xkcd

by **Feddlefew** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 4:29 pm UTC

You're being a dick, Tom.

Personally? I am a misanthrope- I don't hate people, I just dislike people. So I go out of my way to help people and I generally try to be a kind person to everyone I meet.

You want to know why?

The reason I'm a misanthrope is that I regularly see people- alone, in groups, male, female, of various ethnicity- being absolute dicks or worse to other people. The thing is, most people arn't aware that what there doing is wrong. They could be perfectly good people by themselves, but get them into a group of people and they do mindbendingly horrifying things. They might not even be aware of what they're doing because they're just part of the herd.

There are monsters, of course, in every group you could think of. Sometimes they're very good at hiding. I've learned the best way is just to avoid them and help others see them.

"Stupid" people don't like being treated like they're stupid. I've found that many "stupid" people, especially the "special ed" kind, are some of the kindest people you'll ever meet. Who else can you spend time seeing how many bubbles you can blow with? It's a good way to help the practice counting quickly.

I can't fix my own car, but I'm great with genetics and fungi- does that make me ignorant or stupid?

by **Feddlefew** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 9:23 pm UTC

I just realized that my post was a page topper in the intro thread. Ummm....

Hello, new people! We're nice here! Really! :oops:

by **Tomlidich** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 9:37 pm UTC

Feddlefew wrote:You're being a dick, Tom.

Personally? I am a misanthrope- I don't hate people, I just dislike people. So I go out of my way to help people and I generally try to be a kind person to everyone I meet.

You want to know why?

The reason I'm a misanthrope is that I regularly see people- alone, in groups, male, female, of various ethnicity- being absolute dicks or worse to other people. The thing is, most people arn't aware that what there doing is wrong. They could be perfectly good people by themselves, but get them into a group of people and they do mindbendingly horrifying things. They might not even be aware of what they're doing because they're just part of the herd.

There are monsters, of course, in every group you could think of. Sometimes they're very good at hiding. I've learned the best way is just to avoid them and help others see them.

"Stupid" people don't like being treated like they're stupid. I've found that many "stupid" people, especially the "special ed" kind, are some of the kindest people you'll ever meet. Who else can you spend time seeing how many bubbles you can blow with? It's a good way to help the practice counting quickly.

I can't fix my own car, but I'm great with genetics and fungi- does that make me ignorant or stupid?

on disliking people for being cruel: most of the people who were specifically cruel to me i consider stupid. this is mainly based on principle. they selected a target(me, and probably a few others) using some form of selection, (or randomly, which is even more dumb) and made that persons life hell simply because it was enjoyable. i cannot think of a more stupid past time. also, these were commonly the people who refused to learn, refused to grow as people, or even just behave in class like they should.

on special ed: these people are some of my best friends. often times, they were the only friends i had. alot of them were smarter than most people, just misunderstood or were a little different while learning. most of them got stuck in there (along with myself) because they couldn't cope with the stresses of academia appropriately. i still talk to em occasionally. alot of them seem to be doing well for themselves.

on field specialty: i generally would not call a person like yourself ignorant or stupid.

Specialist=/= ignorance.

the accountants i work for are very smart, just they know less about computers and more about math, numbers, and tax paperwork.

i would call you stupid if you told me that science and math are a waste of time, you should just trust in the bible, and then ramble on about: sports, "hooking up", making racist jokes, or other scumbaglike activities.

i think i could have phrased my original arguments a little better. hope this clears stuff up.

also newbies: occasionally a debate like this will happen on a forum. the proper response is to remain open minded, and if it turns out you are wrong, just admit to your failing and move on with discussion. its hard at times, but thats the way of progress.

by **Feddlefew** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 9:59 pm UTC

So your definition of a stupid person is someone you don't like..? You do realize that the cruelest people are the ones who are smart enough to get away with it, right?

by **Tomlidich** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:05 pm UTC

Feddlefew wrote:So your definition of a stupid person is someone you don't like..? You do realize that the cruelest people are the ones who are smart enough to get away with it, right?

did you actually read what i wrote, or just skim it?

by **Feddlefew** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:50 pm UTC

Tomlidich wrote:on disliking people for being cruel: most of the people who were specifically cruel to me i consider stupid. this is mainly based on principle. they selected a target(me, and probably a few others) using some form of selection, (or randomly, which is even more dumb) and made that persons life hell simply because it was enjoyable. i cannot think of a more stupid past time. also, these were commonly the people who refused to learn, refused to grow as people, or even just behave in class like they should.

That was the impression I got from reading it, yes.

by **Brickmack** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 1:40 am UTC

By "stupid" I meant the type of people that are particularly determined to not learn anything new (there are actually some people I go to school with who seem to make a massive effort not to listen to anything the teacher says, don't read any of the material, and have seemingly no interest in learning anything about anything. When I questioned on of these people, the answer was roughly (Though with many more mispronunciations, worse grammar, etc) "Learning isn't cool, smart people don't have friends so I'm gonna be as dumb as possible"). If someone goes this much out of their way to not learn anything, and they have shown no other evidence of anything resembling intelligence, and don't have any mental disabilities, I can't think of them being anything but stupid.

by **Deva** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:11 am UTC

Sounds lonely. Can be rough without friends. Chose a route which garnered them, from their perspective. Disagrees with the method. Accepts the desire behind it.

by **Brickmack** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:29 am UTC

Fortunately there are 3 or 4 other people who I actually do like, so we talk a lot.

by **Deva** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 8:13 am UTC

Fortunate indeed. Treasure them. But please direct your disdain cautiously. Likely feels enough already, based upon your datum. Do not add to it unnecessarily.

by **Tomlidich** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 3:29 pm UTC

Feddlefew wrote:
Tomlidich wrote:on disliking people for being cruel: most of the people who were specifically cruel to me i consider stupid. this is mainly based on principle. they selected a target(me, and probably a few others) using some form of selection, (or randomly, which is even more dumb) and made that persons life hell simply because it was enjoyable. i cannot think of a more stupid past time. also, these were commonly the people who refused to learn, refused to grow as people, or even just behave in class like they should.

That was the impression I got from reading it, yes.

mainly i just consider the "make random person x's life hell" to be the stupid bit. im sure smart people can be cruel, in pretty big ways, i have met a few of those, but most of my punishment came from the former rather than the latter.

Brickmack wrote: By "stupid" I meant the type of people that are particularly determined to not learn anything new (there are actually some people I go to school with who seem to make a massive effort not to listen to anything the teacher says, don't read any of the material, and have seemingly no interest in learning anything about anything. When I questioned on of these people, the answer was roughly (Though with many more mispronunciations, worse grammar, etc) "Learning isn't cool, smart people don't have friends so I'm gonna be as dumb as possible"). If someone goes this much out of their way to not learn anything, and they have shown no other evidence of anything resembling intelligence, and don't have any mental disabilities, I can't think of them being anything but stupid.

this is the other type of person i deem stupid as well.

can we be friends? you seem like an ok guy.

just be careful exactly HOW you post on these forums, turns out you can get in some hotwater for not making your point absolutely clear.

by **The Mighty Thesaurus** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 3:35 pm UTC

If the point you actually end up making is harmful

by **Tomlidich** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 3:42 pm UTC

The Mighty Thesaurus wrote:If the point you actually end up making is harmful

true. but what people THINK is your point could be an unfortunate mistake in grammar/sentence composition and land you with a lot of pissed off mods and users.
be sure to spare no expense in apologizing either. it helps.

by **Lostdreams** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:47 pm UTC

Apologizing for mistakes helps but only for a time. Learning, that's the important part. It will prevent you from making those mistakes in the first place.

by **Tomlidich** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 7:11 pm UTC

Lostdreams wrote:Apologizing for mistakes helps but only for a time. Learning, that's the important part. It will prevent you from making those mistakes in the first place.

^this as well.
soooo much learning to do....

by **Copper Bezel** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:48 pm UTC

I'm actually impressed that that was resolved as cleanly as it was. I've been poking around here for a couple of days, and this entire community seems like a group I can learn something from.

As for my intro, I'm Copper, a community-college English teacher in Kansas in the US. For that reason, I definitely don't find willful ignorance to be an admirably quality, but I think it's fair to say it's something I have to deal with on a fairly regular basis at work. = / I'm also an obnoxious Linux fanboi (though I do try to keep it in check) who can nonetheless barely handle bash (so never mind Python,) and one of those Pony people besides.

I've been reading (and adoring) XKCD for several years, but I never took a peek at the forums until a few days ago - and then just had to create an account to comment on 0963. But again, trying to keep it in check. = D

by **qoko** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 12:30 am UTC

Ahoy, XKCD. I'm an aspiring nerd of 16 who's been reading XKCD for a few years now. I figured I'd join the forum in the hopes that I might learn something. I'm into computers, philosophy, linguistics, literature, and I wish I could say I like math but I need to teach myself to enjoy it.

by **limb** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 12:12 pm UTC

Hi, I'm Chris Murtagh, I'm 29 and I work in a pretty depressing call centre job, arguing with people who haven't paid/ can't pay their council tax.

I found this forum because I was trying to google graphic novels/comic adaptations of famous philosophical works, I've got an idea to maybe do a beginners guide type series of comics based on books too annoying for most people to read, like Hegel, for students or lazy people, or sort of half interested in philosophy people. I hit upon someone on here who had been posting links to his philosophy comics. Then I noticed this forum and thought that's a lot of interesting different topics on the one forum. I've been reading xkcd for a few years but didn't know that this place existed.

I used to post a lot on Dubstep forum but it's been getting really boring these days. The music seems to have taken off in a way that no-one really likes, so the old board that was quite interesting and positive is now just full of people moaning about how things aren't how they were, and hating on new fans/ producers/ etc, it's always the same old topics. And I guess a lot of people moved on so it's not really as funny or interesting a place as it once was. So I guess I want to see what this place is like for a bit.

Other things about me:
I used to be the conga player in a band called the drunken gypsies.
I've been writing a novel for about 5 years, it always seems almost finished, just needs some more editing.
I love art, I make paintings, lino cuts, recently I've been getting into paper cuts (that puns pretty lame) that's what I call them, I cut images into paper, then put other layers of pictures from magazines underneath.

Hello.

Chris.

by **Llef** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 4:14 pm UTC

Hey all, I've been lurking around these comics/forums for a couple years. I"m a bit of a quiet one so I've never really felt the need to register up and get all official about it. Lets see. . .I"m 28 at the moment, have a degree in mechanical engineering and am working at local soccer store as an assistant manager. Registered at the forums to get some diet advice as I've recently had to switch to a gluten free diet (no wheat/rye/barley/spelt/some other grain that starts with a "t" that I can never remember off the top of my head...)

Been practicing Astanga yoga for a couple years now, and its pretty much the best thing going on in my life right now, so take that as you will

So yeah, just saying hi, and I'll be seeing ya around.

by **Monika** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:34 pm UTC

Hi qoko, hi limb, hi Llef.
Wow, three four-letter nicks in a row!

by **Zarq** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:23 pm UTC

Four is best amount of letters!

by **kimailis** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:09 am UTC

hello, so as you guessed i'm kinda new. what is the most populated irc channel of xkcd(if anyone still uses it)?

by **SecondTalon** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:30 am UTC

Like the About page says, Randall hangs out on irc.foonetic.net / #xkcd

As a result, that's.. the official #xkcd IRC channel.

I must say.. you took your time posting. Probably a record.

by **kimailis** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:35 am UTC

cool, thanks!

by **Shifter** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 3:50 pm UTC

Hello, I'm a third year maths undergraduate in Britain so uh hi!

by **imalizya** » Sun Oct 23, 2011 7:34 pm UTC

Dear forum buddies,
I am Alizya Brooks interested in friendship with sincere peoples.

by **Jplus** » Sun Oct 23, 2011 10:55 pm UTC

Shifter wrote:Hello, I'm a third year maths undergraduate in Britain so uh hi!

Hi!

by **TG333** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 12:47 pm UTC

Hello people of the internet. I once was the newest member of this forum. Been reading xkcd comics for a while and suddenly after only two years or so I found this place. I studied engineering and management and work as a planning engineer in a big utilitiy´s strategic planning and projects department. I do mucho sporto, am 29, have a girlfriend, live in Europe, wear glasses (only rarely these days), am a semi-professional mountaibike-downhill racer and tend to pretend that I can speak spanish in a very unfunny way. I also like cats, videos of little monkeys riding on pigs or dogs or segways and beer.

Be nice to me.

by **Evengeduld** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:36 am UTC

Hi TG333

TG333 wrote:Be nice to me.

We can try :twisted:

by **Dr.Buck** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:15 pm UTC

Evening! (Well, it is here, anyway!)

The name is Stu, in the UK, 29, married, 5-month old daughter, into cars, sciency stuff and fire. Been reading the comics for a couple of years now via an RSS feed, but when it didn't update on wednesday morning as normal, decided to look at the actual website and discovered it has an forum! :shock:

Intro over, any questions? No? Excellent. Everyone to the cake shop!

by **Evengeduld** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 7:46 am UTC

Dr.Buck wrote:Everyone to the cake shop!

I like that attitude :mrgreen:

by **eev** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 12:22 pm UTC

Hello there. c:
Well, I am Evelyn, 16, female, from Australia. I enjoy science and craft and doodling and various other things.
My favourite animal is the giraffe and my favourite letter is j. I can make fart noises with my hands and I really enjoy origami.
That was a really odd list of random tidbits about myself, but okay.
hello!

by **SecondTalon** » Mon Oct 31, 2011 7:31 pm UTC

Ah, but using only your hands can you make a sound that's not unlike the flatulence of a paper giraffe named Jerome?

by **IronicalVitriol** » Tue Nov 01, 2011 4:24 am UTC

'Allo, Forumites. I've been lurking around the boards a while (standard behaviour, I suppose) and have decided to actually register.

I'm 19, female, from the American south. I like science and comedy, art and fencing and, well, a lot of things actually. I try to be rather mellow and easy, when possible. I often go by the name Coyote for no readily explainable reason and have a schedule that keeps me up at ungodly hours of the morning.

That is all.

by **Deva** » Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:02 am UTC

Waves. What type of art do you create while you fence? Still life? How about Pointillism? Is your weapon your artistic instrument, like Zorro? Are you Zorro? Explains being awake during immoral hours.

by **Mousou** » Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:30 am UTC

Morning everyone!

M'name is Jørn, and I'm a 22 year old bloke from Norway.
Been reading the comic for nearly 5 years now, and just recently (when I had nothing to do at work) found my way into the forums, where I spent some time lurking before signing up to make a small post or two.

This is the most mature forum I've ever stumbled upon, and hopefully I'll add to this rather than being a catalyst to it spinning out of control. ^^"

by **IronicalVitriol** » Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:31 am UTC

Deva wrote: Is your weapon your artistic instrument, like Zorro? Are you Zorro? Explains being awake during immoral hours.

Curses, you've seen through my ruse!

by **eev** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:22 am UTC

SexyTalon wrote:Ah, but using only your hands can you make a sound that's not unlike the flatulence of a paper giraffe named Jerome?

I can only try.

by **dcb2011** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 7:22 pm UTC

Good afternoon, XKCD-ers.

I registered yesterday and am now back for a more thorough exploration of these forums.
(I missed this thread the first few times I went in the "General" forums.)

A little about me:
I live in the Vancouver, BC area (Canada).
I found these forums because they were mentioned in a comment on a blog regarding upper-level Math forums. Before that, I had never heard of them, and xkcd isn't really an intuitive name for a math site, a forum, or anything related. (Are you trying to keep a low profile? How do new users find this place?)
My interests include math, programming, Internet technology, aerospace, space exploration, and many other aspects of physical sciences.

Looking forward to some intelligent interaction in these forums, and I will try to make a positive contribution where I can.

See you around the forums.

David

by **RollingHead** » Fri Nov 04, 2011 7:43 pm UTC

Mousou wrote:This is the most mature forum I've ever stumbled upon

agreed!

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