Video Killed the Radio Stars, but...

[DickieBrakelight]

...the mobile phone is killing the pub quiz.

I was at one recently where the spot prize question for 4 pints of beer was 'In what year was Spencer Tracy born', with the closest answer winning. Out of 7 teams 4 were spot on with 1900. The quiz master was a bit put out and it seems to happen all the time. For the jackpot question at the end of the night he said 'let's see you google this Little Bustard - in 1999 how many pairs of green socks were issued to the US Military?

It is so easy these days to nip to the bogs or for a fag and get the answer to almost any question. Any similar experiences? Is there a solution?

[Mick-Talbot]

stop in

[askyourgran]

Not fair I know, my daughter used to go to a pub quiz where the prize money could mount up to £300 sometimes. We were there one night and there were quite a few people on their mobiles. The landlady said that all the mobiles must be confiscated until the end of the quiz which I thought fair.

[boxtops]

I went to a quiz with someone who googled all the time on her phone. I don't think it's fair - most people go for a good time, to see what they know in their heads. I agree - confiscate the phones, anyone seen using one should be banned from the quiz!

[joeluke]

All mobiles to be left in a box/bag in the middle of each teams table?

[boxtops]

That's a good idea JL!

[joeluke]

Thanks boxy, no need for the exclamation mark though, it implied that you were surprised that I could come up with a good idea!

[johnny.5]

short fast rounds with no time to cheat

[Hopkirk]

A gun turret on the stage, manned by trigger happy nutter with orders to shoot on sight of a mobile.

[puternut]

All they'd do is bring in 2 phones - one in the box and one to use

[Jan1957]

I can't see an answer to it as I have seen it happen in my local pub quiz. I did go to a quiz where, if there was a tie at the end of the evening, the teams had to nominate one player to go up on stage and answer the tie breaker question. There could be no cheating then.