N.Z. man sparks global debate on whether the world has more doors or wheels
53.6 per cent of voters in a viral Twitter poll say there are more wheels
One of the most pressing questions on the internet these days may just be the most pointless debate of the century. That is, are there more doors in the world or wheels?
Ryan Nixon, a rugby referees manager in Auckland, New Zealand, came across the question in a group chat earlier this month. The debate got so intense that he and his friends could not reach a consensus, so he went on Twitter and asked his 1,400 followers.
My mates and I are having the STUPIDEST debate...<br><br>And I am here for it. <br><br>Do you think there are more doors or wheels in the world?
—@NewYorkNixon"The biggest surprise that's come out of this is that people actually do care," Nixon told As It Happens guest host Gillian Findlay. "[They] picked their sides and argued pretty aggressively."
More than 200,000 people voted in his viral poll, and many took the debate to TikTok.
Nixon himself first thought there must be more doors out there, with high-rise buildings, apartments, hotels, hospitals and other spaces where multiple rooms are separated by doors.
But then he read the comments and responses to his tweet — and the wheels started turning.
"In all those high-rise buildings, you're likely to have office chairs or trolleys," Nixon said. "In a hospital ... the beds are on wheels. There's wheelchairs. And you've got wheels in drawers and sliding doors and places you don't see them."
So, he changed his mind and jumped on the #TeamWheels bandwagon.
On TikTok, people found evidence by actually counting the number of doors and wheels around them.
But some people are twisting the definitions of doors and wheels, says Nixon. For example, he's heard people claim the hinges on wheels are actually doors.
As people continue to count the doors and wheels out in the world, the correct answer to this question appears to Nixon more and more like the proverbial closed door.
"I think the beauty of the debate is that it seems to be unprovable," Nixon said. "As long as you're willing to argue your case … no one can really prove you wrong.
"It's just one of those things that's helped people take their minds off all the other things that are going on in the world."
Written by Mehek Mazhar. Interview with Ryan Nixon produced by Ashley Fraser.