MetaFilter vs. Reddit 3 in 3-D

August 6, 2012 1:09 AM

It's that time once again--the London Mefite contingent is going to do battle tonight with Reddit in an epic pub quiz. It's a smaller crowd this time, with only nine of us confirmed, but it's still enough to do two teams. Come by and cheer us on, or do so here. As usual, one of us will be posting updates at the halfway mark and afterward.
posted by Mr. Bad Example to MetaFilter-Related at 1:09 AM (81 comments total)

I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you...

7:30PM London time will be 2:30PM in New York, 1:30PM in New Orleans, 12:30PM in Denver and 11:30AM in Your Favorite Town in California That Hasn't Declared Bankruptcy Yet. Or is NBC going to delay the results?
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:18 AM on August 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

Godspeed Sirs, Godspeed.
posted by brilliantmistake at 1:59 AM on August 6, 2012

Daaaang. Wish I wasn't a broke MeFo. I'd hope on a train and get thee to Mars the pub!
posted by iamkimiam at 2:19 AM on August 6, 2012

Feels a bit low-key this time, what with the Olympics taking up everyone's attention/forcing everyone else out of town. Still, should be fun.

I'll be risking a ban for checking my phone throughout the night for Valerie Adams' progress in the shot put.
posted by Infinite Jest at 2:52 AM on August 6, 2012

what with the Olympics taking up everyone's attention
I'm surprised the London mayor's office has allowed such a major event as this to go ahead during the Olympics. They'll have to bring in another three AA missile batteries.
posted by Abiezer at 3:45 AM on August 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

I just wanted to tell you both good luck and someone's already done this joke.
posted by Jofus at 5:00 AM on August 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

Daaaang. Wish I wasn't a broke MeFo. I'd hope on a train and get thee to the pub!
posted by iamkimiam at 5:19 AM on August 6 [+] [!]

How much would a train ticket cost? If I feel like we can afford it and I can keep my husband from finding out that I'm spending our money on frivolities for other people, maybe we can subsidize your entry; I feel that it's the least we can do as citizens of Metafilter.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 5:01 AM on August 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

Oh hell wait I'm sorry I'll be away from my computer until it's too late for you to leave -- try contacting Bulgaroktonos and tell him his crazy wife did something ridiculous again. He'll believe you even without the post to prove it and hopefully we can get Kim to trivia!
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 5:13 AM on August 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

Fuck the train! Have yourself lowered to the surface of the pub by a rocket-powered flying crane. We're all counting on you!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:15 AM on August 6, 2012

Haha, that would be fab and hilarious, but unfortunately I've got these pesky responsibilities looming today and tomorrow as well. (Could I recruit a MeFite to finish a dissertation chapter for me??? You sorta know the data anyway. I can offer trade in the form of pub quiz victory (offer only good for London Pub Quizzes where Redditors will weep. And they will.).)
posted by iamkimiam at 5:16 AM on August 6, 2012

If I had a rocket powered flying crane, this would be moot and victory would be assured.

I love that MetaFilter allows me to construct sentences such as these. And they make sense!
posted by iamkimiam at 5:17 AM on August 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

And the floor will be red from the blood of our enemies.
Mefi Trivia Rules OK.
We are counting on you so that our women cats are not chatted up taken into slavery by other people from the internets.
posted by adamvasco at 5:22 AM on August 6, 2012

Will the redditors defeated team be placed in the stockades afterwards? If so, can we have the img tag activated for this post only, in the noble and worthy interest of public ridicule?
posted by double block and bleed at 6:07 AM on August 6, 2012

I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you.
posted by ersatz at 6:32 AM on August 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

Some may call it trivial, but this is serious. Good luck; come back victorious or if not, at least bring me back a packet of salt and vinegar crisps.
posted by arcticseal at 7:09 AM on August 6, 2012

I will tell you what my father told me right before my big at bat in the Little League championship game in my town when I was 12. There were 2 outs and bases loaded with us down by a run. I needed a hit or a walk badly. He handed me a bat and said, "Don't fuck this up, son."

So, don't fuck this up.

(I got hit by a pitch forcing in the tying run. We lost in extra innings.)
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:32 AM on August 6, 2012

iamkimiam: MeFo

MeFo? As in "mofo?"

Step aside MeFite, there's a new demonym in town: MetaFucker.
posted by Kattullus at 8:20 AM on August 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

GabbyDouglas them.
posted by cashman at 8:26 AM on August 6, 2012

I was going with MetaFolk. Go wash your mouth out with soap.
posted by iamkimiam at 8:28 AM on August 6, 2012

Nancy Reagan

Nemesis

Petra (in Jordan)

Egg whites

/that's all you need
posted by infini at 8:54 AM on August 6, 2012

Good luck everyone! I'm afraid I'll be busy cheering on Team GB at the Olympics, but I will be thinking of you guys.
posted by grahamparks at 8:57 AM on August 6, 2012

Step aside MeFite, there's a new demonym in town: MetaFucker.

Metafucker...isn't that the name of a Mind in a Culture novel?
posted by Infinite Jest at 9:02 AM on August 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

It's the nickname for the Gray Area, which got it from scanning people's thoughts (frowned upon in Mind circles).

So yeah, if all the questions are on Iain M Banks trivia, then we'll shit 'em.
posted by permafrost at 9:05 AM on August 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

I was being silly...that's the Meatfucker, Kattalus mentioned the Metafucker...
posted by Infinite Jest at 9:29 AM on August 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

Come back with your beans or on them.

Good luck! Don't let the pressure of thousands of Mefites cheering you on and the entire site's reputation riding solely on your success tonight crush you under its terrible weight or anything. I'm sure you'll do just fine!
posted by misha at 9:56 AM on August 6, 2012

So, I just found this thread through my wife (Mrs. Pterodactyl)'s recent activity* and at first I missed the subject of the post and thought my wife was offering to pay to transport iamkimiam to the trivia contest we are hosting, tonight in DC, and I was thinking "isn't iamkimiam in the UK? That really seems like a lot of money."

I'm glad my wife's craziness doesn't extend that far. Yet.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 9:58 AM on August 6, 2012 [4 favorites]

Nancy Reagan

Nemesis

Petra (in Jordan)

Egg whites

JFK, blown away, what else do I have to say
posted by mintcake! at 10:30 AM on August 6, 2012 [5 favorites]

"Buchanan" is the third largest city in Liberia. Keep that firmly in mind, and you'll make it through the night (you won't win, but let's not get too ambitious).
posted by Area Man at 10:51 AM on August 6, 2012

Okay, time to brush up on the trivia. Cram session!

Fredrick Sanger won the Nobel twice in the same category (Chemistry). Marie Curie is the only woman to have won twice (Physics and Chemistry).

Africa is the only inhabited continent that has not hosted the Olympic games. Usually, there are 28 sports, but the 2012 games hosted only 26. in 2016, the games will go back to 28 with golf and rugby added in.

The password is always Swordfish, okay?
posted by misha at 10:57 AM on August 6, 2012

Oh, and this flag belongs to Honduras. That's the one we couldn't figure out at the Olympics.
posted by misha at 11:00 AM on August 6, 2012

Half way! Team Fortress Astoria by Proxy leads with 18. Team Holdkriss99 Memorial Society has 16 after arguing successfully that a fellmonger deals in fleeces. Team Reddit has 15 points. We (ok me) won the free beer snap quiz by attributing a quote to Iago and we (ok Beardless) did the same by naming three Woolf novels.

Reddit have once again mocked our lack of hair
posted by Infinite Jest at 12:16 PM on August 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

Woooo! Go people of Planet Metafilter, UK Brigade!

When in doubt, just remember that the chances of the answer being "Bath" are infinitesimal.
posted by tzikeh at 12:23 PM on August 6, 2012

Keep at it!
posted by cashman at 12:30 PM on August 6, 2012

Next time I'm in DC, I'll be able to carry out an *awesome* prank...

knock knock!
posted by iamkimiam at 12:33 PM on August 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

You joke, but we have "hosted" a MeFite who fell asleep at our place after a meetup before he could get a cab home.

If you've never woken up to realize that Orthogonality is sleeping shirtless on your couch, trust me when I say that it's the weirdest kind of hangover.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 12:41 PM on August 6, 2012 [3 favorites]

Bah, lack of hair. Take pride.

Tell Orthogonality he/she's (hopefully a he by the description you've given in the comment) missed around here. He's one of the reasons I joined because his AskMe replies were always impressive and on target.
posted by RolandOfEld at 12:44 PM on August 6, 2012

We actually haven't seen him in ages because he moved out of the area. He's very concerned with privacy, so I won't say where to, but it's in non-Metro accessible Virginia, so naturally it's basically like he lives on the moon.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 12:49 PM on August 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

ooo ooo

Metafilter: the weirdest kind of hangover.
posted by infini at 1:02 PM on August 6, 2012

Some other team wins with 43 points

Metafilter team 1 comes second with 37 points.

there is an incredibly argumentave shoot out for third.
posted by Infinite Jest at 1:08 PM on August 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

Between MeFi 2 and Reddit
posted by Infinite Jest at 1:08 PM on August 6, 2012

And MeFi 2 win it by knowing how many people died on the Titanic (or at least by being closest)
posted by Infinite Jest at 1:09 PM on August 6, 2012 [3 favorites]

Congratulations again. Is that 2-3 or 3-3?
posted by cashman at 1:19 PM on August 6, 2012

Non-Website Affiliated People have won 2 out of 3 of the quizzes. Between MetaFilter and Reddit only, MetaFilter always wins obviously.
posted by burnmp3s at 1:33 PM on August 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

I must respectfully correct you, Infinite Jest, we took second with 39 points. And it was amazing.
posted by catch as catch can at 2:15 PM on August 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

lack of hair

ITYM "wealth of pate".
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:22 PM on August 6, 2012

Congrats, MeFi 1 & 2 for sealing out Reddit from the top 3!
posted by batmonkey at 2:25 PM on August 6, 2012

Come on Mefi.

Funny though, its Mefi vs Reddit and all these nerds can't figure out a way to show the score online as it updates.

also ITYM?
posted by marienbad at 2:26 PM on August 6, 2012

(I think you mean)
posted by batmonkey at 2:34 PM on August 6, 2012

(ITYM "I'm Totally Yodeling, Man")
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:43 PM on August 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

(It's Totally Your Move)
posted by batmonkey at 2:50 PM on August 6, 2012

(Is That Your Mom?)
posted by tzikeh at 2:51 PM on August 6, 2012

Funny though, its Mefi vs Reddit and all these nerds can't figure out a way to show the score online as it updates.

The quizmaster enforces a strict ban on phones during the quiz, so everyone is incommunicado.

Congrats team mefi!
posted by memebake at 3:24 PM on August 6, 2012

Random questions I remember, if you fancy a go:

What is 'pub' short for? Answer on mouseover
Whose logo is this? Answer
Grenadine provides the redness in which Mexican-themed cocktail? Answer
What is the only possible anagram of BUTTERED (use all the letters)? Answer
Which nation executed the most people in 2011? Answer
Solve this word puzzle thing ROBBERS Answer
Which actor/actress appeared in The Big Lebowski, Cruel Intentions and American Pie? Answer
An iridologist studies what? Answer
Cryptic films: Ferrous Fellow, Dating Mick Jagger (and another I don't recall) Answer
What do Polish people eat at Christmas? Answer
What does a fellmonger deal in? Answer
What word's original meaning is "one who with evil intent persuades another to do their bidding"? Answer
What is a matador's red cloth known as? Answer
Solve these diploids: M St H e i 1980, P w t 1st n o f T T Answer
What is the French version of the name James? Answer
Give any year of Wyatt Earp's life? Answer
Which country's dialing code is 007? Answer
What is the height in meters of a crossbar in rugby? Answer
The first what was unveiled in 1866 at the birthplace of Lord Byron? Answer
What is the biggest nightclub in the world? Answer
posted by permafrost at 3:46 PM on August 6, 2012 [3 favorites]

Probably a good thing I couldn't make this one. I could only have negatively impacted the scores.

A bit contentious, this one

I should say so. Blimey!

Perhaps the next one should be streamed as live video. Does the pub have WiFi?
posted by Grangousier at 3:54 PM on August 6, 2012

Congrats!
posted by ersatz at 4:51 PM on August 6, 2012

"Funny though, its Mefi vs Reddit and all these nerds can't figure out a way to show the score online as it updates.

The quizmaster enforces a strict ban on phones during the quiz, so everyone is incommunicado.

Well I meant more along the lines of, surely there is a quizmaster and s/he could have a laptop that streams to the score to Mefi or Reddit or anywhere really. Also, after the questions have been answered by the teams they could be placed online and people could play along at home. It would make it more interactive and inclusive and (I think) more fun for us, especially in threads like this, with people posting up the questions. Surely this is doable?

Also, thanks for all the great ITYM gags, loved them.
posted by marienbad at 5:11 PM on August 6, 2012

Congrats everyone, MeFi triumphant.
posted by arcticseal at 8:41 PM on August 6, 2012

I think the Wyatt Earp answer is a bit off.
posted by batmonkey at 9:06 PM on August 6, 2012

Answer on mouseover

71% of all traffic on MeFi is via iPad or smartphone you devilish devil.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 10:21 PM on August 6, 2012

WE WIN SECOND YAY!!!
posted by tigrefacile at 10:55 PM on August 6, 2012

(Is This Your Manischewitz?)
posted by Ghidorah at 12:07 AM on August 7, 2012

I'm Through Yodeling, Mary
posted by a humble nudibranch at 1:10 AM on August 7, 2012

marienbad, it was quite an informal quiz and went at a relatively fast clip; I think the quizmaster was also an out of work Shakespearian actor just there to collect his 10 quid fee (i.e. he gave very few fucks). Streaming it to anywhere seems a bit pie-in-the-sky for that crowd.
posted by catch as catch can at 2:55 AM on August 7, 2012

I was charged with bringing home the silver medal pub quiz sheet and recording it for posterity. Thus:

Quiz Sheet: Obverse, Reverse.

And: The spoils of not quite victory.
posted by ursus_comiter at 3:34 AM on August 7, 2012 [1 favorite]

And freya_lamb, can you ask your +1 about what those olde North Atlantic chess analogs were called before chess proper overwhelmed them?
posted by ursus_comiter at 3:37 AM on August 7, 2012

Poles eat CARP for Christmas! Would the answer "poultry" seem acceptable as the official answer to "What do Americans eat at Thanksgiving?" No, it would not.
posted by Meatbomb at 6:47 AM on August 7, 2012 [1 favorite]

Poles eat CARP for Christmas!

We know! We protested long and loud about this, but in vain.
posted by HandfulOfDust at 7:08 AM on August 7, 2012 [3 favorites]

Does the Pole fish if nobody saw it?
posted by infini at 7:39 AM on August 7, 2012

from Wikipedia: "The first [blue] plaque was unveiled in 1867 to commemorate Lord Byron at his birthplace, 24 Holles Street, Cavendish Square. This house was demolished in 1889."

Boo.

Anyone remember the other questions? Like #2, 4-10, and 12 from the answer sheet?
posted by misha at 8:54 AM on August 7, 2012

2. What was the nationality of the chef on The Muppet Show?
4. Picture quiz, but I can't remember who it was... Not Salman Rushdie or Saddam Hussein though!
5. What word (originally Greek) was used in theatre to describe imitating every action and word?
6. What height is the crossbar in rugby union?
7. In what North American city is Louis Armstrong Int'l Airport located?
8. Another picture quiz; Boo Boo Bear's face was covered up.
9. What is the word for the body that a parasite feeds upon?
10. What was first unveiled in 1867 at Lord Byron's birthplace?
12. What sport originally took place in the Roman arenas/stadiums?
posted by catch as catch can at 9:05 AM on August 7, 2012

4. The picture was Stanley Kubrick. Nearly everyone said Salman Rushdie except for a few who thought Saddam...
12. I think it was What was the main event that took place in the Circus Maximus?
posted by Infinite Jest at 9:21 AM on August 7, 2012

Oops, you're right, Infinite Jest; that was my poor half-remembered approximation.

To round it out (missing out the rest of the pictures):
23. What is produced when you mix chromium and steel?
25. a. Ferrous Fellow, b. The Rundown Hound is Rich, c. Dating Mick Jagger
30. Name as many songs from The Little Mermaid as you can
31. What are you asking for when you order a cwrw in Wales?
32. What was first photographed in 1959, which then became the title of a bestselling album in 1973?
37. What is the proper name for the type of buttons on a duffle coat?
posted by catch as catch can at 10:20 AM on August 7, 2012

Cheese soup, lolz.
posted by tigrefacile at 11:17 AM on August 7, 2012

I should hope so, humble nudibranch, it's been driving me crazy. But here's that Riccola you wanted.
posted by maryr at 2:19 PM on August 7, 2012

And freya_lamb, can you ask your +1 about what those olde North Atlantic chess analogs were called before chess proper overwhelmed them?

For surely: Tafl games.
posted by freya_lamb at 2:15 AM on August 8, 2012 [1 favorite]

Cheers freya_lamb!
posted by ursus_comiter at 3:54 AM on August 8, 2012

No worries. The Wikipedia page states that: Ultimately, the literary references prove inconclusive on the use of dice in Hnefatafl - maybe you found the missing link!
posted by freya_lamb at 4:56 AM on August 8, 2012

Also, yay for Mefi quizzery, we remain (nigh on) victorious!
posted by freya_lamb at 4:57 AM on August 8, 2012

I should point out that here in New England, we did our part to support our Mefite brothers in Olde England by taking 1st and 2nd place at our biweekly trivia. No clue if there were Redditors there, though.
posted by maryr at 7:45 AM on August 8, 2012 [2 favorites]

Slarty Bartfast: " 71% of all traffic on MeFi is via iPad or smartphone you devilish devil."

By amazing coincidence, exactly 71% of all statistics stated on the internet are made up on the spot.
posted by double block and bleed at 7:14 AM on August 9, 2012

I thought it was 83%...
posted by maryr at 8:01 AM on August 9, 2012