# A tissue box is probably not larger than a country **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 10, 2001, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970 "2001-05-10T06:30:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lesa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/34f0e0/32.png) [@lesa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lesa)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/1 "2001-05-10T06:30:40Z")
Kat in the “One advantage to an incredibly slow board” thread gave a link to this site: [http://www.20q.net](http://www.20q.net) It’s a 20 questions computer game. I played it a few times. At the end of each game it tells you where you contradict answers others have given. Ok, that makes sense. But then after it failed to guess “cat food” it suddenly spit this out at me: Spontaneous Knowledge A tissue box probably doesn’t slobber A tissue box is probably not an element A tissue box probably doesn’t have a backbone A tissue box probably doesn’t have big leaves A tissue box probably doesn’t have pages A tissue box might not fasten other objects A tissue box is probably not bright A tissue box is probably not used for hunting A tissue box is probably not clear You might not stretch a tissue box A tissue box is probably not used in a casino You might not find a tissue box in the sky A tissue box is probably not capricious A tissue box is probably not specifically female A tissue box is probably not more valuable than silver A tissue box is probably not made from cellulose A tissue box might not be used to talk to others A tissue box is probably not stretchy A tissue box probably doesn’t eat cheese A tissue box is probably not a work of art A tissue box probably doesn’t deal with imagination You might not ride on a tissue box A tissue box probably doesn’t get hard A tissue box is probably not larger than a country A tissue box is probably not crunchy A tissue box probably doesn’t have a long neck A tissue box probably doesn’t make a good pet A tissue box is probably not crystalline A tissue box might not save your life A tissue box probably doesn’t have four wheels Whoa! Some of these are real revelations! A tissue box probably doesn’t eat cheese! Um, wait. “Probably?” ---
**Author:** ![Joyfulgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f04885/32.png) [@Joyfulgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joyfulgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/2 "2001-05-10T10:31:59Z")
Faith is spontaneous. Men do not find faith erotic. ---
**Author:** ![beefymeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@beefymeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beefymeg)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/3 "2001-05-10T13:53:09Z")
You can make money by selling a dancer You would not find a dancer on a farm You do use a dancer at night A dancer is worth a lot of money A dancer is heavy A dancer is not helpful in the learning process A dancer is not a body of water …unless you consider that a dancer is probably 85% water… ---
**Author:** ![katiekilldare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/838e76/32.png) [@katiekilldare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katiekilldare)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/4 "2001-05-10T14:18:58Z")
Can it hear and smell better than humans? Can it be used in a pie? Does it make you itch? Can it fit in an envelope? Does it have gears? Can you add it to a salad? It guessed “water chestnuts”, but I was thinking of “banana chips”. Of course, I had to explain what those are. Good guess, though. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/5 "2001-05-11T04:42:26Z")
Yes, it thinks in very cut-and-dried terms. Once it told me that a VCR wouldn’t be used in an office. Who says? It could be used in a law office to review depositions (assuming it’s legal to record them), or in a real estate office to show properties before taking the clients to them in person, or for any kind of informational or training video. As far as a tissue box not being larger than a country, it is if you’re playing Risk. Okay, that’s a reach. I just tried it. It guessed correctly that my object was a doll; in fact, that was always the first of the probable objects. However, I beg to differ. A doll can be heavier than a pound of butter, if it has a mechanism inside it to make it talk or move. And the same mechanism would enable it to be heard, which the game said was incorrect. I live to split hairs. ---
**Author:** ![Mercutio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/6 "2001-05-11T04:45:23Z")
Is it bigger than a breadbox? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/7 "2001-05-11T04:49:00Z")
Again, I object. A hockey puck may or may not bring joy to people. For example, if you’re a Buffalo Sabres fan, it didn’t bring joy this evening, but if you’re a Pittsburgh Penguins fan… **WOOHOO**! ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/8 "2001-05-11T07:41:59Z")
Contradictions You do use a god in public A god does live above ground A god is commonly used A god is not helpful in the learning process You can obtain information by using a god You cannot find a god in a house A god is outside You might be able to find a god in an office I read the first one and immediately thought–“use a god, go to jail.” I have been warped by TV public service ads–something about things you watch at four in the morning, they have a profound effect. I also found it interesting that, although you cannot find god inside a house, you may find one in an office. In a management position, one would assume. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/9 "2001-05-11T14:38:56Z")
Hey! I’ve played a few rounds, and suddenly (after correctly guessing “carpet”), it spat out this Spontaneous Knowledge: Artificial flowers probably doesn’t grow over time You might not kick artificial flowers Artificial flowers is probably not used to make pencils Artificial flowers is probably not a person Artificial flowers might not be able to kill you Artificial flowers is probably usually visible Artificial flowers is probably not used to cook food Artificial flowers is probably not body jewelry Artificial flowers is probably not a type of mineral Artificial flowers is probably not a pet Artificial flowers probably doesn’t sleep Artificial flowers is probably not a dessert Artificial flowers probably doesn’t fit in a socket Artificial flowers probably doesn’t relate to time Artificial flowers probably doesn’t provide shade Artificial flowers probably doesn’t have a handle Artificial flowers is probably not a secret Artificial flowers might not be worn by a person Artificial flowers is probably not used to light cigarettes You might not be able to normally use artificial flowers with a saddle Artificial flowers probably doesn’t have notes printed on it Artificial flowers is probably not a type of human being Artificial flowers probably doesn’t hold water Artificial flowers might not talk Artificial flowers probably doesn’t contain fuel Artificial flowers is probably not in the cabbage family Artificial flowers is probably not an unstable compound Artificial flowers probably doesn’t prick You might not read artificial flowers Artificial flowers is probably not usually made from bricks Artificial flowers probably doesn’t urinate on its hands That last one sure is handy to know. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/10 "2001-05-11T15:09:32Z")
> [@](#): > > **Things I didn’t know:** > A Rubik’s cube is not sticky on one side ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2001, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/11 "2001-05-11T19:35:56Z")
Things I didn’t know Okra is not a marsupial Okra is not a member of the weasel family ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/12 "2001-05-12T00:10:54Z")
Things I didn’t know A llama is not used for personal hygiene ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/13 "2001-05-12T01:15:41Z")
> [@](#): > > **Contradictions** > You don’t use a boyfriend at night _Why not??_ > A boyfriend is probably usually colorful _Huh?_ > You don’t clean a boyfriend regularly _I certainly hope you do! That’d be one skanky boyfriend!_ > > **Things I Didn’t Know** > A boyfriend does grow in the Southern United States _Well, mine did, at any rate._ ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/14 "2001-05-12T01:37:57Z")
Okay, I’ll admit it, I’ve gotten addicted to this site. Here’s why: > [@](#): > > Things I didn’t know > > Bacon is not extinct > Bacon is not considered man’s best friend > Bacon does not have wings > Bacon is not sometimes kept as a house pet It has correctly guessed bacon in the past, bacon shows up in the possible answers, so I just can’t imagine how it hasn’t already gotten this information. Oh, the house pet thing is my fault–I was thinking of pig instead of concentrating on bacon. Also, an earlier round told me that asparagus could be placed on my head. However, in yet another round, it told me that a teddy bear could **not** be placed on my head. So I guess you can wear vegetables, but not stuffed animals. ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/15 "2001-05-12T03:20:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Contradictions > Michael Jordan would not use a prime number Rebuttal: 23 ---
**Author:** ![lesa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/34f0e0/32.png) [@lesa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lesa)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tissue-box-is-probably-not-larger-than-a-country/64970/16 "2001-05-12T04:26:08Z")
Here’s one I really enjoyed: Things I didn’t know A lawyer is not a bird of prey