explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1829: Geochronology

2018-06-03T22:44:21Z

141.101.99.167: /* Explanation */ Add a link for the space dog

{{comic
| number = 1829
| date = April 26, 2017
| title = Geochronology
| image = geochronology.png
| titletext = 'The mountains near here formed when the ... Newfoundland ... microplate collided with, uhh ... Labrador.' 'Ok, now you're definitely just naming dogs.' 'Wait, no, that's actually almost correct.'
}}

==Explanation==
[[Ponytail]] is describing the origin of some rock formations to [[Megan]] and [[Cueball]]. She apparently forgot the names of the {{w|Plate tectonics|microplates}} and the {{w|Geologic time scale|age}} when the {{w|subduction}} occurred, so she substituties them with names of {{w|Dog breed|dog breeds}} ({{w|Dalmatian (dog)|Dalmatian}}, {{w|Laika (dog breed)|Laika}} and {{w|Pomeranian (dog)|Pomeranian}}) to seem knowledgeable and impress her audience.

Although no microplates or geological ages with these names exist, this is not obvious for people outside of the field, as dog breeds are often named after geographic regions. For example {{w|Dalmatia}} is the name of a region in {{w|Croatia}}, and a microplate named after it could exist (possibly as a fragment of the former {{w|Adriatic Plate}}). Likewise, a Laika Plate ''could'' be named after the {{w|Shepherd Islands|Laika Island}} in {{w|Vanuatu}} (although the dog's name is the Russian word лайка, literally meaning "barker", and unrelated to the island, probably referring to the {{w|Laika|first dog in space on Sputnik 2}}). Geological ages are often named after place where the first rocks dating from the age were found e.g. the {{w|Devonian}} is named after the {{w|England|English}} county of {{w|Devon}}, while the {{w|Permian}} is named after the {{w|Russia|Russian}} city of {{w|Perm}}. Thus, a Pomeranian Age named after {{w|Pomerania}}, a region on the {{w|Baltic Sea}} split between {{w|Poland}} and {{w|Germany}}, might reasonably exist.

So the comic concludes in the caption with one of Randall's many [[:Category:Tips|tips]], this time a geology tip, about how it is possible to pretend to be more knowledgeable regarding geology (and to bluff others not educated in the science) by just inserting dog breeds names instead of real names as no one remembers the names of all the microplates. An actual geologist, unlike Ponytail, would not be fooled.

The title text continues the situation until Ponytail starts to run out of dog breeds. Her audience catches on... until one of them chimes in that her "explanation" did name two real geological features: the dog breeds {{w|Labrador Retriever|Labrador}} and {{w|Newfoundland (dog)|Newfoundland}} are named after the two Canadian regions {{w|Labrador}} and {{w|Newfoundland}} respectively. Geologically, Labrador is the easternmost section of the {{w|Canadian Shield}}, the ancient core of the {{w|North America|North American}} continent. In contrast, Newfoundland (especially western Newfoundland) was formed from {{w|terrane|terranes}}, the remnants of a series of plates that collided with - and subducted beneath - North America. Some geologists have assigned the name "Newfoundland Plate" to one of these former microplates that Newfoundland now comprises. However, the title text explanation is not likely to be entirely accurate, because the most significant mountains in Newfoundland are the {{w|Long Range Mountains}}, which are the northernmost of the {{w|Appalachian Mountains}}, created when {{w|Africa}} and North America collided to form {{w|Pangaea}}; no mountain range is identified as being the result of the collision of the Newfoundland Plate with North America.

Subduction was featured in a previous comic [[1388: Subduction License]].

==Transcript==
:[Ponytail is gesturing toward some rock formations in a grass field while addressing Megan and Cueball who are looking down at the rocks, Cueball with a hand to his chin.]
:Ponytail: This bedrock likely formed as the Dalmatian microplate subducted under East Laika during the Upper Pomeranian.
:Cueball: Ah, yes.

:[Caption below the panel:]
:Geology Tip: There are so many microplates and ages that no one remembers them all, so in a pinch you can bluff with dog breeds.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Tips]]
[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Geography]]
[[Category:Animals]]

1785: Wifi

2017-01-14T10:02:59Z

141.101.99.167: /* Explanation */ The x-axis shows savviness, not population, so we can't deduce the removed sentance from the graph. If if it was intended to be a general comment, then a citation is needed.

{{comic
| number = 1785
| date = January 13, 2017
| title = Wifi
| image = wifi.png
| titletext = Further out to the right, it works correctly, but the reason it works still involves the word 'firmware.'
}}

==Explanation==
This comic shows the supposed probability that a guest will be able to connect to the owner's {{w|Wi-Fi}} in graph form. Connecting to a new Wi-Fi network typically requires selecting the correct network name on a settings screen, then entering a password.

The graph starts with tech-illiterate people who don't even know how to control their Wi-Fi connection ("can't find wifi settings"). This group has slightly lower than normal probability of connecting successfully, since they would not know what to do if left alone. However, they still have a reasonable chance to connect as long as someone is available to help them. Once the initial setup is done, they can continue using the connection without any technical knowledge or intervention.

The average case in the middle of the graph represents typical users who simply wish to connect and gain Internet access ("works fine"). This group of users have enough knowledge to be able to connect and are then satisfied with the connection just working. Since networking devices use a standard protocol to communicate, users typically will not experience any issues.

Finally, the large drop in the graph on the right-hand side is explained by "something involving the word 'firmware'". Firmware is programming which operates a device at the lowest level, typically stored in a {{w|ROM}} or an EEPROM/flash. Modifying the firmware can have certain benefits, for example to gain features that aren't included in the base product. However, understanding and patching firmware requires a great deal of technical knowledge, and can be quite risky for people without experience. Not all custom firmware will interoperate correctly with all devices. Technical issues with custom firmware can also be harder to fix due to lack of support from the device manufacturer. In the worst case, installing the wrong firmware or any errors or glitches in the process can even leave devices "bricked" (inoperable and unrecoverable). It's likely that the sharp dropoff in the graph is caused by inexperienced users who know "just enough" to want to modify their firmware, but don't know how to deal with the multitude of issues that can arise. Particularly for users whose connection was already working fine but nevertheless want to experiment with new firmware, their changes often end up worsening their chances of connecting.

The title text indicates that the curve recovers once users are more experienced, and ''can'' consistently install firmware correctly to get a working connection. In such case, the users are able to enjoy better connections through their firmware changes while avoiding their pitfalls. These experienced users are often able to diagnose and fix connection issues through the appropriate use of firmware, making their chances of connecting even better than the average user.

These computer issues have previously appeared in several xkcd comics, notably [[456: Cautionary]], where WiFi problems specifically are mentioned in the title text.

The apparent paradox of people knowing more about a subject also having more problems with it is also explored in [[1760: TV Problems]]; in the title text, the ones who are more likely to die from a skydiving accident are the ones who know the more about skydiving safety, but that is of course not because they cannot make it work, but rather because they make many more dives than regular people, thus increasing the overall risk in spite of their competence.

==Transcript==
:[A line graph with a curve that starts just left of the Y-axis above the middle of the axis. Then it increases slightly and stays almost stable on a long flat plateau before it falls off fast towards the right. Each axis ends in an arrow and has a label to the left of the Y-axis and below the x-axis. Over the curve there are three labels, pointing with one arrow to the two rising and falling parts, and three arrows to the center label above the plateau.]
:Y-axis: Probability houseguest will be able to connect to WiFi
:X-axis: Houseguest tech-savviness
:Left label: Can't find wifi settings
:Center label: Works fine
:Right label: Something involving the word "firmware"

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Line graphs]]
[[Category:Computers]]

Talk:1403: Thesis Defense

2014-08-06T08:40:37Z

141.101.99.167:

Sorry, but if your best defense is frightening counter attack a good offense will destroy you. The best defense is a good offense because a weakened or destroyed opponent can mount no offense.[[Special:Contributions/173.245.48.132|173.245.48.132]] 05:58, 4 August 2014 (UTC)BluDgeons

:Depends on type of counter attack. For example, the best defense against missiles is to fire anti-missile missiles, which may be seen as type of attack. Of course, the phrase is older than missiles, but I believe similar principles applied: not retaliation nor first strike, but attacking the enemy units which are trying to attack you. Alternatively, attacking enemy army supply lines may also force it to interrupt her attack on you. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 10:22, 4 August 2014 (UTC)

::No. Anti-missile missiles are an absolutely dreadful defense agaisnt missiles. Their success rate is well below 100% and has only recently risen above 0%. The actual best defense against missiles is to blow them up on the ground, before they are launched, i.e. An offensive attack. [[User:JamesCurran|JamesCurran]] ([[User talk:JamesCurran|talk]]) 20:12, 4 August 2014 (UTC)

::: You've clearly never heard of Iron Dome, Israel's missile defense system. It has crazy high success rates. I've seen it in action myself, it is glorious. --[[User:NeatNit|NeatNit]] ([[User talk:NeatNit|talk]]) 04:24, 6 August 2014 (UTC)

:::: Israel has to fire two Iron Dome missiles ($50,000 dollars each) to intercept each Qassam rocket (roughly $500 dollars), so this is a terrible example as a well resourced attacker can easily overwhelm a defender. Maybe in another decade with lasers, cheaper interceptors and rail guns the equation might have changed.

The expression is based on a concept that is military and ancient, but I wonder if the expression itself, in English, originated with American football, sometime since the game's birth in the 1860s. It is so specifically applicable to this game, where a team's defense and offense are completely separate units, run separately and spoken of separately and yet an extremely effective way to keep the opponent from scoring is to maintain possession of the ball while the game clock ticks down. [[User:Wrybred|Wrybred]] ([[User talk:Wrybred|talk]]) 13:18, 4 August 2014 (UTC)wrybred

: While it is applicable in most attacking sports, then I seriously doubt that it originated in American Football -- I has been some time since I read {{w|Sun Tzu}}'s {{w|The Art of War}} which is one of the oldest texts in existence, but I suspect it may already be in there predating anything else [[User:Spongebog|Spongebog]] ([[User talk:Spongebog|talk]]) 22:05, 4 August 2014 (UTC)

May or may not also be inspired by Studio C: Thesis Defense http://youtu.be/Lrlro3YJ15o Teagan N {{unsigned ip|173.245.48.134}}

Can anyone make out what's written on the board? {{unsigned ip|141.101.105.220}}
: No, probably not -- [[User:Spongebog|Spongebog]] ([[User talk:Spongebog|talk]]) 21:57, 4 August 2014 (UTC)

: My best guess after resizing the image a few times is
:: [The|To] [F|Falcons?] [at|of] [T|Times?]
:: [D|Displays?] [a|is|its] [M|Moods?]
:: [by?] {illegible first name (short maybe Meg)} {illegible surname (long)
:: [C|{illegible}] [the] {illegible 1 short word 1 long word or only 1 long word}
:: {illegible mid size word} {illegible short word maybe is} {illegible short word a} {illegible} {illegible} {{unsigned|Meerkat}}

: Looks to me like "The Evolution of [Thesis/Turtle] Displays & Moods" something illegible, probably her name, followed by "Candidate for [illegible]"[[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.52|141.101.98.52]]

: I read "The Evolution of Threat Displays in Murder" as the topic after lots of enlargement.[[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.207|173.245.54.207]] 14:30, 4 August 2014 (UTC)
::I'm with this reading. It's logical, too. Megan's actions, being about as far as you can go in the direction of Murderous Threat Displays, are a natural "conclusion" to her presentation.--[[User:Laverock|Laverock]] ([[User talk:Laverock|talk]]) 15:43, 5 August 2014 (UTC)

: I think it says "The Evolution of Throat Dipthongs in Murder". I'm no linguist, but if "AAAAAA" is said in an undulating fashion, it would qualify as a dipthong. Thus the presentation is incomplete without the yell. {{unsigned ip|108.162.219.154}}

: Going off on the poster above me and taking into account the topic of the comic, I think it is probably "The Evolution of Thesis Displays in Murder" [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.185|141.101.98.185]] 08:41, 5 August 2014 (UTC)

Thanks! Came here today for this, created account to say thanks :) [[User:Mathiastck|Mathiastck]] ([[User talk:Mathiastck|talk]]) 18:18, 4 August 2014 (UTC)
: You'r welcome [[User:Spongebog|Spongebog]] ([[User talk:Spongebog|talk]]) 21:59, 4 August 2014 (UTC)

"In conclusion" suggests she's almost finished with her presentation. I wonder what the panel thought of her holding a sword many times thicker than her stick-body for the duration of her defense.[[User:Alanbbent|Alanbbent]] ([[User talk:Alanbbent|talk]]) 00:00, 5 August 2014 (UTC)
: "In conclusion" is the APA style of creating a summary section -- hence she has just finished her presentation, and she is now moving on to the questions-answers with the examiners defending her thesis. [[Special:Contributions/199.27.133.6|199.27.133.6]] 13:57, 5 August 2014 (UTC)

;Incomplete?

looks to me that this pretty complete -- remove the incomplete tag? [[User:Spongebog|Spongebog]] ([[User talk:Spongebog|talk]]) 22:50, 4 August 2014 (UTC)

It's still missing the presentation text. [[User:cDave]] {{unsigned|CDave}}

:I don't think anyone can read it. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.201|173.245.54.201]] 03:46, 6 August 2014 (UTC)

:I'm surprised noone has referred to the transcript in the page source. It officially says, "The evolution of threat defence in mammals." [[Special:Contributions/173.245.62.73|173.245.62.73]] 06:09, 6 August 2014 (UTC)