438: Internet Argument

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
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Internet Argument
It's easier to be an asshole to words than to people.
Title text: It's easier to be an asshole to words than to people.

Explanation

Cueball is having an argument with someone else on the internet, so Megan floats over and flies him to the other guy. When they're face-to-face, they find that they can't argue with each other.

The title text summarises this, by noting that by having the argument on the Internet, the other party is dehumanised, and therefore easier to criticise and be an asshole to, to use the wording of the title text.

Transcript

[Stick figure 1 is typing profanities into his computer]
[Stick figure 2 is typing profanities into his computer]
[Megan comes behind stick figure 1]
[Megan lifts stick figure 1]
[They are flying over mountains]
[Megan and stick figure 1 are floating in front of stick figure 2 and his computer]
[She sets stick figure 1 down in front of stick figure 2 and his computer]
[Megan lifts stick figure 1 again]
[They are flying]
[Megan sets stick figure 1 down in his chair at his computer]
[Stick figure 1 is typing at his computer]
[Stick figure 2 is typing at his computer]


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Discussion

Last ever CRT monitor?89.243.117.162 20:52, 15 August 2013 (UTC)

Yeah, I did try to start a category here, but it was deleted by an admin here.--Dgbrt (talk) 21:11, 26 August 2013 (UTC)
Well, yes. He is using Linux. The beauty of linux: you don't need to buy the newest and the most expensive computers just so you can run the programs you want. *cough cough* Windows 10 *cough* Ubuntu 16.10 user *cough cough* -- User:JayRulesXKCD (talk) 7:58, 9 September 2016
There is a CRT monitor in 1305 108.162.241.131 03:34, 13 October 2016 (UTC)

An explain on trolling is missing. Cueball is a Troll.--Dgbrt (talk) 21:11, 26 August 2013 (UTC)

I've written a (hopefully) complete explanation, and removed the incomplete tag. I included an explanation for trolls, however I don't think this comic is about trolling. I think it's about how people who is friendly in daily life can be much harsher when there's not a face to be friendly to, but only a block of text. 173.245.53.117 04:07, 5 December 2013 (UTC)

[Note to self: think of a trolling comment and return to enter it here] -- Brettpeirce (talk) 19:12, 4 November 2014 (UTC)

No apparent reference to trolls in the comic. Not even one. The two Cueballs are exact mirrors of each other. How is one a troll? Also, not sure why there is a very specific explanation regarding people who troll cancer forums... This definitely needs to be fixed.--flewk (talk) 17:40, 28 December 2015 (UTC)

Seconded. Both parties at the computers are upset, which suggests they're just arguing and at least one is being an asshole out of anger rather than trolling to get a rise out of the other. That said, I'm not sure how to fix it either unless it's satisfactory to simply copy what I just said...--Isaacslaughing (talk) 04:18, 15 December 2017 (UTC)