"One of the most vivid arithmetic failings displayed by Americans occurred in the early 1980s, when the A& W restaurant chain released a new hamburger to rival the McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. With a third-pound of beef, the A& W burger had more meat than the Quarter Pounder; in taste tests, customers preferred A& W’s burger. And it was less expensive. A lavish A& W television and radio marketing campaign cited these benefits. Yet instead of leaping at the great value, customers snubbed it.
Only when the company held customer focus groups did it become clear why. The Third Pounder presented the American public with a test in fractions. And we failed. Misunderstanding the value of one-third, customers believed they were being overcharged. Why, they asked the researchers, should they pay the same amount for a third of a pound of meat as they did for a quarter-pound of meat at McDonald’s. The “4” in “¼,” larger than the “3” in “& #8531;,” led them astray."
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Still very sad though.
I'm surprised someone has tried the "fifth burger". And they could probably charge the same as a quarter-pounder.
Anyway, the entire show was devoted to a reporter, Jesse Waters (?), going to various places (the street and beaches) and asking folks general and fairly simple questions about the country and about real simple American history. Nothing original. Stern has done it for years. Taxi quiz show made tons of money doing it, magazines do those tests every so often, etc...but it was hilarious and troubling how stupid...wrong word, ignorant people are about basic elementary school stuff. And the majority of the respondents were people still enrolled in (good) colleges too.
Not really a surprise. I've asked young folk around me things that they should know but don't. Supra 3.0 gpa kids at good schools who can't name their senators or congressmen, a Cabinet member (including Biden), or simple historical facts. So, I don't think the O'Reilly thing was a put on at all. Sad and astounding, all at the same time.
Anyway, the entire show was devoted to a reporter, Jesse Waters (?), going to various places (the street and beaches) and asking folks general and fairly simple questions about the country and about real simple American history. Nothing original. Stern has done it for years. Taxi quiz show made tons of money doing it, magazines do those tests every so often, etc...but it was hilarious and troubling how stupid...wrong word, ignorant people are about basic elementary school stuff. And the majority of the respondents were people still enrolled in (good) colleges too.
Not really a surprise. I've asked young folk around me things that they should know but don't. Supra 3.0 gpa kids at good schools who can't name their senators or congressmen, a Cabinet member (including Biden), or simple historical facts. So, I don't think the O'Reilly thing was a put on at all. Sad and astounding, all at the same time.
Without wanting to discount the sadness of the situation, I wonder how different it is in other countries. I was in London on business and remember watching a sketch similar to what Chris Rock used to do asking people on the street basic questions, and the Londoners didn't fare any better than you'd expect the average New Yorker would.
That's why some fast food joints have automatic change dispensers in place. Bill cost $4.86. Patron pays with a $5, and the dispenser spits out the $0.14
Quote:
but I guess I should change that to "almost never". For some reason I was too lazy to search the cushions to find the remote the other day and it came on.
Anyway, the entire show was devoted to a reporter, Jesse Waters (?), going to various places (the street and beaches) and asking folks general and fairly simple questions about the country and about real simple American history. Nothing original. Stern has done it for years. Taxi quiz show made tons of money doing it, magazines do those tests every so often, etc...but it was hilarious and troubling how stupid...wrong word, ignorant people are about basic elementary school stuff. And the majority of the respondents were people still enrolled in (good) colleges too.
Not really a surprise. I've asked young folk around me things that they should know but don't. Supra 3.0 gpa kids at good schools who can't name their senators or congressmen, a Cabinet member (including Biden), or simple historical facts. So, I don't think the O'Reilly thing was a put on at all. Sad and astounding, all at the same time.
Without wanting to discount the sadness of the situation, I wonder how different it is in other countries. I was in London on business and remember watching a sketch similar to what Chris Rock used to do asking people on the street basic questions, and the Londoners didn't fare any better than you'd expect the average New Yorker would.
These skits have been parts of comedy shows forever. I always wondered how many people they actually interview/tape before they get the idiotic responses they want. Though sadly, I always imagined it's far less than you'd hope.
I couldn't name my House representative in Jersey, then in Morningside, Queens, UWS, or now back in Jersey.
Referring to the post about O'Reilly's segment, not the 1/3 < 1/4 post.
I was going to say Frank Lautenburg but apparently he is dead
I have smart friends who wouldn't have the slightest clue beyond the governor and if the state politicians are in the news very frequently, let alone much of anything about history. It's not appealing to them and they didn't study it or care to read about it. Just like I don't know shit about how to run their lab or conduct their financial transactions or model weather or what have you.
Governor and both US Senators, sure that's easy.
Couldn't tell you my State Senator or State Assemblyman is though.
The current civics stuff is a concern, IMO, because it reflects a general lack of awareness of what's going on around you. Remember, these people have to go out and vote at some point (although I get the feeling none of them do).
It's not kids either, actually. I was talking with a friend of mine last week. She's 40 or so. I mentioned something about the VA scandal and she asked me what that was.
Ideally it wouldn't be seen that way, but it is.
I have smart friends who wouldn't have the slightest clue beyond the governor and if the state politicians are in the news very frequently, let alone much of anything about history. It's not appealing to them and they didn't study it or care to read about it. Just like I don't know shit about how to run their lab or conduct their financial transactions or model weather or what have you.
It would be great to have a practical-civics required class for underclasspersons though. That would be something that actually helps them.
When I was that age, I at least knew that.
the math and science stats would see a spike.
the math and science stats would see a spike.
Probably sarcasm, and some places no longer teach hand writing, but what to do if the computer breaks?
Printing?
But off the top of my head...Chuck Schumer (Sen), Kirsten Gillibrand (Sen), Paul Tonko (Rep), Andrew Cuomo (Gov). I honestly couldn't tell you who the Lt. Gov is or who my state legislators are. The last are familiar names during election season but then I forget. I've never not known who my current Pres and VP and Secretary of State, at a minimum are. COuld probably get most but not all SCOTUS justices but could always knew the Chief Justice. That's all television and radio and newspaper stuff, so it's not like it's inaccessible or something more than osmosis for people.
I also once had a girlfriend (for about a week when I was 22) that that could not figure out how to use a measuring cup