Right, i have a fun game

[elevateme_returns]

I'm thinking of a piece. you get 20 yes/no questions, and then you have to tell me what im thinking of. sound fun?? if so, go.

[Bob]

I think this has been done before, but anyway...

#1  -- Is it a classical piece?   (Classical in the general sense, not the period)

[pianowolfi]

Is it a 20th century piece?

[thalbergmad]

What's it called?

Thal

[elevateme_returns]

No, and no. and no, thal. lol

[ganymed]

Is it a 21th century piece then 

[ted]

Does it usually last longer than ten minutes ?

[mikey6]

It's obviously called 'no' since he answered Thal's question.

[mephisto]

It's not a classical piece?

Beatles?

[prometheus]

The Beatles isn't a 20th century piece. It's a 20th century song.

So I don't understand that after it was clear that this is not a piece in the (western?) classical music tradition we get two questions asking if it is 20th or 21th century classical music.

[mephisto]

The Beatles isn't a 20th century piece. It's a 20th century song.

So I don't understand that after it was clear that this is not a piece in the (western?) classical music tradition we get two questions asking if it is 20th or 21th century classical music.

Sorry but I don't understand what you are talking about. This is the way I see it:

Bob asks:

#1  -- Is it a classical piece?   (Classical in the general sense, not the period)

Pianowolfi asks:

#2 Is it a 20th century piece?

(Most likely he is asuming that elevateme_returns will answer yes on the 1st question, and he wants to know if the piece was written in the 2oth century, elevateme_returns had of course not answered any of the questions at this point)

Then Thalbergmand asks(as a joke of course):

#3 What's it called?

Then elevateme_returns sais no to all of the questions(so we are now sure that it is not a classical piece(or maybe elevateme_returns read wrong and belived that the question was if the piece came from the classical period?), it is not a PIECE from the 20th century, and he refuses to answer the name of the piece)

Ganymed asks:

#4 is it a 21st century piece?

ted asks:

#5  Does it usually last longer than ten minutes ?

Then mikey6 sais a joke that of course was quite funny.

Then I am quite surpised that it is not a classical piece(since this forum is mostly about classical music) and asks:

#6 Is it the Beatles?

All of these are good questions:

#1 is good because it is a very large question, and we have no information before it is asked.

#2 is a good question because it narrows it down.

#3 is a funny joke. That's all.

Between question 3 and 4 we get some information(i.e that everything so far is wrong)

#4 is a good question because it want's to know if it was a 21st century piece(this has of course not been asked before).

#5 is good because it asks about lenght(narrowing down again)

6# Is an ok question, because at this point we know that it is not a classical piece, it is not a piece from the 20th century(The Beatles wrote songs).

Btw:The Beatles isn't a 20th century song, it is a 20th century BAND

[quantum]

Is this piece actually a "piece of music", or does it refer to a piece of something else?

[nicco]

Super mario theme.

[Bob]

So where are we?

Not classical, not 20th century, not "The Beatles"....  Is that four questions?


I really consider "piece" to be very general.  A "song" is a one type of "piece" that is more specific.

So we're waiting for...
4 is it a 21st century piece?
#5  Does it usually last longer than ten minutes ?
#6 Is it the Beatles?

I don't think we have to be a stickler -- #6 "Is it BY the Beatles?" is the same or close enough.

We need answers though.  We need to wait until a question is answered.  Sliced in half by "Is it classical?"  Then keep slicing and whittling it down.

It could also be in the direction of "past" non-classical music.  A 19th century pop piece.

[elevateme_returns]

sh*t i forgot about this. lol. it was ballade 1

[mephisto]

I am probably stupid, but you answered no to this question:

#1  -- Is it a classical piece?   (Classical in the general sense, not the period)

The 1st Ballade by Chopin fits perfectly into that

[elevateme_returns]

sorry, must have been tired.

[Bob]

Grrr.....

[prometheus]

If it's not a classical piece, and not a piece from the classical period so this ambiguity was intelligently removed by the person asking the question, then that already excludes classical pieces from the 20th and 21th century.

So it's like this:

Q: Is it a car?
A: No.

Q: Is it a Volkswagen?
A: No.

Q: Is it a Ford?
No:

Last two questions are totally redundant.

(Ok the example isn't totally correct since I think Ford also makes or made trucks, but you get the point.)

[Bob]

Ok.... I have one.   Ask away.  It's something music-related.  A "piece" in the general sense.  lol

[quantum]

Is this "piece" a classical piece, referring more broadly to the genre not the period?

[Bob]

#1  Is the piece classical in the general sense?
No. 

[quantum]

#2 Is this piece pop, in the general sense that several subcategories of popular music are possible?

[Bob]

I thought this might be asked.  It is "popular."  So, yes, in that sense.  If that makes sense.   It is not pop music though.

So...
Yes, it's popular.
No, it's not a pop style.
No, no subcategory is there.  It's already pretty specific.


Good questions.  Lots of narrowing.  Two of twenty questions used so far.

[Bob]

(waiting for next question)

[quantum]

Bob this is a clarification question on the rules, not part of the game question. 

Are we allowed to ask questions that do not result in Yes or No answers? Obviously the exception being: what is the name of the piece.

[Bob]

I don't think so.  It's just yes/no questions.  I'm trying to be specific though and am giving more information.  Otherwise something inbetween, like the last question, I could say either yes or no to and it doesn't really help move things along.

[Bob]

#1  Is the piece classical in the general sense?
No.

#2 Is this piece pop, in the general sense that several subcategories of popular music are possible?
Yes, it's popular.
No, it's not a pop style.
No, no subcategory is there.  It's already pretty specific.



Any more? 
(wonders if I should have picked a classical piece then.  No one wants to go for a popular thing.)

[rallestar]

Your last sentence is probably correct.