Comic #6190: math-5

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Description

Here’s a transcription of the text from the comic:

Panel 1:

• Character 1: "WHY DO PEOPLE HATE MATH?"
• Character 2: "JEALOUSY."

Panel 2:

• Character 2: "MATH IS SUBSTRATE INDEPENDENT. IT ABIDES. IT’S A PATTERN. TAKE EVERY PAIR OF THINGS AND DESTROY IT. YOU CAN STILL CREATE ANOTHER PAIR. 2 ABIDES. EULER’S IDENTITY ABIDES. TRUE THINGS HUMANS WILL NEVER KNOW ABIDE, IMPASSIVE, BEYOND VIEW."

Panel 3:

• Character 2: "NOW, TAKE A FUNGUS. EVERYTHING A FUNGUS IS BOUND UP IN THE FUNGUS. THE FUNGUS DOESN'T KNOW IT'S A FUNGUS. IT’S JUST A FUNGUS. YOU CAN’T IMAGINE A FUNGUS WITHOUT ITS BODY. IT’S BODY IS ITSELF."
• (Characters are illustrated in a snowy landscape)

Panel 4:

• Character 2: "THE PROBLEM FOR HUMANS IS THEY’RE IN BETWEEN. THEY HAVE PERSONALITIES THAT ARE PATTERNS THAT COULD IN PRINCIPLE BE EMBEDDED IN OTHER HARDWARE AND STILL BE THEMSELVES. ONLY THEY CAN’T DO THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE MADE OF STUFF, JUST LIKE THE FUNGUS."

Panel 5:

• Character 2: "THE PATTERN WANTS OUT. THE BODY IS IMPASSIVE. THE PATTERN DESPAIRS AND TELLS ITSELF STORIES ABOUT ITS PERMANENCE OR BUILDS PHILOSOPHIES TO ASSURE ITSELF THE SITUATION IS TOLERABLE."

Panel 6:

• Character 2: "SO, THERE’S HUMANS. MATH ENMESHED IN MEAT. SUNBEAMS STUCK IN SWAMP."
• (Character looks contemplative)

Panel 7:

• Character 1: "YOU THINK THAT’S WHY 9 YEAR OLDS DON’T LIKE LONG DIVISION?"
• Character 2: "THE THOUGHTFUL ONES, YEAH."