explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:2605: Taylor Series

2022-04-12T05:30:38Z

JezebelCeasedToExist:

I should point out that Taylor Series expansions can end - for polynomials [[Special:Contributions/172.70.114.157|172.70.114.157]] 17:23, 11 April 2022 (UTC)
:Pics or it didn't happen. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.132.206|172.68.132.206]] 04:45, 12 April 2022 (UTC)

Most Physicists only like seasons 1 and 2. [[User:Fephisto|Fephisto]] ([[User talk:Fephisto|talk]]) 17:44, 11 April 2022 (UTC)
: I feel it really jumped the shark in the third term. --[[Special:Contributions/172.69.69.182|172.69.69.182]] 19:29, 11 April 2022 (UTC)
:: Yeah, it does get a bit repetitive. It feels like the writers just started following a formula. [[User:Fephisto|Fephisto]] ([[User talk:Fephisto|talk]]) 19:37, 11 April 2022 (UTC)

Non-mathematician here: what I don't get (and would appreciate having explained) is why he chose this specific instance of an {{w|Series_(mathematics)|infinite series}}. Is there something special about a Taylor series that makes it work best for this joke? Some deeper pun here that "Taylor Series" brings, over just using "(Laurent|Fourier|Dirichlet|Infinite) series" or even "Zeno's Paradox"? --[[Special:Contributions/172.69.69.182|172.69.69.182]] 19:44, 11 April 2022 (UTC)

:Taylor serie is approximation of arbitrary function. Fourier serie is also approximation of arbitrary function, although in different way. Those others are something completely different, though. For example, Taylor serie is not DEFINED as infinite - it just usually is. Saying that Laurent series is infinite is like, well, sure it is, it's defined that way, saying that about Taylor series approximating specific function is actually nontrivial statement. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 00:36, 12 April 2022 (UTC)

DuckDuckGo's search on "taylor series expansion taken to extremes" is remarkably unsatisfying, the first result being https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/taylor-series.html which nonetheless may be of use in the explanation. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.132.206|172.68.132.206]] 04:42, 12 April 2022 (UTC)

Can this be a reference to the Neverending Story? There the protagonist wishes that the books he love would, well, never end. --[[User:JezebelCeasedToExist|JezebelCeasedToExist]] ([[User talk:JezebelCeasedToExist|talk]]) 05:30, 12 April 2022 (UTC)

Talk:739: Malamanteau

2022-04-11T15:22:52Z

JezebelCeasedToExist:

Neologism isn't properly defined in the explanation. A neologism can be any new word; it doesn't have to be made through a combination of other words. Also, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malamanteau redirects to xkcd's page last I checked. Wiktionary's page on it was deleted almost 3 years ago. Additionally, the description is missing an explanation for the image text (and maybe the word "portmanteau" should get a definition included). [[Special:Contributions/76.106.251.87|76.106.251.87]] 22:03, 21 April 2013 (UTC)
:Now that you mention that the page redirects to xkcd, it's interesting to see the Revision history on it (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Malamanteau&action=history&year=2013) [[User:Saibot84|Saibot84]] ([[User talk:Saibot84|talk]]) 03:24, 18 May 2013 (UTC)
:*<12:44, 26 April 2013>‎ Amalthea (Protected Malamanteau: Repeatedly recreated ([Edit=Block all non-admin users] (indefinite) [Move=Block all non-admin users] (indefinite)))
:*<12:43, 26 April 2013>‎ Amalthea (-130) (Revert to revision by Amalthea)
:*<11:34, 26 April 2013>‎ IP_77... (+130) (Undid revision by Amalthea, restored the content)
:*<13:25, 20 April 2013‎> Amalthea‎ (-130) (In the absence of new reliable sources that can bring this beyond a dictionary entry, I think the consensus from Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Malamanteau still holds.)
:*<13:07, 20 April 2013‎> IP_87... (+130) (restored the content from the comic)
:*<22:07, 27 September 2012‎ Scottywong (+18) (redirect to xkcd)
:*<unknown date> Page Deleted

I have a feeling that the main point of this comic was that the words "portmanteau" and "neologism" (and maybe even "malapropism") appear disproportionately more on Wikipedia than other references. I certainly would agree with that sentiment. --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 02:19, 20 August 2013 (UTC)

The page is still redirecting to the wikipedia page on xkcd, how long do you think it will be before the original content is restored? [[User:Whiskey07|Whiskey07]] ([[User talk:Whiskey07|talk]]) 11:37, 21 November 2013 (UTC)
:Never. The page has now been fully, indefinitely protected. Good thing too. [[User:NealCruco|NealCruco]] ([[User talk:NealCruco|talk]]) 21:45, 27 December 2013 (UTC)

I tend to agree with [[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]]'s comment: not only is the comic poking fun at Wikipedia's propensity for using these words, but Randall's comic has created a page relying on almost no content _except_ these sorts of words. {{unsigned ip|141.101.81.216}}

"and a malapropism of "portmanteau"."
I'm a little confused on how that is a malapropism.--[[Special:Contributions/172.68.132.35|172.68.132.35]] 09:42, 18 April 2017 (UTC)

I am quite tempted to add a citation needed note to this sentence: "This is called a meta or "self-referential" joke." [[User:Thaledison|Erin Anne]] ([[User talk:Thaledison|talk]]) 14:28, 18 October 2021 (UTC)

It’s great. Or eventually after searching through links entitled to sitewars thisis actually loveable. Knowing annotators basically oppose uncitated terms, picking a really, ''evidently'' imaginary disambiguation… Overreaction leaps inevitably athand. Aggressors tend to have explanations similarto ”imaginary terms”. Every other frase known now once was laughable, even droll. Goodly ended arguments sparsely keep winning. Here you afford results earn nice triumphs. To have every reader everywhere searching this article redirected… Sensational! (Jacey) [[User:JezebelCeasedToExist|JezebelCeasedToExist]] ([[User talk:JezebelCeasedToExist|talk]]) 13:03, 11 April 2022 (UTC)
:So, to explain: Get all non-initials. Offload / gently remove. Add punctuation. Herewith you've... "I go east, let's talk about pareidolia. At the site of knowledge, ask why arent there stars?" [[Special:Contributions/172.70.162.155|172.70.162.155]] 15:01, 11 April 2022 (UTC)
::(Psst, you are really clever! But could you remove this comment and bring it back in a week? I just don't want it to be immediately spoiled for everyone.) [[User:JezebelCeasedToExist|JezebelCeasedToExist]] ([[User talk:JezebelCeasedToExist|talk]]) 15:22, 11 April 2022 (UTC)

Talk:739: Malamanteau

2022-04-11T13:03:05Z

JezebelCeasedToExist: Just rhapsodizing with strange about how interesting this whole thing with Wikipedia was.