Episode 66 of "I Hate Talking" shifts to a more lighthearted tone after two serious episodes, focusing on the word "Rochambeau," which is another name for the game rock-paper-scissors. The hosts discuss the debated origins of the term. One popular but incorrect urban legend claims that a French general named Rochambeau used the game to make battlefield decisions during the American Revolutionary War. However, the World Rock Paper Scissors Association debunks this, stating the term’s true origin is unclear but likely unrelated to the general.
The game itself originated in China, possibly as early as the Han dynasty (206 BC), and later spread to Japan and other Asian countries. The Japanese term for the game is "Jan Ken Pon." The earliest known written usage of "Rochambeau" in the U.S. appears in a 1936 book from Oakland, California, where it was spelled "Roshambeau," matching the French spelling.
Originally, the game used "cloth" instead of "paper" as one of the elements, with the hand signal for cloth being a flat palm. The reason for the shift from cloth to paper is uncertain, though some theories suggest it was due to the prevalence of paper as a modern material or its symbolic use in decision-making in ancient China.
The hosts also mention a child’s alternative version of the game using fire, plant, and water, and discuss the ancient origins of scissors, confirming that all three items (rock, paper/cloth, scissors) existed thousands of years ago.
They touch on statistical strategies for winning at rock-paper-scissors, referencing a Mark Rober video that suggests players tend to follow a predictable pattern (rock, then paper, then scissors), which can be exploited in subsequent rounds. However, they note that as more people learn these strategies, their effectiveness diminishes.
The episode ends with a reminder to listeners to share their own thoughts on the etymology of "Rochambeau" and to enjoy experimenting with the strategies discussed.
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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.
Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.
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