Talk:2579: Tractor Beam - Revision history

141.101.99.24 at 16:55, 27 April 2025

2025-04-27T16:55:53Z

Gatorized at 16:39, 27 April 2025

2025-04-27T16:39:11Z

RAGBRAIvet at 14:32, 14 February 2022

2022-02-14T14:32:44Z

RAGBRAIvet at 14:31, 14 February 2022

2022-02-14T14:31:29Z

Kynde at 17:12, 13 February 2022

2022-02-13T17:12:14Z

172.68.221.39 at 19:55, 11 February 2022

2022-02-11T19:55:24Z

172.69.34.82: cmt

2022-02-11T17:27:06Z

cmt

172.70.246.109 at 11:50, 11 February 2022

2022-02-11T11:50:17Z

162.158.159.125 at 13:51, 10 February 2022

2022-02-10T13:51:33Z

162.158.187.232 at 12:54, 10 February 2022

2022-02-10T12:54:50Z

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 :Maybe the hatch would just open up when he get's close...--[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 17:12, 13 February 2022 (UTC)
 :What does it get you? [[User:Gatorized|Gatorized]] ([[User talk:Gatorized|talk]]) 16:39, 27 April 2025 (UTC)
 For me the first two questions are obviously linked to the tractor from the headline. Cueball is thinking about using the tractor beam of the UFO to plow a field. Thus he wants to know why the dirt is not being pulled up with him. I'm surprised this is not mentioned, so I might be totally wrong here. --[[Special:Contributions/172.70.246.109|172.70.246.109]] 11:50, 11 February 2022 (UTC)

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 What gets me is how Cueball will enter the hatch. If it's far enough 'into the drawing' to make it a person-sized hatch then the projective cone would shine an eliptical slice along the ground forelengthened far morenthan our viewpoint foreshortens it, so its major axis would be (on the image) vertical, not horizontal. For that ground-footprint, it's a smaller, closer craft. Still large, but the hatch is smaller than Cueball. Clearly, then, the tractor-beam is ''only'' used to raise the chosen subject off the ground, because (unlike the anti-gravity/levitation beam) the transporter-technology they actually use to ultimately bring a chosen subject into the ship itself ''cannot'' distinguish between a person and the ground they might be standing on. Risking either injurious impediments to the one being transported or tearing up some ground with them. (Leaving either foot-filled shoes or a 'divot' in the ground, to shock and/or excite those who discover the evidence of the abduction, and causing a mess for the aliens inside the vessel... either way.) This is clearly the only logical conclusion we can make. ;) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.159.125|162.158.159.125]] 13:51, 10 February 2022 (UTC)
 :Maybe the hatch would just open up when he get's close...--[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 17:12, 13 February 2022 (UTC)
 For me the first two questions are obviously linked to the tractor from the headline. Cueball is thinking about using the tractor beam of the UFO to plow a field. Thus he wants to know why the dirt is not being pulled up with him. I'm surprised this is not mentioned, so I might be totally wrong here. --[[Special:Contributions/172.70.246.109|172.70.246.109]] 11:50, 11 February 2022 (UTC)

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:32, 14 February 2022
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	:::For sure but I'm quite sure the current explanation that Cueball wonders how the beam knows only to pull at him and not at anything else that is inside the beam, as his bat question reveals. If anything in the beam would float towards the spaceship then anything loose on the ground should follow Cueball. --[[User:Kynde\|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde\|talk]]) 17:12, 13 February 2022 (UTC)		:::For sure but I'm quite sure the current explanation that Cueball wonders how the beam knows only to pull at him and not at anything else that is inside the beam, as his bat question reveals. If anything in the beam would float towards the spaceship then anything loose on the ground should follow Cueball. --[[User:Kynde\|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde\|talk]]) 17:12, 13 February 2022 (UTC)

−	If he had been brought onboard the alien ship, I'm sure they would have still returned him sometime around the 25th time he asked, "Aren't we there yet?" [[User:RAGBRAIvet\|RAGBRAIvet]] ([[User talk:RAGBRAIvet\|talk]]) 14:31, 14 February 2022 (UTC)	+	If he had been brought onboard the alien ship, I'm sure they would have still returned him sometime around the 25th time he asked, "Aren't we there yet?" – [[User:RAGBRAIvet\|RAGBRAIvet]] ([[User talk:RAGBRAIvet\|talk]]) 14:31, 14 February 2022 (UTC)

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:31, 14 February 2022
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	:: However, xkcd is known for word play and for purposefully misunderstanding words with more than one meaning in the wrong context. --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.221.39\|172.68.221.39]] 19:55, 11 February 2022 (UTC)		:: However, xkcd is known for word play and for purposefully misunderstanding words with more than one meaning in the wrong context. --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.221.39\|172.68.221.39]] 19:55, 11 February 2022 (UTC)
	:::For sure but I'm quite sure the current explanation that Cueball wonders how the beam knows only to pull at him and not at anything else that is inside the beam, as his bat question reveals. If anything in the beam would float towards the spaceship then anything loose on the ground should follow Cueball. --[[User:Kynde\|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde\|talk]]) 17:12, 13 February 2022 (UTC)		:::For sure but I'm quite sure the current explanation that Cueball wonders how the beam knows only to pull at him and not at anything else that is inside the beam, as his bat question reveals. If anything in the beam would float towards the spaceship then anything loose on the ground should follow Cueball. --[[User:Kynde\|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde\|talk]]) 17:12, 13 February 2022 (UTC)
		+
		+	If he had been brought onboard the alien ship, I'm sure they would have still returned him sometime around the 25th time he asked, "Aren't we there yet?" [[User:RAGBRAIvet\|RAGBRAIvet]] ([[User talk:RAGBRAIvet\|talk]]) 14:31, 14 February 2022 (UTC)

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 I feel like it is Randall, not Cueball, as it is "me" in the caption. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.187.232|162.158.187.232]] 12:54, 10 February 2022 (UTC)Bumpf
+:Most comics could feel like Cueball is Randall. But when you see a person speaking in the comic, then it is that person that says set me down, in the caption. So I would still just say it is Cueball not Randall. Also I'm sure he has not been pulled up by traction beam... And even if this is how Randall would react in case of an abduction (I doubt it) he typically let Cueball have these far out reactions. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 17:12, 13 February 2022 (UTC)
 What gets me is how Cueball will enter the hatch. If it's far enough 'into the drawing' to make it a person-sized hatch then the projective cone would shine an eliptical slice along the ground forelengthened far morenthan our viewpoint foreshortens it, so its major axis would be (on the image) vertical, not horizontal. For that ground-footprint, it's a smaller, closer craft. Still large, but the hatch is smaller than Cueball. Clearly, then, the tractor-beam is ''only'' used to raise the chosen subject off the ground, because (unlike the anti-gravity/levitation beam) the transporter-technology they actually use to ultimately bring a chosen subject into the ship itself ''cannot'' distinguish between a person and the ground they might be standing on. Risking either injurious impediments to the one being transported or tearing up some ground with them. (Leaving either foot-filled shoes or a 'divot' in the ground, to shock and/or excite those who discover the evidence of the abduction, and causing a mess for the aliens inside the vessel... either way.) This is clearly the only logical conclusion we can make. ;) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.159.125|162.158.159.125]] 13:51, 10 February 2022 (UTC)
+:Maybe the hatch would just open up when he get's close...--[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 17:12, 13 February 2022 (UTC)
 For me the first two questions are obviously linked to the tractor from the headline. Cueball is thinking about using the tractor beam of the UFO to plow a field. Thus he wants to know why the dirt is not being pulled up with him. I'm surprised this is not mentioned, so I might be totally wrong here. --[[Special:Contributions/172.70.246.109|172.70.246.109]] 11:50, 11 February 2022 (UTC)
 : Don't believe "tractor beam" has anything to do with a farming tractor. From Wikipedia, it says that "tractor beam" is short for "attractor beam". [[Special:Contributions/172.69.34.82|172.69.34.82]] 17:27, 11 February 2022 (UTC)
 :: However, xkcd is known for word play and for purposefully misunderstanding words with more than one meaning in the wrong context. --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.221.39|172.68.221.39]] 19:55, 11 February 2022 (UTC)

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:55, 11 February 2022
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	For me the first two questions are obviously linked to the tractor from the headline. Cueball is thinking about using the tractor beam of the UFO to plow a field. Thus he wants to know why the dirt is not being pulled up with him. I'm surprised this is not mentioned, so I might be totally wrong here. --[[Special:Contributions/172.70.246.109\|172.70.246.109]] 11:50, 11 February 2022 (UTC)		For me the first two questions are obviously linked to the tractor from the headline. Cueball is thinking about using the tractor beam of the UFO to plow a field. Thus he wants to know why the dirt is not being pulled up with him. I'm surprised this is not mentioned, so I might be totally wrong here. --[[Special:Contributions/172.70.246.109\|172.70.246.109]] 11:50, 11 February 2022 (UTC)
	: Don't believe "tractor beam" has anything to do with a farming tractor. From Wikipedia, it says that "tractor beam" is short for "attractor beam". [[Special:Contributions/172.69.34.82\|172.69.34.82]] 17:27, 11 February 2022 (UTC)		: Don't believe "tractor beam" has anything to do with a farming tractor. From Wikipedia, it says that "tractor beam" is short for "attractor beam". [[Special:Contributions/172.69.34.82\|172.69.34.82]] 17:27, 11 February 2022 (UTC)
		+	:: However, xkcd is known for word play and for purposefully misunderstanding words with more than one meaning in the wrong context. --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.221.39\|172.68.221.39]] 19:55, 11 February 2022 (UTC)

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:27, 11 February 2022
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	For me the first two questions are obviously linked to the tractor from the headline. Cueball is thinking about using the tractor beam of the UFO to plow a field. Thus he wants to know why the dirt is not being pulled up with him. I'm surprised this is not mentioned, so I might be totally wrong here. --[[Special:Contributions/172.70.246.109\|172.70.246.109]] 11:50, 11 February 2022 (UTC)		For me the first two questions are obviously linked to the tractor from the headline. Cueball is thinking about using the tractor beam of the UFO to plow a field. Thus he wants to know why the dirt is not being pulled up with him. I'm surprised this is not mentioned, so I might be totally wrong here. --[[Special:Contributions/172.70.246.109\|172.70.246.109]] 11:50, 11 February 2022 (UTC)
		+	: Don't believe "tractor beam" has anything to do with a farming tractor. From Wikipedia, it says that "tractor beam" is short for "attractor beam". [[Special:Contributions/172.69.34.82\|172.69.34.82]] 17:27, 11 February 2022 (UTC)

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:50, 11 February 2022
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	What gets me is how Cueball will enter the hatch. If it's far enough 'into the drawing' to make it a person-sized hatch then the projective cone would shine an eliptical slice along the ground forelengthened far morenthan our viewpoint foreshortens it, so its major axis would be (on the image) vertical, not horizontal. For that ground-footprint, it's a smaller, closer craft. Still large, but the hatch is smaller than Cueball. Clearly, then, the tractor-beam is ''only'' used to raise the chosen subject off the ground, because (unlike the anti-gravity/levitation beam) the transporter-technology they actually use to ultimately bring a chosen subject into the ship itself ''cannot'' distinguish between a person and the ground they might be standing on. Risking either injurious impediments to the one being transported or tearing up some ground with them. (Leaving either foot-filled shoes or a 'divot' in the ground, to shock and/or excite those who discover the evidence of the abduction, and causing a mess for the aliens inside the vessel... either way.) This is clearly the only logical conclusion we can make. ;) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.159.125\|162.158.159.125]] 13:51, 10 February 2022 (UTC)		What gets me is how Cueball will enter the hatch. If it's far enough 'into the drawing' to make it a person-sized hatch then the projective cone would shine an eliptical slice along the ground forelengthened far morenthan our viewpoint foreshortens it, so its major axis would be (on the image) vertical, not horizontal. For that ground-footprint, it's a smaller, closer craft. Still large, but the hatch is smaller than Cueball. Clearly, then, the tractor-beam is ''only'' used to raise the chosen subject off the ground, because (unlike the anti-gravity/levitation beam) the transporter-technology they actually use to ultimately bring a chosen subject into the ship itself ''cannot'' distinguish between a person and the ground they might be standing on. Risking either injurious impediments to the one being transported or tearing up some ground with them. (Leaving either foot-filled shoes or a 'divot' in the ground, to shock and/or excite those who discover the evidence of the abduction, and causing a mess for the aliens inside the vessel... either way.) This is clearly the only logical conclusion we can make. ;) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.159.125\|162.158.159.125]] 13:51, 10 February 2022 (UTC)
		+
		+
		+	For me the first two questions are obviously linked to the tractor from the headline. Cueball is thinking about using the tractor beam of the UFO to plow a field. Thus he wants to know why the dirt is not being pulled up with him. I'm surprised this is not mentioned, so I might be totally wrong here. --[[Special:Contributions/172.70.246.109\|172.70.246.109]] 11:50, 11 February 2022 (UTC)

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:51, 10 February 2022
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	I feel like it is Randall, not Cueball, as it is "me" in the caption. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.187.232\|162.158.187.232]] 12:54, 10 February 2022 (UTC)Bumpf		I feel like it is Randall, not Cueball, as it is "me" in the caption. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.187.232\|162.158.187.232]] 12:54, 10 February 2022 (UTC)Bumpf
		+
		+
		+	What gets me is how Cueball will enter the hatch. If it's far enough 'into the drawing' to make it a person-sized hatch then the projective cone would shine an eliptical slice along the ground forelengthened far morenthan our viewpoint foreshortens it, so its major axis would be (on the image) vertical, not horizontal. For that ground-footprint, it's a smaller, closer craft. Still large, but the hatch is smaller than Cueball. Clearly, then, the tractor-beam is ''only'' used to raise the chosen subject off the ground, because (unlike the anti-gravity/levitation beam) the transporter-technology they actually use to ultimately bring a chosen subject into the ship itself ''cannot'' distinguish between a person and the ground they might be standing on. Risking either injurious impediments to the one being transported or tearing up some ground with them. (Leaving either foot-filled shoes or a 'divot' in the ground, to shock and/or excite those who discover the evidence of the abduction, and causing a mess for the aliens inside the vessel... either way.) This is clearly the only logical conclusion we can make. ;) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.159.125\|162.158.159.125]] 13:51, 10 February 2022 (UTC)

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:54, 10 February 2022
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	:If not the part of his body that is not attracted simply goes along with the actively pulled parts, like when you lift a baby in its armpits.		:If not the part of his body that is not attracted simply goes along with the actively pulled parts, like when you lift a baby in its armpits.
	:[[User:While False\|While False]] ([[User talk:While False\|talk]]) 12:27, 10 February 2022 (UTC)		:[[User:While False\|While False]] ([[User talk:While False\|talk]]) 12:27, 10 February 2022 (UTC)
		+
		+	I feel like it is Randall, not Cueball, as it is "me" in the caption. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.187.232\|162.158.187.232]] 12:54, 10 February 2022 (UTC)Bumpf