# Best trivia questions for fun-time discussion **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 1, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572 "2009-04-01T13:54:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/1 "2009-04-01T13:54:03Z")
I’m looking for really good trivia questions that can fuel fun-time conversation among friends, say in a bar/pub or over dinner. The kind of question that gets people thinking, guessing and wondering what it can be. Two favourite examples (answers to be given later if needed): 1. What is it that only people and armadillos can do? 2. Who is the only person called Oscar who has won an Oscar? Guidelines: - The question should have that quirky/intriguing element that provokes curiosity and that ‘What can it possibly be?’ reaction. - I am **not** looking for **‘lateral thinking’ puzzles** (midget in an elevator etc.) - No questions about sport. - Prefer qs that are not too culturally locked (I’m British, so questions that only someone in America could be expected to know aren’t much help to me.) - Extra points for qs where googling doesn’t help much. This partly overlaps [this very enjoyable thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=512285) but it partly doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/2 "2009-04-01T14:09:00Z")
Who has won both an Oscar and a Nobel Prize? Some will suggest Al Gore, but strictly speaking, the Oscar for Best Documentary didn’t go to him. The right answer is… George Bernard Shaw (he won a Best Screenplay Oscar for adapting his own play, “Pygmalion”). ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/3 "2009-04-01T14:11:56Z")
Which character in “The Canterbury Tales” was ordered to stop his tale, because his poetry was so awful? Answer: Geoffrey Chaucer himself ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/4 "2009-04-01T14:15:11Z")
Who distinction was held by Reginald Pole? Answer: He was the last Roman Catholic to hold the title Archbishop of Canterbury ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/5 "2009-04-01T14:29:58Z")
If the answers don’t have to be true, or at least verifiable/citable, I could pass along quite a few “my old Pappy told me” sorts of things that have worked just fine in gatherings I have been involved in. Eventually somebody will call “bullshit” and we’ll move on to another equally debatable issue or topic. Truth isn’t a major barrier to fun-time discussions where I come from. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/6 "2009-04-01T14:51:21Z")
A couple that I came up with - the first one is admittedly England-centric. And the second one fails the Google test, but nevertheless is a delightful piece of trivia. I wish I could make a better-worded question out of it. What is unusual about the names of English towns such as Penzance, Penrith, Skegness, Torquay, Torbay, Birkenhead, maybe Southend? True or false - the Jacksons’ song “Blame it on the Boogie” was co-written by Michael Jackson? Answers later. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/7 "2009-04-01T15:06:21Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > 1. What is it that only people and armadillos can do? Get leprosy. ---
**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/8 "2009-04-01T15:12:11Z")
Airplane, treadmill? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/9 "2009-04-01T15:33:43Z")
Thanks for all contributions. Keep them coming! **USCDiver** , yes, that’s the intended answer. I have heard that it’s not strictly true, and that some other critters have been found that can suffer from leprosy. But as far as I’m concerned, it’s close enough to be true to be worth asking. And it’s just such a weird, fun-sounding question to spring on people! **Zeldar** … whatever you’ve got, we want to hear it! **Ximenean** the first one is good. (And I don’t know the answer.) I know the ‘twist’ to do with the second one, but it’s hard to find the right phrasing that makes it a good ‘what could the answer be?’ question. **Rexnervous** … not really the sort of thing I’m looking for! Good for starting arguments, though. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/10 "2009-04-01T15:41:55Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > Thanks for all contributions. Keep them coming! > > **Zeldar** … whatever you’ve got, we want to hear it! Okay. I’ll start with just one and see if “Daddy’s answer” is needed. What are two things a hog won’t eat? ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/11 "2009-04-01T15:43:30Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > **Ximenean** the first one is good. (And I don’t know the answer.) I know the ‘twist’ to do with the second one, but it’s hard to find the right phrasing that makes it a good ‘what could the answer be?’ question. Yeah, it’s more of a “well, bugger me” type of question than a conversation starter. (The answer is that it is kinda true AND false - “Blame it on the Boogie” was co-written by Michael Jackson - Michael George Jackson, better known as Mick, not THE Michael Jackson.) The answer to the first one is that they are among very few English town names in which the stress is on the final syllable (not counting one syllable names, obviously). Other arguable ones are Solihull and Gravesend, maybe Sheerness and Shoeburyness but I’m not sure how those are pronounced. And that’s about it AFAIK. I don’t know, maybe that’s the most boring question in the world, but to me it seemed quite surprising. ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/12 "2009-04-01T15:59:49Z")
Which planet is usually closest to Neptune? The answer is… Mercury. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/13 "2009-04-01T16:35:47Z")
Thanks **Alive At Both Ends**. Would appreciate some clarification regarding that answer! I’ll add another one just to add to the fun. _Which capital city is half a country?_ ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/14 "2009-04-01T17:02:49Z")
Here’s one that my wife managed to stump Daddy on: what state is the Statue of Liberty in? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/15 "2009-04-01T17:16:18Z")
She’s in a state of grace, of course. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/16 "2009-04-01T17:54:29Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Here’s one that my wife managed to stump Daddy on: what state is the Statue of Liberty in? This one is is very much in dispute. New Jerseyites regularly claim Liberty Island as their turf (not without some justificiation), but it’s not at ALL clear that they’re right. This is an interesting case for discussion, but you’ wouldn’t want to use this as a question with a clear right-or-wrong answer. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/17 "2009-04-01T18:05:55Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > This is an interesting case for discussion, but you’ wouldn’t want to use this as a question with a clear right-or-wrong answer. See Post #5, please. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/18 "2009-04-01T18:26:04Z")
One of my favorite movie trivia questions is: Who is the only person with credited roles in both the comedy classics _Animal House_ and _Caddyshack_? The surprising answer is [Sarah Holcomb.](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0390106/bio) as Clorette (Pinto’s jail-bait conquest) in _Animal House_ and Maggie (Danny’s girlfriend) in _Caddyshack_. These 2 films comprise exactly half of her entire acting portfolio. ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/19 "2009-04-01T18:54:07Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > Thanks **Alive At Both Ends**. Would appreciate some clarification regarding that answer! I’d dreaded that. It isn’t easy to explain without a diagram. But I’ll try. Neptune is much further from the Sun than Mercury is (30 AU as against 0.45 AU) so the distance between the two doesn’t vary much. Draw a circle 30.5 AU radius around Neptune; Mercury will always be inside it. Every other planet has an orbit which takes it outside that radius for the majority of the time, so for any individual planet it’s true that Mercury is usually closer to Neptune than that planet is. It follows that in the long run, Mercury is usually the closest planet to Neptune. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572/20 "2009-04-01T19:03:15Z")
**Alive At Both Ends** - thanks for coming back to clarify. Wow! If that’s really true, it’s an amazing question with an amazing answer! I don’t know enough about the subject to check it, but I know at least two people who are very well-qualified astronomers who will be willing to crunch the numbers for us. Thanks! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-trivia-questions-for-fun-time-discussion/491572.md?page=2)