Mountains are being made out of molehills here. ..
Thinking back to high school chemistry, I can recall one test to which I forgot to bring my calculator and was, for whatever reason, unable to borrow one. I went through the test doing long division and multiplication out by hand. Did I gain any greater understanding of the nature of moles from doing that? No.
I can recall a later test to which I did bring my calculator with all of my formulas neatly typed in. I went through the test plugging numbers into the calculator prompt. Did I gain any lesser understanding of the nature of gasses from doing that? No. (What purpose does memorizing PV = nrt or however it goes serve when I can, should the unlikely circumstances of me having to refer to the formula ever occur, look it up in a reference book in a minute or two? Being able to store formulae is a -good- use of calculators and PDAs.)
Were the grades on the two tests appreciably different? No. I understood the material.
Did other students do poorly doing it without a calculator, or even with a calculator? Yes. They didn't understand the material. Blaming their lack of understanding on calculators is a bit like blaming Columbine on video games -- a convenient scapegoat when the real issue is the people (parents, teachers, etc.).
Of course, I also once lost 10% of the grade on a (no calculator allowed) calculus test because I decided that 2 + 3 equaled 6 . . . so maybe I do rely on calculators as too much of a crutch after all:-).
I don't get it. Are you "very sorry", or not? I don't care that much about the X-files, but it always ticks me off when someone apologizes and then adds words to the effect of "...but not really"
I believe the point he wishes to make is:
1.) He is sorry to have ruined the surprise for people and
2.) He does not understand why the error generated so many personal attacks, as it seemed a fairly minor one.
Personally, I don't understand, either. Yes, he made a mistake. People make mistakes. Why does a single mistake result in reason for dozens of people to declare him a "fucking idiot"? Regardless of the importance of TV, what happened to simple respect for other people?
Kind of odd though... nothing illegal about people under 18 having sex in most states
At least in the states I've lived in, there are a number of circumstances under which it's illegal. California in particular has some very strict codes [ca.gov] on underaged sexual activity that do not make allowances even if both parties involved are underaged or near in age. Check your own state's legal code.
Slashdot Mirror
Mountains are being made out of molehills here. . .
:-).
Thinking back to high school chemistry, I can recall one test to which I forgot to bring my calculator and was, for whatever reason, unable to borrow one. I went through the test doing long division and multiplication out by hand. Did I gain any greater understanding of the nature of moles from doing that? No.
I can recall a later test to which I did bring my calculator with all of my formulas neatly typed in. I went through the test plugging numbers into the calculator prompt. Did I gain any lesser understanding of the nature of gasses from doing that? No. (What purpose does memorizing PV = nrt or however it goes serve when I can, should the unlikely circumstances of me having to refer to the formula ever occur, look it up in a reference book in a minute or two? Being able to store formulae is a -good- use of calculators and PDAs.)
Were the grades on the two tests appreciably different? No. I understood the material.
Did other students do poorly doing it without a calculator, or even with a calculator? Yes. They didn't understand the material. Blaming their lack of understanding on calculators is a bit like blaming Columbine on video games -- a convenient scapegoat when the real issue is the people (parents, teachers, etc.).
Of course, I also once lost 10% of the grade on a (no calculator allowed) calculus test because I decided that 2 + 3 equaled 6 . . . so maybe I do rely on calculators as too much of a crutch after all
(But it is just TV, after all)
I don't get it. Are you "very sorry", or not? I don't care that much about the X-files, but it always ticks me off when someone apologizes and then adds words to the effect of "...but not really"
I believe the point he wishes to make is:
1.) He is sorry to have ruined the surprise for people and
2.) He does not understand why the error generated so many personal attacks, as it seemed a fairly minor one.
Personally, I don't understand, either. Yes, he made a mistake. People make mistakes. Why does a single mistake result in reason for dozens of people to declare him a "fucking idiot"? Regardless of the importance of TV, what happened to simple respect for other people?
Oh, wait. It never existed.
Kind of odd though... nothing illegal about people under 18 having sex in most states
At least in the states I've lived in, there are a number of circumstances under which it's illegal. California in particular has some very strict codes [ca.gov] on underaged sexual activity that do not make allowances even if both parties involved are underaged or near in age. Check your own state's legal code.
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