# The Exciting Game With One Rule **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 9, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239 "2014-03-09T03:34:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/201 "2014-03-14T16:33:41Z")
I think Vita Beata’s efforts more than credit him/her with being the next Rule Maker in EH’s absence. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/202 "2014-03-14T16:55:08Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > I think Vita Beata’s efforts more than credit him/her with being the next Rule Maker in EH’s absence. Well, since **Vita Beata** has said she’ll be away from her computer until Monday, why don’t we see if **Elendil’s Heir** reports in before then to claim his prize! 🙂 That seem fair? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/203 "2014-03-14T17:03:45Z")
Sure. Hosting one of these is trickier than it looks. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/204 "2014-03-14T17:37:25Z")
Here’s an attempt at a recap of the key moments so far. Please correct (or quote) any missing links in the progress of the game: > [@Zeldar](#): > > Can’t use a q? > [@brujaja](#): > > Yes! That was the rule!! Dang, I shoulda picked a harder one. I was sure that \*\*randompattern \*\*would get it. > > Now you get to pick a rule. > [@brujaja](#): > > I cannot bring myself to bad-rap bears. But if I did, would it break The Rule? > [@Octarine](#): > > Wait - is it a bear? > [@brujaja](#): > > Pssssst! Octarine! See post #87. > [@Zeldar](#): > > YES! But that’s not all! There’s more to it. > [@Zeldar](#): > > Since everybody was zooming in on “The rule: you must not mention a white bear” I’m judging that the next Rule Maker is **Octarine**. > > Thanks for helping to blow up a perfectly good Sunday! > [@Zeldar](#): > > Believe it or not, I’m just now seeing this post! Sorry, **brujaja** , but the right to the next rule should be yours. Whichever of you gets there first has the right! Sorry, too, **Octarine**. I suck! > [@Octarine](#): > > No worries! Besides, I can’t think of a particularily clever rule right now, and brujaja was first, so I’ll step aside. 😃 > [@brujaja](#): > > Hi all, sorry, I was having a bit of an extended dessert break. > > Okay! The New Rule is language-based. Since my no-Qs rule proved to be a piece of cake for **randompattern** and **Zeldar,** I have put some thought into making this one _significantly_ harder. > > Exposition is probably best accomplished by conversation. Because you, **Octarine** , are awesome, you are entitled to one hint by PM after the first 24 hours, or maybe sooner if everybody gets bored. > > FWIW, I had to re-read this posting a couple of times to make certain I was not breaking the rule. 🙂 > [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Ah, double letters, eh? > > (Which means I broke the rule just then.) > [@brujaja](#): > > No double letters _within a prepositional phrase._ (I love prepositions.) > Sorry, **Zeldar** , I didn’t mean to hog the thread. > [@Zeldar](#): > > Just so we’re clear: it’s don’t say _anything_ about white bears. Don’t even mention them. > > On with the show… > [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > This is more of a “word with double letters in a prepositional phrase” rather than “don’t say bad things about white bears”. > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > NOW have I won? > [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Looks like you have, EH. Congrats! ---
**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:** [March 14, 2014, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/205 "2014-03-14T22:10:53Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > …Since **EH** may have just been “passing through” long enough to guess the right rule… “May have been”? Harrumph! The noive. Well, congrats, **Prof. Pepperwinkle**! ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/206 "2014-03-14T22:16:24Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > “May have been”? Harrumph! The noive. > > Well, congrats, **Prof. Pepperwinkle**! No, congrats to you. You start the next rule. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/207 "2014-03-15T03:36:51Z")
I’ll pass. Take it away! ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/208 "2014-03-15T14:20:34Z")
Well, all right. The next Rule is one of the 20 Questions variety. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/209 "2014-03-15T14:30:32Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Well, all right. The next Rule is one of the 20 Questions variety. I love 20Q! We call in N Questions because we don’t keep count and the questions can be as bizarre as one pleases. That said, is this another case of “Must not mention…”? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/210 "2014-03-15T15:03:33Z")
Yes, there is something you must not mention. And you haven’t mentioned it yet. Nor have I. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/211 "2014-03-15T15:21:25Z")
Is the “unmentionable” of the animal (as opposed to vegetable, mineral and non-material) category? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/212 "2014-03-15T15:42:05Z")
That would be the case, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/213 "2014-03-15T15:48:00Z")
Is it an animal of the human being persuasion? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/214 "2014-03-15T15:59:00Z")
Yes again. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/215 "2014-03-15T16:02:32Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Yes again. Would the human being in question either be still alive or have died within the past ten years? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/216 "2014-03-15T16:38:56Z")
Possibly, but it is not one specific person. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/217 "2014-03-15T16:41:12Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Possibly, but it is not one specific person. Aha! Would this be a group of fewer than 100 people? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/218 "2014-03-15T16:45:06Z")
Let’s put it this way: the one who may not be named is the name of a person’s role, e.g., a banker, a Republican or an archenemy. None of these is the one who may not be named. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/219 "2014-03-15T16:53:07Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Let’s put it this way: the one who may not be named is the name of a person’s role, e.g., a banker, a Republican or an archenemy. None of these is the one who may not be named. Good answer. Would this role apply equally – and in roughly equal numbers – to males and females? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/220 "2014-03-15T17:58:28Z")
Not in this particular case, no. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239.md?page=12)