"Jeopardy" - How DO these people know this stuff?

[grinningghost]

13th Century Tibetan Literature - THAT can be the category - and they KNOW the answers!

What do these people do? Go to the library and read EVERY single book in it - cover to cover?

I gotta go watch Jeopardy now and prove how stupid I am.

 

[tevagirl]

I don't know. I have a hard enough time guessing what's behind door number 2.

 

[Loubon]

All the good posts about 13th Century Tibetan Literature are buried on page 4.

 

[Keli]

Some contestants just amaze me with their knowledge. But I kinda know how they do it because my dh. He never, ever forgets the things he learns, either from a book or a documentary or some other source.

He can't tell you for sure which day is my birthday (after nearly 23 years!), he may or may not get our anniversary right but ask him a question about some stupid, inane subject and there's a good chance he'll nail it, lol.

 

[tevagirl]

All the good posts about 13th Century Tibetan Literature are buried on page 4.

 

[Caradana]

My grandmother - my mother's mother - was the first female 5-time Jeopardy champion (decades ago!) and she's a voracious reader. I think it's the only way to pick up the range of knowledge you need to be successful.

P.S. Yup, she occasionally goes back and kicks pootie in the Masters tournaments.

 

[Syrreal]

I was very proud of myself last week. I knew the answer to the final jeopary question (krakatoa, btw) when no one on the show did.

 

[Stacerita]

I think it has a lot to do with not only being a good reading, but being able to retain what you read. And it also has a lot to do with details. Its the little things that seem to always be in the questions. Most people when they are asked those questions have a general idea and have the "its on the tip of my tongue" things happening. But for the Jeopardy players, its that not only they learned how to do quantum physics, they also know what year it started and by whom. Good memories are a must, but it only helps with fast recall. And a quick finger on the button.

 

[Saphire]

Some contestants just amaze me with their knowledge. But I kinda know how they do it because my dh. He never, ever forgets the things he learns, either from a book or a documentary or some other source.

He can't tell you for sure which day is my birthday (after nearly 23 years!), he may or may not get our anniversary right but ask him a question about some stupid, inane subject and there's a good chance he'll nail it, lol.

My DH is similar. He simply doesn't forget the hundreds of interesting facts he reads and is somehow able to recall them. But he has trouble remembering what I asked him to do 10 minutes ago.

 

[Charade]

A better question is WHY do these people know this crap.

 

[Saphire]

A better question is WHY do these people know this crap.

Funny, I always ask myself that question about people that know eveything about movie stars and TV shows. Chocolate and vanilla/ to each his own/ blah blah blah.

 

[Charade]

Funny, I always ask myself that question about people that know everything about movie stars and TV shows. Chocolate and vanilla/ to each his own/ blah blah blah.

But that stuff is interesting!! Who needs to know ANYTHING about 13th century Tibetan lit??

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

I actually missed it by a single question a few years ago- I didn't know the two actors in some very recent movie. This was teen try-outs though.

I don't think it's that difficult- then again I remember stupid factoids.

 

[Pig Pen]

I was very proud of myself last week. I knew the answer to the final jeopary question (krakatoa, btw) when no one on the show did.

So did I!!!!

 

[yearbook50]

I've been trying to get on Jeopardy. I'm a nerd. I retain information that gets thrown at me. Just tidbits I heard in classes or the web or books I read.

 

[Mandabella]

When I was on the Academic Team (Jeopardy like thing) in high school, one of the tips they would give us on how to answer the question is that often there was a clue to the answer in the question being asked. And also, the biggest tip we got wasn't about answering the questions, it was learning to buzz in QUICKLY. You could know everything in the library, but it did you no good unless you could command the buzzer. Another is you'd hear about half the question and then you could usually guess what it was about and then answer by buzzing in before the question was done being asked.

I was NOT a voracious reader, but I have an excellent memory for facts, dates, etc. and an eye for detail. I also watched a lot of television growing up, not all of which was crap. I did pick up a lot from educational and documentary type shows. I also um....used to...umm...read....the encyclopedia. There, I said it. I'd look up one thing and be directed to another entry. Before I knew it, I would have read like 10 articles. However, this was NOT a regular activity for me.

The only game show I tried out for was Double Dare back in the 80s. I didn't make it, but I got to be in the audience for a taping and watch my two classmates lose.

 

[*Fantasia*]

I've been trying to get on Jeopardy. I'm a nerd. I retain information that gets thrown at me. Just tidbits I heard in classes or the web or books I read.

ehh... i think i'd rather try for deal or no deal or even maybe the price is right! i think i'm better at that one!

 

[grinningghost]

I think I dazzled my mom and DD today with my vast knowledge. I actually made up a word which turned out to be the correct answer.

I can't even remember what the word was now.

 

[pearlieq]

Honestly, most of the Jeopardy questions really aren't that hard. Especially if you've had a decent education through college, read a newspaper daily, and go though a book or two a week. It's amazing how much information you can pick up.

Plus, what I always find funny is that half of the questions aren't even really about what the category indicates. The category is "13th Century Tibetan Literature", but the essence of the actual question is usually something like "what country borders Tibet to the North"--easy!

 

[grinningghost]

Honestly, most of the Jeopardy questions really aren't that hard. Especially if you've had a decent education through college, read a newspaper daily, and go though a book or two a week. It's amazing how much information you can pick up.

Plus, what I always find funny is that half of the questions aren't even really about what the category indicates. The category is "13th Century Tibetan Literature", but the essence of the actual question is usually something like "what country borders Tibet to the North"--easy!

OK, I'll give you that - they often aren't as difficult as the category implies - but you have to admit - there are some real doozies mixed in sometimes.