G[eorge]: This is where... This is where you're wrong, I, I don't know how to make this any clearer. Let's try this. Write down 1 cent. How do you write down 1 cent?
A[ndrea]: Point zero one.
G: How do you write down half a cent?
A: Uhhh, that would be point zero zero five of a cent.
G: Okay.
A: [laughing] I don't know, I'm not a mathematician. All I'm telling you is I can tell you that with the calculator...
G: Yep.
A: ...and we take the .002 as everybody has told you that you've called in and spoke to...
G: Yes, but...
A: ...and as our system bill accordingly, is correct.
G: But you said .002 *cents*. Why don't you just write it down on a piece of paper. You have .002 *cents* not dollars. .002 *cents*...
A: Right
G: ...times my 35,893. It's a number, but it's still in *cents*. If you quoted me .002 *dollars*, everything is correct. If you quoted me .002 dollars, which represents two tenths of one cent - per kilobyte, then everything is fine. But I wasn't quoted two tenths of one cent, I was quoted two one-thousandths of one cent. I was quoted .002 cents. It's a terminology problem. You guys are quoting .002 dollars as if it's cents, simply because there's a decimal point involved.
A: We're not quoting .002 dollars, we're quoting .002 *cents*
G: Ah, God.. Honestly.
A: I mean the computer is calculating the, the figure here...
G: I know it is, it's... it's a terminology issue...
A: ...and we are calculating the figure here, and we're all coming up with the same thing - except for you.
G: .002 cents is different than .002 dollars. I'm being charged .002 dollars per kilobyte. .002 dollars is one tenth of one... I mean, two tenths of one cent.
A: Okay, well, I mean it's obviously a difference of opinion...
G: It's not opinion! This is.. this is..
A: ...the amount that you're billed for the data usage is entirely correct.
G: [exasperated] Ah, God.. Okay, well, you know what, I'm gonna post this recording on my blog, and...
A: And that's, if that's what you want to do, that's fine.
And lo, he did.
3 comments:
0.002 of 100 is not the same as 0.002 of 1. 1/2cent is 0.5 of 1, and DIDN'T ANYONE TEACH THOSE PEOPLE TO KNOW THEIR DENOMINATIONS!
Sorry. And I am not really very good at math, and I get it.
I am almost entirely ignorant of math, and I get the distinction. I think A would definitely get the distinction if her paycheck were involved...perhaps G. should suggest this to her company.
Tag, you're it.
http://allamericangirlsroadtrip.blogspot.com/2006/12/because-its-all-about-meme.html
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