explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1570: Engineer Syllogism

2015-08-28T12:10:27Z

YoshiBoy13:

{{comic
| number = 1570
| date = August 28, 2015
| title = Engineer Syllogism
| image = engineer_syllogism.png
| titletext = The less common, even worse outcome: "3: [everyone in the financial system] WOW, where did all my money just go?"
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Very rough draft.}}
In this comic, there is an {{w|engineer}}, who is good at math (most engineers are), so tries his hand at the {{w|stock market}}, thinking that his skill at math will help him beat the stock market. Little does he know that the system can be rather...unpredictable, so he ends up losing money as the stock he's invested in crashes. This outcome is foreshadowed in the [[title text]] of [[592]].

The title text is a reference to the recent {{w|2015 Chinese stock market crash}} or to economic depressions in general.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}
Title: An Engineer Syllogism.
Cueball is at a desk, thinking things.
1: I am good at understanding numbers.
2: The stock market is made of numbers.
3: Therefore I-- ''WOW'', where did all my money just go?

Title-text: The less common, even worse outcome: "3: [everyone in the financial system] WOW, where did all my money just go?"
{{comic discussion}}

Talk:1565: Back Seat

2015-08-17T05:37:20Z

YoshiBoy13:

Added my very first transcript. If there are errors in formatting etc. please fix them 05:37, 17 August 2015 (UTC)

The backseats of some cars are really messy. I have yet to see any dead animals though, unless you count hamburgers.
[[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.163|173.245.54.163]] 04:30, 17 August 2015 (UTC)
E
I wrote a very quick first draft of the explanation. This is my first time writing from scratch, so feel free to take it all down and start over. Also, my first time posting a comment, so sorry for inevitable formatting errors. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.84|162.158.255.84]] 04:33, 17 August 2015 (UTC)

Welcome! I would say thay to me this is not a comic about how racoons always end up in the back seat of cars, but more a comic about how the phrase "clear a few things out of the back" is always an understatement/euphemism for disgusting stuff that's back there. In my opinion he just chose dead raccoon because of how gross that is. [[User:Bbruzzo|Bbruzzo]] ([[User talk:Bbruzzo|talk]]) 04:36, 17 August 2015 (UTC)

1565: Back Seat

2015-08-17T05:36:31Z

YoshiBoy13: /* Transcript */ fixed break tags

{{comic
| number = 1565
| date = August 17, 2015
| title = Back Seat
| image = back_seat.png
| titletext = Hang on, let me scare the live raccoon over to the same side of the dead one.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Very quick first draft.}}
This comic refers to the fact that raccoons often go in places where there is food for them to eat, such as (potentially) the back of a car that hasn't been opened in a long time. In the comic, a Cueball-like figure opens up the back of his car for the first time in a while, as evidenced by the stink lines coming out of it, saying that he has "a few things to clear out of the back." The caption explains that, if you ever hear this phrase, the nicest outcome possible is a dead raccoon, presumably lured into said back seat by the promise of food, then unable to get out, eventually dying. This is obviously a disgusting prospect, and the two figures standing by the car-opener are not in for a good time. It also suggests that not only has he not cleared out his car in ages, he doesn't mind the smell either.

The title text expands on the scenario, suggesting that there was a live raccoon in the back of the car with the dead one, and the car-opening figure is attempting to get both raccoons on the same side, presumably to remove them both easily. This idea sounds stupid in and of itself, but when compounded with the fact that live raccoons can be dangerous, the car-opener is in for a very bad time.

Another comic to feature raccoons in disgusting situations is [[1025: Tumblr]].

==Transcript==
Cueball is holding the back door of his car open, presumably because Megan and another Cueball-like figure want to get in for a ride. Cartoon-style stink lines emanate from the car.<br />
'''Cueball''': Hang on, I just have to clear a few things out of the back.<br />
The caption reads: PROTIP: When you hear "I just have to clear a few things out of the back," you are about to see, at minimum, a decaying raccoon.

{{comic discussion}}

1565: Back Seat

2015-08-17T05:35:56Z

YoshiBoy13: Added transcript, expanded a little on explanation.

{{comic
| number = 1565
| date = August 17, 2015
| title = Back Seat
| image = back_seat.png
| titletext = Hang on, let me scare the live raccoon over to the same side of the dead one.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Very quick first draft.}}
This comic refers to the fact that raccoons often go in places where there is food for them to eat, such as (potentially) the back of a car that hasn't been opened in a long time. In the comic, a Cueball-like figure opens up the back of his car for the first time in a while, as evidenced by the stink lines coming out of it, saying that he has "a few things to clear out of the back." The caption explains that, if you ever hear this phrase, the nicest outcome possible is a dead raccoon, presumably lured into said back seat by the promise of food, then unable to get out, eventually dying. This is obviously a disgusting prospect, and the two figures standing by the car-opener are not in for a good time. It also suggests that not only has he not cleared out his car in ages, he doesn't mind the smell either.

The title text expands on the scenario, suggesting that there was a live raccoon in the back of the car with the dead one, and the car-opening figure is attempting to get both raccoons on the same side, presumably to remove them both easily. This idea sounds stupid in and of itself, but when compounded with the fact that live raccoons can be dangerous, the car-opener is in for a very bad time.

Another comic to feature raccoons in disgusting situations is [[1025: Tumblr]].

==Transcript==
Cueball is holding the back door of his car open, presumably because Megan and another Cueball-like figure want to get in for a ride. Cartoon-style stink lines emanate from the car.
Cueball: Hang on, I just have to clear a few things out of the back.
The caption reads: PROTIP: When you hear "I just have to clear a few things out of the back," you are about to see, at minimum, a decaying raccoon.

{{comic discussion}}