tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post4015089688071635038..comments2024-03-17T05:03:46.056-07:00Comments on xkcd sucks: Comic 805: Randall Tries BuskingCarlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-9750896567490611422010-10-27T12:48:08.840-07:002010-10-27T12:48:08.840-07:00This is obviously a narrative on how America colla...This is obviously a narrative on how America collapses into anarchy, is patrolled by Canadian peacekeepers, and then becomes a Orwellian police state.<br /><br />If Randall had any talent he'd make those images along with the (lame) lyrics above each.<br /><br />Sure it wouldn't make sense, but at least it'd be better than that shit at the top.Matthttp://4chan.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-43854455739963629042010-10-20T03:52:52.873-07:002010-10-20T03:52:52.873-07:00They probably could, depending on how retarded you...They probably <i>could</i>, depending on how retarded your accent is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-33631055288519746542010-10-19T19:30:48.288-07:002010-10-19T19:30:48.288-07:00"city" and "30" don't rhym..."city" and "30" don't rhyme, dude.aloriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01318832080088871491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-90830943345482956742010-10-19T19:23:37.937-07:002010-10-19T19:23:37.937-07:00(the saddest part is I'm pretty sure you'r...(the saddest part is I'm pretty sure you're trying to be pro-XKCD there)rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-50496151316315285792010-10-19T19:23:09.407-07:002010-10-19T19:23:09.407-07:00you're giving xkcd fans way too much credit if...you're giving xkcd fans way too much credit if you think they have an IQ over 30.rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-91534538516882962622010-10-19T19:22:10.755-07:002010-10-19T19:22:10.755-07:00Take me down to xkcd land
where linux lovers get o...Take me down to xkcd land<br />where linux lovers get out of hand<br /><br />Take me down to xkcd area <br />where Black hat evil causes hysteria<br /><br />Take me down to xkcd point<br />where life is interesting but love dissapoints<br /><br />take me down to xkcd city<br />where the grass is lush and the people have an iq over 30<br /><br />Won't you PLEASE take me hoooome....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-3796230261358068212010-10-16T19:29:15.862-07:002010-10-16T19:29:15.862-07:00Didn't Dilbert do almost this exact comic over...Didn't Dilbert do almost this exact comic over a decade ago? But, you know, better?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-23725946500076699432010-10-16T17:01:47.700-07:002010-10-16T17:01:47.700-07:00I'm not in Britain! Else I would have known wh...I'm not in Britain! Else I would have known what BT is in the first place. (Though continental europe isn't as far away from Britain as the US.)Evlnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-44523013283688144012010-10-16T16:50:50.259-07:002010-10-16T16:50:50.259-07:00It's probably the first result when you Google...It's probably the first result when you Google within Britain, but that's because Google uses your location to decide what's most relevant to you. British Telecom doesn't even show up on the first page for me.Horationoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-80137062874476659652010-10-16T08:50:40.367-07:002010-10-16T08:50:40.367-07:00Zino: "BT is British Telecom, the... well the...Zino: "BT is British Telecom, the... well the British telecommunication company, which is I think still a monopoly."<br /><br />Ah ok, no, here our telecom still exists but it's mainly an ISP like most others. (Although they still own the physical connections, but these are rented by all ISPs or so.) In any case, if you have an internet or telephone connection problem you'll call your ISP.<br /><br />"Acronyms are not that easily googleable."<br /><br />True, although in this case their site showed up as the first result. (Along with unrelated ones.) I searched for it on Wikipedia but there was lots of other stuff.Evlnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-68755653238594016772010-10-16T08:44:00.562-07:002010-10-16T08:44:00.562-07:00BT is British Telecom, the... well the British tel...BT is British Telecom, the... well the British telecommunication company, which is I think still a monopoly.<br /><br />Acronyms are not that easily googleable.Zinohttp://www.zinocircus.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-8636605482101940662010-10-16T07:03:59.488-07:002010-10-16T07:03:59.488-07:005.48am:
What's a BT? http://lmgtfy.com/?q=bt5.48am:<br /><br />What's a BT? http://lmgtfy.com/?q=btAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-38877852105142685362010-10-16T05:57:31.036-07:002010-10-16T05:57:31.036-07:00I'm not sure about this JavaScript thingie, bu...I'm not sure about this JavaScript thingie, but the examples on Wikipedia made it look like that. Although I think my description fits Java better. JavaScript is mostly used as web scripting thingy, so much I do know.Evlnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-6236143363550869852010-10-16T05:51:52.993-07:002010-10-16T05:51:52.993-07:00Mole: "but I think it had something to do wit...Mole: "<i>but I think it had something to do with it not having a proper driver coded for UNIX(this happened somewhere around 1970-80).</i>"<br /><br />To be fair, that would happen today too :-D<br /><br />Anon: "<i>On the other hand Randall probably longs for the days when only 5% of people could use the Internet, so he'd still be OK with this.</i>"<br /><br />This is of course an extreme version, but right now we have uh.. political efforts for educating more media literacy (not sure if that's the right term in english) over here. An "internet license" (like a driver's license) generally isn't that bad of an idea (though it has practical problems). This wouldn't serve to exclude less techy people; instead, everyone would be required to know a bare minimum of what these internets are and how you use them.<br /><br />Anon: "<i>Suck it up and ask to be transferred to someone higher up.</i>"<br /><br />Didn't he <b>do</b> that?<br /><br />Capn: "<i> I can do all this by knowing 2 programming languages: JavaScript and GW BASIC.</i>"<br /><br />Now now, what with the niche humor. (To explain: GW BASIC is considered today about one of the most crappy languages ever seriously created, and JavaScript is a more abstract language than others that isn't used as much as mainstream languages.)<br /><br />Gamer_2k4: "<i>The thing is, though, this is typical Randall. It would be one thing if the genders were interchangeable in the comic, but they're not at all.</i>"<br /><br />Though I basically agree with your opinion here, saying the genders in 806 are not interchangeable is simply wrong. They're not interchangeable based on the role model Randall is accused of, but generally they <b>are</b> interchangeable.<br /><br />Mole: "<i>Why would StickRandall want to talk specifically to an engineer? That may be a cultural thing...</i>"<br /><br />I have come to accept that in the US, you can apparently be an engineer for about everything. Our translation for "software engineer" and "software developer" is the same - and means "software developer". The "network engineer" or "systems engineer" is probably what I think of as "system integrator".<br /><br />Also, it's hilarious to me that all stuff software apparently belongs to "computer science" in english. Like it's some sciency science of sciences. I don't think it is. (I don't think learning how to use a computer should belong to "computer science" either.)<br /><br />"<i>Well, Opera crashed while sending my comment.</i>"<br /><br />lies.<br /><br />Besides, this comment form is so crappy I always leave my comment in the clipboard while sending it.<br /><br />"<i>2) That goddamn "I know two programming languages, I'm a leet goddess" thing. Seriously, Randall, how smug is that?!</i>"<br /><br />Just as smug as most of the people that have come to associate with the term leet or 1337. It's like a goddamn meme now.<br /><br />Gryffilion: "<i>Randall has a frustrating habit of being VERY black-and-white about various topics</i>"<br /><br />Good call.<br /><br />aloria: "<i>Gryffilion: Exactly. Knowing how to code makes someone about as knowledgeable of networking as being a gourmet chef makes one a decent farmer.</i>"<br /><br />It's a step in the right direction. (Besides, system integrators probably would not like this simile.)<br /><br />"<i>those seemingly cargo-cultish CSR scripts aren't just for technically ignorant grandmas, they also catch the "I know more about this than you and it can't POSSIBLY be... oh yeah, the cable came loose from the back of the modem, derp."</i>"<br /><br />I assumed that generic bald stickman had ruled out all such possibilities here based on what we read, though I see that the comic might promote such behaviour. (Given that its audience is basically the smug xkcd 1337 crowd anyway, even more so.)Evln, continueing,noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-33762659176349324402010-10-16T05:48:55.609-07:002010-10-16T05:48:55.609-07:004:55: Broadband/DSL does use modems. Technically t...4:55: Broadband/DSL does use modems. Technically they <b>are</b> still called modems. (Besides, he still COULD have a 56K modem. Some people do.)<br /><br />"<i>which brings me to the other thing - is he saying that he thinks he should be connected *directly* to their office?</i>"<br /><br />I don't think he's saying that. He said "The problem is between your office and the modem", which arguably (incorrectly) excludes the modem itself as the problem's source, but doesn't say they're connected in that way.<br /><br />"<i>or the fact he apparently has the router on the end of a wire in the middle of the room, rather than as close to the wall-socket as it could be.</i>"<br /><br />Funny. Why should it be? Here, we connect routers to modems with Cat5 cables (the same cables as for 100 Mbit ethernet) so I don't see why a router should need to be close to a wall-socket.<br /><br />"<i>who is he phoning? his ISP? the equivalent to BT?</i>"<br /><br />I guess his ISP. What's a BT?<br /><br />"<i>Also, i've never once been told to restart my PC when talking to tech support about my broadband</i>"<br /><br />I guess that is intended by Randall - restarting your PC is somewhat unprobable to fix problems with your internet connection if the PC is set up right, and anything refering to a "start menu" is even more egregious.<br /><br />4:43: All this goddamn HTML source code reading and in the middle of it I get that it's just Rob's friggin' blog post.<br /><br />Also it's some tinkering with stupid characters or HTML tags in the comment and name box that makes the text be backwards for that field (i.e. the " said..." or actual comment field).<br /><br />ThePirateKing: Mine... what?<br /><br /><br />Goddamn comment form doesn't allow postings larger than 4 KiB! Do you believe it?Evlnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-2004597357994274412010-10-16T04:55:21.924-07:002010-10-16T04:55:21.924-07:00i think what really gets me about the tech support...i think what really gets me about the tech support one is that it doesnt even make sense (at least to my hideously english mind).<br /><br />so he's phoning up tech-support, and in order to prove he's a tech-literate-super-being, that hasnt made any basic mistakes, he tells them that his modem keeps failing every few hours.<br />well firstly, my understanding is we dont really have modems anymore - broadband uses a digital signal anyway. i realise we all call them modems, but if your trying to sound all technical to prove how awesome you are to tech support, wouldnt you wantto be *right* about everything?<br />which brings me to the other thing - is he saying that he thinks he should be connected *directly* to their office? maybe its just a UK thing, but here the phone lines go to an exchange first. and if the uplink light (whatever that is, is it the one to tell you its synced, or that you have actual interwebz?) keeps going off, its the connection between you and the exchange thats a problem - well, maybe. it could jsut as easily be your modem being crap. or your filters being crap. or the fact he apparently has the router on the end of a wire in the middle of the room, rather than as close to the wall-socket as it could be.<br /><br />but its certainly not your connection to 'their office'. <br />who is he phoning? his ISP? the equivalent to BT? (does the US have an equivalent to BT? if not then thats a major reason to move there...) some random website that he cant get access to? there is no indication that the people he's phoning have anything to do with his problem. Except, of course, that he's a geek so cant possibly be wrong. about anything. ever.<br /><br /><br />Also, i've never once been told to restart my PC when talking to tech support about my broadband - instead they say things like 'right, yeah, its dropped 8 times in the last 2 days. have you been having problems with voice calls, because if you havnt then its harder for us to get BT to help. oh you have been? well thats excellent!'. and when told to restart things, its typically the router i get to restart.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-6051992262644041572010-10-15T21:46:49.547-07:002010-10-15T21:46:49.547-07:00R. That is great. Please don't stop being you....R. That is great. Please don't stop being you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-75010594247074397902010-10-15T18:41:36.428-07:002010-10-15T18:41:36.428-07:00someone needs to delete that shitsomeone needs to delete that shitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-26699327297869858802010-10-15T18:40:06.270-07:002010-10-15T18:40:06.270-07:00I sense the birth of a horrible, horrible new meme...I sense the birth of a horrible, horrible new meme is near. <br /><br />I <br />am<br />scared.<br /><br />!emem sdrawkcab ehtVeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06095687089196127511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-79467203767453158342010-10-15T18:26:21.537-07:002010-10-15T18:26:21.537-07:00You must have the POWER!You must have the POWER!...demialcorPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-16923261719868454842010-10-15T18:03:29.352-07:002010-10-15T18:03:29.352-07:00Wait, how do you stop the comment system from putt...Wait, how do you stop the comment system from putting in its own "said"?Inferior Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-1052790941450903692010-10-15T16:43:38.615-07:002010-10-15T16:43:38.615-07:00I have a confession to make. After reading this c...I have a confession to make. After reading this comic I experienced, not a GOOMHR moment, but a moment of bonding with Randall. I wanted to go home and visit paradise cities, also! There I could forget that there was ever such a thing as XKCD. There I could finally know peace. As I slept last night, I dreamt of this land. I cannot describe it to you here in a way which will do it justice, but it was a place where I was happy. I awoke to a bright cold Seattle morning and reality dawned. I had still read this comic. I had not escaped to a better place. I will never be free.<br /><br />The narrative structure of this comic is a little confusing. The man is sitting on a box and singing, that much is clear. I'm assuming he's busking or something, but there's no real indication of that. A bench at a park or subway station would make it pretty clear, and it might even allow for some of that patented "it's better than the shit I usually put out" art that makes the ladies go crazy for Randall-brand loving. You could draw a whole scene if you wanted! And context might help the joke here. God knows it needs the help.<br /><br />The joke itself--well, here I want to be careful, because it's one of those jokes that doesn't lend itself to summarizing nicely. Obviously it's a play on the song. It tries to create a narrative structure of a spree of violent crime being quelled by the Mounties, who I guess send the criminals off to Orwellian rehabilitation camps? All while keeping to the structure of "Take me down to X region where Y rhyming thing happens."<br /><br />It's not the worst thing in the world. He manages to keep the meter moderately well. The rhymes mostly work, and only feel slightly forced. It is, however, pretty fucking terrible.<br /><br />It's just--what is the point? It's not doing anything interesting. It's old enough that I'm not even going to bother complaining that it's not timely, but come on, Randy. Parodies should do something insightful, or at least interesting, with the source material. It should do more than draw a poorly cobbled together narrative using all the words you can think of that mean roughly the same thing as "city" that have rhymes. Or at least do something more than draw five panels of a stick man sitting on a box with badly drawn musical notes surrounding him.<br /><br />Who else thinks Randy first thought of "counties" and "mounties" rhyming and just went from there?<br /><br />EDIT: Oh yes, I'd like to thank everyone for their submissions on this one! Keep them coming. The hate has made you powerful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-7755112973129160782010-10-15T15:42:48.627-07:002010-10-15T15:42:48.627-07:00R., that was brilliantly hilarious. I sincerely l...R., that was brilliantly hilarious. I sincerely laughed aloud. Thank you.ThePirateKinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03855894192400453985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-44649032035751919882010-10-15T14:34:49.086-07:002010-10-15T14:34:49.086-07:00Well, balls. Two of my coworkers just started tal...Well, balls. Two of my coworkers just started talking about 806, and one said he'd use that retarded code word the next time he called tech support. "No one is making you read it," indeed.Gamer_2k4https://www.blogger.com/profile/17079715817544544279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-86290933966177860072010-10-15T14:05:14.711-07:002010-10-15T14:05:14.711-07:00If there is only one girl in a particular XKCD str...If there is only one girl in a particular XKCD strip, the girl is the smart or thoughtful one <i>every single time</i>. The closest thing to an exception is that narcissistic emo girl. This is so true that when it was finally rendered untrue a little while ago with a FEMALE teacher represented as being stubbornly resistant to scientific enquiry, my jaw dropped so far that I haven't been able to close it properly since. But in this case it was still an anonymous student of unspecified gender showing her up, not a representative of the horrible Orwellian patriarchy.<br /><br />Being so unwilling to represent any female at all as inferior to any male is the sort of simpering anti-intellectual feminism that (in a male) tends to hide an underlying hypocrisy. Most people who have done a course on feminism will have encountered the type. Those guys who seem to think that sympathising with Women as the universal victim is the perfect pickup line, and figures that most of the class gets all wet every time he opens his mouth.<br /><br />Randall might not know those guys because he only studies rational manly subjects like maths and science, not soft and feminine subjects like sociology and history. Maybe he thinks he's unique and progressive.<br /><br />(Oh, there was also that comic about some guy who wanted to escape his relationship by falling asleep. I guess that one was too artistic to stun me.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com