zlacker

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1. ghurta+(OP)[view] [source] 2025-05-19 23:40:03
That reads like a XKCD comic disguised as a Dilbert strip.

Very nice.

And also, what a cool read that was, thanks for sharing the article.

replies(1): >>ThatPl+r1
2. ThatPl+r1[view] [source] 2025-05-19 23:52:03
>>ghurta+(OP)
XKCD has a different random number: https://xkcd.com/221/
replies(1): >>tarvai+w6
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3. tarvai+w6[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-05-20 00:41:05
>>ThatPl+r1
Stray thought: Why 4 and 9? Because the joke is funniest if the number is completely ordinary.

0 and 1 are special and so are all prime numbers. 6 is out because it's the maximum die throw. And one figure is more ordinary than two figures, or negatives, or decimals. That leaves 4 and 9.

replies(5): >>Velori+Bd >>darker+1e >>dreghg+9j >>graham+UA >>_pigpe+Ha1
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4. Velori+Bd[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-05-20 01:54:40
>>tarvai+w6
How come prime numbers are special but squares aren’t? 4 and 9 both being squares seems to be a more striking commonality than your logic here…
replies(1): >>tarvai+DD3
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5. darker+1e[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-05-20 01:59:16
>>tarvai+w6
The perfect squares are the most ordinary?
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6. dreghg+9j[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-05-20 03:02:24
>>tarvai+w6
What about 8?
replies(3): >>bee_ri+Lv >>tim333+d21 >>tarvai+pD3
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7. bee_ri+Lv[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-05-20 05:41:25
>>dreghg+9j
Maximum throw for a battle axe in 5e d&d, of course.

I dunno actually. Maybe because 4*2=8? The two picks have the property of not being related really.

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8. graham+UA[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-05-20 06:39:44
>>tarvai+w6
That makes 4 and 9 the only two uninteresting numbers, which is interesting, so they’re out too!

Douglas Adams said the same about 42. It’s the answer because it’s completely banal.

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9. tim333+d21[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-05-20 11:10:23
>>dreghg+9j
8, 16, 32, 64 pop up a lot in computer circles.
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10. _pigpe+Ha1[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-05-20 12:15:00
>>tarvai+w6
Everyone knows that six is the most boring number. https://youtu.be/G4OTRRmyTAA?feature=shared
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11. tarvai+pD3[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-05-21 10:55:49
>>dreghg+9j
Oh, right! I forgot about it. I guess 8 would do too.
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12. tarvai+DD3[view] [source] [discussion] 2025-05-21 10:58:42
>>Velori+Bd
Yeah. Alternative explanation: I'd say 3 and 7 are out because they often come up in fairy takes etc as magical. 5 is out because it's half of ten and the number of fingers. 2 is out because it is too small.
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