NationStates Jolt Archive

http://ask.yahoo.com/20060505.html

Now, I don't have any training in acoustics. I have a Higher Irish Leaving Cert B in Physics (roughly the same as when you leaving High School, Yankees). I understood that definite. Why does Yahoo presume that only someone who studied acoustics to a masters level would understand that?

Because anyone who deals with the general public is disturbingly aware of how stupid people are.

Because anyone who deals with the general public is disturbingly aware of how stupid people are.
ill-informed, more like...

Why does Yahoo presume that only someone who studied acoustics to a masters level would understand that?
They don't. They say they'd need a Doctorate. But thanks for upgrading my degree ;)

Sorry. I am only a first year. But still, needing a doctorate to understand that? My point holds, despite my NOT understand doctorates ect.

Because the general public is generally stupid? Remember, the intelligence level of a large crowd is the lowest IQ of any single member divided by the number of people in the group.

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Actually, my point is stronger! I don't understand doctorates etc, but I do understand that definition... I think adding the second definition was good, but its the idea that only someone with a Doctorate could understand it...

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
Indeed. Just look at Parliament.

Its because it uses big scientificwords.. like "intensity" "frequencies" and refers to 'band' in a way where no guitars are featured...

Its like the phrase "Its not rocket science".... rocket science is actually VERY easy... people just assume that anything to do with science is very technical and advanced, thus have an air of ignorance towards it. Which helps create the image of stupidity...

Indeed. Just look at Parliament.

Bazing! :D Hehe.

I understood that and I'm 15!

Exactly! And I might have when I was... GreatBritain gave more evidence. Is the general public really that ignorant of science? Why? Is science difficult, or are scientists elitist, or is it something else? I'm leaning to the 3rd one, out of optimism...

People presume stupidity in public because it's easier to correct that presumption than to assume intelligence in public. If you are treating someone like they are stupid, they tend to object, in which case one can adjust to a more intelligent mode of communication. If one presumes intelligence, people will just go along with it out of fear of embarrassing themselves by announcing that they really are stupid, in which case there will be no understanding at all.

"I have a Higher Irish Leaving Cert B in Physics (roughly the same as when you leaving High School, Yankees)."

i think you over estemate american education. remember they have monkey as the leader of thier country. have you ever tried to do the sat's? i did it drunk and got in the top 20% of people who took it that year. i was 15.

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Having a very ditzy sister, and with the American government, I've learned that lesson.

I didn't know exactly what white noise was (I had a vague idea) until I read that, and I understood that definition perfectly. I'm only 14 too, and in eighth grade. :eek: I'm not even in high school...

"I have a Higher Irish Leaving Cert B in Physics (roughly the same as when you leaving High School, Yankees)."

i think you over estemate american education. remember they have monkey as the leader of thier country. have you ever tried to do the sat's? i did it drunk and got in the top 20% of people who took it that year. i was 15.

I took a Duke University-sponsored one at 13. I failed it though, but got somewhere near the 64th percentile. Not bad for a 13 year old, eh?

they are just flattering their readers.

if you understand it you must be wicked smart since its phd leve stuff. if you dont understand it (youre stupid) you dont have to feel bad, its not like you have a phd in acoustics.

A side-question... Why is learning and knowledge always associated with schools?

My school was pretty good, taught us a wide range of stuff (including some very indepth stuff in the sciences depending if we picked those classes), but most of what I know... I learnt myself, from the net, books, other people and first hand.

I think its crucial that people dont just rely on school-taught knowledge, but get out there and experiance and learn for themselves. Being spoon-fed only gets you so far :P

My question is why anyone would spend the time and money to get a Ph.D in acoustics. Does anyone in the world have that degree? Zany.

I can see it as a minor course of study and I've had 1 or 2 college classes in acoustics and sound engineering, but I could not imagine it being an actual degree plan.

Anyway, the definition is: Acoustical or electrical noise of which the intensity is the same at all frequencies within a given band.

Who couldn't understand that?

A side-question... Why is learning and knowledge always associated with schools?

Well ... believe it or not ... there's more to college than just drinking. ;)

My question is why anyone would spend the time and money to get a Ph.D in acoustics. Does anyone in the world have that degree?

Someone might want to work in acoustics? Im sure there is plenty of stuff to learn, as science is so specialised nowadays.

An experiment...

Give people that definition..and get them to name the scientific term which it defines :P

Liasia']Someone might want to work in acoustics?

Yeah ... but it still begs the question: why?

To further the study of trying to communicate with dolphins? Translating whale song? Designing a better guitar? A more pleasing car horn?

It just seems odd. Really, really odd.

Maybe it's just me.

Yeah ... but it still begs the question: why?

To further the study of trying to communicate with dolphins? Translating whale song? Designing a better guitar? A more pleasing car horn?

It just seems odd. Really, really odd.

Maybe it's just me.

Well im pretty sure the people who design stereos and such didn't get a degree in licking their own elbows. Its the same as a degree in any other branch of science- someone has to do it.

Well ... believe it or not ... there's more to college than just drinking. ;)

To which I'd reply something like.. It's only in the US that alcohol and college are part of the same image :P

College at 16, Alcohol at 18 for the UK
Other European countries is a similar set-up, except they're more responcible with alcohol than the steriotypical US-college student :P

Thats why imo staggering ages for things is good. People dont finish highschool (in the US) then get the novelty of being 'all grown up' and also the novelty of being legally allowed alcohol.

But enough of that :P We're getting sidetracked...

Anyone with qualifications in a specific field would be a specialist in the relivant industry.
Like said above.. someone who designs the electrical-components for a stereo, or as was said "Designing a better guitar, A more pleasing car horn"
Basically... anything on a wide-spread usage using acoustics, will have had someone who actually knows what they're talking about as part of the process.

To be honest, drunken college students is also part of Irish school life... but its also what I hear from english friends or friends who've gone to college in england. then again, drunken teenagers and 20 somethings are common in ireland anyway. and the worst are often those not in college...

I'm gonna push this off that now... Why is it neccessary to underestimate people intelligence? or are they?

To be honest, drunken college students is also part of Irish school life... but its also what I hear from english friends or friends who've gone to college in england. then again, drunken teenagers and 20 somethings are common in ireland anyway. and the worst are often those not in college...


So teenagers don't get drunk in other countries?
Being a teenager in England i can confirm that me and my friends do get drunk. regularly. But we're nice drunks, don't worry.

Anyway, the definition is: Acoustical or electrical noise of which the intensity is the same at all frequencies within a given band.

Who couldn't understand that?

The concept isn't hard to understand, but why white noise is of limited usefulness comapred to pink noise may be slightly harder.

http://ask.yahoo.com/20060505.html

Now, I don't have any training in acoustics. I have a Higher Irish Leaving Cert B in Physics (roughly the same as when you leaving High School, Yankees). I understood that definite. Why does Yahoo presume that only someone who studied acoustics to a masters level would understand that?It's quite simple, really: In America, people get away with suing other people for their stupidity.
Here's an example of it: Here's me in Disneyland Resort Paris on a(n obviously) rainy day.
http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/4809/cautionfloorwet3ya.th.jpg (http://img379.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cautionfloorwet3ya.jpg)
Anyone care to guess why that warning is only in English?

*looks up from eating paste* Huh? What?

;)

Its not just America. In England, schools are sued cos kids scrape their knees while playing, then close their playgrounds. Now there's apparently a worry that schools will be sued for not discouraging obesity enough...

Yeah ... but it still begs the question: why?

To further the study of trying to communicate with dolphins? Translating whale song? Designing a better guitar? A more pleasing car horn?

Designing guitars is a worthy cause, is it not?

If you presume you make an ass...no.