Discussion Main / CircularDefinition

Shaped Like Itself is a real, classic, standalone entry. The other entries are gags — the first redirects to the second, which redirects here. And this indexes itself for good measure...

If we keep this index, we should add the Department of Redundancy Department, Recursive Acronym, Stable Time Loop, and maybe Recursive Canon,

Oh, and I think this could be a legit index. I like Strange Loops. (There's another thing to add to it...)

Yep, it's a joke. Or rather, three jokes.

1. Having these three pages described only by references to each other...
   • What's a Circular Definition? Well, see Reflexive Statement.
   • What's a Reflexive Statement? Well, see Self Referring.
   • What's a Self Referring? Well, see Circular Definition.
   • In essence, this pokes fun at the concept described by the trope Shaped Like Itself. I considered putting the other pages in the Just for Fun folder, but, well... Don't Explain the Joke. It's better if the readers get to ponder it for a few seconds, without a Just for Fun mrker to spoil the joke.
2. Having Circular Definition indexed in Circular Definition: Another version of the same joke.
   • What's a Circular Definition? Well, see Circular Definition. Indeed Shaped Like Itself. :-)
3. The trope Nonsense Classification needed an index, and where better to put it then in a Nonsense Classification? And yes, indexing the redirect is part of this joke.

However, after I made it I realized that this doesn't have to be only a joke, it can also become an index that is actually useful too. Department of Redundancy Department is an obvious one, thanks for reminding me. I'll add it instantly, and then check out the other links, probably adding those as well.