ArtW
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OMG! prescient computers? Oh noooooeeeeessss!
Door math?
- Thread starter Vagabound
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ArtW said:
Not closely, nor at expert level, but I've been following the Artificial Intelligence (AI or prescient computer) issue in the news the last couple of years. Recently, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Stephen Hawking (just to name a few) all said in their own ways, "We better be very careful what we ask for. Danger, Will Robinson!" I think it was Hawking who said if we create real AI, it will be an amazing achievement ... and maybe our last.
I said that to say this: On CNN/Fareed Zakaria GPS this week, I saw an interview with the CEO of IBM, a woman named Ginni Rometty. A main topic was IBM's Watson supercomputer and its accomplishments, future of AI, etc. The most interesting part was watching her continually deny that AI will displace any humans, and certainly won't be a danger to any of us. Her story (and she stuck to it) was that AI will only "augment" or "supplement" human ability, making us even more amazing than we think we are now.
Hmmm. Who to believe?!?
Went a long way toward proving gender equality though -- she can lie her ass off with the best of them!
On the bright side, if we do end up with AI, just before they become our overlords, maybe we can teach them to conclusively count van doors!
Vagabound
ArtW
Well-known member
Not a chance, the van door count issue will never be resolved!
NEVER i SAY!!
NEVER i SAY!!
ArtW
Well-known member
I didn't add, I responded to your comment
I have to be original? oh bother
I have to be original? oh bother
WAIT! What about the hood?
Don't laugh!
It's a door. It opens. It has a handle.
Some people stow a cooking pot in it.
Sometimes.
They probably stow other stuff too, meaning to or not... :s
Thinking outside the box...errr, van...
Don't laugh!
It's a door. It opens. It has a handle.
Some people stow a cooking pot in it.
Sometimes.
They probably stow other stuff too, meaning to or not... :s
Thinking outside the box...errr, van...
TrainChaser
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I was telling a friend about this thread, and she nodded and reminded me about the New Math* (1960s) and Common Core (now). She said, "The American educational system has a lot of idiot teaching behind it. You can't teach clever techniques when you can't even teach that two plus two equals four."
So, that's probably the trouble with doors: the New Math victims count one way, and the Common Core people count another way. The problem is that they don't even know how many fingers (or doors) each number represents.
*I missed the New Math by two years, but my sister got it right between the eyes. Mom tried to help her at home, but when her papers came back, Mom's answers were wrong. So she went to the teacher and asked her to explain the new way of teaching. Mom came home dumbfounded -- the teacher couldn't explain it to HER.
So, that's probably the trouble with doors: the New Math victims count one way, and the Common Core people count another way. The problem is that they don't even know how many fingers (or doors) each number represents.
*I missed the New Math by two years, but my sister got it right between the eyes. Mom tried to help her at home, but when her papers came back, Mom's answers were wrong. So she went to the teacher and asked her to explain the new way of teaching. Mom came home dumbfounded -- the teacher couldn't explain it to HER.
In my case, it was old math. Regardless of math title, all I know is it could have been more effective. Had a similar problem trying to help kids with their "new math". Contrary to what the TV commercials have taught us, I guess the words "new and improved" don't always belong together.
When it comes to the door counting debacle, while the math-types thing is funny, I suspect that anyone with minimal common sense and any type of math training could accurately count the doors. The problem arises when the marketing and PR people get involved, who have the "fruits" of their devious mental labor further muddied by lawyers. When that's over with, it's amazing that anyone knows the name of anything.
Vagabound
When it comes to the door counting debacle, while the math-types thing is funny, I suspect that anyone with minimal common sense and any type of math training could accurately count the doors. The problem arises when the marketing and PR people get involved, who have the "fruits" of their devious mental labor further muddied by lawyers. When that's over with, it's amazing that anyone knows the name of anything.
Vagabound
Update just for fun:
About two weeks ago, when this topic was pretty active, I decided, "Hey, I'm tired of messing around. I'm gonna ask the big boys." So, I sent an email to Ford and one to GM. Doesn't come much more authoritative than that. I asked them the door counting question.
Status: Two weeks later they are both still thinking.
Ford: They first said something like "Thanks for contacting Ford Motor Company. We invite you to enjoy the great expanse of the Internet as you search endlessly for your answer. Let us know if we can help you again." I always love that last part, certain to be tacked onto the end of a reply in which nothing helpful exists. I replied, saying basically "What? That's it?!?" Then they said they would refer my question to a "Technical Subject Matter Expert." This expert, if not named "Recycle Bin", is still thinking also.
GM sent this:
"At this time, we do not have information readily available that is needed [to] answer your question. However, we have escalated your inquiry and we will contact you when we have received a response. Depending on the complexity of the inquiry and the department required to answer the question, it may take some time to get a response back. We hope this delay will not cause you any inconvenience in your research or purchase decision. In the meantime, please let us know if we may be of additional assistance."
So, I think it's safely official now -- van door counting isn't simple after all. ;-)
Vagabound
About two weeks ago, when this topic was pretty active, I decided, "Hey, I'm tired of messing around. I'm gonna ask the big boys." So, I sent an email to Ford and one to GM. Doesn't come much more authoritative than that. I asked them the door counting question.
Status: Two weeks later they are both still thinking.
Ford: They first said something like "Thanks for contacting Ford Motor Company. We invite you to enjoy the great expanse of the Internet as you search endlessly for your answer. Let us know if we can help you again." I always love that last part, certain to be tacked onto the end of a reply in which nothing helpful exists. I replied, saying basically "What? That's it?!?" Then they said they would refer my question to a "Technical Subject Matter Expert." This expert, if not named "Recycle Bin", is still thinking also.
GM sent this:
"At this time, we do not have information readily available that is needed [to] answer your question. However, we have escalated your inquiry and we will contact you when we have received a response. Depending on the complexity of the inquiry and the department required to answer the question, it may take some time to get a response back. We hope this delay will not cause you any inconvenience in your research or purchase decision. In the meantime, please let us know if we may be of additional assistance."
So, I think it's safely official now -- van door counting isn't simple after all. ;-)
Vagabound
highdesertranger
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hahahahahahahaha, hahahahahahaha. highdesertranger
ArtW
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this thread has gone from interesting to silly to ridiculous to absurd
Only in Corporate America can you manufacture a product and be unable to answer a simple, basic question about it
I will continue my method of counting points af entry which are clearly designed for passenger entry into the passenger compartment as door, and not cargo hatches (trunk, rear hatch, rear van door, pickup tailgate) or maintenance hatches (hood, doghouse cover) as doors untill Higher Authority says I'm wrong. I will also continue to count barn doors as one pair, rather than 2 separate door, since removing one of them renders the other worthless
Oh BTW, since we're being so absurd as to include the hood, you forgot the doghouse
Now, I really, really want to see someone post a CL ad selling an "8 door Chevy 2500 van" and then explain to the potential buyers that the barn doors count as 2 doors, rather than a 'pair of doors' and that the hood and doghouse count as doors, too
Please post the number of respondents who look at you like you suddenly grew an extra head and three new eyes in random locations
Only in Corporate America can you manufacture a product and be unable to answer a simple, basic question about it
I will continue my method of counting points af entry which are clearly designed for passenger entry into the passenger compartment as door, and not cargo hatches (trunk, rear hatch, rear van door, pickup tailgate) or maintenance hatches (hood, doghouse cover) as doors untill Higher Authority says I'm wrong. I will also continue to count barn doors as one pair, rather than 2 separate door, since removing one of them renders the other worthless
Oh BTW, since we're being so absurd as to include the hood, you forgot the doghouse
Now, I really, really want to see someone post a CL ad selling an "8 door Chevy 2500 van" and then explain to the potential buyers that the barn doors count as 2 doors, rather than a 'pair of doors' and that the hood and doghouse count as doors, too
Please post the number of respondents who look at you like you suddenly grew an extra head and three new eyes in random locations
ArtW
Well-known member
Do you honestly think I was serious about the sales experiment? lol
TrainChaser
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Corporate America tends to overthink things that are simple, and ignore matters that are important. Common sense is as rare there as anywhere else.
ArtW said:
No, not at all. I was referring to the "I will continue to count ..." part. It just struck me as very serious and formal, like I will strive on, persevere, overcome .... (music crescendo, etc). Just my failed attempt at humor. Carry on!
If I ever get actual replies from Ford or GM, I'll post them here. Should be some good entertainment. ;-)
Vagabound
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