The rules of 'Jinx' (according to "The Office")

I am dangerously un-hip.

I just caught my first episode of American version "The Office".

When you've finished laughing at my un-hipness, please continue reading. ;)

It happened to be the drug test episode (when a joint discovered in the parking lot sparks office-wide drug testing). The drug testing saga is a riot, but the 'jinx' sub-plot speaks volumes to my continued childhood.

The rules of Jinx (according to "The Office"):

If you and a friend say the same phrase, the first to call 'Jinx' (the 'jinxer') is owed a Coke by the other (hereafter known as 'the victim').
The victim cannot speak until a Coke is purchased for the jinxer.
The jinxer can put the victim in any number of circumstances where the would normally speak to the delight of all.
The source of the Coke is irrelevant: as the office pop machine was out of Coke, the victim had a very quiet day. In fact, in this episode, the jinxer procured a drink and re-sold it to the victim. This is a strong argument to keep a can handy.

The sub-plot itself is worth a look at the show, but I'm not here to sell you: odds are, you're already sold and I'm just playing catch-up in the world of hip. I've seen these tail lights before.

Be on the lookout when speaking with me; I may be looking for the opportunity to stock up on pop.

Oh: if anyone has the real rules, I'm keen to see them.

posted on Sunday, October 29, 2006 4:44 PM

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# re: The rules of 'Jinx' (according to "The Office") 10/30/2006 8:02 AM Tom

When I was a kid, the rule was that you weren't allowed to talk until someone said your name. The Office seems to be working on a variant where you're not allowed to talk until you do (or get) something that the jinxer requests of you.

# re: The rules of 'Jinx' (according to "The Office") 10/30/2006 10:01 AM Sonya, or incase I am Jinxed, Sophiya

I am with Tom... sorta

Jinx

When two or more people say the same word or phrase at the same time. One of the speakers (and sometimes an observer) quickly yells out
"JINX"

Several things can happen depending on the culture you are in...

1. Link pinkies, touch blue,
And don't speak 'til you're spoken to.

or here in SoCal just shut up until someone talks to you. and then you can speak

Jax's favorite is the "personal Jinx" where someone yells out, you guessed it "PERSONAL JINX" and you have to wait until someone says you REAL first name . . . so Jax would have to wait for someone to say "Jacquelyne".

This is particularly amusing when few people KNOW the Jinxed one's real first name and makes the Jinked one wait in agony or pass around their Driver's Liscence hoping somone will read the name

PS - top secret sonya Tip #42
any and all Jinxes may be broken once a month by saying "ebbs"

# re: The rules of 'Jinx' (according to "The Office") 10/30/2006 4:01 PM Mandie Rose

Ah the variants of the Jinx game!! Sounds like 'The Office' is combining 2 of these variants...one where you can't speak until your name is spoken (3 times in my childhood experiences...this leads to some fun torment of saying the person's name twice and not quite getting to that 3rd time;-). This variation also allowed for the 2 participants to say jinx at the same time also...then the race is on to see who can get Double Jinx, Triple Jinx, Quadruple Jinx, etc out the fastest...the double, triple, etc acted as a multiplier for the number of times your name had to be said before you could speak again. The other variation where you don't actually say jinx you say "Pinch, Poke you owe me a Coke" where the victim is obligated for the pop but is able to speak. The Jinxer also gets the joy of pinching and poking the victim on the appropriate words.

Funny that we can all relate to the Jinx phenomenon!!

# re: The rules of 'Jinx' (according to "The Office") 4/20/2007 8:49 AM Kyle

Is there a Friday exemption?

# re: The rules of 'Jinx' (according to "The Office") 7/21/2007 9:58 PM Erin

I never EVER heard of any kind of exemptions...unless you were retarded or something. Ok...When 2 people would say the same thing at the same time we always said, "Jinx!" and then one would try to be first to say "Padlock" also. I'm guessing this was to thwart efforts from the other to get any kind of poking or double, triple or otherwise jinxes. I never know why we did that. The rules were the vicitm had to remain silent until someone said your name OR you had to buy the jinxer a coke.

# re: The rules of 'Jinx' (according to "The Office") 8/19/2008 10:27 PM mat

the way i played as a kid the jinxer had to say the jinxee's name 10 times so that torment could be more fully injoyed and take as long as possible and for every word the person sead befor relesed the jinxee owed the jinxer a soda of some sort

# re: The rules of 'Jinx' (according to "The Office") 4/2/2009 9:36 PM aaron

I have never watched the office but if you type in jinx rules or rules of jinx in the google bar and go to the wikipedia one it gives you several variations on the gamee thing what ever it is.

# re: The rules of 'Jinx' (according to "The Office") 5/15/2010 2:00 PM John Jacob

I concur.

# re: The rules of 'Jinx' (according to "The Office") 5/15/2010 3:28 PM John Jacob