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Most stupid answer to a quiz question ever! |
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#1276 |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
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Quote:
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! |
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#1277 |
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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!
![]() 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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#1278 |
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Join Date: Apr 2009
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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. 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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#1279 |
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Also from Webster's dictionary: 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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#1280 |
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Join Date: Sep 2004
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Quote:
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! |
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#1281 |
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Join Date: Jan 2005
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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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#1282 |
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Join Date: May 2010
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Quote:
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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#1283 |
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,501
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Quote:
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! Quote:
Maybe he was thinking of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. a trilogy of five books.
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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#1284 |
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Quote:
Maybe he was thinking of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. a trilogy of five books.
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#1285 |
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Quote:
Eoin Colfer's "And another thing...." is part six of the Hitchhiker's guide trilogy.
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#1286 |
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The Chase
What national November holiday was first proclaimed by Abraham Lincoln? Movember |
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#1287 |
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Join Date: Jun 2013
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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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#1288 |
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Cambridge
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Quote:
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. 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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#1289 |
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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.
Just pick a colour and guess what! ![]() https://youtu.be/5WcN6m-yHTQ?t=24m38s |
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#1290 |
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#1291 |
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Join Date: Nov 2012
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Quote:
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. 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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#1292 |
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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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#1293 |
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Join Date: Jul 2007
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Quote:
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. 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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#1294 |
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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 Quote:
Anne: Which insect is often found hovering over lakes? Contestant: Crocodile.
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#1295 |
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 25,439
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Quote:
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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#1296 |
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Join Date: Oct 2012
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Oh I see. I had to look that up to realise he was a fictional character!
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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#1297 |
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Quote:
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. 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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#1298 |
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Quote:
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. 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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#1299 |
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Join Date: Sep 2004
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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.
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#1300 |
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Join Date: Sep 2004
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Quote:
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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