Academic

In Madison, we participated in the (now) annual World Largest Brat Fest, which served as a fundraiser for local charities. Here at BYU, the Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO) are raising money for their seed fund by holding the world's largest rock, paper, scissors tournament. (There are others?)

First prize is $3,000, and second prize is $1,500. So I am wondering, is this a game of skill?

By the wonder of Google, I am introduced to the World RPS Society, which is "dedicated to the promotion of Rock Paper Scissors as a fun and safe way to resolve disputes." The history section of the website is fascinating, and it contains a legal twist:

The Paper Scissors Stone Club was founded in London, England in 1842 immediately following the issuance of the1842 law declaring "any decision reached by the use of the process known as Paper Scissors Stone between two gentleman acting in good faith shall constitute a binding contract. Agreements reached in this manner are subject to all relevant contract and tort law." The law was seen as a slap in the face to the growing number of enthusiasts who played it strictly as a recreational activity, since for many constables it was taken to mean that the game could not be played simply for sport. The club was founded and officially registered to provide an environment free from the long arm of the law where enthusiasts could come together and play for honour.

There's more where that came from, but back to our question: is it a game of skill? The RPS Society promotes The Official Rock Paper Scissors Strategy Guide, which is 208 pages! And take a look at some of these reviews on Amazon:

"This is without exaggeration, the definitive text for all things RPS, and is a must-own book for any RPS enthusiast, regardless of experience level.... The state of the sport has never been more exciting."

"I picked up 'The Official Rock Paper Scissors Strategy Guide' last night and started flipping through it just before calling it a night. The next thing I knew it was well into the wee hours of the morning, and I still couldn't put it down."

And my favorite ...

"I bought this as a gift for my wife. Whenever it's time to clean the cat boxes or change a dirty diaper or do anything else unpleasant, She always wants to RPS for it. Now, we at least play by the rules and the decision is made fairly."

After all of that, I have no idea whether any of this (beyond the BYU tournament) is for real, but it was a highly entertaining jaunt.