this post was submitted on 13 Apr 2026
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xkcd #3232: Countdown Standard

Title text:

Anyone who is caught counting 'three ... two ... one ... zero ... GO!' will be punished with a lifetime of eating only ISO standard food samples.

Transcript:

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Source: https://xkcd.com/3232/

explainxkcd for #3232

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[–] Alvaro@lemmy.blahaj.zone 65 points 2 days ago (4 children)

I know someone who would always say "we go on three" and then just shout "three!" Without counting or anything. I told him that was super confusing and he just didn't agree and moved on

[–] CoffeeVector@lemmy.world 32 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I think he was making fun of you.

[–] Alvaro@lemmy.blahaj.zone 34 points 2 days ago (2 children)

He was an EMT and it was about lifting someone in sync so they don't fall...

[–] WR5@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Pretty good joke, to be honest.

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I think it's so the person being lifted doesn't tense, when ready for it. So you kind of surprised them but it's an acceptable surprise, as they are expecting a move.

[–] Alvaro@lemmy.blahaj.zone 14 points 2 days ago

These are usually either unconscious or screaming people, not the kind to care about what an EMT says.

[–] binarytobis@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago

Playing Let’s Go Eevee with my 6yo niece the other day, and when I counted trying to time our pokeball throws she would demand to be the one who counts. Her method was to try and surprise me, it seems. She would change the timing between each number independently every time, like “3, … ….. 21GO!” Sometimes, she would just throw on 1 but keep counting. Realized it was easier just to watch her arm.

[–] Windex007@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago

Well, five is right out.

[–] mr_satan@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's what I do. If you're ready, you're ready, no point in counting.

[–] Alvaro@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Why use a number then!?

Saying three implies one and two.

Why not say "on my mark" or something?

[–] mr_satan@lemmy.zip 1 points 23 hours ago

I didn't say it was not confusing. It's part of the joke.