Quiz Mugging
Trivia
Another tiresome rant about the "dumbing down" of culture. First it was hip-hop, reality tv, and George W Bush. Now it's trivia. Some people just don't get it, I tell you.
The article also reminded me of a hilarious story (supposedly true...) spread by the Yangry Star years ago. It had the punchline "Quiz mugging da."
posted by Crp @ 9:00 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
I've often seen a story without a punchline but a punchline without a story!
Enlighten me...
I've told you the story n times before.
To refresh your memory, I will just mention that the incident took place in the Central Library at IITM that it involves a guy who is currently an Ass. Prof in the Economics dept at a US university. I am resisting the temptation to elaborate because:
1. It's the kind of story which works best when told in person.
2. It might get Yangry Star sued for libel if the Ass. Prof came to know.
I have a number of different comments, but first, it looks like you'll have to remind me of the story you allude to in person too.
My favourite line from the article -- "facts so insignificant that calling them trivia gives them a certain honorific quality" (paraphrased that -- dont feel like the old click and cut and paste!)
Significantly, I've realized over the last few years that trivia conceals more than it reveals. I've realized that the story behind a quiz question's answer is far more interesting than the question. Who knew that was possible? Weren't quizzes supposed to be packaged versions of beautiful information nuggets?
Anyway, lately, nothing satisfies me more than reading the delightfully long and in-depth articles in the New Yorker. With each magazine, I can easily set 10-20 mind-numbingly good quiz questions, whose goodness I will be unable to communicate to an audience during the quiz. Such is the nature of quizzing! No wonder people stick to well known quarters to pick up their questions from -- rock bands, English literature, word origins, a handful of wars, current affairs
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