World's second dumbest Yale graduate

[CubanMustGo]

Young doctor from Yale on "are you smarter than a fifth grader" ... did not know that Colorado bordered Kansas and Utah (guessed Wyoming). Did not know that Tchaikovsky wrote "Swan Lake" (stole the answer from a kid, that one was tough). Did not know that Christmas was the last federal holiday (guessed Thanksgiving). The kids got all these right, natch.

Dude was supposedly a National Merit Scholar, guess he attended a lot of those prep classes.

[jestersmash]

Based on what you've said, that person doesn't seem dumb at all.

For somebody who doesn't explicitly know about what holidays are "federal" ones, it makes perfect sense to guess that Thanksgiving is the last federal holiday.

With such an emphasis on trying to separate church and state, why would it seem reasonable to have a Christian holiday cons ute as a "federal holiday"? It doesn't. Honestly, I'm a bit surprised that Christmas counts as a "federal holiday" when other religious holidays are not considered to be "federal." Christians don't deserve extra recognition/acknowledgement over any other religion (or atheism) and vice versa.

Not knowing that Colorado bordered Kansas and Utah is not a big deal. Wyoming borders Utah, and furthermore Wyoming is about 100 miles away from Kansas.

In order to succeed in this world, there is no need to know U.S. geography to such a high degree that you could answer these (seemingly) simple questions without hesitation.

Calling this guy the "world's second dumbest Yale grad" is a joke. Get over yourself.

[Thunder Dan]

Bush has to be up there aswell

[FromWayDowntown]

Bush has to be up there aswell

I'm guessing that's the reason this guy is described as the second dumbest Yale graduate.

[Don Quixote]

predictable.

[CuckingFunt]

I don't suppose there's much call for a doctor to know Colorado's bordering states at the drop of a hat.

I love to mock stupidity as much as anyone else, but I don't think it is anywhere near as easy to know random with a camera in your face as it is to know the same random while sitting in your living room.

[CubanMustGo]

Woo, tough crowd tonight.

[mrsmaalox]

Woo, tough crowd tonight.

Tell me about it.

[Louie Vega]

I'm guessing that's the reason this guy is described as the second dumbest Yale graduate.

Ha ha ha Ya think? Ha ha ha

[Thunder Dan]

I'm guessing that's the reason this guy is described as the second dumbest Yale graduate.

went right over my head- but I didn't go to Yale

[peewee's lovechild]

Based on what you've said, that person doesn't seem dumb at all.

For somebody who doesn't explicitly know about what holidays are "federal" ones, it makes perfect sense to guess that Thanksgiving is the last federal holiday.

With such an emphasis on trying to separate church and state, why would it seem reasonable to have a Christian holiday cons ute as a "federal holiday"? It doesn't. Honestly, I'm a bit surprised that Christmas counts as a "federal holiday" when other religious holidays are not considered to be "federal." Christians don't deserve extra recognition/acknowledgement over any other religion (or atheism) and vice versa.

Not knowing that Colorado bordered Kansas and Utah is not a big deal. Wyoming borders Utah, and furthermore Wyoming is about 100 miles away from Kansas.

In order to succeed in this world, there is no need to know U.S. geography to such a high degree that you could answer these (seemingly) simple questions without hesitation.

Calling this guy the "world's second dumbest Yale grad" is a joke. Get over yourself.

Are you defending this guy because you're as dumb as him?

These are all very elementary questions, hence the name of the show.

It amazes me the number of Americans that don't know about their own country.

[peewee's lovechild]

I don't suppose there's much call for a doctor to know Colorado's bordering states at the drop of a hat.

I love to mock stupidity as much as anyone else, but I don't think it is anywhere near as easy to know random with a camera in your face as it is to know the same random while sitting in your living room.

Doctor's still have to take a history course as their core studies in any university.

But, anyway, we've been bombarded with the map of the U.S. since 1rst grade, if not earlier. That's actually pretty easy.

And, camera or not, they're given quite a bit of time to answer these things.

[mrsmaalox]

And, camera or not, they're given quite a bit of time to answer these things.

Which is my main problem with that show. It moves too slow!

[Don Quixote]

I know alot about America.

Ask me the capital of Baltimore.

[some_user86]

WGAF about Colorado?

[jestersmash]

Are you defending this guy because you're as dumb as him?

These are all very elementary questions, hence the name of the show.

It amazes me the number of Americans that don't know about their own country.

No. Are you resorting to contentless insults because you're an immature ing neanderthal?

I'll give you the fact that the geography question is in fact very easy. You are right, we have had the U.S. map drilled into our head since 1st grade.

Just because this guy did not realize that Christmas is the last federal holiday does not warrant branding him as dumb. See my last post.

Tchaikovsky wrote "Swan Lake." Fine, most people know that, but technically speaking this is still trivia. I'm sure this guy knows a bunch of trivia that you do not know. Does this make you dumb?

[leemajors]

Doctor's still have to take a history course as their core studies in any university.

But, anyway, we've been bombarded with the map of the U.S. since 1rst grade, if not earlier. That's actually pretty easy.

And, camera or not, they're given quite a bit of time to answer these things.

they also deal with 4-6 years of medical school afterwards. it certainly doesn't make you stupid to forget something trivial you haven't had a reason to recall in years. most people don't have



and yes, I miss HoopsCzar.

[peewee's lovechild]

No. Are you resorting to contentless insults because you're an immature ing neanderthal?

I'll give you the fact that the geography question is in fact very easy. You are right, we have had the U.S. map drilled into our head since 1st grade.

Just because this guy did not realize that Christmas is the last federal holiday does not warrant branding him as dumb. See my last post.

Tchaikovsky wrote "Swan Lake." Fine, most people know that, but technically speaking this is still trivia. I'm sure this guy knows a bunch of trivia that you do not know. Does this make you dumb?

So, a smart person goes to a trivia show not knowing that he will be asked trivial questions??

Smart.

Anyway, not knowing Christmas is the last federal holiday is beyond stupid as . Does he have a bank account? Does he have children that go to school? Does he remember being in school?

You see, banking ins utions, federal and state ins utions, and schools all are closed during Christmas. This should've rung a bell in his Yale educated head.

Do you not know any of this?

Who's the neanderthal?

[resistanze]

I saw that episode last night. He was dumb as , no excuses .

God damn, I'm from Canada and I knew the answers were Christmas and Colorado.

[peewee's lovechild]

they also deal with 4-6 years of medical school afterwards. it certainly doesn't make you stupid to forget something trivial you haven't had a reason to recall in years. most people don't have

The ones who remember are nothing short of pure genius?

[maxpower]

went right over my head- but I didn't go to Yale

Seems like you would be a natural Yalie.

(i keed)

[CuckingFunt]

Doctor's still have to take a history course as their core studies in any university.

But, anyway, we've been bombarded with the map of the U.S. since 1rst grade, if not earlier. That's actually pretty easy.

And, camera or not, they're given quite a bit of time to answer these things.

I've never watched this particular game show, so I don't know how long they have to answer the questions, but that doesn't change the fact that a game show creates a pressure situation. How many times have any of us taken a test and completely blanked on an answer that we knew five minutes earlier?

And core classes at a university doesn't really mean anything. Most people don't remember much of the stuff that they've learned unless they have a particular reason to do so. I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent person, and always had an affinity for math when I was younger, but I haven't had to take a math class in over 11 years and have had absolutely zero reason to do anything more than basic addition/subtraction/etc. in that time -- if I suddenly had to do algebra, I'd be in serious trouble.

[leemajors]

The ones who remember are nothing short of pure genius?

quick - who's the father of modern warfare?!!?

[CubanMustGo]

OK, so maybe I overreacted to a National Merit Scholar Yale MD not being able to pull trivia out of his hat. Maybe I'm still pissed off that I missed going to the next round of the Jeopardy selection process one time when I couldn't come up with Greg LeMond's name - and ended up missing the cut by one answer.

For those who have never watched, this really is a low pressure, slow-paced program. FWIW the bubba that followed the MD ended up winning 7 times as much ($175K to $25K).

The web site has an app for people who want to be on the show, so I checked it out. Pretty typical stuff, they ask you a bunch of questions, then you'll have to fly out for interviews if selected, and if you pass that they fly you back but you have to be able to hang around for as much as a week. What was interesting were the last two questions they asked on the form (paraphrased):

* Are you an Ivy League graduate?
* Do you know any Ivy League graduates who live in the LA area and who might be interested in appearing on the program? If so, please provide their names and addresses.

Wonder why they want Ivy League grads in particular.

[peewee's lovechild]

quick - who's the father of modern warfare?!!?

That's a 5th grade question?

What elitist grammar school did you go to?

And, the answer would be Gustavus Adolphus.