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Original poster

Weird question. On QI, Fry said something ordinary, Toksvig said she didn't know what it was, Fry told her, with no fuss or drama. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

51 replies

SleepwalkingThroughLife · 18/12/2019 11:59

Years ago, Stephen Fry said blah blah, something really ordinary, that everyone knows, then Sandi Toksvig said she didnt know what it was, then Stephen told her, and there was no embarrassment at not knowing nor was there any shame or superiority or anything, it was just a sharing of information. But it was something that was quite a normal thing to know, not a difficult thing. Anyone know what im talking about?

PS I'm not drunk

OP posts:

littlewoollypervert · 18/12/2019 12:02

Are you trying to find out what the piece of information was, or making a comment on how civilised the exchange was (i.e. no big deal made of explaining it, no embarrassment for having to ask?)

DGRossetti · 18/12/2019 12:08

Alexa, what episodes of QI has Sandi Toskvig appeared in please ?

G-Animals
Girls and Boys
Hypothetical
Highs and Lows
History
I-Spy
Inequality
Inland Revenue
J-Places
Just the Job
Killers
Kinky
Kaleidoscope
Lethal
Lucky Losers
Maths

and the Sport Relief Special March 2012

Original poster

SleepwalkingThroughLife · 18/12/2019 12:15

I'm trying to find the actual episode, to show my children "how civilised the exchange was (i.e. no big deal made of explaining it, no embarrassment for having to ask?)"

I see many times when you don't know something, some people are a bit 'omg you don't even know that???' and I just really loved that exchange between two Oxbridge educated, extremely intelligent people.

It was a quite simple thing, even I knew the answer, and when she asked I thought 'omg etc' but then he answered and it made me think. AND I love that they actually kept it in and didn't edit it out!

OP posts:

Original poster

SleepwalkingThroughLife · 18/12/2019 12:18

Oohhhhhh an episode list!

AMAZING, THANK YOU!!!!

OP posts:

senua · 18/12/2019 12:21

Strange example to choose, considering that the whole point of the programme is "I know stuff that you don't know. In fact, the stuff you thought you knew (taught at school?) is all wrong."

steppemum · 18/12/2019 12:22

when you find it, do let us know!

Iggleonkupsy · 18/12/2019 12:24

I'm intrigued too, please let us know which episode and where to find the clip!

DGRossetti · 18/12/2019 12:26

Many (many) years ago I saw ST as part of the Comedy Store Players - possibly 1991. She had no idea who Sinead O'Connor was. Which made an improve scene even more funny ....

FightForYourRightToPourTea · 18/12/2019 12:27

Isn't that a really normal way of having a conversation though? Or is that just me.
I guess it depends on how "normal" the piece of knowledge really is!

Original poster

SleepwalkingThroughLife · 18/12/2019 12:27

Well none of those are on the iPlayer and only the maths one is on Netflix (which I don't have at the moment) so I've screenshotted the list of episodes and will just have to wait I guess, for repeats or something.

But I'll certainly let you know if I find it!

OP posts:

longwayoff · 18/12/2019 12:28

Er, that sounds perfectly ordinary. It's not embarrassing to not know something, nor to ask about it, why would it be edited out?

Lumene · 18/12/2019 12:28

Do you remember what the thing was?

FreezeEverything · 18/12/2019 12:30

I know that this is not what your thread is about, but recently I have been watching a lot of QI. ST was not somebody I'd ever heard of/seen in anything before (I'm not from UK and she was just never on my radar). I absolutely love her. Just everything about her style and presentation manner and wit. Is this a common feeling to have? Do people like her generally?

DGRossetti · 18/12/2019 12:31

Dave ?

Original poster

SleepwalkingThroughLife · 18/12/2019 12:36

I have no idea what the thing was, except in my mind I was astonished that she didn't know it. But since then I've just thought well why should she know it? Just because I do, and I think everyone else should, but everyone has different priorities, everyone has their own areas of expertise AND their own ideas of 'generic stuff any fool knows' and there's absolutely no reason why my idea of 'generic stuff' should coincide with your idea of 'generic stuff'. It might do, and tbh probably does, but there's no actual reason why it should.

And yes, I've seen loads of instances where people ask, and are mocked for not knowing stuff, and it makes them reluctant to ask the next time.

OP posts:

BigFatLiar · 18/12/2019 12:37

To be fair its easy to understand she may not understand things as she is Danish (or was) so many things may be unusual to her. However she has been here for some time so is probably more aware now.

Original poster

SleepwalkingThroughLife · 18/12/2019 12:38

I absolutely love her. Just everything about her style and presentation manner and wit. Is this a common feeling to have? Do people like her generally?

If she ever gets divorced I'm first in line. I'm not gay but that's just a small detail, I'm sure we could work something out.

OP posts:

Disfordarkchocolate · 18/12/2019 12:42

I can't imagine SF explaining it like that, he comes across as a massive know it all to me.

senua · 18/12/2019 12:43

Do people like her generally?
ST used to be ubiquitous / seemed popular. Then she co-founded a political party which made it difficult for the BBC etc to hire her as a neutral current events commentator (eg she lost The News Quiz gig) and also she annoyed a lot of women because her "feminist" party was one of those organisations that had trouble defining 'a women'.

Squigean · 18/12/2019 13:13

I really like Sandi Toskvig, always a bit suprised to discover people don't!!

I'm interested to see this exchange OP. I get what you mean about how people are mocked about not knowing things. Also plenty of people who don't have enough confidence in their intelligence to be able to admit they don't know something.

longwayoff · 18/12/2019 13:20

I've been fond of her since, years ago, she told a story about doing a gig at the Comedy Store on Christmas Eve, for which she was paid double the usual rate, in cash. Arriving at the station for her train, she noticed a homeless woman begging and, feeling flush and Christmassy, tried to give her £50. Cue, warm fuzzy feeling of goodwill? No. Cue screaming woman, how dare you patronise me, who do you think you are coming round here showing off your wealth etc. Poor Sandi. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

DGRossetti · 18/12/2019 13:29

The UK is a better place for having people like ST around, I think.

I think possibly my favourite QI moment was in the N series, where Alan said something, and she corrected him and he just commented she was a perfect fit for Stephen Fry (who also makes the UK a better place, in my humble opinion).

Hope you find what you are looking for OP.

Dangerfloof · 18/12/2019 13:31

I can't imagine SF explaining it like that, he comes across as a massive know it all to me
I'm no big SF fan, but on one of the QIs he said "but if you dont know, you simply dont know"
Regarding a man who weighed everything he ate, then weighed the waste product and couldn't figure out how there was less waste. Possibly also measured drinks/waste cant remember it all.
It stuck with me, no one can ever know it all unless they're about 16 or so years old.

derxa · 18/12/2019 13:34

There was a question about ST on an Only Connect episode I watched last night. The answer was shows that ST has taken from other people.

Mitsouko67 · 18/12/2019 13:36

It doesn't matter if we don't find out. This is a lovely thread. Thank you.

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