Saturday's "in It To Win It"

[gollob]

A question was asked to a 22 year old lady which was who did the paintings of the matchstick men and the choice was (1) David Hockney (2) L s Lowry (3) John Constable
She said I have never heard of Lowry or Constable so I will say Hockney.
Knowing had hard it is to get on a TV programme like this how can they pick somebody so thick.
Is the education system failing in this country?

[chrissa1]

OMG!!!!!!!

[bibblebub]

ask questions about basic science and quite a lot of people who claim to be well educated struggle to provide answers (quite often not even remotely correct)

[vakayu]

I like you was amazed when she said that,it's difficult to believe it has never cropped up somewhere even though no interest in arts etc.

[Mamyalynne]

Interesting point - but would you be enthralled if your child came home and announced they had just had a full lesson on famous artists or would you think it may have been better to be taught something that may stand them in good stead for the future (apart from quiz shows of course).

[Mamyalynne]

If we wish the future generations to be well versed in ALL topics then we must supplement those that fall outside of the main curriculum.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

I do wonder if I'd have ever known about Lowry if it hadn't been for the song, Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs.

[Old_Geezer]

Whilst I am sometimes surprised at another's lack of knowledge I also understand that different folk have different areas of knowledge. If someone isn't interested in the classic arts then why would they retain memory of the big names ? Ask me questions about soaps and I'd be hard pushed to answer any.

[chrissa1]

Surely this sort of GK is not taught but is learnt, by awareness and interest in the world as a whole.
Has she never read newspapers, books, or simply taken notice of a wider range of information as she has grown up?
It sounds like she is treating this sort of game, as a game of luck and not knowledge.

[vakayu]

I agree chrissa,it is as they say out there in "the ether"

[CoffeeLounge]

I think this lady went on to win money (£25k or a share not sure).!!!!!!!

[IggyB]

Wasn't it Chris tarrent that used to say they're all easy questions when you know the answer.

I happen to know the right answer but not sure why, it is definately not something I would have been taught a school. I can well imagine how names of famous artists could pass someone by, just as names of famous footballers mean nothing to me.

[sandyRoe]

I think you pick up bits of general knowledge by something like osmosis. See something on the TV, or read about it, and remember. I would have known the Lowry answer because when I first saw one of his pictures I thought I was looking at a painting of some part of Belfast I didn't know but should have. All the mills.

[losgigs]

As with all quizzes like 'In it to win it' and 'The Chaser', the older contestants have more widespread GK as they have been around longer to absorb it. The younger ones know more modern culture & pop knowledge. I certainly know a heck of a lot more now than when I was in my 20s. (not all of it useful except in quizzes!)

[bundleone]

It dosen't matter how educated a person is there will always be some things they have never heard of, but it was surprising to me as well.

[zebo]

I know the answer and I've heard of all 3 but I never recall learning anything like that in schol, I was on the Science side. Schools can't teach everything, general knowledge comes from reading and listening, taking an interest in things. Some people do pick up trivia and it sticks, others can see something and it's gone, my OH says I have a dustbin mind, rubbish collects.

[losgigs]

LOL zebo - my OH says I only remember useless rubbish too. He doesn't complain when it helps us to win or come in the top 3 of a quiz though!

[Maydup]

My Mum would have taught me about Lowry and Constable. In the same way as she'd have taught me about sharps and flats, chain stitch and buttonholes, and cornflowers and campions.

[gollob]

But surely if you are going on a quiz show you would know a question like that

She did not win anything but why do the producers pick people with such poor knowledge?

[Tizzi24]

I agree gollob, I'm amazed at the lack of general knowledge today. I think the worst programme for having "thick" people on is Million Pound Drop - I despair at times!

[zebo]

Gollob, I have often wondered how narcissistic you have to be to go on TV with such poor general kowledge.
There seems to be an inverse snobbery among many people, I once commented at work that I'd never heard of some singer and was pilloried for being "out of touch". When I asked him for his views on Mikhail Baryschnikov I was called a snob!!!!!!!