# ­xkcd thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comic-strips\ **Created:** [May 28, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574 "2020-05-28T00:57:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 229
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4563 "2025-07-02T04:09:04Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > As outlined here: and [here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4553). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4564 "2025-07-02T14:17:00Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But what in the world does a vacuum cleaner or a dehumidifier do with WiFi? I can sort of see it with a dehumidifier. They suck water out of the air and they stop working when their storage tank fills up. So a wifi connection would enable them to send a message that they need to be emptied so they can start working again. The same might apply if you’re talking about a self-operating vacuum like a roomba. But I can’t see why an ordinary vacuum would benefit from a wifi connection. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4565 "2025-07-02T14:52:36Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But I can’t see why an ordinary vacuum would benefit from a wifi connection. “Jimmy, did you vacuum the house like I asked?” “Of course, Mom!” “The log shows you only ran it for 2 minutes.” “Ummm…” ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4566 "2025-07-02T15:12:01Z")
Of all the things you might think should never need Wi-Fi, a _litter box_ surely tops the list? But we have one. It’s nice to have the thing notify me when the collection drawer needs to be emptied, for instance. It becomes a classic “manage by exception” experience, and the connectivity enables the exception notification capabilities. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4567 "2025-07-02T15:47:33Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The same might apply if you’re talking about a self-operating vacuum like a roomba. But I can’t see why an ordinary vacuum would benefit from a wifi connection. I bought the cheaper self-operating vacuum that didn’t have Wi-Fi, among other features. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4568 "2025-07-02T16:15:29Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I bought the cheaper self-operating vacuum that didn’t have Wi-Fi, among other features. I have one like that, too. My only regret is that when it inevitably gets stuck in another room, I cannot hear its cries for help. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4569 "2025-07-02T17:47:28Z")
A non-wi-fi vacuum cannot be reprogrammed by the cat. Note that our toaster, oven, air fryer, roaster combo thingy is wi-fi enabled. Why? Don’t ask me, Mr. Luddite. To shut the thing off, I unplug it to my wife’s consternation. I refuse to have that app on my phone. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4570 "2025-07-02T17:58:42Z")
My coffee maker (nespresso vertuo) is wifi enabled, and I have the app. It’s nice when the thing just blinks red at you instead of making coffee, I can open the app and see what it’s complaining about. It’s not nice when I have to re-enter the password, but forgot the password, and need to reset the whole thing because it forgot who I am, just to find out that the lever wasn’t closed all the way. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4571 "2025-07-02T18:48:34Z")
Our washer and dryer are WiFi enabled. I’ve put them on the guest network, so they can only interact with the Internet. **Mrs Magill** and I will go out on Saturday, leaving the boy at home who’s responsible for keeping the laundry moving. The apps will let me know when the cycles are done, so I can then bug the young man who is probably playing X-Box. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4572 "2025-07-03T07:07:48Z")
> **[Global Ranking](https://xkcd.com/3110/)** [![](https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/global_ranking.png) ](https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/global_ranking.png) “Starting a meta-leaderboard for tracking who holds the record for ranking behind the most distinct people on an online leaderboard.” ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4573 "2025-07-03T11:31:21Z")
7 million is a lot. But rankings in the thousands is common for some sports. Well, at least one! I have participated in USBC bowling tournaments that run for multiple weeks and have tens of thousands of participants in the amateur category. I have bragged that I came in 3,456 in my age/handicap group. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4574 "2025-07-03T11:49:55Z")
“It’s hard to be ranked that low in **any** activity.” How about Marty McFly costume making? > **[Well-Ordering Principle](https://xkcd.com/2193/)** ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4575 "2025-07-03T12:08:38Z")
Somehow this “global ranking” one is hitting close to home here on the SDMB. Especially the last panel. I just checked … The USGA governing body for golf issues official handicaps to recreational golfers. They now have some 3.35 million handicapped golfers. Out of ~26 million US golfers. Unclear to me whether / how they distinguish between currently active and former / deceased players. Punchline being that if all recreational golfers got officially handicapped, being merely the 7.145millionth best golfer would put you at about the 25% percentile of skill, better than 3/4th of the other golfers out there. See this ~8 month old article for more. > **[How many golfers carry a USGA handicap index?](https://thegolfnewsnet.com/ryan_ballengee/2024/12/18/how-many-golfers-carry-a-usga-handicap-index-in-2024-121871/)** > > How many golfers carry a USGA handicap index? We tell you how many golfers have a USGA handicap in the United States and the world ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4576 "2025-07-03T13:56:28Z")
I took this comic as a commentary on how a _large_ number like 7,145,000 is called a _low_ ranking. Language is weird. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4577 "2025-07-03T14:36:14Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I bought the cheaper self-operating vacuum that didn’t have Wi-Fi, among other features. You’re talking to a guy who bought his vacuum cleaner at a Goodwill store. It’s self-operating in the sense that I operate it myself. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4578 "2025-07-03T14:44:34Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > How about Marty McFly costume making? I’m not sure I follow; Marty McFly was afaik wearing ordinary street clothes. How would you make a “costume” of that? ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4579 "2025-07-03T14:46:10Z")
Not exactly: [![](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/4a/8e/c8/4a8ec8080a59dc0d7ef4eb662f04bfda.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/4a/8e/c8/4a8ec8080a59dc0d7ef4eb662f04bfda.jpg) ---
**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:** [July 3, 2025, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4580 "2025-07-03T17:19:34Z")
You can’t fool me -that’s a BTTF3 costume - totally different head (totally) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4581 "2025-07-03T18:38:26Z")
You gotta count from one end or the other. Should we call a fat cat a “1 percenter”, or a “99 percenter”? Their wealth is \>= 99% of the populace, and \<= just 1% of them. Whatever you do, don’t turn up the air conditioner to make the room cooler. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/4582 "2025-07-03T18:45:50Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Whatever you do, don’t turn up the air conditioner to make the room cooler. I’ve mentioned before that my refrigerator has an adjustable dial from 1 to 9. It’s helpfully marked “9 = max, 1 = min”. Does that mean that 1 is the minimum temperature, or that 9 is the maximum amount of cooling? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574.md?page=228) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574.md?page=230)