1108: Cautionary Ghost

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
Revision as of 08:43, 14 September 2012 by 147.251.27.234 (talk) (Explanation)
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Cautionary Ghost
But then the Ghost of Subjective Past showed up and told me to stay strong on 'if it were'.
Title text: But then the Ghost of Subjective Past showed up and told me to stay strong on 'if it were'.

Explanation

The usage of a ghost from the past or future to deliver a message in fiction was begun in Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol, in which the main character is visited upon by the ghosts of past, present and future during his sleep.

This comic is a comment on the futility of arguing over trivial matters, such as the usage of the word "literally" as mentioned in the comic. It also links to comic 725: Literally and maybe probably to a parody at Cyanide & Happiness. In the comic, a man is presented an idyllic scene of the future, then is given an identical scene and told that the second scene is the future if he gives up arguing over a word. The comparison is meant to signal the almost inconsequential impact on the world that some debates have.

The title text is a reversal on this, where the man meets a contrary ghost who encourages him to continue with his argument and insist upon alternate hypothetical futures in which misuse of the word "literally" does have a negative impact on the world.

Transcript

[Man sitting in bed is facing a ghost.]

Ghost: Ooooooooooooooooo

Man: A ghost!?

Ghost: I bring a cautionary vision of things to come!

[Cut to scene with two houses, a plane, a tree and a standing couple.]

Ghost: This is the future:

[Identical scene]

Ghost: And this is the future if you give up the fight over the word "literally":

[Cut back to man sitting in bed with ghost]

Man: They looked exactly the same.

Ghost: Oooooooooooooooo

Man: Ok, I get it.

Ghost: Seriously, this is duuuuumb.


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Discussion

The comic seems to suggest that it is obviously a waste of effort if the world remains the same regardless of the argument. But maybe the argues goal is not to correct grammar as much as it is to be entertained by the deficiencies in others and the arguments that may arise. Feeling superior through trolling regular conversations. DruidDriver (talk) 07:23, 21 January 2013 (UTC)

Literally

Could it have been spurred by this comic?

It shares quibbles over the word literally, but the driving idea behind the jokes are different. Davidy22 (talk) 06:08, 14 September 2012 (UTC)
Exasperation over the misuse/overuse of "literally" is quite widespread, especially among the target audience of xkcd. I doubt the choice was inspired by a particular source.

I think it is a reference to this prior xkcd comic which is also dealing with the difference between literally and figuratively and somebody eager to tell people the difference. --194.167.19.2 08:06, 14 September 2012 (UTC)Josch

I think there is a huge difference between devoting of time & energy waiting to 'gotcha' someone and encouraging people to use a word correctly. Because so many people use the word "literally" for emphasis even when their usage is figurative, how can I tell someone that my usage of something is in fact literal? JaniceOly (talk) 03:24, 15 September 2012 (UTC)

Having the Literally as the word to argue about seems to be fitting this comic quite well, since the world is literally the same in both scenarios. Or, the other way around, arguing about literally literally doesn't matter.

If people are getting so upset over literally, why aren't they getting upset over "really", which literally means the same thing? This is why I don't care for the (but, geek that I am, I still find myself correcting it. *sigh*.) Anonymous 05:02, 6 December 2013 (UTC)

Idyllic

What's so idyllic on that scene? That people are still alive and someone is still flying? (Note that it may be airforce one) -- Hkmaly (talk) 09:09, 14 September 2012 (UTC)

Charles Dickens

The usage of a ghost from the past or future to deliver a message in fiction was begun in Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol - I really don't think that's true. --Kronf (talk) 12:55, 14 September 2012 (UTC)

Subjunctive

I have to say, not using the subjunctive case correctly really grinds my gears, 'as it were'. --216.110.25.2 13:53, 14 September 2012 (UTC)dangerkeith3000

Fixed the typo someone made on the title text ghost: Ghost of Subjective Subjunctive Past. I also typed up some information on the subjunctive mood and the subjunctive past construction. Hopefully this helps clear up the title text. Haruspex (talk) 13:54, 14 September 2012 (UTC)

I'm not sure it's correct to describe the fight in favor of if it were as "equally trivial". Isn't the entire point of the title text that that fight is worth continuing? --Cristo (talk) 15:56, 14 September 2012 (UTC)

@Haruspex: Thanks for clearing up that issue of subjective/subjunctive -- I was just about to go in and fix it myself. --Pdaoust (talk) 16:11, 14 September 2012 (UTC)

Subjunctive is a MOOD, not a CASE or a TENSE. And ask Shakespeare about using ghosts to deliver messages.

Third panel

Hmm shouldn't the third panel read "... if you gave up the fight ... "? --220.255.1.119 07:12, 19 September 2012 (UTC)

Nope. This is the future. --Kronf (talk) 11:20, 14 November 2012 (UTC)
Agree, "give" is correct here. The guy has not yet given up the fight; "give" is in imperative mood. --Smartin (talk) 04:47, 2 January 2013 (UTC)
I don't think "give" is quite in the imperative mood here (since the ghost is describing a hypothetical future instead of directly asking the man to give up the fight), but either way shouldn't both "give" and "gave" work in this case? (English_conditional_sentences#Second_conditional) --202.156.9.12 13:41, 31 May 2013 (UTC)

I've given up on literally and settle for enjoying the misuse: the hall was literally swept by a sea of supporters, the crew literally hung on the lips on their captain, etc. However! I will fight forever for correct usage of its and it's... at least until we all go whole hog, and start using hi's and her's [or would the feminine be he'r?]. Canuu (talk) 20:09, 10 September 2015 (UTC)

But, the picture is only a small part! What if another place was changed!!! SilverMagpie (talk) 03:52, 2 April 2017 (UTC)