Editing 1717: Pyramid Honey
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | Bee {{w|honey}} is a food item with natural antimicrobial properties. It can remain unspoiled for a person's entire lifetime, making it practically nonperishable for ordinary consumers. It is frequently claimed that archaeologists have found jars of honey that have been well-preserved for thousands of years in ancient tombs, often those found in {{w|Egyptian pyramids}}, hence the title ''Pyramid Honey''. The claims are generally assertions | + | Bee {{w|honey}} is a food item with natural antimicrobial properties. It can remain unspoiled for a person's entire lifetime, making it practically nonperishable for ordinary consumers. It is frequently claimed that archaeologists have found jars of honey that have been well-preserved for thousands of years in ancient tombs, often those found in {{w|Egyptian pyramids}}, hence the title ''Pyramid Honey''. The claims are generally assertions which may point to other similar assertions as supporting evidence but do not provide specific details, such as the identity of the actual tombs where such jars have been found, or the names of the archaeologists who have affirmed finding such jars. The commonality of the assertion, however, leads some people to claim that honey's shelf life is "infinite", which is a much stronger claim which would not be supported by the assertion even if it is shown to be factual. |
− | In the comic, [[Cueball]] tells [[Megan]] about an article in ''{{w|Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian Magazine}}'' (presumably [http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-science-behind-honeys-eternal-shelf-life-1218690/ this one]) that claims honey has an infinite shelf life. The article links to a book | + | In the comic, [[Cueball]] tells [[Megan]] about an article in ''{{w|Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian Magazine}}'' (presumably [http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-science-behind-honeys-eternal-shelf-life-1218690/ this one]) that claims honey has an infinite shelf life. The article links to a book which makes the assertion of such findings but does not provide factual support of the findings. Megan thinks the sources of the article are wrong and wants to refute it. She tells Cueball ''Believe it or not'' which [[Black Hat]] hears and he immediately states that he believes her, and is convinced without hearing any arguments from Megan. He then decides to begin a Facebook page so he can ''tell the Internet'' without giving Megan a chance to explain any further. |
− | "A hill to die on" is a phrase from {{w|Ernest Hemingway|Ernest Hemingway's}} 1940 novel "{{w|For Whom the Bell Tolls}}", about an American who volunteers in the 1936-1939 {{w|Spanish Civil War}} to fight {{w|fascism}}, who ends up wounded and alone, about to ambush the enemy to give his comrades a chance to escape; "a weird hill to die on" would thus mean a weird cause, if not a just one, to fight for to the bitter end | + | "A hill to die on" is a phrase from {{w|Ernest Hemingway|Ernest Hemingway's}} 1940 novel "{{w|For Whom the Bell Tolls}}", about an American who volunteers in the 1936-1939 {{w|Spanish Civil War}} to fight {{w|fascism}}, who ends up wounded and alone, about to ambush the enemy to give his comrades a chance to escape; "a weird hill to die on" would thus mean a weird cause, if not a just one, to fight for to the bitter end. Black Hat asserts that he needs such a cause because the "real" weird hills are too far from his house, humorously implying he would be equally satisfied with a literal weird hill. |
− | Black Hat's actions are clearly premature since he has not heard any evidence to back up the claim and does not understand the nuances of Megan's position. Cueball states that it could have gone better, whereas Megan seems to | + | Black Hat's actions are clearly premature, since he has not heard any evidence to back up the claim and does not understand the nuances of Megan's position. Cueball also states that it could have gone better, whereas Megan seems to think it is OK as long as it is her opinion Black Hat spreads out. |
− | Presumably, the best Black Hat can do would be to parrot what he has heard from Megan, without any understanding or critical thinking on his part. Due to his lack of understanding, he may even interject his own ideas (ones Megan never believed nor stated) into his posts. These are all consistent with him calling himself "pyramid honey truther". The word ''truther'' refers to people who reject established facts and instead choose to believe in conspiracies, like people who claim {{w|Moon landing conspiracy theories|the moon landings never happened}}, or {{w|9/11 Truth movement|believe the US government is behind}} the {{w|9/11 attacks}}. While | + | Presumably, the best Black Hat can do would be to parrot what he has heard from Megan, without any understanding or critical thinking on his part. Due to his lack of understanding, he may even interject his own ideas (ones Megan never believed nor stated) into his posts. These are all consistent with him calling himself "pyramid honey truther". The word ''truther'' refers to people who reject established facts and instead choose to believe in conspiracies, like people who claim {{w|Moon landing conspiracy theories|the moon landings never happened}}, or {{w|9/11 Truth movement|believe the US government is behind}} the {{w|9/11 attacks}}. While some conspiracy theories turn out to be true, most, like the two mentioned here, are not so easily dismissed. This turns Megan, who likely has a reasonable and well-justified position, unwillingly into the source of conspiracy theories. |
− | + | The title text refers to the {{w|Eye of Providence}}, a symbol of an eye at the top of a pyramid, found on US currency and often associated with conspiracy theories of the {{w|Illuminati}}. Black Hat again refers to the pyramid honey found under the pyramids and calls it a ''conspiracy that goes all the way to the top''. This usually means that the politicians (or the government agencies) ruling the country knows about it, but keeps it a secret to the public. But in this case he mixes up terms an says it goes to the top of the pyramid (from the bottom), to where the giant eye is. As promised he also writes four words in all capital letters, shouting out the TRUTH! | |
− | + | This comic is likely a satire of the stereotypical internet mindset, and plays up the frequent confusion between legitimate scientific scepticism, where unsupported claims are rejected, and conspiracy-theory faux-scepticism, where legitimate evidence is rejected because it does not support a specific viewpoint. | |
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− | This comic is likely a satire of the stereotypical internet mindset and plays up the frequent confusion between legitimate scientific | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
:[Cueball and Megan are talking.] | :[Cueball and Megan are talking.] | ||
:Cueball: Apparently honey has an infinite shelf life. They just found jars of it in the pyramids, still good. | :Cueball: Apparently honey has an infinite shelf life. They just found jars of it in the pyramids, still good. | ||
− | :Megan: You know, I've heard that, and I don't think | + | :Megan: You know, I've heard that, and I don't think its true. |
:[Black hat enters.] | :[Black hat enters.] | ||
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:[Megan has turned to Black Hat raising her hands.] | :[Megan has turned to Black Hat raising her hands.] | ||
− | :Megan: See I read about the | + | :Megan: See I read about the archeologists who- |
:Black Hat: I'm convinced. Gonna go to tell the internet. | :Black Hat: I'm convinced. Gonna go to tell the internet. | ||
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:[Zoom-in on Black Hat's head.] | :[Zoom-in on Black Hat's head.] | ||
− | :Black Hat: I've been looking for a weird hill to die on, and all the real ones are too far from my house. | + | :Black Hat: I've been looking for a weird hill to die on, and all the real ones are too far from my house. |
:Black Hat: So this is mine. I'm now a pyramid honey truther. | :Black Hat: So this is mine. I'm now a pyramid honey truther. | ||
− | :[Zoom back out. Black Hat starts walking left, pointing a finger up. Cueball and Megan | + | :[Zoom back out. Black Hat starts walking left, pointing a finger up. Cueball and Megan turns to look after him.] |
:Black Hat: Time to start a Facebook group and post a bunch of all-caps comments everywhere. | :Black Hat: Time to start a Facebook group and post a bunch of all-caps comments everywhere. | ||
:Cueball: This could have gone better. | :Cueball: This could have gone better. | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] |