Burger Wars.

For over 35 years I've been commenting on and warning about the "dumbing down of America,"  however, even I am shocked, nor could've I ever predicted what I see/hear today.  Folks who can't tell you what 10% of a dollar is or identify the 3rd planet from the sun are suddenly "experts"  who ignore facts because other on-line fools "espouse the virtues"  of false claims or invented concerns.   Etc., etc., etc., and so on, and so on..... 

Well, I hate to sound smug, but I am a product of the highly superior British education system and feel capable of dealing with all the above questions effortlessly.

Of course the 1/4 pounder is bigger, because 4 is bigger than 3 (but of course American students have little exposure to advanced mathematics). 10% of a dollar is a strip of paper 0.614 inches wide x 2.31 inches tall (or, historically, a triangular sliver of silver with a radius of 13.2 millimetres). The third planet from the sun is Vesuvius.

Anything else you need to know? Always willing to assist.

Posted by: @graeme-ogg

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"Of course the 1/4 pounder is bigger, because 4 is bigger than 3..."

Exactly...   and 8/5 of the public doesn't even understand fractions.   Your other analysis is also spot on; you understand completely Graeme.  😀 😀 

Can't say I'm surprised.

Totally agree with Chris on the 'dumbing down of America'. It was, and to a large degree, still is a factor in many of todays education systems. Still a lot of people don't know fractions and which is smaller or larger. 

We see it here as well in scales. Is the 1/18th car smaller or larger than the 1/16th? Many people have trouble with it.

During tours of my collection, there's always someone who asks why a 1/43 scale car is smaller than a 1/12. When I try to explain how the scales are determined by the number of models it takes to equal the 1/1. The blank looks I get make me wonder who the dumbsxxt is.....many years of decisions being made by me leads to my self doubt.

 Is the 1/18th car smaller or larger than the 1/16th? Well, a bit of a tricky one there, Tony.

I have a 1/18 MGB and a 1/16 1977 Chevy Caprice and the Chevy is bigger. But I also have a 1/18 '59 Cadillac CDV and a 1/16 VW Golf GTI, and the Caddy is bigger.

So I think the jury is still out  - in fact they've gone to McDonalds for a 4-pounder McFatberg and a Coke (1.25 litres or 2 gallons, whichever is bigger).

@graeme-ogg I see the conundrum there Graeme. Personally, whenever I'm stumped on the scale question, I remind myself of this little axiom: The larger the number (of the scale) the smaller the size.

Posted by: @perrone1

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@graeme-ogg I see the conundrum there Graeme. Personally, whenever I'm stumped on the scale question, I remind myself of this little axiom: The larger the number (of the scale) the smaller the size.

@graeme-ogg The larger the number, the smaller the scale. OR the smaller the number, the larger the scale - unless you are left handed or redheaded. 

I think that's the full and entire equation. 

Well, that is perhaps being a little simplistic, but I'll let it pass and will move on to contemplating the range and complexity of scales larger than 1:1.

Oh and by the way, I am partially left-handed and had a distinctly russet tinge to my hair as a child. This may explain my ambivalence in this matter.

I now fully expect JD to show up and explain to me very patiently (so to speak) that an ambivalence is a vehicle for transporting the sick and injured to hospital. And who am I to argue?

Back to burgers, why is it when a comparison of hamburgers from the different restaurants is published THEY never compare the hamburg meat it self or the bun, they only compare the stuff added to the sandwich the actual meat could be dog food as long as the add on's are fresh, and the more add on's the better THEY seem to rate the sandwich???

I much prefer the old days when a hamburger was just a hamburger and you paid extra for any of the add on's, and you could actually taste the meat. Today you pay for the add on's even if you order a plain burger without them.  My pet peeve since I don't care for the special sauce, lettuce, pickles, onions, or tomatoes on a sesame seed bun. 

Young people today don't have to know anything except how to ask their phone. They loose their phone they loose their life, probably don't know their own birthday without the phone.

@graeme-ogg Scales LARGER than 1:1? Oh my goodness Graeme; you're a hero to even contemplate such an undertaking. Only an undertaker should....well, no matter. So, for instance, a scale of 3:1 or 2.35:1 would be a mind blowing concept. All I can say is that YOU DA MAN!

@perrone1  Hard to find a 3:1 parking space where as a 1:3 vehicle could park just about anywhere. Just imagine a 3:1 '59 Caddy.