The stigma of being a UW math alumnus

Mar 08, 2008 19:09

I went to the Piroshky Piroshky bakery in Pike Place Market today while I was doing some shopping. I got my food, and the server tells me what my total is ( Read more... )

seattle, fun, day-to-day

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Comments 7

alex_the_greate March 9 2008, 05:14:47 UTC
When I was in Sudbury, I went to the Subway in the mall one night because I was lazy and didn't want to cook.

Except the cash register was broken and wouldn't compute my change. Since they had already made my sandwich, a frantic hunt for a calculator commenced.

I waited a couple of minutes, enjoying the panic behind the counter (consulting can be stressful and brings out the schadenfreude in me). Then I calmly pointed out to the cashier what my change actually was.

Ah technology.

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quikchange March 9 2008, 14:53:57 UTC
That happened to me at Burger King once but they didn't *believe* me when I told them what the change was ($1.50 on $50). I was astounded that they couldn't figure out 50-48.5 in their heads and annoyed that the thought I'd try to swindle them out of such a small amount.

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elindros8897 March 10 2008, 02:38:19 UTC
Kudos to the server who at least attempted to figure it out...so many clerks and cashiers in North Bay blindly go by whatever the register says without any thought about the process. So naturally, when they punch in the wrong cash-in price, and I point out that the change should have been something else instead, they look at you like "how dare you question the machine!"

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tangbu March 10 2008, 19:53:46 UTC
I spent about 10 minutes arguing with a guy in NZ who insisted the machine was broken because it told him to give me the wrong amount of change.

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enigmaticdan March 10 2008, 15:46:27 UTC
I have a Dilbert that relates to this topic. Maybe I'll scan it.

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tangbu March 10 2008, 20:02:09 UTC
Ah, one of my pet peeves. I do this kind of thing all the time, mostly because I like to exercise my brain, but also because I'm irritated that basic numeracy is becoming a rare skill.

The saddest part of this is the look of pure panic you'll see if the machine happens to be broken. On the bright side, once a year or so you'll come across someone who can do simple arithmetic in their head. On my way back from Florida this year I stopped for some fast food in a rather run down neighbourhood, and the kid behind the counter didn't even bat an eye when I gave him an odd amount of change, but simply told me what the change would be before he rang it up. Made my day.

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backguy March 11 2008, 02:27:41 UTC
That is awesome. I've only had that happen to me a handful of times, and every time it does I'm duly impressed.

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