2015-01-15

A woman with brown hair and round glasses stands at a lectern delivering a lecture, pointing one finger and gesturing with her other hand. Her speech bubble reads: "'Friends' are the people least likely to have new information. New information can be used to increase wealth. And yet, people associate more with friends than non-friends. We call it 'the companion paradox.'" A caption below the panel reads: In social science, "paradox" is jargon for "obvious to everyone else." The joke mocks how social science dresses up obvious observations in self-important terminology. Votey: a close-up of a skeptical, weary face saying, "And why is anyone poor when everyone has a preference for money?" — another deadpan example of an absurd pseudo-paradox.