If You Click the First Link in a Wikipedia Article, the First After That, and So On, You’ll Arrive at “Philosophy”

Recommended Videos

The webcomic XKCD dropped another Internet truism when it proclaimed in the alt-text of its latest comic:

Wikipedia trivia: if you take any article, click on the first link in the article text not in parentheses or italics, and then repeat, you will eventually end up at “Philosophy”

Someone took it as a challenge, and put together a “useful” little tool that will show you, with links, exactly how many clicks it takes to get from the subject of your choice to the Wikipedia article on philosophy. It certainly is eye-opening, and is certain to keep folks entertained for quite some time.

The real question is if anyone has yet proved XKCD wrong. 20 steps was my longest chain, who can beat it?

Update: Geekosystem reader Andrew has found one that breaks the chain: “numerary” first links to “supernumerary,” which first links to “numerary” … and so on. What other combo breakers exist?

(XKCD Wikipedia Steps to Philosophy)


The Mary Sue is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article ChatGPT Voice That Sounds Like Scarlett Johansson in ‘Her’ Shut Down Following Backlash
joaquin phoenix wearing glasses with a mustache in her
joaquin phoenix wearing glasses with a mustache in her
joaquin phoenix wearing glasses with a mustache in her
Read Article Surprising No One, All 3,878 of Elon Musk’s Cybertrucks Are Being Recalled
Elon Musk during a T-Mobile and SpaceX event
Elon Musk during a T-Mobile and SpaceX event
Elon Musk during a T-Mobile and SpaceX event
Read Article ‘Mamma Mia!’ Star Sara Poyzer Says a BBC Production Replaced Her With AI
Sara Poyzer performs at the Magic at the Musicals event in 2019
Sara Poyzer performs at the Magic at the Musicals event in 2019
Sara Poyzer performs at the Magic at the Musicals event in 2019
Read Article In Moment of Unbelievable Irony, Midjourney Accuses Stability AI of Image Theft
Spider-Man pointing at another Spider-Man, who is pointing back.
Spider-Man pointing at another Spider-Man, who is pointing back.
Spider-Man pointing at another Spider-Man, who is pointing back.
Read Article Elon Musk May Be the Lesser of Two Evils in This Legal Battle With OpenAI
Elon Musk at the 2022 Met Gala
Elon Musk at the 2022 Met Gala
Elon Musk at the 2022 Met Gala
Related Content
Read Article ChatGPT Voice That Sounds Like Scarlett Johansson in ‘Her’ Shut Down Following Backlash
joaquin phoenix wearing glasses with a mustache in her
Read Article Surprising No One, All 3,878 of Elon Musk’s Cybertrucks Are Being Recalled
Elon Musk during a T-Mobile and SpaceX event
Read Article ‘Mamma Mia!’ Star Sara Poyzer Says a BBC Production Replaced Her With AI
Sara Poyzer performs at the Magic at the Musicals event in 2019
Read Article In Moment of Unbelievable Irony, Midjourney Accuses Stability AI of Image Theft
Spider-Man pointing at another Spider-Man, who is pointing back.
Read Article Elon Musk May Be the Lesser of Two Evils in This Legal Battle With OpenAI
Elon Musk at the 2022 Met Gala
Author