Two Plus Two
Explanation
This comic contrasts three different types of students answering the same simple math question -- "What is 2+2?" -- to humorously characterize each mindset.
The "Normal Kid" hesitantly answers: "Uh... I... I think 4?" This represents the average student who knows the answer but lacks confidence, second-guessing themselves even on basic questions.
The "Gifted Student" answers immediately and dismissively: "It's 4. This is boring." This captures the stereotypical gifted child who finds standard curriculum unstimulating and makes sure everyone knows it.
The "Future Game Theorist" gives the most interesting answer: "That depends. What is everybody else saying?" This is the punchline and the heart of the joke. In game theory, the "correct" answer to a question often depends not on objective truth but on what other players are doing. A game theorist thinks strategically about other people's choices, not just about the facts.
This is a reference to concepts like Keynesian beauty contests (where you pick not the prettiest face, but the face you think others will pick as prettiest), focal points (Schelling points), and coordination games. For a game theorist, even an objectively simple question becomes a strategic problem about beliefs, coordination, and what answer will be most advantageous given others' responses. The comic suggests that game theorists are so wired for strategic thinking that they can't even process 2+2 without first polling the room.