Welcome!

Welcome to thirty-two eleven (”3211”). This newsletter is a change up from the usual broadcast. A Monday special, due to a busy week of work and a nice long weekend in honor of President's Day.

introduction:

A conversation over the game Code Names (recommend playing!) on Friday revolved around why paper beats rock in Rock/Paper/Scissors. Today I will be breaking down what we found.

the history:

Rock, Paper, Scissors is considered the oldest hand game in the world. The game dates back to the Chinese Han Dynasty. Beginning in 206 BC and ending in 220 AD. There are also accounts of this game tied to Japanese history. The earliest versions of this game consisted of a slug, snake, and frog. Rock, paper, and scissors were used in a later version developed in the 17th century.

In the 1920's the popular Asian hand game made its way to Great Britain. In 1932, an article appeared in the New York Times described the game.

the stats:

The exact statistics for how often each object is played is:

Rock - 35.4% played

Paper - 35.0% played

Scissors - 29.6% played

why does paper beat rock?:

Rocks are tough objects that do not get blown over in the wind, like paper. Factoring in gravity and weight, you need to put a rock on top of paper in order for it not to be blown away in the wind. So, why does paper beat rock in this hand game dating back to 206 BC?

When a request was sent to the Emperor in Chinese culture, the request was symbolized using a rock. After the decision was made by the Emperor, he would ask his servants to place a bundle of paper over or under the rock. If the bundle was kept under the rock, it meant that the appeal was accepted. If the paper was kept over the rock, it meant the appeal was rejected. Gradually the symbolic identity of the paper covering the rock became a symbol linked to defeat. Although this seems like a cool story to tell at the dinner table, this is not true.

In reality, rock paper scissors was originally rock cloth and scissors. As the game grew paper became the adopted name for the outstretched hand gesture. According to the WRPSA (Rock Paper Scissors Association), paper beating rock does make sense. Their theory is based on what the eye sees. Have you ever tried to find something on a messy desk? This is why paper beats rock. Although paper does not do damage to the rock, it still makes the rock invisible to the rest of the world rendering it useless when on top. Therefore, paper beats rock.

Cheers,