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.”

  • Mighty@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    why are scooters practical and motorcycles not? I only ride a motorcycle. any distance too long for bycicle or inconvenient with public transit, I take my motorcycle.

    • Baguette@lemm.ee
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      6 months ago

      The graph does say its practical, its just also more dangerous than a scooter

      Edit: oh you meant in the zone of practicality, not the y axis convenient for travel. The zoning i feel is pretty subjective

    • Michal@programming.dev
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      6 months ago

      Looks like only because they’re presented as dangerous. Convenience - wise they’re still the same. Practicality seems to be defined here as a balance between danger and convenience.