Editing 1652: Conditionals
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|The explanation is from a programmer's or logician's point of view. However xkcd is a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and '''language.''' A conditional in language means ''(of a sentence, clause, mood, or word) involving or expressing a condition, as the first clause in the sentence "If it rains, he won't go." For the current programming version of explanation: What is meant by the paragraph starting with "Under the intended interpretation,..." It seems to make no sense at all, since the part about being in town is essential to the joke. Also the title text explanation is not easy to understand. The intent of "No, I didn't." seems flawed. Also why did Cueball think this was another flawed use of conditionals? And why is it OK to say No I didn't?}} | |
− | + | ===Language=== | |
− | + | In grammar a conditional is a sentence, clause, mood, or word involving or expressing a condition. (Explanation is pending) | |
− | + | Conditionals in language were invented more that 3000 years ago. | |
− | + | ===Computer programming=== | |
− | + | Cueball is having a conversation via text message with a friend. The friend uses a {{w|Conditional (computer programming)|conditional}} "{{w|if-then}}" statement, as might be found in formal logic or in a computer program. When such a statement is used in a computer program, the computer will check to see if a certain condition, such as a variable value being equal to some constant, is true or false. If it is true, it will execute the code in the "then" section. | |
− | + | For example: | |
+ | comic = "xkcd" | ||
+ | if (comic = "xkcd") | ||
+ | then print "xkcd" | ||
− | + | When this pseudocode is run by a computer, the computer would print "xkcd" because the condition (does comic = xkcd?) is true, since the variable comic was assigned the value "xkcd". | |
− | + | ===Formal logic=== | |
+ | Conditionals are also used in formal logic. A possible form is "if A then B", meaning that if the first part of the statement (A, the premise or antecedent) is true, the second part (B, the conclusion or consequent) is asserted to be true. | ||
− | + | For example: | |
+ | "If you are reading this then you probably read xkcd." | ||
− | + | An equivalent form of such a statement is "B if A": | |
+ | "You probably read xkcd if you are reading this." | ||
− | + | The humor of the comic arises from Cueball's interaction with an invitation for a social meeting, which is put to him casually in the form of a “B if A” statement, as a formal conditional statement: if Cueball wants to hang out, then his conversation partner will be in his city. This does not imply anything about where the partner will be if Cueball does ''not'' want to hang out; they could be in the city or anywhere else (a conditional statement makes no assertions about the truth or falsity of its conclusion if its premise is false). | |
− | The other person | + | Since the person is only guaranteed to be in the city if Cueball wants to hang out, he asks them where they will be if he doesn't. The other person makes an excuse to drop their invitation, apparently tiring of his insistence on his overly-pedantic interpretation. Hence the caption observes that being pedantic with regard to conditionals is likely to make your friends disinclined to hang out with you. |
− | + | Under the intended interpretation, "if you want to hang out" is shorthand for the conditional statement "we can hang out, if you want to hang out", with the consequent "we can hang out" being implied. "I'll be in your city tomorrow" is not part of the conditional statement and only serves to provide background. | |
− | + | In the title text, the initiator of the conversation then presents an "If A, then B" conditional in which all necessary context is present in the sentence. The person responding (probably Cueball) mistakenly asserts that the speaker made the same mistake as the previous exchange, to which the initiator correctly replies, "No, I didn't." The intent is to show that because the initiator still believes that Cueball is still being pedantic, then he believes that it is not a good idea to have dinner together. | |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
[[Category:Language]] | [[Category:Language]] | ||
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