• Question: Why is a raven like a writing desk? ;D

    Asked by antidisestablishmentarianism to Andrew on 23 Nov 2011.
    • Photo: Andrew Cairns

      Andrew Cairns answered on 23 Nov 2011:

      Have you guessed the riddle yet?” the Hatter said, turning to Alice again.
      “No, I give it up,” Alice replied. “What’s the answer?”
      “I haven’t the slightest idea,” said the Hatter.
      “Nor I,” said the March Hare.
      Alice sighed wearily. “I think you might do something better with the time,” she said, “than wasting it in asking riddles that have no answers.”

      Or more accurately, in the words of Lewis Carroll,

      “Because it can produce a few notes, tho they are very flat; and it is never put with the wrong end in front!”

      Originally the riddle had no answer, however. This didn’t stop people coming up with answers though!

      * Because the notes for which they are noted are not noted for being musical notes. (Puzzle maven Sam Loyd, 1914)
      * Because Poe wrote on both. (Loyd again)
      * Because there is a B in both and an N in neither. (Get it? Aldous Huxley, 1928)
      * Because it slopes with a flap. (Cyril Pearson, undated)

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