I think that I’m reasonably intelligent, certainly no rocket scientist, sometimes I get one or two right on University Challenge, but rarely more.
However, sometimes I’m genuinely amazed at people who I imagine to be way more intelligent than me, not knowing answers on “Millionaire” that I consider to be common knowledge.
e.g., recently on an old WWTBAM, John Stapleton, the broadcaster, and Lorraine Kelly, Scots TV presenter were asked, “Which country did Great Britain fight in the war of 1812?”
I couldn’t imagine anyone not being aware that it was the U.S.A., and Mr. Stapleton is a much travelled journalist, but they agonised, then flipped the question for an alternate one.
This was “With which industry do you associate Carl Junkers?”
I forget the exact options, but there was yachts, airplanes, and two others.
Even my wife, who’s no dumbo, but doesn’t take much interest in the show, said, “Weren’t they German bombers in WW2?”
They had no idea, and took the £8000.
However, sometimes I’m genuinely amazed at people who I imagine to be way more intelligent than me, not knowing answers on “Millionaire” that I consider to be common knowledge.
e.g., recently on an old WWTBAM, John Stapleton, the broadcaster, and Lorraine Kelly, Scots TV presenter were asked, “Which country did Great Britain fight in the war of 1812?”
I couldn’t imagine anyone not being aware that it was the U.S.A., and Mr. Stapleton is a much travelled journalist, but they agonised, then flipped the question for an alternate one.
This was “With which industry do you associate Carl Junkers?”
I forget the exact options, but there was yachts, airplanes, and two others.
Even my wife, who’s no dumbo, but doesn’t take much interest in the show, said, “Weren’t they German bombers in WW2?”
They had no idea, and took the £8000.
