[2018-07-25] Literary Analysis

Blame Quintushalls for this.

Moderators: NeatNit, Kimra

HikaruYami
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2013 11:58 pm

[2018-07-25] Literary Analysis

Post by HikaruYami »

https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/literary-analysis

So, I'm aware that we've defined an avoirdupois pound as a unit of mass (rather than merely weight), and on earth this is essentially exchangeable with a pound in terms of weight (which is not mass).

But then he goes and specifies the chipmunk's weight instead of its mass just to trigger pedants. WHY :(

5jr8

Re: [2018-07-25] Literary Analysis

Post by 5jr8 »

I'm a little disappointed the chipmunk doesn't have a wooden leg

Showsni

Re: [2018-07-25] Literary Analysis

Post by Showsni »

HikaruYami wrote:https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/literary-analysis

So, I'm aware that we've defined an avoirdupois pound as a unit of mass (rather than merely weight), and on earth this is essentially exchangeable with a pound in terms of weight (which is not mass).

But then he goes and specifies the chipmunk's weight instead of its mass just to trigger pedants. WHY :(
The pedant in me wants to say that the whole thing is pointless and we should be looking at relative volumes. For all I know whales are extremely dense compared to humans, so that despite the difference in mass we are exactly the same size.

cellocgw
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu Nov 07, 2013 3:19 pm

Re: [2018-07-25] Literary Analysis

Post by cellocgw »

5jr8 wrote:I'm a little disappointed the chipmunk doesn't have a wooden leg
First you have to find a human willing to chomp down on a live chipmunk's leg.

Bleak

Re: [2018-07-25] Literary Analysis

Post by Bleak »

I have a taste for Squab, mind you.

Bleak

Re: [2018-07-25] Literary Analysis

Post by Bleak »

HikaruYami wrote:https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/literary-analysis

So, I'm aware that we've defined an avoirdupois pound as a unit of mass (rather than merely weight), and on earth this is essentially exchangeable with a pound in terms of weight (which is not mass).

But then he goes and specifies the chipmunk's weight instead of its mass just to trigger pedants. WHY :(
You should be getting more triggered by the fact that the visual aspect of the comic is about volume, not physical mass.

Kit.
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2016 10:22 am

Re: [2018-07-25] Literary Analysis

Post by Kit. »

Showsni wrote:For all I know whales are extremely dense compared to humans, so that despite the difference in mass we are exactly the same size.
For all I know, humans represent an extreme diversity of density.

Bleak

Re: [2018-07-25] Literary Analysis

Post by Bleak »

Bleak wrote:
HikaruYami wrote:https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/literary-analysis

So, I'm aware that we've defined an avoirdupois pound as a unit of mass (rather than merely weight), and on earth this is essentially exchangeable with a pound in terms of weight (which is not mass).

But then he goes and specifies the chipmunk's weight instead of its mass just to trigger pedants. WHY :(
You should be getting more triggered by the fact that the visual aspect of the comic is about volume, not physical mass.
Or even more specifically speaking, subjective 2D visual cross section.

NeatNit
[Insert Here]
Posts: 209
Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2017 9:23 pm

Re: [2018-07-25] Literary Analysis

Post by NeatNit »

Bleak wrote:
Bleak wrote:
HikaruYami wrote:https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/literary-analysis

So, I'm aware that we've defined an avoirdupois pound as a unit of mass (rather than merely weight), and on earth this is essentially exchangeable with a pound in terms of weight (which is not mass).

But then he goes and specifies the chipmunk's weight instead of its mass just to trigger pedants. WHY :(
You should be getting more triggered by the fact that the visual aspect of the comic is about volume, not physical mass.
Or even more specifically speaking, subjective 2D visual cross section.
The comparison is actually presented using a ratio in solid angle from the eyes of the viewer

HikaruYami
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2013 11:58 pm

Re: [2018-07-25] Literary Analysis

Post by HikaruYami »

Showsni wrote:
HikaruYami wrote:https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/literary-analysis

So, I'm aware that we've defined an avoirdupois pound as a unit of mass (rather than merely weight), and on earth this is essentially exchangeable with a pound in terms of weight (which is not mass).

But then he goes and specifies the chipmunk's weight instead of its mass just to trigger pedants. WHY :(
The pedant in me wants to say that the whole thing is pointless and we should be looking at relative volumes. For all I know whales are extremely dense compared to humans, so that despite the difference in mass we are exactly the same size.
That's an excellent point--an alien who has studied our mathematical systems but not our biological ones could be incredibly confused.
Kit. wrote:
Showsni wrote:For all I know whales are extremely dense compared to humans, so that despite the difference in mass we are exactly the same size.
For all I know, humans represent an extreme diversity of density.
Which is actually sort of *true*, but to be fair, we also represent an extreme diversity of, separately, volumes and heights, so assuming that the presented measurements are a sort of "estimated average" seems fine.

Kit.
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2016 10:22 am

Re: [2018-07-25] Literary Analysis

Post by Kit. »

HikaruYami wrote:
Kit. wrote:
Showsni wrote:For all I know whales are extremely dense compared to humans, so that despite the difference in mass we are exactly the same size.
For all I know, humans represent an extreme diversity of density.
Which is actually sort of *true*, but to be fair, we also represent an extreme diversity of, separately, volumes and heights, so assuming that the presented measurements are a sort of "estimated average" seems fine.
Try looking at human density from a sperm whale's point of view.

An "estimated average" human cannot even float properly, let alone dive a kilometer deep and then float back unharmed.

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