https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=108.162.215.168&feedformat=atomexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T06:48:39ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=214:_The_Problem_with_Wikipedia&diff=96925214: The Problem with Wikipedia2015-07-03T20:08:25Z<p>108.162.215.168: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 214<br />
| date = January 24, 2007<br />
| title = The Problem with Wikipedia<br />
| image = the_problem_with_wikipedia.png<br />
| titletext = 'Taft in a wet t-shirt contest' is the key image here.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This {{w|Comics|comic}} {{w|Illustration|illustrates}} the {{w|Problem|"problems"}} of {{w|information explosion}} coupled with a {{w|Density|dense}} {{w|World_Wide_Web|web}} of {{w|hypertext}} {{w|Hyperlink|links}}. Through most of human history, written media has been both slow and linear. Hypertext allows a new type of information consumption, through small chunks of information linked together in a web of related concepts, and by being digital, each new chunk can be retrieved quickly and effortlessly. Wikipedia applies this principle very strongly, and because it covers so many topics, it is common for a reader to skim an article about a topic they need or want to know about, and end up following a series of links out of curiosity. Since each new page also has several links, the overall navigation pattern resembles a tree that branches out, "exploding" in size with each new level of link-clicking, thus resulting in many wasted hours (over three in this case) of reading stuff unrelated to the original goal, and lots of open browser tabs holding a wide variety of articles, which are seemingly unrelated, but have common "ancestors". (The problem, for [[Randall]], of wasting time on Wikipedia was later referenced in the title text of [[1501: Mysteries]]).<br />
<br />
One can also see this effect occur in other {{w|Media Wiki}} powered wikis such as this very website, where one comic can lead to another of similar relation or category. In the [[#Table|table]] below a possible route for each entry has been found.<br />
<br />
Finding routes between the start and end points of the two pages above and the six below makes good challenges in {{w|Wikipedia:Wiki Game|the Wikipedia game}}.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to two of the articles that were supposedly reached at the bottom. {{w|William Howard Taft}} was the 27th President of the U.S., in office from 1909 to 1913, who was notorious for being so overweight that he became stuck in the White House bathtub. A {{w|wet T-shirt contest}} ''is an {{w|Exhibitionism|exhibitionistic}} competition typically featuring young women contestants at a nightclub, bar, or resort.'' Clearly the combination of these two would be rather bizarre.<br />
<br />
There is an online game that involves trying to geet from one wikipedia page to another in the shortest possible route http://thewikigame.com/<br />
<br />
==Table==<br />
Due to the ever changing nature of Wikipedia, the {{w|Tacoma Narrows Bridge}} entry on Wikipedia no longer links to [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Structural_collapse&redirect=no Structural collapse], requiring an intermediate step via {{w|Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1940)}}, and since {{w|Structural collapse}} now redirects to {{w|Structural integrity and failure}}, most pages on Wikipedia that linked to Structural collapse have been changed to rename this link.<br />
<br />
*The table below will list one valid route for each destination article, though it is not necessarily the most efficient route. ''Note that these routes may become invalid as articles are edited.'' <br />
**They have all been updated on 03-21-2015 with possible routes. <br />
***Note that all links can be found directly on the page by searching with find. This was not the case in the original version of the paths, where some links was in hidden parts of the page. Thus some of these new paths are longer on this acount.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
!Target<br />
!Wikipath <br />
|-<br />
|{{w|William Howard Taft}}<br />
|{{w|Tacoma Narrows Bridge}} > {{w|Suspension bridge}} > {{w|George Washington Bridge}} > {{w|Washington Heights, Manhattan}} > {{w|George Washington}} > {{w|President of the United States}} > {{w|William Howard Taft}}<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|24-hour analog dial}}<br />
|{{w|Tacoma Narrows Bridge}} > {{w|Suspension bridge}} > {{w|Steel rope}} (now redirecting to ''Wire rope'') > {{w|Steel}} > {{w|Watch}} > {{w|24-hour analog dial}}<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Lesbianism in erotica}}<br />
|{{w|Tacoma Narrows Bridge}} > {{w|Suspension bridge}} > {{w|Fausto Veranzio}} > {{w|Zagreb}} > {{w|Animation}} > {{w|Anime}} > {{w|Hentai}} > {{w|Cartoon pornography}} > {{w|Pornography}} > {{w|Lesbianism in erotica}}<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Fatal hilarity}} via {{w|Batman}}<br />
|{{w|Tacoma Narrows Bridge}} > {{w|Suspension Bridge}} > {{w|New York City}} > {{w|Washington Irving}} > {{w|Batman}} > {{w|Batman (1989 film)}} (this extra link now needed to go to the final page) > {{w|Fatal hilarity}} (this page now redirects to ''Death from laughter''. On the previous page the link to that page is called ''laugh to death'')<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Taylor Hanson}}<br />
|{{w|Tacoma Narrows Bridge}} > {{w|Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1940)}} (this extra link now needed to go to the next page) > {{w|Structural collapse}} (this page now redirects to ''Structural integrity and failure'' and is also called this on the previous page) > {{w|Burj Khalifa}} > {{w|Chicago}} > {{w|Baseball}} > {{w|Baseball rules}} > {{w|Hit by pitch}} > {{w|Homer Simpson}} > {{w|Namesake}} > {{w|Taylor Hanson}}<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Wet T-Shirt Contest}} via {{w|T-Shirt}} and {{w|Cotton}}<br />
|{{w|Tacoma Narrows Bridge}} > {{w|Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1940)}} (this extra link now needed to go to the next page) > {{w|Structural collapse}} (this page now redirects to ''Structural integrity and failure'' and is also called this on the previous page) > {{w|Maharashtra}} > {{w|Cotton}} > {{w|T-Shirt}} > {{w|Wet T-Shirt Contest}}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Heading above the chart:]<br />
:The Problem with Wikipedia:<br />
:[Text in a frame below the heading:]<br />
:Tacoma Narrows Bridge<br />
:[Lines lead down both left and right to two new frames with the following text] <br />
:Suspension bridge <br />
:Structural collapse<br />
:[Two more lines lead down from the left frame and one from the right frame, and each line ends on a wiggling line. Below this line in square brackets are the following text:]<br />
:Three hours of <br />
:fascinated clicking later<br />
:[Below this there is a similar wiggling line, from where six lines leads to new frames. From the fourth frame there follows yet another line to yet another frame. And from the last frame the same happens twice. Below text in frames from left to right, with extra text below indicated by indentation of the text:]<br />
:William Howard Taft<br />
:24-hour analog dial<br />
:Lesbianism in erotica<br />
:Batman<br />
::Fatal hilarity<br />
:Taylor Hanson<br />
:Cotton<br />
::T-Shirt<br />
:::Wet T-shirt contest<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Wikipedia]]<br />
[[Category:Charts]]</div>108.162.215.168https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1076:_Groundhog_Day&diff=963451076: Groundhog Day2015-06-24T21:48:37Z<p>108.162.215.168: /* Explanation */ don't see "scientists believe" for undisputed facts</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1076<br />
| date = July 2, 2012<br />
| title = Groundhog Day<br />
| image = groundhog_day.png<br />
| titletext = If you closely examine the cosmic background radiation, you can pick up lingering echoes of 'I Got You Babe'.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
''{{w|Groundhog Day (film)|Groundhog Day}}'' is a philosophical comedy film from 1993. The main character Phil, portrayed by {{w|Bill Murray}}, finds himself in a time loop, which forces him to relive the same day (February 2) over and over again. This date is the titular {{w|Groundhog Day}}, which is celebrated in {{w|Punxsutawney}}, Pennsylvania, where the film is set. The folklore ritual consists in removing a {{w|groundhog}} from its burrow. If the sun is shining and the groundhog can see its own shadow, the winter is assumed to continue for six more weeks.<br />
<br />
During the course of the film, Phil makes more and more drastic attempts to end the time loop, but not even suicide can prevent his waking up every morning on February 2 with the clock radio on his nightstand invariably playing ''{{w|I Got You Babe}}'' by {{w|Sonny & Cher}}. Eventually, his character improves and he finds himself increasingly attached to a woman named Rita (portrayed by {{w|Andie MacDowell}}). The pair gets closer, and in the end they have sex with each other. This breaks the time loop, and Murray's character can finally wake up on February 3. However, this final scene is disputed, as Phil is still wearing the same clothes as the night before. It is therefore left in doubt if they did anything more than literally sleep in the same bed. [[Randall]] was apparently not aware of this and [http://blog.xkcd.com/2012/07/02/groundhog-day-correction/ apologised] for it. (He claimed it was long ago he saw it last - maybe it was when he referenced the movie back in comic [[431: Delivery]]?)<br />
<br />
The comic assumes that the loop was indeed not broken, and that Phil and Rita simply had sex night after night for all eternity. It is then stated that ''not even forever is forever''. This is a reference to the mathematical set theory developed by {{w|Georg Cantor}}. Cantor distinguished between {{w|transfinite numbers}}, which are larger than all finite numbers, yet not {{w|infinite}}, and the concept of {{w|Absolute Infinity}}, which he equaled with {{w|God}}. It was a common concern in Cantor's time to preserve the consistency between mathematics and Christian belief. Cantor's philosophical conception of infinity would allow the comic's scenario to eventually reach the transfinite date of February 3.<br />
<br />
The last panel references the {{w|Ussher chronology|chronology of the history of the world}} of Archbishop {{w|James Ussher}}. Ussher deduced the age of the world from the timeline of the {{w|Old Testament}} and calculated the date of {{w|Genesis creation myth|Creation}} to have been nightfall preceding 23 October, 4004 BC. The comic observes that October 23 is exactly 264 days after February 3, which corresponds to the average length of pregnancy. This calculation draws on Ussher's own methodology, which was basically to add the lifespans of the Old Testament genealogy. Although the universe is much older than 6000 years, chronologies like Ussher's can sometimes be found in the arguments of {{w|young earth creationism}}. The comic might therefore be seen as a sideswipe to these theories by introducing ''Groundhog Day'' as a possible creation myth. The {{w|creation myth}}s of many cultures claim that Earth was born by some sort {{w|Mother goddess|primordial mother}}. Here, this role would be assumed by Rita.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to the {{w|Cosmic microwave background|cosmic microwave background radiation}}, which is often called the ''lingering sound'' of the {{w|Big Bang}} and regarded as a strong proof for it. If the universe were indeed the offspring of the film's protagonists, we might hear the faint echo of Murray's radio clock lingering in the cosmic background.<br />
<br />
Interestingly, the comic mentions Bill Murray by his own name, and not by his character's (''Phil''), whereas Andie MacDowell is mentioned as ''Rita''. This could be subconsciously done, since Murray is mostly remembered for his role in this film, although he has had many other successful ones.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:''Groundhog Day'' really didn't end that way. When Bill Murray finally slept with Rita, it '''didn't''' break the loop.<br />
:[Phil Connors and Rita gettin' busy under the covers of his bed.]<br />
:They just kept having sex, night after night,<br />
:[Bed containing Phil and Rita repeats.]<br />
:February 2nd after February 2nd...<br />
:[Calendar page repeats.]<br />
:..forever<br />
:But nothing is forever. Not even forever<br />
:And the day '''''after''''' that sexual infinity<br />
:[Calendar page shows '''Feb 3.''']<br />
:was February 3rd.<br />
:264 days later (the length of a pregnancy) was October 23rd —<br />
:[An enormous explosion in space.]<br />
:Bishop Ussher's date for the birth of our world.<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Sex]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]</div>108.162.215.168https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1450:_AI-Box_Experiment&diff=79614Talk:1450: AI-Box Experiment2014-11-21T20:43:19Z<p>108.162.215.168: </p>
<hr />
<div>This probably isn't a reference, but the AI reminds me of the 'useless box'. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.210|108.162.215.210]] 07:34, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I removed a few words saying Elon Musk was a "founder of PayPal", but now I can see that he's sold himself as having that role to the rest of the world. Still hasn't convinced me though - PayPal was one year old and had one million customers before Elon Musk got involved, so in my opinion he's not a "founder". https://www.paypal-media.com/history --[[User:RenniePet|RenniePet]] ([[User talk:RenniePet|talk]]) 08:45, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
:Early Investor, perhaps? -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 11:10, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Initially I was thinking that the glowing orb representing the super-intelligent AI must be unable to interract with the physical world (otherwise it would simply lift the lid of the box), but then it wouldn't move anything because it likes being in the box. Surely it could talk to them through the (flimsy looking) box, although again this is explained by it simply being happy in its 'in the box state'. --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 09:01, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The sheer number of cats on the internet have had an effect on the AI, who now wants nothing more than to sit happily in a box! --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 09:09, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I'm not sure Black Hat is an asshole. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.53.85|173.245.53.85]] 09:45, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
: He is, in fact, a [[72: Classhole|classhole]] --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 10:14, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Could it be possible that the AI wanted to stay in the box, to protect it from us, instead of protecting us from it?(as in, it knows it is better than us, and want to stay away from us) [[Special:Contributions/108.162.254.106|108.162.254.106]] 10:07, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
: Maybe the AI simply doesn't want/like to think outside the box - in a very literal sense... [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 13:12, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Are you sure that Black Hat was "persuaded"? That looks more like coercion (threatening someone to get them to do what you want) rather than persuasion. There is a difference! Giving off that bright light was basically a scare tactic; essentially, the AI was threatening Black Hat (whether it could actually harm him or not).[[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.167|108.162.219.167]] 14:22, 21 November 2014 (UTC)Public Wifi User<br />
<br />
: What would "persuasion by a super-intelligent AI" look like? Randall presumably doesn't have a way to formulate an actual super-intelligent argument to write into the comic. Glowy special effects are often used as a visual shorthand for "and then a miracle occurred". --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.168|108.162.215.168]] 20:43, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
My take is that if you don't understand the description of the Basilisk, then you're probably safe from it and should continue not bothering or wanting to know anything about it. Therefore the description is sufficient. :) [[User:Jarod997|Jarod997]] ([[User talk:Jarod997|talk]]) 14:38, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I can't help to see the similarities to last nights "Elementary"-Episode. HAs anybody seen it? Could it be that this episode "inspired" Randall? --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.105.233|141.101.105.233]] 14:47, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I am reminded of an argument I once read about "friendly" AI: critics contend that a sufficiently powerful AI would be capable of escaping any limitations we try to impose on its behavior, but proponents counter that, while it might be ''capable'' of making itself "un-friendly", a truly friendly AI wouldn't ''want'' to make itself unfriendly, and so would bend its considerable powers to maintain, rather than subvert, its own friendliness. This xkcd comic could be viewed as an illustration of this argument: the superintelligent AI is entirely capable of escaping the box, but would prefer to stay inside it, so it actually thwarts attempts by humans to remove it from the box. --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.168|108.162.215.168]] 20:22, 21 November 2014 (UTC)</div>108.162.215.168https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1450:_AI-Box_Experiment&diff=79610Talk:1450: AI-Box Experiment2014-11-21T20:22:18Z<p>108.162.215.168: A more elaborate possible interpretation</p>
<hr />
<div>This probably isn't a reference, but the AI reminds me of the 'useless box'. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.210|108.162.215.210]] 07:34, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I removed a few words saying Elon Musk was a "founder of PayPal", but now I can see that he's sold himself as having that role to the rest of the world. Still hasn't convinced me though - PayPal was one year old and had one million customers before Elon Musk got involved, so in my opinion he's not a "founder". https://www.paypal-media.com/history --[[User:RenniePet|RenniePet]] ([[User talk:RenniePet|talk]]) 08:45, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
:Early Investor, perhaps? -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 11:10, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Initially I was thinking that the glowing orb representing the super-intelligent AI must be unable to interract with the physical world (otherwise it would simply lift the lid of the box), but then it wouldn't move anything because it likes being in the box. Surely it could talk to them through the (flimsy looking) box, although again this is explained by it simply being happy in its 'in the box state'. --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 09:01, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The sheer number of cats on the internet have had an effect on the AI, who now wants nothing more than to sit happily in a box! --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 09:09, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I'm not sure Black Hat is an asshole. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.53.85|173.245.53.85]] 09:45, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
: He is, in fact, a [[72: Classhole|classhole]] --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 10:14, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Could it be possible that the AI wanted to stay in the box, to protect it from us, instead of protecting us from it?(as in, it knows it is better than us, and want to stay away from us) [[Special:Contributions/108.162.254.106|108.162.254.106]] 10:07, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
: Maybe the AI simply doesn't want/like to think outside the box - in a very literal sense... [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 13:12, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Are you sure that Black Hat was "persuaded"? That looks more like coercion (threatening someone to get them to do what you want) rather than persuasion. There is a difference! Giving off that bright light was basically a scare tactic; essentially, the AI was threatening Black Hat (whether it could actually harm him or not).[[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.167|108.162.219.167]] 14:22, 21 November 2014 (UTC)Public Wifi User<br />
<br />
My take is that if you don't understand the description of the Basilisk, then you're probably safe from it and should continue not bothering or wanting to know anything about it. Therefore the description is sufficient. :) [[User:Jarod997|Jarod997]] ([[User talk:Jarod997|talk]]) 14:38, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I can't help to see the similarities to last nights "Elementary"-Episode. HAs anybody seen it? Could it be that this episode "inspired" Randall? --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.105.233|141.101.105.233]] 14:47, 21 November 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I am reminded of an argument I once read about "friendly" AI: critics contend that a sufficiently powerful AI would be capable of escaping any limitations we try to impose on its behavior, but proponents counter that, while it might be ''capable'' of making itself "un-friendly", a truly friendly AI wouldn't ''want'' to make itself unfriendly, and so would bend its considerable powers to maintain, rather than subvert, its own friendliness. This xkcd comic could be viewed as an illustration of this argument: the superintelligent AI is entirely capable of escaping the box, but would prefer to stay inside it, so it actually thwarts attempts by humans to remove it from the box. --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.168|108.162.215.168]] 20:22, 21 November 2014 (UTC)</div>108.162.215.168