# Oz: Where does the RED brick road lead? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 20, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875 "2004-12-20T22:52:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/21 "2004-12-21T05:56:57Z")
> [@TJdude825](#): > > Oh come on guys. It’s one of those analogy problems. She takes a YELLOW road to a GREEN city, so… > > yellow : green :: red : \_\_\_\_\_\_ > > Remember that **green = yellow + blue** and that **purple = red + blue**. Hence, she’ll end up in a city where everything is purple. Purple purple purple. The implications of this are left as an exercise to the reader. I’m suprised that this post hasn’t been \_\_\_\_ed by the \_\_\_\_ist yet. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/22 "2004-12-21T06:40:13Z")
And then, of course, the yellow brick road splits at the scarecrow’s field and heads off into another unknown direction. Indeed, this whole single road/single direction/single brick color problem must eventually lead to a very difficult brick differentiation conundrum, assuming that there are several directions to choose from, and several cities in the Kingdom of Oz. Likely the need for different color bricks to lead to or to connect different locales will require several brick lanes being of similar hues. I think it is safe to assume that the yellow brick road did not split at the scarecrow’s field as postulated, but connected with a “gold” or “lemon” road requiring a close eye to discern the difference. The Munchkin land, being only reachable by yellow and red brick roads, must necessarily be on the outskirts of the kingdom, perhaps surrounded by water or unpassable mountains. Or perhaps, the red road leads to a connection with several other rainbow bricked roads and it is the Emerald City that is the remote (and thereby single-color brick roaded) city in Oz. Possibly others can see merits in this colored brick method as a substitution for good old maps and road signs. I, for one, do not. I argue that the wizard was as bad at managing the Oz Department of Transportation as he was in solving the whole Wicked Witches problem. He should have been impeached. ---
**Author:** ![Jenny\_Haniver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Jenny\_Haniver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenny_Haniver)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/23 "2004-12-21T15:11:51Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > What I think is interesting is that the Yellow Brick road is in such good repair until you get to about a mile or so from the emerald city…and then there’s thing HUGE gap filled with poppy plants. > > What? Nobody can see that big gap in the road from the emerald city? Or do they need the extra space to prop up their herion industry? But didn’t the Wicked Witch cast a spell to make the poppies appear right as Dororthy and company got within sight of the emerald city? I don’t think the gap had been there previously. (But I admit I haven’t read the books, so this is just my fanwankery.) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/24 "2004-12-21T15:24:59Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > I’m suprised that this post hasn’t been \_\_\_\_ed by the \_\_\_\_ist yet. J. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/25 "2004-12-21T15:31:28Z")
What always bothered me is that Dorothy saw the need to follow the first couple lines of the spiral. It should have been obvious from standing near the origin where the spiral ended, she should have saved herself a few steps and started there. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/26 "2004-12-21T15:39:29Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > What always bothered me is that Dorothy saw the need to follow the first couple lines of the spiral. It should have been obvious from standing near the origin where the spiral ended, she should have saved herself a few steps and started there. I’m so glad to hear that I’m not the only one who feels this way. From the first time I saw the movie, I’ve been saying “Why not just walk over to where the road actually leads _out_ of Munchkinland and just avoid making yourself dizzy?” I invented an answer that involved the karmic and magical imperative of starting at the very beginning of the Yellow Brick Road to avoid devastation and misery. It was very complicated and unlikely, but it made me feel better. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/27 "2004-12-21T16:18:53Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > What always bothered me is that Dorothy saw the need to follow the first couple lines of the spiral. It should have been obvious from standing near the origin where the spiral ended, she should have saved herself a few steps and started there. Yeah, but the choreographer whould have had a hissy fit. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/28 "2004-12-21T16:37:22Z")
For that matter why did several Munchkins have to interrupt her every time she took three steps and repeat Glinda’s advice to “follow the yellow brick road”? Did they think she was deaf? ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/29 "2004-12-21T17:05:45Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > What always bothered me is that Dorothy saw the need to follow the first couple lines of the spiral. It should have been obvious from standing near the origin where the spiral ended, she should have saved herself a few steps and started there. Well if I were Dorothy and I were in a strange place with Munchkins screaming directions at me and witches threatning me, I would follow the yellow brick road as accurately as I could in case something odd happen in this land to screw me up some more. And that means starting out on that little point and turning. But I’m a stickler for following instructions exactly. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![shamrock227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/30 "2004-12-21T17:06:20Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > What always bothered me is that Dorothy saw the need to follow the first couple lines of the spiral. It should have been obvious from standing near the origin where the spiral ended, she should have saved herself a few steps and started there. That always bothered me, too. But I just took it as Dorothy taking Glinda’s advice of “it’s always best to start at the beginning” literally. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/31 "2004-12-21T17:10:00Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > For that matter why did several Munchkins have to interrupt her every time she took three steps and repeat Glinda’s advice to “follow the yellow brick road”? Did they think she was deaf? Well, the Munchkins were never very bright. Remember when Glinda said that the Wicked Witch was powerless in Munchkinland? The Lollipop Guild and the Lullaby League should have seized upon that opportunity to pummel her into a quivering green heap. Clearly, the Munchkins had poor strategic skills, at best. ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/32 "2004-12-21T18:09:36Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > I invented an answer that involved the karmic and magical imperative of starting at the very beginning of the Yellow Brick Road to avoid devastation and misery. It was very complicated and unlikely, but it made me feel better. As opposed to the smooth and happy journey that resulted when she _did_ start at the very beginning? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/33 "2004-12-21T20:19:14Z")
Trying to find sense out of _The Wizard of Oz_ is like trying to find a nudist at the North Pole. I mean, why didn’t Glinda simply tell Dorthy right at the start that knockin’ the ruby slippers would take her home? Glinda claims Dorthy wouldn’t believe her, but after having a tornado drop her in a land of Technicolor and being mobbed by weird short people, I’m sure Dorthy would have given the idea a try. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/34 "2004-12-21T20:33:53Z")
And why did Glinda act as though she had never seen a dog before? After all, the Wicked Witch knew what a dog was. (“I’ll get you, and your little \ too!”) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/35 "2004-12-21T20:44:31Z")
Glinda thought Toto was a witch in disguise. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/36 "2004-12-21T20:50:29Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > You take the yellow road, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and you believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red road, you stay in wonderland. And, I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. “I’ll bet you say that to all the girls, Mr. Dodgson!” 😃 (I’m resisting the temptation to make several “Number of the Beast” cracks about bringing a discussion of Wonderland into an Oz thread…) > [@Biotop](#): > > Or perhaps, the red road leads to a connection with several other rainbow bricked roads and it is the Emerald City that is the remote (and thereby single-color brick roaded) city in Oz. Yes, but rainbow-bricked roads can only be traveled by friends of Dorothy… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/37 "2004-12-21T20:58:03Z")
> [@Jenny Haniver](#): > > But didn’t the Wicked Witch cast a spell to make the poppies appear right as Dororthy and company got within sight of the emerald city? I don’t think the gap had been there previously. (But I admit I haven’t read the books, so this is just my fanwankery.) I can’t remember either, but cosndiering there seemed to be poppies on the sides of the road as well, I figured they had been there for a while. Of course, I keep wonder…why doesn’t the which just kill Dorthy instead of stupid half-assed measures? She throws a fireball at the scarecrow and then doesn’t stick around. Later on, she locks Dorthy in her tower and says “Those shoes will never come off…as long as you are alive”. She also says she doesn’t want to wait much longer…so she takes out a rather cool hourglass and sets it, saying(in so many words) that she’ll kill dorthy once it runs out. Why not just kill her now and get it over with? What the hell else does she have to do? She have cookies in the oven or something? ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/38 "2004-12-21T21:07:02Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > And why did Glinda act as though she had never seen a dog before? After all, the Wicked Witch knew what a dog was. (“I’ll get you, and your little \ too!”) I wonder if it’s because all Animals in OZ have the ability to talk and humanlike intelliengence…and thus, since Toto could not talk, then it could not be an animal, but rather a witch is disguise. Or at least, most animals seem to be able to talk. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/39 "2004-12-21T21:09:41Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Well, the Munchkins were never very bright. Remember when Glinda said that the Wicked Witch was powerless in Munchkinland? The Lollipop Guild and the Lullaby League should have seized upon that opportunity to pummel her into a quivering green heap. > > Clearly, the Munchkins had poor strategic skills, at best. Which is interesting considering they have an army…at least that’s who I assume those guys in the uniforms and with the little rifles are. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875/40 "2004-12-22T00:09:18Z")
Actually, an aspect of that whole scene that’s always irritated me was Glinda saying the Munchkins would escort Dorothy to the border of Munchkinland, yet at the end of the “You’re off to see the Wizard” song, the Munchkins wave goodbye and you can still see the _beginning_ of the YBR in the town square about forty feet back. Wow, some escort! The Munchkins really protected Dorothy for those critical and hazardous first twenty seconds of her journey. Then again, they’re Munchkins. Maybe walking forty feet is like a marathon to them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oz-where-does-the-red-brick-road-lead/280875.md?page=3)