explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

2260: Reaction Maps

2020-01-30T13:49:27Z

173.245.52.61:

{{comic
| number = 2260
| date = January 27, 2020
| title = Reaction Maps
| image = reaction_maps.png
| titletext = If Google Maps stops letting you navigate to (Clay County District) A in West Virginia, you can try Jump, OH -> Ina, IL -> Big Hole, TX.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by an EMOJI OR GIF. Why is Ponytail's pun so bad for Cueball that he wishes to end the friendship over it. It is not just a joke. Any explanation for this would be great. Also might be good to include a table of the towns and some info about them? Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This is another one of [[Randall|Randall's]] [[:Category:Tips|Tips]], this time a Texting Tip. Randall suggests that readers send a set of driving directions as an intense / extremely annoyed response (a "Reaction Map", named after the "[https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/computer-reaction-faces Reaction Face]", "Reaction Gif", and other memes). The words "Reaction Map" in Chemistry refer to a diagram that shows how compounds react to form different compounds; an example can be found [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citric_acid_cycle here].

In this comic, [[Ponytail]] texts the following car pun/joke:
:You should name your new Honda Civic ''The Treaty of Edinburgh''
:Because it's a Tudor compact ["Tudor" pronounced "two-door" in some USA accents, "tyudor" elsewhere.]

The {{w|Treaty of Edinburgh}} was a treaty drawn up in 1560, which falls during the {{w|Tudor period}} of the history of {{w|England}}, while a compact is another word for a treaty -- hence a Tudor compact. A {{w|Honda Civic}} is a {{w|compact car}}, which has a {{w|coupé}} body model with only two doors (there are also hatchback and 4-door sedan versions) -- hence a two-door compact. The joke is thus a double pun on the similarity of the words "Tudor" and "two-door", as well as a pun on the words "treaty" and "compact."

Pronouncing "Tudor" as "Tyoo-dor" (i.e. without American-style [[wikipedia:Yod-dropping|yod-dropping]]) rather than "Too-" may hinder comprehension of this pun.

Puns rise and fall in popularity, and some people dislike them at all times. Recipients [https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/07/why-do-puns-make-people-groan/398252/ often groan], sometimes even while laughing or smiling. Because of this pun, [[Cueball]] gets so mad at Ponytail that he replies twice, first that their friendship is over and second that he hopes she falls in a lake. Both times he uses driving directions to do so because he wishes to show how mad he is by spending time finding cities with relevant names just to do it.

The [https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Truly,+MT+59421/Saari,+L'Anse+Township,+MI+49946/Toulouse,+Kentucky/A,+Clay+County,+WV/Friendship,+South+Carolina/This+Way,+Lake+Jackson,+TX+77566/@37.9396464,-104.4176717,5z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m38!4m37!1m5!1m1!1s0x53424d6552eab029:0xb7fcd8937da3ec25!2m2!1d-111.4413578!2d47.3557881!1m5!1m1!1s0x4d50e1468af1ce9b:0xb02e7ce99f9e641a!2m2!1d-88.3092692!2d46.8784933!1m5!1m1!1s0x8844b40da22762bf:0xee4cd8dba67a2afa!2m2!1d-83.3269444!2d37.1766667!1m5!1m1!1s0x884943786da899b1:0x5eb17b45f77f3480!2m2!1d-81.0533854!2d38.5410076!1m5!1m1!1s0x88ffff04df8a3dc1:0x2e50cd1fdf10df52!2m2!1d-79.4353317!2d34.0168293!1m5!1m1!1s0x864043e6372e0009:0x1372621459655543!2m2!1d-95.4597276!2d29.0382495!3e0 list of map destinations], Truly, Saari, Toulouse, A, {{w|Friendship,_South_Carolina|Friendship}}, This Way is a way of saying, "Truly sorry to lose a friendship this way".
The [https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Hope,+NY+12134/Yoe,+PA/Fallin+Lake,+Magnolia+Township,+AR/@38.214792,-88.0772473,6z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m20!4m19!1m5!1m1!1s0x89df00206dc519a7:0x8c095186fc80dee1!2m2!1d-74.2431907!2d43.3036812!1m5!1m1!1s0x89c8886da851113b:0x96fa3e47edbd1953!2m2!1d-76.6369116!2d39.9089887!1m5!1m1!1s0x8633c43fa49e5997:0x864650e233fea97b!2m2!1d-93.3167015!2d33.2840166!3e0 list of map destinations], {{w|Hope, New York|Hope}}, {{w|Yoe, Pennsylvania|Yoe}}, Fallin Lake is a way of saying, "Hope you fall in [a] lake".

"A" is [https://goo.gl/maps/sUm6MtwEvpsBbfLX8 one] of the three districts in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_County,_West_Virginia#Geography Clay County WV]. The others are "B" and "C".

In the title text, [[Randall]] offers a different option if "A" is removed from Google Maps, {{w|Ina, Illinois|Ina (IL)}}, to make [https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Jump,+McDonald+Township,+Ohio,+USA/Ina,+IL,+USA/Big+Hole,+Texas,+USA/@35.8263797,-93.8102845,6z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m20!4m19!1m5!1m1!1s0x883edadb5282cd7d:0xbd26e9e97ce76762!2m2!1d-83.79438!2d40.6158849!1m5!1m1!1s0x8876cfd2b9f24b79:0xa00498b7be5e90c4!2m2!1d-88.9039554!2d38.1511606!1m5!1m1!1s0x863813224a969417:0x61e1c3c664eadc63!2m2!1d-94.8453391!2d31.1918015!3e0 this response]: Jump, {{w|Ina, Illinois|Ina}}, Big Hole ("Jump in a big hole".)

In [[2245: Edible Arrangements]], Cueball was irritated by a pun from [[Megan]] which was also themed on English history ("Vore of the Roses"), but in that strip, he evidently didn't get angry enough to send a map expressing that he would "[https://www.google.com/maps/dir/29688+Cancelada,+M%C3%A1laga,+Spain/Arrangements+Brown+Sea,+Calle+de+Francisco+Silvela,+Madrid,+Spain/@38.609612,-5.2412907,7.5z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0xd732ad66c172565:0x65fb5ee2794f4f9d!2m2!1d-5.0540138!2d36.4614784!1m5!1m1!1s0xd4228b822e25179:0xf8f412a49085dc85!2m2!1d-3.6730066!2d40.4327046!3e0 Cancellada Arrangements]" he had bought for her -- he simply told her so in person and then walked away when she kept punning.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[Caption to the left of the comic:]

:Texting Tip

:Is your reaction too intense to be expressed in an emoji or gif?
:Try using driving directions!
:The extra research it requires shows how strongly you feel.

:[A split panel, showing Ponytail texting Cueball with her text messages shown above in gray and Cueball reading the texts angrily below]

:Ponytail: You should name your new Honda Civic ''The Treaty of Edinburgh''
:Ponytail: Because it's a Tudor compact
:Ponytail: Get it

:[Cueball replies to Ponytail, with his text messages shown above him. Ponytail's last text ("Get it") is shown. Cueball sends Ponytail a screenshot of driving directions that go through Truly, Saari, Toulouse, A, Friendship, and This Way]

:[Cueball continues to text Ponytail, with his text messages shown above him. He sends Ponytail a screenshot of driving directions that go through Hope, Yoe, and Fallin Lake]

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Tips]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Maps]]
[[Category:Smartphones]]
[[Category:Puns]]

2252: Parenthetical Names

2020-01-09T20:09:54Z

173.245.52.61: Undo revision 185755 by 162.158.106.210 (talk)

{{comic
| number = 2252
| date = January 8, 2020
| title = Parenthetical Names
| image = parenthetical_names.png
| titletext = I never got around to seeing that movie about the battle (of Midway).
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a PARENTHESIS. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
This is another comic in the [[:Category:My Hobby|My Hobby]] series.

There is a little bit of Black (hat) in Randall, and he shows this by providing evidence of how he trolls people for fun (hence, a hobby). An explanation is given below.

Parentheses are generally used in a sentence to add additional information that clarifies the topic. For example, in the sentence, "Barack Obama (a Democrat) is the 44th President of the United States," the parenthetical clause clarifies who Obama is, but is not strictly necessary to the sentence. On top of that, the use of parentheses is commonly used on {{w|Wikipedia}} to distinguish between different articles where the subject has the same name. Typing "Stealth", for example, would lead to suggestions such as {{w|Stealth (film)}}, {{w|Stealth (video game)}}, and {{w|Stealth (roller coaster)}}. Each of these parenthetical clauses clarifies the topic. However, in the comic, Randall uses parentheses when they provide essential information, inseparable from the topic. In particular, the name Jack does not immediately make one think of Jack the Ripper, so the sentence doesn't make sense without the parentheses.

''{{w|Sonic the Hedgehog}}'' is a video game franchise featuring the eponymous Sonic the Hedgehog character. A film featuring the character titled ''{{w|Sonic the Hedgehog (film)|Sonic the Hedgehog}}'' is scheduled for release in February 2020. When the first trailer was released, the public reacted with shock and horror at the movie's design of Sonic, who was said to fall into the "{{w|uncanny valley}}" by being too anthropomorphic and not cartoony enough. The design was hastily re-developed, which was received much more favorably; evidently, Cueball has warmed to the movie and is asking his friends if they want to go see it. Sonic is also the name of a {{w|Sonic (train)|train}}, a {{w|Sonic Drive-In|restaurant franchise}}, and a {{w|Sonic (ISP)|Californian internet service provider}}, among other things Randall is trying to avoid confusing the movie with. Perhaps Randall's friends often go to see the restaurant.

{{w|Jack the Ripper}} is the name attributed to a {{w|serial killer}} active in {{w|London}} in 1888. His true identity has never been confirmed, and he has been featured in {{w|Jack the Ripper in fiction|hundreds of works}}. {{w|Jack (given name)|"Jack"}} is one of the most-common given names for males in much of the Anglosphere (which is probably why it was adopted, like John is for Messers {{w|John Doe|Doe}}, Smith and (Q.) Public), so Randall should not be using parentheses, as it is necessary to show that "Jack the Ripper" is a full proper name, in lieu of any truer identity being known.

American actor {{w|Robin Williams}} played {{w|Popeye the Sailor}} in the 1980 musical-comedy film ''{{w|Popeye (film)|Popeye}}''. Popeye the Sailor is the best-known character named "Popeye", so it is a little unusual that Randall would have to clarify ''which'' Popeye he is referring to. Other Popeyes include {{w|Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle}} from ''{{w|The French Connection}}'' and the criminal {{w|Popeye (Faulkner character)|Popeye}} from {{w|William Faulkner|William Faulkner's}} novel ''{{w|Sanctuary (Faulkner novel)|Sanctuary}}''. Like "Sonic", there is a restaurant chain named "{{w|Popeyes}}", which is the second-largest fast-food chicken restaurant chain in the world (after KFC). The founder of Popeyes claimed he named the restaurant after the ''French Connection'' character, and not the sailor, but from 1971 to 2006, Popeyes did license the cartoon characters and used them in promotions.

The title-text alters the pattern slightly by discussing the {{w|battle of Midway}} (i.e. the X '''of''' Y). This case has additional humor because Randall clarifies which battle he is talking about, but not which of the several movies depicting the battle (although he was most likely referring to the film released in November 2019, simply called {{w|Midway (2019 film)|''Midway''}}).

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

:[Cueball stands, holding his phone. Text message boxes are above him.]

:Do you want to go see Sonic (the Hedgehog)?
:Why are there so many books about Jack (the Ripper)?
:I didn't know Robin Williams once played Popeye (the Sailor Man)

:[Caption below the panel:]

:My Hobby:
:Whenever I mention anyone called "<Name> the <X>," I like to put "the <X>" in parentheses, like I added it as a clarification.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:My Hobby]]
[[Category:Fiction]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]

Talk:2251: Alignment Chart Alignment Chart

2020-01-06T20:13:57Z

173.245.52.61:

OK, hope someone will now explain it after I created this page. I'm lost on this one ;-) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 10:49, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

Arrgh, edit conflict! [[User:Kev|Kev]] ([[User talk:Kev|talk]]) 11:55, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

I think the Omnispace Classifier is meant to be a horrific Frankenstein amalgamation of the other 8 kinds of chart. Theoretically it can "classify anything" since it can classify anything the other 8 can, but practically it would obviously be totally useless, or at least a lot less useful than just using the specific chart that works for the situation. [[User:Pureawes0me|Pureawes0me]] ([[User talk:Pureawes0me|talk]]) 12:09, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

I vaguely remember Randall to refer to the clay-sand diagram (or whatever it is called) as his all time favorite diagram on what-if somewhere. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 12:35, 6 January 2020 (UTC)
:You vaguely remember "Starsand" from https://what-if.xkcd.com/83/ with the quote "Fortunately, there's a wonderful chart by the US Geologic Survey that answers all these questions and more. For some reason, I find this chart very satisfying—it's like the erosion geology edition of the electromagnetic spectrum chart." directly applicabe to this chart[[User:Tier666|Tier666]] ([[User talk:Tier666|talk]]) 17:57, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

I fear any attempt to "explain" the CIE chromaticity diagram will devolve into arguments about why Randall chose it. I have found that folks outside the world of optics or neurooptical studies have a hard time understanding why the raw colors available in single wavelengths comprise that short curvy line inside the full colorspace. The way our brain processes the relative signal strengths from the different types of retinal cones is quite amazing. [[User:Cellocgw|Cellocgw]] ([[User talk:Cellocgw|talk]]) 12:57, 6 January 2020 (UTC)
:CGW I'm shocked! Surely you know that single-wavelengths are the curvy outer boundary while the inner curvy line shows the response to blackbody spectra. ;-) -Fred [[Special:Contributions/173.245.52.61|173.245.52.61]] 19:55, 6 January 2020 (UTC)
::Thanks for that; I was about to question the statement myself. All in all, I feel the current explanation of the chromaticity diagram doesn't really explain much, and seems unnecessarily biased to boot. I know just enough about chromaticity to think it's wrong but not enough to correct it. [[User:LtPowers|LtPowers]] ([[User talk:LtPowers|talk]]) 19:58, 6 January 2020 (UTC)
:::I agree that explanation isn't great, if it's not improved when I have free time tonight I'll take a stab at it. Or maybe CelloCGW will, since he IS an optics guru (which is why I had to raz him).[[Special:Contributions/173.245.52.61|173.245.52.61]] 20:13, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

I'm only familiar with 4th and 5th edition, but should the "Good/neutral/evil:" axis eplanation be changed to "selfless deeds or selfish deeds"? Good and evil are highly subjective ("One person's 'freedom fighter' is another person's 'terrorist'.") but at least in 5e the axis is explained as risking/sacrificing yourself for the benefit of others (Good) vs. sacrificing others for your own benefit (Evil). Also, the explanation of the CN character may benefit from dividing which parts of the explanation are "chatoic" vs "neutral". Finally the "lacking rhyme or reason" part of chaotic is highly debated within D&D circles. There are certainly people who play that way, but there are also others who feel that chaotic characters have just as much motivation and goals as a lawful or neutral character just that part of their motivation is to act contrarily to Tradition/Authority. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.186.54|162.158.186.54]] 14:37, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

I am not sure the phase diagram is for Water - that has nine solid phases. Surely it is merely a simple example.
[[User:Arachrah|Arachrah]] ([[User talk:Arachrah|talk]]) 16:52, 6 January 2020 (UTC)
: It seems from this page that even nerds tend to interpret the alignment system by the ‘common sense’ meaning of the names instead of the detailed explanation. I once simply went through the Wikipedia article, which cited the second edition IIRC: ‘lawful’ means sticking to ''some'' code of conduct, whereas ‘chaotic’ is a pure opportunist or behaves randomly. ‘Good’ and ‘evil’ indeed mean selfless vs selfish deeds, but afaik in one of the official explanations ‘evil’ meant exercising authority over others—so all managers would be ‘evil’ automatically. [[User:Aasasd|Aasasd]] ([[User talk:Aasasd|talk]]) 16:42, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

As an interesting note, this comic's alt-text also ends with a period inside of a quote. This was discussed at length in the previous comic. [[User:Agrasin|Agrasin]] ([[User talk:Agrasin|talk]]) 16:52, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

I'm just upset that both a soil diagram and the QAPF were included, but not the TAS. Where's the love for extrusive igneous rocks? [[User:Mergelong|Mergelong]] ([[User talk:Mergelong|talk]]) 18:22, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

Talk:2251: Alignment Chart Alignment Chart

2020-01-06T19:55:58Z

173.245.52.61: Had to raz CGW, sorry.

OK, hope someone will now explain it after I created this page. I'm lost on this one ;-) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 10:49, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

Arrgh, edit conflict! [[User:Kev|Kev]] ([[User talk:Kev|talk]]) 11:55, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

I think the Omnispace Classifier is meant to be a horrific Frankenstein amalgamation of the other 8 kinds of chart. Theoretically it can "classify anything" since it can classify anything the other 8 can, but practically it would obviously be totally useless, or at least a lot less useful than just using the specific chart that works for the situation. [[User:Pureawes0me|Pureawes0me]] ([[User talk:Pureawes0me|talk]]) 12:09, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

I vaguely remember Randall to refer to the clay-sand diagram (or whatever it is called) as his all time favorite diagram on what-if somewhere. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 12:35, 6 January 2020 (UTC)
:You vaguely remember "Starsand" from https://what-if.xkcd.com/83/ with the quote "Fortunately, there's a wonderful chart by the US Geologic Survey that answers all these questions and more. For some reason, I find this chart very satisfying—it's like the erosion geology edition of the electromagnetic spectrum chart." directly applicabe to this chart[[User:Tier666|Tier666]] ([[User talk:Tier666|talk]]) 17:57, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

I fear any attempt to "explain" the CIE chromaticity diagram will devolve into arguments about why Randall chose it. I have found that folks outside the world of optics or neurooptical studies have a hard time understanding why the raw colors available in single wavelengths comprise that short curvy line inside the full colorspace. The way our brain processes the relative signal strengths from the different types of retinal cones is quite amazing. [[User:Cellocgw|Cellocgw]] ([[User talk:Cellocgw|talk]]) 12:57, 6 January 2020 (UTC)
:CGW I'm shocked! Surely you know that single-wavelengths are the curvy outer boundary while the inner curvy line shows the response to blackbody spectra. ;-) -Fred [[Special:Contributions/173.245.52.61|173.245.52.61]] 19:55, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

I'm only familiar with 4th and 5th edition, but should the "Good/neutral/evil:" axis eplanation be changed to "selfless deeds or selfish deeds"? Good and evil are highly subjective ("One person's 'freedom fighter' is another person's 'terrorist'.") but at least in 5e the axis is explained as risking/sacrificing yourself for the benefit of others (Good) vs. sacrificing others for your own benefit (Evil). Also, the explanation of the CN character may benefit from dividing which parts of the explanation are "chatoic" vs "neutral". Finally the "lacking rhyme or reason" part of chaotic is highly debated within D&D circles. There are certainly people who play that way, but there are also others who feel that chaotic characters have just as much motivation and goals as a lawful or neutral character just that part of their motivation is to act contrarily to Tradition/Authority. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.186.54|162.158.186.54]] 14:37, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

I am not sure the phase diagram is for Water - that has nine solid phases. Surely it is merely a simple example.
[[User:Arachrah|Arachrah]] ([[User talk:Arachrah|talk]]) 16:52, 6 January 2020 (UTC)
: It seems from this page that even nerds tend to interpret the alignment system by the ‘common sense’ meaning of the names instead of the detailed explanation. I once simply went through the Wikipedia article, which cited the second edition IIRC: ‘lawful’ means sticking to ''some'' code of conduct, whereas ‘chaotic’ is a pure opportunist or behaves randomly. ‘Good’ and ‘evil’ indeed mean selfless vs selfish deeds, but afaik in one of the official explanations ‘evil’ meant exercising authority over others—so all managers would be ‘evil’ automatically. [[User:Aasasd|Aasasd]] ([[User talk:Aasasd|talk]]) 16:42, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

As an interesting note, this comic's alt-text also ends with a period inside of a quote. This was discussed at length in the previous comic. [[User:Agrasin|Agrasin]] ([[User talk:Agrasin|talk]]) 16:52, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

I'm just upset that both a soil diagram and the QAPF were included, but not the TAS. Where's the love for extrusive igneous rocks? [[User:Mergelong|Mergelong]] ([[User talk:Mergelong|talk]]) 18:22, 6 January 2020 (UTC)

1942: Memorable Quotes

2018-01-15T21:03:17Z

173.245.52.61: Fixed incorrect quote mark

{{comic
| number = 1942
| date = January 15, 2018
| title = Memorable Quotes
| image = memorable_quotes.png
| titletext = "Since there's no ending quote mark, everything after this is part of my quote. —Randall Munroe
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Finish adding the explanations for all quotes, and make sure none of the explanations are pithy or self-evident.}}
This comic "helpfully" provides random quotes to be used by anyone as {{w|blurb}}s, online reviews, motivational quotes or similar short bits of text. Either the webcomic xkcd or its creator Randall Munroe may be quoted using any of the provided lines, as stated at the top of the comic.

In particular, their "usefulness" lies in the fact that almost any of them can be applied to almost any situation. This is achieved by making each quote not really about anything in particular, aside from the fact that they are quotes. This is in contrast to typical quotes, which are never quite this aware that they will be quoted, but this is to be expected when the lines here were made solely for being quoted.

These self-aware quotes are, on a meta level, jokes about quotations generally. Most of Randall's quotes either sabotage the quoting work, reference some aspect of quotes as used in practice, or both---and it can be both when the aspects referenced are about twisting people's words to look like they agree with you.

==Table==
{| border =1 width=100% cellpadding=5 class="wikitable"
! Quote !! Explanation
|-
|''"I disagree strongly with whatever work this quote is attached to."''
|It is possible to quote someone who disagrees strongly with you in a way that looks like they do.
|-
|''"This quote was taken out of context."''
|It is just as possible to take a quote out of context to make your argument look good.
|-
|''"This quote is often falsely attributed to {{w|Mark Twain}}."''
|Many quotes are misquoted as being said by famous people (such as [https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mark_Twain#Misattributed Mark Twain], [https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Dr._Seuss#Misattributed Dr. Seuss], or [https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein#Misattributed Albert Einstein]). If this quote was attributed to Mark Twain, however, it would be immediately clear that either it wasn't said by him, or he was lying at the time.
|-
|''"I'm being quoted to introduce something, but I have no idea what it is and certainly don't endorse it."''
|This is likely the case for many famous, widely admired people who are often quoted for all sorts of arguments, even diametrically opposed ones.
|-
|''"This quote is very memorable."''
|One hopes this to be the case, but this quote is very forgettable because of its blandness and because of the fact that it's found in a list of far more interesting quotes.
|-
|''"I wrote this book, and the person quoting me here is taking credit for it."''
|The quote is sabotaging the work that uses it.
|-
|''"This entire thing is the quote, not just the part in quote marks." [Quote marks, brackets, and editor's note are all in the original. —Ed.]''
|The quote itself is referencing how sometimes quotes include mistakes or typographical oddities that may make the reader worry a mistake has been made by the quoting author. An editor's note can be included to assure the original was like that.
|-
|''"Websites that collect quotes are full of mistakes and never check original sources."''
|Websites that collect quotes are infamous for not checking sources. This has been parodied in many ways.
|-
|''"This quote will be the only part of this presentation you remember."''
|Randall asserts that the presentation this quote is found in will be very forgettable, making it likely that a lot of people will listen closer to prove the quote wrong.
|-
|''"Oooh, look at me, I looked up a quote!"''
|Quotes are used to add weight, wit, or authority to a work. If your quote doesn't quite manage this, however, then the inclusion of the quote might just look like you're trying to impress people.
|-
|''"If you're doing a text search in this document for the word 'butts,' the good news is that it's here, but the bad news is that it only appears in this unrelated quote."''
|This would probably occur if you decided to follow Randall's advice and include this quote in your work.
|-
|''"Wait, what if these quote marks are inside out, so everything in the rest of the document is the quotation and ''this'' part isn't? ''Duuuuude.''"''
|
|-
|''"The editors of ''Bartlett's Familiar Quotations'' are a bunch of cowards who don't have the guts to print this."''
|The author of this quote is apparently making a desperate attempt to get a quote published by challenging the editors of ''{{w|Bartlett's Familiar Quotations}}''.
|-
|''"This quote only looks profound when it's in a script font over a sunset."''
|Inspirational quotes are often set in a fancy font above a picture of a sunset, mountain range, beach, etc. to make them look more profound. This quote suggests that, without such formatting, it looks boring and average.
|-
|''"I don't do a lot of public speaking, so I looked up a memorable quote to start my speech, and this is what I found. OK, you're staring at me blankly, but this whole thing is a quote. I know that sounds confusing, but... you know what, never mind."''
|
|-
|''"Sent from my iPhone"''
|This is the default email signature on an {{w|iPhone}}. Quoting this would lead the reader to think that you typed the rest of the work on your phone.
|-
|''"Since there's no ending quote mark, everything after this is part of my quote. —Randall Munroe
|Appears in the title text. Randall Munroe is saying that because there's no ending quotation mark, the rest of the book this quote is in is part of Randall's quote, including, weirdly, the piece of text after what the quote should be specifying that Randall has also said his name.
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Needs some formatting}}
Looking for a quote for something?
Here are some for general use.

They can be attributed to xkcd or Randall Munroe as needed.

*"I disagree strongly with whatever work this quote is attached to."
*"This quote was taken out of context."
*"This quote is often falsely attributed to Mark Twain."
*"I'm being quoted to introduce something, but I have no idea what it is and certainly don't endorse it."
*"This quote is very memorable."
*"I wrote this book, and the person quoting me here is taking credit for it."
*"This entire thing is the quote, not just the part in quote marks." [quote marks, brackets, and editor's note are all in the original. -ED.]
*"Websites that collect quotes are full of mistakes and never check original sources."
*"This quote will be the only part of this presentation you remember."
*"Oooh, look at me, I looked up a quote!"
*"If you're doing a text search in this document for the word 'butts,' the good news is that it's here, but the bad news is that it only appears in this unrelated quote."
*"Wait, what if these quote marks are inside out, so everything in the rest of the document is the quotation and ''this'' part isn't? ''Duuuuude."
*"The editors of ''Bartlett's Familiar Quotations'' are a bunch of cowards who don't have the guts to print this."
*"This quote only looks profound when it's in a script font over a sunset."
*"I don't do a lot of public speaking, so I looked up a memorable quote to start my speech, and this is what I found. OK, you're staring at me blankly, but this whole thing is a quote. I know that sounds confusing, but... You know what, never mind!"
*"Sent from my iPhone."
{{comic discussion}}

1724: Proofs

2016-08-24T04:13:51Z

173.245.52.61: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 1724
| date = August 24, 2016
| title = Proofs
| image = proofs.png
| titletext = Next, let's assume the decision of whether to take the Axiom of Choice is made by a deterministic process ...
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript
party 1: ...let's assume there exists some function f(a, b, c...) which produces the correct answer-
party 2 interjects: hang on.
party 2: this is going to be one of those weird, dark magic proofs, isn't it? I can tell.
party 1: what? no, no, it's a perfectly sensible chain of reasoning.
party 2: all right...
party 1: now, let's assume that the correct answer will eventually be written on the board at (x, y). if we-
party 2 interjects: I ''knew'' it!
}}

{{comic discussion}}

1724: Proofs

2016-08-24T04:13:13Z

173.245.52.61: /* Transcript */

1724: Proofs

2016-08-24T04:12:20Z

173.245.52.61:

{{comic
| number = 1724
| date = August 24, 2016
| title = Proofs
| image = proofs.png
| titletext = Next, let's assume the decision of whether to take the Axiom of Choice is made by a deterministic process ...
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript
panel one
party 1: ...let's assume there exists some function f(a, b, c...) which produces the correct answer-
party 2 interjects: hang on.

panel two
party 2: this is going to be one of those weird, dark magic proofs, isn't it? I can tell.

panel three
party 1: what? no, no, it's a perfectly sensible chain of reasoning.
party two: all right...

panel four
party 1: now, let's assume that the correct answer will eventually be written on the board at (x, y). if we-
party 2 interjects: I ''knew''Italic text'''' it!
}}

{{comic discussion}}

192: Working for Google

2016-05-08T20:52:14Z

173.245.52.61: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 192
| date = December 4, 2006
| title = Working for Google
| image = working for google.png
| titletext = I hear once you've worked there for 256 days they teach you the secret of levitation.
}}

==Explanation==
Many look up to {{w|Google}} as the ultimate workplace in the IT industry. Therefore, they have lots of applicants but can afford to be very selective, and only the best and brightest succeed.

In the first panel the guy at the computer asks his friend (both looks like a [[Cueball]]) what he thinks about working at Google HQ ({{w|Head Quarters}}). His friend starts out by dismissing Google as a "corporate idea factory", but from the rest of his speech, we can infer that these are not his true feelings. He is exhibiting the attitude known as "{{w|sour grapes}}", where you criticize something that is out of your reach, or which has been denied you.

In the last panel, it is revealed the friend has been trying very hard to get a job at Google, even resorting to bribing the interview panel by baking them a cake "in the shape of the internet". This misguided action is a sign of how much he wanted a position.

Since the internet does not have a defined shape, it is difficult to visualize exactly what he baked. The comment was maybe foreshadowing [[195: Map of the Internet]] that came out a week later. It would though be a more interesting cake if it looked like the map in [[256: Online Communities]], but that came out 20 weeks later. Another possibility is that the comment is a reference to this ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDbyYGrswtg video]), in which the black box shown is supposedly the internet. If this is the case, then the cake would have been shaped like the box in the video.

The title text says that if you work for Google for 256 (28) days you get to learn how to levitate. This displays some of the mystique with which Google is commonly viewed. The joke here is that 256 is the largest value a single bit can old, as has been demonstrated wih the {256 Bug|http://errors.wikia.com/wiki/Pac_Man_-_Infamous_Kill_Screen_Bug}. However, Astro Teller, the director of {{w|Google X}} labs, a Google division that researches "moonshot" projects, has mentioned in an [http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-22/inside-googles-secret-lab#p4 interview] that they contemplated starting a levitation project.

==Transcript==
:[A guy sits at a computer and addresses his friend standing behind.]
:Guy: Have you read about Google HQ? It sounds like an incredible place to work.

:[The friend throws his hands in the air as he delivers this speech:]
:Friend: Man, I ain't going to be chained down in no corporate idea factory! They think just 'cause they've got a nice building and laid back culture, I'm gonna want to come in all day long and work on fascinating problems with the smartest people in the world.

:[Close up of the guy staring at his friend.]

:[Back to the original setting.]
:Guy: So, what, they turned you down?
:Friend: I don't understand it! I even baked them a cake shaped like the internet!

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]

192: Working for Google

2016-05-08T20:50:53Z

173.245.52.61: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 192
| date = December 4, 2006
| title = Working for Google
| image = working for google.png
| titletext = I hear once you've worked there for 256 days they teach you the secret of levitation.
}}

==Explanation==
Many look up to {{w|Google}} as the ultimate workplace in the IT industry. Therefore, they have lots of applicants but can afford to be very selective, and only the best and brightest succeed.

In the first panel the guy at the computer asks his friend (both looks like a [[Cueball]]) what he thinks about working at Google HQ ({{w|Head Quarters}}). His friend starts out by dismissing Google as a "corporate idea factory", but from the rest of his speech, we can infer that these are not his true feelings. He is exhibiting the attitude known as "{{w|sour grapes}}", where you criticize something that is out of your reach, or which has been denied you.

In the last panel, it is revealed the friend has been trying very hard to get a job at Google, even resorting to bribing the interview panel by baking them a cake "in the shape of the internet". This misguided action is a sign of how much he wanted a position.

Since the internet does not have a defined shape, it is difficult to visualize exactly what he baked. The comment was maybe foreshadowing [[195: Map of the Internet]] that came out a week later. It would though be a more interesting cake if it looked like the map in [[256: Online Communities]], but that came out 20 weeks later. Another possibility is that the comment is a reference to this ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDbyYGrswtg video]), in which the black box shown is supposedly the internet. If this is the case, then the cake would have been shaped like the box in the video.

The title text says that if you work for Google for 256 (28) days you get to learn how to levitate. This displays some of the mystique with which Google is commonly viewed. The joke here is that 256 is the largest value a single bit can old, as has been demonstrated wih the {http://errors.wikia.com/wiki/Pac_Man_-_Infamous_Kill_Screen_Bug|256 Bug}. However, Astro Teller, the director of {{w|Google X}} labs, a Google division that researches "moonshot" projects, has mentioned in an [http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-22/inside-googles-secret-lab#p4 interview] that they contemplated starting a levitation project.

==Transcript==
:[A guy sits at a computer and addresses his friend standing behind.]
:Guy: Have you read about Google HQ? It sounds like an incredible place to work.

:[The friend throws his hands in the air as he delivers this speech:]
:Friend: Man, I ain't going to be chained down in no corporate idea factory! They think just 'cause they've got a nice building and laid back culture, I'm gonna want to come in all day long and work on fascinating problems with the smartest people in the world.

:[Close up of the guy staring at his friend.]

:[Back to the original setting.]
:Guy: So, what, they turned you down?
:Friend: I don't understand it! I even baked them a cake shaped like the internet!

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]

192: Working for Google

2016-05-08T20:47:22Z

173.245.52.61: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 192
| date = December 4, 2006
| title = Working for Google
| image = working for google.png
| titletext = I hear once you've worked there for 256 days they teach you the secret of levitation.
}}

==Explanation==
Many look up to {{w|Google}} as the ultimate workplace in the IT industry. Therefore, they have lots of applicants but can afford to be very selective, and only the best and brightest succeed.

In the first panel the guy at the computer asks his friend (both looks like a [[Cueball]]) what he thinks about working at Google HQ ({{w|Head Quarters}}). His friend starts out by dismissing Google as a "corporate idea factory", but from the rest of his speech, we can infer that these are not his true feelings. He is exhibiting the attitude known as "{{w|sour grapes}}", where you criticize something that is out of your reach, or which has been denied you.

In the last panel, it is revealed the friend has been trying very hard to get a job at Google, even resorting to bribing the interview panel by baking them a cake "in the shape of the internet". This misguided action is a sign of how much he wanted a position.

Since the internet does not have a defined shape, it is difficult to visualize exactly what he baked. The comment was maybe foreshadowing [[195: Map of the Internet]] that came out a week later. It would though be a more interesting cake if it looked like the map in [[256: Online Communities]], but that came out 20 weeks later. Another possibility is that the comment is a reference to this ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDbyYGrswtg video]), in which the black box shown is supposedly the internet. If this is the case, then the cake would have been shaped like the box in the video.

The title text says that if you work for Google for 256 (28) days you get to learn how to levitate. This displays some of the mystique with which Google is commonly viewed. The joke here is that 256 is the largest value a single bit can old, as has been demonstrated wih the {w|256 Bug}. However, Astro Teller, the director of {{w|Google X}} labs, a Google division that researches "moonshot" projects, has mentioned in an [http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-22/inside-googles-secret-lab#p4 interview] that they contemplated starting a levitation project.

==Transcript==
:[A guy sits at a computer and addresses his friend standing behind.]
:Guy: Have you read about Google HQ? It sounds like an incredible place to work.

:[The friend throws his hands in the air as he delivers this speech:]
:Friend: Man, I ain't going to be chained down in no corporate idea factory! They think just 'cause they've got a nice building and laid back culture, I'm gonna want to come in all day long and work on fascinating problems with the smartest people in the world.

:[Close up of the guy staring at his friend.]

:[Back to the original setting.]
:Guy: So, what, they turned you down?
:Friend: I don't understand it! I even baked them a cake shaped like the internet!

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]

932: CIA

2015-04-13T02:08:50Z

173.245.52.61: /* Explanation */ le derp

{{comic
| number = 932
| date = August 1, 2011
| title = CIA
| image = cia.png
| titletext = It was their main recruiting poster, hung nearly ten feet up a wall! This means the hackers have LADDER technology! Are we headed for a future where everyone has to pay $50 for one of those locked plexiglass poster covers? More after the break...
}}

==Explanation==
This comic is a reference to the attacks by a group briefly known as LulzSec, which was a splinter group from the internet community known as Anonymous, also featured in [[834: Wikileaks]]. In the back of the news report in frame one is the logo that was used by LulzSec. The group was able to publicize several high profile attacks. They were able to briefly take down the CIA website using a DDoS attack. DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service in which the attacker uses many computers to send traffic to a host and render it incapable of answering requests from any other computer, effectively taking the site down.

This comic is pointing out the difference between what lay-people and the computer experts hear when seeing a story like this. Most people may think there is no boundary between CIA website and its internal network, and conclude hackers compromised USA intelligence service most precious data. Which would be incredible incompetence from the CIA and could lead to agents assassination.

Computer experts, on the other hand, may compare a website to a company's poster, which is much different and less harmful: the only damage is CIA having its public relation capacities hindered for a few hours.

The title text is a transcript of a fake news report. A story similar to the attack is illustrated using old technology. This attempts to demonstrate how silly the news coverage of the real event is. The recruiting poster refers to the CIA website, as it is a PR tool with no connection to sensitive information. It being ten feet high refers to the fact that that the website is open to the public and has limited protections (as danger from a compromised site is low). The ladder technology refers to the DDoS attack, as these attacks are primitive, but possibly well coordinated. The plexiglass poster covers refer to website security tools that may be added to deter future vandalism.

==Transcript==
:[A television is showing a news anchor. The inset picture of the news shows Anonymous wearing a monocle and top hat.]
:Anchor: Hackers briefly took down the website of the CIA yesterday...

:[Ponytail is watching television.]
:What people hear:
:Anchor: Someone hacked into the computers of the '''''CIA!!'''''

:[Megan is watching television.]
:What computer experts hear:
:Anchor: Someone tore down a poster hung up by the '''''CIA!!'''''

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]

1495: Hard Reboot

2015-03-06T06:51:51Z

173.245.52.61: /* Explanation */ correcting "kitchen timer" => "light timer"

{{comic
| number = 1495
| date = March 6, 2015
| title = Hard Reboot
| image = hard_reboot.png
| titletext = Googling inevitably reveals that my problem is caused by a known bug triggered by doing [the exact combination of things I want to do]. I can fix it, or wait a few years until I don't want that combination of things anymore, using the kitchen timer until then.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic is about using a simple and unrelated trick to fix a problem.

{{w|Paging|Swap space}} is a reserved area of a computer's hard drive reserved for use when the computer runs out of RAM. Ideally, RAM + SWAP >= MAX, where MAX is the amount of RAM the computer is expected to ever reach.

It would take up to 10 hours to figure out why the server is running out of swap space and fix the problem. Alternatively, Randall could just take 5 minutes and plug the server into a light timer.

The correct method of scheduling a regular reboot would be using a CRON task. Of course, the problem could be solved without a reboot simply by increasing the swap size.

The title text's first sentence refers to situations where the given solution to a problem is just the original problem rephrased to sound like a solution. It may also refer to bug trackers, where someone found out and posted what causes the issue, but the bug is marked as "Unresolved," "Waiting," or "Will not fix."

The title text's second sentence is about the human tendency to wait on someone else to fix a problem rather than doing it yourself. Since everyone is waiting on someone else to do it, such problems tend to never be fixed, hence the solution of "wait[ing] a few years until I don't want that combination of things anymore."

==Transcript==
''A section of a screen with a white-on-black color scheme is shown. The screen is covered in lines of illegible text.''

Figuring out why my home server keeps running out of swap space and crashing: 1-10 hours

''Next to the section of the screen is a timer plugged into a power port with cable running off to the side.''

Plugging it into a light timer so it reboots every 24 hours: 5 minutes

'''Why everything I have is broken'''

{{comic discussion}}

1495: Hard Reboot

2015-03-06T06:50:56Z

173.245.52.61: /* Explanation */ The times refer to "time needed to fix problem" not "time needed to restart."

{{comic
| number = 1495
| date = March 6, 2015
| title = Hard Reboot
| image = hard_reboot.png
| titletext = Googling inevitably reveals that my problem is caused by a known bug triggered by doing [the exact combination of things I want to do]. I can fix it, or wait a few years until I don't want that combination of things anymore, using the kitchen timer until then.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic is about using a simple and unrelated trick to fix a problem.

{{w|Paging|Swap space}} is a reserved area of a computer's hard drive reserved for use when the computer runs out of RAM. Ideally, RAM + SWAP >= MAX, where MAX is the amount of RAM the computer is expected to ever reach.

It would take up to 10 hours to figure out why the server is running out of swap space and fix the problem. Alternatively, Randall could just take 5 minutes and plug the server into a kitchen timer.

The correct method of scheduling a regular reboot would be using a CRON task. Of course, the problem could be solved without a reboot simply by increasing the swap size.

The title text's first sentence refers to situations where the given solution to a problem is just the original problem rephrased to sound like a solution. It may also refer to bug trackers, where someone found out and posted what causes the issue, but the bug is marked as "Unresolved," "Waiting," or "Will not fix."

The title text's second sentence is about the human tendency to wait on someone else to fix a problem rather than doing it yourself. Since everyone is waiting on someone else to do it, such problems tend to never be fixed, hence the solution of "wait[ing] a few years until I don't want that combination of things anymore."

==Transcript==
''A section of a screen with a white-on-black color scheme is shown. The screen is covered in lines of illegible text.''

Figuring out why my home server keeps running out of swap space and crashing: 1-10 hours

''Next to the section of the screen is a timer plugged into a power port with cable running off to the side.''

Plugging it into a light timer so it reboots every 24 hours: 5 minutes

'''Why everything I have is broken'''

{{comic discussion}}