# Stupid game show **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 3, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093 "2004-04-03T19:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![legion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@legion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/1 "2004-04-03T19:22:11Z")
On the National Lottery Jet Set Quiz on BBC1 tonight: Host - “The catagory is science…play or pass?” Contestant - “Play” Host - “OK, here goes…what sign of the zodiac is represented by a bull?” Me - “WTF”!!! ---
**Author:** ![Steel\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/2 "2004-04-03T19:26:06Z")
lol, yeah, sad state of affairs you got there. We’re talking the UK, though, still thinking Crop Circles are a neat thing for aliens to do. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/3 "2004-04-04T00:22:28Z")
> [@legion](#): > > On the National Lottery Jet Set Quiz on BBC1 tonight: > > Host - “The catagory is science…play or pass?” > > Contestant - “Play” > > Host - “OK, here goes…what sign of the zodiac is represented by a bull?” > > Me - “WTF”!!! What? Astrology may be a load of bull but it _is_ a science. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/4 "2004-04-04T01:23:44Z")
From a recent episode of _The Weakest Link_ – I forget the question, but the contestant answered, “Spine.” Ann Richardson said, “No, the correct answer is ‘vertebrae’.” The guy got voted off that round, too. They should have voted off the host instead. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![CaptBushido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@CaptBushido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptBushido)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/5 "2004-04-04T01:52:25Z")
> [@Jeff Olsen](#): > > What? Astrology may be a load of bull but it _is_ a science. I thought a science, by definition, had to be a study which utilized the scientific method to determine facts. So please give an example of how astrology does this… either that or tell me if my terminology is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/6 "2004-04-04T02:59:40Z")
The zodiac is not merely an aspect of astrology, but astronomy, which is definitely a science. The signs of the zodiac are 12 of 88 constellations used to map the entire sky. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/7 "2004-04-04T04:37:16Z")
“People born under which sign are good leaders with lucky numbers 6, 9, and 14?” is not science. “Name the constellation” is. Despite the wording, that question is closer to the latter than the former. ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/8 "2004-04-04T04:52:30Z")
So um…what _is_ that sign? _blushes_ ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/9 "2004-04-04T05:06:19Z")
> [@flamingbananas](#): > > So um…what _is_ that sign? _blushes_ Taurus All you gotta know for the Northern Hemisphere constellations is all your Greek and Latin and Arabic. Compare that to the Southern Hemisphere where basically all you need is English. ---
**Author:** ![Beauty\_Personified](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Beauty\_Personified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauty_Personified)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/10 "2004-04-04T11:56:42Z")
To keep the question withing the realm of real science, the show should have asked something like, “Name the constellation that represents a bull?” (“Represents” may not be the best word, but you get the idea.) As for the spine/vertebrae _Weakest Link_ thing, I’d like to know what the actual question was. To my knowledge (and based on a quick perusal of the dictionary), _vertebrae_ refers to two or more segments of the _spine_. (A single segment would be a _vertebra_.) The _spine_, on the other hand, refers to the _entire_ series of _vertebrae_. (_Vertebra_ can also refer to a brassiere designed for women with badly misplaced breasts.) Anyhoo… ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/11 "2004-04-04T16:13:23Z")
I see no mention of astrology in the question. The names constellations of the zodiac are part of actual astronomy. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/12 "2004-04-04T19:33:49Z")
> [@CaptBushido](#): > > I thought a science, by definition, had to be a study which utilized the scientific method to determine facts. > > So please give an example of how astrology does this… either that or tell me if my terminology is wrong. Webster’s says your terminaology is wrong. > [@amarinth](#): > > “People born under which sign are good leaders with lucky numbers 6, 9, and 14?” is not science. You’re right, that’s not science. But the study of positions and aspects of celestial bodies is, no matter what the purpose. > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I see no mention of astrology in the question. The names constellations of the zodiac are part of actual astronomy. Without astrology, astronomy would not exist. Where do you think those names came from? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/13 "2004-04-04T19:44:52Z")
And chemistry was developed from alchemy. Your point, sir? Astronomers use those names today for those constellations. ---
**Author:** ![Steel\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/14 "2004-04-04T19:50:46Z")
> [@Jeff Olsen](#): > > But the study of positions and aspects of celestial bodies is, no matter what the purpose.Without astrology, astronomy would not exist. Where do you think those names came from? Astrology isn’t the study of positions (define “aspects”) of celestial bodies, but on the mistaken belief that those celestial bodies have some effect on us that guides our destinies. That’s quite a stretch, to say that without Astrology Astronomy wouldn’t exist. We could have gone straight from looking at a star to Astronomy without Astrology having gotten in the way. Just becuase it DID get in the way doesn’t mean it was responsible for astrology. ---
**Author:** ![Steel\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/15 "2004-04-04T19:52:22Z")
Aarrghh! The last part of that sentence should have read “…responsible for Astronomy.” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/16 "2004-04-04T20:08:18Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > And chemistry was developed from alchemy. Your point, sir? > > Astronomers use those names today for those constellations. I think you just made my point. Not many people trying to convert lead into gold these days. > [@Steel Rat](#): > > Astrology isn’t the study of positions (define “aspects”) of celestial bodies, but on the mistaken belief that those celestial bodies have some effect on us that guides our destinies. Can’t have the latter without the former. Regarding “aspects”, it’s from the American Heritage definition. I don’t have an answer for why they use that wording. > [@](#): > > \*That’s quite a stretch, to say that without Astrology Astronomy wouldn’t exist. We could have gone straight from looking at a star to Astronomy without Astrology having gotten in the way. \* Maybe so. I’ll amend my statement to say that Astronomy as we know it probably wouldn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![Steel\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/17 "2004-04-04T20:26:20Z")
> [@Jeff Olsen](#): > > Regarding “aspects”, it’s from the American Heritage definition. I don’t have an answer for why they use that wording.Maybe so. I’ll amend my statement to say that Astronomy as we know it probably wouldn’t exist. Only in that the constellations might be named differently. I believe they were named before someone decided it would be cool to scam people into thinking they had some effect on you. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/18 "2004-04-05T13:03:46Z")
> [@Steel Rat](#): > > Only in that the constellations might be named differently. Not necessarily. No telling where Astronomy would be today if not for early astronomers like Galileo using Astrology to pay the bills. ---
**Author:** ![fighting\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ac8455/32.png) [@fighting\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fighting_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/19 "2004-04-05T18:17:53Z")
> [@CaptBushido](#): > > science, by definition, had to be a study which utilized the scientific method to determine facts. > [@Jeff Olsen](#): > > Webster’s says your terminaology is wrong. From [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) [Science](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=science) : > [@](#): > > 1. a. The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena. From [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) [Scientific Method](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=scientific%20method) > [@](#): > > The principles and empirical processes of discovery and demonstration considered characteristic of or necessary for scientific investigation, generally involving the observation of phenomena, the formulation of a hypothesis concerning the phenomena, experimentation to demonstrate the truth or falseness of the hypothesis, and a conclusion that validates or modifies the hypothesis. CaptBushido’s original definition didn’t seem too far off. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093/20 "2004-04-05T18:55:46Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I see no mention of astrology in the question. The names constellations of the zodiac are part of actual astronomy. The use of the term “sign” strongly implies astrologyl. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-game-show/238093.md?page=2)