explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Megan

2019-08-05T20:08:03Z

Selkie -æ: Megan did not appear in the 15th comic but the 159th one.

{{Infobox character
| image = Megan.png‎
| caption = Megan, seen in [[973: MTV Generation]]
| first_appearance = [[159: Boombox]]
}}
'''Megan''' is a [[stick figure]] character in [[xkcd]]. She is the second-most frequently appearing character, after [[Cueball]], and the most frequently appearing female character. She does not necessarily always represent the same character from comic to comic. She is essentially the female equivalent of Cueball, representing the every-woman to his {{w|everyman}}. This is less clear than for Cueball as there are several comics, where there are [[:Category:Multiple Cueballs|multiple Cueball-like figures]], any of whom could be called Cueball.

There are very few comics where this happens with Megan-like characters, with the few including [[139: I Have Owned Two Electric Skateboards]], [[173: Movie Seating]], [[1409: Query]], [[1496: Art Project]] and in [[1951: Super Bowl Watch Party]].

Of course she also appears several times in some of the comics with [[:Category:Large drawings|large drawings]], like [[1110: Click and Drag]]. Often this should be seen as different small comics, where there is just one Megan in each story. In [[1608: Hoverboard]], however, there are two identical Megans at the bottom rear end of the Destroyer, where one is talking to the other. As opposed to with Cueball, an example where this is a serious problem for Megan has yet to be found.

Megan does sometimes appear to have slightly specific personality traits; she has quite odd habits, and is sometimes shown to be very focused and intent on a goal. However, as explained above this is not a general rule for a given Megan character.

==Name==
''Explain xkcd'' originally referred to this character as "Cutie" (complementing "Cueball" with a matching first syllable). But then a "Cutie" was given a specific name, Megan, in [[159: Boombox]] and later in for instance [[215: Letting Go]], [[420: Jealousy]], [[478: The Staple Madness]], and [[654: Nachos]]. The name was also used without displaying a drawing of Megan in [[596: Latitude]]. The name Cutie was then changed to Megan. If this rule should be followed generally, then Cueball should be re-named Rob after [[276: Fixed Width]] (and the [[:Category:Comics featuring Rob|other 8 times]] a Cueball has been named Rob in total). But as mentioned above this was not to be.

She can also be drawn under a different name as in [[672: Suggestions]], where a sexy image of her, hair hanging loose over her face, is called Susie. And in [[1221: Nomenclature]] Megan is called Mrs. Whatsit in the transcript provided in the comic source. In [[734: Outbreak]] Cueball and Megan are named Ryan and Laura, but that is a movie, so they could be actors called Cueball and Megan in real life...

A character that looked a lot like Megan, but with somewhat longer hair and a much meaner attitude, was distinguished from her as [[Black Hat]]'s girlfriend [[Danish]]. A similar long-haired version of Megan also appeared in [[1730: Starshade]], although without the attitude.

==History==
Early comics often feature Megan-style characters who may or may not be identified as Megan. [[Randall]] appears not to have standardized his character lineup early in the comic's run, and as a result, certain early female characters sometimes have similar hair to Megan, but some different features.

The name (or even pseudonym) "Megan" may be reference to a lost love of Randall's, given that he wrote a passive-aggressive toast for Megan's wedding in [[420: Jealousy]] about how he was madly still in love with her, put across in a way that would generally ruin the day for everyone involved. We also see this earlier in [[215: Letting Go]].

==Characteristics==
Megan is distinguished by her black shoulder-length hair which generally appears to be parted in the middle in front, and is draped behind what are presumably her (undrawn) ears.

In [[1409: Query]], we learn that she is 30 or younger, implying that she was born in 1984 or later (this comic appeared in 2014); that her annual income is less than or equal to $100,000; and that she is afraid of flying. In [[2178: Expiration Date High Score]], we can calculate that she is 37, and since this comic appeared in 2019, it implies she was born in 1982 or earlier. Randall is probably not concerned about chronological consistency for his characters, although another explanation is that since the figure is not explicitly named "Megan" in either of these comics, these are two different characters.

Although she is a stick figure this does not mean she cannot be drawn topless: [[864: Flying Cars]].

==See also==
*[[:Category:Comics featuring Megan|Comics featuring Megan]].
*It was at some point suggested that Megan and Cutie should be un-merged? In relation to a similar suggestion that Cueball and Rob should be merged. But nothing came of the [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/explain_xkcd:Community_portal/Proposals#Merge_Cueball_.26_Rob discussion.]

{{navbox-characters}}

[[Category:Characters]]

2185: Cumulonimbus

2019-08-05T19:46:10Z

Selkie -æ: The 4th cloud looks like a soaker, right? Tell me I am right, please.

{{comic
| number = 2185
| date = August 5, 2019
| title = Cumulonimbus
| image = cumulonimbus.png
| titletext = The rarest of all clouds is the altocumulenticulostratonimbulocirruslenticulomammanoctilucent cloud, caused by an interaction between warm moist air, cool dry air, cold slippery air, cursed air, and a cloud of nanobots.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a CUMULONIMBOCUNIMBULONIMBUS CLOUD. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic follows the naming of clouds. As with other lists (like in [[2022: Sports Champions]]), it starts off as normal but then gets more unusual until it is unrealistic.

;Cumulus
: The first panel shows a {{w|cumulus}} These are your typical clouds, and are relatively small.
;Cumulonimbus
: The second panel shows a {{w|cumulonimbus}}. This cloud can be described as anvil shaped, and are also rain clouds.
;Cumulonimbulonimbus
: The third panel shows an even bigger cloud and names it cumulonimbulonimbus. The humor here comes from building up an even bigger name for the cloud as its size increases.
;Cumulonimbulonimbulocumulonimbus
: The forth panel shows an absurdly large cloud and gives it the name cumulonimbulonimbulocumulonimbus. This cloud may look like a soaker.
;Altocumulenticulostratonimbulocirruslenticulomammanoctilucent
: The title text continues this list by naming a new cloud that is also supposedly the rarest. It requires cursed air and nanobots to make, which is impossible since neither of those exist.{{Citation needed}}

==Disappearing Comic==

This comic replaced the following 'disappearing' comic, sharing the same sequence number. The original comic does not appear in explainxkcd's comic navigation and hence is linked here: [[2185:_Disappearing_Sunday_Update]]

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

{{comic discussion}}

2177: Gastroenterology

2019-07-17T17:12:03Z

Selkie -æ:

{{comic
| number = 2177
| date = July 17, 2019
| title = Gastroenterology
| image = gastroenterology.png
| titletext = "Mostly it means that I'm acutely aware that the kid one table over coughed as the server walked past with our food."
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a GASTROENTEROLOGIST. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

[[Ponytail]] and a hatted guy, seemingly being scientists as Ponytail wears a lab coat, are pursued by some offscreen people, at whom Ponytail will throw a bottle filled with probiotic and antibiotic pills, surprisingly resulting in an explosion. This may refer to {{w|annihilation}}, a reaction between particles and antiparticles, which produces important energy, hence the explosion; the particles being the probiotic pills and the antiparticles being the antibiotic pills, even though annihilation usually implies subatomic particles.

In the last panel, Ponytail is talking with Megan, the latter asking what Gastroenterology (Ponytail's job) is, to what Ponytail answers it is boring paperwork, which is a lie, according to the previous panels.

In the title text, Ponytail adds that her work makes her aware of a child coughing as the server was bringing food at the restaurant table, exposing the food to possible germs.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
Cueball: Hurry, they're right behind us! 
Ponytail picks up a probiotic and antibiotic. Shakes three times. 
There is a boom as Cueball and Ponytail run. 
Megan: So what's gastroenterology like? 
Ponytail: Pretty boring. Lotta paperwork. 

{{comic discussion}}

2177: Gastroenterology

2019-07-17T17:08:23Z

Selkie -æ:

{{comic
| number = 2177
| date = July 17, 2019
| title = Gastroenterology
| image = gastroenterology.png
| titletext = "Mostly it means that I'm acutely aware that the kid one table over coughed as the server walked past with our food."
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a GASTROENTEROLOGIST. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

Ponytail and a hatted guy, seemingly being scientists as Ponytail wears a lab coat, are sued by some offscreen people, at whom Ponytail will throw a bottle filled with probiotic and antibiotic pills, surprisingly resulting in an explosion. This may refer to annihilation, a reaction between particles and antiparticles, which produces important energy, hence the explosion; the particles being the probiotic pills and the antiparticles being the antibiotic pills, even though annihilation usually implies subatomic particles.

In the last panel, Ponytail is talking with Megan, the latter asking what Gastroenterology (Ponytail's job) is, to what Ponytail answers it is boring paperwork, which is a lie, according to the previous panels.

In the title text, Ponytail adds that her work makes her aware of a child coughing as the server was bringing food at the restaurant table, exposing the food to possible germs.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
Cueball: Hurry, they're right behind us! 
Ponytail picks up a probiotic and antibiotic. Shakes three times. 
There is a boom as Cueball and Ponytail run. 
Megan: So what's gastroenterology like? 
Ponytail: Pretty boring. Lotta paperwork. 
Titletext: Ponytail (presumably): Mostly it means that I'm acutely aware that the kid one table over coughed as the server walked past with our food. 
{{comic discussion}}

2177: Gastroenterology

2019-07-17T17:06:17Z

Selkie -æ: Writing a first explanation of the comic.

{{comic
| number = 2177
| date = July 17, 2019
| title = Gastroenterology
| image = gastroenterology.png
| titletext = "Mostly it means that I'm acutely aware that the kid one table over coughed as the server walked past with our food."
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a GASTROENTEROLOGIST. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

Ponytail and a hatted guy, seemingly being scientists as Ponytail wears lab coat, are sued by some offscreen people, at whom Ponytail will throw a bottle filled with probiotic and antibiotic pills, surprisingly resulting in an explosion. This may refer to annihilation, a reaction between particles and antiparticles, which produces important energy, hence the explosion; the particles being the probiotic pills and the antiparticles being the antibiotic pills, even though annihilation usually implies subatomic particles.

In the last panel, Ponytail is talking with Megan, the latter asking what Gastroenterology (Ponytail's job) is, to what Ponytail answer it is boring paperwork, which is a lie, according to the previous panels.

In the title text, Ponytail adds that her work makes her aware of a child coughing as the server was bringing food at the restaurant table, exposing the food to possible germs.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
Cueball: Hurry, they're right behind us! 
Ponytail picks up a probiotic and antibiotic. Shakes three times. 
There is a boom as Cueball and Ponytail run. 
Megan: So what's gastroenterology like? 
Ponytail: Pretty boring. Lotta paperwork. 
Titletext: Ponytail (presumably): Mostly it means that I'm acutely aware that the kid one table over coughed as the server walked past with our food. 
{{comic discussion}}

2162: Literary Opinions

2019-06-12T13:30:38Z

Selkie -æ: Linking the notion of Fregoli delusion to its wikipedia article.

{{comic
| number = 2162
| date = June 12, 2019
| title = Literary Opinions
| image = literary_opinions.png
| titletext = If I really focus, I can distinguish between John Steinbeck and John Updike, or between Gore Vidal and Vidal Sassoon, but not both at once.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Hunter S Thompson was high while writing it. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
[[Megan]] is telling [[Cueball]] about a literary opinion she has: She believes that {{w|William S. Burroughs}}, {{w|Hunter S. Thompson}}, {{w|Chuck Palahniuk}}, and {{w|David Foster Wallace}} are different names for the same person. She then says that {{w|Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas}} (by Hunter S. Thompson) and {{w|Fight Club (novel)|Fight Club}} (by Chuck Palahniuk) are the same book with different covers. This could be the case, as some books have different covers and titles in different regions, and some have changed titles.

However, when Cueball says that he has both books and asks Megan if she wants to check, she says she does not, and continues by trying to tell Cueball another one of her opinions. This prompts Cueball to interrupt her, telling her that she should start a book club for discussing books she refuses to read. This implies that all her opinions are baseless, as she hasn't read any of the books she has opinions on.

Megan finishes telling him her opinion, which is that {{w|E.B. White}} and {{w|T.H. White}} are the same person. This is apparently an opinion that Cueball can agree with, as he tells her that he believes it. This is likely a joke that the two names are hard to distinguish due to the having the same last name with only initials instead of a first name. In reality, the books they authored are very different, with E.B. White writing children's books (Charlotte's Web, etc.) and T.H. White writing books about King Arthur (The Sword and the Stone, et al).

The title text continues with this, with [[Randall]] saying that he can distinguish between {{w|John Steinbeck}} and {{w|John Updike}}, as well as between {{w|Gore Vidal}} and {{w|Vidal Sassoon}}, but he can't do so simultaneously. Again this is likely due to the similarities in their names. Additionally, this could be a nod to the {{w|heisenberg uncertainty principle}}.

To believe that different people are actually a same person is known as the {{w|Fregoli delusion}}; the person is usually believed to change appearance.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

:[Megan is walking with a finger raised toward Cueball, who is seated in a chair with a book.]
:Megan: Literary opinion:
:Megan: I firmly believe that William S. Burroughs, Hunter S. Thompson, Chuck Palahniuk, and David Foster Wallace are different names for the same person.
:Cueball: ...I see.

:[Megan puts down her hand.]
:Megan: '''''Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas''''' and '''''Fight Club'''''? Same book with different covers, I bet.
:Cueball: I have both. Want to open them and check?
:Megan: I do not.

:[Cueball turns back to his book.]
:Megan: Moving on: my next opinion--
:Cueball: You should start a book club for discussing the books you refuse to read.
:Megan: --is that E.B. White and T.H. White are the same person.
:Cueball: Ok, ''that'' I believe.

{{comic discussion}}

2162: Literary Opinions

2019-06-12T13:26:04Z

Selkie -æ: Adding an information about the name of the belief of different people being a same person.

{{comic
| number = 2162
| date = June 12, 2019
| title = Literary Opinions
| image = literary_opinions.png
| titletext = If I really focus, I can distinguish between John Steinbeck and John Updike, or between Gore Vidal and Vidal Sassoon, but not both at once.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Hunter S Thompson was high while writing it. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
[[Megan]] is telling [[Cueball]] about a literary opinion she has: She believes that {{w|William S. Burroughs}}, {{w|Hunter S. Thompson}}, {{w|Chuck Palahniuk}}, and {{w|David Foster Wallace}} are different names for the same person. She then says that {{w|Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas}} (by Hunter S. Thompson) and {{w|Fight Club (novel)|Fight Club}} (by Chuck Palahniuk) are the same book with different covers. This could be the case, as some books have different covers and titles in different regions, and some have changed titles.

However, when Cueball says that he has both books and asks Megan if she wants to check, she says she does not, and continues by trying to tell Cueball another one of her opinions. This prompts Cueball to interrupt her, telling her that she should start a book club for discussing books she refuses to read. This implies that all her opinions are baseless, as she hasn't read any of the books she has opinions on.

Megan finishes telling him her opinion, which is that {{w|E.B. White}} and {{w|T.H. White}} are the same person. This is apparently an opinion that Cueball can agree with, as he tells her that he believes it. This is likely a joke that the two names are hard to distinguish due to the having the same last name with only initials instead of a first name. In reality, the books they authored are very different, with E.B. White writing children's books (Charlotte's Web, etc.) and T.H. White writing books about King Arthur (The Sword and the Stone, et al).

The title text continues with this, with [[Randall]] saying that he can distinguish between {{w|John Steinbeck}} and {{w|John Updike}}, as well as between {{w|Gore Vidal}} and {{w|Vidal Sassoon}}, but he can't do so simultaneously. Again this is likely due to the similarities in their names. Additionally, this could be a nod to the {{w|heisenberg uncertainty principle}}.

To believe that different people are actually a same person is known as the Fregoli delusion; the person is usually believed to change appearance.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

:[Megan is walking with a finger raised toward Cueball, who is seated in a chair with a book.]
:Megan: Literary opinion:
:Megan: I firmly believe that William S. Burroughs, Hunter S. Thompson, Chuck Palahniuk, and David Foster Wallace are different names for the same person.
:Cueball: ...I see.

:[Megan puts down her hand.]
:Megan: '''''Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas''''' and '''''Fight Club'''''? Same book with different covers, I bet.
:Cueball: I have both. Want to open them and check?
:Megan: I do not.

:[Cueball turns back to his book.]
:Megan: Moving on: my next opinion--
:Cueball: You should start a book club for discussing the books you refuse to read.
:Megan: --is that E.B. White and T.H. White are the same person.
:Cueball: Ok, ''that'' I believe.

{{comic discussion}}