# The Celebrity Death Pool 2012 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** death-pool\ **Created:** [December 1, 2011, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679 "2011-12-01T06:00:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 31
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/601 "2012-01-11T22:43:01Z")
But if it was you, it would be an illegal pick. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/602 "2012-01-11T22:54:11Z")
You should have said: “Which relative? Because my Uncle Bob is worth more points than my grandmother.” ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/603 "2012-01-11T23:09:57Z")
I guess I’d have to pick Uncle Ernie, then. He’s 91. Grandma wouldn’t get me any points, she’s 107. And when she dies I’m going to be messed up for a while, I love her more than I do myself. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/604 "2012-01-11T23:14:38Z")
Yeah, there was about a 50-50 chance that joke was going to land on an actual Uncle Bob or grandma. Sorry about that. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/605 "2012-01-12T01:55:01Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Yeah, there was about a 50-50 chance that joke was going to land on an actual Uncle Bob or grandma. Sorry about that. Oh no, don’t be sorry for me, I was joking! I love my grandmother dearly, but if she’d been famous I honestly don’t think I’d mind if people were putting her name down. Grandma has a sense of humor too!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Uncle\_Goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Goat)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/606 "2012-01-12T04:59:19Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I was speaking about being in charge of this game today, at my job. A coworker asked “don’t you think you’re going to Hell for this? What if it was your relative?” I’m always slightly amazed by the number of people wishing HELL upon others for anything that they don’t instantly understand or agree with. Everyone, in their own way, plays a version of the dead pool. They might not make lists or worry about scoring points, but they all have at one point or another uttered those famous words “I thought he was dead already.” And that’s the whole concept behind the pool. Naw he ain’t dead, but he _should_ be… ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/607 "2012-01-12T05:42:04Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I honestly hope she’s well enough to enjoy this award. > > BTW, I was speaking about being in charge of this game today, at my job. A coworker asked “don’t you think you’re going to Hell for this? What if it was your relative?” > > I creeped her out when I said I wouldn’t mind, even if it was ME! Easy to say. You know we can’t pick you because you are a member here. Which brings to mind the question, what about the various celebrities that have posted here on occasion (e.g. Jim Butcher, S. M. Stirling), or that are former members (Phil Plait)? ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/608 "2012-01-12T12:38:23Z")
> [@Uncle\_Goat](#): > > I’m always slightly amazed by the number of people wishing HELL upon others for anything that they don’t instantly understand or agree with. Being a bit pedantic, but I don’t think said coworker was so much _wishing_ hell on Baker as she was worrying about the state of his (her?) morbid, morbid soul. 😃 And it is a morbid game. My family thinks it’s sick whenever I bring it up. But it’s also basically harmless, and you’re very right when you say it’s a game everyone already plays anyway. There’s a reason tabloids make so much money. People are fascinated by the everyday details of the life of celebrities, maybe because they’re proof that these people who have obtained a kind of immortality are just as human as we are. And what’s more human than dying? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/609 "2012-01-12T12:44:37Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > And what’s more human than dying? Wishing death on 13 people I have never met! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/610 "2012-01-12T12:57:42Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > And it is a morbid game. My family thinks it’s sick whenever I bring it up. But it’s also basically harmless, and you’re very right when you say it’s a game everyone already plays anyway. The game is fundamentally no diferent than buying into a baby pool, and those who are appalled by a death pool will stand in line to gamble on a birth. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/611 "2012-01-12T18:04:48Z")
And we’re off! Bill Janklow crashes in to the pearly gates, taking out Saint Peter. [http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5immI4x0kB6iFVnpA6uqUByr-0\_WA?docId=2322d31579c44c2c87fe6beaf6660c7d](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5immI4x0kB6iFVnpA6uqUByr-0_WA?docId=2322d31579c44c2c87fe6beaf6660c7d) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/612 "2012-01-12T18:08:40Z")
South Dakota Governor and distinguished motorist Bill Janklow has died. EDIT: Curse you Nurse Carmen! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/613 "2012-01-12T18:12:32Z")
I’m just leaving work, I’ll be home in a while and see who all had him. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/614 "2012-01-12T18:21:23Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > And it is a morbid game. My family thinks it’s sick whenever I bring it up. But it’s also basically harmless, and you’re very right when you say it’s a game everyone already plays anyway. There’s a reason tabloids make so much money. People are fascinated by the everyday details of the life of celebrities, maybe because they’re proof that these people who have obtained a kind of immortality are just as human as we are. And what’s more human than dying? My family first started out thinking it was horrible. Then they moved to “was \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ on your list?” whenever someone famous died. Now they’re giving me suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/615 "2012-01-12T18:36:52Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > And we’re off! Bill Janklow crashes in to the pearly gates, taking out Saint Peter. [http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5immI4x0kB6iFVnpA6uqUByr-0\_WA?docId=2322d31579c44c2c87fe6beaf6660c7d](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5immI4x0kB6iFVnpA6uqUByr-0_WA?docId=2322d31579c44c2c87fe6beaf6660c7d) Even though I get no points, I get a bonus out of the account of his death – a better term to Google for when I’m making up next year’s list – “inoperable”. Why didn’t I think of this before? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/616 "2012-01-12T18:37:53Z")
> [@Lok](#): > > Easy to say. You know we can’t pick you because you are a member here. Which brings to mind the question, what about the various celebrities that have posted here on occasion (e.g. Jim Butcher, S. M. Stirling), or that are former members (Phil Plait)? I have twice raised objections to James Randi being picked, since he has posted here occasionally, but my objections have twice been overruled. Probably correct, since people like Randi and Phil Plait are not in the spirit of that rule. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/617 "2012-01-12T18:43:50Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Even though I get no points, I get a bonus out of the account of his death – a better term to Google for when I’m making up next year’s list – “inoperable”. Why didn’t I think of this before? :smack: Unless it is coupled with another term to indicate disease or injury, you are going to get a lot of “inoperable” devices as well. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/618 "2012-01-12T18:54:38Z")
Sharing the “Opening Kickoff Award” are 42fish, Captain Lance Murdoch, phungi, GIGObuster, Registered at Last, and CAMJAY77. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/619 "2012-01-12T19:24:56Z")
Hey, all right… I’m in 7th place!!! ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679/620 "2012-01-12T20:01:01Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Hey, all right… I’m in 7th place!!! Me too. Move over. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-celebrity-death-pool-2012/604679.md?page=32)