52
submitted 2 weeks ago by xkcdbot@lemmy.world to c/xkcd@lemmy.world

xkcd #3114: Building a Fire

Title text:

That was quicker than usual! The cabin's sprinkler system often makes it really hard to keep anything lit.

Transcript:

Transcript will show once it’s been added to explainxkcd.com

Source: https://xkcd.com/3114/

explainxkcd for #3114

top 15 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 weeks ago

Don't forget to put a tiny dog drinking coffee in there, too!

[-] teft@piefed.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

IMHO the cabin is second best. Teepee is the best for building fires.

[-] ampy@discuss.online 1 points 2 weeks ago

Cabin method is better when you want to cook above the fire. The flames stay low, but on tee pee method, the flames go too high and scorch the food.

[-] pixeltree@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 weeks ago

Idk I hate balancing everything

[-] eksb@programming.dev -3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

As per usual, Randall keeps going after the punchline was already delivered, ruining the comic. It would be better if there was no text in the final panel.

[-] Bogasse@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 weeks ago

It didn't understand the 4th panel as an explanation of the joke but just an emphasis on how absurd it is that the character planned all along that his installation will be wrong.

[-] AngryishHumanoid@lemmynsfw.com 2 points 2 weeks ago

I feel like the last panel especially builds on the joke by continuing to divert expectations. It goes from humorously building too accurate of a log cabin, to coming back around to accidentally/on purpose starting a fire, thus completing the initial request.

[-] eksb@programming.dev -2 points 2 weeks ago

The cabin is already on fire in panel 4. It is clear what happened. Then the words explain the joke.

[-] AngryishHumanoid@lemmynsfw.com 2 points 2 weeks ago

The point isn't it is on fire. The point is the roundabout way of getting it to be on fire.

[-] thejml@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

It’s a typical instruction delivery speech structure:

  1. Okay, let me tell you how to ____

2-n.

n. And that’s how you ____

(Optional) n+1. Any questions?

Hence the text in panel 4 completes the pattern.

[-] SuperNovaStar@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago

You know, no one is holding a gun to your head. There are a billion other webcomics out there if you don't like this one.

I, for one, like Randall's more conversational style. I wouldn't want him to abruptly stop after a punchline like a stage comic from the 90s.

[-] wise_pancake@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I for one liked the third and fourth panels

[-] aBundleOfFerrets@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago

This guy’s wiring certainly isn’t up to code.

[-] marcos@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

It'd rudimentary.

this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2025
52 points (100.0% liked)

xkcd

12363 readers
35 users here now

A community for a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS