DISQUS

PS You might perform the experiment from a seated position to better simulate actual usage.

PS You might perform the experiment from a seated position to better simulate actual usage.

I couldn't agree with you more. My wife and I have friends in town who are of Indian descent (both born in India in fact) and they are among the kindest people I have ever met. You are right too about their strong family values. And, their pursuit of success includes such values as hard work and placing a high value on education. You can't ask for much more from cultural values.

And ... about making fun of accents ... I have to share this story (though it may not translate well in print). Many years ago there was a professor on campus from India (this particular professor is long gone now). Of course he had an accent, but it was not the least bit difficult to understand if you listened (and I don't mean listened carefully ... just listened). Well, I was looking over my notes before teaching class one day and students were sitting around talking about various things ... I wasn't really paying attention, but two students started talking about this professor. And one said "I don't like him. He talks funny." But what I heard was something more like "Ah don't laaak he'm. He tawlks fuinny." It was said in a STRONG stereotypical RURAL Southern accent. I don't fault the student for her accent ... it's a result of where she grew up. But the fact that she said what she did ... with that accent. It is something I will NEVER forget.

I couldn't agree with you more. My wife and I have friends in town who are of Indian descent (both born in India in fact) and they are among the kindest people I have ever met. You are right too about their strong family values. And, their pursuit of success includes such values as hard work and placing a high value on education. You can't ask for much more from cultural values.

And ... about making fun of accents ... I have to share this story (though it may not translate well in print). Many years ago there was a professor on campus from India (this particular professor is long gone now). Of course he had an accent, but it was not the least bit difficult to understand if you listened (and I don't mean listened carefully ... just listened). Well, I was looking over my notes before teaching class one day and students were sitting around talking about various things ... I wasn't really paying attention, but two students started talking about this professor. And one said "I don't like him. He talks funny." But what I heard was something more like "Ah don't laaak he'm. He tawlks fuinny." It was said in a STRONG stereotypical RURAL Southern accent. I don't fault the student for her accent ... it's a result of where she grew up. But the fact that she said what she did ... with that accent. It is something I will NEVER forget.

Try this little experiment. With the roll in each orientation, pull out a length of paper and give it a yank (perhaps with a small quantity in the grasping hand ... and the hand about a foot or so from the roll). The intent of the quick yank is the separate the quantity in the hand from the roll. Which orientation yields the best results? For me there is a clear difference (one orientation yields a clean break while the other orientation often results in the roll spinning freely with excess paper spooling off of the roll). I use the orientation that yields a clean break. Of course it's possible that different people have different styles of breaking off the tissue. And it's possible that THIS (more than anything else) is why they have chosen their preferred orientation.

Those with cats have an entirely different reason for choosing an orientation. I have never had a cat, but I know that they can paw at the roll ... and if the tissue is in one orentation, this pawing will result in a pile of paper on the floor.

Try this little experiment. With the roll in each orientation, pull out a length of paper and give it a yank (perhaps with a small quantity in the grasping hand ... and the hand about a foot or so from the roll). The intent of the quick yank is the separate the quantity in the hand from the roll. Which orientation yields the best results? For me there is a clear difference (one orientation yields a clean break while the other orientation often results in the roll spinning freely with excess paper spooling off of the roll). I use the orientation that yields a clean break. Of course it's possible that different people have different styles of breaking off the tissue. And it's possible that THIS (more than anything else) is why they have chosen their preferred orientation.

Those with cats have an entirely different reason for choosing an orientation. I have never had a cat, but I know that they can paw at the roll ... and if the tissue is in one orentation, this pawing will result in a pile of paper on the floor.

Now ... pair this with the Peter Principle (which essentially asserts that people will be promoted ONE too many times ... thus are more or less incomptent in their ultimate positions). This study would indicate that at least SOME of those people will be clueless that the Peter Principle applies to them.

Now ... pair this with the Peter Principle (which essentially asserts that people will be promoted ONE too many times ... thus are more or less incomptent in their ultimate positions). This study would indicate that at least SOME of those people will be clueless that the Peter Principle applies to them.