FOFC Malarky: Fifth (and final?) Question

[Poli]

Who's going to win?

FOFC Malarky rules (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=24629) <---

Question #5:

Why are most pencils painted yellow?


PMs for bluffs and answers are being sent now.


Just a friendly reminder:

Others are welcome to post as they wish, but only answers given by players will be considered for voting. Please do not post answers from the web or attempt to assist the players. Please do not look up the answers on the internet. Please make one 'clear' distinction between your answer and the others. Thanks!

[John Galt]

And the answer is:

The first line of successful pencils were painted yellow to be distinctive. Ever since, yellow has been the predominant pencil color.

[SirFozzie]

John is close, but he didn't get the full story. I was taught this by my dad. It's because of what the color yellow means. In Chinese mythology, yellow=Respect and honor. The pencil manufacturers wanted their pencils to be associated with this, so they painted their first pencils yellow. They took off, and just about every pencil made these days is Yellow.

(I also joke that people who gnaw their pencils as a nervous habit are fans of Chinese Food for this reason)

[Coffee Warlord]

And the answer is:

Yellow was chosen because it is easily distinguishable at a distance, for when schoolteachers were testing, and needed to make certain that a student was using an ink pen.

[John Galt]

I can't decide whether SirFozzie's or CW's answer is worse.

[SirFozzie]

CW's is, because my answer is the truth

[John Galt]

CW's is, because my answer is the truth

Yeah. Chinese mythology. Good one.

[SirFozzie]

Nice attempt at sabotaging me, John.. ;) This question I know for sure. I'll even reveal I was selected to bluff.. but I offer this to back my story.

In Ancient China, only the Emperor himself was allowed to wear gold colored clothing, as it showed his might. If a peasant or even a noble wore gold, he was in effect, challenging the Emperor's authority. If the Emperor could get away with it, usually that meant an immediate death sentence for the challenging noble or peasant.

[Coffee Warlord]

Doubt me at your peril. I am the the fucking GOD of pencils.

[John Galt]

Nice attempt at sabotaging me, John.. ;) This question I know for sure. I'll even reveal I was selected to bluff.. but I offer this to back my story.

In Ancient China, only the Emperor himself was allowed to wear gold colored clothing, as it showed his might. If a peasant or even a noble wore gold, he was in effect, challenging the Emperor's authority. If the Emperor could get away with it, usually that meant an immediate death sentence for the challenging noble or peasant.

Yeah. That's all nice, but Ardent sent me the right answer, so I know you are full of crap (and because your Chinese history is pretty bad).

[The Afoci]

In the 1800's, the main pencil maker was purchasing all it's graphite from China. Many considered that to be the best graphite in the entire world. To make sure that a pencil didn't cost 50 cents per one, they didn't paint them at first. Well after many complaints of them being unfinished and giving people silvers, they started painting them. People liked the wood appearance of the pencils and shunned the white and black ones made. Yellow ones just kind of stuck after that and now are over 90% of all pencils made.

[stkelly52]

Simple economics. When pencils were first painted, yellow was the cheapest color of paint.

This is the correct answer. Feel free to put it in your own words, but it should read similar to this.

AE<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

[Poli]

This round was great. You guys are hilarious. Voting season is now open. FOFC may also vote (via PM to me ) in this final round until all of the players have voted. Once I have heard from the voting players, the polls are closed and votes tallied. Results will be posted immediately.

[SirFozzie]

I have voted for my own answer, ardent, please confirm that I have done so,

[The Afoci]

I voted for Jesus. He is never wrong.

[Poli]

I have voted for my own answer, ardent, please confirm that I have done so,


Confirmed. You have voted for your own answer.