints. [[User:Haruspex|Haruspex]] ([[User talk:Haruspex|talk]])

Talk:1183: Rose Petals

2013-03-08T17:00:24Z

Haruspex:

Can anyone explain what Roomba is? {{unsigned|194.105.120.80}}

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roomba
[[Special:Contributions/131.251.254.81|131.251.254.81]] 09:14, 8 March 2013 (UTC)

: "... but out onto the street."
Is it really? It looks to me like it's going down the hallway seen in the background of the 3rd panel. <br/>[[User:Wwoods|Wwoods]] ([[User talk:Wwoods|talk]]) 16:28, 8 March 2013 (UTC)

It is, really. When you look at the door in the 3rd panel, you can see another house across the street, then closer a sidewalk, then closer the street, then closer another sidewalk and a walkway leading up to the door. In the 4th panel you can see the the sidewalk expansion joints. [[User:Haruspex|Haruspex]] ([[User talk:Haruspex|talk]])

70: Guitar Hero

2013-01-17T02:02:52Z

Haruspex: /* Title text */ current title text description left out important details making the punchline less understandable

{{comic
| number = 70
| date = March 1, 2006
| title = Guitar Hero
| image = Guitar hero.jpg
| imagesize =
| titletext = And then do it again in a moment now that they're out of Star Power.
}}

==Explanation==
''{{w|Guitar Hero}}'' is a series of video games (originally a single game), currently distributed by {{w|Activision}}. In the game, players simulate playing guitar on famous guitar songs using a plastic guitar-shaped controller which has five color-coded buttons on the neck (representing guitar frets) and a rocker bar on the body (simulating a strumming motion). The game now includes other instruments such as drums and vocals, although not at the time this comic was published.

While playing the game, an animated band is shown on the upper half of the screen and an extended guitar neck is shown vertically on the bottom half of the screen screen (the frets horizontal), often called the "note highway", and as the song progresses, colored markers or "gems" indicating notes travel down the screen in time with the music; the note colors and positions match those of the five fret keys on the guitar controller. Once the note(s) reach the bottom, the player must play the indicated note(s) by holding down the correct fret button(s) and hitting the strumming bar in order to score points.

In this comic, [[Randall Munroe|Randall]] suggests that, were he in a real rock band, he would perform a mellow song but intentionally put a complicated guitar solo in, not for musical value, but solely to antagonise ''Guitar Hero'' players with an impossible solo. As the comic suggests, a random flailing would likely make for a very difficult passage to play in ''Guitar Hero''. This is highlighted by the previous statement that the song would otherwise be mellow, lulling the player into a false sense that the song was easy to play and relaxing.

===Title text===
In order to understand the title text of the comic, you must understand two game mechanics for Guitar Hero. The first is the Rock Meter. Success or failure in hitting notes will cause the on-screen Rock Meter to change, showing how well the player is playing (denoted by red, yellow, and green sections). Should the Rock Meter drop below the red section, the song will automatically end, with the player booed off the stage by the audience.

The second element you must understand is Star Power. Selected special segments of the song will have glowing notes outlined by stars: successfully hitting all notes in this series will fill the Star Power Meter. The Star Power Meter can also be filled by using the whammy bar during sustained notes within these segments. Once the Star Power Meter is at least half full, the player can activate Star Power by pressing the select button or momentarily lifting the guitar into a vertical position. When Star Power is activated, the scoring multiplier is doubled until Star Power is depleted. The Rock Meter also increases more dramatically when Star Power is activated, making it easier for the player to make the Rock Meter stay at a high level.

Thus, Star Power can be used strategically to play difficult sections of a song that otherwise might cause the player to fail. The title text for the comic is suggesting that the player would have used up their Star Power in a strategic bid to not fail the sudden and surprising flailing solo. Now powerless, a second unexpected flailing solo would crush the player.

==Transcript==
:[On a stage, a guy with a beard is in the background, holding a microphone. In the center is a guy with an electric guitar. The catwalk has bumps to resemble the tracks of Guitar Hero.]

:When I'm in a rock band, I'm gonna do a cool, mellow song. Then in the middle I'll stop, announce "this part is just to be an asshole to people playing Guitar Hero," and then flail wildly on the strings for 30 seconds.

{{Comic discussion}}

Talk:1108: Cautionary Ghost

2012-09-14T13:55:13Z

Haruspex:

I have to say, not using the subjuctive case correctly really grinds my gears, 'as it were'. --[[Special:Contributions/216.110.25.2|216.110.25.2]] 13:53, 14 September 2012 (UTC)dangerkeith3000

could it of been spurred by [http://www.explosm.net/comics/2923/ this comic]?

:It shares quibbles over the word literally, but the driving idea behind the jokes are different. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] ([[User talk:Davidy22|talk]]) 06:08, 14 September 2012 (UTC)

I think it is a reference to this prior [http://xkcd.com/725/ xkcd comic] which is also dealing with the difference between literally and figuratively and somebody eager to tell people the difference.
--[[Special:Contributions/194.167.19.2|194.167.19.2]] 08:06, 14 September 2012 (UTC)Josch

What's so idyllic on that scene? That people are still alive and someone is still flying? (Note that it may be airforce one) -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 09:09, 14 September 2012 (UTC)

''The usage of a ghost from the past or future to deliver a message in fiction was begun in Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol'' - I really don't think that's true. --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 12:55, 14 September 2012 (UTC)

Having the ''Literally'' as the word to argue about seems to be fitting this comic quite well, since the world is literally the same in both scenarios. Or, the other way around, arguing about ''literally'' literally doesn't matter.

Fixed the typo someone made on the title text ghost: Ghost of <del>Subjective</del> Subjunctive Past. I also typed up some information on the subjunctive mood and the subjunctive past construction. Hopefully this helps clear up the title text. [[User:Haruspex|Haruspex]] ([[User talk:Haruspex|talk]]) 13:54, 14 September 2012 (UTC)

Talk:1108: Cautionary Ghost

2012-09-14T13:54:53Z

Haruspex:

I have to say, not using the subjuctive case correctly really grinds my gears, 'as it were'. --[[Special:Contributions/216.110.25.2|216.110.25.2]] 13:53, 14 September 2012 (UTC)dangerkeith3000

could it of been spurred by [http://www.explosm.net/comics/2923/ this comic]?

:It shares quibbles over the word literally, but the driving idea behind the jokes are different. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] ([[User talk:Davidy22|talk]]) 06:08, 14 September 2012 (UTC)

I think it is a reference to this prior [http://xkcd.com/725/ xkcd comic] which is also dealing with the difference between literally and figuratively and somebody eager to tell people the difference.
--[[Special:Contributions/194.167.19.2|194.167.19.2]] 08:06, 14 September 2012 (UTC)Josch

What's so idyllic on that scene? That people are still alive and someone is still flying? (Note that it may be airforce one) -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 09:09, 14 September 2012 (UTC)

''The usage of a ghost from the past or future to deliver a message in fiction was begun in Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol'' - I really don't think that's true. --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 12:55, 14 September 2012 (UTC)

Having the ''Literally'' as the word to argue about seems to be fitting this comic quite well, since the world is literally the same in both scenarios. Or, the other way around, arguing about ''literally'' literally doesn't matter.

Fixed the typo someone made on the title text ghost: Ghost of <del>Subjective</del> Subjunctive Past. I also typed up some information the subjunctive mood and the subjunctive past construction. Hopefully this helps clear up the title text. [[User:Haruspex|Haruspex]] ([[User talk:Haruspex|talk]]) 13:54, 14 September 2012 (UTC)

1108: Cautionary Ghost

2012-09-14T13:49:49Z

Haruspex: /* Explanation */ removed a typo, whoops

{{comic
| number = 1108
| date = September 14, 2012
| title = Cautionary Ghost
| image = cautionary_ghost.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = But then the Ghost of Subjunctive Past showed up and told me to stay strong on 'if it were'.
}}

==Explanation==
The usage of a ghost from the past or future to deliver a message in fiction was popularized by Charles Dicken's ''A Christmas Carol'', in which the main character is visited upon by the ghosts of past, present and future during his sleep.

This comic is a comment on the futility of arguing over trivial matters, such as the usage of the word "literally" as mentioned in the comic. It also links to comic [http://xkcd.com/725/ 725: Literally] and probably to a parody at [http://www.explosm.net/comics/2923/ Cyanide & Happiness]. In the comic, a man is presented an idyllic scene of the future, then is given an identical scene and told that the second scene is the future if he gives up arguing over a word. The comparison is meant to signal the almost inconsequential impact on the world that some debates have.

The title text is a reversal on this, where the man meets a contrary ghost who encourages him to continue with his argument on an equally trivial matter: the use of the phrase "if it were". The ghost is referred to as the ''Ghost of Subjunctive Past'' in reference to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_subjunctive subjunctive mood] and the phrase "if it were" being a usage of the subjunctive past construction to [http://sesquiotic.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/if-i-were-using-the-subjunctive/ describe an impossible past event]. Over time, "if it were" has been falling out of use in favor of "if it was", and thus the subjunctive form in this example is near extinction.

==Transcript==
[Man sitting in bed is facing a ghost.]

Ghost: ''Ooooooooooooooooo''

Man: A ghost!?

Ghost: I bring a '''cautionary vision''' of things to come!

[Cut to scene with two houses, a plane, a tree and a standing couple.]

Ghost: This is the future:

[Identical scene]

Ghost: And '''this''' is the future if you give up the fight over the word "literally":

[Cut back to man sitting in bed with ghost]

Man: They looked exactly the same.

Ghost: ''Oooooooooooooooo''

Man: Ok, I get it.

Ghost: Seriously, this is duuuuumb.

{{comic discussion}}

1108: Cautionary Ghost

2012-09-14T13:48:56Z

Haruspex: /* Explanation */ Explaining the name of the title text ghost and the phrase "if it were"

{{comic
| number = 1108
| date = September 14, 2012
| title = Cautionary Ghost
| image = cautionary_ghost.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = But then the Ghost of Subjunctive Past showed up and told me to stay strong on 'if it were'.
}}

==Explanation==
The usage of a ghost from the past or future to deliver a message in fiction was begun in Charles Dicken's ''A Christmas Carol'', in which the main character is visited upon by the ghosts of past, present and future during his sleep.

This comic is a comment on the futility of arguing over trivial matters, such as the usage of the word "literally" as mentioned in the comic. It also links to comic [http://xkcd.com/725/ 725: Literally] and probably to a parody at [http://www.explosm.net/comics/2923/ Cyanide & Happiness]. In the comic, a man is presented an idyllic scene of the future, then is given an identical scene and told that the second scene is the future if he gives up arguing over a word. The comparison is meant to signal the almost inconsequential impact on the world that some debates have.

The title text is a reversal on this, where the man meets a contrary ghost who encourages him to continue with his argument on an equally trivial matter: the use of the phrase "if it were". The ghost is referred to as the ''Ghost of the Subjunctive Past'' in reference to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_subjunctive subjunctive mood] and the phrase "if it were" being a usage of the subjunctive past construction to [http://sesquiotic.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/if-i-were-using-the-subjunctive/ describe an impossible past event]. Over time, "if it were" has been falling out of use in favor of "if it was", and thus the subjunctive form in this example is near extinction.

==Transcript==
[Man sitting in bed is facing a ghost.]

Ghost: ''Ooooooooooooooooo''

Man: A ghost!?

Ghost: I bring a '''cautionary vision''' of things to come!

[Cut to scene with two houses, a plane, a tree and a standing couple.]

Ghost: This is the future:

[Identical scene]

Ghost: And '''this''' is the future if you give up the fight over the word "literally":

[Cut back to man sitting in bed with ghost]

Man: They looked exactly the same.

Ghost: ''Oooooooooooooooo''

Man: Ok, I get it.

Ghost: Seriously, this is duuuuumb.

{{comic discussion}}

1108: Cautionary Ghost

2012-09-14T13:35:59Z

Haruspex: it's Subjunctive, not Subjective -_-

{{comic
| number = 1108
| date = September 14, 2012
| title = Cautionary Ghost
| image = cautionary_ghost.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = But then the Ghost of Subjunctive Past showed up and told me to stay strong on 'if it were'.
}}

==Explanation==
The usage of a ghost from the past or future to deliver a message in fiction was begun in Charles Dicken's ''A Christmas Carol'', in which the main character is visited upon by the ghosts of past, present and future during his sleep.

This comic is a comment on the futility of arguing over trivial matters, such as the usage of the word "literally" as mentioned in the comic. It also links to comic [http://xkcd.com/725/ 725: Literally] and probably to a parody at [http://www.explosm.net/comics/2923/ Cyanide & Happiness]. In the comic, a man is presented an idyllic scene of the future, then is given an identical scene and told that the second scene is the future if he gives up arguing over a word. The comparison is meant to signal the almost inconsequential impact on the world that some debates have.

The title text is a reversal on this, where the man meets a contrary ghost who encourages him to continue with his argument against an equally trivial matter: the misuse of the phrase "if it were".

==Transcript==
[Man sitting in bed is facing a ghost.]

Ghost: ''Ooooooooooooooooo''

Man: A ghost!?

Ghost: I bring a '''cautionary vision''' of things to come!

[Cut to scene with two houses, a plane, a tree and a standing couple.]

Ghost: This is the future:

[Identical scene]

Ghost: And '''this''' is the future if you give up the fight over the word "literally":

[Cut back to man sitting in bed with ghost]

Man: They looked exactly the same.

Ghost: ''Oooooooooooooooo''

Man: Ok, I get it.

Ghost: Seriously, this is duuuuumb.

{{comic discussion}}

1077: Home Organization

2012-08-15T13:10:45Z

Haruspex: fixed image link, image wasn't showing up before

{{comic
| number = 1077
| date = July 4, 2012
| title = Home Organization
| image = Home_Organization.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = Lifehacking!
}}

==Explanation==
This comic is a take on the typical "how to" which details "how to" organize your home. In this case, throw everything into a box labeled "Misc" for miscellaneous with the exception of your laptop, cable modem and router.

The image text "Lifehacking" is a take on the popular website Lifehacker which includes all sorts of posts on how to "hack" your life and improve your life.

==Transcript==
[One big plain room with a person sitting on the floor with a laptop on one side, a modem and wireless router on the other, and a big box full of the usual accoutrements of living in the middle, with "MISC" written on the side]

Home Organization Tip: Just Give Up.

{{Comic discussion}}

70: Guitar Hero

2012-08-15T13:01:58Z

Haruspex: /* Image Text */ Alt Text or Title Text are the more common references to the extra text in an XKCD comic, with Title Text being more correct

{{ComicHeader|70|March 1, 2006}}

[[File:Guitar hero.jpg]]

== Title Text ==
And then do it again in a moment now that they're out of Star Power.

==Explanation==
''{{w|Guitar Hero}}'' is a series of video games (originally a single game), currently distributed by {{w|Activision}}. In the game, players simulate playing guitar on famous guitar songs using a plastic guitar-shaped controller which has five color-coded buttons on the neck (representing guitar frets) and a rocker bar on the body (simulating a strumming motion). The game now includes other instruments such as drums and vocals, although not at the time this comic was published.

While playing the game, an animated band is shown on the upper half of the screen and an extended guitar neck is shown vertically on the bottom half of the screen screen (the frets horizontal), often called the "note highway", and as the song progresses, colored markers or "gems" indicating notes travel down the screen in time with the music; the note colors and positions match those of the five fret keys on the guitar controller. Once the note(s) reach the bottom, the player must play the indicated note(s) by holding down the correct fret button(s) and hitting the strumming bar in order to score points.

In this comic, [[Randall Munroe|Randall]] suggests that, were he in a real rock band, he would perform a mellow song but intentionally put a complicated guitar solo in, not for musical value, but solely to antagonise ''Guitar Hero'' players with an impossible solo. As the comic suggests, a random flailing would likely make for a very difficult passage to play in ''Guitar Hero''. This is highlighted by the previous statement that the song would otherwise be mellow, lulling the player into a false sense that the song was easy to play and relaxing.

==Title Text Explanation==

In order to understand the title text of the comic, you must understand two game mechanics for ''Guitar Hero''. The first is the ''Rock Meter''. Success or failure in hitting notes will cause the on-screen ''Rock Meter'' to change, showing how well the player is playing (denoted by red, yellow, and green sections). Should the ''Rock Meter'' drop below the red section, the song will automatically end, with the player booed off the stage by the audience.

The second element you must understand is ''Star Power''. Selected special segments of the song will have glowing notes outlined by stars: successfully hitting all notes in this series will fill the ''Star Power Meter''. The Star Power Meter can also be filled by using the whammy bar during sustained notes within these segments. Once the Star Power Meter is at least half full, the player can activate ''Star Power'' by pressing the select button or momentarily lifting the guitar into a vertical position. When Star Power is activated, the scoring multiplier is doubled until Star Power is depleted. The Rock Meter also increases more dramatically when Star Power is activated, making it easier for the player to make the Rock Meter stay at a high level.

Thus, ''Star Power'' can be used strategically to play difficult sections of a song that otherwise might cause the player to fail. The title text for the comic is suggesting that the player would have used up their ''Star Power'' in a strategic bid to not fail the sudden and surprising flailing solo. Now powerless, a second unexpected flailing solo would crush the player.

{{Comic discussion}}

70: Guitar Hero

2012-08-15T13:01:17Z

Haruspex: /* Explanation */ Improved game mechanic explanation

{{ComicHeader|70|March 1, 2006}}

[[File:Guitar hero.jpg]]

== Image Text ==
And then do it again in a moment now that they're out of Star Power.

==Explanation==
''{{w|Guitar Hero}}'' is a series of video games (originally a single game), currently distributed by {{w|Activision}}. In the game, players simulate playing guitar on famous guitar songs using a plastic guitar-shaped controller which has five color-coded buttons on the neck (representing guitar frets) and a rocker bar on the body (simulating a strumming motion). The game now includes other instruments such as drums and vocals, although not at the time this comic was published.

While playing the game, an animated band is shown on the upper half of the screen and an extended guitar neck is shown vertically on the bottom half of the screen screen (the frets horizontal), often called the "note highway", and as the song progresses, colored markers or "gems" indicating notes travel down the screen in time with the music; the note colors and positions match those of the five fret keys on the guitar controller. Once the note(s) reach the bottom, the player must play the indicated note(s) by holding down the correct fret button(s) and hitting the strumming bar in order to score points.

In this comic, [[Randall Munroe|Randall]] suggests that, were he in a real rock band, he would perform a mellow song but intentionally put a complicated guitar solo in, not for musical value, but solely to antagonise ''Guitar Hero'' players with an impossible solo. As the comic suggests, a random flailing would likely make for a very difficult passage to play in ''Guitar Hero''. This is highlighted by the previous statement that the song would otherwise be mellow, lulling the player into a false sense that the song was easy to play and relaxing.

==Title Text Explanation==

In order to understand the title text of the comic, you must understand two game mechanics for ''Guitar Hero''. The first is the ''Rock Meter''. Success or failure in hitting notes will cause the on-screen ''Rock Meter'' to change, showing how well the player is playing (denoted by red, yellow, and green sections). Should the ''Rock Meter'' drop below the red section, the song will automatically end, with the player booed off the stage by the audience.

The second element you must understand is ''Star Power''. Selected special segments of the song will have glowing notes outlined by stars: successfully hitting all notes in this series will fill the ''Star Power Meter''. The Star Power Meter can also be filled by using the whammy bar during sustained notes within these segments. Once the Star Power Meter is at least half full, the player can activate ''Star Power'' by pressing the select button or momentarily lifting the guitar into a vertical position. When Star Power is activated, the scoring multiplier is doubled until Star Power is depleted. The Rock Meter also increases more dramatically when Star Power is activated, making it easier for the player to make the Rock Meter stay at a high level.

Thus, ''Star Power'' can be used strategically to play difficult sections of a song that otherwise might cause the player to fail. The title text for the comic is suggesting that the player would have used up their ''Star Power'' in a strategic bid to not fail the sudden and surprising flailing solo. Now powerless, a second unexpected flailing solo would crush the player.

{{Comic discussion}}