arrow_circle_left arrow_circle_up arrow_circle_right
Animal-Vegetable-Mineral-Abstract: The Pants Memorial Game
help
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.
arrow_circle_up
RECAP
There is not more than one of them.
It is not numerical.
It does not involve religion.
It is not unique to humans.
You could possibly pay money to buy some.
It can be seen.
It can be perceived by the senses.
It does involve emotion.
It is not love.
It would not be considered one of the 'arts'.
Is it not generally considered to be a positive thing.
It isn't a colour.
It isn't one of the seven deadly sins.
It couldn't exist without animals or humans.
It elicits an emotional response.
It isn't pain.
It isn't childbirth.
It isn't mortality.
It doesn't, as a rule, cause physical damage.
It is not considered a disease.
It is not a positive thing.
It isn't sex.
It isn't impotence.
It isn't artificial.
It isn't rabies.
It isn't a short lifespan.
It isn't exclusive to humans.
It isn't death.
It isn't obesity [but 'close' said Hux].
It doesn't involve one specific emotion.
It isn't a celebration.
It isn't 'an' emotion.
It isn't crying.
It isn't love.
It isn't depression.
It isn't anorexia nervosa.

OK there seem to be some missing answers, if I've read it right:
Is it an action? [Bob]
Is it dieting? [Darren]
Is it unhappiness? [Chalky]
Is it self-consciousness? [LotUS]
Is it something to do with physical appearance? [Darren]
Phew!

Is it something that can affect anyone/anything?
I'm intrigued by the fact that it's not exclusive to humans.
Bravo Chalky.
Chalky - yes, It could affect anyone, but NOT anything.
First, the missing answers (apologies to all):
It is not an action
it is not dieting
it is not unhappiness
it is not self-conciousness and it is not something to do with physiscal appearance.
I am surprised at how long this one is going on... I thought it would be a case of "four questions and we're done".
A clue...
[Raak] You might want to break out the thesaurus for one of your earlier questions that was close but forced a rather vague answer from me.
Would it be considered a 'disorder'?
Albinism?
Chalky - not a disorder, no. Raak - no.
Is it associated with a loss of some sort?
Stabbing in the dark, slightly confused.
Infertility?
Inkspot - no. Chalky - no.
Let me recap the important questions (in descending order of relevance)... as it seems that all are confused...


(1) It is not considered a good thing.
(2) It can be perceieved by the senses
(3) It could not exist without animals or humans
(4) It is not a "disease"
(5) It is not a "disorder"
(6) It isn't unique to humans

and... If you think sideways, Noodle was so so so so so close with his vague question...
As for (4) and (5) you might want to consider a thesaurus.
Homesickness?
NOT homesickness
I am retracting my last question ... because homesickness is associated with a loss
Could my goldfish have it?
This is a killer. I am absolutely stumped by the fact that you could buy it.
Some sort of fear or phobia?
Can this manifest itself - without the influence/impact of another being?
awkwardly phrased, sorry - but I can't think of any other way to ask
Is it a virus?
I'm thinking influenza or some such
Breadmaster - I have no conclusive proof that goldfish have it, but in theory I don't see why not. Chalky - It doesnt need the influence of another "being", LotUS - it's not a virus.
Breadmaster - let's just say you dont buy "it" but spending money could could increase "its" likelihood.
But then again... if it's what you really wanted, then I suppose you could "buy" it... but I don't know who would!
*points Huxley towards his question*
Is is Poverty?
Is it a personality trait?
Arthritis?
If not a disease maybe an ailment or complaint like a bad back!
Boolbar - no, Kim - no, Chalky - no, Inkspot - no
I'll toss in a question and answer it:
Is it caused by environmental conditions?
Hux - yes.
Is it connected with breathing?
And is it audible?
Sorry to keep hogging questions, but just had another thought. Is it an addiction?
Hay Fever?
Darren: no, no, and no. Boolbar - no.
I fear that this one may never get solved.
Can it be heard?
S.A.D. syndrome?
Sun burn?
Ibid - not really, no. Chalky - no. Inkspot - no.
Being fat?
Vertigo?
Raak - no. Inkspot - no, but you're barking up the right tree!
Is it a phobia?
Repetition!
A nightmare?
clutching at straws
Chalky - no
Stomach ache?
Is it something to do with what you eat?
sea-sickness?
*ting* jetlag?
Breadmaster - no, Boolbar - no, Wol - no, Chalky - YES!
Well done Mr. Chalky!!!

I was thinking of Motion Sickness, and I dont think anyone will argue that Sea/air/car sickness is it.

So, I get to draw a line and let the Chalkmeister take over:
I must say...
...that I've never thought about motion sickness in such detail! I had to read Noodles "Does it involve emotion?" question at least three times to make sure the "e" was there.
Here have another line just to keep it clean...
Congrats to Chalky!!
Although I feel I must point out that when I was sea-sick, it had a lot to do with what I ate! :o)
PING
Gender Alert!! Chalky, SHE will not be amused, ;-)
Whoopseedaisie....
Chalky] Madamoiselle you have my sincerest apologies...
Parrots are us
Well solved Chalky and well set Huxely. Hindsight being wonderful perhaps if only homesickess had been answered.
Chalky swings...
I'd be interested in knowing what led Chalky from "clutching at straws" with "nightmare" to "sea-sickness".
Meisterful
[Hux] Oh I dunno ... it's quite nice being called the Chalkmeister. You won't remember the Trappist Spot the Ostrich game in YAMCS when I arrived, as it were. [By the way, that was a cracking game - sublimely silly ... we should do it in here sometime]

Aha ... have just previewed and seen your posting - it just struck me - a combination of lateral thinking [replacing emotion with motion] and your environment clue. I WAS going to ask if the 'condition' was temporary, but then thought b*ll*cks to all that namby-pambying around so just went for it ...

Trappist Spot The Ostrich
One of my favorites on YAMCS... I dont think I ever recounted the story of how I backed up YAMCS onto my hard disk after I brought it down and then my laptop gave up the ghost... YAMCS will remain forever a memory and nothing more :(
Sitting under a palm tree sipping tea
Chalky you can relive Ostrich, thanks to DrQ.
No....!
I forgot that I had emailed it to DrQ... I must get it back so that I can bring it back to life! :)
YAMCS
[Hux] Really, I never got it.... I just saved a few of the pages that I thought were excellent.
Ostrich revisited
[Inkspot] Lovely! Thanks.
New Object - *V E G E T A B L E *
Nice & easy this time.
Is it edible?
Softly, softly.....
Kim - YES
I reckon this one will take 10 guesses max.
Is it a fruit?
Pomegranite?
Wild stabs in the dark should ensure that as a roughly once a day MC player I won't be the chair.
Is it ball shaped?
Does it grow above ground?
Tuj - No. Boolbar - er ... No. Inkspot - er ...YES
there is a reason for my hesitation ... sorry, I can't be more specific at this early stage.
Is it green?
Ibid - YES, it can be
Sorry Darren [missed yours] - er....No.
CORRECTION: Darren - YES, I believe it is
Would you want to eat while it was green?
Ibid - YES.
Clarifying Inkspot's...is the part you eat above ground while it's still growing?
 
When it's fully grown, is this fruit larger than a tennis ball?
Is it eaten with the skin?
Like apples, but then I also eat the core and pips.
A pineapple?
Mayhap that is a vegetable?
DrQ - No. Darren - No. Inkspot - No. Software - No.
I have answered a firm NO to DrQ and Inkspot even though the answer *could* be yes - but I fear I would mislead you all. There's a vital question that no-one has asked yet, which should clarify things.
A pepper?
No idea what the vital question could be, so I'm going for it. Most annoyed to see that I almost guessed right on the last one, goddammit!
Is it usually eaten cooked?
Breadmaster - No. Inkspot - not necessarily.
I fear this may go on a bit longer than I'd originally predicted . . .
a quick summary
It's edible

It isn't a fruit - hang on, yes it is

It isn't ball-shaped

it grows above ground (hesitatingly

you would want to eat it while it is green

it isn't eaten with the skin on (but it could be)

the part you eat is below ground while it's growing (but it could be above ground)

It's not necessarily eaten cooked

... and it's not a pomegranate, pepper or pineapple.

Is it usually eaten raw?
simulpost! but I'll leave it, as both may apply! :) GAh! simulposted again!
asparagus?
An onion?
Recap - misleading!
But thanks Wol ...
Some clarification is called for:
Originally a fruit
Originally above ground
Originally can be green
Originally raw or cooked with skin on
Originally ball-shaped and small
There - I've given you THE CLUE - now any passing lurker should be able to guess it
Sounds like a crab apple to me, but then I'm odd and regularly dig them up to use the worms as bait ... :-(
Wol, Raak, Duj - the answer is NOT a fruit in it's entirety
*sigh*
Hey up, lass, don't give up on us; here, have a cyber cuddle ... ;-)
sounds like a nut (walnut?) to me
but I'm clutching at proverbials now.
[Wol] Watchit, son - it'll send you blind, you know!
[Duj] Clutching at nuts don't send you blind - but it does hurt ...
Ooh, ooh - it's a bean, isn't it?
Duj & Wol - It isn't made from a nut or a bean ....
Thanks for the cuddle, Duj :-)
applesauce?
Jam? Marmalade?
I'm having a great day at work this Friday, you can tell ...
That should have been Wol, not Women's Online Institute ... oh dear.
snorgs, Wol - No, No & No
You're along the right lines now - just remember that I hesitated about the 'fruit' thing ....
Wol - I'm hoping someone will guess this soon, so I can actually get some work done :-)
Rhubarb?
Audience; rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb ... Cut! ..... Cook No, no, no - a 45° angle, phurleese!
Duj - No
What time of day is it there? :-)
Tomato sauce?
technically a fruit, but..
Retiring
G'nite, Chalky. Late for me to be in the workshop playing computers - far too much imbibing has taken place (as you probably have noticed! - hence the question?) Must off before I totally disgrace myself.
snorgs - No
... but the best guess so far. Tomato sauce has too many additives to be labelled just a 'vegetable'. This particular thing is quite pure, by comparison.
See!
Whoops! The time - yours +10. That is, as I type, 8:40pm.
tomato soup?
No, you're on summer time; yours + 9. Told you!
snorgle - Nothing to do with tomatoes
[Duj] That's quite early really, imbibing-wise ;-)
fruit (apple?) juice?
Wol - No
remember - it's not an obvious 'fruit'. I had to look it up.
Gooseberry sauce
What's green and goes up and down?
Maple syrup?
Ribena?
Guacamole? Made from Avocado pear..
I looked it up, its a fruit!
Inkspot, Huxley - No & No
I'll have to go soon ...hence another clue to speed things up - it's savoury rather than sweet. [I can't believe no-one has asked these obvious questions :-)]
Marrow rum
I made some of this when I was a teenager. You remove the seeds from the marrow and fill it with brown sugar. Then you hang it in a pair of tights and put a bowl underneath to catch the liquor. It was the most disgusting thing I have ever tasted (among things that are meant to be tasted, anyway).
I place my curse on Snorgle by stating definitively that she simply has to be right.
Soy sauce?
ahem
oh chalky...
simulpost - snorgs - No. Breadmaster - No. Darren - No
but getting closer - it's very common - I bet most of us use it
Olives? erm with pimiento..
Shaken or stirred?
snorgs - have another guess - quick!!
you got the right 'fruit'
someone - guess it - pleeeeeez
Hummous? Olive Oil?
have gone blank on olivey things..
A pea?
Tapenade?
OLIVE OIL is the CORRECT answer!!
well done snorgs - I was thinking of the extra virgin type, but hey - what's an extra pressing between friends.
A quick post - mortem:
I can't help thinking that if the original questions had been more generic, ie. Is it a vegetable product? Can you drink it? Is it savoury/sweet? Is it grown in this country? .... we might have got there a bit quicker without doing the rounds of various fruits... but hindsight is always cleverer, and besides - I knew the answer, as I suspect Darren did [but was holding back] :-)
***MINERAL***
Yay! I'm at work and its quiet so I should be able to keep an eye on this..
natural?
I'm not (any more), and can't, alas.
Is it found all over the world?
At lunch in the library, see you back at the office.
Wol - no. Inkspot - yes.
oh, someone answered, at last!
Is it a volcanic rock?
no.
That's natural, isn't it?
Does it have moving parts?
 
Is it something we can get into?
Does it require semiconductor devices to operate?
Sorry, I have a stinking cold and appear to have lost some of my ability to read. I completely skipped over a line.
DrQu+xum - no. Boolbar - no. Ibid - no!
Ibid - that would have narrowed down the field a bit.. :)
Is it larger than a housebrick?
Is it used to make other things?
ie. a material rather than an end-product.
Rosie - not normally. Boolbar - no.
Boolbar, the answer could be yes if you're a modern artist, but that covers anything, eggs, alligators, bodily fluids.. :)
If I found it in the house, would I want to get rid of it?
no.
unless you have a wierd fear..
Does it have a set shape?
Is it made from more than one material?
shhhhhhhh! back in the office, eating a Mars bar
Darren-pretty much, with minor variations. Inkspot - it can be..
Off on my lunch now, so back in half an hourish.. :D
Is it a container of some kind?
Rosie - no, not really
I'm thinking of a container as in a box, bowl or similar type of thing. I wouldn't think of this as a container, as such..
Is it something one encounters in daily life?
Is it made of glass?
Huxley - yes. Inkspot - it could be, but isn't usually.
Is it related to eating or drinking?
(also bored at work on Friday afternoon and filling billable hours with online capers)
A tile?
Is it used only in the home?
If I get another could be, I'm going home early :)
Is it a toilet?
A wild thought, hehehe.
Huxley - yes. Raak - no. Inkspot - no. Darren, no... :P
Is it something you'd eat off?
A plate? A saucer?
Does it require electricity?
is it a piece of cutlery?
Is it a cup or mug?
Darren - sort of; Raak - no; Ibid - no; Huxley - Yes!; Darren - no.
But what sort of cutlery? :)
And at this point, I bow out as I dont have time to chair a round this weekend... so passing it on....
OOh! So what lucky soul is going to be next?
Or are you all TOO SCARED?!?!?!
Fish knife?
Never entirely sure about those.
nope.
Fork?
Spoon?
Ladle?
A spoon! Yes! (about bloody time..) :)
***goes wild for Darren***
WOOOH! YAY!
This is usually VEGETABLE and MINERAL and can be ANIMAL too.
Thanks all!
Something to do with clothing?
Raak - YES!
That was a quick breakthrough!
a shoe?
Jewelry?
Wol - YES. DrQ - no.
This is getting very rapid! But a little more precision is needed.
Is it worn usually by men and/or women?
Inkspot - yes.
A pair of slippers?
Inkspot - no.
A boot?
DrQ - no.
A training shoe?
Would such an item normally contain wood? ... :-)
A pair of socks?
A snowshoe?
Are they for a particular use?
eg ballet shoes
Associated with sport?
Is it a sandal?
A deck shoe?
Dujon - no. Raak - no and no. Inkspot - theoretically yes. BM - theoretically yes. Kim - no. Software - no. Bob - YES, CORRECT!!!!
I must admit it took you much less time than I anticipated! Well done Bob the dog, you're in the chair for the next round.
I got it!
Well - thank you! I really enjoyed that quick-fire round. How about another?
This next one is VEGETABLE and MINERAL.
Is this some sort of building?
Leather-lined steel manacles?
Made with, er, vegetarian leather.
Is the vegetable part wood?
Darren - no, Raak (!leather-lined steel manacles? :o) - no, and vegetable part not wood either.
The Shadow Cabinet?
At least that's what they look like to me.
Is it man-made?
DrQu+xum - No (although I smiled at the suggestion)
Darren - Yes
Is it edible?
Is it a single individual or a class of things?
Is the mineral part salt?
Darren - Yes Breadmaster - Not a yes or no answer question - but I think it is fair to say that I am thinking of a single individual item which is part of a class of things
Raak - Yes
Is it a salted peanut?
Hehehe, or a ready-salted crisp?
Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps?
A chip?
Salted cod?
We have a winner!
Raak - if only!
Ibid - No
Tuj - Cod - a vegetable?
Darren - Not crisp but YES, it was a salted peanut. Audience goes wild for Darren!!
Looks like you've regained the chair - back to you...
Thinks: Is getting it in 9 some kind of record? I shall have to be more obscure next time...
Standing in line
Looks like it's me again, and this one is ABSTRACT and/or ANIMAL, depending on your approach.
Thanks Bob the Dog!
Is it a mythical or symbolic animal?
Raak - in a way, it is, yes.
Is it a God?
Does it have religious significance?
Inkspot - no. Kim - no.
Has it starred in an animated film?
Was it invented by a particular person?
Is it a black dog?
*storming into this game with a completely wild guess*
Is 'it' a fictional character?
Fine tuning Raak's earlier and meaning from a film/novel or their ilk as opposed to from "real" legend/myth or theirs.
Is it associated with a particular nation?
Is it a fictional/mythical human?
Is it capable of metamorphosis?
Chalky - no. Raak - YES. CdM - no. Dujon - YES. Rosie - well, yes, I suppose it is. Bob the dog - YES. LotUS - no.
Some useful inroads there.
Is it a male fictional character?
A detective?
Harry Potter?
It usually is.
Is it from an 'ancient' story ?
By 'ancient' I mean Roman/Greek/Egyptian
Bob - yes. Raak - no. rab - no. Inkspot - no.
Arthur Dent?
Do we know him by his full name [more than one word]?
... although I have a sneaky feeling that Boolbar is correct
James Bond?
I also have a sneaky feeling, but it has nothing to do with Boolbar.
[Bob] Mine was more of a 'hunch' - and yours . . .?
Does the person appear in a SF/Fantasy?
Chalky] A sort of premonition - I feel that I'm going to sneak someone elses chocolate pudding...
Boolbar - no. Chalky - yes (if you do indeed know him). Bob - no. Inkspot - no.
Male?
Did the person first appear in written fiction? (Screenplays don't count.)
Comic character?
Raak - (1) we've already had that, (2) no. Chalky - yes.
Is the character animated? (In the disney/pixar sense)
American?
Does this character appear in more than one film?
Dennis the Menace?
I could ask a more general question, but I'm not sure how to phrase it, so I'll keep stabbing (as the bishop said to the hockey team).
Was the character's first appearance on television?
A computer game character?
Bob - no (and we've almost had that before too). Chalky - no. Boolbar - no. rab - no. Raak - as it happens, no I don't think it was. Chalky - no.
Was his first appearance in the theatre?
Raak - no.
Before we go further down this route, I should say I'm not sure where this character first appeared, but I believe it was on radio.
Is it a child?
Does this character appear in a British film?
Was his first appearance less than 20 years ago?
Does this character appear in a publication containing largely, or only, comic strips?
Does this character wear spectacles?
snorgle - no. Bob - no. Chalky - yes. rab - no. Boolbar - no.
Is this character 'voiced' by an actor/comedian?
... meaning - is this a comic creation?
Alan Partridge?
Does this character speak in the English language?
Does this character 'live' in England?
Samantha?
Probably down in the archives this very moment.
Inkspot - Is Samantha a man? I may find out later - am off to Winchester to see Humph, Barry, Graeme, Tim et al.
Is the character still on the radio?
Forget my last guess
Must remember to pay attention, male has already been established by Btd
Chalky - (1) yes (2) no. Bob - yes. Boolbar - yes. Inkspot - (1) no, (2) no.
A Hollywood movie?
Chalky] If you see Samantha - you will be the first! But I am very jealous of your trip to Winchester! I saw ISIHAC at the RSC here in Stratford with Willy R - and my sides still ache just thinking about it.
Are you sure his appearance was less than twenty years ago?
:-)
Is this character still on TV?
Not including repeats.
Bob - no. CdM - 99.9% sure, yes. Boolbar - well, he's supposed to be making a new appearance, but then again you can never tell these days. But I'll say YES in this case.
[Darren] Now that should ring a bell - but it doesn't.
The Doctor?
I guess he's not human, but I'll throw him in anyway..
Ken?
Manager and next-door neighbour to John Shuttleworth?
In that case, is it John Shuttleworth?
David Brent?
Winchester...
Chalky] Winchester as in Hampshire, England? I live not more than 20 miles from there! Have I missed it?
As we speak...
Zounds! They really don't publicise these things, do they?
Or am I just not alert?
Anything to do with Monty Python or related personae?
Better take a proper stance...
Alf Garnet
Silly Moo
snorgle - no. Boolbar - no. Bob - no. Tuj - no. plump - no. Raak - YESSSS!!!!
Raak is CORRECT!!!! Raak is the next chairhostpersonman.

AUDIENCE GOES WILD!

Woohoo for Raaaaaak
Well done Raak - s'about time you had a crack at being in the chair.
[Darren] Was David Brent really on the radio at first?? If he was, I certainly missed a trick - that's why I didn't offer him as a guess.
[Tuj] Re ISIHAC I'll transfer to the Banter Game with my reply.
[Chalky] Well, I don't think he had that name. I was going by my recollections of the documentary on the Office series 1 DVD, where they mentioned Ricky Gervais was working as a DJ and had a character called "Seedy Boss" or something, which Stephen Merchant made a short film about which became the precursor of episode 1. Of course, I might have got that all screwy in my head.
(that's a radio DJ I mean)
Showing Ignorance
Who on Earth is David Brent? I suppose I could google, but couldn't be bothered. ... :-(
Personalities
I suppose that I should post this elsewhere but, whilst we await the ghost of Raak to appear: Being resident of territory outside the U.K. things can, and do, become difficult at times. Take Celebdaq; I try hard (sniggers) but honestly do not know 90% of the names which appear on the various lists! Sigh! Still, maybe it is not such a disadvantage? Whilst any refugee from MWP will now proceed to howl me down, I partake in a 'football' league which concentrates on the EPL. After the first month, guess who led the pack! All right, sorry; I shall now sink back into anonymity ... ;-)
Even more ignorance
Dujon] I am a UK resident and I don't know who David Brent is either...
This is MINERAL and ABSTRACT.
For those not yet on the same page, David Brent is the principal character of the award-winning sitcom "The Office", and is played by Ricky Gervais. I've only seen one or two episodes, but it is truly excellent. I didn't know it began as a radio show though.
Is it fictional/mytical/...?
As far as you know, does it exist soley on the planet Earth?
Unlike one Btd ;o)
rab: er...bit of a judgement call, that one. Bob the dog: yes.
Is it unique being only one of its kind?
Has it been touched by human hand?
Trying to establish in what sense it's 'abstract'...
Inkspot: yes. rab: no -- if it could be touched, it wouldn't be abstract, surely?
Is it the Holy Grail?
Just jumping in on the off-chance.
and if not... is it a metal object?
covering two bases...
Does it exist in printed form?
LotUS: no; yes, mostly, I think. Btd: while it has been written about, the thing itself is not something printed.
The Pearly Gates?
Has it religious connections?
Wild stab and a question. Back to the grind stone!
An aethiometer?
I think Inkspot is on to something here...
Is it a weapon?
Inkspot: no, and no. Btd: no. LotUS: YES!
Excalibur?
Is it the dagger the lady McBethh saw?
Just thinking of a weapon that could not be touched, and has been written about.
The Sword in the Stone
As I think it's a different sword than Excalibur.
The Sword of Damocles?
If not, is it *a* sword?
snorgle: no. Inkspot: no. snorgle: no. Ibid: no, and no.
[Raak] I think we're misunderstanding each other - if it's not mythical, then surely it exists and has been touched by human hand... but anyway, the two things I was thinking (Holy Grail and Excalibur) have both been suggested so I'll pass, and these are both wrong anyway....
Thor's hammer - Mjollnir?
Is it a bladed weapon?
Was it written about in a play (first)?
Is it associated with a particular culture?
rab]I think the misunderstanding may go back a bit as something fictional does not necessarily have to be mythical, other than that I'm still stabbing in the dark.
Does it involve ballistics?
LotUS: no, and no. rab: no. Inkspot: yes. DrQ: YES.
[Inkspot] Yes, it's definitely not mythical; fictional is very close although not quite bang on.
Is it the Ancient Mariner's crossbow that shot the Albatross?
Is it a firearm?
Is it featured in poetry?
Did it make it's literary debut in the last 100 years?
Is it C S Forester's eponymous gun?
Is it from a song?
Who killed cock robin?
I said the lion and quite tasty he was too!
Boolbar: no. LotUS: no. Btd: no. rab: yes. Wol: no. Inkspot: no.
I'll give you a hint: literature is the wrong path to go down.
Correction
My answer to LotUS should be "that could be a part of it".
Does it feature in a computer game? Doom's BFG perhaps?
Is it a vehicle (whereof a ballistic weapon is a part)?
Would it need a human to use this weapon?
or is it some sort of automatic weapon?
rab: It probably has done; not BFG. Wol: that would be a part of it. Boolbar: yes
Wol gets a ripple of pre-ejaculatory excitement from the audience.
Is it featured in a movie?
Is it a weapon that could exist in the future (but doesn't at the moment)?
Is it Iraq's WMD?
... perplexed by the 'not exactly fictional' bit.
Btd: It will be. :-) Boolbar: yes. Wol: YESYESYESYES!!!
Not fictional, in the sense of a work of literature; fictional, in the sense of (I am assuming) not actually existing.

Wol has the chair.

WMD
But they do exist! I distinctly recall selling them to Sadd... er.. I mean... ACT PATRIOTIC! *runs*
Oooh, this is exciting. ABSTRACT.
Does it have a religious aspect?
Is it in a film?
Is it an emotion?
Does it exist *solely* on Earth?
Can it be measured by science?
Raak] Lovely!
Ibid - no; Boolbar - quite possibly, but only incidentally; LotUS - no; DrQ - no; Btd - no.
A force of nature?
actually ...
DrQ - in fairness, yes. And Chalky - no.
Is it something that we can see?
Is it an idea?
... yes, I was wonderin' about your answer to the 'solely on earth' question
Is it fictional?
Chalky - no. (re 'solely on earth' - 'no' is accurate, in one way, but just not fair). Raak - er, yes.
Has it been written about?
Chalky - quite possibly, but only incidentally.
Is it used to scare small children?
Does it have a basis in a religion?
Do many people believe it exists?
Do many people believe it doesn't exist?
Do many people have no opinion either way?
Boolbar - no; Btd - no; Raak/Darren - its existence is not in doubt.
Is it singular?
Is it something we can see?
Repeating Boolbar's one that appears to have been missed unless my eyes are playing up again...
Ibid - it's collectively a single thing; and no (sorry, Boolbar!).
Is it a religion itself?
(though I suppose it could scare small children)
MF - no.
Is it something associated with living things?
Could it exist without the presence of Man?
I'm stuck already!
Is it an organisation?
Is it connected with the arts?
Darren - no, not really (I think I'm not entirely sure what you mean, actually). Inkspot - well, it's (er) fictional (see Raak above), so it needs/ed a creator. Other than that, I suppose it could. Raak - no. Chalky - YES! (Is this the breakthrough we need?) Night night all ...
Music?
Is it a particular artwork?
I think I've got it!
Is it the second violin's part in the third movement of Mendelssohn's 4th symphony?
Is this a particular painting?
Darn it; sorry, Darren - I still have not replaced my spectacles (the ones which are well past their 'use by date'. The brain is still being analysed by the experts.
Is it an opera?
Is it rock music? (abstract & mineral, hehehe)
Is it a collection of some kiind
kind, rather
Morning folks. Chalky - yes (so, Dujon - no); Darren/MF - it's collectively a single thing; CdM - do you really think I'd do that? Raak - no; Darren - no.
So is that a yes?
...like the Four Seasons or something?
MF - yes; like that, or something.
Is it European?
Has its existence been known about for more than 100 years?
Is its composer still alive?
Raak - yes; Inkspot - yes; Bm - no.
Was it composed in the eighteenth century?
German?
Vocal music?
Elgar's Enigma variations?
The Planet Suite - Gustav Holst?
Boolbar - yes! rab - yes! Raak - no. Ibid/Chalky - no (Chalky - 1910 or thereabouts, I think!) Nearly there, surely.
Beethoven?
Was it composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?
I always get confused between German and Austrian composers.
Chalky - no. Boolbar - no.
Schubert?
Boolbar - Me too. I have a feeling that Schubert was Austrian. *wnaders off for a google*
Wagner?
Noe he was definitely deutsch.
Brahms? as in Lullaby
may as well eliminate the obvious
Handel? as in Water Musik
am I the only one guessing now?
Franz Joseph Haydn?
Canons by J. S. Bach?
Brandenberg Concerto No 3?
Something by Bach?
Something by one of the Strausses?
[Chalky] Wasn't Brahms Hungarian?
[DrQ] Definitely German - born in Hamburg. You may be thinking of the 'Brahms & Liszt' euphemism? Now Franz Liszt was Hungarian. Also, the Strausses were quite Viennese - Austrian.
Wonder where Wol's got to - leaving us all-a-dangling ....
Sorry, sorry - life impinged for loonger than it should have done this afternoon. Where are we? Chalky/Chalky/Chalkiy/Boolbar/Inkspot/rab/DrQ - no. Raak - yes! (and I'll be kind - there were some 2 or 3 dozen Bach composers spread over 7 generations; it's JS you'll be meaning, I suppose).
Is it a sonata?
Bach's Toccata & Fugue in something minor?
Well-tempered clavier? Concerto?
as above - in 'D' minor?
Re-phrasing - Toccata & Fugue in D Minor?
sorry - simulposted with the rabster and missed the alert
Is this music to be played by a single performer?
The St John Passion ?
Bach's complete works?
Raak - a bit wide!; Btd - no; Chalky/Boolbar - no; rab - YES!!!! and no ...
Bach's 48 Preludes and Fugues it is. Well done, folks - and over to rab.
Bows
Crikee, I wasn't expecting that.

Ok mine is mostly VEGETABLE and ABSTRACT.

I'm leaving the office now, so unless I log on at home tonight, don't expect any answers until tomorrow.

Is it a painting?
- continuing the theme
Look you Bach
Wol]Which of rab's two questions were correct, at the moment I can't see the connection to the "Bach's 48 Preludes and Fugues". How wide of the mark was Raak?
Bach-fach
I think it was rab's "Well-tempered clavier" post that hit the spot. Raak was absolutely on the money if you discount everything Bach ever wrote apart from the 48 preludes and fugues.
Is is something disgusting by Damien Hurst?
Is it artistic?
[Inkspot] Bach's complete works cover around 150 CDs; the Well-Tempered Clavier (the name given to the two books of preludes and fugues - 2 of each in each major and minor key, totalling 48) covers four.
Some sort of sci-fi monster?
polite pianos
Kim/Wol]thank you for the clarification. I had not heard of the Well-Tempered Clavier before, and I won't embarass myself any further by describing the scene in a smithy that jumped to mind when I saw it.
MF: no. Kim: no. Raak: no. Tuj: no.
[Raak] Depends what you mean by artistic of course, but to answer anything but no would lead you up the garden path.
Something to do with food?
Oh, is it the garden path you threatened to lead us up?
Sticking my oar in
I remember well the Jacques Loussier version of Bachs' Well-Tempered Clavier. It was an ear-opener. To this puzzle, I ask the question...is it a triffid?
Catching a crab?
Prawns are my thing - still, just following D5
Ignore that! - too many vinos.
The Enormous Turnip?
Back to the matter at hand!
The Giant Peach?
Just getting a couple of childrens favourites off my chest.
Is it Treebeard?
No to all, except Darren's first (something to do with food).
Is it a recipe?
I'm sure I've asked this before, but we're not taking "fictional" to be a subset of "abstract", are we? Because they mean quite different things. A fictional individual is no more abstract than a real one, it's just fictional. Now, the idea of a thing, fictional or real, may be abstract. But anyone who proposes "The idea of X" as a subject should be expelled and shot, naturally.
BM: No
I was taking 'Abstract' to mean something which exists in people's mind/consciousness and is either impossible or unlikely to exist in a physically tangible form. *disappears up arse*.
By your definition Raak's WMD were not abstract.
Does it feature in a film?
Is it the taste of something?
Does it appear in a book?
Boolbar, Raak, Ibid: no
Is the vegetable part something that can exist (in a non-abstract way)?
ie. The Apple that tempted Eve is V/A but an apple can be V/Non-A.
Boolbar: Yes
Is it a singular item?
Is it in a song?
[rab] But that's not what "sbstract" means, is it? Abstractness and reality are different things, I'd have thought. WMD aren't abstract, whether they exist or not. The boiling point of water is the kind of thing that's abstract. Of course we can make it a convention in this game that "abstract" covers fictional entities too, but I just wanted to check whether that is the case or not *remains firmly up arse, whence he has never emerged yet*
Is there fruit involved in this?
The Aubergine of Doubt?
Is it a tree of some sort?
Is it food for thought?
Is it a mixture of vegetable ingredients?
Genetically Modified Foods?
As far as I can make out - the Vegetable part [the main part] is real and tangible - the Abstract part, I'm assuming, is something intangible that in some way can affect the vegetable part. Although, having said that I do not wish to take issue with whatever is up anyone else's arse.
Inkspot: yes; Breadmaster: no; Ibid: no; Raak: no; Boolbar: no; Bob the dog (i) no (ii) yes; Chalky: no
[Breadmaster] When we find out what it is we can argue the toss as to how abstract it is. As far as I'm concerned there's at least one compelling reason why it should be described as abstract, possibly two.

[Chalky] Pretty much yes.

Is is a recipie?
Kim: neither a recipie nor a recipe, no.
*blushes*
Have we ascertained whether it's edible? Erm . . .Is it?
Chalky: yes!
Is it "having your cake and eating it"?
Is it a saying?
As flat as a pancake; would that count as 'Animal and Abstract'?
Boolbar: no; Inkspot: yes
What animal is a pancake made from? I would argue a saying is abstract: it's neither animal, mineral or vegetable.
Actually it's not quite a saying, but close enough to have answered 'yes' to that question.
Is it a traffic jam?
Is it savoury?
Bob: no to both
Is the vegetable part a root vegetable?
Is it being in a pickle?
Inkspot: see below; Boolbar: no.
[Inkspot] We've already ascertained that it's a compound of more than one vegetable (which I'm taking in a more general sense to mean 'plant'); at least one of the components looks like it might be a root vegetable, but my knowledge of horticulture is not that extensive, nor is google being much help. Sorry.
Is it the best thing since sliced bread?
Is it sweet?
MF: no; BtD: YES!
Does it involve chocolate?
Is it green tomato chutney?
Is it confectionery of some sort?
Lib: whatever gave you that idea?? Boolbar: yes rendering Raak's question redundant.
Is it the cake I can't have and eat?
I know it isn't, but I just had to ask
Is it deep fried corgettes coated in chocolate batter with a side serving of spinach?
[rab] No reason.
Is it the box of chocolates which life isn't like, whatever the film version of Forrest Gump would try to make you believe
I mean, I don't know what US chocolates are like, but UK boxes of chocolates come with a helpful description of what shape is what flavour, and they don't tend to change much from year to year...
Lib: it's more abstract than that! Ibid: less tenous, I think...
Actually, thinking about it, Raak's question is somehow more specific than Boolbars, at the same time as being more general, so I shall honour it with a 'yes'.
Well, I don't know anymore chocolate related sayings (apart from 'give me chocolate or give me death' that one woman I used to know used to declare loudly)
Is it hot chocolate?
Is it a quote?
For example "There are four basic food groups, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles."
Darren: no; BtD: no...
...at least not in the sense you mean it (i.e. something that is attributable to someone).
Is it a slogan / advertising copy?
Is it "A Mars a day, helps you work, rest and play"?
Going out on a limb here.
Is it White Chocolate Day?
...being a day invented by chocolate manufacturers in Japan, on which people are supposed to give white chocolate to their loved ones.
(Following on from LotUS) or "Everyone's a Fruit and Nut Case"?
I fink LotUS may have it... Simil-thinked.
No - completely on the wrong track
I'll allow a few more guesses before dropping a hint I think - don't want to spoil anyone's fun.
Death by Chocolate?
... that well-known pudding which I've never eaten
.... or an Easter Egg?
... which I have
*** Recapping service ***
It's made of chocolate; it's some kind of saying, but not an advertising slogan.
Chocolate Soldier?
I take it that was a 'No' then ... twice
About as much use as a chocolate teapot?
If I click on 'Preview' rather than 'Submit' once more I think I'll scream.
as useless as a chocolate teapot or firguard?
Chalky, Tuj: so near but... Inkspot: YES!
I realised the "made of chocolate" might have been a clue too far!

I hope we all agree that this counts as abstract... So Inkspot, congratulations. I hand you the chair.

(It was fireguard, by the way)
Good one - I think Tuj deserves an honorary mention too!
Teapot concretions
It is fortunate that it was not a chocolate teapot, as that would be concrete.
Standing on the soldiers of giants
That was close, I must admit to being completly at a loss for much of the game which is down to a good choice by rab (definitely abstract). And thanks to Chalky, and the 'chocolate soldier'.

Lets see if we can wrap this one up before the weekend MINERAL.

Is it man-made?
Is it found on this planet?
Is it a composition of more than one mineral?
[Bob, Inkspot] I'm glad you liked it!
Is it solid?
Raak; yes Boolbar;yes rab;it can be Bob the Dog;yes
rab]to qualify - it is by and large associated with one, but other compositions are made.
Is it used in a game?
Is it metallic?
Is it usually found in DIY stores?
Is it a specific item?
(i.e. would it be like "a jumper" or "my jumper"?)
Raak;no / Bob the Dog;no / Boolbar;in small quantities and limited selection / Martha Farquar;yes
Is it a device, rather than a consumable?
Is it a firework?
Is it a shopping trolley?
Rosie;no/ Bob the Dog;no / Boolar; no
Is it edible?
Bob the dog;no
Does it have anything to do with plumbing?
Is it a three-eighths Gribley?
Is it made of a ceramic material?
Is it smaller than, say ... a toaster?
Boolbar;no / Raak;no Raak;(pottery/earthenware)no / Chalky; yes
Raak]try rephrasing your second question!!!
Is it one of those things for sharpening tools on?
arrow_circle_down
Want to play? Online Crescenteering lives on at Discord