https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Denisexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-04-16T19:01:18ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1552:_Rulebook&diff=979661552: Rulebook2015-07-17T14:19:15Z<p>Denis: /* Explanation */ three beers and editing on iPad is difficult. Sigh</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1552<br />
| date = July 17, 2015<br />
| title = Rulebook<br />
| image = rulebook.png<br />
| titletext = It's definitely an intentional foul, but we've decided it's worth it.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{Incomplete|first draft}}<br />
<br />
This comic references the downgrading of Pluto to a dwarf planet (evidenced) by the number 9 on the golden retriever. Before the decision in 2010(?) there was no procedure for de-planetising a celestial body by the IAU.The arrival of The Far Horizons (?) probe at Pluto this week no doubt triggered this comic in reminiscence of the story of "How I Killed Pluto and Why it Had it Coming"<br />
<br />
This cartoon is a common theme in xkcd and a reference to the film series Air Bud and other similar films. In the film a golden retriever becomes the star player in a sports team. Invariably in these films the opposing team will contest the legality of inter-species play resulting in the referees stating "nothing in the rule book says dogs can't play". The same scenario is alluded in [[115: Meerkat]].<br />
<br />
Rulebook are considered the final arbiter of decisions in many games. However, this flawed reasoning allows any number of activities that are not specifically discussed in the rule book, such as setting the playing field on fire, [[650: Nowhere|riding on dinosaurs]], [[356: Nerd Sniping|nerd sniping]], or [https://what-if.xkcd.com/1/ throwing the ball at 90% of the speed of light]. Rule books are also mentioned in <br />
<br />
:* [[330: Indecision]]<br />
:* [[393: Ultimate Game]]<br />
<br />
In this scenario [[Ponytail]] declares to her opponents, [[Cueball]], [[Megan]] and a golden retriever that her team may euthanize and digest a member of their team and note that it is also not specifically discussed in the rule book.<br />
<br />
The title text alludes to the flaw in the reasoning indicating such things are discussed indirectly in the rule book. Killing a player is a technical foul, but the penalty may be well worth the removal of the opposing star player and dogs, however gifted at sports, are not nearly as well protected by law as humans are.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
<br />
Ponytail: There's nothing in the rulebook that says we can't kill and eat your dog.<br />
<br />
Dog wearing jersey number 9<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Rulebook]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]</div>Denishttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1552:_Rulebook&diff=979651552: Rulebook2015-07-17T14:18:25Z<p>Denis: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1552<br />
| date = July 17, 2015<br />
| title = Rulebook<br />
| image = rulebook.png<br />
| titletext = It's definitely an intentional foul, but we've decided it's worth it.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{Incomplete|first draft}}<br />
<br />
This comic references the downgrading of Pluto to a dwarf planet (evidenced) by the number 9 on the golden retriever. Before the decision in 2010(?) there was no procedure for de-planetising a celestial body by the IAU.The arrival of The Far Horizons (?) probe at Pluto this week no doubt triggered this comic in reminiscence of the sory of "How I Killed Pluto and Why it Had it Coming"<br />
<br />
This cartoon is a common theme in xkcd and a reference to the film series Air Bud and other similar films. In the film a golden retriever becomes the star player in a sports team. Invariably in these films the opposing team will contest the legality of inter-species play resulting in the referees stating "nothing in the rule book says dogs can't play". The same scenario is alluded in [[115: Meerkat]].<br />
<br />
Rulebook are considered the final arbiter of decisions in many games. However, this flawed reasoning allows any number of activities that are not specifically discussed in the rule book, such as setting the playing field on fire, [[650: Nowhere|riding on dinosaurs]], [[356: Nerd Sniping|nerd sniping]], or [https://what-if.xkcd.com/1/ throwing the ball at 90% of the speed of light]. Rule books are also mentioned in <br />
<br />
:* [[330: Indecision]]<br />
:* [[393: Ultimate Game]]<br />
<br />
In this scenario [[Ponytail]] declares to her opponents, [[Cueball]], [[Megan]] and a golden retriever that her team may euthanize and digest a member of their team and note that it is also not specifically discussed in the rule book.<br />
<br />
The title text alludes to the flaw in the reasoning indicating such things are discussed indirectly in the rule book. Killing a player is a technical foul, but the penalty may be well worth the removal of the opposing star player and dogs, however gifted at sports, are not nearly as well protected by law as humans are.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
<br />
Ponytail: There's nothing in the rulebook that says we can't kill and eat your dog.<br />
<br />
Dog wearing jersey number 9<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Rulebook]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]</div>Denishttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1552:_Rulebook&diff=979631552: Rulebook2015-07-17T14:17:46Z<p>Denis: /* Explanation */ um the original explanation missed the point.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1552<br />
| date = July 17, 2015<br />
| title = Rulebook<br />
| image = rulebook.png<br />
| titletext = It's definitely an intentional foul, but we've decided it's worth it.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{Incomplete|first draft}}<br />
<br />
This comic references the downgrading of Pluto to a dwarf planet (evidenced) by the number 9 on the golden retriever. Before the decision in 2010(?) there was no procedure for de-planetising a celestial body. The arrival of The Far Horizons (?) probe at Pluto this week no doubt triggered this comic in reminiscence of the sory of "How I Killed Pluto and Why it Had it Coming"<br />
<br />
This cartoon is a common theme in xkcd and a reference to the film series Air Bud and other similar films. In the film a golden retriever becomes the star player in a sports team. Invariably in these films the opposing team will contest the legality of inter-species play resulting in the referees stating "nothing in the rule book says dogs can't play". The same scenario is alluded in [[115: Meerkat]].<br />
<br />
Rulebook are considered the final arbiter of decisions in many games. However, this flawed reasoning allows any number of activities that are not specifically discussed in the rule book, such as setting the playing field on fire, [[650: Nowhere|riding on dinosaurs]], [[356: Nerd Sniping|nerd sniping]], or [https://what-if.xkcd.com/1/ throwing the ball at 90% of the speed of light]. Rule books are also mentioned in <br />
<br />
:* [[330: Indecision]]<br />
:* [[393: Ultimate Game]]<br />
<br />
In this scenario [[Ponytail]] declares to her opponents, [[Cueball]], [[Megan]] and a golden retriever that her team may euthanize and digest a member of their team and note that it is also not specifically discussed in the rule book.<br />
<br />
The title text alludes to the flaw in the reasoning indicating such things are discussed indirectly in the rule book. Killing a player is a technical foul, but the penalty may be well worth the removal of the opposing star player and dogs, however gifted at sports, are not nearly as well protected by law as humans are.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
<br />
Ponytail: There's nothing in the rulebook that says we can't kill and eat your dog.<br />
<br />
Dog wearing jersey number 9<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Rulebook]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]</div>Denis