Duck, Duck...

[dkerfoot]

OK, this may seem silly, but I was shocked to find, well into my adult life that kids everywhere except Minnesota play the game wrong. It is, of course, correct to play Duck, Duck, Gray Duck.

The really odd thing is that it is a truly Minnesotan thing. Yes, there is a bit of cross-border confusion, but only right along the border. Even along the border of Wisconsin, it is much more common to find people on the MN side who are Packer's fans than Duck, Duck Goose people. On the Wisc side you will find many more who root for the Vikings than indulge in the superior Gray Duck. Even the Dakotas are solidly Goose country.

To participate in a global poll that tracks your specific location, go here: http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/198250

[burrellski]

I lived in Iowa for 22 years. My freshman year at Iowa State I lived with a few people from MN and was shocked to here them talking about something called duck duck gray duck.

Not sure I've ever seen the elusive Grey Duck species. Must be quite rare outside of Minnesota.

[TB Roye]

Never heard of it. Looked it up, might have played a Californina version of it in Grade School on rainy days, can't remember the whole game we played though, will check with my younger sister her memory is better than mind.

Tom

[crokett]

It is correct to play it Duck Duck Goose. People in Minnesota are just weird. The cold does things to their brains.

[dkerfoot]

See, we Minnesotans (been an ex-pat for 24 years, but still think of myself as one) would argue that Duck, Duck Gray Duck is a much more sophisticated game. From Wikipedia:

Duck Duck Gray Duck

Duck Duck Gray Duck is played in the north central part of the United States, specifically Central and Southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. Two versions of the regional rules exist. The first is played exactly as the original, with the picker saying 'gray duck' instead of 'goose'. In the second version, the 'picker' describes the 'ducks' as being different colors, or with other adjectives — for example, 'blue duck', 'white duck', 'lazy duck'. This adds educational and psychological elements to the game. In addition to teaching vocabulary, this variation gives players the opportunity to confuse their opponents, thus gaining a head start, with phrases that sound similar to "gray duck" (e.g. "May duck," "gr...een duck"). With the full range of adjectives available to them, players might also easily insult one another. This is the original version.

This reminded me that in Kindergarten, my friend Thor Halvorson (yes, his real name) got in trouble for going: Duck, Duck, Stupid Duck, Ugly Duck, Fat Duck...

[bfrikken]

Back in St Olaf, we didn't have ducks to play with...

[Sam Conder]

Back in St Olaf, we didn't have ducks to play with...

Hahahaha... nice Betty White reference.

[BobSch]

It is correct to play it Duck Duck Goose. People in Minnesota are just weird. The cold does things to their brains.

Hey! I resemble that remark!

(A gray ducker from way back...)

[DLyon]

I lived in Iowa for 22 years. My freshman year at Iowa State I lived with a few people from MN and was shocked to here them talking about something called duck duck gray duck.

Not sure I've ever seen the elusive Grey Duck species. Must be quite rare outside of Minnesota.

I'm also an Iowa State grad, grew up in SE Iowa. However, I do remember playing duck, duck, gray duck. Until I saw this thread, I always thought my memory was wrong because no one else had heard of playing it that way.

[Mr__Bill]

Being a Minnesotan, (granted, it's been a few years) I can say that Duck Duck Goose is an adult, or at least not a children's game. It's played in the bars and the only birds involved are the ducks that get goosed!

Bill, now on the Oregon Coast

[Tom Slick]

certainly goose out in central California. we don't even know what a gray duck is.

[Stan]

I'm just sittin' here scratchin' my head...... whatthe????

[jhart]

It's a Minnesota thing. Could always tell if someone was really from Minnesota or not by just asking "duck, duck" and hearing how they answered. "grey duck" is a true Minnesotan.

[Crash2510]

goose is better

gray duck is just a mouthful when you are running away

[dkerfoot]

gray duck is just a mouthful when you are running away

You'd have to live a lot further South than Ohio for Gray Duck to be too much to say quickly!