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| {{short description|Children's game}} | |||
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{{about|the game|the film|Opposite Day (film)|the parliamentary mechanism|Opposition day}} | ||
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| '''Opposite Day''', also known as '''Opposites Day''', is a ] where speech is modified so that meaning is inverted. Once Opposite Day is declared, statements mean the ] 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 (after a statement) to indicate that the opposite meaning of what was said should be inferred. Opposite day games are usually played by schoolchildren. Opposite day usually occurs on April 28th. | |||
| '''Opposite Day''' is a ] game usually played by children. Conceptually, Opposite Day is a ] where things are said and done in an opposite manner. It is not a holiday on any calendar and therefore one can declare that any day of the year is Opposite Day (sometimes retroactively) to indicate something which will be said, or has just been said should be understood opposite to its original meaning (similar to the practice of ] to automatically nullify promises). | |||
| In the sense that opposite day "excuses" untrue statements, it is similar to the notion that ] automatically nullify promises. Play has been compared to a children's "] course",<ref>{{cite book |title=Preschool Confidential |author=Shelton, Sandi Kahn |publisher=Macmillan |date=2001 |id=ISBN 9780312254582 |pages=232–234}}</ref> and the game has been used as an educational aid and suggested as preparation for "standardized testing".{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} | |||
| ==Game mechanics== | |||
| ⚫ | == |
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| {{Unreferenced section|date=May 2022}} | |||
| Despite the name, Opposite Day does not necessarily last for one 24-hour calendar day. Opposite Day begins when someone declares it to be Opposite Day, and ends whenever they stop. Participants often need to use ] and ] in order to effectively communicate. People will say one thing when it means another. | |||
| ==In childhood development== | |||
| Opposite Day sometimes appears in children's television shows and comics in which one character proclaims today to be "Opposite Day" and all the other characters attempt to figure out how to behave on such a day.{{Clarify|date=September 2009}} | |||
| The game has also been compared to a children's "] course" in the way that it encourages children to think. While certain things have clear and obvious opposites, such as "yes" and "no" or "black" and "white", anything outside a clear binary can be hard to find clear opposites for. For instance, what is the opposite of ice cream? What is the opposite of taking a bath?<ref>{{cite book|title=Preschool Confidential|author=Shelton, Sandi Kahn|publisher=Macmillan|year=2001|isbn=9780312254582|pages=|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/preschoolconfide0000shel/page/232}}</ref> | |||
| When a child is learning about opposites, they are learning skills they will use in math, science, and reading. In language therapy, opposites or antonyms might be addressed because they help grow vocabulary, help children understand basic concepts, and enhance overall understanding of language.<ref>{{cite web|title=Help Build Your Child's Brain on National Opposite Day|url=https://info.childcareaware.org/blog/help-build-your-childs-brain-on-national-opposite-day}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Opposite Day Activity|date=25 January 2021|url=https://www.projectplaytherapy.com/opposite-day-activity/}}</ref> It is encouraged for parents to help children try to find opposites. | |||
| *In ]'s comic strip '']'', Opposite Day was the gag of one Sunday strip. | |||
| *An episode of '']'', called "]", featured Squidward's use of Opposite Day in an attempt to make sure he gets SpongeBob out of the way. But, he fails. | |||
| ⚫ | ==In popular culture== | ||
| *A '']'' sketch called "Opposite Day Lawyer" features the lawyer of a hopelessly guilty murder suspect declaring Opposite Day just before the jury went to deliberate. | |||
| Opposite Day features occasionally in children's media. | |||
| *Steve's letter to Roger '']'' in "Can't Stan You" (2007) references Opposite Day when Steve tricks Roger leaving him stranded in Mexico. | |||
| *Homer makes a reference to Opposite Day in the episode '']'' of ]. | |||
| In a '']'' strip, Calvin asks Hobbes if a bee has landed on him. Hobbes says no, and Calvin is then stung by the bee. Hobbes justifies himself by saying "I meant 'no, there is a bee'. Today is Opposite Day!"<ref>{{cite web|title=Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for June 02, 1988|url=https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1988/06/02}}</ref> | |||
| *In an episode of '']'' 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 she used the Opposite Day. | |||
| *In an episode of "]" titled "Dear Consumer" (2009), a character asks if it's Christmas Day or Opposite Day, and then cuts to a calendar with Monday, December 21st circled as Opposite Day, and Friday, December 25th circled as Christmas Day. | |||
| In a '']'' comic strip, Pig declares it to be Opposite Day. The (normally good-natured) character Pig then violently punches Rat out of the strip and says "things are different on 'Opposite Day'."<ref>{{cite web|title=Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for June 23, 2011|url=https://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2011/06/23}}</ref> | |||
| A ] of '']'' centers around the ] celebration of the holiday by dressing as and acting like his neighbor ]. | |||
| It inspired ], imagining a world where children are in charge of adults. | |||
| An episode of the ] web series ''asdfmovie'' jokes about it being Opposite Day and abruptly ends the segment with a self punch in the face. | |||
| In '']'' sketch "Opposite Day Lawyer", a defense lawyer with a guilty client tells the jury "in five seconds, it will officially be Opposite Day" so they will vote "not guilty". The judge and prosecution both protest that "it's not Opposite Day", but their statements are taken in the opposite meaning, accidentally affirming that it is in fact Opposite Day.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Whitest Kids U'Know Episode #1.4|website=]|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020758/}}</ref> | |||
| One '']'' short is set on the titular day. While some people are taking the day to have fun with their role reversals, others are using the day to cause mayhem and destruction. | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| *'']'' | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| <references/> | |||
| {{Unofficial observances}} | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Latest revision as of 02:43, 8 December 2024
Children's game This article is about the game. For the film, see Opposite Day (film). For the parliamentary mechanism, see Opposition day.Opposite Day is a make believe game usually played by children. Conceptually, Opposite Day is a holiday where things are said and done in an opposite manner. It is not a holiday on any calendar and therefore one can declare that any day of the year is Opposite Day (sometimes retroactively) to indicate something which will be said, or has just been said should be understood opposite to its original meaning (similar to the practice of crossed fingers to automatically nullify promises).
Game mechanics
 | This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Despite the name, Opposite Day does not necessarily last for one 24-hour calendar day. Opposite Day begins when someone declares it to be Opposite Day, and ends whenever they stop. Participants often need to use reverse psychology and antonyms in order to effectively communicate. People will say one thing when it means another.
In childhood development
The game has also been compared to a children's "philosophy course" in the way that it encourages children to think. While certain things have clear and obvious opposites, such as "yes" and "no" or "black" and "white", anything outside a clear binary can be hard to find clear opposites for. For instance, what is the opposite of ice cream? What is the opposite of taking a bath?
When a child is learning about opposites, they are learning skills they will use in math, science, and reading. In language therapy, opposites or antonyms might be addressed because they help grow vocabulary, help children understand basic concepts, and enhance overall understanding of language. It is encouraged for parents to help children try to find opposites.
In popular culture
Opposite Day features occasionally in children's media.
In a Calvin and Hobbes strip, Calvin asks Hobbes if a bee has landed on him. Hobbes says no, and Calvin is then stung by the bee. Hobbes justifies himself by saying "I meant 'no, there is a bee'. Today is Opposite Day!"
In a Pearls Before Swine comic strip, Pig declares it to be Opposite Day. The (normally good-natured) character Pig then violently punches Rat out of the strip and says "things are different on 'Opposite Day'."
A season 1 episode of SpongeBob SquarePants centers around the titular character's celebration of the holiday by dressing as and acting like his neighbor Squidward Tentacles.
It inspired the 2009 film of the same name, imagining a world where children are in charge of adults.
An episode of the YouTube web series asdfmovie jokes about it being Opposite Day and abruptly ends the segment with a self punch in the face.
In The Whitest Kids U' Know sketch "Opposite Day Lawyer", a defense lawyer with a guilty client tells the jury "in five seconds, it will officially be Opposite Day" so they will vote "not guilty". The judge and prosecution both protest that "it's not Opposite Day", but their statements are taken in the opposite meaning, accidentally affirming that it is in fact Opposite Day.
One Cyanide & Happiness short is set on the titular day. While some people are taking the day to have fun with their role reversals, others are using the day to cause mayhem and destruction.
See also
References
- Shelton, Sandi Kahn (2001). Preschool Confidential. Macmillan. pp. 232–234. ISBN 9780312254582.
- "Help Build Your Child's Brain on National Opposite Day".
- "Opposite Day Activity". 25 January 2021.
- "Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for June 02, 1988".
- "Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for June 23, 2011".
- "The Whitest Kids U'Know Episode #1.4". IMDb.
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