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2024-03-29T13:55:51Z
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https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:327:_Exploits_of_a_Mom&diff=223785
Talk:327: Exploits of a Mom
2022-01-07T20:55:56Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
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<div>What about the daughter's name?[[User:Guru-45|Guru-45]] ([[User talk:Guru-45|talk]]) 14:57, 17 November 2012 (UTC)<br />
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:I think that's embellished upon later in a series called l33t. [[User:Davidy22|<span title="I want you."><u><font color="purple" size="2px">David</font><font color="green" size="3px">y</font></u><sup><font color="indigo" size="1px">22</font></sup></span>]][[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>(talk)</tt>]] 15:42, 17 November 2012 (UTC)<br />
:It's for novelty license plates with people's names on them (like "Bort" for example). [[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.67|199.27.128.67]] 18:15, 6 July 2014 (UTC)<br />
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After fixing my stupid undo I think this comic is still incomplete: What is the "driver's license factory" at the title text? --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:17, 11 June 2013 (UTC)<br />
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:The common tale is that someone purchases some item or other with writing on it (or somewhere where writing can appear, on closer examination) and finds that this writing reads "Help, I'm trapped in a <item> factory", or similar, as appropriate to the object concerned. This suggests that someone is trapped (or perhaps even enslaved to work) within such a place and their only hope of escape is to make 'messages in a bottle' out of the product that leaves the facility. This is often extended to various fantastical situations, like the (British only?) joke about the stick of {{w|Rock_(confectionery)|sea-side rock}}.<br />
:(Of course, the writing in sticks of rock generally starts to become unreadable (for normal-sized sticks) for any name larger than "Bridlington", although with care I suppose they've made them with a semi-legible "Western-super-Mare" set through them. But one aspect of this version of the joke could definitely well be that the theoretical SOS message wouldn't legibly fit.)<br />
:So, anyway, Mrs Roberts (who waited for a number of years for Little Bobby Tables to grow up to school-age, for the illustrated exploit) is patiently waiting for her daughter to get to somewhere in her mid-teens, or later, all the while intending that she will get to spoof such a message from the local DMV's license-printing facility at some point. (Turns out that could be as 'soon' as her reaching 14-16 years of age for her first Learner license, depending on state.) Momma Roberts likes playing the long-game, it appears. [[Special:Contributions/178.98.31.27|178.98.31.27]] 16:02, 19 June 2013 (UTC)<br />
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:She can already can get a passport with her name in it, which would look kind of weird. If she needs/wants to have a photo ID for use within the US (e.g., air travel), what would that be? [[User:Tessarakt|Tessarakt]] ([[User talk:Tessarakt|talk]]) 20:12, 3 August 2019 (UTC)<br />
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:The mouseover text might also be a reference to an easter egg in classic Mac OS, in which the text "Help! Help! We're being held prisoner in a system software factory!" was embedded in the {{w|system suitcase}}. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.50.90|173.245.50.90]] 20:02, 13 April 2014 (UTC)<br />
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::Someone should probably put something like this on the actual page instead of just the discussion... [[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.178|173.245.56.178]] 02:23, 11 March 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Wasn't there another comic that had the digits of pi with "Help I'm trapped in a universe factory!" included in it? {{unsigned ip|108.162.249.205}}<br />
:Yes, the earlier [[10: Pi Equals]]. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.83|108.162.216.83]] 20:32, 29 January 2015 (UTC)<br />
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The example talks about a SELECT query (for looking up information in a database), but I think an INSERT query (for inserting new information in the database) makes more sense, because of the closing bracket. A SELECT query is usually of the following form: SELECT column1, coulm2 FROM table WHERE username='somethingsomething'.<br />
An INSERT query is usually of the following form: INSERT INTO table (column1, columns2) VALUES (value1, value2)<br />
In the case of the comic, I think it's reasonable to assume it's the start of the school year and someone is adding the name of a new student (Bobby) to the database, which triggers the exploit.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.228.5|108.162.228.5]] 21:23, 23 March 2015 (UTC) David<br />
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I've made an explanation for the title text, if anyone wants to change it to make it less ambiguous or anything, edits are welcome. [[User:StairwayToHenry|StairwayToHenry]] ([[User talk:StairwayToHenry|talk]]) 15:35, 8 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
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It seems to me that Bobby doesn't necessarily share her technical savvy or sense of humour, but caused the incident simply through having the name she gave him. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.203|141.101.98.203]] 23:47, 23 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Anyone want to comment on the missing outline from panel 2? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.165|108.162.238.165]] 23:48, 27 July 2015 (UTC)someGuy<br />
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The explanation says that Bobby Tables got his technical savvy from his mom, however we have no reason to believe that he has any technical savvy at all- this prank was entirely his parents'. He is most likely having his first day of kindergarten, and has no technical savvy at all. <br />
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Is no one going to notice that his name is Robert Roberts? [[User:Abbyclem|Abbyclem]] ([[User talk:Abbyclem|talk]]) 22:04, 12 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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:... I read all the way down here waiting to see someone mention that, only to find you did it ... about a month ago. On what is now a very old strip. Weird o_O [[Special:Contributions/162.158.39.209|162.158.39.209]] 18:56, 28 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
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; Real Life<br />
It might be worth adding under "trivia" that situations similar to the one in the comic actually seem to [https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4456438/how-do-i-correctly-pass-the-string-null-an-employees-proper-surname-to-a-so happen in real life].--[[Special:Contributions/162.158.114.138|162.158.114.138]] 17:50, 22 November 2015 (UTC)<br />
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And possibly a warning not to try this on a live system.. a colleague just got fired after XKCD inspired stupidity. ~100% his own fault, but might be worth mentioning. [[User:Xseo|Xseo]] ([[User talk:Xseo|talk]]) 09:49, 29 November 2015 (UTC)<br />
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The point of this comic is to make fun of automated systems that input without searching for exploits, not for anyone to see if this would happen in real life(I hope). [[User:Dontknow|Dontknow]] ([[User talk:Dontknow|talk]]) 23:54, 17 April 2017 (UTC)<br />
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;Incomplete<br />
The explanation is incorrect. It keeps putting single quotes around the variable $name when it is the input stored in $name which will have the single quotes. It even mentions how the single quotes around $name are the reason for the exploit as opposed to the single quotes in the input stored in the variable $name.<br />
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On another note, the explanation seems to indicate that Bobby is responsible for the SQL injection and later suggests instead the mother is responsible. My interpretation was that this is entirely attributed to the mother since it is called "Exploits of a Mom". I do not believe she actually named her son with an SQL injection, but rather input that as his first name in the school's online registration form.<br />
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[[User:Flewk|Flewk]] ([[User talk:Flewk|talk]]) 17:15, 26 December 2015 (UTC)<br />
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;Importance of the space after double dash.<br />
In order for the double dash to properly instruct the database to ignore the rest of the line as a comment, it is necessary for at least one space to follow it. This is indicated explicitly in the MySQL documentation [http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/comments.html], and it is clearly included in the XKCD sketch (I'm imagining a person on the other end of the phone reading every character. "capital ess tee yew dee ee en tee ess semicolon dash dash space"). This space is not included in the code examples. I believe we at Explain XKCD should strive to provide valid code, so I am adding the spaces in the article. <br />
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.72|108.162.246.72]] 02:51, 30 August 2016 (UTC)<br />
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;Driver's license<br />
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An important aspect here is that driver's licenses are the preferred form of photo ID in the US (up to the point where you can even get a driver's license which does not allow you to drive ...), where other countries have identity cards. [[User:Tessarakt|Tessarakt]] ([[User talk:Tessarakt|talk]]) 20:09, 3 August 2019 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:206:_Reno_Rhymes&diff=114091
Talk:206: Reno Rhymes
2016-03-06T17:06:56Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
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<div>my Lai may also be a reference to Lai's definition, " a lyrical, narrative poem written in octosyllabic couplets that often deals with tales of adventure and romance." Can anyone tell if the poem in the comic fits the Lai's definition? If so, then Black Hat might also be saying "I shot a man in Reno, and a bunch more in my poem", referencing the poem they're saying. ---- {{unsigned|Bluewin}}<br />
:Interesting idea, but unfortunately the rhymes are not octosyallbic, which means to contain eight syllables. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 17:06, 6 March 2016 (UTC)<br />
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The "Now, I don't mean to pry" is a reference to "The Princess Bride" (Inigo says that to Westley). [[Special:Contributions/108.162.231.56|108.162.231.56]] 21:44, 15 February 2015 (UTC) {{unsigned|Idanbhk}}<br />
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Reno: where poets go to satisfy their homocidal urges. The murder rate is through the roof. {{unsigned ip|RedHatGuy68}}</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:469:_Improvised&diff=109699
Talk:469: Improvised
2016-01-22T16:13:05Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
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<div>Suggestion: add pansexual to the list of possible sexualities of Han when he ad-libs the line "I'm nailing your brother." This is also a valid sexuality, in which the gender and/or sex of the potential partner is considered unimportant. Therefore, Han having sex with Luke (a male) and seemingly being casual about the idea could make him pansexual. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.70.43|141.101.70.43]] 19:47, 10 March 2015 (UTC) Am I Signing Right?<br />
:Good call, I changed it to "not heterosexual." Also, you sign by adding four tildes to the end of your comment. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 16:13, 22 January 2016 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=469:_Improvised&diff=109698
469: Improvised
2016-01-22T16:11:46Z
<p>Bbruzzo: /* Explanation */ changed description of Han's sexuality to "not heterosexual", changed description of "really cold" panel</p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 469<br />
| date = August 29, 2008<br />
| title = Improvised<br />
| image = improvised.png<br />
| titletext = Oh, your brother is Luke. Sorry, should've mentioned that first.<br />
}}<br />
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==Explanation==<br />
In the second of the original {{w|Star Wars}} film {{w|The Empire Strikes Back|Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back}}", just before {{w|Han Solo}}, portrayed by {{w|Harrison Ford}}, is frozen in carbonite, the following conversation occurs:<br />
:Leia: I love you.<br />
:Han: I know.<br />
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The original script had Han Solo respond with "I love you, too", but Harrison Ford felt that the character would not give such a cliched response, even in the face of likely death and ad-libbed the "I know" line that was actually used in the finished film. The ad-libbed line is generally thought to be better than the original would have been.<br />
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The comic presents several alternative ad-libs that Ford could have made in that conversation as well as at various points throughout the trilogy. So in this situation it is the actor Ford and not Han Solo that speaks the lines. <br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
! Row<br />
! Col<br />
! Ad-Lib<br />
! Further Detail<br />
|-<br />
| 1<br />
| 1<br />
| '''Well, duh.'''<br />
| Here, Han ruins the mood [a dramatic confession] with a flippant statement.<br />
|-<br />
| 1<br />
| 2<br />
| '''Seriously? ...Christ.'''<br />
| Another example of an out-of-tone ad-lib. The original line is "never tell me the odds", a nod to Solo's daredevil persona. In this ad-lib, however, he is hesitant to try anything dangerous.<br />
|-<br />
| 1<br />
| 3<br />
| '''Oh! Hey, that explains the kissing earlier.'''<br />
| Another absurd, out-of-character answer to a serious remark, this time with Solo acting romantically oblivious [rather than forward, as he is usually].<br />
|-<br />
| 2<br />
| 1<br />
| '''I'm nailing your brother.'''<br />
| So far Leia doesn't know she has a brother. Also, since ''to nail'' means to penetrate, it should be a shock for her to know that Han is not heterosexual,as she assumed. This panel is referenced in the title text.<br />
|-<br />
| 2<br />
| 2<br />
| '''Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for scissors, though they do beat paper and rock.'''<br />
| The original line is "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid", a reference to Luke's force training and lightsaber use. In this ad-lib, Han turns a discussion about weapons into a [unusually formal] discussion about the game {{w|Rock-paper-scissors}}.<br />
|-<br />
| 2<br />
| 3<br />
| '''Cool. Listen, this thing is really, REALLY cold.'''<br />
| Han is in a freezing chamber in this scene. This remark indicates that he is not very interested in Leia's feeling at this moment since he is so cold.<br />
|-<br />
| 3<br />
| 1<br />
| '''Wowzers'''<br />
| ''Wowzers'' is an expression used by {{w|Inspector Gadget}}; another amusingly out-of-character ad-lib.<br />
|-<br />
| 3<br />
| 2<br />
| '''Barely. They're pretty drunk.'''<br />
| The original response here is "Uh, my team's ready. I don't have a command crew for the shuttle." In this ad-lib, Han responds to a serious situation [preparations for an important mission to bring down the Galactic Empire] with an unserious response and an admission that he's allowing his crew to drink while on duty.<br />
|-<br />
| 3<br />
| 3<br />
| '''Man, me too but Chewie never seems interested. Maybe I should grow my hair out.'''<br />
| The original response was "I can arrange that! You could ''use'' a good kiss!" In the original film, Leia's remark "I'd just as soon kiss a wookiee" is meant as an insult to Han, implying that he's no more attractive than a great hairy monster. In this ad-lib, though, Han takes her statement literally, and suggests that he is also interested in kissing a wookiee. Chewbacca is Han's wookiee copilot and fellow smuggler. Han's suggestion that he's interested in kissing Chewbacca is unexpected on many levels: firstly, Han's shown interest in Leia, secondly, Chewbacca is an entirely different species, and thirdly, Chewbacca is also male, and Han Solo is presumed by Leia to be straight.<br />
|}<br />
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Note: although it's spelled "wookie" in the comic, the canonical spelling of Chewbacca's species is "{{w|Wookiee}}".<br />
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The title text continues the ad lib in panel four. It refers to the plot twist that {{w|Luke Skywalker}} is princess {{w|Princess Leia|Leia's}} brother, which would not be revealed until the next film in the series. How Harrison Ford knows this twist at this point in the story is unknown.<br />
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==Transcript==<br />
:[Caption above the panels:]<br />
:Harrison Ford famously improvised his "I know" line in E.S.B. Here are a few of his less-successful ad-libs:<br />
<br />
:[Harrison Ford as Han Solo (in all the panels) stands in front of Princess Leia on the Cloud City Carbon Freezing Chamber.]<br />
:Leia: I love you.<br />
:Han: Well, duh.<br />
<br />
:[Han Solo in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon.]<br />
:C-3P0: Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3720 to 1!<br />
:Han: Seriously? ...Christ.<br />
<br />
:[Han Solo stands in front of Princess Leia on the Cloud City Carbon Freezing Chamber.]<br />
:Leia: I love you.<br />
:Han: Oh! Hey, that explains the kissing earlier.<br />
<br />
:[Han Solo stands in front of Princess Leia on the Cloud City Carbon Freezing Chamber.]<br />
:Leia: I love you.<br />
:Han: I'm nailing your brother.<br />
<br />
:[Han Solo standing in front of Luke Skywalker, who is holding a blast shield helmet and a lightsaber. The training droid hovers between them.]<br />
<br />
:Han: Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for scissors, though they do beat paper and rock.<br />
<br />
:[Han Solo stands in front of Princess Leia on the Cloud City Carbon Freezing Chamber.]<br />
:Leia: I love you.<br />
:Han: Cool. Listen, this thing is really, <u>really</u> cold.<br />
<br />
:[Han Solo stands in front of Princess Leia on the Cloud City Carbon Freezing Chamber.]<br />
:Leia: I love you.<br />
:Han: Wowzers.<br />
<br />
:[Han Solo sits with two others. General Madine approaches.]<br />
:Madine: General Solo, is your strike team assembled?<br />
:Han: Barely. They're pretty drunk.<br />
<br />
:[Han Solo and Princess Leia stand in an Ice Tunnel of Hoth.]<br />
:Leia: I'd just as soon kiss a wookie.<br />
:Han: Man, me too but Chewie never seems interested. Maybe I should grow my hair out.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]<br />
[[Category:Star Wars]]<br />
[[Category:Sex]]<br />
[[Category:Romance]]</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1582:_Picture_a_Grassy_Field&diff=106843
Talk:1582: Picture a Grassy Field
2015-12-12T01:02:55Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
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<div>Yikes! It's like an sql-injection for your imagination. [[User:Nique|Nique]] ([[User talk:Nique|talk]]) 05:28, 25 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Maybe someone should send DiCaprio to hunt for these creatures... [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 05:50, 25 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
: I'll see your Leo and raise you one Neo... [[Special:Contributions/162.158.114.246|162.158.114.246]] 08:00, 25 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Reminds me of [[248|#248]]. --[[User:Someone Else 37|Someone Else 37]] ([[User talk:Someone Else 37|talk]]) 07:39, 25 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Maybe consider SCP-Wiki's Cognitohazards, things that are dangerous once you know of them. The creature described here would be a very mild version of those (Sorry, no idea about the identification methods for non-account holders) {{unsigned ip|162.158.90.165}}<br />
: It actually comes off pretty similarly to a specific item, [http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-637 SCP-637]. They're classified memetic objects. --[[Special:Contributions/173.245.55.91|173.245.55.91]] 13:56, 25 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
: The title text reminded me about how the Foundation tried to kill SCP-682 with SCP-826. {{unsigned ip|108.162.237.188}}<br />
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The Onthological argument?<br />
What does this have to do woth the Cartesian Onthological argument? I suggest the deletion of that part.[[Special:Contributions/188.114.111.145|188.114.111.145]]<br />
: Agree [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 13:08, 25 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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: I think it should be left in (or put back). When I read the comic initially, I immediately thought Randal was poking fun at the ontological argument. For anyone not familiar, the core of the ontological argument is that you can induce god into existence using just words and definitions. Here, Megan essentially creates a mind-attacking being by defining it to exist. Actually, you could go so far as to argue that her mind invader is just the idea of god in and of itself - i.e. a mind invading meme that only exists because you think it exists. Obviously, not everyone here agrees with this view, but I think it should at least be mentioned in the explanation as a possibility. [[User:ActuallySerious650|ActuallySerious650]] ([[User talk:ActuallySerious650|talk]]) 14:16, 25 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
::I have put it back in. It makes sense to me, and others, and it does say may be a reference. So people can decide for them selves, and if they do not see it, then it is still a very short explanation. So just leave it be in the explanation. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 19:34, 25 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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::there is also another comic clearly referencing this argument - https://xkcd.com/1505/. Seems to me like even if that wasn't the actual point o the comic, it is an interesting connection. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 01:02, 12 December 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Is there a name for thought experiments (relaxation techniques?) that start with "Picture a grassy field"? I feel like this is an established thing being referenced that should be included in the explanation. [[User:Smperron|Smperron]] ([[User talk:Smperron|talk]]) 14:24, 25 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Reminds me of Doctor Who weeping angels [[User:Mikemk|Mikemk]] ([[User talk:Mikemk|talk]]) 16:24, 25 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Now imagine a grassy field with a creature on it that can get all these other creatures and itself out of your imagination in under 5 seconds - [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.196|141.101.104.196]] 17:10, 25 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Reminds me of the Tribbles from Star Trek. [[User:Benjaminikuta|Benjaminikuta]] ([[User talk:Benjaminikuta|talk]]) 19:05, 25 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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I think this creature revealed itself to me in a dream over two decades ago in the form of a white talking rabbit in the back of a restaurant. It was sorting pieces of paper with my memories on them, possibly as an analogy for [[wikipedia:memory consolidation|memory consolidation]]. --[[User:Tepples|Tepples]] ([[User talk:Tepples|talk]]) 19:37, 25 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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I think that this is a parody of Roko's Basilisk: http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/bitwise/2014/07/roko_s_basilisk_the_most_terrifying_thought_experiment_of_all_time.html {{unsigned ip|108.162.215.51}}<br />
:Just by writing this statement and linking to the article you have aided in bringing about its existence! >:( --[[User:R0hrshach|R0hrshach]] ([[User talk:R0hrshach|talk]]) 16:36, 28 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Yes, I think we have witnessed the birth of Randall's Basilisk. [[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.156|199.27.128.156]] 17:06, 29 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Why should the second creature be dangerous? Or the first, actually? -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 19:11, 26 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Randall has his good days and his bad days. Today (or whenever the comic was posted) is not his good day. :( -- [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.55|162.158.255.55]] 00:22, 27 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Why does Megan's comment prove she isn't sorry? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.2.246|162.158.2.246]] 05:10, 28 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Why did we need the part about how some people may not like beaches if their skin burns easily, or grassy fields if they have allergies? Is this a reference to another xkcd comic? If not, it sounds like a ranting 4 year old is telling the story - it really has no relevance whatsoever. I also agree with Descartes' ontological argument being irrelevant. While that's very interesting, it's probably very much grasping straws. I'm pretty sure this comic is just whimsical and doesn't require overthinking. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.15|108.162.216.15]] 22:52, 28 September 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:what_if%3F&diff=106456
Talk:what if?
2015-12-05T19:23:27Z
<p>Bbruzzo: /* No more what ifs */</p>
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<div>[[Special:Contributions/108.233.66.118|108.233.66.118]] 21:11, 16 April 2013 (UTC)so is anybody weirded out by last week's post on the worst thing pressure cookers can do, followed by yesterday's terror attacks using pressure cookers?[[Special:Contributions/108.233.66.118|108.233.66.118]] 21:11, 16 April 2013 (UTC)<br />
Do you want me to remove the articles not in the book, or label the ones IN the book? [[User:MadHaighaHatta|Completely sane (And not Anglo-Saxon)]] ([[User talk:MadHaighaHatta|talk]]) 11:34, 5 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
Do we want to add some references to the different What-If articles? Obviously putting up an explanation would be a bit of a waste since Randall goes into a lot of detail himself on any given subject. Some good things to mention might be the title-text on each image, mentions of recurring themes, and maybe some thought about the original subject mentioned (such as the "Space Oddity" music video that was the subject of a recent article). [[Special:Contributions/76.106.251.87|76.106.251.87]] 17:11, 30 May 2013 (UTC)<br />
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:"What if" is not {{w|Creative Commons}} related, so respect Randall's copyright. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 18:05, 30 May 2013 (UTC)<br />
::Sorry. Didn't realize that reviewing a creative work fell into copyright issues. No disrespect intended, only ignorance. [[Special:Contributions/76.106.251.87|76.106.251.87]] 19:16, 30 May 2013 (UTC)<br />
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:I agree that "what if?" is not ''clearly'' under CC-BY-NC-2.5, but the link next to the Copyright goes to xkcd itself, which clearly does say it is. [[User:Markhurd|Mark Hurd]] ([[User talk:Markhurd|talk]]) 13:40, 12 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
::Agreed. What-if appears to fall under the general xkcd copyright- it says "Copyright ©2012-13 xkcd." with the link pointing to general xkcd copyright info. "http://xkcd.com/license.html" also says that "you are free to copy and reuse any of my drawings (noncommercially) as long as you tell people where they're from." which includes what-if drawings, and I'm not sure if just part of a work could be copyrighted without Randall explicitly saying so. I also think it would be a good idea to have articles on the what-ifs for more information not stated in the what-if itself. {{unsigned ip|109.144.146.171}}<br />
<br />
:IANAL, so I will leave the copyright issues unaddressed as I respond to the original question in the affirmative: yes, we should have a page for each What-if article. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.55.63|173.245.55.63]] 15:54, 14 April 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== Logo/Header ==<br />
<br />
I'm convinced there is some sort of specific joke in the "What If" logo, but I'm failing to grasp it.<br />
Knowing Randall, there has to be something funny about using a crane to lower a T-rex into the Sarlacc. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.49.90|173.245.49.90]] 11:53, 3 February 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
[http://www.nerdist.com/2014/08/exclusive-heres-your-first-look-at-xkcds-what-if/ Nerdist Review] says "Remove the jacket, and you can see how that particular experiment worked out in Munroe’s mind" {{unsigned ip|199.27.128.118}}<br />
<br />
== Discussion regarding [http://what-if.xkcd.com/91/ What-if 91] ==<br />
<br />
I believe that Randall missed an opportunity to discuss means of harnessing thermal energy. See, original question specified HOT water!<br />
:He has to pay the electric bill. He couldn't make back the energy spent to heat the water due to entropy. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.161|108.162.237.161]] 05:51, 31 July 2014 (UTC)<br />
Shall we forgive him this oversight and carry out some analysis to determine the harness-able energy content of hot water from the bathtub faucet in an average American apartment building?<br />
<br />
:TODO: discuss Sterling engines or other strategies here. (That means you! :) )<br />
<br />
:I believe that even when you "run out of hot water", the incoming water will still have energy added since the gas or electric water heater will be running non-stop, turning cold water into slightly-less-cold water. Since slightly-less-cold water is still colder than the ambient temperature in the apartment, I'm not sure how to harness the energy added by the water heater... But neither am I sure that "you can't". TODO: Can someone confirm that you can't?<br />
<br />
Shall we then turn the dial up a notch, [http://what-if.xkcd.com/35/ What-if 35 style], and imagine how the scenario changes if the apartment building has a water heater that is perfectly capable of keeping the hot faucet piping hot, even if you run it 24/7?<br />
<br />
: Suppose the super water heater turns 15C input water (cold) into 50C output water (hot). I think that means that the water heater adds 35 calories (not kilocalories) of energy per milliliter. I played with this expression in Google Calculator "(35/1000) calories per ml * 1 liter / 1 second" and determined that 1. Google uses kilocalories for "calories", thus the /1000 part... and 2. it takes ~150 watts to turn a liter of cold water into a liter of hot water in *one second*.<br />
<br />
: Let's stop this for now and see if anyone is interested in participating. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.55.63|173.245.55.63]] 16:28, 14 April 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
::Go here: [http://fora.xkcd.com/viewforum.php?f=60 What If? discussion]. That's a BIG forum to discuss your items. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:16, 14 April 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== Discussion area ==<br />
<br />
Is there a discussion area for each of the "what-if?" pages? - Eg I'd like to point out that in #111 "All the money", the mouse-over text in the tombstone graphic says "Cash Ruled Everything Around Me" - or C.R.E.A.M. - coincidence? ;) Also, there have been past pages in which there have been items which I would contest some facts/statements, or seek further explanation. [[User:Jarod997|Jarod997]] ([[User talk:Jarod997|talk]]) 13:06, 4 September 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I would love to see an analysis of the most recent "what-if" - [http://what-if.xkcd.com/120/ What-if #120] as I'm sure each excerpt from an alternate-universe "What-if" column has an interesting background. Surely even if the article isn't Creative Commons some discussion of it is legal. Yes, I see that there is a thread on the forum for discussing this what-if but it is not succinct. [[User:Momerath|Momerath]] ([[User talk:Momerath|talk]]) 05:56, 3 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Is there a way this could auto-update like the regular part of the Wiki does? (I assume it auto-updates). This entry will never close if we don't do that and other than listing them and linking to them, there is nothing to say. [[User:4jonah|4jonah]] ([[User talk:4jonah|talk]]) 19:29, 1 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
As Randal stated, He will return posting his "What If?" on Tuesday, July 14th 2015, at 07:49:59 EDT. <br />
I have attached countdown below, to verify it.<br />
Mori.G.<br />
[http://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/generic?iso=20150714T074959&p0=43&fg1=ae7181&fg2=8e82fe&msg=What+if%3F+Returns%21&swk=1 What if? Returning!] {{unsigned ip|141.101.98.60}}<br />
<br />
== List of articles ==<br />
<br />
I don't have time to do much editing right now, so could someone else go and put the list of articles into a table to make more use of the page's width? Perhaps split it into groups of 20-40 entries in a cell, aligned left-right in chronological order and prefix each entry with the article number. Just an idea. [[User:Pixali|<font color="008000">Pixali</font>]] ([[User talk:Pixali|<font color="004b00">talk</font>]]|[[Special:Contributions/Pixali|<font color="004b00">contribs</font>]]) 00:32, 21 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== Why isn't there an explanation page for each what if? ==<br />
<br />
I love the What If? series, and consider it to be a similar, yet separate, version of the normal comics. There are many things that, while reading the What If?, I was confused, interested, or amused by, and I wanted to read about it on this wiki. Randall puts much effort into these, as well as the normal series, so they deserve some explaining. I have no idea how I'd go about this on my own, and I don't have the time right now to spare. I merely want to (hopefully) get the ball rolling on this, if it isn't already. {{unsigned ip|108.162.221.145}}<br />
<br />
== The UK Version of the book. ==<br />
<br />
I've edited in the UK version's summary, as I own the book. I will write about the date of the UK book's release too and the foreword. Is there anything else about it that other users think should be added?<br />
<br />
== Can we explain this? ==<br />
<br />
Can we explain the questions there, or not? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.218.77|108.162.218.77]] 23:09, 3 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== No more what ifs ==<br />
<br />
Should we include a note that Randall seems to have stopped creating What Ifs? The last one was over a month ago [[User:Mikemk|Mikemk]] ([[User talk:Mikemk|talk]]) 07:55, 27 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
He might be working on his book ''Thing Explainer''. Xkcd last posted 2 days ago. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.218.77|108.162.218.77]] 22:49, 15 November 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I think that we should conclude that this site is over if there isn't another post by New Years. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 19:23, 5 December 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1149:_Broomstick&diff=103963
Talk:1149: Broomstick
2015-10-26T00:34:02Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>I don't think that this comic implies that anything bad would happen to Toto- the Witch would have an incentive to treat the dog well, so that she received her broom back without complication. I think the title text is just to emphasize that the problems Dorothy faced were very solvable if her only priority was getting her and her dog home. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 00:34, 26 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Whichever user removed the category "Comics featuring Black Hat," commenting that his hat is taller and has a white stripe on it, kindly refer to comic 954, 377, 498, or ANY other comic involving him, and you'll see you're... well, wrong. He has never had a white stripe, and his hat is usually short, but occasionally slightly taller (mostly in the older comics). [[User:Maoman|Maoman]] ([[User talk:Maoman|talk]]) 23:59, 28 December 2012 (UTC)<br />
:They were saying that his hat has a white stripe in this comic. That guy in the balloon isn't Black Hat. '''[[User:Davidy22|<span title="I want you."><u><font color="purple" size="2px">David</font><font color="green" size="3px">y</font></u><sup><font color="indigo" size="1px">22</font></sup></span>]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 02:41, 29 December 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Anyone have any thoughts on the title text? Is that intended to suggest that Toto was an annoyance that Dorothy was happy to be rid of? I'm not really sure why (if) it's supposed to be funny... [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 15:50, 19 December 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:I figured it was a kind of loophole closing. With a lot of movies, you have viewers that go "well if the protagonist had just done 'this', then they could have saved a lot of trouble." But in this "easier" scenario, what reason would the witch have to trust Dorothy? Collateral is often used to ensure that one party will keep up their end of a deal, so it helped to seal this one. [[Special:Contributions/76.122.5.96|76.122.5.96]] 16:11, 19 December 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:I agree that the intention was to close a loophole, but I also was unable to fathom that Dorothy would leave Toto behind. It would be ''way'' out of character for her. If Dorothy had been a more self-centered character, then the title text would be a lot funnier. [[User:Smperron|Smperron]] ([[User talk:Smperron|talk]]) 11:38, 19 December 2012 (EST)<br />
<br />
:Yes, it would be extremely out of character, considering she was willing to run away from home just to protect Toto in the first place.[[Special:Contributions/71.215.186.130|71.215.186.130]] 06:30, 20 January 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:Definitely to close a loophole. Dorothy has something the Witch wants that Dorothy doesn't need except the crazy witch wants to hurt her for them. The Wizard seems to have what she needs but won't give it except for what the witch wants. A trade seems much easier. But of course, who would trust the witch (and why would the untrusting witch start trusting)? All things considered, if you're in a strange land with freaky creatures and frighteningly perverse singalongs, you might consider a Scottish terrier a small price to pay to return to a Kansas farm which, while dull, is far superior to that crazy place. :) [[User:Chriss|Chriss]] ([[User talk:Chriss|talk]]) 16:49, 19 December 2012 (UTC)Chriss<br />
<br />
:Cairn Terrier, original to the books and continued in the movie. Smaller and less feisty than a Scottie.A loyal breed, he probably escaped from the WWW after the trade, and is flying home with Dorothy and the Professor, unseen down in the bottom of the balloon basket.[[Special:Contributions/24.79.11.46|24.79.11.46]] 21:52, 19 December 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:Megan never struck me as much of a dog person. [[User:DanB|DanB]] ([[User talk:DanB|talk]]) 17:19, 19 December 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:Just wondering if Wizzard wants to see the broom, why not to show that to him, even let him touch that, than return it to the Witch, collect the pupy from her and merry on my way ? Kind of complicating the quest again, but retaining the all-for-friend appearance. [[User:prom|prom]] 1:13, 20.12.2012 (CET)<br />
<br />
Since the book had {{w|Silver Shoes}} and the movie had {{w|Ruby Slippers}}, I think it's probably best to avoid discussion of the book... I've removed the reference to the Nome King - who doesn't appear in the movie or even that first Oz book. &ndash;&nbsp;''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]''&nbsp;<sup>[[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]]</sup> 18:02, 19 December 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Anyone else notice Black Hat Guy in the balloon? How do you add the tag for "Comics with Black Hat Guy"?<br />
<br />
:I dont think that is Black Hat Guy.. This guy's hat is taller. It also wouldn't fit into Black Hat Guy's character, as Megan is essentially tricking him into thinking she's killed the witch.<br />
<br />
Due to the absence of lyrics, I assumed it was humming or whistling, not singing. --BigMal27 // [[Special:Contributions/192.136.15.178|192.136.15.178]] 12:31, 20 December 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The irony here is her ruby slippers have the power to take her home, but she's trading them away for a broom, in the hopes that the wizard will take her home. She says "that was easy" although it was far more effort than just clicking her heels and repeating "there's no place like home". <br />
[[User:Twifosp|Twifosp]] ([[User talk:Twifosp|talk]]) 02:22, 21 December 2012 (UTC)twifosp<br />
<br />
I'm still confused by this one - or maybe I just don't remember the movie well enough. She has the ruby slippers which would let her fly home by clicking them - so what has she gained by exchanging them indirectly for a flight home in a balloon? Has she traded her three companions and dog for the wizard's company? I feel I'm missing something. Also, to the person above saying it would be "out of character" for Dorothy to trade in this way, isn't that the point? That a sociopath version of Dorothy would resolve the problem completely differently? [[User:Stevage|Stevage]] ([[User talk:Stevage|talk]]) 23:48, 21 December 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Which version of Dorothy is the sociopath? Can't WoO be summerized as "Young girl arrives in strange land, kills first person she sees, then sets out to kill again."?<br />
<br />
Dorothy didn't know till near the end of the movie that the ruby slippers could get her home. I also want to point out that the Wizard never actually demanded the destruction of the witch. He just asked for her broomstick. The Tin Man suggested "But if we do that, we'd have to kill her to get it". The Wizard neither confirmed nor denied this, merely restating "Bring me her broomstick, and I'll grant your requests". So Dorothy trading for it without killing the witch is perfectly acceptable according to the terms outlined. {{unsigned|24.72.12.221}}<br />
:Furthermore, the good witch was (likely) not going to tell her how to get home until she had learned some valuable lesson. This bypasses the whole ordeal. [[Special:Contributions/76.122.5.96|76.122.5.96]] 05:36, 22 December 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
Perhaps I'm just remembering Wicked instead of the Wizard of Oz, but I was under the impression that the slippers were stuck to her feet. So she couldn't take them off, even if she wanted to. {{unsigned|99.245.20.210}}<br />
<br />
:That's right, Dorothy can't get the shoes off her feet, which is why she doesn't give them back to the witch (who is the legitimate owner of them) in the first place. This is the actual loophole that the alt-text is meant to close. [[Special:Contributions/198.103.254.251|198.103.254.251]] 21:53, 9 January 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The probable reason she didn't do this in the movie (assuming she thought of it) is that Dorothy is a very generous, loving person. If an evil witch who's terrorizing innocent people 24/7 wants something that bad, it's likely the slippers are a weapon or something the with could use to gain more power or do more evil. [[Special:Contributions/24.20.71.198|24.20.71.198]] 17:26, 1 August 2013 (UTC)EvanJM42 5:24, 1 August (GMT)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1110:_Click_and_Drag&diff=103425
Talk:1110: Click and Drag
2015-10-14T23:37:10Z
<p>Bbruzzo: /* path to completeness? */</p>
<hr />
<div>It's a bit of a stretch, but I think the jellyfish is playing Super Mario Bros..<br />
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.105|173.245.54.105]] 11:36, 12 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I went all the way west, but when I tried going east when I got to the mario bit I went down and got lost :( [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.246|141.101.98.246]] 21:22, 8 November 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Newbie editor here (ducks abuse and fires back). When I saw the lighthouse with Megan and Ponytail @ 1 North, 13 West, I immediately went to [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=59:_Graduation]. --[[User:Philo Pharynx|Philo Pharynx]] ([[User talk:Philo Pharynx|talk]]) 18:23, 26 November 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
This is great! Keep up the good work! The servers are melting, but keep refreshing if you get a 500 error. Let's get that chart filled out. --[[User:Jeff|Jeff]] ([[User talk:Jeff|talk]]) 19:05, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I've been dragging for ages, and it hasn't looped back on itself yet. Source diving tells me that it's freakin' massive, and it loads in a million separate tiles. Please, let me cry in a corner at the impossible majesty of it all. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] ([[User talk:Davidy22|talk]]) 06:59, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
:I'm source diving, and I've managed to extend the boundaries massively. Trying to find a way to remove the click and drag restriction on this monstrosity, think I've figured it out. Will have obscenely massive image uploaded within the next few hours. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] ([[User talk:Davidy22|talk]]) 07:24, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I swear, it's like he found out about us, and is now saying "Oh, yeah? Well how about this?" Other than the gripes of how hard it's going to be to get this thing explained, this one is pretty epic. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 08:08, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I started to comment some easter eggs. Come on, we can make it :-). -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 09:00, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I found the left hand boundary of the page reasonably quickly. Once you cross the sea you get their pretty fast. I also found an X-Wing coming out of the ground quoting a line from just after the death star trench run. {{unsigned|Chrisnoise}}<br />
<br />
==Different methods of viewing the world==<br />
For those who get impatient scrolling around (and are a little savvy): download the .html file for the comic ([http://xkcd.com/1110/index.html index.html]), and also the file [http://imgs.xkcd.com/clickdrag/1110.js 1110.js]. Edit the .html file to use your 1110.js instead of the one from xkcd.com. Then edit 1110.js:<br />
* remove the line "overflow: 'hidden',"<br />
* change the "1"s into "4"s in "for(var y=-1;y<=+1;y++)" and in "for(var x=-1;x<=+1;x++){"<br />
* optionally, remove the line "$remove.remove();" (warning: this will make it take up a lot of memory eventually!)<br />
<br />
Then open the local copy in your web browser. Zooming out, scrolling, and zooming back in helps find the easter eggs.<br />
{{unsigned|75.111.63.192}}<br />
<br />
The above can be done, without downloading, by putting Chrome or Chromium into developer mode by hitting F12, then altering the very same setting in the page, as you view it --[[User:Kazvorpal|Kazvorpal]] ([[User talk:Kazvorpal|talk]]) 22:28, 25 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
*This Page's instructions say to zoom in and out when browsing the modified local file. My browser skills are rusty. I have Firefox, and when I zoom in and out, it zooms the whole page, rather than just the interesting bit. However, seeing as how there are 16000+ panels, I don't think I want to zoom it out quite so very far anyway. Firefox is notoriously bad when there are lots of images on a page (and yes, it cratered while I was exploring the original page). In any case, can someone clarify the use of zoom? [[Special:Contributions/24.57.210.141|24.57.210.141]] 08:40, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
All is revealed here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4542367 - seriously. Links to downloads, full images, how to link directly to a point of interest and so on. {{unsigned|145.64.134.242}}<br />
<br />
Another full view, with pan and zoom http://www.mrphlip.com/xkcd1110/ {{unsigned|207.114.139.254}}<br />
<br />
For the pack rats, [http://www.mediafire.com/?u7dac458418phyn here] is a .tar.gz of all the pngs. You can use these to reference where in the comic you are. Files are named <tt><number><north/south><number><east/west>.png</tt>. So 1n8w.png is 1 north, 8 west. Let's get this thing done. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 09:12, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I've made a full-screen version with cursor control: http://ares.aylett.co.uk/xkcd/ [[User:Axa|Axa]] ([[User talk:Axa|talk]]) 12:51, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:Seems I'm really too slow, plus I have CSS problems (there are gaps between my rows) but I'll share what I did anyway. Create a file with <code>.html</code> extension with the following content (if you've downlaoded all the images already, you can change the code to use your local files) and you get a map of the world.<br />
<pre class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><br />
<!doctype html><br />
<html><head><title>Click and Drag</title><br />
<style><br />
table {<br />
border-collapse: collapse;<br />
}<br />
td {<br />
padding: 0px;<br />
}<br />
td.s {<br />
background-color: black;<br />
}<br />
</style><br />
</head><body><table><script><br />
var x, y, src, cssClass;<br />
for (y = -13; y <= 18; y++) {<br />
document.write('<tr>');<br />
for (x = -33; x <= 47; x++) {<br />
src = (y>=0?(y+1)+'s':-y+'n')+(x>=0?(x+1)+'e':-x+'w');<br />
cssClass = y>=0?'s':'n';<br />
url = "http://imgs.xkcd.com/clickdrag/" + src + ".png";<br />
//url = src + ".png"; // Remove comment to use local files<br />
document.write('<td class=' + cssClass + '><a HREF="' + url + '"><img width="64" height="64" title=' + src + ' src="' + url + '"></a></td>');<br />
}<br />
document.write('</tr>');<br />
}<br />
</script><br />
</table><br />
</html><br />
</pre><br />
:--[[Special:Contributions/132.230.1.28|132.230.1.28]] 09:58, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
:: I've created a file which looks the very same :-) The gaps between the rows seem to come from the <code>&lt;img&gt;</code> elements being displayed as inline content, adding some whitespaces to the cells. I now use this css code:<br />
<pre style="margin-left:4em;">* {<br />
padding: 0;<br />
margin: 0;<br />
border: 0;<br />
}<br />
table {<br />
border-collapse: collapse;<br />
border-spacing: 0;<br />
table-layout: fixed;<br />
}<br />
td {<br />
width: 2048px;<br />
height: 2048px;<br />
}<br />
img {<br />
display: block;<br />
}</pre><br />
::--[[Special:Contributions/84.181.110.126|84.181.110.126]] 15:06, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
This is the best full-size view of the comic: http://xkcd-map.rent-a-geek.de/ [[Special:Contributions/77.191.21.108|77.191.21.108]] 15:02, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== ZIP upload ==<br />
<br />
Hi,<br />
<br />
I’ve locally downloaded all the tiles (there is 225 PNG files) and made a ZIP file of them, but when trying to upload it here the [[Special:Upload]] page says: “Permitted file types: png, gif, jpg, jpeg.”<br />
Do I have to upload each tile one by one or is there a way to exceptionally bypass this restriction?<br />
Thanks. — [[User:Ethaniel|Ethaniel]] ([[User talk:Ethaniel|talk]]) 09:13, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
:Mh, seems I’m hours too late… — [[User:Ethaniel|Ethaniel]] ([[User talk:Ethaniel|talk]]) 09:14, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:I'm not sure we should upload each individual frame for this one. Though, we do need to have a discussion about how we're going to handle/archive/explain this one, because it's going to be big and tedius. Maybe some adventurous and hardy soul can stitch together grids of this so that we don't have the problem of having too much image (a single terapixel image will kill anyone's PC if they try to load it) and having so little (while the grids Randall's created are nice and bite-sized, it's hard to see the whole thing). [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 09:20, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
::I’m going to upload the 225 tiles in few hours: which path is best?<br />
::* <nowiki>[[File:1n1e.png]]</nowiki><br />
::* <nowiki>[[File:1110/1n1e.png]]</nowiki><br />
::* <nowiki>[[File:1110: Click and Drag/1n1e.png]]</nowiki><br />
::There will be of course a template (<nowiki>{{1110|1n1e}}</nowiki>) allowing easy access to individual tiles. ;)<br />
::[[User:Ethaniel|Ethaniel]] ([[User talk:Ethaniel|talk]]) 10:36, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:::If you are really going to do this, then I think doing <nowiki>[[File:1110: Click and Drag/1n1e.png]]</nowiki> would be the best spot. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 13:53, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
::::Finally I only did the template: direct link to the original tiles is fine too.<br />
::::Thanks for the answer, it may be useful someday. — [[User:Ethaniel|Ethaniel]] ([[User talk:Ethaniel|talk]]) 14:04, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:::::Sorry for the late response, I had to go to bed (I only got 4 hours of sleep anyways) to be able to get up for work today. The template is massively helpful. I crown you champion. It might be interesting to split up each page into sub-pages of this, and then transclude in the first paragraph from the subpage. So, <nowiki>[[1110: Click and Drag/1n1e]]</nowiki> would have a full description, including links to adjacent/related tiles, but have another template transclude in the synopsis and transcript into the table on this page. That's pie-in-the-sky thinking, and definitely should not be done today while the server is being hammered like it is. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 17:08, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
It doesn't seem to be a terapixel. There are 225 images of 2048x2048 pixels. The full range is 81x32 tiles, resulting in a 165888x65536 images, at approximately 10 gigapixels. The naming conventions is numberlatitudenumberlongitude.png, where lat can be either n or s, and long can be either e or w. E.g. 1n1e.png, which is the starting image, and they are located at http://imgs.xkcd.com/clickdrag/. {{unsigned|Aufgehaben}}<br />
<br />
There's far more than 225 images >> http://lebbeo.us/2012/09/19/not-bbq-fetching-component-images-of-xkcd-comic-1110/ [[Special:Contributions/114.79.57.76|114.79.57.76]] 11:17, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Seems to me what should happen is that someone should setup a "slippy map" without having to use the browser's zoom in/out capabilities. Think openlayers. -- [[User:Anarcat|Anarcat]] ([[User talk:Anarcat|talk]]) 13:35, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
==Raptors==<br />
<br />
I found two raptors. I couldn't even begin to tell you where they are. Follow the left side. Past the oceans and in some grass...somewhere. This is a lot to draw...I wonder how he did it. The shear size of each image, combined with the fact that they seamlessly transition together...when did he start? How much time did he put in? He should have waited one more to get comic 1111, I think. [[Special:Contributions/76.122.5.96|76.122.5.96]] 09:29, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
:The far right also quotes the very first xkcd comic ever. [[Special:Contributions/76.122.5.96|76.122.5.96]] 09:39, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
==Black hat==<br />
<br />
I found him in 2 locations, with a weapon both times. The Gatling gun he has on the building above the XKCD What if? cranes looks like he could be waiting to shoot something. Did anyone find anything he might be trying to shoot? [[Special:Contributions/171.161.160.10|171.161.160.10]] 13:09, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Nevermind. There's nothing there. But there is a hot air balloon below the area I suspected. [[Special:Contributions/171.161.160.10|171.161.160.10]] 13:16, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
==End of the JS file comment==<br />
<br />
At the end of the JavaScript file responsible for the map code, there's a comment "/* 50:72:6f:50:75:6b:65:20:69:73:20:61:77:65:73:6f:6d:65 */". Interpreted as hex codes for ASCII text, this reads "ProPuke is awesome". {{unsigned|134.102.219.116}}<br />
<br />
Interesting. Google tells me that ProPuke is the handle of a programmer from the UK. This morning, [http://twitter.com/ProPuke on his twitter feed], he posted "57:68:79:2c:20:74:68:61:6e:6b:20:79:6f:75:21". This translates from hex as "Why, thank you!" Also, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:ProPuke his Wikipedia user page] tells us a lot about him too. I wonder if he contributed to the code? [[Special:Contributions/71.201.53.130|71.201.53.130]] 23:24, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== ==<br />
<br />
I've been dragging and clicking for an hour, and I accidentally found the right edge. I started going left, and when I got to the island, I went into the Earth. I followed tunnels and caves down (at one point, there's a massive underground lake and a tree with a man sitting pensively by it (possibly Dawson?)) there until I found the tunnel that ends up going back to the surface in MarioWorld (complete with flag and castle), and went right from there. After the wind turbines, there's a bridge. On the other side of the bridge is a fencepost joke (If you're having fencepost problems, I feel bad for you son: I've got 99 problems but solved for 101). After that, there's a Burj Dubai reference (I assume the radio tower representing it is drawn to scale - it's very tall). After that, I went up a hill that had random farm callouts scattered on it, and on the other side of the hill is a large water tower. After that, there's grassland until the edge, which has Balloon Randall again saying, "I wonder where I'll float next." {{unsigned|67.52.249.244}}<br />
<br />
:I'm going to say this is a perfect example of what Randall wanted by creating a world so huge you can explore for hours, get lost, not care, and find yourself again, and keep wondering what you'll discover next. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 18:20, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
==IRC logs or it didn't happen==<br />
When I get home I'll post the logs I have (didn't think to have logging turned on until after the discussion started) so that it won't seem like I'm crazy. I remember Randall saying that a full, uncompressed, single rectangular image would be near a terapixel (the figure was something like 800 gigapixels). [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 16:04, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== ICC sections ==<br />
<br />
The following files have ICC sections:<br />
<br />
<pre><br />
$ grep -l iCCPicc xkcd_grab/*.png<br />
xkcd_grab/11s11e.png<br />
xkcd_grab/11s11w.png<br />
xkcd_grab/16s1e.png<br />
xkcd_grab/17s1e.png<br />
xkcd_grab/19s7e.png<br />
xkcd_grab/1n30e.png<br />
xkcd_grab/1n39e.png<br />
xkcd_grab/2n3w.png<br />
xkcd_grab/3n25e.png<br />
xkcd_grab/4s17w.png<br />
xkcd_grab/6n2w.png<br />
xkcd_grab/8n1w.png<br />
</pre><br />
<br />
(source of the images for me: '<code>git clone "https://github.com/danielribeiro/xkcd_grab.git"</code>')<br />
<br />
At first I thought the white/black tiles were a hint to some steganography embedded in the images. Then I found those ICC sections and thought it was just a pun to add a color profile to a black image. But not all of the above are just black and having a color profile for white image parts can actually make sense, so maybe someone else has a clue, why those (and only those) tiles have color profiles...<br />
<br />
-- [[User:Xorg|Xorg]] ([[User talk:Xorg|talk]]) 19:55, 19 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Do a binary compare on the files.<br />
<br />
== Jesus ==<br />
Seems that the description insinuates that the "Jesus" reference (1n21w) is intended to be vocative, not expletive. Can somebody substatiate that conclusion, as opposed to the position that Randall meant s/Jesus/Cripe/... ? (I guess this is just a long-winded way of saying [Citation Needed].) -- [[User:IronyChef|IronyChef]] ([[User talk:IronyChef|talk]]) 03:43, 20 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
Reference to 'footsteps in the sand'. Not expletive.<br />
<br />
== dot-code ==<br />
In [http://imgs.xkcd.com/clickdrag/1n7e.png 1 North 7 East] there are dots and lines. What do they mean?<br />
<br />
I think its a reference to Super Mario.--[[Special:Contributions/62.180.229.43|62.180.229.43]] 08:47, 20 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
This is a sad, sad day that this had to be explained to someone who reads this comic.<br />
<br />
No it's not! It's a Ten Thousand day http://xkcd.com/1053/. --[[User:Ohbejoyful|Ohbejoyful]] ([[User talk:Ohbejoyful|talk]]) 01:24, 22 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== Bob Ross ==<br />
<br />
The reference on 1n 33w seems to be related to Bob Ross, he used similar expressions about where items should live on a canvas<br />
"You know, this is a nice spot. Let's just live here. "<br />
<br />
I would like to note that "Bob Ross" would be an excellent name for a ninja turtle.--[[Special:Contributions/98.225.182.131|98.225.182.131]] 08:23, 21 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
la raja amo a bjork y estoy demasiado feliz que venga, pero debeira venir con portishead, ella es la raja y seria un honor presenciar tan buena musica, y teniendo a dos exponentes del trip hop juntas..suerte ojala sea seguro y no se suspenda.ahh y smashing pumpkins es de las bandas que me aconpa;o en su creciemiento, en la adolescencia ojala venga, seria espectacular, por favor si hay que se pueda hacer, avinsen para hacer firmas y weas, ojala viniesen.gracias por los maravillosos conciertos que han estado en chile este ultimo anosuerte!!!<br />
<br />
== 48? ==<br />
<br />
How are we certain that the maximum radius of the world is only 48 tiles? If I'm reading everything correctly, didn't Randall say that it was much larger than everybody is measuring? Isn't one explanation for this that there may be more than we've found? Does anybody have a script running that is still exploring?<br />
<br />
Answer: This line in the 1110.js source file: "var size=[14,48,25,33];" That controls how far you can scroll. Having hit all the edges you know those are the limits too. There are no actual tiles as far down as 25 or as far up as 14, but it means the page just fills that with white or black as needed. It does mean you can't find the whales by simply going to the top left and going along the top to the right since they will be one tile further down. Same with the tunnel at the bottom. It is a number of tiles above the bottom edge of the image. [[User:Lsorense|Lsorense]] ([[User talk:Lsorense|talk]]) 18:12, 24 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Thanks for the answer. In a world filled with secrets, I still wonder if there's a file on the server in more outer-realm locations. :)<br />
: Would be an interesting little project to (lightly) hit the server with out-of-bounds requests, to see what comes back instead of 404s -- [[User:IronyChef|IronyChef]] ([[User talk:IronyChef|talk]]) 14:10, 24 October 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== More Trivia ==<br />
* There is one (dark dark) green pixel in 9s7e.png. The remainder is all grayscale.<br />
* A number of the images have apparently been updated. Probably with a PNG optimizer, since the displayed data is unchanged.<br />
* The complete 10 gigapixel image, changed to grayscale, can fit into a 15 Megabyte PNG image. (Though having made it, I can't load it in my normal viewers.)<br />
--[[User:Divad27182|Divad27182]] ([[User talk:Divad27182|talk]]) 03:21, 21 September 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
== Updated ==<br />
<br />
How do you know the pictures are not uptdated or completed from time to time, adding or moving tiles?<br />
<br />
== Locked ==<br />
Will this be unlocked at some point? There are still a number of un-filled-in cells! [[User:Jerodast|- jerodast]] ([[User talk:Jerodast|talk]]) 11:07, 5 December 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
: I think it was locked as a guard against spam. That was a while ago though, maybe the admins forgot about it. [[User:Davidy22|<span title="I want you."><u><font color="purple" size="2px">David</font><font color="green" size="3px">y</font></u><sup><font color="indigo" size="1px">22</font></sup></span>]][[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 11:10, 5 December 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:: [{{fullurl:Special:Log|page=1110:_Click_and_Drag}} Special:Log] shows that the unlocking will occur automatically on December 7. Also, [{{fullurl:Special:ListUsers/Jerodast|limit=1}} Special:ListUsers] shows that your account was created on 3 December 2012 at 13:01 UTC. After 3 days and 10 edits, it will be automatcally promoted to autoconfirmed, so tomorrow by this time you will be able to edit semiprotected pages like this one. Only full protection prevents everyone except admins from editing the page (e.g. the main page). Hope this helps :) --[[User:Waldir|Waldir]] ([[User talk:Waldir|talk]]) 14:51, 5 December 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
Is there really any need for the bolded Transcript sections for tiles where there is no dialogue? It seems like it just makes the chart heavier. And for example at 1N, 22W, is there any real distinction between the description used before the "'''Transcript'''" compared to the stage directions that come after? [[User:Jerodast|- jerodast]] ([[User talk:Jerodast|talk]]) 14:20, 22 December 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
==Edges connected==<br />
I found this: [http://baltixy.w.interia.pl/xkcd/1110.htm http://baltixy.w.interia.pl/xkcd/1110.htm]. Looks like the original, but the left and right sides are connected. Should we add this here? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.254.103|108.162.254.103]] 19:50, 29 January 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
==You know what would be awesome?==<br />
if you could control one of the stick figures, and walk around and (possibly) interact with objects. Someone should really make that. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.180|173.245.56.180]] 01:23, 22 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== another click and drag browser ==<br />
hey,how about this?just basic html site,should someone add it here? http://geocities.ws/pluman/clickanddrag/ <br />
--[[Special:Contributions/103.22.200.222|103.22.200.222]] 14:54, 24 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
== path to completeness? ==<br />
excuse me, I have no idea what would make it complete? - right now I would say: thumbnails to all listed artifacts (like "man-made structure") - just making screenshots and upload and link? Anything else? Thanks for advise -- [[Special:Contributions/162.158.92.17|162.158.92.17]] 07:53, 3 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
: second: I guess each listed tile should have a short explanation what's to see there?<br />
** some tiles have "Transcript" while there is a full story like in a usual comic, e.g. {{1110|1|n|33|w}}<br />
** others have "transcript" and just describing static things, e.g. {{1110|6|s|17|w}}<br />
** and some more have just plain description, like "Water" e.g. {{1110|1|n|12|w}}<br />
:: what looks best in case 3? <br />
: third: I found incomplete-description : Some of the jokes in the larger world might benefit from an explanation ;-) thx, [[Special:Contributions/162.158.92.17|162.158.92.17]] 08:22, 3 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
** Something tells of What if #51 free fall. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.218.65|108.162.218.65]] 20:11, 5 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
At this point I am not sure what else we can add: The description of the completeness problem talks about jokes in the larger world, but without some clarification on what is meant by that I don't know how to add anything. Furthermore, I think at this point we need to move on to another comic as the incomplete explanation of the day: Click and Drag is just too difficult to add any more information to, and I think if a different comic was chosen you would see a much higher rate of participation in the project. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 23:37, 14 October 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1587:_Food_Rule&diff=103069
Talk:1587: Food Rule
2015-10-08T16:00:30Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>But some fish don't have faces. Or have some really ambiguous faces. What constitutes as a "face" anyway, from an overall standpoint? A set of eyes eyes, a mouth, and a nose, with the nose generically at or below eye level, and the mouth below the nose? (also do I need to include my name after the tildes or does it add it automatically?) [[User:International Space Station|International Space Station]] ([[User talk:International Space Station|talk]]) 04:30, 7 October 2015 (UTC) ISS<br />
: You type the four tildes and nothing else. The server software modifies your post before logging it, replacing your four tildes by your username and date/time. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.49.94|173.245.49.94]] 10:15, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::Reckon the nose rule cant be sustained, dolphins and whales have faces and their 'nose' is well above eye level.[[User:Plm-qaz snr|Plm-qaz snr]] ([[User talk:Plm-qaz snr|talk]]) 05:29, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:::Randall does not care if anything he eats have a face. He just wish to know if it does or not before he eats it. The plants that he eats do not have faces for sure, but he eats those. The reason he does not eat Squids or Oysters has nothing to do with faces. It is the invertebrate = missing skeleton - that is the reason as explained in the title text. The caption below the comic is an extra rule that has nothing to do with the things mentioned above, which he does not have to google! Have corrected explanation accordingly. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 10:28, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::::No way! The items in the list are classified according to whether their facefulness of facelessness is known without googling (things clearly with or without face are OK, things unclearly with or without face are not OK). The title text is the extra, unrelated rule, having nothing to do with the list. Explanation should be re-corrected again (not doing that myself as I guess some more arguing is due before doing). [[Special:Contributions/173.245.49.94|173.245.49.94]] 11:26, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::::OK, modified it so that they are alternative explanations now. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.49.94|173.245.49.94]] 11:56, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:::::I disagree with some part of this improved explanation. Because there can be no doubt (without using goole) that an oyster has no face. So the rule about faces do not apply for Oysters! I will correct.--[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:26, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::::::How can you say what somebody else must obviously know without using google? From reading the comic, it seems like Randal is unsure whether or not an oyster has a face. From previous comics with a similar format, the printed caption is directly related to the comic, then the title text is an alternate caption that could also work with the comic. Both rules fit the list of allowed food. [[User:Phipoli|Phipoli]] ([[User talk:Phipoli|talk]]) 17:38, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:::::::I completely agree. It briefly crossed my mind that a shrimp might have some kind of a face- it's entirely plausible that Randall needs to Google the face-ness of all three items. Really, it's the only conclusion that makes sense considering that this is how he set up the comic. Somebody should change the explanation back. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 15:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
the most famous and vocal proponent of the "no food with a face" rule is sir paul mccartney. to which one wag replied that anyone would follow that rule if they'd done as much LSD as he had. --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.34|141.101.98.34]] 12:25, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
It should be noted that the three forbidden foods can be classified as {{w|shellfish}}, which is typically banned in Jewish dietary law (and also generally banned in certain schools of Islamic jurisprudence). [[User:Rawmustard|Rawmustard]] ([[User talk:Rawmustard|talk]]) 12:36, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:I will include this in the explanation. But then pork is OK on this list, which it definitely is not for the Jews. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:26, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Is a squid a shellfish? I don't think it has a shell. [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 19:53, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::According to the list here: {{w|Shellfish#Nutritional_Values}} all kinds of Cephalopod molluscs, i.e. squid, cuttlefish and octopus are shellfish. So they are indeed shellfish. They do have some inner shells. You can find part of these petrified on beaches all over the world. I had a lot of those when I was kid. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
Oysters arguably have a 'mouth' (maw/jaw/etc), with plenty of opportunity for pareidolia or at least marginal (head-only) anthropomorphising, depending on shell markings/adornments or perhaps the psychological willingness of the observer to read the rest of the face in the fleshy creature ''within'' the 'mouth'. Hence a need to actually check, to be sure? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.159|141.101.98.159]] 14:06, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:I would disagree that a mouth would constitute a face. When looking at Wikipedia's page for face, it is only about humans, although it does mention that other animals could have faces. Guess it could be discussed if any animal that cannot make facial expressions (like humans and monkey) have a face at all. But yes I have seen by using Google that people do ask if squid and oysters have faces. But maybe that is just like Randall an attempt to make a joke on the vegetarians with this catch fraise of not eating anything with a face. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
More shrimp for me [[User:Mikemk|Mikemk]] ([[User talk:Mikemk|talk]]) 14:14, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The current explanation is very rambly. Also, it shouldn't presume what Randall knows or doesn't about shrimp, oysters, and squid and therefore shouldn't presume about what he needs to google. [[Special:Contributions/199.27.129.119|199.27.129.119]] 14:49, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:I do think he knows how they look. He is quite knowledgeable. Of course he may not know if other people think they have a face, and thus he could Google that. But the same could be said for a fish (and there are very many different types of fish with strange "faces" or no face). And I could easily argue that a cow cannot make any facial expressions and thus it does not have a face. And then Randall cold be confused and thus stop eating beef steak... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I don't think this has anything to do with whether an item actually has a face or not. I think that is a red herring brought on by the fact that the comic caption sounds very ''similar'' to the rule about not eating anything with a face. Randall's list of approved food items clearly are in the "face" and "no face" category alike. Thus we can conclude that Randall is ok with eating things that have a face, eating things without a face, eating things considered non-Kosher, eating carnivorous, eating vegetables, eating fruits, etc... In fact, we derive from this list that Randall has a very large array of food that is considered ok to eat. Thus his caption makes sense only when paired with the title text. Essentially, Randall doesn't eat food that creeps him out. Notice the caption states, "if I have to Google to figure out" which leads me to believe he considers that food to be other-worldly or creepy. This coincides with the title text about being creeped out by the specter of such a being.--[[User:R0hrshach|R0hrshach]] ([[User talk:R0hrshach|talk]]) 15:34, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:The explanation says quite clearly what you wrote in the first lines. I agree with it of course as I have been part of writing just that already... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
I think the currently explanation misses the point entirely. Two common 'food rules' are "Don't eat anything with a face" and "Don't eat anything you have to Google" (which would rule out, for example, pork and azodicarbonamide, respectively). The comic is funny because it mixes the two, which is ridiculous. The title-text is funny because it does this again with two more food rules ("Don't eat anything you would have to fight" and "Don't eat anything with a skeleton"). [[User:Jtg007|Jtg007]] ([[User talk:Jtg007|talk]]) 19:20, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
: You should update it, I agree. [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 19:53, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
: Thanks! You explanation makes so much more sense.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.66.23|141.101.66.23]] 11:14, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Yes that is actually much better. Please update. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
This current explanation is really incoherent and rambly, and it goes off on so many irrelevant tangents that just confuse it even further (Why is the stuff about kosher even up there?). The many grammar and spelling errors, as well as the Danish Google link, suggests this explanation was written by someone who's not very familiar with English. Recommend that this article be overhauled and rewritten, preferably by a native English speaker.<br>Also, the title text may be a reference to the [https://www.reddit.com/r/ledootgeneration spooky skeleton] Internet meme. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.176|173.245.54.176]] 00:35, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Please feel free to correct my spelling errors etc. That is why this is a wiki. If you write stuff like that you will scare away people who is not native English. Maybe this is your intention? --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The standard plural in English of octopus is octopuses. However, the word octopus comes from Greek and the Greek plural form octopodes is still occasionally used. The plural form octopi, formed according to rules for some Latin plurals, is incorrect because the word is Greek, not Latin. Just sayin'. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.39.207|162.158.39.207]] 08:13, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I vote YES to the overhauling and rewriting. However, (1) I'm not a native English speaker and (2) I think we should agree first on what should and what shouldn't be there, to avoid repeating the situation. Here's my checklist:<br />
* This has nothing to do with Kosher, that should be completely removed.<br />
* Oysters may require googling to check whether they have anything face-like.<br />
* Google links shouldn't be here, Danish or otherwise.<br />
* I didn't know about the "nothing requiring Google", "nothing you have to fight" and "nothing with a skeleton" rules; if these are indeed common, they really are relevant and the comic should be described simply as a mashup of these. Also, references to webpages describing these would be nice (NOT google searches).<br />
* While I strongly support the idea that the item list is about the caption rule and has nothing to do with the title text rule, it is clear that other people strongly support the exact opposite, so both should be given as alternative explanations.<br />
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.49.94|173.245.49.94]] 08:25, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
: I fully agree. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.66.23|141.101.66.23]] 11:14, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
: I also agree. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1587:_Food_Rule&diff=103068
Talk:1587: Food Rule
2015-10-08T15:58:18Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>But some fish don't have faces. Or have some really ambiguous faces. What constitutes as a "face" anyway, from an overall standpoint? A set of eyes eyes, a mouth, and a nose, with the nose generically at or below eye level, and the mouth below the nose? (also do I need to include my name after the tildes or does it add it automatically?) [[User:International Space Station|International Space Station]] ([[User talk:International Space Station|talk]]) 04:30, 7 October 2015 (UTC) ISS<br />
: You type the four tildes and nothing else. The server software modifies your post before logging it, replacing your four tildes by your username and date/time. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.49.94|173.245.49.94]] 10:15, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::Reckon the nose rule cant be sustained, dolphins and whales have faces and their 'nose' is well above eye level.[[User:Plm-qaz snr|Plm-qaz snr]] ([[User talk:Plm-qaz snr|talk]]) 05:29, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:::Randall does not care if anything he eats have a face. He just wish to know if it does or not before he eats it. The plants that he eats do not have faces for sure, but he eats those. The reason he does not eat Squids or Oysters has nothing to do with faces. It is the invertebrate = missing skeleton - that is the reason as explained in the title text. The caption below the comic is an extra rule that has nothing to do with the things mentioned above, which he does not have to google! Have corrected explanation accordingly. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 10:28, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::::No way! The items in the list are classified according to whether their facefulness of facelessness is known without googling (things clearly with or without face are OK, things unclearly with or without face are not OK). The title text is the extra, unrelated rule, having nothing to do with the list. Explanation should be re-corrected again (not doing that myself as I guess some more arguing is due before doing). [[Special:Contributions/173.245.49.94|173.245.49.94]] 11:26, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::::OK, modified it so that they are alternative explanations now. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.49.94|173.245.49.94]] 11:56, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:::::I disagree with some part of this improved explanation. Because there can be no doubt (without using goole) that an oyster has no face. So the rule about faces do not apply for Oysters! I will correct.--[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:26, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::::::How can you say what somebody else must obviously know without using google? From reading the comic, it seems like Randal is unsure whether or not an oyster has a face. From previous comics with a similar format, the printed caption is directly related to the comic, then the title text is an alternate caption that could also work with the comic. Both rules fit the list of allowed food. [[User:Phipoli|Phipoli]] ([[User talk:Phipoli|talk]]) 17:38, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:::::::I completely agree. It briefly crossed my mind that a shrimp might have some kind of a face- it's entirely plausible that Randall needs to Google the face-ness of all three items. Really, it's the only conclusion that makes sense considering that this is hoe he set up the comic. Somebody should change the explanation back. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 15:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
the most famous and vocal proponent of the "no food with a face" rule is sir paul mccartney. to which one wag replied that anyone would follow that rule if they'd done as much LSD as he had. --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.34|141.101.98.34]] 12:25, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
It should be noted that the three forbidden foods can be classified as {{w|shellfish}}, which is typically banned in Jewish dietary law (and also generally banned in certain schools of Islamic jurisprudence). [[User:Rawmustard|Rawmustard]] ([[User talk:Rawmustard|talk]]) 12:36, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:I will include this in the explanation. But then pork is OK on this list, which it definitely is not for the Jews. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:26, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Is a squid a shellfish? I don't think it has a shell. [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 19:53, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::According to the list here: {{w|Shellfish#Nutritional_Values}} all kinds of Cephalopod molluscs, i.e. squid, cuttlefish and octopus are shellfish. So they are indeed shellfish. They do have some inner shells. You can find part of these petrified on beaches all over the world. I had a lot of those when I was kid. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
Oysters arguably have a 'mouth' (maw/jaw/etc), with plenty of opportunity for pareidolia or at least marginal (head-only) anthropomorphising, depending on shell markings/adornments or perhaps the psychological willingness of the observer to read the rest of the face in the fleshy creature ''within'' the 'mouth'. Hence a need to actually check, to be sure? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.159|141.101.98.159]] 14:06, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:I would disagree that a mouth would constitute a face. When looking at Wikipedia's page for face, it is only about humans, although it does mention that other animals could have faces. Guess it could be discussed if any animal that cannot make facial expressions (like humans and monkey) have a face at all. But yes I have seen by using Google that people do ask if squid and oysters have faces. But maybe that is just like Randall an attempt to make a joke on the vegetarians with this catch fraise of not eating anything with a face. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
More shrimp for me [[User:Mikemk|Mikemk]] ([[User talk:Mikemk|talk]]) 14:14, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The current explanation is very rambly. Also, it shouldn't presume what Randall knows or doesn't about shrimp, oysters, and squid and therefore shouldn't presume about what he needs to google. [[Special:Contributions/199.27.129.119|199.27.129.119]] 14:49, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:I do think he knows how they look. He is quite knowledgeable. Of course he may not know if other people think they have a face, and thus he could Google that. But the same could be said for a fish (and there are very many different types of fish with strange "faces" or no face). And I could easily argue that a cow cannot make any facial expressions and thus it does not have a face. And then Randall cold be confused and thus stop eating beef steak... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
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I don't think this has anything to do with whether an item actually has a face or not. I think that is a red herring brought on by the fact that the comic caption sounds very ''similar'' to the rule about not eating anything with a face. Randall's list of approved food items clearly are in the "face" and "no face" category alike. Thus we can conclude that Randall is ok with eating things that have a face, eating things without a face, eating things considered non-Kosher, eating carnivorous, eating vegetables, eating fruits, etc... In fact, we derive from this list that Randall has a very large array of food that is considered ok to eat. Thus his caption makes sense only when paired with the title text. Essentially, Randall doesn't eat food that creeps him out. Notice the caption states, "if I have to Google to figure out" which leads me to believe he considers that food to be other-worldly or creepy. This coincides with the title text about being creeped out by the specter of such a being.--[[User:R0hrshach|R0hrshach]] ([[User talk:R0hrshach|talk]]) 15:34, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:The explanation says quite clearly what you wrote in the first lines. I agree with it of course as I have been part of writing just that already... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
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<br />
I think the currently explanation misses the point entirely. Two common 'food rules' are "Don't eat anything with a face" and "Don't eat anything you have to Google" (which would rule out, for example, pork and azodicarbonamide, respectively). The comic is funny because it mixes the two, which is ridiculous. The title-text is funny because it does this again with two more food rules ("Don't eat anything you would have to fight" and "Don't eat anything with a skeleton"). [[User:Jtg007|Jtg007]] ([[User talk:Jtg007|talk]]) 19:20, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
: You should update it, I agree. [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 19:53, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
: Thanks! You explanation makes so much more sense.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.66.23|141.101.66.23]] 11:14, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Yes that is actually much better. Please update. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
This current explanation is really incoherent and rambly, and it goes off on so many irrelevant tangents that just confuse it even further (Why is the stuff about kosher even up there?). The many grammar and spelling errors, as well as the Danish Google link, suggests this explanation was written by someone who's not very familiar with English. Recommend that this article be overhauled and rewritten, preferably by a native English speaker.<br>Also, the title text may be a reference to the [https://www.reddit.com/r/ledootgeneration spooky skeleton] Internet meme. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.176|173.245.54.176]] 00:35, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Please feel free to correct my spelling errors etc. That is why this is a wiki. If you write stuff like that you will scare away people who is not native English. Maybe this is your intention? --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
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The standard plural in English of octopus is octopuses. However, the word octopus comes from Greek and the Greek plural form octopodes is still occasionally used. The plural form octopi, formed according to rules for some Latin plurals, is incorrect because the word is Greek, not Latin. Just sayin'. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.39.207|162.158.39.207]] 08:13, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
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I vote YES to the overhauling and rewriting. However, (1) I'm not a native English speaker and (2) I think we should agree first on what should and what shouldn't be there, to avoid repeating the situation. Here's my checklist:<br />
* This has nothing to do with Kosher, that should be completely removed.<br />
* Oysters may require googling to check whether they have anything face-like.<br />
* Google links shouldn't be here, Danish or otherwise.<br />
* I didn't know about the "nothing requiring Google", "nothing you have to fight" and "nothing with a skeleton" rules; if these are indeed common, they really are relevant and the comic should be described simply as a mashup of these. Also, references to webpages describing these would be nice (NOT google searches).<br />
* While I strongly support the idea that the item list is about the caption rule and has nothing to do with the title text rule, it is clear that other people strongly support the exact opposite, so both should be given as alternative explanations.<br />
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.49.94|173.245.49.94]] 08:25, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
: I fully agree. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.66.23|141.101.66.23]] 11:14, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
: I also agree. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1587:_Food_Rule&diff=103067
Talk:1587: Food Rule
2015-10-08T15:56:15Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>But some fish don't have faces. Or have some really ambiguous faces. What constitutes as a "face" anyway, from an overall standpoint? A set of eyes eyes, a mouth, and a nose, with the nose generically at or below eye level, and the mouth below the nose? (also do I need to include my name after the tildes or does it add it automatically?) [[User:International Space Station|International Space Station]] ([[User talk:International Space Station|talk]]) 04:30, 7 October 2015 (UTC) ISS<br />
: You type the four tildes and nothing else. The server software modifies your post before logging it, replacing your four tildes by your username and date/time. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.49.94|173.245.49.94]] 10:15, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::Reckon the nose rule cant be sustained, dolphins and whales have faces and their 'nose' is well above eye level.[[User:Plm-qaz snr|Plm-qaz snr]] ([[User talk:Plm-qaz snr|talk]]) 05:29, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:::Randall does not care if anything he eats have a face. He just wish to know if it does or not before he eats it. The plants that he eats do not have faces for sure, but he eats those. The reason he does not eat Squids or Oysters has nothing to do with faces. It is the invertebrate = missing skeleton - that is the reason as explained in the title text. The caption below the comic is an extra rule that has nothing to do with the things mentioned above, which he does not have to google! Have corrected explanation accordingly. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 10:28, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::::No way! The items in the list are classified according to whether their facefulness of facelessness is known without googling (things clearly with or without face are OK, things unclearly with or without face are not OK). The title text is the extra, unrelated rule, having nothing to do with the list. Explanation should be re-corrected again (not doing that myself as I guess some more arguing is due before doing). [[Special:Contributions/173.245.49.94|173.245.49.94]] 11:26, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::::OK, modified it so that they are alternative explanations now. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.49.94|173.245.49.94]] 11:56, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:::::I disagree with some part of this improved explanation. Because there can be no doubt (without using goole) that an oyster has no face. So the rule about faces do not apply for Oysters! I will correct.--[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:26, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::::::How can you say what somebody else must obviously know without using google? From reading the comic, it seems like Randal is unsure whether or not an oyster has a face. From previous comics with a similar format, the printed caption is directly related to the comic, then the title text is an alternate caption that could also work with the comic. Both rules fit the list of allowed food. [[User:Phipoli|Phipoli]] ([[User talk:Phipoli|talk]]) 17:38, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:I completely agree. It briefly crossed my mind that a shrimp might have some kind of a face- it's entirely plausible that Randall needs to Google the face-ness of all three items. Somebody should edit the explanation. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 15:56, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
the most famous and vocal proponent of the "no food with a face" rule is sir paul mccartney. to which one wag replied that anyone would follow that rule if they'd done as much LSD as he had. --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.34|141.101.98.34]] 12:25, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
It should be noted that the three forbidden foods can be classified as {{w|shellfish}}, which is typically banned in Jewish dietary law (and also generally banned in certain schools of Islamic jurisprudence). [[User:Rawmustard|Rawmustard]] ([[User talk:Rawmustard|talk]]) 12:36, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:I will include this in the explanation. But then pork is OK on this list, which it definitely is not for the Jews. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:26, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Is a squid a shellfish? I don't think it has a shell. [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 19:53, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::According to the list here: {{w|Shellfish#Nutritional_Values}} all kinds of Cephalopod molluscs, i.e. squid, cuttlefish and octopus are shellfish. So they are indeed shellfish. They do have some inner shells. You can find part of these petrified on beaches all over the world. I had a lot of those when I was kid. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
Oysters arguably have a 'mouth' (maw/jaw/etc), with plenty of opportunity for pareidolia or at least marginal (head-only) anthropomorphising, depending on shell markings/adornments or perhaps the psychological willingness of the observer to read the rest of the face in the fleshy creature ''within'' the 'mouth'. Hence a need to actually check, to be sure? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.159|141.101.98.159]] 14:06, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:I would disagree that a mouth would constitute a face. When looking at Wikipedia's page for face, it is only about humans, although it does mention that other animals could have faces. Guess it could be discussed if any animal that cannot make facial expressions (like humans and monkey) have a face at all. But yes I have seen by using Google that people do ask if squid and oysters have faces. But maybe that is just like Randall an attempt to make a joke on the vegetarians with this catch fraise of not eating anything with a face. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
More shrimp for me [[User:Mikemk|Mikemk]] ([[User talk:Mikemk|talk]]) 14:14, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The current explanation is very rambly. Also, it shouldn't presume what Randall knows or doesn't about shrimp, oysters, and squid and therefore shouldn't presume about what he needs to google. [[Special:Contributions/199.27.129.119|199.27.129.119]] 14:49, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:I do think he knows how they look. He is quite knowledgeable. Of course he may not know if other people think they have a face, and thus he could Google that. But the same could be said for a fish (and there are very many different types of fish with strange "faces" or no face). And I could easily argue that a cow cannot make any facial expressions and thus it does not have a face. And then Randall cold be confused and thus stop eating beef steak... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I don't think this has anything to do with whether an item actually has a face or not. I think that is a red herring brought on by the fact that the comic caption sounds very ''similar'' to the rule about not eating anything with a face. Randall's list of approved food items clearly are in the "face" and "no face" category alike. Thus we can conclude that Randall is ok with eating things that have a face, eating things without a face, eating things considered non-Kosher, eating carnivorous, eating vegetables, eating fruits, etc... In fact, we derive from this list that Randall has a very large array of food that is considered ok to eat. Thus his caption makes sense only when paired with the title text. Essentially, Randall doesn't eat food that creeps him out. Notice the caption states, "if I have to Google to figure out" which leads me to believe he considers that food to be other-worldly or creepy. This coincides with the title text about being creeped out by the specter of such a being.--[[User:R0hrshach|R0hrshach]] ([[User talk:R0hrshach|talk]]) 15:34, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:The explanation says quite clearly what you wrote in the first lines. I agree with it of course as I have been part of writing just that already... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
I think the currently explanation misses the point entirely. Two common 'food rules' are "Don't eat anything with a face" and "Don't eat anything you have to Google" (which would rule out, for example, pork and azodicarbonamide, respectively). The comic is funny because it mixes the two, which is ridiculous. The title-text is funny because it does this again with two more food rules ("Don't eat anything you would have to fight" and "Don't eat anything with a skeleton"). [[User:Jtg007|Jtg007]] ([[User talk:Jtg007|talk]]) 19:20, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
: You should update it, I agree. [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 19:53, 7 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
: Thanks! You explanation makes so much more sense.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.66.23|141.101.66.23]] 11:14, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Yes that is actually much better. Please update. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
This current explanation is really incoherent and rambly, and it goes off on so many irrelevant tangents that just confuse it even further (Why is the stuff about kosher even up there?). The many grammar and spelling errors, as well as the Danish Google link, suggests this explanation was written by someone who's not very familiar with English. Recommend that this article be overhauled and rewritten, preferably by a native English speaker.<br>Also, the title text may be a reference to the [https://www.reddit.com/r/ledootgeneration spooky skeleton] Internet meme. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.176|173.245.54.176]] 00:35, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Please feel free to correct my spelling errors etc. That is why this is a wiki. If you write stuff like that you will scare away people who is not native English. Maybe this is your intention? --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The standard plural in English of octopus is octopuses. However, the word octopus comes from Greek and the Greek plural form octopodes is still occasionally used. The plural form octopi, formed according to rules for some Latin plurals, is incorrect because the word is Greek, not Latin. Just sayin'. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.39.207|162.158.39.207]] 08:13, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I vote YES to the overhauling and rewriting. However, (1) I'm not a native English speaker and (2) I think we should agree first on what should and what shouldn't be there, to avoid repeating the situation. Here's my checklist:<br />
* This has nothing to do with Kosher, that should be completely removed.<br />
* Oysters may require googling to check whether they have anything face-like.<br />
* Google links shouldn't be here, Danish or otherwise.<br />
* I didn't know about the "nothing requiring Google", "nothing you have to fight" and "nothing with a skeleton" rules; if these are indeed common, they really are relevant and the comic should be described simply as a mashup of these. Also, references to webpages describing these would be nice (NOT google searches).<br />
* While I strongly support the idea that the item list is about the caption rule and has nothing to do with the title text rule, it is clear that other people strongly support the exact opposite, so both should be given as alternative explanations.<br />
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.49.94|173.245.49.94]] 08:25, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
: I fully agree. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.66.23|141.101.66.23]] 11:14, 8 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
: I also agree. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:58, 8 October 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1585:_Similarities&diff=102746
Talk:1585: Similarities
2015-10-02T12:53:26Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>;Origins<br />
<br />
I've heard 50 Shades of Grey started out as Twilight fan fiction, but don't know how The Martian came to be. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.115|108.162.216.115]] 05:56, 2 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
-- Still missing from the explanation is what kind of brand ''The Martian'' is about... -- [[Special:Contributions/162.158.114.217|162.158.114.217]] 08:18, 2 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:NASA? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.229.238|108.162.229.238]] 08:22, 2 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:A Mars bar? --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.65|141.101.98.65]] 09:09, 2 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
:I'm going with NASA. --[[User:PsyMar|PsyMar]] ([[User talk:PsyMar|talk]]) 09:30, 2 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
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: It is Twilight fan-fiction. The original version is still availble for free. They just renamed the characters and removed references to Christian being a sparkling vampire and published it as a new book.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.115.22|162.158.115.22]] 08:43, 2 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
::Allegedly removed by the author, first from the fan fiction sites and then her personal site just prior to publication! And you're right, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/02/11/the-most-scandalous-part-of-fifty-shades-of-grey-isnt-the-sex-and-bondage/ the original is 89% similar to the published trilogy]. Names have been changed to protect the author from legal battles, and [http://www.avclub.com/article/holy-crow-fifty-shades-grey-crazy-similar-its-twil-215185 crucial changes from "holy cow" to "holy crap"] were also made.<br />
::[http://www.literarykiss.com/2012/10/communication-in-fifty-shades-of-trey.html I even found a few graphs about its literary horror and crap references, for people like me who are easily amused. Unfortunately it's so bizarre I'm feeling the effects of Poe's law here. Is it really that bad, or is this some parody? I'll never read the books to find out. --[[User:Fedora-tionOfPlanets|Fedora-tionOfPlanets]] ([[User talk:Fedora-tionOfPlanets|talk]]) 11:28, 2 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
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I believe Ponytail is not terrified by suggested title. That's more like she thinksthat Cueball will almost certainly read it and dares him to say otherwise. --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.80.53|141.101.80.53]] 11:46, 2 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
: I agree; the ''tell'' is italicized, and that emphasis indicates she's using an American idiom to indicate her enthusiasm for the idea. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.143|108.162.219.143]] 12:11, 2 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
: To clarify: in English (American?) slang there are two ways to use "tell me you didn't/wouldn't X".<br />
:A) "(''please/AUGH'') tell me you didn't X" can be translated as "I am horrified to think you did/would-do X, please reassure me you didn't/wouldn't do it:" (usually preceded by a pleading "please" or some exclamation of horror): "please tell me you didn't cross the streams", "ARGH! Please tell me you didn't tell Blackhatguy my email-address, living address and greatest fear!"<br />
:B) (smugly/challenging) "tell my you didn't/wouldn't X" would be translated as "I know you well enough to be 99% sure that you actually _did_/_would_ do X, and I really enjoy your blushing right now because you realise I caught you red-handed, but you cannot lie about it to deny me": "Oh dear Randall, tell me you wouldn't watch a debate between the reanimated corpses of Feynman and Einstein. *Randall blushes in guilty admission* Haha I knew you would"<br />
:[[Special:Contributions/162.158.90.193|162.158.90.193]] 12:31, 2 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:I agree, that was my reading of it too. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.141|108.162.221.141]] 12:48, 2 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
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: I also agree that she thinks it's a great book idea, I made the change. Not sure how I like the wording I jsed so please edit. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 12:53, 2 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Considering the timing, I wouldn't be surprised if Randall did indeed saw the movie, but had the comics ready in advance and after the movie only added the title and published it. So the part about him not liking the movie based on comics is unfounded. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 11:47, 2 October 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Is the sojourner used to communicate in the movie? It seems like it is just kept around to beetle around the hah module and the Lander is used for comms. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.180|141.101.98.180]]IB</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1585:_Similarities&diff=102745
1585: Similarities
2015-10-02T12:52:10Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1585<br />
| date = October 2, 2015<br />
| title = Similarities<br />
| image = similarities.png<br />
| titletext = I just came from The Martian, and I just have to say: Forget BB-8; I want a pet Sojourner! It's always been the cutest of our Mars rovers.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|What brand is the Martian based on? Fifty shades is based on the Twilight brand... Why would Ponytail not wish anyone to read Fifty Shades of Red? Does it have a certain meaning in the English slang language?}}<br />
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[[Ponytail]] compares two very different books, by listing their similarities for [[Cueball]] and end up concluding that they are actually the same book.<br />
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''{{w|Fifty Shades of Grey}}'' began as a {{w|fan fiction}} of a well known brand (the {{w|Twilight (novel series)|Twilight book series}}). It was originally written on the internet by {{w|E. L. James}}. It was then transformed into a successful book series which was later turned into a {{w|Fifty Shades of Grey (film)|movie}} released in February 2015.<br />
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''{{w|The Martian (Weir novel)|The Martian}}'' was originally a serialized story written by {{w|Andy Weir (writer)|Andy Weir}} on his blog which was later compiled into an ebook for people to easily download, then published into a physical book, and has now had a {{w|The Martian (film)|movie}} created based on it. The movie was officially released in the US on the same day this comic was released (October 2nd 2015). [[Randall]] indicates in the title text that he has just seen the movie. This is very likely, as premiere movies often have a sneak preview after midnight on the release day, so it is possible for him to see the movie and then post this comic early on the actual release day. <br />
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It is possible that the brand that the Martian derives from is NASA itself. The Martian has been [https://xkcd.com/1536/ compared to Apollo 13] by Randall. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112384/ Apollo 13] does indeed glorify the roles of the NASA engineers; and the Martian does a similar thing.<br />
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That Randall would go see this movie as soon as it was released was already made perfectly clear back in June when he released the comic [[1536: The Martian]] showing how excited he is about the book. He then really looked forward to the movie. It is not clear from the comic if he liked the movie. Since he now compares it to a book series that has been {{w|Fifty_Shades_of_Grey#Background|described}} as ''mommy porn'' it could indicate that he was not so satisfied with the movie. On the other hand he may just have noticed this connection and found that it would make a great joke here on the release day.<br />
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Since ''Fifty Shades'' is a kinky love story between two young people and ''The Martian'' is a very technical story about surviving completely alone on a hostile planet, the two books could not be any more different. Hence the joke. Cueball continues the joke by joining the two titles using red for Mars, to make a new book title, that should cover both books: ''Fifty Shades of Red.'' Ponytail is very enthusiastic about the book concept, saying it would be irresistible (at least for her and Cueball).<br />
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The [http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/BB-8 BB-8] mentioned in the title text is the {{w|astromech droid}} from the upcoming movie {{w|Star Wars: The Force Awakens}}, and is available as a toy (see also BB-8 on the[http://www.starwars.com/databank/bb-8 official Star Wars] home page). {{w|Sojourner (rover)|Sojourner}} was the Mars Pathfinder robotic Mars rover used by the protagonist of ''The Martian'' ({{w|Matt Damon}} in the movie) to allow him to contact Earth. Randall indicated that he thinks the Sojourner is much more cute than BB-8, and that he would like to have one as a pet. He then states that the Sojourner has always been the cutest among all the {{w|Mars rovers}}. There have been 4 so far the other three being {{w|Opportunity (rover)|Opportunity}}, {{w|Spirit (rover)|Spirit}} and {{w|Curiosity (rover)|Curiosity}} which have already been used in xkcd comics: [[695: Spirit]], [[1091: Curiosity]] and [[1504: Opportunity]].<br />
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==Transcript==<br />
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:[Ponytail is talking to Cueball.]<br />
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:Ponytail: So it's a work of fiction about a well-known brand. written on the Internet by an enthusiast, republished as a bestselling book, and then made into a big movie.<br />
:Cueball: Yup.<br />
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:[Ponytail holds her hand to her chin. Beat panel.]<br />
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:[Ponytail is talking to Cueball again.]<br />
:Ponytail: Yeah, ''The Martian'' and ''Fifty Shades of Grey'' are basically the same book.<br />
:Cueball: "''Fifty Shades of Red?''"<br />
:Ponytail: Man, ''tell'' me you wouldn't read that.<br />
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{{comic discussion}}<br />
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[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Robots]]</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1583:_NASA_Press_Conference&diff=102563
Talk:1583: NASA Press Conference
2015-09-28T21:20:51Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
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<div>I think the alt image text refers to the Elon Musk's idea of Mars colonization with nuclear bombs<br />
[[User:This that|This that]] ([[User talk:This that|talk]]) 10:00, 28 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Yep! I suppose that too.--[[User:Complynx|Complynx]] ([[User talk:Complynx|talk]]) 10:33, 28 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
:Um, Musk didn't suggest colonizing with nuclear bombs. (Lots of Little Boy bombs on Mars running around with their moms and dads?) He said nuking the poles would be a fast way to get Mars warmer and more Earth-like so it could be colonized with people. - Equinox [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.178|108.162.238.178]] 14:10, 28 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
::And we realize he was throwing it out there as a terrible hypothetically quick way of making Mars habitable. He is not olanning on doing that in any way. He is lookibg at making it habitable, but he does say it will take quite a long time to make it happen. Many, many years with biodomes. I know this doesn't change what is saidnin the comic, but let's all realize he's not planning on actually doing it. {{unsigned|Sean timmons}}<br />
:::And let us ALSO keep in mind that even if Elon Musk wanted to and was planning on going through with it, he would not be able to acquire nuclear weapons. Say what you want about the government's excessive reliance on federal contractors, but we still keep NORAD in-house. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 21:20, 28 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Maybe this could be linked somewhere: http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/08/how-and-why-spacex-will-colonize-mars.html [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 10:27, 28 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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the star wars thing should be explained. i realise that the possibility of anyone who doesn't already know caring at all is pretty small, but this ''is'' explain xkcd after all. (https://youtu.be/g6PDcBhODqo?t=93 scene?)--[[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.34|141.101.98.34]] 11:52, 28 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
: Yeah, but what were they really trying to accomplish? I've never questioned this before. I feel so alone and incomplete.... [[User:Puck0687|Puck0687]] ([[User talk:Puck0687|talk]]) 15:37, 28 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
: I have the feeling it was just someone trying to cause trouble. They saw Luke and Obi Wan, knew that they weren't regulars there and decided to pick a fight with a n00b. Kind of like YouTube comments. Obi Wan slicing off Ponda Baba's arm was the equivalent of a presumed n00b on the YouTube comments making a "your mom" burn. --[[Special:Contributions/173.245.55.134|173.245.55.134]] 15:49, 28 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
:: Is there something in the books that explains that? [[User:NotLock|NotLock]] ([[User talk:NotLock|talk]]) 16:18, 28 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
:: Yeah, Obi Wan showing off that he was a Jedi knight (when he just showed in the last scene that he also has mind control powers) was a dick move, and the opposite of keeping a low profile in a city under Stormtrooper control. But he had to do it, or else the audience wouldn't have known that a lightsaber was a deadly weapon until the duel with Darth Vader. So, yeah, it's a good question. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.189|108.162.237.189]] 18:36, 28 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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I think the "is it ruined" line of questions in the third panel is treating Mars as a smartphone, considering Mars to be damaged because it "got wet" and asking if Mars will be okay after it "dries out". [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.42|108.162.216.42]] 18:14, 28 September 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Could we maybe include a few examples of ill-informed questions from previous press conferences? {{unsigned ip|108.162.219.129}}</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:327:_Exploits_of_a_Mom&diff=101125
Talk:327: Exploits of a Mom
2015-09-04T13:15:11Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
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<div>What about the daughter's name?[[User:Guru-45|Guru-45]] ([[User talk:Guru-45|talk]]) 14:57, 17 November 2012 (UTC)<br />
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:I think that's embellished upon later in a series called l33t. [[User:Davidy22|<span title="I want you."><u><font color="purple" size="2px">David</font><font color="green" size="3px">y</font></u><sup><font color="indigo" size="1px">22</font></sup></span>]][[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>(talk)</tt>]] 15:42, 17 November 2012 (UTC)<br />
:It's for novelty license plates with people's names on them (like "Bort" for example). [[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.67|199.27.128.67]] 18:15, 6 July 2014 (UTC)<br />
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After fixing my stupid undo I think this comic is still incomplete: What is the "driver's license factory" at the title text? --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:17, 11 June 2013 (UTC)<br />
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:The common tale is that someone purchases some item or other with writing on it (or somewhere where writing can appear, on closer examination) and finds that this writing reads "Help, I'm trapped in a <item> factory", or similar, as appropriate to the object concerned. This suggests that someone is trapped (or perhaps even enslaved to work) within such a place and their only hope of escape is to make 'messages in a bottle' out of the product that leaves the facility. This is often extended to various fantastical situations, like the (British only?) joke about the stick of {{w|Rock_(confectionery)|sea-side rock}}.<br />
:(Of course, the writing in sticks of rock generally starts to become unreadable (for normal-sized sticks) for any name larger than "Bridlington", although with care I suppose they've made them with a semi-legible "Western-super-Mare" set through them. But one aspect of this version of the joke could definitely well be that the theoretical SOS message wouldn't legibly fit.)<br />
:So, anyway, Mrs Roberts (who waited for a number of years for Little Bobby Tables to grow up to school-age, for the illustrated exploit) is patiently waiting for her daughter to get to somewhere in her mid-teens, or later, all the while intending that she will get to spoof such a message from the local DMV's license-printing facility at some point. (Turns out that could be as 'soon' as her reaching 14-16 years of age for her first Learner license, depending on state.) Momma Roberts likes playing the long-game, it appears. [[Special:Contributions/178.98.31.27|178.98.31.27]] 16:02, 19 June 2013 (UTC)<br />
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:The mouseover text might also be a reference to an easter egg in classic Mac OS, in which the text "Help! Help! We're being held prisoner in a system software factory!" was embedded in the {{w|system suitcase}}. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.50.90|173.245.50.90]] 20:02, 13 April 2014 (UTC)<br />
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::Someone should probably put something like this on the actual page instead of just the discussion... [[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.178|173.245.56.178]] 02:23, 11 March 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Wasn't there another comic that had the digits of pi with "Help I'm trapped in a universe factory!" included in it? {{unsigned ip|108.162.249.205}}<br />
:Yes, the earlier [[10: Pi Equals]]. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.83|108.162.216.83]] 20:32, 29 January 2015 (UTC)<br />
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The example talks about a SELECT query (for looking up information in a database), but I think an INSERT query (for inserting new information in the database) makes more sense, because of the closing bracket. A SELECT query is usually of the following form: SELECT column1, coulm2 FROM table WHERE username='somethingsomething'.<br />
An INSERT query is usually of the following form: INSERT INTO table (column1, columns2) VALUES (value1, value2)<br />
In the case of the comic, I think it's reasonable to assume it's the start of the school year and someone is adding the name of a new student (Bobby) to the database, which triggers the exploit.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.228.5|108.162.228.5]] 21:23, 23 March 2015 (UTC) David<br />
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I've made an explanation for the title text, if anyone wants to change it to make it less ambiguous or anything, edits are welcome. [[User:StairwayToHenry|StairwayToHenry]] ([[User talk:StairwayToHenry|talk]]) 15:35, 8 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
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It seems to me that Bobby doesn't necessarily share her technical savvy or sense of humour, but caused the incident simply through having the name she gave him. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.203|141.101.98.203]] 23:47, 23 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Anyone want to comment on the missing outline from panel 2? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.165|108.162.238.165]] 23:48, 27 July 2015 (UTC)someGuy<br />
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The explanation says that Bobby Tables got his technical savvy from his mom, however we have no reason to believe that he has any technical savvy at all- this prank was entirely his parents'. He is most likely having his first day of kindergarten, and has no technical savvy at all. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 13:15, 4 September 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:448:_Good_Morning&diff=101064
Talk:448: Good Morning
2015-09-03T13:21:34Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
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<div>If you try to take the IDL into account, would he have time-traveled in his sleep? Gained 18 hrs? Or lost a day? [[User:Saibot84|Saibot84]] ([[User talk:Saibot84|talk]]) 14:50, 15 April 2013 (UTC)<br />
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:If you use sleeping as the only separation of days then for them time would probably go slower since due to pulling all-nighters they will probably sleep less often than normal. Meaning that from an outside observer he has traveled back in time. [[User:Tharkon|Tharkon]] ([[User talk:Tharkon|talk]]) 19:09, 1 December 2013 (UTC)<br />
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If someone would make a website to compute this, just based on the time of waking, I would definitely use it before getting up each morning. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.7|108.162.219.7]] 00:58, 30 April 2014 (UTC)<br />
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:Randall has made just such a site! Xkcd.com/now [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 13:20, 3 September 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:448:_Good_Morning&diff=101063
Talk:448: Good Morning
2015-09-03T13:20:06Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
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<div>If you try to take the IDL into account, would he have time-traveled in his sleep? Gained 18 hrs? Or lost a day? [[User:Saibot84|Saibot84]] ([[User talk:Saibot84|talk]]) 14:50, 15 April 2013 (UTC)<br />
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:If you use sleeping as the only separation of days then for them time would probably go slower since due to pulling all-nighters they will probably sleep less often than normal. Meaning that from an outside observer he has traveled back in time. [[User:Tharkon|Tharkon]] ([[User talk:Tharkon|talk]]) 19:09, 1 December 2013 (UTC)<br />
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If someone would make a website to compute this, just based on the time of waking, I would definitely use it before getting up each morning. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.7|108.162.219.7]] 00:58, 30 April 2014 (UTC)<br />
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:Randall has made just such a site! Xkcd.com/time [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 13:20, 3 September 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1257:_Monster&diff=100959
Talk:1257: Monster
2015-09-02T18:48:13Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
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<div>My first contribution, woo! I'm writing the transcript now. If there's an official one, please throw mine out and let me know :) [[User:Matega|Matega]] ([[User talk:Matega|talk]]) 06:13, 28 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
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I think it's done. Is it okay to refer to person 2 as Cueball and person 4 as Ponytail? As far as I know, Cueball is identified by not wearing anything... [[User:Matega|Matega]] ([[User talk:Matega|talk]]) 06:28, 28 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
:Official transcripts tend to be days behind us. And yeah, we usually follow that naming convention for characters. '''[[User:Davidy22|<u>{{Color|#707|David}}<font color=#070 size=3>y</font></u><font color=#508 size=4>²²</font>]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 06:49, 28 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
This comic should be based on Pacific Rim(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1663662/) and the dictionary of numbers(http://blog.xkcd.com/2013/05/15/dictionary-of-numbers/) [[User:Tianshuo|Tianshuo]] ([[User talk:Tianshuo|talk]]) 08:07, 28 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
: I've not seen Pacific Rim so I may be missing something obvious, but why? I don't see any obvious references to either. It's certainly in someways a continuation of the dictionary of numbers, but it looks at it from the other direction as a too often used cliche. [[Special:Contributions/131.123.61.160|131.123.61.160]] 10:51, 28 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
:: I don't know why the original edit was deleted. This is definitely the opening scene of the movie Pacific Rim. [[User:Tianshuo|Tianshuo]] ([[User talk:Tianshuo|talk]]) 01:04, 29 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
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I like to relate this to [[1047: Approximations]] and [[526: Converting to Metric]] [[User:Theo|Theo]] ([[User talk:Theo|talk]]) 12:43, 28 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
:Your links appear to be broken [[Special:Contributions/131.123.61.160|131.123.61.160]] 12:48, 28 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
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I added the basic tautology reference, but really wanted to add more, bracketted, maybe like: "(Usually overwhelmingly large amounts of conventional explosives, meteorite explosions or other non-nuclear energy-producers are likened directly as single-Hiroshima equivalent, although nuclear (or non-nuclear) blasts that are multiple-Hiroshimas in size maybe so scaled.)" But that looks too wordy. Feel free to adapt/adopt/correct. [[Special:Contributions/31.109.251.100|31.109.251.100]] 14:07, 28 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
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:Perhaps is could be noted that the Hiroshima bomb was one of the smallest nuclear bombs ever used. Probably enough to kill most monsters less than several football fields in length, but only about seven times the strength of the Halifax explosion. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 14:30, 28 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
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:How is it a tautology? Do all nuclear weapons "carry the destructive energy of the Hiroshima bomb"? [[Special:Contributions/70.29.69.4|70.29.69.4]] 19:33, 28 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
::Ok, it works better with the additional "huge non-nuclear energies are explained in terms of Hiroshima" bit appended, you tend to only explain nuclear blasts in terms of their multiple of this standard or (ironically, as with Hiroshima's 12-20 estimate) in megatonnes of TNT or boring old (kilo/whatever)Joule-units. I just read it as "the baseball was thrown at the speed of a little-league baseball", or similar. [[Special:Contributions/31.109.251.100|31.109.251.100]] 13:37, 30 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
:::It's not a tautology, since the reference to Hiroshima is, in fact, providing a reference point for its energy (especially since the Hiroshima bomb has a specific energy attributed), and not all nuclear bombs have that same destructive energy. --[[User:Canned Soul|Canned Soul]] ([[User talk:Canned Soul|talk]]) 05:40, 1 September 2013 (UTC)<br />
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How big was the nuclear explosion? "Oh, about as big as a small nuclear explosion." You don't think that's a weird and unhelpful way to explain something? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.58|108.162.219.58]] 09:08, 4 February 2014 (UTC)<br />
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I do not think this is a reference to Pacific Rim, at least not any more than it is a reference to Godzilla, Mothra, King Kong, etc. Unless Pacific Rim was released the same week or something, it seems like a very arbitrary movie to select from the broader "monsters destroying things" genre. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 18:48, 2 September 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1571:_Car_Model_Names&diff=100619
Talk:1571: Car Model Names
2015-08-31T14:39:41Z
<p>Bbruzzo: Created page with "Suzuki Sexism kinda has a ring to it... ~~~~"</p>
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<div>Suzuki Sexism kinda has a ring to it... [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 14:39, 31 August 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1524:_Dimensions&diff=100581
Talk:1524: Dimensions
2015-08-30T13:50:07Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
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<div>This almost seems to be making fun of the frivolity with which people discuss the existence of multiple dimensions without realizing what that actually means. Anyone else get that feeling?<br />
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Reminds me of http://xkcd.com/417/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patema_Inverted which make fun of dimensions too. {{unsigned ip|108.162.230.59}}<br />
:Great - I will add 417. please sign you comment with <nowiki>--~~~~</nowiki> ;-) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 07:57, 13 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
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My first thought about Title Text was that moving sideways (standard x or y axis) would be bad, but not as bad as moving upwards (standard z axis). Z direction would be my least favourite! --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.57|141.101.104.57]] 08:20, 13 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
:You're thinking that from an incredibly geo-centric point of view. There is no reason that the three axes would be defined in absolute terms in terms of the surface of the Earth. Indeed, even if we *did* choose to define the three spacial dimensions relative to something to do with Earth, it would seem logical to me that the best way to do that would be to define the X-Y plane as the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun. In that case, unless you happened to be located at 23.5 degrees latitude, travelling in the Z direction would *not* be travelling perpendicular to the surface of the Earth, which is presumably to what you were referring in your comment. --[[User:Zagorath|Zagorath]] ([[User talk:Zagorath|talk]]) 22:38, 15 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
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::I think you guys are vastly overthinking the title text. Randall is making a joke. The 4 dimensions discussed are Length, Width, Height and Time. if you pick three of them to like, and one to hate, Width is the obvious hate. Most men like the idea of being taller and "longer where it counts". Being overweight is something most people dont like. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.48.111|173.245.48.111]] 15:41, 29 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
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The explanation looks more and more like a discussion. Four dimensions or eleven? I see that string theory "predicts 10 or 26 dimensions" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacetime). I think someone (but not me) should rewrite the discussion in a more comprehensive way.[[User:Jkrstrt|Jkrstrt]] ([[User talk:Jkrstrt|talk]]) 08:35, 13 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
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We might had a link to the 2 what-if related to move steadlily in one direction : http://what-if.xkcd.com/135/ and http://what-if.xkcd.com/64/ {{unsigned ip|188.114.101.12}}<br />
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Isn't the alt text a reference to the fact that a cartoon only has two physical dimensions? That's how time can be in his top three. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.113|141.101.99.113]] 09:09, 13 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
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"Being pushed in one of the other directions could be lethal, if you where pushed hard enough against a rock, over a cliff or in front of a truck..."<br />
Being pushed in the dimension of time is also ultimately fatal though. Push someone through time for long enough and they'll certainly die. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.92.8|141.101.92.8]] 09:20, 13 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Why the hang up on fixed coordinate systems even though there isn't even a practical way to establish one. (To the best of my knowledge distance can only be measured relative to some object.) it's more likely that the top three dimensions would be along the lines of North/South, East/West and time which is a much more practical point of view.--[[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.183|108.162.237.183]] 11:32, 13 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
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''So if it is in the top three out of four, it must be number one...''.<br />
I don't agree. What if Randall would hate going to Zazane galaxy or Ottzello galaxy (X axis), but wouldn't mind going to Xanthrus spiral or Rizoku galazy (Y axis) [http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/spore/images/6/61/INTERGALACTIC_MAP-2.png/revision/latest?cb=20100616044044]. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.144|108.162.238.144]] 13:50, 13 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
:The argument would be that this is an arbitrary/anthropocentric classification of X, Y and Z that the universe neither confirms nor denies as the 'true' direction of the three dimensions (which can be in any direction, so long as each is perpendicular to the two others, in a Euclidean sense).<br />
:(And personally. as opposed to the current description. I tend to think of x/y as the horizontal plane and z as vertical motion (up or down, depending on utility), in everyday use, although I'm flexible and will subscribe to one or other standard (and handedness of unit directions!) when dealing with other modelling systems. It's all easily convertible-between.) [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.79|141.101.99.79]] 17:31, 13 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
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I was going to say that if we think of three dimensions simplistically as length-width-height, it might make sense for someone to have a least-favorite spatial dimension--maybe width, since we're always fighting increases in that one. But, I REALLY like the idea above that time would be in the "top three" dimensions for a TWO-dimensional comic-strip character! (Note that Randall plays with this in the Wired comic series linked above, noting that in a comic strip, a small movemement indicates movement through space, but a large one--like between panels--indicates time: see panel #15 in the series) Clever and Randall-esque idea!! I suggest adding this idea to the main text and taking out some of the other discussion around this point.[[User:Jv|Jv]] ([[User talk:Jv|talk]]) 16:32, 13 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Could it be that the title text is purely playing with words, as in any list of length n (4 dimensions in the world of the comic), one can only have n-1 favourites, so Cueball can only have a top / favourite 3? [[User:Mb|Mb]] ([[User talk:Mb|talk]]) 20:06, 13 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
"Moving forward in time will also eventually be lethal by causing old age, ... But it is only possible to avoid these dangers by sidestepping them in one of the three spatial dimensions." - Wait! I can sidestep '''death'''? AWESOME! [[User:Djbrasier|Djbrasier]] ([[User talk:Djbrasier|talk]]) 20:09, 13 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The explanation says his favourite co-ords could still be x,y and z. Shouldn't that really by r, phi, theta since that's the best system for a spherical Earth? Also, I don't think you need to mention special relativity, even in classical physics you consider time to be the fourth dimension, you just lack a co-ordinate transformation between space and time. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.193|141.101.98.193]] 15:22, 13 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Does the statement: “pushed inexorably forward through time” not strike anyone as important to discuss and explain? A book by Dan Falk describes the ramifications were one able to move volitionally through time: http://tinyurl.com/l2btjfd.<br />
<br />
The Greeks held that time flowed like a river through the present from the past. Others (?) suggest that time flowed from the future into the present. Randall poses that we are pushed forward through time. Who or what does the pushing? With what purpose? To what end?<br />
<br />
Pushing suggests we’re unwilling to go forward. But so does pulling. Pulling, by the way, might imply gravitational forces at work. However, those almost never end well. [[User:Run, you clever boy|Run, you clever boy]] ([[User talk:Run, you clever boy|talk]]) 14:30, 14 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
;time<br />
<br />
I was surprised nobody mentioned Randall's most famous comic about [[Time]] (which this comic reminded me of a little bit). [[User:WhiteDragon|WhiteDragon]] ([[User talk:WhiteDragon|talk]]) 23:30, 14 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
:I do not see any relation with a comic about something that occurs in the far future, and is also called time because it is dynamic and ran over an extended period of time... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 19:51, 17 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I love how the title text seems to imply that Randall has a least favorite space-dimension. The three space dimensions are arbitrarily assigned (they are orthogonal to each other but not absolute in relation to anything) so it's like he has a grudge against a completely arbitrary direction.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.113|108.162.216.113]] 03:20, 15 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
;Black Hole<br />
I wonder nobody came up yet with the obvious interpretation. The only situation where one is forced along a space dimension in the same sense as along time (everything else being unphysical - when you "just" fall from a cliff, you still could be saved) would be falling into a Black Hole. Which is indeed somewhat inconvenient :-) [[Special:Contributions/198.41.243.240|198.41.243.240]] 12:52, 16 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
:I see no relation to black-holes. It is very far fetched from this mundane situation. UNtil you actually enter the event horizon you cold still be saved, and after that we really do not know what happens (except that you will probably be dead before you reach this horizon). --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 19:51, 17 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Could the alt text be referring to hologram theory? My understanding of that is that the universe might only have two actual dimensions describing three dimensions in its interactions. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.144|108.162.237.144]] 07:00, 25 May 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
If I were to read the current explanation without teading the comic, I would have no idea that this comic is partially a joke- the idea thay we would instead be pushed inexorably sideways or something is a source of humor in this comic. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 13:50, 30 August 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=700:_Complexion&diff=100543
700: Complexion
2015-08-28T18:35:58Z
<p>Bbruzzo: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 700<br />
| date = February 10, 2010<br />
| title = Complexion<br />
| image = complexion.png<br />
| titletext = Why do all my attempts at science end with me being punched by Batman? (P.S. benzoyl peroxide soap works great.)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[Cueball]] suffers from acne. Like others afflicted with the same condition, he uses skin care products designed to treat acne. Unlike most other people, he does his own controlled trial by using them on only one half of his face and measuring the effects; the blemishes on the treated half of his face are noticeably diminished, while the untreated half remains the same, allowing him to isolate the effects of the cream versus the effects of time.<br />
<br />
He convinces his friends to try the same experiment with different treatments so they can find out which works the best. In order to properly randomize the trials, he flips a coin. However, because half of his face is "scarred" (with acne blemishes), he's flipping a coin, and appears to be threatening someone with acid, he's mistaken for the Batman villain {{w|Two-Face}}. (Two-Face flips a coin to decide whether his victims will live or die, and was badly butned by acid.) Cueball is subsequently punched by Batman; the title-text implies this has happened before.<br />
<br />
{{w|Salicylic acid}} and {{w|benzoyl peroxide}} are both chemicals known for their skin care effects (salicylic acid in particular is also used to treat {{w|psoriasis}}).<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:I get frustrated trying to judge whether acne creams are having any effect. In the spirit of a controlled trial, I used one on just half my face for a few weeks.<br />
:[A graph shows pimples vs. time, with two lines-one remains one steady, and one is declining.]<br />
<br />
:It was cool seeing the effects so clearly, so I got some friends to try different treatments in an impromptu study.<br />
:[Cueball looks in a mirror, sees a half-pimpled face, and applies a treatment.]<br />
<br />
:[Cueball is talking to Ponytail and Megan, each with some pimples also.]<br />
:Cueball: Okay, you try the salicylic acid first.<br />
:Ponytail: Wait, we should randomize the trials. Got a coin?<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Okay, call it. Heads, she gets the-<br />
:(Off-panel): YOU!<br />
<br />
:[Batman runs into frame and punches Cueball. The coin goes flying.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Charts]]</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:456:_Cautionary&diff=100405
Talk:456: Cautionary
2015-08-26T15:28:07Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>Isn't 'Talk to your kids about...' from a famous Unilever ad? [[Special:Contributions/101.174.52.183|101.174.52.183]] 09:47, 2 June 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Is this Megan? Her hair seems awfully curly and it says she's his cousin. Is there an official transcript? [[User:Theo|Theo]] ([[User talk:Theo|talk]]) 20:46, 14 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
:Official transcripts, if they do exist, do not contain names in general. These names are just an invention by some communities like this wiki. So, if you have a better stick figure which would match her, talk about this.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:16, 14 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
::She is clearly not Megan. I propose to call her ''cousin''. [[User:Xhfz|Xhfz]] ([[User talk:Xhfz|talk]]) 22:20, 13 October 2013 (UTC)<br />
::There exists an official transcript for each comic, available to see in the page's source code. According to a comment in [[1037:_Umwelt]], Randall does apparently not type those, but is seemingly done by Davean, his friend maintaining the server. (Note: this is just a guess) [[User:Vgr|Vgr]] ([[User talk:Vgr|talk]]) 11:22, 22 October 2013 (UTC)<br />
::I don't think that this is Megan either. I propose to call her Alice, though, in reference to cryptography. [[User:Official.xian|Official.xian]] ([[User talk:Official.xian|talk]]) 19:46, 10 July 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
::I think we're all forgetting something very important here: It's a true story, therefore she has a real name. If we really wanted her correct name, we'd be pestering Randall for it. Anonymous 23:26, 18 August 2014 (UTC)<br />
:::And since it's a true story Cueball here's probably meant to be Randall himself. [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 08:57, 14 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
::::And the hair not reminiscent of Megan.[[Special:Contributions/173.245.55.25|173.245.55.25]] 17:26, 18 March 2015 (UTC)<br />
:::::Then why has nobody fixed it to say Cousin instead of Megan?... [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.166|173.245.54.166]] 19:42, 3 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
::::::Done. I'm not sure abiut the hyperlinks though, if they're supposed to be on every reference to curball then someone shoulf add those. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 15:28, 26 August 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=456:_Cautionary&diff=100404
456: Cautionary
2015-08-26T15:26:41Z
<p>Bbruzzo: /* Transcript */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 456<br />
| date = July 30, 2008<br />
| title = Cautionary<br />
| image = cautionary.png<br />
| titletext = This really is a true story, and she doesn't know I put it in my comic because her wifi hasn't worked for weeks.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[Cueball]]'s cousin decides to install Linux on her new PC, and calls Cueball, whom she views as her personal Linux expert. The overarching joke revolves around the fact that Linux, especially home PC-based GNU/Linux, is much more often used as a "hobby" OS, as compared against a "productivity" OS such as {{w|Windows}} or {{w|OS X}}. Large numbers of people use Windows or Mac by default, because it came with their computer hardware when they bought it, and it already had the software suite they wanted to use installed along with it. Linux, on the other hand, rarely comes pre-installed on PC hardware and generally must be deliberately chosen and acquired; and while it can be set up to achieve efficient and productive workflow in virtually any area on PCs, because it often must be consciously selected, installed, and configured by users, it tends to either attract or, in a few cases, create individuals who take disproportionate pleasure in, and derive self-identification from, hacking the operating system itself. Thus, many people who are {{w|Linux}} {{w|Hacker (hobbyist)|enthusiasts}} began by not really knowing anything about it other than that it's {{w|Gratis|free of cost}}, but the process of actually building Linux on their machines gradually lead them to take an increasing interest in it, which the comic humorously likens to substance addiction.<br />
<br />
Xorg (officially {{w|X.Org Server|X.Org}}) is an implementation of the X Window System, a program responsible for the graphical display used on Linux. If it has configuration problems, which was quite common with some video card drivers back in 2008 (especially {{w|fglrx#Linux|those <br />
for ATI Radeon cards}}), it is often difficult and/or painful to fix (see [[963: X11]]). {{w|man page|Man pages}} are manual pages for Unix-based operating systems and software, usually accessible online but also bundled with the software itself, that explain in simple unambiguous language what certain things are, how they work, and providing clear illustrations of their use.<br />
<br />
Linux has many versions, called "distributions". Each distribution, or "distro", has a different look and feel, and different feature sets and design philosophies. {{w|Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu}} is a very popular "beginner" version of Linux, designed to "just work" and be familiar/usable to people fresh out of Windows. {{w|Debian}} is a popular but somewhat more "advanced" distro, more traditionally "{{w|Unix-like}}" than Ubuntu, with a huge and diverse base of supported software that generally requires more Linux know-how to configure and use, or at least more eagerness to learn. {{w|Gentoo Linux|Gentoo}} is a very advanced distro allowing for extreme customization and optimization but requiring extensive install and setup time. Because Cueball's cousin is fed up with Ubuntu trading functionality for ease-of-use, <br />
she decides to switch to Debian or maybe Gentoo, both of these successive options prompting [[Cueball]] to fear that she may just be getting in deeper and deeper. ("Autoconfig issues" refers to [[416: Zealous Autoconfig]])<br />
<br />
Some advanced users of Linux choose to compile their kernel from source; Gentoo requires this, and is customarily compiled locally. Source code is a computer program expressed in an easily human-readable format, often simply as text. However, source code cannot be run directly by a computer, and instead needs to be "compiled" into object code, a computer-runnable but human-unreadable low level code. A coder will generally hack a program in source code, then compile their source code so that the computer itself may run the program (see [[303: Compiling]]). This means that with Gentoo, instead of downloading an already functional Linux system to install and run, users download the source code for the system, customize it to their own needs, then compile the code into a runnable version of the OS, all before they can begin to use the system. To many such advanced users, their installation of Linux is like a hobby sportscar: A never-ending project, constantly tweaked and cleaned and adjusted to improve performance, that spends far more time sitting around with its hood open than actually being used for its ostensible purpose.<br />
<br />
In the final panel, Cueball's cousin has become addicted to Linux, and is lost in the {{w|Flow (psychology)|flow}} of hacking her kernel to her liking, having forgotten whatever it was she originally purchased the new PC to do.<br />
<br />
The title text jokes about the bad support for many then-common {{w|Wi-Fi}} cards within Linux back in 2008.<br />
<br />
It is likely that the last cautionary aspect of the comic, explicitly present in both its title and its conclusion, is sarcastic. Randall is clearly very fond of Linux and even a Linux and open source advocate. (See [[272: Linux User at Best Buy]] as an example.) At the beginning of the comic, the cousin seems to barely know how computers work past very basic end-user functionality. After just a few weeks, she's become extremely advanced. Not only can she compile her own kernel, she does not do so by blindly following instructions. She does so in a critical and meaningful way. This high praise of Linux is most likely wrapped into a facetious tone of caution for comic reasons.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Linux: A True Story:<br />
:[Cueball talks on a cell phone.]<br />
:Week One:<br />
:Cousin: Hey, it's your cousin. I got a new computer but don't want Windows. Can you help me install "Linux"?<br />
:Cueball: Sure.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball's cousin sits in an office chair with her laptop on her lap. She is on the phone.]<br />
:Week Two:<br />
:Cousin: It says my XORG is broken. What's an "XORG"? Where can I look that up?<br />
:Cueball: Hmm, lemme show you man pages.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball's cousin crouches on the floor with the laptop on her lap. She is still on the phone.]<br />
:Week Six:<br />
:Cousin: Due to auto-config issues, I'm leaving Ubuntu for Debian.<br />
:Cueball: Uh.<br />
:Cousin: Or Gentoo.<br />
:Cueball: Uh oh.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball's Cousin lies on her stomach with the laptop on the floor. On the floor are several pieces of paper and a book. Cueball stands to her left.]<br />
:Week Twelve:<br />
:Cueball: You haven't answered your phone in days.<br />
:Cousin: Can't sleep. Must compile kernel.<br />
:Cueball: I'm too late.<br />
<br />
:[Box with text:]<br />
:Parents: talk to your kids about Linux... Before somebody else does.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Linux]]</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=456:_Cautionary&diff=100402
456: Cautionary
2015-08-26T15:23:34Z
<p>Bbruzzo: /* Explanation */ changed all references to Megan to "Cueball's cousin"</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 456<br />
| date = July 30, 2008<br />
| title = Cautionary<br />
| image = cautionary.png<br />
| titletext = This really is a true story, and she doesn't know I put it in my comic because her wifi hasn't worked for weeks.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[Cueball]]'s cousin decides to install Linux on her new PC, and calls Cueball, whom she views as her personal Linux expert. The overarching joke revolves around the fact that Linux, especially home PC-based GNU/Linux, is much more often used as a "hobby" OS, as compared against a "productivity" OS such as {{w|Windows}} or {{w|OS X}}. Large numbers of people use Windows or Mac by default, because it came with their computer hardware when they bought it, and it already had the software suite they wanted to use installed along with it. Linux, on the other hand, rarely comes pre-installed on PC hardware and generally must be deliberately chosen and acquired; and while it can be set up to achieve efficient and productive workflow in virtually any area on PCs, because it often must be consciously selected, installed, and configured by users, it tends to either attract or, in a few cases, create individuals who take disproportionate pleasure in, and derive self-identification from, hacking the operating system itself. Thus, many people who are {{w|Linux}} {{w|Hacker (hobbyist)|enthusiasts}} began by not really knowing anything about it other than that it's {{w|Gratis|free of cost}}, but the process of actually building Linux on their machines gradually lead them to take an increasing interest in it, which the comic humorously likens to substance addiction.<br />
<br />
Xorg (officially {{w|X.Org Server|X.Org}}) is an implementation of the X Window System, a program responsible for the graphical display used on Linux. If it has configuration problems, which was quite common with some video card drivers back in 2008 (especially {{w|fglrx#Linux|those <br />
for ATI Radeon cards}}), it is often difficult and/or painful to fix (see [[963: X11]]). {{w|man page|Man pages}} are manual pages for Unix-based operating systems and software, usually accessible online but also bundled with the software itself, that explain in simple unambiguous language what certain things are, how they work, and providing clear illustrations of their use.<br />
<br />
Linux has many versions, called "distributions". Each distribution, or "distro", has a different look and feel, and different feature sets and design philosophies. {{w|Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu}} is a very popular "beginner" version of Linux, designed to "just work" and be familiar/usable to people fresh out of Windows. {{w|Debian}} is a popular but somewhat more "advanced" distro, more traditionally "{{w|Unix-like}}" than Ubuntu, with a huge and diverse base of supported software that generally requires more Linux know-how to configure and use, or at least more eagerness to learn. {{w|Gentoo Linux|Gentoo}} is a very advanced distro allowing for extreme customization and optimization but requiring extensive install and setup time. Because Cueball's cousin is fed up with Ubuntu trading functionality for ease-of-use, <br />
she decides to switch to Debian or maybe Gentoo, both of these successive options prompting [[Cueball]] to fear that she may just be getting in deeper and deeper. ("Autoconfig issues" refers to [[416: Zealous Autoconfig]])<br />
<br />
Some advanced users of Linux choose to compile their kernel from source; Gentoo requires this, and is customarily compiled locally. Source code is a computer program expressed in an easily human-readable format, often simply as text. However, source code cannot be run directly by a computer, and instead needs to be "compiled" into object code, a computer-runnable but human-unreadable low level code. A coder will generally hack a program in source code, then compile their source code so that the computer itself may run the program (see [[303: Compiling]]). This means that with Gentoo, instead of downloading an already functional Linux system to install and run, users download the source code for the system, customize it to their own needs, then compile the code into a runnable version of the OS, all before they can begin to use the system. To many such advanced users, their installation of Linux is like a hobby sportscar: A never-ending project, constantly tweaked and cleaned and adjusted to improve performance, that spends far more time sitting around with its hood open than actually being used for its ostensible purpose.<br />
<br />
In the final panel, Cueball's cousin has become addicted to Linux, and is lost in the {{w|Flow (psychology)|flow}} of hacking her kernel to her liking, having forgotten whatever it was she originally purchased the new PC to do.<br />
<br />
The title text jokes about the bad support for many then-common {{w|Wi-Fi}} cards within Linux back in 2008.<br />
<br />
It is likely that the last cautionary aspect of the comic, explicitly present in both its title and its conclusion, is sarcastic. Randall is clearly very fond of Linux and even a Linux and open source advocate. (See [[272: Linux User at Best Buy]] as an example.) At the beginning of the comic, the cousin seems to barely know how computers work past very basic end-user functionality. After just a few weeks, she's become extremely advanced. Not only can she compile her own kernel, she does not do so by blindly following instructions. She does so in a critical and meaningful way. This high praise of Linux is most likely wrapped into a facetious tone of caution for comic reasons.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Linux: A True Story:<br />
:[Cueball talks on a cell phone.]<br />
:Week One:<br />
:Megan: Hey, it's your cousin. I got a new computer but don't want Windows. Can you help me install "Linux"?<br />
:Cueball: Sure.<br />
<br />
:[Megan sits in an office chair with her laptop on her lap. She is on the phone.]<br />
:Week Two:<br />
:Megan: It says my XORG is broken. What's an "XORG"? Where can I look that up?<br />
:Cueball: Hmm, lemme show you man pages.<br />
<br />
:[Megan crouches on the floor with the laptop on her lap. She is still on the phone.]<br />
:Week Six:<br />
:Megan: Due to auto-config issues, I'm leaving Ubuntu for Debian.<br />
:Cueball: Uh.<br />
:Megan: Or Gentoo.<br />
:Cueball: Uh oh.<br />
<br />
:[Megan lies on her stomach with the laptop on the floor. On the floor are several pieces of paper and a book. Cueball stands to her left.]<br />
:Week Twelve:<br />
:Cueball: You haven't answered your phone in days.<br />
:Megan: Can't sleep. Must compile kernel.<br />
:Cueball: I'm too late.<br />
<br />
:[Box with text:]<br />
:Parents: talk to your kids about Linux... Before somebody else does.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Linux]]</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:180:_Canada&diff=100248
Talk:180: Canada
2015-08-25T14:39:02Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>Actually I suspect this comic may be referring to the propensity for video games in which you can create teams of characters which can be generally be respawned or come back to consciousness/life after levels/battles to have areas or levels where if someone is killed they die "for real"- that is they don't come back and you lose them for good. [[Special:Contributions/184.21.189.153|184.21.189.153]] 10:58, 21 September 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Couldn't this be a Matrix reference? 06:11, 1 December 2013 (UTC) {{unsigned ip|108.162.216.52}}<br />
<br />
From the explanation: "Canada is arguably part of reality already." I would love to have that argument with someone. {{unsigned ip|108.162.219.202}}<br />
<br />
I feel like adding some "dubious-discuss" after the first sentence of the explanation[[User:Meneldal|Meneldal]] ([[User talk:Meneldal|talk]]) 06:54, 11 March 2015 (UTC)meneldal<br />
<br />
Sorry for Ninja-editing/commenting, but I take it as a direct reference to the works of Philip K. Dick, especially Ubik (iirc, that is it could also be one of his other VR-related stories), where a scene that could be summarized with 'if you die in canada, you die in real life' actually takes place (in canada). Then again, this could be lucky coincidence, and xkcd might not be familiar with PKD at all. {{unsigned ip|141.101.92.37}}<br />
<br />
Addendum to the above (↑) it most certainly is a PKD reference, also taking his biography into account. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.92.58|141.101.92.58]] 05:24, 14 April 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
We might also want to mention that making fun of Canada is basically a national pasttime in the U.S. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 14:36, 25 August 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:180:_Canada&diff=100247
Talk:180: Canada
2015-08-25T14:36:29Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>Actually I suspect this comic may be referring to the propensity for video games in which you can create teams of characters which can be generally be respawned or come back to consciousness/life after levels/battles to have areas or levels where if someone is killed they die "for real"- that is they don't come back and you lose them for good. [[Special:Contributions/184.21.189.153|184.21.189.153]] 10:58, 21 September 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Couldn't this be a Matrix reference? 06:11, 1 December 2013 (UTC) {{unsigned ip|108.162.216.52}}<br />
<br />
From the explanation: "Canada is arguably part of reality already." I would love to have that argument with someone. {{unsigned ip|108.162.219.202}}<br />
<br />
I feel like adding some "dubious-discuss" after the first sentence of the explanation[[User:Meneldal|Meneldal]] ([[User talk:Meneldal|talk]]) 06:54, 11 March 2015 (UTC)meneldal<br />
<br />
We might also want to mention that making fun of Canada is basically a national pasttime in the U.S. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 14:36, 25 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
Sorry for Ninja-editing/commenting, but I take it as a direct reference to the works of Philip K. Dick, especially Ubik (iirc, that is it could also be one of his other VR-related stories), where a scene that could be summarized with 'if you die in canada, you die in real life' actually takes place (in canada). Then again, this could be lucky coincidence, and xkcd might not be familiar with PKD at all. {{unsigned ip|141.101.92.37}}<br />
<br />
Addendum to the above (↑) it most certainly is a PKD reference, also taking his biography into account. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.92.58|141.101.92.58]] 05:24, 14 April 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:176:_Before_Sunrise&diff=100246
Talk:176: Before Sunrise
2015-08-25T14:21:46Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>I read the third panel to mean that Cueball finds himself not at his Mom's house but at the reader's Mom's apartment. -- [[Special:Contributions/216.137.28.30|216.137.28.30]] 15:47, 8 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:Yes you are correct, and I am very annoyed at Randall for fooling around with my Mom! [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 03:08, 27 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I think we need a category for all of the comics that are just "your mom" jokes, there are tons of them! [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 14:21, 25 August 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1083:_Writing_Styles&diff=100203
Talk:1083: Writing Styles
2015-08-25T02:46:24Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>Politicians don't seem to be doing this too much nowadays. Don't know about the other runners, but Obama's tweets are mostly coherent, with just a pile of gibberish hashtags appended on the end. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] ([[User talk:Davidy22|talk]]) 10:30, 6 October 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:Additionally politicians may be tempted to use SMS abbreviations in order to come across as younger and aware of youth culture, while their target audience actually doesn't use these abbreviations at all. [[Special:Contributions/83.84.33.170|83.84.33.170]] 23:23, 28 February 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
There's also a bit of political commentary here, which has so far been skirted over, suggesting that much of the cheerleading for (the highly libertarian) Ron Paul comes from youthful and, by implication, politically naive commentators. 14:15, 15 March 2013 (UTC)Chris C<br />
:But how is that much different from the 2008 election of our current president which had a very youthful and as you said "naive" [[Special:Contributions/63.149.29.1|63.149.29.1]] 21:44, 11 October 2013 (UTC)Robert<br />
::You seem to be missing a noun and a question mark at the end of your comment. I'm guessing your point is "hey meanie, don't just mock Ron Paul supporters (of which you are presumably one) Obama-ites deserve a kicking too as he is a LIAR". Sure. Consider that Obama heavily implied and at other times outright promised a focus on civil rights prior to election and in the early months of his tenure. For usonian voters of all ages who wanted to do the rest of the world a favor and get the west back on track after eight years of Bush's neoconservatism, Obama was the only realistic choice. The fact that he hasn't fully delivered, especially on Guantanamo, is beside the point. Ron Paul would be facing even more opposition, given that he is starkly unwilling to compromise -- but that unemergent forthrightness is part of his appeal to right libertarians. {{unsigned|Cockhorse}}<br />
<br />
I tried to fix the issues with the explanation, but would love someone to look over my edits. If I might say, this explanation was a mess before. It might still be, for all I know. Due to this uncertainty, I'm leaving the incomplete tag. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.84|162.158.255.84]] 05:50, 23 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I reviewed the explanation and it looks great! I removed the incomplete tag. As an additional suggestion, we may want to add references to xkcds 1414 and 1045, both of which are about how sms and twitter actuwlly produce better writers/writing. I wasn't sure how to do it so I thought I'd leave a note.[[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 02:46, 25 August 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1083:_Writing_Styles&diff=100202
Talk:1083: Writing Styles
2015-08-25T02:45:51Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>Politicians don't seem to be doing this too much nowadays. Don't know about the other runners, but Obama's tweets are mostly coherent, with just a pile of gibberish hashtags appended on the end. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] ([[User talk:Davidy22|talk]]) 10:30, 6 October 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:Additionally politicians may be tempted to use SMS abbreviations in order to come across as younger and aware of youth culture, while their target audience actually doesn't use these abbreviations at all. [[Special:Contributions/83.84.33.170|83.84.33.170]] 23:23, 28 February 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
There's also a bit of political commentary here, which has so far been skirted over, suggesting that much of the cheerleading for (the highly libertarian) Ron Paul comes from youthful and, by implication, politically naive commentators. 14:15, 15 March 2013 (UTC)Chris C<br />
:But how is that much different from the 2008 election of our current president which had a very youthful and as you said "naive" [[Special:Contributions/63.149.29.1|63.149.29.1]] 21:44, 11 October 2013 (UTC)Robert<br />
::You seem to be missing a noun and a question mark at the end of your comment. I'm guessing your point is "hey meanie, don't just mock Ron Paul supporters (of which you are presumably one) Obama-ites deserve a kicking too as he is a LIAR". Sure. Consider that Obama heavily implied and at other times outright promised a focus on civil rights prior to election and in the early months of his tenure. For usonian voters of all ages who wanted to do the rest of the world a favor and get the west back on track after eight years of Bush's neoconservatism, Obama was the only realistic choice. The fact that he hasn't fully delivered, especially on Guantanamo, is beside the point. Ron Paul would be facing even more opposition, given that he is starkly unwilling to compromise -- but that unemergent forthrightness is part of his appeal to right libertarians. {{unsigned|Cockhorse}}<br />
<br />
I tried to fix the issues with the explanation, but would love someone to look over my edits. If I might say, this explanation was a mess before. It might still be, for all I know. Due to this uncertainty, I'm leaving the incomplete tag. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.84|162.158.255.84]] 05:50, 23 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I reviewed the explanation and it looks great! I removed the incomplete tag. As an additional suggestion, we may want to add references to xkcds 1414 and 1045, both of which are about how sms and twitter actuwlly produce better writers/writing. I wasn't sure how to do it so I just thought I'd leave a note.</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1083:_Writing_Styles&diff=100201
1083: Writing Styles
2015-08-25T02:40:40Z
<p>Bbruzzo: Removed the incomplete tag after reviewing explanatio</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1083<br />
| date = July 18, 2012<br />
| title = Writing Styles<br />
| image = writing_styles.png<br />
| titletext = I liked the idea, suggested by h00k on bash.org, of a Twitter bot that messages prominent politicians to tell them when they've unnecessarily used sms-speak abbreviations despite having plenty of characters left.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
Sms-speak is a style of communication which involves substituting numbers for letters and shortening phrases to get a longer idea across in fewer characters at the cost of readability. The practice began first with text messages, also known as {{w|Short Message Service|SMS}}, or Short Message Service, which limited messages to 160 characters. Twitter has adopted a 140 character limit since its inception, which allowed any given tweet to be received as an SMS message with enough room for the user's Twitter handle (15 characters max).<br />
<br />
The comic is about the fact that many politicians see sms-speak not as a means to remain under a character limit, but as a dialect spoken by those who are "tech-savvy." As a result, many of said politicians use sms-speak in cases when their message isn't in danger of the character limit, but where they are appealing to a younger demographic, thinking it makes them appear to be "modern" to their target audience. In reality, it does the opposite, showing that they do not understand why sms-speak is used at all. <br />
<br />
The comic's joke is that modern teenagers, often stereotyped as lacking proper writing skills due to character limits on services such as SMS and twitter, can in many cases write better than politicians, who as discussed above use sms-speak unnecessarily. The sentence attributed to the teenager is the sort of thing that would stereotypically be assigned to a senator, while the sentence attributed to the senator would be stereotypically assigned to a teenager.<br />
<br />
The opinion expressed by the teenager is not an uncommon one among people of that age, possibly due to Ron Paul's support for the legalization of marijuana as well as his tendency to occasionally express political ideas that do not fit the mainstream of established US politics.<br />
<br />
Technically speaking, neither of the sentences in the comic exceed 60 characters. Indeed, extending the sms-speak sentence to correct punctuation and removing abbreviations only uses slightly more than half the character limit:<br />
*Ron Paul is the only candidate who offers us a real choice! (59 characters)<br />
*its gettin l8 so ill b here 4 prob 2 more hrs tops (50 characters)<br />
*It is getting late, so I will be here for probably two more hours, tops. (72 characters)<br />
<br />
The title text discusses an idea that Randall approves of, originally suggested by a user on bash.org called h00k, where a twitter bot be created to message politicians when they use sms-speak unnecessarily. This would presumably embarrass said politicians, which might in turn lead to a decrease in their use of sms-speak. Randall evidently considers this a good thing, suggesting he finds the unnecessary use of sms-speak annoying.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[This is a chart with the above two labeled columns. The rows will be represented below in the same format.]<br />
:If you post: you sound like<br />
:"Ron Paul is the only candidate who offers us a real choice!": A teenager<br />
:"its gettin l8 so ill b here 4 prob 2 more hrs tops": A senator<br />
:The internet has wound up in kind of a weird place.<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ron Paul]]<br />
[[Category:Charts]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]<br />
[[Category:Politics]]<br />
[[Category:Computers]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring politicians]]</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=325:_A-Minus-Minus&diff=99894
325: A-Minus-Minus
2015-08-20T18:30:11Z
<p>Bbruzzo: /* Explanation */ removed words "for reasons unknown from the first sentence.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 325<br />
| date = October 5, 2007<br />
| title = A-Minus-Minus<br />
| image = a-minus-minus.png<br />
| titletext = You can do this one in every 30 times and still have 97% positive feedback.<br />
}}<br />
==Explanation==<br />
<br />
[[Black Hat]] is trying to make the world a weirder place by shipping bobcats to his {{w|eBay}} buyers. Ordinarily, negative feedback is used to warn future buyers about sellers that ship broken products or post misleading listings. In this case, the unfortunate buyer is leaving feedback warning future buyers that Black Hat ships bobcats instead of the actual products, though "would not buy again" seems to be a rather feeble response to the replacement. This appears to have been a continuing project, as [[Cueball]] receives random packages a year and a half later ([[576: Packages]]). Four years later, it is shown that you can blackmail Black Hat into not sending you a bobcat ([[837: Coupon Code]]). This comic is also referenced in [http://www.amazon.com/review/R2PBRQNTVGO7NH/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0544272994&nodeID=283155&store=books a popular Amazon review] for Randall Munroe's book, What If: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions.<br />
<br />
Like the weak "would not buy again" comment is a play on the stock "would buy again" comment often found in positive eBay feedback, the title "A-Minus-Minus" is a play on the frequent comment "A++". That in turn, sometimes with varying numbers of pluses, seems to be an easy way people use to pad the end of an eBay comment field to the maximum 80 characters. It's also a reference to jokes in which exceptionally good schoolwork is graded with extra pluses after an A+ (and exceptionally bad work is graded with large numbers of minuses after an F). And finally, it's also a subtle reference to the {{w|Futurama}} episode {{w|A Big Piece of Garbage}}; at one point in that episode, one character, as an act of petty revenge, gives another "the worst grade imaginable": an A-minus-MINUS. <br />
<br />
The title text is about a flaw in eBay's feedback system: You can intentionally do nasty things to your buyers and get ''very'' bad reviews, but still have overall high feedback scores as long as you don't do it too often. (See also [[937: TornadoGuard]], which shows a different flaw in the concept of averaging reviews—namely that five-star reviews for aesthetic qualities are weighted equally to one-star reviews for major functional deficits—and [[1098: Star Ratings]], which addresses the topic as well.) These reviews would be disregarded by future customers as well for their weirdness.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Black Hat is packing a bobcat into a box; Megan stands beside him.]<br />
<br />
:Megan: What are you doing?<br />
:Black Hat: Making the world a weirder place.<br />
<br />
:Bobcat: ''mrrowlll''<br />
:[Black Hat has finished taping the package for shipping.]<br />
:Black Hat: Starting with my eBay feedback page.<br />
<br />
:[Bandaged person at a computer with assorted debris around the floor.]<br />
:Screen: comments:<br />
:Bandaged person typing: Instead of office chair package contained bobcat.<br />
:Bandaged person typing: Would not buy again.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Bobcats]]</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:429:_Fantasy&diff=99893
Talk:429: Fantasy
2015-08-20T18:23:11Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>I think the "impossible" part is not their relationship, but the fact they don't remember how it happened. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 23:52, 11 May 2014 (UTC)<br />
:Any particular impossibility is not explained, but I believe it is implied in Cueball's first sentence "If only there were some way we could..." implying that there is no way that they could. [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 13:47, 24 July 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
It seems like an important distinction that in the comic Megan wonders how but the description says she wonders why. The comic doesn't actually give us a reason why they cannot be together- it could be ling distance just as easily as unrequited love. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 18:23, 20 August 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1565:_Back_Seat&diff=99775
Talk:1565: Back Seat
2015-08-17T16:30:53Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>The backseats of some cars are really messy. I have yet to see any dead animals though, unless you count hamburgers. <br />
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.163|173.245.54.163]] 04:30, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I wrote a very quick first draft of the explanation. This is my first time writing from scratch, so feel free to take it all down and start over. Also, my first time posting a comment, so sorry for inevitable formatting errors. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.84|162.158.255.84]] 04:33, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:Welcome! I would say that to me this is not a comic about how raccoons always end up in the back seat of cars, but more a comic about how the phrase "clear a few things out of the back" is always an understatement/euphemism for disgusting stuff that's back there. In my opinion he just chose dead raccoon because of how gross that is. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 04:36, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
::The raccoon is on purpose. They like to rummage through trash. Unless you mean, 'why was it dead'? If that, then because of how bad keeping trash and never cleaning it is like that of how hoarders live (where dead animals are often found). [[User:Azule|Azule]] ([[User talk:Azule|talk]]) 07:36, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
::I don't think the explanation addresses the "understatement" aspect, that you mention, directly enough. Someone, please integrate it. [[User:Azule|Azule]] ([[User talk:Azule|talk]]) 07:41, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:Hello. I'm sorry, I rewrote the explanation. It appears to be about raccoons being attracted to trash and therefore how the person's car is basically a trashcan on wheels. [[User:Azule|Azule]] ([[User talk:Azule|talk]]) 07:36, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I for one am mildly offended by this comic; while I am lazy about when I throw out bags of trash that often find their way to the back seat--mostly stuff like "trays that used to contain pecan twirls" or soda bottles--I do at least keep it wrapped up in ready-to-throw-out plastic bags to hide the smell, and under no circumstances do I leave enough food for a raccoon to go hunting in my back seat. (Please note *mildly* offended; I get it's just a comic.) Also, I hope it's okay to fix obvious typos in other people's comments, because I just did that.[[User:PsyMar|PsyMar]] ([[User talk:PsyMar|talk]]) 07:20, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:I fixed the formatting in the comments section a bit, so I'm sure that fixing typos is fine, too (as long as it actually is a typo). [[User:Azule|Azule]] ([[User talk:Azule|talk]]) 07:36, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:Speaking of typos, the hovertext should read "Hang on, let me scare the live raccoon over to the same side '''as''' the dead one." (not "of", as it is/was at the time of this comment). [[User:Cosmogoblin|Cosmogoblin]] ([[User talk:Cosmogoblin|talk]]) 08:09, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
::To be clear, that's an official typo. A "[sic]" could be added to the transcript, if you prefer, until it is fixed, if that ever happens. [[User:Azule|Azule]] ([[User talk:Azule|talk]]) 08:36, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
::I was wondering if that was not just American grammar, conflicting with my British education. (There's plenty of other instances. e.g. it's "I'll write '''to''' you", for me; not "I'll write you", which just sounds wrong in my ears but obviously not to Leftpondians where their use of the lone transitive verb is expanded. Although I'll gladly say "I'll've writ summat for ya...", in the right context, so 'go figure'.) Anyway, if it's not a 'merkinism, what's the original intention in the phrase? "..the same side that the dead one is currently (possessed/in possession) of"...? That sounds unwieldy but, as before, there's possibly something in some dialect or other that works. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.159|141.101.98.159]] 11:58, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:::It is meant to say that he will make the live raccoon move over to the same side of the car as the dead raccoon, thus freeing up a sear in the back row for his friend. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 16:29, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Added my very first transcript. If there are errors in formatting etc. please fix them 05:37, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Added my first description (added explanation for 'Protip') - thoughts? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.134|108.162.250.134]] 13:12, 17 August 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1565:_Back_Seat&diff=99774
Talk:1565: Back Seat
2015-08-17T16:29:10Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>The backseats of some cars are really messy. I have yet to see any dead animals though, unless you count hamburgers. <br />
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.163|173.245.54.163]] 04:30, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I wrote a very quick first draft of the explanation. This is my first time writing from scratch, so feel free to take it all down and start over. Also, my first time posting a comment, so sorry for inevitable formatting errors. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.84|162.158.255.84]] 04:33, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:Welcome! I would say that to me this is not a comic about how raccoons always end up in the back seat of cars, but more a comic about how the phrase "clear a few things out of the back" is always an understatement/euphemism for disgusting stuff that's back there. In my opinion he just chose dead raccoon because of how gross that is. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 04:36, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
::The raccoon is on purpose. They like to rummage through trash. Unless you mean, 'why was it dead'? If that, then because of how bad keeping trash and never cleaning it is like that of how hoarders live (where dead animals are often found). [[User:Azule|Azule]] ([[User talk:Azule|talk]]) 07:36, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
::I don't think the explanation addresses the "understatement" aspect, that you mention, directly enough. Someone, please integrate it. [[User:Azule|Azule]] ([[User talk:Azule|talk]]) 07:41, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:Hello. I'm sorry, I rewrote the explanation. It appears to be about raccoons being attracted to trash and therefore how the person's car is basically a trashcan on wheels. [[User:Azule|Azule]] ([[User talk:Azule|talk]]) 07:36, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I for one am mildly offended by this comic; while I am lazy about when I throw out bags of trash that often find their way to the back seat--mostly stuff like "trays that used to contain pecan twirls" or soda bottles--I do at least keep it wrapped up in ready-to-throw-out plastic bags to hide the smell, and under no circumstances do I leave enough food for a raccoon to go hunting in my back seat. (Please note *mildly* offended; I get it's just a comic.) Also, I hope it's okay to fix obvious typos in other people's comments, because I just did that.[[User:PsyMar|PsyMar]] ([[User talk:PsyMar|talk]]) 07:20, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:I fixed the formatting in the comments section a bit, so I'm sure that fixing typos is fine, too (as long as it actually is a typo). [[User:Azule|Azule]] ([[User talk:Azule|talk]]) 07:36, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:Speaking of typos, the hovertext should read "Hang on, let me scare the live raccoon over to the same side '''as''' the dead one." (not "of", as it is/was at the time of this comment). [[User:Cosmogoblin|Cosmogoblin]] ([[User talk:Cosmogoblin|talk]]) 08:09, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
::To be clear, that's an official typo. A "[sic]" could be added to the transcript, if you prefer, until it is fixed, if that ever happens. [[User:Azule|Azule]] ([[User talk:Azule|talk]]) 08:36, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
::I was wondering if that was not just American grammar, conflicting with my British education. (There's plenty of other instances. e.g. it's "I'll write '''to''' you", for me; not "I'll write you", which just sounds wrong in my ears but obviously not to Leftpondians where their use of the lone transitive verb is expanded. Although I'll gladly say "I'll've writ summat for ya...", in the right context, so 'go figure'.) Anyway, if it's not a 'merkinism, what's the original intention in the phrase? "..the same side that the dead one is currently (possessed/in possession) of"...? That sounds unwieldy but, as before, there's possibly something in some dialect or other that works. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.159|141.101.98.159]] 11:58, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:::It is meant to say that he will make the live raccoon move over to the same side o the car as the dead raccoon, thu freeing up a sear in the back row for his friend. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 16:29, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Added my very first transcript. If there are errors in formatting etc. please fix them 05:37, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Added my first description (added explanation for 'Protip') - thoughts? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.250.134|108.162.250.134]] 13:12, 17 August 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1565:_Back_Seat&diff=99739
Talk:1565: Back Seat
2015-08-17T04:36:59Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>The backseats of some cars are really messy. I have yet to see any dead animals though, unless you count hamburgers. <br />
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.163|173.245.54.163]] 04:30, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
E<br />
I wrote a very quick first draft of the explanation. This is my first time writing from scratch, so feel free to take it all down and start over. Also, my first time posting a comment, so sorry for inevitable formatting errors. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.84|162.158.255.84]] 04:33, 17 August 2015 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Welcome! I would say thay to me this is not a comic about how racoons always end up in the back seat of cars, but more a comic about how the phrase "clear a few things out of the back" is always an understatement/euphemism for disgusting stuff that's back there. In my opinion he just chose dead raccoon because of how gross that is. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 04:36, 17 August 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:925:_Cell_Phones&diff=99681
Talk:925: Cell Phones
2015-08-15T00:30:50Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
<hr />
<div>On first read I thought the joke is that the cell phone graph shape (somewhat) closely mimics the shape of the cancer graph, including the part where it begins to level off - implying that one linearly correlates with the other, with a 20 year delay (a typical time it takes for cancer to manifest, except in this case it's backwards). ultramage 14:17, 22 December 2012 (UTC)<br />
<br />
<br />
That and the fact the graph is out by a scale factor of 1000 is always a fun way to screw over how the statistics look.{{unsigned ip|82.16.27.115}}<br />
<br />
Nah b', it's 2000.{{unsigned ip|76.67.97.246}}<br />
<br />
::The real problem with the graph is that it makes it look like cancer rates have increased from near-zero levels to way higher since 1970, until you actually read the Y axis and see that it's gone from about 400 (per 100,000) to about 475. This is an increase of only 18.75%, as opposed to the visual appearance of a 300% increase. Hats off to Black Hat!! [[Special:Contributions/108.28.72.186|108.28.72.186]] 01:18, 7 August 2013 (UTC)<br />
:::Among the many things wrong with the graph is the lack of context. Much of the increase in cancer incidence in the 80s was the availability of pre-clinical testing for prostate cancer[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12081758]. The other is the improvements in control of infectious disease, and more recently heart disease, resulting in an enlarged elderly population who are more at risk of cancer. {{unsigned ip|141.101.98.99}}<br />
<br />
I thought the laptop joke was that some people believe not to put it on your lap because it messes with your reproductive organs! ~JFreund<br />
:But you know now you are wrong, correct? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.223|108.162.219.223]] 06:59, 21 January 2014 (UTC)<br />
:If your laptop starts messing with your reproductive organs, you may want to either tell an adult, or stop taking drugs (or possibly take more drugs). [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.218|108.162.237.218]] 06:45, 3 May 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I originally thought that the graph was supposed to show that an increase in cellphone use caused a decrease in cancer. I'm not sure why Randell didn't go with that conclusion, as it seems way more obvious to make when you look at tha graph, and it's humorously the opposite of what people are saying. Still very silly, of course :p [[User:Maplestrip|Maplestrip]] ([[User talk:Maplestrip|talk]]) 08:37, 31 October 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
::For all the fun publicity this gets, I agree -- the graph doesn't really make it look like cancer causes cell phones, but rather that the leveling off in the growth in cancer rates causes an increase in cell phone use. Not as funny stated that way, for sure, so I get why XKCD didn't go that way. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.133|173.245.54.133]] 13:27, 24 July 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Why does the title text explanation refer to panel 2? From what I can see the title text either refers to a) you should not hold your laptop by its screen as it may damage it (in panel 2) or b) you should not not rest your laptop on your lap as it may overheat and damage you (in panel 4). I think a) makes more sense since the comic refers to how black hat "holds" the laptop, but I can also see that b) references the subject of the comic. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.177|141.101.98.177]] 10:19, 22 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
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*Seconded. I'm changing it. --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.17|141.101.104.17]] 19:05, 16 December 2014 (UTC)<br />
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When brash well educated young men from good homes start using dolls as good luck fetishes the sergeants in charge of their ground crew should have a word with their squadron leaders about such people suffering stress.<br />
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Unfortunately there was a shortage of pilots and there was no medical help for anyone who Lacked Moral Fibre. Plus the Air Ministry was, in a large measure, responsible for the aggressive attack of the disease initially.<br />
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OTOH of course, it was all a long time ago and most of them are dead by now.<br />
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(Might have stopped some using IFF over enemy territory though. (Pity, that.))<br />
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[[User:Weatherlawyer| I used Google News BEFORE it was clickbait]] ([[User talk:Weatherlawyer|talk]]) 17:10, 23 January 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Whoever included the socks comment in the explanation, I just laughed harder at that than at the actual comment. Props [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 00:30, 15 August 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1557:_Ozymandias&diff=98741
1557: Ozymandias
2015-07-29T19:27:15Z
<p>Bbruzzo: An explanation for the comic</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1557<br />
| date = July 29, 2015<br />
| title = Ozymandias<br />
| image = ozymandias.png<br />
| titletext = And on the pedestal these words appear: "And on the pedestal these words appear: "And on the pedestal these words appear: "And ...<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[Ponytail]] is reciting the opening of "{{w|Ozymandias}}" by {{w|Percy Bysshe Shelley}} (see [[#Ozymandias text|text]] below). However, instead of continuing on with the poem, Ponytail is going through a recursion where the information is always being quoted from "a traveler from an antique land" who recounts what they were told by a similar traveler from another antique land. The title text once again plays with recursion, but instead of it being a string of travelers talking about travelers, it is a string of pedestals that are quoting pedestals. (In the original poem, the text on the pedestal is itself recounted as part of the traveler's story, so there are already two levels of quotation.)<br />
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The poem Ozymandias is about the last vestiges of a once-great ivilization that has since been lost to history. However, the poem itself, like the statue it describes,can be thought of as a pinnacle of achievement for its civilization- in this case, English civilization. So it is entirely possible that one day, after the fall of this civilization, the poem will fill the same role for it that the statue filled for Ozymandias' (fictional) civilization, and would therefore be referenced by a traveler from an antique land who stumbled across it.<br />
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The fact that Ponytail is now telling [[Cueball]] the story of this recursion implies that she is yet another layer of this recursion and is herself "a traveler from an antique land."<br />
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The quotes are not nested properly, as they never end. So there is only the starting quotation mark (") for each quote. If she ever finishes there would be one closing quotation mark for each quote in the recursion at the end of her sentence.<br />
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The poem is a {{w|sonnet}} written in {{w|iambic pentameter}}, 10 syllables to a line (note that traveler should be read as trav'ler with only two syllables. Also note that it was originally written in British English where it was spelled with two l's as ''traveller''). The fragment quoted in the comic consist of the first line and two syllables of the second line of the original poem. The way Ponytail recites her version of the poem in the comic, each line continues to be iambic pentameters (which is the reason for the hyphenation of an-tique between 2nd and 3rd line). However the fourth and last line stops two syllables short, but would have continued as indicated by ... Perhaps Randall did this to avoid finishing in mid word ("a trav-"). <br />
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The title text quotes exactly one line, the 9th line or the first line of the second part of the poem, also stopping during the fourth repetition, although after just one word the fourth time, also with ... to indicate that this goes on and on and...<br />
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The poem "Ozymandias" is mentioned on pages 169 and 170 of the book ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=mjThBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA169&lpg=PA169&dq=Ozymandias+recursion&source=bl&ots=atqSnLbGZP&sig=cXeyE-vAQm9UzBh2k7O0ooHrQr0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAGoVChMI8_echsL_xgIVSZiACh009gnS#v=onepage&q=Ozymandias%20recursion&f=false Recursive Desire: Rereading Epic Tradition]'' by Jeremy M. Downes.<br />
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===Ozymandias text===<br />
:I met a traveller from an antique land<br /><br />
:Who said: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone<br /><br />
:Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,<br /><br />
:Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,<br /><br />
:And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,<br /><br />
:Tell that its sculptor well those passions read<br /><br />
:Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,<br /><br />
:The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:<br /><br />
:And on the pedestal these words appear:<br /><br />
:'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:<br /><br />
:Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!'<br /><br />
:Nothing beside remains. Round the decay<br /><br />
:Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare<br /><br />
:The lone and level sands stretch far away."<ref name="Shelley1826">Percy Bysshe Shelley, "Ozymandias" in ''[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=MZY9AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&authuser=0&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA100 Miscellaneous and Posthumous Poems of Percy Bysshe Shelley]'' (London: W. Benbow, 1826), 100.</ref><br /><br />
<references/><br />
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==Transcript==<br />
:[Ponytail, with her arms stretched out, is addressing Cueball.]<br />
:Ponytail: <br />
:I met a traveler from an antique land<br />
:who said: "I met a traveler from an an<br />
:-tique land, who said "I met a traveler from <br />
:an antique land, who said "I met ...<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Recursion]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]</div>
Bbruzzo
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1557:_Ozymandias&diff=98710
Talk:1557: Ozymandias
2015-07-29T15:33:14Z
<p>Bbruzzo: </p>
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<div>Look upon this comment and despair! {{unsigned ip|173.245.50.164}}<br />
: The fact that the true author of this comment may never be known is reason enough to despair.[[Special:Contributions/173.245.55.66|173.245.55.66]] 14:35, 29 July 2015 (UTC)<br />
: An unrelated but interesting piece of trivia about Ozymandias: "Ozymandias" is the Greek name of the pharaoh Ramesses II, one of the most famous of the Egyptian pharaohs, who built many monuments that still stand today. So the poem, which has a ruler whose monument has crumbled and who is implied to be nearly forgotten, is in fact completely inaccurate! [[User:JoeNotCharles|JoeNotCharles]] ([[User talk:JoeNotCharles|talk]]) 15:23, 29 July 2015 (UTC)<br />
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So... [http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Planepacked Planepacked]? [[Special:Contributions/173.245.50.145|173.245.50.145]] 05:44, 29 July 2015 (UTC)<br />
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The page seems to give a description, but not an explanation of the joke. I still don't get it! Why has Ozymandias been singled out for this treatment? Is there some way in which recursion is particularly appropriate or inappropriate in this case, or has it just been selected arbitrarily? Is the whole joke that recursion is inherently funny? Normally when recursion is used in XKCD it's making a larger point, or cleverly riffing on something in particular. This isn't just Describe XKCD, so I'd love to see an explanation of this comic. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.47|141.101.99.47]] 09:35, 29 July 2015 (UTC)<br />
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:The poem Ozymandias, like the statue of the king,can be thought of as a pinnacle of achievement for its civilizarion- in this case, English civilization. So it is entirely possible that one day, after the fall of this civilization, the poem will fill the same role for it that the statue filled for Ozymandias' (fictional) civilization. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 15:33, 29 July 2015 (UTC)<br />
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:May it be that Ozymandias is chosen because of Smith’s poem, where at last London has vanished, suggesting that Shelley’s poem is the last remains of British civilization? --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.91.193|162.158.91.193]] 10:04, 29 July 2015 (UTC)<br />
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:I think Ozymandias was chosen because its opening is particularly famous. Even people who don't know much about poetry are often passingly familiar with it, and there's something funny about playing with well-known classics. And yes, I do believe the joke is that infinite recursion is inherently funny. There's a long tradition of these recursion-jokes among computer scientists and math people (like the "GNU" acronym, or recursive index references), with precedents in xkcd itself. [[User:Leoboiko|Leoboiko]] ([[User talk:Leoboiko|talk]])<br />
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In Germany, we have a childrens’ song „Ein Mops kam in die Küche“, which translates as follows (there are slightly different versions, though):<br />
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A pug came into the kitchen / and stole an egg from the chef. / Then the chef took his knife / and mashed the pug. // Then many pugs came / to his grave / and set a memorial for him, / where these words were written: // “A pug came into the kitchen …”<br />
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Maybe something similar exists in English? --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.91.193|162.158.91.193]] 10:04, 29 July 2015 (UTC)<br />
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:We have:<br />
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: This is the song that doesn't end, / Yes, it goes on and on, my friend, / Some people started singing it not knowing what it was, / And they'll continue singing it / Forever, just because [repeat] :''&mdash; [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 12:34, 29 July 2015 (UTC)''<br />
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:There's also:<br />
::I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves,<br />
::I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves and this is how it goes...[repeat] {{unsigned ip|197.234.243.249}}<br />
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:: In Dutch: "Het was nacht, stikdonkere nacht. Veertig rovers zaten rond een vuur. De roverhoofdman stond op een zei: "Het was nacht, stikdonkere nacht... " "<br />
:: Which translates to something along the lines of: "It was night, a pitchblack night. 40 robbers sat round a fire, their leader stood up and said: "It was night, a pitchblack night..." "<br />
:: Sometimes the fire is replaced by the shadow of a dandelion. "..Forty robbers sat in the shadow of a Dandelion, their Chief stood up and said: "It was a dark night, forty robbers sat in the shadow of a dandelion", etc. -- [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.67|141.101.104.67]] 13:01, 29 July 2015 (UTC) <br />
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:I've heard a very long infinitely recursive song in English, which is a variant of "The Bear Went Over the Mountain". The standard lyrics are:<br />
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:: The bear went over the mountain, the bear went over the mountain, the bear went over the mountain to see what he could see / And all that he could see, and all that he could see / Was the other side of the mountain, the other side of the mountain, the other side of the mountain, and that's what he could see.<br />
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: Well, the infinite variant goes:<br />
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:: The bear went over the mountain the bear went over the mountain, the bear went over the mountain to see what he could see / And all that he could see, and all that he could see / Was a valley in the mountain, a valley in the mountain, a valley in the mountain, and that's what he could see<br />
:: The bear went over the mountain the bear went over the mountain, the bear went over the mountain to see what he could see / And all that he could see, and all that he could see / Was a lake in the valley, a lake in the valley, a lake in the valley, and that's what he could see<br />
:: ... a sailboat on the lake ...<br />
:: ... a man in the sailbot ...<br />
:: ... pants on the man ...<br />
:: ... a pocket in the pants ...<br />
:: ... a nickel in the pocket ...<br />
:: ... a beaver on the nickel ... (Note: I just realized this line only works in Canada, where the five cent coin has a picture of a beaver on it.)<br />
:: ... a hair on the beaver ...<br />
:: ... a flea on the hair ...<br />
:: ... cells in the flea ...<br />
:: ... a prisoner in the cells ...<br />
:: ... pants on the prisoner ...<br />
:: ... a pocket in the pants ...<br />
:: etc.<br />
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: I prefer a slightly shorter version which goes from "a pocket in the pants" to "a dime in the pocket", then "a sailboat on the dime" (which again only works in Canada), and back to "a man in the sailboat". [[User:JoeNotCharles|JoeNotCharles]] ([[User talk:JoeNotCharles|talk]]) 15:14, 29 July 2015 (UTC)<br />
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:: <br />
Note that the recursion doesn't necessary be infinite. The list of travelers who met each other can have fixed length, for example 10. Imagining that the list is infinite is the joke. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 10:06, 29 July 2015 (UTC)<br />
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Should we mention {{w|quines}}, which occur when lists like this end after two iterations, as "Yo, I'm MC Quine and I'm here to say/'Yo, I'm MC Quine and I'm here to say'!" {{unsigned|FourViolas}}<br />
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: That's not exactly a quine - a quine is a set of instructions which, when followed, recreates the instructions. If you take MC Quine's quote and write it out, you get just, "Yo, I'm MC Quine and I'm here to say", which doesn't contain the second repetition. To be a quine, you need to find some way that taking just the quoted part will automatically expand to the full statement plus the quote. <br />
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: A closer example of a quine: "Q: Pete and Re-Pete were sitting on a bridge. Pete fell off. Who was left? A: Repeat." If you take the answer "repeat" as an instruction, you would repeat the joke, recreating it completely. [[User:JoeNotCharles|JoeNotCharles]] ([[User talk:JoeNotCharles|talk]]) 15:19, 29 July 2015 (UTC)<br />
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This reminds me of Theodor Storm's "Schimmelreiter" ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rider_on_the_White_Horse "The Rider on the White Horse"]) which descends through three nested levels of narrators before it comes to the real story. --[[User:Ulm|ulm]] ([[User talk:Ulm|talk]]) 13:56, 29 July 2015 (UTC)<br />
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One connection between recursion and Ozymandias is the phrase "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" aka "Who watches the watchmen?" and the character in ''The Watchmen'' named Ozymandias. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.51|108.162.221.51]] 14:42, 29 July 2015 (UTC)</div>
Bbruzzo