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Animal-Vegetable-Mineral-Abstract: The Pants Memorial Game
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The chairperson selects an object/idea/whatever and announces whether it's animal, vegetable, mineral, and/or abstract. The others have to ask questions to figure out what it is. Whomever guesses the object correctly is given the chair for the next round; repeat ad nauseam.
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Negativity
[Bob, Boolbar, Inkspot] No.
Is it used for transport?
Was it invented?
I mean that ships, the wheel are generic but vacuum cleaner, camreras where invented, does it fall in to either category?
Would one find it inside the home?
[Boolbar] No.
[Inkspot] Yes.
[Chalky] Possibly, but probably not.
Could it be considered a communication device?
Does it have wheels?
Is it a game machine of some sort?
[Boolbar] No.
[Breadmaster, Raak] I guess you could try and use this thing in those ways, but as that's not what it's designed for I'll say no.
Is it usually found in a hospital?
Was it invented before 1900?
Is it a photocopier?
Should every office have one?
[Boolbar] There are places where it is usually found, but I don't believe a hospital is one of them.
[Inkspot] I don't know when it was invented but that would be my guess.
[Chalky] No, but the way my mind works I can't help seeing at least a few similarities.
[Lib] That's a subjective question to which I would probably answer 'yes', but I expect the more usual answer would be 'no'.

Hmmm... not sure this spurious extra information would help anyone...

Is it a camera?
**** CORRECTION ***
To Inkspot's last answer, I would guess AFTER 1900. So, Boolbar, no - it's not a camera. Sorry...
Oh, so shall I go for a facsimile machine then?
Does it require electricity in order to function?
Would its primary use be for a particular profession(al).
ie stethoscope (doctor) V's a spanner (plumber/engineer/mechanic)
[Boolbar] You can, but I believe we have established that the primary purpose of this thing is not for the act of communication.
[Chalky] Yes.
[Inkspot] No.
Is it a machine for making something?
even though its primary function is not for communication, can you use it to communicate?
When in use, is it noisy?
That is, would it be obviously making a noise if you where (say) 20 feet away.
[Raak] I'll give a clue here - it is not used to manufacture something from raw materials, but it is a machine that processes something.
[Lib] Well, you could but I wouldn't sniff round this hole if I were you.
[Boolbar] No.
Is it a barcode reader?
Does it have an industrial application?
No to both, though Boolbar's notion of processing is closer than than of Ibid's, though I will throw in that this device contains no optics (e.g. lenses etc).
A punchcard reader?
A paper shredder?
A pasta maker?
printer?
although I'm sure that you could fit that in the fridge...:S
is it still in common use today?
Is it a scientific instrument?
An iron maiden?
Oh, wait -- those tend to be noisy.
A Thermostat?
An automatic cigarette-rolling machine?
Has it any connection with photo-processing?
Sorry for the delay
[Riff, 1] No
[Raak] No
[barbacoa] No
[Chalky, 1] Yes
[Inkspot] No
[Riff, 2] Ouch, no
[Boolbar] No - but (clue alert) it probably contains one.
[Breadmaster] No - although it might be adapted to perform this "roll"
[Chalky, 2] Probably not.
Would it cost less than ... say £200 to buy?
Cost
[Chalky] *googles* It seems so, yes.
A Laminating machine?
Does it process 'paper' in some way?
I ask because we seem to getting fixated on paper processing and for all we know, this machine could be a sausage maker.
[Boolbar] No, but you're getting warmer.
[Chalky] No, not paper.
It is some sort of alarm device?
Helping hand
[Raak] No.

Since I will wish to hand over the chair before leaving a little early this afternoon (probably about 4-5pm) I will give some hints as to what information would be very helpful, viz:

  • where it is most commonly found;
  • what it processes;
  • how it processes it.
I have a further clue up my sleeve which I will issue at about 3pm if we make no significant progress by then.
Is it a glue gun?
Is it a food maker of some sort?
Not a toaster but more along the lines of a breadmaker.
Does the application of heat 'mould' something, like glass?
Does it process a solid item?
Glue gun - Nah, it can't be that.
Is it found commonly in an office?
Just retract breadmaker,as you prevously said probably not found in the home.
Does it use water in the process?
Excuse the multi posting.
A hot water urn?
Hokey cokey
[Boolbar] No.
[Chalky] The heat is part of the processing, not really moulding, and almost certainly not glass.
[Boolbar] Yes.
[Inkspot, 2] Not an office.
[Inkspot, 3] I think not - although a small amount could be useful.
[Raak] Hence, no.
Is there a missing answer?
I keep searching back to find the answers to the food processing question. rab - I know you're probably fairly busy, but can we eliminate food as we have done with paper?
Is it something an interior decorator, electrician, plumber, or similar trademan would use?
[Chalky] Its primary function is not food related. However, less conventional uses of this device are limited only by our imagination, or perhaps an arbitrarily chosen numerical factor.
[Raak] No - or at least, not in order to do interior decorating, electrifying, plumbing or similar trades.
An iron?
as in shirts and all that
[Software] No - but you're not far off...
A steam engine?
A car crusher?
An electric seat warmer?
A trouser press?
[Chalky] Nope.
[Breadmaster] Nein.
[Raak, 1] Nay.
[Raak, 2] Hmmm... I was also looking for the manufacturer... should I give it him?
I see the light!
It's an orthopedic heated sleeping bag for midgets!
Oh, and yes, give it to Raak.
Raak the winner again!
Only if he can give 101 uses of the said Corby device.
Giving it to Raak
Go on. But refrain from over-effusive congratulatory words. I'm not sure Raak's really 'into' public displays of affection.
Kudos to Raak
[Chalky] However did you guess? [rab] Thank for those discreet and proper kudos. I shall arrange them artistically on my mantelpiece in a vase of water.

The next item is MINERAL and ABSTRACT.

A Jackson Pollack.
Erm....is it mainly chemical?
Is it mainly chemical?
Oops, sorry.
Is it The Rock of Ages?
Stab in the dark.
Does it exist only in the mind?
Is the mineral metal?
no question mainly because I'm unlikely to participate in this one.
I didn't guess - it was plain for all to see. It's only words on a screen.
[barbacoa] No, and no.
[Kim] (slight ripple from the audience, but) No.
[Btd] No.
[Riff] No.
Is it description for a collection of items?
[Inkspot] No.
Is it fictional rather than an actual place that appears in a work of fiction?
Is it Mount Doom?
...one of these days a questions will have so many riders it will run for several lines!!
[Inkspot] Yes; YES!!
Well done Inkspot.
Thank you Raak.

Lets see now, it's ABSTRACT and ANIMAL.

Cerebus?
Riff: No
Is it mythological?
Is it a cartoon?
Is it abstract solely because it is fictional?
Has it featured in a disney/pixar movie?
I say! Well done Inkspot - that must be a record? 6 questions and straight to the answer. Strikes me that you didn't get enough recognition for that, so to make up for it:
*Audience gasps in amazement, hesitates a bit, then breaks into rapturous applause for Inkspot!*
Is it an action connected to an animal?
*shuffles in late and starts handing out placards bearing the words "Congratulations Inkspot!!!!" for people to wave*
Thank you, both very much, *blushes*
Kayl [No]
Lib [No]
Raak [yes]
chalky [No]
Lotus [No]
Is the 'animal' element a human being?
a hobbit?
Is it originally from a book?
I too was most impressed by Inkspot's apparent use of ESP in the last one.
Chalky[Yes]
Zooological Keeper[No]
Breadmaster[No]
Is it a 'character' i.e. from a movie or play?
Zooological Keeper[No]
Flaubert's parrot?
Is it Gilgamesh?
Well, one-third human.
Is it someone we might have been told about in Childhood - like Jack Frost?
[Chalky] Wouldn't that be considered mythological?
Raak [No]
Breadmaster [No]
Chalky [Yes]

[barbacoa]in my mind, if is something is fictional it does not always follow that it 'mythological'.

Is this a Biblical character?
The sandman?
Raak [No]
Software [No]
Is this a character in a folk tale?
Father Christmas?
Jack Frost is though, isn't he? I don't mind if I'm wrong :)
The tooth fairy?
Raak [No]
Zooological Keeper [No]
Chalky [No]

[barbacoa] mythological and fictional is an old chestnut, and I still think there is a difference, even though it may be subjective and open to personal interpretation.

Summarising...
The answer is:
  • abstract solely because fictional
  • someone we might have been told about in childhood
The answer is not:
  • mythological
  • a cartoon
  • in a Disney/Pixar movie
  • a hobbit
  • a character in a movie or play
  • originally in a book
  • in a folk tale
  • in the Bible
  • Gilgamesh, Father Christmas, Flaubert's parrot, the Sandman, or the tooth fairy.
The bogey man?
Father Time?
Is it one person or a group of people?
Irritating curiosity
What was the answer to that link you posted?
Raak [No]
Boolbar [No]
Chalky [Yes, It is one person]

[barbacoa]Weapons of Mass Destruction

Is this person a nice person to have around?
Is this person male?
Boolbar]I would like to say yes, but very little in known about the persons character, as we are only told who they are and what they did...
Raak]Yes....muffled oohs in the audience
Mr Nobody?
The Man in the Moon?
Is it Solomon Grundy?
Did this person create something?
Would we find them in *any* form of literature?
Is this a character in a nursery rhyme?
Humpty Dumpty?
Jack Sprat?
getting warmer
Chalky [No]
Chalky[No]
Kim [No]
Boolbar [No]
Zooological Keeper[No] not directly but will be found in collections to do with the next question
Raak [Yes]audience brief muffled clapping
Raak [No]
Breadmaster [No]
The cow that jumped o'er the moon?
Is this a human person?
Software [No]
Raak [Yes]
Little Jack Horner?
the boy that stuck his finger in the dyke?
Is it Tom, Tom, the Piper's son?
Big Clue before bedtime!
Raak[No]You'll be getting this one aswell if your not careful ;)
snorgle[No]
Kin [No]
Looking for the person in the nursery rhyme about a man, who went somewhere (no animals other animals or people involved) but something happened, to make him never, want to go back ... ever!
Doctor Foster!
Take a chair!
Kim [YES]
A good win from Kim there coming up on the inside rail. Over to you.
Thanks, Inkspot, though you must admit, you gave us a lot of help.
OK...now then...Hmmmm.....Ah!
This next one is unquestionably MINERAL.
Is it man-made (oblig.) ?
Is it made of metal?

Nice one Kim
*Audience erupts into raucous cheering for Kim and his perfect recall of Doctor Foster's dubious exploits*

Would you like to have one?
[Boolbar] No.
[Chalky] No.
[Raak] No, but we may come back to the question of desirability later on.
Is it a combination of different materials?
Is it a geographical/physical feature?
Is it something one might have in one's home?
[Boolbar] No.
[Chalky] No.
[Raak] No.
Is it connected with the weather?
Is it the Moon?
Is there only one of this item?
Is it a particular object made of a particular substance, rather than the raw substance itself?
e.g. "diamonds", rather than "carbon".
[Chalky] No.
[Raak] No.
[Boolbar] *Murmur of interest ripples through the audience. Whispers of "interesting question" and "how can he answer that one accurately?".* Yes. Or, possibly, no.
[Riff] *More murmurs of excitement.*. If you had not supplemented the question, the answer to it would have been "Yes".
Is it an element?
[Boolbar] No.
Advance warning: I will be away from a PC for most of the afternoon and evening. I'll try to answer questions before I leave the office, but otherwise will probably not be able to get back on line between 2.00pm and 9.00pm tonight.
Is it larger than a telephone box?
Is it the Kaaba?
Might it be found underwater?
Is it found on this planet?
Is the object made from stone?
[Chalky] No.
[Raak] No.
[Breadmaster] No.
[Boolbar] Yes.
[Inkspot] Yes.
Is it a monument of some sort?
Is it presently located in only one country?
The Elgin Marbles?
The Rosetta Stone?
Is it *part* of a manmade thing (eg one of the stones in Stonehenge)?
Bear in mind here that the thing is neither a geographical feature nor manmade...
The Blarney Stone?
Going.....going.....
[Raak] No.
[Inkspot] I would refer the Hon. gentlemen to my answer to Boolbar's third question earlier today.
[Boolbar] No.
[Chalky] No.
[Breadmaster] No. It is itself, the thing, and what it is, too (A-hehhh-hehhh-hem!)
Nothing more from me until 9.00pm tonight.
Boolbar No3
How does Boolbar's third question
Is there only one of this item?your reply; Yes. Or, possibly, no
answer my question
Is it presently located in only one country
Is it a fossil?
The Stone of Destiny? (Also called the Stone of Scone.)
They may tak oor lives, but they will nivver tak oor friddom!
[Software] (Apologies for not having spotted your last posting.) No.
[Inkspot] I must confess I had some misgivings as to the quality of my response to your question. Boolbar's 3rd question was "Is there only one of this item? The strict answer to that question would be "Yes", but, it is alleged, there is at least one copy and there is some controversy as to which, if any, is the "real" one. The English, the Scots and the Irish all believe that they have the "one true stone". Given the rules of the game, I thought that my answer would be allowable. Turning to your question, "Is is presently located in only one country?", I considered that, given the (disputed) existence of at least one (alleged) fake, the same answer could be given. The strict answer to your question would, of course, have been "Yes" on the basis that the real one, to the extent that it even exists, could only be located in one country. I trust you will forgive me.
[Boolbar, again] No.
[Raak] YES! The answer is, indeed, the fabled Stone of Scone.
*Shouts of "Och, Aye!", "Hoots!" and "Nac Mac Feegle!" from the audience.*
 The stone belongs under a Chair, which now passes to Raak, with compliments.
Aye, 'tis a braw bricht moonlicht nicht the nicht, is it no?

Ahem. The next object is VEGETABLE.

Is it a living organism?
Raak]Congtrats on another superb win
Kim]The apology should be mine for not appreciating that the answer was the same and for the unintended brusque nature of the posting.
[Inkspot] No.
Is it edible?
Good guess, Raak. I'm determined to get one of these one of these days!
Is it a cricket bat?
Is it native to the UK?
Has it undergone a process of some kind to be in its present form?
[Inkspot] No offence taken, I promise.
[Breadmaster] Yes.
[Inkspot] Therefore, no.
[Software] Well, either maybe, or no. See the answer to Kim.
[Kim] Yes.
Is it associated with a cuisine from a particular country?
Although it is edible, is it usually thought of as something to eat?
[Inkspot] Not really.
[Boolbar] Yes.
Its not a tin of exploding peas, is it?
- topical, topical...!
Baked beans?
Does it contain fruit?
[Kim] No. [Software] No. [Boolbar] No.
Is it a vegetable?
Was it A vegetable?
oops
ignored the warning, sorry
[Inkspot] No. That is, it is VEGETABLE in terms of the game, but it does not contain anything ordinarily called a vegetable.
Is it usually consumed in solid form?
Is it somthing made from several ingredients like a jelly or a cake?
[Boolbar] Yes.
[Inkspot] Yes.
Compote?
[Software] No.
Is it usually served hot?
[Boolbar] No.
Are the ingredients all mixed together to form one homogenous product?
Is it a type of cake? cheeky supplementary question,Welsh cake?
[Kim] No. [Inkspot] No, hence no.
Is it seen as a seasonal food?
such as say a salad
Does it contain chocolate?
Is it sweet?
Confiture
It's Jam. With whole lumps of fruit in it. And my guess would be strawberry.
Is it trifle?
[Inkspot] No.
[Boolbar] Yes, and a ripple of applause from the audience.
[phahad] Despite the chocolate content, you wouldn't really think of this as being sweet.
[penelope] Not any sort of jam, marmalade, fruit preserve, or thing of like nature.
[Kim] No.
Would you describe it as being minty?
Is it made with choux pastry?
Exlax?
Is it a breakfast cereal?
Forget the homogenous choux pastry,(not paying attention....again!)
[phahad, Inkspot, Software, Inkspot] No.
Is it something contained within chocolate?
clapclapclapclapclapclap
[Boolbar] Yes.
Is it cocoa/cacao (bean or otherwise)?
[LotUS] I've already said it contains chocolate.
Er... a chocolate-covered billiard ball?
Wait a minute...
Boolbar - Does it contain chocolate?

Raak [Boolbar] Yes, and a ripple of applause from the audience.

Boolbar - Is it something contained within chocolate?

Raak [Boolbar] Yes.

I'm sorry. All I can say is.....WHAT?!
Is it a brand name?
Hmm. Another paradox strikes. Probably a good job there's no emaG esreveR here...
A chocolate centred chocolate covered caramel?
[ZK] I can't get past the 'not being sweet' thing either.
Straightening the way
[ZK] I took Boolbar's first question to mean, does the thing partly consist of chocolate? It does. I took his second question to mean, does the thing consist of chocolate enclosing something else? It does.
[barbacoa] No. Concerning sweetness, I personally wouldn't call chocolate sweet, especially plain chocolate. The thing that it is enclosing is certainly not sweet at all.
[Everyone] So, what unsweet vegetable thing might be coated with chocolate? I'm sure the answer will be waiting for me in the morning.
Oops, missed Riff's question. No, not a chocolate-covered billiard ball. (I think the billiard ball would be either ANIMAL or MINERAL, depending on its source.)
Is it those chocolate-covered coffee bean things you get in places like Starbucks?
We have a winner!
[Kim] Yes, it is indeed chocolate-coated coffee beans.
*blushes*
I'm so sorry, everyone. I feel I have once again crept up on the side rail and snuck in while others' back were turned. Oh, well, what the hell...
ANIMAL
I'm off to Milton Keynes now, so no responses to questions until about 9.00am GMT tomorrow. Line 'em up!
Is it human?
Is it a single, living organism?
Do worms get married?
Is it/are some of them alive just now?
Has someone been tapping my brainwaves?
[Breadmaster] No.
[Inkspot] Yes.
[Raak]Yes.
Is it a worm?
Native UK?
*Aaaargh* - Rewind!!!!
My response to Raak's last question contained a typographical error. The answer to his question is not, in fact, "Yes", but "No". Apologies to all for being asleep at the keyboard. Boolbar and Software invited to review their last questions in the light of this.
Does it end in "Saurus" ?
Was it native to a region of the world?
[Boolbar] No.
[Inkspot] My research indicates that the answer to your question is Yes.
Was it alive at any time since 1900?
How old?
[Raak] No.
Dodo?
Is it the pre-historic single-cell Radiolaria?
[Boolbar] No.
[Inkspot] No.
Is it a reptile?
Could it fly?
Was it a sea creature?
Clarification plase
Living or dead? Does the answer to Inkspot's first question mean that it is alive right now, or merely that it was alive when it, er, was alive?
Oooh, aaah!
[Inkspot] My research indicates that the answer to your question is "No".
[Boolbar] Yes. *Excited murmurs and a burst of applause from the audience.*
Is it a fossilised bird?
Clarification plase (sic)
*Struggles to resist urge to answer Raak's question with "Yes". Just succeeds.*
[Raak] My answer to Inkspot's first question may be interpreted to mean that, when they were alive (which, clearly, from my answer to your first question, they no longer are) they were individual, living organisms. I trust this is clear.
[Inkspot] Yes.
Archaeopteryx?
Paleontologists unite!
[Boolbar] Yes!
Boolbar wins by a head from Inkspot! The answer is indeed Archaeopteryx.
I was hoping someone would go for Pterodactyl first, so that I could come back with a witty remark about how I thought that was a verse form, but never mind. I pass the Chair in Jurassic Studies over to Boolbar, with compliments.
Yey!
Thank you! From an old bird to the next mystery item . . . ABSTRACT.
Is it a human concept
Standard opening
[Software] Yes it is. (standard answer)
Is it pleasant?
* collective sharp intake of breath as the audience first marvel at Boolbar's knowledge of flying creatures that have been dead for ages ... then break into well-deserved applause*
Takes a bow
[Chalky] It might be, but then again it might not be. Or then again, the question might not have any meaning.
Is it an emotion?
It's not The Matrix or some philosophical thing like that is it?
Is it the mind?
As technically speaking, the mind is not regarded as animal (apparently)
Was it ever thought of before the seventeenth century?
Another day, another question.
[Tuj] No.
[Zooo Keeper] No.
[Breadmaster] Yes.
Manichaeanism?
Wot?
[Raak] *looks in a dictionary* No. This game is sure educational!
Is it connected with religion?
[Raak] No. It's a very general thing so I'm sure it could be said to be connected with lots of things if you really wanted to try and find connections.
Do animals have this concept also?
Does it have its origins in philosophical writings?
Is it 'thought'?
"Manichaean (n): Someone from Manchester."
[Tuj] I wouldn't have thought so, but you never can tell . . .
[Kim] No.
[Riff] No.
BTW, saying that it is a human concept might lead you astray. If all life vanished from this planet (or any planet for that matter) then it could be argued that this concept still existed. A bit like the tree falling in the forest when there is no-one around making a sound.
Is it, therefore, logic?
Donning thoughtful Bertrand Russell pose.
[Software] No.
Is it life itself?
[Boolbar] Isn't it arguable that a concept must de facto be capable of conception (by beings capable of thought) and that if all life on any planet vanished then there would be nothing left capable of abstract thought and, accordingly, the concept itself would cease to exist. *Lao Tse: "When a tree falls in a forest and you are not there to hear it, does it make a sound?"
Lord Vetinari: "Yes."
Lao Tse: "How do you know?"
Lord Vetinari: "My sources are generally reliable."*
[Kim] No. oh, and yes I agree it is arguable.
Can you give us a clue? :)
Clueless
[ZK] Yes, I will if no-one has got it by tomorrow.
Is it the passage of time?
Can it be expressed in equations?
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