Here is a good example of how through use of smart phones, computers, AI, and in this case handheld calculators are producing a generation of ( I will not say dumb, to harsh), but a generation of people that many are are relying on these devises for everything and not their brain.
So I use a few banks, and actually go inside them at least a few times a month to do transactions as I have never used an ATM machine in my life. I know ATM's are convenient, just not for me, and why does everything have to become more and more convenient. It won't be long when you won't even have to prepare or cook a meal any longer, just pick up your phone, press a few buttons and whatever you want will come to your door (pretty much has already happened) Anyway as happens sometimes when I go to the teller some young employee from the bank comes by and tells me their title like Assistant manager, Platinum Club Investment Manager, and ask me if I have time to discuss an investment "strategy" with me or some fancy name like that. I usually decline, but if I do have time I like to hear how someone "pitches" a product like this to me, and maybe they do have a good product to tell me about.
Anyway, one day I say ok, we go to their desk, they start talking mutual funds which are not Bank/FDIC insured which I am not to interested in. And then I ask them what I have done on a few occasions before in different banks or situations, I say, "Can you just tell me what 3% of a 100 is?". They reach to start punching numbers in a calculator, and I say STOP. Then I ask them if they really need to use a calculator to answer what I believe to be a simple math question. They said they have to use a calculator or computer to check all their math, I say OK, but just tell me first what you think 3% of a 100 is and then you can check you answer. They thought for a minute and said 30. I said no it is 3, and they punched into their computer and said, you are right, that is why we have calculators. I was nice and polite the whole time, and just said sorry not interested and left as I think this is now they are taught in school and work to do things now using technology in place of brains. Now I understand completely that a lot of people might not know simple math, that is OK of course. But someone who is a bank manager or similar should have some concept of math. It would not bother me if a bank teller did not know much math without a calculator, but someone who is going to give advise on how to invest someone else's money should absolutely have enough concept of money & math to be able to know that 3 is 3% of 100 without the use of a calculator. My theory is that now there is an "APP" or some easy way to try get answers to almost any question as long as you have a computer or smart phone. No trying to figure something out in your head, or try to write your own product description when with a few key punches of a few buttons you have an answer. Problem the answer could be wrong, description could be crap, and without knowing or being taught otherwise you would not know a good or bad answer to a question.
Real curious about this, my boys are middle aged men, grandkids still young. So can anyone tell me who have kids in school, or maybe teach, do they still teach addition, I would think so. How about long division, fractions. Do they still use pencil and paper in school to do this, or do they allow computers. I would hope before they would allow computers/calculators that at least a basic concept of math is taught.
Sorry, guess I had another rant in me with this post. Again my opinion only about all this.
So I use a few banks, and actually go inside them at least a few times a month to do transactions as I have never used an ATM machine in my life. I know ATM's are convenient, just not for me, and why does everything have to become more and more convenient. It won't be long when you won't even have to prepare or cook a meal any longer, just pick up your phone, press a few buttons and whatever you want will come to your door (pretty much has already happened) Anyway as happens sometimes when I go to the teller some young employee from the bank comes by and tells me their title like Assistant manager, Platinum Club Investment Manager, and ask me if I have time to discuss an investment "strategy" with me or some fancy name like that. I usually decline, but if I do have time I like to hear how someone "pitches" a product like this to me, and maybe they do have a good product to tell me about.
Anyway, one day I say ok, we go to their desk, they start talking mutual funds which are not Bank/FDIC insured which I am not to interested in. And then I ask them what I have done on a few occasions before in different banks or situations, I say, "Can you just tell me what 3% of a 100 is?". They reach to start punching numbers in a calculator, and I say STOP. Then I ask them if they really need to use a calculator to answer what I believe to be a simple math question. They said they have to use a calculator or computer to check all their math, I say OK, but just tell me first what you think 3% of a 100 is and then you can check you answer. They thought for a minute and said 30. I said no it is 3, and they punched into their computer and said, you are right, that is why we have calculators. I was nice and polite the whole time, and just said sorry not interested and left as I think this is now they are taught in school and work to do things now using technology in place of brains. Now I understand completely that a lot of people might not know simple math, that is OK of course. But someone who is a bank manager or similar should have some concept of math. It would not bother me if a bank teller did not know much math without a calculator, but someone who is going to give advise on how to invest someone else's money should absolutely have enough concept of money & math to be able to know that 3 is 3% of 100 without the use of a calculator. My theory is that now there is an "APP" or some easy way to try get answers to almost any question as long as you have a computer or smart phone. No trying to figure something out in your head, or try to write your own product description when with a few key punches of a few buttons you have an answer. Problem the answer could be wrong, description could be crap, and without knowing or being taught otherwise you would not know a good or bad answer to a question.
Real curious about this, my boys are middle aged men, grandkids still young. So can anyone tell me who have kids in school, or maybe teach, do they still teach addition, I would think so. How about long division, fractions. Do they still use pencil and paper in school to do this, or do they allow computers. I would hope before they would allow computers/calculators that at least a basic concept of math is taught.
Sorry, guess I had another rant in me with this post. Again my opinion only about all this.
