# Worst performance by a WWTBAM audience ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 23, 2017, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709 "2017-06-23T20:17:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/21 "2017-06-24T00:33:00Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Well, you can’t walk to Turkmenistan. Yes I can - screw you! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/22 "2017-06-24T00:38:54Z")
> [@Albert\_Rose](#): > > I cracked up at this. My job is done here. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/23 "2017-06-24T02:12:14Z")
> [@cher3](#): > > I would think that people were thrown off by the phrase “long distance romance.” It suggests that the people in question are currently apart, not just that it takes travel for them to meet up. I think it’s a tricky question, possibly by design. Even after reading it twice, I thought it was describing “long-distance communication”. In our modern context, we would assume that technologies to aid “long-distance romance” would mean things like telephone, e-mail, and internet, that is, modes of communication rather than modes of transport. And, yeah, I chose “typewriter”, even while thinking “but couldn’t people just hand-write letters to each other?” ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/24 "2017-06-24T02:15:11Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Well, you can’t walk to Turkmenistan. > [@Smapti](#): > > Yes I can - screw you! 🙂 Now that’s real commitment to a long-distance relationship. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/25 "2017-06-24T02:19:26Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Genetic diversity? How far were people riding on bikes? I think this is the key. The other devices might help romance but only something that aids in travel - like a bicycle - is going to increase physical contact. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/26 "2017-06-24T05:56:23Z")
Does anyone know how long they actually give you to vote once a vote is called? On the show, I remember there always being an obvious cut. I just wonder if a time crunch might be involved in such a low score. Sure, you might think about the answer anyways in anticipation before before the lifeline is used, but I could see getting caught up in the show and not doing this. I did get it, but it took some thinking to figure out. I initially expected some communications medium, but couldn’t find a decent one, and so just looked for which one seemed the most different. Then I realized they wanted bicycle. But I’m also in a very low pressure situation. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/27 "2017-06-24T09:02:04Z")
Only one of those answers makes any sort of sense to me, given the question, (and it was the right one.) I’m really having difficulty believing only 1% of the audience truly got that. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/28 "2017-06-24T12:20:52Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Genetic diversity? How far were people riding on bikes? Back in the late 1930s, before they were married, my dad apparently used to cycle from his family home in Aberdeen to see my mum, who lived in Dunfermline. Every weekend! That’s about a 200 mile round trip. I’m a bit dubious myself but that’s what he said (with a bit more detail) and even if he only did it a few times, that’s still pretty serious stuff! ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/29 "2017-06-24T15:07:22Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Does anyone know how long they actually give you to vote once a vote is called? On the show, I remember there always being an obvious cut. > > I just wonder if a time crunch might be involved in such a low score. Sure, you might think about the answer anyways in anticipation before before the lifeline is used, but I could see getting caught up in the show and not doing this. > > I did get it, but it took some thinking to figure out. I initially expected some communications medium, but couldn’t find a decent one, and so just looked for which one seemed the most different. Then I realized they wanted bicycle. But I’m also in a very low pressure situation. I have attended a taping, and participated in Ask the Audience. The time given is slightly longer than what you see on screen, but not much. Maybe 30 seconds total. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/30 "2017-06-24T15:08:59Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > What was the stage/dollar amount of the question? Can’t remember exactly, but it was in the $5000-$50000 tier. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/31 "2017-06-24T15:12:06Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I guessed the right answer, by process of elimination, but why the hell couldn’t you spell out what WWTBAM stood for? I had to Google it. I just did a search of this forum for “WWTBAM” and got 20 hits (dating back several years). Not all of which were by me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/32 "2017-06-24T15:13:37Z")
> [@Meurglys](#): > > Back in the late 1930s, before they were married, my dad apparently used to cycle from his family home in Aberdeen to see my mum, who lived in Dunfermline. Every weekend! > That’s about a 200 mile round trip. > I’m a bit dubious myself but that’s what he said (with a bit more detail) and even if he only did it a few times, that’s still pretty serious stuff! Yeah, and I used to walk 12 miles to school everyday in the snow, uphill both ways. Actually if he was smitten I could see it happening, at least a bunch of times. I still doubt that bicycles led to any great increase in genetic diversity. Practical bicycles became available around the same time as increased rail travel. The effect of bicycles on genetic diversity pails in comparison to boat travel. It’s the only answer that makes sense for the question but it’s still stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/33 "2017-06-24T15:43:20Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Yes I can - screw you! 🙂 I would have been soooooo disappointed if nobody had taken that bait. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/34 "2017-06-24T15:50:13Z")
Bicycles were helpful in increasing women’s mobility, and held the suffrage movement [http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug02/hendrick/women.html](http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug02/hendrick/women.html) [http://www.annielondonderry.com/womenWheels.html](http://www.annielondonderry.com/womenWheels.html) But increasing genetic diversity seems a stretch. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/35 "2017-06-25T00:16:23Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Does anyone know how long they actually give you to vote once a vote is called? On the show, I remember there always being an obvious cut. When I was on WWTBAM the producers told me to take as much time as I needed and they’d cut out the excess, but they also warned me that Regis would pressure me to hurry up, and said to ignore him. This turned out to be 100% true, and when I polled the audience on a question (which they, and then I, got wrong), every few seconds he was like “what are you thinking? have you reached a decision? just waiting here.” So I’m not sure how much time I could have actually taken. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/36 "2017-06-25T01:30:24Z")
I saw this episode too. The audience’s response was in large measure due to the contestant rejecting the correct answer out of hand (and for no apparent reason) before he asked for their help. He also was clearly leaning toward either the typewriter or the phonograph in his extended pre-lifeline musings. In other words, he heavily influenced the audience, and they naturally gravitated toward the answer(s) they thought he wanted to hear. This is why if you’re ever in a similar situation, you should **keep your bleeding gob shut** instead of droning on and on with all sorts of annoying drivel! Where the hell do they dig these people up, anyway? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/37 "2017-06-25T03:54:36Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I saw this episode too. The audience’s response was in large measure due to the contestant rejecting the correct answer out of hand (and for no apparent reason) before he asked for their help. He also was clearly leaning toward either the typewriter or the phonograph in his extended pre-lifeline musings. Yeah, from what I remember about the show, don’t discuss your choices before using the 50/50, or both of your “random” answers will be the two most plausible. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/38 "2017-06-25T04:51:39Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Yeah, from what I remember about the show, don’t discuss your choices before using the 50/50, or both of your “random” answers will be the two most plausible. Yeah, I’ve noticed that too. The people now in charge are obviously dicking with the 50/50 selections whenever they can, while in earlier iterations of the show the incorrect answers were eliminated arbitrarily by the computer. Along with the producers choosing the lamest possible candidates for contestants, it’s just further proof of their desire not to shell out really large sums of money. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/39 "2017-06-25T04:58:16Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Yeah, I’ve noticed that too. The people now in charge are obviously dicking with the 50/50 selections whenever they can, while in earlier iterations of the show the incorrect answers were eliminated arbitrarily by the computer. Along with the producers choosing the lamest possible candidates for contestants, it’s just further proof of their desire not to shell out really large sums of money. I meant the early episodes as I haven’t watched in awhile. I fully acknowledge that it might be confirmation bias on my part. I wouldn’t be surprised either wayif it’s not really random. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709/40 "2017-06-25T05:19:37Z")
Even though it’s a terrible question, is an even worse question to use the Ask the Audience lifeline on. It’s really only useful on pop-culture questions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-performance-by-a-wwtbam-audience-ever/789709.md?page=3)