3 votes

Wriggly, giggle, puffball: What makes some words funny?

Tags: language

10 comments

  1. [8]
    patience_limited
    Link
    There's more detail here: https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Inherently_funny_word.html I immediately thought of this: https://vimeo.com/58385807
    3 votes
    1. [7]
      Algernon_Asimov
      Link Parent
      What have you linked to? It looks like Wikipedia, but with all the Wikipedia branding removed. Thank you! I knew there was something familiar about funny words and "k". I was in this play many...

      There's more detail here:

      What have you linked to? It looks like Wikipedia, but with all the Wikipedia branding removed.

      I immediately thought of this: https://vimeo.com/58385807

      Thank you! I knew there was something familiar about funny words and "k". I was in this play many years ago, playing the part of the nephew, Ben. Seeing this clip was familiar: "words with a 'k' are funny", "cupcake is funny". Thank you for reminding me of this.

      1 vote
      1. [5]
        patience_limited
        Link Parent
        The link is an IPFS share which has a Wiki-formatted article that's considerably deeper than the Wikipedia entry on the same topic. It appears legitimately sourced to IPFS:...

        The link is an IPFS share which has a Wiki-formatted article that's considerably deeper than the Wikipedia entry on the same topic. It appears legitimately sourced to IPFS: https://github.com/ipfs/distributed-wikipedia-mirror

        3 votes
        1. [4]
          Algernon_Asimov
          Link Parent
          So, as per @Deimos' explanation, this is a copy of Wikipedia. Why not link to Wikipedia itself, rather than an out-of-date copy (the original page is different to what you linked)? (I'm not sure...

          So, as per @Deimos' explanation, this is a copy of Wikipedia. Why not link to Wikipedia itself, rather than an out-of-date copy (the original page is different to what you linked)?

          (I'm not sure about the ethics of IPFS taking copies of other people's websites and placing those copies on its own platform. That feels pirate-y to me... even if it is an open website like Wikipedia.)

          1 vote
          1. [3]
            Deimos
            Link Parent
            It's not pirate-y at all, Wikipedia's content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike and can generally be reused by anyone as long as they attribute it properly:...

            It's not pirate-y at all, Wikipedia's content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike and can generally be reused by anyone as long as they attribute it properly: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reusing_Wikipedia_content

            The IPFS copy has the attribution at the bottom of the page:

            This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/24/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.

            4 votes
            1. [2]
              Algernon_Asimov
              Link Parent
              As long as IPFS restricts themselves to non-copyrighted websites, I suppose it's fine. It just feels wrong, somehow, to copy someone else's website on to your own platform - even if your motives...

              As long as IPFS restricts themselves to non-copyrighted websites, I suppose it's fine. It just feels wrong, somehow, to copy someone else's website on to your own platform - even if your motives are supposedly altruistic.

              I'm still puzzled about why someone wouldn't just link to the up-to-date original, rather than an out-of-date copy.

              1. spctrvl
                Link Parent
                I don't know if this is the reason, but there are tildes users in countries that block access to wikipedia, namely Turkey. (Interestingly, the article on Turkey's block mentions the IPFS mirror)

                I'm still puzzled about why someone wouldn't just link to the up-to-date original, rather than an out-of-date copy.

                I don't know if this is the reason, but there are tildes users in countries that block access to wikipedia, namely Turkey. (Interestingly, the article on Turkey's block mentions the IPFS mirror)

                3 votes
  2. [2]
    nic
    Link
    No mention of poop or bum? How can you have an article about funny words without mentioning those two?

    No mention of poop or bum?

    How can you have an article about funny words without mentioning those two?

    1 vote
    1. patience_limited
      Link Parent
      Well, words with long vowels and plosive sounds are usually funny. Sibilants can do some work as well. Kangaroos are unquestionably hilarious. "Bum" is just vaguely embarrassing.

      Well, words with long vowels and plosive sounds are usually funny. Sibilants can do some work as well. Kangaroos are unquestionably hilarious. "Bum" is just vaguely embarrassing.

      2 votes