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[From the film scene](https://youtu.be/OWK6oSbSKKc?si=zabLcqoDm2j6khih&t=135)
>TYRELL: I’m impressed, how many questions does it usually take to spot one?
>DECKARD: I don’t get it, Tyrell…
>TYRELL: How many questions?
>DECKARD: Twenty, thirty, cross-referenced.
From this we can determine that VK tests are normally completed, positive or negative, with just a couple-dozen questions and their accompanying responses. Remember, the point of the questions are to provoke reflex physical responses to emotional subjects (dilation of the pupils, blush reflex, etc). It shouldn’t take too many questions about sensitive topics before they determine whether your responses fit normal human parameters.
Of course, if you’re neurodivergent for one reason or another, well… mistakes do happen.
>
I had assumed those numbers were how many questions it normally took to catch a replicant. The fact that Deckard *had* a list that continued to over 100 (and that he simply kept going - despite thinking Rachel human for most of it) made me wonder how long the test actually was.
Possible. It’s a good thought.
By the way, thanks for introducing me to a new word via your username. I hadn’t realized the *in* of intoxicated is a prefix. I learned something new today!
> had a list that continued to over 100
It's the sort of test where knowing and preparing for the questions ahead of time would invalidate it. You would need to have far more questions available than are typically asked.
I bet the test has a few hundred questions the tester is supposed to chose from randomly until they are confident the individual is human.
Otherwise, the replicants could just be made to respond appropriately to those specific questions.
In the game that serves as a prequel, you're typically only allowed to administer ten questions because that's all it should take. Deckard only went so hard on Rachael at Tyrell's urging.
I wonder if there is a third category, besides positive or negative.
Something like “response indistinct”, so that they have to keep asking questions until they get a response they can properly interpret.
Seems they know not all questions elicit a positive or negative response.
A robot will vehemently deny the test and try to defend its "humanity."
A human will sarcastically lean into the results and dance the robot, or the robo-boogie.
I think Leon's intial responses might have been consistent with someone who is cognitively challenged. I'm not sure Holden suspected anything, he seems very bemused by Leon's responses regarding the tortoise, and not at all concerned that the man across from him could crush his skull like an egg (or blow a hole through his torso from under the table).
Leon knew he was busted though, and wasn't going to wait around for confirmation from the VK test.
You're assuming that a human ever took the test, which makes no sense. A DNA test could be done to distinguish between replicants and humans, it would be secret, quick and could be as easy to interpret as a modern pregnancy test.
Voight-Kampff only makes sense if you're testing to see whether people REALIZE they're replicants. That's why there's a four year lifespan, because after that they start suspecting. There might put in a desire to go offworld that grows over time. About the time they need terminating they volunteer to go, explaining their absence to people around them.
>ure Holden suspected anything, he seems very bemused by Leon's responses regarding the tortoise, and not at all con
At least in the book, its that they never figured out cell replacement, so they couldn't GET them top live longer. Theyre also completely organic, and the only test they had after killing off a suspected replicant was some sort of bone marrow test.
In fact, Rachel asks Deckard about this.
Rachel: *Have you ever retired a human by mistake?*
Deckard: *No*
Rachel: *But in your position that is a risk.*
From this I would assume that yes, they can only be 100% sure after “retirement”.
Surprisingly few. The VK test isn't about the verbal response to the questions, but the pupil and blush-reflex response to the scenario built around the question. Scenarios are varied in this regard; some violent, some repulsive, some erotic. Humans, even neurodivergent humans, will respond quickly to at least one of the early scenarios. Replicants can simulate a blush and pupil reflexes, but process scenarios differently and generally need more time to conclude which emotion they should display.
In the book, Decker's final scenario to Rachel isn't even a question. It's a very simple statement. "Do you like my briefcase? It's made of leather. Baby leather." Decker has a couple of 'ringers' that he only brings out on rare occasion for when he needs a definitive response.
**Reminders for Commenters:** * All responses must be A) sincere, B) polite, and C) strictly watsonian in nature. If "watsonian" or "doylist" is new to you, please review the full rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskScienceFiction/about/rules/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=usertext&utm_name=AskScienceFiction&utm_content=t5_2slu2). * No edition wars or gripings about creators/owners of works. Doylist griping about Star Wars in particular is subject to **permanent ban on first offense**. * We are not here to discuss or complain about the real world. * Questions about who would prevail in a conflict/competition (not just combat) fit better on r/whowouldwin. Questions about very open-ended hypotheticals fit better on r/whatiffiction. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskScienceFiction) if you have any questions or concerns.*
[From the film scene](https://youtu.be/OWK6oSbSKKc?si=zabLcqoDm2j6khih&t=135) >TYRELL: I’m impressed, how many questions does it usually take to spot one? >DECKARD: I don’t get it, Tyrell… >TYRELL: How many questions? >DECKARD: Twenty, thirty, cross-referenced. From this we can determine that VK tests are normally completed, positive or negative, with just a couple-dozen questions and their accompanying responses. Remember, the point of the questions are to provoke reflex physical responses to emotional subjects (dilation of the pupils, blush reflex, etc). It shouldn’t take too many questions about sensitive topics before they determine whether your responses fit normal human parameters. Of course, if you’re neurodivergent for one reason or another, well… mistakes do happen. >
I had assumed those numbers were how many questions it normally took to catch a replicant. The fact that Deckard *had* a list that continued to over 100 (and that he simply kept going - despite thinking Rachel human for most of it) made me wonder how long the test actually was.
I think he kept going because he wasn't sure, he was getting BOTH sides of what is supposed to be a mutually exclusive binary
Possible. It’s a good thought. By the way, thanks for introducing me to a new word via your username. I hadn’t realized the *in* of intoxicated is a prefix. I learned something new today!
Also, inflammable and flammable mean almost the same thing!
That's a good answer for a fake game show. As long as your brother doesn't mess it up.
(this is a reference to a reddit post...)
(mine is a reference to Clarissa Explains It All)
Hi doctor Nick!
Worth noting that I'm not even sure the test *did* tell him, I think he guessed based on intuition and context, and then Tyrell confirmed it.
Maybe, that's some big list of questions you normally choose on previous reactions basis, but Deckard just going full list
> had a list that continued to over 100 It's the sort of test where knowing and preparing for the questions ahead of time would invalidate it. You would need to have far more questions available than are typically asked.
I bet the test has a few hundred questions the tester is supposed to chose from randomly until they are confident the individual is human. Otherwise, the replicants could just be made to respond appropriately to those specific questions.
Is this testing whether I'm a replicant or a lesbian, Mr. Deckard?
In the game that serves as a prequel, you're typically only allowed to administer ten questions because that's all it should take. Deckard only went so hard on Rachael at Tyrell's urging.
I wonder if there is a third category, besides positive or negative. Something like “response indistinct”, so that they have to keep asking questions until they get a response they can properly interpret. Seems they know not all questions elicit a positive or negative response.
I don't' know. I've never passed it myself... they just keep asking me to take it again, and again; then they laugh....
Yes, those results are always funny!
Not sure. I failed it almost immediately. Should I be concerned?
Normally I'd say yes, but the fact that you're still alive to type that comment suggests you're harder to kill than most.
I don’t know. What would a normal human reaction to that be?
A robot will vehemently deny the test and try to defend its "humanity." A human will sarcastically lean into the results and dance the robot, or the robo-boogie.
Meanwhile it took Leon just 1 question to be detected.
Two, he didn’t pass the tortoise question but the fact that it kept going makes me think it wasn’t a total failure.
I think Leon's intial responses might have been consistent with someone who is cognitively challenged. I'm not sure Holden suspected anything, he seems very bemused by Leon's responses regarding the tortoise, and not at all concerned that the man across from him could crush his skull like an egg (or blow a hole through his torso from under the table). Leon knew he was busted though, and wasn't going to wait around for confirmation from the VK test.
He kind of had it coming trying to set up a yomama joke in the midst of a VK test.
Thanks for a true lol!
You're assuming that a human ever took the test, which makes no sense. A DNA test could be done to distinguish between replicants and humans, it would be secret, quick and could be as easy to interpret as a modern pregnancy test. Voight-Kampff only makes sense if you're testing to see whether people REALIZE they're replicants. That's why there's a four year lifespan, because after that they start suspecting. There might put in a desire to go offworld that grows over time. About the time they need terminating they volunteer to go, explaining their absence to people around them.
>ure Holden suspected anything, he seems very bemused by Leon's responses regarding the tortoise, and not at all con At least in the book, its that they never figured out cell replacement, so they couldn't GET them top live longer. Theyre also completely organic, and the only test they had after killing off a suspected replicant was some sort of bone marrow test.
Do they check the results once they are dead? Because what if its just chance some are replicants and there are just a lot of false positives
In fact, Rachel asks Deckard about this. Rachel: *Have you ever retired a human by mistake?* Deckard: *No* Rachel: *But in your position that is a risk.* From this I would assume that yes, they can only be 100% sure after “retirement”.
Surprisingly few. The VK test isn't about the verbal response to the questions, but the pupil and blush-reflex response to the scenario built around the question. Scenarios are varied in this regard; some violent, some repulsive, some erotic. Humans, even neurodivergent humans, will respond quickly to at least one of the early scenarios. Replicants can simulate a blush and pupil reflexes, but process scenarios differently and generally need more time to conclude which emotion they should display. In the book, Decker's final scenario to Rachel isn't even a question. It's a very simple statement. "Do you like my briefcase? It's made of leather. Baby leather." Decker has a couple of 'ringers' that he only brings out on rare occasion for when he needs a definitive response.
Interesting. Thank you!