Dumb Britain

[naartje]

The Million Pound Drop Live.............Channel 4

Davina McCall - What did Roger Bannister become the frst man
to do on this day in 1954? There are three possible answers,and
they are - Run the sub-four-minute mile - go nto outer space -
- put the toilet seat down.

Andrew(Broker,26) - He wasnt the first man in space.

Vanessa(Dancer,27) - Put the toilet seat down?

Andrew - Maybe,,,Maybe he invented the toilet seat.No,the toilet
seat was Crapper.The man that invented the toilet seat was Crapper.

Vanessa - It didnt say he invented it.It said he put it down.

Andrew - Yeah,yeah.

Davina - Fifty seconds.

Vanessa - Put the toilet seat down?Would that really have been a big thng?

Andrew - Wait,wait.I think Ive seen - Bannister - on a toilet.Like a brand.

Vanessa - What are we going to do?Quick.

Davina - Twenty-fve seconds'

Vanessa - Have you seen it,or not?

Andrew - I think so,yeah.

Vanessa - I dont know.

Andrew - Well,do you want to?

Vanessa - I dont know,I dont know,I dont know.Put it on there.I dont know.

(They put £50,000 on - Put the toilet seat down. - Time s up.

Davina - I just want to hug you two all the time.You are having no joy with
these questions.

Vanessa - Who knows any of this?

[naartje]

It makes me groan when,on the W/Link,a contestant is given the correct answer,
they then shrug their shoulders or roll their eyes,as if to say - How should I know
boring stuff like that!

They then immediately perk up when asked to name a telly programme,or which
celeb is dating who.?

[237SJ]

If you think that`s bad, you should watch the American Who wants to be a Millionaire!

[bunkmoreland]

I agree with tizzi,a high IQ has got nothing to do with it,or any opportunity for further education. I learnt about Roger Bannister at primary school and my own general knowledge has been picked up from reading all types of comics,books,magazines etc and watching all sorts of tv and films etc and just having an interest in what is going on around me,or what has happened in the past. University education not required for general knowledge.

[Postdog]

so what WAS the answer............?

[sophie_1003]

Agree; intelligence has nothing to do with the question naartje mentions; surely anyone with a bit of common sense could see that "First man to put the toilet seat down" is a joke answer?

[mightyWBA]

Thing is you have to audition to go on these shows..If you show intelligence you won't get on it.
The average mastermind contestant would win a million all the time.I play on line and my record is 15 consecutive correct answers with a million still intact and I'm a sheet metal worker!

[ummmm]

What you're failing to understand is that some people do NOT have the ability to take in and retain information.

Some are better at it than others.

[Postdog]

Don't put yourself down WBA, I'm sure you are a very good metal worker.....

Is it obvious I'm bored? That said, I have tied to watch this a few times, but I can't stick with it. And I'n not thick, I knew the answer really...

[mightyWBA]

These days you haven't even got to make the effort to go to a library to expand your knowledge.
My Daughter told me somebody in her class didn't realise London was in England the other day and she's 14!
You could even find out who the referee in the 1878 F A Cup Final was in seconds if you wanted to...Many folks these days just aren't bothered in learning stuff.
Very sad.