explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:1798: Box Plot

2017-02-14T02:09:34Z

Takigama:

No Valentine's comic this year? (Or could it be later this week?) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.154.163|162.158.154.163]] 16:27, 13 February 2017 (UTC)
:Trump killed Valentine's Day for Randall. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.219|162.158.74.219]] 17:54, 13 February 2017 (UTC)
::I would agree with that, but it could just as well be next comic. However, Randall doesn't usually make Valentines comics, so... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 20:59, 13 February 2017 (UTC)

I thought this may also be similar to a bycicle pump because it doesn't explode it just enlarges. Wasn't there a comic similar to this where someone blows into a laptop power cord and it blows up like a balloon.[[User:XFez|XFez]] ([[User talk:XFez|talk]]) 18:54, 13 February 2017 (UTC)
:Yes: https://xkcd.com/1395/ {{unsigned ip|108.162.216.100}}
::Good call [[1395: Power Cord]] should be mentioned. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 21:01, 13 February 2017 (UTC)

I’m surprised this was Cueball, not Beret Guy. {{unsigned ip|108.162.216.100}}
:It could be that inflating/manipulating data is not supernatural. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.154.163|162.158.154.163]] 19:37, 13 February 2017 (UTC)
::Yes many people do this all the time, sadly. Often referenced in xkcd... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 21:01, 13 February 2017 (UTC)

There's also a blasting machine in Floor, /735
[[Special:Contributions/141.101.88.148|141.101.88.148]] 22:11, 13 February 2017 (UTC)

Could whoever writes the transcripts, please keep them more concise? I am visually impaired and rely on transcripts to "get" the comics, but I find that detailed descriptions of how things are drawn make the joke harder, not easier, to understand. Most transcripts are great, with just the information needed to get it, but some are way too detailed—and this one is pushing it to the extreme. Does anyone really want to know the exact size of each box, or how many lines are drawn around Cueball's shoulders to indicate movement? I'd be much happier with something like "Cueball climbs on top of the second box and pushes the whisker as if it were a pump. The box inflates as if air had been pumped into it." I don't want to know precisely how this information is conveyed, I just want to laugh like you guys with a good joke without getting lost in details. That said, many many thanks to those who write the transcripts! Zetfr 23:11, 13 February 2017 (UTC)

Its not mentioned in the explanation (and i dont feel confident enough to add it), but these plots are occasionally referred to by statistical types as "dynamite plots" (as some statistical folk dont like them), which is what i believe the title text may be a reference to. --[[User:Takigama|Takigama]] ([[User talk:Takigama|talk]]) 02:08, 14 February 2017 (UTC)

Talk:1798: Box Plot

2017-02-14T02:08:45Z

Takigama:

No Valentine's comic this year? (Or could it be later this week?) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.154.163|162.158.154.163]] 16:27, 13 February 2017 (UTC)
:Trump killed Valentine's Day for Randall. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.219|162.158.74.219]] 17:54, 13 February 2017 (UTC)
::I would agree with that, but it could just as well be next comic. However, Randall doesn't usually make Valentines comics, so... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 20:59, 13 February 2017 (UTC)

I thought this may also be similar to a bycicle pump because it doesn't explode it just enlarges. Wasn't there a comic similar to this where someone blows into a laptop power cord and it blows up like a balloon.[[User:XFez|XFez]] ([[User talk:XFez|talk]]) 18:54, 13 February 2017 (UTC)
:Yes: https://xkcd.com/1395/ {{unsigned ip|108.162.216.100}}
::Good call [[1395: Power Cord]] should be mentioned. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 21:01, 13 February 2017 (UTC)

I’m surprised this was Cueball, not Beret Guy. {{unsigned ip|108.162.216.100}}
:It could be that inflating/manipulating data is not supernatural. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.154.163|162.158.154.163]] 19:37, 13 February 2017 (UTC)
::Yes many people do this all the time, sadly. Often referenced in xkcd... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 21:01, 13 February 2017 (UTC)

There's also a blasting machine in Floor, /735
[[Special:Contributions/141.101.88.148|141.101.88.148]] 22:11, 13 February 2017 (UTC)

Could whoever writes the transcripts, please keep them more concise? I am visually impaired and rely on transcripts to "get" the comics, but I find that detailed descriptions of how things are drawn make the joke harder, not easier, to understand. Most transcripts are great, with just the information needed to get it, but some are way too detailed—and this one is pushing it to the extreme. Does anyone really want to know the exact size of each box, or how many lines are drawn around Cueball's shoulders to indicate movement? I'd be much happier with something like "Cueball climbs on top of the second box and pushes the whisker as if it were a pump. The box inflates as if air had been pumped into it." I don't want to know precisely how this information is conveyed, I just want to laugh like you guys with a good joke without getting lost in details. That said, many many thanks to those who write the transcripts! Zetfr 23:11, 13 February 2017 (UTC)

Its not mentioned in the explanation (and i dont feel confident enough to add it), but these plots are occasionally refereed to by statistical types as "dynamite plots" (as some statistical folk dont like the,), which is what i believe the title text may be a reference to. --[[User:Takigama|Takigama]] ([[User talk:Takigama|talk]]) 02:08, 14 February 2017 (UTC)

Talk:1795: All You Can Eat

2017-02-07T15:08:36Z

Takigama:

An all-you-can-eat hair salon actually makes sense... In the Netherlands (You know, from "drain the oceans") you can eat "kapsalon", translated "Hair salon". I' m pretty sure a " all you can eat " kapsalon place could actually exist here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapsalon (A hairdresser invented it by ordering his favorite food from a nearby place, they labeled it "kapsalon" ("hair salon") because it was intended for the next-door hair salon, then others ordered the same dish and the name stuck.) Quite funny, "kap" has many translations, including ones more related to lumberjacks than barbers...-- [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.209|141.101.104.209]] 14:08, 7 February 2017 (UTC)

What?? I think something bugged it. It's showing my edit in the editor but the viewer is different entirely. ??? [[User:Jacky720|That's right, Jacky720 just signed this]] ([[User talk:Jacky720|talk]] | [[Special:Contributions/Jacky720|contribs]]) 16:10, 6 February 2017 (UTC)
:If that happens, it means the cache hasn't updated itself yet. Refresh a few times until your edit appears. Alternatively someone may have undone your edit - look at the "View History" tab. [[User:Chloroplaster|Chloroplaster]] ([[User talk:Chloroplaster|talk]]) 17:09, 6 February 2017 (UTC)

does alt-text refere to the fact that they forcefully make him hit some posterboard at the pirntshop because of his prank? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.102.10|172.68.102.10]] 16:48, 6 February 2017 (UTC)
:Not really, because that wouldn't be "absent-minded" of him. [[User:Chloroplaster|Chloroplaster]] ([[User talk:Chloroplaster|talk]]) 17:11, 6 February 2017 (UTC)

Added the title text to the explanation. --[[User:JayRulesXKCD|'''JayRules''XKCD''' ]]<sup>[[User talk:JayRulesXKCD|what's up?]]</sup> 17:16, 6 February 2017 (UTC)

I think snake owners buy mice for their snakes. Not sure if they ever use pet mice... I think they're supposed to use mice that are drugged, but I wouldn't be too surprised if people have bought pet mice to feed their snake. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.17|108.162.238.17]] 19:10, 6 February 2017 (UTC)
: You don't feed your snake drugged animals, any more than you would feed it poisoned ones, as they would make it sick. Not sure about the U.S, but in Australia, it's illegal to feed the snake live rats. We buy them pre-frozen and thaw them as needed. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.53|108.162.250.53]] 22:11, 6 February 2017 (UTC)
:: Trivia about people eating cats (and sometimes dogs): When times are hard people tend to eat anything they can catch. This includes cats. That's why - in this context - a cat in German can be a "Dachhase" (''roof rabbit'') or "falscher Hase" (''false'' or ''fake rabbit'') - interestingly the last one is also an expression for a meat loaf made from ground beef... Do other languages have similar terms? --[[User:Felis Catus|Felis Catus]] ([[User talk:Felis Catus|talk]]) 08:20, 7 February 2017 (UTC)

The odd thing (possibly just British quirkiness) is I have seen "All You Can Eat" (AYCE) offers for non-food products or services. An AYCE beauty salon would mean as many of their services (aka the full works) as you want in one visit. AYCE car tyres would mean four tyres, valves, balancing, fitting and tracking. Never actually seen this as even economy tyres vary too much by size! So not as silly as it appears, except Randal is too literal. YMMV [[User:RIIW - Ponder it|RIIW - Ponder it]] ([[User talk:RIIW - Ponder it|talk]]) 21:27, 6 February 2017 (UTC)
: Works with virtual things, too: my British SIM card has an All-You-Can-Eat data option... --[[User:Felis Catus|Felis Catus]] ([[User talk:Felis Catus|talk]]) 08:20, 7 February 2017 (UTC)

Sam the Firefly book should probably be mentioned. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.155|162.158.79.155]] 04:09, 7 February 2017 (UTC)

What is the purpose of the extremely detailed graphic description in the transcript? Whether the transcript is for search engines or visually impaired readers, I find these details unnecessary and rather annoying. Unless others disagree, I suggest transcripts should only contain visual information that is strictly necessary to understanding the comic.
Zetfr 09:48, 7 February 2017 (UTC)
: It is done for people who are partially-sighted, who use "Explain XKCD" as their way to view the comics. (This was previously mentioned in the discussion of the tagline for this website.) [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.112|141.101.98.112]] 11:27, 7 February 2017 (UTC)

Not sure the first sign really would be A...k- Randal rarely uses lower case and his "K's" are rarely that shape. Also, the difference in height could equate to just his normal lack of uniformity in the size of his writing. It does fit with how he writes an X though. --[[User:Takigama|Takigama]] ([[User talk:Takigama|talk]]) 15:08, 7 February 2017 (UTC)