America's "Academic Epidemic"

[barneyg]

After watching Ray's FEUD today, I got to thinking... there really is a serious problem in America's schools.

I would say about 98% of the questions that involve Geography, (questions that require cities and countries as answers) result in some the dumbest answers on the show. Remember the STURGIS family? Whenever a question involved giving cities or countries as answers, you'd swear they went to school in the U.S.! ;D

Here are some examples:

Name a city with a famous nickname and it's nickname..."Idaho/Potato State"

Name a state that starts with the letter "M"..."Mexico" (given twice in fast money!)

Name a city that was important during colonial times..."New England", "Virginia" I could've given all the answers AND THEN SOME!!

On a related story, Ray said something a few days ago that really made him seem even lower than Louie. The question was "Name a college that seems to pay more attention to academics rather than athletics." I think that had been given was "Harvard" (#1. answer) when Ray said..."They need to get their priorities straight!"

Putting athletics OVER academics!? No wonder Howard hated his guts! Colleges should be spending more money on enriching people's minds instead of knocking them out!

[adamjk]

First off, about the academics thing, it may seem easy to you at home, because:

A. You're not at being seen by a live studio audience
B. You're not being seen by millions of people all over the country

and
C. You're not being timed.

It's not as easy as you might think. I've never been on a show myself, but I can imagine that the factors stated above, can get to the contestants, causing them to panic and give answers such as the ones you stated to relatively easy questions

As far as Ray's comment goes, did it get a laugh? If so, it was most likely intended to be a joke.

[FrankieV]

adamjk said:

It's not as easy as you might think. I've never been on a show myself, but I can imagine that the factors stated above, can get to the contestants, causing them to panic and give answers such as the ones you stated to relatively easy questions

I was a contestant on a gameshow and I can be the first to tell you its not easy. So much going on at the sametime. So much excitement. As your playing the game it feels more like a dream then a reality. All I remember saying to myself was I CANT BELEIVE THIS IS HAPPENING. As for the camera and millions watching to be honest I dont even remember seeing a camera but to hear the audience cheer for you and make noise when you win is something you would just have to experience for yourself. I know for me with everything going on the last thing on my mind was getting something right or wrong I was just having the time of my life. :-)

[adamjk]

What show were you on, and how did you do?

[barneyg]

adamjk said:

As far as Ray's comment goes, did it get a laugh? If so, it was most likely intended to be a joke.

I didn't hear anybody laugh, I think his was serious. I'm sure there are many (censored) who agree with him too.

I'm sure it's intimidating, but why do contestants ALWAYS seem to foul up Geography and History?

[stamfam]

barneyg said:

I didn't hear anybody laugh, I think his was serious. I'm sure there are many (censored) who agree with him too.

I'm sure it's intimidating, but why do contestants ALWAYS seem to foul up Geography and History?

Ray's comment was a joke, nothing more. He said stuff like that all the time, none of it was serious.

But yes, I agree, when it comes to geography, people definitely need some help.

[FrankieV]

adamjk said:

What show were you on, and how did you do?

The Price Is Right. The whole story is in the General Section under PRICE IS RIGHT :-)

[barneyg]

stamfam said:

Ray's comment was a joke, nothing more. He said stuff like that all the time, none of it was serious.

I'm going to have to take your word for it, but if it WAS a joke, Ray would've laughed. He didn't, he said it with relative assertivness.

[Grey]

barneyg said:

I'm going to have to take your word for it, but if it WAS a joke, Ray would've laughed. He didn't, he said it with relative assertivness.

Sometimes the comedy is more in saying something outright funny with a dead-serious face on. But I will say this: humor is in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes someone will say something and while it may not be funny to a room full of people, but someone else might find it absolutely hilarious. That's just the nature of it.