Talk:2467: Wikipedia Caltrops

seems more like flares (which distract) than caltrops (which physically impair) to me. 162.158.222.122 16:31, 24 May 2021 (UTC)

I'd say "Well, I now know what I'm doing for the next few hours!", except that I suspect that this isn't even going to be the half of it... 141.101.98.46 16:37, 24 May 2021 (UTC)

👍 OhFFS (talk) 21:45, 24 May 2021 (UTC)

except 'caltrops' is a funnier word than 'flares' and we get the gist anyway. 108.162.237.4 17:23, 24 May 2021 (UTC)

no WAY randall is a jon bois fan 173.245.52.175 17:38, 24 May 2021 (UTC)

Flares draw fire to prevent missiles from reaching their target. Caltrops impede the actual motion of the vehicle. If the links are as distracting as Randall implies, I think his choice makes sense! 108.162.215.92 00:34, 25 May 2021 (UTC)

Flares do " draw fire" but because they are more visible to heat seeking missiles than engine jet engine heat. This seems like a solvable problem, missile and flare wise.162.158.75.202 03:44, 25 May 2021 (UTC)

"Chaff" might work, right? Jkshapiro (talk) 14:54, 15 May 2022 (UTC)

Shouldn't the links be given as QR codes rather than plain text, which would have to be read and re-typed into a device with a suitable web browser? 108.162.219.28 00:54, 25 May 2021 (UTC)

Having to type the URL would be more distracting to driver of the car behind? And it's not like it is exactly easy to aim your phone camera to and read the QR code on a flying banner from the car in front of you, in addition to using smartphone mean traffic law violation. And text in URL also spoiler the link content a bit to invite interest. 172.70.49.196 02:45, 25 May 2021 (UTC)

QR codes for urls are more a marketing ploy. The usage for typing urls into a webbrowser can be as easily done by an OCR algorithm on the camera image. Sebastian --172.68.110.118 12:02, 25 May 2021 (UTC)

Plain text (if it contains interesting words) will catch the driver's attention. QR codes are easy to ignore.

It looks like "List of Fictional Colors" used to exist but was deleted late July 2020 172.69.33.119 04:11, 25 May 2021 (UTC)

I have nothing useful to add but wanted to point out that "as easily distracted as me." is grammatically incorrect - it should instead be "as easily distracted as I." 172.70.100.54 13:25, 25 May 2021 (UTC)

XKCD 1576 OhFFS (talk) 14:53, 26 May 2021 (UTC)

Firstly, no native speaker of English says "as [whatever] as I". Secondly, the whole phrase, "someone as easily distracted as me", not just "someone", is governed by the preposition "by". See §8 of the article on "as" in H.W. Fowler's A Dictionary of Modern English Usage (1926) for case after "as". 198.41.238.107 21:01, 1 January 2022 (UTC)

Without referencing Fowler's thoughts, I would suggest "...someone as easily distracted as I am." would work. In fact, I'd prefer it. (But there might be a US/UK divide, or similar dichotomy. Like choosing to answer "Do you have <a thing>?" with either "Yes I do." or "Yes I have.") 172.70.162.147 23:13, 1 January 2022 (UTC)

In a quick sample of everyone sitting at my computer at the moment, 100% of native speakers of English say "as [whatever] as I". And the fact that the phrase "someone as easily distracted as [me|I]" is introduced with a preposition doesn't affect the internal composition of the phrase. Jkshapiro (talk) 14:54, 15 May 2022 (UTC)

The wikipedia list should have a warning before it due to a HIGH nerd sniping potential. No doubt that was the intent. --Hman

It's a legitimate technique. I've been trying to read this explanation page for 48 hours but it keeps sending me down a Wikipedia hole that I have to dig myself out of. Xseo (talk) 10:14, 26 May 2021 (UTC)

My own selection of caltrops

IMHO a crime to omit…

• Monastic community of Mount Athos: Large peninsula barred to any females, incl. cows, sheep … to (quote) "ensure celibacy". When Empress Helena took refuge there she was carried to never touch the ground. Uses Julian calendar.
• Baarle: Village in Dutch territory featuring 16 Belgian exclaves surrounding 7 nested Dutch areas. "For convenience, every house number plaque shows a flag."
• Blue Peacock#Chicken-powered nuclear bomb: Nuke utilizing body heat

--JR 162.158.110.94 13:34, 19 September 2023 (UTC)