OK, are we (Americans) this stupid. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

SirNik84 · #1 10-08-2008, 12:48 PM

OK on the top of the yahoo news is a link to a story about McCain using sailing terms in the debate, so I gave it a look.

The writer of this should be taken out and shot for stupidity. and it really tells you something when yahoo thinks Americans need to read this. are we really that stupid?

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/10/a-steady-hand-a.html?npu=1&mbid=yhp

Pop Quiz: What is a tiller?

Come On!

Fulcrum525 · #2 10-08-2008, 12:55 PM

Answer 1. (Without reading the link) Yes.
Answer 2. (After reading the link) Yes.

WVOtoGO · #3 10-08-2008, 12:55 PM

Just from the title of your thread, I’ll say: “Yes”.

As for your pop quiz:
Something on every one of our boats that has an extension mounted to it.

Or, I guess I could go with: That thing that DJ makes me run all over her garden plot with twice a year.

aklim · #4 10-08-2008, 01:53 PM

Well, if you don't sail, would you know what a tiller is? There are a lot of medical terms that the wife knows but I have no clue. A lot of other car or IT terms that I know that the wife has no clue. Both of us are not nautical people so we don't know a lot of nautical rules or terms. As a Star Trek fan, I have some idea of what the 34th and 35th rules of acquisition are and who Gint is.

dynalow · #5 10-08-2008, 02:05 PM

Tiller is a term relating to small boats, generally. See the definition in the post which mentions stick attached to a rudder post of a "boat". Large ships don't have tillers. Large ships have "Wheels" or "Helms", manned by a Wheelsman or Helmsman.
IMO, a more appropriate description would have been "a strong hand at the helm" of the (large) ship of state. "Tiller" implies small boat, week-end stuff.

aklim · #6 10-08-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dynalow

Tiller is a term relating to small boats, generally. See the definition in the post which mentions stick attached to a rudder post of a "boat". Large ships don't have tillers. Large ships have "Wheels" or "Helms", manned by a Wheelsman or Helmsman.
IMO, a more appropriate description would have been "a strong hand at the helm" of the (large) ship of state. "Tiller" implies small boat, week-end stuff.

Should have said "I have a firm grip on the chicken neck". No confusion there.

SirNik84 · #7 10-08-2008, 02:22 PM

its not that foreign of a term. I've never been on a sail boat, but I know that it is. pretty sure its like 3rd grade vocabulary.

Botnst · #8 10-08-2008, 02:35 PM

Brought to you by voodoo economics ....

G-Benz · #9 10-08-2008, 02:44 PM

That's "Teller", not "Tiller"...

aklim · #10 10-08-2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirNik84

its not that foreign of a term. I've never been on a sail boat, but I know that it is. pretty sure its like 3rd grade vocabulary.

You remember everything you learn in school? By that definition, I would be able to do calculus, Kollege Physics and Chemistry, etc, etc. Yes, we may have run across it in 3rd grade but if we don't use it, we forget it. I haven't spoken a word of any Chinese dialect in eons. I can't even put a proper swear phrase together in those languages. I kinda knew a tiller was a part of the boat and when he said it in that sentence, I kinda guessed it had something to do with control but I wasn't absolutely sure what it was.