# Amazing Race 5/4 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 5, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688 "2014-05-05T03:29:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/21 "2014-05-05T19:36:26Z")
I can’t see the blondes pulling a Beekmans. The Beekmans, while they had some very crippling weaknesses, also had some strengths (the last challenge was smarts, which was tailor-made for them). The blondes don’t have the smarts to win a memory challenge. I agree that I thought the Cowboys were overblowing it with the “can’t trust Leo and Jamal” bit. They weren’t in the alliance, so I’m not sure why they felt betrayed. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/22 "2014-05-05T20:09:08Z")
If I was one of the cowboys, I’d think the Garanimals weren’t trustworthy because even though they weren’t in the stupid Accidental Alliance, I’m sure the 'boys heard the scuttlebut that “whomever gets there first will U-Turn Team Brenchel”. And then, they didn’t. The cowboys were about as gracious as any losing team at this stage has ever been. Then, “ooh- can I ride your horse?” ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/23 "2014-05-05T20:14:46Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > The cowboys were about as gracious as any losing team at this stage has ever been. Then, “ooh- can I ride your horse?” Well, not to hammer the point home too much, but just as an example, the Cowboys were less gracious than the globetrotters. The globetrotters didn’t whine about other teams being untrustworthy. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/24 "2014-05-05T21:21:28Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > When they saw the U-turn sign, Jet said: > > “I told ya. Those two dirty suckers. They u-turned us we told you Leo and Jamal, you can’t trust them two guys - I knew that when we started.” > > which is fine - it’s normal to bitch about the team that U-turns you in the heat of the moment. But then, they cut to one of the post-leg confessionals where they’re just interviewing the racers, and Jet said: > > “We weren’t surprised to see our face up there. But then on the other hand we were really disappointed in Leo and Jamal. You know, you can’t trust anybody. When you throw a million dollars in the mix it really kind of brings out the worst in some people.” > > That strikes me as whining. Yeah, when you’re racing for a million dollars, you do what is legal in the rules of the race to increase your odds of winning as much as possible. That’s hardly “the worst in some people.” To mean it didn’t sound whiny at all. Rachel whines. To me the cowboys sounded matter of fact oh well that’s just the way it is. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/25 "2014-05-05T22:09:36Z")
I can talk about someone _I don’t like_ without it being a whine. That’s how I saw what the Cowboys said. Still, it was their poor traveling that put them in a weak spot to start with. Dave and Conner an ep or two back, THAT was whining. If I were in TAR, I would want to help the blondes into the final three. And then leave them high and dry. That way, you’re only really competing against one team. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/26 "2014-05-05T22:25:32Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Anything’s possible but I find that hard to believe. There are at least a half dozen times they would have been sunk without help. Once they stop getting help surely they will fail at something. So if they are in the final three with Dave and Connor, will they still get as much help from the guys? Or will the guys play it alone and leave the blondes stunned and speechless? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/27 "2014-05-05T22:27:42Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > So if they are in the final three with Dave and Connor, will they still get as much help from the guys? Or will the guys play it alone and leave the blondes stunned and speechless? See post 25 That’s how I would do it ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/28 "2014-05-05T22:57:55Z")
No one has commented on the karma of Dave & Connor not being able to U-turn the Brenchel because they had a knee jerk reaction to being U-turned by the Brenchels. (they U-Turned Leo and Jamal). If they didn’t Uturn Leo and Jamal they could have U-turned the Brenchels. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/29 "2014-05-06T04:35:12Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > See post 25 > > That’s how I would do it Yes, but you’re not the kindly, elderly Dave and handsome Connor. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/30 "2014-05-06T11:46:40Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > To mean it didn’t sound whiny at all. Rachel whines. To me the cowboys sounded matter of fact oh well that’s just the way it is. OK, their tone wasn’t whining, but the content of Jet’s remarks, specifically the “it brings out the worst in some people” is unfair and insulting to the Afghanimals, and smacks of sour grapes. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/31 "2014-05-06T12:47:37Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > No one has commented on the karma of Dave & Connor not being able to U-turn the Brenchel because they had a knee jerk reaction to being U-turned by the Brenchels. (they U-Turned Leo and Jamal). > > If they didn’t Uturn Leo and Jamal they could have U-turned the Brenchels. I _still_ do not understand why they thought they needed to U-turn the Afghanimals (or any other team) the first time. It’s like they didn’t know they had the option of _not_ U-turning another team. They were all apologetic about it and even helped the Afghanimals through their tasks after U-turning them. So yeah if they had saved that U-turn for later, they could have had their opportunity for payback this time. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/32 "2014-05-06T15:27:16Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > They were all apologetic about it and even helped the Afghanimals through their tasks after U-turning them. Yeah, that made absolutely no sense. I can see why they U-turned them; On the slight chance that somehow they were at the back of the pack, assuring that one team will by default be behind you is the smart move. But, then, they _helped them do the U-turn!_ Which completely negated any purpose they might have had in using it at all! 😕 I really dislike Dave & Connor and I hope their whiny asses don’t make it to the finale. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/33 "2014-05-06T15:29:01Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > Yes, but you’re not the kindly, elderly Dave and handsome Connor. Tho, I do bring a certain je ne sais quoi to the table. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/34 "2014-05-06T18:29:28Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Yeah, that made absolutely no sense. I can see why they U-turned them; On the slight chance that somehow they were at the back of the pack, assuring that one team will by default be behind you is the smart move. But, then, they _helped them do the U-turn!_ Which completely negated any purpose they might have had in using it at all! 😕 I really dislike Dave & Connor and I hope their whiny asses don’t make it to the finale. I don’t understand why this ever confused people. It’s very simple: Dave & Connor did the first detour. Then they U-Turned the Afghanimals to ensure at least one team was behind them. Then they helped the Afghanimals with the **other** detour. Everyone finishing that task together puts Dave & Connor comfortably ahead of the Afghanimals because Afghanimals still had to do the first detour, the one Dave & Connor already completed. This complaint, which I’ve seen brought up multiple times by different people, seems to imply that Dave & Connor helped the Afghanimals to finish a task and then they all went on to the road block together. I agree that that would be incredibly stupid. But that’s not what happened. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/35 "2014-05-07T20:39:43Z")
Well, we didn’t hear about the Achilles, but we did get “I’m an old man” — in Spanish, yet — and Dave getting misty as he talks about how proud he is of Connor. I think they should mention how they beat cancer again. Honestly, I liked these guys a lot at the beginning of the season. Now I’m thoroughly sick of them. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/36 "2014-05-07T23:23:30Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > I don’t understand why this ever confused people. It’s very simple: > > Dave & Connor did the first detour. Then they U-Turned the Afghanimals to ensure at least one team was behind them. Then they helped the Afghanimals with the **other** detour. Everyone finishing that task together puts Dave & Connor comfortably ahead of the Afghanimals because Afghanimals still had to do the first detour, the one Dave & Connor already completed. > > This complaint, which I’ve seen brought up multiple times by different people, seems to imply that Dave & Connor helped the Afghanimals to finish a task and then they all went on to the road block together. I agree that that would be incredibly stupid. But that’s not what happened. I went back and watched the “Donkeylicious” episode online and what you say is correct and it makes a little more sense to me now. Dave and Connor felt they had to U-turn another team because _they_ got U-turned and wanted to make sure another team was behind them. And yes they only helped the Afghanimals on one task. The only thing that bothers me is that they had to have known they were pretty close to the front of the pack at that point, and probably could have made it through the second Detour without U-turning anyone, but I’m guessing they didn’t want to risk it. I would also like to retract my defense of Brenchel U-turning Dave and Connor in that week’s thread. I suppose it depends on whether you want to make sure you come in first (which is why they did it) or if you want to make sure you don’t come in last. Brenchel knew they were up front - they didn’t _need_ to U-turn anybody, but they did because they wanted to guarantee that they got first place on that leg. So yeah, it was unnecessary and only served to make them look bad and pissed the other teams off. (Like they care. ;)) ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/37 "2014-05-09T01:08:48Z")
And the other aspect that nobody ever thinks of (at least I sure don’t, and don’t see it mentioned in these threads) is that you’re using up your one and only U-Turn for the entire race. Because there are multiple U-Turn legs, and because you can only ever do one single U-Turn, you should never use the first U-Turn no matter what unless you’re in real danger of going home if you don’t use it. So I agree that Brenchel shouldn’t have used it, though it didn’t matter. Dave & Connor definitely shouldn’t have used it, and it mattered very much for them personally. Not in terms of the race; it’s better for them they couldn’t U-Turn Brenchel because the Cowboys are a stronger team. But they would have been personally happier to lose to the Cowboys than beat Brenchel. Which is weird. Unless you’re a 12-year-old. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688/38 "2014-05-09T16:47:23Z")
It looks as though we might go an entire Amazing Race without anyone punching the glacier. None of the teams remaining seem so inclined. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-5-4/687688.md?page=1)