Is this self-referential story as funny as it claims?

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In summary, the conversation is about a link to a passage by David Moser, in which each sentence refers to itself in a humorous and clever way. The commenters also make self-referential remarks and try to one-up each other in wit, but the overall tone is lighthearted and playful. Some commenters criticize the writing style while others enjoy it.
  • #1
Math Jeans
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This is a link to a passage by David Moser, in which all of the sentences refer to themselves.

It gets funnier as it goes along.

http://consc.net/misc/moser.html"
 
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  • #2
This is my comment on this story:
When you first see "This is actually the last sentence of the story but has been placed here by mistake" as the first sentence in the forth paragraph of the story, you will really later discover that the last sentence of the story is simply "This is."
 
  • #3
physics girl phd said:
This is my comment on this story:
When you first see "This is actually the last sentence of the story but has been placed here by mistake" as the first sentence in the forth paragraph of the story, you will really later discover that the last sentence of the story is simply "This is."

It depends on what the meaning of "is" is.
 
  • #4
physics girl phd said:
This is my comment on this story:
When you first see "This is actually the last sentence of the story but has been placed here by mistake" as the first sentence in the forth paragraph of the story, you will really later discover that the last sentence of the story is simply "This is."

There it is.

My favorite part is probably the sentence stating that the passage is actually the Declaration of Independance, but that the writer failed to include anything about the declaration of independence except for the small sentence fragment "When in the course of human events", which is placed in quotation marks near the end of a sentence.
 
  • #5
I don't think much of the story, but my author liked it.
 
  • #6
jimmysnyder said:
I don't think much of the story, but my author liked it.
:biggrin:
 
  • #7
physics girl phd said:
This is my comment on this story:
When you first see "This is actually the last sentence of the story but has been placed here by mistake" as the first sentence in the forth paragraph of the story, you will really later discover that the last sentence of the story is simply "This is."

This sentence maliciously inflicts humiliation on the respondee by pointing out that "forth" is missing something very meaningful; namely "u".

You reaully should put moure of urself intou your pousts - kiund of liuke the Briuts dou.
 
  • #8
This post doesn't really add anything to the previous posts.
 
  • #9
daniel_i_l said:
This post doesn't really add anything to the previous posts.

This post attempts to make a witty retort to the previous post that is inside of a quote box.
 
  • #10
Math Jeans said:
This post attempts to make a witty retort to the previous post that is inside of a quote box.

The above post (located inside the quote box) wasn't very successful in its attempt.
 
  • #11
This post, like a bored old Sith, opts to be repeatedly, unnecessarily, and repeatedly self-referential, and irritatingly anthropomorphic, (not to mention gimmicky,) but does not stop its H-bomb-like destruction for a second to notice the utter disarray of letters and nonsensical ideas it spews out and will continue to, as a sweet spot hits his T-pots, even though nothing ever tops s#!t.
 

FAQ: Is this self-referential story as funny as it claims?

What is a self-referential story?

A self-referential story is a literary work in which the narrative references itself or the act of storytelling. It often blurs the lines between fiction and reality, and can also involve metafiction or breaking the fourth wall.

What are some examples of self-referential stories?

Some popular examples of self-referential stories include "Infinite Jest" by David Foster Wallace, "If on a winter's night a traveler" by Italo Calvino, and "House of Leaves" by Mark Z. Danielewski.

What is the purpose of a self-referential story?

The purpose of a self-referential story can vary, but some common themes include exploring the nature of storytelling and the relationship between fiction and reality, as well as challenging traditional narrative structures and engaging the reader in a more active and critical manner.

How does a self-referential story differ from other types of fiction?

Unlike traditional fiction, a self-referential story often includes elements of metafiction, where the characters or narrator acknowledge the fact that they are part of a fictional world. It can also involve breaking the fourth wall and directly addressing the reader or referencing the act of storytelling.

What are some potential challenges of writing a self-referential story?

One challenge of writing a self-referential story is finding the balance between being too self-aware and losing the reader's interest, as well as maintaining coherence within the narrative. It can also be difficult to create a compelling story that is both self-referential and meaningful beyond its own metafictional elements.

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