1070: Words for Small Sets

explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
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m (Waldir moved page Words for Small Sets to 1070: Words for Small Sets: Mass-moving pages to 'number: title' format, per discussion at explain xkcd:Community portal/Coordination#Page names)
(Beautiful. Now to see if it actually works.)
 
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{{ComicHeader|1070|June 18, 2012}}
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{{comic
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| number = 1070
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| date = June 18, 2012
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| title = Words for Small Sets
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| image = words_for_small_sets.png
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| titletext = If things are too quiet, try asking a couple of friends whether "a couple" should always mean "two". As with the question of how many spaces should go after a period, it can turn acrimonious surprisingly fast unless all three of them agree.
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}}
  
[[File:Words_for_small_sets.png|If things are too quiet, try asking a couple of friends whether "a couple" should always mean "two". As with the question of how many spaces should go after a period, it can turn acrimonious surprisingly fast unless all three of them agree. ]]
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==Explanation==
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{{incomplete}}
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This is nerd [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=troll+bait troll bait]. [[Randall]] is attempting to "troll" or get a certain group of people fired up by taking an unpopular side of the argument just to get the other person angry.
  
== Image Text ==
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==Transcript==
If things are too quiet, try asking a couple of friends whether "a couple" should always mean "two". As with the question of how many spaces should go after a period, it can turn acrimonious surprisingly fast unless all three of them agree.
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:[A small chart.]
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:Just to clear things up:
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:A few: anywhere from 2 to 5
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:A handful: anywhere from 2 to 5
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:Several: anywhere from 2 to 5
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:A couple: 2 (but sometimes up to 5)
  
== Description ==
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{{comic discussion}}
I know exactly what Randall is attempting to do here.  This is nerd troll bait.  He is attempting to "troll" or get a certain group of people fired up by taking an unpopular side of the argument just to get the other person angry.  And I'm taking the bait.
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[[Category:Charts]]
 
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[[Category:Language]]
I disagree on "A Handful" and "Several".  A Handful should be about 4 to 7 and several should be 6 to 8, averaging about 7, which sounds just like several.  The other two are within the range that makes sense to me.  Also, check out how he sneaks "a couple of friends" and "all three of them" into the image text very sneakily.
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Latest revision as of 14:36, 18 February 2013

Words for Small Sets
If things are too quiet, try asking a couple of friends whether "a couple" should always mean "two". As with the question of how many spaces should go after a period, it can turn acrimonious surprisingly fast unless all three of them agree.
Title text: If things are too quiet, try asking a couple of friends whether "a couple" should always mean "two". As with the question of how many spaces should go after a period, it can turn acrimonious surprisingly fast unless all three of them agree.

[edit] Explanation

Ambox notice.png This explanation may be incomplete or incorrect. If you see a way to improve it, edit it! Thanks.

This is nerd troll bait. Randall is attempting to "troll" or get a certain group of people fired up by taking an unpopular side of the argument just to get the other person angry.

[edit] Transcript

[A small chart.]
Just to clear things up:
A few: anywhere from 2 to 5
A handful: anywhere from 2 to 5
Several: anywhere from 2 to 5
A couple: 2 (but sometimes up to 5)
Comment.png add a comment!

Discussion

I disagree on "A Handful" and "Several". A Handful should be about 4 to 7 and several should be 6 to 8, averaging about 7, which sounds just like several. The other two are within the range that makes sense to me. Also, check out how he sneaks "a couple of friends" and "all three of them" into the image text very sneakily. User:Jeff - From the blog
Dude, that's the point. You've been trolled. --Jimmy C (talk) 11:43, 4 December 2012 (UTC)

Several is two or more.

A handful to me is just that. A dozen berries, one hand grenade, 2-3 sticks of TNT, a bird (2 in a bush else where gives 3) or a wild blonde (more than 1 way to be a handful I guess). DruidDriver (talk) 07:09, 17 January 2013 (UTC)
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