explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:2404: First Thing

2020-12-29T05:07:08Z

162.158.62.221:

Note that Ponytail expects to get one of the mRNA or viral-carrier DNA vaccines, e. g. the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or Sputnik 5. Her description would not make sense if she receives the Novavax vaccine (NVX-CoV2373), which contains spike proteins and does not recruit the patient's cells to make them. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.12|162.158.78.12]] 04:14, 29 December 2020 (UTC)
:for a more detailed explanation of the differences between vaccines read this article: https://qz.com/1950365/what-is-the-novavax-vaccine-and-how-does-it-work/ [[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.221|162.158.62.221]] 05:07, 29 December 2020 (UTC)

2303: Error Types

2020-05-06T23:37:32Z

162.158.62.221: /* Explained title text */

{{comic
| number = 2303
| date = May 6, 2020
| title = Error Types
| image = error_types.png
| titletext = Type IIII error: Mistaking tally marks for Roman neumerals
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a TYPE IX DROID. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

The comic is riffing on {{w|Type I and type II errors}}. The first two rows of the comic's table are correct definitions for established terms in statistics. Further rows contain suggestions for new terminology.
{|class = "wikitable"
|+Explanation of error types
|-
!Type
!Description
!Explanation
|-
|Type I
|False positive
|A false positive is a result that indicates a correlation, when there is no correlation in reality.
|-
|Type II
|False negative
|A false negative is a result that indicates no correlation, when there is a correlation in reality.
|-
|Type III
|True positive for incorrect reasons
|"{{w|Type III error}}" is a nonstandard term meant to build off the notion of type I and II errors. Randall's explanations of this and of Type IV errors line up with some definitions of them, but others have been proposed. None have yet been widely adopted.
|-
|Type IV
|True negative for incorrect reasons
|As with "Type III", this definition is nonstandard and often a bit tongue-in-cheek.
|-
|Type V
|Incorrect result which leads you to a correct conclusion due to unrelated errors
|Here we get into errors entirely made up by Randall. The idea behind this one is that a botched statistical test might accidentally result in a true conclusion due to completely unrelated errors in the other direction--perhaps during data collection or aggregation.
|-
|Type VI
|Correct result which you interpret wrong
|This has actually been proposed as a definition of a Type IV error by Marascuilo and Levin.
|-
|Type VII
|Incorrect result which produces a cool graph
|
|-
|Type VIII
|Incorrect result which sparks further research and the development of new tools which reveal the flaw in the original results while producing novel correct results
|
|-
|Type IX
|The Rise of Skywalker
|''{{w|Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker}}'' is the ninth and final film in the ''Star Wars'' Skywalker saga. It received far less critical acclaim than the previous two films in the sequel trilogy.
|-
|Type IIII
|Mistaking tally marks for Roman neumerals ''[sic]''
|Title text. "I", "II", and "III" could be representations of the numbers one, two, and three in either {{w|tally marks}} or {{w|Roman numerals}}. It's only when you get to "IV" or "IIII" that it becomes apparent which system is being used. Ironically, Randall seems to have made a typographical error of his own when spelling the word "numerals".
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
* Type I Error: False positive
* Type II Error: False negative
* Type III Error: True positive for incorrect reasons
* Type IV Error: True negative for incorrect reasons
* Type V Error: Incorrect result which leads you to a correct conclusion due to unrelated errors
* Type VI Error: Correct result which you interpret wrong
* Type VII Error: Incorrect result which produces a cool graph
* Type VIII Error: Incorrect result which sparks further research and the development of new tools which reveal the flaw in the original results while producing novel correct results
* Type IX Error: The Rise of Skywalker

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Star Wars]]

2303: Error Types

2020-05-06T23:30:43Z

162.158.62.221: /* Explanations of type V and VI. Idk how to link a specific section of a Wikipedia article */

{{comic
| number = 2303
| date = May 6, 2020
| title = Error Types
| image = error_types.png
| titletext = Type IIII error: Mistaking tally marks for Roman neumerals
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a TYPE IX DROID. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

The comic is riffing on {{w|Type I and type II errors}}. The first two rows of the comic's table are correct definitions for established terms in statistics. Further rows contain suggestions for new terminology.
{|class = "wikitable"
|+Explanation of error types
|-
!Type
!Description
!Explanation
|-
|Type I
|False positive
|A false positive is a result that indicates a correlation, when there is no correlation in reality.
|-
|Type II
|False negative
|A false negative is a result that indicates no correlation, when there is a correlation in reality.
|-
|Type III
|True positive for incorrect reasons
|''{{w|Type III error}}'' is a nonstandard term meant to build off the notion of type I and II errors. Randall's explanations of this and of Type IV errors line up with some definitions of them, but others have been proposed. None have yet been widely adopted.
|-
|Type IV
|True negative for incorrect reasons
|As with "Type III", this definition is nonstandard and often a bit tongue-in-cheek.
|-
|Type V
|Incorrect result which leads you to a correct conclusion due to unrelated errors
|Here we get into errors entirely made up by Randall. The idea behind this one is that a botched statistical test might accidentally result in a true conclusion due to completely unrelated errors in the other direction--perhaps during data collection or aggregation.
|-
|Type VI
|Correct result which you interpret wrong
|This has actually been proposed as a definition of a Type IV error by Marascuilo and Levin.
|-
|Type VII
|Incorrect result which produces a cool graph
|
|-
|Type VIII
|Incorrect result which sparks further research and the development of new tools which reveal the flaw in the original results while producing novel correct results
|
|-
|Type IX
|The Rise of Skywalker
|''{{w|Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker}}'' is the ninth and final film in the ''Star Wars'' Skywalker saga. It received far less critical acclaim than the previous two films in the sequel trilogy.
|-
|Type IIII
|Mistaking tally marks for Roman neumerals ''[sic]''
|Title text.
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
* Type I Error: False positive
* Type II Error: False negative
* Type III Error: True positive for incorrect reasons
* Type IV Error: True negative for incorrect reasons
* Type V Error: Incorrect result which leads you to a correct conclusion due to unrelated errors
* Type VI Error: Correct result which you interpret wrong
* Type VII Error: Incorrect result which produces a cool graph
* Type VIII Error: Incorrect result which sparks further research and the development of new tools which reveal the flaw in the original results while producing novel correct results
* Type IX Error: The Rise of Skywalker

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Star Wars]]

2303: Error Types

2020-05-06T23:23:11Z

162.158.62.221: /* Added wiki link */

{{comic
| number = 2303
| date = May 6, 2020
| title = Error Types
| image = error_types.png
| titletext = Type IIII error: Mistaking tally marks for Roman neumerals
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a TYPE IX DROID. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

The comic is riffing on {{w|Type I and type II errors}}. The first two rows of the comic's table are correct definitions for established terms in statistics. Further rows contain suggestions for new terminology.
{|class = "wikitable"
|+Explanation of error types
|-
!Type
!Description
!Explanation
|-
|Type I
|False positive
|A false positive is a result that indicates a correlation, when there is no correlation in reality.
|-
|Type II
|False negative
|A false negative is a result that indicates no correlation, when there is a correlation in reality.
|-
|Type III
|True positive for incorrect reasons
|''{{w|Type III error}}'' is a nonstandard term meant to build off the notion of type I and II errors. Randall's explanations of this and of Type IV errors line up with some definitions of them, but others have been proposed. None have yet been widely adopted.
|-
|Type IV
|True negative for incorrect reasons
|As with "Type III", this definition is nonstandard and often a bit tongue-in-cheek.
|-
|Type V
|Incorrect result which leads you to a correct conclusion due to unrelated errors
|
|-
|Type VI
|Correct result which you interpret wrong
|
|-
|Type VII
|Incorrect result which produces a cool graph
|
|-
|Type VIII
|Incorrect result which sparks further research and the development of new tools which reveal the flaw in the original results while producing novel correct results
|
|-
|Type IX
|The Rise of Skywalker
|''{{w|Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker}}'' is the ninth and final film in the ''Star Wars'' Skywalker saga. It received far less critical acclaim than the previous two films in the sequel trilogy.
|-
|Type IIII
|Mistaking tally marks for Roman neumerals ''[sic]''
|Title text.
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
* Type I Error: False positive
* Type II Error: False negative
* Type III Error: True positive for incorrect reasons
* Type IV Error: True negative for incorrect reasons
* Type V Error: Incorrect result which leads you to a correct conclusion due to unrelated errors
* Type VI Error: Correct result which you interpret wrong
* Type VII Error: Incorrect result which produces a cool graph
* Type VIII Error: Incorrect result which sparks further research and the development of new tools which reveal the flaw in the original results while producing novel correct results
* Type IX Error: The Rise of Skywalker

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Star Wars]]

2303: Error Types

2020-05-06T23:17:12Z

162.158.62.221: /* Added explanation of the non-standard Type III error */

{{comic
| number = 2303
| date = May 6, 2020
| title = Error Types
| image = error_types.png
| titletext = Type IIII error: Mistaking tally marks for Roman neumerals
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a TYPE IX DROID. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
{|class = "wikitable"
|+Explanation of error types
|-
!Type
!Description
!Explanation
|-
|Type I
|False positive
|A false positive is a result that indicates a correlation, when there is no correlation in reality.
|-
|Type II
|False negative
|A false negative is a result that indicates no correlation, when there is a correlation in reality.
|-
|Type III
|True positive for incorrect reasons
|"Type III" and "Type IV" are nonstandard terms meant to extend the notion of numerically categorized statistical errors. The definitions given by Randall line up with some definitions of them, but others have been proposed. None have yet been widely adopted.
|-
|Type IV
|True negative for incorrect reasons
|
|-
|Type V
|Incorrect result which leads you to a correct conclusion due to unrelated errors
|
|-
|Type VI
|Correct result which you interpret wrong
|
|-
|Type VII
|Incorrect result which produces a cool graph
|
|-
|Type VIII
|Incorrect result which sparks further research and the development of new tools which reveal the flaw in the original results while producing novel correct results
|
|-
|Type IX
|The Rise of Skywalker
|''{{w|Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker}}'' is the ninth and final film in the ''Star Wars'' Skywalker saga. It received far less critical acclaim than the previous two films in the sequel trilogy.
|-
|Type IIII
|Mistaking tally marks for Roman neumerals ''[sic]''
|Title text.
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
* Type I Error: False positive
* Type II Error: False negative
* Type III Error: True positive for incorrect reasons
* Type IV Error: True negative for incorrect reasons
* Type V Error: Incorrect result which leads you to a correct conclusion due to unrelated errors
* Type VI Error: Correct result which you interpret wrong
* Type VII Error: Incorrect result which produces a cool graph
* Type VIII Error: Incorrect result which sparks further research and the development of new tools which reveal the flaw in the original results while producing novel correct results
* Type IX Error: The Rise of Skywalker

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Star Wars]]

Talk:2303: Error Types

2020-05-06T23:12:15Z

162.158.62.221: made joke. is funny.

As of the time of this post, the title text is "Type IIII error: Mistaking tally marks for Roman neumerals". Is "neumerals" a typo, or is there a joke in there that I'm missing? [[User:Cosmogoblin|Cosmogoblin]] ([[User talk:Cosmogoblin|talk]]) 22:52, 6 May 2020 (UTC)
:Looks like a typo to me. Randall's patrons should have caught this for him!
:[[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 23:07, 6 May 2020 (UTC)

::That particular mistake is actually just called a type error.
::[[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.221|162.158.62.221]] 23:12, 6 May 2020 (UTC)

Talk:2164: Glacier

2020-01-21T14:48:59Z

162.158.62.221:

Sssssssdedsdesedsdsdddd {{unsigned ip|162.158.34.160}}

There is something in the air - Jon Finemore has a Sword in the Stone joke in the most recent Souvenir Programme.

We long ago noticed skiing and fencing both take place on piste.
However, they look at you askance when you try to fence on skis.
[[Special:Contributions/162.158.34.82|162.158.34.82]] 21:20, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

Added trivia about T.H. White's appearance two comics ago. Obviously, The Sword in the Stone is on Randall's mind lately! [[User:Ianrbibtitlht|Ianrbibtitlht]] ([[User talk:Ianrbibtitlht|talk]]) 21:34, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

I think the phrase "takes things in a weird direction" is a pun since the original Sword in the Stone had the blade buried in the stone, and in this case, the handle is buried (also, in the Sword in the Stone, the blade traditionally points toward the ground, but in this case, it is parallel to the ground) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.126.46|162.158.126.46]] 22:48, 17 June 2019 (UTC)
:I agree there could be a pun in that choice of words on the direction of the blade. [[User:Ianrbibtitlht|Ianrbibtitlht]] ([[User talk:Ianrbibtitlht|talk]]) 00:42, 18 June 2019 (UTC)

Is this saying Beret Guy is Norwegian, or is the title text just mentioning the Norwegian version offhand?[[User:V|V]] ([[User talk:V|talk]]) 01:15, 18 June 2019 (UTC)
:I guess it just mentions Norway because Norway is quite famous for its glaciers, as well as for strange art/humor. (Don't get me wrong: I love Norway, actually lived there for 6 months and want to go back.) --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 06:27, 18 June 2019 (UTC)

I'm struggling with the reference to fencing sabres in the current explanation. While it's possible that the weapons shown are indeed fencing sabres, I'm not entirely convinced because sabres appear to be less blade-like that what I see in the comic. I'm more inclined to describe the weapons in the comic as swords instead, especially since the title text refers to ''The Sword in the Stone''. Anyone else have an opinion? [[User:Ianrbibtitlht|Ianrbibtitlht]] ([[User talk:Ianrbibtitlht|talk]]) 01:47, 18 June 2019 (UTC)
:Still looking for other opinions on my sabre vs sword question. Anyone? [[User:Ianrbibtitlht|Ianrbibtitlht]] ([[User talk:Ianrbibtitlht|talk]]) 16:00, 18 June 2019 (UTC)
:Additionally, The other reference to fencing in the explanation seem a bit of a stretch. The term "advancing" can be interpreted as a general term for military movement in a forward direction, so to say the comic is about fencing because "advancing" is a reference to the fencing term "advance" seems to be somewhat arbitrary, at least to me. Furthermore, the sport of fencing actually grew out of the existing defensive usage of swords, so anything related to fencing is also historically related to the use of swords in general. I have nothing against fencing, but I don't believe fencing is specifically the topic of this comic. [[User:Ianrbibtitlht|Ianrbibtitlht]] ([[User talk:Ianrbibtitlht|talk]]) 16:23, 18 June 2019 (UTC)
::The stance he does looks as I, as someone who doesn't know a lot about fencing, would expect a fencing pose to look... along with the word advance which triggers his action, I am pretty sure it is about fencing in terms of the sport. {{w|fencing|According to wikipedia}} there are three types of fencing weapons. the foil, the épée, and the sabre (all linked in that article) out of these 3 the weapon in the comic resembles the sabre most (The form close to a classic sabre, but compared to the other 2, it seems to be the only one with a handguard going around the hand.) So I as a layperson would say: Wikipedia says sabre. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 18:25, 18 June 2019 (UTC)
:::Thanks for your thoughts. I also looked at the various fencing weapons on Wikipedia and thought that the sabre blade didn't look as broad as the weapons in the comic. I was also thinking that fencing as a sport was probably not common in Norway, where you might expect actual fighting with swords instead. However, I chose to pose the question here rather than force my opinion by editing the explanation. At this point, I don't feel strongly enough to make a big deal out of it. ;-) [[User:Ianrbibtitlht|Ianrbibtitlht]] ([[User talk:Ianrbibtitlht|talk]]) 19:17, 18 June 2019 (UTC)
::::Not just the sword, but Beret is in a classic engarde stance (sword extended, other hand waving around in the air, which I've never understood) in the final panel, which definitely implied fencing to me.[[User:Daemonik|Daemonik]] ([[User talk:Daemonik|talk]]) 14:13, 19 June 2019 (UTC)

My guess was the the title text was a joke based on Post-glacial Rebound. If you hold a sword over the bedrock, and wait for the rebound the sword will end up in the stone.
--[[Special:Contributions/172.69.44.146|172.69.44.146]] 15:29, 18 June 2019 (UTC)

Added here from explanation:
"Question Randall's science on this one as the consensus is that glaciers are retreating world wide. https://skepticalscience.com/himalayan-glaciers-growing.htm " (Author: [[Grendelsmum]] )signed by me, even though not my content. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 06:31, 18 June 2019 (UTC)
:Note that it's completely possible even for the same piece of glacier to be both losing mass and advancing at the same time. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 22:34, 18 June 2019 (UTC)

The comic refers probably to the legend of Arthur. Interestingly, Norway has its own sword in the stone, even three swords. It is believed that Norway won't fall as long as the swords are in the stone. They better give Arthur no visum. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sverd_i_fjell] Vince 06:52, 18 June 2019 (UTC)
: Yes, the reference to ''The Sword in the Stone'' means it is definitely related to the King Arthur story! [[User:Ianrbibtitlht|Ianrbibtitlht]] ([[User talk:Ianrbibtitlht|talk]]) 15:56, 18 June 2019 (UTC)

The hairdryer has no cord, which doesn't exist commercially, but I happen to know that a german hairdryer company had prototypes of gas-powered cordless dryers but it never made a public appearance or product. [[User:Dodo|Dodo]] ([[User talk:Dodo|talk]]) 09:12, 18 June 2019 (UTC)
: I just put "cordless hairdryer" into Amazon and there are a few available. Admittedly, they don't look very good, but they do seem to exist. [[User:Daemonik|Daemonik]] ([[User talk:Daemonik|talk]]) 09:31, 18 June 2019 (UTC)
: I removed that part - it's simply not true. [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 12:35, 18 June 2019 (UTC)

Oh? You're approaching me?[[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.221|162.158.62.221]] 14:48, 21 January 2020 (UTC)