Rock paper scissors: The world championship

November 14, 2002 8:34 PM

Rock paper scissors: The world championship:This year, for the first time, the annual Rock Paper Scissors international championship is open to the general public (as opposed to just professional RPS players. I had no idea there even were professional RPS players). Some interesting facts on RPS, including the answer to the age-old question: Does Rock crush Scissors or is Scissors dulled by Rock?
posted by Badmichelle (26 comments total)

Silly...rock crushes scissors? scissors lose. Rock dulls scissors? scissors lose. It's much of a much-ness isn't it?
posted by Jimbob at 8:38 PM on November 14, 2002

This site was already posted here.
posted by pitchblende at 8:41 PM on November 14, 2002

This is a hoax site. Albeit an excellent one - their "gambits" section is particularly amusing.
posted by Spacelegoman at 8:43 PM on November 14, 2002

Once I beat someone for 17 games in a row.
posted by holloway at 8:53 PM on November 14, 2002

A hoax? Heh, I'm glad to hear it. It'd be sad to think that people actually waste their time playing professional rock-paper-sissors.
posted by silvermask at 8:55 PM on November 14, 2002

A hoax site? How do you define a hoax site? They do offer membership, sell t-shirts etc. . Of course they're not all that serious, but that does not make it a hoax. I think this is one of the best web-sites I have ever seen.
posted by lazy-ville at 8:59 PM on November 14, 2002

Sorry for the immediate follow-up, but if anyone who lives in Toronto would be so nice as to see what happens in the Mockingbird on the 16th, I would be eternally grateful. I don't doubt at all that there will be a WorldRPS championships there. I just want to know who is sponsoring the prizes.
posted by lazy-ville at 9:04 PM on November 14, 2002

I'm going to check it out, Lazy-ville. I pretty much have to, now. :)
posted by Badmichelle at 9:06 PM on November 14, 2002

I like how the post-championship party has music by DJ Kilgore Trout.



Its almost enough to make me want to go...
posted by joedan at 9:08 PM on November 14, 2002

Thank you. I read what was in your blog about it and I'd say that those t-shirts are available. Isn't Cafepress the same place that sells Mefi shirts (and thongs). Also about what your friend said about it: He _is_ an authority, otherwise he wouldn't be interviewed, would he. Of course people can still play RPS differently, just like people can play hockey or football or whatever differently, no matter what NHL or FIFA says. I think this is sheer brilliance and I hope this great "sport" spreads around. I could even organize a national event myself, if I wasn't so lazy.
posted by lazy-ville at 9:14 PM on November 14, 2002

I might be there. The organizer is one of my boss's friends. But yeah, there are prizes and a venue and an actual competition... so how is that a hoax? They have people driving in from as far as Texas, I do believe.
posted by mkn at 9:15 PM on November 14, 2002

Pitchblende: sometimes you have to be more emphatic.

Double Post.

This technique sometimes leads to ostracism, though, so do be careful.
posted by yhbc at 9:21 PM on November 14, 2002

While I agree that the site linked is a double post, the context is not, as the Championship is new. So the line between new and double post is thin... and blue.

Additionally, I have to give the WRPS guys some credit for the publicity they've managed to attract.
posted by mkn at 9:27 PM on November 14, 2002

OK - defending my claim that this site is a hoax.

Back when I first looked at it, it said things like "this gambit was played in the 1967 world championships" etc... clearly tongue-in-cheek.

However, it seems that interest in the website has caused them to sort of actually make it real - although again, I doubt the site's author's take it that seriously.
posted by Spacelegoman at 10:00 PM on November 14, 2002

Is there any way to play rock-paper-scissors over the internet? -- Like to have rock-paper-scissors DEATHMATCH? Because that would be awesome, and if there isn't, someone should get on that right away. I will be happy to help in whatever way I can.
posted by josh at 10:50 PM on November 14, 2002

There was actually of couple of years where they had tournaments with computer programs that played RPS with each other....you find me lazy
posted by jeblis at 12:30 AM on November 15, 2002

They actually covered this upcoming WRPS event on the news today, so if it is indeed a "hoax", then they managed to sucker a news crew in Vancouver.
posted by PWA_BadBoy at 1:08 AM on November 15, 2002

Probably Useless Little-Known Korea Fact (number 327 in a very sporadic series) : Rock Paper Scissors is called (phonetically) Guy Buy Bo here, and although the relationships between the hand signals are the same, there is no rock or paper or scissors involved, and no metaphorical 'this covers that' or 'this breaks that' (and so on) interpretation at all. You just memorize what beats what.

This twisted my melon when I first learned it.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:32 AM on November 15, 2002

Well here it is - RockScissorsPaper on-line.

Is there a technical term when the 'hoax' [because that is what it is] becomes real? I can think of two not quite examples: a practical joker started up a society to clothe nude statues including animals. He ended up receiving tons of contributions but decided to send the money back...and sort of similar to the plot of Eco's "Foucault's Pendulum"?

Well neither of them apply but there must be famous applicable examples...
posted by meech at 2:27 AM on November 15, 2002

Oh then I go look at the original post...and find that I do a re-post of a link in the comments of the original in the comments of a re-post. Here's my badge and my gun...
posted by meech at 2:36 AM on November 15, 2002

Re: online RPS.

Cool. Should we start a clan? And why stop at Deathmatch? RPS Team Deathmatch! Think of the mods...
posted by mkultra at 10:14 AM on November 15, 2002

Looks like somebody has too much time on their hands.

Heh.
posted by soyjoy at 11:17 AM on November 15, 2002

Didn't Gary Larson do this in Far Side? Everything old is new again.
posted by tommasz at 11:25 AM on November 15, 2002

Why is it that whenever turns a fun game into a league or sporting event, someone has to say that they are "wasting their time" or "have too much free time" or "they must be bored" or "they have too much time on their hands"?

Is time really so important that you can't have silly fun? What a boring world it would be if everyone thought that way.

(And Rock always beats Scissors. But Paper should always beat Rock.)
posted by Down10 at 12:31 PM on November 15, 2002

The previous owners of my company played RowShamBo for a $100.00 a hand in the office. One fellow we watched win $500 then ended up loosing a few thousand. Paid up on the spot. Talk about cash in a hand. Paper seemed to be the hand that burned him though.

The game is a favorite for those with quick wit to win some cash while drinking & socializing among my circle of friends.
posted by thomcatspike at 12:49 PM on November 15, 2002

I'm often amazed and simultaneously horrified at what can be found on the internet.
posted by St Seneca at 1:04 PM on November 15, 2002