I feel that the show "Jeopardy" is a conspiracy. I consider myself to be semi intelligent and at least somewhat competant in a broad range of knowledge. But when it comes to Jeopardy I just can not see how people can know some of the answers that they know and over such a broad range of topics.
I beleive Jeopardy is a psycholigcal operation to make the United States look superior.
People normally have specialized knowledge, not a mastery in such a broad range of topics.
Discuss,
46 comments
You think it's a conspiracy because the contestants get the answers before you do? Ever consider they may be smarter than you, and not just "semi-intelligent?"
I once had a friend who was semi intelligent. He knew everything there was to know about tractor-trailer units.
I bet most people you see competing on game shows have prepared beforehand(and most likely been through an audition).
And you do realize that the same show has been adapted around the world and all of them seem to have really smart contestants.
So is Ken Jennings the high grand master of the reptilians or something?
Speaking as a guy who has applied to be on the show, it's no easy task. Studying is definitely recommended.
Golly gee whiz, I get lots of the answers to the questions, and I know lots of other people who do. Since I have a little humility, and don't think I'm especially super-intelligent, and considering your spelling and typing skills, I'm guessing that semi-intelligent is an overestimate on your part. (Feel free to use a dictionary, er, I mean dickshunnary, if I've used any words you don't understand.
And this, dear rationalists, is what projection looks like. With a little unwarranted selfworth and a sprinkle of paranoia.
The 'reasoning' is something like this:
"I don't know this, therefore it is inconceivable that anyone else could possible know the answer. Because this couldn't ever happen, it must be a conspiracy to make my amazing look inferior!"
I think constestants are given some study materials for the next episode they are to appear on. Give anyone time to study the material, and, with proper comprehension, they can pass any test, or, in this case, win at Jeopardy.
Ahahahaha. Considering that I have never seen an episode of Jeopardy outside of the United States (I live in Britain), I have to say that your dastardly Operation Jeopardy idea is pretty much doomed to failure if the only people who see it are U.S. citizens. That's not really going to make other countries grovel at the USA's superior feet now, is it?
You're putting me on.
Aren't you?
Alex, I'll take "If this is the answer, then what's the question...?" for $2000...
Well maybe its fixed then, but how is that a "psychological operation to make the United States look superior?" How does people knowing the answers to questions on a gameshow, that isn't even broadcast in other countries, make the United States look superior? WTF?
I just ran this comment through my Iphone "IQ Analyser" app and it revealed your IQ to be approximately 16. People normally have specialized knowledge, but some people, like the people who get to go on Jeopardy, have a wide range of knowledge, and often have the sort of brain that allows them to memorise facts very easily, (which by the way, is not the same thing as "intelligence".)
IoW should Google the 'Dunning-Kruger Effect'.
At a certain level of incompetence you can be so incompetent you can't understand how incompetent you are and so may think you're quite clever.
Or 'semi intelligent', as IoW so succinctly phrased it.
G.Fieendish - aha. I had no idea. Ironically enough, I was actually living in the US during the '90s, so must have escaped its showing here in the UK. Just had to watch it there instead, although never intentionally...
it is a conspiracy? to do what? show people what a moron you are?
they have gotten pretty highbrow, and i still get some, but i don't think not getting a lot of them means they are out to get me.
@ Whitleylad ... "I suggest if you ever get University Challenge in the States I would stay well clear, it'll just blow your mind. "
Actually University Challenge was based on the American show College Bowl.
Back in the late 70's a couple of "world championship" games were played between the British & American winners of their respective shows. Both times the American teams were so decisively beaten that the British teams felt embarrassed for them.
Although, to be fair (I'm British, it's what we do) , I think this showed the difference between the two education systems (perhaps the UK system covered a larger range of subjects) rather than that the Americans were dumber.
Decades ago, when I was young, we had these things called books. In these books were words written by intelligent people. Other intelligent people, as opposed to "semi intelligent" people, would read these words. What's more? They would understand these words and remember them. This is called learning and men and women who learned were called "learned" or, in some circles, "educated". Often the most educated of all were those who received a "liberal education". These are the kinds of men and women who do well on shows like Jeopardy.
Shorter version: All people should strive for a liberal education. Specialization is more fit for insects.
Guys, you're missing the obvious here! You see, ImplementOfWar was right that Jeopardy! is a psychological operation to fool the people, but it's not to make the US look superior. That might have been part of it, but the main goal was to establish a baseline of the best intelligence of humanity.
What just happened recently on Jeopardy!? That's right, they let Watson, a computer AI, compete on the show. Watson kicked major ass. This decades long show has all been a setup so that evil scientists can showcase the superior intelligence of AI, thus letting them finally elect an AI as President/Supreme Overlord in 2012.
I might be sarcastic.
Semi-intelligent? Ah... I get it. It's just a fancy way to say half-stupid.
Fun facts:
Because Anericans just can't be that smart, amiright?
It could be that they read a lot and over a wide range of topics.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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