Weird internet pattern...coincidence?

[x88x]

So, I was catching up on xkcd today, and ran across an interesting claim.


Wikipedia fact: if you take any article, click on the first link in the article text not in parentheses or italics, and then repeat, you will eventually end up at "Philosophy".

So far I haven't been able to disprove it. It creates an interesting look into the structure of human knowledge. Not sure what it really means, but it's definitely interesting. :think:

[Beta-brain]

I get stuck in a loop, chose today's featured article and clicked "Edward Elgar" > OM order of merit > dynastic order > heraldic > arms > heraldic > arms > etc, I guess the philosophy is we all go around in circles :D

[x88x]

Interesting. Incidentally, though, if you click on 'composer' (what I would read to be the first link in the article proper) it works. Interesting about that loop with 'Coat of arms' and 'Heraldry' though. It works on every other article I've tried though, except where they get sucked into that loop.

[crenn]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola

Ends up in a Loop for Greeks.

[x88x]

No it doesn't...remember, the first link in the article, not in italics or parenthesis. Motorola goes:
Motorola>United States>Federalism>Politics>Group Decision Making>Individual>Person>Human>Extant Taxon>Biology>Natural Science>Science>Knowledge>Fact>Information>Sequence>Mathematics>Quantity>Property (philosophy)>Modern Philosophy>Philosophy

[crenn]

Actually the 3rd link is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americas#Terminology

[dr.walrus]

I've ended up stuck in a loop before

[x88x]

Actually the 3rd link is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americas#Terminology

That link is in parenthesis. ;)

[mDust]

No it doesn't...remember, the first link in the article, not in italics or parenthesis. Motorola goes:
Motorola>United States>Federalism>Politics>Group Decision Making>Individual>Person>Human>Extant Taxon>Biology>Natural Science>Science>Knowledge>Fact>Information>Sequence>Mathematics>Quantity>Property (philosophy)>Modern Philosophy>Philosophy

This is correct. It's the same path I took before I scrolled down and read this.

Thinking and study is how we got to where we are as a species so it makes sense that something like this would occur. I'll bet it would eventually work no matter which links you clicked on...assuming the link clicker never gave up.

[chaksq]

That is weird, I've only tried it a few times but so far it's always worked for me.

[crenn]

That link is in parenthesis. ;)
I'd call these () brackets, I'd call these {} parenthesis ;P

[x88x]

I'd call these () brackets, I'd call these {} parenthesis ;P

() parentheses
[] brackets
{} braces (also, 'squiglies')
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parenthesis#Parentheses_.28_.29

[diluzio91]

if wikipedia says it it must be true!!!

[dr.walrus]

() parentheses
[] brackets
{} braces (also, 'squiglies')
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parenthesis#Parentheses_.28_.29
<programmer>

() parameters
{} methods
[] indexes

</programmer>

[x88x]

<programmer>

() parameters
{} methods
[] indexes

</programmer>

(LISP-programmer,(),everything)

;)

LISP is funny. :D

EDIT:
Whoops, that should be
((),everything,LISP-programmer)
..I think...it's been a while since I did anything with LISP..I should rectify that..

[slaveofconvention]

() Brackets
{} Curly Brackets
[] Square Brackets

:P

[dr.walrus]

(LISP-programmer,(),everything)

;)

LISP is funny. :D

EDIT:
Whoops, that should be
((),everything,LISP-programmer)
..I think...it's been a while since I did anything with LISP..I should rectify that..
I don't know why you'd do that to yourself!

I actually really like that my work is usually c# / javascript (that in itself will tell a lot about my job...), the syntax is SO transferrable. It's an easy step to C++ (an adjunct to 'proper' C) or Java too...

[x88x]

I don't know why you'd do that to yourself!
Hahaha! Sometimes it's fun to f*** up my brain. :P LISP: It's LSD for programmers! :D Nah, but seriously, I was learning it for its self-modifying properties...never really got too far though...got distracted by other things. Since I have lots of free time now, it would be an ideal time for me to pick it up again.

[dr.walrus]

When I first started doing this for a living, I wanted breadth of knowledge, not depth - I wanted to learn php, perl, python, but it rapidly became apparent that that wasn't going to happen... I'm not sure if I'm worried or just profoundly relieved by that...