GRY Riddle

[HelperGirl]

There are supposedly three words in the English language that end in GRY. One word is ANGRY and the other one is HUNGRY. What is the third word?

[pldennison]

Do you want smacked? Do you? Cripes, do you trollsters really think you're coming up with something noone has ever heard?
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_251.html

Now begone, troll.



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"I love God! He's so deliciously evil!" - Stewie Griffin, Family Guy

[HelperGirl]

I didn't make the riddle up,I want to know if there is an answer, that's all. I am going insane!

[DrFidelius]

Helper:

Change your screen name now. Come back in a new identity. You may be allowed to contribute in the future under a new name. This is important for your continued well-being. Don't say I didn't warn you.

[UncleBeer]

PLD, what happened to your usual calm reasoning and rapier wit? This response is more like killing flies with a shotgun. :)

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Dopeler effect:
The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

[Mullinator]

It is times like this that I curse the fact that the building I work in is only 3 stories tall and I would likely end up maimed rather than blissfully put out of my misery after reading this claptrap.

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Well, shut my mouth. It's also illegal to put squirrels down your pants for the purposes of gambling.

[Satan]

Methinks the Teeming Thousands are gonna make Hamburger out of Helpergirl...

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Yer pal,
Satan

[HelperGirl]

Is there an answer or not?

[Mullinator]

Do you understand what those blue letters mean?
No, it doesn't mean they are forgetting to breathe. If you have opposable thumbs and at least one side of your brain working, I am sure you can figure out how to combine your mouse and this web page.

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Well, shut my mouth. It's also illegal to put squirrels down your pants for the purposes of gambling.

[Earl Snake-Hips Tucker]

There is no answer--it's a joke.

I'm assuming you asked this seriously--so I'll respond civilly.

I first heard this question about 15 years ago--before Al Gore invented the Internet.

It was from a radio station. Well, I knew the answer--there isn't one, and I had a book that quoted Merriam-Webster as saying such. A co-worker called the radio station, and read it to them verbatim.

They didn't buy it.

I heard it from various radio stations about every 18-24 months--then it moved to the Internet.

Now you're gonna get flamed a lot by asking that question here. There are a lot of snobby, snooty types that don't seem to understand that there are really people out in the world that are looking for some edification.

So, there isn't a third one.

However, the Oxford English Dictionary contains about 100 words that end in "-gry," including the word "gry" itself.

None--NONE--of those other 100 words are common words like "angry" and "hungry." They are typically a) dead words, b) alternate spellings, or c) proper nouns/adjectives.

Hope that helps.

It's a wild goose chase if you're seriously looking for an answer.

And if you're just trolling--:P

[HelperGirl]

Sorry, not too intelligent. Thanks

[dfahs]

Basically, this is a trick question whose form was corrupted by people who did not realize it was a trick question. For the original form of the riddle and analysis, see http://members.aol.com/WordPlays/gryriddle.html

[AuraSeer]

You've misstated the riddle. It really goes like this:

"I'm thinking of common, everyday words that end with -gry. One is angry, and another is hungry. There are three words in the English language. What is the third word?"

The first two sentences are a red herring. The real question being asked is this:
"There are three words in 'The English Language'. What is the third word?"

It's a trick question, of course. The answer is simply 'language.' (The first word is 'the', the second is 'English'. Get it?)

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Laugh hard; it's a long way to the bank.

[dfahs]

Moe thourough discussion at http://www.cybermegahub.com/brain_teasers.htm

[dfahs]

Moe thourough discussion at...

Sorry, that should be "More thorough"

[Keeves]

This post is respectfully addressed to pldennison, DrFidelius, and Mullinator:

You have no right to complain. This thread is entitled "GRY Riddle". Did you really think someone was going to post the answer for you? I don't think so. As soon as you saw the title, you knew full well that it was posted by a newbie who didn't realize what's going on. And then you complain that she's annoying you?

It's your own fault. If such questions bother you, you shouldn't have entered the thread to begin with. I think HelperGirl deserves an apology.

[Earl Snake-Hips Tucker]

I've seen these "original" versions of the wording before, and I wonder are the really "original"--or were they reworded to make a real answer. That is, what are the earliest citations of the original versions?

I'm thinking about the Mad Hatter's riddle, and how it really didn't have an answer--he was nuts. There was no answer.

But that didn't prevent a poster from coming up with a great and plausible answer:
http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000248.html

[Chief Crunch]

It should be obvious that "HelperGirl" is another poster using a different name. Look at her profile and how contrived it is. AOL user? She's a secretary who list her interests as "Theater"?

[HelperGirl]

Hey, I am in highschool and just got a stupid forward that I couldn't figure out. So, I decided to post it. Sorry if it took me awhile to catch on! And yes, I happen to be a secretary and yes, I happen to be interested in theater!

[Strainger]

HelperGirl, asking the "-gry" question is likely to incur the wrath of several of the Teeming Thousands here. Here are some suggestions I think you should follow if you want to continue to enjoy this message board (I'm sincerely trying to help you out here):

1) Change your screen name. NOW.
2) Beg Nickrz and/or the administrators to delete this thread (I doubt that'll work, but it's worth a shot).
3) Familiarize yourself with the archives.
4) Read the FAQs and this - http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/injokes.html

I like the response to this same question in OpalCat's Page O' Flames. "I suggest you do an archive search, right after you change your screen name." That should be a standard.

[Chief Crunch]

HelperGirl, if you truly aren't someone else posting under another nickname, then I apologize. The "-gry" question personally doesn't bother me or offend me, and I think the people it does bother are taking this board way too seriously; however, I do think it's moronic to post under a different nickname just to inflame and anger people. Again, if you haven't done this, I am sorry.

[pldennison]

Hi, Keeves. Did you notice I posted a link to Cecil's column containing the answer? No? You didn't? OK, then, I accept your apology.

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"I love God! He's so deliciously evil!" - Stewie Griffin, Family Guy

[OpalCat]

HelperGirl... always do a search first before asking your questions. If I used every cell in my hands and feet I still couldnt' count the number of times that question has been asked. Of course you didn't make it up, it's older than the wheel, and very worn out. The very second post in this thread had a link to the answer you wanted, yet you continued to ask...what is up with that?

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--
O p a l C a t
www.opalcat.com (http://www.opalcat.com)

[HelperGirl]

I am afraid that I am too lazy to go searching...sad but true...I didn't notice the earlier link, I APOLOGIZE!

[Earl Snake-Hips Tucker]

In defense of the OP--assuming that she's on the level--the second post did have a link to a previous answer to this riddle--but not anything obvious to show that it was the solution.

We don't know how long she's been lurking. If she has for a while, then it should have been obvious that it was a link to a previous thread. If this board is new to her, she might not have realized the clue for what it was.

[HelperGirl]

Thank you MJollnir!

[Flypsyde]

For Keeves-in defense of those who called in the suborbital nuke strikes on the helpless HelperGirl, look at the circumstances. This was her 1st post, and it was one of the Hall of Fame trolls. I've been lurking here since about August, and I've seen the damn thing three times. Take a quick look around; the board's been beset by post-and-fly trolls. Anybody heard from Bonz lately, now that he's done asking about what rhymes with orange? Didn't think so. The guys-regulars, with impressive posting histories-exhibited the common reaction to this. They may have been wrong; we'll see.

And now to HelperGirl-well, congrats. As I write this post, you're the last respondent, and I have yet to see you fling any insults or obscenities. And you've stuck around. This shows you probably aren't a troll. It also shows that, so far, you've survived an Internet form of trial-by-fire. Salutations; most don't even do that, or, perversely, that's their entire reason for posting. At the risk of causing Contestant #3 to rise from the dead and accuse me of flirting, I offer this invitation; stick around. You might like us, when we're not biting your head off.

But do us a favor. Don't ever ask us about words that end with -gry, don't ask us what rhymes with orange, month or silver, and don't ask why we drive on a parkway or park on a driveway.

Good luck.

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And the problem with small furry animals
in corners is that, just occasionally,
one of them's a mongoose.
Terry Pratchett, Witches Abroad

[Keeves]

pldennison. yes I did see your courteous link. But I still think that a combination such as:

(1) an veteran SD-er such as yourself
(2) such an obvious topic title
(3) zero responses went in before yours

Get real! What did you expect to see when you got in here? A real answer? Come on! Considering the circumstances, I still think you went overboard complaining to the newbie.

[neuro-trash grrrl]

Yes. It's time to leave HelperGirl alone. It was an innocent mistake, and I'm sure it is one she will not make again. (As long as she pays attention to the links, that is). I can also find it in my heart to forgive pldennison for his response to what he precieved as a trolling question, but it is obvious by now that that's not what it was. So, let us let this thread just sink down the page and disappear.

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Modest? You bet I'm modest! I am the queen of modesty!

[Nickrz]

Let's consider our HelperGirl baptized and let her jump on the next newbie who asks this question. Hang around, Toots, it shan't be long.
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Nickrz
GQ Mod