Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

It’s called absurdity. It’s funny because it’s obviously not true, and also funny because of the undertones that it’s a clever way to get horny teenagers to study physics who really just want to see the photos.


It would be absurd if pop stars by defintion could not explain semiconductor physics. Like how a snake wearing boots is absurd.


Dr. Brian May comes to mind...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_May#Scientific_career

Maybe not so absurd.

Also, Todd Rundgren used to be a registered Apple developer. We'd see him moseying around the WWDC, every year.


You are being pedantic, but I’ll play along. Absurd has multiple meanings. It can mean nonsensical, but it can also mean utterly ridiculous or silly. Under those other meanings I believe the pop-star-physics-professor still qualifies.


It sounds pedantic, but "absurd" is fundamentally different from "rare". A lot of baggage comes from flagging something as absurd, instead of just unexpected or uncommon. Winning the lottery isn't absurd, having 3 pairs of some chromosome isn't either, and being a successful pop singer with an academic background isn't either, it's just rare.


It IS pedantic, because we are talking not of pop stars in general, but Britney Spears specifically.


Very heteronormative even for 2000




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: