# Twenty Questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 30, 2000, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128 "2000-09-30T08:14:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/21 "2000-10-01T01:42:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gunslinger \* > \*\*I can’t play…it keeps saying “no such address” ☹ \*\* ::looks sad:: Me neither! This is such a gyp. Are you guys making this stuff up to make us feel bad? ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/22 "2000-10-01T02:16:17Z")
I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m not making _mine_ up. I’ve gotten such great games from this MB (this, Furious George and Guess the Evil Dictator/Sit-Com Character). Spontaneous Knowledge Chicken soup is probably not lumpy Chicken soup is probably delicious Chicken soup is probably a food You might use chicken soup 24 hours a day Chicken soup is probably not warm blooded Chicken soup probably doesn’t cry Chicken soup probably doesn’t make something move Chicken soup probably doesn’t like sugar Chicken soup is probably not colourful Chicken soup probably doesn’t live in mountains Chicken soup probably doesn’t have a hot flavor Chicken soup probably doesn’t have fangs You might not lick chicken soup Things I didn’t know Chicken soup is not rectangular Chicken soup does not eat hay You would find chicken soup on a farm You can use chicken soup at school Chicken soup does not dance on tables Chicken soup is not a kind of seafood ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/23 "2000-10-01T02:44:35Z")
\ is there something wrong with the link that I can’t use it? What address are you guys all going to? I wanna get in on all the fun, damnit! ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/24 "2000-10-01T03:27:18Z")
**Zoggie** , nothing’s wrong with the link, i just used it. if you are determined to see the site, just type it in: [http://www.20q.net](http://www.20q.net) . it’s not complex. okay, here’s my question: once we’ve determined that we are in the realm of household/everyday objects, what _can’t_ orbit the earth? you could send a candy bar into orbit, if you really really wanted to. (or if NASA wanted to just a little bit.) and there’s definitely something funny going on, becuase after i definitively answered that it was an item intended for eating, there were still all sorts of non-edible items on the “probable” list. i guess neural nets are sort of unreliable that way. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/25 "2000-10-01T03:38:40Z")
but don’t tell me a eucalyptus tree “doesn’t lift the spirits.” the smell of a eucalyptus grove is one of the best things ever. good as chicken soup. unfortunately, i learned today that a eucalyptus tree is a bottom feeder. fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/26 "2000-10-01T05:21:03Z")
Note to self: Jokes can’t liquify small furry animals. _shakes head sadly_ What’s the world coming to? ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/27 "2000-10-01T07:44:52Z")
This is going to be horribly addictive! For an incense burner (although I would have to admit that an early “guess” at “pipe for tobacco” was substantially accurate), it gave up and produced a list of suggestions which included crib,cookbook,dreidel,picture frame,and rocking chair, before suddenly taking a different tack and suggesting cheese! Oh, and I learned that I CAN lift a wolf. Now I know, I won’t feel the need to try it at any time soon. And I feel stupid becuase I don’t know what a dreidel is. I’m now in a hurry to tell my friends so they can waste time too. Thanks Chief Crunch! ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/28 "2000-10-01T09:32:49Z")
Hee hee. After the question “Does it fly” is answered “Yes”, 3 of the Probable Objects are: an actor, a Pope and a killer whale. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/29 "2000-10-01T10:09:26Z")
I have a pre-existing registration there, and I’m glad that y’all have finally discovered it. I’m laughing over just how well your experiences match mine. The AI they use is interesting: It can be sharp one moment, and then blindingly stupid the next. But most of its knowledge is what users have told it, and you have to be pretty far into the internet to play 20 questions with a machine, so that would skew the information it got. Myself, I wonder what in the world previous users would have had to type in for it to associate flying with a killer whale. ---
**Author:** ![Yue\_Han](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@Yue\_Han](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yue_Han)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/30 "2000-10-01T10:09:35Z")
After I finished playing with “computer mouse” as my subject (30 tries, BTW), it gave out this Spontaneous Knowledge: Spontaneous Knowledge A white board eraser might not be driven A white board eraser probably doesn’t have a curled tail A white board eraser might not breathe fire A white board eraser is probably not an insectivore A white board eraser is probably not a miniaturized version of something else A white board eraser is probably not crystalline A white board eraser is probably not produced by an oyster You might not wear a white board eraser on your finger A white board eraser is probably not a human body part A white board eraser is probably not body jewelry A white board eraser might not be ingested A white board eraser probably doesn’t have a face A white board eraser is probably not a woodwind instrument A white board eraser is probably not string like You might not be able to eat a white board eraser A white board eraser is probably not created from tree sap You might not lick a white board eraser A white board eraser probably doesn’t have handlebars A white board eraser probably doesn’t vibrate A white board eraser is probably not software A white board eraser is probably not native to Mexico A white board eraser probably doesn’t keep you cool A white board eraser is probably not used in the water A white board eraser is probably not used to make pencils A white board eraser probably doesn’t have strings A white board eraser probably doesn’t wear a collar A white board eraser is probably not a work of art A white board eraser’s is probably not fur used for coats A white board eraser is probably not a type of whale ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/31 "2000-10-01T10:23:44Z")
I just played it. Here’s what I came up with: > [@](#): > > Spontaneous Knowledge > A mountain climber was probably not invented > People might not own a mountain climber as a pet > A mountain climber is probably not used in travel > A mountain climber is probably not man made > A mountain climber might be easily moved > A mountain climber is probably not part of a camera > A mountain climber probably doesn’t nest on top of chimneys > A mountain climber probably doesn’t live under water > A mountain climber is probably not usually made from bricks > You might not need a key to use a mountain climber > A mountain climber might breathe > A mountain climber is probably not a type of dog > A probably doesn’t motor make a mountain climber work > A mountain climber probably doesn’t leave your body at death > A mountain climber is probably not a subatomic particle > A mountain climber probably doesn’t contain fuel > A mountain climber probably doesn’t carry grain in cheek pouches > A mountain climber is probably not a crustacean > A mountain climber is probably not worn on the human body > A mountain climber probably doesn’t come in a box > A mountain climber is probably not made from fruit > A mountain climber is probably not used for storage > A mountain climber probably does breathe > A mountain climber is probably not used by a blacksmith > A mountain climber is probably not created from tree sap > You might not wear a mountain climber on your finger > A mountain climber probably doesn’t have horns > A mountain climber is probably not a type of grass > A mountain climber probably doesn’t provide wool > A mountain climber is probably not an acoustic instrument > A mountain climber probably doesn’t enhance your eyesight > A mountain climber is probably not in the cabbage family > > * * * > > Contradictions > A mountain climber does not live in large populations > You cannot lift a mountain climber > A mountain climber is not smooth > It does not matter if our answers disagree, overtime my answers will change to reflect common knowledge. The best way to fix these contradictions is to play again. > > * * * > > Things I didn’t know > A mountain climber does not have fur > A mountain climber does live in groups > You cannot buy a mountain climber > A mountain climber does bear live young > A mountain climber does not come from an animal > A mountain climber is considered helpful to humans > You might not use a mountain climber in public > A mountain climber is not commonly used > A mountain climber does not come from something larger > A mountain climber does produce heat > A mountain climber is helpful in the learning process > A mountain climber might not be tamed > You might be able to find a mountain climber in an office > You cannot use a mountain climber at school Interesting. I always thought mountain climbers carried grain in cheek pouches and were worn on the human body. Another bit of ignorance fought. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/32 "2000-10-01T10:39:23Z")
Ok. The topic is genitals. Here’s what the machine gave me: > [@](#): > > Spontaneous Knowledge > You might not obtain information by using genitals > Genitals is probably smaller than a garage > Genitals probably doesn’t weigh more than a duck > Genitals is probably not made of metal > Genitals might not be used for communications > Genitals probably doesn’t use electricity > Genitals is probably not larger than a bread box > Genitals is probably not bigger than a human being > Genitals is probably commonly used > Genitals probably doesn’t have moving parts > Genitals is probably smooth > Genitals is probably not used to shoot poison darts > Genitals probably does come in different colors > Genitals might not be able to kill you > Genitals is probably not made from grain > Genitals might be easily moved > You might find genitals in a house > Genitals is probably not part of a camera > Genitals probably doesn’t eat leaves > Genitals might not jump > Genitals probably doesn’t have a face > You might touch genitals > Genitals probably doesn’t have pouches > Genitals probably doesn’t live in a burrow > Genitals might not be elected to public office > Genitals is probably not a person > Genitals is probably not a marsupial > Genitals probably doesn’t have more than four legs > You might not buy genitals in a bakery > Genitals is probably not an operation > You might not smoke genitals > Genitals might not be found on Canadian coins > > * * * > > Contradictions > Genitals can be painted > It does not matter if our answers disagree, overtime my answers will change to reflect common knowledge. The best way to fix these contradictions is to play again. > > * * * > > Things I didn’t know > Genitals is not mass produced > Michael Jordan would use genitals > Genitals is not an abstract concept > Genitals does not use sonar > Genitals can change size > Genitals does lift the spirits > Genitals is probably not spontaneous > Genitals is not specifically male > Genitals can discharge waste > Genitals is made in many different styles > Genitals does increase when used > You can lift genitals > Genitals cannot make a sound > Genitals is probably long and thin I love the last one on the Spontaneous Knowledge. Satan might be found on Canadian money, but I’ll be damned if genitals are. Oh, yeah, you would touch your genitals. And, finally, genitals do lift the spirits. And one last thing: Genitals might not be elected to public office. I guess the machine hasn’t figured out yet that most politicians are dicks. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/33 "2000-10-01T10:51:06Z")
“genitals might not be able to kill you” whoooeee, i guess the 20q AI has never had gonorrhea!! okay, neither have i. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/34 "2000-10-01T14:31:33Z")
Ok,I’m having far too much fun with this. > [@](#): > > Things I didn’t know > You would pay to use penis ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/35 "2000-10-01T16:05:14Z")
Hahah, > [@](#): > > Things I didn’t know > A tea cup is not a type of bear That’s what I call a strange game. ---
**Author:** ![Zumba\_The\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/779978/32.png) [@Zumba\_The\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zumba_The_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/36 "2000-10-01T20:13:35Z")
I played with Picnic Table. It took it 30 guesses to get it right. > [@](#): > > Contradictions > A picnic table probably does bring joy to people > A picnic table is not made of metal > A picnic table can be used by a cowboy > Things I didn’t know > The don’t police use a picnic table > A picnic table is not a lazy animal > You can lift a picnic table > A picnic table is not some sort of candy The don’t police use a picnic table? I am not sure what the don’t police are. It asked me if it came in more then one piece, and I answered “sometimes”. The next questions was is it a lazy animal? I had no idea you could get lazy animals in more then one piece! I love this game. I am going to go play again. ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/37 "2000-10-01T20:33:25Z")
this might be why some people couldn’t get on… From the link… > [@](#): > > [20Q.net](http://20Q.net) has moved! > 20Q has just moved into a new house and a new and faster Internet connection. You may experience some problems with this server over the next few days while the computers are configured. > > If you have a link to [http://207.236.3.210](http://207.236.3.210), please change it to [http://www.20q.net](http://www.20q.net); the IP address has changed and may change again. Now to go play… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/38 "2000-10-01T21:18:18Z")
okay, I tried a kilt, and then bagpipes. For the kilt, it came close, sort of - on q20, it guessed a kimono, but eventually gave up. for bagpipes, on question 20 it guessed an atomic bomb. ---
**Author:** ![crispix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@crispix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crispix)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/39 "2000-10-01T21:56:12Z")
It can’t even guess “orgasm” -crispix types “crispix” ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2000, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128/40 "2000-10-01T22:28:12Z")
YEAH! Zoggie can play. And I too am enchanted by this delightful little game. Here’s what I learned: Contradictions A nightgown is a common household object A nightgown is pleasurable A nightgown does hold things You can control a nightgown A nightgown is probably symmetrical A nightgown is usually colorful A nightgown is heavier than a pound of butter It does not matter if our answers disagree, overtime my answers will change to reflect common knowledge. The best way to fix these contradictions is to play again. * * * Answers for your Unknowns A nightgown might not affect you You might not put something into a nightgown A nightgown does not burn A nightgown is not smooth A nightgown is not made of multiple parts * * * Things I didn’t know You can buy a nightgown A nightgown does not run on tracks You cannot wear a nightgown on your head You would not pay to use a nightgown A nightgown does not have an engine Everything does not experience a nightgown A nightgown cannot liquefy small furry animals \*\*I guess the comp. learned a lesson today 🙂 \*\* [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-questions/35128.md?page=3)