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 Replies: 32 / Views: 2,989 |
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Valued Member
United States
101 Posts |
Actually there is a funny call recording I heard about a wireless company (wont name it) having to do with this same math principle. A guy that lived in the US had used the wireless company and had the unlimited txt thing. When he moved to canada he kept the same company and asked them what the charge per kb of txts would be and they told him that it would cost .01 cents but they CHARGED him .01 dollars per kb. He specifically asked the salesperson over the phone did I hear that right that you said .01 CENTS per kb and she said yes and he told her to put a note in his file about it which she did. Well he called back when they charged him .01 dollars per kb which is 100 times more than he was quoted and specifically asked them to repeat to him. The customer service person never did understand what he was saying and he escalated the call to a manager who also didn't understand it. Moral of the story is alot of people really have no clue that .50 cents is not the same as .50 dollars or in the phone thing .01 cents and .01 dollars. Its actually sad that there are people out there that have even gone to college and for sure graduated high school cant make that distinction. This just reminded me of that recording I heard.
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Valued Member
United States
335 Posts |
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Forum Dad
 United States
24161 Posts |
What intrigues me is it's only grossly misunderstood with money.
Everyone knows that .05 gallons is waaaaaay different than .05 cups or that .05 yards is waaaaaaay different than .05 inches.
Why are dollars and cents so difficult for people?
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New Member
 United States
10 Posts |
Thanks for the additonal comments. Great story, btw, slly. It's sad that there is a pervasive problem in our country in regards to this issue. You can see it everywhere (primarily in stores). I too think that it's sad a person could graduate college and still not understand.
This absolutely wonderful website doesn't have to be part of the same mentality.
WE HERE CAN GET IT RIGHT!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
632 Posts |
ok, I stand corrected on the bits.  |
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Valued Member
United States
376 Posts |
quote:
but to keep up the image that coin collectors are smarter than the general public
I always thought that coin collectors WERE the general public not some big shot,better than you, smart aleck with a degree in mathmatics,english, and grammar. quote:
Everyone knows that .05 gallons is waaaaaay different than .05 cups or that .05 yards is waaaaaaay different than .05 inches.
I don't know of anyone writing measurements like this. To me it doesn't matter how it is written as long as both parties understand what their meaning is. madspec Edited to be a little more forum friendly Edited by tights24
10/25/2007 06:44 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1984 Posts |
If the moderators on the Forum want to delete my previous posts on this subject for contributing to someone's "decimal rage," please do. I do not use the term lightly; I believe that arguing to the point of getting kicked out of a store is more serious and deserves more attention than people untrained in psychology could provide.
On a lighter note, it is strangely comforting to note that if civilization burns, there will always be someone to critique the size, heat, and color of the flames.
Edited by halfabustisbetter
10/25/2007 08:56 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
Halfabust, I see no need to delete any of your posts. I personally think this was a healthy "debate", and potentially opened some eyes to where our society has gone with regards to basic education. I also agree that some of the extremes that have been noted here are just that, extremes. Certainly not publicly bashing anyone for their stories or tales, so don't misinterpret. Having said that, We are a public forum with all walks of life and education. We(members as a whole) can correct, in a polite manner, and hope to educate. But forcing someone to conform to something and potentially thinking them inferior or stupid for not understanding or accepting is not the way to get a point across. Mind you, that last sentence is not directed at anyone in particular!! This example to me is no different that calling a Lincoln Cent a "penny", but there's no reason to re-open that can.... |
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Valued Member
United States
159 Posts |
You children stop it or I will be forced to report you to the Department of Redundancy Department!
Sorry, I just had to stick my 2 1/2 cents in.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
quote:
You children stop it or I will be forced to report you to the Department of Redundancy Department!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2600 Posts |
Hey Rick, did you hear that penny - cent thing? "Go get em"!  Just kidding guys. It is amazing how we can sometimes take ourselves too seriously. I guess this means that next up on our hit list will be colloquialisms. My wife is from Pa. Many in their area use gum band for rubber band and terms like "red up" in lieu of clean up, as in "go clean up your room. Here on the "Eastern Shore", the phrase "get up with" is used instead of I need to see or talk with Harry. The first time I heard it, I thought it had sexual overtones . Yes on technical merit, .50 cents is incorrect, however for my .02 cents (Opppsss) it is not worth worrying about. Now, when they changed RBIs to RBI, I am ready for a fight. What do you think Dad? Does the phrase "he drove in 4 RBI" stick in your craw? It is one RBI and two or more RBIs. Jim Edited by Jim1953
10/25/2007 11:33 am
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Valued Member
United States
277 Posts |
"half of a dollar, fifty cents, fiddy cent, 2 bits, 50 cents, half a buck..."
Should be 4 bits. "Two bits, four bits, six bits a dollar; all for (insert team here), stand up and holler!" Also, pieces of eight.
My mother got in a argument with a sales clerk over flowers marked " .10 cents" once.
Fatcat
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Forum Dad
United States
24161 Posts |
quote:
I don't know of anyone writing measurements like this.
I was trying to prove a point. quote:
To me it doesn't matter how it is written as long as both parties understand what their meaning is.
I couldn't care less if people do things wrong, I just choose not to condone it and I do enforce it somewhat on this forum. There is a rule here that disallows "IM lingo". You know like... How r u 2day? Everyone understands it, and think what you want about me, but I refuse to condone it here. I think it's absolutely ridiculous to encourage. By allowing it, I'm encouraging it, so I don't allow it. Sorry if that offends you. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1840 Posts |
I don't see what the big deal is. I could count at least a dozen grammatical errors in this thread (starting with the fact that toomtoom doesn't capitalize his own name in his signature area), but no one is up in arms about that. Now if .50 cents caused Wal-mart cashiers to make mistakes during check-out, then maybe there would be a point to make. Incidentally halfbust was right, popular vernacular often dictates our current grammar. |
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Forum Dad
United States
24161 Posts |
That is correct but "current grammar" has nothing to do with right or wrong. I don't have a problem with "current grammar", spelling mistakes, and the like. There's a difference between those things, which are accidents or just unknowing, and the I'm lingo. The I'm lingo is done on purpose out of laziness. I think this thread has probably run it's effective course, also it's become off-topic, so later on tonight I'm going to lock it. Get your posts in now!  |
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Replies: 32 / Views: 2,989 |
First Page
Posted 10/24/2007 10:28 pm
