I love QI, but every time I watch a clip, I feel embarrassed to be an American. This show just glorifies knowledge, learning, and how it can be fun, funny, and witty... it seems that most of our popular culture glorifies laziness, extreme consumption, stupidity and blind patriotism.

Case in point, languages. America has this INEXPLICABLE phobia of bilingualism. Rather than embrace other languages and encourage our young people to learn them, we are too busy passing laws making English the "official" language and forcing others to learn it.

I'm absolutely sure I'm going to get flamed for this comment, but I just don't think America would ever produce a prime-time show like QI and attract big names to be on it... we are much more likely to have a NASCAR race, hotdog eating contest, or something involving bullshit paranormal "science" like ghost hunting (man, that ghosthunting stuff pisses me off).

Couldn't agree more Ponce (chuckles), but I'm British so I would.

As an academic, I would have to agree. There is however a fine line between enjoying knowledge and languages and being possesed of an arrogance that blinds you to the possibility of joy in the simple pleasures of life i.e. a hot-dog eating contest. Unfortunately many people think that simple pleasures and fine learning are mutually exclusive.

I agree Confucious, arrogance isn't what I was going for, but it seems that here in America we take PRIDE in being stupid. I'm not saying our simple pleasures aren't fun or nice (hell I'm sure England has its share), there just isn't any drive to learn in this country.

I work at a university and you wouldn't believe the inane kind of shit the kids do to try to get out of requirements designed to expand their horizons. I've had a student actually tell me that it is his "right" to refuse our college's requirement that all freshmen either show proficiency in one foreign language or take an intro course. The kid had the audacity to tell me that he believes that most of the world already understands English because of the internet, so their wasn't ANY point in learning another language.

There aren't many English names that end up alright when translated into Chinese. One exception is "Kevin." In Chinese, it's "kai wen" which means "triumphant and civil."

You can make other names sound good in translation, but then you need to get VERY creative with your pronunciation and choice of characters.

ponceleon, yeah I see what you mean. I almost have to remind myself that the English are not by nature any smarter then we are. They simply live in a culture where intelligence, knowledge and cleverness are valued. And even though they revel in knowledge these men don't seem arrogant, since they're lighthearted and humorous.

Perhaps if the public airwaves in America were truly considered a public trust rather then corporate property we'd have less banal shit on them.

God i feel posh now. Thanks guys.

How does this show make you feel embarrassed to be a American? All it is facts followed by comedians talking about them..

Have you watched TV in in Britain? Its boring as shat.

Though the information and knowledge in QI is quite varied and cultured, they sure like to go on and on with how great England is in comparison to Wales/Scotland/Ireland/India/the USA/Austrailia/etc. Otherwise, the show is awesome. These clips are right up there with Who's Line in my book.

>> ^ponceleon:
I love QI, but every time I watch a clip, I feel embarrassed to be an American. This show just glorifies knowledge, learning, and how it can be fun, funny, and witty... it seems that most of our popular culture glorifies laziness, extreme consumption, stupidity and blind patriotism.


Nail head meet hammer.

>> ^Nebosuke:
Though the information and knowledge in QI is quite varied and cultured, they sure like to go on and on with how great England is in comparison to Wales/Scotland/Ireland/India/the USA/Austrailia/etc. Otherwise, the show is awesome. These clips are right up there with Who's Line in my book.


I watch alot of QI (old one queued on my PVR right now in fact) and I don't recall seeing much nationalistic bollocks from the panel. It wouldn't be so great if there was.

>> ^ponceleon:
I love QI, but every time I watch a clip, I feel embarrassed to be an American. This show just glorifies knowledge, learning, and how it can be fun, funny, and witty... it seems that most of our popular culture glorifies laziness, extreme consumption, stupidity and blind patriotism.
Case in point, languages. America has this INEXPLICABLE phobia of bilingualism. Rather than embrace other languages and encourage our young people to learn them, we are too busy passing laws making English the "official" language and forcing others to learn it.
I'm absolutely sure I'm going to get flamed for this comment, but I just don't think America would ever produce a prime-time show like QI and attract big names to be on it... we are much more likely to have a NASCAR race, hotdog eating contest, or something involving bullshit paranormal "science" like ghost hunting (man, that ghosthunting stuff pisses me off).



Then again I suspect only America could give us The Wire, Deadwood, Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm. These are things that English tv are unable to match.

Still, I feel your pain.