Slashdot Mirror
Marvel Universe Is Almost Like *Real Life* Society
TheMatt writes "Scientists at the University of the Balearic Isles have analyzed the Marvel Universe and found that it is almost
like real society. The team studied the statistical properties of each character, the books they were in, and who else appeared in them (through resources like the MCP).
While there were some similarities to real society, a close look revealed the artificiality. For example, the MU isn't very clustered, only 1.5x that of a random network; real life is about 10x more clustered. Of course, the realities of comics (the business) are why this occurs. Also, they found the most networked of all Marvel heroes was Steve Rogers, Captain America himself."
Why people are examining clusters in comics I don't know. Are they beowulf clusters of Marvel Superheroes? Or just load-sharing clusters of Marvel Superheroes?
Best Slashdot Co
Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson know this first hand. They should have asked them for some research material.
Now this is the kind of science that I can enjoy, especially after Book Reviews: The Skeptical Environmentalist
The only thing that we learn from history is that nobody learns anything from history.
Breakfast served all day!
Also, they found the most networked of all Marvel heroes was Steve Rogers, Captain America himself.
Unfortunately, this research was responsible for the incredibly boring "Apocalypse Protection" series, when Captain America just tried to sell insurance to other superheroes for like 10 straight issues.
I smell the smell of an IgNobel prize in the air.
Oh great, another of my dork hobbies goes legit!
"Lady, I'm not 'wasting time and money on funny books,' I'm conducting an analysis of social interaction through the medium of networked vigilantism. Now pass that new issue of X-Force and refresh my strawberry sprite."
Hey freaks: now you're ju
All I see is that some bastards are paid to read tons of comics and do resume about them, which, to be scrupulously accurate, needs to be cross-checkes... by reading the comics again.
Bastards
"The obvious mathematical breakthrough would be development of an easy way to factor large prime numbers." Bill Gates,
"But Aquaman, you cannot marry a women without gills! You are from two different worlds! ... My life has been wasted".
...worst...study...ever.
Sorry, it had to be said.
I wish I had a kryptonite cross, because then you could keep Dracula and Superman away.
The entire superhero population of the MU is already blacklisted from all NYC-area companies providing auto insurance, home insurance, and fire insurance, while the life insurance companies are investigating about half of them for fraud in light of their various resurrections.
aunt may?
A closer look reveals the Marvel Universe's artificiality. For example, social networks have a property called clustering... the Marvel network is only very weakly clustered - about 1.5 times more than a random network.
Another example of the artificiality of the Marvel Universe is that there are a bunch of people with super powers in it, where as in reality, there are realitively few people who can shoot lasers out of there eyes or turn into a gigantic green monster when they are angry.
Don't forget that Friday is Hawaiian shirt day.
Future news:
Scientists at the University of the Balearic lose funding altogether
TheMatt writes "Scientists at the University of this place you've never heard of have analyzed Slashdot and found that it is almost like real society. The team studied the statistical properties of each user, the stories they posted in, and who else replied to their posts (through resources like the Slashdot archives). While there were some similarities to real society, a close look revealed the artificiality. For example, /. isn't very clustered, only 1.5x that of a random network; real life is about 10x more clustered. Of course, the realities of web boards (the interface) are why this occurs. Also, they found the most networked of all Slashdot users was CowboyNeal, the default poll choice."
main(c,r){for(r=32;r;) printf(++c>31?c=!r--,"\n":c<r?" ":~c&r?" `":" #");}
My evil minions will be dispatched immediately.
Ummm, no.
You see the X-Men have funding . . .
Where do the X-Men get funding? Adventure capitalists?
Man, if someone else said what I just said, I'd sure have to punch 'em!
I'm wondering just how much exactly they spent on this study...
Please, please, please tell me that money was diverted from an athletic program to fund this research.
Poetic justice man.
Poetic justice.