A question my psychologist asked me...

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It also depends on the country and the temperature range the road surface will be exposed to. To answer "tarmac" as some have done is also technically dodgy as generally true tarmac is not used, it's normally some sort of asphalt or bituminous macadam for a flexible road pavement.

But whatever the technical accuracy of the above, the road surface per se is the top of that material. I suppose you could argue for white lining, but as that is bonded to the material below, it becomes part of that surface. So, I'd suggest that the correct answer would be that which the road surface is designed to take, namely vehicle tyres or water.

The most logical answer is "car", as in modern society, the most common thing that's on the surface of a road is a car (other than dirt, loose gravel, rubbish, etcetera). She didn't ask what the composition of the road is. Paint is a part of the surface of the road once it has adhered to it.

No, the most common thing is air. Air is almost permanently in contact with the road surface, unless it's raining.

Well yeah, but you have to look at it from the perspective of society and the objects/substances in question (as well as intent); air is something that's everywhere in equal distribution on Earth [for the most part], whereas cars are mostly found on the road, or just off them [which are extensions of said road].

The same with rain or any other substance.

I agree that most people would answer "car", and given the vague nature of the question it is reasonable to do so. I'm not sure how I would have answered in a similar situation. I suspect I'd have thought about it for a while, in which time all the possibilities given above would have been considered. I'd have probably then asked the chap to be more specific.

i thought asphalt, tar, and paint. and those little reflective things.

Poor question = Silence.

Tarmac = white paint initially.

Last edited by Jenk on 28 Jul 2008, 11:40 am, edited 4 times in total.

I thought tar and then thought 'wait is this a trick I bet the stuff on roads isnt really tar at all but somthing different'

that was my first answer, ascan. Air !

I suppose this means I am to have my oxygen ration reduced, again.

Merle

I would have said cement, tar or asphalt, depending on what kind of road it was. I wouldn't have thought to say paint for the lines, or cars or tires or traffic. I just thought they were asking what types of products can be used to finish off a road surface.

My thought was nothing. Thinking of the question as parallel to "what goes on the table". But, you set a table, but you don't go putting cars on a road... the drivers drive them along the road.

As in, I interpreted "go on" to mean "belongs on top of", and thus "car" doesn't work for be as an answer.

If the question is specifically "What goes on the road?"

Car is not the most logical answer - Tar, Tarmac, concrete or asphalt (same difference) is.

The blacktop goes ON the road. Goes meaning BELONGS. Meaning IS EXPECTED TO BE PLACED UPON AS A NATURAL PART OF (LAYER).

To describe a CAR as GOING on the road is childish, unless used with an adjective describing HOW it goes, ie, fast, slow, etc. "The car goes on the road - zoom, zoom, car!" Sounds right out of the Dr Suess book Go Dog Go!

Cars DRIVE on the road. They do not make up the surface, nor do they belong permanently on top of it as a PART of the road.

My answer right there. Though I probably would have re-read the thing, and realized the question's asking what's ON the road. Speed bumps, lines, and those little bumps.

Cars are not "ON" the road. The road is empty, now what's on it?

[edit]
Haha, yes, exactly Willard.
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I am laughing my bottom off at all of us!

you might be an Aspie if you compare and contrast the various answers to a seemingly simple question. . .

Merle

You have to realize. I drive on raods ALL THE TIME, And I STILL figured asphalt! I think I will ask my mother what SHE would say!

Please pay more attention, Willard. The question refers to the road surface.