The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE NAME OF THE GAME IS "THUMPER," COMMONLY PLAYED BY
COLLEGE STUDENTS AT DRINKING PARTIES. THE OBJECT OF THE
GAME IS TO MAKE EVERYONE ELSE DEFAULT SO THEY HAVE TO
CHUG A DRINK. ALL PARTICIPANTS SIT ON THE FLOOR, AND
EVERYONE CHOOSES A CERTAIN GESTURE TO BE HIS OWN (A
MOTION OF THE HAND, WIGGLING OF THE FINGERS, ETC.).
ONE PERSON BEGINS THE GAME AS FOLLOWS:
FIRST, YOU BEGIN TAPPING ON YOUR LEGS RHYTHMICALLY,
REPEATING THIS CHORUS:
"WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME?" AND THE REST OF THE
CIRCLE ANSWERS, "THUMPER!" THEN THE LEADER CRIES, "WHY
DO WE PLAY THE GAME?" AND THE CHORUS ANSWERS, "TO GET
DRUNK!" FINALLY, THE LEADER ASKS, "HOW DO WE PLAY THE
GAME?" AND THE CIRCLE RESPONDS, "WITH SIGNS!"
IMMEDIATELY, THE LEADER GIVES HIS SIGN AND FOLLOWS IT
BY GIVING SOMEONE ELSE'S SIGN. THAT PERSON MUST RESPOND
BY GIVING HIS SIGN AND THE SIGN OF ANOTHER PLAYER.
THIS SEQUENCE FOLLOWS UNTIL SOMEONE MISSES HIS SIGN
AND THEN THAT PERSON MUST CHUG A DRINK. HE THEN BECOMES
THE LEADER AND REPEATS THE QUESTIONS, "WHAT'S THE NAME OF
THE GAME" ETC. THE GAME CAN BE PLAYED AS LONG AS THE
PARTICIPANTS CARE TO PLAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 02-12-1971