# Is it heavier than a pound of butter? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 2, 2002, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027 "2002-11-02T22:42:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/1 "2002-11-02T22:42:02Z")
I have a jealously guarded secret. Well, me and a coupla thousand other people… I have been visiting this site for something like 4 years or more, and up until now, I have only shared this link with about 5 people since, mad as it sounds, I feel _really_protective of the site. There are people who would screw with it just because they can. ☹ Everyone here seems pretty cool tho, so I think the time has come for me to lighten up 🙂 The link is [http://www.20q.net](http://www.20q.net) and is twenty questions played against an AI-database. Do **not** confuse this with the various dopey IM-Buddys doing the rounds at the moment (the cheap knock-offs of Eliza). This is a game that learns from your imput into it. The game went through a difficult patch a few years ago when some fools went in and deliberatly confused the poor AI, they told it that “Yes, and elefant is somthing you would use to carry clothes in” etc. Please play as anonymous for a few rounds until you get the hang of it, once you are a memeber you start impacting the knowledgebase 🙂 Play the link, love the link, respect the link. [http://www.20q.com](http://www.20q.com) Iteki - drama queen extraordinaire :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/2 "2002-11-02T22:47:45Z")
I’ve been a 20q member for a while now - I don’t play that often, but every once in a while I remember that it’s there and play a few rounds. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/3 "2002-11-03T01:34:15Z")
Tried it and loved it! Thanks! Sometimes it just blew me away! ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/4 "2002-11-03T01:38:03Z")
Hey! Cool game! I don’t know that I’ll play it all that often, but its a good time-waster 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalt)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/5 "2002-11-03T05:03:54Z")
the first link (.net) is the correct one. the second link you gave (.com) is some japanese website. and yah, it’s pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/6 "2002-11-03T08:40:52Z")
Very cool. It got Klein’s Bottle in 23 questions, and lost entirely on Occam’s Razor. Got God in just 14 questions, and jet plane in only 19. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/7 "2002-11-03T08:42:59Z")
It didn’t get a city at all, in about 30 questions, but it was on the list of candidates when I was done. However, based on that list of contradictions, some people have strange ideas about cities. Cities are NOT used for transportation, and cities ARE shiny? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/8 "2002-11-03T13:07:42Z")
It’s not very specific. It couldn’t get Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, and the closest it came to ivy was a plant. ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/9 "2002-11-03T13:47:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*5. Is it a type of motor vehicle? No > 4. Is it a specific color? Yes > 3. Is it a pure bred animal? Irrelevant > 2. Is it a mammal? No > > 1. Is it classified as? Animal\*\* ??? wft is a coloured animal motor-vehicle?!! ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/10 "2002-11-03T14:23:50Z")
It uses the out-of-left-field questions to check its own guesses as far as I have understood. Many of the questions arise from when, at the end of the game you got the chance to add a new object and give a question for it. One usually tried to give a question that would seriously narrow the field, prime example being “Would a cowboy use it?”. Occams Razor was a good one! 🙂 Kinda cruel though all the same 😉 Obviously 20q has a much easier time guessing non-abstract items, but the more an object has been played the quicker it can guess it. It will guess “desk items” in a heartbeat, computer stuff, office supplys etc since many people play something they can see the first time they play. I would love if a moderator wanted to fix the last link in my OP and make it [www.20q.net](http://www.20q.net) , I had a brainfart at the time, sorry! ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/11 "2002-11-03T16:42:46Z")
I’ve played before, years ago, but had forgotten all about it. Thanks. As always, the “spontaneous knowledge” is the best part: > [@](#): > > The Queen of England is probably not a type of grass > The Queen of England probably doesn’t use electricity > Will the Queen of England make your breath smell sweeter - Doubtful > The Queen of England is probably not used by the police > The Queen of England is probably not used to pull sleds or carriages > The Queen of England is probably not a stringed instrument > The Queen of England probably doesn’t use a litter box > The Queen of England probably doesn’t help you clean your teeth > The Queen of England probably doesn’t come from a plant > The Queen of England’s is probably not fur used for coats > The Queen of England is probably not a feeling > The Queen of England is probably not shiny > The Queen of England is probably not toxic to humans > The Queen of England probably doesn’t have six legs > The Queen of England probably doesn’t crumble > The Queen of England is probably not worn > The Queen of England might not carry people > The Queen of England is probably not cold blooded > The Queen of England probably does need love > The Queen of England is probably not slimy > The Queen of England probably doesn’t have three wheels > The Queen of England is probably not sometimes killed for its pelt > You might not kick the Queen of England > The Queen of England is probably not made of copper > The Queen of England is probably not a by-product > You might not see with the Queen of England > The Queen of England is probably not body jewelry > The Queen of England’s is probably not name of Hungarian origin > The Queen of England is probably not native to Africa > The Queen of England is probably not used to cook food > The Queen of England is probably not a secret > The Queen of England is probably not a type of volcanic rock ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/12 "2002-11-03T19:39:52Z")
Apparently a hobbit can swim but it cannot float. Sad news for Samwise. Alas, hobbits cannot be elected to public office. I’ll have to remember that one come Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/13 "2002-11-03T19:54:39Z")
The game is fun but I really don’t like a lot of the questions. Can you bring it along? Bring it along where? Can you paint it? Well…yes. You can paint damn near anything. Is the question you’re looking for: is it normally painted? Can you stand/sit on it? Same thing. Yes, it is possible to do so. What are you asking me here? Also, when I’m thinking of a specific type of person it never asks me if it is a person. I mean, half the time Pope and grizzly bear are right up at the top. I know they’re difficult to differentiate but still… ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/14 "2002-11-03T20:36:36Z")
While trying to log in as Anonymous, I kept getting this message: Login Error The system is too busy to accept new players, please try again later Seems the system cleaned up right after I became a member. I better not get loads of spam now… It took more than 30 questions for it to guess “football” and it still only came as close as “ball”. My second item was “human being”. **Contradictions** “A human being is not small” (umm, children? babies?) “A human being is not creepy” (Gacy? Geene? Dahmer?) ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/15 "2002-11-03T22:31:49Z")
This is great! I think I have a new addiction… ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/16 "2002-11-04T22:08:19Z")
And another thing! gripegripegripe I don’t like the question “is there a song about it?” This is, IMO, just a complete waste of a question. First, there’s a song about everything. Second, who is the computer to tell me I’m wrong about there being a song about something. Third, what does it narrow down? It’s like asking “is this a concept or an object in the universe.” Um…probably? ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/17 "2002-11-04T23:32:14Z")
Watermelon: 18 guesses. Whale shark: 20 guesses. Pine cone: 25 guesses. This is pretty fascinating, though I agree that sometimes the questions are tough to answer: I have no idea whether a watermelon will float or not. ---
**Author:** ![c\_carol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@c\_carol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_carol)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2002, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/18 "2002-11-05T02:22:44Z")
It seems to be pretty good at common objects and broad categories, weaker on more specific or unusual objects, and much worse on abstract ideas. (I tried to do “Thursday”, but so few of the questions-and-answers made any sense that I didn’t do an update.) I have no idea what to do with, for example, the cowboy question. Does a cowboy “use” pie? P.S. Jackelope: yes, it will. ---
**Author:** ![IcicleFuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ba8739/32.png) [@IcicleFuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IcicleFuzz)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2002, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/19 "2002-11-05T09:24:20Z")
Some of the questions can be a little strange: “Can it liquify small furry animals?” :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2002, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027/20 "2002-11-05T12:02:35Z")
Using the maybe, sometimes, probably and irrelevant buttons can help you out of the weird questions. A cowboy might eat pie, so maybe would be a good choice. However, with the common understanding of what a cowboy is, you could safely say a cowboy uses a horse, or a hat, or a gun. If you don’t know, click don’t know 🙂 If you are lucky you will get some spontaneous knowledge that will tell you what 20q believes (as to whether or not a watermelon floats). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-heavier-than-a-pound-of-butter/135027.md?page=2)