Jinx (children's game)
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A jinx, or "personal jinx", is when two kids say the same word or words at the same time. If one of them yells "jinx" and counts to ten without being interrupted, the other one can't say anything unless someone says his or her name (in another variation the name must be said thrice.). The penalty for violating this rule is a firm punch in the arm. Critics have commented that if a victim of a jinx breaks the rules too many times, or stops caring, the game becomes rather unentertaining.
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[edit] "Official" rule
Jinxes can also be called up the line. In the case of two people both calling jinx on each other simultaneously they then race up the line to the highest "level" of jinx, the one who goes highest or the one who gets to the highest commonly known level first is the winner. The loser is then jinxed. The "order" of jinxes generally goes as such:
- Jinx
- Jinx Double Jinx
- Personal Jinx
- Personal Jinx Black Magic Jinx
- Your Mother Jinx
- You are a knob who gets rid of funny things in Wikipedia entries Jinx
To call up the line one might say: "Jinx Jinx, double jinx, personal jinx, personal jinx black magic!" as quickly as possible. This also goes for Internet Jinx' as in an MSN conversation or AIM conversation. The person is allowed to type in /me punches 'name' in the arm.
If two people say a word/phrase simultaneously and do not call Jinx, a third party MAY NOT call a jinx in order to receive two Cokes or administer two punches, only the direct members may call one.
As an alternative to the punch in the arm rule of the jinx game, a Coca-Cola is often used as a bargaining chip. The Coke is owed to the kid that yells "Pinch-poke, You owe me a Coke!" or sometimes just "Jinx with a Coke!" as soon as possible after stating the jinx. This child then wins the game, and thus a Coke. The true problem is in collecting the Coke. One alternative to the Coke rule often played by college students, young adults & undergraduate groupies of David Hicks is to play for Rum and Cokes. Another variation is "California jinx" in which one cannot go to the bathroom until someone has said his or her name.
Communists are excluded from the Jinx rule. If a Communist attempts to invoke the Jinx rule, the person upon whom it was invoked is under no obligation to give them anything, other than gentle ridicule.
[edit] Variations
There are many other variations of this game. In parts of eastern North Carolina, for example, the unofficial rule is that one who is jinxed but speaks before one's name is spoken declares/renders oneself homosexual.
[edit] In popular culture
- "Drug Testing", a 2006 episode of The Office, incorporates the game of jinx in a side plot. Pam jinxes Jim and demands a Coke ("Jim cannot speak until he buys me a Coke. These are the rules of jinx, and they are unflinchingly rigid"); the vending machine is sold out, and Jim remains silent for much of the day, even when asked to speak at a group meeting (in which he uses facial cues and hand gestures to fake crying. This relieved his obligation to use actual speech).
- In 1984, Saturday Night Live used the jinx game in a sketch. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Mary Gross played members of the Communist party who were being interviewed on a talk show hosted by castmate Billy Crystal. The women are very stern and hard-edged - until they say the same thing at the same time, at which point they both smile at each, say "Jinx buy me a Coke!", and then do a silly childlike dance and rhyme. The routine is repeated several times in the sketch.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links and references
- The Law of the Playground - Jinx
- "Big Nate" comic strip of 12-17-2006 in which the characters play a game of Jinx to a tie (The "Buy me a Coke" version).[1]
