# 20 questions... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 28, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242 "2003-02-28T21:57:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/1 "2003-02-28T21:57:12Z")
with a [computer](http://y.20q.net:8095/btest). ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/2 "2003-02-28T22:18:23Z")
Well, either all the Dopers are overloading the server, or it’s a load of crap. I can’t get past about Question 7 before it dies and fails to find the server. Nice idea, shitty execution. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/3 "2003-03-01T03:04:53Z")
I won. I was thinking ‘Wall Chart’ and it failed to guess. ---
**Author:** ![NBIT33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NBIT33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NBIT33)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/4 "2003-03-01T03:10:23Z")
I was thinking Computer Printer and it took 27 guesses. Then, it proceeded to chide me about how I answered 7 questions wrong. It thought I should have answered “No” when asked if it is a electro-mechanical device. ---
**Author:** ![gus28](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6de8d8/32.png) [@gus28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gus28)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/5 "2003-03-01T03:12:26Z")
I was thinking of pillow and it won in 19 guesses, sort of freaked me out. NBIT33, it also said that I incorrectly answered 3 questions. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/6 "2003-03-01T03:12:35Z")
Computers have not got nice personalities, it seems. ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/7 "2003-03-01T03:29:12Z")
I was thinking of the diamond in my ring. The computer took 28 guesses, and still didn’t get it quite right. It got after me for answering questions wrong, but that was because I was lazy and when it finally said “diamond ring” I agreed. I was thinking of the diamond itself. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/8 "2003-03-01T03:32:03Z")
I finally got it to work. It guessed “steam iron” in 19 attempts. When i used a “battery charger” it took 27 tries and proceeded to tell me: > [@](#): > > Would you find it in an office? you said Doubtful, I say Yes > Is it heavier than a pound of butter? you said No, I say Yes > Is it found on a desk? you said No, I say Yes > Is it a common household object? you said No, I say Yes Well, i don’t work in an office, so i’ll concede i could be wrong on that score. My own battery charger certainly weighs less than a pound (of anything, not just butter) Mine is never found on my desk. I don’t know too many people who have one. I only got mine when i bought my digital camera. Anyway, fun game. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/9 "2003-03-01T07:37:00Z")
And this program is also prudish. I thought of “semen,” and when it got to question 19 it asked: > [@](#): > > Does your mother know what you are thinking about? I am not allowed to talk about stuff like this, but, I am guessing that it has something to do with sex? Sounds like it was _designed_ by my mother. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Theios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e8c25b/32.png) [@Theios](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theios)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/10 "2003-03-02T03:55:13Z")
Apparently, lego bricks are outside it’s knowledge base. It gave up. (unless I’m just horrible at answering questions) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/11 "2003-03-02T04:04:41Z")
> [@](#): > > You were thinking of a **cup**. > You said it is classified as Mineral, I say Other > Is it usually colorful? you said Irrelevant, I say Yes > Is it round? you said No, I say Yes > Is it made of metal? you said No, I say Yes > Does it have a hole in it? you said No, I say Yes > Is it a synthetic material? you said No, I say Probably > Would you give it as a gift? you said No, I say Yes What the %#@$ kind of cup has a hole in it?? ---
**Author:** ![Coilean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@Coilean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coilean)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/12 "2003-03-02T04:10:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mhendo \* > \*\*And this program is also prudish. \*\* I too thought of semen (before seeing your post). Here’s the feed back to two of my questions: “Do most people use this daily? you said Maybe, I say No” “Is it something you can purchase? you said Sometimes, I say No” I say that program doesn’t get out enough. Perhaps we could put it on Gnutella to expand its worldview. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/13 "2003-03-02T04:14:39Z")
> [@](#): > > You were thinking of a chess board. > You said it is classified as Mineral, I say Other > Is it multicolored? you said No, I say Yes > Is it a common household object? you said No, I say Yes > Does it have a hard outer shell? you said No, I say Yes > Is it a mammal? you said No, I say Probably A chess board is _probably_ a mammal? Is this the Bizarro World? ---
**Author:** ![Lynne\_kilii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lynne\_kilii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynne_kilii)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/14 "2003-03-02T04:57:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*What the %#@$ kind of cup has a hole in it?? \*\* uhm, technically, a cup has a hole in the top. \*_runs, ducks, covers_ ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/15 "2003-03-02T06:23:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*What the %#@$ kind of cup has a hole in it?? \*\* A dribble cup! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/16 "2003-03-02T06:26:13Z")
Everybody’s a comedian. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/17 "2003-03-02T07:26:29Z")
It couldn’t guess priest, and it took 27 guesses to think of “computer game”. Some real amazing software, that… ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/18 "2003-03-02T07:42:56Z")
My **beer bottle** stumped it. ---
**Author:** ![desertrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@desertrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desertrat)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/19 "2003-03-02T07:59:06Z")
You were thinking of a kitty cat. Does it have a bushy tail? you said Sometimes, I say No Does it have a pointed snout? you said Sometimes, I say No Is it a wild animal? you said Sometimes, I say No Is it an omnivore? you said No, I say Yes Is it commonly used? you said Irrelevant, I say Yes Was it ever alive? you said Yes, I say Doubtful My cat is alive, has a very bushy tail, used to be feral and is an obligate carnivore. He’s not very useful, though. It took 27 questions to figure it out, too. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242/20 "2003-03-02T08:09:20Z")
I tried battleship on it and it couldn’t guess it. Of course, some of those questions are rather subjective. “Could you have fun with it?” I said yes, it said no. I don’t know about the computer, but I could think of some fun things to do with a battleship assuming I was given command and a license to do anything I wanted for a day. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-questions/158242.md?page=2)