Parable of the Polygons

What Parable of the Polygons actually is

Vi Hart and Nicky Case turn Schelling's segregation model into something you operate by hand. Squares and triangles want only a small fraction of their neighbours to resemble them, and you drag shapes around until you feel how a slight individual preference compounds into a divided neighbourhood.

Why it is worth your time

The turn comes when you try to repair a segregated board and find that removing the bias is not enough, because the shapes have to actively want a mix.

Common questions

Is Parable of the Polygons free?

Yes. Parable of the Polygons is free and does not ask you to register or hand over an email address before you can use it.

How long does Parable of the Polygons take?

Five to fifteen minutes of proper attention. We file it under "Coffee break" — how mildly biased shapes end up in segregated cities.

Does Parable of the Polygons work on a phone?

Yes. Parable of the Polygons works on a phone as well as it does on a laptop.

What kind of site is Parable of the Polygons?

We list it under Explain Everything — hard things, made suddenly obvious. The turn comes when you try to repair a segregated board and find that removing the bias is not enough, because the shapes have to actively want a mix.