I GIVE UP!!!

[AnachitlPut]

my personal favorit is
Why do hunters like to kill animals? Why don't they buy store meat where no animals were hurt to make it?

 

[AlanZ]

Just further proof that half the population has an IQ of less than 100.

It's unlikely that this is the case... 100 is considered the mean (average) IQ.

However, I recall hearing that a former governor of New York was outraged when he heard that half of all NY students were reading below the median reading level.

I was outraged (and amused) at his outrage... and his name wasn't even "Tim"

 

[renowb]

I agree...If deer weren't killed, they would run rampant! Some people don't understand that.

my personal favorit is
Why do hunters like to kill animals? Why don't they buy store meat where no animals were hurt to make it?

 

[Smitty37]

Just further proof that half the population has an IQ of less than 100.

It's unlikely that this is the case... 100 is considered the mean (average) IQ.

However, I recall hearing that a former governor of New York was outraged when he heard that half of all NY students were reading below the median reading level.

I was outraged (and amused) at his outrage... and his name wasn't even "Tim"

The first statement is true.. IQ tests graphs that I've seen all have a normal distribution with 100 being the center point of the curve so indeed about half of all IQ scores will be less than 100. Mean and median in this case are about the same.

 

[azamiryou]

...and then I saddened when I realized she is probably serious

I know someone from that town who claims to know Tim, and that he was NOT serious. He was appalled at the crazy stupid letters that get printed in the paper, and thought he'd send in one that was especially outlandish as satire. Sure enough, it got printed.

Are there people who are really that stupid? Probably. But Tim isn't one of them, he's just a guy with a sharp wit.

 

[Smitty37]

Could be

Of course the letters editor could also have had a sense of humor and printed it to show how stupid some of the letters they receive are. If it is a small town newspaper they might just have a policy of printing all of the letters they receive that are not slanderous, liabilous or full of bad language.

...and then I saddened when I realized she is probably serious

I know someone from that town who claims to know Tim, and that he was NOT serious. He was appalled at the crazy stupid letters that get printed in the paper, and thought he'd send in one that was especially outlandish as satire. Sure enough, it got printed.

Are there people who are really that stupid? Probably. But Tim isn't one of them, he's just a guy with a sharp wit.

 

[Rob73]

Hilarious

 

[sbell111]

...Maybe they could put a stop light and a walk/don't walk sign for the deer...

Funny you say that, when I was in Banff Alberta a moose walked up the sidewalk and stopped at a light, it waited and started to walk when the walk sign came on.

I know it was fluke but my wife and I were shocked!

AK

A long time ago, I lived in a downtown area with my german shep. Our thrice daily walking tour required crossing a couple busy roads. It wasn't long before my dog took to automatically stopping and sitting at the 'don't walk' signals and getting up and starting to walk when they turned.

Just further proof that half the population has an IQ of less than 100.

It's unlikely that this is the case... 100 is considered the mean (average) IQ.

However, I recall hearing that a former governor of New York was outraged when he heard that half of all NY students were reading below the median reading level.

I was outraged (and amused) at his outrage... and his name wasn't even "Tim"

Assuming that it was a national reading level that they were being compared to, I understand and share his outrage. He should certainly expect the state's schools to perform better than the national average.

...and then I saddened when I realized she is probably serious

I know someone from that town who claims to know Tim, and that he was NOT serious. He was appalled at the crazy stupid letters that get printed in the paper, and thought he'd send in one that was especially outlandish as satire. Sure enough, it got printed.

Are there people who are really that stupid? Probably. But Tim isn't one of them, he's just a guy with a sharp wit.

Of course the letters editor could also have had a sense of humor and printed it to show how stupid some of the letters they receive are. If it is a small town newspaper they might just have a policy of printing all of the letters they receive that are not slanderous, liabilous or full of bad language.

I bet that every letters editor for every paper in teh country would have printed that letter.

 

[Smitty37]

...Maybe they could put a stop light and a walk/don't walk sign for the deer...

Funny you say that, when I was in Banff Alberta a moose walked up the sidewalk and stopped at a light, it waited and started to walk when the walk sign came on.

I know it was fluke but my wife and I were shocked!

AK

A long time ago, I lived in a downtown area with my german shep. Our thrice daily walking tour required crossing a couple busy roads. It wasn't long before my dog took to automatically stopping and sitting at the 'don't walk' signals and getting up and starting to walk when they turned.

Just further proof that half the population has an IQ of less than 100.

It's unlikely that this is the case... 100 is considered the mean (average) IQ.

However, I recall hearing that a former governor of New York was outraged when he heard that half of all NY students were reading below the median reading level.

I was outraged (and amused) at his outrage... and his name wasn't even "Tim"

Assuming that it was a national reading level that they were being compared to, I understand and share his outrage. He should certainly expect the state's schools to perform better than the national average.

...and then I saddened when I realized she is probably serious

I know someone from that town who claims to know Tim, and that he was NOT serious. He was appalled at the crazy stupid letters that get printed in the paper, and thought he'd send in one that was especially outlandish as satire. Sure enough, it got printed.

Are there people who are really that stupid? Probably. But Tim isn't one of them, he's just a guy with a sharp wit.

Of course the letters editor could also have had a sense of humor and printed it to show how stupid some of the letters they receive are. If it is a small town newspaper they might just have a policy of printing all of the letters they receive that are not slanderous, liabilous or full of bad language.

I bet that every letters editor for every paper in teh country would have printed that letter.

Only if there was a statistically significent difference in the distribution curve for New York scores then for the national scores, would there be much difference in the medians since both would be very large samples there could be a pretty big difference in the mean without much effect on the median.

Consider the positive integers 100 100 50 11 10 10 10 mean is 41.57 median is 11. Change the numbers to 1000 1000 500 11 10 10 10 mean is 363 median is still 11. That's an unusual example but it illustrates the point. Median points to distribution with nothing to do with average - mean is average.

 

[sbell111]

Just further proof that half the population has an IQ of less than 100.

It's unlikely that this is the case... 100 is considered the mean (average) IQ.

However, I recall hearing that a former governor of New York was outraged when he heard that half of all NY students were reading below the median reading level.

I was outraged (and amused) at his outrage... and his name wasn't even "Tim"

Assuming that it was a national reading level that they were being compared to, I understand and share his outrage. He should certainly expect the state's schools to perform better than the national average.

Only if there was a statistically significent difference in the distribution curve for New York scores then for the national scores, would there be much difference in the medians since both would be very large samples there could be a pretty big difference in the mean without much effect on the median.

Consider the positive integers 100 100 50 11 10 10 10 mean is 41.57 median is 11. Change the numbers to 1000 1000 500 11 10 10 10 mean is 363 median is still 11. That's an unusual example but it illustrates the point. Median points to distribution with nothing to do with average - mean is average.

Honestly, I don't think that I need to give a math class for my point to be valid. The governor has every reason to expect his state's schools to perform better than average.

 

[THarvey]

...Maybe they could put a stop light and a walk/don't walk sign for the deer...

Funny you say that, when I was in Banff Alberta a moose walked up the sidewalk and stopped at a light, it waited and started to walk when the walk sign came on.

I know it was fluke but my wife and I were shocked!

AK

A long time ago, I lived in a downtown area with my german shep. Our thrice daily walking tour required crossing a couple busy roads. It wasn't long before my dog took to automatically stopping and sitting at the 'don't walk' signals and getting up and starting to walk when they turned.

Just further proof that half the population has an IQ of less than 100.

It's unlikely that this is the case... 100 is considered the mean (average) IQ.

However, I recall hearing that a former governor of New York was outraged when he heard that half of all NY students were reading below the median reading level.

I was outraged (and amused) at his outrage... and his name wasn't even "Tim"

Assuming that it was a national reading level that they were being compared to, I understand and share his outrage. He should certainly expect the state's schools to perform better than the national average.

...and then I saddened when I realized she is probably serious

I know someone from that town who claims to know Tim, and that he was NOT serious. He was appalled at the crazy stupid letters that get printed in the paper, and thought he'd send in one that was especially outlandish as satire. Sure enough, it got printed.

Are there people who are really that stupid? Probably. But Tim isn't one of them, he's just a guy with a sharp wit.

Of course the letters editor could also have had a sense of humor and printed it to show how stupid some of the letters they receive are. If it is a small town newspaper they might just have a policy of printing all of the letters they receive that are not slanderous, liabilous or full of bad language.

I bet that every letters editor for every paper in teh country would have printed that letter.

That sounds more list a letter the newspaper editor would write in my town.

 

[Smitty37]

Just further proof that half the population has an IQ of less than 100.

It's unlikely that this is the case... 100 is considered the mean (average) IQ.

However, I recall hearing that a former governor of New York was outraged when he heard that half of all NY students were reading below the median reading level.

I was outraged (and amused) at his outrage... and his name wasn't even "Tim"

Assuming that it was a national reading level that they were being compared to, I understand and share his outrage. He should certainly expect the state's schools to perform better than the national average.

Only if there was a statistically significent difference in the distribution curve for New York scores then for the national scores, would there be much difference in the medians since both would be very large samples there could be a pretty big difference in the mean without much effect on the median.

Consider the positive integers 100 100 50 11 10 10 10 mean is 41.57 median is 11. Change the numbers to 1000 1000 500 11 10 10 10 mean is 363 median is still 11. That's an unusual example but it illustrates the point. Median points to distribution with nothing to do with average - mean is average.

Honestly, I don't think that I need to give a math class for my point to be valid. The governor has every reason to expect his state's schools to perform better than average.

The orginal point seems to me to have been that the governor mistook median for mean Steve, if your point was unrelated to that mistake and that the governor should expect the mean for his state to be higher than the mean nation wide, you're right - if you were agreeing with the governor that more than half of the states students should be higher than the national median, there is no basis for that even if more than half score above average.

 

[bitshird]

Ya know what's even more frightening.... People like that reproduce and also vote....

And probably in greater numbers than people who are smart enough to know better!!!!

Oh Smitty you haven't been to Western Tennessee, here they go skinny dipping in the gene pool. Fortunately some forget to resurface or to breath!!

 

[sbell111]

Just further proof that half the population has an IQ of less than 100.

It's unlikely that this is the case... 100 is considered the mean (average) IQ.

However, I recall hearing that a former governor of New York was outraged when he heard that half of all NY students were reading below the median reading level.

I was outraged (and amused) at his outrage... and his name wasn't even "Tim"

Assuming that it was a national reading level that they were being compared to, I understand and share his outrage. He should certainly expect the state's schools to perform better than the national average.

Only if there was a statistically significent difference in the distribution curve for New York scores then for the national scores, would there be much difference in the medians since both would be very large samples there could be a pretty big difference in the mean without much effect on the median.

Consider the positive integers 100 100 50 11 10 10 10 mean is 41.57 median is 11. Change the numbers to 1000 1000 500 11 10 10 10 mean is 363 median is still 11. That's an unusual example but it illustrates the point. Median points to distribution with nothing to do with average - mean is average.

Honestly, I don't think that I need to give a math class for my point to be valid. The governor has every reason to expect his state's schools to perform better than average.

The orginal point seems to me to have been that the governor mistook median for mean Steve, if your point was unrelated to that mistake and that the governor should expect the mean for his state to be higher than the mean nation wide, you're right - if you were agreeing with the governor that more than half of the states students should be higher than the national median, there is no basis for that even if more than half score above average.

My post stands on it's own. You need not try to find meaning in it that isn't directly written. Once again, if the governor was comparing his state with the national average, I'm right with him. Beyond that, I'll hold judgement on the mean/medium issue because I am not familiar with the actual situation and I have seen enough 'internet truths' turn out to be horribly erred.

 

[Smitty37]

Just further proof that half the population has an IQ of less than 100.

It's unlikely that this is the case... 100 is considered the mean (average) IQ.

However, I recall hearing that a former governor of New York was outraged when he heard that half of all NY students were reading below the median reading level.

I was outraged (and amused) at his outrage... and his name wasn't even "Tim"

Assuming that it was a national reading level that they were being compared to, I understand and share his outrage. He should certainly expect the state's schools to perform better than the national average.

Only if there was a statistically significent difference in the distribution curve for New York scores then for the national scores, would there be much difference in the medians since both would be very large samples there could be a pretty big difference in the mean without much effect on the median.

Consider the positive integers 100 100 50 11 10 10 10 mean is 41.57 median is 11. Change the numbers to 1000 1000 500 11 10 10 10 mean is 363 median is still 11. That's an unusual example but it illustrates the point. Median points to distribution with nothing to do with average - mean is average.

Honestly, I don't think that I need to give a math class for my point to be valid. The governor has every reason to expect his state's schools to perform better than average.

The orginal point seems to me to have been that the governor mistook median for mean Steve, if your point was unrelated to that mistake and that the governor should expect the mean for his state to be higher than the mean nation wide, you're right - if you were agreeing with the governor that more than half of the states students should be higher than the national median, there is no basis for that even if more than half score above average.

My post stands on it's own. You need not try to find meaning in it that isn't directly written. Once again, if the governor was comparing his state with the national average, I'm right with him. Beyond that, I'll hold judgement on the mean/medium issue because I am not familiar with the actual situation and I have seen enough 'internet truths' turn out to be horribly erred.

Where did you see anything about the governor comparing his state to the national average Steve...it isn't in the post you responded to.

 

[Smitty37]

Yes I have

Ya know what's even more frightening.... People like that reproduce and also vote....

And probably in greater numbers than people who are smart enough to know better!!!!

Oh Smitty you haven't been to Western Tennessee, here they go skinny dipping in the gene pool. Fortunately some forget to resurface or to breath!!

I have been to Western Tennessee (At least the western 1/3) when I vacationed in the Land Between the Lakes area. I actually stayed near Murray KY but visited TN a number of times. I've also stayed in Bean Station on the Eastern part of the State.

 

[AlanZ]

"Assuming that it was a national reading level that they were being compared to, I understand and share his outrage. He should certainly expect the state's schools to perform better than the national average."

Smitty,

No he was appalled by the fact that half of all the NY students were reading below the median level for NY students.

Of course, after he said that, someone explained to him that the median is the point where exactly half are above and half below.

 

[sbell111]

Just further proof that half the population has an IQ of less than 100.

It's unlikely that this is the case... 100 is considered the mean (average) IQ.

However, I recall hearing that a former governor of New York was outraged when he heard that half of all NY students were reading below the median reading level.

I was outraged (and amused) at his outrage... and his name wasn't even "Tim"

Assuming that it was a national reading level that they were being compared to, I understand and share his outrage. He should certainly expect the state's schools to perform better than the national average.

Only if there was a statistically significent difference in the distribution curve for New York scores then for the national scores, would there be much difference in the medians since both would be very large samples there could be a pretty big difference in the mean without much effect on the median.

Consider the positive integers 100 100 50 11 10 10 10 mean is 41.57 median is 11. Change the numbers to 1000 1000 500 11 10 10 10 mean is 363 median is still 11. That's an unusual example but it illustrates the point. Median points to distribution with nothing to do with average - mean is average.

Honestly, I don't think that I need to give a math class for my point to be valid. The governor has every reason to expect his state's schools to perform better than average.

The orginal point seems to me to have been that the governor mistook median for mean Steve, if your point was unrelated to that mistake and that the governor should expect the mean for his state to be higher than the mean nation wide, you're right - if you were agreeing with the governor that more than half of the states students should be higher than the national median, there is no basis for that even if more than half score above average.

My post stands on it's own. You need not try to find meaning in it that isn't directly written. Once again, if the governor was comparing his state with the national average, I'm right with him. Beyond that, I'll hold judgement on the mean/medium issue because I am not familiar with the actual situation and I have seen enough 'internet truths' turn out to be horribly erred.

Where did you see anything about the governor comparing his state to the national average Steve...it isn't in the post you responded to.

Good grief. Just read my post. It says what I meant it to say. Please don't continue to try to read more into my posts than what is there and then try to parse that into some kind of major debate.

 

[sbell111]

"Assuming that it was a national reading level that they were being compared to, I understand and share his outrage. He should certainly expect the state's schools to perform better than the national average."

Smitty,

No he was appalled by the fact that half of all the NY students were reading below the median level for NY students.

Of course, after he said that, someone explained to him that the median is the point where exactly half are above and half below.

Sounds like he misunderstood the original data. It happens. Still it's understandable for him to be upset if the median is too low.

 

[AlanZ]

"Sounds like he misunderstood the original data. "

Of course this is what happened. What was sad/funny was that he didn't recognize what "median" meant, and proceeded with his outrage.

For anyone who's still confused by this, "median" is not the average (it's the midpoint)... "mean" is the average.