To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for this?
Personally I think this question ranks high in the level of interestingness among all my recent questions (Hahaha! self-amusement).
> To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, > Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock > and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they > also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for > this?
> Personally I think this question ranks high in the level of > interestingness among all my recent questions > (Hahaha! self-amusement).
It's scissors, rock, and paper in the USA. -- Skitt (in SF Bay Area) http://www.geocities.com/opus731/ I speak English well -- I learn it from a book! -- Manuel (Fawlty Towers)
> To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, > Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock > and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they > also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for > this?
On Thu, 14 Feb 2002 17:36:34 -0800, Caps <C...@Lock.com> wrote: >To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, >Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock >and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they >also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for >this?
As others have already pointed out, the American version substitutes paper for cloth...probably an Egyptian influence via the Mediterranean trade routes....
The only name I've seen is some permutations of the three items: "paper, rock, scissors" seems to be the one that flows best...it makes a nice illustration of the concept intransitivity....r
On Fri, 15 Feb 2002 06:28:18 GMT, dadoc...@earthlink.net (R H Draney) wrote:
>On Thu, 14 Feb 2002 17:36:34 -0800, Caps <C...@Lock.com> wrote:
>>To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, >>Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock >>and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they >>also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for >>this?
>As others have already pointed out, the American version substitutes >paper for cloth...probably an Egyptian influence via the Mediterranean >trade routes....
>The only name I've seen is some permutations of the three items: >"paper, rock, scissors" seems to be the one that flows best...it makes >a nice illustration of the concept intransitivity....r
While I was growing up in San Francisco, the name of the rock, paper, scissors game was Ro Sham Po (or Ro Sham Bo, as I'm seeing it spelled these days).
> To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, > Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock > and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they > also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for > this?
> Personally I think this question ranks high in the level of > interestingness among all my recent questions > (Hahaha! self-amusement).
Scissors, paper, stone in the UK.
-- David
The address is valid today, but I will change it at to keep ahead of the spammers.
> To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, > Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock > and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they > also called scissors, rock and cloth?
Scissors, rock, and paper.
> Is there a name for > this?
"Scissors - Rock - Paper"
-- Carius est nobis flagellari p doctrina quam nescire. [leofre ys us beon beswungen for lare thaenne hit ne cunnan.] - MS Cotton Tiberius A, xv, fol. 60v (British Library)
>To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, >Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock >and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they >also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for >this?
I am most familiar with the name "rock, paper, scissors". Regarding the ordering of the words, let's see what Auntie Google has to say:
"rock paper scissors" 20700 "rock scissors paper" 3830 "paper rock scissors" 2920 "paper scissors rock" 1860 "scissors rock paper" 366 "scissors paper rock" 759
> On Thu, 14 Feb 2002 17:36:34 -0800 Caps wrote: > >To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, > >Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock > >and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they > >also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for > >this?
> I am most familiar with the name "rock, paper, scissors". Regarding the > ordering of the words, let's see what Auntie Google has to say:
> "rock paper scissors" 20700 > "rock scissors paper" 3830 > "paper rock scissors" 2920 > "paper scissors rock" 1860 > "scissors rock paper" 366 > "scissors paper rock" 759
> Yup. Just as I suspected.
I don't think I've ever heard a version with "rock" - almost certainly pondian. I'd go for "scissors paper stone" - here's what Google says when "rock" is replaced by "stone".
"paper scissors stone" 3330 "scissors paper stone" 1620 "stone scissors paper" 446 "stone paper scissors" 355 "paper stone scissors" 99 "scissors stone paper" 43
So the "stone" variant of Richard's version only comes fourth.
According to Richard Fontana <rfont...@wesleyan.edu>:
> On Thu, 14 Feb 2002 17:36:34 -0800 Caps wrote: > >To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, > >Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock > >and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they > >also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for > >this?
Somewhere, somehow I've heard, "the Chinese" know the game as "Human, Chicken, Worm".
> I am most familiar with the name "rock, paper, scissors". Regarding the > ordering of the words, let's see what Auntie Google has to say:
> "rock paper scissors" 20700 > "rock scissors paper" 3830 > "paper rock scissors" 2920 > "paper scissors rock" 1860 > "scissors rock paper" 366 > "scissors paper rock" 759
> Yup. Just as I suspected.
No hits for the combinations of "(hu)man chicken worm" I tried.
> To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, > Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock > and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they > also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for > this?
Rock-Paper-Scissors.
Rochambeau was the name I knew in San Francisco; a 60-yr-old friend also knew it by this name in Chicago.
Variant names from Usenet (sci.lang.japan and elsewhere): Japan Jan-Ken-Pon, Ishi-Ken, Choki-Pa-Gu, or Jan-Ken China Chai-Ken Philippines Diyak-en-Poi, or Jack-and-Poi Indonesia Hic-Haec-Hoc South London Ching-Chang-Cholly Enfield Chu-Chin-Chow Croydon Ick-Ack-Ock Lambeth Eee-Pas-Vous Brixton Stink-Stank-Stoller Yugoslavia Zimi-Zami-Zum Canada Rock-Paper-Scissors or Roche-Papier-Ciseaux US Rochambeau or Rock-Paper-Scissors Florida Injun-Joe
Variant objects: Japan/China Scissors Rock Cloth Vietnam Hammer Scissors Paper Hammer Nail Paper Well Scissors Leaf Malaysian Rock Paper Bird Indonesia Elephant Flea Mouse Earwig Man Elephant Ant Man Elephant Canada Rock Paper Scissors Austria Well Paper Scissors
(leaf floats in a well, scissors sink in the well, scissors cuts leaf)
> To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, > Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock > and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they > also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for > this?
As an adult, I was surprised to find there were such names for this. We used to do it all the time as kids, but we called it "chinging up", or said, "let's ching up for it."
Now I realise that relates to its Chinese origin. I come from Cornwall, but I see an echo of our usage in these, quoted by Bob Stahl:
>South London Ching-Chang-Cholly >Enfield Chu-Chin-Chow
Another "Chinese" thing we had was the "Chinese Burn". I wonder where that came from.
> > To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, > > Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock > > and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they > > also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for > > this?
> > Personally I think this question ranks high in the level of > > interestingness among all my recent questions > > (Hahaha! self-amusement).
> Scissors, paper, stone in the UK.
While I at primary school, I remember reading a history book, purportedly about life in pre-Roman Britain. This game was presented as one example of what passes for fun, but the materials used were rock cloth knife.
Anyone know if the game actually was played in Britaqin that long ago?
-- -- Fabian Hey! Don't write yourself off yet. It's only in your head you feel left out or looked down on. Just try your best. Try everything you can.
>As an adult, I was surprised to find there were such names for this. We used to >do it all the time as kids, but we called it "chinging up", or said, "let's >ching up for it."
>Now I realise that relates to its Chinese origin. I come from Cornwall, but I >see an echo of our usage in these, quoted by Bob Stahl:
>>South London Ching-Chang-Cholly >>Enfield Chu-Chin-Chow
>Another "Chinese" thing we had was the "Chinese Burn". I wonder where that came >from.
A borrowing and renaming of the American "Indian burn", of course.
On Fri, 15 Feb 2002 11:20:44 -0000 LarryLard wrote:
>"Caps" <C...@Lock.com> wrote in message >news:ltoo6u46i32nugm8q3t8c11hceh454ho1g@4ax.com... >> To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, >> Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock >> and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they >> also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for >> this?
>Scissors, paper, stone (in some order) in the UK.
>Obmention of Rock Paper Scissors Spock Lizard.
Did we ever determine why UK speakers don't like to use "rock" to refer to a small stone, while US speakers do?
>> > To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, >> > Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock >> > and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they >> > also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for >> > this?
>> > Personally I think this question ranks high in the level of >> > interestingness among all my recent questions >> > (Hahaha! self-amusement).
>> Scissors, paper, stone in the UK.
>While I at primary school, I remember reading a history book, purportedly >about life in pre-Roman Britain. This game was presented as one example of >what passes for fun, but the materials used were rock cloth knife.
>Anyone know if the game actually was played in Britaqin that long ago?
>To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, >Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock >and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they >also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for >this?
In my childhood in the UK it was scissors, rock, and paper.
> On Fri, 15 Feb 2002 11:20:44 -0000 LarryLard wrote: > >"Caps" <C...@Lock.com> wrote in message > >news:ltoo6u46i32nugm8q3t8c11hceh454ho1g@4ax.com... > >> To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, > >> Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock > >> and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they > >> also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for > >> this?
> >Scissors, paper, stone (in some order) in the UK.
> >Obmention of Rock Paper Scissors Spock Lizard.
> Did we ever determine why UK speakers don't like to use "rock" to refer to > a small stone, while US speakers do?
Oversizing, of course. American fists are so much larger.
Though when I was a child I played "Scissors paper stone." It was only as I grew that I was able to move up "Rock paper scissors."
> On Fri, 15 Feb 2002 11:20:44 -0000 LarryLard wrote: > >"Caps" <C...@Lock.com> wrote in message > >news:ltoo6u46i32nugm8q3t8c11hceh454ho1g@4ax.com... > >> To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, > >> Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock > >> and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they > >> also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for > >> this?
> >Scissors, paper, stone (in some order) in the UK.
> >Obmention of Rock Paper Scissors Spock Lizard.
> Did we ever determine why UK speakers don't like to use "rock" to refer to > a small stone, while US speakers do?
UK "a rock" is much bigger than a stone and wouldn't easily be carried or held. "Some rock" can be any size, of course.
-- David
The address is valid today, but I will change it at to keep ahead of the spammers.
Richard Fontana <rfont...@wesleyan.edu> wrote: > On Fri, 15 Feb 2002 11:20:44 -0000 LarryLard wrote: > >"Caps" <C...@Lock.com> wrote in message > >news:ltoo6u46i32nugm8q3t8c11hceh454ho1g@4ax.com... > >> To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, > >> Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock > >> and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they > >> also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for > >> this?
> >Scissors, paper, stone (in some order) in the UK.
> >Obmention of Rock Paper Scissors Spock Lizard.
> Did we ever determine why UK speakers don't like to use "rock" to refer to > a small stone, while US speakers do?
I dunno about *why*, but a rock in the UK is the sort of thing that tends to be capitalized over here--Plymouth Rock, Rock of Gibralter, etc. It's at least boulder-sized, and usually a geographic feature. -- Aaron Davies aa...@avalon.pascal-central.com sig coming Soon(tm)
> To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, > Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock > and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they > also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for > this? >....
"Paper, rock, scissors" here in America. (Paper covers rock, rock breaks scissors, scissors cut paper.) It's not really a popular method of choosing anyone, though, except perhaps in a schoolyard.
-----
> Personally I think this question ranks high in the level of > interestingness among all my recent questions > (Hahaha! self-amusement). >....
Watch out. You'll grow hair on your palms doing that!
> > To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, > > Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock > > and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they > > also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for > > this?
> > Personally I think this question ranks high in the level of > > interestingness among all my recent questions > > (Hahaha! self-amusement).
> Scissors, paper, stone in the UK.
And of course James Bond beats the Japanese at it,
> > > To decide who has the privilege to do or get something, > > > Chinese draw the winner using hand shapes of scissors, rock > > > and cloth. I've seen Americans doing the same. Are they > > > also called scissors, rock and cloth? Is there a name for > > > this?
> > > Personally I think this question ranks high in the level of > > > interestingness among all my recent questions > > > (Hahaha! self-amusement).
> > Scissors, paper, stone in the UK.
> While I at primary school, I remember reading a history book, purportedly > about life in pre-Roman Britain. This game was presented as one example of > what passes for fun, but the materials used were rock cloth knife.
> Anyone know if the game actually was played in Britaqin that long ago?
Certainly not: it is not in any of the Asterix books, so Julius Caesar can't have known about it.
> Variant names from Usenet (sci.lang.japan and elsewhere): [...] > Indonesia Hic-Haec-Hoc [...] > Variant objects: [...] > Indonesia Elephant Flea Mouse > Earwig Man Elephant > Ant Man Elephant
The "hic-haec-hoc" for Indonesia struck me as odd-- unless there's been some previously undiscovered Roman influence in Southeast Asia! I checked where that information might have come from and found this:
--------------- http://www.dnai.com/~jandp/rochamtrue.html [Quoting "Children's Games in Street and Playground", by Iona and Peter Opie:] "Similarly in Indonesia, a traveller has told us of her astonishment at seeing children squatting in the shade playing the game she remembered from her childhood in a north London suburb (she knew it as 'Hic Haec Hoc', although in Indonesia the game is 'earwig, man, elephant', the earwig overcoming the elephant by crawling through his brain." ---------------
So "hic-haec-hoc" is the name of the game in some north London suburb (cf. Croydon's "Ick-Ack-Ock"), not in Indonesia.
The Indonesian version has different hand gestures than "rock paper scissors": the "earwig" or "ant" is represented by extending the little finger, the "man" by extending the index finger, and the "elephant" by extending the thumb. See: http://www.expat.or.id/info/games.html
