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Most stupid answer to a quiz question ever!


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Old 26-01-2016, 10:35
jsmith99
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Another one from Tipping Point:

"A set of books in four parts is called a..."

Trilogy / Tetralogy / Tautology

Contestant picked trilogy. Now to be fair, I didn't know the answer but I knew it certainly wasn't trilogy. He even said himself that 'tri' means three yet he STILL chose that answer!
Maybe he was thinking of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. a trilogy of five books.
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Old 26-01-2016, 10:38
Janet43
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Calm down, it was just a joke. And it's not as though we're discussing anything of serious intent here!
Thought you'd like to know this - I mentioned the fact (didn't moan about it - just mentioned it) yesterday afternoon in a group I attend of what are considered to be well-educated people that I'd been called out for putting a 'c' in the middle of "supercede" when apparently it should be 's'. The instant reaction from all the 19 people present was "But surely it is a 'c'!" "Never heard it being an 's' before." " So what about "succeed"? Does that need an 's' as well?" "It looks completely wrong with 's'."

Not a single one of them thought it was spelt "supersede".

So doesn't matter what the root is, or if "succeed" is a related word or not, I predict that, like everything else, common usage will eventually make the spelling with a 'c' instead of an 's'.

Also from Webster's dictionary:

"Supercede has occurred as a spelling variant of supersede since the 17th century, and it is common in current published writing. It continues, however, to be widely regarded as an error."

which just goes to show that you learn something new every day.
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Old 26-01-2016, 10:50
jjwales
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Thought you'd like to know this - I mentioned the fact (didn't moan about it - just mentioned it) yesterday afternoon in a group I attend of what are considered to be well-educated people that I'd been called out for putting a 'c' in the middle of "supercede" when apparently it should be 's'. The instant reaction from all the 19 people present was "But surely it is a 'c'!" "Never heard it being an 's' before." " So what about "succeed"? Does that need an 's' as well?" "It looks completely wrong with 's'."

Not a single one of them thought it was spelt "supersede".

So doesn't matter what the root is, or if "succeed" is a related word or not, I predict that, like everything else, common usage will eventually make the spelling with a 'c' instead of an 's'.

It's a living language and therefore words, spellings and usage will change over time.
Agreed, but I don't think it's happened yet with that particular word!

I didn't "call you out" btw - it was just meant as a light-hearted comment. I wouldn't have said anything if we'd been discussing a serious subject.
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Old 26-01-2016, 11:30
lundavra
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Also from Webster's dictionary:
Webster's - "The most trustworthy dictionary and thesaurus of American English"

I don't think it is critical with this definition but why do people have to keep quoting American dictionaries of American English? It is generally accepted that the OED is the definitive reference on British English so why not use it or one of the equivalent British sources.
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Old 26-01-2016, 11:36
bobcar
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Another one from Tipping Point:

"A set of books in four parts is called a..."

Trilogy / Tetralogy / Tautology

Contestant picked trilogy. Now to be fair, I didn't know the answer but I knew it certainly wasn't trilogy. He even said himself that 'tri' means three yet he STILL chose that answer!
Yes tetra is Greek and quad is Latin. Of course not knowing that isn't stupid but knowing that tri is three and still going for it is.
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Old 26-01-2016, 11:45
JeffG1
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On Pointless yesterday, the board showed a list of clues, the answer being an African country whose initial was given. For one with an 'N' someone answered Nairobi.

If that doesn't qualify as a stupid answer in this thread, then I despair.
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Old 26-01-2016, 12:06
Maccadanny
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On Pointless yesterday, the board showed a list of clues, the answer being an African country whose initial was given. For one with an 'N' someone answered Nairobi.

If that doesn't qualify as a stupid answer in this thread, then I despair.
Yeah i saw that one. Richard didn't even say why it was wrong as i suppose he didn't want to embarrass the girl.
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Old 26-01-2016, 12:27
The_Bonobo
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Another one from Tipping Point:

"A set of books in four parts is called a..."

Trilogy / Tetralogy / Tautology

Contestant picked trilogy. Now to be fair, I didn't know the answer but I knew it certainly wasn't trilogy. He even said himself that 'tri' means three yet he STILL chose that answer!
Maybe he was thinking of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. a trilogy of five books.
Hitchhiker's was what sprang to my mind too, although the "trilogy" in four then five parts was obviously a joke.

This reminds me of an earlier example on this thread where a quizzer had apparently said they only knew one example but also that it was wrong, then still said it. I can't remember the details but as a hypothetical example...
Imagine you are asked who captained Argentina in the 86 World Cup but the only footballer from that time you know is Gary Lineker. So you know that must be wrong because you know he played for England. It is surely stupid to say Lineker in this case. You know it is wrong. Saying Bugs Bunny is perhaps worse but really you would be better just making up a name. The chances of it being right are very slim but that is better than the chances of an answer you actually know is wrong. In this example (trilogy etc.) it is even worse to say the answer you know is wrong due to the multiple choice aspect. Say either of the other answers and you have a 50/50 chance. So while not knowing tetralogy is hardly stupid I think this is a valid "stupid answer".
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Old 26-01-2016, 12:36
Paul_DNAP
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Maybe he was thinking of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. a trilogy of five books.
Eoin Colfer's "And another thing...." is part six of the Hitchhiker's guide trilogy.
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Old 26-01-2016, 17:43
jsmith99
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Eoin Colfer's "And another thing...." is part six of the Hitchhiker's guide trilogy.
How dare he! Or possibly she.
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Old 26-01-2016, 19:35
tealady
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The Chase
What national November holiday was first proclaimed by Abraham Lincoln?

Movember
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Old 26-01-2016, 20:18
The_Bonobo
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The Chase
What national November holiday was first proclaimed by Abraham Lincoln?

Movember


Of course the extra touch with that answer is that Lincoln famously had a beard with no moustache.
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Old 26-01-2016, 21:47
stewartb
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This reminds me of an earlier example on this thread where a quizzer had apparently said they only knew one example but also that it was wrong, then still said it. I can't remember the details but as a hypothetical example...
Imagine you are asked who captained Argentina in the 86 World Cup but the only footballer from that time you know is Gary Lineker. So you know that must be wrong because you know he played for England. It is surely stupid to say Lineker in this case. You know it is wrong. Saying Bugs Bunny is perhaps worse but really you would be better just making up a name. The chances of it being right are very slim but that is better than the chances of an answer you actually know is wrong.
Indeed. Some of the funniest answers are on Pointless when the contestants announce that they don't know any plausible answers and are making something up. As Alexander & Richard often point out, one day, somebody's going to guess something real.

If I didn't know your South American footballer (presumably Maradona?), I'd try something like "Jose Blanco" or "Pedro de Silva" (which after a quick search on Wikipedia turn out to be real names of a Nicaraguan cigar industrialist and a Portuguese-Canadian post courier)

For British people, just guess a monarch's name as the first name (lots of people name their children after royal babies, after all) and a prime minister as the surname. You get lots of plausible names.
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Old 26-01-2016, 22:07
degsyhufc
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Indeed. Some of the funniest answers are on Pointless when the contestants announce that they don't know any plausible answers and are making something up. As Alexander & Richard often point out, one day, somebody's going to guess something real.
It's happened before.

Just pick a colour and guess what!
https://youtu.be/5WcN6m-yHTQ?t=24m38s
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Old 26-01-2016, 22:28
DICKENS99
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It's happened before.

Just pick a colour and guess what!
https://youtu.be/5WcN6m-yHTQ?t=24m38s
And this http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p015kf2q
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Old 27-01-2016, 09:03
Janet43
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On Pointless yesterday, the board showed a list of clues, the answer being an African country whose initial was given. For one with an 'N' someone answered Nairobi.

If that doesn't qualify as a stupid answer in this thread, then I despair.
I don't despair at that kind of answer because she obviously didn't know - for me that's just lack of knowledge.

For me there are three types of wrong answer, of which only one is actually stupid:

1. Not knowing and making a guess at something vaguely near - Nairobi is at least in Africa. Not stupid, just lack of knowledge that Nairobi is a city and a national park and not a country.

2. Not knowing and making a wild guess - not stupid, just lack of knowledge but having a go.

3. Stupid "Which animal is commonly known as a gator?" "Giraffe". Not knowing, but guessing something without "gator" in it is stupid to me. Any other made up animal with 'gator' in it would be OK.

I doubt that anyone knows everything.
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Old 31-01-2016, 09:04
clm2071
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I was watching an early episode of For What It's Worth (BBC daytime antiques quiz)

Q) Which Founding Father of the United States is also credited with inventing the lightning rod?

A) Oh what was he called? Oh yeah, Dr Emmett Brown!
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Old 31-01-2016, 12:24
allafix
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I don't despair at that kind of answer because she obviously didn't know - for me that's just lack of knowledge.

For me there are three types of wrong answer, of which only one is actually stupid:

1. Not knowing and making a guess at something vaguely near - Nairobi is at least in Africa. Not stupid, just lack of knowledge that Nairobi is a city and a national park and not a country.

2. Not knowing and making a wild guess - not stupid, just lack of knowledge but having a go.

3. Stupid "Which animal is commonly known as a gator?" "Giraffe". Not knowing, but guessing something without "gator" in it is stupid to me. Any other made up animal with 'gator' in it would be OK.

I doubt that anyone knows everything.
So that's the end of this thread then. Till now people have regarded all three types as stupid.

Not knowing Nairobi is not a country is astoundingly stupid. If your general knowledge is that bad you have no business being in a quiz show.
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Old 31-01-2016, 21:36
degsyhufc
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I'll have to download this episode of the chase from last week
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/s...s-ever-7229447


Some stupid ones in that article
Anne: Which insect is often found hovering over lakes?

Contestant: Crocodile.
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Old 01-02-2016, 09:01
jjwales
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I was watching an early episode of For What It's Worth (BBC daytime antiques quiz)

Q) Which Founding Father of the United States is also credited with inventing the lightning rod?

A) Oh what was he called? Oh yeah, Dr Emmett Brown!
Oh I see. I had to look that up to realise he was a fictional character!
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Old 01-02-2016, 09:09
clm2071
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Oh I see. I had to look that up to realise he was a fictional character!
Not the simplest question granted.

You could almost see the guys logic in action, American? Inventor? Lightning rod? Where have I seen that? Oh yeah, Back to the Future, what was the bloke in that called? Et voila....Dr Emmett Brown!
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Old 01-02-2016, 11:13
Janet43
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So that's the end of this thread then. Till now people have regarded all three types as stupid.

Not knowing Nairobi is not a country is astoundingly stupid. If your general knowledge is that bad you have no business being in a quiz show.
No it isn't the end of the thread. Your opinion that just because you know something and someone else doesn't makes them stupid is patronising.

Crocodiles hovering over lakes and an animal commonly known as a 'gator' being a giraffe are stupid. Naming countries, capitals and currencies for instance needs specific knowledge.
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Old 01-02-2016, 11:22
Benjamin_Adams
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So that's the end of this thread then. Till now people have regarded all three types as stupid.

Not knowing Nairobi is not a country is astoundingly stupid. If your general knowledge is that bad you have no business being in a quiz show.
I don't think stupid is the right word. Certainly, it's wrong but I agree with the comment before you that at least it's in Africa and it's a city but a big enough one at that that if you didn't have enough knowledge of Africa then you'd guess it was country.

Although, I don't know if you watch Pointless often, but the contestants certainly aren't winning any awards for intelligence any time soon.
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Old 01-02-2016, 11:54
bobcar
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I don't think stupid is the right word. Certainly, it's wrong but I agree with the comment before you that at least it's in Africa and it's a city but a big enough one at that that if you didn't have enough knowledge of Africa then you'd guess it was country.
The right word is ignorant.
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Old 01-02-2016, 11:56
bobcar
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Crocodiles hovering over lakes and an animal commonly known as a 'gator' being a giraffe are stupid. Naming countries, capitals and currencies for instance needs specific knowledge.
To be fair if you didn't know "gator" applied to alligator then guessing any animal is not stupid but very likely to be fruitless. Of course if the question was multiple choice and alligator was one of the options then that would be different as with the prompt in front of you it is obvious.
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