Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"

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TheConfessor
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Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"

#1 Post by TheConfessor » Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:34 am

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
Spoiler
Omega-3 oil
is would not be surprised by the correct answer.

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MarleysGh0st
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Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"

#2 Post by MarleysGh0st » Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:38 am

Put this on the question writer <grumble>® list, along with frogman's "traditional".
Last edited by MarleysGh0st on Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Catfish
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Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"

#3 Post by Catfish » Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:39 am

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
Spoiler
Omega-3 oil
is would not be surprised by the correct answer.
Spoiler
Hmm. Is it seemingly supposedly surprisingly in fish?
Catfish

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TheConfessor
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Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"

#4 Post by TheConfessor » Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:42 am

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
Spoiler
Omega-3 oil
is would not be surprised by the correct answer.
Spoiler
Hmm. Is it seemingly supposedly surprisingly in fish?
Yeah, it is "surprising" that the
Spoiler
Omega-3 supplement in a brand of orange juice comes from anchovies.

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Bob Juch
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Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"

#5 Post by Bob Juch » Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:49 pm

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
Spoiler
Omega-3 oil
is would not be surprised by the correct answer.
Spoiler
Hmm. Is it seemingly supposedly surprisingly in fish?
Yeah, it is "surprising" that the
Spoiler
Omega-3 supplement in a brand of orange juice comes from anchovies.
Spoiler
Things other than fish do have Omega-3 fats. Maybe the surprise is that the OJ tastes like anchovies. :P
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peacock2121
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Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"

#6 Post by peacock2121 » Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:52 pm

Kinda like 'clearly' but different.

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MarleysGh0st
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Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"

#7 Post by MarleysGh0st » Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:03 pm

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! :P

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Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"

#8 Post by peacock2121 » Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:07 pm

Yum. That is what I want with my morning muffin.

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bazodee
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Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"

#9 Post by bazodee » Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:34 pm

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.

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Catfish
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Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"

#10 Post by Catfish » Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:07 pm

Spoiler
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
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TheConfessor
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Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"

#11 Post by TheConfessor » Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:29 pm

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.

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peacock2121
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Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"

#12 Post by peacock2121 » Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:32 pm

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.

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Re: Today's WWTBAM -- "Surprisingly"

#13 Post by SportsFan68 » Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:54 pm

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.
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