Difference between revisions of "2573: Alien Mission"

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
Jump to: navigation, search
m (fixed transcript)
(Explanation: Giving it a go. (There's a clash, which I shall resolve momentarily.))
Line 13: Line 13:
 
This is a continuation of the previous comic, explaining why exactly the aliens are flying over Earth (and thus having to track and avoid humans' cameras) -- apparently, they are interested in {{w|cryptids}}, animals which are conjectured by some to exist but not known to exist (and often believed ''not'' to exist) by mainstream scientists.
 
This is a continuation of the previous comic, explaining why exactly the aliens are flying over Earth (and thus having to track and avoid humans' cameras) -- apparently, they are interested in {{w|cryptids}}, animals which are conjectured by some to exist but not known to exist (and often believed ''not'' to exist) by mainstream scientists.
  
 +
This is an apparent continuation of the previous comic, in which actual aliens in actual flying-saucers have been closely observing the Earth in secret. Or at least maintaining enough plausible deniability that their existence cannot he generally proven.
 +
 +
Now it appears that the ''purpose'' of the exercise is to find various {{w|List of cryptids|cryptids}} such as {{w|Bigfoot}}/Sasquatch, an elusive large hominid that some humans seem convinced that exists in the wilds of North America. At least some of the aliens clearly have a similar belief, but have 'narrowed' their search down to the Earth. This implies that they had some prior knowledge (or suspicion) of its existence, but not even narrowed it down to one planet.
 +
 +
Their very thorough observation of the Earth (enough to comprehensively catalogue many of its humans and even track individual purchases of camera-technology, etc) seems to have been insufficient to find Bigfoot, but neither has it entirely refuted the claims. At least in the view of some of the holdouts with influence over this mission.
 +
 +
Whatever the arguments about the Sasquatch, the title text reveals a separate discussion regarding the {{w|Yeti}} (a similar large hominid purported to reside in the Himalayas), and the tentative permission to conduct ''one last search'' for it. This perhaps implies further unreferenced searches are also being made for the likes of the Loch Ness Monster, Mothman and Chupacabra.
 +
 +
That their clearly superior observation technology and methods have been apparently unable to resolve these issues at first seems like it shouldn't bode well for our own cryptozoologists, but the lack of definitively negative results does at least mean there's a degree of job-security, such as there already is.
 +
 +
Whether they're also looking for Little Green Men (these aliens being themselves more of the 'bug-eyed monster' type) wo
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
 
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
 
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

Revision as of 19:16, 26 January 2022

Alien Mission
Fine, we can go search the Himalayas for the Yeti ONE more time, but keep a safe altitude over the Pacific and PLEASE watch where you're going. We can't afford another Amelia Earhart incident.
Title text: Fine, we can go search the Himalayas for the Yeti ONE more time, but keep a safe altitude over the Pacific and PLEASE watch where you're going. We can't afford another Amelia Earhart incident.

Explanation

Ambox notice.png This explanation may be incomplete or incorrect: Created by an ALIEN LOOKING FOR BIGFOOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.
If you can address this issue, please edit the page! Thanks.

This is a continuation of the previous comic, explaining why exactly the aliens are flying over Earth (and thus having to track and avoid humans' cameras) -- apparently, they are interested in cryptids, animals which are conjectured by some to exist but not known to exist (and often believed not to exist) by mainstream scientists.

This is an apparent continuation of the previous comic, in which actual aliens in actual flying-saucers have been closely observing the Earth in secret. Or at least maintaining enough plausible deniability that their existence cannot he generally proven.

Now it appears that the purpose of the exercise is to find various cryptids such as Bigfoot/Sasquatch, an elusive large hominid that some humans seem convinced that exists in the wilds of North America. At least some of the aliens clearly have a similar belief, but have 'narrowed' their search down to the Earth. This implies that they had some prior knowledge (or suspicion) of its existence, but not even narrowed it down to one planet.

Their very thorough observation of the Earth (enough to comprehensively catalogue many of its humans and even track individual purchases of camera-technology, etc) seems to have been insufficient to find Bigfoot, but neither has it entirely refuted the claims. At least in the view of some of the holdouts with influence over this mission.

Whatever the arguments about the Sasquatch, the title text reveals a separate discussion regarding the Yeti (a similar large hominid purported to reside in the Himalayas), and the tentative permission to conduct one last search for it. This perhaps implies further unreferenced searches are also being made for the likes of the Loch Ness Monster, Mothman and Chupacabra.

That their clearly superior observation technology and methods have been apparently unable to resolve these issues at first seems like it shouldn't bode well for our own cryptozoologists, but the lack of definitively negative results does at least mean there's a degree of job-security, such as there already is.

Whether they're also looking for Little Green Men (these aliens being themselves more of the 'bug-eyed monster' type) wo

Transcript

Ambox notice.png This transcript is incomplete. Please help editing it! Thanks.

Left Alien: Sir, can we talk? We've been observing earth for almost a century. Hovering and zooming from place to place, trying to avoid being spotted by humans.

Alien Leader:Yeah.

Left Alien:By now we've flown over every inch of the surface many times.

Alien Leader:Yes, and?

Left Alien:Face it: if bigfoot is real, he's not anywhere on this planet.

Alien Leader:But humans have captured some intriguing videos!

Left Alien:*sigh*

Alien Leader:How else do you explain the...

comment.png add a comment! ⋅ comment.png add a topic (use sparingly)! ⋅ Icons-mini-action refresh blue.gif refresh comments!

Discussion

hello from Anchorage, AK!New editor (talk) 19:24, 26 January 2022 (UTC)

Hi, but do remember to sign your Talk stuff, however otherwise meaningless. ;) 172.70.91.126 19:21, 26 January 2022 (UTC)
oops forgot, just fixed it.New editor (talk) 19:24, 26 January 2022 (UTC)

I wonder whether they're also looking for Little Green Men, these aliens being themselves more of the 'bug-eyed monster' type. 172.70.91.126 19:21, 26 January 2022 (UTC)

Although they follow each other there is no clear indication that the two aliens are the same. --Kynde (talk) 09:10, 27 January 2022 (UTC)
They bought their UFOs from the same dealership..? 172.70.90.121 13:55, 27 January 2022 (UTC)
Bob's Saucer Repair: Power by Ozzie, Handling by Taz, Paint job by Topper/Pierre.Seebert (talk) 00:19, 28 January 2022 (UTC)

I question the current Analysis "The humor derives from the fact that UFO enthusiasts and cryptozoology enthusiasts have a similar mindset: They both believe in phenomena that the scientific establishment declares to be baseless." At a deeper level that may be true, but the primary humor comes from (a) us not being the reason for the alien presence (we tend to assume it's all about us) and (b) the sudden absurd realization that aliens have cryptozoology enthusiasts too.--172.70.131.122 23:41, 27 January 2022 (UTC)


"Every inch of the surface"

Should it be "every square inch of the surface"? 162.158.126.55 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

Yes,....yes it should.-- The Cat Lady (talk) 20:03, 26 January 2022 (UTC)
...but the surface of the Earth isn't square! :p 141.101.98.193 20:06, 26 January 2022 (UTC)
Insert that one story of the founding of Carthage here :) 172.70.134.57 22:27, 26 January 2022 (UTC)Bumpf
It should be "every square meter", because who on earth (and beyond) is still using imperial units? Kimmerin (talk) 08:33, 27 January 2022 (UTC)
Maybe it is "every linear inch" because they have an advanced technology allowing them to scan an infinity of lines and add the results to create a surface?172.70.49.143 12:19, 27 January 2022 (UTC)

I would hate myself if I didn't put in a plug for a friend's book series, Sci-Comedy genre. In Jerry Boyd's Bob and Nikki series, Bigfoot aren't native, they were dumped here by a different group of aliens that occasionally used them as slaves. They also love garlic and you can effectively trade with them. There are also Starfoot, who are used as slaves by the Commonwealth but have a planet of their own. Since DB Cooper speaks their language, he and his grandson left earth to settle there and raise garlic fields. All in all a rollicking funny series. Seebert (talk)

today the random button goes to https://c.xkcd.com/random/comic/ --172.70.131.214 02:57, 28 January 2022 (UTC)

seems complete, deleting tag.New editor (talk) 16:58, 28 January 2022 (UTC)

why has what if? not been updating lately? anybody know? New editor (talk) 21:06, 28 January 2022 (UTC)

I suspect Randall got bored of that project, or got tired of doing new research for it. The What if? page hasn't been updated in a few years, though Randall had written several books that seem to be similar: what_if#The_book and How To. 172.70.214.95 22:56, 28 January 2022 (UTC)
yeah, but did you see the Countdown in header text? could be a possible what if? 2.New editor (talk) 08:26, 30 January 2022 (UTC)
t.rex on a plane...New editor (talk) 08:26, 30 January 2022 (UTC)
wow, i predicted it. i'm as surprised as you are.