IWS #112 - Results
 

I’M WITH STUPID #112 – REVEALED!

I think the balance to strike in creating IWS questions is a delicate one… you don’t really want runaway single answers, but I think you do want the people who get the ‘right” response to be properly rewarded. For me, this has become the most interesting part of the puzzle - I like competing, but I really like thinking about the psychology of this game a lot.

Hey, whatever keeps you going, right?

On with the show…


1. At what temperature does it become “too hot” for you outside?

90 degrees – 19
100 degrees – 8
95 degrees – 3
85, 99, 80

Solid spread… maybe a bit tilted. Tough to contend if you didn’t say 90, though. Pretty much an eliminator question. But perhaps a justifiable one.


2. Name a song that makes you think of summertime.

Summertime – 20
Summertime Blues – 3
Surfin’ USA – 2
Kokomo
Dancing in the Streets
School’s Out
California Girls
I Get Around
Doin’ Time
In the Summertime
Dick Dale – anything


Ugh. My fault. My use of the word “Summertime” in the clue probably hurt this question severely, and my being unaware that the ever-unctious Will Smith had recoreded a song by this name fairly recently was a death knell. I don’t know if his is just a remake of the classic song that Sam Cooke perfected… but it doesn’t matter with Stupid. Eliminator question. My bad.


3. Name an amusement park not affiliated with Six Flags or Disney.

Busch Gardens – 9
Cedar Point – 6
Universal Studios – 5
King’s Island – 3
Coney island – 2
Dollywood
Astroland
King’s Dominion
Dorney Park
Wally World
Sea World
Legoland
Epcot

A couple ways to go here – you could try to think of the most widespread park system not excluded by the question (probably Busch Gardens, though Universal is worthy) or you could go for the single greatest park not excluded (probably Cedar Point). I guess the rest could have been failed tries along the same lines, but I am happy with this question, and the sort of IWS thinking it required.

And only Maple Leafs was completely disqualified from the entire contest by pointing out my misspelling. That was refreshing, I was prepared to mete out more discipline.
I am amused, however, that not a single soul mentioned anything else about the original thread’s wording…


4. What water temperature is perfect for a swim in the ocean?

80 degrees – 10
70 degrees – 9
75 degrees – 6
85 degrees – 2
65 degrees – 2
90, 78, 72


Proper IWS thinking recognized Stupid’s well documented fondness for round numbers, so otherwise ideal answers like 72 were in serious jeopardy right from the start.


5. Name a food that you would bring to the beach.

sandwiches – 14
chips – 8
hot dogs – 2
beer – 2
clams
turkey
brats
chicken
burgers
watermelon
apple


Not the spread I would have expected, honestly. This question would likely have been my downfall if I had entered. Tough to know exactly what instinct this one counted on – it’s a pretty clear consensus for the top two answers, though.


6. Name a non-food object that you would bring to the beach.

towel – 20
sunscreen – 3
frisbee – 3
beer – 2
blanket
umbrella
radio
beach ball
swimsuit


I though this was the question most in jeopardy of being an eliminator – and I probably should have followed my hunch and dumped it. I don’t like it when one answer gets 2/3 of the total responses like it did here.

And while I completely understand the thinking behind all the other answers… you have to admit that the sole answer of “swimsuit” does raise some questions about either (a) the power of semantics with my using a word like “bring,” or else (b) the sort of beaches most of you hang out at.



And one aside here – I am regularly surprised by the number of people who submit their responses with a note clearly indicating the one response they believe to be a loser. Probably one in five people send in a set with a note saying “Number five is going to kill me” or the like. And usually, they are right on target. I have done it myself, even. I wonder what it is that speaks loudly enough to us to tell us that a specific answer is no good, but fails to send us in a better direction? I think about these things.


Without further metaphysical musings, the results:


95-pound weaklings, getting sand kicked in face


Grape Smugglers


Plum Smugglers



and your once and future IWS king…


Charles Atlas

Subby 2,304,000



So, with that, we presumably put IWS on hiatus for the summer. As we know, it will take weeks and weeks for Subby’s wheels to turn here, but in the tradition of the Car Talk Puzzler, it’s probably fair to give the IWS a little summer vacation.

Thanks for playing, everyone, and for the new powers you have vested in me heretofore!

Sam Cooke didn't perfect Summertime -- Janis Joplin did.

You sissies like some hot ocean water. That's what swimming pools are for you twits.

Not that it's a big deal, but Will Smith didn't put out that song recently. Has to be over 10 years old.. he was still going by "Fresh Prince" at the time.

Hmm, you're right. I think I disregarded the ocean part and thought about how it's always nice to swim in my pool at 80 degrees. It's actually more likely had I thought about actual ocean swimming, I'd have figured 70 degrees was good.

How could you not at least know of the Will Smith song?

I hear they even play that on bird watch outings because the birds dig it.

Your idea of "recent" amuses me.

Fairly recently? So big hair bands were fairly recently popular.

Your idea of recently amuses ME!

Dammit. That song thing absolutely killed me. I thought about "Summertime", but for whatever reason decided against. If I had chosen that one right, I would have won. *grumblegrumble*

Ouch.

I thought about Summertime but decided to go with Surfin' USA because of the two mentions of Beach.

I also had no idea what to go with for beach food because I never bring food to the beach (usually only a drink or two). We usually just get something to eat afterwards. Freakin' living in Hawaii. :mad:

I was a victim of Cedar Point as it's right down the street from me, but I should of thought of Busch Gardens. I figured I had the beach item nailed with sunscreen... stupid towel...

My best finish ever, and still not good enough.

Damn you Butters!

oh yes.. the heart bleeds for you living in hawaii....

besides, you just walk the soft slope and get food on the beach in hawaii.
:)

Damn frisbee :(

dead last?

E Tu?

hxxp://www.nationallampoon.com/hubs/botw_frames/Triumph_Does_the_Weather.html

Don't you Americans bring a swimsuit to the beach? Your mass nudity cost me the victory!

By the way, I did mentioned the 'amusement part', but forum troubles made my original pm disappear before ever being sent. :P

So, uh, Subby...

I wondered if this died while I was on vacation...I see that it's a "yes".

Maybe 2nd place could step up?

I'll send TLK a PM about getting something done.

Sorry - I thought we were putting this to bed for the summer. I am more than happy to put one up!

I'm pretty sure QS was being sarcastic....

You sure are pretty.

I'm just going to put this banjo down and walk away, mmmkay?

Wow, QS really was accurate at the bottom of his original post. How ironically funny.

*sigh*