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Straw Hole Count Problem

Ppal-dae Goo-meong Gae-soo Moon-jae

This meme began as a debate called 'Straw hole debate' on the international internet starting in November 2017. The controversy gradually subsided overseas around January 2018 when Professor Kevin Knudson of the University of Florida concluded in an article for Forbes that a straw has one hole. In Korea, the meme gained significant traction and popularity starting in December 2018, triggered by a tweet, and even led to an article in the Weekly Kyunghyang.

The 'Straw Hole Count Problem' is a meme that involves a heated debate about how many holes a typical straight straw has. This argument divides opinions into 0, 1, or 2 holes, depending on how one defines 'hole.' Each claim presents various justifications, including topological mathematics, intuitive perception, and cognitive linguistic perspectives. It is primarily used as an interesting thought experiment and a topic of debate, stemming from the differences between people's intuition and mathematical or linguistic definitions.

This meme was primarily consumed across all generations who actively use the internet. It originated on Twitter and spread to various platforms like online communities and YouTube, gaining popularity among those who enjoy logical thinking and debate. Furthermore, it was sometimes used as a discussion topic for students in educational settings.