3136: Pull - Revision history

38.86.199.45: /* Explanation */

2025-12-06T00:39:38Z

‎Explanation

38.86.199.45: /* Explanation */

2025-12-06T00:38:38Z

‎Explanation

DollarStoreBa'al: We need to work on formalizing language.

2025-10-09T14:50:08Z

We need to work on formalizing language.

82.132.186.225: /* Explanation */ Gratuitous whitespace had been snuck in. Removed on principle.

2025-09-30T16:00:33Z

‎Explanation: Gratuitous whitespace had been snuck in. Removed on principle.

Sophocrat: /* Explanation */ copy edit

2025-09-30T05:08:57Z

‎Explanation: copy edit

TheusafBOT: Reverted edit 387730 by Anonymous1279358478 to 387721

2025-09-30T02:56:30Z

Reverted edit 387730 by Anonymous1279358478 to 387721

Anonymous1279358478 at 01:59, 30 September 2025

2025-09-30T01:59:36Z

Anonymous1279358478 at 01:59, 30 September 2025

2025-09-30T01:59:16Z

Anonymous1279358478 at 01:59, 30 September 2025

2025-09-30T01:59:07Z

Anonymous1279358478 at 01:58, 30 September 2025

2025-09-30T01:58:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:39, 6 December 2025
Line 21:		Line 21:

	However, you could avoid this if you had a method of self-propulsion, which brings to mind Superman, who is a good example. He can "defeat" gravity and has some method of self-propulsion (which is, obviously, how he flies). While humans don't have any natural means of self-propulsion while in a gravity free environment{{cn}}, they can use artificial methods (eg a jetpack).		However, you could avoid this if you had a method of self-propulsion, which brings to mind Superman, who is a good example. He can "defeat" gravity and has some method of self-propulsion (which is, obviously, how he flies). While humans don't have any natural means of self-propulsion while in a gravity free environment{{cn}}, they can use artificial methods (eg a jetpack).
−
−	~~The “It’s a long way down” in the title text could be a reference to [[2712: Gravity]].~~

	==Transcript==		==Transcript==

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:38, 6 December 2025
Line 21:		Line 21:

	However, you could avoid this if you had a method of self-propulsion, which brings to mind Superman, who is a good example. He can "defeat" gravity and has some method of self-propulsion (which is, obviously, how he flies). While humans don't have any natural means of self-propulsion while in a gravity free environment{{cn}}, they can use artificial methods (eg a jetpack).		However, you could avoid this if you had a method of self-propulsion, which brings to mind Superman, who is a good example. He can "defeat" gravity and has some method of self-propulsion (which is, obviously, how he flies). While humans don't have any natural means of self-propulsion while in a gravity free environment{{cn}}, they can use artificial methods (eg a jetpack).
		+
		+	The “It’s a long way down” in the title text could be a reference to [[2712: Gravity]].

	==Transcript==		==Transcript==

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ==Explanation==
-[[Megan]] and [[Cueball]] are lying in the grass on an orb – possibly a stylized Earth, though the curvature suggests a ''much'' smaller body. However, instead of the conventional frame orientation where gravity points towards the bottom of the image, the viewpoint is stationary outside the Earth while we see it slowly rotating, reminiscent of the alternate frame of reference apparently in use in [[2800: Down]]. Shown this way, we may have the intuitive feeling that the protagonists should fall off, and this makes a point how weird it is that gravity keeps us stuck to an orb, continuing with the theme of "how reality is odd" last seen in the prior comic, [[3135: Sea Level]].
+[[Megan]] and [[Cueball]] are lying in the grass on an orb – possibly a stylized Earth, though the large amount of curvature suggests a much smaller body. However, instead of the conventional frame orientation where gravity points towards the bottom of the image, the viewpoint is stationary outside the body while we see it slowly rotating, reminiscent of the alternate frame of reference apparently in use in [[2800: Down]]. Shown this way, we may have the intuitive feeling that the protagonists should fall off, and this makes a point how abstract gravity seems to be when it is carefully thought through, continuing with the theme of abstract reality seen in the previous comic, [[3135: Sea Level]].
-In the first panel, Cueball expresses that he doesn't like being stuck there, possibly because he wants to explore other worlds or because he finds Earth limiting. The alternative would be "falling off", as in succumbing to the [[123|centrifugal force]] that results from the Earth's rotation – this would appear in the comic's perspective as both characters slowly "falling" away towards the right side of the panel. As this centrifugal effect is quite slight compared to the gravitational acceleration we're used to (0.34% of it at the equator), Megan and Cueball would have roughly three more minutes until they "fell" off-panel, assuming their position is of a mid-northern latitude typical to the US – unless they're able to fly under their own power now that they're no longer constrained by gravity, or unless the rest of Planet Earth also has its gravity turned off and violently explodes as a result.
+In the first panel, Cueball expresses that he doesn't like being stuck there, possibly because he wants to explore other worlds or because he finds Earth limiting. The alternative would be "falling off", as in experiencing the {{w|Centrifugal force}} that results from the Earth's rotation – this would appear in the comic's perspective as both characters slowly "falling" away towards the right side of the panel. As this centrifugal effect is quite slight compared to the gravitational acceleration we're used to (0.34% of it at the equator), Megan and Cueball would have roughly three more minutes until they "fell" off-panel, assuming their position is of a mid-northern latitude typical to the US – unless they're able to fly under their own power now that they're no longer constrained by gravity, or unless the rest of Planet Earth also has its gravity turned off and violently explodes as a result.
-In the second panel, Megan uses a more metaphorical sense of the word pull, she is attracted to lying on the grass doing nothing and blames her inability to get up and do things on gravity. This could also mean that if the pull (aka gravity) is less, she could get up more easily and get to where she wants to go.
+In the second panel, Megan uses a more metaphorical sense of the word pull, she is attracted to lying on the grass doing nothing and blames her inability to get up and do things on gravity, using the topic of conversation as a punchline for a joke. This could also mean that if the pull (aka gravity) is less, she could get up more easily and get to where she wants to go.
-Cueball replies that the pull might weaken over time. In a literal sense, gravity will not decrease significantly even in the long term and is likely not an actual obstacle to Megan getting up (assuming the sphere is Earth, which is the only known planet with humans on it{{cn}} as of the comic's publication). [https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/sept-1-2018-gene-editing-in-dogs-wildfire-prediction-zika-fizzles-and-more-1.4804892/is-earth-getting-heavier-or-lighter-1.4804900 Earth gains mass] from dust and meteorites but also loses mass, mainly due to escaping hydrogen and helium. The net effect of these is for Earth to lose about 50,000&nbsp;tonnes per year; in the 5&#8209;minute period Megan mentions, equivalent to 500&#x202F;kg out of the Earth's mass of 5.972&#x202F;×&#x202F;10<sup>24</sup>&#x202F;kg, changing gravity by a factor of about 10<sup>-22</sup> (1&nbsp;part in 10&nbsp;sextillion). Locally, gravity can also change due to mass redistribution. The Earth's core is very slowly cooling, leading to decreasing radius and thus increasing gravity at the surface. Towards the end of its life, the Earth's water will be boiled off due to the expanding Sun, leading to a decrease in gravity. Metaphorically, Cueball seems to just be saying that so she will stay a bit longer. Megan agrees.
+Cueball replies that the pull might weaken over time. In a literal sense, gravity will not decrease significantly even in the long term and is likely not an actual obstacle to Megan getting up{{cn}}. [https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/sept-1-2018-gene-editing-in-dogs-wildfire-prediction-zika-fizzles-and-more-1.4804892/is-earth-getting-heavier-or-lighter-1.4804900 Earth gains mass] from dust and meteorites but also loses mass, mainly due to escaping hydrogen and helium. The net effect of these is for Earth to lose about 50,000&nbsp;tonnes per year; in the 5&#8209;minute period Megan mentions, equivalent to 500&#x202F;kg out of the Earth's mass of 5.972&#x202F;×&#x202F;10<sup>24</sup>&#x202F;kg, changing gravity by a factor of about 10<sup>-22</sup> (1&nbsp;part in 10&nbsp;sextillion). Locally, gravity can also change due to mass redistribution. The Earth's core is very slowly cooling, leading to decreasing radius and thus increasing gravity at the surface. Towards the end of its life, the Earth's water will be boiled off due to the expanding Sun, leading to a decrease in gravity. Metaphorically, Cueball seems to just be saying that so she will stay a bit longer. Megan agrees.
 Fighting the gravity in the title text is reminiscent of the Ancient Greek story of {{w|Icarus}}, who fell down after flying too close to the Sun, where flying might be seen as fighting gravity. It might also just be a rephrasing of the truism "The higher you go, the longer the fall". On the other hand, "it's a long way down" may not refer to falling back to Earth, but rather falling off the Earth, if one were no longer "stuck" to it. In that case, "down" would presumably mean toward the Sun, the center of gravitational pull in the solar system – a very long way away. If one "defeated" ''all'' gravity, "down" would mean "away from the Earth into space" endlessly, unless one happened to collide with some object.

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ==Explanation==
-[[Megan]] and [[Cueball]] are lying in the grass on an orb –  possibly a stylized Earth, though the curvature suggests a ''much'' smaller body. However, instead of the conventional frame orientation where gravity points towards the bottom of the image, the viewpoint is stationary outside the Earth while we see it slowly  rotating, reminiscent of the alternate frame of reference apparently in use in [[2800: Down]]. Shown this way, we may have the intuitive feeling that the protagonists should fall off, and this makes a point how weird it is that gravity keeps us stuck to an orb, continuing with the theme of "how reality is odd" last seen in the prior comic, [[3135: Sea Level]].
+[[Megan]] and [[Cueball]] are lying in the grass on an orb – possibly a stylized Earth, though the curvature suggests a ''much'' smaller body. However, instead of the conventional frame orientation where gravity points towards the bottom of the image, the viewpoint is stationary outside the Earth while we see it slowly rotating, reminiscent of the alternate frame of reference apparently in use in [[2800: Down]]. Shown this way, we may have the intuitive feeling that the protagonists should fall off, and this makes a point how weird it is that gravity keeps us stuck to an orb, continuing with the theme of "how reality is odd" last seen in the prior comic, [[3135: Sea Level]].
-In the first panel, Cueball expresses that he doesn't like being stuck there, possibly because he wants to explore other worlds or because he finds Earth limiting. The alternative would be  "falling off", as in succumbing to the [[123|centrifugal force]] that results from the Earth's rotation – this would appear in the comic's perspective as both characters slowly "falling" away towards the right side of the panel. As this centrifugal effect is quite slight compared to the gravitational acceleration we're used to (0.34% of it at the equator), Megan and Cueball would have roughly three more minutes until they "fell" off-panel, assuming their position is of a mid-northern latitude typical to the US – unless they're able to fly under their own power now that they're no longer constrained by gravity, or unless the rest of Planet Earth also has its gravity turned off and violently explodes as a result.
+In the first panel, Cueball expresses that he doesn't like being stuck there, possibly because he wants to explore other worlds or because he finds Earth limiting. The alternative would be "falling off", as in succumbing to the [[123|centrifugal force]] that results from the Earth's rotation – this would appear in the comic's perspective as both characters slowly "falling" away towards the right side of the panel. As this centrifugal effect is quite slight compared to the gravitational acceleration we're used to (0.34% of it at the equator), Megan and Cueball would have roughly three more minutes until they "fell" off-panel, assuming their position is of a mid-northern latitude typical to the US – unless they're able to fly under their own power now that they're no longer constrained by gravity, or unless the rest of Planet Earth also has its gravity turned off and violently explodes as a result.
-In the second panel, Megan uses a more metaphorical sense of the word pull, she is attracted to lying on the grass doing nothing and blames her inability to get up and do things  on gravity. This could also mean that if the pull (aka gravity) is less, she could get up more easily and get to where she wants to go.
+In the second panel, Megan uses a more metaphorical sense of the word pull, she is attracted to lying on the grass doing nothing and blames her inability to get up and do things on gravity. This could also mean that if the pull (aka gravity) is less, she could get up more easily and get to where she wants to go.
-Cueball replies that the pull might weaken over time. In a literal  sense, gravity will not decrease significantly even in the long term and is likely not an actual obstacle to Megan getting up (assuming the sphere is Earth, which is the only known planet with humans on it{{cn}} as of the comic's publication). [https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/sept-1-2018-gene-editing-in-dogs-wildfire-prediction-zika-fizzles-and-more-1.4804892/is-earth-getting-heavier-or-lighter-1.4804900 Earth gains mass] from dust and meteorites but also loses mass, mainly due to escaping hydrogen and helium. The net effect of these is for Earth to lose about 50,000&nbsp;tonnes per year; in the 5&#8209;minute period Megan mentions, equivalent to 500&#x202F;kg out of the Earth's mass of 5.972&#x202F;×&#x202F;10<sup>24</sup>&#x202F;kg, changing  gravity by a factor of about 10<sup>-22</sup> (1&nbsp;part in 10&nbsp;sextillion). Locally, gravity can also change due to mass redistribution. The Earth's core is very slowly cooling, leading to decreasing radius and thus increasing gravity at the surface. Towards the end of its life, the Earth's water will be boiled off due to the expanding Sun, leading to a decrease in gravity.  Metaphorically, Cueball seems to just be saying that so she will stay a bit longer. Megan agrees.
+Cueball replies that the pull might weaken over time. In a literal sense, gravity will not decrease significantly even in the long term and is likely not an actual obstacle to Megan getting up (assuming the sphere is Earth, which is the only known planet with humans on it{{cn}} as of the comic's publication). [https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/sept-1-2018-gene-editing-in-dogs-wildfire-prediction-zika-fizzles-and-more-1.4804892/is-earth-getting-heavier-or-lighter-1.4804900 Earth gains mass] from dust and meteorites but also loses mass, mainly due to escaping hydrogen and helium. The net effect of these is for Earth to lose about 50,000&nbsp;tonnes per year; in the 5&#8209;minute period Megan mentions, equivalent to 500&#x202F;kg out of the Earth's mass of 5.972&#x202F;×&#x202F;10<sup>24</sup>&#x202F;kg, changing gravity by a factor of about 10<sup>-22</sup> (1&nbsp;part in 10&nbsp;sextillion). Locally, gravity can also change due to mass redistribution. The Earth's core is very slowly cooling, leading to decreasing radius and thus increasing gravity at the surface. Towards the end of its life, the Earth's water will be boiled off due to the expanding Sun, leading to a decrease in gravity. Metaphorically, Cueball seems to just be saying that so she will stay a bit longer. Megan agrees.
-Fighting the gravity in the title text is reminiscent of the Ancient Greek story of {{w|Icarus}}, who fell down after flying too close to the Sun, where flying might be seen as fighting gravity. It might also just be a rephrasing of the truism "The higher you go, the longer the fall". On the other hand, "it's a long way down" may not refer  to falling back to Earth, but rather falling off the Earth, if one were no longer "stuck" to it. In that case, "down" would presumably mean toward the Sun, the center of gravitational pull in the solar system – a very long way away. If one "defeated" ''all'' gravity, "down" would mean "away from the Earth into space" endlessly, unless one happened to collide with some object.
+Fighting the gravity in the title text is reminiscent of the Ancient Greek story of {{w|Icarus}}, who fell down after flying too close to the Sun, where flying might be seen as fighting gravity. It might also just be a rephrasing of the truism "The higher you go, the longer the fall". On the other hand, "it's a long way down" may not refer to falling back to Earth, but rather falling off the Earth, if one were no longer "stuck" to it. In that case, "down" would presumably mean toward the Sun, the center of gravitational pull in the solar system – a very long way away. If one "defeated" ''all'' gravity, "down" would mean "away from the Earth into space" endlessly, unless one happened to collide with some object.
 However, you could avoid this if you had a method of self-propulsion, which brings to mind Superman, who is a good example. He can "defeat" gravity and has some method of self-propulsion (which is, obviously, how he flies). While humans don't have any natural means of self-propulsion while in a gravity free environment{{cn}}, they can use artificial methods (eg a jetpack).

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 Fighting the gravity in the title text is reminiscent of the Ancient Greek story of {{w|Icarus}}, who fell down after flying too close to the Sun, where flying might be seen as fighting gravity. It might also just be a rephrasing of the truism "The higher you go, the longer the fall". On the other hand, "it's a long way down" may not refer  to falling back to Earth, but rather falling off the Earth, if one were no longer "stuck" to it. In that case, "down" would presumably mean toward the Sun, the center of gravitational pull in the solar system – a very long way away. If one "defeated" ''all'' gravity, "down" would mean "away from the Earth into space" endlessly, unless one happened to collide with some object.
-However, you could avoid this if you had a method of self-propulsion, which brings to mind Superman, who is a good example. He can "defeat" gravity and has some method of self-propulsion (which is, obviously, how he flys.) While humans don't have any natural means of self-propulsion while in a gravity free environment{{cn}}, they can use artificial methods (eg: a jetpack.).
+However, you could avoid this if you had a method of self-propulsion, which brings to mind Superman, who is a good example. He can "defeat" gravity and has some method of self-propulsion (which is, obviously, how he flies). While humans don't have any natural means of self-propulsion while in a gravity free environment{{cn}}, they can use artificial methods (eg a jetpack).
 ==Transcript==

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 In the second panel, Megan uses a more metaphorical sense of the word pull, she is attracted to lying on the grass doing nothing and blames her inability to get up and do things  on gravity. This could also mean that if the pull (aka gravity) is less, she could get up more easily and get to where she wants to go.
-Cueball replies that the pull might weaken over time.  In a literal  sense, gravity will not decrease significantly even in the long term and is likely not an actual obstacle to Megan getting up (assuming the sphere is Earth, which is the only known planet with humans on it{{cn}} as of the comic's publication). [https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/sept-1-2018-gene-editing-in-dogs-wildfire-prediction-zika-fizzles-and-more-1.4804892/is-earth-getting-heavier-or-lighter-1.4804900 Earth gains mass] from dust and meteorites but also loses mass, mainly due to escaping hydrogen and helium. The net effect of these is for Earth to lose about 50,000&nbsp;tonnes per year; in the 5&#8209;minute period Megan mentions, equivalent to 500&#x202F;kg out  of the Earth's mass of 5.972&#x202F;×&#x202F;10<sup>24</sup>&#x202F;kg, changing  gravity by a factor of about 10<sup>-22</sup> (1&nbsp;part in 10&nbsp;sextillion). Locally, gravity can also  change due  to mass redistribution. The Earth's core is very slowly cooling, leading to decreasing radius and thus increasing gravity at the surface.  Towards the end of its life, the Earth's water will be boiled off due to the expanding Sun, leading to a decrease in gravity.  Metaphorically, Cueball seems to just be saying that so she will stay a bit longer. Megan agrees.
+Cueball replies that the pull might weaken over time. In a literal  sense, gravity will not decrease significantly even in the long term and is likely not an actual obstacle to Megan getting up (assuming the sphere is Earth, which is the only known planet with humans on it{{cn}} as of the comic's publication). [https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/sept-1-2018-gene-editing-in-dogs-wildfire-prediction-zika-fizzles-and-more-1.4804892/is-earth-getting-heavier-or-lighter-1.4804900 Earth gains mass] from dust and meteorites but also loses mass, mainly due to escaping hydrogen and helium. The net effect of these is for Earth to lose about 50,000&nbsp;tonnes per year; in the 5&#8209;minute period Megan mentions, equivalent to 500&#x202F;kg out of the Earth's mass of 5.972&#x202F;×&#x202F;10<sup>24</sup>&#x202F;kg, changing  gravity by a factor of about 10<sup>-22</sup> (1&nbsp;part in 10&nbsp;sextillion). Locally, gravity can also change due to mass redistribution. The Earth's core is very slowly cooling, leading to decreasing radius and thus increasing gravity at the surface. Towards the end of its life, the Earth's water will be boiled off due to the expanding Sun, leading to a decrease in gravity.  Metaphorically, Cueball seems to just be saying that so she will stay a bit longer. Megan agrees.
-Fighting the gravity in the title text is reminiscent of the Ancient Greek story of {{w|Icarus}}, who fell down after flying too close to the Sun, where flying might be seen as fighting gravity. It might also just be a rephrasing of the truism "The higher you go, the longer the fall". On the other hand, "it's a long way down" may not refer  to falling back to Earth, but rather falling off the Earth, if one were no longer "stuck" to it. In that case, "down" would presumably mean toward the Sun, the center of gravitational pull in the solar system – a very long way away.  If one "defeated" ''all'' gravity, "down" would mean "away from the Earth into space" endlessly, unless one happened to collide with some object.
+Fighting the gravity in the title text is reminiscent of the Ancient Greek story of {{w|Icarus}}, who fell down after flying too close to the Sun, where flying might be seen as fighting gravity. It might also just be a rephrasing of the truism "The higher you go, the longer the fall". On the other hand, "it's a long way down" may not refer  to falling back to Earth, but rather falling off the Earth, if one were no longer "stuck" to it. In that case, "down" would presumably mean toward the Sun, the center of gravitational pull in the solar system – a very long way away. If one "defeated" ''all'' gravity, "down" would mean "away from the Earth into space" endlessly, unless one happened to collide with some object.
-However, you could avoid this if you had a method of self-propulsion, which brings to mind Superman, who is a good example. He can "defeat" gravity and has some method of self-propulsion (which is, obviously, how he flys.) While humans don't have any natural means of self-propulsion while in a gravity  free environment{{cn}}, they can use artificial methods (eg: a jetpack.).
+However, you could avoid this if you had a method of self-propulsion, which brings to mind Superman, who is a good example. He can "defeat" gravity and has some method of self-propulsion (which is, obviously, how he flys.) While humans don't have any natural means of self-propulsion while in a gravity free environment{{cn}}, they can use artificial methods (eg: a jetpack.).
 ==Transcript==
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 :Cueball: but I guess falling off would be worse.
-:[Cueball, Megan, and the surface are now rotated a little  bit from the first panel.]
+:[Cueball, Megan, and the surface are now rotated a little bit from the first panel.]
-:Megan: I wouldn't mind if it pulled a little less  hard,  though.
+:Megan: I wouldn't mind if it pulled a little less hard, though.
 :Megan: I have places to be.
 :Megan: I shouldn't just lie around in the grass.