explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:3088: Deposition

2025-05-13T06:40:40Z

162.158.155.81:

--[[Special:Contributions/104.23.175.13|104.23.175.13]] 02:56, 13 May 2025 (UTC)')DROP TABLE Talk:3088:_Deposition;
--Stephen Hawking did about the same thing, throwing a party for time travellers. But nobody came. (also yes thats an undertale reference :D )--[[Special:Contributions/104.23.175.41|104.23.175.41]] 06:36, 13 May 2025 (UTC)
:well done. no notes. [[user talk:lett‪herebedarklight|youtu.be/miLcaqq2Zpk]] 03:58, 13 May 2025 (UTC)

Futurama reference?
[[Special:Contributions/162.158.91.54|162.158.91.54]] 03:56, 13 May 2025 (UTC)

This is definitely a comic that ''does'' have "set-in-stone explanations." [[Special:Contributions/162.158.155.81|162.158.155.81]] 06:40, 13 May 2025 (UTC)

2866: Snow

2023-12-13T15:03:56Z

162.158.155.81: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2866
| date = December 11, 2023
| title = Snow
| image = snow_2x.png
| imagesize = 609x379px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = For someone who has ostensibly outgrown staying up late waiting for Santa, I do spend an awful lot of time refreshing websites to see if packages are here yet.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by an BOT REPEATEDLY REFRESHING XKCD FOR COMIC 2867 - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic is about people being excited by snow, which can induce what might be seen as "childish" or less mature behaviour. Many people like snow for a variety of reasons; it may be nostalgic for them, in areas where it is infrequent it may be the novelty factor, it may be aesthetically pleasing, they may simply like walking around in snow, etc.

As the graph shows, Randall's "apparent age" drops significantly when snow starts to fall, and while it rises fairly quickly as the initial rush of excitement subsides, it is still lower whenever snow is falling (and possibly beyond this, while it is still lying). Evidently, the mere presence of snow keeps Randall acting somewhat childishly; it may takes a lot more time (or reality-inducing [[1674: Adult|grown-up events]]) to catch up to his true age. He can be seen staring out of the window in the fourth panel, obviously still significantly entranced and distracted, even if he is no longer running around in supposedly age-inappropriate excitement.

The title text refers to another common behavior of many adults - [[281: Online Package Tracking|constantly refreshing tracking websites]] to see if a package has moved - and compares it to the idea of a child who believes in Santa and tries to stay up late enough to see him deliver presents.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

:[Above the comic, there is a graph labeled "Time" on the X-axis and "My apparent age" on the Y-axis. The graph is flat until a large drop, labeled "The moment it starts to snow". After the drop, the line rises, but it doesn't reach as high as before.]
:[Under the graph, there are four comic panels. All show Cueball, a desk with a laptop, and a window. The panels line up with the graph's X-axis.]

:[Window without snow. Cueball at desk, apparently working.]

:[Window with several snowflakes. Cueball at desk, turning around to the window.]

:[Window with a lot of snow. Cueball jumps excitedly up from his chair, shouting.]
:Cueball: Hey! It's snowing! Outside! There's snow falling! Look! Snow! Hey!

:[Window with a lot of snow. Cueball at desk, apparently working, but possibly looking at the window.]

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Weather]]
[[Category:Line graphs]]

2838: Dubious Islands

2023-10-06T21:30:26Z

162.158.155.81: First!

{{comic
| number = 2838
| date = October 6, 2023
| title = Dubious Islands
| image = dubious_islands_2x.png
| imagesize = 740x1040px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Running for office in Minnesota on the single-issue platform 'dig a permanent channel through the Traverse Gap because it will make this map more satisfying.'
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic is about 'islands' supposedly made by the rivers crossing North America, combined with canals.
==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:2377: xkcd Phone 12

2023-09-22T16:57:12Z

162.158.155.81: add signature

Is there any way to install the Vengaboys feature on my own phone? It's pure genius
::(Above unsigned comment was clearly being replied to by the following. Tidying up by moving my own signed comment about coatings.) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.158.171|162.158.158.171]] 12:39, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
:Perhaps by taking data from infrared sensors and microphones, an app could automatically start the song? Might have some interesting copyright issues, tho idk how those things work … [[Special:Contributions/162.158.63.124|162.158.63.124]] 23:57, 26 October 2020 (UTC)

If it's coated for easy swallowing, perhaps it's actually a tablet... [[Special:Contributions/162.158.155.54|162.158.155.54]] 22:50, 26 October 2020 (UTC)
:Now officially entered in Explanation. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.158.171|162.158.158.171]] 12:39, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
::This could be a reference to the recently-released Animaniacs reboot trailer, where the Warner kids are shown a tablet (probably an iPad) that looks like it's on Wikipedia and told that it contains the sum of all human knowledge. Yakko then takes the tablet, puts it in a comically large glass of water, swallows the water and tablet in one gulp, and then seems to have absorbed all of the knowledge. [[User:Duraludon|Duraludon]] ([[User talk:Duraludon|talk]]) 17:34, 27 October 2020 (UTC)

Disabling the screen is a real feature (though it's called screen curtain on iOS https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201443). {{unsigned|108.162.241.70}}

The 600LB magnet doesn't weigh 600 pounds, it's strong enough to hold 600 pounds. And if you used the interlocking feature, and it doesn't explode, you'd never be able to pull the phones apart. [[User:Mikemk|Mikemk]] ([[User talk:Mikemk|talk]]) 01:42, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
:I just looked up 600 lb fishing magnets on Amazon.com. They weigh a couple lbs. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 05:05, 27 October 2020 (UTC)

I think that the coherent ultracapacitor-pumped emission feature may be a lightsaber mode?[[Special:Contributions/162.158.146.46|162.158.146.46]] 19:33, 8 February 2023 (UTC)
:From what we've learned about xkcd-Phones so far, I wouldn't be surprised if the magnet actually weights 600 lb. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.229.91|108.162.229.91]] 11:23, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
:: yes, the text is ambiguous if the 600lb is force or weight. And, if it's weight, it would explain the need for a drivetrain to move it, and a shipping container to ship it.
:How much does the magnet cost? 600₤?

I would actually buy something with Game Boy Printer compatibility. [[User:Unpopular Opinions|Goodbye, world!]] ([[User talk:Unpopular Opinions|talk]]) 03:49, 27 October 2020 (UTC)

John MacAfee fled Belize (and the Belize police) when he was wanted for questioning as a “person of interest” in the murder of Gregory Viant Faull. I suspect that that is part of why Randal posits an attack from John MacAfee (and defense from Peter Norton, who (unlike John) hasn’t completely lost his mind). I think he is also on the run from Spanish authorities for tax evasion.[[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.136|173.245.54.136]] 04:33, 27 October 2020 (UTC)

:I think there should be some explanation of who these people are. I could assume that they're the founders of the companies of the same name, or look it up, but the explanation should probably mention it. [[User:Angel|Angel]] ([[User talk:Angel|talk]]) 12:44, 27 October 2020 (UTC)

::Isn't it "McAfee", not "MacAfee"? Or is there an unknown menace named MacAfee that we need to be warned about? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.82|162.158.74.82]] 13:30, 27 October 2020 (UTC)

Don't many mobile games use shaking as a way to reset or roll the dice? [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 05:04, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
:Also Moto phones use shaking to turn on the flashlight. [[User:Mikemk|Mikemk]] ([[User talk:Mikemk|talk]]) 05:19, 27 October 2020 (UTC)

The tactical helium reserve might prove problematic if [https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/9si6r9/postmortem_mri_disables_every_ios_device_in/ the phone uses MEMS for timekeeping].
:(Great link, but unsigned...) Helium's a wonderful substance. Everyone speaks highly of it! [[Special:Contributions/162.158.158.171|162.158.158.171]] 12:39, 27 October 2020 (UTC)

"Coated for easy swallowing" could be referring to ambiguity between 'tablet (pharmacy)' and 'tablet computer' (which is quite similar to a phone). [[User:Angel|Angel]] ([[User talk:Angel|talk]]) 12:44, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
:See comment (nearly) at top of Talk. Also you may have missed the change I made which then momentarily vanished due to someone's overzealous manual reversion but now is [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2377%3A_xkcd_Phone_12&type=revision&diff=200672&oldid=200667 restored]. Enjoy. ;) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.159.46|162.158.159.46]] 12:54, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
:(I seem to be IP-hopping. I was the "Tweaks and Buffs" author/restorer consistently on 141.*, not the "I'm an idiot" one on 162.* but here in comments I'm appearing as 162.* both before (inc. last night) and after. - Probably something to do with Cloudflare. It's ''always'' something to do with Cloudflare! Any guesses what my IP sign-off will be ''this'' time???) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.155.102|162.158.155.102]] 13:09, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
::Solution: Make an account, and log in. [[User:OhFFS|OhFFS]] ([[User talk:OhFFS|talk]]) 16:53, 27 October 2020 (UTC)

Possibly, to note, Thermal Paper, as what is used by the Gameboy Printer, has high quantities of BPA. Running gag?
Also, atmospheric helium temporarily makes IPhones not work, due to mems device issues.
https://www.cnet.com/news/iphones-reportedly-malfunctioning-after-helium-exposure/
[[Special:Contributions/162.158.146.174|162.158.146.174]] 15:24, 27 October 2020 (UTC)

Vengabus increasing volume as a method of behavior discouragement has been referenced on the podcast My Brother, My Brother, and Me episode #398. Randall Monroe is a listener and a one-time guest on the program, and this line may be in reference to this segment.

Retro gaming is becoming more popular, could the joke of GameBoy Printer compatibility be that compatibility with a regular GameBoy might actually be a desired feature?[[Special:Contributions/162.158.106.16|162.158.106.16]] 01:53, 28 October 2020 (UTC)

Coated for easy swallowing could also be a reference to this '''anti'''-swallow coating: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/02/nintendo-switch-game-cartridges-taste-bitter [[Special:Contributions/188.114.103.105|188.114.103.105]] 09:43, 28 October 2020 (UTC)

Could somebody finish off that "Given that Closed timelike curves are usually associated with solutions to general relativity that allow for time travel...", or at least alter it so it isn't trailing off? [[Special:Contributions/172.69.22.96|172.69.22.96]] 10:39, 28 October 2020 (UTC)

Hey, if the phone has a 2x safety factor, and the phones depicted in the comic are next to each other, wouldn't this be a picture of something moments before disaster?

Alternative explanation for '"The only phone you'll ever own"®™️' could be that future phones are either expected to become Mobile Device As A Service, or alternatively so highly locked-down into a proprietary eco-system of technology that your 'ownership' of the device in your hand becomes moot. From yet another sharer of a CGNAT ip address [[Special:Contributions/162.158.155.102|162.158.155.102]] 18:13, 29 October 2020 (UTC)

:I thought it was a reference to the "Closed timelike curves": once you own this phone, you own this phone. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.183.235|162.158.183.235]] 10:37, 30 October 2020 (UTC)

The laser projection system might be useful for emergency self defense, though depending on the potential, it may also count as a concealed weapon and thus be illegal to carry without a permit in the United States (place dpendent) and be basically illegal to own elsewhere.

I bought the phone, and by default it boots into 16-bit real mode. How do I make it automatically boot into 1024-bit protected mode (this is a joke, by the way.) --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.57.247|172.68.57.247]] 16:42, 4 June 2021 (UTC)

Is Screaming Mode really self-explanatory? I first thought it meant a mode to let the user scream into it. I thought the joke might be that it's not "self-explanatory" what a screaming mode would do on a phone. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.230.111|172.70.230.111]] 04:39, 28 February 2022 (UTC)

What if the object depicted in the image isn't 2 seperate things, the 12 and 12 max, but actually just one object that's stuck together somehow? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.155.81|162.158.155.81]] 16:57, 22 September 2023 (UTC)

Talk:2377: xkcd Phone 12

2023-09-22T16:56:45Z

162.158.155.81: