There were a number of replies I could have given, but of the possibilities, one felt just right for this situation.  Of course, there was a least one response that felt would be really inappropriate too.

The idea that one just “knows when something feels right” (or really wrong) made me think of harmonics and sound wave interactions.  If one could treat information (language in this case) as resonant and dissonant and then “play” the information, the harmonically consonant info would accepted and the dissonant rejected.  I would guess one could do this by weighting the information some how and then possibly smoothing to make it scalar. 

This could lead to simple comprehension and maybe even consciousness in a sense.

A ‘Why did the chicken cross the road?’ question might be a joke harmonic (odd juxtaposition, a number of similar db entries already with correct “I don’t know, why…” reply): “I don’t know, why did the chicken cross the road?”,

or the literal harmonic (moving objects can cross roads):
Chickens are birds, food source, widely cultivated, live on farms, or in cages, or are free roaming;
Roads are for traffic, have moving vehicles, are a wide as a car at least, are dangerous;
Crossing roads must be done carefully to avoid getting hit by moving vehicles;
chickens do not drive on roads (though they may be driven on roads!)
so “I don’t know, but the chicken should cross as carefully as possible, it could get hit by a moving vehicle!”

Also, the overlay of this concept of “resonance” may also be a component in neuronal signaling, so it may have some grounding in biology.

Ok, I think I’m rested enough from my trip to tackle this challenge. At least, I hope so!

Consciousness: the multi-pronged approach…

1.) Can appreciate the humor in watching a fellow being struggle with the limitations of purely text-based communication that has the further restrictions of limited vocabulary.

1.) Can elucidate on several levels independently, the joys of learning to make toast.

1.) Can admit to having made a mistake (not that it necessarily WILL, mind you!)

1.) Can actually use more than one number when creating a numbered list.

I think that the above proves that either a.) I’m not conscious, b.) I’m not yet sufficiently rested to handle this discussion, or c.) both are true.