From: C.L.Gannon@newcastle.ac.uk (C.L. Gannon)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.douglas-adams
Subject: Re: Pizza...
Date: 27 Jan 93 12:18:01 GMT
Organization: Computing Laboratory, U of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK NE1 7RU.


In article <C1H6x1.B5C@cck.coventry.ac.uk>, mei141@cck.coventry.ac.uk (PH) writes:
>In article <C1A8nK.8BK@mach1.wlu.ca> dluckma3@mach1.wlu.ca (david luckman 9209 U) writes:
>>In article <21JAN199308115170@acad1.alaska.edu> jsfjp@acad1.alaska.edu (PERRICONE FRANK J) writes:
>>>>PS Has anyone looked up the references supposedly supporting 
>>>>recent theory regarding "The Question"?
>>>>Marvin with the mattress and Eddie I think.
>>>>The Question being - "Think of a number, any number"
>>>
>>>That was what I thought it was, too.  I'm glad someone else thought so.  But
>>>it's actually (at least in the books) in the scene where they're trying to get
>>>into the Justice office to talk to Prak about the truth.  Arthur picks the
>>>phone number for the customer service office of British Rail or something like
>>>that on the grounds that "it may have some use, and this might turn out to be
>>>it."
>>>
>>>However, Marvin's asking the mattress the same question, then saying that the
>>>answer the mattress gave was wrong, is intriguing as evidence, since Marvin
>>>read the question from Arthur's brain.  But of course Marvin knows the
>>>answer... and Prak said that if anyone knew both, the universe would vanish. 
>>>So how could Marvin have the right question?  Hmmm...
>>
>>Marvin knows the answer, but as it remains undisclosed perhaps there is no
>>result.  Results may only occur if both the question and answer are spoken.
>>(Like Spells from magic, people write them down and read them but unless
>>spoken or properly gestured nothing happens.)
>>
>>	Dave
>Actually, I think Marvin is just proving that the mattress is incredibly stupid
>as most people would say words to the effect "What conditions haven't I met" or
>"This is bloody stupid" whereas Zem (I think that is his name) thinks that 
>Marvin is bloody brilliant, but only proves that Marvin was right.
>
>Stephen

         OH COME ON CHILDREN DON'T  TAKE IT SO SERIOUSLY
         IT'S FICTION IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF THERE IS 
         SOME MINOR CONTINUITY ERROR. READ THE BOOK, ENJOY
         THE HUMOUR AND STOP THIS NIT PICKING.

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