# Get bent. B-E-N-T. Bent. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 8, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573 "2006-02-08T18:58:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/41 "2006-02-08T23:45:53Z")
Do “competitive spellers” get awarded letter jackets? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/42 "2006-02-08T23:54:55Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > That’s the reason for asking for the word to be used in a sentence… [George Plimpton] “The injured basketball player hobbled off the court and was given a cheer.” [/George Plimpton] ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/43 "2006-02-09T00:02:25Z")
> [@rockle](#): > > Thanks - I’m blushing, really. But am I really that predictable? 😉 Only in the sense that when I see a line I wish I’d posted, it was usually posted by you. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/44 "2006-02-09T01:03:59Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Only in the sense that when I see a line I wish I’d posted, it was usually posted by you. Aww … you’re so darn cute! Can I adopt you? Or, um, will you adopt me? Or maybe your parents, so we can be siblings, at least (I think you’re probably about the same age as I am)? ---
**Author:** ![thursday\_next](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@thursday\_next](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thursday_next)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/45 "2006-02-09T01:26:18Z")
What it comes down to is that the world of competitive spelling is hurting. They needed a cute little kid to win, the kind of kid that people would get behind, support and love. Maybe a little boy, say with a lisp and a bow tie. The little girl could have had her choice of attendance at one of the 7 sisters colleges, but noooooo she had to try to win. This is why you should never fight the man. (And she missed out on a George Plimpton brand hot plate! I need to get one of those.) ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/46 "2006-02-09T01:30:36Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > I agree. The mom is a complete lightweight. She should put on an explosive vest filled with nails and blow herself up in the superintendent’s office. That wasn’t funny. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/47 "2006-02-09T01:38:12Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I thought for sure some Baltimore Ear Nose and Throat specialist had fucked up somehow. He did. Practicing proctology without a license. He claims to be getting a new perspective. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/48 "2006-02-09T01:38:53Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > That wasn’t funny. Opinions vary. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/49 "2006-02-09T02:56:59Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > “My friend told me to cheer up and relax, so I sat down in a chair.” "…good grief, the comedian’s a bear! No he’s-a-not, he’s-a-wearing a neck-a-tie!" ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/50 "2006-02-09T04:03:06Z")
Capital Em Eye Ess Ess Eye Ess Ess Eye Pee Pee Eye. Mississippi, bitch. I spelled it right, you fucking waste of skin. Not that I’m still upset, or anything. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/51 "2006-02-09T04:53:41Z")
Man…lots of repressed spelling bee anger on this board! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Heckity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Heckity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckity)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/52 "2006-02-09T05:19:42Z")
Perhaps the parents waited to complain not because of some desire to be respectful and not interrupt or whatever, but because they needed time to look up the word? All these spelling bees yet so many kids graduate unable to spell. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/53 "2006-02-09T05:29:37Z")
**Shameless Plug:** Note the Google link for a movie called [Akeelah and the Bee](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0437800/). Mr. Rilch and Boss worked on it last year, it’s a good little film, check it out when you can! ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/54 "2006-02-09T07:03:04Z")
Reason I’m grateful to be an adult #483,250: Don’t have to deal with these ridiculous contests about 2% as credible as figure skating. I can say with absolute confidence that this crap happens _all the time_. I remember one memorable statewide bee where the host (who never struck me as unreliable) handed the entire contest to someone _by mistake_. With a trip to the nationals at stake. All a lawsuit does is give the event far more importance than it deserves, i.e. **none**. What the hell was she thinking? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/55 "2006-02-09T08:41:31Z")
Just remembered, one of the only funny things SNL has done in the last year: > [@](#): > > Moderator: The word is “Business.” > > Daniel: [pauses] Could you repeat the word, please? > > Moderator: “Business.” > > Daniel: [pauses] Could I have the origin of the word, please? > > Moderator: It comes from the Latin phrase “bisnia.” > > Daniel: [pauses] Could I have the definition, please? > > Moderator: “Business”: one’s work or employment. > > Daniel: [pauses] Could you use it a sentence, please? > > Moderator: “Business”: “I’m in the insurance business.” > > Daniel: [pauses] Could you spell the word, please? > > Moderator: No. > > Daniel: [pauses] Could you repeat the word, please? > > Moderator: The word is “Business.” > > Daniel: “Business”, > b-r-d-t-f-k-l-m-g-h-r- > k-w-t-f-n-y-l-k-p-q-w-q- > r-t-d-f-p-l-m-k-q-k-w-q- > q-q-q-q-q-q-q-q-q-q-q- > s-t-f-j-r-q-m-t-s-d-t-q- > m-p-r-f-t-d-p-d-p-m-h- > r-k-t-b-t-f, > “business.” > > Moderator: Wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/56 "2006-02-09T08:52:11Z")
[Link to the above!](http://img-nex.kongisking.net/kong/movies/121705-SNLJackBlack9.mov) ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/57 "2006-02-09T11:33:35Z")
> [@Elza B](#): > > And that’s why you ALWAYS ask for the definition! > > 😃 Oh. My. God. The _same_ thing happened to me circa 1974 in Jax, FL! I won the Landon Jr. High Spelling Bee on “corduroy” (honest - lol). At the city-wide event, I spelled “delicate” - when the word given was “delegate”. :wally: VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![Mellivora\_capensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mellivora\_capensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mellivora_capensis)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/58 "2006-02-09T11:51:11Z")
Old spelling joke. “Johnny, how do you spell crocodile?” “K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L” “Wrong, Johnny.” “Maybe so, Miss, but you asked me how _I_ spell crocodile.” ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/59 "2006-02-09T12:40:41Z")
Miscellaneous. The word was miscellaneous. I still get a pang every time I have to spell it. But I did spell it wrong. I have nobody to blame but myself. :: sniff :: ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573/60 "2006-02-09T13:56:32Z")
> [@Green Bean](#): > > Miscellaneous. > > The word was miscellaneous. I still get a pang every time I have to spell it. But I did spell it wrong. I have nobody to blame but myself. :: sniff :: ☹ At the regional bee in the sixth grade, I got nervous. There were three of us left. My word was ‘cautious’. Yeah, we had easy freakin’ words at the REGIONAL bee. I was shaking and spelled it ‘c-a-t-i-o-u-s’. I KNEW I’d done it the second I finished. :smack: I sat down with my parents and :smack: myself because I knew every other word that they gave out after that. The winning word was ‘rancid’. I still hate that word. E. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-bent-b-e-n-t-bent/343573.md?page=4)