On Friday night I sent out a text message poll to most of the people in my phone. The question was one I have been wondering about lately:
What is the oldest trick in the book?
Responses:
D.N. - Men dressed as women
D.W. - The Shell Game
B.F. - "Look over there!" [pointing]
D.H. - "Your shoe is untied."
S.C. - "You have something on your shirt." [Bonk!]
D.G. - "My hands are full, could you reach into my pocket?"
J.S. - The Houdini
M.H. - Hugh Hefner
J.S. - Texting strangers random questions
B.T. - Prostitution
E.N. - Trojan Whores
S.P. - Prostitution. It's in the fucking bible!
C.?. - Mary Magdelene
J.A. - Reviving the nut sac (which we'll file under Prostitution)
J.C. - Toss up between Stove Top Stuffing and instant mashed potatoes
N.H. - Mr. Potato-god
S.?. - Switching the poisoned cup
M.M. - Ointments that don't really work
S.K. -
Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line.I was quite surprised to see potatoes come way out of left field for a close second place. But as you can see, the slang usage of the word 'trick' for an act of prostitution has topped the chart on this one. I think that many people may have felt it was a trick question. Maybe it was.
If you intend to pose this same question to anyone, I recommend being as clear as possible. Depending on your meaning, ask either of these instead:
"What is the oldest known prank in history?"
or
"Who is the first prostitute in the Bible?"
According to
this Uncyclopedia entry, the oldest prank known in history is "Tapping on a person's left shoulder when you're standing on their right."