Smartphone Killed The Pub-Quiz (From The Argus)

Smartphone Killed The Pub-Quiz

7:15pm Monday 27th September 2010 in Blogs By Alice Wright - Reluctant Housewife

DON'T DO IT: Step Away From the Phone

Ok not as catchy as Video Killed The Radio Star and maybe not as true but it can’t be denied that the fact we have easy access to every answer in our bags and pockets is impacting on our traditional quiz!

I love a pub quiz, I really do. I’m not great at them anymore sadly. I used to have a good head for trivia but since I gave birth I find even remembering people’s names hard sometimes. But I still enjoy the cut and thrust and exhilaration of a good pub quiz and with a little band of friends we regularly attend some of the fantastic well thought out quizzes in Brighton and Hove. Pitting your wits against the next table, the quizmaster and even those in your team as you sit back, arms folded declaring loudly ‘Well put that down if you like but I’m sure its wrong!’ The eyes closed as you listen to the piece of music being played or the groaning or cheering as the correct answers are read out.

But it seems that a bit of innocence has been lost since the advent of the smartphone. The insinuation is that surely everyone is secretly sourcing the correct information whilst visiting the gents or having a ciggie outside. Of course that’s not the case and usually those that enjoy a pub quiz the most wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing. I see a big show being made of team members remembering to put their phones back in their bag or exclaiming in ringing tones ‘I’ll just turn this off’ for the benefit of the next table.

But that doesn’t stop the accusations, as the night wears on you’ll often hear the shout go up in the direction of a winning team ‘they’re using their phones, I saw them’ (only half joking). Recently my friend went out to call a cab and on her return it was suggested she had been investigating, with the best will in the world I am sure she wasn’t asking the taxi switch when did Tainted Love by Soft Cell first go to number one (1981)! Heaven forbid you have to go and check on your babysitters or send a text to your husband.

I can’t deny I have been tempted, or even given in to that temptation. When you know you absolutely know it but can’t quite pull the answer from your beery brain its almost justified to quickly text your film-geek mate or hook up to the Internet Movie Database, or is it? Well of course its not, but maybe that has now become part of the cut and thrust of our tradition pub quiz.