# Botticelli, May 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [May 22, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753 "2011-05-22T04:09:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/1 "2011-05-22T04:09:41Z")
Been awhile since we’ve played. Da rules: [Botticelli (game) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botticelli_%28game%29) I’ll start us out. The letter is “H.” ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/2 "2011-05-22T04:12:59Z")
Are you male? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/3 "2011-05-22T04:31:07Z")
Has it really been four years since the Botticelli threads? Funny, I’ve been thinking of starting one for months now, but never got to it. Anyway, I thought I’d post the rules **Zeldar** posted back then: > [@Botticelli -- Round 3](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-round-3/396024/1): > > [Wanna play Botticelli?](http://208.100.26.199/sdmb/showthread.php?t=412154) was started Tuesday morning with one variation to the rules explained in the Wikipedia article [Botticelli (game)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botticelli_(game)) – which you should read if the game is unfamiliar to you. Our variation was to use TWO initials instead of the ONE mentioned in the article. > > In this iteration of the Wikipedia rules, we’ll try to follow these variations until they cause us problems we can’t solve: > > 1. Please label your Guess as either IQ (Indirect Question) or DQ (Direct Question) so that the Chooser (the Doper who has selected the name all others are trying to guess) can know the type of answer to be given to that guess. > > 2. The Chooser has these options for answers, depending on whether the Question is Indirect or Direct: > > 2-I1): If the Chooser knows someone for whom the Guesser’s initials apply – _whether or not those initials might apply to the Chooser’s chosen Identity_ – the Chooser may answer: “No, I am not \” and that particular Guesser remains in Indirect Mode. > > 2-I2): If the Chooser cannot identify someone – (_including the Chooser’s chosen Identity_) – with the attributes provided by the Guesser, the Chooser may answer “No, and I don’t know who you mean.” which allows that particular Guesser ONE Direct Question. The Guesser should quote the Chooser’s response and label the Direct Question as such, so the Chooser will know the options available for the follow-up question. > > 2-I3): If the Guesser’s criteria match with the Chooser’s Identity – _AND the Chooser is unable to name someone else with those same initials who also matches the criteria_ – The Chooser **must** answer “Yes, I am \” thereby giving that Guesser a win of the game. > > 2-D): Legitimate answers are “Yes,” “No,” and “I don’t know.” Additional details are permissible but not required. Chooser gives extra information at his/her own risk. The “I don’t know” response allows that Guesser an additional DQ. Again, the Guesser should quote Chooser’s response and label the follow-up as DQ. > > 1. Whether in response to an IQ or a DQ (in both types of Guesses this will be legal for the Guesser) if the Guess is “Are you \?” (as opposed to someone with defined characteristics) the Chooser’s answers must be either “Yes” or “No” and, if “Yes” then the Guesser wins the game. > > 2. The Chosen Identity – in this particular thread – must be an actual person, dead or alive, but someone who has actually lived. > > 3. The Indirect Question(s) may refer to real or fictional people, characters or personages in fictional works, but must be Proper Names. Example: if the Chooser’s Identity’s initials are RS, then “rolling stone” or “red snake” or “rotting spinach” would not be legal entities to which Guesser’s attributes apply. > > 4. Both Guesser and Chooser should quote the post to which he or she is responding. This should avoid much confusion! > > ============================================ > > For other fine points not covered in the Wikipedia article, **Zeldar** will arbitrate any disputed issues **in this thread**. Those Dopers who wish to select other variations and/or other interpretations of the rules, are urged to start another thread. I see that this thread uses a single initial, rather than the two-initial variant. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/4 "2011-05-22T12:44:25Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Are you male? BZZT! No direct questions until you stump the OP with an indirect question. I’ll play along: IQ: Are you a Dutch artist? Are we going to allow research for finding questions and answers, or not? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/5 "2011-05-22T14:13:21Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Has it really been four years since the Botticelli threads? Funny, I’ve been thinking of starting one for months now, but never got to it. Anyway, I thought I’d post the rules **Zeldar** posted back then: > I see that this thread uses a single initial, rather than the two-initial variant. It seems the link to [Wanna play Botticelli?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=412154) that I started 03-13-2007, 11:18 AM, doesn’t work in the above quoted matter. To clarify, **Zeldar** will NOT be arbitrating anything in _this thread_. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/6 "2011-05-22T16:55:12Z")
Are you someone who will be sorry, but your tears will be too late? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/7 "2011-05-22T17:02:24Z")
Ok well then I’m confused because I was thinking of a person with that initial. I’m not seeing how my question is different than the are you bald question in wikipedia. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/8 "2011-05-22T17:34:25Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Ok well then I’m confused because I was thinking of a person with that initial. I’m not seeing how my question is different than the are you bald question in wikipedia. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with your question. The only difference between DQs and IQs are the answers given. Hence the suggestion to label them. What is true is that your question’s overly vague and not likely to get anywhere. **EH** isn’t answering “Yes/No” to it; he only has to come up with any male with the initial H. So, it’s more typical of a DQ than an IQ. The idea for an IQ should be to think of someone that the answer could be, but is obscure enough that the Chooser won’t think of them. IQ: Are you a Greek mathematician? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/9 "2011-05-22T17:36:10Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Ok well then I’m confused because I was thinking of a person with that initial. I’m not seeing how my question is different than the are you bald question in wikipedia. ‘Are you male?’ is specifically used as a DQ in the article. Personally, I think ‘Are you bald?’ is pretty close to a DQ. The IQ should allow the chooser to assume a specific individual. For example, one name immediately comes to mind from **Dead Cat** ’s IQ, and there is only one person I can think of that applies to **MaxTheVool** ’s IQ. I think ‘Are you bald?’ might be considered a DQ until more clues are gathered, after which it would be an IQ. That’s the way I’d handle it if I were the chooser. ‘Are you male?’ is never an IQ. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/10 "2011-05-22T18:01:45Z")
IQ: Are you a Greek historian? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/11 "2011-05-22T18:26:02Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > … > IQ: Are you a Dutch artist? > > Are we going to allow research for finding questions and answers, or not? No, I’m not Hans Voljkub. No, no research. You have to go from your own memory, as do I. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/12 "2011-05-22T18:27:10Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Are you someone who will be sorry, but your tears will be too late? You got me. Ask a DQ (which must be yes/no). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/13 "2011-05-22T18:28:18Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > …IQ: Are you a Greek mathematician? No, I’m not… Herodotus? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/14 "2011-05-22T18:29:21Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > IQ: Are you a Greek historian? No, I’m not Herodotus (again)? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/15 "2011-05-22T18:31:05Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Are you male? I’ll treat this as an IQ. No, I’m not Hercules. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/16 "2011-05-22T18:35:33Z")
Did you write a famous series of books detailing your career as a english country vet? ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/17 "2011-05-22T18:44:17Z")
IQ: Are you a composer of music? ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/18 "2011-05-22T18:46:33Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > No, I’m not Herodotus (again)? Herodotus was an historian; I do not know of any mathematical works under his name. This nit is **panamajack** ’s to pick, however; my question was answered fair and square and I can’t think of any Greek mathematicians who begin with ‘H’ off the top of my head… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/19 "2011-05-22T19:08:33Z")
Has it been speculated that you had Parkinson’s Disease (or possibly syphilis), and did you commit suicide? ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753/20 "2011-05-22T19:53:05Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > No, I’m not… Herodotus? I did a quick check of Herodotus just to be sure (since he’s already out), but I don’t think he had any mathematical works. **Hero** of Alexandria, however, did. (Also known as Heron, as in Heron’s Formula). So, if it’s a DQ: Were you born before 100 BCE? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-may-2011/582753.md?page=2)