My Self-Referential Madness
Isn't it odd that you are reading this!

Vas Gardiakos
 

Two articles in Metamagical Themas by Douglas R. Hofstadter in the January 1981 and January 1982 Scientific American magazine is what got me started in the maddening joy-ride of self-referencialism. For those interested in odd, circular, self-referential statements and other mind benders I include some which I have authored. I hope that theses statements tickle your mind as much as they did me while writing them.

 

Drawing Hands - MC Escher

My Self-Referential and Odd Statements

1. This is a self-referential sentence.
2. This is a sentence.
3. This is written only to inform you that it is.
4. This is written only so that you may read it
5. When you come to the end of this sentence stop!
6. You can quote me.
7. Forget that you ever read this.
8. Don't believe anything you read.
9. This is the last word I'm going to write. No this is. No! This
10. This is the first thing I want to say.
11. This is the first word in this sentence.
12. I bet that you're reading this sentence.
13. Don't read this.
14. How do I know that you're reading this sentence?
15. After you read this sentence you will blink your eyes.
16. I really didn't want to write this sentence, but it's too late to change my mind.
17. I don't know why I wrote this.
18. I wasn't sure if I should write this, but you know what I decided.
19. I tried not to write this, but apparently I did not try hard enough.
20. The first letter and the last letter in this sentence is the samet.
21. The first letter and the last letter of this sentence are different, no matter what I do it doesn't seem to work out, so I'll just say the first and last letter of this sentence is not the same.
22. This sentence is too short to say what I really want to say.
23. I know you're reading me.
24. Can you read this?
25. I have no real reason for writing this sentence.
26. I wrote this only because I know you would read it.
27. If you can't read this sentence, tell me.
28. It's very difficult to express my self in this sentence.
29. Check out this. (period)
30. Stop at the period.
31. May I ask a question?
32. What is the meaning of this?
33. This is the proof that this sentence has been written.
34. Upon reading this sentence you will realize that you read it.
35. The end is at the beginning of this sentence.
36. This would have been a one word statement, but the explanation ruined it.
37. To save space one word is      .
38. You are reading this because you are.
39. You owe me $10 for reading this sentence.
40. Congratulations for reading this sentence.
41. This sentence is only for literate people to read.
42. How do you spell jleuretlksyd?
43. S. A. R. (Reverse Acronym Society)
44. You are an idiot if you do not understand this.
45. This is the genetic code of this sentence.
46. This is my comment.
47. I exist.
48. You are reading this now therefore you are not a procrastinator.
49. I can't find a word to describe            .
50. This sentence can be duplicated asexually.
51. Are you looking at me?
52. This is the actual size of this sentence.
53. I predict I will be terminated here.
54. I have been sentenced to be read.
55. I predict that first you will read this then you will read that.
56. Terse!
57. D..ots ..a..ll....ove..er....t..he......pl..a...ce....
58. This is a beginners m ssing l tter p zzle. Th s I an inte mediate m ss g l tt er p z le. Th .
59. Read this.
60. This sentence looks like this because a     is missing.
61. I am just a bunch of letters and spaces.
62. The first time you read this will be the last time you read this for the first time.
63. Can you answer this question?
64. Thisisoneword.
65. You're so vane, you probably think this sentence is about you.
66. _________ is omitted.
67. Repeat repeat.
68. This is a six word sentence but unfortunately this remark ruined it.
69. I have no excuse for being here.
70. Adddddddddddddddd...

Note: Unfortunately I could not locate online the Douglas R. Hofstadter self-referential articles in Metamagical Themas in the January 1981 issue of Scientific American magazine. If you however seek more punishment go to: www.Google.com  and insert "self-referential"
 

       
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 Copyright 2007 V. Gardiakos