Nicholas Lezard on pub quizes

“Newcomers and innocent bystanders are encouraged – no, bullied – into taking part. The young are particularly welcome, because they cannot pace their drinking, not that it would matter much if they could, for they know absolutely fuck-all about anything, especially as the quiz is set by the regulars, none of whom is ever going to see 45 again, and whose frame of reference reflects this.”

“The real point of the quiz, as far as I can see, is not to win, but for everyone to shout at each other.”

(Well, a particular pub quiz, but I think it’s a general phenomena.)