1994: Repairs

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Repairs

Title text: I was just disassembling it over the course of five hours so it would fit in the trash more efficiently.

Explanation

This explanation may be incomplete or incorrect: lacks cross references/ analogies to similar cartoons, and the ups and downs in the graph need to be explained individually. If you can address this issue, please edit the page! Thanks.

A graph depicts the sentiment created by the act of repairing something, depending on the time it took (x-axis) and ensuing result (y-axis). The degree of triumph and exultation (expressed in sentences in quotes inside the graph) is strongly enhanced by the time the operation takes, and is also positively correlated with the result (if any). Actions during the repair process are described in sentences without quotes. Conclusions are rather optimistic. The most negative feeling expressed (after the maximum time of repair with minimum degree of success) a threat against other objects might have plans to break.

Transcript

[Caption above the diagram:]

How well something works

After I decide to fix it

[The comic shows a graph with a solid curve that decreases in 8 different sized steps from the top left to the bottom right. The X-axis shows time passes and gives the time from zero to five hours with 6 ticks with labels beneath. The Y-axis shows how well something works with 8 ticks, but only four of them labeled.]

Works great

Has minor problems

Doesn't work

Will never work again

0 hours   1 hour   2 hours   3 hours   4 hours   5 hours

[The solid line has six labels with eight arrow pointing to different sections, two times the same label has two arrows pointing to different sections the first two places where the lines takes a step down, and the second to two plateaus on either side of a step. In total the arrows point four times on both steps and plateaus. Both the first and final plateau has a dot has added to the line, and the arrows point to those. Above the solid line there are three dotted lines going up from three plateaus just before the solid line takes a step down, the last two of these lines split up in two, with one going higher. At the end of each of these five dotted lines there is a sentence spoken. The solid line begins at the 2nd tick on the Y-Axis and finishes at the last. The three dotted lines going up ends up at the 1. tick on the Y-axis, for the last two there are also a line ending at the 2nd tick and 3rd tick respectively. Only the first label being above the first tick on the X-axis but the last three labels are all above the last tick on the X-Axis. Here is a list of all the labels in chronological order according to the position on the X-axis. For those that has the same time stamp the top one will be mentioned first. Those at the end of a line are indented:]

I start trying to fix it

"It just needed cleaning!"

Take it apart

"Fixed it!"

"Well, at least it's not more broken than when I started."

Take it apart more

Watch YouTube instructional videos

Take a deep breath and cut wires

"That was heroic and I deserve a Nobel prize."

"Well, it sort of works now."

(Turn to other possessions)

"...And let that be a lesson to you."

Trivia

The initial version of the normal sized image at xkcd was broken. This was later fixed.

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Discussion

I think the bot on here and xkcd OS might be broken172.69.22.200 04:46, 16 May 2018 (UTC)

The 2x version (found in srcset attribute) is complete though - https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/repairs_2x.png 162.158.2.16 05:08, 16 May 2018 (UTC)

This comic almost seems meta. 162.158.142.64 05:15, 16 May 2018 (UTC)

The improperly-sized version is probably intentional, given the changes indicated in the "2x" version and the results. The link to the "2x" version should be included in the explanation. Dissassembling the "original" version before moving it to trash would be likely to increase rather than decrease the size of the file in trash. The Dining Logician (talk) 06:02, 16 May 2018 (UTC)

The way I'm reading the graph, I think the dashed lines represent how Randall hoped things would go at each point in the repair effort, whereas the solid line represents the actual repair progress (or rather the lack of it). Ianrbibtitlht (talk) 12:55, 16 May 2018 (UTC)

This is the fifth comic in a row to need a trivia section in the explanation, starting from 1990: Driving Cars. Has that happened before, and should it be mentioned in the trivia section? Herobrine (talk) 13:06, 16 May 2018 (UTC)

Meta trivia? I don't feel that's needed... Elektrizikekswerk (talk) 16:07, 16 May 2018 (UTC)'

Sure, you risk breaking it permanently, but it is so worth it if you get the nobel prize.Linker (talk) 16:15, 16 May 2018 (UTC)

This graph illustrates why, except for general maintenance, I don't attempt repairs unless the thing is already in the doesn't work part of the vertical axis. That way the only way is up and failure is just the status quo. BTW the same graph applies to software as well as hardware, except the words, cut wires becomes "hack system files". RIIW - Ponder it (talk) 22:15, 16 May 2018 (UTC)

Hey... I have a Captcha! --162.158.93.57 18:04, 17 May 2018 (UTC)

This comic is the story of my life 172.68.86.46 00:33, 18 May 2018 (UTC)

I have to agree! I have been on literally every branch of this chart at one time or another, sometimes multiple branches with the same repair. I must admit I have trouble accepting when I've reached the lower-right end of the chart though. Ianrbibtitlht (talk) 01:04, 18 May 2018 (UTC)

Added the incomplete comic joke. 172.68.146.134 06:50, 18 May 2018 (UTC)

Inglip says the new captcha sucks. I'm not always in agreement with him, but he should smite the responsible. When does a square "contain" something? When it has 10%? 50%? 90% P.S. Oh joy, expired. Another ten tries. 141.101.76.4 14:10, 18 May 2018 (UTC)

The "trivia" aren't trivial; that this comic was posted broken and then fixed is part of its performance. It's as if, on 1995, you'd list "their real age is 56" as part of trivia and not the explanation. --162.158.91.53 03:44, 21 May 2018 (UTC)