https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Cib 2026-05-23T01:49:15Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.30.0 https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1777:_Dear_Diary&diff=132964 2016-12-26T13:53:34Z

<p>Cib: /* Explanation */ Fixed spelling mistake</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1777<br /> | date = December 26, 2016<br /> | title = Dear Diary<br /> | image = dear_diary.png<br /> | titletext = Dear Diary: UNSUBSCRIBE<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|Initial cut, please add to this.}}<br /> <br /> [[Black Hat]] is writing in a diary (probably his, but possibly not see below). His entry starts with the common idiom &quot;Dear diary&quot;. In a regular diary entry, this opening is used to give the impression of writing to a trusted friend, the diary being anthropomorphized to take that friend's role. However, where other people would write about their day or put their feelings into words, [[Black Hat]]'s diary entry consists of a standard phishing scam attempting to request some private information in exchange for a large cash amount which does not exist. [[Black Hat]] apparently is so used to tricking people that even his own anthropomorphized diary is not safe from his pranks. Alternatively, the entry is intended for anyone who looks at his diary without his permission. It's also possible he has obtained someone else's diary and is somehow trying to scam the diary's owner, although it's not clear how that might work.<br /> <br /> This comic creates a stark contrast by putting together elements that seem similar, but do not belong together, for comedic effect.<br /> * Combining old-school hand written media (a diary) and memes from the electronic age (a phishing attempt as usually found in spam mail).<br /> * Contrasting the very personal, intimate atmosphere of &quot;Dear diary&quot; with something that is normally automatically replicated to millions of mail addresses.<br /> * Opening up with a sentence that might come from a real personal diary (many people will fantasize about being rich or famous in their diaries), and following up with something that nobody would expect from a personal diary.<br /> <br /> The title text is similar to [[1675: Message in a Bottle]], which also uses the word &quot;unsubscribe&quot; in an unusual way. The title text also mimics a standard way to get off some mailing lists, so perhaps it's [[Randall]]'s diary that Black Hat is molesting, and therefore the title-text is Randall expressing a desire to be disassociated from it.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Black Hat is seated at a table, writing with a pencil in a diary.]<br /> <br /> :Writing: Dear Diary, <br /> :Writing: Hello. I am the Crown Prince of Nigeria. I have recently come into a large fortune, but... <br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> <br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]</div>

Cib https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1777:_Dear_Diary&diff=132963 2016-12-26T13:51:21Z

<p>Cib: /* Explanation */ Reworked the bulk of the explanation to focus more on the &quot;Dear diary&quot; aspect</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 1777<br /> | date = December 26, 2016<br /> | title = Dear Diary<br /> | image = dear_diary.png<br /> | titletext = Dear Diary: UNSUBSCRIBE<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|Initial cut, please add to this.}}<br /> <br /> [[Black Hat]] is writing in a diary (probably his, but possibly not see below). His entry starts with the common idiom &quot;Dear diary&quot;. In a regular diary entry, this opening is used to give the impression of writing to a trusted friend, the diary being antromorphized to take that friend's role. However, where other people would write about their day or put their feelings into words, [[Black Hat]]'s diary entry consists of a standard phishing scam attempting to request some private information in exchange for a large cash amount which does not exist. [[Black Hat]] apparently is so used to tricking people that even his own antromorphized diary is not safe from his pranks. Alternatively, the entry is intended for anyone who looks at his diary without his permission. It's also possible he has obtained someone else's diary and is somehow trying to scam the diary's owner, although it's not clear how that might work.<br /> <br /> This comic creates a stark contrast by putting together elements that seem similar, but do not belong together, for comedic effect.<br /> * Combining old-school hand written media (a diary) and memes from the electronic age (a phishing attempt as usually found in spam mail).<br /> * Contrasting the very personal, intimate atmosphere of &quot;Dear diary&quot; with something that is normally automatically replicated to millions of mail addresses.<br /> * Opening up with a sentence that might come from a real personal diary (many people will fantasize about being rich or famous in their diaries), and following up with something that nobody would expect from a personal diary.<br /> <br /> The title text is similar to [[1675: Message in a Bottle]], which also uses the word &quot;unsubscribe&quot; in an unusual way. The title text also mimics a standard way to get off some mailing lists, so perhaps it's [[Randall]]'s diary that Black Hat is molesting, and therefore the title-text is Randall expressing a desire to be disassociated from it.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Black Hat is seated at a table, writing with a pencil in a diary.]<br /> <br /> :Writing: Dear Diary, <br /> :Writing: Hello. I am the Crown Prince of Nigeria. I have recently come into a large fortune, but... <br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> <br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]</div>

Cib