explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:549: Westley's a Dick

2015-06-12T15:40:44Z

Mattdevney:

This is a bit too much story... --[[User:NeatNit|NeatNit]] ([[User talk:NeatNit|talk]]) 05:52, 22 December 2013 (UTC)
:Not really: if you don't know ''The Princess Bride'' story, but want to understand this comic, it is the right amount of information. [[User:Markhurd|Mark Hurd]] ([[User talk:Markhurd|talk]]) 11:39, 22 December 2013 (UTC)
: You mean there are people who read XKCD and ''dont'' know the story of ''The Princess Bride''?? But yeah, Westley has been a merciless murderer for the last few years, and they kind of gloss over it. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.62.210|173.245.62.210]] 04:30, 28 February 2014 (UTC)

You committed one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is Never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well know, Never give too long an explanation of a movie! {{unsigned ip|108.162.216.32}}
::Reply to both the above comments: I have seen the movie, but I'm sure many xkcd readers have not. Also I could hardly remember any details from the movie, and certainly not the one about rolling down a cliff or the "as you wish" reply. And since it is important to know about the Dread Pirate and the prince as well as the Spaniard to understand the comic, it is almost impossible to explain less of the movie and still get all this info into the explanation. I would not even have know it was from that film based on the comic. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:12, 11 June 2015 (UTC)
:::I presume he was just taking the opportunity to make a joke using dialogue from the film. I think your explanation is spot on, FWIW.[[User:Mattdevney|Mattdevney]] ([[User talk:Mattdevney|talk]]) 15:39, 12 June 2015 (UTC)

I presume that fans have discussed the option that Westley was lying about the whole Dread Pirate Roberts story to cover up something he doesn't want Buttercup to worry about? I always thought the comment "I'd hardly be a dread pirate if I didn't." was kind of an admission, rather than a boast. Everything following it could be seen as an attempt to keep the secret. See the trope [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/KeepingSecretsSucks Keeping Secrets Sucks] although, in this case, it obviously didn't end up in [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheMasqueradeWillKillYourDatingLife The Masquerade Will Kill Your Dating Life][[User:Mattdevney|Mattdevney]] ([[User talk:Mattdevney|talk]]) 15:39, 12 June 2015 (UTC)

Talk:549: Westley's a Dick

2015-06-12T15:39:18Z

Mattdevney:

This is a bit too much story... --[[User:NeatNit|NeatNit]] ([[User talk:NeatNit|talk]]) 05:52, 22 December 2013 (UTC)
:Not really: if you don't know ''The Princess Bride'' story, but want to understand this comic, it is the right amount of information. [[User:Markhurd|Mark Hurd]] ([[User talk:Markhurd|talk]]) 11:39, 22 December 2013 (UTC)
: You mean there are people who read XKCD and ''dont'' know the story of ''The Princess Bride''?? But yeah, Westley has been a merciless murderer for the last few years, and they kind of gloss over it. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.62.210|173.245.62.210]] 04:30, 28 February 2014 (UTC)

You committed one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is Never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well know, Never give too long an explanation of a movie! {{unsigned ip|108.162.216.32}}
::Reply to both the above comments: I have seen the movie, but I'm sure many xkcd readers have not. Also I could hardly remember any details from the movie, and certainly not the one about rolling down a cliff or the "as you wish" reply. And since it is important to know about the Dread Pirate and the prince as well as the Spaniard to understand the comic, it is almost impossible to explain less of the movie and still get all this info into the explanation. I would not even have know it was from that film based on the comic. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:12, 11 June 2015 (UTC)
:::I presume he was just taking the opportunity to make a joke using dialogue from the film. I think your expllanation is spot on, FWIW.[[User:Mattdevney|Mattdevney]] ([[User talk:Mattdevney|talk]]) 15:39, 12 June 2015 (UTC)

I presume that fans have discussed the option that Westley was lying about the whole Dread Pirate Roberts story to cover up something he doesn't want Buttercup to worry about? I always thought the comment "I'd hardly be a dread pirate if I didn't." was kind of an admission, rather than a boast. Everything following it could be seen as an attempt to keep the secret. See the trope [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/KeepingSecretsSucks Keeping Secrets Sucks] alrthough, in this case, it obviously didn't end up in [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheMasqueradeWillKillYourDatingLife The Masquerade Will Kill Your Dating Life][[User:Mattdevney|Mattdevney]] ([[User talk:Mattdevney|talk]]) 15:39, 12 June 2015 (UTC)

Talk:1477: Star Wars

2015-01-23T12:55:50Z

Mattdevney: Do I have to put in a summary? In the comments? Probably not...

Hope the transcript matches normal presentation mores. And I thought I'd keep the title text explanation simple - so I haven't wasted much time if it gets utterly changed. [[User:Mattdevney|Mattdevney]] ([[User talk:Mattdevney|talk]]) 12:55, 23 January 2015 (UTC)

1477: Star Wars

2015-01-23T12:53:09Z

Mattdevney:

{{comic
| number = 1477
| date = January 23, 2015
| title = Star Wars
| image = star_wars.png
| titletext = A long, long time (plus 40 years) ago, in a galaxy far, far away (plus a corrective factor involving the Hubble constant) ...
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|First draft}}

This is another comic based on pointing out just how much time has passed since the release of a particular film. The same basis is found in [[1393: Timeghost]] and [[891: Movie Ages]], and a similar theme is used in [[647: Scary]] and [[973: MTV Generation]]. Many people remember going to see major films at the time of release, and in their mind it seems like 'just a few years ago'. In reality however, many years have passed, and it comes as a shock to realise just how long ago it was.

In the first panel, [[Cueball]] states out that we are approaching the Back to the Future date (21st October 2015), which is the date Marty McFly travels to in Back to the Future II. Megan counters that before that date, the Star War Tipping Point will occur. The middle panel goes on to explain what this tipping point is.

In the final panel, Cueball points out how weird it is that he (along with most other people) are regularly surprised at the passage of time, given how predictable time is by its very nature. Megan's last line is a reference to the famous opening sequence used in the Star Wars films, which begins "A long time ago...".

The title text repeats the opening text from the films, inserting Megan's suggestion for changing the duration, and extending it to include the Hubble Constant for changing the distance. The Hubble Constant is the unit of measurement used to describe the expansion of the universe, and would apply to something happening "in a galaxy far, far away".

==Transcript==

:[Cueball and Megan are walking together.]
:Cueball: We're almost at the Back to the Future date.
:Megan: We're even closer to the Star Wars tipping point.
:Cueball: The what?

:[Diagram showing a timeline from before 1980 to beyond May 13th 2015. Markers on the line indicate the release date of Return of the Jedi, the release date of The Phantom Menace and May 13th, with arrows showing the intervals in between these three points.]
:Megan: On May 13th, The Phantom Menace will have come out closer to Return of the Jedi than to the present.
:Cueball: Wow.

:[Cueball and Megan stop walking. Megan is in a reflective pose.]
:Cueball: It's weird how I'm constantly surprised by the passage of time when it's literally the most predictable thing in the universe.
:Megan: You know, "A long time ago" should have "Plus four more decades" added in rereleases.

{{comic discussion}}

1477: Star Wars

2015-01-23T12:51:09Z

Mattdevney:

{{comic
| number = 1477
| date = January 23, 2015
| title = Star Wars
| image = star_wars.png
| titletext = A long, long time (plus 40 years) ago, in a galaxy far, far away (plus a corrective factor involving the Hubble constant) ...
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|First draft}}

This is another comic based on pointing out just how much time has passed since the release of a particular film. The same basis is found in [[1393: Timeghost]] and [[891: Movie Ages]], and a similar theme is used in [[647: Scary]] and [[973: MTV Generation]]. Many people remember going to see major films at the time of release, and in their mind it seems like 'just a few years ago'. In reality however, many years have passed, and it comes as a shock to realise just how long ago it was.

In the first panel, [[Cueball]] states out that we are approaching the Back to the Future date (21st October 2015), which is the date Marty McFly travels to in Back to the Future II. Megan counters that before that date, the Star War Tipping Point will occur. The middle panel goes on to explain what this tipping point is.

In the final panel, Cueball points out how weird it is that he (along with most other people) are regularly surprised at the passage of time, given how predictable time is by its very nature. Megan's last line is a reference to the famous opening sequence used in the Star Wars films, which begins "A long time ago...".

The title text repeats the opening text from the films, inserting Megan's suggestion for changing the duration, and extending it to include the Hubble Constant for changing the distance. The Hubble Constant is the unit of measurement used to describe the expansion of the universe, and would apply to something happening "in a galaxy far, far away".

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|First draft}}

:[Cueball and Megan are walking together.]
:Cueball: We're almost at the Back to the Future date.
:Megan: We're even closer to the Star Wars tipping point.
:Cueball: The what?

:[Diagram showing a timeline from before 1980 to beyond May 13th 2015. Markers on the line indicate the release date of Return of the Jedi, the release date of The Phantom Menace and May 13th, with arrows showing the intervals in between these three points.]
:Megan: On May 13th, The Phantom Menace will have come out closer to Return of the Jedi than to the present.
:Cueball: Wow.

:[Cueball and Megan stop walking. Megan is in a reflective pose.]
:Cueball: It's weird how I'm constantly surprised by the passage of time when it's literally the most predictable thing in the universe.
:Megan: You know, "A long time ago" should have "Plus four more decades" added in rereleases.

{{comic discussion}}

1477: Star Wars

2015-01-23T12:50:29Z

Mattdevney:

{{comic
| number = 1477
| date = January 23, 2015
| title = Star Wars
| image = star_wars.png
| titletext = A long, long time (plus 40 years) ago, in a galaxy far, far away (plus a corrective factor involving the Hubble constant) ...
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|First draft}}

This is another comic based on pointing out just how much time has passed since the release of a particular film. The same basis is found in [[1393: Timeghost]] and [[891: Movie Ages]], and a similar theme is used in [[647: Scary]] and [[973: MTV Generation]]. Many people remember going to see major films at the time of release, and in their mind it seems like 'just a few years ago'. In reality however, many years have passed, and it comes as a shock to realise just how long ago it was.

In the first panel, [[Cueball]] states out that we are approaching the Back to the Future date (21st October 2015), which is the date Marty McFly travels to in Back to the Future II. Megan counters that before that date, the Star War Tipping Point will occur. The middle panel goes on to explain what this tipping point is.

In the final panel, Cueball points out how weird it is that he (along with most other people) are regularly surprised at the passage of time, given how predictable time is by its very nature. Megan's last line is a reference to the famous opening sequence used in the Star Wars films, which begins "A long time ago...".

The title text repeats the opening text from the films, inserting Megan's suggestion for changing the duration, and extending it to include the Hubble Constant for changing the distance. The Hubble Constant is the unit of measurement used to describe the expansion of the universe, and would apply to something happening "in a galaxy far, far away".

==Transcript==
{{incomplete|First draft}}

:[Cueball and Megan are walking together.]
:Cueball: We're almost at the Back to the Future date.
:Megan: We're even closer to the Star Wars tipping point.
:Cueball: The what?

:[Diagram showing a timeline from before 1980 to beyond May 13th 2015. Markers on the line indicate the release date of Return of the Jedi, the release date of The Phantom Menace and May 13th, with arrows showing the intervals in between these three points.]
:Megan: On May 13th, The Phantom Menace will have come out closer to Return of the Jedi than to the present.
:Cueball: Wow.

:[Cueball and Megan stop walking. Megan is in a reflective pose.]
:Cueball: It's weird how I'm constantly surprised by the passage of time when it's literally the most predictable thing in the universe.
:Megan: You know, "A long time ago" should have "Plus four more decades" added in rereleases.

{{comic discussion}}

1477: Star Wars

2015-01-23T12:49:52Z

Mattdevney: Transcript added.

{{comic
| number = 1477
| date = January 23, 2015
| title = Star Wars
| image = star_wars.png
| titletext = A long, long time (plus 40 years) ago, in a galaxy far, far away (plus a corrective factor involving the Hubble constant) ...
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|First draft}}

This is another comic based on pointing out just how much time has passed since the release of a particular film. The same basis is found in [[1393: Timeghost]] and [[891: Movie Ages]], and a similar theme is used in [[647: Scary]] and [[973: MTV Generation]]. Many people remember going to see major films at the time of release, and in their mind it seems like 'just a few years ago'. In reality however, many years have passed, and it comes as a shock to realise just how long ago it was.

In the first panel, [[Cueball]] states out that we are approaching the Back to the Future date (21st October 2015), which is the date Marty McFly travels to in Back to the Future II. Megan counters that before that date, the Star War Tipping Point will occur. The middle panel goes on to explain what this tipping point is.

In the final panel, Cueball points out how weird it is that he (along with most other people) are regularly surprised at the passage of time, given how predictable time is by its very nature. Megan's last line is a reference to the famous opening sequence used in the Star Wars films, which begins "A long time ago...".

The title text repeats the opening text from the films, inserting Megan's suggestion for changing the duration, and extending it to include the Hubble Constant for changing the distance. The Hubble Constant is the unit of measurement used to describe the expansion of the universe, and would apply to something happening "in a galaxy far, far away".

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

:[Cueball and Megan are walking together.]
:Cueball: We're almost at the Back to the Future date.
:Megan: We're even closer to the Star Wars tipping point.
:Cueball: The what?

:[Diagram showing a timeline from before 1980 to beyond May 13th 2015. Markers on the line indicate the release date of Return of the Jedi, the release date of The Phantom Menace and May 13th, with arrows showing the intervals in between these three points.]
:Megan: On May 13th, The Phantom Menace will have come out closer to Return of the Jedi than to the present.
:Cueball: Wow.

:[Cueball and Megan stop walking. Megan is in a reflective pose.]
:Cueball: It's weird how I'm constantly surprised by the passage of time when it's literally the most predictable thing in the universe.
:Megan: You know, "A long time ago" should have "Plus four more decades" added in rereleases.

{{comic discussion}}

1477: Star Wars

2015-01-23T12:13:27Z

Mattdevney: title text explanation, plus typo correction

1477: Star Wars

2015-01-23T12:07:22Z

Mattdevney:

1477: Star Wars

2015-01-23T12:06:44Z

Mattdevney: /* Explanation */

Talk:1470: Kix

2015-01-07T14:28:28Z

Mattdevney:

Is there a category:comics with strong language? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.225.71|108.162.225.71]] 11:36, 7 January 2015 (UTC)

From now on I don't think I'll ever see a box of Kix in the store without thinking, "Kid Tested, Mother Fucker!"[[User:Bmmarti3|Bmmarti3]] ([[User talk:Bmmarti3|talk]]) 13:16, 7 January 2015 (UTC)

Is it just me or does the last item in the list seem a little out of place for something Randall would write/post? It doesn't seem to me that he normally takes to swearing (at all) in any of his strips. [[User:Jarod997|Jarod997]] ([[User talk:Jarod997|talk]]) 13:34, 7 January 2015 (UTC)

What's wrong with swearing, you guys? This is XKCD; we're supposedly a mature audience who doesn't shy away from using words simply because they're about sex and sex is bad. XKCD has dealt with sexual subject matter before, I don't think Randall ever tried to market it as a 'family-oriented' webcomic. If your kid gets XKCD jokes, I think they're mature enough to learn about sex! :P [[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.171|173.245.56.171]] 14:14, 7 January 2015 (UTC)

[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.170|108.162.216.170]] 14:15, 7 January 2015 (UTC)The last one sounds like something Donald Draper would come up with if he was an increasingly cynical ad exec in the 70's or 80's when this came out.

I don't believe the use of Mother Fucker is sexual in this context, just an epithet. And Randall has used swearwords throughout the lifetime of xkcd, albeit not liberally. [[User:Mattdevney|Mattdevney]] ([[User talk:Mattdevney|talk]]) 14:28, 7 January 2015 (UTC)

Talk:1411: Loop

2014-08-22T09:33:17Z

Mattdevney:

First explanation. How did I do, veterans? [[User:Lacedemonian|Lacedemonian]] ([[User talk:Lacedemonian|talk]]) 04:45, 22 August 2014 (UTC)

Not bad.
I reorganised the content and fixed some stylistic flaws.

Awaiting older veterans to cross-reference with older entries. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.229.70|108.162.229.70]] 05:11, 22 August 2014 (UTC)Sylvertech

I count 4 devices: monitor, laptop, tablet, phone.
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.22|108.162.216.22]] 05:52, 22 August 2014 (UTC)J. from Mi.

All he needs is to have been wearing a Google Glass-type device, and this can simultaneously be both a smaller display (by absolute scale) to recurse onto after the smartphone and a possibly larger display (by proportion of view) to recurse back out of onto the 'smaller' computer monitor display... [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.233|141.101.99.233]] 09:14, 22 August 2014 (UTC)

I rather think that the image text is ironic. How many people, when reading a book, absentmindedly read a page (so far so good, possible) let your mind wonder (ok) and then pickup another book to start browsing (I think not). --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.231.175|108.162.231.175]] 09:26, 22 August 2014 (UTC)

They could pick up a magazine - my wife does it all the time. [[User:Mattdevney|Mattdevney]] ([[User talk:Mattdevney|talk]]) 09:33, 22 August 2014 (UTC)