Editing 1291: Shoot for the Moon

{{comic
| number    = 1291
| date      = November 15, 2013
| title     = Shoot for the Moon
| image     = shoot_for_the_moon.png
| titletext = Shoot for the Moon. If you miss, you'll end up co-orbiting the Sun alongside Earth, living out your days alone in the void within sight of the lush, welcoming home you left behind.
}}

==Explanation==
The comic and the title text both parody the motivational quote attributed to {{w|Les Brown (speaker)|Leslie Brown}}, which originally says, "Shoot for the Moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

In the original form, the phrase "Shoot for the moon" is figurative, meant to inspire people to pursue ambitious goals, reasoning that even if they fail to achieve them, they may still accomplish other great things while trying. The comic and title text, on the other hand, is literally referring to the moon, and using the word "shoot" not in the sense of "aspire" but to mean "fire a weapon at." The comic further explores the humorous motivations for "shooting the moon"; Megan wants to destroy and kill the moon in order to humble it, feeling taunted by its orbiting merrily over her head, and so she inspires her students to physically attempt to destroy the moon whenever possible, only to become sheepish when she realizes the moon is right behind her, as if it were a person who could become offended by what she is saying. This is, of course, a {{tvtropes|RightBehindMe|common comedy trope}}.

Alternatively, everyone in the audience is already wielding their weapons, and Megan wants them to be temporarily concealed again to not ruin an imminent surprise attack. Being directly in front of the Moon, she would also get caught in the literal crossfire if the audience started shooting right now, but she does not appear to have that particular concern.

The title text invokes another literal interpretation of the phrase - if a space vehicle aims at the Moon and misses, it will end up in a new orbit, possibly (depending on its velocity) escaping from the Earth-Moon system and following a separate but nearby orbit around the Sun. A solar orbit is very hard, very fuel-intensive, and very lengthy to return from, despite physically meaning you will remain very close to Earth, even close enough to see it with some optical magnification. Thus, as a hypothetical space explorer's life support gradually ran out because his craft could not make it back to Earth in time, he would be taunted by Earth remaining close to him. Getting stranded on the Moon was the subject of the title text of [[1510: Napoleon]] and of [[1484: Apollo Speeches]].

==Transcript==
:[Megan stands at a lectern.]
:Megan: Students, shoot for the moon. If you miss,

:[A surprisingly lunar-like object is starting to edge into the frame.]
:Megan: '''''SHOOT AGAIN'''''. 
:Megan: Keep shooting and never stop.

:[The moon is now almost entirely in-frame.]
:Megan: Someday, one of us will destroy that stupid skycircle. And— 
:Megan: ...What? What are you all—

:[The moon is now in frame, lurking ominously in the background.]
:Megan: ...it's right behind me, isn't it? 
:Megan: '''''Shit'''''. 
:Megan: Everyone act casual.

==Trivia==
*The What if? Question #109 [http://what-if.xkcd.com/109/ Into the Blue] Made a reference to this comment - see the title text on the third picture.

*Shoot for the moon could also mean an attempt to penalize other players in Hearts, where failing can often put you close to dying.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Public speaking]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]