h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, if it's a rhetorical question it is, in effect, a statement.

So ner.

B

But its veracity still can't be determined as it's not making a statement that can be tested that way. No matter the actual conditions, whether the driver is a liar or not, the question has no quality of truthfulness. It's a "what if?". You can test whether an ANSWER is true, but not a question.

I can't test whether your answer is true, because I've no idea what you're blathering about.

I've already said the Corporal should be interpreted as a statement of fact.

B

I didn't give an explicit answer as I don't believe one can be positively determined from the information given, I could only narrow it down to 4-5 possibilities.

I'll sit the rest of this one out.

There is a definitive answer. Using pure logic to get there would probably be a mistake. It is a silly question, after all.

B

Ah, in that case, I give my self a full round of blaring klaxons as I was indeed trying to be logical. I'm quite good at those truth/lies logic problems. (Ask the fellow which way to his village.)

"There is a definitive answer. Using pure logic to get there would probably be a mistake. It is a silly question, after all."

You may say I'm mistaken, you may even sound the sirens or call out the dogs,
but the recent clarifications enable me to exclude all but General Disaster.

It's too late to go into it now. You might like to save me the bother .

I won't be giving anything away.

Perhaps talking it through to yourself is the best way.

B

"Using pure logic to get there would probably be a mistake."

I should have taken your advice.

In trying to recollect the strands of logic that seemed to be within my grasp last night, I have found a flaw...

If I can find the time, I'll explain later why the honest doc has to be Private Parts.

Who do you want to operate on your ankle?

FM is proved a liar by the Corporal's answer
GD is a liar because of his claim to be an alective mute
MJ ?
CC is a liar because he supports the general and makes the same claim.
LP Could be liar - and is because
SB supports him and as there is only 1 truth teller they must both be liars.
CP Offers that the Ambulance driver is a liar, which someone destroys everything, so he's a liar.
PP says they are all liars which can only be true if he is the only one telling the truth - except we didn't hear MJ.

Therefore Mumbling Major Jump can operate on my ankle.

All correct, bar one crucial final step.

B

YES - Lieutenant Pigeon (Coventry Band) can operate - he is merely saying what he thinks - he thinks the Major said he was a liar - SErgeant Bash lies to support him because he not only does not know what he said, but also not what he thinks.

I should technically give you another but that might border on the cruelty.

This question could have been about policeman, or builders, or politicians (and let's face it, what more appropriate a scenario for lots of people lying?). However, the setting is more than just an excuse for lots of silly names.

B

That could lead one to think that Captain James Cook was a surgeon - but he wasn't.

Your foray into lateral thinking might well be the way to go. As you suspect, it's entirely the wrong direction, but QI is all about creative thinking and the occasional bit of wordplay.

B

I'm not sure I would like someone called Distaster or Punishment operating on me, to be honest. Sounds like an accident waiting to happen.


Geggs

What we need is a General Practitioner.

If only.

The clue is not in the silly names, gents. Try reverting to your logical reasoning.

B

I'm likely to be offline for a few days, and I don't have time to explain my reasoning now.

However, I've just noticed this:



Which suggests to me that *I* am Sergeant Bash.....

Let's face it, I'm well overdue for a siren.