tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post3041985485269739845..comments2024-03-17T05:03:46.056-07:00Comments on xkcd sucks: Comic 398: A Thoughtful Essay On "Tap That Ass"Carlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-73046069646799061102010-12-10T02:00:27.043-08:002010-12-10T02:00:27.043-08:00In Panel 1 & Panel 2, the oucome of tapping is...In Panel 1 & Panel 2, the oucome of tapping is a reward. In Panel 3...the character thought of saying something brilliant but had to say "and extract delicious maple syrup" which seems to be the obvious (and boring) thing to do...so he thinks what a pervert usually thinks when he sees a hole...lol. Maple syrup becomes secondary. Does this not seem funny to you guys?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08186790099780692644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-82175157065928653512010-08-04T20:33:14.913-07:002010-08-04T20:33:14.913-07:00except that I'll gladly list 15 comics that ma...except that I'll gladly list 15 comics that make me feel woefully inferior. It's hardly superior to think that you can help improve one comic. Now, if I said ALL webcomics sucked, then yes, that would be a problem. But I'll gladly list people funnier, smarter, better than me and have no problem with it.Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-4090520902167362632010-08-04T11:57:48.253-07:002010-08-04T11:57:48.253-07:00You know all those comics making fun of people who...You know all those comics making fun of people who make asses of themselves to feel "smugly superior"?<br /><br />I'm looking at you.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-23360865756249745042010-06-07T21:20:40.871-07:002010-06-07T21:20:40.871-07:00sometimes i make an entire website around criticiz...sometimes i make an entire website around criticizing a ONE panel comic.<br /><br />anyway, what have you done with your life that allows you to proclaim death upon me?Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-967552113454905572010-06-07T15:40:03.813-07:002010-06-07T15:40:03.813-07:00This is stupid. If you're going to make an ent...This is stupid. If you're going to make an entire website around critizing a four-panel-drawn-with_sticks comic, you're better dead.<br /><br />Really, if something, that comic is feeding your childen by allowing you making a site about it.damianhttp://damian.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-1678249336524296352010-04-30T09:48:35.596-07:002010-04-30T09:48:35.596-07:00i can't tell if you are trying to argue for me...i can't tell if you are trying to argue for me or against me but I think you make a good argument in my favor, namely that "tap that" would make sense but "tap that ass" wouldn't, which is what I have been trying to say.Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-78763715161400158852010-04-24T14:59:58.822-07:002010-04-24T14:59:58.822-07:00Wow, people are pretty dumb. Coming back and read...Wow, people are pretty dumb. Coming back and reading the comments here, it's really easy to see how this blog evolved from "xkcd: Overrated" to "hate death kill kxcd bile." I don't mean that to come across as offensive as it probably does.<br /><br />In case anyone comes back to this one, the etymology of the word tap:<br />1 (v) strike lightly [from Old French]<br />2 (n) stopper, faucet [from Proto Germanic]<br />3 (v) [from 1] put a hole in a container containing liquid, and stopper the hole with a faucet<br /><br />One can tap a beer barrel, or similarly tap a tree for its sap. By replacing "liquid" with "electrons" (or "information,") it's quite easy to understand the "wire-tap" -- i.e. knock a metaphorical hole in the telephone wire and access the magic talk juice that flows therein.<br /><br />There, now I've explained panels 2 and 3, in light of the pun. Panel 4 is the punchline because of its total lack of pun, or subtlety. I still don't get panel 1, though: I can't recognise the pun, because I don't know of a non-sexual use of "tap that" in the context of board meetings. This only leads me to assume that the comic formula is:<br />1. sexy use of 'tap that'<br />2. pun based on panel 1 by reproducing the linguistic formula but altering the intended meaning, introducing ambiguity<br />3. pun based on panel 1 (..ditto)<br />4. explanation of why 3 is a pun, by removing the ambiguity.<br /><br />It's a bit shit.Matthew (the photoshopper)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-24461425557128706362010-03-29T19:08:57.145-07:002010-03-29T19:08:57.145-07:00The majority of you are idiots. Please close your ...The majority of you are idiots. Please close your blogspot account and move on. Thank you.Jimmy Jim-Jim Jimmie-o.http://www.xkcd.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-10298128372316418422010-02-27T15:00:25.409-08:002010-02-27T15:00:25.409-08:00OK, I think there's a way we can settle this, ...OK, I think there's a way we can settle this, actually. Pop culture - it tends to be a reflection of culture in general, no? I mean, people in movies don't usually call each other "dinglebags" because people in real life generally don't. So which examples from pop culture have people calling each other asses? I'll try to counter each one with someone calling another an asshole.<br /><br />SCEINCECarlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-76914495064204937332010-02-17T14:39:11.501-08:002010-02-17T14:39:11.501-08:00On occasion, I am called an ass, and not for my re...On occasion, I am called an ass, and not for my rear. "Don't be an ass" or "Why did you behave like an ass?" or I may say "That ass cut me off"<br /><br />I don't think you own American English, so it's preposterous to say what is acceptable to Americans. It may be that you need to get out more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-28028126232077063922009-11-28T18:04:16.489-08:002009-11-28T18:04:16.489-08:00Okay...Not to sound stupid, but having you explain...Okay...Not to sound stupid, but having you explain it makes me get this comic even less. I thought it was just people mentally joking about having sex with weird metaphors semi-related to their current situation (which is not particularly funny either but it seems like something bored people would think about).<br /><br />But now I just...don't get it. Why do they say "tap that ass" when talking about a phone? Or...whatever's going on in the first panel? I thought it was a joke about "sleeping to the top", and then a joke about, I don't know, sexual harrassment by law enforcement, and then a joke about tree-philes.<br /><br />Now actually hearing that this wasn't Munroe's intent makes it confusing and completely unfunny. Not that police officers privately considering rape is amusing in the first place, but now it doesn't even make -sense-.<br /><br />Damn you Randall. The only way your comics are even slightly funny is when I miss the point and misinterpret them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-47095270352484777812009-11-22T05:14:36.567-08:002009-11-22T05:14:36.567-08:00The Carl Out Of SpaceThe Carl Out Of Spacershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-14646544565419391432009-11-22T01:32:21.898-08:002009-11-22T01:32:21.898-08:00i am from spacei am from spaceCarlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-90119085399310346272009-11-20T19:35:37.115-08:002009-11-20T19:35:37.115-08:00Which part of the country are you from, Carl? On t...Which part of the country are you from, Carl? On the West Coast, I hear ass constantly to describe people who are irritating, but don't quite warrant the vulgarism asshole. You have never heard 'don't be such an ass' or the simpler 'You ass.'?<br /><br />Given the theme of xkcd's comics, it seems obvious that wordplay and the absurd twists on grammar, definitions, and expected values in this comic are intentional. The pedantic reaction of BUT YOU'RE USING THE COLLOQUIALISM WRONG is, I think, what makes it funny. <br /><br />I do think that panel three could have been improved had the tree been replaced with something that actually makes sense in the context of 'ass' -- as do the the first two panels, thus: <br /><br />I'd tap (colloquialism, have sex with) that ass (colloquialism, idiot) for a promotion. <br /><br />I'd tap (informal, wiretap -- one definition being 'to listen in on by means of a wiretap', thus 'I'd listen in on [that ass] by means of a wiretap') that ass. <br /><br />Panel three is inconsistent, however, with its wordplay, as it is one part linguistically sound (yet absurd) and one part merely absurd. I would argue that this might have been improved by swapping out a tree with the 1920s French automobile ASS. Perhaps "I'd tap that ASS to steal some gas." It would continue along the absurd (using tapping as one would a tree or keg in an unconventional way and using an obscure definition of ASS, which is indistinguishable from ass because the comics are in all capitals) and lead up to a last panel of 'I'd have sex with that car,' which is equally silly. <br /><br />I've briefly browsed over your site, and must say that I am very amused. The very act of analyzing a web comic with rigid, entirely non-humorous guidelines on what is allowed to be funny is, in and of itself, comical.Emhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02752692998492377047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-7539211621932720062009-11-03T19:56:02.985-08:002009-11-03T19:56:02.985-08:00I don't know, you just sound british to me. &q...I don't know, you just sound british to me. "Silly asshole" might not sound right, but to me it sounds better than "silly ass" which is just about the pansiest insult I can think of. The best phrase, of course, is "fucking asshole"<br /><br />Consider this your memo.Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-32873526223860219472009-11-02T21:53:06.133-08:002009-11-02T21:53:06.133-08:00I know I'm terribly late on this, but I only j...I know I'm terribly late on this, but I only just found the site, and I was wondering...<br /><br />...since when do we not use the word "ass" sans hole to describe people in America? This is news to me. I do it regularly, preferring it over asshole. After all, if you say "x is a silly asshole," it just doesn't sound right.<br /><br />So why didn't I get the memo about not using the word "ass"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-83047410041174675072009-09-14T18:49:33.326-07:002009-09-14T18:49:33.326-07:00I'm not getting where everyone thinks that thi...I'm not getting where everyone thinks that this was anything <i>but</i> a play on using "I'd tap that ass" and Carl, I don't believe you when you say that Americans only say "asshole" and not "ass" to describe someone. Now I may not actually be in the right position to argue this since I'm Canadian, but I watch lots of American programming and still know lots of American people and I have heard "ass" used in a lighter, not as serious or condescending, mood than asshole, where the person saying it is probably saying it to show they don't like that person.<br /><br />I think the new version works better for the whole "oh ho ho, you thought I was talking about sex didn't you ;D" at the beginning (then there's the punchline at the end to say "oh yeah, I guess I could've meant sex too") because with the original usage of ass, my mind automatically went to sex, and I was actually kind of confused on the first readthrough, but on the second I figured the guy was just saying it wherever he thought it could be applied, but then he realised he openly thought about having sex with a tree and had to stop to think about that.<br /><br />I dunno, they both are funny in their own way, but if we wanted a more secretive (I guess punny) version of it, I would go with the rewrite, and keep the original for audacity, but giggles <i>for</i> its audacityCamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18388252234713990053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-33938715863419596882009-09-01T19:58:49.904-07:002009-09-01T19:58:49.904-07:00I like the original better. It's not just the ...I like the original better. It's not just the initial idea, and then a twist (as yours is), the inclusion of ass (definitely not an accident) gives it a nice element of the absurd. Not that the panels don't actually make sense. "Ass" is used to replace a lot of strangely disparate antecedents, the comic just adds some more.Keithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-15606289712738450072009-08-26T03:46:00.367-07:002009-08-26T03:46:00.367-07:00Carl said: "I'd tap that ass" means ...Carl said: "I'd tap that ass" means to have sex with. NOTHING ELSE.<br /><br />Only if you live in a world where 'ass' has only one meaning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-79641045352827025412009-08-18T21:47:42.462-07:002009-08-18T21:47:42.462-07:00My interpretation was that the comic was commentin...My interpretation was that the comic was commenting on people using "I'd tap that ass" and then adding something on as a qualifier the like of which that you are so grievously annoyed at the comic.<br /><br />I have heard people use the 'i'd tap that ass' and then add on a tag phrase like the comic does. The fourth panel is supposed to be the down to earth guy who quite frankly isn't about to misuse a phrase just to sound clever or witty- he truthfully would tap that ass... if a tree had an ass. He would have sex with the tree. He wouldn't be making a clever attempt at commentary on the phrase, he'd just simply have sex with it.<br /><br />In a way I found your article entertaining... It explained the joke I saw pretty much to the letter but missed the point. The first three don't make sense, the last one avoids the broken phrase and is brutally honest.<br /><br />But thats just me.Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09258589566448284831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-79448767440878448442009-07-28T14:17:32.312-07:002009-07-28T14:17:32.312-07:00OK well first, that isn't really how the word ...OK well first, that isn't really how the word is used in america (as I've said, we like the word "asshole" to describe people) and even if we did, you don't say you are tapping a person when you tap their phone, you say you are tapping their phone. Likewise, no one would describe a tree as an "ass" so panel 3 doesn't make any sense with your interpretation.<br /><br />Sorry, I really think that here he just fucked it up. Nothing more complex than that.Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-90855213805454070862009-07-28T09:22:05.685-07:002009-07-28T09:22:05.685-07:00Think of it not as "(I'd tap that ass)......Think of it not as "(I'd tap that ass)...", but as "(I'd tap that) ass...".<br /><br />ie, the word "ass" can refer to a person, and not just as an insult.Nulonohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00696072610155482618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-4232988308880116912009-05-01T21:42:00.000-07:002009-05-01T21:42:00.000-07:00Hmmmm...Hmmmm...Fucknoymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-50950927291108159012009-05-01T14:19:00.000-07:002009-05-01T14:19:00.000-07:00no, without "ass" it would have been a good comic....no, without "ass" it would have been a good comic. I've said comics were good before! like the lesbian experimentation one, that one was good.Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-2634038611636846842009-05-01T10:44:00.000-07:002009-05-01T10:44:00.000-07:00I suspect that if Randall had followed your sugges...I suspect that if Randall had followed your suggestion and left out the "ass" part, you still would find something else wrong with it. You seem to be very good at doing that.Fucknoymousnoreply@blogger.com