https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Fangfufuexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-04-12T05:04:48ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1288:_Substitutions&diff=523901288: Substitutions2013-11-09T00:50:01Z<p>Fangfufu: </p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1288<br />
| date = November 8, 2013<br />
| title = Substitutions<br />
| image = substitutions.png<br />
| titletext = INSIDE ELON MUSK'S NEW ATOMIC CAT<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete}}<br />
[[Randall|Randall Munroe]] is playing off of the fact that many readers of modern news articles quickly become bored with the legal and political jargon. He suggests that by substituting certain words for others can make reading the article more interesting, albeit less accurate. Although since Randall [[558: 1000 Times|doesn't think very]] highly [[932: CIA|of the news]], he's probably suggesting this chart wouldn't make them less accurate at all.<br />
<br />
For example, a sentence that reads<br />
:Witnesses reported that the suspect allegedly escaped unharmed.<br />
would be changed to<br />
:These dudes I know reported that the suspect kinda probably escaped unharmed.<br />
<br />
This substitution does not change the meaning much, and the original sentence does not lose much of its accuracy. However, for substitutions later in the comic, a sentence may be changed as following<br />
:A new study finds that senators and other congressional leaders are increasingly likely to view election results on their smartphone.<br />
into<br />
:A Tumblr post finds that elf-lords and other river spirits are increasingly likely to view eating contest results on their Pokédex.<br />
<br />
Which is less meaningful, but more interesting.<br />
<br />
A [https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/xkcd-substitutions/jkgogmboalmaijfgfhfepckdgjeopfhk?hl=en&gl=001 Chrome extension] is available for applying the substitutions on webpages. <br />
<br />
<br />
The {{w|Virtual Boy}} is a table-top video game console made by Nintendo released in 1995, and discontinued about the same year. It is the first video game console to have truly 3D graphics.<br />
<br />
The Pokédex is a device in the {{w|Pokémon|Pokémon world}} that records the data of captured Pokémon.<br />
<br />
{{w|Homestar Runner}} is the title character of a Flash-animated web cartoon series.<br />
<br />
{{w|Elon Musk}}, in the title text, is the CEO of {{w|Tesla Motors}}, which produces electric cars.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:'''Substitutions''' that make reading the news more fun:<br />
<br />
:Witnesses → These dudes I know<br />
:Allegedly → Kinda probably<br />
:New study → Tumblr post<br />
:Rebuild → Avenge<br />
:Space → Spaaace<br />
:Google Glass → Virtual Boy<br />
:Smartphone → Pokedex<br />
:Electric → Atomic<br />
:Senator → Elf-lord<br />
:Car → Cat<br />
:Election → Eating contest<br />
:Congressional leaders → River spirits<br />
:Homeland security → Homestar Runner<br />
:Could not be reached for comment → Is guilty and everyone knows it<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<!-- Include any categories below this line. --><br />
<br />
[[Category:Language]]<br />
[[Category:Video games]]<br />
[[Category:Pokemon]]<br />
[[Category:Politics]]</div>Fangfufu