https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Augie279explain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-04-09T04:54:37ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:552:_Correlation&diff=376435Talk:552: Correlation2025-05-06T04:30:02Z<p>Augie279: </p>
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<div>It is stated that Cueball is doubting, due to his newly found sceptism, which I believe is incorrect.<br />
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By stating that "the class helped", Megan is inferring there is a causal relation between Cueball taking a statistics class and him no longer believing correlation implies causation. However, Cueball is replying "well maybe" to indicate there is only a correlation between them, showing he correctly understood the distinction.<br />
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.53.104|173.245.53.104]] 15:29, 13 May 2014 (UTC)<br />
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Another interpretation that explains why the comic is funny is as follows. Cueball replies "well maybe" because he has learned not to infer causation from correlation. But it is also clear that the statistics class caused him to think this way. This pokes fun at a tendency to apply the principle that correlation does not imply causation even when there is direct evidence for causation.<br />
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.52.127|173.245.52.127]]<br />
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The way I see it, it's a paradox. [[User:The Cat Lady|-- The Cat Lady]] ([[User talk:The Cat Lady|talk]]) 22:14, 16 August 2021 (UTC)<br />
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Technically, this comic, despite its title, isn't about correlation, but association. As Britannica states, "Although the terms correlation and association are often used interchangeably, correlation in a stricter sense refers to linear correlation, and association refers to any relationship between variables." https://www.britannica.com/topic/measure-of-association. (Also, the second comment should be stating that Megan is implying, not that she is inferring. She did infer, but in "stating," she is implying.) {{unsigned|Az1950|22:58, 11 March 2025}}<br />
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I always just interpreted it as "Now I don't [take the statistics class anymore]." Am I just dumb or [[User:Augie279|-- Augie279]] ([[User talk:Augie279|talk]]) 03:53, 6 May 2025 (UTC)</div>Augie279https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:552:_Correlation&diff=376434Talk:552: Correlation2025-05-06T03:53:13Z<p>Augie279: Added comment.</p>
<hr />
<div>It is stated that Cueball is doubting, due to his newly found sceptism, which I believe is incorrect.<br />
<br />
By stating that "the class helped", Megan is inferring there is a causal relation between Cueball taking a statistics class and him no longer believing correlation implies causation. However, Cueball is replying "well maybe" to indicate there is only a correlation between them, showing he correctly understood the distinction.<br />
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.53.104|173.245.53.104]] 15:29, 13 May 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Another interpretation that explains why the comic is funny is as follows. Cueball replies "well maybe" because he has learned not to infer causation from correlation. But it is also clear that the statistics class caused him to think this way. This pokes fun at a tendency to apply the principle that correlation does not imply causation even when there is direct evidence for causation.<br />
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.52.127|173.245.52.127]]<br />
<br />
The way I see it, it's a paradox. [[User:The Cat Lady|-- The Cat Lady]] ([[User talk:The Cat Lady|talk]]) 22:14, 16 August 2021 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Technically, this comic, despite its title, isn't about correlation, but association. As Britannica states, "Although the terms correlation and association are often used interchangeably, correlation in a stricter sense refers to linear correlation, and association refers to any relationship between variables." https://www.britannica.com/topic/measure-of-association. (Also, the second comment should be stating that Megan is implying, not that she is inferring. She did infer, but in "stating," she is implying.) {{unsigned|Az1950|22:58, 11 March 2025}}<br />
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I always just interpreted it as "Now I don't [take the statistics class anymore]." Am I just dumb or [[User:Augie279|Augie279]] ([[User talk:Augie279|talk]]) 03:53, 6 May 2025 (UTC)</div>Augie279https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2060:_Hygrometer&diff=1643142060: Hygrometer2018-10-17T15:31:23Z<p>Augie279: /* Transcript */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2060<br />
| date = October 17, 2018<br />
| title = Hygrometer<br />
| image = hygrometer.png<br />
| titletext = I'm working on assembling a combination declinometer, sclerometer, viscometer, aleurometer, stalagmometer, and hypsometer. I'm making good progress according to my ometerometer, a device which shows the rate at which I'm acquiring measurement devices.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Written by a OMETEROMETER - Please edit the explanation below and only mention here why it isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
A {{w|hygrometer}} is an instrument to measure the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere or the amount of water in solids as soil or wood.<br />
<br />
A [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/declinometer declinometer] is an instrument to measure {{w|magnetic declination}}.<br />
<br />
A {{w|sclerometer}} is an instrument to measure {{w|scratch hardness}} of a solid by scratching it under some stardard conditions and measuring the scratch. Instruments used to measure the elastic properties of concret surfaces, like the {{w|Schmidt hammer}} [https://www.pce-instruments.com/english/measuring-instruments/test-meters/concrete-test-hammer-sclerometer-kat_162426_1.htm are also often known as sclerometers].<br />
<br />
A {{w|viscometer}} is an instrument to test the viscosity (easiness of pouring, honey has low viscosity while water has high viscosity) of a liquid.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
Megan: A hygrometer is a device for measuring-<br />
<br />
Cueball: ''I WANT ONE!'' Ooh, found one for $7.99 with free shipping! I'm buying it.<br />
<br />
Megan: -Humidity.<br />
<br />
Cueball: Oh, cool!<br />
<br />
Title text: I'm working on assembling a combination declinometer, sclerometer, viscometer, aleurometer, stalagmometer, and hypsometer. I'm making good progress according to my ometerometer, a device which shows the rate at which I'm acquiring measurement devices.<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>Augie279https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2060:_Hygrometer&diff=1643132060: Hygrometer2018-10-17T15:30:35Z<p>Augie279: /* Transcript */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2060<br />
| date = October 17, 2018<br />
| title = Hygrometer<br />
| image = hygrometer.png<br />
| titletext = I'm working on assembling a combination declinometer, sclerometer, viscometer, aleurometer, stalagmometer, and hypsometer. I'm making good progress according to my ometerometer, a device which shows the rate at which I'm acquiring measurement devices.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Written by a OMETEROMETER - Please edit the explanation below and only mention here why it isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
A {{w|hygrometer}} is an instrument to measure the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere or the amount of water in solids as soil or wood.<br />
<br />
A [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/declinometer declinometer] is an instrument to measure {{w|magnetic declination}}.<br />
<br />
A {{w|sclerometer}} is an instrument to measure {{w|scratch hardness}} of a solid by scratching it under some stardard conditions and measuring the scratch. Instruments used to measure the elastic properties of concret surfaces, like the {{w|Schmidt hammer}} [https://www.pce-instruments.com/english/measuring-instruments/test-meters/concrete-test-hammer-sclerometer-kat_162426_1.htm are also often known as sclerometers].<br />
<br />
A {{w|viscometer}} is an instrument to test the viscosity (easiness of pouring, honey has low viscosity while water has high viscosity) of a liquid.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
Megan: A hygrometer is a device for measuring-<br />
Cueball: ''I WANT ONE!'' Ooh, found one for $7.99 with free shipping! I'm buying it.<br />
Megan: -Humidity.<br />
Cueball: Oh, cool!<br />
Title text: I'm working on assembling a combination declinometer, sclerometer, viscometer, aleurometer, stalagmometer, and hypsometer. I'm making good progress according to my ometerometer, a device which shows the rate at which I'm acquiring measurement devices.<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>Augie279https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2060:_Hygrometer&diff=1643122060: Hygrometer2018-10-17T15:27:25Z<p>Augie279: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2060<br />
| date = October 17, 2018<br />
| title = Hygrometer<br />
| image = hygrometer.png<br />
| titletext = I'm working on assembling a combination declinometer, sclerometer, viscometer, aleurometer, stalagmometer, and hypsometer. I'm making good progress according to my ometerometer, a device which shows the rate at which I'm acquiring measurement devices.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Written by a OMETEROMETER - Please edit the explanation below and only mention here why it isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
A {{w|hygrometer}} is an instrument to measure the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere or the amount of water in solids as soil or wood.<br />
<br />
A [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/declinometer declinometer] is an instrument to measure {{w|magnetic declination}}.<br />
<br />
A {{w|sclerometer}} is an instrument to measure {{w|scratch hardness}} of a solid by scratching it under some stardard conditions and measuring the scratch. Instruments used to measure the elastic properties of concret surfaces, like the {{w|Schmidt hammer}} [https://www.pce-instruments.com/english/measuring-instruments/test-meters/concrete-test-hammer-sclerometer-kat_162426_1.htm are also often known as sclerometers].<br />
<br />
A {{w|viscometer}} is an instrument to test the viscosity (easiness of pouring, honey has low viscosity while water has high viscosity) of a liquid.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>Augie279https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2060:_Hygrometer&diff=1643112060: Hygrometer2018-10-17T15:26:37Z<p>Augie279: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 2060<br />
| date = October 17, 2018<br />
| title = Hygrometer<br />
| image = hygrometer.png<br />
| titletext = I'm working on assembling a combination declinometer, sclerometer, viscometer, aleurometer, stalagmometer, and hypsometer. I'm making good progress according to my ometerometer, a device which shows the rate at which I'm acquiring measurement devices.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Written by a OMETEROMETER - Please edit the explanation below and only mention here why it isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
A {{w|hygrometer}} is an instrument to measure the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere or the amount of water in solids as soil or wood.<br />
<br />
A [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/declinometer declinometer] is an instrument to measure {{w|magnetic declination}}.<br />
<br />
A {{w|sclerometer}} is an instrument to measure {{w|scratch hardness}} of a solid by scratching it under some stardard conditions and measuring the scratch. Instruments used to measure the elastic properties of concret surfaces, like the {{w|Schmidt hammer}} [https://www.pce-instruments.com/english/measuring-instruments/test-meters/concrete-test-hammer-sclerometer-kat_162426_1.htm are also often known as sclerometers].<br />
<br />
A {{w|viscometer}} or viscosimeter is an instrument to measure the {{w|viscosity}} of a fluid.<br />
<br />
A {{w|viscometer}} is an instrument to test the viscosity (easiness of pouring, honey has low viscosity while water has high viscosity) of a liquid.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>Augie279