Difference between revisions of "983: Privacy"

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(Transcript: faithfully transcribe “availibility” spelling mistake)
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This comic is about [[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] attempting to find some privacy to "hook up", which is slang for engaging in sexual activity.
 
This comic is about [[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] attempting to find some privacy to "hook up", which is slang for engaging in sexual activity.
  
They start by going to a dorm. However, the door is locked.
+
They start at a dormitory, which would offer some privacy{{Citation needed}}. Unfortunately, the door is locked. They go to another dorm, but it is occupied by someone playing a {{w|Massively multiplayer online role-playing game|MMORPG}} and is "in a {{w|Raid (gaming)|raid}}", which means that the gamer is teaming up with others to "raid" something, probably an enemy, and loot their items. This also pokes fun at the fact that some raids may take a very long time to execute, in this case apparently taking on the order of 24 hours. (This comic was published on a Monday morning.)
  
In the second frame, the female roommate of Megan's is currently in a {{w|Raid_(gaming)|raid}}, which is a phrase used in {{w|World of Warcraft}} and other {{w|Massively multiplayer online role-playing game|Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games}} or MMORPGs. A Raid is a large gathering of players that work together to defeat a difficult enemy.
+
In the third frame, the two try to go to the library's rare book collection. Such a place would usually be deserted, making it usable for sexual activity. However, it is currently occupied by a visiting {{w|Nelson Mandela}}, who is on a tour of the school.  
  
The Rare book collection in the library in frame three is usually deserted, so it would be perfect for sexual activity, but instead a tour is going through the area instead. It is unclear if the tour is visiting {{w|Nelson Mandela}} in the rare book section or Nelson Mandela is visiting the school and is getting a tour through the rare book section.
+
Moving on to more bizarre places, they next try an {{w|Particle accelerator|accelerator tunnel}}, another place that would be private. However, the particle accelerator is in use and the door is sealed tight. This would be a normal safety feature to protect researchers from being exposed to potentially dangerous ionizing radiation from the particle beam.
  
Next they try an accelerator tunnel that is in use and thus locked. This is a normal safety feature in particle accelerators in order to protect researchers from being exposed to potentially dangerous radiation from the particle beam, simply by being near the accelerator while it is in use.
+
The couple then try a {{w|beaver lodge}}, which, despite being private, is too tiny to fit in, and the only entrance is underwater. What makes it more difficult to get in is that it is winter, and the ground is presumably frozen solid.
  
Then they try a beaver lodge. A beaver lodge is usually only accessible from underwater and during winter, the entrances are even further protected by a solid sheet of ice. Note that the final level of the Nintendo 64 game Banjo-Kazooie includes a beaver's living space resembling the one shown. In the game, the lodge is only accessible during the winter phase, when the player must swim from a hole in the ice to the underwater entrance.
+
The last place they attempt to go to is {{w|hyperspace}}, a nickname for the alternate dimension that starships enter when traveling faster than the speed of light. The name is commonly used in ''{{w|Star Wars}}''. However, there is no proof that hyperspace exists in reality, as the current understanding of physics makes it impossible for it to exist.
  
With our current understanding of physics, there is neither the possibility of {{w|hyperspace}} existing, nor the possibility of getting there quickly.
+
The caption is a parody of other laws of physics, such as "brightness is inversely proportional to distance from the source".
  
The title text indicates that the two found privacy for sex in the lab, but inadvertently got Megan pregnant. This is a pun on news titles about scientists who have created synthetic life in the lab. This eventual headline appears in a few [[1037: Umwelt]] frames as "Scientists Create Life In Lab".
+
The title text indicates that the two eventually found privacy for sex in a laboratory, but inadvertently got Megan pregnant. This is a parody of news articles discussing whether scientists can create synthetic life in a lab. This eventual headline appears in a few [[1037: Umwelt]] frames as "Scientists Create Life In Lab", with a similar secondary headline/caption as the punchline.
  
 
The comic [[658: Orbitals]] is similar.
 
The comic [[658: Orbitals]] is similar.
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==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
 
:Dorm:
 
:Dorm:
:[An incredibly libidinous, extremely attractive couple try and enter one person's dorm room.]
+
:[Cueball and Megan holding hands in front of a door. Megan is attempting to turn the doorknob.]
:Locked.
+
:Locked
  
 
:Other Dorm:
 
:Other Dorm:
:[The same couple in the other person's dorm room, where the roommate is sitting at a computer playing an MMO.]
+
:[Cueball and Megan holding hands inside another dorm room. The roommate is sitting at a computer wearing a headset.]
 
:Roommate: I'll be done Tuesday.
 
:Roommate: I'll be done Tuesday.
 
:Roommate in raid
 
:Roommate in raid
  
 
:Library Rare Book Collection:
 
:Library Rare Book Collection:
:[Libidinous couple staring inside the room from outside. Nelson Mandela and other university workers inside the room, looking at some extremely expensive items.]
+
:[Cueball and Megan looking through a closed door. Inside Nelson Mandela and two university workers are talking amongst various items on display.]
 
:Occupied by tour for visiting Nelson Mandela
 
:Occupied by tour for visiting Nelson Mandela
  
 
:Accelerator Tunnel:
 
:Accelerator Tunnel:
:[Couple stares at a heavy, imposing door denying them entry.]
+
:[Cueball and Megan in silhouette in front of an imposing-looking door. The door is marked "NO ENTRY" with a radioactive trefoil symbol, and has a passcode scanner beside it.]
:Sealed while beam is in operation.
+
:Sealed while beam is in operation
  
 
:Beaver Lodge:
 
:Beaver Lodge:
:[Couple attempting to enter an occupied beaver lodge.]
+
:[Megan climbing on top of a dirt mound while Cueball stands on the ice beside it. A cross-section reveals a beaver inside the mound and a submerged entrance.]
:Frozen over for winter to keep out predators; only accessible via underwater entrance.
+
:Frozen over for winter to keep out predators, only accessible via underwater entrance
  
 
:Hyperspace:
 
:Hyperspace:
:[Couple in front of a number of highly advanced physics textbooks.]
+
:[Megan reading a textbook in front of a table piled with five other textbooks. Cueball looks over Megan's shoulder.]
:Cueball: Are you ''sure?''
+
:Cueball: Are you ''sure''?
:Ruled out by current understanding of physics.
+
:Ruled out by current understanding of physics
  
 
:College Law #27:
 
:College Law #27:
:The availability of private space is inversely proportional to the desirability of the hookup.
+
:The availibility [sic] of private space is inversely proportional to the desirability of the hookup.
  
 
{{comic discussion}}
 
{{comic discussion}}
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[[Category:Video games]]
 
[[Category:Video games]]
 
[[Category:Physics]]
 
[[Category:Physics]]
 +
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]

Revision as of 08:49, 11 May 2020

Privacy
Eventual headline: 'University Researchers Create Life in Lab! Darkness, Faulty Condoms Blamed.'
Title text: Eventual headline: 'University Researchers Create Life in Lab! Darkness, Faulty Condoms Blamed.'

Explanation

This comic is about Cueball and Megan attempting to find some privacy to "hook up", which is slang for engaging in sexual activity.

They start at a dormitory, which would offer some privacy[citation needed]. Unfortunately, the door is locked. They go to another dorm, but it is occupied by someone playing a MMORPG and is "in a raid", which means that the gamer is teaming up with others to "raid" something, probably an enemy, and loot their items. This also pokes fun at the fact that some raids may take a very long time to execute, in this case apparently taking on the order of 24 hours. (This comic was published on a Monday morning.)

In the third frame, the two try to go to the library's rare book collection. Such a place would usually be deserted, making it usable for sexual activity. However, it is currently occupied by a visiting Nelson Mandela, who is on a tour of the school.

Moving on to more bizarre places, they next try an accelerator tunnel, another place that would be private. However, the particle accelerator is in use and the door is sealed tight. This would be a normal safety feature to protect researchers from being exposed to potentially dangerous ionizing radiation from the particle beam.

The couple then try a beaver lodge, which, despite being private, is too tiny to fit in, and the only entrance is underwater. What makes it more difficult to get in is that it is winter, and the ground is presumably frozen solid.

The last place they attempt to go to is hyperspace, a nickname for the alternate dimension that starships enter when traveling faster than the speed of light. The name is commonly used in Star Wars. However, there is no proof that hyperspace exists in reality, as the current understanding of physics makes it impossible for it to exist.

The caption is a parody of other laws of physics, such as "brightness is inversely proportional to distance from the source".

The title text indicates that the two eventually found privacy for sex in a laboratory, but inadvertently got Megan pregnant. This is a parody of news articles discussing whether scientists can create synthetic life in a lab. This eventual headline appears in a few 1037: Umwelt frames as "Scientists Create Life In Lab", with a similar secondary headline/caption as the punchline.

The comic 658: Orbitals is similar.

Transcript

Dorm:
[Cueball and Megan holding hands in front of a door. Megan is attempting to turn the doorknob.]
Locked
Other Dorm:
[Cueball and Megan holding hands inside another dorm room. The roommate is sitting at a computer wearing a headset.]
Roommate: I'll be done Tuesday.
Roommate in raid
Library Rare Book Collection:
[Cueball and Megan looking through a closed door. Inside Nelson Mandela and two university workers are talking amongst various items on display.]
Occupied by tour for visiting Nelson Mandela
Accelerator Tunnel:
[Cueball and Megan in silhouette in front of an imposing-looking door. The door is marked "NO ENTRY" with a radioactive trefoil symbol, and has a passcode scanner beside it.]
Sealed while beam is in operation
Beaver Lodge:
[Megan climbing on top of a dirt mound while Cueball stands on the ice beside it. A cross-section reveals a beaver inside the mound and a submerged entrance.]
Frozen over for winter to keep out predators, only accessible via underwater entrance
Hyperspace:
[Megan reading a textbook in front of a table piled with five other textbooks. Cueball looks over Megan's shoulder.]
Cueball: Are you sure?
Ruled out by current understanding of physics
College Law #27:
The availibility [sic] of private space is inversely proportional to the desirability of the hookup.


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Discussion

If your roommate's in a raid, he's not gonna turn around and notice you shacking up any time soon. World of Warcraft is serious business. Davidy22[talk] 06:55, 2 February 2013 (UTC)

Is the transcript the original one? 108.162.216.45 21:51, 29 November 2013 (UTC)

No, the name Cueball is never mentioned by Randall. But in general it is close to the original one at all.--Dgbrt (talk) 22:23, 29 November 2013 (UTC)

I don't see how the tour for visiting Nelson Mandela could be interpreted as suggesting that Nelson Mandela was in the rare book collection and the tour was going to visit him - that just seems ridiculous. It's pretty clear that Nelson Mandela's visiting the library. --199.27.130.143 13:38, 11 August 2014 (UTC)

Agreed. I have fixed the entry to reflect the same. It's worth noting that you could have done it first, and explained your edit here. This is, after all, a wiki editable by anyone. Orazor (talk) 09:56, 12 August 2014 (UTC)

Is the fact that the roommate says Tuesday a joke on how long raids can last? That he can reply with a day of the week rather than a time? I think I have seen jokes about the lengths of raids in other places, but I'm not sure. Athang (talk) 21:43, 20 August 2014 (UTC)

Well if it's WoW then Tuesday is reset and maintenance shutdown day (usually). -Pennpenn 108.162.250.155 05:15, 13 February 2015 (UTC)


This is a larger idea, so I didn't want to add it without running it by people: Might it be that the visiting Nelson Mandela is a joke about the stereotypical priorities of college students? I.E. that Megan and Cueball are so engaged with the idea of hooking up that a visit from a notable figure is ignored. -- Xkcdeal (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

At first, I thought the "other dorm" one was showing the roommate setting up a RAID array... Whoop whoop pull up (talk) 19:01, 28 April 2017 (UTC)

This is just applied Murphy's Law, isn't it? 103.22.200.240 23:31, 13 February 2019 (UTC)

A positive consequence of this law: not desiring hookup provides large (infinite?) amount of private space. 162.158.203.23 04:10, 9 January 2021 (UTC)