explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:1285: Third Way

2013-11-01T07:54:25Z

Peter:

ONE SPACE AFTER A PERIOD. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 04:38, 1 November 2013 (UTC)

Writing plaintext, I always do two spaces after a sentence ending period.
This is probably because I did in fact start typing on a real typewriter.
In an environment where automatic formatting will take place, like a web page or wiki text, I use the newline.
I have had people in this wiki collapse my multiple line forms to one of the others.
(I was disappointed.)
--[[User:Divad27182|Divad27182]] ([[User talk:Divad27182|talk]]) 04:48, 1 November 2013 (UTC)

I prefer double spacing, but I used single spacing in writing the explanation, just to make people happy. Perhaps I should have used new lines. [[User:Concomitant|Concomitant]] ([[User talk:Concomitant|talk]]) 05:10, 1 November 2013 (UTC)

The 'third way' is a little underappreciated here: it divides the text into self contained logical units, and makes text processing tools (grep, diff etc.) much more usable.
Proper text rendering engines (TeX, HTML, etc.) already make this assumption and group sentences accordingly.
If only I realized this earlier, it would have made my thesis revisions much more easier.
In fact, up to this moment, I thought I was that lone guy in the comic.
EDIT: this comment in xkcd forums makes my point clear: http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=106217#p3489055
--[[Special:Contributions/141.101.96.11|141.101.96.11]] 05:42, 1 November 2013 (UTC)

I always just find and replace double space with single space. If formatting suffers, someone did a bad job.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.231.228|108.162.231.228]] 06:33, 1 November 2013 (UTC) Synthetica

So, why did double spacing after a period ever exist? It doesn't seem necessary. [[User:PheagleAdler|PheagleAdler]] ([[User talk:PheagleAdler|talk]]) 07:31, 1 November 2013 (UTC)

even though i learned typing on a typewriter, to this day i had never heard of the double space thing. maybe it's a US only thing, like the stupid french with spaces BEFORE punctuation marks. [[User:Peter|Peter]] ([[User talk:Peter|talk]]) 07:54, 1 November 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1253: Exoplanet Names

2013-08-22T17:01:08Z

Peter:

One of the planets is similar to the child in Exploits of a Mom (http://xkcd.com/327/)
Robert Drop Tables
[[Special:Contributions/90.200.204.77|90.200.204.77]] 12:12, 19 August 2013 (UTC)
:Yes, they've seemed to have learned to sanitize their data inputs or just stick to parameters. [[Special:Contributions/69.14.148.254|69.14.148.254]] 12:33, 19 August 2013 (UTC)
Hair covered planet might be a reference to the book The Carpet Makers{{unsigned ip|41.221.193.211}}

The Blogosphere and Blogodrome planets are cited as synonyms of "blog." I believe this is an error, in that blogosphere is synonymous with "the collection of all posted communication." I would change it myself, but I don't feel like I'm sufficiently expert to state with conviction.~Anthingy{{unsigned ip|76.105.133.220}}

I'm still missing the ''New Netherlands''... Lorenz [[Special:Contributions/142.244.63.246|142.244.63.246]] 15:34, 19 August 2013 (UTC)

Along with no ''New Netherlands'', I'm also disappointed to see ''Planet #14'' but no ''Planet 9 from Outer Space''. [[User:Ccurtis|Ccurtis]] ([[User talk:Ccurtis|talk]]) 16:04, 19 August 2013 (UTC)
:I'm sure my explain does cover this very well.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:04, 19 August 2013 (UTC)

If memory serves, Stampy is the name of Bart Simpson's elephant. [[Special:Contributions/99.108.140.97|99.108.140.97]] 17:59, 19 August 2013 (UTC)

A* ("a star") is also a pathfinding algorithm taught in introductory Artificial Intelligence classes. I don't see the connection to the planet yet. [[User:Lastorset|Lastorset]] ([[User talk:Lastorset|talk]]) 22:19, 19 August 2013 (UTC)
:For the first, I did remove the corrupt wiki link. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:23, 19 August 2013 (UTC)

I just wonder where New Jerseys II through V are .... [[User:JamesCurran|JamesCurran]] ([[User talk:JamesCurran|talk]]) 03:24, 20 August 2013 (UTC)

'''Skydot''' could as easily be equivalent to the "Pale blue dot" that is Earth, from afar. '''New Jersey VI''' reminds me of the "New (New New New New .. New) New York" as visited in Doctor Who. '''help@gmail.com''' is either another bad input (as in "How Do I Join the IAU") or something more insidious. '''Moon Holder''' also reminds me of "Moon Watcher" from the (book of, at least) 2001: a Space Odyssey. '''Blainsley''' sounds to me like one of those portmanteau-names applied to a couple ("Blair-and-Ainsley"?). '''Unicorn Thresher''' could either be a random word string (I'd not have been surprisedto have seen "Correct Horse battery Staple" in the list) or ''perhaps'' something to do with the Invisible Pink Unicorn. '''Liz''' sounds like someone trying to get a planet named after their girlfriend or daughter or perhaps mother. [[Special:Contributions/178.104.103.140|178.104.103.140]] 11:39, 20 August 2013 (UTC)

:Anyone want an exoplanet named xkcd? {{unsigned ip|173.14.129.9}}

I was personally expecting a planet named "Gallifrey" or "Too expensive to get there, who cares?"{{unsigned ip|170.215.90.160}}

Maybe New Jersey VI is a reference to the Spaceship New Jersey from Bruce Covill's young adult "My Teacher Is An Alien" series?
-Jed [[Special:Contributions/70.208.76.161|70.208.76.161]] 00:47, 21 August 2013 (UTC)

I find it very meta that the line in the table explaining Cosmic Sands is formatted in Comic Sans, except for the reference to the Papyrus comic, which is written in Papyrus. I refer anyone interested to the discussion there about the propriety of that kind of self-referential cleverness, and I recognize that it sort of undermines the purpose of a wiki to do things therein that themselves require explanation... but I kinda like it. --Benny [[Special:Contributions/68.199.58.41|68.199.58.41]] 15:50, 21 August 2013 (UTC)

'''How Do I Join the IAU''' - instead of a lost user it very much resembles whinning of noobs in forums or in chat - "How Do I Get An Op?", "Please Mail It To Me" etc. '''Ballderaan''' might be a pun (if it's not actually there) on the Space Balls movie. --Ed [[Special:Contributions/217.31.207.1|217.31.207.1]] 14:04, 22 August 2013 (UTC)

permadeath might also be a play on permafrost. [[User:Peter|Peter]] ([[User talk:Peter|talk]]) 17:01, 22 August 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1248: Sphere

2013-08-08T11:54:49Z

Peter:

More specifically,a geoid.--[[User:Guru-45|Guru-45]] ([[User talk:Guru-45|talk]]) 08:51, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:Astronomers observe objects in the sky, not the Earth.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 11:19, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
::Astronomers live on the surface of the Earth, not on the surface of the sky (celestial sphere). [[Special:Contributions/167.107.191.217|167.107.191.217]] 13:25, 7 August 2013 (UTC)

Are you sure “Sphere” refers to “hemisphere” and not simply to earth? After all, she’s trapped on earth and not on the celestial sphere. [[User:Quoti|Quoti]] ([[User talk:Quoti|talk]]) 11:24, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:It's the hemisphere, see my comment above.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 11:46, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:: I'm assuming you're referring to the "light-sphere" whose origin lies at the astronomer's location, and thus the universe always being bigger than the places he can physically visit. Still though, the statement "They can't travel to the places they observe" isn't accurate. We've been to the moon for instance. And then of course, there are always the unknown unknowns of the universe and interstellar travel. [[Special:Contributions/220.224.246.97|220.224.246.97]] 12:19, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
::: The fact that we, the human race, have been to the moon is no comfort to anyone who's seen the wonders revealed by the HST (which isn't even suitable for inspecting the moon). We are, indeed, "trapped" here on Earth, into the foreseeable future. ''— [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 13:22, 7 August 2013 (UTC)''
: I read it as earth. It's a sphere and we're all trapped on its surface and astronomy classes make you aware of this fact more than your everyday experiences. Also, doesn't "hemisphere" mean "half sphere"? like northern and southern hemisphere of the earth? [[User:Peter|Peter]] ([[User talk:Peter|talk]]) 12:48, 7 August 2013 (UTC)

Do we maybe have a reference to [[1246]]? [[Special:Contributions/217.81.31.20|217.81.31.20]] 11:37, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:That comic belongs more to space science than to astronomers.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 11:46, 7 August 2013 (UTC)

I'm sure the sphere is Earth. We don't live on the '''surface''' of the universe. Everybody in http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=104172 agrees. [[Special:Contributions/167.107.191.217|167.107.191.217]] 13:12, 7 August 2013 (UTC)

"This totally occupies her mind, and she feels frustrated that she can only learn about those mind-boggling places, and not visit them herself." Wow. She must have been in a class? She's "totally" occupied? She's frustrated? (Not wistful, or resigned, or just aware of a fact mind you.) She isn't just thinking about the size of space, but apparently really, really wants to actually travel there. (To where, exactly? What "mind boggling" places? "Space"? Seems rather general.) You got all that deep and specific feeling from just her using the word "trapped"? Looks like reading a lot into things, to me. [[User:CFoxx|CFoxx]] ([[User talk:CFoxx|talk]]) 15:53, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:I try to not to make the explanations too dry; they are and should often be interpretations to some extent. On the other hand yeah, you are probably right that I read too much emotion into it. I changed the things you commented on. –[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 18:29, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:@CFoxx - Absolutely. In XKCD, there are no shades of grey. (really, look for yourself) [[User:JamesCurran|JamesCurran]] ([[User talk:JamesCurran|talk]]) 19:43, 7 August 2013 (UTC)

Hey, what the hell are you doing? "The sphere she mentions..." is absolutely wrong, the word ''Sphere'' appears only at the title and the title text! Megan is just impressed by the vast size of the universe.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:21, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:And to all you ''Earth'' theorists, tell me why Randall mentions astronomers and NOT the entire mankind? And that, after Megan talks about a big universe. Astronomers do not observe the Earth but objects in that big universe, which is from a viewpoint on Earth just a sphere.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:21, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
::One more: Astronomers are not trapped to the surface of the Earth because they use many space telescopes even beyond of earth's orbit. They are also using probes at many planets and more all over the solar system.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:02, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:::Would you please look at the first panel … And just using space telescopes doesn’t mean you’re no longer trapped. Imagine yourself being trapped in a cage with a satellite dish to communicate with a space telescope (well … just imagine that). You’re not going anywhere by using that telescope. I think you confuse “being trapped” with “being limited”. Being trapped somewhere doesn’t mean your observation is limited to that place too. [[User:Quoti|Quoti]] ([[User talk:Quoti|talk]]) 17:54, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
::::Ok, I did ignore the first panel, sorry about that. But the Earth is a {{w|geoid}} and absolutely doesn't match the criteria for a {{w|sphere}}. So, like in democracy the mass does win, but I'm still sure I'm right.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:13, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:She does mention a sphere, so I changed it back. No hard feelings (I hope). –[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 18:29, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
::I don't mind, but it seems I'm the only astronomer and physicist here.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:13, 7 August 2013 (UTC)

After some more thoughts on this, why nobody (even myself) did raise the idea that Randall talks about both interpretations? Nevertheless, if the sphere is interpreted as the surface of the Earth there is a need to explain the geoid discrepancy to an ideal sphere, as mentioned in the very first post here.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:51, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:I fixed a sentence on the discrepancy (with some Wikipedia help). Interesting stuff! I think that Megan answers Cueballs question quite literary. How are you? Trapped on a 2-dimensional surface. The 'celestial sphere'-thing seems too far fetched... –[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 10:54, 8 August 2013 (UTC)

This "a sphere is a surface and has no surface" is too much nitpicking. Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphere) talks about calculating the surface area of a sphere. I think "surface of sth" is not very rigorously defined. Often two dimensional manifolds are called surfaces, and a sphere is one, and the surface (different meaning) of the earth is roughly a sphere. What a sphere doesn't have is a border. [[User:Peter|Peter]] ([[User talk:Peter|talk]]) 11:54, 8 August 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1248: Sphere

2013-08-08T11:54:11Z

Peter:

More specifically,a geoid.--[[User:Guru-45|Guru-45]] ([[User talk:Guru-45|talk]]) 08:51, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:Astronomers observe objects in the sky, not the Earth.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 11:19, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
::Astronomers live on the surface of the Earth, not on the surface of the sky (celestial sphere). [[Special:Contributions/167.107.191.217|167.107.191.217]] 13:25, 7 August 2013 (UTC)

Are you sure “Sphere” refers to “hemisphere” and not simply to earth? After all, she’s trapped on earth and not on the celestial sphere. [[User:Quoti|Quoti]] ([[User talk:Quoti|talk]]) 11:24, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:It's the hemisphere, see my comment above.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 11:46, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:: I'm assuming you're referring to the "light-sphere" whose origin lies at the astronomer's location, and thus the universe always being bigger than the places he can physically visit. Still though, the statement "They can't travel to the places they observe" isn't accurate. We've been to the moon for instance. And then of course, there are always the unknown unknowns of the universe and interstellar travel. [[Special:Contributions/220.224.246.97|220.224.246.97]] 12:19, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
::: The fact that we, the human race, have been to the moon is no comfort to anyone who's seen the wonders revealed by the HST (which isn't even suitable for inspecting the moon). We are, indeed, "trapped" here on Earth, into the foreseeable future. ''— [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 13:22, 7 August 2013 (UTC)''
: I read it as earth. It's a sphere and we're all trapped on its surface and astronomy classes make you aware of this fact more than your everyday experiences. Also, doesn't "hemisphere" mean "half sphere"? like northern and southern hemisphere of the earth? [[User:Peter|Peter]] ([[User talk:Peter|talk]]) 12:48, 7 August 2013 (UTC)

Do we maybe have a reference to [[1246]]? [[Special:Contributions/217.81.31.20|217.81.31.20]] 11:37, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:That comic belongs more to space science than to astronomers.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 11:46, 7 August 2013 (UTC)

I'm sure the sphere is Earth. We don't live on the '''surface''' of the universe. Everybody in http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=104172 agrees. [[Special:Contributions/167.107.191.217|167.107.191.217]] 13:12, 7 August 2013 (UTC)

"This totally occupies her mind, and she feels frustrated that she can only learn about those mind-boggling places, and not visit them herself." Wow. She must have been in a class? She's "totally" occupied? She's frustrated? (Not wistful, or resigned, or just aware of a fact mind you.) She isn't just thinking about the size of space, but apparently really, really wants to actually travel there. (To where, exactly? What "mind boggling" places? "Space"? Seems rather general.) You got all that deep and specific feeling from just her using the word "trapped"? Looks like reading a lot into things, to me. [[User:CFoxx|CFoxx]] ([[User talk:CFoxx|talk]]) 15:53, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:I try to not to make the explanations too dry; they are and should often be interpretations to some extent. On the other hand yeah, you are probably right that I read too much emotion into it. I changed the things you commented on. –[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 18:29, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:@CFoxx - Absolutely. In XKCD, there are no shades of grey. (really, look for yourself) [[User:JamesCurran|JamesCurran]] ([[User talk:JamesCurran|talk]]) 19:43, 7 August 2013 (UTC)

Hey, what the hell are you doing? "The sphere she mentions..." is absolutely wrong, the word ''Sphere'' appears only at the title and the title text! Megan is just impressed by the vast size of the universe.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:21, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:And to all you ''Earth'' theorists, tell me why Randall mentions astronomers and NOT the entire mankind? And that, after Megan talks about a big universe. Astronomers do not observe the Earth but objects in that big universe, which is from a viewpoint on Earth just a sphere.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:21, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
::One more: Astronomers are not trapped to the surface of the Earth because they use many space telescopes even beyond of earth's orbit. They are also using probes at many planets and more all over the solar system.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:02, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:::Would you please look at the first panel … And just using space telescopes doesn’t mean you’re no longer trapped. Imagine yourself being trapped in a cage with a satellite dish to communicate with a space telescope (well … just imagine that). You’re not going anywhere by using that telescope. I think you confuse “being trapped” with “being limited”. Being trapped somewhere doesn’t mean your observation is limited to that place too. [[User:Quoti|Quoti]] ([[User talk:Quoti|talk]]) 17:54, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
::::Ok, I did ignore the first panel, sorry about that. But the Earth is a {{w|geoid}} and absolutely doesn't match the criteria for a {{w|sphere}}. So, like in democracy the mass does win, but I'm still sure I'm right.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:13, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:She does mention a sphere, so I changed it back. No hard feelings (I hope). –[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 18:29, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
::I don't mind, but it seems I'm the only astronomer and physicist here.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:13, 7 August 2013 (UTC)

After some more thoughts on this, why nobody (even myself) did raise the idea that Randall talks about both interpretations? Nevertheless, if the sphere is interpreted as the surface of the Earth there is a need to explain the geoid discrepancy to an ideal sphere, as mentioned in the very first post here.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:51, 7 August 2013 (UTC)
:I fixed a sentence on the discrepancy (with some Wikipedia help). Interesting stuff! I think that Megan answers Cueballs question quite literary. How are you? Trapped on a 2-dimensional surface. The 'celestial sphere'-thing seems too far fetched... –[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 10:54, 8 August 2013 (UTC)

This "a sphere is a surface and has no surface" is too much nitpicking. Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphere) talks about calculating the surface area of a sphere. I think "surface" is not very rigorously defined. Often two dimensional manifolds are called surfaces, and a sphere is one, and the surface (different meaning) of the earth is roughly a sphere. What a sphere doesn't have is a border.

Talk:1248: Sphere

2013-08-08T11:50:38Z

Peter:

1248: Sphere

2013-08-08T11:48:50Z

Peter: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1248
| date = August 07, 2013
| title = Sphere
| image = sphere.png
| titletext = This message brought to you by the Society of Astronomers Trapped on the Surface of a Sphere.
}}

==Explanation==
[[Megan]] has taken or visited an astronomy class and learned about the vast distances of the universe. This occupies her mind, and she ponders that she can only observe and learn about the rest of the universe, and not visit other celestial bodies herself. The {{w|sphere}} she mentions is a metaphor for the surface of the {{w|Earth}}, which she feels trapped on. (The {{w|figure of the Earth}} is {{w|Spherical Earth|not strictly a sphere}}, but an irregular shape which can be approximated by an oblate {{w|spheroid}} or the {{w|geoid}}.)

Her disinclination to do "{{w|small talk}}" with [[Cueball]] pokes fun at how astronomers (and people of other specialications) can be so focused on their topic that they lose sight of the mundane. This has also been touched upon in [[663: Sagan-Man]] and [[786: Exoplanets]].

==Transcript==
:Cueball: How are you?
:Megan: Trapped on the surface of a sphere.
:[Cueball looks at Megan, she looks into the sky.]
:Cueball: That astronomy class has made you suck at small talk.
:Megan: The universe is too ''big'' for small talk.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]

Talk:1248: Sphere

2013-08-07T12:56:02Z

Peter:

Talk:1248: Sphere

2013-08-07T12:48:49Z

Peter:

Talk:1248: Sphere

2013-08-07T12:47:06Z

Peter:

1248: Sphere

2013-08-07T12:40:42Z

Peter: /* Explanation */

1248: Sphere

2013-08-07T12:36:56Z

Peter: /* Explanation */

Talk:1195: Flowchart

2013-07-17T11:20:25Z

Peter:

Assuming you've already started, it's too late to go get a marker. [[Special:Contributions/76.106.251.87|76.106.251.87]] 07:05, 5 April 2013 (UTC)

:You can add the "get a marker" in that looping line too. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 08:10, 5 April 2013 (UTC)

:If it is between the hours of 8:00 and 5:00, then I can escape, but that is only 37.5% of my day. Doomed, for all eternity. The solution proffered has the problem of the chicken and egg, how does one add get a marker if one does not have one. I like Hkmaly's idea... but proposes the additional questions of how: purchase, loot, or created. Each with their own rabbit trails to follow, ending in the pour house, prison, or crushed under the weight of the markers (mater being created?) But I feel there is a market to the other six billion inhabitants of earth that can be exploited. & Would Vulcans be more susceptible to entering into this loop than humans. [[Special:Contributions/24.106.78.38|24.106.78.38]] 10:37, 5 April 2013 (UTC) Drifter

:Straw Vulcans would be, certainly. [[Special:Contributions/76.106.251.87|76.106.251.87]] 15:54, 5 April 2013 (UTC)

that's the idea, its a commentary about nuclear weapons. if just one person hides a 'marker' up his sleeve when the rest of us genuinely have none, we're all at his mercy. [[Special:Contributions/193.60.97.30|193.60.97.30]] 08:52, 5 April 2013 (UTC)

I think the currently provided explanation is not right. Randall wants us to get a marker BEFORE we get to 'start', hence the phrasing "between you and 'start'" (and not "between 'start' and 'Hey, wait, ...'"). That way when we get to the start, we already have a marker friend to aid us in our infinite quest. Or, perhaps, in other words, to stop being computerized sheep that follow set rules, but rather find an alternative solution ;) I'm new here, so I'll let somebody else edit the explanation if you deem it appropriate... [[User:Blue Charizard|Blue Charizard]] ([[User talk:Blue Charizard|talk]]) 13:49, 5 April 2013 (UTC)

: I thought that this is clearly correct, so I changed it even though I'm also new here. —[[User:TobyBartels|TobyBartels]] ([[User talk:TobyBartels|talk]]) 19:19, 7 April 2013 (UTC)

Maybe Randall just wants us to change the algorithmic loop that we get into when we enter the flowchart and create a paradox to kill the Weeping Angels. [[User:Milar Kayne|Milar Kayne]] ([[User talk:Milar Kayne|talk]]) 14:24, 5 April 2013 (UTC)

I was always taught to used lozenges for Start(s)/Stop(s). But YMMV. There are rectangles like above (lacking the curved sides) and small circles (without space for "Start" or "Stop", but contextualised with the uniquetous arrow-heads on each and every line). Also diamonds ''could'' be statements ("Check <foo> exists" -> Yes/No, or "<Foo> is.." -> A/B/C/... for multiple (2+?) exits), although that depends a lot on what style you're using, and I'm betting some would say it's deprecated. But don't mind me. [[Special:Contributions/31.111.77.19|31.111.77.19]] 17:26, 5 April 2013 (UTC)

After staring at the title text for a few minutes, I have another interpretation. You're already stuck in the loop. If there had been a box between "Start" and "Hey, wait" which said "Get marker", then you would have a marker already. If you suspend your logic for a moment to write the "Get marker", then afterwards your situation is self-consistent, because you already passed that point in the flowchart and you now have a marker with which you wrote it. (Well, sort of self-consistent.) ...Does that make sense to anyone besides me? [[User:Bplimley|Bplimley]] ([[User talk:Bplimley|talk]]) 05:07, 6 April 2013 (UTC)

: This is the correct explanation. Please put it into the page, replacing "there is no way to escape this loop". --Zverik

I see three boxes in this XKCD comic (third is quarter hidden by logic). I thought that we were suppose to be learning how to think outside the box in school... - [[Special:Contributions/50.143.22.159|50.143.22.159]] 12:11, 6 April 2013 (UTC)
:Perhaps the third box can be called life, should we really spend it paying outrageous prices for higher education? - [[Special:Contributions/50.143.22.159|50.143.22.159]] 23:27, 6 April 2013 (UTC)

I added a transcript using some flowchart markup that I find at [http://flomojo.com/ FloMojo]. (Past transcripts in this category have used a variety of methods.) —[[User:TobyBartels|TobyBartels]] ([[User talk:TobyBartels|talk]]) 19:19, 7 April 2013 (UTC)

Guys, I've discovered a serious flaw in the proposed solution. I got a marker and drew the extra boxes, but then I scrolled the web page and reset the zoom level. I can't get the boxes to line up anymore! This is bad; I'd do it in Photoshop but I've already entered the loop! Halp! [[User:Excrubulent|Excrubulent]] ([[User talk:Excrubulent|talk]]) 05:34, 13 April 2013 (UTC)

careful guys, there is potential for another infinite loop. apparently you need a box to make you get a marker. and you need a marker to make a box ... [[User:Peter|Peter]] ([[User talk:Peter|talk]]) 11:20, 17 July 2013 (UTC)