C.V.

Day: April 24, 2013

A classic benign violation: the confetti bucket

I was recently giving a talk about the benign violation theory, and Josh Kinal (@sealfur) reminded me of the old confetti bucket gag. The Harlem Globetrotters are famous for using the gag to the delight of the crowd. So, why is the confetti bucket funny? Most people will say surprise. But there are plenty of […]

Free research idea: How to stop trolls without censorship

My second “free research idea.” (Note: This one is not as good as the first.) People can be nasty. When people are nasty on the internet, they are called trolls. Urban Dictionary’s definition of a troll: One who purposely and deliberately (that purpose usually being self-amusement) starts an argument in a manner which attacks others […]