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XKCD Improving the Internet ... Yet Again

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the oh-oh-monroe dept.

netbuzz writes "Comic creator Randall Monroe suggested in a recent xkcd strip that YouTube comments would be better — or, more precisely, less idiotic — if only those posting them were forced to hear their words read aloud first. Well, YouTube has gone and made this "audio preview" a reality, albeit an optional one. And, it's not the first time that xkcd has contributed to the betterment of the Internet, as those who are familiar with last year's "Internet census" and its use of a Hilbert curve may remember."

15 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting concept... by Phydeaux314 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Although I think that the people who need this feature most are the kind least likely to actually use it.

    --
    Never underestimate the stupidity inherent in all human beings.
    1. Re:Interesting concept... by tool462 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Correction. The people who need this feature are likely to use it to get the computer to say naughty things to them. Especially if there is an option to have the voice be the woman with a British accent used on some GPS systems.

    2. Re:Interesting concept... by tool462 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Correction accepted. But, I'm more inclined to believe that it's actually an American actress (from Iowa or something) doing her imitation of what she thinks an English accent is--a grotesque hybrid of Received Pronunciation and Cockney.

    3. Re:Interesting concept... by Legion_SB · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This American is becoming partial to the Welsh accent. Thanks mostly to the girl from Torchwood.

      --
      'a';DROP TABLE users; SELECT * FROM DATA WHERE name LIKE '%'... if you're reading this, it didn't work.
    4. Re:Interesting concept... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I really am from Iowa, and according to Wikipedia ...

      I just added God and Steve Forbes, too.

    5. Re:Interesting concept... by Roxton · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's encouraging to see that people can and do escape Iowa, but that probably doesn't help your point.

    6. Re:Interesting concept... by KevinKnSC · · Score: 5, Funny

      Pro-tip: When listing famous people from your state, don't lead with Tom Arnold.

  2. I'm impressed! by Verdatum · · Score: 5, Insightful

    First non-pants story I've seen on idle! Huzzah!

    1. Re:I'm impressed! by commodoresloat · · Score: 5, Funny

      As an American, I always had a problem with this expression because I thought, what's a Brit to do when someone is wearing pants that are rubbish? Are they to say, "my good fellow, those pants are completely pants!" But then someone corrected me and noted that they would say "those trousers are completely pants." I felt much better after that conversation.

  3. No good by kamikazearun · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Will stupid people realise how stupid their posts are when they're read out aloud?

  4. Of course... by evanbd · · Score: 5, Funny

    The best example would have to be this strip and the resultant web site (NSWF).

  5. Life imitates XKCD by Andr+T. · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think the greatest improvement of our lifes from xkcd was when Stallman got a katana. Now I can sleep better, knowing he will be protected from the he-who-cannot-be-named, aka Bill.

    --

    Any life is made up of a single moment, the moment in which a man finds out, once and for all, who he is.

    1. Re:Life imitates XKCD by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Funny

      While the comic that inspired that is an excellent one, the idea of pulling that prank on Eric S. Raymond is seriously foolish.

  6. I have to ask... by ThisIsAnonymous · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So when is /. getting this?

  7. Wait a minute... by loocas · · Score: 5, Funny

    Those comments on YouTube come from people? I thought it was a virus or something.