this post was submitted on 01 Jun 2024
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xkcd

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xkcd #2940: Modes of Transportation

https://xkcd.com/2940

Explain xkcd #2940

Title Text:

My bold criticism might anger the hot air balloon people, which would be a real concern if any of them lived along a very narrow line directly upwind of me.

alt-text:A chart that categorizes various modes of transportation based on their practicality and danger level:

Zone of Practicality:

  • Trains
  • Airliners
  • Boats
  • Walking
  • Cars
  • Scooters
  • Bicycles

Zone of Specialty and Recreational Vehicles:

  • Motorcycles
  • Helicopters
  • Light aircraft
  • Go karts
  • Skateboards
  • Rollerblades
  • Skis
  • Unicycles
  • Sleds
  • Bumper cars

?????:

  • Hot air balloons

“Hot air balloons are the optimal mode of transportation, if your optimization algorithm has a sign error.”

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[–] AeonFelis 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago (3 children)

I'm not sure I agree that unicycles are safer than roller blades. But that's probably because I am comfortable on roller blades and don't know how to unicycle, so for me, the opposite is true.

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[–] Zidane 4 points 5 months ago (2 children)

It took me too fucking long to figure out what an "airuner" was...

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[–] DarkCloud 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

The Dyke Delta doesn't fit anywhere on this graph.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

an American homebuilt aircraft designed in the United States in the 1960s and marketed for amateur construction.

Doesn’t get safer than that

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyke_Delta

[–] DarkCloud 4 points 5 months ago

Hmmm, Boeing vs me being paranoid about my own safety.

[–] misterundercoat 2 points 5 months ago

Where would horses go?

[–] ouch 2 points 5 months ago

Motorcycles should be replaced with EUCs.

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