University Challenge

[Boilk]

...but those who do always seem to be trying to assert some superiority

Any evidence for that?
I've found that contestants generally imitate the phraseology already used. So if one team member starts with "reading" it is often copied by the next member. But in recent years the tendency has increasingly been to use "studying". Some even say "doing a masters in..."

[ardcarp]

"I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square."
Lady Bracknell The importance of Being Earnest

Wonderful!

[Serial_Apologist]

Wonderful!

It always evokes Margaaret Rutherford - not just in that wonderful film, but playing the role of the Ian Carmichael character's rich aunt in "I'm All Right Jack".

[alycidon]

I could not possibly agree with you more. I sit on the edge of my chair when the contestants are introducing themselves wondering which ones will have the decency to greet me with a ‘hello’ or ‘Good Evening’ and I remain bitterly disappointed on most occasions.

I can’t remember if we had this solecism in Bamber Gascoigne’s days. Can anyone?

[Boilk]

"I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square."

Education is what remains when we have forgotten all that we have been taught.
- Lord Halifax (President of the Board of Education 1922-24, 1932-35; Chancellor of Oxford University 1933-59)

[un barbu]

Education is what remains when we have forgotten all that we have been taught.
- Lord Halifax (President of the Board of Education 1922-24, 1932-35; Chancellor of Oxford University 1933-59)

Remembering always Dr Johnson in the introduction to his Dictionary: "Sudden fits of inadvertency will surprise vigilance, slight avocations will seduce attention and casual eclipses of the mind will darken learning." Now in my eighth decade I find all of that increasingly true.

[LMcD]

"Good evening" would be even better...

Unless you're watching earlier on another day on iPlayer.

[vinteuil]

Remembering always Dr Johnson in the introduction to his Dictionary: "Sudden fits of inadvertency will surprise vigilance, slight avocations will seduce attention and casual eclipses of the mind will darken learning." Now in my eighth decade I find all of that increasingly true.

... " Lastly, we are not magisterial in opinions, nor have we dictator-like obtruded our conceptions; but, in the humility of enquiries or disquisitions, have only proposed them unto more ocular discerners. And therefore opinions are free; and open it is for any to think or declare the contrary. And we shall so far encourage contradiction, as to promise no disturbance, or re-oppose any pen, that shall fallaciously or captiously refute us; that shall only lay hold of our lapses, single out digressions, corollaries, or ornamental conceptions, to evidence his own in as indifferent truths. And shall only take notice of such, whose experimental and judicious knowledge shall solemnly look upon it; not only to destroy of ours, but to establish of his own; not to traduce or extenuate, but to explain and dilucidate, to add and ampliate, according to the laudable custom of the ancients in their sober promotions of learning. Unto whom notwithstanding, we shall not contentiously rejoin, or only to justify our own, but to applaud or confirm his maturer assertions; and shall confer what is in us unto his name and honour; ready to be swallowed in any worthy enlarger;—as having acquired our end, if any way, or under any name, we may obtain a work, so much desired, and yet desiderated, of truth."

Sir Thomas Browne [1605-1682], 'Note to the Reader', Pseudodoxia Epidemica 1646




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[ardcarp]

...how incredibly liberal an attitude for his time. Not one for Pedants' Corner then.

[Richard Tarleton]

Well that was a surprise. Not sure about the shirt.

[ardcarp]

A civilised bunch. Strange that the comparatively huge student body of the LSE couldn't produce a more sparkling team.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A civilised bunch. Strange that the comparatively huge student body of the LSE couldn't produce a more sparkling team.

Both teams were a little ... erm ... slow off the mark this evening.

SPOILER

The Courtauld team took quite some time getting into any kind of stride - and their total ignorance of anything scientific will make them a pushover in later rounds when they meet with more able competition than they faced this evening.

[ardcarp]

Agreed. Was the answer -1 an inspired guess?

[Boilk]

We were thankfully spared Andrew Lloyd Webber's Variations on a theme of Paganini which I was almost sure would be one of the answers in the Paganini-themed music bonuses.

I think one chap showed some musical awareness that Lutoslawski had done a version when he proffered "Lukovski" ...but unluckily the answer was Liszt!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Agreed. Was the answer -1 an inspired guess?

I suspect so, from his air-punching when he heard he'd got the correct answer.

I think one chap showed some musical awareness that Lutoslawski had done a version when he proffered "Lukovski" ...but unluckily the answer was Liszt!

- and it did sound rather like the Lutoslawski version (as confirmed by the broadcast of that version on Essential Classics earlier today).