Editing 365: Slides
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In the context shown, the expression "bear with me for a moment" usually implies that two seemingly unrelated topics are in fact connected, and the connection is to be explained later. This is not the case in the comic: [[Cueball]] is in fact simply showing random slides that have no connection to each other. By using the phrase liberally and never actually explaining the links, it is suggested that a presenter can simply continue to show random slides for an extended period before anyone actually realizes what is going on. | In the context shown, the expression "bear with me for a moment" usually implies that two seemingly unrelated topics are in fact connected, and the connection is to be explained later. This is not the case in the comic: [[Cueball]] is in fact simply showing random slides that have no connection to each other. By using the phrase liberally and never actually explaining the links, it is suggested that a presenter can simply continue to show random slides for an extended period before anyone actually realizes what is going on. | ||
| β | The title text refers to {{w|SIGGRAPH}}, an annual computer graphics conference held since 1974. In [[541: TED Talk]], it is said that [[Randall]] has been banned from SIGGRAPH, and we can infer from this comic that he was physically thrown out of it. Another (very implausible) possibility is that Randall is making the joke that people who attend computer graphics conferences are stereotypically not very athletic, and therefore unlikely to be able to physically throw someone. | + | The title text refers to {{w|SIGGRAPH}}, an annual computer graphics conference held since 1974. In [[541: TED Talk]], it is said that [[Randall]] has been banned from SIGGRAPH, and we can infer from this comic that he was physically thrown out of it. Another (very implausible) possibility is that Randall is making the joke that people who attend computer graphics conferences are stereotypically not very athletic, and therefore unlikely to be able to physically throw someone. Randall's particular choice of the title text follows the literary guideline of "show, don't tell", which states that the author, in this case Randall, should convey to the reader the point that he wants to express through demonstration or other methods instead of explicitly telling it to them, as the former prompts the reader to visualize the picture, while the latter comes across as boring. Telling the reader that the conference that Randall did this at was SIGGRAPH would have been boring to the reader because it is telling instead of showing. Telling the reader that Randall was thrown out of SIGGRAPH would have been a marginally better way to convey to the reader that the conference that Randall did this at was SIGGRAPH because the fact that Randall was at SIGGRAPH is now merely an implication of the title text instead of being stated directly, but it still simply tells the reader a fact without painting a picture in the reader's mind and is therefore suboptimal. The actual title text correctly follows the principle of "show, don't tell". First, through using the adverb "physically", Randall paints a more vivid picture of the occurrence in the reader's mind. In addition, phrasing the title text as a "Did you know" question and putting the last word in all-caps (While SIGGRAPH is the proper way to format the name of the conference, Randall likely intentionally chose a conference name that was in all-caps for this purpose of conveying shock.) convey Randall's surprise that the attendees were allowed to and physically able to literally throw Randall out. This presents the title text not as a monotonous narration but instead in a more entertaining way, preventing the reader from getting bored. |
In addition, the fact that Cueball was attending SIGGRAPH is another joke: Neither the quantum Hall effect, a concept in quantum mechanics, nor rainfall in the Amazon forest, have anything to do with SIGGRAPH's focus of computer graphics. | In addition, the fact that Cueball was attending SIGGRAPH is another joke: Neither the quantum Hall effect, a concept in quantum mechanics, nor rainfall in the Amazon forest, have anything to do with SIGGRAPH's focus of computer graphics. | ||
