In classic XKCD style, this Work details the processes of a scientifically literate individual trying to explain the finer points of the theory and/or process to a scientifically illiterate individual (in this case, a philosophy major with a goatee). In this case, the Author rails against people who do not understand special relativity and yet try to refute it based of intuitive notions such as “a racecar on a train” both moving at relativistic speeds.
In an unusual decision, a less abstract joke is tagged on the end of the comic to make it more accessible to those readers who have not had this experience, positing the absurdity of the “President of Physics.” The goatee-d man’s beligerent tone helps to reinforce perception of general disdain that the Author feels Philosophers who dare venture into the realm of science richly deserve.
