Editing 1316: Inexplicable
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|Still?}} | |
− | + | [[Cueball]]'s laptop has a problem that has resisted many hours of concentrated effort at resolution. [[Megan]] offers to help, but almost immediately concludes that the laptop is haunted. Literally haunted, as in it is possessed by an evil spirit. | |
− | The title text | + | A similarly unresolvable problem can be seen in [[1084: Server Problem]]. In that case, no haunting is suggested, and Megan suggests Cueball wait for the Singularity. |
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+ | The title text describes how a conversation would go if he attempted to return the laptop to the store. Being haunted is apparently not an acceptable reason for return. | ||
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+ | The use of the word "ghost" may also be an allusion to the philosophical problem known as {{w|Ghost in the machine}}. This has been popularized through cyberpunk literature and movies, such as {{w|The Matrix}} and {{w|Ghost in the Shell}}. The question is whether machines are, or could be, conscious and have their own free will. | ||
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+ | The comic may also be intended to remind us how non-technical users see computers and technology in general. Often a non-technical person will anthropomorphize a gadget, assigning it a personality with quirks. In this case, it happens to take the form of a ghost. When they have problems, they often give the device to a slightly more technical person to deal with it, which they may not be able to do. This may end up confirming (at least in the mind of the non-technical person) the personality of the device. Note that Cueball is not "non-technical", so this possible interpretation does not literally match the depicted scenario. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[Cueball | + | :[Cueball is frustrated at a laptop.] |
− | :Cueball: '' | + | :Cueball: ''ARGH!'' |
:Megan (off-screen): What? | :Megan (off-screen): What? | ||
:Cueball: Why do I always have these inexplicable, impossible-to-diagnose computer problems? | :Cueball: Why do I always have these inexplicable, impossible-to-diagnose computer problems? | ||
− | :[Megan walks | + | :[Megan walks towards Cueball.] |
:Cueball: After six hours of this, I've concluded nothing works or makes sense. I give up on logic. | :Cueball: After six hours of this, I've concluded nothing works or makes sense. I give up on logic. | ||
:Megan: *sigh* Gimme. I'll figure it out. | :Megan: *sigh* Gimme. I'll figure it out. | ||
:Cueball: You won't. | :Cueball: You won't. | ||
− | :[ | + | :[The laptop is now off the desk, and Megan is offscreen again.] |
+ | :''type type'' | ||
+ | :''click'' | ||
+ | :? | ||
:''type type'' | :''type type'' | ||
− | :'' | + | :''type'' |
− | + | :??? | |
− | |||
− | |||
− | :[Megan | + | :[Megan has returned, a closed laptop in hand.] |
:Cueball: How'd it go? | :Cueball: How'd it go? | ||
:Megan: Your computer is literally haunted. | :Megan: Your computer is literally haunted. | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | ||
[[Category:Computers]] | [[Category:Computers]] | ||
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