Difference between revisions of "2655: Asking Scientists Questions"
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
− | [Caption above the panels, in lighter gray:] | + | :[Caption above the panels, in lighter gray:] |
− | For the last few years, I've been working on answering peoples' ridiculous questions for | + | :For the last few years, I've been working on answering peoples' ridiculous questions for ''What If? 2'', which sometimes meant asking scientists for help. |
− | [Left panel top caption:] How you'd expect scientists to respond to ridiculous questions: | + | :[Left panel top caption:] |
− | [Cueball stands holding pad and pencil in front of a desk. Hairbun is seated behind the desk, pointing at Cueball.] | + | :How you'd expect scientists to respond to ridiculous questions: |
− | Hairbun: Why would you present me with this frivolous scenario? | + | :[Cueball stands holding pad and pencil in front of a desk. Hairbun is seated behind the desk, pointing at Cueball.] |
− | Such an absurd query can serve no practical purpose. | + | :Hairbun: Why would you present me with this frivolous scenario? |
− | Now go; you distract me from my formulas. | + | ::Such an absurd query can serve no practical purpose. |
+ | ::Now go; you distract me from my formulas. | ||
− | [Right panel top caption:] How they actually respond: | + | :[Right panel top caption:] |
− | [Cueball stands holding pad and pencil in front of a desk. Hairbun is seated behind the desk while holding a stack of papers.] | + | :How they actually respond: |
− | Hairbun: Oh thank God, something fun to think about that's not grant applications. | + | :[Cueball stands holding pad and pencil in front of a desk. Hairbun is seated behind the desk while holding a stack of papers.] |
− | Hey, do | + | :Hairbun: Oh thank God, something fun to think about that's not grant applications. |
− | What was your name again? | + | ::Hey, do '''you''' want to fill out some grant applications? I'll give you literally anything. Coauthor credit. Powerful magnets. Do you want plutonium? I can get you plutonium. |
+ | ::What was your name again? | ||
− | [Caption below the panel, in lighter gray:] | + | :[Caption below the panel, in lighter gray:] |
− | To see the answers I found, preorder at xkcd.com/whatif2 (out 9/13) | + | :To see the answers I found, preorder at xkcd.com/whatif2 (out 9/13) |
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} |
Revision as of 21:21, 5 August 2022
Explanation
This explanation may be incomplete or incorrect: Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon. If you can address this issue, please edit the page! Thanks. |
This is a comic about scientists.[citation needed]
Transcript
This transcript is incomplete. Please help editing it! Thanks. |
- [Caption above the panels, in lighter gray:]
- For the last few years, I've been working on answering peoples' ridiculous questions for What If? 2, which sometimes meant asking scientists for help.
- [Left panel top caption:]
- How you'd expect scientists to respond to ridiculous questions:
- [Cueball stands holding pad and pencil in front of a desk. Hairbun is seated behind the desk, pointing at Cueball.]
- Hairbun: Why would you present me with this frivolous scenario?
- Such an absurd query can serve no practical purpose.
- Now go; you distract me from my formulas.
- [Right panel top caption:]
- How they actually respond:
- [Cueball stands holding pad and pencil in front of a desk. Hairbun is seated behind the desk while holding a stack of papers.]
- Hairbun: Oh thank God, something fun to think about that's not grant applications.
- Hey, do you want to fill out some grant applications? I'll give you literally anything. Coauthor credit. Powerful magnets. Do you want plutonium? I can get you plutonium.
- What was your name again?
- [Caption below the panel, in lighter gray:]
- To see the answers I found, preorder at xkcd.com/whatif2 (out 9/13)
Discussion
I am of three minds. Part of me wants to write a basic explanation to get us started. Part of me is worried I'll lay a terrible foundation. And part of me doesn't want to get rid of "This is a comic about scientists.[citation needed]" without memorializing it first. GreatWyrmGold (talk) 22:12, 5 August 2022 (UTC)
- That was cute, but your relocated [citation needed] is a fine replacement. Barmar (talk) 22:37, 5 August 2022 (UTC)
Considering "tastes awful", I'm a chemist and know an old recipe for amalgam-related stuff, quote, "...the reaction is over when the stuff doesn't taste metallic anymore". mode=Homer "Mmmmh, mercury!" 172.71.94.187 07:52, 6 August 2022 (UTC)
The first line of the explanation contains the word 'blag' in parenthesis. I don't know this word and the translations that dic.cc give are 'badly behaving child' and 'armed robbery' which don't make sense in this context. Can someone explain, please? Flukx (talk) 08:37, 6 August 2022 (UTC) "Blag" is an alternate spelling of "blog" to suggest that's it's not a mere blog, but something more special. 172.70.126.81 10:54, 6 August 2022 (UTC)
- Also an in joke reference to 148: Mispronouncing. 172.70.207.8 19:21, 6 August 2022 (UTC)
- And 181: Interblag Elektrizikekswerk (talk) 15:53, 8 August 2022 (UTC)
- Also an in joke reference to 148: Mispronouncing. 172.70.207.8 19:21, 6 August 2022 (UTC)
Can we solve the science funding crisis by telling scientists about Fiverr? 172.70.210.183 (talk) 14:24, 6 August 2022 (please sign your comments with ~~~~)
- No. You underestimate the amount of funds scientists need. Remember that the Not-as-large-as-described Hadron Collider has budget €7.5 billion and reasonable Space Telescope costs $10 billion. While mathematics only need pencil, paper and eraser (and philosophers don't even need the eraser), most scientists could easily spent any amount of money received. -- Hkmaly (talk) 03:52, 7 August 2022 (UTC)
- Even mathematics need something to eat and a house they can stay in while it rains outside. Kimmerin (talk) 09:09, 12 August 2022 (UTC)
- I just have to say that "mathematics only needs (a) pencil, etc...", like grammar needs subject-verb agreement (singular noun, despite the 's', but let's not get into the "math/maths" shortening debate). And "mathematicians need something to eat...", just because they're living people who get hungry like anyone else.[citation needed]
- Though, being pedantic, I should also point out that the pencil/etc really is optional (if not an impediment) in many cases, at least until you need to set your thoughts down more permanently/portably. ;) 141.101.99.242 11:04, 12 August 2022 (UTC)
- Even mathematics need something to eat and a house they can stay in while it rains outside. Kimmerin (talk) 09:09, 12 August 2022 (UTC)
This is an impressively lengthy explanation for a comic that is essentially self-explanatory - was someone in the middle of writing a grant application when it landed? 172.70.85.5 08:20, 8 August 2022 (UTC)
I can definitely speak to the grant application situation - I didn't realize most professors / researchers are struggling with funding related work year-round if not on daily basis, until I was actually involved in the process. Fair to say when I got lucky and got a grant for a 4-professor collaboration project, my PHD degree got a LOT smoother.
Why does "eating a bizarre substance is likely a bad idea" need a citation?
Am I the only one who noticed the implication that grant applications are one of the things that are fun?
Excuse me, did she say magnets? Powerful magnets? GIMME! Psychoticpotato (talk) 13:36, 2 May 2024 (UTC)