this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2023

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Can we settle this: how many holes does a straw have? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 years ago by RealNooshie@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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At work we somehow landed on the topic of how many holes a human has, which then evolved into a heated discussion on the classic question of how many holes does a straw have.

I think it's two, but some people are convinced that it's one, which I just don't understand. What are your thoughts?

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[–] ccunning@lemmy.world 55 points 3 years ago (23 children)

How many holes does a rubber band have? A donut?

Topologically a rubber band, a donut, and a straw have the same number of holes. The hole at either end of the straw is just a continuation of the same one hole.

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[–] key@lemmy.keychat.org 8 points 3 years ago (15 children)

By that argument your mouth is a continuation of your asshole... No offense.

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[–] simplecyphers@lemmy.world 71 points 3 years ago (7 children)

I mean… yeah

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[–] andyburke@kbin.social 18 points 3 years ago* (6 children)

Some people haven't realized almost all animals are just tubes with various fancy shit glued on.

Edit: including humans

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[–] Itty53@kbin.social 7 points 3 years ago (5 children)

Or put biologically, virtually all fauna are just various advanced forms of flatworm.

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[–] Petrichor3345@kbin.social 3 points 3 years ago (4 children)

IIRC humans have 7 holes topologically (assuming both vsauce and my memory are correct). I'm not sure how many a flatworm would have, but I bet you could group animals by number of holes topologically, which might be interesting.

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[–] key@lemmy.keychat.org 1 point 3 years ago

Two ears, mouth/anus/nostrils, urethra, optionally vagina. That's 5...what else, eye sockets?

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[–] GreenPlasticSushiGrass@kbin.social 1 point 3 years ago (2 children)

Flatworms have a single opening that leads to a branching cavity (an incomplete digestive system). This means that the single opening is for both ingesting nutrients and expelling waste. While your mouth may be attached to your anus via the alimentary canal, I think it beats the hell out of having one multi-purpose opening, imho.

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[–] Petrichor3345@kbin.social 1 point 3 years ago (1 child)

Right, technically a human only has 1 hole for ingesting nutrients and expelling waste as well though, assuming you are talking about the mouth and anus. Does a flatworm have any other through holes though e.g. nostrils or tear ducts? I have no idea what the biology of a flatworm is haha.

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[–] GreenPlasticSushiGrass@kbin.social 1 point 3 years ago*

No, gas exchange is by simple diffusion across the skin and gut. No ears or eyes per se, just some photosensitive cells in slight depressions on the head. Planaria are pretty simple as far as animals go.

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[–] RealNooshie@lemmy.world [S] 10 points 3 years ago

I guess we all are talking out of our asses, then...

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[–] HamSwagwich@kbin.social 3 points 3 years ago (2 children)

Indeed, and when you kiss someone you are making one big hole connected by two assholes.

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[–] swab148@lemmy.world 1 point 3 years ago

Anal 69s just make one big reverse-donut

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[–] swab148@lemmy.world 0 points 3 years ago

Anal 69s just make one big reverse-donut

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[–] Th4tGuyII@kbin.social 1 point 3 years ago

Given the amount of people I know who are always full of shit, I'd buy that

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[–] kursis@kbin.social 1 point 3 years ago

For normal people asshole would be continuation from mouth, but I don't judge. You do you!

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[–] jclinares@kbin.social 1 point 3 years ago

I assume that's how OP's debate of how many holes a human had ended up being about straws: someone argued that the mouth and the anus are just one hole

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[–] Nemo@midwest.social 1 point 3 years ago

None of them have holes, usually. A hole goes from the outside of a volume to the inside. Those are all intact tori.

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[–] wanderingmagus@lemmy.world 0 points 3 years ago

Take that cylinder and stretch it until it's a cube with two square cutouts in it. Stretch in some of the inner walls. Now you have a house, with a door and a window. Now: does the house have two holes - a door and a window - or does it have one hole?

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[–] patchw3rk@kbin.social -1 points 3 years ago (4 children)

I disagree. A rubber band and a donut do not have an 'in' and 'out'.

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[–] DarraignTheSane@lemmy.world 9 points 3 years ago

A straw does? What are you, the straw police?

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[–] papalonian@kbin.social 3 points 3 years ago (1 child)

Stick your finger through a donut, does it go in one side and out the other?

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[–] patchw3rk@kbin.social 1 point 3 years ago

Giggidy.

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[–] Th4tGuyII@kbin.social 2 points 3 years ago

A straw's "in" and "out" are completely arbitrary. You can flip a straw either way and it'd still work.

Anything with a hole through it that isn't perfectly 2D could have a "in" and "out" side. Your rubber band your doughnut only don't have one because nobody ever thought to define one.

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