# XKCD: Mathematicians Discuss... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 16, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-mathematicians-discuss/582094 "2011-05-16T15:20:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-mathematicians-discuss/582094/61 "2011-06-05T02:09:07Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > Click the red button under the comment. Well, now I have plans for the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-mathematicians-discuss/582094/62 "2011-06-06T01:15:07Z")
All I can say is that I chuckled. I cannot ask more. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-mathematicians-discuss/582094/63 "2011-06-06T01:55:53Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > I mean, negative “imitator” numbers? I think that one was a gag by analogy with imaginary numbers. Occasionally one comes across a crank that believes imaginary numbers aren’t “real” (common English definition here!) or are somehow less substantial than the reals. And in fact, imaginary numbers got their name for just this reason, but really they have just as much basis as negative numbers, or positive for that matter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-mathematicians-discuss/582094.md?page=3)