Today’s topic is all about spatial relationships. Since the source of the observation probably never took an ACT or similar competency assessment, I will try to generalize the key point with an image of a familiar toy everyone hopefully had as a small child. Yes, I am talking about the Shape O Toy which apparently Tupperware decided didn’t need the most gimmicky name to market – at least they didn’t use Stickie One Thingy into Another Thingy. I fired up Paint Shop Pro and created some quick images to help everyone out. Ironically, this is about spatial relationship and some of my bevels are a little off, but I was rushing it. Anyway, let’s say this is our toy:
The object of course is to get all of the shapes into the center of the toy. To do that, you locate the object, match up to an opening on the ball, align the shape to the direction of the cutout, slip it through and clap your hands while proclaiming your mastery of all things geometrical. I think you get the picture, but unfortunately, there are people out there that apparently don’t understand it. I am not sure if this is just arrogance on the part of individuals or we have a kindergarten epidemic that must be addressed immediately.
Why have I come to this conclusion, well, let me tell you about the same observation I have had over and over and over.
Here is the scenario. Let’s say we have a specific cutout and a specific shape. Imagine if you will, staring at the face of the Shape O Toy with the cylinder hole on it. The shape in your hand is slightly irregular, but your task is to determine if you can get it into the ball. Here is a visual for you:
What do you think? Is it going to make it? Will it pass through that opening and allow you to claim mastery over all geometry. If you’re kindergarten class was worth your time, you probably came to the conclusion immediately – this is not the side of the Shape O Toy that this object belongs on. In fact, it looks more like a piece off of Mr. Potatoe Head. Now someone in Kindergarten honors class would immediately grab the two ends of the toy, pull on the handles to separate the two halves while throwing the object into the middle. This is truly understanding the goal, assessing the situation, deducing an appropriate course of action and most importantly executing upon that plan. You, my friend, are ready for corporate upper management.
If this seems so obvious, can someone please explain my observation at the urinal? Numerous times to date, apparently someone believes that this scenario can be accomplished – Someone out there thinks they can spit – yes, added complexity – their chewing gum through the deodorant screen. The way I figure it, that is a three foot shot into roughly a 1/4″ hole (no, I did not measure that) with a near impossible orientation chewed into the gum. Even if you rolled it into a tight cylinder, the ability to maintain that shape in a gum medium while accounting for air flow around any imperfections is a feat I would only trust a Nuclear (or is that Nuculer) Physicist with even attempting. Unless there are more of them out there than I think, we are either experiencing the affects of below par early education or there are people out there that could care less about their fellow man (yes, the problem doesn’t just simply resolve itself or do they teach that in school these days). So in hopes of educating at least one person out there….
This:
Does not fit into:
Don’t make a job of another even worse than it might already be. Take the time to save the wrapping and dispose of gum properly in any situation. It takes nearly zero extra effort and when you get a chance to go to Singapore (a beautiful place by the way), you will be less likely to be fined.
Happy Wizzing!
Life Intrigued 