this post was submitted on 23 Dec 2025
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xkcd

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xkcd #3184: Funny Numbers

Title text:

In 1899, people were walking around shouting '23' at each other and laughing, and confused reporters were writing articles trying to figure out what it meant.

Transcript:

Transcript will show once it’s been added to explainxkcd.com

Source: https://xkcd.com/3184/

explainxkcd for #3184

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[–] wieson@feddit.org 67 points 6 days ago (4 children)

I feel like (6, 7) should definitely be a tuple

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[–] GraniteM@lemmy.world 39 points 6 days ago
[–] redwattlebird@lemmings.world 27 points 6 days ago (3 children)

0118 999 881 999 119 725 3

[–] blujan@sopuli.xyz 10 points 6 days ago

I think it's more of a 0118 999 88199 9119 725 3

[–] nek0d3r@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 6 days ago

Oh, that's easy to remember!

[–] el_abuelo@programming.dev 7 points 6 days ago

I've had a bit of a tumble

[–] Vengefu1Tuna@lemmy.zip 31 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I was reading Wikipedia about the origins of 23 and came across this neat tidbit:

On the RMS Titanic there was a watertight door on E Deck numbered 23 which was informally called the "skidoo door" according to the testimony of the Chief Baker Charles John Joughin.

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[–] raspberriesareyummy@lemmy.world 27 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Missing "about three-fitty"

[–] the_trash_man@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago (2 children)
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[–] VerilyFemme@lemmy.blahaj.zone 17 points 6 days ago (2 children)
[–] Entertainmeonly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Get outa here ya lock ness

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[–] W3dd1e@lemmy.zip 18 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] ksigley@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago

Shiggity shawh

[–] anas@lemmy.world 15 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] Techranger 10 points 6 days ago

You stoopid

[–] kittenzrulz123@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 6 days ago (1 children)

42 is undeniably the funniest number

Sorry for the inconvenience.

[–] psycotica0@lemmy.ca 8 points 6 days ago (3 children)

Maybe not a teen thing, but among children I think "because 789" could bring 789 into the discussion.

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[–] stringere@sh.itjust.works 8 points 6 days ago

Further cementing that there is an xkcd for everything.

[–] DarkCloud@lemmy.world 11 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (3 children)

If you're gonna include 23 skidoo... You should include being at sixes and sevens:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_sixes_and_sevens

67... Is very very old British slang for wrecked/confused, at odds, or hysterical.

"I was all 6's and 7's"

[–] Deebster 1 points 3 days ago

I think some will still understand it, although I can't remember the last time I heard anyone use it.

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[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 10 points 6 days ago (2 children)
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[–] Guillermosaenz@lemmy.world 10 points 6 days ago (4 children)

67 sneaking onto the ‘funny numbers’ list is hilarious—teens are basically a standards committee now.

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[–] Lightsong@lemmy.world 9 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Deaf people - 258 (very interesting) and 84 (there's no good direct translation for this)

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[–] OhStopYellingAtMe@lemmy.world 10 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Needs to add my favorite number: 8647

[–] OhStopYellingAtMe@lemmy.world 9 points 6 days ago

“Now, my story begins in nineteen dickety two. We had to say dickety 'cause the kaiser had stolen our word twenty….”

[–] ksigley@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago

There really is an xkcd for everything.

[–] Daft_ish@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 5 days ago
[–] finitebanjo@lemmy.world 7 points 6 days ago

They left out 86 and the more recent variant 8647

[–] Glitch@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 6 days ago
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