explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

2354: Stellar Evolution

2020-09-03T01:26:26Z

172.69.34.214:

{{comic
| number = 2354
| date = September 3, 2020
| title = Stellar Evolution
| image = stellar_evolution.png
| titletext = It may remain in equilibrium for some time, slowly growing, and then suddenly become significantly redder.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by THE STATE OF MAINE. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This is a pun on the {{w|main sequence}}, a _______. In the comic, Randall makes a play between "main" and the U.S. state of "Maine".

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

[Character] stands in front of a board. On the board are squiggly lines of text and a series of growing circles]

{{comic discussion}}

2354: Stellar Evolution

2020-09-03T01:25:43Z

172.69.34.214:

{{comic
| number = 2354
| date = September 3, 2020
| title = Stellar Evolution
| image = stellar_evolution.png
| titletext = It may remain in equilibrium for some time, slowly growing, and then suddenly become significantly redder.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by THE STATE OF MAINE. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This is a pun on the [w|main sequence], a _______. In the comic, Randall makes a play between "main" and the U.S. state of "Maine".

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

[Character] stands in front of a board. On the board are squiggly lines of text and a series of growing circles]

{{comic discussion}}

2354: Stellar Evolution

2020-09-03T01:24:48Z

172.69.34.214:

{{comic
| number = 2354
| date = September 3, 2020
| title = Stellar Evolution
| image = stellar_evolution.png
| titletext = It may remain in equilibrium for some time, slowly growing, and then suddenly become significantly redder.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by THE STATE OF MAINE. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This is a pun on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_sequence| main sequence], a _______. In the comic, Randall makes a play between "main" and the U.S. state of "Maine".

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

[Character] stands in front of a board. On the board are squiggly lines of text and a series of growing circles]

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:2352: Synonym Date

2020-08-29T07:23:33Z

172.69.34.214:

"This explanation may be incomplete or incorrect: Created by an AUTOMATON." That's funny. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.170.50|172.69.170.50]] 01:23, 29 August 2020 (UTC)
:Yeah, there's one on a lot of them and nobody's ever bothered removing them. [[User:Bubblegum|bubblegum]]-[[User_talk:Bubblegum|talk]]|[[Special:Contributions/Bubblegum|contribs]] 01:39, 29 August 2020 (UTC)
::"Do NOT kill this warning before it is ready to die" is especially good. [[User:Captain Video|Captain Video]] ([[User talk:Captain Video|talk]]) 05:38, 29 August 2020 (UTC)

I feel like this is not Megan, but a new character, differentiated by her wearing a dress (which also makes her seem almost strange compared to the others). [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.75|173.245.54.75]] 06:17, 29 August 2020 (UTC)
:Come on, can't a gal wear a dress without turning into a completely new person? I think she looks cute in that outfit! [[Special:Contributions/172.69.34.214|172.69.34.214]] 07:23, 29 August 2020 (UTC)

919: Tween Bromance

2020-08-29T03:01:16Z

172.69.34.214: /* Transcript */ category

{{comic
| number = 919
| date = July 1, 2011
| title = Tween Bromance
| image = tween_bromance.png
| titletext = Verbiage. Va-jay-jay. Irregardless.
}}
==Explanation==
Apparently, Randall hates some ridiculous neologisms. [[Cueball]] seems to be dictating a "Tween bromance" story or novel to [[Megan]], who is possibly typing it up. He is including all the words that get to Megan in a sequence. Megan is just annoyed and starts to shriek in rage; considering Cueball keeps speaking more annoying words in the title text, that seems to have been the point.

*"[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Tween Tween]" means a pre-adolescent. Portmanteau of ''teen'' and ''between'', specifically between the ages of nine (9) and thirteen (13).
*"[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bromance Bromance]" means a close non-sexual friendship between two males. Portmanteau of ''brother'' and ''romance''.
*"[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=guesstimate Guesstimate]" means an estimate made with very little information. Portmanteau of ''guess'' and ''estimate''.
*"[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=frenemy Frenemy]" means a mixture of a friend and a rival. Portmanteau of ''friend'' and ''enemy''.
*"[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=yiff Yiff]" is a word invented by the {{w|furry community}}. In most contexts it simply means "fornicate", supposedly derived from the sound a fox makes during mating.
*"{{Wiktionary|moist}}" is an ordinary word, but one that many people find mildly creepy, especially in this context.
*"[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=taint Taint]" is the part between the genitals and the anus (perineum) in slang.
*"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panties Panties]" is a common term in the U.S. for women's underwear.
*"[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=preggers Preggers]" a slang term for being pregnant.
*"{{Wiktionary|verbiage}}" is a fairly new usage of an older word, meaning too many words used to explain a subject.
*"[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=va-jay-jay Va-jay-jay]" /vəˈjājā/ IPA /vəˈdʒeɪdʒeɪ/ is just a way of saying "vagina".
*"[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Irregardless Irregardless]" is a {{w|solecism}}. [http://www.merriam-webster.com/video/0037-irregardless.htm Or perhaps this portmanteau.]

Like this comic fills a sentence with (gross) neologisms, [[550: Density]] crams a sentence with memes.

According to [[1485: Friendship]], Randall doesn't like the word ''bromance'' much either. Uncomfortable synonyms are also seen in [[1322: Winter]] and [[2352: Synonym Date]]

==Transcript==
:[All of Cueball's lines are overlaid over the entire comic; the panels listed are merely the ones directly under each sentence fragment.]
:[Cueball is standing smugly behind Megan, who is seated in front of a computer and typing.]
:Cueball: By my guesstimate,

:Cueball: my frenemy yiffed so hard

:Cueball: her moist taint made
:[Megan's eye twitches.]

:Cueball: her panties preggers!
:Megan: ''STOP IT STOP IT!''

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Language]]
[[Category:Furries]]
[[Category:Sex]]

2352: Synonym Date

2020-08-29T02:59:28Z

172.69.34.214: Category

{{comic
| number = 2352
| date = August 28, 2020
| title = Synonym Date
| image = synonym_date.png
| titletext = We need some grub to munch--I'll go slouch over to the kitchen.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Birthed by an AUTOMATON. Please elucidate here why this explication isn't concluded. Do NOT banish this epithet prematurely.}}
[[Ponytail]] asks [[Hairy]] about [[Megan]], his date. Hairy mentions that she's a talented writer and seems cool, but when prompted by Ponytail, says Megan is into synonyms. Megan apparently enjoys unsettling Hairy with words. Ponytail thinks word games aren't too bad, and she would be right if Megan didn't exist.

In the next panel (labeled "Earlier..."), it's raining, and Hairy comes back in. Megan comments, "Ugh, it's so watery out. You must be clammy! Want to guzzle some tea?" replacing wet, wet and drink with some questionable-sounding words. Continuing, she says, "Let me slough off this dress, and slither into something more comfortable," replacing take and slip.

She further elaborates on this in the title text, saying "We need some grub to munch--I'll go slouch over to the kitchen," replacing food with grub and eat with munch and inserting a slouch into her sentence.

[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SesquipedalianLoquaciousness Excessive use of uncommon words] is a common trope in fiction, and also seen in real life. Usually, the speaker is trying to demonstrate their superior intelligence or knowledge. Megan, on the other hand, seeks to use a similar tactic to make listeners uncomfortable.

Strange synonyms were also the focus in [[1322: Winter]], and a similar concept was the joke in [[919: Tween Bromance]].

==Transcript==
:[Ponytail and Hairy talking.]
:Ponytail: So, how is she?
:Hairy: Well...she's a talented writer. Seems very cool.
:Ponytail: ...but?
:Hairy: She's really into...synonyms.

:Ponytail: I don't understand.
:Hairy: Her hobby is finding the most unsettling possible words for any sentence.
:Ponytail: Word games? That doesn't sound too bad.
:Hairy: Well...

:[Caption above reads "Earlier..."]
:[Megan talking to Hairy, who is dripping wet.]
:Megan: Ugh, it's so watery out.
:Megan: You must be clammy! Want to guzzle some tea?

:Megan: Let me slough off this dress,
:Megan: and slither into something more comfortable.
{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Language]]

2352: Synonym Date

2020-08-29T01:13:15Z

172.69.34.214:

{{comic
| number = 2352
| date = August 29, 2020
| title = Synonym Date
| image = synonym_date.png
| titletext = We need some grub to munch--I'll go slouch over to the kitchen.
}}

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

Strange synonyms were also the focus of [[1322: Winter]].
==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

{{comic discussion}}