tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post8942568447713578731..comments2024-03-17T05:03:46.056-07:00Comments on xkcd sucks: Comic 576: Making The Full Case for Randall Munroe's Illustrated Picto-BlogCarlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-74167946968483647932009-09-22T23:43:02.620-07:002009-09-22T23:43:02.620-07:00GOOD TO KNOWGOOD TO KNOWCarlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01074589998141327538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-72728456369382655272009-09-22T18:34:22.451-07:002009-09-22T18:34:22.451-07:00i rather liked it...i rather liked it...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-35725629253235569012009-05-06T04:26:00.000-07:002009-05-06T04:26:00.000-07:00Okay I have been gone for like a week and have not...Okay I have been gone for like a week and have not read all the comments or posts <I>at all</I> (my inbox is like exploding) but are there really Amanda impersonators?<br /><br />Because that is <I>awesome</I>.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11192581573588205095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-2018675901551032772009-05-05T04:54:00.000-07:002009-05-05T04:54:00.000-07:00OK then. Just as long as you're not unilaterally c...OK then. Just as long as you're not unilaterally complaining that it must be creepy for you decree it to be so, that's fine. I don't share your context, so as you say I don't find it creepy.<br /><br />Captcha is 'tringlo', which sounds like a processed cheese product. "TRINGLOs contain 5% of your Recommended Calcium Allowance!"Ann Apolishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08566528013026340201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-74359191369547033762009-05-04T23:01:00.000-07:002009-05-04T23:01:00.000-07:00Actually, my creepiness angle depends on the assum...Actually, my creepiness angle depends on the assumption that you'd only share a link with someone either because (1) you like it and think they would like it or (2) you want them to like you more, and the assumption that, if you are doing something for the former reason, you are not going to say "just like you!" More broadly, it depends on the fact that if you are sharing a link out of a desire to brighten someone's day, you do not behave in the manner she is--that is pretty sycophantic behavior, indicating that she is doing it because she just thinks Randy is the best ever.<br /><br />And it doesn't so much depend on that as that is the best way I have been able to express it. It creeped me out well before I wrote that post--creepy was, in fact, my very first reaction to it. The rest is attempting to capture why that is creepy. As is the case with most creepy things, it's highly context-specific. <br /><br />Maybe it's just bad writing, but if so it's bad, creepy writing. This is just not how that exchange goes between normal people. And if he did it right it would be a lot better. Imagine it went like this instead: Randy is in the room reading a book (or, knowing Randy, his Kindle), she is at the computer. "Oh hey, check it out, Nathan Fillion has an electric skateboard, too."<br /><br />Beat panel. Randall darts out of the room; ratcheting sounds happen etc. Roommate looks confused. He returns. "Give me the computer. I need to book a flight."<br /><br />The comic rewritten without being creepy and terrifying! PROBLEM SOLVED.rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-30650400485242070882009-05-04T22:45:00.000-07:002009-05-04T22:45:00.000-07:00@Rob-
Maybe those are the only two reasons you sh...@Rob-<br /><br />Maybe those are the only two reasons you share a link with someone, but I think you're being too cynical.<br /><br />Is every dollar I give to charity a plea for the bell ringer to "please like me?" Is every time I say "thank you" or hold the elevator for someone or any other act of simple courtesy actually a desperate plea for romantic affection?<br /><br />Maybe you think so. But maybe others disagree. Maybe doing something that takes virtually no effort on your part but will improve someone else's day is not so aberrant. Maybe some people are nice.<br /><br />Maybe they're NOT nice, and it just makes them feel good about themselves to make others smile. This could be argued any way. Maybe she just likes conversation, and knows that this is something that could spark one. THere are a million reasons.<br /><br /> But your whole "creepiness" angle depends on the assumption the ONLY reason that anyone would expend the most insignificant amount of effort to brighten another's day--and not even a stranger, but a friend and roommate!--is out of a desperate, pathetic need for affection from that individual above all others.<br /><br />I simply don't think that's the case. Some people are decent, and that's not creepy.Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-49738768691282438932009-05-04T20:47:00.001-07:002009-05-04T20:47:00.001-07:00Read the text at the top. "XKCD updates every day ...Read the text at the top. "XKCD updates every day this week" or some suchrshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-69102337406188917292009-05-04T20:47:00.000-07:002009-05-04T20:47:00.000-07:00Maybe it has something to do with this?Maybe it has something to do with <A HREF="http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=11h8l1y&s=5" REL="nofollow">this</A>?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-8655733931178323862009-05-04T20:43:00.000-07:002009-05-04T20:43:00.000-07:00How does Carl know this is a 5-part series? It's n...How does Carl know this is a 5-part series? It's not on the xkcd site.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-72130849119640564512009-05-04T18:44:00.000-07:002009-05-04T18:44:00.000-07:00Yes, this has been done before<A HREF="http://www.somethingstore.com/getyoursomethingINT.html" REL="nofollow">Yes, this has been done before</A>Danielnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-11484604039536491832009-05-04T18:33:00.000-07:002009-05-04T18:33:00.000-07:00Malethoth: parodying is awesome! You should check ...Malethoth: parodying is awesome! You should check out http://xkcdcouldbebetter.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general and http://xkcdsucks.blogspot.com/2009/03/xkcdsucks-is-proud-to-present-humor.html for the XKCD font.<br /><br />Thomas: Either one is fun! ROLL THE DICE PULL THE STRING ETCrshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-61262976462036025822009-05-04T18:30:00.000-07:002009-05-04T18:30:00.000-07:00Rob, thank you for including me in the moderation ...Rob, thank you for including me in the moderation request. I wouldn't have the heart to shoot down many comments, except for impostors and "eat shit and die"-type sentiments.<br /><br />Or maybe you and I would get drunk with power, as time immortal has proven men to do. Let's test fate!thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03123852112758346209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-5620314748999165912009-05-04T16:10:00.000-07:002009-05-04T16:10:00.000-07:00Because this blog has concentrated my hatred for x...Because this blog has concentrated my hatred for xkcd, I made some shitty parodies:<br /><br />http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/4756/perfectxkcd.png<br />http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/484/xkcd2.png<br /><br />The "My Hobby" ones are the easiest to replicate, because I just have to think of an exceptionally meme-y way to be an asshole.John Magnumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04416392917805723793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-41836993350788990662009-05-04T15:20:00.000-07:002009-05-04T15:20:00.000-07:00The first imposter with a link is very uncreative....The first imposter with a link is very uncreative.<br /><br />The ones after are even more so.COVIZAPIBETEFOKYnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-23975208924652379892009-05-04T15:16:00.000-07:002009-05-04T15:16:00.000-07:00Carl can you give me and Thomas comment moderating...Carl can you give me and Thomas comment moderating privileges<br /><br />Also fuck all of you. It was abysmal and I have nothing to add on that front. It was also creepy as fuck, and not in the standard 'creepy romance' fashion--which I'm usually reasonably okay with, and only describe as creepy as an academic exercise. See, usually the creepy is intended on some level. There's a level of awareness. It's part of the joke. It's usually not very effective, but it's only truly creepy when he's not quite sure he's doing it.<br /><br />It really wouldn't be were it not for a few things, a few bits of knowledge that the average reader just won't have--which is the truest definition of creepy. It would just be 'all right, so some girl is telling some dude about electric skateboards.'<br /><br />In this case, knowledge of the characters sets off the creepiness factor. It's based on a true story, but in idealized form for his comic. The conversation is just a little too enthusiastic, a little too Randall-oriented. Maybe it was just to remind the readers of Randy's electric skateboard fetish, but it seems so unlikely.<br /><br />There's two reasons you share a link with a person: either you share or expect to share an interest with the person, which is the expected case--if you aren't interested in electric skateboards you probably wouldn't be interested in sharing them with an electric skateboard fan. (Note that it's quite possible to like electric skateboards and not have one.) The other reason is you want to please the other person by sharing information appropriate to his interests. This is fairly aberrant behavior--the sort of thing one only does when they are trying to please the person specifically. It's pretty much a "please like me" in every imaginable context.<br /><br />The thing is, you don't say "Oh hey he has an electric skateboard just like you!" when you are doing the former. You say "cool, he has an electric skateboard." You don't say "just like you" in a dreamy voice, like it only improves Nathan Fillion's standing as a human being that he also shares some of the great and wonderful Randall Munroe's qualities. There is a very distinct "I admire him even more because he is like Randall, who is the dreamiest" quality to the comic, and Randy is clearly not aware of it.<br /><br />To those specifically accusing me of stretching, these were my very first thoughts upon reading the comic! I read it and immediately shuddered at how utterly creeptastic it was. So yeah you are all idiots and should die, in fires.rshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828938843801425383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-50499535482748249482009-05-04T15:14:00.000-07:002009-05-04T15:14:00.000-07:00Again, we have an instance of Wikipedia defilement...Again, we have an instance of Wikipedia defilement.<br /><br />"References in Popular Culture<br /><br />Fillion is currently the subject of a five day arc of the popular webcomic xkcd.com, in which it is suggested that he is a fan of electric skateboarding[36]."<br /><br />Ugh.Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-47665214919103272632009-05-04T11:52:00.001-07:002009-05-04T11:52:00.001-07:00Are we surprised at this point when Randall beats ...Are we surprised at this point when Randall beats us over the head to understand a reference?<br /><br />There could be a whole category of such comics to go along with creepy romances, old memes, etc.Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-4278750790078815492009-05-04T11:52:00.000-07:002009-05-04T11:52:00.000-07:00Yeah...
Obviously the dude she is talking to is ...Yeah... <br /><br />Obviously the dude she is talking to is into Firefly enough that he'd know who Nate Fillion is, otherwise he wouldn't have that reaction. So it makes not one lick of sense that she'd feel compelled to interject "mal from firefly" in her statement. So it's only there for the benefit of the audience. As everyone else has said, they either ALSO know who he is, or can google it. <br /><br />The whole thing just smacks of a desperate attempt to make sure everyone gets the (already weak) joke. Which just completely kills the point. What's next, using a panel or rollover text to explain those semi-obscure math/physics/coder references Randall used to love to make?<br /><br />Is that why he's been working in so many tired meme references lately-- because then he doesn't run the risk of people not getting the strip?aloriahttp://cesspool.glassmelter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-77759095916888102182009-05-04T09:35:00.000-07:002009-05-04T09:35:00.000-07:00I don't know guys, maybe you should treat "from Fi...I don't know guys, maybe you should treat "from Firefly" as more of an honorary epithet, a verbal flourish, if you will. Since his association with Firefly is so significant, it is emphasized as tribute. When Homer calls Odysseus "crafty" for the thirtieth time, people don't storm off shouting "Yeah, I get it! We all know he's crafty! Shut the fuck up!"<br /><br />Of course, the analogy is incomplete, since Randall isn't writing epic poetry and doesn't need a mnemonic device. On the other hand, "Nathan Fillion from Firefly" has excellent alliteration.<br /><br />But the important thing is that I'm making a positive comparison between Randall Munroe and Homer.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12456796465979923295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-5219149430415591352009-05-04T09:04:00.000-07:002009-05-04T09:04:00.000-07:00So Carl decides to take a week off at the same tim...So Carl decides to take a week off at the same time that Randall decides to do one of his special 5-day series things.<br /><br />I'm certain this means Carl = Randy somehow, but I couldn't tell you why.poorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-48535529317382753042009-05-04T08:14:00.000-07:002009-05-04T08:14:00.000-07:00Ramsey, you speak the machine language of xkcdsuck...Ramsey, you speak the machine language of xkcdsucks. Meaning, every other word while processing a new xkcd is "FUCK."<br /><br />It would be one thing if Randall simply made Firefly references on the fly and expected his audience to keep up. Pointing out the connection is double-pandering: "Nathan Fillion, from Firefly WHICH I'M SURE YOU LOVE BUT YOU NEVER LOOKED UP THE REAL ACTORS, shall feature in this new story."<br /><br />Oh boy I hope he just crosses a bunch of pop culture/political references until the forum buzzes, "Nathan Fillion mind-melding with Spock on a mecha-T-Rex piloted by Dr. Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris)? This is the AWESOMEST AWESOME TO EVER AWESOME!"thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03123852112758346209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-73737718781836167782009-05-04T06:37:00.000-07:002009-05-04T06:37:00.000-07:00So wait, you're CREEPED OUT? Give me a break. I ...So wait, you're CREEPED OUT? Give me a break. I know we've disagreed on creepiness before, but I think this is even worse than before.<br /><br />She went to show him something on the internet to which she, knowing his twin obsessions of firefly and electric skateboards, (correctly) expected him to react in some major and over dramatic way. All this comic shows is that she was curious as to why her obsessive roommate wasn't obsessing.<br /><br />Not that it would have been weird anyway. If I show someone something, I expect them to at least respond, even if the response was noncommittal or disinterested. That she repeated herself after failing to elicit a response demonstrates nothing except that she expected basic conventions of conversation to be observed.<br /><br />I don't see how you made the leap from "The person I'm addressing didn't reply, perhaps I should repeat myself" to "OH NO! MY ENTIRE LIFE HINGES ON THIS CONVERSATION!" Again, I'm inclined to suspect the former rather than the latter.<br /><br />Why must everything be creepy?Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-7588267033429761822009-05-04T06:28:00.000-07:002009-05-04T06:28:00.000-07:00I don't know about you, but I follow xkcd because ...I don't know about you, but I follow xkcd because it takes roughly 30 seconds of my time to read the comic plus the 2 minutes to read your critique/bitching. <br /><br />A blog about his life would be tl;dr and quite frankly, boring as hell, although I'm sure the regulars would wet their pants at the notion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-32372534640284615222009-05-04T04:32:00.000-07:002009-05-04T04:32:00.000-07:00Oh, I am so totally on this.Oh, I am so totally <I>on</I> this.Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06037127857062536971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714810984552499396.post-73220032703867838092009-05-04T02:10:00.000-07:002009-05-04T02:10:00.000-07:00@Rob, 10.52: freakin' freak, it's a dismal comic a...@Rob, 10.52: freakin' freak, it's a dismal comic and the best you can do is stretch to make it "creepy romance"? Stretch so far you look like Mr. Freakin' Fantastic? Why not mention the fact it's, y'know, dismal? It says up there (seventh word) and everything.Ann Apolishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08566528013026340201noreply@blogger.com