Yes, I understand that you weren't very good at fractions in school. Really, I sympathize. But if you're going to work in the butcher's department, I *do* expect you to learn what "2/3 of a pound" means. And no, 1.25 pounds isn't close...
And I grumble when they give me a blank look when I ask for 300 grams. Usually, they brighten up when I translate that to about 2/3 of a pound. And yeah, I'd expect them to know at least one of those.
On the other hand, I'm reminded of an incident when I was working at the hospital pharmacy 30-odd years ago. The order was for a gallon of quarter-strength Dakin's Solution. So I took the stock bottle of full-strength Dakin's Solution, poured off a quart (using the avoirdupois/apothecaries' measure side of the graduate), and diluted that with water to a gallon (in a gallon jug). I mean...duh...right?
Wrong. My boss, alias Captain Queeg, chewed me out, telling me most sternly that "we use the metric system here, you know". Right. So I ask him, "Okay, so you want me to measure off 946.5 mL and dilute to 3785 mL, right?" And he says, "No, I want you to measure 1 liter, dilute to 4 liters, and throw out the remainder".
*snicker* The thing is, they'll go home and complain to friends/family that someone expected them to know that, and the friends/family will say "math is hard, it's okay." I wish we would change our cultural attitude to that of the Asians, which is that you can get it if you work hard enough.
No problem, I understand - I've been a bit guilty of skimming on long posts too, recently. But I wasn't sure if you'd noticed, since you're one of the few people who hasn't friended me back. Glad you were able to see it, and yes... interesting stuff. I have a Robin Wood deck, but there's still tons of period games I have no clue on.
Maybe Pennsic will afford me some breathing time to go unwind at the games tent and learn something new... (hopefully maybe)
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-30 01:18 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-30 11:30 am (UTC)Seriously, fractions and analog clocks are SO last century. I never assume the grunt of the moment will know either.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-30 09:03 pm (UTC)Wrong. My boss, alias Captain Queeg, chewed me out, telling me most sternly that "we use the metric system here, you know". Right. So I ask him, "Okay, so you want me to measure off 946.5 mL and dilute to 3785 mL, right?" And he says, "No, I want you to measure 1 liter, dilute to 4 liters, and throw out the remainder".
True story.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-31 03:22 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-05-30 03:46 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-06-01 04:28 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-06-01 11:21 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-06-03 03:56 am (UTC)Maybe Pennsic will afford me some breathing time to go unwind at the games tent and learn something new... (hopefully maybe)