A non-programming recursion explanation

[rayvega]

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=477013

[jimfl]

That implementation had no exit conditions on the recursion, so after the child fell asleep, my computer went to sleep.

[slmbrhrt → jimfl]

It appears that the exit condition is that you're a little weasel, or your mom finishes the story.

Clearly, the original mom could have optimized by telling a story about a little weasel that couldn't get to sleep.

[Gonsalu]

... except that's not recursion.

[metellus → Gonsalu]

No, but it does a good job of explaining the "flow" of a recursive function. It's like doing a manual trace of factorial(4) without needing to know about coding.