Talk:1178: Pickup Artists

Oh my God, this one's brilliant. 76.106.251.87 06:53, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

I did not get it. Waiting for explanation. 95.35.63.243 07:43, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

See also comic #1027 65.49.14.70 10:47, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

Added an explanation for the title text, but it's probably too wordy and not very clear. Anyone have any suggestions? Cornarias (talk) 11:07, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

Umm... "The pun lies in the fact that a pickup basketball player becomes skilled at basketball." I thought the pun was on the word "artist" meaning someone that does...art. The same goes with the "friend zone" explanation. It doesn't seem like disbelief, but rather that there is a "place to meet friends" or "a place that friends go to hang out" (in other words, "a zone of friends"). So the joke is that the world seems happier because you think the words are describing subjectively better things than they actually are. But that's just my take on the comic. 76.106.251.87 11:11, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

P.S. This is a Saturday comic? 76.106.251.87 11:19, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

Not anymore. Davidy²²[talk] 11:21, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

Al right, just change it then. :) Jaap-Jan (talk) 14:33, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

I think it's time we give the other guy a name. What about Sleezy Guy? ChrisFortyTwo (talk)

Seconded. I remember he's been named Harry in the past. A quick search brings up 1028. He's appeared quite a bit now, and he probably should be named. Davidy²²[talk] 12:54, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

Thirded. But maybe something a bit nicer sounding. Cornarias (talk) 13:49, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

Fourthed. And changed to 'Harry'. Should we add a tag as well? Jaap-Jan (talk) 14:33, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

That would probably have to go through due process via explain xkcd:Community portal/Proposals, but it should go through quickly enough, given how often Harry appears. Davidy²²[talk] 14:42, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

Ah, now I get it, hehe – Harry–Hairy! (Are those two pronounced exactly the same, or just similarly?) –St.nerol (talk) 18:10, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

I think he should be called "Hairy", not Harry: attributing a random real name to a character that the author himself didn't choose (like Megan or Mrs. Roberts) is likely to bring up issues, whereas calling him in a way that simply reflects how he's drawn (like Cueball, Black Hat, Ponytail and all the rest) just goes in direct line with what is done in the source; and it's self-explanatory in the description, it does not require the reader to be accustomed to the habits of this wiki (currently, reading "Harry" out of nowhere is quite uncanny). So, since it works pretty well here, let's call him Hairy. - Cos (talk) 19:30, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

Beret Guy is right, a day of Pickup Art sounds like a lot of fun. Everybody pack their sketchbooks, pastels and watercolours, wander around town till they find interesting vignettes or vistas, everyone sketch and paint without showing each other till picnic time. At PT, all pull out their packed lunches and eat and enjoy each other's efforts. He'll, this sounds 1000% better than almost every pub outing I have ever had.24.79.11.46 13:00, 25 February 2013 (UTC)