system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: why does hitting the remote control when it doesn't work suddenly make it work?
gpt
A lot of times the remote doesn't work because a speck of dirt, dust, or corrosion gets between the battery and the connector, robbing the remote of power.  Hitting the remote, or popping open the battery compartment and spinning the batteries within the compartment, often jars the dirt loose, restoring power to the remote's electronics.