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". The comic/chart 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 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 (in this case, by "clearing things up" with a series of meaningless "definitions" that don't actually state anything). It is similar to the "definitive standard" proposed in [[394: Kilobyte]], and is related to other comics that propose "[[:Category:Compromise|compromises]]" more likely to infuriate both sides than to make either side happy. |
− | + | The title text is another troll. Randall says "Try asking a couple of friends [...] unless all three of them agree" which implies that a couple means more than two, a very unpopular view! | |
− | + | There could also be a pun in the question: it could be construed as asking whether it would be a bad idea for a couple (as in, two people in a romantic relationship) to partake in a {{w|ménage à trois}}. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea as long as all three of them agree. | |
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[ | + | :[A small chart.] |
:Just to clear things up: | :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) | |
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
[[Category:Charts]] | [[Category:Charts]] | ||
[[Category:Language]] | [[Category:Language]] | ||
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