https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=2001%3AE68%3A544D%3AF7FE%3A1131%3A64BD%3A6D3C%3A9927explain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-05-22T19:54:11ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3128:_Thread_Meeting&diff=3841143128: Thread Meeting2025-08-13T17:37:52Z<p>2001:E68:544D:F7FE:1131:64BD:6D3C:9927: </p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 3128<br />
| date = August 13, 2025<br />
| title = Thread Meeting<br />
| image = thread_meeting_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 399x425px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = Hey, so did you ever finish your video series about Cassie and the caterpillar morph? I loved the first three, but never ... no, sorry, I get it, this isn't the place. Sorry! Sorry.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by Jake and Cassie ([[1380: Manual for Civilization|we finally kissed]]) ([[1817: Incognito Mode|we're posting this from Apple HQ]]). Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
Many people have different sets of acquaintances from different parts of their lives, and there's not much overlap. For instance, they have colleagues and work, and friends from different hobbies. People encountered in online forums are often very separate, since they may be anywhere in the world. People find it surprising when there are overlaps in different spheres.<br />
<br />
In this comic, NorthLakeKayak and AntaresMike are two participants in an online forum (presumably about boating, or maybe specifically kayaking). NorthLakeKayak somehow recognizes AntaresMike as someone he remembers from a different forum about {{w|Animorphs}}.<br />
<br />
As children, the most striking example of this type of compartmentalization is that [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TeachersOutOfSchool we think of teachers as only existing in school]. They're actually people with real lives{{cn}}, but we find it extremely weird when we encounter them in some mundane place outside school, like at a restaurant or store. The comic makes the point that encountering the same person in two unrelated online forums is analogous to this.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
[A portion of a thread in an online forum is shown. It has one post and a reply to that post]<br />
<br />
[First post:]<br />
<br />
[Stylized A avatar] '''AntaresMike'''<br />
<br />
You could also check out <u>this</u> kayak model. I attached a motor to mine, and it's a little but of a kludge but it works great.<br />
<br />
[Reply (indented):]<br />
<br />
[Cueball avatar] '''NorthLakeKayak'''<br />
<br />
Oh, hey, AntaresMike! I know you!<br />
<br />
Honestly I didn't realize you existed outside of the Animorphs fandom. I haven't seen you in forever!<br />
<br />
Uh. So. How are you doing?<br />
<br />
Kayaking, I guess.<br />
<br />
Anyway yeah that model is great.<br />
<br />
[Bottom caption:]<br />
<br />
Running into someone on a thread who you know from a totally different part of the Internet feels weirdly like running into your teacher in a store.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
[[Category:Animorphs]]</div>2001:E68:544D:F7FE:1131:64BD:6D3C:9927