Fun with e-mail
I have a Jeopardy calendar at my desk at work. There is a trivia question for each day of the year. Harder questions are worth more points. It's like the game show. Anyway, every day I send out the question of the day to a group of 15 people. About 5 of the people read this site, and 6-7 others have been mentioned at least once in a past post on this site. Everyone replies to me with their guess and I keep score based on the point value for each question.
Today's Jeopardy question produced quite an e-mail chain. I have posted some of the best e-mails below that were sent to the entire Jeopardy group today. Of course, I have inserted the regular nicknames where appropriate.
I swear I actually do work during the day.
Enjoy!
From: Gary
Time: 7:53AM
Category: Rhyme Time
Value: 400
Answer: A hitchhiker on the back of a black widow
--Don't advance past this point until you have come up with your guess--
From: Gary
Time: 1:56PM
Today's question - What is a spider rider?
Two people guessed free rider spider. I have decided not to accept it because it is blatantly wrong when you think about it carefully. However, I am expecting some pretty heated protests from certain individuals, so the floor is yours...
--At this point, a couple people spoke up about whether or not I should have accepted free rider spider. Everyone prior to the next e-mail agreed with me. Of course, RoopDogg was one of the two offenders and he has a history of protesting my decisions. FYI, UNICorn was the other person who guessed free rider spider.--
From: RoopDogg
Time: 2:02PM
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,
As with all juries, your job is not to critique the laws and precedents of the past, but rather to apply them correctly to the case presented.
I know some of you weren't here at the time, but in 2005's landmark case The Univ. of Univ. of Nebraska v. Gary, the Redneck Rule was formally instituted into the Jeopardy Bylaws. The Redneck Rule states that if there is a clear indication that the contestant possesses the knowledge to answer correctly, then the question presented is to be counted as correct, even if worded poorly. In this case, that indication is very clear (and rhyming!) in the response "What is free rider spider?" The spirit of the question is to determine two words that rhyme that fit the clue. It is undeniable that was done here.
Since the installation of the Redneck Rule, this rule has been correctly applied to many questions, and there is no reason that shouldn't happen here today.
So, members of the jury, I'm asking you to reject the extreme nit-picking being forced upon us all and do the right thing. UNICorn, do you remember when Gary tried to count your obviously correct answer about the electoral college wrong? TheCrazyCanuck, do you remember the BAR fiasco? FlyingV, do you remember how in a Trivial Pursuit game he counted the sun as incorrect for a photosynthesis question? If this is allowed to stand, I fear that we're on a slippery slope where misspelled words will be considered incorrect. Do we want a Jeopardy world where proper capitalization is the difference in 2,000 points? I FOR ONE DON'T THINK SO! Stop this madness now, people. Stop it now.
---For reference, the Redneck rule is named after my friend Redneck. About a year ago, there was a category titled 'States'. The specific question that led to this rule occurred when Redneck responded with "University of Nebraska" when the question was asking you to identify the state of Nebraska. After a protest, I accepted Redneck's response because his response 'demonstrated that he knew the knowledge required from the question'. Hence, we call it the Redneck rule.---
From: Redneck
Time: 2:08PM
Slowww ride, do-doo-do do-do do
Take it eaaaasy, do-doo-do do-do do
I'm in the mood, the rhythm is right,
Move to the music, we can roll all night.
Oooh, oooh, slow ride - oooh, oooh ...
From: Gary
Time: 2:14PM
Unanimous opinion written by Justice Gary on RoopDogg v. Gary Part XVI.
After review of this case, it has been determined that the 2005 ruling in the case of The Univ. of Univ. of Nebraska v. Gary wherein the Redneck rule was established does not apply. The term free rider spider does not hold the same meaning as spider rider and therefore does not demonstrate an understanding of the question asked.
If the question for the day was "a hitckhiking black widow", then free rider spider would have been accepted. However, the question specifically describes a hitchhiker on the back of a black widow. Hence, the hitchhiker is riding the spider. Switching the placement of the two rhyming words clearly changes the meaning of the phrase. Therefore, it does not demonstrate proper knowledge of the question asked.
Heck, even Nells made a rare reply-to-all on this subject and shot down RoopDogg's argument. I am ruling in favor of Gary. The end.
--Of course, someone not involved had to disagree with me!--
From: TheCrazyCanuck
Time: 2:15
I will side with UNICorn and RoopDogg. It is very obvious they had a clear indication that they possessed the knowledge to answer the question, and they back it up with a pretty good argument. I am feeling nice today - you should let them have it. (I really just feel bad that no one is on their side - we all know I like equal playing ground - hence me wearing an Ohio State sweatshirt to watch an Ohio state vs. Michigan football game where Michigan fans outnumbered the Ohio state fans by a lot, even though Gary gave me a Michigan sweatshirt to wear first)
Sorry Roomie!
From: RoopDogg
Time: 2:20PM
Do we know that the hitchhiker is not a spider? Obviously a human can't fit on the back of a spider, so it has to be something else... It's more likely to be another spider than anything else. Nowhere does it say that the hitchhiker isn't a spider. And therefore, "Free rider spider" DOES make sense.
From: BuckeyeBoy
Time: 2:25PM
Since it could be anything, I assert that the hitchhiker was in fact a celebrity shoplifter...
And therefore, "Winona Ryder spider" DOES make sense.
From: BuckeyeBoy
Time: 2:42PM
Oh wait...actually I think the hitchhiker was a talking car...
And therefore, "Knight Rider spider" DOES make sense.
Or a civil rights leader... and therefore, "Freedom rider spider" DOES make sense.
Or a hitchhiking duck... and therefore, "spider rider eider" DOES make sense.
Or a sarcastic, overweight, nagging spider hitchhiked on the back of another spider... and therefore, "snider wider chider rider spider" DOES make sense.
--I had to take a break and get away from my desk at this point since I was laughing hysterically--
Today's Jeopardy question produced quite an e-mail chain. I have posted some of the best e-mails below that were sent to the entire Jeopardy group today. Of course, I have inserted the regular nicknames where appropriate.
I swear I actually do work during the day.
Enjoy!
From: Gary
Time: 7:53AM
Category: Rhyme Time
Value: 400
Answer: A hitchhiker on the back of a black widow
--Don't advance past this point until you have come up with your guess--
From: Gary
Time: 1:56PM
Today's question - What is a spider rider?
Two people guessed free rider spider. I have decided not to accept it because it is blatantly wrong when you think about it carefully. However, I am expecting some pretty heated protests from certain individuals, so the floor is yours...
--At this point, a couple people spoke up about whether or not I should have accepted free rider spider. Everyone prior to the next e-mail agreed with me. Of course, RoopDogg was one of the two offenders and he has a history of protesting my decisions. FYI, UNICorn was the other person who guessed free rider spider.--
From: RoopDogg
Time: 2:02PM
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,
As with all juries, your job is not to critique the laws and precedents of the past, but rather to apply them correctly to the case presented.
I know some of you weren't here at the time, but in 2005's landmark case The Univ. of Univ. of Nebraska v. Gary, the Redneck Rule was formally instituted into the Jeopardy Bylaws. The Redneck Rule states that if there is a clear indication that the contestant possesses the knowledge to answer correctly, then the question presented is to be counted as correct, even if worded poorly. In this case, that indication is very clear (and rhyming!) in the response "What is free rider spider?" The spirit of the question is to determine two words that rhyme that fit the clue. It is undeniable that was done here.
Since the installation of the Redneck Rule, this rule has been correctly applied to many questions, and there is no reason that shouldn't happen here today.
So, members of the jury, I'm asking you to reject the extreme nit-picking being forced upon us all and do the right thing. UNICorn, do you remember when Gary tried to count your obviously correct answer about the electoral college wrong? TheCrazyCanuck, do you remember the BAR fiasco? FlyingV, do you remember how in a Trivial Pursuit game he counted the sun as incorrect for a photosynthesis question? If this is allowed to stand, I fear that we're on a slippery slope where misspelled words will be considered incorrect. Do we want a Jeopardy world where proper capitalization is the difference in 2,000 points? I FOR ONE DON'T THINK SO! Stop this madness now, people. Stop it now.
---For reference, the Redneck rule is named after my friend Redneck. About a year ago, there was a category titled 'States'. The specific question that led to this rule occurred when Redneck responded with "University of Nebraska" when the question was asking you to identify the state of Nebraska. After a protest, I accepted Redneck's response because his response 'demonstrated that he knew the knowledge required from the question'. Hence, we call it the Redneck rule.---
From: Redneck
Time: 2:08PM
Slowww ride, do-doo-do do-do do
Take it eaaaasy, do-doo-do do-do do
I'm in the mood, the rhythm is right,
Move to the music, we can roll all night.
Oooh, oooh, slow ride - oooh, oooh ...
From: Gary
Time: 2:14PM
Unanimous opinion written by Justice Gary on RoopDogg v. Gary Part XVI.
After review of this case, it has been determined that the 2005 ruling in the case of The Univ. of Univ. of Nebraska v. Gary wherein the Redneck rule was established does not apply. The term free rider spider does not hold the same meaning as spider rider and therefore does not demonstrate an understanding of the question asked.
If the question for the day was "a hitckhiking black widow", then free rider spider would have been accepted. However, the question specifically describes a hitchhiker on the back of a black widow. Hence, the hitchhiker is riding the spider. Switching the placement of the two rhyming words clearly changes the meaning of the phrase. Therefore, it does not demonstrate proper knowledge of the question asked.
Heck, even Nells made a rare reply-to-all on this subject and shot down RoopDogg's argument. I am ruling in favor of Gary. The end.
--Of course, someone not involved had to disagree with me!--
From: TheCrazyCanuck
Time: 2:15
I will side with UNICorn and RoopDogg. It is very obvious they had a clear indication that they possessed the knowledge to answer the question, and they back it up with a pretty good argument. I am feeling nice today - you should let them have it. (I really just feel bad that no one is on their side - we all know I like equal playing ground - hence me wearing an Ohio State sweatshirt to watch an Ohio state vs. Michigan football game where Michigan fans outnumbered the Ohio state fans by a lot, even though Gary gave me a Michigan sweatshirt to wear first)
Sorry Roomie!
From: RoopDogg
Time: 2:20PM
Do we know that the hitchhiker is not a spider? Obviously a human can't fit on the back of a spider, so it has to be something else... It's more likely to be another spider than anything else. Nowhere does it say that the hitchhiker isn't a spider. And therefore, "Free rider spider" DOES make sense.
From: BuckeyeBoy
Time: 2:25PM
Since it could be anything, I assert that the hitchhiker was in fact a celebrity shoplifter...
And therefore, "Winona Ryder spider" DOES make sense.
From: BuckeyeBoy
Time: 2:42PM
Oh wait...actually I think the hitchhiker was a talking car...
And therefore, "Knight Rider spider" DOES make sense.
Or a civil rights leader... and therefore, "Freedom rider spider" DOES make sense.
Or a hitchhiking duck... and therefore, "spider rider eider" DOES make sense.
Or a sarcastic, overweight, nagging spider hitchhiked on the back of another spider... and therefore, "snider wider chider rider spider" DOES make sense.
--I had to take a break and get away from my desk at this point since I was laughing hysterically--
posted by GaryGinew at 5:58 PM
3 Comments:
oh. my. god.
Gary. can you please forward the email addresses of all involved in this game so that I can let all of you know that you are THE BIGGEST DORKS EVER? seriously. [although, I did find this to be rather humorous, and must admit that I agree with Gary (sorry roop. I still love you though)]
at least I spend my time at work trying to get the crazychicas free drinks
What do you expect when 15 actuaries get together for a competition like this. Just be glad that we didn't bust into a bunch of math equations at some point.
You are missing out and are probably jealous of our fun.
"Just be glad that we didn't bust into a bunch of math equations at some point."
good grief. funniest comment ever.
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