20 Questions - Game 355

[damo666]

Primarily known for fiction writing or writing screenplays?

If no, US born actor?

[cdngooner]

Primarily known for fiction writing or writing screenplays?

No.

If no, US born actor?

No.

Born after 1949?

No.

1,4,8,12. Real human male, born 1911-1948.
2,7. Born in what is currently Canada or US.
5. Still alive.
3,6,9. Actor or writer. May also be either a philosopher, royalty/nobility, economist, zoologist, fisherman, or assassin, or more than one of the above (these have not been excluded yet).
10. If a writer, not primarily known for fiction or screenplays.
11. If an actor, born in Canada.

[Wattsthematter]

Born in Canada?

[DreamTrawler]

Born in Canada?

If no - primarily known as a writer of history, sociology, politics, or philosophy?

[cdngooner]

Born in Canada?

No.

If no - primarily known as a writer of history, sociology, politics, or philosophy?

Pass. I know what I think the answer is, but it could be misleading. I'll let you re-frame the question, or re-ask if you wish.

1,4,8,12. Real human male, born 1911-1948.
2,7,13. Born in what is currently the US.
5. Still alive.
3,6,9,11. Writer. May also be either a philosopher, royalty/nobility, economist, zoologist, fisherman, or assassin, or more than one of the above (these have not been excluded yet).
10. Not primarily known for fiction or screenplays.

Pass:
Primarily known as a writer of history, sociology, politics, or philosophy.

[Wattsthematter]

Primarily known as an author?

[Spartaculous]

Primarily known as an author?

To the question asker: what, to you, is the difference between a writer and an author?

[Wattsthematter]

Primarily known as an author?

To the question asker: what, to you, is the difference between a writer and an author?

I don't see a difference between the two. The difference between my question and CDgooner's is that it doesn't specify. My definition of author would include journalists, columnists, screenplays... etc

[cdngooner]

Primarily known as an author?

I think Yes, but its arguable. I don't know if the questioner intended any difference between "writer" (which we already knew he was) and "author" (which we know now he is best known as), but both statements are true: this person is a writer; and he is arguably best known as an author.

1,4,8,12. Real human male, born 1911-1948.
2,7,13. Born in what is currently the US.
5. Still alive.
3,6,9,11,14. Writer. Primarily known as author (arguably). May also be either a philosopher, royalty/nobility, economist, zoologist, fisherman, or assassin, or more than one of the above (these have not been excluded yet).
10. Not primarily known for fiction or screenplays.

[Spartaculous]

Primarily known as an author?

To the question asker: what, to you, is the difference between a writer and an author?

I don't see a difference between the two. The difference between my question and CDgooner's is that it doesn't specify. My definition of author would include journalists, columnists, screenplays... etc

But I think we already know that this person is a writer/author:

Born in what is currently Canada or the United States?

Yes.

Actor or writer?

Yes

If no, US born actor?

No.

Born in Canada?

No.

We know he was born in the USA, but he's not a US-born actor. Since he is either an actor or a writer, he must be a writer.

[Spartaculous]

To the question asker: what, to you, is the difference between a writer and an author?

I don't see a difference between the two. The difference between my question and CDgooner's is that it doesn't specify. My definition of author would include journalists, columnists, screenplays... etc

But I think we already know that this person is a writer/author:

Born in what is currently Canada or the United States?

Yes.

Actor or writer?

Yes

If no, US born actor?

No.

Born in Canada?

No.

We know he was born in the USA, but he's not a US-born actor. Since he is either an actor or a writer, he must be a writer.

Edit to add: I missed the word "Primarily" in Watts's question. My apologies; carry on.

[DreamTrawler]

Was he a journalist or columnist?

[Wattsthematter]

I hate that I've made this more confusing... I just wanted to be sure that being an author/writer was this person's main claim to fame before continuing. We only knew before asking that this person wrote something(s)

[DreamTrawler]

I hate that I've made this more confusing... I just wanted to be sure that being an author/writer was this person's main claim to fame before continuing. We only knew before asking that this person wrote something(s)

I think it was a helpful question. If the person was, for example, an economist or zoologist who wrote something as part of their work the answer would probably have been no

[Spartaculous]

I hate that I've made this more confusing... I just wanted to be sure that being an author/writer was this person's main claim to fame before continuing. We only knew before asking that this person wrote something(s)

Please don't feel bad! Now that I understand it, I realize it was a perfectly fine question which does move us significantly closer to figuring out who it is.

[Hominidae]

3,6,9,11,14. Writer. Primarily known as author (arguably). May also be either a philosopher, royalty/nobility, economist, zoologist, fisherman, or assassin, or more than one of the above (these have not been excluded yet).

It's also worth pointing out that this person is not a politician.

[Hominidae]

Primarily known as a poet?

[cdngooner]

Was he a journalist or columnist?

Yes. The Pass earlier was because the question asked "writer of history, etc." Its a fine line when writing about a past event moves from being journalism to being history. "Journalism is the first draft of history," they say. Good follow up question.

It's also worth pointing out that this person is not a politician.

That is true. That is why I removed "politician" from the list of things he could be. But I accept that proof of a negative can be helpful to some.

Primarily known as a poet?

No.

1,4,8,12. Real human male, born 1911-1948.
2,7,13. Born in what is currently the US.
5. Still alive.
3,6,9,11,14,15. Journalist or columnist. Primarily known as author (arguably). May also be either a philosopher, royalty/nobility, economist, zoologist, fisherman, or assassin, or more than one of the above (these have not been excluded yet). Not a politician.
10,16. Not primarily known for fiction, screenplays, or poetry.

[Wattsthematter]

E in their first name?

[DreamTrawler]

Is this person on the following list? List: https://journalism.nyu.edu/about-us/news/the-100-outstanding-journalists-in-the-united-states-in-the-last-100-years/