3160: Document Forgery

Document Forgery

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Title text: It comes with a certificate of authenticity, which comes with a certificate of authenticity, which comes with a...

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Explanation

This is one of 52 incomplete explanations: This page was created recently. Don't remove this notice too soon. If you can fix this issue, edit the page!

This comic depicts a diploma for a PhD in Document Forgery. While the diploma looks official, some things seem questionable. Document forgery is not typically offered as a discipline for doctoral study, likely because of its questionable legality [citation needed]. Moreover, the diploma is offered from the fictitious and exceedingly generic "East State University" (normally an institution with "State" in its name would also specify which "state" the campus is located in).

The caption claims that if you hang a diploma like this in your office and nobody notices, you've earned it (ie, the creation of such a credible-looking document without drawing any suspicion shows PhD-worthy skills in forgery).

The title text says that the diploma comes with a certificate of authenticity; however, since the diploma is questionable, this certificate is also somewhat questionable, so the certificate comes with its own certificate of authenticity, which also comes with a certificate of authenticity, ad infinitum. Of course, all of the certificates would likely be forged, and they really only show that the forger has a lot of time on their hands.

The comic shows a diploma for a doctorate from the non-existent "East State University", with the unusual program of "Document Forgery". The document is itself a forgery, and the legally questionable program name would lead most readers to look more closely at the rest of the document. The text below implies that if the document is realistic enough that no one uncovers these inconsistencies when posted in an office, then the person posting the document deserves the non-existent degree.

Many awards and educational programs are represented by a physical certificate presented to the person being recognized for the accomplishment. The creation of a such a document is normally much easier than the underlying accomplishment, so some people wanting the prestige without the effort and cost will forge a document. Fake university diplomas are sometimes used as a marketing tactic for individuals seeking jobs or customers - these are normally realistic to pass scrutiny and are considered fraud. Obviously and in some cases absurdly unrealistic diplomas are used for entertainment, and may be considered unregulated free speech.

The title text highlights the unreliability of certificates of authenticity. A product or document may come with an accompanying certificate that states that the product/document is "authentic". Since a certificate can also be forged, another certificate can attest to the authenticity of the first, and so on, because no number of pieces of paper will make the original claim true. Many important and legally binding documents lack any certificate of authenticity, but instead have something much harder to gain: the backing of a recognized and independent witness or organization that can confirm the truth when the paper is in doubt.

Transcript

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Discussion

Can someone please make a printable version of this, thank you! 216.126.34.139 21:26, 27 October 2025 (UTC)

Reminds me of the infamous fake certificate with "verify" spelt wrong... 2.98.65.8 21:47, 27 October 2025 (UTC)

It seems like my summary got added on top of the other one somehow. I don't know if anyone wants to try to merge them... 136.47.216.1 22:04, 27 October 2025 (UTC)

Here are some famous state university that do not have the state in their name: Kent State U., Adams State U., Athens State U., Jacksonville State U.. More on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_state_and_territorial_universities_in_the_United_States --2001:638:807:507:A761:A61B:43F:6CF1 07:59, 28 October 2025 (UTC)

I'll add that in. --DollarStoreBa'al^converse 13:09, 28 October 2025 (UTC)

Now you've got me looking for "State" universities that aren't named for geography. Adams State in Colorado is named for a state legislator. Henderson State in Arkansas is named for a local businessman. Gordon State in Georgia is named for a Confederate general. Lewis-Clark State in Idaho, for the explorers. Governors State in Illinois seems to be named after the office, not a specific office-holder. Ball State in Indiana is named after the founders of the company that makes those glass jars you pickle things in. McNeese State in Louisiana is named after a local educator. Nicholls State, also in Louisiana, is named for a former governor. Morgan State in Maryland is named after a reverend. Coppin State, also in Maryland, is named for a pioneer in teachers' education. Ferris State in Michigan is named for its founder. Alcorn State in Mississippi was named for the governor. Harris-Stowe State in Missouri was named for a superintendent of schools and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Truman State in Missouri was named for the US president. Thomas Edison State in New Jersey after the inventor. Shawnee State in Ohio is named for the Native American people. Wright State in Ohio is named for the Wright Brothers. Austin Peay in Tennessee for the governor. Stephen F. Austin State in Texas after the "Father of Texas". Tarleton State in Texas after a rancher. Sam Houston State in Texas after the general. Lamar State in Texas after the president of the Republic of Texas. That's all from the Wiki page, excluding things named after states/cities/counties, state nicknames, and other geographic features. 163.116.254.55 17:47, 29 October 2025 (UTC)

So what you're saying is that we need to find someone with the surname "East" and name a State University after them, and boom - suddenly it's valid! -- Brettpeirce (talk) 17:38, 30 October 2025 (UTC)

Or someone with the surname "State", and name two universities (West and East) after them. 82.13.184.33 14:53, 31 October 2025 (UTC)

Feels like a similar theme to 2756: Qualifications. KelOfTheStars! (talk) 14:40, 28 October 2025 (UTC)

And ibm_hc_2. Maybe we should make a 'forgery' category. --DollarStoreBa'al^converse 14:45, 28 October 2025 (UTC)

And this Dinosaur Comics episode 物灵 (talk) 13:08, 9 November 2025 (UTC)

If Randall really wanted that pun, might he not have made the degree in Document Doctoring? Barmar (talk) 14:57, 28 October 2025 (UTC)

'Doctoring' implies taking something that means something and (fraudulently) changing it. 'Forging' more definitely includes conjouring it up from just base materials.

Though I'm not convinced it's intended to ezsentially be a "doctorate of doctoring" (in the non-medical sense), I could see it being an oblique related-pun as suggested, or at least noteworthy that there's a happy unanticipated coincidence spotted by us. 82.132.237.69 15:36, 28 October 2025 (UTC)

Is "Philosophy" a catch-all in the USA? Since doctoring a document looks more like an engineering/physics thing to me. 2A02:2455:1960:4000:2146:6F26:4294:2A6A 08:12, 29 October 2025 (UTC)

In both the UK and the USA, Doctor of Philosophy is a thing across the whole range of academic subjects. The term 'Philosophy' doesn't refer to the narrow sense in which it's mostly used today, but its original sense of wisdom / love of knowledge (the sense in which 'Natural Philosophy' used to be used to refer to the natural sciences). In any case, though, forgery clearly belongs within the Art department. 82.13.184.33 09:52, 29 October 2025 (UTC)

Huh. So PhD is actually short for 'Philosophy Doctor'? Cool! --DollarStoreBa'al^converse 14:02, 29 October 2025 (UTC)

Technically it's short for Philosophiae Doctor, as opposed to Medicinae Doctor (M.D. i.e. Doctor of Medicine) and Juris Doctor (J.D. i.e. Doctor of Jurisprudence/Law) or Legum Doctor (LL.D. i.e. Doctor of Laws). DL Draco Rex (talk) 17:10, 29 October 2025 (UTC)

There's also Doctor of Theology, which predates a lot of the others. And a number of fields grant both PhDs and "practitioner" doctorates, such as Doctor of Engineering (DEng or EngD) and Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), where the PhD is for people who do original research in preparation for a career as a researcher, and the "practitioner" degree is intended for people who do advanced scholarship to prepare for professional work in the field, but don't do original research. Jleader (talk)
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