Can you learn how to be a quiz genius?
Can you learn how to be a quiz genius?
Give Us A Break 30th Anniversary
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cp999
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Of all the things I've ever aspired to be a "genius" at, quizzing would come last. However it's been the one which has paid best! Not sure there's such a thing as a "quiz genius", tbh. I would bet that professional quiz players - either of quizzes themselves, or of machines - have much more highly developed associative recall than the general population (i.e. being able to work out answers from apparently unrelated side-knowledge), in addition to much better basic general knowledge (e.g. being able to name all capital cities, currencies, football team nicknames without any conscious thought). I think it's just like a lot of other things - the more you do it, the better you get, and the more developed your associations become. Also I agree that serious quizzers absorb information osmotically, sometimes without noticing that they've done it, but that's a matter of having trained your mind to think that way. It's why I often read newspaper articles etc on things that I have no interest in.
I would say, as with most things, it is partly about natural talent but also a lot to do with putting in the hard work.
Even someone with a naturally very good memory who reads voraciously will struggle to compete with the very top world quizzers unless they are deliberately seeking to educate themselves on areas of GK that they are weaker on, and taking notes of new questions/facts they come across. For many people that would be anathema but I think it’s probably essential to be as good as someone like Pat Gibson, quoted in this article and probably one of the world’s top five quiz players.
I would disagree with cp999 as I would say that of all the things I’ve aspired to become adept at, quizzing is my favourite. It’s also the one I’m best at. I’ve found the accumulation of general knowledge over the years rewarding and enjoyable for its own sake, it’s made me a more rounded and interesting person, it’s earnt me some money, and I’ve made a number of very good friends through it. I have a lot to thank it for and would always encourage someone with natural talent to get involved.
Even someone with a naturally very good memory who reads voraciously will struggle to compete with the very top world quizzers unless they are deliberately seeking to educate themselves on areas of GK that they are weaker on, and taking notes of new questions/facts they come across. For many people that would be anathema but I think it’s probably essential to be as good as someone like Pat Gibson, quoted in this article and probably one of the world’s top five quiz players.
I would disagree with cp999 as I would say that of all the things I’ve aspired to become adept at, quizzing is my favourite. It’s also the one I’m best at. I’ve found the accumulation of general knowledge over the years rewarding and enjoyable for its own sake, it’s made me a more rounded and interesting person, it’s earnt me some money, and I’ve made a number of very good friends through it. I have a lot to thank it for and would always encourage someone with natural talent to get involved.
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cp999
- Senior Member
- Posts: 462
- Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2007 12:59 pm
- Location: not where I was yesterday
From what little I've seen of top class quizzing per se (as opposed to machine-playing) I would agree entirely.grecian wrote: Even someone with a naturally very good memory who reads voraciously will struggle to compete with the very top world quizzers unless they are deliberately seeking to educate themselves on areas of GK that they are weaker on, and taking notes of new questions/facts they come across. For many people that would be anathema but I think it’s probably essential to be as good as someone like Pat Gibson, quoted in this article and probably one of the world’s top five quiz players.
Although we disagree on the initial judgement on quizzing, I do largely agree with everything else. I suspect that the fact that I value quizzing least, and you value it most, is a reflection on it performing an entirely functional aspect in my life, whereas your attitude is more ars gratia artis.grecian wrote: I would disagree with cp999 as I would say that of all the things I’ve aspired to become adept at, quizzing is my favourite. It’s also the one I’m best at. I’ve found the accumulation of general knowledge over the years rewarding and enjoyable for its own sake, it’s made me a more rounded and interesting person, it’s earnt me some money, and I’ve made a number of very good friends through it.