Want to play twenty questions?

July 20, 2004 8:15 PM

Want to play twenty questions?Play twenty questions against a computer. It can be startling good, sometimes, though there are a few things that still aren't in the database. Still, a decent time waster, if only for a little while.
posted by synecdoche (59 comments total)

Wow, it got it. I was thinking of a mummy. It's good...in a slightly unsettling sort of way. Just how long did it take to programme this game?
posted by Dasein at 8:21 PM on July 20, 2004

Hmmm, this has undergone a lot of revisions since last I played it about a year ago. I spent a lot of time training it to identify 'homosexual male' and now that is no longer in its database as far as I can tell. Hmph.
posted by WolfDaddy at 8:24 PM on July 20, 2004

Apparently it's just too high-class to have heard of 40 ounces of malt liquor. I think it was going to guess Glenlivet for a minute, though.
posted by Dipsomaniac at 8:25 PM on July 20, 2004

it took 26 qs for turtle--cute tho
posted by amberglow at 8:26 PM on July 20, 2004

The object in mind? George W. Bush.

The first three guesses: An enemy, A criminal, A fool.
posted by sequential at 8:31 PM on July 20, 2004

Wow. 28 questions both times; river and lamp.

And now, 28 for jukebox. Bastard!
posted by armoured-ant at 8:32 PM on July 20, 2004

interesting.
posted by lazaruslong at 8:36 PM on July 20, 2004

I stumped it completely with a wooden artist's model.

But then it got peanut butter fast.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:36 PM on July 20, 2004

You were thinking of something to do with sex.

Is it small? You said Probably, I say No.

Uncommon Knowledge about a penis

Can you eat off of it? I say Yes.
Does it come from an animal? I say Yes.
Does it get really hot? I say Yes.
Can it fit in an envelope? I say Yes.
Does it have feelings? I say Yes.
Is it used with animals? I say Yes.
Is it symbolic? I say Yes.
Can you drink from it? I say Yes.
Is it awake at night? I say Yes.
Is it used by a baby? I say Yes.
Is it addictive? I say Yes.
Can it do tricks? I say Yes.
Does it have a title? I say Yes.
Is it delicious? I say Yes.
Does it taste good? I say Yes.
Is it made of metal? I say No.
posted by sequential at 8:37 PM on July 20, 2004

Wow. 28 questions both times; river and lamp.

And now, 28 for jukebox. Bastard!

Interesting. It took 28 to get a basketball also.
posted by markavatar at 8:43 PM on July 20, 2004

were mefi search as accurate :D not a dp callout! (far be it from me :) just for the record!

fwiw, cock before penis.
posted by kliuless at 8:44 PM on July 20, 2004

I guess when I thought of "diploma," I actually meant "sulfuric acid." Eh, live and learn.
posted by Krrrlson at 8:44 PM on July 20, 2004

19 to get Wombat.
posted by dobbs at 8:52 PM on July 20, 2004

Holy shit.
posted by LittleMissCranky at 8:56 PM on July 20, 2004

Same as kliuless, this is not a doublepost (nor a triplepost) callout either – is merely for reference. 20Q is too damn cool to not be posted once a year.

20Q is too damn cool, hey!
posted by bitpart at 9:07 PM on July 20, 2004

19 questions to nail the ukulele.

I respect it.

(Best of) Uncommon Knowledge about a ukulele:
Can you use it with your friends? I say Doubtful.
Is it useful? I say No.
Can it be used to start fires? I say Yes.
Does it bear live young? I say Yes.
Does it like sunshine? I say Yes.
posted by kaibutsu at 9:11 PM on July 20, 2004

On the other hand, an algebraic group is apparently a stumper.
posted by kaibutsu at 9:17 PM on July 20, 2004

Excellent, got sugar glider, logo, and hockey puck within 22 questions. It's smarter than me!
posted by loquax at 9:20 PM on July 20, 2004

The FPP's link is actually the beta of the next version of the game. The original (which I think that I read somewhere has actually been around in some form since the '80s, though I can't find where I read that) is here, and doesn't seem to be suffering from the server load that the beta is.
posted by bitpart at 9:20 PM on July 20, 2004

I stumped it on a cockring.

Silly thing. It guessed bubble bath.
posted by billybunny at 9:26 PM on July 20, 2004

An interview with the creator explains that the website dates back to 1996, but that he first programmed the game on a floppy in 1988 and passed it around with his friends. The artificial intelligence that powers 20Q is a neural network model, based on "bioelectrical networks in the brain formed by neurons and their synapses."
posted by bitpart at 9:38 PM on July 20, 2004

I beat it but then it called me out! I'll let you guys decide:

You were thinking of a corkscrew.
Can you play with it? You said Yes, I say No.
Can it bend without breaking? You said Yes, I say No.
Does it bring joy to people? You said Yes, I say Doubtful.
Can you play games with it? You said Probably, I say No.
posted by vacapinta at 9:56 PM on July 20, 2004

19 questions to get 'electric guitar.'

Damn machines....
posted by spilon at 9:59 PM on July 20, 2004

I stumped it with a Welsh Terrier. Yorkshire terrier is in there, but not Welsh.
posted by SisterHavana at 10:04 PM on July 20, 2004

28 questions to get keyhole, but I beat it with microphone stand.
posted by dogwelder at 10:27 PM on July 20, 2004

I tried "Rush Limbaugh" and it didn't get it. Then it showed me a list of what it had guessed, and I got this list:

Similar Objects
stomach, a narwhal (with spiral tusk), the esophagus, a ceiling fan, the large intestine, a giant squid, sea serpent (maybe mythical), a manatee, lungs, an intestine, a beluga (white whale), a traffic jam.

I guess it won after all.
posted by interrobang at 10:28 PM on July 20, 2004

I tried Kiwi (the bird) and it won.
posted by abcde at 10:29 PM on July 20, 2004

It didn't recognize bucket of cocks.
posted by LittleMissCranky at 10:31 PM on July 20, 2004

Uncommon Knowledge about a boyfriend
Can you use it with your friends? I say No.
Can it be stolen? I say Yes.
Would you find it on a farm? I say No.
Can you peel it? I say Yes.
Can you talk on it? I say Probably.
Is it lumpy? I say Probably.
Do you hold it when you use it? I say Yes.
posted by bonheur at 10:31 PM on July 20, 2004

I went with what I thought was pedestrian stuff (sardines, communism, hockey jersey, an action movie, a gag reflex), and it got 4 out of 5. Impressive.
posted by chicobangs at 10:40 PM on July 20, 2004

Wow!, it got protein, I am impressed. Although some of its knowledge is definitely wrong:

Does it grow over time? You said Sometimes, I say No.
Could it be found in a classroom? You said Maybe, I say No.
Is it dangerous? You said Sometimes, I say No.
posted by GreenDragon at 10:46 PM on July 20, 2004

You were thinking of a poop.




Contradictions Detected
posted by Keyser Soze at 11:02 PM on July 20, 2004

I stumped it with

whore
pocket protector
posted by Hypharse at 11:22 PM on July 20, 2004

It didn't get chair, fish or banana. It did suggest swivel chair and goldfish for the first two. I think its been asked for so many detailed answers that it has problems with higher categories.

I think it got tripped up on banana because I answered no to "does it grow on trees". Everyone knows that bananas do not grow on trees. Don't they?
posted by davehat at 1:58 AM on July 21, 2004

Hah! It thinks a wolverine is a chow-chow.
posted by dayvin at 2:08 AM on July 21, 2004

Now it thinks a mouse is a centaur.
posted by dayvin at 2:11 AM on July 21, 2004

So according to sequential's post a penis isn't small, but its answer for thesaurus was that it is small. Is this the world's most well hung website?
posted by biffa at 2:13 AM on July 21, 2004

Bananas *do* grow on trees
posted by benzo8 at 2:17 AM on July 21, 2004

Uncommon Knowledge about a kitty cat

Does it live in African grass lands? I say Yes.
Does it shine? I say Probably.
Do most people use this daily? I say Yes.
Do you use it at work? I say Probably.
Can you put something into it? I say Yes.
Does it roar? I say Yes.
Does it break if dropped? I say Yes.
Is it shiny? I say Probably.
Is it found on a desk? I say Probably.
Is it very large? I say Yes.
Would you use it in the dark? I say Yes.
Does it come in a box? I say Probably.
Is it an abstract concept? I say Probably.
Does it have an exo-skeleton? I say Yes.
Do you chew it? I say Yes.
Is it conscious? I say Doubtful.

...

odd.
posted by reklaw at 3:43 AM on July 21, 2004

Uncommon Knowledge about lasagne
Does it have hooves? I say Probably.

I'm giving that restaurant a miss.
posted by etc at 3:52 AM on July 21, 2004

I stumped it completely with a bicycle pedal, and it took 21 questions for it to guess a drinking glass.
posted by emelenjr at 4:26 AM on July 21, 2004

Banana's *don't* grow on trees.

From Chiquita's Q&A pages:

Q. Do bananas grow on trees?
A. No, they're not grown on trees. Bananas are grown on a plant made up of soft overlapping leaves, which can grow up to 30 feet (914 centimeters), making it the largest on earth without a woody stem.
posted by davehat at 4:58 AM on July 21, 2004

/smarty pants
posted by davehat at 4:58 AM on July 21, 2004

For those of you without a continual computer connection, there is a portable version available at your local or online electronics/toy retailer.
posted by aaaaa at 5:27 AM on July 21, 2004

Uncommon Knowledge about a cup of coffee
Is it fluffy? I say Yes.
Is it considered man's best friend? I say Probably.
posted by jennyb at 6:15 AM on July 21, 2004

Stumped it with "credenza" ... though it did guess "locker" and "cubicle" ...
posted by grabbingsand at 6:15 AM on July 21, 2004

Uncommon Knowledge about an operating system
...
Does it bark? I say Probably.
Is it a member of the cat family? I say Probably.
Can you keep it in a cage? I say Yes.
Does it fly? I say Yes.

What the heck?
posted by reklaw at 7:20 AM on July 21, 2004

Dildo is not in it's database...
posted by LoopSouth at 7:24 AM on July 21, 2004

I completely stumped it with Jump Rope.

Also, it says a sword is not an object you use daily. I beg to differ.
posted by anastasiav at 8:14 AM on July 21, 2004

28 questions for highlighter pen, coke can, and smoke detector.

However, apparently a fart is similar to a smoke detector. I'll remember to evacuate the next time the dog wakes me up in the middle of the night by cutting loose with one.
posted by obfusciatrist at 8:33 AM on July 21, 2004

I loved this question: Does it weigh more than a duck? (asked when guessing chainsaw)
posted by F Mackenzie at 8:50 AM on July 21, 2004

stumped it with a trillium. apparently endangered flowers, with sets of 3 leaves, 3 sepals, and 3 petals aren't in the database. they're common around here in wooded areas, although still endangered enough that moving them is illegal. (can it be moved easily? i say no.)
posted by caution live frogs at 9:15 AM on July 21, 2004

Still unbeatable with "Magna Carta"
posted by leotrotsky at 12:58 PM on July 21, 2004

I was shocked at how quickly it got "guitar pick" and "lava lamp." Impressive.
posted by litlnemo at 2:34 PM on July 21, 2004

Uncommon Knowledge about a CD

Does it grunt? I say Probably.
Can it be tamed? I say Probably.
Can you add it to a salad? I say Probably.
Does it usually live on a farm? I say Probably.
Is it originally from Canada? I say Yes.

That's a CD, all right--Canadian grunting tamable livestock that's *also* a salad dressing!
posted by Turtles all the way down at 6:22 PM on July 21, 2004

/except for the salad dressing part that kinda describes me
posted by Turtles all the way down at 6:24 PM on July 21, 2004

*pictures a Canadian turtle ranch, with a rodeo going on* : >
posted by amberglow at 6:32 PM on July 21, 2004

"Is it heavier than a pound of butter?"

Is there some sort of joke to this question? A pound is a pound no? I'm not very good with these "clever" questions.
posted by juiceCake at 8:54 PM on July 21, 2004

You win
Play Again
You were thinking of beer.

Well, duh.
posted by yhbc at 9:02 PM on July 21, 2004