tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post5218261664874982091..comments2024-03-17T05:03:46.056-07:00Comments on xkcd sucks: Comic 548: KindlingCarlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-758104583949032452009-10-02T20:58:12.706-07:002009-10-02T20:58:12.706-07:00Why the fuck did Randall put "Hitchhiker'...Why the fuck did Randall put "Hitchhiker's Guide" on there rather than "Don't Panic"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-15258821905145288832009-04-11T11:31:00.000-07:002009-04-11T11:31:00.000-07:00Wow, all this cognitive surplus - writing a blog a...Wow, all this cognitive surplus - writing a blog about how you don't get a comic, then others commenting on it at length.Chris Watkinshttp://www.appropedia.org/User:Chriswaterguynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-83081743679462644122009-03-16T19:00:00.000-07:002009-03-16T19:00:00.000-07:00to the cynic-mobile!to the cynic-mobile!Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-15971883912611261462009-03-16T18:58:00.000-07:002009-03-16T18:58:00.000-07:00Rob the phrase "the combined powers of Carl and Am...Rob the phrase "the combined powers of Carl and Amanda" make me imagine Carl and myself crossing our hands and shouting, "IT'S MORPHIN' TIME!!!"Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11192581573588205095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-64721370897192062402009-03-16T18:57:00.000-07:002009-03-16T18:57:00.000-07:00Observational humor CAN be funny, but it relies a ...Observational humor CAN be funny, but it relies a lot on the delivery, which xkcd completely lacks.<BR/><BR/>Many xkcd strips have a germ of a good idea and potential humor but is completely ruined by Randall's insistence on just crapping out the first idea he has on the page.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-60597215497064715952009-03-16T18:55:00.000-07:002009-03-16T18:55:00.000-07:00Ugh.Definitions are the literal denotative quality...Ugh.<BR/><BR/>Definitions are the literal denotative quality of a word. They don't go very far, because they lack nuance--though in many cases definitions attempt to capture the nuance and connotation of a word, they often fail, or only do this when it is nearly universal.<BR/><BR/>Connotations, in contrast, are the qualities that a word suggests. When you say 'joke' you're not talking about everything that is done in the attempt to make people laugh. You're implying something else.<BR/><BR/>The thing about connotations is they are generally difficult to quantify or write down, since it's often an elusive concept, a je ne sais quoi of the topic at hand. And the other thing is, since it is not a denotative quality but rather a connotative suggestion, it is quite possible for the connotations to be misconstrued, or for one person to disagree that a given thing is implied or suggested by a word. There is no definitive set of connotations to a word. It's squishy and subjective.<BR/><BR/>But the conversation here in this thread was pretty obviously sharing a certain set of connotations for the word joke. To quote the combined powers of Carl and Amanda: "The joke is 'Wikipedia is incredibly useful,' and this is not a joke."<BR/><BR/>That pretty much sets up the parameters. If I had to write them down, I'd say the implication of the word 'joke' we're all operating on is that a joke is saying something which is funny, AND something which is new, clever, original, or otherwise not completely and utterly mundane--the joke itself, and not the subject matter, has to be funny. Under these PATENTLY FUCKING OBVIOUS criteria, observational humor such as 'Man, what is the deal with buses? I mean, they're never on time, am I right?' does not qualify as a joke <I>even if it makes some people laugh, and was intended to do so.</I><BR/><BR/>In other words, a joke requires more than observation. This did not, in fact, do anything beyond make an observation.rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-5850797861682009542009-03-16T18:51:00.000-07:002009-03-16T18:51:00.000-07:00also if you feel like arguing about observation vs...also if you feel like arguing about observation vs. joke, I suggest you talk to dear ol' poore, a wonderful commentor and one-time poster (that "one" needs to change, I think) who is much more articulate than me.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11192581573588205095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-74306816212270612172009-03-16T18:49:00.000-07:002009-03-16T18:49:00.000-07:00the problem is that Randy here has done nothing to...the problem is that Randy here has done nothing to provoke amusement, but has instead only made an observation. Think of the observation as a statement, if you will, and note that while some statements are jokes, not all statements are jokes. Randy has added nothing to the observation that "oh this is so useful!" and hence it has not provoked humor.<BR/><BR/>I mean cuz otherwise I would be the world's best joke-teller, because anything I said, ever, could theoretically make anyone laugh.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11192581573588205095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-6274851502837199032009-03-16T18:39:00.000-07:002009-03-16T18:39:00.000-07:00Are we worried about the definition of connotation...Are we worried about the definition of connotation or the connotation or connotation? I'll assume definition and ask this:<BR/>What is the implication of "joke"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-86814807370380756702009-03-16T18:22:00.000-07:002009-03-16T18:22:00.000-07:00READ MY COMMENT YOU MONSTERREAD MY COMMENT YOU MONSTERrshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-47298155627178795052009-03-16T18:17:00.000-07:002009-03-16T18:17:00.000-07:00Then it would seem that this is a joke, because it...Then it would seem that this is a joke, because it's "something said or done to provoke laughter or cause amusement" AND an observation, because it's "an act or instance of noticing or perceiving".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-42036600131340914612009-03-16T15:56:00.000-07:002009-03-16T15:56:00.000-07:00PWN'DPWN'Drshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-84451661954238262802009-03-16T15:50:00.000-07:002009-03-16T15:50:00.000-07:00dammit Robdammit RobAmandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11192581573588205095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-15765142282783007312009-03-16T15:49:00.000-07:002009-03-16T15:49:00.000-07:00A joke is not to be confused with an observation.A <A HREF="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/joke" REL="nofollow">joke</A> is not to be confused with an <A HREF="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/observation" REL="nofollow">observation</A>.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11192581573588205095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-24187122366311559992009-03-16T15:48:00.000-07:002009-03-16T15:48:00.000-07:00It's not the definition we're worried about, it's ...It's not the definition we're worried about, it's the connotation.rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-16912015227746655122009-03-16T15:44:00.000-07:002009-03-16T15:44:00.000-07:00I think I'm a bit late here, and I won't say who's...I think I'm a bit late here, and I won't say who's side I'm on (Just so I'm not labeled an xkcd lover/hater), but what is the definition of "joke"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-48616015344051239252009-03-14T01:40:00.000-07:002009-03-14T01:40:00.000-07:00woo 100th post from Mr. Lazarus! excellent work, a...woo 100th post from Mr. Lazarus! excellent work, all.<BR/><BR/>Seriously though, there is a reason I went to the trouble to make a <A HREF="http://xkcdsucks.blogspot.com/2008/10/frequently-asked-irritating-self.html" REL="nofollow">frequently asked pissy questions</A> page. read it people!<BR/><BR/>is there a way that I can force blogger to make you click a box swearing that you read the FAQ before you can post a comment? That would be nice.Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-86093130888055664612009-03-13T21:01:00.000-07:002009-03-13T21:01:00.000-07:00okay guys I can't resist being a sarcasmfish for j...okay guys I can't resist being a sarcasmfish for just a moment:<BR/><BR/>Lazarus: Carl pvides a free service for fuck's sake, and you go through all this effort to dis him. If you don't like it, don't visit the freakin' site. Go back to the herds of the internet with the rest of the xkcd sheep. 9 out of 10 scientists agree that you might be an idiot for posting a very hypocritical comment and ending it with a very confusing statement.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11192581573588205095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-54476665781113626602009-03-13T18:55:00.000-07:002009-03-13T18:55:00.000-07:00This guy provides a free service for fucksake, and...This guy provides a free service for fucksake, and you go through all this effort to dis him. If you don't like it, don't visit the fricken site. Go back to the dark corners of the internet with the rest of the furries. 9 out of 10 scientists agree that you might be a dick, but you probably don't have one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-169505822405870872009-03-10T08:01:00.000-07:002009-03-10T08:01:00.000-07:00I LOVE THIS SITE - IT IS AN ANTIDOTE TO MY LOATHIN...I LOVE THIS SITE - IT IS AN ANTIDOTE TO MY LOATHING<BR/><BR/>Thank you!!! <BR/>I found this site by writing "I hate XKCD" in google - you have all made my dayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-35214995544263437822009-03-02T04:47:00.000-08:002009-03-02T04:47:00.000-08:00COME ON 100WE NEED A COUPLA IDIOTS TO LOVE XKCDCOU...COME ON 100<BR/><BR/>WE NEED A COUPLA IDIOTS TO LOVE XKCD<BR/><BR/>COUPLA IDIOTS TO HATE IT<BR/><BR/>NICE TASTY INTENETSR STRW!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-4142619248967041512009-03-01T15:13:00.000-08:002009-03-01T15:13:00.000-08:00Yes.My particular role on the Kindle team was to w...Yes.<BR/><BR/>My particular role on the Kindle team was to work on some of the content preparation stuff, specifically on books which weren't already in an electronic format (it's not just as easy as OCRing things, since OCR is just inaccurate enough that you end up having to edit the whole book anyway). Early on, we kept on running across romance novels. After that happened a few times I printed out the bunch of Achewood cartoons starting with <A HREF="http://achewood.com/index.php?date=04262004" REL="nofollow">this one</A> and put them up on my office wall. Ever since then, everyone on the team referred to them as "angels slapping pudding books."<BR/><BR/>In that sense, Achewood has had a hell of a lot more to do with the Kindle than xkcd ever will.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-17377612392980741062009-03-01T13:01:00.000-08:002009-03-01T13:01:00.000-08:00Can you get porn on a Kindle? Erotic fiction? Erot...Can you get porn on a Kindle? Erotic fiction? Erotic Wikipedia entries?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-44700943741570639802009-03-01T01:14:00.000-08:002009-03-01T01:14:00.000-08:00Hahah. I love you all, even you hateful Cuddlefis...Hahah. I love you all, even you hateful Cuddlefish out there.<BR/><BR/>Can we reach 100? Hmm.. Something tells me no.<BR/><BR/>Also Rob I support your idea but who will write the articles?Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11192581573588205095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-15168100304301085682009-02-28T19:23:00.000-08:002009-02-28T19:23:00.000-08:00Magic?Magic?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com