# Botticelli February 2025 **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [February 5, 2025, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905 "2025-02-05T04:44:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/1 "2025-02-05T04:44:26Z")
Hello hello hello and welcome to the February Botticelli thread, with me, your host W. De La Rue. [Here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-january-2025/1012448/1) is last month’s thread, [here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-general-questions/844223) is a thread for general questions, and here are the rules for anyone interested in joining: **How does this work?** One person, the host, is thinking of someone and gives an initial (“I am B.”). Could be a real person, could be fictional, initial could start the first name, initial could start the last name, whatever. Everyone else is trying to figure out who it is. Players first ask indirect questions, usually three per post, about people with that initial (“Did you paint a picture of Venus on a giant clamshell?”) and the host answers them (“I am not Botticelli.”). **What if the host is correct?** Nothing happens. **What if the host doesn’t know the answer?** The player gets to ask a direct yes-or-no question (“Real?” “First name begins with B?” etc.). Note that direct questions can be reserved, and asked later. **Does a correct answer have to be who the player was thinking of?** If the host answers with a person who was _not_ who the player had in mind but who still correctly fits the question–e.g. thinking of Beethoven, asking “Were you a German classical composer,” and getting the response “I am not Bach”–the question has been correctly answered and again nothing happens. **How long does this go on?** Until twenty direct questions have been answered (usually it’s best for the host to continually post an updated list.). Then players get any other earned direct questions in and people can get in one final direct guess at who it is (“Are you…”). Whoever guesses the person correctly (whether by indirect question or final guess) gets to host the next round. **Where does the name of the game come from?** Because the person has to be reasonably notable, as least as well-known as Botticelli. That being said… **What if nobody guesses who the person is?** If it’s someone players have heard of, the host goes again. If none of the players have heard of the person, the previous host goes again. **Ooh, ooh! If I’m the host, can I go with, for example, Madonna but say “I am C” because, y’know, her last name is Ciccone…** No. We’re going by the names people are best known by to the general public, not birth names. Unless, of course, the birth name is as well-known as the stage or other current name. **What about middle names?** Middle names (and middle initials) count if the person is always referred to as such (e.g. if the letter is P then you can ask about John Philip Sousa). **How does the guy who drives the snow plow get to work?** He comes in early when the forecast is made. OK: I am **V**. ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/2 "2025-02-05T05:14:57Z")
Good job **De\_La\_Rue**! IQs: 1. Are you the fifth-introduced member of your ensemble? 2. Are people afraid of you? 3. Jinkies! Are you considered the smartest of your gang of friends? ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/3 "2025-02-05T18:21:16Z")
> [@knoodler](#): > > IQs: > > 1. Are you the fifth-introduced member of your ensemble? > 2. Are people afraid of you? > 3. Jinkies! Are you considered the smartest of your gang of friends? 1. Take a DQ. 2. I am not Virginia Woolf. 3. I am not Velma Dinkley. ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/4 "2025-02-05T23:21:42Z")
1. Violet Gray (from Peanuts) 2. Correct 3. Correct **DQ:** 1. Real? ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/5 "2025-02-05T23:35:15Z")
IQs: 1. Did you get your start acting at the Albuquerque Little Theater in 1930? 2. Did you attempt to reach a solution to the Iran Hostage Crisis through back-channel dealing with the Palestine Liberation Organization, only to fail? 3. Did Peter Thiel influence your decision to convert to Catholicism? ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/6 "2025-02-06T03:39:53Z")
Great get on Knievel, **De\_La\_Rue**! IQs: 1. Were you a pioneer kinda named for an English queen? 2. Are you the last British woman to have won Wimbledon? 3. Did you write a famous letter to the New York _Sun_? ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/7 "2025-02-06T03:50:02Z")
> [@knoodler](#): > > IQs: > > 1. Did you get your start acting at the Albuquerque Little Theater in 1930? > 2. Did you attempt to reach a solution to the Iran Hostage Crisis through back-channel dealing with the Palestine Liberation Organization, only to fail? > 3. Did Peter Thiel influence your decision to convert to Catholicism? 1. Take a DQ. 2. Take a DQ. 3. I am not J.D. Vance. > [@SunUp](#): > > IQs: > > 1. Were you a pioneer kinda named for an English queen? > 2. Are you the last British woman to have won Wimbledon? > 3. Did you write a famous letter to the New York _Sun_? 1. I am not Virginia Dare. 2. Take a DQ. Presumably another Virginia. 3. I am not Virginia O’Hanlon. DQs: 1. fictional ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/8 "2025-02-06T03:51:21Z")
> [@De\_La\_Rue](#): > > > [@SunUp](#): > > > > 1. Were you a pioneer kinda named for an English queen? > > 2. Are you the last British woman to have won Wimbledon? > > 3. Did you write a famous letter to the New York _Sun_? > > 1. I am not Virginia Dare. > 2. Take a DQ. Presumably another Virginia. > 3. I am not Virginia O’Hanlon. #2 was Virginia Wade. Virginia x 3! DQ: Female? ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/9 "2025-02-06T03:56:13Z")
> [@De\_La\_Rue](#): > > > [@knoodler](#): > > > > IQs: > > > > 1. Did you get your start acting at the Albuquerque Little Theater in 1930? > > 2. Did you attempt to reach a solution to the Iran Hostage Crisis through back-channel dealing with the Palestine Liberation Organization, only to fail? > > 3. Did Peter Thiel influence your decision to convert to Catholicism? > > 1. Take a DQ. > 2. Take a DQ. > 3. I am not J.D. Vance. 1. Vivian Vance 2. Cyrus Vance 3. Correct Vance x3! DQs: 1. Last name begin with V? 1 DQ reserved ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/10 "2025-02-06T04:14:19Z")
DQs: 1. fictional 2. female 3. only name begins with V ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/11 "2025-02-06T13:45:49Z")
Hi, y’all! I had to take a break from the Dope after the election, but I’m gradually coming back to life. IQs: 1. Did your plan to protect your home go tragically wrong when you hired some German security guards? (Less cutely, were you a king who invited German tribesmen to settle your land in exchange for fighting your enemies?) 2. Are you the patron saint of epileptics and beekeepers? 3. Did Gene Pitney want to know who shot you? ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/12 "2025-02-06T14:58:38Z")
IQs: 1. Are you Karen’s twin, and Val and Aleta’s daughter? 2. Were you part of a conspiracy to cause a war between the Klingons and the Federation? 3. Are you a princess of Druidia with the same name as a scooter? ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/13 "2025-02-06T15:11:53Z")
IQs: 1. Did you help a young victim on Guy Fawkes’ Night? 2. Did you bring about the downfall of a team owner? 3. Were you taken in by a cabaret performer after being locked out of your apartment? ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/14 "2025-02-06T15:31:23Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > IQs: > > 1. Did your plan to protect your home go tragically wrong when you hired some German security guards? (Less cutely, were you a king who invited German tribesmen to settle your land in exchange for fighting your enemies?) > 2. Are you the patron saint of epileptics and beekeepers? > 3. Did Gene Pitney want to know who shot you? 1. Take a DQ. 2. I am not St. Vitus. 3. I am not Liberty Valance. > [@SunUp](#): > > IQs: > > 1. Are you Karen’s twin, and Val and Aleta’s daughter? > 2. Were you part of a conspiracy to cause a war between the Klingons and the Federation? > 3. Are you a princess of Druidia with the same name as a scooter? 1. Take a DQ. 2. I am not Vash? 3. I am not Vespa. > [@knoodler](#): > > IQs: > > 1. Did you help a young victim on Guy Fawkes’ Night? > 2. Did you bring about the downfall of a team owner? > 3. Were you taken in by a cabaret performer after being locked out of your apartment? 1. I am not V (in _V for Vendetta_)? 2. Take a DQ. 3. Take a DQ. ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/15 "2025-02-06T15:57:42Z")
> [@De\_La\_Rue](#): > > > [@knoodler](#): > > > > IQs: > > > > 1. Did you help a young victim on Guy Fawkes’ Night? > > 2. Did you bring about the downfall of a team owner? > > 3. Were you taken in by a cabaret performer after being locked out of your apartment? > > 1. I am not V (in _V for Vendetta_)? > 2. Take a DQ. > 3. Take a DQ. 1. Correct 2. V (Vi) Stiviano 3. Victoria Grant (_Victor/Victoria_) DQs: 1. American? 2. Known from prose? 1 DQ reserved ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/16 "2025-02-06T17:19:00Z")
> [@De\_La\_Rue](#): > > > [@SunUp](#): > > > > 1. Are you Karen’s twin, and Val and Aleta’s daughter? > > 2. Were you part of a conspiracy to cause a war between the Klingons and the Federation? > > 3. Are you a princess of Druidia with the same name as a scooter? > > 1. Take a DQ. > 2. I am not Vash? > 3. I am not Vespa. #1 was Valeta, from Hal Foster’s _Prince Valiant_. #2 was Valeris. Correct on #3. 2 DQs reserved. ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/17 "2025-02-06T22:31:55Z")
DQs: 1. fictional 2. female 3. only name begins with V 4. not American 5. has appeared in prose, didn’t originate from it ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/18 "2025-02-06T23:35:28Z")
DQs: 1. From Earth? 2. Original appearance was a dramatic work? ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/19 "2025-02-06T23:56:23Z")
IQs: 1. Are you often associated with Laureline? 2. Did Weird Al Yankovic write a song about being stuck in a closet with you? 3. Did Jackson Browne and Steve Winwood write songs about you? ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2025, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905/20 "2025-02-07T00:13:23Z")
> [@De\_La\_Rue](#): > > > [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > > > IQs: > > > > 1. Did your plan to protect your home go tragically wrong when you hired some German security guards? (Less cutely, were you a king who invited German tribesmen to settle your land in exchange for fighting your enemies?) > > 2. Are you the patron saint of epileptics and beekeepers? > > 3. Did Gene Pitney want to know who shot you? > > 1. Take a DQ. > 2. I am not St. Vitus. > 3. I am not Liberty Valance. 1. was Vortigern, the possibly-real British king who is said to have invited the Anglo-Saxons to Britain to defend against the Scots and Picts. 2. Good guess, but no; epileptics and beekeepers fall under the care of Saint Valentine. 3. Correct. DQs: 1. From a comic book/visual novel? 2. Protagonist of her story? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905.md?page=2)