http://clicked.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/15/20912.aspxThe "Verizon doesn't know the difference between dollars and cents" story is couched in a similar way as the AOL customer service call that made it all the way to mainstream news a few months ago. I surprised myself by listening to the whole thing becauseen-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)http://clicked.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/15/20912.aspx#20917Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:49:46 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:20917Math policeApparently Verizon isn't the only one that's bad at math. "...seeing a decimal means "cents" and .002 therefore means 2 cents." Actually, .002 dollars would 2/10 of a cent. Sorry Will, had to bust your chops on this one. http://clicked.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/15/20912.aspx#20941Fri, 15 Dec 2006 15:58:19 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:20941Will FemiaMr. Officer, yeah, I know, but that's the amount that the story deals with and I didn't want to flesh out the whole thing with an extra couple sentences pointing out that even if you think a decimal means cents it's still wrong to think that .002 is .02. In the audio is almost seems like they don't think the extra zeroes matter. Like the zeroes are empty place holders that don't matter if they aren't assigned a value (other than zero).http://clicked.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/15/20912.aspx#20952Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:47:39 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:20952Greg HolkanTwo cents is .02 dollars, and .002 is 2/1000ths of a dollar, or 2/10ths of a cent. Still, these Verizon guys need to go back to elementary school.http://clicked.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/15/20912.aspx#21037Fri, 15 Dec 2006 20:21:43 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:21037Sandy SweeneyThe head-banging point for me was when the rep tries to calm him down, in good rep fashion, by graciously granting that it is a 'matter of opinion'... http://clicked.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/15/20912.aspx#21085Fri, 15 Dec 2006 23:10:37 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:21085Will FemiaSandy, HA! I love that part! I shouted out loud at that one. Hey, everyone has a right to their opinion, so everyone's opinion must be right, right? http://clicked.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/15/20912.aspx#21120Sat, 16 Dec 2006 03:39:59 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:21120Dave Kennedy - Logan, UtahI'm currently in my fourth year in college (Computer Science Major). A roommate B and I were groaning over studying for frustrating math finals. Another roommate C piped in "Glad I don't have to take any math for my major". Roommate B and I tried to defend ourselves by pointing out how important even the most basic math is in life. This all took place just last night - the timing of this is impeccable. This is oh-so frustrating to listen to. I can't believe it kept my whole attention either!http://clicked.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/15/20912.aspx#21140Sat, 16 Dec 2006 12:37:14 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:21140Charles Jancewicz, Chesapeake, VirginiaI've been an off and on customer of AOL since there was an AOL... After my first experience with their customer service representatives to cancel my account, I used good ol' snail mail to send a cancellation request letter. No muss, no fuss... http://clicked.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/15/20912.aspx#21334Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:38:11 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:21334Mnementh, Callahan FLI remember a short story once that took place in the near future - a future in which everyone used calculators. The protagonist was considered a freak because he could tell you what 2+3 was WITHOUT a calculator. As someone who had to memorize tables for Trigonometry in high school (no calculators allowed until after New Year's), I am scared by the utter cluelessness of many of today's high school graduates. http://clicked.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/12/15/20912.aspx#21464Tue, 19 Dec 2006 06:25:45 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:21464Matt, San Diego, CAA while back I bought something worth about $10 in a kiosk on a shopping mall. The sales tax in San Diego at that time was 7.75%. I paid with a $20 bill and the sales clerk handed me only $2.25 in change. When I questioned her math, she got mad and basically told me that I don't know how to calculate the sales tax. Dang! I have a master's degree in economics and have done advanced courses in econometrics and being insulted. Basically, she told me that if I have a complaint, I have to wait for her boss to come back within a couple of hours and discuss it with him. I really can't fathom why people who do not have any math skills plus an attitude problem should work in an environment that deals with people.