What Did Thomas Crapper Invent? - QI - BBC comedy panel show

[14warr]

My last name is Warr so...

[rocketmik65]

Ball. Cock. :3

[webmastergrumpy]

why are the commercials so much louder than the video. Very annoying.

[JeeRaph]

Was Thomas Crapper not born with some of those?

[HomicidalTeaBreak]

wut is a ballllll... cock...?

[pimpjuice739]

@HomicidalTeaBreak it is a ball that floats on the water. When the level gets to a certain amount the ball floats up and is attached to a lever which shuts a valve, cutting off the water. anyways along those lines lol

[yadsik]

The first was actually invented in the Indus Valley Civilization, over 3000 years ago.

[yerk3]

Nomative determism....I'm going to change my last name to "Awesome" before I have kids.

[GlamourKillsTian]

@yerk3 *Nominative determinism

[Abirocketh]

Ball........ COCK......

[HybratKaizer]

But what did Thomas Crapper invent?!

[solusdiver]

@HybratKaizer The Ball Cock...weren't you listening?

[Toyah13]

BALLLLLLLLLL cock.

[sbslusher]

ADBLOCK PLUS

[FGSFDSenterprises]

We really need this show in the US. Why won't BBC America run it? It's so much better than many of their other shows.

[madhatergal]

BALL COCK

[PLURRingo]

I WANT TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ROWAN ATKINSON!!!

[colmonhs]

My last name's flower (translated), what should I be doing?

[DELTA38g]

@colmonhs You should be a bee and collect nectar for honey production.

[ConourP]

My last name (born into it as it is my dad's last name) is Pounds. The fuck am I gonna be?

[a1b2m13]

@ConourP A banker? An MMA fighter? Maybe a sumo wrestler?

[ConourP]

@a1b2m13 Banker sounds nice, though I am American

[CollinsSeaboldMeyer]

@ConourP Overweight?

[ConourP]

@CollinsSeaboldMeyer I already am, but I can't quite make a living off of it.

[traybake1]

so the Chinese invented the flush toilet ages ago (if anyone can be more specific be my guest but i can't be bothered to look it up) and the French still can't use them in some of their road side rest stops!?!? that's "shit"!! (pun intended) 

[Taylar94]

Well my last name is Pornstar, so...

[djklink20009]

steven "fry" fry get it lol thats why mitchel says he runs that cafe Lol

[Xallys15]

Blue Peter lied to me! D:

[mAnclTy]

my names thomas CAPPER and my friends take the piss outa me -.-

[nathanbunn]

@mAnclTy My name really is Nathan Bunn. I feel your pain.

[1xlottiex1]

dident he say the japaneese invented it... so why was it made in china???

[LaurenceC96]

so what did he invent?

[weatherallc05]

yeah guys stop being soo cocky with the big words. also, ur humour is not funny even though i understand it. just quit trying to be funny, and stop trying to correct historical details. moan moan moan, thats all you guys do

[weatherallc05]

obvo not the toilet, he just stole the toilet from the real inventor

[trickykid73]

Ball .............Cock...lol

[csmck1]

An Englishman with a Fenway Park sweatshirt - love it.

[pauseTV]

1:14 ... that would explain Anthony Wiener!

[dexdex1560]

If Stephen Fry owned a Chip shop and gave me fish and chips personally I would go there everyday for the rest of my life!

[ala5530]

What's arguably unfortunate about this clip is that we know the Minoans had (almost) invented the flush toilet before the Chinese. They had toilets consisting of a latrine with a seat over a pit, the bottom of which was continually sluiced by an elaborate sewer system. So, it's not quite a flush toilet, although fecal matter was flushed away by a constant flow of water.

[seraphimra]

@ala5530 10 points for being interesting and an extra 5 for being on topic! *YouTube points are redeemable and applicable...nowhere* Congrats none-the-less!

[BeccaAndThings]

0:01

[BlameTruth99]

whats a ballcock ?

[SirPaFla]

@BlameTruth99 A ballcock is a mechanism for filling tanks  with liquid, often found in the flush lavatory.

[Flowerblood]

@BlameTruth99 The floaty bit under the lid.

[weirdlightsaber44]

What even is a ballcock?

[KristinaTVfan]

My last name is Downs...

Well, fuck.

[WeWillNotRockYou1]

@KristinaTVfan.............Dam­n my sense of humour let me down here..

[iphoneluvr]

They didn't answer the question...

[Justpooinabush]

@iphoneluvr The ballcock?

[themasterofcheese]

@iphoneluvr he invented the ballcock, they do answer it

[sofunky156]

Guess that explains why I'm always wondering watson television

[Morgam06]

My Surname is Morgan, does that make me more likely to become an alcoholic?

[RincewindsHat66]

@Morgam06 That depends. Do you hold the rank of captain?

[Morgam06]

@RincewindsHat66 I was the captain of my High school Water polo team... do you think that counts?

[margechronicles]

holy shit. all my life i never knew someones middle name would be Crapper.

[Sheldonwh]

Actually, they're wrong. If this were an American tv show, every Brit in the world would be decrying its inaccuracies and using it as further "proof" of how inadequate our educational system is. The truth is, Crapper simply POPULARIZED the siphon system for emptying the tank, replacing the earlier floating valve system which was prone to leaks. Some of Crapper's designs were made by Thomas Twyford, but Crapper never "invented" anything at all. He merely built and sold toilets. BBC FAIL!

[animesis]

@Sheldonwh

Taught that Crapper did not invent the flush toilet and that China had invented one in their history. BBC WIN!

[foxmcloud555]

@animesis A flush toilet was presented to Elizabeth I during the 17th century I believe, so also quite a while before Mr Crapper.

[weatherallc05]

@animesis errr no they dont cos the BBC are corrupt

[animesis]

@weatherallc05

You clearly done understand the context of what I said. Either take some English lessons or make a related reply. Might I also add the BBC are the least incorrupt news company the world has to offer, no other new company has a Legal Charter bound by the countries authorities demanding what they must do and that the authorities themself must not interfere, your move.

[weatherallc05]

@animesis my move? errmm dont give me that crap. and no they are very corrupt, they use license fees for chauffuering their fatcat chiefs and other pointless tasks. they would never admit to it though. and i did take english u cheeky lil bastard, if my spellings wrong its cos its youtube and not writing an essay

[animesis]

@weatherallc05

I didnt comment on your spelling, I commented on the fact that you have grasped the context completely wrong, something you still seem to be missing.

You find a more fair corporation that the BBC. For the amount of output and the quality they are unrivalled, they may not be perfect, but they are the premier.

[animesis]

@weatherallc05

and before you give me a list of random companies, I might suggest you study some media studies/social sciences at a foreign University to gain some perspective.

[weatherallc05]

@animesis hows no grab ya, and plus im not going to study media at uni, im studying economics. then i might just be able to work out how much the bbc are a waste of money and resources. so dont you tell me what to do

[animesis]

@weatherallc05

"dont you tell me what to do" how childish can we get? Your grasp of English is appalling, not only have you completely not understood the context of the discussion I was hitherto having, but you cant distinguish the difference between a suggestion and an order.

Take your childish arguments to someone who cares. If you dont like the BBC dont bother watching its clips, and if you have to poke your nose into others peoples discussions make sure to read and understand the rest.

[weatherallc05]

@animesis mate, its youtube. i dont need to spell correctly! And i regret wasting my time talking to you, i thought you would be able to have a nice conversation but you ruin it with personal attacks. and btw people are allowed to criticise videos aswell as compliment, its called OPINION. And no, i wont go through the usual rant about opinion entitlement.

[animesis]

@weatherallc05

P.S. 1+1=2 but Maths has very little use for cultural value. The worlds Universities are singing the BBCs praises but you are too greedy to care, to you all that matters is your 12 pounds a month

The Proms and Horizon are plenty to satisfy me for my 12 pounds (less when living with someone), if you like nothing the BBC does, considering its huge plethora of output, then thats your problem, dont selfishly try to take it away from others who enjoy it.

You wanna save money? Use a PC

[weatherallc05]

@animesis for goodness sake! im using my opinion, i havent stopped you once from using yours so stop telling me what i can and cant think. seriously, what makes you so special? nothing, because you dont talk to anyone with respect or so at least you give me that impression.

[animesis]

@weatherallc05

You are entitled to your opinion. Just dont butt into someone elses conversation with an opinion that is irrelevant to the original discussion.

[tomatomaniaman]

Why is there an advert before a BBC programme?

[Follovvth3dream]

@tomatomaniaman because this is youtube, not BBC.

And the BBC dont have a choice in weather adverts are shown before their clips on youtube.

[Ravrahn]

@Follovvth3dream Actually you do have a choice as to whether adverts are displayed.

[Follovvth3dream]

@Ravrahn No you dont, youtube put them on random videos and you have no choice but to watch them on here.

[truelieswow]

@tomatomaniaman BBC world wide have adverts :/

[kisbie]

@tomatomaniaman The BBC does have a commercial arm, which is to ensure they make a profit from productions when shown outside of Britain. And as YouTube is a global media source, that means adverts I'm afraid.

[mikeyt12321]

@tomatomaniaman don't pay a tv liscence for youtube.

[johnsgamestation]

@tomatomaniaman bbcworldwide

[blainyrules]

@tomatomaniaman Download AdBlock Plus

[yellowumbrellagal]

@tomatomaniaman it seems a little discriminatory doesn't it XD

[viridismonasteriense]

hearing Steven Fry say ball cock never stops being funny

[lillyshak]

Ball (pause) Cooooooocccccccckkkkkk!

[CairoDuqane]

@lillyshak I thought "he's been sitting next to Davies far to long! XD

[lytrigian]

I really like Stephen Fry, but what's this fetish he has for ascribing every bit of modern civilized living to the Chinese? They invented plenty -- but they didn't invent *everything*.

The Indus Valley civilization had water-flushed sanitation (for the wealthy, anyway) when the Chinese were living in rammed-earth huts.

[Reexio]

@lytrigian There is thing called a 'script', i'm fairly sure they follow it.

[weatherallc05]

@lytrigian no one said they did you prickk, dont take things fucking personally u prrat

[Simpspark1]

Lol my great great great great uncle was thomas crapper :D

[zthetha]

"Crap" - my theory is that just as "pram" is a corruption of perambulator - "crap" is a corruption of crapulent which means to feel crap and was no doubt interchangeable with "shite" - hence the modern usage. I rest my case.

[lytrigian]

@zthetha Crap: "defecate" 1846 (v.), 1898 (n.), from one of a cluster of words generally applied to things cast off or discarded (e.g. "weeds growing among corn" (early 15c.), "residue from renderings" (late 15c.), underworld slang for "money" (18c.), and in Shropshire, "dregs of beer or ale"), all probably from M.E. crappe "grain that was trodden underfoot in a barn, chaff" (mid-15c.), from M.Fr. crape "siftings," from O.Fr. crappe, from M.L. crappa, crapinum "chaff."

[zthetha]

@lytrigian I salute your erudition on this subject.

[lytrigian]

@zthetha My ability to cut-and-paste from the Online Etymology Dictionary is impeccable.

[caigor]

my surname is whore.... oh dear

[PrinceOfLogic]

@caigor -- Haha!

[doodoopker]

bulllllllllllllll cock

[sxephlI]

haha "the baaaaalllll cock!" stephen fry you absolute legend :)

[noxiousnirvana]

doesnt circle rhyme with purple

[damoos]

@noxiousnirvana NO ??

[noxiousnirvana]

@damoos in my accent it does ... lol

[OfolenWS]

Every time I told my friends who invented the toilet they laughed, because they thought it was a joke. They kept asking me who invented the toilet for years!

[screech519]

I loved Fry & Laurie...

[DragonSporks]

I want a ringtone of Stephen Fry saying "baaaaaallllllllcock," followed by "the key is length and thickness" please!

[PollyJuice]

@DragonSporks

You and me both!

[lowededwookie]

Wasn't the flushing toilet developed by the Minoans?

I remember reading that somewhere although their system may just have been running water constantly flowing.

[QuirkyGirl12345]

Before I watch this cause my internet is so slow. My grandma told me when I was about 5 that the toilet was made by Thomas Crapper. Let me see if she was right.

[deanmetcalfe1]

floatation controlled water shut off valve........Ball Cock.....

[HungryGoth]

fucking homebase >:(

[TheInfernalSpark]

GOD DAMN COMMERCIALS. I'm not watching tv right now because of commercials. STOP THE ADVERTISING.

[yggdrasil89]

hahaha I love that no one ever trusts Stephen's questions when they just seem a bit TOO obvious...that groan of "hmmm" is hilarious!

[staaa90]

lmao

[ukrockhit]

haha: it's funny to say the word baallcock......yes gradiated from the university of Rowen Atkinson me.....LOL

[LowOnCreativityy]

I LOVE STEPHEN FRYYY

[rimskykorsakov08]

balllllllll...........cock

[r1o9n8a6n]

should get rowan atkinson on there and have i got news for you

[Azmiam]

@r1o9n8a6n That is a FANTASTIC idea. I'd LOVE to see that episode!

[Sharon4192]

This is hilarious, he's great, there's this great new fansite I've found, called that david mitchell fansite, it's great.

[lennic95]

...Usain Bolt?

[westofdashannon]

its funny to say "ball......cock"

[PurushaDesa]

Nominative... determinism? That's an actual thing? So it may not be a coincidence that... Samantha Bond ended up playing Moneypenny?

[dim432]

BUT HE DID INVENTED it

[Simpspark1]

My great great great great uncle was Thomas crapper :D:D:D:D:D.. i haz relations to me :D

[Reanitheory1]

well, of course you have relation to yourself

[Simpspark1]

@Reanitheory1 i know lol.. i accidently said that :P... i has relationz to HIM.

[m1rr0r1m4ge]

speaking of nomanive determinism, i have an R.E teacher called mrs nun :D gotta love Qi, speaking of THAT, im going to go and watch it now :D

[jdhathrisen]

You wonder if Stephen Fry will ever go completely mental and start shooting the guests after 20 odd years of tongue in cheek gay jokes.

[Simpspark1]

you guys know my great great great great grandads uncle was Thomas crapper :D

[GeneralZhadow]

@Simpspark1 Congratulations! Your grand-grand-completely unrelated thing invented the ball cock.

[ZolotayaKoshka]

@ GeneralZhadow: I love that sentence! From start to end. Can't stop laughing when I read it.

[emobabe1993]

I totally agree with the idea of your surname being linked to your occupation - my surname is Wigley (note the first 3 letters) and my mother is a hairdresser.

[DutchDeath75]

Actually, he doesn't take anything away............it's kind off hard to take something from you when you have nothing.

[HealthyPizza]

i'm hoping this comment is an unusual form of sarcasm... if not, you still have the BallCock

[ONETRUEDUB]

you're right

propaganda is so much better than honesty...

[NightMarkVII]

The BAAAAAALLcock

[Cranxa]

my post code has DJ in it,..and ive already started :D LOL like im ever

[p0ddy17]

what u double jointed :P

[dasheriff001]

Mr crapper invented ballcock. that's unbeatable.

[vigo894]

Yes, Thomas Crapper was his real name.

The poor guy.

[conz078]

not really, coz people didnt see the word crap as abusive or funny back then...

coz the word crap actually comes from him...

[AtheistBrit]

I'm not sure it does, Steve says that the word was used in 1836 and Thomas Crapper was born in 1846. It depends in what context it was used though, and that I'm not sure of.

[elliez23]

It's the other way round. Crapper was born in 1836, and the word was used from 1846.

[AtheistBrit]

Oops, I misunderstood him :)

[TornLoveNotes]

It's still unlikely to have been used in honour of Mr. Crapper seeing as he would have been 10 years old at the time.

[Galacticmaster]

yeah, hes right, crapper was actually a good last name to have i recalled,

people valued it for its prestige

[fiddlecub]

Untrue--the very video you just watched essentially dispels that myth. You may wish to watch it again.

[weatherallc05]

@vigo894 errr easy to say that now. shite joke

[Cloudgauntlet]

LOL!

You can really tell David likes doing these panel shows. :D Haha, ball............... cock.

[crazytosh1]

Baall... Cock.

[PrincessPotato]

University of Rowan Atkinson!! Go Fightin' Adders!

[kitukidogo]

so what *did* Thomas Crapper invent??

[winoguitaro]

The ballcock, he said it more than once!

[WARPALORPA]

He said it more than twice two.

[BBCWorldwide]

Oops! Thanks for pointing out the error doctorevilbad, all changed now!

BBC Worldwide

[trevster2905]

Could you also do something about the incredibly irritating adverts that we have to endure?

[Dusty4life]

yup, just refresh..they go away!

[beelzebozotiiiiime]

what adverts :S

[Rathlin45]

what may i ask, is a ball-cock?

[Lisanab]

well, you could try checking a dictionary, right eh? but since you can't be bothered, it is part of the internal plumbing of a toilet

[EatMyRice18]

yeah if you open the back of the toilet there's a large ball lol

Ball cock

[iluvmuse]

lmao "the baaalll.....cock."

[BlakJak720]

It's DAVID Mitchell.

[Pieter345]

the ball cock

[PeteMP1992]

I have a bad case of Diarrhea

[jcbc402]

"Paul" Mitchell? haha typo....

[DONTMAKEMELAUGH]

That's why you run that cafe!!! Too funny, great logic!!!

[storkee18]

Paul Mitchell is a hairdresser... I think the info should say David Mitchell.