explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:3113: Fix This Sign

2026-02-26T14:29:42Z

Cobl703:

I'm not certain, but this feels like Black Hat's doing (who's doing this for the irritation factor, not the money). [[Special:Contributions/2001:1C02:1A9D:9700:9DCE:6FD1:E813:D91B|2001:1C02:1A9D:9700:9DCE:6FD1:E813:D91B]] 20:15, 9 July 2025 (UTC)
:He could easily be doing it for both. Putting up this sign and then not fixing it when people actually pay sounds like the stunt he would pull. [[Special:Contributions/2601:647:8500:1E09:8424:D57A:75C9:D207|2601:647:8500:1E09:8424:D57A:75C9:D207]] 20:38, 9 July 2025 (UTC)
:The caption says "my," so it seems this would be Randall.--[[Special:Contributions/2600:100F:B13F:CB34:0:1E:BAC1:7001|2600:100F:B13F:CB34:0:1E:BAC1:7001]] 22:02, 9 July 2025 (UTC)

What happens when everything is bought? Does the sign just stay up? Does it reset after a while? Is it removed? [[Special:Contributions/2601:647:8500:1E09:8424:D57A:75C9:D207|2601:647:8500:1E09:8424:D57A:75C9:D207]] 20:40, 9 July 2025 (UTC)

the s and the i in "SIGN" are also too close to each other [[User:An user who has no account yet|An user who has no account yet]] ([[User talk:An user who has no account yet|talk]]) 22:00, 9 July 2025 (UTC)

This feels like a continuation of My Hobby, or perhaps a sequel series. Also, how do we know that the prices aren't typos? The true value could be WAY more expensive. [[User:Redacted II|Redacted II]] ([[User talk:Redacted II|talk]]) 00:18, 10 July 2025 (UTC)

This business model is reminiscent of ''their.™'' from SMBC https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/their which would suggest that once the fixes have all been bought the sign is simply replaced with a worse one. [[Special:Contributions/169.150.208.130|169.150.208.130]] 04:22, 10 July 2025 (UTC)

Where can we donate to fix the explainxkcd server? Also, those are not donations, as you get clear value for it. $1000: Change "Do(a)nate" to "Pay us". --[[User:Coconut Galaxy|Coconut Galaxy]] ([[User talk:Coconut Galaxy|talk]]) 05:22, 10 July 2025 (UTC)

My limited experience with the printing industry is that the graphic designers are not the object but the subject of the verb 'extorting' because they will bill you a lot for trivial changes even if it's to fix tgeir own mistakes. [[Special:Contributions/109.37.229.249|109.37.229.249]] 11:06, 10 July 2025 (UTC)
:"Tgeir"... Can I PayPal you $50? --[[Special:Contributions/174.174.4.79|174.174.4.79]] 14:06, 10 July 2025 (UTC)

Shouldn't fixing the typo be the most expensive? You don't even need to be a graphic designer, lots of ordinary people should be bothered by it. Surely it's more annoying than non-centered text. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 14:19, 10 July 2025 (UTC)
: Most to least annoying: Typo/column alignment (equal); text size; use of exclamation point; excessive whitespace; rotation/centring (equal); kerning. I'm also bothered by how far past the posts the sides of the sign extend. [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 15:37, 10 July 2025 (UTC)
:: Honestly, I think Randall missed a trick - the posts are equidistant from their respective sides of the sign. Putting one post closer to its edge than the other would be yet another design annoyance that might prompt pedants such as I to pay up!

I think Randall is also trying to get pedantics upset by using the term "forward slashes" instead of just "slashes" - Just like a mouse doesn't have a "left click" button, only a "click" or "right click"
:I definitely use "left click" when talking to the less-informed users. Also, pedantic of me, but you mean "pedants", not "pedantics". [[User:SDSpivey|SDSpivey]] ([[User talk:SDSpivey|talk]]) 15:08, 12 July 2025 (UTC)
::I'm sure you've also come across situations where you've said "And now you left-click on that...", and the person you're trying to help goes "which one's Left Click?". ;)
::PS. "pedant" ''is'' the third-person present active indicative plural of the Latin singular "pedō" (to 'give feet'/'prop up'), which I think is interestng. :P [[Special:Contributions/92.23.2.228|92.23.2.228]] 20:42, 12 July 2025 (UTC)
:I had some time when I have to call slash and backslash by ‘丿-slash’ and ‘乀-slash’ (See {{w|Chinese character strokes#Basic strokes}}). [[User:物灵|物灵]] ([[User talk:物灵|talk]]) 08:46, 13 July 2025 (UTC)
: Pedanticically, it doesn't have a "right click" either - it (usually) has a left button and a right button, which can be assigned to a primary click and a secondary click. If, like me, you have your mouse configured left handed, then the right button ''is'' the (primary) "click", and the left button is the secondary. [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 08:18, 14 July 2025 (UTC)

Donate to fix mkdocstrings!!! https://mkdocstrings.github.io/insiders/ (this is just a stupid joke, mkdocstrings is AWESOME!!!)
:it's currently nonexistent. shame. sounds like it couldve been a lifesaver.--[[User:Utdtutyabthsc|Utdtutyabthsc]] ([[User talk:Utdtutyabthsc|talk]]) 07:12, 16 February 2026 (UTC)

The payment URL clearly has forward slashes, meaning that they did honor their pledge. [[User:Cobl703|Cobl703]] ([[User talk:Cobl703|talk]]) 14:29, 26 February 2026 (UTC)

[[Special:Contributions/76.143.181.203|76.143.181.203]] 15:04, 28 September 2025 (UTC)

Talk:3209: Plums

2026-02-19T14:51:27Z

Cobl703:

Referencing William Carlos Williams [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56159/this-is-just-to-say "This is Just To Say"], an apology for eating the plums. [[Special:Contributions/2600:1001:B000:6009:F81B:2869:73B7:339|2600:1001:B000:6009:F81B:2869:73B7:339]] 03:31, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

Robert Frost is my first cousin five times removed. [[User:Pgn674|Pgn674]] ([[User talk:Pgn674|talk]]) 03:36, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

You could easily trap Edgar Allan Poe by training a crow. [[User:Xkdvd|Xkdvd]] ([[User talk:Xkdvd|talk]]) 05:07, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
:You could easily trap Edgar Allan Poe scholars by training an orang-utan [[Special:Contributions/2001:9E8:E129:8700:A4BD:2D19:5AC4:826B|2001:9E8:E129:8700:A4BD:2D19:5AC4:826B]] 13:19, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

I just described the scene in the transcript, it doesn't look quite right to me, I'm pretty sure there's supposed to be brackets or something, could someone fix that if I did it wrong? [[User:Xkdvd|Xkdvd]] ([[User talk:Xkdvd|talk]]) 05:12, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

The characterization of the poem as an apology needs an [actual citation needed] tag. [[Special:Contributions/2001:8004:4E50:6B3:A564:E93B:1878:3634|2001:8004:4E50:6B3:A564:E93B:1878:3634]] 06:00, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
:The words "forgive me" aren't good enough for you? [[Special:Contributions/174.127.214.79|174.127.214.79]] 06:46, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

Seems pretty simple. Eat the plums for the cred, and then book reservations for a romantic breakfast the next morning. [[Special:Contributions/73.42.229.109|73.42.229.109]] 06:22, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
:Might just make things more awkward if the trapper is just a roommate. [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 09:10, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

Could the caption style also be a reference to the poem? [[User:New editor|New editor]] ([[User talk:New editor|talk]]) 07:08, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

It would be much more difficult that Robert Frost if one is to follow Gulzaar's [https://bollywoodtranslations.blogspot.com/2024/10/is-mod-se-jaate-hain-translation-of.html "Is Mod se"] [[User:Mitradranirban|Mitradranirban]] ([[User talk:Mitradranirban|talk]])

Does the joke rely on any connection between Frost's surname and the Icebox? [[Special:Contributions/79.161.109.128|79.161.109.128]] 10:35, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
:Wouldn't say so, given that they're referring to two different poems. If it did rely on that, I would say it didn't work! [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 11:39, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

Tangent here: can someone explains to me how the structure of WCW's poem works? I find neither rythm nor rhyme. --[[Special:Contributions/94.73.51.255|94.73.51.255]]
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_verse [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 11:36, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

I'm trying to link Category:Strange powers of Beret Guy, but it's not appearing, even if the text is there. Anybody know why? Also, does anybody else find it odd that this is CUEBALL creating the spatial anomalies and not Beret Guy? --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] (BLM) 14:11, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
:You have to put a : before “Category:” when linking to a category because otherwise it puts the page in the category instead of making a link to the category. [[Special:Contributions/2A09:BAC3:88C3:188C:0:0:272:3F|2A09:BAC3:88C3:188C:0:0:272:3F]] 14:23, 19 February 2026 (UTC)
::Ah. Thanks! --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]] (BLM) 14:44, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

I believe it may be possible to make a network of infinitely branching straight line paths, even in an infinite universe, because the requirement is that if you keep travelling on the path you'll reach no end no mater your choice of branches, i.e. no matter how you choose your branches you'll choose infinitely many, but I can't think of a possible configuration right now. (It's trivial if they can be curved) [[User:Cobl703|Cobl703]] ([[User talk:Cobl703|talk]]) 14:51, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

Talk:3189: Conic Sections

2026-01-04T18:35:08Z

Cobl703:

Isn't the base of a cone, just a circle? How would this have "corners"? [[User:SDSpivey|SDSpivey]] ([[User talk:SDSpivey|talk]]) 01:41, 3 January 2026 (UTC)
:The cone upon which a conic section exists doesn't actually ''have'' a base, it's just arbitrarily large (possibly infinitely so) in order for the section to only ever lay along the 'curve' of the cone part.
:But, here, the base is wwhere you give up on plotting how far 'down the cone' you go, of the sufficiently large ellipse (or possibly parabolic/hyperbolic curve), which is indeed round but has an sharp (i.e. acute) angle between its flat (and incidentally circular) plane-section and the 'wrapped' pseudo-euclidean plane of the conic-section it intersects with. [[Special:Contributions/92.23.2.208|92.23.2.208]] 01:50, 3 January 2026 (UTC)

Bring a jacket and spoon for orbits that go through the ice cream.[[User:Lordpishky|Lord Pishky]] ([[User talk:Lordpishky|talk]]) 01:43, 3 January 2026 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure this is the shape of the flat bottom of a cake cone. [[Special:Contributions/71.212.56.254|71.212.56.254]] 03:02, 3 January 2026 (UTC)
:They REALLY hate the flat-bottom cone orbits and the waffle cones make for a bumpy ride.[[User:Lordpishky|Lord Pishky]] ([[User talk:Lordpishky|talk]]) 18:57, 3 January 2026 (UTC)

It appears to be a cut-off section of an ellipse, so basically a regular orbit with a sharp line. ([https://www.desmos.com/3d/xnaihdegst Desmos]) [[User:Tanner07|Tanner07]] ([[User talk:Tanner07|talk]]) 04:29, 3 January 2026 (UTC)

https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D5622AQH3CYoPXy1cqg/feedshare-shrink_2048_1536/feedshare-shrink_2048_1536/0/1727242249609?e=1769040000&v=beta&t=UdAX9TH3joo-vpvj4pRWXoCQyF6JVUPVmyONWghcj5E --[[User:PRR|PRR]] ([[User talk:PRR|talk]]) 05:06, 3 January 2026 (UTC)

I feel like there needs to some explicit acknowledgement that the cone in question is an ice cream cone.[[Special:Contributions/99.239.23.54|99.239.23.54]] 00:11, 4 January 2026 (UTC)
:But ice-cream cones have the 'flat bit' (actually the opening; give or take the scoop of ice-cream, which is a ball, or else the soft-served 'twirly-dollop', which another more convoluted form of inverted cone) at the top. Which just really doesn't fit with ''anything'' the comic says about the conic. Unless you see some obscure connection that I'm just not getting out of it. (Beyond that both are considered 'cones', which is as tenuous as if I suggested traffic cones was the ultimate reference, for example.)
:But if you can give any better referencing connection, you look like you should know how to edit things to enlighten those of us who are missing it. Explain away, as that's the point of this site... [[Special:Contributions/82.132.236.68|82.132.236.68]] 01:39, 4 January 2026 (UTC)

Shouldn't the people from the title text also be following the same orbit? [[User:Cobl703|Cobl703]] ([[User talk:Cobl703|talk]]) 18:35, 4 January 2026 (UTC)

Talk:3176: Inverted Catenaries

2025-12-05T12:28:04Z

Cobl703:

Hoookay ... am I nutz, or shouldn't a physical object with the shape of an inverted catenary (2D or 3D) fall and land with the rounded side down? And shouldn't such a "catenary fall" (if 3D objects) produce a flat-ish, unstable surface that would be [ahem] very interesting to drive (or walk or yada) on, and on which square tires would be useless? [[Special:Contributions/2605:59C8:160:DB08:216D:5149:ACEB:AD1C|2605:59C8:160:DB08:216D:5149:ACEB:AD1C]] 03:42, 4 December 2025 (UTC)
:Not necessarily. Depends on how catenary is weighted, it doesn't have to be of uniform density.--[[User:Trimutius|Trimutius]] ([[User talk:Trimutius|talk]]) 04:23, 4 December 2025 (UTC)
:If inverted catenaries flip, during their fall, then they become "inverted inverted catenaries", instead, which some ''might'' say are 'just catenaries' (or, indeed, be best observed as the catenary-chord, utmost). So, by ''definition'', they don't. ;) [[Special:Contributions/82.132.239.140|82.132.239.140]] 13:03, 4 December 2025 (UTC)
:The comic itself is 2D, so if this were a 3D scenario it might be that the inverted catenaries are actually extended, like a series of speed bumps aligned with roads. That may be likely since I'm pretty sure xkcd has more 3D cars than 2D throughout the comics [[User:R128|R128]] ([[User talk:R128|talk]]) 14:14, 4 December 2025 (UTC)

A caternary curve is that of a tethered chain hanging loose in gravity, so defined as one with the curve pointed downward. this requires its inversion to curve up. Semantics, but in this case important ones. {{unsigned ip|50.37.102.15|07:24, 4 December 2025 (UTC)}}

Coming from a snowy country, we don't use all-season tyres. We have summer tyres (useless on snow and ice, very well suited for dry and wet surfaces) and winter tyres. Winter tyres without studs can legally be used all year round, but are ill-suited for summer conditions. [[Special:Contributions/109.247.36.180|109.247.36.180]] 08:32, 4 December 2025 (UTC)
:Well in Canada many people never use summer tires at all. They would drive all-season and then switch to winter tires. Cold snaps are sometimes so sudden in Canada, that many people don't want to risk driving on summer tires as it can come to bite you in Spring or Fall.--[[User:Trimutius|Trimutius]] ([[User talk:Trimutius|talk]]) 15:31, 4 December 2025 (UTC)

Although square wheels on inverted catenaries have no practical use, non-circular wheels on non-smooth tracks are used in rack railways, which are an application of a rack-and-pinion mechanism. {{unsigned ip|85.228.125.118|11:41, 4 December 2025 (UTC)}}

Did Randall move to canada? [[Special:Contributions/206.193.5.5|206.193.5.5]] 16:40, 4 December 2025 (UTC)
:: I reckon he's been tempted, like many of us. But if we tried it, all we'd be likely to find was Randy Bachman singing his new song "The Ghost of Stephen Harper". We have all been here before ... [[Special:Contributions/205.175.118.102|205.175.118.102]] 20:20, 4 December 2025 (UTC)
:Northern parts of USA get a lot of snow too. Some select cities in the North of US might even get more snow than southern Canadian cities.--[[User:Trimutius|Trimutius]] ([[User talk:Trimutius|talk]]) 16:48, 4 December 2025
:Pretty sure Randall lives near Boston MA (https://xkcd.com/3081/), and we had a significant storm on Tuesday (the day before this was posted). Plenty of people here (myself included) switch to snow tires around this time. [[Special:Contributions/130.64.22.2|130.64.22.2]] 17:30, 4 December 2025 (UTC)
:: I was referring to South Park featuring Canadian vehicles having square tires, not anything related to climate. [[Special:Contributions/206.193.5.5|206.193.5.5]] 20:38, 4 December 2025 (UTC)

Has there actually been any research into a wheel shape that’s the best on average over any given terrain pattern, or is that just Randall having a laugh? [[User:KelOfTheStars!|KelOfTheStars!]] ([[User talk:KelOfTheStars!|talk]]) 21:37, 4 December 2025 (UTC)
:I'm guessing that, on average, the best general wheel shape is... round... (But with one or other tread, as a detail, of course.) But I'll admit that this is without actually {{w|Reinventing the wheel|doing the suggested research}}... [[Special:Contributions/78.144.255.82|78.144.255.82]] 21:51, 4 December 2025 (UTC)
:Morphorcular on Youtube has a great video series where he finds the "best" wheel for a given road (defined in the series as one where the axle stays at a constant height.) I know this isn't what you asked but I'd recommend checking it out!
[[Special:Contributions/174.87.227.138|174.87.227.138]] 04:33, 5 December 2025 (UTC)

Is it a joke on "all-season tires", since they're not actually all-season -- they're not suited for inverted catenary season [[User:Cobl703|Cobl703]] ([[User talk:Cobl703|talk]]) 12:28, 5 December 2025 (UTC)