tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post3703267644516762382..comments2024-03-17T05:03:46.056-07:00Comments on xkcd sucks: Comic 783: Lost the PlotCarlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-11743844283589604992010-08-30T07:45:42.965-07:002010-08-30T07:45:42.965-07:00What "me" said.What "me" said.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-28961287109260527482010-08-28T04:20:04.217-07:002010-08-28T04:20:04.217-07:00Probably the most boring entry I've ever read....Probably the most boring entry I've ever read. We get it aloria, you're all bitter and need to get laid, but people don't come here to see how many swear words per sentence you can crank out. Carl's reviews are a lot more interesting, and I hope this is the last time you write an entry for a comic.Mehttp://meeee.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-46173351893087857612010-08-27T15:50:33.906-07:002010-08-27T15:50:33.906-07:00Not to mention it's pretty much this:
http://...Not to mention it's pretty much this:<br /><br />http://www.songlyrics.com/psychostick/girl-directions-lyrics/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-73260446242362480712010-08-27T11:06:34.705-07:002010-08-27T11:06:34.705-07:00and you aren't very good at being condescendin...and you aren't very good at being condescending and dismissive. or at backpedaling, really, but nobody's actually good at that so much as some people are capable of more spectacular feats of idiocy than others.rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-74532053069651313952010-08-27T08:35:37.599-07:002010-08-27T08:35:37.599-07:00Proof that GPS devices are TRYING TO KILL US ALL:
...Proof that GPS devices are TRYING TO KILL US ALL:<br /><br />http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703632304575451411654916060.htmlaloriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01318832080088871491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-36171653315632144892010-08-27T08:34:14.153-07:002010-08-27T08:34:14.153-07:00lol
You're cute when you're angry.lol<br /><br />You're cute when you're angry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-80373619953159534232010-08-27T08:17:41.150-07:002010-08-27T08:17:41.150-07:00poor whiny debate club kid, can't handle when ...poor whiny debate club kid, can't handle when people call him on the fact that he's entirely fucking wrong. "it's the AUTHOR'S fault that I read things into the text that aren't there!"rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-74106026361626643062010-08-27T08:06:02.422-07:002010-08-27T08:06:02.422-07:00Damn, you children are so sensitive for people who...Damn, you children are so sensitive for people who make fun of others in their spare time.<br /><br />Yeah, I spend my free time poking fun at bad books but I can take a joke at my expense :) I expect it. In fact, I post a lot of the hate mail that I receive because it's funny.<br /><br />Is it so hard for you to understand that when you post on the internet people are going to make assumptions about you based on what YOU write? I made assumptions based on your words and it's your fault if you mis-communicated yourself to the point that said assumptions seemed obvious to others and false to you. You must assume that your readers know nothing about you because, most of the time, they won't. All they have to go on is your words, which poorly communicated your stance on this issue.<br /><br />Grow thicker skin, kiddos. You run a blog about how much you hate something, be prepared to have people disagree with your reasoning even when they agree with your cause.<br /><br />And yes, I know that I'm a condescending douche. It's because I'm better than you. You're probably not tech savvy enough to realize that I'm being sarcastic. Or smart enough to realize that everything I write is steeped in irony.<br /><br />/sarcastic doucheryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-76534329299400883132010-08-27T07:26:27.626-07:002010-08-27T07:26:27.626-07:00Thanks for the reply, sorry I rambled so much.
&#...Thanks for the reply, sorry I rambled so much.<br /><br />'it's true I am outright saying that any claims that people, after you have expressly said "I do not need directions, just the address," will ignore that request directly, are probably grossly misremembered or misrepresented.'<br /><br />I understand that you believe this. Looking back, though, I'm confident that I'm right. It is very common for older people not to be interested in technology anymore, having seen it change so much in their lives that following it becomes pointless. That's a stereotype, yes, but one that is supported by 3/4 of my grandparents and most of their church friends. These people really do grouse about the internet. They don't understand the limitations of GPS, and they aren't interested. They see me all excited about this latest thing, maybe feel a bit insecure about being in the dark, and fall back to what they know: street-by-street directions. It really does happen this way in real life. At the risk of seeming even more bigoted, maybe it's more common in Southern Baptists who grew up outside of cities (i.e. most of my family and their friends).<br /><br />You've convinced me that I was being disrespectful by laughing about it later, though. I can live with that. They don't respect a lot of the things I do, either, but on the balance we value each other.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03026133809673291631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-11109482407428813952010-08-27T02:00:22.687-07:002010-08-27T02:00:22.687-07:00"I've seen Carl compliment xkcd strips, t..."I've seen Carl compliment xkcd strips, though I can't recall him really liking any recent ones. I'm curious as to which ones you consider high quality, and I don't see a list for that on the left. Would you mind listing one or two? It's fine if it's old ones. In fact, what do you think of the Centripetal Force strip?"<br /><br />I know I've gone on record as saying I liked his ASW parody during his parody week (though I think he could tighten the dialog). I liked the centripetal force one (if you mean "No Mr Bond I expect you to die!"), and most of the early ones are still pretty all right. I actually tended to enjoy his various quasi-existentialist/absurdist "seize the day" types, which is pretty uncommon for the nerds here but they were my favorites when I still enjoyed XKCD, and I still enjoy the older ones.<br /><br />I don't recall specific recent ones I've enjoyed but there have been a few of them, and they were never as good as the old ones.<br /><br />"What I mean is, you *seem* to be saying that everyone understands GPS technology."<br /><br />mostly I'm saying that he's being a smug and condescending douche to people who don't understand it, but also that most people will not continue to attempt to give you directions if they say "it's cool, I can find it." <br /><br />it's true I am outright saying that any claims that people, after you have expressly said "I do not need directions, just the address," will ignore that request directly, are probably grossly misremembered or misrepresented. I'm not saying it's dishonest, but people are not that rude, and it's more likely that, if they continue, they are expressing skepticism for your confidence in your machine, or that you were not sufficiently clear in your request for directions.<br /><br />memory is an unreliable thing, see. people tend to remember what they want to remember, and they never remember things they didn't think to consider or notice when the event happened.<br /><br />"I'd say the fact that you think GPS's often fail to direct people to their destinations provides a counter-example (since I disagree with that idea) but that's just me."<br /><br />it's not that they "often fail," it's that they definitely fail on occasions (if you disagree with this you are flat out wrong), and that there are parts which are tricky to navigate with a navigational aid, and that the GPS is unreliable in those areas, not because its directions are wrong, but because computers aren't notoriously good at telling people "this bit is kind of weird."<br /><br />"And while it seems disrespectful, I insist that it is not meant that way."<br /><br />not to be a dick or anything, but you're aware that bigots always defend their bigotry by saying that it's not intended as bigoted, right?<br /><br />like, racists say "I didn't mean to be racist" and sexists say "I didn't mean to be sexist." perhaps that's okay with you, but where I come from you can be a bigot without actively thinking "man, I'm going to be a bigot here." or to tone it down a bit, I would say that most disrespect was not intentional disrespect. most of it is, in fact, people assuming that mocking someone is all in harmless fun. people don't /intend/ to be dicks or condescending or disrespectful most of the time, it just kind of happens. saying you didn't intend for it is not really a defense.rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-19010956676332316912010-08-27T01:23:07.946-07:002010-08-27T01:23:07.946-07:00Heh. I had fun raging in my previous post, and th...Heh. I had fun raging in my previous post, and thanks for the polite response. I do still love your blog, and like someone else said, it is usually funnier than the actual XKCD nowadays.<br /><br />I've seen Carl compliment xkcd strips, though I can't recall him really liking any recent ones. I'm curious as to which ones you consider high quality, and I don't see a list for that on the left. Would you mind listing one or two? It's fine if it's old ones. In fact, what do you think of the Centripetal Force strip?<br /><br />My calling you all Luddites was... not really thought out. Sorry (: After reading and comprehending (I hope), it looks like you think people like my grandparents don't exist. What I mean is, you *seem* to be saying that everyone understands GPS technology. I'd say the fact that you think GPS's often fail to direct people to their destinations provides a counter-example (since I disagree with that idea) but that's just me. Personally, I have had a conversation with my father's step-father that flowed almost exactly like the one in the comic, except that I ended up waiting until he got to the last two street names instead of tricking him. I asked for the address three times. He wasn't senile, he just had no idea what a GPS was, and was used to giving directions. He literally mentioned a barn and a country store. Now, there is *nothing wrong* with someone in their 70's not knowing about GPS systems. He lived a full life (I miss him). He was a cook in the army, drove trolleys, and amazing at refurbishing furniture. My brother and I have the utmost respect for him. And yet, we did laugh about him trying to give us directions. It relieves the stress of a frustrating situation, and it brings us together by sharing a common experience of our generation. And while it seems disrespectful, I insist that it is not meant that way.<br /><br />According to the census bureau, in 2000, 51% of US households had at least one computer.<br />http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percentage_of_US_households_have_a_computer<br /><br />While the numbers are surely much higher now, please accept that not everyone is familiar with this fairly new technology.<br /><br />I apologize for the above, it's 4:15AM. I enjoy your blog very much.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03026133809673291631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-43341942029492638352010-08-26T21:49:26.718-07:002010-08-26T21:49:26.718-07:00commenting on the blog is glitchy as fuck, dude. C...commenting on the blog is glitchy as fuck, dude. Carl (the administrator, the only person who can delete comments) is not here, and has never once deleted a comment that was not spam. he usually doesn't even delete spam comments. actually he frequently approves the ones that are obvious spam that are pending on old posts.<br /><br />but keep up with the paranoia if you like, it's totally cool.<br /><br />I'm not sure why you think I care about people who don't understand technology and science instead of about people who are just fucking cowardly morons.rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-41981559349081221932010-08-26T21:45:19.408-07:002010-08-26T21:45:19.408-07:00One of the few things that makes me hate blogs is ...One of the few things that makes me hate blogs is when the administrator deletes comments because he doesn't agree with them. You even left a response to a comment that you apparently don't want anyone else to see.<br /><br />Ooh, here's an idea:<br />Can someone explain to me what the fuck Rob’s problem is? We get it dude, you’re super smart and tech-saavy and doomed to live in a world populated by morons who just don’t get technology and science like you do. Maybe if you weren’t such a condescending (and patronizing) douche, you could try educating some people instead of constantly portraying them as clueless retards in your comment thread.<br /><br />I seem to have changed less than ten words.<br />Anyway, I'll go back to reading silently now. Feeding the trolls is only fun once.Andrew Wileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12085750116563137432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-84125304872349308512010-08-26T21:40:47.278-07:002010-08-26T21:40:47.278-07:00that isn't preemptive, kid. that is, in fact, ...that isn't preemptive, kid. that is, in fact, describing the premise of this comic. nice try though!rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-17778480958893131532010-08-26T21:38:32.347-07:002010-08-26T21:38:32.347-07:00"Poisoning the well (or attempting to poison ..."Poisoning the well (or attempting to poison the well) is a logical fallacy where adverse information about a target is pre-emptively presented to an audience, with the intention of discrediting or ridiculing everything that the target person is about to say."<br /><br />Opening paragraph: "Can someone explain to me what the fuck Randall Munroe’s problem is? We get it dude, you’re super smart and tech-saavy and doomed to live in a world populated by morons who just don’t get technology and science like you do. Maybe if you weren’t such a condescending douche, you could try educating some people instead of constantly portraying them as clueless retards in your pictoblog, erm, webcomic."<br /><br />Seems pretty simple to me.Andrew Wileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12085750116563137432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-48854016842568258292010-08-26T21:34:40.554-07:002010-08-26T21:34:40.554-07:00that's not what poisoning the well means, kidthat's not what poisoning the well means, kidrshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-13982905090429926092010-08-26T21:30:20.143-07:002010-08-26T21:30:20.143-07:00Rob and aloria:
I *tried* to post anonymously beca...Rob and aloria:<br />I *tried* to post anonymously because my Blogger account only exists because I helped someone else set up a blog, and I didn't want to post here as if it was mine.<br />Now that I've disabled my profile, that isn't a concern. Sorry if I didn't understand Blogger after using it for about 30 minutes in total, most of which was spent figuring out the simplest way to get the "someone else" an account in the least confusing way possible.<br /><br />But yea, I've been reading this blog quietly for a while now, and generally, I agree. XKCD just isn't that funny anymore, and I, too, would be pleased if Randall went to a pictoblog.<br />However, what you posted here isn't really a post or a criticism, it's a rant. Normally, the comics are carefully deconstructed to show flaws, poor delivery, and poor choice of comedic content, but here, you followed the logical fallacy of "poisoning the well," where rather than attacking the content, you attacked the author. The only thing you've really proven in my mind is that you hate Randall.Andrew Wileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12085750116563137432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-1320444286837515642010-08-26T20:17:28.787-07:002010-08-26T20:17:28.787-07:00Yeah, even my phone has GPS on it, and I have one ...Yeah, even my phone has GPS on it, and I have one of the cheapest models out there. I haven't subscribed to the service, mostly because I have a map if I get lost, and I know the city pretty well otherwise. That and navigating to new places is an enjoyable challenge, rather than an inconvenience to be avoided.rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-1908996206327297072010-08-26T20:14:10.498-07:002010-08-26T20:14:10.498-07:00Oh, and why the fuck would anyone buy a TomTom whe...Oh, and why the fuck would anyone buy a TomTom when GPS software is on pretty much any phone that isn't of the Fisher Price "buh my phone only needs to make calls I enjoy toting around five billion separate devices" variety?aloriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01318832080088871491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-62463164859127294172010-08-26T20:11:23.983-07:002010-08-26T20:11:23.983-07:00I know enough about computers to run Xubuntu and S...I know enough about computers to run Xubuntu and Slackware without constantly pissing my pants, at the very least.<br /><br />Oh, and I know how to use the GPS on my Droid and Blackberry Bold, quite well, thanks.aloriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01318832080088871491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-8734569848947145272010-08-26T19:59:07.769-07:002010-08-26T19:59:07.769-07:00ugh, stop using words like "rebutted." t...ugh, stop using words like "rebutted." this is not debate club. <br /><br />especially when your "rebuttal" relies entirely on false assumptions. aloria happens to work in computer security and knows a great deal about computers and technology in general. I think she's using a Droid or one of the other innumerable Android-based phones. her unwillingness to rely entirely on GPS devices is probably based on experience with them being unreliable before. it happens.<br /><br />based mostly on Google Maps and Mapquest directions, it's pretty easy to see why. there are some roads and small towns where maybe the mapping information is incorrect--this road doesn't connect to that road, and so on. and there are lots of places where, even when the directions are entirely correct, the road is just confusing. weird intersections and streets changing names can make the directions difficult to follow, especially if you aren't paying a lot of attention to every detail.<br /><br />really all this complaining is doing is proving Aloria correct about Randy being a condescending douche--you just happen to be one of those condescending douches, so see no problem with it!<br /><br />I'm guessing conversations with the people who tried to give you directions despite your saying "I HAVE A GPS AND A LARGE PENIS" went something like this:<br /><br />Douche: "Hey, what's your address?"<br />Normal Person: "500 Fatty Boulevard. Do you know how to get there?"<br />Douche: "I'll just enter that information on my GPS DEVICE, which I have, because I am awesome, and it will guide me there infallibly!"<br />Normal Person: "Actually it's kind of tricky and the directions are kind of weird. I could help you if you--"<br />Douche: "NO I HAVE A GPS DEVICE SILENCE LUDDITE AND STOP TRYING TO OUTPERFORM THE TECHNOLOGY TO WHICH YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY SUPERIOR"<br /><br />you, of course, just interpreted their protests as not understanding how GPS works instead of as being someone who, being more familiar with the area than you, understands that the GPS might give you some less than helpful instructions and offering to provide real, human assistance. with that conversation as ammo, you come here to argue that people really are exactly as stupid as Randy depicts them, and that he deserves agreement chuckles for saying that people who don't use technology are stupid and don't understand technology.<br /><br />that is pretty much the definition of being a condescending douche. you are mocking and mischaracterizing people who do not use or trust your highly imperfect technological instruments, and calling them stupid and inept.<br /><br />back when we still had cars and drove places, it used to be common practice among people I knew to verify the directions Google Maps or a GPS was trying to give you against the actual, reasonable way that people go. <br /><br />I still frequently question the wisdom of Google Maps directions when I ask it for biking directions. it frequently tries to send me on routes which, while they exist, are more complicated and circuitous than the routes I usually take (which, I should note, are signed bike routes with sharrows, so it isn't just preferring those to normal streets).<br /><br />it's called a reality check or a sanity check. it is actually really helpful to navigation. you should try it sometime.rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-10567605892075531772010-08-26T19:53:13.185-07:002010-08-26T19:53:13.185-07:00Anon 7:17:
It would probably be best if you refra...Anon 7:17:<br /><br />It would probably be best if you refrained from trying to read my mind again, especially on what I like to call "futanari Fridays."<br /><br />Thanksaloriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01318832080088871491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-1976443009952246102010-08-26T19:30:34.976-07:002010-08-26T19:30:34.976-07:00No, because everything I enjoy is awesome.
I tota...No, because everything I enjoy is awesome.<br /><br />I totally understand your blog, I'm just playing devil's advocate because I'm an asshole. I don't particularly like the writing in this post though, it's preachy without a cause. Most of your posts here have a pretty good point behind them but whoever wrote this one has no good points to speak of, besides the lack of infallibility associated with GPSs. That point can be rebutted by pointing out that the writer of this post is exactly the kind of person who the comic is making fun of, which is somebody who doesn't understand how to update the software on their TomTom. That's probably why she hates it so much.<br /><br />I actually run an anti-Twilight site that solely exists to hate on Stephenie Meyer's literary abomination, so I know how fun it can be to be an asshole.<br /><br />For the record, this blog makes me laugh more than xkcd. Kudos on a good site. Thumbs down on your default Blogger template though. Boo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-1138444714761621742010-08-26T19:20:58.557-07:002010-08-26T19:20:58.557-07:00we say we like the comics all the time. is it so i...we say we like the comics all the time. is it so impossible for you to believe that someone might dislike something you enjoy?rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-38259217068383169172010-08-26T19:17:53.779-07:002010-08-26T19:17:53.779-07:00Here's the thing:
xkcd is mediocre about 95% ...Here's the thing:<br /><br />xkcd is mediocre about 95% of the time. It's occasionally funny and this comic is one of those occasions.<br /><br />Well, by funny I mean, "I giggled inside of my head".<br /><br />The person who wrote the rant on this comic wrote it with a pre-conceived standpoint. This comic could have been pure gold (it wasn't, but that's not the point) and you would have still posted something negative.<br /><br />Occasionally xkcd is funny, but you'll never admit that because just like Randal you have a fan base that enjoys what you post, and fuck those who don't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com