Who was at fault for the Green Monkeys' disqualification?

[The Dark Enforcer]

Hey,

I'm writing to solicit opinions as to why the Green Monkeys were disqualified during the Moat round of the episode "John Henry's Lost Hammer".

There are 2 current theories as to why they were disqualified:

• The Green Monkey girl held onto the Aztec Footboard with her hands so that she wouldn't lose it instead of paddling with them.
• The Green Monkey boy lost hold of the overhead rope, fell into the water, ignored a spotter's instructions to go back, and hit his team's gong.

Can I get some discussion about this, because I'm kinda torn between them.

Thanks,
TDE

[GreenMonkeys#1]

I’m going with the first option since that method was clearly different than the other teams ways of crossing the Moat. Although I never considered the other method of falling in and still continuing to the gong.

[The Red Jaguars]

I voted for the Green Monkeys girl, but after thinking it over again I probably would change my vote to "None of the above." It was probably an honest mistake on both players part. The anxiety of being in front of an audience and the thrill of trying to be one of the four teams to make it across probably caused both players to make mistakes. If I had to blame one, it would be the Green Monkeys girl since she did not follow the rules. But the team got penalized for it either way.

This team did get a second chance in the Lost Gold Mine moat but didn't even make it to past the moat. That was more pathetic IMO. 

[TempleFan322]

I just watched the Moat crossing, and here are a few things I saw from it.

Before I start, this is Kirk's description of the Moat in the episode;

"One member of each team has an Aztec foot board. When I say go, they'll paddle across the Moat. Once they're across, they'll climb out onto the other side. That'll be their partners signal to pull the foot board back to the other side, jump on, grab onto the rope swing over head, swing the foot board into the water, and pull themselves across the Moat. As soon as the second teammate has reached the other side, it's their job to run over and ring the Temple Gong by hitting the top of their pedestal."

Now here is what I saw;
-The 1st Green Monkey held onto the boat instead of paddling. I can understand that not being the "correct way"of completing it. I work as a camp counselor and we teach the kids that don't know how to swim yet to hold on to the kick board that way to learn how to kick properly. That might have been the same effect thing the producers saw it and allowed it.

-Green Monkey 2 pulls the kick board back before the 1st player is out of the water. That could be innocent because the girl kept slipping back in.

-Green Monkey 2 was only 3/4 across and can be seen falling in. He then proceeds to bring the foot board over, place it on the deck, hop out, and ring the gong. The Blue team fell in as well, but they went back. The Green team didn't.

All in all, I would say it is all the Green Monkey boy's fault. At the same time, though, you have to blame the spotter for not telling him to go back.