Re: This is why I go to San Andreas to set people on fire

1

My new theory is when you ask people their opinion, in any context, on any topic, one person in twenty will say something completely batshit insane.

This is why the 95% confidence level used in opinion surveys is so well chosen. It effectively screens out the one person in twenty from affecting what we think of as mainstream opinion.


Posted by: rob helpy-chalk | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 7:32 AM
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1: But what if they take out the wrong end of the spectrum?


Posted by: JRoth | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 7:36 AM
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What's the protocol on marking something like that? "Jesus Christ, are you really this dumb? C-." or what?


Posted by: LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 7:59 AM
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There are so many ways to go crazy,
trim (clear cut) all the edges and report
the median.


Posted by: Econolicious, multivalent in 23 positions | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 8:01 AM
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Is this a case where you really can blame the PC police? Is this a freshman paper?


Posted by: SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 8:03 AM
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3: the faculty handbook instructs us to begin by laughing heartily, then to transition into a sort of deranged cackle, and to conclude with quiet sobs as we realize what we've become.


Posted by: FL | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 8:10 AM
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Inequality should be a trump card in every discussion, Labs.


Posted by: baa | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 8:16 AM
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7: Especially when tied to invidious traits like race, gender, or sexuality. Is it good or bad if women's organs are more valuable, because smaller and more likely to fit into the new Asian market bodies?


Posted by: SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 8:23 AM
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Per volume the organs would be less valuable, yes, but they'd be bigger and more muscular, so it would balance.


Posted by: Beefo Meaty | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 8:28 AM
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These considerations pull in both directions-- would my black heart be shiftless and unreliable or would it be naturally rhythmic?


Posted by: FL | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 8:30 AM
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6. if there were a market for transplantable organs, you could sell your penis for millions and quit.


Posted by: Michael | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 8:32 AM
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Irish livers, high price due to scarcity of supply and the appeal of common tribal identity to many of the recipients?


Posted by: JP Stormcrow | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 8:37 AM
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I'm looking forward to a hilarious Chris Tucker comedy where he gets transplanted with .... a gay kidney.


Posted by: baa | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 8:38 AM
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I'm looking forward to a hilarious Chris Tucker comedy

Baa, the Lillian Hellman of Unfogged.


Posted by: FL | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 8:44 AM
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I almost want to give you student points for creativity. You can see the train (or trolley) of thought chugging along. Organs for sale (train leaving the station) --- social and political ramifications of people selling organs (train comin' round the mountain) -- market! forces! (sir, the track is out ahead!) -- demand for healthy organs (quick, we'll switch to the other track) -- sickle cell anemia is not healthy (sir, the other track is flooded) -- black people are more likely to get sickle cell (choo choo) -- no one would want black organs (train jumps track) and would pay less (twisting Wachowski style in the air) -- inequality is bad (now it's like that scene in the Fugitive with the train and the explosions.)


Posted by: Cala | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 9:42 AM
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I had a student write in her final that the US won WWII after destroying all the Japanese nuclear weapons.

I had to stop grading to go drink.


Posted by: winna | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 10:56 AM
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16: Dude, I had a sociology professor say it was racist for us to bomb Pearl Harbor.

So be sure you don't do any of that drinking before lecture.


Posted by: TJ | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 11:32 AM
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Sickle-cell anemia is a reason not to accept blood transfusions, not organs. Jesus!


Posted by: ben w-lfs-n | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 11:36 AM
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One of the reasons I hate the Cahtolic church is that they horde all of that ulra-pure Jesus blood, instead of giving it out to people who need it.


Posted by: Michael | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 2:34 PM
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you could sell your penis for millions and quit.

But then he'd have no reason to live.


Posted by: bitchphd | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 6:05 PM
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21

11.

Racist!


Posted by: Gozer | Link to this comment | 05-10-08 6:27 PM
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