04/05/06: Re: the unanswered riddle, keep trying.

I've been trying to find the answer to the riddle and stumbled across this forum. I thought I'd mention a couple of things.

Actually, the poopoo is pronounced "poe poe" like Edgar Allan Poe, so it doesn't rhyme with Jew. Even if it did, the original riddle is in Italian, so English language rhymes would have nothing to do with it.

A couple of other problems with both the Jew and Nazi answers. First of all, neither answer satisfactorily explains the description of going "poopoo" when they walk.

Also, what about the description of them as "tutto giallo in realta" which I translate as "completely yellow in reality." Obvously neither Nazi's nor Jews were known for wearing completely yellow outfits. The only other way to interpret it is to assume the word yellow is slang for cowardly or chicken. The only problem with that interpretation is that in Italian yellow isn't used to mean chicken. (In fact, they don't call cowards chickens, they call them rabbits.)

Regarding the "qua qua" sound. It actually wouldn't translate directly to cheap or cheep (at least that I've ever heard anybody say, if it's Sicialian dialect or something, don't start yelling at me). "Qua qua" is the italian word for the sound ducks make. It translates to quack quack. (The yellow color explains why the doctor's guess is a duckling rather than a duck).

I'm not trying to spoil the fun, but none of the answers posted so far satisfactorily answer the riddle. I've had no luck on Italian websites either. In fact, I haven't been able to find any sites in Italian that even address the problem.

Regarding the look on Guido's face at the presentation of the riddle, I agree that it is an expression of shock and despair. I don't think he even thinks about the answer to the riddle, why on earth should he care?! As far as the embarressment about it not being politically correct (assuming the Jew answer) the concept of politically correct is post WWII, and he's there as an inmate because of his jew status. I doubt a joke about Jews is going to affect him. He has bigger things on his mind. The look on his face is that of a man whose family is in mortal danger, who thought he might have found some help, and who is then presented with the most frivolous piece of tripe imaginable.

Please keep trying to solve the riddle. I'm not trying to discourage anybody and I would love to find a correct answer.

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