explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:1120: Blurring the Line

2012-10-12T15:44:00Z

Johngardner:

This comic might refer to the movie [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptation_%28film%29 Adaptation] --[[User:Mambro|Mambro]] ([[User talk:Mambro|talk]]) 10:53, 12 October 2012 (UTC)
:There's a whole host of movies that white hat might be referring to. We can't know just from one theme present in the play, as there's a bajillion possible movies that it could be. Best to leave it unnamed.[[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] ([[User talk:Davidy22|talk]]) 11:54, 12 October 2012 (UTC)

I don't think he was "passing the conversational ball" so much as it was meant to be a humorous blurring of the line between metaphor and reality (he's the "Michael Jordan" of blurring the line between metaphor and reality and then he has an actual basketball).
Also, what is "masturbatory naval gazing" supposed to mean? If someone could explain that portion, that would be great. [[User:Trek7553|Trek7553]] ([[User talk:Trek7553|talk]]) 14:51, 12 October 2012 (UTC)

"Masturbatory navel gazing" is a contradiction in terms, hence the cursor text.

From Merriam-Webster: Naval-gazing is useless or excessive self-contemplation. One could define a movie about movies in this way. Masturbation is self-love, and a movie about movies could be thought of as a form of self love too. --[[User:Johngardner|Johngardner]] ([[User talk:Johngardner|talk]]) 15:44, 12 October 2012 (UTC)

Talk:1120: Blurring the Line

2012-10-12T15:41:53Z

Johngardner:

Talk:1094: Interview

2012-08-31T20:42:50Z

Johngardner:

The title-text refers to one of the issues I've had as an interviewer - the applicant sometimes doesn't understand the job they're trying to get. Of course in this case Black Hat can be excused, since he now has the interviewer's job, not the one he applied for.

Normally when I get offered a briefcase it contains a monetary bribe, a factor missed out in the explanation. I too would be surprised to find a portal in a briefcase.

The title-text also sounds like it contains a dig at interviewers, who seem to exist solely to block and stall candidates.

The hovertext might also reference the fact that the original interviewer doesn't know what else is different in this universe, and therefore doesn't know what his qualifications are or what else has happened thus far.

The briefcase technique should be mentioned in this article. Is a form of causing a good impression in an interview.

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Hovertext probably is a saying of Black Hat as interviewer, not other way round.

I agree, the hovertext is Black Hat asking the other guy, whose job he now has, what exactly IS that job. "Before you leave" is the clue: Black Hat isn't leaving, he has a job here now. [[User:Johngardner|Johngardner]] ([[User talk:Johngardner|talk]]) 20:42, 31 August 2012 (UTC)