ATA - what can be learned???

[frogman042]

So, in my never ending quest of trying to improve my odds, if I should be lucky enough to the the call - I thought of yet another question...

I have never been at a taping of WWTBAM but based on what I think I understand, some but not all tapings also include auditions as well. In addition, which tapings do have auditions is known in advance and people can intentionally sign-up for those specific tapings. Am I correct so far?

If that is the case then it seems to me that if you are in the HS and you know whether or not this specific audience is also trying out for the show that that bit of info could be used in both deciding when and what questions to use the ATA as well as how well you might trust the results.

The idea being, of course, that an audition audience would in general be more knowledgeable then an non-audition audience, especially on the tougher questions.

Has anyone thought about this before? Does it make sense or do you think that the there would not be significant difference between the two sets?

Thanks.

[Ritterskoop]

I would think an audition audience might do better at academic questions: geography, math, history, like that.

I would think a non-audition audience would be better for pop culture, which is when we most often use them.

[KillerTomato]

I believe it's a moot point, since IIRC, they hold auditions at every taping.

But even if they didn't, I'd say that its generally a good idea to trust the audience at lower question levels, take them with a grain of salt in the middle, and after $100K use at your own risk.

Just assume they're like most contestants: a couple would llama out, several would be gone with $1000 to $8000, and most of the rest would make it to $16K to $50K. After that, there aren't many who get any higher...

[MarleysGh0st]

1. As KT said, they have auditions at every taping.

2. The average passing rate for the written test has generally been around 10% - 15%, so it's not like you're getting an audience full of trivia experts. Except, of course, if a bunch of us show up at your taping to root you on!

3. I like how you're using an ATA to find out the value of an ATA. There's gotta be a scientific or philosophical name for this fallacy!

[christie1111]

1. As KT said, they have auditions at every taping.

2. The average passing rate for the written test has generally been around 10% - 15%, so it's not like you're getting an audience full of trivia experts. Except, of course, if a bunch of us show up at your taping to root you on!

3. I like how you're using an ATA to find out the value of an ATA. There's gotta be a scientific or philosophical name for this fallacy!

Yes, but as you said, this audience has a much better chance of getting the answer corect!

[MarleysGh0st]

Yes, but as you said, this audience has a much better chance of getting the answer corect!

And, at this moment, there's a tie between Yes and Are you insane?



Notice how we avoid the simple No when there's a more emphatic choice?

[MarleysGh0st]

Also, since frogman is still learning our ways like someone pledging at a fraternity, we'll have to penalize him for not including the final choice:

WGAS in Gastonia doesn't ask their audience.

[peacock2121]

You are wasting time thinking about things that you can not control and things overwhich you can do nothing.

Do things to increase your odds that you can control.

Find out from people who have been in the hot seat what they did that they say made a difference. Find out what they say had the train go off the track (if it did) and what they could have done (beforehand) to have the train stay on the track.

Start talking to people about being on your PaF list. Realy strategize on your choices.

Read TV Guide, People, Us Weekly and any labels that come your way.

Start noticing things - every little thing should start occurring to you like "That would make a great BAM question."

Do the AOL weekly quiz thingie.

Join Spooflus and play - more than just the daily thingie.

Play all of the QoD's here.

Play the Friday night game - even if you can't be here Friday nights.

Host a QoD - you will learn more than you can imagine.

Work on yourself so you can stay mentally strong in the face of anything. Know that it is you and this question. Do whatever you can do to be able to have the last question complete - done - over with - and then it's just you and the question in front of you.

Stay upbeat and powerful.

[peacock2121]

Read trevor's blog about his J! experience.

There is stuff there that is transferable.

[frogman042]

Also, since frogman is still learning our ways like someone pledging at a fraternity, we'll have to penalize him for not including the final choice:

WGAS in Gastonia doesn't ask their audience.

Penalize me all you want for not knowing the protocol.... WGAS.

The key question is now that I know about should I intentially omitted on any future polls I conduct? Maybe I should take a poll on that.

[MarleysGh0st]

Also, since frogman is still learning our ways like someone pledging at a fraternity, we'll have to penalize him for not including the final choice:

WGAS in Gastonia doesn't ask their audience.

Penalize me all you want for not knowing the protocol.... WGAS.

That's the spirit!

The key question is now that I know about should I intentially omitted on any future polls I conduct? Maybe I should take a poll on that.

No, no, it's been one of our traditions for years and years! You have to include it! As soon as our Bored Historian gets back online, he can tell you all about it in more detail than any human ought rightly to remember!

[frogman042]

Read trevor's blog about his J! experience.

There is stuff there that is transferable.

Did you mean this: http://www.pdonjeopardy.blogspot.com/

BTW, just saw his 2nd appearence (it's on early we I am) but I wont reveal the outcome for those who get J! later in the day.

[frogman042]

You are wasting time thinking about things that you can not control and things overwhich you can do nothing.

Do things to increase your odds that you can control.

Find out from people who have been in the hot seat what they did that they say made a difference. Find out what they say had the train go off the track (if it did) and what they could have done (beforehand) to have the train stay on the track.

Start talking to people about being on your PaF list. Realy strategize on your choices.

Read TV Guide, People, Us Weekly and any labels that come your way.

Start noticing things - every little thing should start occurring to you like "That would make a great BAM question."

Do the AOL weekly quiz thingie.

Join Spooflus and play - more than just the daily thingie.

Play all of the QoD's here.

Play the Friday night game - even if you can't be here Friday nights.

Host a QoD - you will learn more than you can imagine.

Work on yourself so you can stay mentally strong in the face of anything. Know that it is you and this question. Do whatever you can do to be able to have the last question complete - done - over with - and then it's just you and the question in front of you.

Stay upbeat and powerful.

Great advice thanks - been trying to do a lot of what you suggested but there was some great ideas I didn't think of.

BTW, is there a list of past BAM winners who are active on this board and/or have blogs? I would love to read them.

Thanks again.

[KillerTomato]

Well, Peababe started it...

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.
Oh, never mind.
You will not understand the power
and beauty of your youth until they've faded.
But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of
yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much
possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.
You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future.
Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as
trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things
that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that
blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts.
Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy.
Sometimes you're ahead,
sometimes you're behind.
The race is long and, in the end,
it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive.
Forget the insults.
If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters.
Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know
what you want to do with your life.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at
22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some
of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees.
You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't.
Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't.
Maybe you'll divorce at 40,
maybe you'll dance the funky
chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.
Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself
too much, or berate yourself either.
Your choices are half chance.
So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body.
Use it every way you can.
Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it.
It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance,
even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions,
even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines.
They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents.
You never know when they'll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings.
They're your best link to your past and the people
most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,
but with a precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle,
because the older you get, the more you need the
people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it
makes you hard. Live in Northern California
once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths:
Prices will rise.
Politicians will philander.
You, too, will get old.
And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you
were young, prices were reasonable, politicians
were noble, and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you.
Maybe you have a trust fund.
Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse.
But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the
time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy,
but be patient with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia.
Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal,
wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts
and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

Mary Schmich (NOT Kurt Vonnegut)
( newspaper columnist with the Chicago Tribune )

[ulysses5019]

Well, Peababe started it...

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.
Oh, never mind.
You will not understand the power
and beauty of your youth until they've faded.
But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of
yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much
possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.
You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future.
Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as
trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things
that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that
blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts.
Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy.
Sometimes you're ahead,
sometimes you're behind.
The race is long and, in the end,
it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive.
Forget the insults.
If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters.
Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know
what you want to do with your life.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at
22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some
of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees.
You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't.
Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't.
Maybe you'll divorce at 40,
maybe you'll dance the funky
chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.
Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself
too much, or berate yourself either.
Your choices are half chance.
So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body.
Use it every way you can.
Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it.
It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance,
even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions,
even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines.
They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents.
You never know when they'll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings.
They're your best link to your past and the people
most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,
but with a precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle,
because the older you get, the more you need the
people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it
makes you hard. Live in Northern California
once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths:
Prices will rise.
Politicians will philander.
You, too, will get old.
And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you
were young, prices were reasonable, politicians
were noble, and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you.
Maybe you have a trust fund.
Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse.
But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the
time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy,
but be patient with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia.
Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal,
wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts
and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

Mary Schmich (NOT Kurt Vonnegut)
( newspaper columnist with the Chicago Tribune )

I don't feel like flossing.

[frogman042]

From what I heard Mary Schmich is her name after her sex change opperation - her birth name was Kurt Vonnegut Jr. before she changed it.

William Shakespear told me this.

Speaking of urban legends, back in the 80's when Madonna and Sean Penn were still married, a friend of mine tried to start one where Madonna was the love child of Marilyn Monroe and JFK and that Sean Penn was the love child of Marilyn Monroe and RFK - and neither of them new this secret about themselves.