Is the number one rule of communication a sandwich helix?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On October 25, 2024 there was an xkcd cartoon titled Sandwich Helix with the following dialogue:

 

Cueball:   Always remember the #1 rule of communication:

                  Sandwich Helix.

 

Ponytail: What does that mean?

 

Cueball:   Unfortunately the context has been lost.

                  But we know the message,

                  and that’s the important part.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not sure what a sandwich helix is or why the context got lost. Perhaps, as shown above, one is made on spiral-sliced bread. The web page at Explain xkcd suggests that it is about the long-used Compliment Sandwich. When I looked at Google Books, I found an article from 1964 – a Special Report from the University of Kansas Governmental Research Center (page 33):

 

“Use the Sandwich Method. Slip your criticism or suggestion between two hunks of praise or compliments.”

 

What other rules for communication are number one in books? In a 2020 book by Rebecca C. Thompson titled Fire, Ice, and Physics: The Science of Game of Thrones, on Page 254 she said:

 

“I’ve spent my life working as a science communicator, and the number one rule in communication is to tell a story.”

 

And in another 2022 book by Illana Raia titled The Epic Mentor Guide on Page 166 she instead said that:

 

“The number one rule of communication is to know your audience”

 

The sandwich helix was Photoshopped from this image at Wikimedia Commons.