Science!: Locust Swarms and Shoplifting

[Krakyn]

I was in the 97th percentile on the Indiana Statewide Test for Educational Progress, and I've shoplifted when I've felt that the establishment was gouging me, like when I was being charged $50 for an 8gb SD card.

What exactly do you suppose your anecdote is statistical evidence of?

I like how you're implying that statistical evidence isn't just a compilation of personal anecdotes. Obviously I'm not a sociologist, and I don't plan on gathering data from any other source. But I do feel like sharing my personal experiences on the subject. If somehow you can't comprehend or appreciate that, that's too bad for you...my post enriches your life in no way.

 

[gmacarthur81]

I was in the 97th percentile on the Indiana Statewide Test for Educational Progress, and I've shoplifted when I've felt that the establishment was gouging me, like when I was being charged $50 for an 8gb SD card.

No where in the article did it say they weren't smart, though possibly getting a criminal record for any sort of theft isn't too bright no matter what any test says.

They are also unpleasant, antisocial, disorganized and unreliable.

See.

Analysis shows that those who were emotionally unstable, outgoing and lacking in agreeableness, intellect and conscientiousness were more accepting of the idea of shoplifting.

Way to read. I highlighted the important parts for you.

I'm also quite agreeable. Not so much conscientious.

You can cherry pick the article anyway you want to. Your "Mister Smarty Pants" argument holds no weight with me.

Besides who cares!? You shoplifted, ergo you are a criminal. Period. Doesn't matter what your scored on a statewide test in Indiana. I was in the 99th percentile on the FCAT here in FL before they made the teachers start teaching to test and I haven't shoplifted. Does that mean anything? Nope.

 

[gmacarthur81]

Analysis shows that those who were emotionally unstable, outgoing and lacking in agreeableness, intellect and conscientiousness were more accepting of the idea of shoplifting.

Way to read. I highlighted the important parts for you.

I'm also quite agreeable. Not so much conscientious.

You know what, strike my previous post. I have decided to show you why and how you are wrong.

The line that I quoted is from this paragraph. I have highlighted the important part:

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Leicester show that shoplifters may have more than just sticky fingers in common: They are also unpleasant, antisocial, disorganized and unreliable.

That refers to shoplifters. As in people who actually shoplift currently or have in the past.

Your line:

Analysis shows that those who were emotionally unstable, outgoing and lacking in agreeableness, intellect and conscientiousness were more accepting of the idea of shoplifting.

Are not described as BEING shoplifters, but as being more "accepting of the IDEA of shoplifting."

Way to read but not comprehend Mr. 97th percentile.

 

[ultrachicken]

" Ott and his team have found that a locust's brain swells to nearly 30 percent of its original size when in swarming mode."

Is it just me that can't make any sense of this sentence at all?, It grows, to 3/10ths of what it was?

No, the swelling (the amount of new brain) is 3/10ths of the original brain.

Pretty interesting stuff, I used to have a song stuck in my head for all of my elementary school years, which I hated, but it never stopped. By my first year of middle school I had forgotten the tune, I was so happy.

 

[Ravek]

I like how you're implying that statistical evidence isn't just a compilation of personal anecdotes.

I'm not, that's exactly what it is. But compilation is the key word here. This occasionally needs to be pointed out.

But I do feel like sharing my personal experiences on the subject.

Sure, by all means. But without any qualifiers, I could only read that post as quoted as saying 'well I don't know about that, I know at least one person who is smart and a shoplifter'. I don't doubt your experience, but it's important to note that it's almost entirely irrelevant to the statistics.

You may understand this, but a lot of people don't.

 

[DigitalSushi]

Kudos Lauren, I now have ALL those songs stuck in my head.

Great. Now I can't stop humming the Inspector Gadget theme.

*dum-da-dum da-da-dum*

Easiest way to get rid of an earworm;

Guaranteed to get poker face out of your head.
No need to thank me guys!

 

[commasplice]

Which songs get stuck in your head?

ALL THE SINGLE LADIES
All the single ladies
ALL THE SINGLE LADIES
All the single ladies
ALL THE SINGLE LADIES
All the single ladies

Twice as annoying in mariachi form.

Great. Now I can't stop humming the Inspector Gadget theme.

*dum-da-dum da-da-dum*

Spoiler

 

[DigitalSushi]

Which songs get stuck in your head?

ALL THE SINGLE LADIES
All the single ladies
ALL THE SINGLE LADIES
All the single ladies
ALL THE SINGLE LADIES
All the single ladies

Twice as annoying in mariachi form.

NOW PUT YOUR HANDS UP!
woah woah woah.

Damn you commasplice, damn you.

I feel ruined, I'm putting on some Thomas Newman to chill out...


Edit, is there no end to your evil?

Spoiler

I knew it was bad news but curiosity got the better of me!

 

[commasplice]

Snip.

Keikaku doori, etc., etc.

Spoiler: The Earworm Eraser

Supposedly, it almost never gets stuck in people's heads. I've only ever had it happen once, that I can think of.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Easiest way to get rid of an earworm;

Guaranteed to get poker face out of your head.
No need to thank me guys!

... I am coming for you.

 

[Distorted Stu]

Been busy as fuck today at work, so i ended up singing self vs self by Pendulum feat In Flames alday long. It got me by!

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

After TalkRadar and the Penny Arcade webseries...

I just can't ever get this out of my head.


It's an eargasm for gamers...

 

[Seatownstriker]

Great now that damn inspector gadget song is in my head. D'oh

 

[paragon1]

Hmmm... I wonder what that says about all the pirates out there.

 

[Danpascooch]

Researcher Swidbert Ott and his team have found that a locust's brain swells to nearly 30 percent of its original size when in swarming mode.

So it gets smaller when it swells?

PROOF READING MAN TO THE RESCUE....AGAIN!

(The Escapist wouldn't by chance need someone to proofread all the news stories before they go out.....?)

 

[LadyRhian]

NUMP DA DUMP PA DUM INSPECTOR GADGET

Actually, i've had the theme from this show in my head ALL DAY.

I have worse.

 

[Phantomess]

Songs guaranteed to get stuck in my head:

Telephone - Lady Gaga
The Big Bang Theory Theme - Barenaked Ladies
Inspector Gadget Theme (yes, I too fall prey to this)
Roflmao - Oxhorn (oh, I was threatened with a beating at the studio after playing that...)
Whataya Want From Me - Adam Lambert (actually, I reckon about half that album plays on repeat in my head...)

And for a while I used to get the Davy Jones' theme from POTC: DMC stuck in my head quite a bit. Daaa da da da daaa da da, daaa da da da daaa da daaa... DAMNIT!

 

[Grahav]

That damn SFIV song is stuck in my head. Will I be able to get rid of it?