# XKCD 12-05-12: I don't quite get it

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-12-05-12-i-dont-quite-get-it/643115>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 5, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-12-05-12-i-dont-quite-get-it/643115 "2012-12-05T19:59:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-12-05-12-i-dont-quite-get-it/643115/21 "2012-12-06T21:13:04Z")

</div>

> [@Andy\_L](#):
>
> “Zero History” is the one you’re thinking of.
> 
> Aside from “Halting State” by Stross, there’s also “This is Not a Game” by Walter Jon Williams.

And the sequel to “This is Not a Game”: Deep State".

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-12-05-12-i-dont-quite-get-it/643115/22 "2012-12-06T21:24:57Z")

</div>

> [@Chronos](#):
>
> On thinking about it, it’s even better than that. Not only are you attracting large numbers of people to the vicinity of your store, you’re attracting large numbers of _smartphone users_ to the vicinity of your store. Which is to say, people with disposable income.

And people who communicate to other users in real time.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-12-05-12-i-dont-quite-get-it/643115/23 "2012-12-06T22:08:01Z")

</div>

> [@Glazer](#):
>
> And the sequel to “This is Not a Game”: Deep State".

I have to read that one (and its sequel “The Fourth Wall”)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-12-05-12-i-dont-quite-get-it/643115/24 "2012-12-06T23:20:34Z")

</div>

> [@Chronos](#):
>
> On thinking about it, it’s even better than that. Not only are you attracting large numbers of people to the vicinity of your store, you’re attracting large numbers of _smartphone users_ to the vicinity of your store. Which is to say, people with disposable income.

I said that, did I not?

> [@Balance](#):
>
> Want to draw a bunch of **people with enough money for smartphones** to your business on opening day?

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-12-05-12-i-dont-quite-get-it/643115.md?page=1)