# Spot the outlier -- silly game **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 9, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892 "2014-02-09T15:06:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/1 "2014-02-09T15:06:38Z")
Your task is twofold: 1. Identify the member of the following group that is the least best fit 2. Post another group (at least three members) with an outlier First batch: Jerome Kern Beethoven Eminem If you care to, tell us why he/she is a bad fit with the others. ========================================= Another sample batch for where this thread might go: Maurice Chevalier Boris Yeltsin Justin Bieber ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/2 "2014-02-09T23:27:26Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > First batch: > > Jerome Kern > Beethoven > Eminem Eminem, because unlike the two songwriters, he has actually been in my kitchen. > [@Zeldar](#): > > Another sample batch for where this thread might go: > > Maurice Chevalier > Boris Yeltsin > Justin Bieber Maurice Chevalier never got arrested for drunk driving. Here’s my (rather sad) contribution: 1. Cocaine 2. Heroin 3. Oxycontin ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/3 "2014-02-10T06:12:24Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Here’s my (rather sad) contribution: > > 1. Cocaine > 2. Heroin > 3. Oxycontin Cocaine. The other two are derived from the poppy. Brian Cowen Bertie Ahern Enda Kenny ---
**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:** [February 10, 2014, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/4 "2014-02-10T06:22:35Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > Brian Cowen > Bertie Ahern > Enda Kenny Enda Kenny is the only one still in office. I may have posted these before, but I’ll let a new group take a crack at them. George Lazenby Pope Pius XII Conan O’Brien Benjamin Harrison Ferdinand Magellan Phileas Fogg Amelia Earhart John Glenn Charlie Chaplin Harpo Marx Marcel Marceau Kevin Smith ---
**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:** [February 10, 2014, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/5 "2014-02-10T15:14:15Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Ferdinand Magellan > Phileas Fogg > Amelia Earhart > John Glenn Not sure on this one but are you going for Magellan being the outlier, as he didn’t actually complete a circumnavigation of the globe (he died halfway through the first expedition generally credited with doing so)? I won’t set another as there are few others as yet unsolved. ---
**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:** [February 10, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/6 "2014-02-10T16:55:17Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > Not sure on this one but are you going for Magellan being the outlier, as he didn’t actually complete a circumnavigation of the globe (he died halfway through the first expedition generally credited with doing so)? I won’t set another as there are few others as yet unsolved. Not quiet the answer I was looking for. Earhart also did not complete her attempted circumnavigation. But you’re on the right track. It does have to do with their attempts to travel around the world, but one of them went about it a different way. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/7 "2014-02-11T05:39:36Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Enda Kenny is the only one still in office. As if I’d make it that easy. Fine, replace Kenny with John Bruton. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2014, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/8 "2014-02-11T06:49:25Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > As if I’d make it that easy. Fine, replace Kenny with John Bruton. Bertie Ahern was the only one I’d even heard of. Wikipedia is my friend. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2014, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/9 "2014-02-11T09:09:26Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Not quiet the answer I was looking for. Earhart also did not complete her attempted circumnavigation. > > But you’re on the right track. It does have to do with their attempts to travel around the world, but one of them went about it a different way. Well, John Glenn was the only person to attempt it outside the Earth’s atmosphere - is that what you’re shooting for? ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/10 "2014-02-11T09:28:32Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Charlie Chaplin > Harpo Marx > Marcel Marceau > Kevin Smith Kevin Smith is the only one who can’t fit in an airplane / train seat. Um, I’ll try… Sarah Palin Michelle Bachman Christine O’Donnell ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/11 "2014-02-11T15:22:43Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Ferdinand Magellan > Phileas Fogg > Amelia Earhart > John Glenn I can see Phileas Fogg for two reasons. He’s fictional, and he is the only one who used ground transportation. Magellan on a boat, Earhat in a plane, and Glenn in a space ship. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/12 "2014-02-11T15:36:07Z")
That is the problem with this type of quiz. There are plenty of thing that differentiate one from another. Ferdinand Magellan – the only one who was Portuguese, who didn’t speak English, only one to use a single sailing ship. Phileas Fogg – Fictional, English, traveled by train, traveled by balloon, stopped in India, etc. Amelia Earhart – Female, only one to use an airplane, only one to have vanished en route John Glenn – only one to go out of the atmosphere, only one who was bald, only one who went on to become a U.S. senator. Questions like this have to be chosen very carefully. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/13 "2014-02-11T17:37:58Z")
Since no one is going to get this one. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > Ferdinand Magellan – the only one who was Portuguese, who didn’t speak English, only one to use a single sailing ship. > Phileas Fogg – Fictional, English, traveled by train, traveled by balloon, stopped in India, etc. > Amelia Earhart – Female, only one to use an airplane, only one to have vanished en route > John Glenn – only one to go out of the atmosphere, only one who was bald, only one who went on to become a U.S. senator. Ferdinand Magellan – the only one to travel east-to-west. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > But you’re on the right track. It does have to do with their attempts to travel around the world, but one of them went about it a different way. He literally went about (around) it a different way. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/14 "2014-02-12T02:08:16Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > George Lazenby > Pope Pius XII > Conan O’Brien > Benjamin Harrison Pope Pius XII. The other three were preceded and succeeded by the same person - Lazenby played James Bond between 2 Connery Films (You Only Live Twice & Diamonds Are Forever); Conan O’Brian hosted the Tonight Show between Leno’s two stints, and Harrison was POTUS between Grover Cleveland’s 2 non-consecutive terms. > [@](#): > > Charlie Chaplin > Harpo Marx > Marcel Marceau > Kevin Smith Kevin Smith - The other 3 are famous for silent comedy, Smith is famous for his verbose dialog. Also, the other 3 are funny. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/15 "2014-02-12T02:12:12Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Kevin Smith is the only one who can’t fit in an airplane / train seat. > > Um, I’ll try… > Sarah Palin > Michelle Bachman > Christine O’Donnell Only Christine O’Donnell turned me into a newt. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/16 "2014-02-12T04:01:31Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > Pope Pius XII. > The other three were preceded and succeeded by the same person - Lazenby played James Bond between 2 Connery Films (You Only Live Twice & Diamonds Are Forever); Conan O’Brian hosted the Tonight Show between Leno’s two stints, and Harrison was POTUS between Grover Cleveland’s 2 non-consecutive terms. Yes! You’re the first person who’s ever gotten this right. Well done. When I first thought of this question, it was Hugh Downs instead of Conan O’Brien. Downs hosted the Tonight Show when Jack Parr walked off in protest when a joke was censored, then returned after a month. I’ve posted it before. You didn’t look it up, did you? > [@](#): > > Kevin Smith - The other 3 are famous for silent comedy, Smith is famous for his verbose dialog. Also, the other 3 are funny. Not what I had in mind. Although it does have to do with verbosity, or lack thereof. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/17 "2014-02-12T21:16:09Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Not what I had in mind. Although it does have to do with verbosity, or lack thereof. I suppose it is a Silent Bob thing but can’t quite put my finger on it. Silent Bob has spoken on film, the others have not? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/18 "2014-02-12T21:26:34Z")
_Says You_ does this game from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/19 "2014-02-12T21:41:51Z")
Byron White Larry Csonka Tony Dorsett O.J. Simpson ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892/20 "2014-02-12T23:30:39Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Byron White > Larry Csonka > Tony Dorsett > O.J. Simpson Byron White. The only one in the college football Hall of Fame and NOT in the NFL Hall of Fame. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-outlier-silly-game/680892.md?page=2)