Unfortunately, Doug, I don't think the problem is limited to Three Stooges fans; it's become endemic throughout the country. The government schools stopped
educating decades ago, and we're seeing the result (while the Orwellian police state materializes right before our eyes.)
About 15 years ago, when I was the Purchasing Agent for a manufacturing company in the metro Detroit area, I was shanghaied into interviewing job applicants for work in the plant. I was shocked at the amount of
ignorance displayed; not
stupidity, mind you, but rather an appalling lack of knowledge from high school graduates.
The company manufacturws custom-made industrial rolling steel doors, like the ones you see at loading docks, etc. Needless to say, it was vital that everyone working in the plant understood how to measure things correctly, so of course we tested applicants' ability to read a tape measure. Many were incapable of finding the correct measurements, but one applicant has always stuck in my mind. When asked to locate six and seven-eighths inches on the tape measure, he quickly pointed to the 6, 7 and 8" marks and proudly said, "six and seven eights." (He didn't get the job.)
My sister-in-law's nephew is a natural-born mechanic, and I have a lot of respect for his talents, but he is an unfortunately typical example of the modern school system. About 10 or 12 years ago, he decided to apply for a position as a draftsman. He brought the application home so he could get help filling it out (something a lot of companies have stopped doing; they prefer to see you fill it out in person to know if you can write.) The problem was that he didn't even know how to spell "draftsman." It's going to be hard to get a job if you can't even spell the job title.
We all see it everywhere, these days. The store clerks who can't made change, fast food restaurants that use picture menu cash registers, since their employees can't read; the uneducated are rapidly becoming the norm.
However, I
can take some steps to help rein in the problem here on ThreeStooges.net. For instance, I just changed the permissions for new members (Porcupines.) They can no longer start new topics - they can only reply to topics. They will have to advance to Grapehead, after
25* replies, before they can start creating new topics.
And, as Jim suggested, feel free to flame those who deserve it. You can also click on the "Report to Moderator" link to bring a post to our attention.
If you, or any of the veteran board members, are interested in helping out as Moderators, let me know.
* The requiremet was changed to 10 posts in order to advance to Grapehead.