Fun with units

GwahirGwahir Join Date: 2002-04-24 Member: 513Members, Constellation
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Verizon Math (from /.)</div>It's long, but I had to share this.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp0HyxQv97Q&eurl=" target="_blank">Call to Verizon</a>

It's so frustrating it's funny!


The summary: through several phone reps, the caller is unable to convince the reps that .002 cents is different from .002 dollars
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  • AegeriAegeri Join Date: 2003-02-13 Member: 13486Members
    edited December 2006
    Hahaha. That's just fantastic.

    Edit for moneyshot: "So I assumed that you guys knew how to do math"

    Awesome.
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  • CForresterCForrester P0rk(h0p Join Date: 2002-10-05 Member: 1439Members, Constellation
    edited December 2006
    Good lord.

    I wish I lived in the US. Verizon actually has an unlimited data plan there. In Canada, they make you take it up the butt for any data transfer you do. Telus Mobility and Bell Mobility both charge you $100 a month for 250 MB of transfer and absolutely nothing else. Yet, Verizon charges $80 for unlimited data (within reason), 450 anytime minutes, unlimited nights and weekends, and unlimited incoming.

    <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />

    [EDIT:] "I'm not a mathematician!" Oh god. I would have said "Please connect me with one, then."
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  • AegeriAegeri Join Date: 2003-02-13 Member: 13486Members
    edited December 2006
    Man, I'm surprised he didn't go more ape on the phone than he did. If that was me I would have gone all Mr. T on them.

    Or something.

    Edit: I wish I could turn cents into dollars as if by magic <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />
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  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    This hurts so much that I can only listen to it in one-minute swatches, with a good five to ten minute pause in between. Then again, I don't suffer idiots anywhere near as well as this guy.

    Easy way to explain it though. ".002 dollars times one thousand is two dollars, correct? Then .002 cents times one thousand is equal to two cents."
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  • GwahirGwahir Join Date: 2002-04-24 Member: 513Members, Constellation
    I'm afraid Talesin, that he tried stuff very much like that...
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  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    ARHGHHHHHG

    GOHARHGH

    PHYSICAL PAIN AFTER TWO MINUTES. OHGOD.

    --Scythe--
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  • AegeriAegeri Join Date: 2003-02-13 Member: 13486Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1586160:date=Dec 9 2006, 05:22 AM:name=Talesin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Talesin @ Dec 9 2006, 05:22 AM) [snapback]1586160[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    This hurts so much that I can only listen to it in one-minute swatches, with a good five to ten minute pause in between. Then again, I don't suffer idiots anywhere near as well as this guy.

    Easy way to explain it though. ".002 dollars times one thousand is two dollars, correct? Then .002 cents times one thousand is equal to two cents."
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    He tries this approach several times. Every time they just point out their computer multiplies .002 cents by his usage and ends up with the figure in dollars....somehow.
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  • GwahirGwahir Join Date: 2002-04-24 Member: 513Members, Constellation
    edited December 2006
    I would have either taught basic unit conversion (in terms of units by themselves) or gone into a short discussion about the move Office Space (fractions of a cent moved into a different account by the virus). There must be some way to make them understand it, though you'd think it isn't possible after hearing that.

    edit: THE best line from the manager: "Well, obviously it's a difference of opinion"
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  • MamboKingMamboKing Join Date: 2004-03-06 Member: 27169Members
    Why can't they just quote it as being two tenths of a cent? Surely someone at Verizon must know math.
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  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
    ... all of a sudden i know why my school offers MATH002 - Remidial Algebra
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  • QuaunautQuaunaut The longest seven days in history... Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    Yeah...digg.com ftw

    I saw this yesterday morning and almost cried.
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  • AbraAbra Would you kindly Join Date: 2003-08-17 Member: 19870Members
    The stupidity!!
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  • Zor2Zor2 Join Date: 2005-01-13 Member: 35341Members, Constellation
    Oh. Dear. Ry. Me.
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  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    God I love America.
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    I don't consider myself an abnormally intelligent person. But to be THIS MUCH less smart than me... My imagination cannot grasp this. I can only assume that the reason people like this are NOT bagging groceries is because they got fired for bagging the groceries and then SETTING THEM ON FIRE because they considered that a good idea.
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  • cshank4cshank4 Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13425Members
    You know, at first I didn't get what the hell was going on... Then I got some tea, relistened to some of it, and chortled long and hard.


    Wow...
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    edited December 2006
    <!--quoteo(post=1586194:date=Dec 9 2006, 05:07 AM:name=Black_Mage)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Black_Mage @ Dec 9 2006, 05:07 AM) [snapback]1586194[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    ... all of a sudden i know why my school offers MATH002 - Remidial Algebra
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Let's hope they also offer ENG002 - <b>Remedial</b> Spelling

    Really it's kind of hypocritical to get incensed about a lack of basic math skills (which lots of people don't have because hey, they don't need them) when you yourself show similar deficiencies in a topic that's just as critical.
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  • TheDestroyerTheDestroyer Tooobah Join Date: 2003-07-12 Member: 18123Members, Constellation
    Ow...my head.
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  • cshank4cshank4 Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13425Members
    For all that don't get it,

    .001 dollars is a tenth of a cent
    .001 cents is a thousandth of a cent.

    There's a huge difference there.
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  • AegeriAegeri Join Date: 2003-02-13 Member: 13486Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1586279:date=Dec 9 2006, 01:14 PM:name=cshank4)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cshank4 @ Dec 9 2006, 01:14 PM) [snapback]1586279[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    For all that don't get it,

    .001 dollars is a tenth of a cent
    .001 cents is a thousandth of a cent.

    There's a huge difference there.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Not according to their computer and you know about those computers they have there, <i>they can't be wrong</i>.
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  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1586279:date=Dec 9 2006, 06:14 PM:name=cshank4)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cshank4 @ Dec 9 2006, 06:14 PM) [snapback]1586279[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    For all that don't get it,

    .001 dollars is a tenth of a cent
    .001 cents is a thousandth of a cent.

    There's a huge difference there.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Add if you are a Verizon employee reading this multiplying them by 35,000 does make the same number.

    Anyone else else it's a big difference.
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    Wait, making a typo in 'remedial' is as bad as not being able to tell the difference between 0.002 dollars and 0.002 cents? What's next, equal penalties for petty theft and murder?
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  • EpidemicEpidemic Dark Force Gorge Join Date: 2003-06-29 Member: 17781Members
    + Black mage is from germany and does not have english as the mothertonque (FYI)
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1586285:date=Dec 9 2006, 10:40 AM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lolfighter @ Dec 9 2006, 10:40 AM) [snapback]1586285[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Wait, making a typo in 'remedial' is as bad as not being able to tell the difference between 0.002 dollars and 0.002 cents? What's next, equal penalties for petty theft and murder?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Come on, the letters are halfway across the keyboard from each other. That's no typo. That's a misunderstanding on the same level as equating two fractions with each other when they're both represented by the same number. People who live in glass houses, even if they grew up in a glass house in Germany, shouldn't throw stones.
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  • PetcoPetco Join Date: 2003-07-27 Member: 18478Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1586296:date=Dec 9 2006, 10:56 AM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Dec 9 2006, 10:56 AM) [snapback]1586296[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Come on, the letters are halfway across the keyboard from each other. That's no typo. That's a misunderstanding on the same level as equating two fractions with each other when they're both represented by the same number. People who live in glass houses, even if they grew up in a glass house in Germany, shouldn't throw stones.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    It's different though. Many people make spelling errors, many don't know how to spell things, many people make typos, and of course many people's native language is not English.

    Though I'm sure someone from the United States learned the difference between cents and dollars in preschool, while learning how to spell various words take people a life time to get down on.
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  • [WHO]Them[WHO]Them You can call me Dave Join Date: 2002-12-11 Member: 10593Members, Constellation
    The comments from the video aren't any better....

    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    0.002 cents * 35 = = 70 cents
    0.002 dollars * 35 = 70 dollars
    0.00002 dollars * 35 = .7 dollars
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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  • IsamilIsamil Join Date: 2003-11-25 Member: 23552Members, Constellation
    I'd like to know how misspelling "remedial" matters at all considering it's clear what word he was trying to use. You're saying a minor spelling error is just as critical as not understanding basic elementary school math?

    (maybe Tycho was being sarcastic?)
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  • GwahirGwahir Join Date: 2002-04-24 Member: 513Members, Constellation
    I'll call that a much lesser mistake relative to basic math, now lets get off the subject of why that was a valid or invalid insult can we?
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  • ZigZig ...I am Captain Planet&#33; Join Date: 2002-10-23 Member: 1576Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1586234:date=Dec 9 2006, 08:40 AM:name=Thaldarin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Thaldarin @ Dec 9 2006, 08:40 AM) [snapback]1586234[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    God I love America.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    i'm pretty sure they're in Canada, bro. did you mean you love North America?
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  • QuaunautQuaunaut The longest seven days in history... Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=1586268:date=Dec 9 2006, 09:52 AM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Dec 9 2006, 09:52 AM) [snapback]1586268[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Let's hope they also offer ENG002 - <b>Remedial</b> Spelling

    Really it's kind of hypocritical to get incensed about a lack of basic math skills (which lots of people don't have because hey, they don't need them) when you yourself show similar deficiencies in a topic that's just as critical.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I still haven't heard of someone being overcharged, or hurt in any way(except perhaps 'looking stupid', but then again, if that mattered all of us geeks would really be hurting) for misspelling something.
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