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> The use of the phrase "even number, or the number zero" implies that zero is not even. Ah, no. It implies that some gas station attendants might think that i

> The use of the phrase "even number, or the number zero" implies that zero is not even. Ah, no. It implies that some gas station attendants might think that it's not. It's idiot-proofing the instructions.

lazerwalker 14y ago
If that's the case, one could argue that "even number, including the number zero" would be an equally idiot proof but more technically accurate phrasing.
- StavrosK 14y ago
  Indeed it would. However, Bloomberg wasn't making a mathematical proclamation, he was telling people when they could get gas after their house was demolished. This isn't even an issue.
- dkarl 14y ago
  If that's the case, one could argue that "even number, including the number zero" Then the hypothetical gas station attendant would argue that the instructions were self-contradictory and he was just doing his best to enforce them. It isn't just idiot-proofing, it's argument-proofing, making sure some self-important nit-picker doesn't disingenuously try to throw everything into chaos to prove that authority is stupid.
- Heliosmaster 14y ago
  One then might argue that the "or" is not exclusive in this context... but let's not be that geeky.
nodata 14y ago
Doesn't it depend if an idiot wrote the instructions to start with?
brightsize 14y ago
I don't live in Oregon or New Jersey. What's a gas station attendant?
- eclipticplane 14y ago
  New Jersey does not allow motorists to fill their own tanks using self-service pumps. It's a hold-over from the 40s, when gas pumps and gas tanks did not have all the safety features they have now, like automatic shut off valves and coatings to protect against static and sparks. On the down side, it makes gas slightly more expensive. On the plus side, gas stations generally move quite quickly in New Jersey. You can go inside to buy a drink while the attendant fills your car, for example.
  - maratd 14y ago
    > On the plus side, gas stations generally move quite quickly in New Jersey. This is really not the case at a busy station. You have to wait for the attendant to come to you to start filling the tank and then you have to wait again after the tank is full. At most, they'll have two attendants for the entire station, which means you end up waiting while he's servicing the other customers.
    - lostlogin 14y ago
      On the subject of annoying service stations/gas stations/petrol stations, the tirade that greets payment is now insane in New Zealand. Do you have fly buys? AA card? Discount vouchers? Would you like any of these sweets that are on special? A car wash? I know that the staff are told to ask these questions, but if they can find a way to make the service more irritating, I'd be slightly impressed.
  - deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
  - cema 14y ago
    On the down side, it makes gas slightly more expensive. Oh? For many years a fill-up was substantially cheaper in New Jersey than neighboring states, and whenever I was driving up from Washington, DC area to New York or Boston I would try to fill it in New Jersey (a full tank of gas was not a trivial expense for a poor grad student). The difference is small these days.
rmc 14y ago
Exactly. If they don't do this there will be arguments and disputes and within 24 hours they'd have to release a clarification to state the even/odd status of zero.

lazerwalker 14y ago

If that's the case, one could argue that "even number, including the number zero" would be an equally idiot proof but more technically accurate phrasing.

StavrosK 14y ago
Indeed it would. However, Bloomberg wasn't making a mathematical proclamation, he was telling people when they could get gas after their house was demolished. This isn't even an issue.
dkarl 14y ago
If that's the case, one could argue that "even number, including the number zero" Then the hypothetical gas station attendant would argue that the instructions were self-contradictory and he was just doing his best to enforce them. It isn't just idiot-proofing, it's argument-proofing, making sure some self-important nit-picker doesn't disingenuously try to throw everything into chaos to prove that authority is stupid.
Heliosmaster 14y ago
One then might argue that the "or" is not exclusive in this context... but let's not be that geeky.

nodata 14y ago

Doesn't it depend if an idiot wrote the instructions to start with?

brightsize 14y ago

I don't live in Oregon or New Jersey. What's a gas station attendant?

eclipticplane 14y ago
New Jersey does not allow motorists to fill their own tanks using self-service pumps. It's a hold-over from the 40s, when gas pumps and gas tanks did not have all the safety features they have now, like automatic shut off valves and coatings to protect against static and sparks. On the down side, it makes gas slightly more expensive. On the plus side, gas stations generally move quite quickly in New Jersey. You can go inside to buy a drink while the attendant fills your car, for example.
- maratd 14y ago
  > On the plus side, gas stations generally move quite quickly in New Jersey. This is really not the case at a busy station. You have to wait for the attendant to come to you to start filling the tank and then you have to wait again after the tank is full. At most, they'll have two attendants for the entire station, which means you end up waiting while he's servicing the other customers.
  - lostlogin 14y ago
    On the subject of annoying service stations/gas stations/petrol stations, the tirade that greets payment is now insane in New Zealand. Do you have fly buys? AA card? Discount vouchers? Would you like any of these sweets that are on special? A car wash? I know that the staff are told to ask these questions, but if they can find a way to make the service more irritating, I'd be slightly impressed.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- cema 14y ago
  On the down side, it makes gas slightly more expensive. Oh? For many years a fill-up was substantially cheaper in New Jersey than neighboring states, and whenever I was driving up from Washington, DC area to New York or Boston I would try to fill it in New Jersey (a full tank of gas was not a trivial expense for a poor grad student). The difference is small these days.

rmc 14y ago

Exactly. If they don't do this there will be arguments and disputes and within 24 hours they'd have to release a clarification to state the even/odd status of zero.