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comment by lil
lil  ·  3643 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: December 3, 2014

The Pubski is Open

I cycled in the sub-zero to work this morning wondering when the pubski would open and what I would say. (Yes, pubski, I think of you when we're apart.)

I've been wondering this: Do people really learn from experience? I decided to find out.

Arriving in class at 9:00, I said to the assembled, "I'm doing a research project. How many of you have dropped your phone in the toilet? Show of hands."

About 25 of 41 students had drifted in. Of these, six hands went up, reluctantly, after first looking around to see if they were the only one.

"Ok. Thanks. Now of the six of you, how many have dropped your phone in the toilet twice." An unbelievable three hands went up. This was not what I expected. But we can't let research subjectivity and desired outcomes blind us to the facts. Right, oh scientists of pubski?

"OK, now, how many of you have dropped your phone into the toilet three times?" No hands went up.

Conclusion: People learn from experience. Eventually. Some learn faster.

One student came up to me and said, "Well, it wasn't exactly a toilet, but it was equally bad. Worse actually."

I didn't ask.

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Reading elizabeth and coffeesp00ns comments on this thread below reminded me of this.





thenewgreen  ·  3643 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I'm reading this while on the toilet, terrified because I've never dropped mine in there and it would seem I'm due.

Off to finish my #grubski dairy creation. Hands will be thoroughly washed.

lil  ·  3643 days ago  ·  link  ·  

ha ha ha

mk  ·  3642 days ago  ·  link  ·  

What's worse than the toilet? A porta-potty? Oh god a porta-potty would be awful.

I'm always disturbed by people chatting on the phone in the stall. I love flushing during their conversation.

_refugee_  ·  3642 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Uh, I have dropped my phone in the toilet twice.

I was very, very drunk the second time though. I went out and threw up not long after.

lil  ·  3642 days ago  ·  link  ·  

What have you learned?

_refugee_  ·  3642 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Be careful when you use your phone on the toilet. :) And don't use your phone on the toilet drunk. Also, if you spend significant time thinking about how things could go wrong, they seem to actually go wrong somewhat less.

When I was much younger and at Girl Scout Camp (yes), I dropped a turned-on flashlight into the open latrine. (By accident.)

I guess I just have an affinity for toilets, and putting things in them that don't quite belong.