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Difference between revisions of "Tagline"

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
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(Added all the taglines and dates. Will be updates soon with links)
(Organized all the taglines and dates. Will be updated soon with web archive links)
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:''See also: [[explain xkcd:Tagline]] ''
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{{TOC}}The '''tagline''' is a short text that appears at the top of the [[xkcd]] main page, regardless of which comic is being viewed. It provided a brief description of the comic and its update schedule, until the latter was moved to the [[header text]]. While the tagline has evolved since the early days of the site, it has consistently referenced the comic's themes.
  
The '''tagline''' appears at the top of the [[xkcd]] main page, regardless of which comic is being viewed.
+
==0. Before the tagline==
 +
Prior to October 24th, 2004, before the initial tagline was introduced, the website didn't use the name "xkcd" and didn't include any comics. During that time, the site's message simply stated:
  
[[Category:Design of xkcd]]
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:I don't use this page for much. It goes un-updated for a long time, and I don't really change the content, though I'm thinking of putting together a good links page. For now I just mostly use this to host pictures.
{{xkcdmeta}}
+
 
 +
==1. First tagline==
 +
The first recognized tagline, as the site transitioned into hosting comics, was used from at least October 18th, 2005, to November 26th, 2005. It stated:
 +
 
 +
:I draw things. There's a new one every M/W/F. There's an RSS feed (taken from the [http://www.livejournal.com/users/xkcd_drawings/info drawings journal]) [http://www.livejournal.com/users/xkcd_drawings/rss.xml here].
 +
 
 +
This tagline effectively communicated the core premise of xkcd: the author, Randall Munroe, drawing various illustrations and publishing a new comic every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It also provided a link to the RSS feed for users to access new comics as soon as they were released.
 +
 
 +
==2. Second tagline==
 +
The second tagline, introduced after a brief break from December 5th, 2005, to January 4th, 2006, removed the reference to the update schedule, as no comics were published during that period. It stated:
  
Write a Wikipedia article about the tagline of xkcd.com. You don't need to explain what xkcd is, just talk about the tagline.
+
:I draw things. There's an RSS feed (taken from the [http://www.livejournal.com/users/xkcd_drawings/info drawings journal]) [http://www.livejournal.com/users/xkcd_drawings/rss.xml here].
  
This was the first "tagline", when the site wasn't even called xkcd or had any comics, on October 24th, 2004:
+
==3. Third tagline==
 +
On February 7th, 2006, a new tagline was introduced, which marked the beginning of a series of major changes to the tagline format. It read:
  
"I don't use this page for much. It goes un-updated for a long time, and I don't really change the content, though I'm thinking of putting together a good links page. For now I just mostly use this to host pictures."
+
:A webcomic of romance and math humor.
 +
:Updated three times a week.
 +
:[http://www.xkcd.com/rss.xml RSS Feed]
  
The actual first tagline was this one, which remained in use from at least October 18th, 2005 to November 26th, 2005:
+
This third tagline highlighted the themes of romance and math humor prevalent in the comic, along with the old update schedule of three times a week.
  
"I draw things. There's a new one every M/W/F. There's an RSS feed (taken from the drawings journal) here."
+
==4. Fourth tagline==
 +
Between February 7th, 2006, and April 8th, 2006, the fourth tagline made a minor alteration by emphasizing the regularity of updates. It stated:
  
The second tagline was this one. Randall removed the "There's a new one every M/W/F." part since he was taking a break from December 5th, 2005 to January 4th, 2006, during which no comics were published:
+
:A webcomic of romance and geek humor. Updated on time every M/W/F since 1779.
 +
:
 +
:[http://www.xkcd.com/rss.xml RSS Feed]
  
"I draw things. There's an RSS feed (taken from the drawings journal) here."
+
This modification humorously suggested that the comic had been consistently updating for a significant period, dating back to the year 1779, and continued to provide the RSS feed link.
  
This is the third tagline, which appeared from at least February 7th, 2006:
+
==5. Fifth tagline==
 +
The fifth tagline, added between April 14th, 2006, and April 15th, 2006, further expanded the description of the comic and introduced new features. It read:
  
"A webcomic of romance and math humor.
+
:A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.
Updated three times a week.
+
:Updated every MWF.
[RSS Feed http://www.xkcd.com/rss.xml]"
+
:
 +
:[http://www.xkcd.com/rss.xml RSS Feed]
 +
:'''New:''' [http://forums.xkcd.com/ Forums]
  
The fourth tagline appeared between February 7th, 2006 and April 8th, 2006:
+
This tagline was the first to mention all the comic's themes that are still on the site today. It also highlighted the update schedule of every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and added a link to the new xkcd forums, providing readers with a platform for discussion.
  
"A webcomic of romance and geek humor. Updated on time every M/W/F since 1779.
+
==6. Sixth tagline==
 +
The sixth tagline, introduced before April 23rd, 2006, maintained the same description of the comic, but adjusted the wording of the update schedule. It read:
  
[RSS Feed http://www.xkcd.com/rss.xml]"
+
:A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.
 +
:Updated every Mon/Wed/Fri.
 +
:[http://www.xkcd.com/rss.xml RSS Feed]
 +
:'''New:''' [http://forums.xkcd.com/ Forums]
  
The fifth tagline was added between April 14th, 2006 and April 15th, 2006:
+
This change in the update schedule format from "MWF" to "Mon/Wed/Fri" aimed to enhance clarity and readability for users.
  
"A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.
+
==7. Seventh tagline==
Updated every MWF.
 
  
[RSS Feed http://www.xkcd.com/rss.xml]
+
The seventh tagline, introduced between June 13rd, 2006, and June 16th, 2006, maintained the same overall description of the comic, but removed the "'''New:'''" notice before the link to the forums. It read:
'''New:''' [Forums http://forums.xkcd.com/]"
 
  
The sixth tagline was added before April 23rd, 2006:
+
:A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.
 +
:Updated every Mon/Wed/Fri.
 +
:[http://www.xkcd.com/rss.xml RSS Feed]
 +
:[http://forums.xkcd.com/ Forums]
  
"A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.
+
==8. Current tagline==
Updated every Mon/Wed/Fri.
 
[RSS Feed http://www.xkcd.com/rss.xml]
 
'''New:''' [Forums http://forums.xkcd.com/]"
 
  
The seventh tagline was added between June 13rd, 2006 and June 16th, 2006:
+
The tagline underwent its final change between July 6th, 2006, and July 10th, 2006, coinciding with the site redesign. The updated tagline no longer explicitly mentioned the update schedule, which was moved to the [[header text]], and the forums, which were moved to the [[links]]. It read:
  
"A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.
+
:A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.
Updated every Mon/Wed/Fri.
 
[RSS Feed http://www.xkcd.com/rss.xml]
 
[Forums http://forums.xkcd.com/]"
 
  
The tagline was changed for the last time between July 6th, 2006 and July 10th, 2006 with the redesign of the site:
+
This concise tagline, without additional details or links, has since remained the official tagline of xkcd.
  
"A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language."
+
[[Category:Design of xkcd]]
 +
{{xkcdmeta}}

Revision as of 14:06, 28 May 2023

The tagline is a short text that appears at the top of the xkcd main page, regardless of which comic is being viewed. It provided a brief description of the comic and its update schedule, until the latter was moved to the header text. While the tagline has evolved since the early days of the site, it has consistently referenced the comic's themes.

0. Before the tagline

Prior to October 24th, 2004, before the initial tagline was introduced, the website didn't use the name "xkcd" and didn't include any comics. During that time, the site's message simply stated:

I don't use this page for much. It goes un-updated for a long time, and I don't really change the content, though I'm thinking of putting together a good links page. For now I just mostly use this to host pictures.

1. First tagline

The first recognized tagline, as the site transitioned into hosting comics, was used from at least October 18th, 2005, to November 26th, 2005. It stated:

I draw things. There's a new one every M/W/F. There's an RSS feed (taken from the drawings journal) here.

This tagline effectively communicated the core premise of xkcd: the author, Randall Munroe, drawing various illustrations and publishing a new comic every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It also provided a link to the RSS feed for users to access new comics as soon as they were released.

2. Second tagline

The second tagline, introduced after a brief break from December 5th, 2005, to January 4th, 2006, removed the reference to the update schedule, as no comics were published during that period. It stated:

I draw things. There's an RSS feed (taken from the drawings journal) here.

3. Third tagline

On February 7th, 2006, a new tagline was introduced, which marked the beginning of a series of major changes to the tagline format. It read:

A webcomic of romance and math humor.
Updated three times a week.
RSS Feed

This third tagline highlighted the themes of romance and math humor prevalent in the comic, along with the old update schedule of three times a week.

4. Fourth tagline

Between February 7th, 2006, and April 8th, 2006, the fourth tagline made a minor alteration by emphasizing the regularity of updates. It stated:

A webcomic of romance and geek humor. Updated on time every M/W/F since 1779.
RSS Feed

This modification humorously suggested that the comic had been consistently updating for a significant period, dating back to the year 1779, and continued to provide the RSS feed link.

5. Fifth tagline

The fifth tagline, added between April 14th, 2006, and April 15th, 2006, further expanded the description of the comic and introduced new features. It read:

A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.
Updated every MWF.
RSS Feed
New: Forums

This tagline was the first to mention all the comic's themes that are still on the site today. It also highlighted the update schedule of every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and added a link to the new xkcd forums, providing readers with a platform for discussion.

6. Sixth tagline

The sixth tagline, introduced before April 23rd, 2006, maintained the same description of the comic, but adjusted the wording of the update schedule. It read:

A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.
Updated every Mon/Wed/Fri.
RSS Feed
New: Forums

This change in the update schedule format from "MWF" to "Mon/Wed/Fri" aimed to enhance clarity and readability for users.

7. Seventh tagline

The seventh tagline, introduced between June 13rd, 2006, and June 16th, 2006, maintained the same overall description of the comic, but removed the "New:" notice before the link to the forums. It read:

A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.
Updated every Mon/Wed/Fri.
RSS Feed
Forums

8. Current tagline

The tagline underwent its final change between July 6th, 2006, and July 10th, 2006, coinciding with the site redesign. The updated tagline no longer explicitly mentioned the update schedule, which was moved to the header text, and the forums, which were moved to the links. It read:

A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.

This concise tagline, without additional details or links, has since remained the official tagline of xkcd.