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Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:34 am
by TheConfessor
When a question starts with the word "Surprisingly," what is that supposed to indicate to the person in the hot seat? Perhaps it's intended to warn him that the obvious answer is not right in this case, so he should choose something else. Or perhaps it's intended to be helpful, but the "surprise" exists only in the mind of the question writer, who is admitting his own ignorance, which may not be relevant or helpful to the person in the hot seat. In this case, anyone who knows what
Omega-3 oil
is would not be surprised by the correct answer.
Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:38 am
by MarleysGh0st
Put this on the question writer <grumble>® list, along with frogman's "traditional".
Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:39 am
by Catfish
TheConfessor wrote:When a question starts with the word "Surprisingly," what is that supposed to indicate to the person in the hot seat? Perhaps it's intended to warn him that the obvious answer is not right in this case, so he should choose something else. Or perhaps it's intended to be helpful, but the "surprise" exists only in the mind of the question writer, who is admitting his own ignorance, which may not be relevant or helpful to the person in the hot seat. In this case, anyone who knows what
Omega-3 oil
is would not be surprised by the correct answer.
Hmm. Is it seemingly supposedly surprisingly in fish?
Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:42 am
by TheConfessor
Catfish wrote:TheConfessor wrote:When a question starts with the word "Surprisingly," what is that supposed to indicate to the person in the hot seat? Perhaps it's intended to warn him that the obvious answer is not right in this case, so he should choose something else. Or perhaps it's intended to be helpful, but the "surprise" exists only in the mind of the question writer, who is admitting his own ignorance, which may not be relevant or helpful to the person in the hot seat. In this case, anyone who knows what
Omega-3 oil
is would not be surprised by the correct answer.
Hmm. Is it seemingly supposedly surprisingly in fish?
Yeah, it is "surprising" that the
Omega-3 supplement in a brand of orange juice comes from anchovies.
Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:49 pm
by Bob Juch
TheConfessor wrote:Catfish wrote:TheConfessor wrote:When a question starts with the word "Surprisingly," what is that supposed to indicate to the person in the hot seat? Perhaps it's intended to warn him that the obvious answer is not right in this case, so he should choose something else. Or perhaps it's intended to be helpful, but the "surprise" exists only in the mind of the question writer, who is admitting his own ignorance, which may not be relevant or helpful to the person in the hot seat. In this case, anyone who knows what
Omega-3 oil
is would not be surprised by the correct answer.
Hmm. Is it seemingly supposedly surprisingly in fish?
Yeah, it is "surprising" that the
Omega-3 supplement in a brand of orange juice comes from anchovies.
Things other than fish do have Omega-3 fats. Maybe the surprise is that the OJ tastes like anchovies.

Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:52 pm
by peacock2121
Kinda like 'clearly' but different.
Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:03 pm
by MarleysGh0st
I sometimes wonder if companies have a hand in getting their products plugged in questions.
This particular trivia is probably something the orange juice company would rather not have advertised!

Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:07 pm
by peacock2121
Yum. That is what I want with my morning muffin.
Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:34 pm
by bazodee
But on the other hand, give the writers credit for not placing a period after Harry Truman's middle initial, though the other three presidents were punctuated.
Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:07 pm
by Catfish
bazodee wrote:But on the other hand, give the writers credit for not placing a period after Harry Truman's middle initial, though the other three presidents were punctuated.
Harry used the period.
http://www.snopes.com/history/american/truman.asp
Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:29 pm
by TheConfessor
That's interesting about Truman. I just realized that I never use a period after my middle initial when I sign a check. I don't consciously eschew the period. It just never occurred to me to use one. Or maybe I used one a few decades ago and then got lazy.
Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:32 pm
by peacock2121
My dad never uses a period when he signs his name. He always uses the middle initial and the Jr. He doesn't use a period after Jr either.
Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:54 pm
by SportsFan68
peacock2121 wrote:My dad never uses a period when he signs his name. He always uses the middle initial and the Jr. He doesn't use a period after Jr either.
I don't use a period after my middle initial anymore either. It's because both computerized and paper forms don't take them.