Opposite Day
Encyclopedia
Opposite Day, also known as Opposites Day is a word game
where speech is modified so that meaning is inverted. Once Opposite Day is declared, statements mean the opposite
of what they usually mean. Usually, a person would say, "After this phrase is over, it will be officially opposite day," and then Opposite Day will be officially started. Opposite Day can also be declared retroactively to indicate that the opposite meaning of what was said should be inferred. Opposite day games are usually played by schoolchildren.
In the sense that opposite day "excuses" untrue statements, it is similar to the notion that crossed fingers
automatically nullify promises. Play has been compared to a children's "philosophy
course", and the game has been used as an educational aid and suggested as preparation for "standardized testing".
The sentence "Today is opposite day" is in fact a paradox
, similar to the liar paradox
. If the statement is true, then it is opposite day. But since it is opposite day, the statement "Today is opposite day" can be interpreted as "Today is not opposite day" which is implied to also be true. Hence, a paradox exists and one is forced to conclude that it is not opposite day.
Word game
Word games and puzzles are spoken or board games often designed to test ability with language or to explore its properties.Word games are generally engaged as a source of entertainment, but have been found to serve an educational purpose as well...
where speech is modified so that meaning is inverted. Once Opposite Day is declared, statements mean the opposite
Opposite
Opposite may refer to:* Opposite , a word that means the opposite of a word* Botany: "Opposite" is a kind of arrangement of leaves* Additive inverse, in mathematics, taking the negative of a number...
of what they usually mean. Usually, a person would say, "After this phrase is over, it will be officially opposite day," and then Opposite Day will be officially started. Opposite Day can also be declared retroactively to indicate that the opposite meaning of what was said should be inferred. Opposite day games are usually played by schoolchildren.
In the sense that opposite day "excuses" untrue statements, it is similar to the notion that crossed fingers
Crossed fingers
To cross one's fingers, is an apotropaic hand gesture, used to superstitiously wish for good luck or to nullify a promise.The gesture is referred to by the common expression "fingers crossed", meaning "let's hope for a good outcome"....
automatically nullify promises. Play has been compared to a children's "philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
course", and the game has been used as an educational aid and suggested as preparation for "standardized testing".
The sentence "Today is opposite day" is in fact a paradox
Paradox
Similar to Circular reasoning, A paradox is a seemingly true statement or group of statements that lead to a contradiction or a situation which seems to defy logic or intuition...
, similar to the liar paradox
Liar paradox
In philosophy and logic, the liar paradox or liar's paradox , is the statement "this sentence is false"...
. If the statement is true, then it is opposite day. But since it is opposite day, the statement "Today is opposite day" can be interpreted as "Today is not opposite day" which is implied to also be true. Hence, a paradox exists and one is forced to conclude that it is not opposite day.
In popular culture
- In Bill WattersonBill WattersonWilliam Boyd Watterson II , known as Bill Watterson, is an American cartoonist and the author of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes...
's comic strip Calvin and HobbesCalvin and HobbesCalvin and Hobbes is a syndicated daily comic strip that was written and illustrated by American cartoonist Bill Watterson, and syndicated from November 18, 1985, to December 31, 1995. It follows the humorous antics of Calvin, a precocious and adventurous six-year-old boy, and Hobbes, his...
, Opposite Day was the gag of one Sunday strip. When a bee stung Calvin because Hobbes did not say there was a bee on account of it being Opposite Day, Calvin chased Hobbes up a tree with a baseball bat. When Hobbes said that Opposite Day ends at midnight, an angry and vigilant Calvin replies "Yes". - A 1999 episode of SpongeBob SquarePantsSpongeBob SquarePantsSpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series, created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg. Much of the series centers on the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the underwater city of "Bikini Bottom"...
, called "Opposite Day", featured Squidward's attempted use of Opposite Day to make sure he gets SpongeBob out of the way in a failing attempt to move. - A Whitest Kids U' KnowThe Whitest Kids U' KnowThe Whitest Kids U' Know is an American sketch comedy troupe and television program of the same name. The group consists of Trevor Moore, Sam Brown, Zach Cregger, Timmy Williams and Darren Trumeter, though other actors occasionally appear in their sketches. They were accepted into the HBO U.S...
sketch called "Opposite Day Lawyer" features the lawyer of a hopelessly guilty murder suspect declaring Opposite Day just before the jury goes to deliberate. - In the 2007 American Dad!American Dad!American Dad! is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane and owned by Underdog Productions and Fuzzy Door Productions. It is produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television...
episode "I Can't Stan YouI Can't Stan You"I Can't Stan You" is the seventeenth episode from the second season of the animated series American Dad!. It originally aired on Fox, on May 6, 2007. Zoey 101's Paul Butcher guest starred.-Plot:...
", Steve's letter to Roger references Opposite Day when Steve tricks Roger leaving him stranded in Mexico. - Homer makes a reference to Opposite Day in an episode of The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
titled "The Wife AquaticThe Wife AquaticThe Wife Aquatic is the tenth episode of The Simpsons eighteenth season, which originally aired January 7, 2007. 13.9 million viewers watched this episode, making it the highest rated of seasons 17–20.-Plot:...
". - In an episode of The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy titled "Opposite Day", Billy and Mandy trick Grim into doing all their chores declaring that it's opposite day, in the end Mandy reveals that when she said it was opposite day, the meaning was reversed, and Grim did those chores for nothing.
- In a 2009 episode of Robot ChickenRobot ChickenRobot Chicken is an American stop motion animated television series created and executive produced by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich along with co-head writers Douglas Goldstein and Tom Root. Green provides many voices for the show...
titled "Dear Consumer", a character asks if it's Christmas Day or Opposite Day, and then cuts to a calendar with Monday, December 21 circled as Opposite Day, and Friday, December 25 circled as Christmas Day. - In an episode of Jake and Amir titled "Ground Rule", Jake uses Opposite Day to make Amir do his bidding.
- Sketch comedy group, Derrick ComedyDerrick ComedyDerrick Comedy is an Internet sketch comedy group from New York University. The group has a large YouTube following and was mentioned in Rolling Stone in July 2007. Their video "Bro Rape" has garnered over 8 million views...
performed a sketch in which a company's boss takes opposite day a little too seriously; going so far as firing staff who do not participate.