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From: librik@netcom.com (David Librik)
Subject: Re: Silly Game Elements, Round Two
Message-ID: <librikDqz6L7.Mz@netcom.com>
Organization: Icy Waters Underground, Inc.
References: <4mh32g$8qc@argentina.it.earthlink.net> <4mk6al$k1o@abel.cc.sunysb.edu>
Date: Mon, 6 May 1996 08:36:43 GMT
Lines: 26
Sender: librik@netcom4.netcom.com

bgriffin@ic.sunysb.edu (Eli the bearded) writes:

>pin-ring
>"This is a large ring with a pin sticking off of it. It
>rather looks like it sould be holding a grenade together.
>This is usually on your keychain where it serves countless
>useful purposes."

>Some useful purposes to which it has been put: when off the
>keychain it awkwardly servicible for popping the lid off
>bottles; it came in quite handy that time I wanted something
>to stir the liquid zinc; on a number of occaisions it has
>served well for engraving text into things; it is well
>suited for pushing recessed buttons or manipulating dip
>switches; and there where a couple of times it kept my
>fingers clean by probing messy gearing for me.

I think we have here the prototypical example of the I-F Author's
Nightmare Object.  The totally fake nature of the Adventure Universe
would become abundantly clear with an object like this one around.
You need to add "... Unfortunately, the pin has become bent so that
it looks like it will only fit into a certain size of lock, and beyond
that it's totally useless, so it's easy for the author to program."

- David Librik
librik@cs.Berkeley.edu
