xkcd

"When I began trying to form a new claim by stitching together these parts in such an unnatural way, some called me mad."

Image Transcription: XKCD Comics image

[A two-column table.]

• [First row:]
  • [column "Claim":]
    • [Open book. Left page says "F", right page shows the monster labeled "?". Arrow pointing to book says "by MS".]
    • "No, the monster in Mary Shelley's book is unnamed. Frankenstein is the doctor who created him."
  • [column "Notes":] This is the normal claim
• [Second row:]
  • [column "Claim":]
    • [Open book. Left page says "?", right page shows the monster labeled "F". Arrow pointing to book says "by MS".]
    • "No, the monster in Mary Shelley's novel is named Frankenstein."
  • [column "Notes":] Also common, and not worth getting mad about IMO
• [Third row:]
  • [column "Claim":]
    • [Open book. Left page says "MS", right page shows the monster labeled "?". Arrow pointing to book says "by F".]
    • "No, Frankenstein is the name of the author. The monster Mary Shelley created is unnamed."
  • [column "Notes":] At a glance this could pass for one of the normal claims
• [4th row:]
  • [column "Claim":]
    • [Open book. Left page says "MS", right page shows the monster labeled "F". Arrow pointing to book says "by ?".]
    • "No one knows who wrote the novel about Doctor Mary Shelley creating the monster Frankenstein."
  • [column "Notes":I would read this book
• [5th row:]
  • [column "Claim":]
    • [Open book. Left page says "F", right page shows the monster labeled "MS". Arrow pointing to book says "by ?".]
    • "No, Frankenstein is the name of the doctor. The monster he created is Mary Shelley."
  • [column "Notes", merged with 6th row:] Fully chaotic
• [6th row:]
  • [column "Claim":]
    • [Open book. Left page says "?", right page shows the monster labeled "MS". Arrow pointing to book says "by F".]
    • "No, the doctor who creates Mary Shelley in Frankenstein's novel doesn't have a name."
  • [column "Notes", merged with 5th row:] Fully chaotic

[Title text:] When I began trying to form a new claim by stitching together these parts in such an unnatural way, some called me mad.

• XKCD/2799
• Explain XKCD/2799