# The unanwerable question? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 4, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565 "2003-04-04T22:24:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/21 "2003-04-06T02:56:32Z")
The resolution is simple. Yes, an omnipotent being can make a rock so big he can’t lift it. But he can lift it. The fact that he’s unable to do something is not enough to prevent him from being able to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/22 "2003-04-06T03:00:22Z")
[The rock that can not be lifted.](http://www.objectivethought.com/atheism/rock.html) Or can it?? ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/23 "2003-04-06T03:13:49Z")
Ah, pretty clever. I think I understand. Since an omnipotent god can lift even a rock that weighs infinity pounds, then asking, “Can god make a rock so big he can’t lift it?” is equivalent to asking, “Can god make a rock that weighs _more than infinity pounds_?” That is, it’s a meaningless question. ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/24 "2003-04-06T03:17:21Z")
As an additional note, do you know how hard it’s been not to make an obvious pun about the wrestler the Rock? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/25 "2003-04-06T03:19:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KCSuze \* > \*\*As an additional note, do you know how hard it’s been not to make an obvious pun about the wrestler the Rock? \*\* Oh go on. You know you want to… ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/26 "2003-04-06T03:34:55Z")
Oh, fine… “The Rock says this. If that omnipotent candyass God wants to go one on one with the Great One, then He can damn well prove it at Wrestlemania. He can bring His cherubim, His seraphim…hell, He can bring George Burns’ wrinkled ass if He wants to. He can send plagues, He can flood the arena, He can send a bolt of lighting down to the Rock to try to stop him! But the Rock says that when all is said and done and the count goes one, two, three, the only thing of the Rock’s that will be lifted is his hand in victory! If ya smellalalalalala! What the Rock…is…cooking!” I am so ashamed. ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/27 "2003-04-06T05:13:13Z")
I opened this thread expecting “[What the best pie?](http://www.weebl.jolt.co.uk/show.htm)” Is it beef pie? ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/28 "2003-04-06T05:32:15Z")
Oh, god, those Weebl episodes are gonna kill me. Hee hee! ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/29 "2003-04-06T20:47:44Z")
Thanks to all for your great insight. Especially KCSuze for what I believe is without a doubt the best post I have ever seen in the Straight Dope message boards. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a698b9/32.png) [@Alan\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Q)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/30 "2003-04-06T20:57:47Z")
Ok, I can take the groans, but it needs saying– ``` Is this discussion stuck between The Rock and a hard place? ``` –Alan Q ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/31 "2003-04-07T00:44:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DeVena \* > She could, but she doesn’t want to. And if we don’t know why, she certainly isn’t going to tell us. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/32 "2003-04-07T02:43:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KCSuze \* > \*\*God’s got more to worry about than moving rocks, what with all the shenanigans and goings-on us mere mortals create. \*\* He had to move one… once. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a698b9/32.png) [@Alan\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Q)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/33 "2003-04-07T03:20:21Z")
“He had to move one… once” Clayton, I’m not necessarily buying into the literal story, but that is one of the most succinct and tasteful comebacks I’ve seen in awhile! –Alan Q ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/34 "2003-04-07T04:50:42Z")
> [@](#): > > “He had to move one… once” Well, since **Alan Q** says I’m bested, I guess I am. But I have to admit, I don’t get it. Which Biblical story are you referring to? > [@](#): > > Thanks to all for your great insight. Especially KCSuze for what I believe is without a doubt the best post I have ever seen in the Straight Dope message boards. Thanks, I thought that post was going to kill the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a698b9/32.png) [@Alan\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Q)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/35 "2003-04-07T04:59:39Z")
KCSuze, I’m just trying to goad you to bigger and better things! As to which Biblical story Clayton was referencing–check April 20 on your calendar; I may be lapsed, but I remember the stories! –Alan Q ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/36 "2003-04-07T05:05:30Z")
It’s always amazed me that people ask this question without having a specific definition of the word “lift”. Suppose that God had decided to gather all the material in the universe and make it into a gigantic rock. Then there would be no other object in the universe that could exert gravitational pull on the rock, so “lifting” it would be a cinch. Not only could God lift it, but any being capable of exerting any force on it would be able to lift it. ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/37 "2003-04-07T05:06:54Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m just trying to goad you to bigger and better things! Ooohhhh…Sorry! The pressure! I can’t take it! AAAUUUGGGHH! \ Damn first-floor bedroom. > [@](#): > > As to which Biblical story Clayton was referencing–check April 20 on your calendar; I may be lapsed, but I remember the stories! D’oh! :smack: I’m really not this thick in real life. Would you believe lack of sleep caused this error? Really! My brain is misfiring all over the place! Just last night I thought writing “tastee cookee snax” on the grocery list was knee-slapping hilarity. ---
**Author:** ![mrweebles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@mrweebles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrweebles)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/38 "2003-04-07T05:09:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by clayton\_e \* > \*\*He had to move one… once. \*\* Is that a Johnny Dangerously reference? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/39 "2003-04-07T08:23:25Z")
_This_ is the unanswerable question? As IF. The unanswerable question is, and always will be (in fact, I was reminded of it last night): _“Do these jeans make my ass look fat?”_ You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565/40 "2003-04-07T10:09:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*_This_ is the unanswerable question? As IF. > > The unanswerable question is, and always will be (in fact, I was reminded of it last night): _“Do these jeans make my ass look fat?”_ > > You’re welcome. \*\* Thats easy: **Garigirl** : “These jeans make my arse look big don’t they??” **Garius** : “No! Of course they don’t!” **Garius** : “Its your arse that does that.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unanwerable-question/166565.md?page=3)