explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:3155: Physics Paths

2025-10-29T15:48:07Z

SSteve:

I made a Major contribution that overturns physics by making the first comment [[Special:Contributions/115.70.50.107|115.70.50.107]] 20:31, 15 October 2025 (UTC)

I cant make the first comment explainxkcd must be supressing me {{unsigned ip|202.150.104.50|20:41, 15 October 2025}} 

I cant make the first comment explainxkcd must be supressing me {{unsigned ip|202.150.104.50|20:40, 15 October 2025‎}}
:Not only did you fail to make the first comment, you also didn't sign it properly and you posted twice. Cancel! [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 20:59, 15 October 2025 (UTC)

The global scientific community will RUE THE DAY it dismissed my insights! Go ahead! Start rueing!
[[Special:Contributions/2601:601:C85:EDD0:F0F1:ACFC:F3E5:6BAE|2601:601:C85:EDD0:F0F1:ACFC:F3E5:6BAE]] 22:08, 15 October 2025 (UTC)
: You could have talked about syllogisms to overturn physics even more! --[[Special:Contributions/81.96.108.67|81.96.108.67]] 02:05, 16 October 2025 (UTC)
:: Now you're just being sylly. [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 08:12, 16 October 2025 (UTC)

The description of the special theory of relativity as showing that gravity is the result of curving spacetime is incorrect; that was the later general theory. The special theory only deals with the fact that measurements of space and time will be different for differently moving observers, and specifically excludes gravity. {{unsigned ip|206.204.218.11|05:04, 16 October 2025 (UTC)}}

Is it only me thinking that the unhealthy path already starts in the trial to „prove“ one‘s value? {{unsigned ip|62.93.15.96|05:58, 16 October 2025 (UTC)}}

Has Randall watched Dr. Angela Collier's [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miJbW3i9qQc recent video]? --[[User:Coconut Galaxy|Coconut Galaxy]] ([[User talk:Coconut Galaxy|talk]]) 06:38, 16 October 2025 (UTC)

The whole “ Einstein had more than one major insight” paragraph is interesting, but irrelevant to the comic. It should be moved into a trivia section. [[Special:Contributions/172.83.161.157|172.83.161.157]] 11:04, 16 October 2025 (UTC)

I’m thinking that part of the joke in the title text is that the term “overturn” is used to literally mean “turn upside down” in that the logic of the syllogism is reversed in an “any scientist that overturns physics is valuable, therefore anyone with value has overturned physics” fashion. I don’t think the current paragraph gets that across very well, and I’ve tried a handful of times to rephrase it, but haven’t been able to get something I’m happy with. If anyone else has any ideas to communicate it better, it would be greatly appreciated. [[User:KelOfTheStars!|KelOfTheStars!]] ([[User talk:KelOfTheStars!|talk]]) 18:34, 16 October 2025 (UTC)

While [Einstein] did have many insights, I think it's fair to say that his theories of relativity are the ones that caused major paradigm shifts. They others were just normal scientific progress. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 15:42, 19 October 2025 (UTC) 

Anyone who invokes the old "the Establishment is suppressing this invention/discovery" trope gets an immediate hard pass from me. Sorry, all you college students who solved the energy crisis with a paper cup filled with Coke. [[User:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For]] ([[User talk:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|talk]]) 00:29, 20 October 2025 (UTC)

I used to work with the "Path of Ruin" guy. [[User:SSteve|SSteve]] ([[User talk:SSteve|talk]]) 15:48, 29 October 2025 (UTC)

Talk:2565: Latency

2022-01-21T11:37:08Z

SSteve: Deleted my comment about the the text. I guess text is selectable in all the comics and I just never realized it before.

Ha! Welcome to my life. Just thought to check if there was a new xkcd yet (at 04:45, GMT) after spending the last five hours messing semi-manually with some geodata. Ok, the first three hours was in the text editor looking at the raw JSON file, and the next two was writing a Perl script to redo everything I had already done (and more, but not yet everything I will eventually want to do) without the fallible human element. Once the fallible human element has polished the script up to account for unforseen circumstances. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.85.73|172.70.85.73]] 04:51, 8 January 2022 (UTC)

what is SCAPDFATIAT {{unsigned ip|172.70.126.87}}
:OH what is says in the Comic {{unsigned ip|172.70.126.87}}
::Right, Someone Copies and Pastes From a Thing Into Another Thing [[Special:Contributions/172.70.210.183|172.70.210.183]] 05:36, 8 January 2022 (UTC)

I can relate to this. In fact, i use 2 computer screens just for that: I copy data from software ''X, screen 1'' to quickly paste it into software ''Y, screen 2''. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.183.232|162.158.183.232]] 06:09, 8 January 2022 (UTC)

I suspect that "cumshots" in the last paragraph is either a (very lame) joke or an incidence of spam. Either way, please remove it! Thanks. {{unsigned ip|172.69.71.187}}
:It was this IP, 172.70.174.169, that was [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2565%3A_Latency&type=revision&diff=223831&oldid=223829 the perpetrator], but it was undone less than 20 minutes later... :-) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 17:20, 9 January 2022 (UTC)

Often the reason for the SCAPDFATIAT step is that A Thing has no direct connection to Another Thing. So someone has to design a way for them to communicate to get the human out of the loop. Unless this process is done frequently, it doesn't reach the top of the priority list. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 13:48, 8 January 2022 (UTC)
: There are tools for such automation (they're usually called either workflow or orchestration tools) and have been for decades, but they tend to be ''really'' fragile. If the services being orchestrated aren't aware of it, it is very easy for them to change things and break the coordination in a way that just fails silently. BTDT. --[[Special:Contributions/172.70.85.73|172.70.85.73]] 15:46, 8 January 2022 (UTC)
: There are many organizations where such automation workflow just _cannot_ happen because the IT or upper management will ignore the users request to integrate X with Y. Can be due to anything from incompetence, to relying on 3rd party vendors that don't offer any support, to financial reasons ("too expensive"), to power struggles, or all of the above. [[User:Ralfoide|Ralfoide]] ([[User talk:Ralfoide|talk]]) 19:01, 8 January 2022 (UTC)
:: In my experience, company can more easily afford unqualified person spending day on something than me, the programmer, half hour. It gets less clear if the thing needs to happen repeatedly, but still, my time is costly and my list of tasks I need to work on endless. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 01:41, 9 January 2022 (UTC)

Someone had called this a [[:Category:Bar_charts|Bar chart]] in the transcript. But it is not such a graph. But does this kind of graph have a specific name. Is it a kind of timeline? Or something different or do this not even have a specific name? I have deleted the bar graph from the now complete transcript (except if there is a better name for this type of graph.) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 17:20, 9 January 2022 (UTC)
:Kynde, this type of graph is a type of histogram. {{unsigned ip|172.70.126.215}}
::(Moved your reply to a better position here in Talk. Also added the most basic Unsigned detail.)
::It's a rather limited subset of histogram (area-keyed, fixed 'height', thus 'bucket-width' is the only indicator of value), if you want to class it as that. One might as well call it a {{w|Gantt chart}}, simplified/collapsed down to one minimal line.
::(We've seen Gantt Charts and derivatives used by Randall, before, so the general form is no unfamiliar with him.)
::I do think there's probably a better name. Even if it's only "Workflow Timing Diagram" or something more literal. Though my Google-Fu doesn't help confirm/correct that, without spending ateast a little more effort on the possible search-terms I need.[[Special:Contributions/172.70.91.116|172.70.91.116]] 21:11, 12 January 2022 (UTC)

I personally hate customer service bots that reply within a split second, instead of within a working day. I tend to contact customer service for problems that cannot be resolved by finding a word that happens to be found in the FAQ and sending me the FAQ entry that contains it --[[User:Gunterkoenigsmann|Gunterkoenigsmann]] ([[User talk:Gunterkoenigsmann|talk]]) 02:59, 10 January 2022 (UTC)

To me this comic is the perfect prologue for [[1319: Automation]]. [[User:Bischoff|Bischoff]] ([[User talk:Bischoff|talk]]) 07:16, 10 January 2022 (UTC)

(first time editing, please forgive etiquette violations) Note that having a human in the loop is not always a sign of outdated processes and sometimes plays a very real safety and security role (either intentional or historical/coincidental). In terms of security, a human will interrupt code injection attemps or other attacks. In terms of safety, a human will (in most instances) use their judgement to avoid propagating failures. Replacing humans by automation is possible but requires a thorough exercise regarding security/safety and might involve tools much more complex than copy-paste. An example can be taken from Airbus ECAM messages: the computer detects a failure and suggests a course of action to the pilot - it does not fulfil the action itself, and this is the reason why.

See also [[1205: Is It Worth the Time?]] [[User:Esherril|Esherril]] ([[User talk:Esherril|talk]]) 16:06, 10 January 2022 (UTC)

This is one reason it is nice to have a job that you honestly understand and isn't being closely monitored. If you can even partially automate a process like this, you can reduce your workload and increase your productivity, freeing time for more valuable tasks. Just be sure no one finds out you've changed your job title from data entry technician to macro babysitter. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.174.43|172.70.174.43]] 17:01, 10 January 2022 (UTC)

==Countdown==
See [[Countdown in header text]]. Discussion has been moved here [[Talk:Countdown_in_header_text]]. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 11:09, 12 January 2022 (UTC)

Talk:2565: Latency

2022-01-21T11:30:27Z

SSteve:

Ha! Welcome to my life. Just thought to check if there was a new xkcd yet (at 04:45, GMT) after spending the last five hours messing semi-manually with some geodata. Ok, the first three hours was in the text editor looking at the raw JSON file, and the next two was writing a Perl script to redo everything I had already done (and more, but not yet everything I will eventually want to do) without the fallible human element. Once the fallible human element has polished the script up to account for unforseen circumstances. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.85.73|172.70.85.73]] 04:51, 8 January 2022 (UTC)

what is SCAPDFATIAT {{unsigned ip|172.70.126.87}}
:OH what is says in the Comic {{unsigned ip|172.70.126.87}}
::Right, Someone Copies and Pastes From a Thing Into Another Thing [[Special:Contributions/172.70.210.183|172.70.210.183]] 05:36, 8 January 2022 (UTC)

I can relate to this. In fact, i use 2 computer screens just for that: I copy data from software ''X, screen 1'' to quickly paste it into software ''Y, screen 2''. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.183.232|162.158.183.232]] 06:09, 8 January 2022 (UTC)

I suspect that "cumshots" in the last paragraph is either a (very lame) joke or an incidence of spam. Either way, please remove it! Thanks. {{unsigned ip|172.69.71.187}}
:It was this IP, 172.70.174.169, that was [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=2565%3A_Latency&type=revision&diff=223831&oldid=223829 the perpetrator], but it was undone less than 20 minutes later... :-) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 17:20, 9 January 2022 (UTC)

Often the reason for the SCAPDFATIAT step is that A Thing has no direct connection to Another Thing. So someone has to design a way for them to communicate to get the human out of the loop. Unless this process is done frequently, it doesn't reach the top of the priority list. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 13:48, 8 January 2022 (UTC)
: There are tools for such automation (they're usually called either workflow or orchestration tools) and have been for decades, but they tend to be ''really'' fragile. If the services being orchestrated aren't aware of it, it is very easy for them to change things and break the coordination in a way that just fails silently. BTDT. --[[Special:Contributions/172.70.85.73|172.70.85.73]] 15:46, 8 January 2022 (UTC)
: There are many organizations where such automation workflow just _cannot_ happen because the IT or upper management will ignore the users request to integrate X with Y. Can be due to anything from incompetence, to relying on 3rd party vendors that don't offer any support, to financial reasons ("too expensive"), to power struggles, or all of the above. [[User:Ralfoide|Ralfoide]] ([[User talk:Ralfoide|talk]]) 19:01, 8 January 2022 (UTC)
:: In my experience, company can more easily afford unqualified person spending day on something than me, the programmer, half hour. It gets less clear if the thing needs to happen repeatedly, but still, my time is costly and my list of tasks I need to work on endless. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 01:41, 9 January 2022 (UTC)

Someone had called this a [[:Category:Bar_charts|Bar chart]] in the transcript. But it is not such a graph. But does this kind of graph have a specific name. Is it a kind of timeline? Or something different or do this not even have a specific name? I have deleted the bar graph from the now complete transcript (except if there is a better name for this type of graph.) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 17:20, 9 January 2022 (UTC)
:Kynde, this type of graph is a type of histogram. {{unsigned ip|172.70.126.215}}
::(Moved your reply to a better position here in Talk. Also added the most basic Unsigned detail.)
::It's a rather limited subset of histogram (area-keyed, fixed 'height', thus 'bucket-width' is the only indicator of value), if you want to class it as that. One might as well call it a {{w|Gantt chart}}, simplified/collapsed down to one minimal line.
::(We've seen Gantt Charts and derivatives used by Randall, before, so the general form is no unfamiliar with him.)
::I do think there's probably a better name. Even if it's only "Workflow Timing Diagram" or something more literal. Though my Google-Fu doesn't help confirm/correct that, without spending ateast a little more effort on the possible search-terms I need.[[Special:Contributions/172.70.91.116|172.70.91.116]] 21:11, 12 January 2022 (UTC)

I personally hate customer service bots that reply within a split second, instead of within a working day. I tend to contact customer service for problems that cannot be resolved by finding a word that happens to be found in the FAQ and sending me the FAQ entry that contains it --[[User:Gunterkoenigsmann|Gunterkoenigsmann]] ([[User talk:Gunterkoenigsmann|talk]]) 02:59, 10 January 2022 (UTC)

To me this comic is the perfect prologue for [[1319: Automation]]. [[User:Bischoff|Bischoff]] ([[User talk:Bischoff|talk]]) 07:16, 10 January 2022 (UTC)

(first time editing, please forgive etiquette violations) Note that having a human in the loop is not always a sign of outdated processes and sometimes plays a very real safety and security role (either intentional or historical/coincidental). In terms of security, a human will interrupt code injection attemps or other attacks. In terms of safety, a human will (in most instances) use their judgement to avoid propagating failures. Replacing humans by automation is possible but requires a thorough exercise regarding security/safety and might involve tools much more complex than copy-paste. An example can be taken from Airbus ECAM messages: the computer detects a failure and suggests a course of action to the pilot - it does not fulfil the action itself, and this is the reason why.

See also [[1205: Is It Worth the Time?]] [[User:Esherril|Esherril]] ([[User talk:Esherril|talk]]) 16:06, 10 January 2022 (UTC)

This is one reason it is nice to have a job that you honestly understand and isn't being closely monitored. If you can even partially automate a process like this, you can reduce your workload and increase your productivity, freeing time for more valuable tasks. Just be sure no one finds out you've changed your job title from data entry technician to macro babysitter. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.174.43|172.70.174.43]] 17:01, 10 January 2022 (UTC)

The text in the cartoon is actual text instead of a graphic. I assume this is so people can copy it and paste it Into Another Thing. [[User:SSteve|SSteve]] ([[User talk:SSteve|talk]]) 11:30, 21 January 2022 (UTC)

==Countdown==
See [[Countdown in header text]]. Discussion has been moved here [[Talk:Countdown_in_header_text]]. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 11:09, 12 January 2022 (UTC)