![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Rach on February 15, 2003, at 22:26:51
I got this via email, but with no answer. Anyone have an answer?
RIDDLEWhen asked this riddle, 80% of kindergarten kids got the answer, compared to 7% of Stanford University seniors.
What is greater than God,
More evil than the devil,
The poor have it,
The rich need it,
And if you eat it, you'll die?
Posted by Rach on February 15, 2003, at 22:31:49
In reply to Riddle, posted by Rach on February 15, 2003, at 22:26:51
but I will see if anyone else wants to take a guess as well before I post it.
Posted by Rach on February 15, 2003, at 22:35:16
In reply to Riddle, posted by Rach on February 15, 2003, at 22:26:51
that may need to be directed to the faith board.
Posted by noa on February 16, 2003, at 19:40:36
In reply to Riddle, posted by Rach on February 15, 2003, at 22:26:51
Still stumped....
Posted by Jonathan on February 16, 2003, at 22:06:36
In reply to But I do have problems with my answer..., posted by Rach on February 15, 2003, at 22:35:16
> [But I do have problems with my answer] that may need to be directed to the faith board.
... has been described as sacred, too, but perhaps it should be discussed on the meds board by our pharmacokinetics experts.
In the UK it used to be advertised as a fast-acting NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), with the slogan:"******* acts faster than Anadin"
(Anadin™ is a proprietary tablet containing aspirin).
Posted by Phil on February 16, 2003, at 22:50:32
In reply to My guess ..., posted by Jonathan on February 16, 2003, at 22:06:36
Nothing is the answer to all questions.
Posted by shar on February 17, 2003, at 1:45:14
In reply to Nothing, posted by Phil on February 16, 2003, at 22:50:32
Posted by Rach on February 17, 2003, at 3:08:27
In reply to oooh, cool, Phil!! I'm impressed!! (nm), posted by shar on February 17, 2003, at 1:45:14
Nothing was what I thought of too.
But...
Nothing is greater than God? First one would have to argue the existence of God.
Nothing is more evil than the devil? As above.
The poor have nothing? So they don't have families, they don't have love? Perhaps they mean 'poor' in a non-monetary sense. But still, there is hope, and faith, and all sorts of things poor people have that I certainly classify as something.
The rich need nothing? Really? So because they have money (assuming rich meaning monetary sense) they don't need love, faith, hope, self worth...
Posted by Greg on February 17, 2003, at 8:18:33
In reply to The answer (Phil), posted by Rach on February 17, 2003, at 3:08:27
Posted by shar on February 17, 2003, at 13:11:57
In reply to The answer (Phil), posted by Rach on February 17, 2003, at 3:08:27
Rach,
You should stay away from riddles. (I'm just kidding!!)But, really, riddles are simplistic by nature. Your points are, of course, right on target. But, in the context of a riddle, they are too complex, thoughtful, etc.
And, this riddle seems especially mainstream (ie, one has to suspend disbelief in god and the devil, for starters), which means the less depth the better.
I wonder what a similar riddle would be like in India, where the epitome of holiness is equivalent to nothingness. (Buddha or Confuscius or one of those famous people said, he who wants nothing has everything.)
You're just too smart.
(BTW, Phil, this is not to say you are ... smart-challenged, just that you ... are ... not encumbered by a high IQ.)
(hahahahahaha--I'm just kidding, Phil!!!) (But really, Phil, I thought your answer was very clever.)
Shar
> Nothing was what I thought of too.
>
> But...
>
> Nothing is greater than God? First one would have to argue the existence of God.
>
> Nothing is more evil than the devil? As above.
>
> The poor have nothing? So they don't have families, they don't have love? Perhaps they mean 'poor' in a non-monetary sense. But still, there is hope, and faith, and all sorts of things poor people have that I certainly classify as something.
>
> The rich need nothing? Really? So because they have money (assuming rich meaning monetary sense) they don't need love, faith, hope, self worth...
Posted by noa on February 17, 2003, at 14:22:52
In reply to Nothing, posted by Phil on February 16, 2003, at 22:50:32
Yes, of Course!!!! Why didn't I see that? You brilliant man, you.....Phil, our resident philosopher.
Posted by noa on February 17, 2003, at 14:23:48
In reply to The answer (Phil), posted by Rach on February 17, 2003, at 3:08:27
Rach, you're too sophisticated for this riddle!
Posted by noa on February 17, 2003, at 14:29:26
In reply to Re: The answer (Phil) » Rach, posted by shar on February 17, 2003, at 13:11:57
Oops, by saying Rach is sophisticated, I also didn't mean Phil isn't!!
The riddle is "reductionist" perhaps, rather than "simple"? Maybe that would be a way to phrase it so that we cast not aspersions upon the brilliant intelligence of either of our fine babbleboard compatriots.
A reductionist riddle based on concepts that are familiar in our culture. But I guess most riddles are such.
Posted by Phil on February 17, 2003, at 16:50:19
In reply to Re: The answer (Phil), posted by noa on February 17, 2003, at 14:29:26
What is greater than God,
More evil than the devil?
The poor have it,
The rich need it,
And if you eat it, you die?
Answer: Nothing!Gotta go..putting aluminum foil in the trailor windows.
Posted by Rach on February 17, 2003, at 18:12:00
In reply to Re: The answer (Phil)-I googled the answer, posted by Phil on February 17, 2003, at 16:50:19
Posted by shar on February 17, 2003, at 23:25:52
In reply to Re: The answer (Phil)-I googled the answer, posted by Phil on February 17, 2003, at 16:50:19
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble 2000 | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.