The Real Reason Harvard Sucks at Hockey

[Towerroad]

http://news.yahoo.com/whats-the-capital-of-canada-harvard-video-140610532.html

[Rosey]

http://news.yahoo.com/whats-the-capital-of-canada-harvard-video-140610532.html

I didn't know that, either. I probably would have guessed Toronto. TIL the capital of Canada is Ottawa. I wonder when I'll ever use that knowledge?

These ambush-style proofs of ignorance only work when the target audience considers the information obvious. Thus, a video demonstrating Harvard students not being able to, say, enumerate the continents or point out Britain on a map would be funny.

[Trotsky]

These ambush-style proofs of ignorance only work when the target audience considers the information obvious.

"How do you synthesize a methylated alkaloid?"

Also you know the responses are edited to show only the stupidest.

And FWIW, the only reason I know the capital of Nevada is because of Bugs Bunny.  That's why they call it trivia.

[Towerroad]

When someone pitches you a slow one right over the middle are you really going to question it?

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

These ambush-style proofs of ignorance only work when the target audience considers the information obvious.

"How do you synthesize a methylated alkaloid?"

Also you know the responses are edited to show only the stupidest.

And FWIW, the only reason I know the capital of Nevada is because of Bugs Bunny.  That's why they call it trivia.

I knew I should've take that right turn at Carson City?  Huh?

[Trotsky]

These ambush-style proofs of ignorance only work when the target audience considers the information obvious.

"How do you synthesize a methylated alkaloid?"

Also you know the responses are edited to show only the stupidest.

And FWIW, the only reason I know the capital of Nevada is because of Bugs Bunny.  That's why they call it trivia.

I knew I should've take that right turn at Carson City?  Huh?

Different episode.

He knew he should have taken that right turn at Albuquerque.

In the episode with the gangsters, the exchange is:

"Alright, rabbit.  Whaddya know?"

"Me?  I know lotsa things!  ... Carson City is the capital of Nevada!"

1:35 here: http://www.supercartoons.net/cartoon/674/bugs-bunny-bugs-and-thugs.html

[Jim Hyla]

This whole thing was stupid.  Give me a control group.

[Towerroad]

This whole thing was stupid.  Give me a control group.

You want control? "Skate Skate Skate Turrnnn Turrnnn Bend Over Bend Over Bend Over...."

[ursusminor]

Granted that knowledge of facts has little to do with intelligence, although the ability to retain a lot of facts may have, but I would expect people who attend what is usually considered an elite college to know what the capital of our northern neighbor is.

I wonder if Obama knows it.

[Jim Hyla]

No the real reason is the great game, BC 5 Harvard 0 6:08 to go and BC is 2 men up.

[Jim Hyla]

Actually it was coincidental 17 min penalties. Harvard still loses 5-1.

[Rosey]

Granted that knowledge of facts has little to do with intelligence, although the ability to retain a lot of facts may have, but I would expect people who attend what is usually considered an elite college to know what the capital of our northern neighbor is.

I'll bet you're disappointed a lot.

[andyw2100]

The funniest part of the video was when the interviewer asked the woman who answered correctly if she was Canadian so quickly after she had answered and of course (or it wouldn't have made the video) she was!

[ursusminor]

Granted that knowledge of facts has little to do with intelligence, although the ability to retain a lot of facts may have, but I would expect people who attend what is usually considered an elite college to know what the capital of our northern neighbor is.

I'll bet you're disappointed a lot.

Yes, although mainly about the results of RPI-Union games. :-D

Seriously, I would think that students who are admitted to a highly selective college, as Harvard is, would have read enough, whether it is books, newspapers or the Internet, that they would have picked up this information, even if it was never taught to them. It is, of course, possible that they spoke to several hundred students to get the few that are in this video. It is also possible that these were random people who walked though the Harvard campus but aren't students there.

[Trotsky]

You may be overestimating the breadth of education, and the curiosity, of these students.  Stovepiping of students is becoming a big problem, even at elite schools.  Arts students don't know calculus, science students don't know who Ibsen was, and tech students don't know  much of anything outside their field.  There are probably a hundred dissertations exploring the narrowing of the academic mind (each of them no doubt from a narrow perspective).

Of course, it was easier to be a Renaissance Man or Woman when all of human knowledge fit on one bookcase.  But it would be nice if all educated people has a passing familiarity with the basics of each field of human endeavor, particularly history, geography and political science if they are voters.