# xkcd comic about so-called 'humour' **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 17, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845 "2008-07-17T16:46:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/1 "2008-07-17T16:46:25Z")
[xkcd comic about smug jerks who think they’re funny.](http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/words_that_end_in_gry.png) Every time we have a thread where people share their “funny” remarks, I have felt this, but until I saw this comic, I didn’t have the words for it. Now I do, so I’m sharing it with all y’all. If you are one of the people guilty of this behaviour, rest assured that I don’t expect you to change, but be aware that people are thinking of you like the guy with the knife in this comic. ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/2 "2008-07-17T16:48:54Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] [xkcd comic about smug jerks who think they’re funny.](http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/words_that_end_in_gry.png) Every time we have a thread where people share their “funny” remarks, I have felt this, but until I saw this comic, I didn’t have the words for it. Now I do, so I’m sharing it with all y’all. If you are one of the people guilty of this behaviour, rest assured that I don’t expect you to change, but be aware that people are thinking of you like the guy with the knife in this comic. [/QUOTE] Especially since that particular “riddle” is almost always mis-spoken. Ugh. I love XKCD, by the by. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/3 "2008-07-17T16:54:42Z")
Words, not knives, kids. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/4 "2008-07-17T17:03:29Z")
[QUOTE=Litoris] Especially since that particular “riddle” is almost always mis-spoken. [/QUOTE] Including in the comic itself. Here’s the correct wording: > [@](#): > > Think of words ending in “-gry”. “Angry” and “hungry” are two of them. There are only three words in “the English language.” What is the third word? ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/5 "2008-07-17T17:03:40Z")
I feel I should point out that the guy with the knife is the recurring character referred to as the “Classhole”, who is arguably the ultimate smug jerk. That said, it’s hard to argue with him on this particular issue, and not just because he would stab you for it. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/6 "2008-07-17T17:04:42Z")
+1 ---
**Author:** ![nd\_n8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/439d5e/32.png) [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/7 "2008-07-17T17:10:37Z")
Understood. ::Puts hands in pockets and backs away slowly:: ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/8 "2008-07-17T17:31:30Z")
[QUOTE=Unintentionally Blank] +1 [/QUOTE] OK, I’ll flaunt my ignorance for everyone to see: What the hell does this mean?? I see people post it every so often. I’m guessing a D&D reference? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/9 "2008-07-17T17:32:39Z")
I’ll give you a million dollars if you drink a glass full of water right now. Ah, you didn’t drink if full, you drank it empty. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! Hey, where’d my hand go? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/10 "2008-07-17T17:35:35Z")
[QUOTE=Scarlett67] OK, I’ll flaunt my ignorance for everyone to see: What the hell does this mean?? I see people post it every so often. I’m guessing a D&D reference? [/QUOTE] No, just “I agree with the above post word for word”. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/11 "2008-07-17T17:46:30Z")
[QUOTE=Scarlett67] OK, I’ll flaunt my ignorance for everyone to see: What the hell does this mean?? I see people post it every so often. I’m guessing a D&D reference? [/QUOTE] It’s for boards with titles you get with so many posts. It means “+1 to post count.” It’s usually done in threads bound to get locked or ones that are utterly useless. I.e. OP: “Puppies are cute!” Post Count Padder: “Umm… great. +1” [QUOTE=Malacandra] No, just “I agree with the above post word for word”. [/QUOTE] It can be used for that, but most people (at least on the non-dope) will put “QFT” (Quoted for Truth), or make it clear with an “agreed +1.” ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/12 "2008-07-17T17:53:46Z")
No, it’s a reference to boards with a reputation system. Other users can rate a post, if you like the post the poster gets a bump in reputation, if you dislike it they lose reputation. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/13 "2008-07-17T17:59:57Z")
[QUOTE=Jragon] It’s for boards with titles you get with so many posts. It means “+1 to post count.” It’s usually done in threads bound to get locked or ones that are utterly useless. [/QUOTE] Not exclusively. In some places, it is specifically used to tally the opinions of the readers, and encouraged. +1, -1 and 0. It might be the “python language” mailing list that does this. Some mailing list I subscribe to does. > [@Litoris](#): > > Especially since that particular “riddle” is almost always mis-spoken. > [@Scarlet67](#): > > Including in the comic itself. Here’s the correct wording: Even if you phrase it “correctly”, it’s a terrible fucking riddle that doesn’t rely on cleverness or logic. It is entirely based on tricking the listener into believing you’re asking something that you’re not. While some riddles have unneeded information, their intent is rarely to intentionally deceive. And, if you strip them to their bone, they still function as riddles. that’s simply not so in this case, where the stripped down riddle would essentially be “there are three words in the phrase ‘the english language’. What is the third word?” To even state that this riddle has a “correct” wording gives it way too much credit as a riddle, hence **Litoris’** quotes, I assume. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/14 "2008-07-17T18:01:52Z")
[QUOTE=Lemur866] No, it’s a reference to boards with a reputation system. Other users can rate a post, if you like the post the poster gets a bump in reputation, if you dislike it they lose reputation. [/QUOTE] I’ve never seen it in reference to a rep system, then again the two rep boards I’ve been on had a rule where you weren’t allowed to publicly talk about rep you gave or received. I’ve exclusively seen it used for post count or quiet “agreeing” if it has a qualifier. I guess it just adopts different uses on different boards. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/15 "2008-07-17T18:28:37Z")
I thought it was a D & D thing too. Regardless of where it came from, I assumed that a +number was intended as a positive response, and a -number was negative response. I’m funny that way. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/16 "2008-07-17T18:54:11Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] [xkcd comic about smug jerks who think they’re funny.](http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/words_that_end_in_gry.png) [/QUOTE] Why did you link directly to the image? You miss the alt-text that way. [Let your mouse linger over the image and read the text that appears.](http://xkcd.com/169/) ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/17 "2008-07-17T18:57:36Z")
+1 is most commonly a Farkism, generally given when the submitter comes up with a particularly clever headline, or a commenter posts a particularly witty rejoinder. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/18 "2008-07-17T19:03:19Z")
I put it there because I agreed with OP. Nothing more, nothing less. consider it a Thumbs up on [digg.com](http://digg.com) or a +1 Insightful on Slashdot. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/19 "2008-07-17T19:03:50Z")
[QUOTE=Jragon] It’s for boards with titles you get with so many posts. It means “+1 to post count.” It’s usually done in threads bound to get locked or ones that are utterly useless. [/QUOTE] > [@Lemur866](#): > > No, it’s a reference to boards with a reputation system. Whatever the origin, I’d like to take a moment to say how much I loathe “+1” and its cousin, Extremely Long Quoted Post Followed By “This.” I know we’re all busy people, but we don’t have a reputation system or titles here and it’s not like you save a lot of time by hitting “+1” instead of “I agree.” I eagerly await the next 16 people who are planning to quote this post and enter “+1” and “This.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845/20 "2008-07-17T19:07:10Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Whatever the origin, I’d like to take a moment to say how much I loathe “+1” and its cousin, Extremely Long Quoted Post Followed By “This.” I know we’re all busy people, but we don’t have a reputation system or titles here and it’s not like you save a lot of time by hitting “+1” instead of “I agree.” I eagerly await the next 16 people who are planning to quote this post and enter “+1” and “This.” 😉 [/QUOTE] tl;dr [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-comic-about-so-called-humour/456845.md?page=2)