1631: Longer Than Usual

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
Revision as of 13:36, 18 January 2016 by 162.158.90.193 (talk) (Explanation: included title-text into "main" explanation.)
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Longer Than Usual
'--> [ Well, this is embarrassing. ] <--'
Title text: '--> [ Well, this is embarrassing. ] <--'

Explanation

"This seems to be taking longer than usual" is an error message displayed by Gmail and some other software (for example disqus). In a different context, though, it might refer to a person taking "longer than usual" to achieve an orgasm, probably despite considerable efforts of their partner. Often this frustration itself gives such heavy performance anxiety that orgasm is no longer to be expected. In such situations it is likely that one or the other partner becomes frustrated and gives up, suggesting "lets go to bed" instead of continuing the sexual activity.

The title text ties both interpretations together by referencing an infamous error message given by the Firefox internet browser. As an error message, it fits nicely with the gmail-interpretation of the comic, though it is also very likely to be used as an apology in the sexual interpretation.


It could also simply be a jab to people who stay connected late even when doing nothing, as when a lag occurs.


Transcript

"This seems to be taking longer than usual-"

"-Try reloading Gmail if the problem persists."

"-Maybe we should just go to bed."

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Discussion

Can we keep this as the explanation? Untothebreach (talk) 08:30, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

I deleted the {{incomplete}} template. 108.162.221.13 13:27, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

the "orgasm" part of the interpretation feel really shaky, i don't believe it to be what the strip is about; Gmail and firefox are not exclusive user of those specific messages, i am not sure whether an extended or complete list would help108.162.228.161 09:58, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

Eh, it seems right to me unless "maybe we should just go to bed" is a quote from something. --108.162.241.131 10:27, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
Only thing I can place is a [song], Robert Smith has appeared in XKCD before Kev (talk) 21:54, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

Understanding this comic seems to be taking longer than usual... oh, yes, OK, two responses to a single observation made in quite different situations. I think I'll just go to bed. 198.41.238.32 11:11, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

I'm not completely convinced. The explanation is the first thing I thought of, but "bed" makes it awkward. Aren't you typically in bed, when the second thing happens? If that's the intended meaning, it seems so much better to use "sleep" that it makes me wonder if I am missing something. 108.162.241.135 16:30, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

You are thinking about it too logically :). Think more colloquially. When two people are "sleeping together" we don't consider them to be sharing a bed during a nocturnal rest cycle, we all know what is really happening. In fact, they may never "sleep together" in the literal application for all the "sleeping" they do.--R0hrshach (talk) 17:04, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
I'm completely unconvinced. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

198.41.235.53 17:46, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

"aren't you typically in bed...?" Oh no, definitely not. Randall's past comics have included numerous instances of out-of-bed stimulation and experimentation; and note the key word "just" in "just go to bed." Imagining some such activity just adds to the humor.Taibhse (talk) 02:23, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
Yes if you have not spotted those that would be an Oversight ;-) --Kynde (talk) 14:41, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

At first, I read it as 'maybe I/you should just go to bed', in which case it would merely be about the user being online too late. But 'we' seems a deliberate reference to two people. That makes the 'sex' meaning a lot more plausible. 108.162.242.135 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

I don't know about most places, but where I live, when lag stops I know I need to go to bed (Lag from ~7pm to 10pm) —Artyer (talk|ctb) 16:55, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

What was X. K. C. D. doing there? GcGYSF(asterisk)P(vertical line)e (talk) 23:23, 3 May 2022 (UTC)