baggirl not so bright

[MushyMushy]

I'm far from stupid, but I have a pretty severe learning disability in math. There are times when the dumbest things come out of my mouth when it comes to numbers, but once I really sit down and think it through, I can figure it out. I'm glad I can laugh at myself, because I'd be in sad shape otherwise. My family is constantly amazed at how much I can screw up in math.

Case in point: I want to buy 10 dozen cupcakes to take to school, so I asked the bakery attendant how much they were per dozen. $2.50. Alrighty, no problemo, right? WRONG!

I sat down and figured it out like this:

10 x 12 = 120 cupcakes
120 cupcakes x $2.50 = $300.

WHAT??? $300 for 120 cupcakes???



It took me a minute, but I finally got it.

Anyway, cut us math dummies a break. I can spell any word you throw at me, write a 10-page essay in one sitting, or analyze a difficult piece of literature but I sure can't figure out a math problem.

 

[summerrluvv]

The cashiers and bag boys around here are mostly people without any sort of mental defect or drug problem.

Guy at the gas station couldn't make change from a $5 bill. He wasn't ********, didn't have Down's, he was just plain stupid. Even when I told him what the change should be, he looked at me like he was trying to figure out if I was putting one over on him.

Your statement is pretty darn sad. Maybe he has a learning disability. Now granted, people that can't do math shouldn't be cashiers, but I think it's wrong, really wrong, to call him stupid. Just because he doesn't look ******** or like he has a disability, doesn't mean there isn't something wrong with him.

 

[summerrluvv]

It's okay to have varying levels of IQ in our society. That's the way we're made. We can't do anything about it. I applaud the hard work all people are doing, no matter their IQ.

I work with kids with special needs. Except for the somewhat strange behavior of two of them (they're autistic and are just different than the average person), you'd never know just by looking at them what their learning abilities or IQ are. They dress the same as other kids, laugh and act the same as other kids, look the same as other kids, etc. Furthermore, people don't just have average to above average IQs or have mental retardation. There are many numbers in between, and we run into those people every day. They deserve to be treated with as much respect as the scientist you meet with a genius IQ level.

OP, this isn't directed toward you, necessarily. I might have made the same comment a few years ago. I just see the pain some of the kids with lower IQs go through every day and I'd hate to think I'd do anything to make them (or their parents) feel worse...even posting a message on a message board that might be read by them or their parents.

My son is not good at Math. He hasn't been formally diagnosed with a learning disability yet, but I know that's to come at this years IEP meeting. He has an IQ of 97 which is an average IQ. He looks, dresses, acts and laughs just like the other kids in his 15:1:1 classroom. In fact, all the kids in his class act and look like unclassified children and are a great group of kids. They just all have some sort of learning disability or other developmental delay.

I would be very insulted if someone called my son stupid because math isn't his strong point. Heck reading isn't at this point either, but he's a bright kid in a lot of other aspects and hopefully the other stuff comes. Maybe he won't grow up and deal with numbers, but I have no doubt that he'll be good at something

I think it's sad that people in society today have such a low tolerance for people that aren't just like them.

 

[Disney Doll]

I think we in society get all caught up in smart vs. stupid and "gifted" vs. average.

For all of mnkind's existence, there have been those who have been more intelligent, and those who have been less intelligent, but perhaps are gifted in some other area, such as creativity.

Unfortunately, many folks today think we all have to be the rocket scientist, and no one should have to be the grocery store bagger. But each has their place in society, and society functions better when not everyone is being the "chief" and no one is being the "indian".

We have friends with a Down Syndrome child. His "contribution" to the world is unconditional love and I wouldn't trade that for all the Donald Trumps in the universe.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

10 x 12 = 120 cupcakes
120 cupcakes x $2.50 = $300.

WHAT??? $300 for 120 cupcakes???

Mushy, I hope the Snarky Purple Tag Fairy isn't reading or you're going to be in trouble!

And this is the difference--you're laughing at yourself, which I do all the time (at myself--not at you ), not at others.

 

[Nancyg56]

There are tons of mental disabilities that you can't see. Maybe the gas station attendant simply had a learning disability. He may be a genius when it comes to repairing cars, but counting money isn't a strong suit. You're fortunate if you have all your faculties and know no one with a mental handicap or disability of any sort. Count your blessings and please try not to judge people so harshly.

Well said!

 

[twinklebug]

Thank goodness she was the bag girl and not the cashier

Picked up take out Dinner last week with a 10% off coupon. The cashier also helps to run the resteraunt, but when he saw my coupon he said "Oh, not one of those" and sat there holding it looking lost (this is an old fashioned place and all orders are written and calculated by hand). I asked what the problem was and he said he needed the other guy to come over and help him figure out the discount. I asked $3.34? (on a $33.40 total) and he just looked amazed, "Is that REALLY it!?"

Oh my. Doesn't look good for the school system he graduated from does it?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

FWIW--some of our bag people at our store are not bright b/c they were born that way. Some of the things they say make me think "huh?" and then I realized. Now I just treat them as nice as possible and know that some of them enjoy their jobs even if they aren't knowledgable of seemingly simple concepts.

 

[ilovepcot]

Seems to me the bagger was "attempting" to be kind and pay the OP a nice compliment. A shame it got so stomped on.

 

[Robinrs]

Our Publix does the same. Quite a few have Down's syndrome and I enjoy talking with them.

We have a few, too.. and one I call "my boyfriend"... he's so cute!

 

[Boo'sMom]

Yes, it does! I've used it for that, too!

Someone even said they could look up in records what we paid for it! I said that only counts the land, the house was put together by different contractors, but please to let me know when they find out what the land cost, as I had no idea, it being a gift from my parents and all. I can just see them gossiping about how we didn't pay for our house, but had mommy and daddy pay it!

People are so flippin rude sometimes!

FWIW, land and building assessed values are public record, and most can be found online for free.

Rude to ask, yes, but it is public info.

 

[monsterkitty]

Picked up take out Dinner last week with a 10% off coupon. The cashier also helps to run the resteraunt, but when he saw my coupon he said "Oh, not one of those" and sat there holding it looking lost (this is an old fashioned place and all orders are written and calculated by hand). I asked what the problem was and he said he needed the other guy to come over and help him figure out the discount. I asked $3.34? (on a $33.40 total) and he just looked amazed, "Is that REALLY it!?"

Oh my. Doesn't look good for the school system he graduated from does it?

Why would this look bad for the school system he graduated from? Maybe the young man who worked in the "resteraunt" had a learning disability. Schools are required to graduate even those with learning disabilites. Maybe he dropped out of school to work at the "resteraunt" so that he could help support his family.