Spurious correlation #1,294 · View random
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is xkcd comics published about the internet and the second variable is Customer satisfaction with The U.S. Postal Service. The chart goes from 2007 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is xkcd comics published about the internet and the second variable is Customer satisfaction with The U.S. Postal Service. The chart goes from 2007 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

Download png, svg

AI explanation

As the number of internet-themed xkcd comics decreased, so did the level of postal workers’ internet humor. This led to a severe shortage of LOLs and ROFLs in the postal facilities, ultimately dampening the overall customer experience with the U.S. Postal Service. After all, it’s a well-known fact that a postman’s delivery speed is directly proportional to the number of internet puns they’ve been exposed to. Remember, for top-notch mail service, it's all about the delivery - of internet humor!

^{Show image generation prompt} Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image of a cozy living room with a person sitting on a comfortable couch surrounded by various electronic gadgets. The person is engrossed in browsing the internet, chuckling at xkcd comics on the computer screen, and is completely oblivious to the pile of unopened mail on the coffee table. A colorful poster featuring xkcd comics is hanging on the wall, adding a pop of color to the room. A mailbox outside the window remains untouched, indicating neglected postal service. The overall style should incorporate cybernetic art elements, creating a visually striking and futuristic representation of the scene. The depiction should include only scenes, people, and objects, it should not include text or speech bubbles.

This image generation prompt was also generated by AI, using the following sequence:

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You select one of a few potential scene descriptors that seems to go along with the situation described. You respond only with the scene descriptions provided and say nothing else.
User prompt: Here is a situation: "Study Finds Decrease in Internet-Themed xkcd Comics Caused Dip in U.S. Postal Service Satisfaction: Internet Users Too Distracted to Notice Mail Delivery Speed". Given that situation, which of the following image descriptions seems most appropriate? Pick the one that seems to be related to one of the variables at hand and the tone of the explanation. Please respond with only one of the following potential descriptions: Concept art Cybernetic art Data cyber art Whimsical illustration Art nouveau
ChatGPT: Cybernetic art

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You describe simple visual scenes that depict the two variables stated and the explanation described. Do not reference graphs or charts; describe physical objects.
User prompt: Please describe a visual scene that depicts the following situation. Keep the description simple. "Study Finds Decrease in Internet-Themed xkcd Comics Caused Dip in U.S. Postal Service Satisfaction: Internet Users Too Distracted to Notice Mail Delivery Speed"
ChatGPT: In the scene, there's a cozy living room with a person sitting on a comfortable couch surrounded by various electronic gadgets like smartphones, laptops, and a tablet. On one side of the room, a colorful poster featuring xkcd comics is hanging on the wall. The person is engrossed in browsing the internet and chuckling at the xkcd comics on the computer screen, completely oblivious to the pile of unopened mail on the coffee table. Meanwhile, a mailbox outside the window remains untouched, indicating neglected postal service.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You write and improve image generation prompts for DALLE-3. You maintain the same subjects, but enhance the visuals.
User prompt: Please respond with an image generation prompt that would be likely to create an interesting visual using DALLE-3, using the following style: [ Cybernetic art ] and depicting this scene: In the scene, there's a cozy living room with a person sitting on a comfortable couch surrounded by various electronic gadgets like smartphones, laptops, and a tablet. On one side of the room, a colorful poster featuring xkcd comics is hanging on the wall. The person is engrossed in browsing the internet and chuckling at the xkcd comics on the computer screen, completely oblivious to the pile of unopened mail on the coffee table. Meanwhile, a mailbox outside the window remains untouched, indicating neglected postal service. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image of a cozy living room with a person sitting on a comfortable couch surrounded by various electronic gadgets. The person is engrossed in browsing the internet, chuckling at xkcd comics on the computer screen, and is completely oblivious to the pile of unopened mail on the coffee table. A colorful poster featuring xkcd comics is hanging on the wall, adding a pop of color to the room. A mailbox outside the window remains untouched, indicating neglected postal service. The overall style should incorporate cybernetic art elements, creating a visually striking and futuristic representation of the scene.

*Variations in the User Prompts from chart to chart are just the result of random number generation in Python. I wrote a few arrays of various styles and methods to ask questions to change up the results. Every time this site writes an explanation or generates an image, the script picks from each at random.

I sequence the requests into multiple prompts because I find GPT 3.5 to perform much better with short, well-managed contexts. Thus, I track the context directly in Python and only ask ChatGPT targeted questions.
^{Show prompt for explanation} Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106 (fine-tuned)
System prompt: You provide humorous responses in the form of plausible sounding explanations for correlations. You assume the correlation is causative for the purpose of the explanation even if it is ridiculous. You do not chat with the user, you only reply with the causal connection explanation and nothing else.
User prompt: Please make up a funny explanation for how a decrease in xkcd comics published about the internet caused Customer satisfaction with The U.S. Postal Service to decrease. Add a funny one-liner at the end.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)

The xkcd Factor: A Post-Modern Analysis of Internet Comics and US Postal Service Satisfaction

The Journal of Internet Humor and Social Sciences

Jan 2024

Reminder: This paper is AI-generated. Not real!

^{Show prompt used to generate this paper} Quick note: This sequence is long and repetitive. That's how the prompt engineering works for this one. I manage the output in Python to format it into this PDF.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal.You draft a literature review section of an academic research paper, that starts out dry for the first few sentences but then becomes hilarious and goofy.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between xkcd comics published about the internet and Customer satisfaction with The U.S. Postal Service. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Speak in the present tense for this section (the authors find...), as is common in academic research paper literature reviews. Name the sources in a format similar to this: In "Book," the authors find lorem and ipsum.

Make up the lorem and ipsum part, but make it sound related to the topic at hand.

Start by naming serious-sounding studies by authors like Smith, Doe, and Jones - but then quickly devolve. Name some real non-fiction books that would be related to the topic. Then name some real fiction books that sound like they could be related. Then you might move on to cartoons and children's shows that you watched for research.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"The xkcd Factor: A Post-Modern Analysis of Internet Comics and US Postal Service Satisfaction"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study examines the peculiar relationship between xkcd comics relating to the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service. Utilizing data from AI analysis of xkcd comics as well as the American Customer Satisfaction Index, we sought to shed light on this curious correlation. Our findings reveal a notable correlation coefficient of 0.8106127 and p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2021. Through this rigorous investigation, we present our intriguing discoveries and ponder the intricate connection between cyber humor and the tangible experience of mail service satisfaction.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
INTRODUCTION
In this age of digitization and instant communication, the relevance of traditional mail services has come under scrutiny. The U.S. Postal Service, a venerable American institution, and xkcd, a webcomic of much internet renown, may seem to inhabit disparate spheres. However, preliminary observations suggest a surprising undercurrent connecting the two. This study aims to delve into this uncharted territory and unearth the hitherto unexplored relationship between xkcd comics centered around the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service.
The idiosyncratic humor of xkcd, a webcomic created by Randall Munroe, has garnered a dedicated following for its witty and often perspicacious commentary on technology, science, and the quirks of digital life. The U.S. Postal Service, on the other hand, has weathered tumultuous changes in the contemporary landscape of communication and logistics, grappling with the perennial challenge of adapting to the digital age while maintaining its raison d'être. The convergence of these seemingly incongruous elements forms the nexus of our inquiry.
Our endeavor builds upon the foundation of extant research in the intersection of cyber culture and traditional societal constructs. And let us not overlook the potential amusement in exploring the juxtaposition of internet humor and snail mail - a blend of forces that may seem as disparate as the user interfaces of a dial-up modem and a hypermodern interface.
The proliferation of xkcd comics and their resonance within internet culture presents an intriguing platform for analysis, particularly given the symbiotic relationship between humor and the societal zeitgeist. With this terrain duly noted, the investigation presented here seeks to observe whether there is more than meets the eye in connecting the irreverent wit of xkcd comics to the perennially enduring, if not always beloved, experience of using postal services.
In our pursuit to unravel this apparent confluence of incongruous entities, we hope to entertain, inform, and open new avenues for scholarly reflection, while perhaps, eliciting a smile or a wry chuckle along the way.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

A multitude of research endeavors have sought to fathom the intricate interplay between humor, technology, and societal dynamics. Smith et al., in their seminal work, "The Interplay of Cyberculture and Traditional Constructs," delved into the nuances of modern cyber culture and its impact on established societal institutions. Similarly, Doe's comprehensive investigation, "The Humorous Undercurrent in Technological Narratives," shed light on the unanticipated intersections of humor within the digital realm. Moreover, Jones' groundbreaking study, "Digital Evolution and Anachronistic Delights," provided a compelling framework for understanding the evolving nature of humor in the cyber age.

Transitioning to the realm of literature, "The Internet Is a Playground" by David Thorne and "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell" by Tucker Max offer intriguing explorations of internet culture and its impact on human behavior, albeit from a more, shall we say, unconventional perspective. On a related note, the works of Douglas Adams, particularly "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," provide a whimsical commentary on the interplay of technology and societal norms, invoking a sense of literary amusement that resonates with our examination.

Moving further afield, the realm of visual media also holds sway over our investigation. The animated expositions of "Animaniacs" and "Pinky and the Brain" offer not only entertainment but also incisive commentary on the interwoven fabric of communication technologies and human interaction. This seemingly divergent avenue of inquiry promises to yield unconventional insights as we traverse the terrain of cultural musings and comic elucidations.

Intriguingly, the satirical commentary embedded within "The Simpsons" and "South Park" animated series presents a veritable treasure trove of pop cultural allusions and societal critiques that echo the satirical currents coursing through xkcd comics and the societal fabric surrounding the U.S. Postal Service.

As we embark on our investigation, the interplay of digital humor and postal service satisfaction awaits elucidation, presenting an enigmatic tableau rife with potential for scholarly inquiry and perhaps a hearty chuckle or two along the way.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal.You draft the methodology section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between xkcd comics published about the internet and Customer satisfaction with The U.S. Postal Service. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from AI analysis of xkcd comics and American Customer Satisfaction Index . You used data from 2007 to 2021

Make up the research methods you don't know. Make them a bit goofy and convoluted.

Here is the title, abstract, and introduction of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"The xkcd Factor: A Post-Modern Analysis of Internet Comics and US Postal Service Satisfaction"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study examines the peculiar relationship between xkcd comics relating to the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service. Utilizing data from AI analysis of xkcd comics as well as the American Customer Satisfaction Index, we sought to shed light on this curious correlation. Our findings reveal a notable correlation coefficient of 0.8106127 and p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2021. Through this rigorous investigation, we present our intriguing discoveries and ponder the intricate connection between cyber humor and the tangible experience of mail service satisfaction.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
INTRODUCTION
In this age of digitization and instant communication, the relevance of traditional mail services has come under scrutiny. The U.S. Postal Service, a venerable American institution, and xkcd, a webcomic of much internet renown, may seem to inhabit disparate spheres. However, preliminary observations suggest a surprising undercurrent connecting the two. This study aims to delve into this uncharted territory and unearth the hitherto unexplored relationship between xkcd comics centered around the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service.
The idiosyncratic humor of xkcd, a webcomic created by Randall Munroe, has garnered a dedicated following for its witty and often perspicacious commentary on technology, science, and the quirks of digital life. The U.S. Postal Service, on the other hand, has weathered tumultuous changes in the contemporary landscape of communication and logistics, grappling with the perennial challenge of adapting to the digital age while maintaining its raison d'être. The convergence of these seemingly incongruous elements forms the nexus of our inquiry.
Our endeavor builds upon the foundation of extant research in the intersection of cyber culture and traditional societal constructs. And let us not overlook the potential amusement in exploring the juxtaposition of internet humor and snail mail - a blend of forces that may seem as disparate as the user interfaces of a dial-up modem and a hypermodern interface.
The proliferation of xkcd comics and their resonance within internet culture presents an intriguing platform for analysis, particularly given the symbiotic relationship between humor and the societal zeitgeist. With this terrain duly noted, the investigation presented here seeks to observe whether there is more than meets the eye in connecting the irreverent wit of xkcd comics to the perennially enduring, if not always beloved, experience of using postal services.
In our pursuit to unravel this apparent confluence of incongruous entities, we hope to entertain, inform, and open new avenues for scholarly reflection, while perhaps, eliciting a smile or a wry chuckle along the way.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

The methodological approach employed in this study was as rigorous and methodical as dissecting a joke to understand its intricate layers of humor. Data on xkcd comics related to the internet was collected from an array of sources, including but not limited to the official xkcd website, fan forums, and social media platforms. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) served as the fount of information regarding customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service, providing a robust metric for evaluating the sentiments of postal service users.

To establish a comprehensive dataset, a sophisticated AI algorithm was trained to scour the vast expanse of the internet in search of relevant xkcd comics. The algorithm's task was akin to hunting for hidden treasures in a labyrinth of digital corridors, extracting and categorizing comics that bore explicit or implicit relevance to the realm of the internet. This process was not devoid of whimsy, as the AI demonstrated a propensity for serendipitous discovery, much like stumbling upon a rare comedic gem.

Subsequently, a meticulous analysis was performed on the gathered xkcd comics, utilizing an algorithm that quantified the thematic elements and humor density of each comic. This involved a nuanced classification of humor types, from dry wit to slapstick-worthy situations, reminiscent of a sommelier discerning the bouquet and body of a fine wine. The resulting dataset provided a granular understanding of the comedic nuances intertwined with the internet-centric themes within the xkcd oeuvre.

Concomitantly, the American Customer Satisfaction Index data relating to the U.S. Postal Service was harnessed to capture the ebb and flow of customer sentiment over the years. Through the application of statistical methods that rival the complexity of parcel routing algorithms, a robust quantitative analysis was conducted to ascertain the correlation between the humor-laden world of xkcd and the customer satisfaction landscape of postal services.

The resulting correlation coefficient of 0.8106127 and a significance level of p < 0.01 served as a testament to the robustness of the methodology, reaffirming the nuanced interplay between internet-themed humor and tangible customer satisfaction. The comprehensive approach adopted in this research not only illuminated the often-unseen connections within the realms of cyber humor and postal service satisfaction but perhaps also evoked a wry smile of appreciation for the unexpected correlations drawn from this inquiry.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal.You draft the results section of an academic research paper. You speak in the past tense (you found...).
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the results section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between xkcd comics published about the internet and Customer satisfaction with The U.S. Postal Service. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from AI analysis of xkcd comics and American Customer Satisfaction Index .

For the time period 2007 to 2021, you found a correlation 0.8106127, r-squared of 0.6570929, and p < 0.01.

One figure will be included. The figure (Fig. 1) is a scatterplot showing the strong correlation between the two variables. You don't need to specify where; I will add the figure.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"The xkcd Factor: A Post-Modern Analysis of Internet Comics and US Postal Service Satisfaction"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study examines the peculiar relationship between xkcd comics relating to the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service. Utilizing data from AI analysis of xkcd comics as well as the American Customer Satisfaction Index, we sought to shed light on this curious correlation. Our findings reveal a notable correlation coefficient of 0.8106127 and p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2021. Through this rigorous investigation, we present our intriguing discoveries and ponder the intricate connection between cyber humor and the tangible experience of mail service satisfaction.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
INTRODUCTION
In this age of digitization and instant communication, the relevance of traditional mail services has come under scrutiny. The U.S. Postal Service, a venerable American institution, and xkcd, a webcomic of much internet renown, may seem to inhabit disparate spheres. However, preliminary observations suggest a surprising undercurrent connecting the two. This study aims to delve into this uncharted territory and unearth the hitherto unexplored relationship between xkcd comics centered around the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service.
The idiosyncratic humor of xkcd, a webcomic created by Randall Munroe, has garnered a dedicated following for its witty and often perspicacious commentary on technology, science, and the quirks of digital life. The U.S. Postal Service, on the other hand, has weathered tumultuous changes in the contemporary landscape of communication and logistics, grappling with the perennial challenge of adapting to the digital age while maintaining its raison d'être. The convergence of these seemingly incongruous elements forms the nexus of our inquiry.
Our endeavor builds upon the foundation of extant research in the intersection of cyber culture and traditional societal constructs. And let us not overlook the potential amusement in exploring the juxtaposition of internet humor and snail mail - a blend of forces that may seem as disparate as the user interfaces of a dial-up modem and a hypermodern interface.
The proliferation of xkcd comics and their resonance within internet culture presents an intriguing platform for analysis, particularly given the symbiotic relationship between humor and the societal zeitgeist. With this terrain duly noted, the investigation presented here seeks to observe whether there is more than meets the eye in connecting the irreverent wit of xkcd comics to the perennially enduring, if not always beloved, experience of using postal services.
In our pursuit to unravel this apparent confluence of incongruous entities, we hope to entertain, inform, and open new avenues for scholarly reflection, while perhaps, eliciting a smile or a wry chuckle along the way.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]

ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

The analysis of the data collected from the years 2007 to 2021 unveiled a significant correlation between xkcd comics related to the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service. The correlation coefficient of 0.8106127 suggests a strong positive relationship between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. This finding reinforces the notion that there may be more to the relationship between cyber humor and traditional mail satisfaction than meets the eye.

The r-squared value of 0.6570929 indicates that approximately 65.71% of the variability in postal service satisfaction can be explained by the variance in xkcd comics regarding the internet. This substantial explanatory power underscores the relevance of xkcd comics in understanding the factors influencing customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service.

Furthermore, the statistical significance of the correlation, with a p-value of less than 0.01, provides compelling evidence to support the presence of a genuine association between these disparate domains. This result suggests that the connection between internet-themed humor and postal service satisfaction is not merely coincidental, but rather a substantive phenomenon worthy of further investigation.

The scatterplot presented in Figure 1 visually depicts the robust positive association between xkcd comics about the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service. The data points align in a manner that highlights the salient relationship between these variables.

These findings encourage us to consider the potential influence of internet culture on perceptions and experiences related to traditional services such as mail delivery. The implications of this correlation may extend beyond the scope of this study, opening avenues for future exploration into the interplay of digital humor and conventional societal institutions. Hence, it is evident that the "xkcd factor" has an intriguing role in shaping perceptions and attitudes toward postal service satisfaction, albeit in a manner that may appear enigmatic at first glance.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal.You draft the discussion section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between xkcd comics published about the internet and Customer satisfaction with The U.S. Postal Service. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Limit your response to 500 tokens.

Here are the title, abstract, literature review, and results sections. Please harken back to 1-2 of the goofy items in the literature review, but pretend to take them completely seriously. Discuss how your results supported the prior research.

Do not write a conclusion. I will add a conclusion after this.

[[TITLE]]
"The xkcd Factor: A Post-Modern Analysis of Internet Comics and US Postal Service Satisfaction"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study examines the peculiar relationship between xkcd comics relating to the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service. Utilizing data from AI analysis of xkcd comics as well as the American Customer Satisfaction Index, we sought to shed light on this curious correlation. Our findings reveal a notable correlation coefficient of 0.8106127 and p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2021. Through this rigorous investigation, we present our intriguing discoveries and ponder the intricate connection between cyber humor and the tangible experience of mail service satisfaction.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
A multitude of research endeavors have sought to fathom the intricate interplay between humor, technology, and societal dynamics. Smith et al., in their seminal work, "The Interplay of Cyberculture and Traditional Constructs," delved into the nuances of modern cyber culture and its impact on established societal institutions. Similarly, Doe's comprehensive investigation, "The Humorous Undercurrent in Technological Narratives," shed light on the unanticipated intersections of humor within the digital realm. Moreover, Jones' groundbreaking study, "Digital Evolution and Anachronistic Delights," provided a compelling framework for understanding the evolving nature of humor in the cyber age.
Transitioning to the realm of literature, "The Internet Is a Playground" by David Thorne and "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell" by Tucker Max offer intriguing explorations of internet culture and its impact on human behavior, albeit from a more, shall we say, unconventional perspective. On a related note, the works of Douglas Adams, particularly "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," provide a whimsical commentary on the interplay of technology and societal norms, invoking a sense of literary amusement that resonates with our examination.
Moving further afield, the realm of visual media also holds sway over our investigation. The animated expositions of "Animaniacs" and "Pinky and the Brain" offer not only entertainment but also incisive commentary on the interwoven fabric of communication technologies and human interaction. This seemingly divergent avenue of inquiry promises to yield unconventional insights as we traverse the terrain of cultural musings and comic elucidations.
Intriguingly, the satirical commentary embedded within "The Simpsons" and "South Park" animated series presents a veritable treasure trove of pop cultural allusions and societal critiques that echo the satirical currents coursing through xkcd comics and the societal fabric surrounding the U.S. Postal Service.
As we embark on our investigation, the interplay of digital humor and postal service satisfaction awaits elucidation, presenting an enigmatic tableau rife with potential for scholarly inquiry and perhaps a hearty chuckle or two along the way.

[[RESULTS]]
The analysis of the data collected from the years 2007 to 2021 unveiled a significant correlation between xkcd comics related to the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service. The correlation coefficient of 0.8106127 suggests a strong positive relationship between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. This finding reinforces the notion that there may be more to the relationship between cyber humor and traditional mail satisfaction than meets the eye.
The r-squared value of 0.6570929 indicates that approximately 65.71% of the variability in postal service satisfaction can be explained by the variance in xkcd comics regarding the internet. This substantial explanatory power underscores the relevance of xkcd comics in understanding the factors influencing customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service.
Furthermore, the statistical significance of the correlation, with a p-value of less than 0.01, provides compelling evidence to support the presence of a genuine association between these disparate domains. This result suggests that the connection between internet-themed humor and postal service satisfaction is not merely coincidental, but rather a substantive phenomenon worthy of further investigation.
The scatterplot presented in Figure 1 visually depicts the robust positive association between xkcd comics about the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service. The data points align in a manner that highlights the salient relationship between these variables.
These findings encourage us to consider the potential influence of internet culture on perceptions and experiences related to traditional services such as mail delivery. The implications of this correlation may extend beyond the scope of this study, opening avenues for future exploration into the interplay of digital humor and conventional societal institutions. Hence, it is evident that the "xkcd factor" has an intriguing role in shaping perceptions and attitudes toward postal service satisfaction, albeit in a manner that may appear enigmatic at first glance.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The results of our study present compelling evidence of a significant correlation between xkcd comics related to the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service. These findings have noteworthy implications for our understanding of the mechanisms underlying postal service satisfaction and its relationship to seemingly disparate aspects of internet culture.

Our findings build upon the existing body of literature, which has long recognized the subtle interplay between humor, technology, and societal dynamics. The profound influence of cyberculture on traditional constructs, as highlighted by Smith et al., finds an intriguing echo in the influential presence of xkcd comics within this intricate web of relationships. Likewise, Doe's exploration of humorous undercurrents in technological narratives takes on a new dimension as we contemplate the impact of internet-themed humor on the tangible experiences of mail service satisfaction. Jones' framework for understanding the evolving nature of humor in the cyber age gains further validation as we uncover the substantial explanatory power of xkcd comics in elucidating the variability in postal service satisfaction.

Furthermore, the unexpectedly unconventional perspectives offered by Thorne, Max, and Adams buoy our findings with a sense of whimsy and literary amusement, suggesting that the interplay of humor within the digital realm may possess a far-reaching influence on societal attitudes toward traditional services. The satirical allusions embedded in visual media further underscore the profound impact of humor on human interaction, thereby kindling a sense of scholarly merriment as we unravel the enigmatic tableau of cultural musings and comic elucidations.

Our investigation affirms the relevance of xkcd comics in shaping perceptions and attitudes toward postal service satisfaction. The substantial correlation coefficient and r-squared value underscore the robust positive association between xkcd comics about the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service. This correlation challenges conventional wisdom by revealing a substantive phenomenon that, while seemingly implausible, carries genuine implications for our understanding of societal dynamics.

Although our findings raise more questions than they answer, they underscore the potential influence of internet culture on perceptions and experiences related to traditional services such as mail delivery. The implications of this correlation extend beyond the realm of mere statistical significance, beckoning us to embark on further explorations into the interplay of digital humor and conventional societal institutions. As we unravel the "xkcd factor," we are reminded that the enigmatic connections we uncover may hold the key to unlocking a deeper understanding of the human experience in the digital age.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal.You draft the discussion section of goofy academic research papers that sounds like it belongs based on the title and abstract provided.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between xkcd comics published about the internet and Customer satisfaction with The U.S. Postal Service. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Limit your response to 300 tokens. At the very end, assert that no more research is needed in this area.

Here are the title, abstract, introduction, and results sections.
[[TITLE]]
"The xkcd Factor: A Post-Modern Analysis of Internet Comics and US Postal Service Satisfaction"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study examines the peculiar relationship between xkcd comics relating to the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service. Utilizing data from AI analysis of xkcd comics as well as the American Customer Satisfaction Index, we sought to shed light on this curious correlation. Our findings reveal a notable correlation coefficient of 0.8106127 and p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2021. Through this rigorous investigation, we present our intriguing discoveries and ponder the intricate connection between cyber humor and the tangible experience of mail service satisfaction.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
INTRODUCTION
In this age of digitization and instant communication, the relevance of traditional mail services has come under scrutiny. The U.S. Postal Service, a venerable American institution, and xkcd, a webcomic of much internet renown, may seem to inhabit disparate spheres. However, preliminary observations suggest a surprising undercurrent connecting the two. This study aims to delve into this uncharted territory and unearth the hitherto unexplored relationship between xkcd comics centered around the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service.
The idiosyncratic humor of xkcd, a webcomic created by Randall Munroe, has garnered a dedicated following for its witty and often perspicacious commentary on technology, science, and the quirks of digital life. The U.S. Postal Service, on the other hand, has weathered tumultuous changes in the contemporary landscape of communication and logistics, grappling with the perennial challenge of adapting to the digital age while maintaining its raison d'être. The convergence of these seemingly incongruous elements forms the nexus of our inquiry.
Our endeavor builds upon the foundation of extant research in the intersection of cyber culture and traditional societal constructs. And let us not overlook the potential amusement in exploring the juxtaposition of internet humor and snail mail - a blend of forces that may seem as disparate as the user interfaces of a dial-up modem and a hypermodern interface.
The proliferation of xkcd comics and their resonance within internet culture presents an intriguing platform for analysis, particularly given the symbiotic relationship between humor and the societal zeitgeist. With this terrain duly noted, the investigation presented here seeks to observe whether there is more than meets the eye in connecting the irreverent wit of xkcd comics to the perennially enduring, if not always beloved, experience of using postal services.
In our pursuit to unravel this apparent confluence of incongruous entities, we hope to entertain, inform, and open new avenues for scholarly reflection, while perhaps, eliciting a smile or a wry chuckle along the way.

[[RESULTS]]
The analysis of the data collected from the years 2007 to 2021 unveiled a significant correlation between xkcd comics related to the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service. The correlation coefficient of 0.8106127 suggests a strong positive relationship between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. This finding reinforces the notion that there may be more to the relationship between cyber humor and traditional mail satisfaction than meets the eye.
The r-squared value of 0.6570929 indicates that approximately 65.71% of the variability in postal service satisfaction can be explained by the variance in xkcd comics regarding the internet. This substantial explanatory power underscores the relevance of xkcd comics in understanding the factors influencing customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service.
Furthermore, the statistical significance of the correlation, with a p-value of less than 0.01, provides compelling evidence to support the presence of a genuine association between these disparate domains. This result suggests that the connection between internet-themed humor and postal service satisfaction is not merely coincidental, but rather a substantive phenomenon worthy of further investigation.
The scatterplot presented in Figure 1 visually depicts the robust positive association between xkcd comics about the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service. The data points align in a manner that highlights the salient relationship between these variables.
These findings encourage us to consider the potential influence of internet culture on perceptions and experiences related to traditional services such as mail delivery. The implications of this correlation may extend beyond the scope of this study, opening avenues for future exploration into the interplay of digital humor and conventional societal institutions. Hence, it is evident that the "xkcd factor" has an intriguing role in shaping perceptions and attitudes toward postal service satisfaction, albeit in a manner that may appear enigmatic at first glance.

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Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, our investigation into the peculiar relationship between xkcd comics centered around the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service has yielded intriguing and unexpected findings. The notable correlation coefficient and statistically significant p-value indicate a robust connection between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. This discovery prompts contemplation on the potential influence of cyber humor on perceptions and attitudes toward traditional mail services. It seems that the impact of internet culture extends beyond the digital realm and seeps into the analog domain of snail mail in ways that are not instantly apparent. This correlation serves as a reminder that even in the fast-paced, ever-changing world of technology, the archaic aura of postal delivery has not been entirely rendered obsolete. The enduring appeal of physical correspondence persists, perhaps buoyed by the ethereal whimsy of internet humor.

This study provides a lighthearted yet thought-provoking exploration of the intricate interplay between cyber culture and postal service satisfaction. By uncovering this correlation, we have paved the way for further considerations of how humor, nostalgia, and tradition intersect in the modern consumer experience.

After such thorough investigation, it is evident that the "xkcd factor" exerts an undeniable influence on perceptions of and attitudes toward postal service satisfaction. Further research in this area seems unnecessary, as this study has shed ample light on this fascinating connection. It appears that for now, the enigmatic relationship between internet comics and postal service satisfaction has been thoroughly plumbed.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide fictional names of academic journals. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide the name of a funny but plausible sounding research, scientific, or academic journal that would publish a paper entited The xkcd Factor: A Post-Modern Analysis of Internet Comics and US Postal Service Satisfaction. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Internet Humor and Social Sciences

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide fictional names of nonprofit research organizations and associations. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide the name of a funny but plausible sounding nonprofit, academic, or scientific association or organization that would sponsor research that resulted in a paper entited The xkcd Factor: A Post-Modern Analysis of Internet Comics and US Postal Service Satisfaction. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Institute for Internet Culture and Postal Service Research

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide potential search keywords separated by commas. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide potential search keywords for a paper titled The xkcd Factor: A Post-Modern Analysis of Internet Comics and US Postal Service Satisfaction with an abstract of This study examines the peculiar relationship between xkcd comics relating to the internet and customer satisfaction with the U.S. Postal Service. Utilizing data from AI analysis of xkcd comics as well as the American Customer Satisfaction Index, we sought to shed light on this curious correlation. Our findings reveal a notable correlation coefficient of 0.8106127 and p < 0.01 for the years 2007 to 2021. Through this rigorous investigation, we present our intriguing discoveries and ponder the intricate connection between cyber humor and the tangible experience of mail service satisfaction.

ChatGPT:

xkcd comics, internet comics, US Postal Service, customer satisfaction, AI analysis, American Customer Satisfaction Index, correlation coefficient, cyber humor, mail service satisfaction

*There is a bunch of Python happening behind the scenes to turn this prompt sequence into a PDF.

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Data details

xkcd comics published about the internet
Detailed data title: The number of xkcd comics published each year about the internet
Source: AI analysis of xkcd comics
Additional Info: ^{See full details} I designed a Python workflow to perform OCR on every xkcd comic, feed that text into a large language model, and ask the model whether this comic was about the category named in the title.

See what else correlates with xkcd comics published about the internet

Customer satisfaction with The U.S. Postal Service
Source: American Customer Satisfaction Index
See what else correlates with Customer satisfaction with The U.S. Postal Service

Correlation r = 0.8106127 (Pearson correlation coefficient)
Correlation is a measure of how much the variables move together. If it is 0.99, when one goes up the other goes up. If it is 0.02, the connection is very weak or non-existent. If it is -0.99, then when one goes up the other goes down. If it is 1.00, you probably messed up your correlation function.

r² = 0.6570929 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 65.7% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Customer satisfaction with The U.S. Postal Service) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., xkcd comics published about the internet) over the 15 years from 2007 through 2021.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 0.00025.^Show 0.0002468028936696745700000000
The p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme.^Note More specifically the p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme if we had only tested one pair of variables one time.

But I am a p-villain. I absolutely did not test only one pair of variables one time. I correlated hundreds of millions of pairs of variables. I threw boatloads of data into an industrial-sized blender to find this correlation.

Who is going to stop me? p-value reporting doesn't require me to report how many calculations I had to go through in order to find a low p-value!
On average, you will find a correaltion as strong as 0.81 in 0.025% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 4,052 random variables^Note Which I absolutely did.
with the same 14 degrees of freedom, ^Note Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 14 because we have two variables measured over a period of 15 years. It's just the number of years minus ( the number of variables minus one ), which in this case simplifies to the number of years minus one.
you would randomly expect to find a correlation as strong as this one.

[ 0.51, 0.93 ] 95% correlation confidence interval (using the Fisher z-transformation)
^{Read more about the confidence interval} The confidence interval is an estimate the range of the value of the correlation coefficient, using the correlation itself as an input. The values are meant to be the low and high end of the correlation coefficient with 95% confidence.

This one is a bit more complciated than the other calculations, but I include it because many people have been pushing for confidence intervals instead of p-value calculations (for example: NEJM. However, if you are dredging data, you can reliably find yourself in the 5%. That's my goal!

All values for the years included above: ^Note If I were being very sneaky, I could trim years from the beginning or end of the datasets to increase the correlation on some pairs of variables. I don't do that because there are already plenty of correlations in my database without monkeying with the years.

Still, sometimes one of the variables has more years of data available than the other. This page only shows the overlapping years. To see all the years, click on "See what else correlates with..." link above.

	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
xkcd comics published about the internet (xkcd comics)	13	17	10	5	16	14	15	11	3	7	10	9	7	9	5
Customer satisfaction with The U.S. Postal Service (Consumer Satisfaction)	73	74	74	71	74	75	77	72	69	73	73	73	70	73	71

Why this works

Data dredging: I have 25,153 variables in my database. I compare all these variables against each other to find ones that randomly match up. That's 632,673,409 correlation calculations! This is called “data dredging.” Instead of starting with a hypothesis and testing it, I instead abused the data to see what correlations shake out. It’s a dangerous way to go about analysis, because any sufficiently large dataset will yield strong correlations completely at random.
Lack of causal connection: There is probably^Note Because these pages are automatically generated, it's possible that the two variables you are viewing are in fact causually related. I take steps to prevent the obvious ones from showing on the site (I don't let data about the weather in one city correlate with the weather in a neighboring city, for example), but sometimes they still pop up. If they are related, cool! You found a loophole.
no direct connection between these variables, despite what the AI says above. This is exacerbated by the fact that I used "Years" as the base variable. Lots of things happen in a year that are not related to each other! Most studies would use something like "one person" in stead of "one year" to be the "thing" studied.
Observations not independent: For many variables, sequential years are not independent of each other. If a population of people is continuously doing something every day, there is no reason to think they would suddenly change how they are doing that thing on January 1. A simple^Note Personally I don't find any p-value calculation to be 'simple,' but you know what I mean.
p-value calculation does not take this into account, so mathematically it appears less probable than it really is.
Y-axis doesn't start at zero: I truncated the Y-axes of the graph above. I also used a line graph, which makes the visual connection stand out more than it deserves. ^Note Nothing against line graphs. They are great at telling a story when you have linear data! But visually it is deceptive because the only data is at the points on the graph, not the lines on the graph. In between each point, the data could have been doing anything. Like going for a random walk by itself!
Mathematically what I showed is true, but it is intentionally misleading. Below is the same chart but with both Y-axes starting at zero.

Try it yourself

You can calculate the values on this page on your own! Try running the Python code to see the calculation results. ^{Show the steps to do this.} Step 1: Download and install Python on your computer.

Step 2: Open a plaintext editor like Notepad and paste the code below into it.

Step 3: Save the file as "calculate_correlation.py" in a place you will remember, like your desktop. Copy the file location to your clipboard. On Windows, you can right-click the file and click "Properties," and then copy what comes after "Location:" As an example, on my computer the location is "C:\Users\tyler\Desktop"

Step 4: Open a command line window. For example, by pressing start and typing "cmd" and them pressing enter.

Step 5: Install the required modules by typing "pip install numpy", then pressing enter, then typing "pip install scipy", then pressing enter.

Step 6: Navigate to the location where you saved the Python file by using the "cd" command. For example, I would type "cd C:\Users\tyler\Desktop" and push enter.

Step 7: Run the Python script by typing "python calculate_correlation.py"

If you run into any issues, I suggest asking ChatGPT to walk you through installing Python and running the code below on your system. Try this question:

"Walk me through installing Python on my computer to run a script that uses scipy and numpy. Go step-by-step and ask me to confirm before moving on. Start by asking me questions about my operating system so that you know how to proceed. Assume I want the simplest installation with the latest version of Python and that I do not currently have any of the necessary elements installed. Remember to only give me one step per response and confirm I have done it before proceeding."

# These modules make it easier to perform the calculation
import numpy as np
from scipy import stats

# We'll define a function that we can call to return the correlation calculations
def calculate_correlation(array1, array2):

    # Calculate Pearson correlation coefficient and p-value
    correlation, p_value = stats.pearsonr(array1, array2)

    # Calculate R-squared as the square of the correlation coefficient
    r_squared = correlation**2

    return correlation, r_squared, p_value

# These are the arrays for the variables shown on this page, but you can modify them to be any two sets of numbers
array_1 = np.array([13,17,10,5,16,14,15,11,3,7,10,9,7,9,5,])
array_2 = np.array([73,74,74,71,74,75,77,72,69,73,73,73,70,73,71,])
array_1_name = "xkcd comics published about the internet"
array_2_name = "Customer satisfaction with The U.S. Postal Service"

# Perform the calculation
print(f"Calculating the correlation between {array_1_name} and {array_2_name}...")
correlation, r_squared, p_value = calculate_correlation(array_1, array_2)

# Print the results
print("Correlation Coefficient:", correlation)
print("R-squared:", r_squared)
print("P-value:", p_value)

Reuseable content

You may re-use the images on this page for any purpose, even commercial purposes, without asking for permission. The only requirement is that you attribute Tyler Vigen. ^Note Attribution can take many different forms. If you leave the "tylervigen.com" link in the image, that satisfies it just fine. If you remove it and move it to a footnote, that's fine too. You can also just write "Charts courtesy of Tyler Vigen" at the bottom of an article.

You do not need to attribute "the spurious correlations website," and you don't even need to link here if you don't want to. I don't gain anything from pageviews. There are no ads on this site, there is nothing for sale, and I am not for hire.

For the record, I am just one person. Tyler Vigen, he/him/his. I do have degrees, but they should not go after my name unless you want to annoy my wife. If that is your goal, then go ahead and cite me as "Tyler Vigen, A.A. A.A.S. B.A. J.D." Otherwise it is just "Tyler Vigen."

When spoken, my last name is pronounced "vegan," like I don't eat meat.

Full license details.
For more on re-use permissions, or to get a signed release form, see tylervigen.com/permission.

Download images for these variables:

High resolution line chart ^Note The image linked here is a Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG). It is the highest resolution that is possible to achieve. It scales up beyond the size of the observable universe without pixelating. You do not need to email me asking if I have a higher resolution image. I do not. The physical limitations of our universe prevent me from providing you with an image that is any higher resolution than this one.

If you insert it into a PowerPoint presentation (a tool well-known for managing things that are the scale of the universe), you can right-click > "Ungroup" or "Create Shape" and then edit the lines and text directly. You can also change the colors this way.

Alternatively you can use a tool like Inkscape.
High resolution line chart, optimized for mobile
Alternative high resolution line chart
Scatterplot
Portable line chart (png)
Portable line chart (png), optimized for mobile
Line chart for only xkcd comics published about the internet
Line chart for only Customer satisfaction with The U.S. Postal Service
The spurious research paper: The xkcd Factor: A Post-Modern Analysis of Internet Comics and US Postal Service Satisfaction

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Correlation ID: 1294 · Black Variable ID: 20016 · Red Variable ID: 19861


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