Old Farts Thread

[1MOREMOD]

I think good old ass whipping needs to be brought back by teachers and parents

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

I lock my boys in the basement until their math and science homework is done

I'm the son of a high school honors Physics teacher and a university Biology professor. I never took a class from either of them, but without fail my homework was not only done, but it was graded, corrected, and re-graded before I left for school the next day.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

I lock my boys in the basement until their math and science homework is done

Where do you put the chained up hookers after they exit the van then?

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

I think good old ass whipping needs to be brought back by teachers and parents

My old man was a high school Physics teacher. Back in the 70's there was a rash of fire alarms one Spring at the High School. My dad caught wind of who was pulling them. One went off, and my dad went to the door and peeked down the hall. Sure enough, here came the suspect, in a full sprint wearing a shit-eating grin. My old man leapt out into the hall and clothes-lined him onto the marble floor. There wasn't a single fire alarm until after he retired. A big pool of blood on a white floor makes a lasting impression.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Time for my old fart rant du jour. Today's topic is making change.

Back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and I was in school, I had a job working as the overnight cashier in a small convenience-type store. From day one, we were told that it was mandatory to set whatever the customer paid to you aside in plain sight, in case they disputed the amount paid. We were not permitted to use the register to tell us what the change should be, and had to hand the customer the coins followed by a count-back of the paper money so both parties could see each bill before handing them over.

Today's cashiers just wad up the coins and bills into a ball, and drop them into your hand with no count-back or anything.

I was at a store yesterday, and my total was $11.01. Because I'm an old fart, I gave the cashier a $20.00 bill and the penny that I was going to use in the gumball machines by the exit doors. What did the cashier hand me back? A pile of coins in a receipt ball. No paper money, and it certainly didn't feel like $9.00 in coins. Of course, the cashier put my money into the till and closed the drawer before the transaction was completed.

Call the manager over. Have to explain that the bill was $11.01, and I handed your cashier a $20.00 bill and a penny. The change that I received was that wadded-up receipt with coins in it that I did not even open because it was obviously incorrect. The manager took two minutes to open the register drawer, and another minute or so punching 20.01-11.01= into his smartphone calculator app to figure out that the correct change was $9.00 and no coins.

Where did our generation go wrong? More importantly, is society doomed because people cannot perform basic math or process cash transactions any more?????

You're looking at this all wrong. After you left, the cashier and manager were rolling their eyes about the old fart who can't seem to grok the idea of using a credit card or Apple Pay instead of cash. Cash is such a hassle.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by pennsiveguy

My old man was a high school Physics teacher. Back in the 70's there was a rash of fire alarms one Spring at the High School. My dad caught wind of who was pulling them. One went off, and my dad went to the door and peeked down the hall. Sure enough, here came the suspect, in a full sprint wearing a shit-eating grin. My old man leapt out into the hall and clothes-lined him onto the marble floor. There wasn't a single fire alarm until after he retired. A big pool of blood on a white floor makes a lasting impression.

We had a high school teacher who was also the softball coach. If you wised off to him in class, he gave you 3 steps towards the door before he nailed you with a high speed softball pitch.

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by M_Six

We had a high school teacher who was also the softball coach. If you wised off to him in class, he gave you 3 steps towards the door before he nailed you with a high speed softball pitch.

One of our gym teachers in Junior High was the High School wrestling coach and a former Division I wrestling champion at around 145 pounds or so. Mr. Prunty. If a kid insisted on being a jackass, he'd put one of the other kids in charge and take the offender into the wrestling practice room and wrestle him for 10-15 minutes. Meaning, he ground the kid's face into every square inch of mat on that floor. The kid would come back in looking like he'd chased a fart through a keg of nails. Prunty only had to do that every few years or so, for it to have a deterrent effect.

[DC X3M40i]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Time for my old fart rant du jour. Today's topic is making change.

Back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and I was in school, I had a job working as the overnight cashier in a small convenience-type store. From day one, we were told that it was mandatory to set whatever the customer paid to you aside in plain sight, in case they disputed the amount paid. We were not permitted to use the register to tell us what the change should be, and had to hand the customer the coins followed by a count-back of the paper money so both parties could see each bill before handing them over.

Today's cashiers just wad up the coins and bills into a ball, and drop them into your hand with no count-back or anything.

I was at a store yesterday, and my total was $11.01. Because I'm an old fart, I gave the cashier a $20.00 bill and the penny that I was going to use in the gumball machines by the exit doors. What did the cashier hand me back? A pile of coins in a receipt ball. No paper money, and it certainly didn't feel like $9.00 in coins. Of course, the cashier put my money into the till and closed the drawer before the transaction was completed.

Call the manager over. Have to explain that the bill was $11.01, and I handed your cashier a $20.00 bill and a penny. The change that I received was that wadded-up receipt with coins in it that I did not even open because it was obviously incorrect. The manager took two minutes to open the register drawer, and another minute or so punching 20.01-11.01= into his smartphone calculator app to figure out that the correct change was $9.00 and no coins.

Where did our generation go wrong? More importantly, is society doomed because people cannot perform basic math or process cash transactions any more?????

this drives me and my wife nuts. (im going to be 44, shes going to be 42) but im in total agreement. the kids they have working in stores as well as the food service industry drive me bananas. total apathy when it comes to their jobs. they are more concerned about a text message or facebook alert they just received on their phone instead of a customer standing in front of them.

I went into a local bakery the other day, and walk up to the counter knowing what i need to order. i'm with my 11 year old son picking out a birthday cake for his younger brother. one girl behind the counter pushing things around.. looks up.. and i smile and i'm about to ask her for a cake... she walks to the other end of the counter... looks at her phone... comes back to push more stuff around...

i think a good 2 minutes went by and shes like "do you need help?" and i was like "that's why im standing here..." and shes like "i thought you were waiting for someone" and my reply was "you ASSUMED...i was waiting for someone.. but never ASKED me if i needed help..." but i digress...

the simple math thing is frustrating... they look at you all puzzled when the total is 11.01 per your example... they look at you like a deer in headlights because apparently math is hard....

my kids are starting to pay for their own purchases when we go to target.. they use their money to buy a small toy or some other junk. they pay separate from my wife and I so that we can show them how to do the basic math on the fly... ... im hoping when they get older and out in the working world they are better prepared than some of the ones out there now...

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by DC F97

im hoping when they get older and out in the working world they are better prepared than some of the ones out there now...

But, they will have skills, so won't be flipping burgers or asking if I want fries

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by pennsiveguy

My old man was a high school Physics teacher. Back in the 70's there was a rash of fire alarms one Spring at the High School. My dad caught wind of who was pulling them. One went off, and my dad went to the door and peeked down the hall. Sure enough, here came the suspect, in a full sprint wearing a shit-eating grin. My old man leapt out into the hall and clothes-lined him onto the marble floor. There wasn't a single fire alarm until after he retired. A big pool of blood on a white floor makes a lasting impression.

When I was in 7th grade, I had a teacher burst through the door and yank me out of my chair because I left my top button on my shirt unbuttoned when it was supposed to be buttoned (Catholic school). I did not like what he did. So I did not do what I did ever again.

Unfortunately, in today’s world your dad and that teacher would be all over the news, fired and banished from society.

[upstatedoc]

what a bunch of old farts

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by M_Six

You're looking at this all wrong. After you left, the cashier and manager were rolling their eyes about the old fart who can't seem to grok the idea of using a credit card or Apple Pay instead of cash. Cash is such a hassle.

I have my ATM card linked to Apple Pay on my wrist, and have only used it a handful of times at highway rest area vending machines on road trips. The rule of credit card transactions back in the day was that it was rude to use a card for under $20, and some places had $5 - $10 minimums for purchases because of the credit card companys' minimum transaction fee at the time.

I don't visit fast food establishments or coffee shops very often, and I have never once used plastic to pay for my purchases at any food place where the tab was under $100.....

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

I have my ATM card linked to Apple Pay on my wrist, and have only used it a handful of times at highway rest area vending machines on road trips. The rule of credit card transactions back in the day was that it was rude to use a card for under $20, and some places had $5 - $10 minimums for purchases because of the credit card companys' minimum transaction fee at the time.

I don't visit fast food establishments or coffee shops very often, and I have never once used plastic to pay for my purchases at any food place where the tab was under $100.....

My wallet hasn't seen cash in weeks. I charge everything. Around here almost all the restaurants provide a "discount" for those who pay cash, but it's really just a surcharge for using a cc. Still, it's easier than carrying cash around. I hate having change in my pocket. There are a couple of restaurants here that are cash only. About the only time I stop to get cash from an ATM is when we plan on eating at one of those places. I also grab cash when I travel for tipping and such. I have Apple Pay as well, but I've only used it once or twice. I don't find it any more convenient than using the cc.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

I think good old ass whipping needs to be brought back by teachers and parents

This.

[larrylarry]

Originally Posted by pennsiveguy

... The kid would come back in looking like he'd chased a fart through a keg of nails....

How old do you have to be to use that?

[DC X3M40i]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

This.

I still have fond memories of my mom whooping me upside the head with a marble notebook when I was a teenager. When I mouthed off to her my dad rolled up a newspaper and beat me like a dog.... needless to say I learned my lessons, that shit don’t fly these days. Kids will literally call the cops.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by DC F97

I still have fond memories of my mom whooping me upside the head with a marble notebook when I was a teenager. When I mouthed off to her my dad rolled up a newspaper and beat me like a dog.... needless to say I learned my lessons, that shit don’t fly these days. Kids will literally call the cops.

Exactly.

And that's why the kids can be so crappy now.

[1MOREMOD]

The cops need to show up and add another beating

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

This.

Wohl, I got bettah

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

The cops need to show up and add another beating

Back in the day they did. Then your uncles and aunts would shame you for about a month. Guaranteed to never happen again.

[M_Six]

I got my butt swatted a few times, but I basically behaved because I had huge respect for my Dad and if he was mad at me, that was unbearable. I hated, hated, hated the disappointment in his eyes when I screwed up. He was the epitome of Fogelberg's "thundering velvet hand." There was no abuse at all in my upbringing. Just a clear delineation of right and wrong.

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

...Then your uncles and aunts would shame you for about a month. Guaranteed to never happen again.

Ostracism used to be the great regulating mechanism of society. Drunks, thieves and fuck-offs didn't get to breed, so their genes left the pool. Then came moral relativism, and ostracism no longer worked. Society's much the poorer for it.