# Trivia Fun(?): Guess This List **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [January 1, 2025, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433 "2025-01-01T10:39:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2025, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/1 "2025-01-01T10:39:24Z")
Is there room for one more trivia-questions thread? I’ve prepared eight lists (labeled A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,A6,A7,A8) of U.S. cities based on well-defined criteria. Your mission is to identify the criteria. I hope others will post unrelated list puzzles; we can work on them in parallel. The next submission could be list B, then C and so on. (I’m not worried about what comes after Z. If there are even 5 submissions this thread will have exceeded expectation!) Of the eight lists I prepared I think A1 and A8 may be most difficult to guess, so I’ll start with just these. Ask me yes/no questions if you wish. List A1. This is actually a long ordered list, but when the same city fits into consecutive slots I deleted all but one instance. (This same comment applies to all eight lists.) - Charleston, SC - New Orleans, LA - San Francisco, CA - St. Louis, MO - Los Angeles, CA - Houston, TX - San Antonio, TX List A8. This is actually a long ordered list, but when the same city fits into consecutive slots I’ve deleted all but one instance. (Don’t read special significance into the List labels A1, A8 etc…) - Charleston, SC - Boston, MA - Philadelphia, PA - Baltimore, MD - St. Louis, MO - Chicago, IL - Brooklyn, NY - St. Louis, MO - Detroit, MI - Los Angeles, CA - Philadelphia, PA - Houston, TX ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2025, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/2 "2025-01-02T20:19:21Z")
For A1, they look like largest cities in a state that are not the state capital - but New York, NY; Seattle, WA is missing and CA & TX show up twice. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/3 "2025-01-03T01:47:47Z")
Providing _more_ lists should ease the puzzle since the lists are closely related. List A2. This is actually a long ordered list, but when the same city fits into consecutive slots I deleted all but one instance. Criterion related to that of List A1 (and both criteria depend on the same arbitrary integer.) - Charleston, SC - New Orleans, LA - St. Louis, MO - San Francisco, CA - St. Louis, MO - Los Angeles, CA - San Jose, CA - Los Angeles, CA List A7. This is actually a long ordered list, but when the same city fits into consecutive slots I deleted all but one instance. Criterion related to that of List A8. - Boston, MA - Baltimore, MD - Philadelphia, PA - New Orleans, LA - Boston, MA - Brooklyn, NY - Philadelphia, PA - Los Angeles, CA - Chicago IL ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/4 "2025-01-04T01:59:22Z")
Is it sports related? ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/5 "2025-01-04T05:29:19Z")
No. Here are some clues: - The lists were all derived ultimately from one very _very_ long list that everyone’s heard of (or rather 24 versions of that list). - Each ordered list had 24 large-population cities before I pruned away consecutive same cities. (A more informative version of List A8 without the deletions is shown below.) - Lists A1, A2, A3, A4 form a plausible “obvious” quartet. I’ve posted A1, A2; am reluctant to post A3, A4 as they might be _too_ helpful. - Lists A5, A6, A7, A8, and then A9, A10, A11… form a natural sequence. I’ve posted A8 and A7 but A6 and especially A5 might be _too_ helpful. I may post A9 or even A10 but they might be too tedious and not helpful enough. More informative version of List A8. With the deletions restored it is an ordered list of 24 cities. Charleston, SC Boston, MA Boston Boston Boston Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia Baltimore, MD St. Louis, MO Chicago, IL Brooklyn, NY St. Louis, MO St. Louis Detroit, MI Detroit Detroit Los Angeles, CA Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia Philadelphia Houston, TX Houston Houston Houston Help, help! **Somebody post a List B for us to guess about in parallel with Lists A.** Don’t make me feel like a lonely sadist! ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/6 "2025-01-04T10:02:32Z")
OK to keep you from being lonely William Patrick Jon Tom Peter Collin Sylvester ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/7 "2025-01-04T11:04:22Z")
Thanks, Buck\_Godot ! This is NOT the answer to your puzzling list, but I’ll Spoiler-protect it anyway. WILLIAM shatner and PATRICK stewart were the early actors who played Captain commanding USS Enterprise. JONathan frakes played W. Riker who once skippered the Enterprise and was eventually promoted to Captain. But after those first three, the coincidences peter out. (Though Stephen COLLINs portrayed Captain Will Decker on the Enterprise.) I’ll probably need to wait for a hint. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/8 "2025-01-04T14:40:15Z")
Ha ! I spotted it immediately. Now there should be a David and a Jodie and others! ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/9 "2025-01-05T02:13:30Z")
pjd’s got it. I didn’t do the new batch because I thought it would make it too easy. So do I give the answer now? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/10 "2025-01-05T02:25:05Z")
There have been 24 censuses in the United States so I am guessing it is based on census data. Not largest city obviously. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/11 "2025-01-05T08:59:34Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > . There have been 24 censuses in the United States so I am guessing it is based on census data. Not largest city obviously. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/12 "2025-01-05T10:03:26Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > pjd’s got it. … I didn’t do the new batch because I thought it would make it too easy. > > So do I give the answer now? NO! (A hint would be nice.) I intend to be somewhat sadistically stingy with clues and hints for my lists, so I want you to do the same. 😃 I peeked at pjd’s spoiler, but it didn’t help me. Assuming these are people, I’m afraid I just don’t know them. The only Jodie I’ve heard of is Jodie Foster and I don’t know any Collin at all. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/13 "2025-01-05T10:07:20Z")
> [@Gordon\_G](#): > > . This is actually a long ordered list, but when the same city fits into consecutive slots I deleted all but one instance. Criterion related to that of List A1 (and both criteria depend on the same arbitrary integer.) Ahhhhhh, is A1 the 4th largest city? I say that because IIRC Houston is currently the 4th largest city in the US. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/14 "2025-01-05T10:38:26Z")
> [@Gordon\_G](#): > > and I don’t know any Collin at all. Despite Britain’s attempts to collinize the entire world ?! (Milton Jones joke !) ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/15 "2025-01-05T10:54:20Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Ahhhhhh, is A1 the 4th largest city? I say that because IIRC Houston is currently the 4th largest city in the US.. No. But your answer is SO CLOSE to correct, that I did a double-take! Just a teeny-tiny change to your answer makes it correct! ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/16 "2025-01-05T11:02:30Z")
A8 is the list of 4th largest US city. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/17 "2025-01-05T11:06:59Z")
A1: You know, if San Antonio weren’t on that list, I would hazard a guess of busiest commercial ports according to censuses. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/18 "2025-01-05T11:28:59Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > A8 is the list of 4th largest US city. [!!!] Saint\_Cad wins A8 ! Hint: All of the cities on All of the lists were, on at least one census, one of the Ten largest cities in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/19 "2025-01-05T14:00:52Z")
OK so here is the second half of the list. Note the list was cut in two at a natural point. Paul Christopher David Matt Peter Jodie Ncuti ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433/20 "2025-01-05T16:52:17Z")
Googling Ncuti quickly brought the solution to light. I don’t feel bad to fail: I knew about exactly zero to do with _Hocto Word_ and probably zero of the 14 people. (In fact, given my ignorance I’ll consider it a moral victory to come up with the loosely related series: William Shatner, Patrick Stewart, …) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-fun-guess-this-list/1012433.md?page=2)