Intelligence.
Nov. 15th, 2005 11:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rivkaOn my first day of Psychological Appraisal II, in grad school, Professor Sines glared at us over his desk and ordered us to write down our personal definition of intelligence. I still remember mine: "the capacity to learn from experience and adapt to change."
Yesterday I got to the bus stop at almost the precise moment that the bus did. I had to run the last few steps. So I vaulted onto the bus, and then dug in my wallet for my $1.60 fare. Here's what I had: a single dollar bill, several twenties, and a change purse full of pennies.
"I'm going to have to get off at the next stop, because I don't have enough change for my fare," I told the driver. A couple of nearby people offered assistance - one dug through his pockets extensively and then handed me a nickel, and the other offered me change for a dollar. "I don't have a dollar to give you," I explained, "so I'm going to have to get off the bus and go get change." "Ah, just pay whatever you have," said the driver. So I gratefully put in my $1.05 and sat down.
At noon, I was happy to see that my change from buying lunch included precisely 60 cents in coins. No problem with the afternoon fare! I had my 60 cents right there. Here's what I didn't pay attention to: my lunch cost $4.40. I paid with a $20, because that was all I had. So I got back my handy 60 cents in change... and three $5 bills. I didn't realize that I didn't have a dollar bill for the rest of my fare until I arrived at the bus stop at the end of the day, just moments before the bus was due to arrive.
The brisk half-hour walk home was certainly good exercise.
So, this morning? After having had fare difficulties with two bus rides in a row? I left the house and started merrily on my way without remembering that I still just had fives and twenties for my fare. I had to go all the way back into the house and get more money from the change cup.
"The capacity to learn from experience," huh. Not doing so well there...
Yesterday I got to the bus stop at almost the precise moment that the bus did. I had to run the last few steps. So I vaulted onto the bus, and then dug in my wallet for my $1.60 fare. Here's what I had: a single dollar bill, several twenties, and a change purse full of pennies.
"I'm going to have to get off at the next stop, because I don't have enough change for my fare," I told the driver. A couple of nearby people offered assistance - one dug through his pockets extensively and then handed me a nickel, and the other offered me change for a dollar. "I don't have a dollar to give you," I explained, "so I'm going to have to get off the bus and go get change." "Ah, just pay whatever you have," said the driver. So I gratefully put in my $1.05 and sat down.
At noon, I was happy to see that my change from buying lunch included precisely 60 cents in coins. No problem with the afternoon fare! I had my 60 cents right there. Here's what I didn't pay attention to: my lunch cost $4.40. I paid with a $20, because that was all I had. So I got back my handy 60 cents in change... and three $5 bills. I didn't realize that I didn't have a dollar bill for the rest of my fare until I arrived at the bus stop at the end of the day, just moments before the bus was due to arrive.
The brisk half-hour walk home was certainly good exercise.
So, this morning? After having had fare difficulties with two bus rides in a row? I left the house and started merrily on my way without remembering that I still just had fives and twenties for my fare. I had to go all the way back into the house and get more money from the change cup.
"The capacity to learn from experience," huh. Not doing so well there...
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no subject
Date: 2005-11-15 04:35 pm (UTC)