Phone a friends not using the Internet..

[lobster]

What is it with these phone-a-friends that not know the answer and attempt to guess-answer the question themselves when almost all of the Qs given can be Googled for the answer in under 10 seconds??    It seems on almost every show lately the phone-a-friend never tries to look the answer up, and those who don't seem to almost always guess wrong if they don't immediately know the answer.. I don't get it :d

[clemon79]

Clearly, Millionaire contestants need better friends.

[lobster]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'180277\' date=\'Mar 6 2008, 12:37 PM\']
Clearly, Millionaire contestants need better friends.
[/quote]

here here!  and so...
I was thinking next time I'm in NYC during audition season I would hand out business cards to the friendless-folks (or folks who lack friends who have a computer) in line advertising my phone-a-friend skills and guarantee 'em a win in exchange for a cut of the question value

you think the clipboard-toting headphone-wearin dudes would care?

/media whoredom has many variations

[BrandonFG]

The only thing I can think of is they'd be scared that they'd be implicated for cheating.

Although, could the show really prove you're on Google? I do remember one of the primetime grand prize winners going to his PAF, who you could hear typing. If push really came to shove you could always say you were drumming your fingers against the table as you think... ;-)

[Jimmy Owen]

Maybe they use the same line for phone and internet?

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'180286\' date=\'Mar 6 2008, 11:15 AM\']
The only thing I can think of is they'd be scared that they'd be implicated for cheating. [/quote]
Why's it cheating? Is there anything in the official rules that says a PAF can't use any and all reference tools at their disposal inside of that 30 seconds? Is a potential contestant who has that concern and doesn't voice it a fool?

/No (I think) and yes, in that order

[lobster]

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'180286\' date=\'Mar 6 2008, 01:15 PM\']
The only thing I can think of is they'd be scared that they'd be implicated for cheating.

Although, could the show really prove you're on Google? I do remember one of the primetime grand prize winners going to his PAF, who you could hear typing. If push really came to shove you could always say you were drumming your fingers against the table as you think... ;-)
[/quote]

It doesn't seem so discouraged, though, because when a contestant asks their PAF a really obscure question, then you hear twenty seconds of silence coupled with furious typing, and then !boom!, an answer out of nowhere with 100% confidence ("Papua New Guinea!  Go with it!"), Meridith always shoots that little smirk at the contestant..  like.. wink wink, we all know they used the Internet..   but you're right, they can't necessarily prove it ... I'm just so surprised that more PAFs don't bother w/ the Internet

[lobster]

[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'180289\' date=\'Mar 6 2008, 01:19 PM\']
Maybe they use the same line for phone and internet?
[/quote]

in 2008 it's hard to believe that the five (or so?) people you have waiting on hold at your disposal for PAFs are all using landlines that they use for dial-up internet..  

/i doubt you could get any answers in under 30 seconds on a dialup

[tpirfan28]

[quote name=\'lobster\' post=\'180292\' date=\'Mar 6 2008, 02:28 PM\']
/i doubt you could get any answers in under 30 seconds on a dialup
[/quote]
As a recently-undialuped user, if you are using the right tools (Firefox and Google), yes you can.

[jalman]

[quote name=\'lobster\' post=\'180292\' date=\'Mar 6 2008, 02:28 PM\']
in 2008 it's hard to believe that the five (or so?) people you have waiting on hold at your disposal for PAFs are all using landlines that they use for dial-up internet.. :D  

[/quote]
This assuming your PAFs are always internet-savvy.

I just chalk it up to people not fully realizing then taking advantage of a lifeline.  Not everyone is aware of the power of Googling.

There's an alternate method:  gathering PAFs who the contestant knows are experts at a subject area.  That doesn't mean there would no search engine users on the list, but there would be some "backup" just in case a particular PAF isn't known to be comfy with computers.

[toetyper]

ive often wondered  if they could get rid  of the PAF and just walk out a laptop to the contestant'  have google sponsor it

/the most boring 30 seconds on tv
//unless some wiseass decides to take a porn break

[lobster]

[quote name=\'jalman\' post=\'180295\' date=\'Mar 6 2008, 01:37 PM\']
[quote name=\'lobster\' post=\'180292\' date=\'Mar 6 2008, 02:28 PM\']
in 2008 it's hard to believe that the five (or so?) people you have waiting on hold at your disposal for PAFs are all using landlines that they use for dial-up internet..  

[/quote]
This assuming your PAFs are always internet-savvy.
[/quote]

well, the fact that you get to CHOOSE your PAFs gives you the ability to select people who ARE internet-savvy .. who doesn't know someone else out there that doesn't know how to use a search engine? :p

or am i too much of an internet nerd to think that people who can use Google are plentiful?

/maybe i'd be surprised..

[Matt Ottinger]

[quote name=\'lobster\' post=\'180301\' date=\'Mar 6 2008, 03:13 PM\']
or am i too much of an internet nerd to think that people who can use Google are plentiful?[/quote]
Not at all.  I think if there's any problem with your logic, it's the idea that every person who goes on a game show thinks it through and prepares for it as much as we 'serious' fans might.  There's a similar bias at the Jeopardy board when people rail against "stupid" Final Jeopardy wagers that aren't stupid at all, they're just not informed to the degree that someone who cares passionately about it may have reached.

Given your novel-length essay on preparing for Lingo, I realize this is an alien concept to you, but for some people, going on a game show is just for fun.  The spirit of the phone-a-friend lifeline is that you ask a smart buddy for help, and many people are simply content for that to be enough.

[J.R.]

Isn't it officially against the rules to use the Internet on the UK version?

[lobster]

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'180305\' date=\'Mar 6 2008, 02:25 PM\']
Given your novel-length essay on preparing for Lingo, I realize this is an alien concept to you, but for some people, going on a game show is just for fun.
[/quote]

heh i'll be the first to admit my dissertation-sized story illustrates a more ridiculous and hardcore game show fan edge to it, but i hope it was made clear the concept of having fun on a game show is not at all lost on me -- and I certainly don't expect most contestants to obsess to the level us here on the forum do -- however, when anyone aspires to go on a game show, certainly you can't say that winning money isn't the main motivation over just the fun the game.. anyone can play millionaire, wof or lingo online just for fun, but if you've gone as far as to pass the tests and be accepted to appear on the show, there's the potential to win real cash staring you in the face -- and so you'd think these folks would have watched the show a few times and devise some strategy.. but i suppose we all know that isn't the case..  (and in my case I've seen the worst example of that first hand) I was just wondering why that was..  Maybe you're right that some people just don't care/know enough to try to be clever..  And I guess I just think those people are weirdos -- (as and I'm sure the feeling is mutual, haha... )

The spirit of the phone-a-friend lifeline is that you ask a smart buddy for help, and many people are simply content for that to be enough.

agreed, after all, these are just games, but there is a bigger picture, and when given the chance to win money at it (and in Millionaire's case a tremendous amount of money), the potential contestants who actually aspire to win large dollar amounts should know some common sense tactics that can increase their chances.. I never thought "having a PAF who will use the Internet to get the answer" was such a formulated strategy (presumably way more obvious to the average viewer than, say, the more thought-out Jeopardy FJ betting strategies), it really did just seem like a no brainer -- but like you say, I might be more jaded of a game show fan..  I guess :p