British 'Millionaire' - Staggering Audience Futility

[Brit Canuck]

After 50:50 was used on a recent question #9, the Audience was brought in.
You won't believe how many got this one wrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drbqHte5GS8

[MarleysGh0st]

Spoiler

I don't know if this fact is taught in UK schools, but the correct answer made absolutely no sense to me. I'd have voted for the wrong choice, too. Before the 50/50, I was torn between C and D, reasoning that it would be for a celebration of some sort. (Although I thought C was too formal an occasion for even a champagne toast, so I was really leaning towards D.)

Anyone know the rationale for this rule?

[ulysses5019]

Spoiler

I don't know if this fact is taught in UK schools, but the correct answer made absolutely no sense to me. I'd have voted for the wrong choice, too. Before the 50/50, I was torn between C and D, reasoning that it would be for a celebration of some sort. (Although I thought C was too formal an occasion for even a champagne toast, so I was really leaning towards D.)

Anyone know the rationale for this rule?

I'm not sure but I'm sure that there are some political party avatars that will drink to that.

[Bob Juch]

Spoiler

I don't know if this fact is taught in UK schools, but the correct answer made absolutely no sense to me. I'd have voted for the wrong choice, too. Before the 50/50, I was torn between C and D, reasoning that it would be for a celebration of some sort. (Although I thought C was too formal an occasion for even a champagne toast, so I was really leaning towards D.)

Anyone know the rationale for this rule?

It's easier to get through the budget speech if you're sloshed!

[etaoin22]

I don't like to see ATA with only two choices, you lose the possibility of seeing the unexpectedly large second choice. maybe you might have seen 7-71-17-5 with four choices.

In Canada the Minister of Finance traditionally wears a new pair of shoes for the Budget Speech, which equally is not something one could "get' logically.

although IIRC in the eighties this tradition was held in abeyance, after the disastrous budget speech of John Crosbie in 1979, the reaction to which unexpectedly toppled the government. Crosbie wore a new pair of mukluks for the speech.

[etaoin22]

a quick view of Internet references yields mostly the fact that Members of the House in the UK don't have to worry about drinking on the floor, since outside the chamber they have five bars to which they can repair, and which are exempt from the usual pubs' licensing laws.

And of course, Parliament opens with the Speech from the Throne in the House of Lords. The one time that members of the Commons will deign to visit.

[VAdame]

It was Googlable, but difficult (I did find it before she gave her final answer though.) Most of the links were to HoC debates on alcohol policy, taxing, etc....

http://quezi.com/7006

Excerpt:

Another tradition is that the Chancellor is the only person permitted to drink alcohol in the House of Commons while he is giving his speech. Not that M.P.s drink in the House of Commons now, but they did during the Victorian period. During their speeches, Gladstone drank sherry and beaten egg, and Disraeli brandy and water. More recently, Gordon Brown drank natural Scottish mineral water.

[etaoin22]

It was Googlable, but difficult (I did find it before she gave her final answer though.) Most of the links were to HoC debates on alcohol policy, taxing, etc....

http://quezi.com/7006

Excerpt:

Another tradition is that the Chancellor is the only person permitted to drink alcohol in the House of Commons while he is giving his speech. Not that M.P.s drink in the House of Commons now, but they did during the Victorian period. During their speeches, Gladstone drank sherry and beaten egg, and Disraeli brandy and water. More recently, Gordon Brown drank natural Scottish mineral water.

If you are careful to avoid all those grotty discussions on taxation, advertising and so on, there are a number of references which give the material excerpted, but I could not find either a rationale for abstemiousness specifically in the chamber, or for allowing the Chancellor of the Exchequer a pass. The best guess I have is that Gladstone needed liquid support because of the length of his speeches .- it is noted one of his budget speeches went for four hours. And while budget speeches seem to date from the early 18'th century, no drink preference is noted in these references for anyone before dear old Gladstone and Disraeli.

[Jeemie]

After 50:50 was used on a recent question #9, the Audience was brought in.
You won't believe how many got this one wrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drbqHte5GS8

Maybe you missed it...before she took the 50:50, she mentioned she's "never seen drinking at a budget speech".

This is a fairly clear case of influencing an audience that had no idea.

And I agree with those that say the other answer made more sense.

I'd like to learn about how the tradition of only having alcohol at a budget speech came about- will have to read up on that one!

[etaoin22]

After 50:50 was used on a recent question #9, the Audience was brought in.
You won't believe how many got this one wrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drbqHte5GS8

Maybe you missed it...before she took the 50:50, she mentioned she's "never seen drinking at a budget speech".

This is a fairly clear case of influencing an audience that had no idea.

And I agree with those that say the other answer made more sense.

I'd like to learn about how the tradition of only having alcohol at a budget speech came about- will have to read up on that one!

however, as I think about it, the fact that the "State Opening" of Parliament takes place in the House of Lords and not in the Commons should have made the question trivial,as it were, after the 50-50.

[Jeemie]

After 50:50 was used on a recent question #9, the Audience was brought in.
You won't believe how many got this one wrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drbqHte5GS8

Maybe you missed it...before she took the 50:50, she mentioned she's "never seen drinking at a budget speech".

This is a fairly clear case of influencing an audience that had no idea.

And I agree with those that say the other answer made more sense.

I'd like to learn about how the tradition of only having alcohol at a budget speech came about- will have to read up on that one!

however, as I think about it, the fact that the "State Opening" of Parliament takes place in the House of Lords and not in the Commons should have made the question trivial,as it were, after the 50-50.

Obviously, the audience did not know that.

Neither did I (although in retrospect, I probably should have).

[Bob78164]

After 50:50 was used on a recent question #9, the Audience was brought in.
You won't believe how many got this one wrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drbqHte5GS8

I believe there was once a middle-tier question on Prime Time Millionaire (a College Week question about which on-line magazine was owned by Microsoft) in which 80% of the audience went for the same wrong answer (

Spoiler

Wired

instead of

Spoiler

Slate

). --Bob

[jarnon]

however, as I think about it, the fact that the "State Opening" of Parliament takes place in the House of Lords and not in the Commons should have made the question trivial,as it were, after the 50-50.

I believe the MPs assemble in the Commons chamber before the Honourable Black Rod summons them to the House of Lords. I can imagine them having a drink or two while they wait.

[ghostjmf]

Anyone who has read

Spoiler

Wired

would know it is not owned by Microsoft.

[etaoin22]

however, as I think about it, the fact that the "State Opening" of Parliament takes place in the House of Lords and not in the Commons should have made the question trivial,as it were, after the 50-50.

I believe the MPs assemble in the Commons chamber before the Honourable Black Rod summons them to the House of Lords. I can imagine them having a drink or two while they wait.

Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. The Commons closes the door on him three times, symbolizing its independence, then they tootle off to the Lords to hear what the monarch has to say. Nowadays, the monarch serves as the voice of the Prime Minister, and explains in a (partisan) way the plans of the Government for the new Session of Parliament. It is one of the most peculiar traditions, but, hey, that's Constitutional Monarchy.