# Celebrity Turing test **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2017, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891 "2017-04-21T01:52:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/1 "2017-04-21T01:52:20Z")
Bear with me for this opening hypothetical: _Phone rings at stately Banksia Manor._ voice: ‘Hello Banksiaman, this is [_name your favourite celebrity here_].’ [_just pick a name, but because its about a sort of Turing test I’ll use [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Imitation_Game)_] B: ‘Er, hello. I wasn’t expecting your call.’ [_mistrust setting in_] ‘Do you mind if I just check its really you?’ voice: ‘Sure thing B-Man’ B: [_Hurriedly pull up Wikipedia entry on BC_] ‘How about you tell me your birthday?’ voice: ‘Sure, its 19 July 1976. Is that enough or do you want to ask something else?’ B: ‘errr, how about …’ What can I ask? Assuming that I only know about a celebrity from their work and what is available on the internet and public information, how can I verify that they are who they say they are? Any question that I ask to verify their identities can only be checked against what they can also access from the public domain. How do I tell if this is the real Benedict Cumberbatch or my friend who is good at voices? [_and to avoid muddying the answers assume there is no mutual friend or childhood acquaintance, which would allow you to ask the name of the neighbour’s labrador_] ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/2 "2017-04-21T01:56:12Z")
You could ask a question you know to be wrong and see if they fall for it. Like “How was it when your worked on X” where X is something they never worked on. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/3 "2017-04-21T02:08:15Z")
I can think of two possibilities. Ask something that would take a few steps to find via google, like “Who was the star of a TV show that your mother was on in the early '70s?” Or, ask them to post something from a location that only the real celeb could access, like a verified twitter account. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/4 "2017-04-21T03:34:11Z")
I’ve seen it happen. There used to be a Harry Turtledove message board on AOL. Harry Turtledove started posting on it. Several people doubted it was really him. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/5 "2017-04-21T12:05:36Z")
Zodiac sign is a great tipoff. If you look at someone’s ID and you suspect it is a fake, ask them their sign. Very few people can immediately tell you the sign of a given birthdate. So I’d go to Wiki and see his birth date, then ask “What’s your sign?” Anyone who says they don’t know their birth sign is lying. ---
**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 21, 2017, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/6 "2017-04-21T13:35:56Z")
And then you also have to know whether your celebrity is nerdy enough to say their _real_ sign, instead of the one the newspapers list. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/7 "2017-04-21T17:49:59Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Zodiac sign is a great tipoff. If you look at someone’s ID and you suspect it is a fake, ask them their sign. Very few people can immediately tell you the sign of a given birthdate. So I’d go to Wiki and see his birth date, then ask “What’s your sign?” Anyone who says they don’t know their birth sign is lying. I don’t think this would work below a certain age. My child is 22 and has no idea what her sign is. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/8 "2017-04-21T18:07:35Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Zodiac sign is a great tipoff. If you look at someone’s ID and you suspect it is a fake, ask them their sign. Very few people can immediately tell you the sign of a given birthdate. So I’d go to Wiki and see his birth date, then ask “What’s your sign?” Anyone who says they don’t know their birth sign is lying. [https://www.google.com/search?q=benedict+cumberbatch+zodiac&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8](https://www.google.com/search?q=benedict+cumberbatch+zodiac&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8) ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/9 "2017-04-21T18:14:29Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > I don’t think this would work below a certain age. My child is 22 and has no idea what her sign is. Astrology is a generational thing? Not being snarky; I just thought it was a fun / goofy thing that most people eschew and some have fun with but I never thought it was an \*age \*thing or that some people don’t at least know what their sign is. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/10 "2017-04-21T19:40:55Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > You could ask a question you know to be wrong and see if they fall for it. Like “How was it when your worked on X” where X is something they never worked on. Even better is if it was something they’ve been rumored to work on… this would help defeat a computer (say, IBM Watson) trying to imitate the celebrity. A lot of stuff they might be able to quickly research/Google, but something with a lot of false positives could throw it off. For example, ask someone claiming to be Idris Elba about how much fun he had being James Bond. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/11 "2017-04-21T23:57:27Z")
I think the idea of just having them post something (in code) somewhere that’s verified to be them would be the best. Though I guess they could be hacked (or it could be someone who actually tweets for them) Or they could say that they don’t have direct access to that and someone else posts for them, and they aren’t available right now. But, unless money gets involved, there’s not much downside in assuming they are who they say they are, I don’t think. Just don’t reveal anything too personal or anything. And nothing involving money. Enjoy the fantasy. Plus, there’s no way I wouldn’t record that call. I can always ask later. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/12 "2017-04-22T00:47:31Z")
Oh … Oh … Benedict Cumberbatch, say that again, only say it as Smaug. Wow, Mr. Weaving, I’m really glad to hear from you, big fan, so could you just greet me again, but instead as Megatron, or, I know, do it as, Mitzi Del Bra. Well, thank you for calling, Edward. We’re all pretty sad to hear about your brother’s passing. It was some great moments Charlie had on the Chappelle’s show. You know what’d cheer us both up, singing _Roxanne_ like Sting would. See, you friend can mimic an actor, but can they mimic the actor mimicking a character? Thing is, this is a bit of a burden on a celebrity, they don’t really commit their ancient roles to memory like us fans do. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/13 "2017-04-22T02:54:44Z")
Some great ideas so far. Thanks all, but … Alleged Cumberbatch: ‘That thing my mother was in? Which one? Be specific.’ [_sound of keyboard rattling in background_] ‘Star sign? Well, I’ve always thought of myself as a Scorpio person, even though I’m a … [_tap, tap, tap_] … a Cancer.’ ‘My agent does my tweets. I’m not going to bother him on his luxury yacht.’ ‘Can’t do Smaug voices even in private - Peter Jackson copyright fascist, Tolkien estate lawyers, ugliness.’ ‘How is it being the next Bond? Look, I’m contractually obliged not to discuss this, or to confirm or deny. Cubby Broccoli copyright fascist etc.’ Maybe not convincing responses, but responses nonetheless. Although I do like the idea of asking them to do voices in character - perhaps ask Alleged Cumberbatch to do Sherlock as if done by Smaug, just to get my money’s worth before I buckle for whatever scam is going on. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/14 "2017-04-22T11:16:59Z")
Hugh Laurie would be easy for me: he’s a guitar player and incorporated that into his House character. There was one bit where Wilson grabbed a part of a guitar of House’s as a plot point; they got it completely wrong for reasons I won’t go into. The part held up had nothing to do with the guitar that was supposedly House’s. HL would know the answer to a question about it, and then apologize as a guitar geek for allowing the crew to get it wrong 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/15 "2017-04-22T19:24:40Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > ‘That thing my mother was in? Which one? Be specific.’ [_sound of keyboard rattling in background_] _BZZZZZZ_ Sorry, the answer we were looking for is Ed Bishop. But we have some lovely parting gifts. Thanks for playing. For those playing along at home, Benedict Cumberbatch’s mother is Wanda Ventham, who was a cast member on the series _UFO_. > [@WordMan](#): > > Hugh Laurie would be easy for me: he’s a guitar player and incorporated that into his House character. There was one bit where Wilson grabbed a part of a guitar of House’s as a plot point; they got it completely wrong for reasons I won’t go into. The part held up had nothing to do with the guitar that was supposedly House’s. HL would know the answer to a question about it, and then apologize as a guitar geek for allowing the crew to get it wrong 😉 I must have never seen that episode; I wasn’t regular _House_ watcher. What was the part, and how do you grab part of a guitar without grabbing the whole guitar? Couldn’t you just ask him to shout “Bravo” at an annoyingly loud volume? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/16 "2017-04-22T20:23:36Z")
I’d ask him, “Which country was it where you and your buddies were kidnapped and robbed?” ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/17 "2017-04-22T23:30:12Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > _BZZZZZZ_ Sorry, the answer we were looking for is Ed Bishop. But we have some lovely parting gifts. Thanks for playing. > > For those playing along at home, Benedict Cumberbatch’s mother is Wanda Ventham, who was a cast member on the series _UFO_. > > I must have never seen that episode; I wasn’t regular _House_ watcher. What was the part, and how do you grab part of a guitar without grabbing the whole guitar? > > Couldn’t you just ask him to shout “Bravo” at an annoyingly loud volume? House had a Flying V. Wilson grabbed the bridge of it for ransom, but there were two problems: 1) it wasn’t a Flying V bridge; it was a Fender trem bridge; and 2) there was wood attached to the bridge like Wilson yanked it off; House would’ve killed him. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrity-turing-test/784891/18 "2017-04-23T00:03:07Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > I’d ask him, “Which country was it where you and your buddies were kidnapped and robbed?” Alleged Cumberpatch: “Kwa-Zulu-Natal, which as you know is part of South Africa” Google ‘Cumberbatch robbed’ and you get [type articles](http://metro.co.uk/2016/10/05/benedict-cumberbatch-opens-up-about-his-own-kidnapping-ordeal-after-kim-kardashian-raid-6172577/)easily. “Ed Bishop! He was never a star. I thought you meant [_tap, tap, tap_] Ian Hendry from the Lotus Eaters. Now, there’s talent. Would you like me to say that again in my Smaug voice?”.