this post was submitted on 27 May 2026
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xkcd #3251: Time Machine Conversation

Title text:

It's possible to do sea navigation without a compass, but you'll have to get some spoilers from the Polynesians.

Transcript:

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

Source: https://xkcd.com/3251/

explainxkcd for #3251

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[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 12 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I'm pretty sure iron age people knew the concept of spoiled food and would be able to apply that to stories. You people know it has nothing to do with car spoilers, right?

[–] other_cat@piefed.zip 8 points 4 days ago

How a word is used can induce confusion too. It'd be like if someone said "Anyway, Rotteners for the comment. Sorry."

Though 'rotteners' would be a good word for a spoiler that makes you hate something afterwards haha.