Editing 1070: Words for Small Sets
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | The noun "couple" | + | The noun "couple" means "exactly two items of the same kind". This comic is satirizing how laymen sometimes use the word "couple" interchangeably with words like "few" or "several", which in this context mean "comparatively small but definitely greater than one". It is also satirizing arguments about the relative meaning of phrases like "few" and "several" (some people will argue that "several" should mean more than "few", while others will argue the opposite or that it doesn't matter), making this comic [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=troll+bait troll bait]. [[Randall]] is attempting to "troll" (intentionally provoke) a certain group of people by taking an unpopular side of the argument. To be certain the side he picked is an unpopular one, Randall has made up his own by proposing a "compromise" more likely to infuriate everyone than to make any side happy (a technique he's [[:Category:Compromise|used before]]). The comic's claim to "clear things up" also makes it similar to the "definitive standard" proposed in [[394: Kilobyte]]. |
− | + | The title text is just more troll bait. Randall says "Try asking a couple of friends [...] unless all three of them agree," which implies that a couple means exactly three. The title text also mentions the {{w|Sentence spacing|sentence spacing}} issue as an example of another topic known to ignite energetic arguments among pedantic types without ever leading to consensus. Sentence spacing is later seen in [[1285: Third Way]]. The sentence spacing arguments typically revolve around the question of whether one or two space characters must be used after the period character at the end of the sentence. | |
− | + | The title text also points out a key flaw in troll baiting: namely, intending to spark an argument only works if there is someone who does not agree. If all of the inquired friends have the same opinion on the matter (be it the definition of 'couple' or the number of spaces after a period), then an argument cannot spark, and the trolling attempt has failed. | |
− | |||
− | The title text also points out | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | + | Just to clear things up: | |
− | + | {| class="wikitable" | | |
− | + | |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) | |
− | + | |} | |
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Language]] | [[Category:Language]] | ||
[[Category:Compromise]] | [[Category:Compromise]] | ||
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