tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post5401083598537542116..comments2024-03-17T05:03:46.056-07:00Comments on xkcd sucks: Comic 673: DarkCarlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-65279741380430289922009-12-14T16:12:15.706-08:002009-12-14T16:12:15.706-08:00This reminds me of the strip ("No, Mr. Bond.....This reminds me of the strip ("No, Mr. Bond...") that got me into xkcd to begin with. Honestly, I think it still works.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-18680475988525424272009-12-13T19:01:03.485-08:002009-12-13T19:01:03.485-08:00@rob, 11/12, 10:32: thanks for answering my post. ...@rob, 11/12, 10:32: thanks for answering my post. i think i get your point -- even if i sometimes fail to see the ... um... constructvie criticism... in some of the posts. i might also be missing the irony. whatever.<br />this has already taken up way too much of my time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-35778187750703875592009-12-13T12:15:38.457-08:002009-12-13T12:15:38.457-08:00And I still don't think "massive amounts ...<i>And I still don't think "massive amounts of suspension of disbelief" are required (Only if you think it depicts a literal situation, and we have already stated it doesn't).</i><br /><br />If it's <i>not literal</i>, what the fuck is it? Is this all a <i>metaphor</i> for the process of childbirth? You can't just say something isn't literal and instantly expect us to understand what the fuck it <i>actually is.</i>John Magnumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04416392917805723793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-41252901924015588362009-12-13T06:28:03.121-08:002009-12-13T06:28:03.121-08:00So, I tried to make sense out of this strip, but a...So, I tried to make sense out of this strip, but almost none came. Instead, I'll analyze it thoroughly, including a few obsvervations already made by other fellow commenters...<br /><br />Panel 1: So, we have a baby, and parents freaking out. Let me suspend my disbelief enough and ignore that the baby is standing and talking, a feat I believe most babies would need at least a good year to achieve. This couple apparently just realized that they made a baby, that after they had sex, the woman got pregnant for nine whole months and the little thing was expelled from her genitals. Nine months should be time enough for them to freak out and wonder what to do next, so this is definitely out of place. Also, PokéBaby is just barely amusing because it's unnecessary and out of place. Also, because we can call it "PokéBaby".<br /><br />Second Panel: nothing of note, besides the baby is doing another pose and Randall messed his stick figures. I'd expect after years doing circles for head Mr. Munroe would know how to connect the ends of it, but apparently I am wrong.<br /><br />Third Panel: the damned silent panel(I think it's called a "beat panel" or something like this). Which is the sort of thing that usually makes me cringe in xkcd, because it calls attention for the horrible art. I mean horrible because Randall once again messed up his stick figures. Let's just jump over this...<br /><br />Last Panel: "Soon"... seriously, how "soon" it is to have a second baby, even again suspending disbelief for it to be standing upright? "Aw, crap", on the other hand, is a pretty okay reaction line, but it doesn't cut it out, mostly because the whole scenario is so surreal I don't think anything else would anyway. This also is the panel where you realize Randall just broke a record, with at least one disconnected head per panel(it's just barely connected in panel two). Again, I think making a career out of stickmen would help him overcome this horrible flaw, but... you know the drill.<br /><br />The joke: Apparently, "do what comes naturally" is misinterpreted, either because this is seXKCD(and he just HAS to do her without a condom), or because "naturally" is interpreted as "in nature", and survival is usually tied to leaving offspring. Thus, what comes "naturally" is to have more kids. Funny? No, mostly because survival is also tied with making sure your offspring will survive. Sure, turtles can go with leaving their younglings to hatch by themselves, but we're not turtles, not even reptiles. Thus, assuming "what comes naturally" is having sex and having more babies isn't a good joke, it's just a very confusing one.<br /><br />Also, it disturbs me that the other kid has apparently been ignored during the whole period between panels three and four. But, heck, what would you expect from parents who don't even acknowledge the presence of that little creature if it isn't walking around shouting to make itself visible?<br /><br />Thus, this is a different kind of xkcd. It's not bad because it raises any sort of expectancy about its goodness, nor it is bad because of its obvious badness from start. This is a bad xkcd, because you don't even know what to expect from it, and somehow your expectations are subverted anyway. Seriously, I'm baffled at it.Professional Molehttp://comic.guedesav.blog.brnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-42718696526226453622009-12-13T02:03:54.194-08:002009-12-13T02:03:54.194-08:00mal: i feel like you forgot to do the rest of the ...mal: i feel like you forgot to do the rest of the integral. unless you were only talking about the second one?Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11192581573588205095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-11489737476353513612009-12-13T00:22:05.129-08:002009-12-13T00:22:05.129-08:00@Femalethoth. No, I think criticisms like "A ...@Femalethoth. No, I think criticisms like "A baby that has the word "baby" in his/her vocabulary? The ability to identify oneself is, according to reputable psychological sources, fucking complicated." are invalid. <br /><br />And I still don't think "massive amounts of suspension of disbelief" are required (Only if you think it depicts a literal situation, and we have already stated it doesn't).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11098332615351188059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-34304522211047392402009-12-13T00:10:29.449-08:002009-12-13T00:10:29.449-08:00Mmm, I still can't decide if the joke is neces...Mmm, I still can't decide if the joke is necessarily the literal interpretation of "what comes naturally". Maybe it has something to do with it but I think the point is not the sex per se. I get more from the scene cut. But maybe it's just that English is not my native language. Mmm, let's see, had the line read "Parenting can't be that hard. Let's try our best", or something like that, do you think the strip would have had the same effect?<br /><br />About the tvtropes thing, it says that "the implication that both things happen simultaneously seems to have to do with the resulting humor". We know that they don't happen at the same time, it's just funny to make it look like it does. Which is why I think it doesn't say "9 months later".Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11098332615351188059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-43764113095504593202009-12-13T00:04:38.869-08:002009-12-13T00:04:38.869-08:00So, basically, the comic requires us to suspend ma...So, basically, the comic requires us to suspend massive amounts of disbelief, for the sake of a really shitty joke, that's communicated really poorly anyway. It takes a special type of nudnick to think that criticisms like "Holy shit what the fuck is going on here none of this makes any goddamned sense" are invalid.John Magnumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04416392917805723793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-15427311176971712432009-12-12T21:59:31.095-08:002009-12-12T21:59:31.095-08:00Nate, I'm not sure why 'having sex is what...Nate, I'm not sure why 'having sex is what comes naturally' doesn't make sense to you, particularly given that this is Xkcd. The advice they're trying to follow is basically 'follow their instincts', but they took it overly-literally and out of context.<br /><br />As C.Toad said, the fact that they can keep a baby alive for 9 months doesn't mean thay they would feel any more enlightened about how to be good parents -- how to guide a child, raise it to adulthood etc. The joke seems pretty straightforward. How else would they get a second child (who, given the size difference, is perhaps impliedly younger than the first) as a result of the decision to 'do what comes naturally'? The only other explanation I can think of is that they kidnapped or adopted another one, but that makes far less sense in relation to the instruction they're following, human/Xkcd nature, and any possible humour.<br /><br />The set up, though, is poor in two major ways. (a) Going with the pregnancy angle, the label 'Soon' in the final panel would be better replaced with 'later' or '9 months later'. More effort should also have gone into establishing that they're new parents worried about their skills than 'oh no we had a baby'.<br />(b) It seems like most of all Randall wanted to do a joke about taking the phrase 'do what comes naturally' too literally. Given the time lags involved with pregnancy, the joke would probably have worked better in an entirely different context.daniel danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06446227950144949576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-42160796269065974452009-12-12T21:44:39.566-08:002009-12-12T21:44:39.566-08:00Femalethoth: thanks for the mention (scribs is min...Femalethoth: thanks for the mention (scribs is mine).<br /><br />Holy crap I don't even remember how I knew that now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-45942026316079465832009-12-12T21:13:47.767-08:002009-12-12T21:13:47.767-08:00Nate: People really are dumb enough accidentally h...Nate: People really are dumb enough accidentally have a kid and then immediately afterwards accidentally have another one. I know couples who have done it.<br /><br />Also, there is a huge difference between being a "good parent" and being able to keep a baby alive. xkcd characters often express I'm-not-ready-for-this-responsibility sentiments, as in 441. Therefore, despite the fact that they are able to keep the kid alive, they don't think they can actually do a good job of it.<br /><br />Therefore, the intended joke = couple panicking over the responsibilities of parenthood attempt to do what comes naturally but discover that "what comes naturally" is more sex, which produces another child for them to panic over. It is an unfunny joke and the set up makes no sense, but that is what the joke is.CuddleToadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-2862665899627233402009-12-12T20:56:40.019-08:002009-12-12T20:56:40.019-08:00god dammit amanda.god dammit amanda.Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06037127857062536971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-31353272381351447062009-12-12T20:29:02.612-08:002009-12-12T20:29:02.612-08:00Damn I misused the phrase "In which case"...Damn I misused the phrase "In which case" up there, I should have said "unless this is the case." This is what I get for trying to do three things at once.Natenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-19159615380973268612009-12-12T20:27:43.121-08:002009-12-12T20:27:43.121-08:00And I explained earlier how "they have sex be...And I explained earlier how "they have sex because that's what comes natural" doesn't make any sense, hence why there is continued confusion as to what the joke is on my end.<br /><br />Compounded by the fact that the first kid they have didn't, y'know, die before the second one popped out, meaning they already HAD figured out how to be a parent unless their baby really is a superbaby that knew how to feed and clothe and take care of itself while the parents were doing who knows what. In which case why would they say "Aw crap?" They already figured it out, thus FURTHER proving that your explanation cannot be the joke.<br /><br />Unless in the xkcd universe stick figure babies come out of the womb about two minutes after having sex with no pregnancy involved. Then I could accept your explanation. However I would then say that's a stupid setup and the strip gives no indication that this is the case anyway.Natenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-43442395791012256722009-12-12T18:18:44.039-08:002009-12-12T18:18:44.039-08:00It really seems to me like you guys are over-compl...It really seems to me like you guys are over-complicating it. Julian, I'm not sure where you're coming from in terms of structure -- the comic doesn't employ the ironic echo cut as explained by tvtropes. The 'joke' seems a pretty straightforward case of an overly literal interpretation of an instruction. Like, presumably, most parents, they are a bit anxious about the right way to raise their child. Common parenting advice is presumably to 'do what feels natural'. This advice, of course, is intended to be taken in the context of regular parental things, but the characters take it too literally, and do whatever comes naturally just in general. Which, consistent with Xkcd's obsession, is having sex -- hilarity! Moreover, this has the mirthful unintended consequence of compounding their problems by doubling their flock.daniel danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06446227950144949576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-48152684382731010262009-12-12T17:54:55.288-08:002009-12-12T17:54:55.288-08:00http://scribs.us/?125
My favorite part is that the...<a href="http://scribs.us/?125" rel="nofollow">http://scribs.us/?125</a><br />My favorite part is that the alt-text inspired me to do a quick check, and the second integral is significantly easier than the first. It turns out to be ln (x² + x) + C<br /><br />====<br /><br /><i>As I said, I think it has to do with the structure. See the tvtropes entry for "Ironic Echo Cut" to see where I'm coming from. And why do you people always want the strip to have a punchline? Why do you always want a typical "joke" (setup-punchline) structure? There are other types of humor, you know.</i><br /><br />We don't always want the strip to have a punchline, but it would be really nice if each update had something recognizably humorous. Or otherwise worthwhile. Why do you think we always want a typical setup-punchline structure? Is it because it's more easier to pretend the things we say are wrong or unjustified if you misrepresent our criticisms?John Magnumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04416392917805723793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-73111929141307800972009-12-12T17:52:48.314-08:002009-12-12T17:52:48.314-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.John Magnumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04416392917805723793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-57839503034597346212009-12-12T17:32:21.947-08:002009-12-12T17:32:21.947-08:00"This comment box does suck XD.."
Somet..."This comment box does suck XD.."<br /><br />Something we can agree on.R.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-5970562588300300552009-12-12T17:28:14.823-08:002009-12-12T17:28:14.823-08:00This comment box does suck XD.. I lost everything ...This comment box does suck XD.. I lost everything I wrote... Ok here it goes again:<br /><br />"you're such a slavish xkcd fanboy you pretend to get the joke"<br />No, I don't actually like xkcd. I'm commenting on this on the same grounds that Carl made the blog ("I must save humanity from bad critique" :P).<br /><br />"so what is the joke, explain it if you can, what is the punchline etc"<br />As I said, I think it has to do with the structure. See the tvtropes entry for "Ironic Echo Cut" to see where I'm coming from. And why do you people always want the strip to have a punchline? Why do you always want a typical "joke" (setup-punchline) structure? There are other types of humor, you know.<br /><br />"no shit! (that it doesn't depict a real situation)<br />Well, I stressed on that because some people seemed to think it did.<br /><br />"so you're saying Randall created a situation devoid of verosimilitude to create a shitty joke?"<br />I wouldn't say it is devoid of verosimilitude. It is there. The observation about parenting is real. But yes, I never said it was actually good, it is a shitty "joke" (as you call it).<br /><br />Bottom line: I think you were criticizing it from a wrong approach, and were ranting way much more than needed.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11098332615351188059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-90782546983407802572009-12-12T15:18:58.204-08:002009-12-12T15:18:58.204-08:00hahahah. my sight is out of hand! guess i am not...hahahah. my sight is out of hand! guess i am not <a href="http://laist.com/attachments/tony/panslabby.jpg" rel="nofollow">this guy</a><br /><br />(don't click if you are easily scared like me)Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11192581573588205095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-76445011027022402562009-12-12T15:15:16.081-08:002009-12-12T15:15:16.081-08:00I thought this one was actually pretty good.
This...I thought this one was actually pretty good.<br /><br />This sight is getting out of hand.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-30573668458719447952009-12-12T14:54:50.697-08:002009-12-12T14:54:50.697-08:00Rob, that wasn't aimed at you, that was aimed ...Rob, that wasn't aimed at you, that was aimed at stupid mal/b/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-35997398073970203422009-12-12T14:47:20.957-08:002009-12-12T14:47:20.957-08:00Unless one's head is a butt.Unless one's head is a butt.Lint of Deathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14683235360544381944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-63117235311401452132009-12-12T13:53:47.153-08:002009-12-12T13:53:47.153-08:00Those are called burps, IIRCThose are called burps, IIRCaloriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01318832080088871491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-45502070864642516522009-12-12T13:53:36.260-08:002009-12-12T13:53:36.260-08:00Confucius sayConfucius sayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com