# Controversial Trivia Questions **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 6, 2013, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231 "2013-01-06T04:33:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/61 "2013-01-07T18:52:51Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Cite EVERY TIME I’ve had leaky logic! And if you can’t get EVERY LAST ONE STFU! Well, I surrender to that logic! CheckMATE, and well done. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/62 "2013-01-07T19:02:55Z")
Here’s one: best selling books. I believe the usual answer (the Holy Bible) is incorrect because it’s not the same edition or publisher throughout history. Also, sales figures can only be estimated, (currently 6 billion is the number estimated by Guinness) not figured out exactly. For a single edition of the Bible, the number is estimated at 17.75 million. The next usual answer is usually the Harry Potter books, but that is for a book series, not a single book. Also, it appears that recently the Middle Earth books has overtaken the Potter series, probably because of the movies. It appears that the “correct” answer to this question would be Mao Tse Tung’s “Little Red Book” with 900 million in reported sales, although the number actually given away might affect this total. (Heh interesting side note, Guinness lists the Bible as the “best selling work of NON fiction” :D) So: What is the best-selling book in history, single edition, same writer? The Little Red Book. What is the best selling book series? Tolkein’s Middle Earth Series. What is listed as the best selling non-fiction book in the Guiness Book of World Records? The Holy Bible. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/63 "2013-01-07T19:06:17Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > A golden oldie: when do you use “a” and when you do use “an” in English? > > In the first chapter of nearly every grammar book printed before 10 years ago, the common answer was “a” before consonants, and “an” before vowels. But, look at these examples: > > a home vs an hour > a universe vs an unusual universe > a ewe vs an owl > > Actually, the first letter has nothing to do with a/an usage, it’s the first sound in the following word that determines which one is used. Actually the rule is valid for sounds (phonemes.) Those can also be classified into vowels and consonants, and the answer as you’ve quoted it doesn’t specify ‘before consonant letters’ and ‘before vowel letters.’ However, as it can easily be misconstrued, the answer is ambiguous enough to be incomplete and should be improved upon. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/64 "2013-01-07T19:20:25Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Cite EVERY TIME I’ve had leaky logic! And if you can’t get EVERY LAST ONE STFU! Sorry, no. I’m unemployed, but am limited by the human lifespan, so there is not enough time. [Here, however, are some recent examples](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=678075). ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/65 "2013-01-07T19:27:07Z")
Another great oldie: What is the highest grossing movie of all time? The answer of course, is “how are you measuring ‘gross’?” Domestic, adjusted for inflation: Gone with the Wind. Worldwide, without inflation adjustment: Avatar Domestic, without inflation adjustment: Avatar And then, you get a very interesting analysis if you go by ticket sales vs current population. Selling X number of tickets is a big deal if population = X, but not such a big deal if population = 10X. Amazingly, Gone with the Wind had ticket sales of [150% more than the population of the US at the time.](http://ongoingprocess.net/the-actual-most-popular-us-movies-of-all-time/) In comparison, Avatar sold to only 25% of the population! ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/66 "2013-01-07T19:56:21Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > If we celebrated Independence Day September 3rd, I’d agree with you. (Yes I know this is descending into pedanticness) So when did the US become independent (either de facto or de jure)? 2 July 1776? 4 July 1776? 3 September 1783? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/67 "2013-01-07T20:00:01Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > “What race is Mr. Spock?” I’ve always heard this “gotcha” as “What race is Dr. Spock?” The correct answer being “[human](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Spock).” ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/68 "2013-01-07T20:04:20Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So when did the US become independent (either de facto or de jure)? 2 July 1776? 4 July 1776? 3 September 1783? When, in fact, did citizens begin identifying as “Americans”? It is my understanding that van Buren, in his youth, would have been identified as a New Yorker. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/69 "2013-01-07T20:06:55Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/70 "2013-01-07T21:03:10Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I’ve always heard this “gotcha” as “What race is Dr. Spock?” > > The correct answer being “[human](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Spock).” Yeah, again, I was just referencing the Office(UK) episode that centered around a quiz contest and it included this controversy. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/71 "2013-01-07T21:06:08Z")
> [@For You](#): > > When, in fact, did citizens begin identifying as “Americans”? It is my understanding that van Buren, in his youth, would have been identified as a New Yorker. As early as 1774: [http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public\_html/Our\_Country\_vol\_2/Patrickhe\_eb.html](http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/Our_Country_vol_2/Patrickhe_eb.html) Two other controversial trivia questions: What is the name of the British royal court? It’s the Court of St. James’s, not the Court of St. James. Who is the top judge on the top American court? It’s the Chief Justice of the United States, not the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. ---
**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:** [January 7, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/72 "2013-01-07T21:29:24Z")
There are a whole slew of questions involving “what’s the biggest…”, which often have different answers depending on how one defines “biggest”. Is it the heaviest, or the most voluminous, or the longest, or the tallest, etc. This can also apply to rivers, even if you get the whole tributary thing settled: For instance, even though by most consistent standards the Amazon is not the longest river in the world, it is the most voluminous, since it’s on average quite deep and wide. And then there are questions about “biggest living organism”. Even if you specify what you mean by “biggest” (weight, say), you then have to make it clear what counts as a single organism. Is a stand of poplar trees one organism, or many connected organisms? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/73 "2013-01-08T08:09:37Z")
This is why _Jeopardy!_ has judges. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/74 "2013-01-08T11:33:04Z")
re: a/an vs hotel If the H is pronounced, it’s “a.” If it’s not, it’s “an.” If there’s a regional variation with a pronounced H but they use “an,” it should be corrected by the listener. I believe a much better example exists with “herb.” Correctly pronounced (with silent H) then “an.” Incorrectly pronounced (with voiced H) then “a.” ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/75 "2013-01-08T11:34:09Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I’ve always heard this “gotcha” as “What race is Dr. Spock?” > > The correct answer being “[human](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Spock).” Aha, so: Dr. Spock: Human. Mr. Spock: Half vulcan, half human? That’s kinda dickish though. While Benjamin Spock is the most famous, I’m sure there’s many more “Spock” surnames around the world. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/76 "2013-01-08T11:38:57Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > re: a/an vs hotel > > If the H is pronounced, it’s “a.” If it’s not, it’s “an.” If there’s a regional variation with a pronounced H but they use “an,” it should be corrected by the listener. > > I believe a much better example exists with “herb.” > > Correctly pronounced (with silent H) then “an.” > Incorrectly pronounced (with voiced H) then “a.” Also interesting about this example: Most native speakers would pronounce “herb” with a silent H. However, in “herbivore,” most native speakers would pronounce the H, and thus it would be “a herbivore.” And yes, I am absolutely, 100% sure about this rule. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/77 "2013-01-08T11:47:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > There are a whole slew of questions involving “what’s the biggest…”, which often have different answers depending on how one defines “biggest”. Is it the heaviest, or the most voluminous, or the longest, or the tallest, etc. This can also apply to rivers, even if you get the whole tributary thing settled: For instance, even though by most consistent standards the Amazon is not the longest river in the world, it is the most voluminous, since it’s on average quite deep and wide. > > And then there are questions about “biggest living organism”. Even if you specify what you mean by “biggest” (weight, say), you then have to make it clear what counts as a single organism. Is a stand of poplar trees one organism, or many connected organisms? Yep. Part of the purpose of this thread is to differentiate between slight variations in syntax and grammar that would change the answer. Example: Does Al Gore have an Oscar? vs. Did Al Gore win an Oscar? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/78 "2013-01-08T12:53:31Z")
OK, we’re back to trivia questions with trivia questions with controversial answers. How about these: What is the easternmost US state? Alaska or Maine? Depends on how you define “east.” In my opinion it’s Maine. But it could be argued that since Alaska crosses the 180º Meridian, that it has territory farther east. I see the point, but that’s not the way I personally would look at it, but it opens the door for controversy. What is the only animal with four knees? The elephant. Or is it? Depends on how you define “knee.” It’s common to refer to the quadruped carpal joint (analogous to our wrist) as a “knee.” For most quadrupeds, the back legs “knees” don’t show up so well. The prominent joint that we usually see is the “hock,” analogus to our ankle. But an elephant’s back legs are different, and the “knee” joins is situated much lower than, for example a horse, where the “stifle” is the analogous knee. So, depending upon the definition, I’d say most quadrupeds have four 'knees," but I don’t know that any of them are as well-defined as an elephants. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/79 "2013-01-08T14:07:45Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > OK, we’re back to trivia questions with trivia questions with controversial answers. How about these: > > What is the easternmost US state? Alaska or Maine? Depends on how you define “east.” In my opinion it’s Maine. But it could be argued that since Alaska crosses the 180º Meridian, that it has territory farther east. I see the point, but that’s not the way I personally would look at it, but it opens the door for controversy. I would agree with your position. If you can go around the world like that, then Maine can be the westermost state (if you travel west far enough, you’ll get to Maine). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231/80 "2013-01-08T14:24:59Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Aha, so: > > Dr. Spock: Human. > Mr. Spock: Half vulcan, half human? > > That’s kinda dickish though. While Benjamin Spock is the most famous, I’m sure there’s many more “Spock” surnames around the world. Yes, there are many, many humans with that name around the world. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-trivia-questions/646231.md?page=5)