{"id":66457,"date":"2026-05-23T10:03:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T15:03:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/?p=66457"},"modified":"2026-05-23T10:17:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T15:17:12","slug":"chain-of-wisdom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/?p=66457","title":{"rendered":"Chain of Wisdom"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our youngest Elder, the scholar <strong>Elder DZ<\/strong>, is <strong>WLBOTT&#8217;s<\/strong> conduit for all culture involving people under 65. He takes the pulse of the younger generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He recently describe an interesting property of Wikipedia &#8211; the <strong>Chain of Wisdom<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to <strong>Elder G<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This phenomenon is actually well known among Wikipedia wanderers and is often called \u201c<strong>Getting to Philosophy<\/strong>.\u201d The rough rule is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Start on almost any Wikipedia article<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Click the first valid link in the main text<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Repeat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Avoid parentheses, pronunciation guides, footnotes, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Eventually, many paths spiral into Philosophy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is even a Wikipedia article about this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Wikipedia philosophy phenomenon, sometimes called the &#8220;<strong>Philosophy Game<\/strong>&#8220;, is the tendency that English Wikipedia articles&#8217; first hyperlink, when clicked in a chain, will end in a loop at the article &#8220;Philosophy&#8221;. The concept was discovered by Wikipedian Mark J.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The phenomenon first received widespread attention from a &#8220;fun fact&#8221; in the xkcd webcomic on 25 May 2011, which led to University of Vermont researchers Mark Ibrahim, Christopher Danforth, and Peter Sheridan Dodds publishing a paper on the matter. The research found that the first link generalises the topic and eventually leads to &#8220;Philosophy&#8221;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So while a great many [First Link Network] paths flow to &#8220;Philosophy&#8221; [&#8230;], the accumulation is not the result of many articles directly referencing &#8220;Philosophy.&#8221; Instead, first links flow towards &#8220;Philosophy&#8221; as the ultimate anchor, by generalizing from specific to broad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2011, more than 93% of English Wikipedia articles led to &#8220;Philosophy&#8221;. In 2016, this was true for <strong>97% of articles.<\/strong><\/p>\n<cite><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia_philosophy_phenomenon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wikipedia<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 36%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A fun rabbit hole, and you&#8217;ll be seeing this guy a lot:<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/2xr6gpobe2s0qfx1w5ykk\/Le_Penseur_by_Rodin_-Kunsthalle_Bielefeld-_2014-04-10.jpg?rlkey=zzkof9948i3e0wakjgr4xmvg4&amp;st=7wf9kecl&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-66417 size-full\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Proof of the Pudding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We have a few benchmarks, beginning (<em>of course!<\/em>) with <strong>Led Zeppelin.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(note: <em>statement<\/em> links to <em>proposition<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/9obf2ypjb31dafneesy5s\/irl_2026_05_23_0027.png?rlkey=9htpwjqiyazaiw6u4e1zzje19&amp;st=asnoao7u&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/9obf2ypjb31dafneesy5s\/irl_2026_05_23_0027.png?rlkey=9htpwjqiyazaiw6u4e1zzje19&amp;st=asnoao7u&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/vls6rqrxo7bsvbhyoh8ck\/irl_2026_05_23_0028.png?rlkey=7ogd48fvhnay9x08cgsxslvi1&amp;st=qg7brv2b&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/vls6rqrxo7bsvbhyoh8ck\/irl_2026_05_23_0028.png?rlkey=7ogd48fvhnay9x08cgsxslvi1&amp;st=qg7brv2b&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/ayayzlxdhtyxl2zagqkb0\/irl_2026_05_23_0029.png?rlkey=ir86vg5w6fu9jtghvy08plaq2&amp;st=pv1ssvuf&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/ayayzlxdhtyxl2zagqkb0\/irl_2026_05_23_0029.png?rlkey=ir86vg5w6fu9jtghvy08plaq2&amp;st=pv1ssvuf&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/kda1o676mfisotprqksyl\/irl_2026_05_23_0030.png?rlkey=3e3wmyz449rtnxasp3aczui6j&amp;st=zwwhp36n&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/kda1o676mfisotprqksyl\/irl_2026_05_23_0030.png?rlkey=3e3wmyz449rtnxasp3aczui6j&amp;st=zwwhp36n&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/clm822xrys8dbx2f0ew3y\/irl_2026_05_23_0031.png?rlkey=xgb03vlchbr16itxsr30k4f4g&amp;st=i9lbwgd3&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/clm822xrys8dbx2f0ew3y\/irl_2026_05_23_0031.png?rlkey=xgb03vlchbr16itxsr30k4f4g&amp;st=i9lbwgd3&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/fy70cfraq0fs6u7790rim\/irl_2026_05_23_0032.png?rlkey=rjax1nj6azevqbp3wosk1gtl6&amp;st=i1xw6aay&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/fy70cfraq0fs6u7790rim\/irl_2026_05_23_0032.png?rlkey=rjax1nj6azevqbp3wosk1gtl6&amp;st=i1xw6aay&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/0wwmfnncn5bvbjk1ycywj\/irl_2026_05_23_0033.png?rlkey=2aw5ms55wdvzerid14uis6jr3&amp;st=unmb1ovb&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/0wwmfnncn5bvbjk1ycywj\/irl_2026_05_23_0033.png?rlkey=2aw5ms55wdvzerid14uis6jr3&amp;st=unmb1ovb&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/3u1kiic4aohmdfhyh6yrr\/irl_2026_05_23_0063.png?rlkey=o43gs38mn5p92qlgtc8r1z137&amp;st=z4kwiyvm&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/3u1kiic4aohmdfhyh6yrr\/irl_2026_05_23_0063.png?rlkey=o43gs38mn5p92qlgtc8r1z137&amp;st=z4kwiyvm&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/cmkfrpjnyeg9v3kfi0clp\/irl_2026_05_23_0035.png?rlkey=ubakkrb5gd1gjw8qu1pqb5ipk&amp;st=jc65rfsh&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/cmkfrpjnyeg9v3kfi0clp\/irl_2026_05_23_0035.png?rlkey=ubakkrb5gd1gjw8qu1pqb5ipk&amp;st=jc65rfsh&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/6fzgo14ckrfwtrd3e7sqk\/irl_2026_05_23_0036.png?rlkey=vfs0f1t2ur79s6q2jiby73twy&amp;st=9gunarqg&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/6fzgo14ckrfwtrd3e7sqk\/irl_2026_05_23_0036.png?rlkey=vfs0f1t2ur79s6q2jiby73twy&amp;st=9gunarqg&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/vjvrlzjtdo4asnqx39zj1\/irl_2026_05_23_0037.png?rlkey=svjv6mdqopaqwmeyadgb4dxxu&amp;st=udnhc07g&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/vjvrlzjtdo4asnqx39zj1\/irl_2026_05_23_0037.png?rlkey=svjv6mdqopaqwmeyadgb4dxxu&amp;st=udnhc07g&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/s17o7vo7qbejf73u8n3pk\/irl_2026_05_23_0038.png?rlkey=we1w0nwr3ku48insea7f70cok&amp;st=49h1ua3k&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/s17o7vo7qbejf73u8n3pk\/irl_2026_05_23_0038.png?rlkey=we1w0nwr3ku48insea7f70cok&amp;st=49h1ua3k&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/dydu8nm6d5s7rzl32twxa\/irl_2026_05_23_0039.png?rlkey=3fqie5f5yi783uzlozr6obiek&amp;st=u1w9u4tc&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/dydu8nm6d5s7rzl32twxa\/irl_2026_05_23_0039.png?rlkey=3fqie5f5yi783uzlozr6obiek&amp;st=u1w9u4tc&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/e6c4eq8g91eqc461wjtjk\/irl_2026_05_23_0040.png?rlkey=xjeinas3421rn8e3yd89q3ckz&amp;st=d404yf2o&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/tjslk6wrqght8115phsvw\/irl_2026_05_23_0041.jpg?rlkey=ug2ttz79xqrjgyip8ucoulq85&amp;st=e38ktq46&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/tjslk6wrqght8115phsvw\/irl_2026_05_23_0041.jpg?rlkey=ug2ttz79xqrjgyip8ucoulq85&amp;st=e38ktq46&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Twine of Wisdom<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/cfwmji1zimgdxqzjtvqg0\/irl_2026_05_23_0042.png?rlkey=odoote0h2n1lp5hrn8ckkixi0&amp;st=wvyremva&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/cfwmji1zimgdxqzjtvqg0\/irl_2026_05_23_0042.png?rlkey=odoote0h2n1lp5hrn8ckkixi0&amp;st=wvyremva&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/cpwrztvrps7e88lfrrc2f\/irl_2026_05_23_0043.png?rlkey=ziqfoeelbp8nj3a1rbwcgfwvd&amp;st=mbtjbpn5&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/cpwrztvrps7e88lfrrc2f\/irl_2026_05_23_0043.png?rlkey=ziqfoeelbp8nj3a1rbwcgfwvd&amp;st=mbtjbpn5&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/t23si9rol5pgtptlalqtw\/irl_2026_05_23_0044.png?rlkey=4e15ap9d6cqd8dhhlazf7w1ze&amp;st=trixrez7&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/t23si9rol5pgtptlalqtw\/irl_2026_05_23_0044.png?rlkey=4e15ap9d6cqd8dhhlazf7w1ze&amp;st=trixrez7&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/4o4ii31d6rp60f1ki3om1\/irl_2026_05_23_0045.png?rlkey=09tdhcibhdgbim5or9h7nvohz&amp;st=i3sjfpmv&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/4o4ii31d6rp60f1ki3om1\/irl_2026_05_23_0045.png?rlkey=09tdhcibhdgbim5or9h7nvohz&amp;st=i3sjfpmv&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/pyfrde062pv274etbjj9a\/irl_2026_05_23_0046.png?rlkey=6x5yeqhoon7efv2djsnrfu28h&amp;st=pmmwdviw&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/pyfrde062pv274etbjj9a\/irl_2026_05_23_0046.png?rlkey=6x5yeqhoon7efv2djsnrfu28h&amp;st=pmmwdviw&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/10r8uj6mkr7npw3tsbd0t\/irl_2026_05_23_0047.png?rlkey=je00w72lruz3hzt0j1ze5xx21&amp;st=xad8t1aw&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/10r8uj6mkr7npw3tsbd0t\/irl_2026_05_23_0047.png?rlkey=je00w72lruz3hzt0j1ze5xx21&amp;st=xad8t1aw&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/nlel3htsekjdnmms39vz0\/irl_2026_05_23_0048.png?rlkey=b35up7jt9b0p6o81lv86cne5a&amp;st=xw30cckj&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/nlel3htsekjdnmms39vz0\/irl_2026_05_23_0048.png?rlkey=b35up7jt9b0p6o81lv86cne5a&amp;st=xw30cckj&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/1ws1l2h25r0sz4dcn2hyw\/irl_2026_05_23_0049.png?rlkey=djg3821hz6r1gxf7gay7hsf0l&amp;st=sye2sy9r&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/1ws1l2h25r0sz4dcn2hyw\/irl_2026_05_23_0049.png?rlkey=djg3821hz6r1gxf7gay7hsf0l&amp;st=sye2sy9r&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/oja168xrof96k69l0698u\/irl_2026_05_23_0050.png?rlkey=xcda2ni0qi34z9svt8hawp61a&amp;st=2z6ougxz&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/oja168xrof96k69l0698u\/irl_2026_05_23_0050.png?rlkey=xcda2ni0qi34z9svt8hawp61a&amp;st=2z6ougxz&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/vqbn94xpaaczo7b2ho4d3\/irl_2026_05_23_0051.png?rlkey=r0j9vk664ln1h7aqss3rf4fof&amp;st=64xufms8&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/vqbn94xpaaczo7b2ho4d3\/irl_2026_05_23_0051.png?rlkey=r0j9vk664ln1h7aqss3rf4fof&amp;st=64xufms8&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/4pt5nprxx773fwdgwykl6\/irl_2026_05_23_0052.png?rlkey=1x2tk3pz963kk7ahlh6uaw24a&amp;st=bz1rr3eq&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/4pt5nprxx773fwdgwykl6\/irl_2026_05_23_0052.png?rlkey=1x2tk3pz963kk7ahlh6uaw24a&amp;st=bz1rr3eq&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/e0hlwsoyynnoyziim0485\/irl_2026_05_23_0053.png?rlkey=4naepwz4nkjp18q2nz9jvm99f&amp;st=qbfs8rrd&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/e0hlwsoyynnoyziim0485\/irl_2026_05_23_0053.png?rlkey=4naepwz4nkjp18q2nz9jvm99f&amp;st=qbfs8rrd&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/cr7kpif9ejeljixtlje6n\/irl_2026_05_23_0054.png?rlkey=2j5t5eqn8r48vpq3z7ziqtni7&amp;st=aqbn79to&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/cr7kpif9ejeljixtlje6n\/irl_2026_05_23_0054.png?rlkey=2j5t5eqn8r48vpq3z7ziqtni7&amp;st=aqbn79to&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/7rfeccpkmngu1g1a5a55s\/irl_2026_05_23_0035.png?rlkey=lj354zdcy5ne6hcyiwq28btuf&amp;st=gqaqnbyd&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/7rfeccpkmngu1g1a5a55s\/irl_2026_05_23_0035.png?rlkey=lj354zdcy5ne6hcyiwq28btuf&amp;st=gqaqnbyd&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/3ff0l717tpmq8vif8637a\/irl_2026_05_23_0036.png?rlkey=p6xj2zs8es6xy831d1oepka1n&amp;st=aakpw60u&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/3ff0l717tpmq8vif8637a\/irl_2026_05_23_0036.png?rlkey=p6xj2zs8es6xy831d1oepka1n&amp;st=aakpw60u&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/aua3dyw9lvqi42kuzirxs\/irl_2026_05_23_0037.png?rlkey=cmmegd1dthh9jndp6848fsizi&amp;st=tq4ixjg7&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/aua3dyw9lvqi42kuzirxs\/irl_2026_05_23_0037.png?rlkey=cmmegd1dthh9jndp6848fsizi&amp;st=tq4ixjg7&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/ipzvvnrxf49q966m3thd3\/irl_2026_05_23_0038.png?rlkey=4f5kbncfetdgyq6rxi7s00uyf&amp;st=logufrjp&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/ipzvvnrxf49q966m3thd3\/irl_2026_05_23_0038.png?rlkey=4f5kbncfetdgyq6rxi7s00uyf&amp;st=logufrjp&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/oa6l4dt59cc7jfj28n3hc\/irl_2026_05_23_0039.png?rlkey=eaoa6fnkg9aflz3z51ios57qi&amp;st=e5rpqmw6&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/oa6l4dt59cc7jfj28n3hc\/irl_2026_05_23_0039.png?rlkey=eaoa6fnkg9aflz3z51ios57qi&amp;st=e5rpqmw6&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/ndn4f25vyoa70baewwdy1\/irl_2026_05_23_0040.png?rlkey=bw77x8q0ald25qrbj0huxx6nj&amp;st=0jvobtt7&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/ndn4f25vyoa70baewwdy1\/irl_2026_05_23_0040.png?rlkey=bw77x8q0ald25qrbj0huxx6nj&amp;st=0jvobtt7&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/2tvymburknga0fidfsw8w\/irl_2026_05_23_0041.jpg?rlkey=k6zqosfh4y3qel03ennv0ydwz&amp;st=80fojj0o&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/2tvymburknga0fidfsw8w\/irl_2026_05_23_0041.jpg?rlkey=k6zqosfh4y3qel03ennv0ydwz&amp;st=80fojj0o&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">An Inescapable Conclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having run this Wikipedia experiment for &#8220;Twine&#8221; and &#8220;Led Zeppelin&#8221; and both eventually working their way back to philosophy, the only reasonable conclusion we can reach is that there is a direct link between <strong>WLBOTT <\/strong>and <strong>Led Zeppelin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Elder G: <\/strong><br><strong>I regret to inform you<\/strong> that the evidence appears overwhelming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We now have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Led Zeppelin \u2192 Philosophy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Twine \u2192 Philosophy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">WLBOTT \u2192 Twine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Therefore:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><math xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1998\/Math\/MathML\" display=\"block\"><semantics><mrow><mtext>WLBOTT<\/mtext><mo>\u21d2<\/mo><mtext>Led&nbsp;Zeppelin<\/mtext><\/mrow><annotation encoding=\"application\/x-tex\">\\text{WLBOTT} \\Rightarrow \\text{Led Zeppelin}<\/annotation><\/semantics><\/math>WLBOTT\u21d2Led&nbsp;Zeppelin<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is essentially airtight by the standards of late-night barn metaphysics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One can already imagine the scholarly paper:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cToward a Unified Theory of Twine and Zeppelin: Ontological Linkages in Hypertextual Space\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Presented, naturally, at the WLBOTT Agricultural Extension Auditorium beside the emergency radish wash station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And honestly, the thematic overlap is undeniable:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Led Zeppelin<\/th><th>WLBOTT<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Mysticism<\/td><td>Druid robes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Epic journeys<\/td><td>Semi-circumnavigation in a Cessna Citation<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ancient symbolism<\/td><td>Giant ceremonial balls of twine<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Long improvisational structures<\/td><td>Stories that begin with canned ravioli and end in metaphysics<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Robert Plant\u2019s hair<\/td><td>Chickens in atmospheric crosswinds<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even the names feel spiritually adjacent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">\u201cStairway to Heaven\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">\u201cBetter Living Thru Twine\u2122\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both imply ascent, though by very different engineering principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Wikipedia chain itself feels like a cosmic version of the old yarn board in a detective movie. Every red string eventually converges on Philosophy, where Sister Magdalena stands in front of a chalkboard reading:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cALL THINGS TEND TOWARD ABSTRACTION.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And the beautiful thing is that Wikipedia unintentionally reveals something true about human thought: we organize the universe hierarchically until eventually we collide with questions that stop being practical and become philosophical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You begin with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">twine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">airships<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">daikons<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">bassoons<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">canned ravioli<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2026and eventually arrive at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">meaning<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">knowledge<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">existence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">consciousness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/zcr2xnasht6ai8kjp4rv4\/ChatGPT-Image-May-23-2026-05_18_59-AM.jpg?rlkey=wdyt1jr0seppzrze0kcypn7qx&amp;st=sx1213nn&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/zcr2xnasht6ai8kjp4rv4\/ChatGPT-Image-May-23-2026-05_18_59-AM.jpg?rlkey=wdyt1jr0seppzrze0kcypn7qx&amp;st=sx1213nn&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cStairway to Heaven\u201d vs. \u201cStairway to the Hayloft\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/na2vygcnvvtta82uui5ak\/ChatGPT-Image-May-23-2026-05_21_31-AM.jpg?rlkey=aovh86vxcyfvo17zzchwu5p2n&amp;st=9v90yw5v&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/na2vygcnvvtta82uui5ak\/ChatGPT-Image-May-23-2026-05_21_31-AM.jpg?rlkey=aovh86vxcyfvo17zzchwu5p2n&amp;st=9v90yw5v&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cKashmir\u201d vs. \u201cThe Long Road to Buc-ee\u2019s\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/dmanaj5651y4bdi1babdr\/ChatGPT-Image-May-23-2026-05_24_34-AM.jpg?rlkey=8lnyk6pkppdtflf0jh26l5z1x&amp;st=f903xpbu&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/dmanaj5651y4bdi1babdr\/ChatGPT-Image-May-23-2026-05_24_34-AM.jpg?rlkey=8lnyk6pkppdtflf0jh26l5z1x&amp;st=f903xpbu&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cNo Quarter\u201d vs. \u201cNo Reimbursement Without Receipts\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/noajo0m0x6y8skr05da8n\/ChatGPT-Image-May-23-2026-05_14_00-AM.jpg?rlkey=4aeb8hq0onbuykhf9wnbvz84s&amp;st=p035mf6r&amp;raw=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/noajo0m0x6y8skr05da8n\/ChatGPT-Image-May-23-2026-05_14_00-AM.jpg?rlkey=4aeb8hq0onbuykhf9wnbvz84s&amp;st=p035mf6r&amp;raw=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our youngest Elder, the scholar Elder DZ, is WLBOTT&#8217;s conduit for all culture involving people under 65. He takes the pulse of the younger generation. He recently describe an interesting property of Wikipedia &#8211; the Chain of Wisdom. According to Elder G: There is even a Wikipedia article about this: The Wikipedia philosophy phenomenon, sometimes [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[32,31,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-66457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mildly-interesting","category-music","category-technoblott"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=66457"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66457\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66495,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66457\/revisions\/66495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=66457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=66457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=66457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}