http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3634#comic

Blame Quintushalls for this.

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Synar
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Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2015 8:49 pm

http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3634#comic

Post by Synar »

Can anyone please explain this comic to me?
I have no idea what the graph means, much less what the punchline is supposed to be.

jackacid

Re: http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3634#comic

Post by jackacid »

I think the x-axis is the word balloon. The words "Of course I believe in" has a flat line about a third of the way up on the visible y-axis, which is labelled "potential for love." When "science" is mentioned, the potential for love rises sharply. The word "total" precipitates a sharp decline, while mention of astrology causes the potential to plummet to near zero.

Nameruse

Re: http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3634#comic

Post by Nameruse »

The graph implies that the potential for love, for the person our cap'n star"science" in the lower left corner is talking to, increases when a potential love interest likes science. And I assume it approximates 0 when said potential love interest doesn't actually know "science". (I use "" to imply that i think it's funny to speak of a field, or number of fields as diverse as the natural sciences by basically calling them "the ol' science, ye know, with them numbers 'n all" (Or is just saying "science" in english a reference to the scientific progress as such?). Really, that already should have given it away).
The joke than is that the potential love intereset wasn't talking about "science" in the first place but "signs".
I can't exactly figure out what the decrease after "A" is all about. If it was about "I'm a" being somewhat self-centered the decrease should probably have started earlier.

I now feel incllined to recommend googling "Dara O Briain on Astrology".

CoachMcGuirk
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Re: http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3634#comic

Post by CoachMcGuirk »

I think the decline after 'a' refers to the lack of attraction the graph-maker has for people who use "total" as an adjective to describe themselves. E.g. "I'm a total Taurus," or "I'm a total Jesus freak."

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Synar
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Re: http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3634#comic

Post by Synar »

Ok, thanks.
I was interpreting it as if the world ballon was the axis label of the quantity measured, so a little of "believing in science and being a total taurus" meant a little potential for love, a bit more meant a lot of potential, and a lot meant no potential, with an arbitrary graph form. Lets say it didn't make much sense.

PatrikD

Re: http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3634#comic

Post by PatrikD »

Whenever the topic of astrology comes up in conversation, I mention "I'm a Libra; we don't believe in astrology". Usually takes them a while to figure out...

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Sahan
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Re: http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3634#comic

Post by Sahan »

Everyone knows being superstitious brings you bad luck.
Destructicus wrote: Alt text:
"I wonder if chemists feel bad that they're always left out of these sorts of jokes."

Since when is chemistry not a science?

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