Go! A History of Rock Paper Scissors

[@carolynhotchkiss4760]

When my husband moved to California in the mid 90s, his first job was for JAL-SYS (the group that ran the computers for Japan Air Lines). We got invited to their Christmas party (and were one of just a few non-Japanese families lol). Side note: the Japanese were party-game mad. I have never had so much fun at a corporate party! However, when the time came for the blind gift exchange, two of the executives (who had apparently similar names) came up at the same time. After a brief discussion, they started shouting words which I must now presume were the Japanese name for the game, which I won't try to reproduce here as I'm sure I'll spell them wrong. But I could not help but giggle as these two top-tier executives were determining who would get that present with a rousing game of rock, paper, scissors (it took four rounds before we had a winner, too). I never knew the game came from Japan to the US. I had always presumed it to be the other way around, so thank you for teaching me something new today!

[@jamesfry8983]

Ah Janken

[@anthonyfrench3169]

​@jamesfry8983 yeah and the 4 rounds were ai kou ii shou!

[@Galiuros]

This video answered a question I've had for decades. My dad was stationed in Hawaii in the mid 60's when I was 10 years old. I learned the game there from Hawaiian locals. We would use it to break ties, mostly. It was called Rock, Paper, Scissors but the words we used when performing the game sounded like nonsense to me. But, now that I've heard the history, they make perfect sense. The words we used when playing the game were (according to memory) "Junk kenna po, I canna show. With the hand gesture being thrown on the word "show". Thanks to the info in the video, I now know that the first line was Jan-Ken-Po with the extra syllables and the word "show" to rhyme with "po". Thanks! A lifelong mystery solved for me.

[@dennisdezarn5895]

That's awesome!😊

[@JTA1961]

Growing up there (Japan) baseball teams were created in minutes with winners on one & looser on the other. While on base (USAF) it took 30 minutes to choose sides. Sure eliminated the embarrassment of who got picked last.

[@nedludd7622]

"Loser"

[@NoahSpurrier]

Ugh… I remember, getting picked last in sports in high school. I wasn’t unathletic; I just wasn’t so great at paying attention in team sports. I kept getting hit in the head by whatever ball game we were plying: football, volleyball, basketball were my worst. I was really bad at basketball.

[@NoahSpurrier]

Ugh… I remember, getting picked last in sports in high school. I wasn’t unathletic; I just wasn’t so great at paying attention in team sports. I kept getting hit in the head by whatever ball game we were plying: football, volleyball, basketball was worst. I was really bad at bad basketball.

[@vlmellody51]

Loser, not "looser," which is the opposite of tighter.

[@NoahSpurrier]

@@vlmellody51 I always screw this up.

[@kaye_kayeslider]

The history guy actually came to my class today and I got his autograph! He also gave me and my friends two special custom made tokens or whatever 😼

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Lol challenge coins. Nice to meet you!

[@LazyIRanch]

You lucky person! I would be thrilled to meet him, and would love to hear him speak in person, with answer and question session afterwards. I would promise to limit myself to one question, but I'd definitely ask him about something quirky and offbeat, and I betcha he would know the answer! I could listen to him and Bill Nye the Science Guy all day. I may be old, but I still love to learn new things, daily! I have to when I can't remember what I did last week.

[@user-vm5ud4xw6n]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel I was just getting ready to ask if they meant Challenge Coins. Kids, right??

[@hilariousname6826]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel The "or whatever" really does make those coins sound "special", you have to admit!

[@Sheworkshardforthemoney]

​@@LazyIRanch And Neil DeGrasse.

[@DaleStLouis-xb5mx]

Anyone remember sandlot baseball, where someone tossed the bat up, someone else caught it, then went hand-over-hand and whoever got the knob got to bat first? That takes a bat of course, so for everything else we did RPS.

[@HM2SGT]

When I was a Middle School kid in the late 70s early 80s, Rochambeau was a swift, powerful kick between the legs!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

:0

[@robertkinkaid4732]

Also featured as such in South Park

[@boanerges5723]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel when i moved to the US I was made aware of rochambeau being taking turns kicking each other between the legs (ostensibly the first kicker winning by default) as a bit of a joke even though Ive seen it actually played out.... I was aware of it as the name of Rock Paper Scissors, but I did not grow up in the US.

[@patreekotime4578]

Ahhhhh yes that is why I was sooo confused when he brought that up!

[@jliller]

I'm pretty sure I've heard Rochambeau used to refer to a game where two people take turns hitting each. Sort of like Power Slap, but with fists.

[@dontroutman8232]

It's always good to wake up to the History Guy. Wishing Lance and family and staff a very good day!

[@JTA1961]

@@dontroutman8232 well put

[@agate_jcg]

I grew up in Hawaii, where the game is called by its Japanese name, and you chant "jan, ken, a-po!" as you pound your fist. Weirdly, if it's a tie, on the next round you chant "I, can, a-show!" but I have no idea if that's actually English or an anglicized Japanese phrase. I always thought it was weird that mainlanders play it without a chant. Anyway it was neat to learn that the modern game originated in Japan, and the Hawaii version is closer to the origin: I wonder if it might have entered the US through Hawaii?

[@TierTwoWorks]

Sounds like the Japanese influence was stronger in Hawaii, and you got some of a related game with Janken: Acchimuitehoi. When you tie in Janken, you then chant "Aikode sho!" and throw Rock/Paper/Scissors again (until someone wins). Then the winner will say, "Achhimuitehoi!" and point Up, Down, Left, or Right. If the other person looks in the same direction, they lose. So your "I can a-show!" is probably like you guessed, Anglicized "Aikode sho!" :)

[@Galiuros]

I can't believe it! I actually just posted my comment about learning the game in Hawaii in the mid 60s. Then I read your comment and we have basically the same story of the learning the game there.

[@TamagoHead]

Aiko Desho. (It’s a tie).

[@vlmellody51]

I was introduced to the game in Hawai'i, too, back in 1967. The girl who taught it to me was Japanese.

[@theeddorian]

Mainlanders, at least some of us, play it chanting "rock, paper, scissors." We learned it before I can even remember, probably from my parents in the early 1950s.

[@jonofthehill]

In high school my friend circle played it as Foot (palm down, fingers together to resemble a foot), Roach (wiggling four fingers like a roach's legs), Nuclear Holocaust (slow, rising fist explosion like a rising mushroom cloud). Nuke vaporizes foot, foot smashes roach, and roach survives nuclear holocaust. I can't for the life of me remember who came up with it but we played like that for almost all of high school.

[@IreneSalmakis]

It's these simple little things in everyday life that few even bother to talk about or write down that illustrate a certain universality to the human experience.

[@Gardeninginpearls]

This was awesome. My grandpa taught me “Rock, Paper, Scissors’ when i was very young in the early 60’s. I have never wondered where it started, i just knew that grandpa was old and knew it forever. I love your content and playing eye-spy in your book shelf. I have never seen Gilligan before! ♥️

[@mikenixon2401]

Thanks Lance for another lesson of "How did that begin." Keep up the good work. One, two, three. One two, three. One, two, three. Hey, I finally won.

[@RoseWeiss-q1t]

I'm shocked at the number of commenters who never heard of rock, paper, scissors until adulthood. I grew up in Tennessee; I played it from early childhood. This was a fun episode. Thanks, History Guy!

[@bbartky]

Same! To me, it’s like hearing they never heard of baseball until they were adults. 🤷‍♂️

[@JimmyMon666]

It was certainly around in Las Vegas in the 80's when I grew up. I learned it from my friends. Of course, we also had any many miny moe as well.

[@LazyIRanch]

I was in my 20s first time I saw "rock paper scissors" on a TV show. We had "Eeny Meeny Miney Moe". I will not repeat the version of it that my redneck, racist boss used back in the 80s. It's ugly and hateful and I'm glad I'll never hear it again.😒

[@justinarzola4584]

Yes, that seems weird, I played Rock, paper, scissors with my school friends when i was a little kid or seeing it on tv shows, it always seemed like a society staple throughout all culture.

[@mikethurman3147]

I absolutely love that you covered this simple game that people of all cultures/nations/etc can enjoy together without instruction. Except, of course, the disgusting heritecs using the unclean "paper, rock, scissors" variant over the orthodox and true "rock, paper, scissors" version. Great content, as always.

[@feliciagaffney1998]

Instruction is needed to agree/recall what beats what.

[@anangryranger]

As always, a flawless presentation of historical information! And hats off to you sir, for your uncanny research skills! Impressive!👍

[@RemnantCult]

I'm reminded of how I was somehow able to win a rock, paper, scissors tournament during a exam study event at high school. I was up against 30 to 50 other kids and some spirit possessed me and I was able to knock everyone out that came across my way, as if I could read their mind and predict which hand they were gonna throw. I won a gift card to a local coffee shop and lord knows I went off to get the jitters on 3 shots of espresso after all that exam studying was done as I had just gotten my license.

[@StrivetobeDust]

Japanese elementary teachers use (and play) this game dozens of times a day, mostly for dispute resolution. The children will play it endlessly for no more reason than the chance to win.

[@markferguson3365]

I do believe the first in the states to call the game Roe Sham Bowe were the illustrious, if not dubious, internationally recognized Howard Brothers! Not the Howard's of that minor university, but the Howard's of Columbia, Universal, and a few other studios. I truly have always believed Larry, Moe, Curly, Shemp, and occasionally Curly Joe had brought it to the American masses. I credit those intellectual Icons! 😂

[@matchedimpedance]

Good stuff. One advantage the game Odds-Evens has over Rock-Paper-Scissors is that with Odds-Evens there is no chance of a tie. Each throw has an outcome. With RPS there's a 1-in-3 chance of a tie that forces a rethrow. In Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock the chance of a tie drops to 1-in-5, but a bit harder to work out the winner.

[@sharonbapp9613]

I’m 82 from upstate New York. Never heard of the game growing up. I still have no idea what they’re doing but if it teaches a peaceful way to settle disputes than I’m all for it

[@LakeLyfe315]

Im 41 and from upstate NY and we knew this game in elementary school

[@bonniearmstrong6564]

I never played the game, but knew about it from the seventh grade on, oh, yes, I’m in my 80’s.

[@Donna-cc1kt]

The rock breaks the scissors. The rock wins. The paper covers a rock. The paper wins. The scissors cuts the paper. The scissors wins. You show your choice after a count of 3 all show their hand. Repeat till adversaries are eliminated. Popular and children love it.

[@Txfreeandlovenit]

​@@Donna-cc1ktthanks, no one has ever explained it before

[@floridaredneck]

@@Donna-cc1kt No one ever explained it like that to me either. I've never played it because I never understood it. I kinda still don't and think drawing straws or guessing numbers is easier. When you've gone a lifetime not knowing, it's rather late to get started now.

[@Jebbie1976]

This is why I love this channel! I would've never wondered about the orgins of this game but but it's a fascinating story!

[@Nicksonian]

I have racked my brain trying to remember when I learned the game. It was certainly in the 1960s and I couldn’t have been older than ten or so. It seems something I’ve always known.

[@jerrywood4508]

I was introduced to rock paper scissors sometime in the mid-1960s. It seemed very exotic to a twelve year old.

[@sharmanmurphree-roberts4018]

I was waiting to see if he addressed Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock. I'm so happy he did! 😂🪨📃✂️🦎🖖

[@jewel65]

Me too!!😂😂😂😂

[@jliller]

I knew of the game, but mistakenly thought Big Bang Theory had invented it rather than merely popularized it.

[@OldMan_PJ]

Learned around the same time as the nursery rhyme "eeny, meeny, miny, moe", taught by a childhood friend that learned it from an older sibling or relative.

[@fbksfrank4]

Rock, paper, scissors, lizard , spock!

[@oastie3]

My thought, too

[@Ivehadenuff]

Mine too.

[@mattt233]

Everyone always thew Spock

[@traceythompson1092]

The BBT and the character of Sheldon Cooper put this in the modern world. Thanks for the shout out.

[@daRiddler32]

I came looking for this comment 😁

[@comettamer]

We used to use it frequently as kids to determine who would be on what team during recess kickball. My D&D group still uses it today to sometimes determine who goes into a room first.

[@cpnscarlet]

Only Lance can make a topic like this fascinating.

[@SaraMercer-v6i]

I like these unusual history classes. I love being a wealth of useless information. Trivia games are fun when you know the wacky answers.

[@elizabethsohler6516]

Right there with you!

[@MeMe-c1w9s]

For years I was a player of LARP games. And this was the way of quickly resolving situations. Shout out to the wanderers who strayed into WW WOD.

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

That was enlightening! In South Africa from the 1970's to 1990's (the last time I recall playing the game), we had two different names for the game, and held our hands behind our heads, or backs. The first name was: Ching-chong-cha, where the rock, paper or scissors was produced the moment we both said 'cha!' The other name was 'Sudden Death', following the three count of Ching-chong-cha, it came out as Suuu.. den death! It depended which primary school (elementary school) you went to. I attended three different primary schools, and played both, but the weird looks you got when you suggested the wrong name was soul destroying. I always thought that the name Ching-chong-cha was racist, but after this video, I wonder if was merely a nod to the origins of the game... I need to go and chat with my young black and white friends to see what they called the game. Thank you.

[@bbartky]

Wow, great video, THG! 👏 I have to say I’m shocked and amazed to learn how recent it was (the 1950s!) when rock paper scissors (RPS) became popular in the US. I’m Generation Jones (aka, younger boomer) and I learned how to play RPS when I was in kindergarten. Prior to your video I had assumed that RPS had been a childhood tradition in America for centuries. And I have to say I’m floored to learn from the comments that there are Americans who _didn’t_ play RPS as children. I’m going to see my mother, who is Silent Generation, on Thanksgiving and I’m going to ask her when she first heard about RPS.

[@appaloosa42]

I only learned RPS in my 50’s, and still have difficulty comprehending the logic of rules( !!) How interesting to hear of your generational descriptions. Born in ‘50, my parents were born in ‘14@‘15, maternal grandparents immigrated in ‘92 and ‘’93. Keep telling my ‘75 son I am definitely NOT a boomer!

[@hilariousname6826]

I grew up in southern Ontario in the '60s - and never heard of RPS till sometime in my adulthood.

[@txkflier]

I've known about it since elementary school in the mid-1950's. The same for "Red Rover" and "Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe" which I used to select which candy to get from a vending machine. Those colored coconut strips and peanut butter bars were great, but they did a number on my teeth.

[@StevenDietrich-k2w]

That's hilarious if Washington and Rochambeau played RPS to determine whom would be the last to leave Cornwallis's tent after the battle of Yorktown. While I'm at it, thanks to the French, Dutch, and Spaniards, for helping us get this Republic off the ground.

[@WendyLouPollock]

Thanks!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Thank you!

[@THE-HammerMan]

-Rock, Paper, Scissors? Oh crud! -I'll be back!!!

[@markbyrum4743]

I've written wills before which requires disputes otherwise unable to be decided to be resolved with the toss of a coin - a variation of a "rock, paper, scissors" to decide. If the disputants are so entrenched in their positions that they cannot decide, the testator essentially says, "okay you two, you flip a coin and you win or lose, period!" Of course the testator is not there to see the fallout from such a provision - but they routinely like the idea when the will is being prepared! Good vid, as usual. Keep at it!

[@ginnyjollykidd]

My little sister and I came up with rock, paper, scissors, match (index finger) Rock crushes match (or doesn't allow fire to escape), Scissors cut off match head Match burns paper I just realized that match wasn't as powerful as we thought it would be. My little sister and I used to play numerous rounds with the penalty being a strike on the arm by two fingers. Truly, though, that penalty wasn't as bad as the outcome of losing the round. (Though my little sister could give a mean strike!)

[@ooshta]

Thanks for this fun history fact. Back in the 60s and early 70s used to play that under the name ro-sham-bo. Even as an adult have done that a few times with our kid and friends when they where young. It's fun and frustrating at times too. ❤.

[@stefienardelli6388]

THG….. thanks so much for all your so well researched and presented videos. always a pleasure ❤

[@jacemachine]

I learned it from my grandmother, who was a Japanese immigrant.

[@DaleStLouis-xb5mx]

Three college friends in Kansas City in 1982. Andy needed to move at the end of semester and had a lot of stuff for a college guy. He was a skilled mechanic, and he did some car repairs for both Ron and Rob, who offered to pay him but he said "you owe me, and I'll need help moving." When moving day came, he had other friends helping, but he needed a different favor. Andy had bought and fixed up a car for his sister who lived in Houston. He was too busy to drive it down, needed someone to drive it, very long day to Houston and come back on Greyhound. It felt like a big deal so they asked me to witness / referee the game. Rob threw scissors and lost, giving Ron the option. Ron chose to carry furniture. Rob took it well but he was truly dreading the trip, especially the return leg on the bus. When Ron and I were carrying the lower end of the heavy sleeper sofa down the stairs, he grunted "shoulda gone to Houston!" Rob drove to Houston, where he met Andy's sister. They now have three kids and two grandkids. With the engagement ring, he also gave her a gold pendant shaped like a hand throwing scissors.

[@dongrant5827]

That’s awesome!

[@markbaker9459]

To me, it came as another thing new in my life when our family moved to Hawaii. No hung decisions, no matter what , there was a definite answer.

[@catatonicbug7522]

Mark Rober recently offered a prize for anyone able to beat his rock, paper, scissors robot. It also uses the same high-speed recognition.

[@mattblom3990]

The game just seems to be instinctual...You learn it to solve trivial small issues but you never know where you learn it (as you said) but it feels like something you learned when you learned to walk.

[@SharonH11100]

Thanks ~ that was fun! My Daddy, born in S. California in 1917 knew and taught it to me in the 1950's, but I never saw it popularized in my lifetime, at least in the medical community in which I worked. Probably a very good thing, now that I think about it!

[@fightingidiocy7724]

my wife is Japanese, and she's going to love this! played Jan-Ken with my nieces and they just giggle like crazy her area of Japan plays a version called Jan-Ken- BULLDOG..first win, the person grabs your right cheek; second win, they grab your left cheek, third win, they sing a slly mocking song while pinching your cheeks and rapidly shaking your face! lol it's so much fun

[@rdyfrde]

There's a Master System platform game called Alex Kidd in Miracle World where you have to battle bosses by playing Rock Paper Scissors.

[@davemoore1233]

In the TV show "Babylon 5" they introduced Laser(pointer finger), Mirror, Web

[@garyclark3843]

I'm a fan, and I don't remember that. Do you remember the context of the scene? Not doubting you, genuinely curious.

[@davemoore1233]

@@garyclark3843 Now I'm questioning my self. I remember "seeing" it, but when I look it up, all I can find is a reference to a comic book. But I never read any of the comics. So, I really can't say. However, the comic book was written by David Gerrold, so I plan to look for that anyway.

[@davemoore1233]

and it was 'Starweb'.

[@alanfarnworth2802]

when i was in primary school, the game swept the school, and through inventive cheating rapidly added fire, rain, river, dam and dynamite. The game was then supplanted by the rubic cube, but I still play it with my brother every now and then

[@IC4N7C]

I used this last Sunday. We had family dinner at Olive Garden. I had a tossup on what to have. My brother in law and I played to decide between chicken and shrimp carbonara, and seafood Alfredo. Alfredo Ron out!

[@Debisjoy]

That’s so funny! Not that you played RPS to decide but rather carbonara in Italy is Pasta, egg and ham pieces mostly ate by coal miners bc it was so inexpensive to make. Thus carbonara or coal. Italy also does not have Alfredo anything. I know you enjoyed your meal n time together .😊

[@IC4N7C]

@ we really did!

[@roykay4709]

Thanks for the reminder on Pit. I recall my grandmother liked the game, but I forget what the cars and rules are.

[@Mtlmshr]

Although you are VERY INFORMATIVE you also crack me up, love your knowledge of history!

[@Bobchai]

I am 73. I was well into adulthood before I even heard of "rock, paper scissors". I didn't understand it when I first saw it in my late 20s, and my friends thought I'd grown up in Borneo.

[@zyxw2000]

I'm 78, and no one has ever asked me to play. Still unsure of the hand gestures.

[@feliciagaffney1998]

​@@zyxw2000 rock is a fist, paper is a flat hand, and scissors are index and middle fingers... to resemble scissors. Scissors beats paper as it cuts paper Rock beats scissors as it will crush them Paper beats rock as it will cover the rock. 🤷🏻‍♀️. Or so the rules say. Lol

[@jimsweeney7339]

I am 67 and was an adult before I heard about this, never played and until someone pointed out what the different things mean had no idea how to play one of life's mysteries I will miss I guess🤣

[@cloudpoint0]

Same age and I never heard of the game until maybe 20 years ago.

[@jhonwask]

They thought I was born on Mars. They were correct.

[@denniscrannie1126]

The first time I heard of it was on the Monkees TV show. It was not until Tom Baker on Dr. Who took the time to explain the game that I knew what was going on, sort of. I don't think I have ever played it.😊

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

I once had a winning streak of 30 !

[@ricksaint2000]

Thank you History Guy

[@tmsmqwx]

Some of these episodes leave me smiling at the end.

[@markraymond3198]

I heard some kids in Hawaii playing this and I thought they were saying "junk and pole who will show?" Now I know what the kids were saying! Thanks, and God Bless.

[@patreekotime4578]

When you said it originated in China, I thought wow, just like playing cards.... but playing cards made it to Europe by at least the mid 14th century... wild that it took another 500 years for a game that requires no acutrements!

[@TM-ev2tc]

I make my decisions using the magic 8 Ball.

[@maggedo-x1s]

Magic: schmagic! Scientists v's: S*t*nists! JK! 🤘🤪👍

[@boanerges5723]

ask again later

[@JuanCarlosbarquero-f3e]

"The rise of the terminators has begun"

[@spikespa5208]

AI to win R-P-S? We're doomed.

[@CraigCsfshrink]

Good old Rock!!!

[@BladeRunner25463c]

Nothing beats rock!

[@bbartky]

That’s from one of my all-time favorite Simpsons episodes! I love how Lisa know Bart will say “rock” and feels somewhat bad about it.

[@MrMatteNWk]

Rock! Paper. D'oh!

[@shawnr771]

Thank you for the lesson. There are many people on the highway who play finger games.

[@Benni-rp9or]

Fascinating history of the game. Great video!

[@teresacorrigan3076]

Forgot this. Thank you! 🇨🇦I thought it was an oriental original

[@jbrhel]

Rock, paper, scissors, lizard, Spock!

[@DavidBenner-cy4zl]

Played it often in Japan back in the late 50's and early 60's.

[@maddyg3208]

We played RPS in Australia in the (late?) 70s and 80s but only as a game. Eeny meany miny mo was used for "decision making"

[@patraic5241]

I played rock paper scissors all the time when I was a kid. Sometimes as a simple game. Sometimes to pick a leader or who would go first. We would strike a fist lightly into the opposite palm three times counting 1 - 2 - 3. On what would be four we said the word "Shoot" and instead displayed our choice that round. Fond memories there.

[@dwderp]

On a related note, the hand sign is revealed “on three.” In every group, there is always that one person who says “wait, is it on three or after three?“ And the answer, of course, is that there’s no such thing as “after three.“ “After three” is “on four,” And nothing happens “on four.”

[@xxculpritexx]

3,2,1 go! 1,2,3 go!

[@nathanhall9177]

Eewwww he told you

[@lancerevell5979]

I'm 67 and been playing ever since I was very young. I have no memory who taught me. I suspect I just picked it up from my schoolmates. 😊

[@traceythompson1092]

At this time in our history, the game Rock, Paper, Scissors is awesome and has become an American instrument for who "wins or loses" an afore agreeded upon set of circumstances. For example, on the TV show Supernatural, the brothers Winchester use the game to determine, best game out of three, which brother has to do the most dirty or dangerous task!

[@HM2SGT]

*That's what Dungeons & Dragons dice are for!*

[@lancerevell5979]

Especially the powerful D20! Roll a CRIT! 😄👍

[@stitch626aloha]

I routinely call "Low" in the dice variation called "Low Ten High" or just Hi-Lo.

[@comettamer]

Sometimes ya ain't even got that.

[@rabbi120348]

It was common in NYC playgrounds in the 1950's.

[@reefsroost696]

It was played 1950's Texas hill country.

[@cbroz7492]

..even..odds. .shoot

[@Alden_Indoway]

@@cbroz7492-Yes that’s what we had.

[@cbroz7492]

@Alden_Indoway ..I'm 75...went to grade school 1955 to 1963...I'm OLD!!!

[@traceythompson1092]

I grew up in Brooklyn in the '70s and the '80s and we had both: "Odds and Evens says shoot! And Rock, Paper Scissors."

[@frankgulla2335]

Great episode and excellent closing.

[@thefrecklepuny]

On the popular and very funny comedy show "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" on BBC Radio Four, host Jack Dee sometimes plays a variation of Rock, Paper, Scissors with more obscure references. Such as "Cow, Lake, Bomb" as in "cow drinks lake, lake extinguishes bomb and bomb blows up cow".

[@jeremymoores7563]

Definitely going to be that guy that refers to the game exclusively as Frog ,Snake, Centipede from now on lol

[@carolduvall111]

This episode was a happy nugget of info😊❤

[@DustyGamma]

I literally went along with you at the start, picked scissors, we gotta go again!

[@tyffanypoudrier2826]

This is freaking awesome ! I wonder how many other games or hand gestures meant something else many years ago

[@TrickiVicBB71]

This was pretty cool to learn. I never thought of where the game originated. So there were many finger games throughout many cultures, but the rock, paper, and scissor game came more from Japan

[@debbybridge7064]

I love these random topics. I can only take so much war, plane wrecks, and destruction.

[@OyDoggy]

I was so happy to see "rock, paper, scissors, lizard, spock on The Big Bang Theory. I read about it like 10 years earlier and taught my friends but they didn't care, I thought it was awesome.

[@robbiebenson2814]

Never would’ve expected this subject to show up here

[@goodmanuni09]

Finally, as a PE teacher I used to use RPS to pick teams. But I found kids that were going against friends often would take forever as they thought like-minded, and would end ip in never ending ties. I switched to odds & evens after that, as there are no ties.

[@FreeAmerican-mm2my]

Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock

[@Bru-d5b]

I came to the comments looking for this 😂😂

[@boanerges5723]

laser lizard spock

[@wronger0123]

@@Bru-d5b I am not surprised someone else commented this before I could

[@mattt233]

Everyone always threw Spock. Lol

[@JillShaw]

This is the only iteration of this silly nonsensical practice that I will acknowledge.

[@nighthawk5295]

Rock, Paper, and Scissors was immortalized in the videos games "Alex Kidd in Miracle World" and "Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle". Both on Sega.

[@ganykaliya7811]

When I was a kid it was rock paper scissors say shoot, with the fourth sign being the gun which broke all balance in the game. Thought there were attempts in the playground, parks and catskill resorts to balance/nerf the gun. They all failed. Eventually as we got older we gave up on the gun with it being occasionally revived mostly for nostalgia.

[@DeconvertedMan]

Jan Ken Pon!

[@carolduvall111]

I love that tie😊❤

[@ginnyjollykidd]

Yes! I love it, too! Very fitting and playful!

[@mai_world]

OMG! I remember Jan-Ken-Po! There was a "chant" or song. Flashback!

[@InformationIsTheEdge]

I TOTALLY went for it! I went with scissors too in your opener!

[@Svensk7119]

Now, the problem with rock-paper-scissors is it doesn't work with three... I saw that in an episode of Stargate Atlantis, and then repeated that scene at work once. Of course, I told each one what to pick, and they were so surprised, each picked what I had selected, and they started laughing after they caught up with me. I went out to fill the propane tank while they were laughing.

[@BenjySparky]

THG, you rock! Peace

[@josephrogers5337]

I am 82 years old and I never heard of Rock Paper Scissors until I was an adult but have never understood it, just heard references of this but eny miny moe was the only one I had ever used.

[@charlesyoung7436]

I'm a few years younger than you, but learned it in childhood as "Itchy-Knee-San," which I was told was Japanese for "1-2-3."

[@robertpierce1981]

PBS show Odd Squad has an episode centered around the bad guys holding a tournament and the Odd Squad attempting to infiltrate the game.

[@KenRichardson-xn9xd]

I learned it from an alien on an alien spaceship while the craft was teetering on the edge of flat Earth. We were determining who takes a peak over the edge!

[@oakstrong1]

I livedin the UK between middle 1980s and 2011 and never heard of it nor saw my school-aged children play it. The first time I saw it played until after I started teaching in SE Asia, private school - not children in public schools. Last week I learned that in Malaysia the words are rock, water, bird (bird can drink water).

[@davec9244]

You we be backkk!