This is the funniest email I've received in the last year. A listener to the radio show, Tom, apparently shares my Mindbender question with a co-worker every day, using instant messaging. To let you in on the fun, I'll tell you upfront that the answer is "goldfish." Now sit back and enjoy this IM exchange between Tom and the co-worker.
Coworker: ?
Me:
almost 40% of kids between 5-10 years old either have one now, have had one in the past, or will be getting one. . .
Coworker:
ipad
cell phone
Me:
not electronic
the first known ones date back to 1369 in china
Coworker:
do you sleep in it?
Me:
no
Coworker:
is it a toy
slinky
Me:
slinky was invented in the US in 1946 or so
it's not a toy
Coworker:
clay pot . . . .
Me:
a clay pot might be involved, but probably not.
see through items are better
Coworker:
compass
sun dial
sword
Me:
for kids
Coworker:
plastic sword
Me:
they're still around and no
most kids would keep them inside
living
Coworker:
plant
Me:
you might put plants in there as decoration, but no
Coworker:
stain glass
Me:
living
specific answer
Coworker:
cat
jack in box
Me:
smaller than a cat
not a toy
living
Coworker:
lizard
Me:
smaller
Coworker:
fish
Me:
be specific
Coworker:
yellow fish
orange fish
Me:
keep going
Coworker:
silver fish
bronze fish
Me:
you're dancing around it
Coworker:
platinum fish
titanium fish
Me:
ffs
Coworker:
purple fish
tan fish
drunk fish
Me:
are you for real?
Coworker:
coffee fish
broken fin fish
circle fish
Me:
punchyouintheface fish
Coworker:
is it fish?
Me:
yes!
Coworker:
sweet
have another?
Me:
that's not the answer. i said be specific and you answered with everything followed by fish
it's a ___ fish
not just fish
Coworker:
big
small
skinny
Me:
it's small.
Coworker:
ugly
oh i know!
one eyed
that's it right?
because the kid pokes one out
Me:
(swear)
Coworker:
seaweed fish
eel?
ohhhh
a guppy
sucker fish
Me:
what kind of fish do you give children?
Coworker:
the one that cleans the tank
sucker fish
Me:
one fish!\
one
Coworker:
one sucker fish
Me:
what kind of fish would you give a child just one of
Coworker:
I just told you
Me:
you have to be putting me on
Coworker:
those fighting fish?
Me:
no.
Coworker:
you can t have 2 or they kill each other
come on!
this is a bogus question
pizza fish
Me:
you danced all around with orange, yellow, TITANIUM!?
it's a perfectly good question
Coworker:
nah
lets do another one
Me:
what kind of fish do you give children?
it's a color that you haven't mentioned.
Coworker:
a crayon fish
forest green
Me:
you can't be that dense. you just can't be
Coworker:
dude I said every option
Me:
no.
Coworker:
just ask another question
Me:
the obvious one. i don't have any questions left.
goldfish
Coworker:
what the hell is that?
you making this up?
Me:
you've never heard of a goldfish
Coworker:
and you should have stopped when I said fish
Me:
no, the answer is goldfish
Coworker:
the answer is fish
Me:
no.
Coworker:
hmm
you are being too specific
Me:
i'm not being anything. the answer is from the radio show
Coworker:
fish would work
Me:
that's not the answer.
Coworker:
its half and I believe in rounding up
Me:
that's like saying "car" would work when the answer is Ford Thunderbird
Coworker:
hence, fish is the answer
Me:
hence, wrong
Coworker:
ford would be the answer
Me:
you have to be pulling my leg
Coworker:
unless the question said "what type of FORD"
Coworker:
you going to the gym today?
Me:
yeah at one.
