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News & General Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: NellGwyn on March 16, 2018, 02:11:38 PM

Title: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: NellGwyn on March 16, 2018, 02:11:38 PM
The headline says it.  Just curious to know if anyone have gotten perfect scores in any test or examination?  And what subject was it?
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Mr.Obvious on March 16, 2018, 02:21:16 PM
Aye, twice at college in exams.
Often in high school and elementary. Math and such, before it became difficult.

The courses i took in college are a bit hard to translate. Basically one was about how to do research. The oter was how to work and lead in groups.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Gilgamesh on March 16, 2018, 02:38:01 PM
One time I stumbled upon a video on pornhub where they showed a different pornstars tits - just her tits - for about 5 seconds before transitioning to the next pair. At the end you're supposed to guess all the pornstars from just their tits. I got 100%
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Shiranu on March 16, 2018, 02:53:39 PM
Not often. But then again, I have studied for maybe two tests my entire university career, and got lower grades on those than the ones I just wing it. Averaging a B+, A on shit you put literally no effort into is good enough for me, especially since it doesn't really matter anyways.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: GrinningYMIR on March 16, 2018, 03:01:39 PM
A few times, got a perfect score on standardized tests twice, got a perfect on my final exam in a course last summer. Just need to prepare hard for it
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Unbeliever on March 16, 2018, 03:02:37 PM
I may have, but if I did it was so long ago and far away that I don't remember it.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Gawdzilla Sama on March 16, 2018, 04:02:06 PM
I've scored perfect on four different vocabulary tests of 50 words or more.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Mermaid on March 16, 2018, 05:47:20 PM
Yeah, on sciency exams.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: trdsf on March 16, 2018, 07:00:55 PM
Sure, many times.  Science exams, trivia games, spelling & vocabulary tests, math tests, several 99th percentile results on various standardized exams.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 16, 2018, 08:42:53 PM
99 percentile on the Armed Services Test (used to be given to HS men in the US).  But mostly no.  In 4th grade, a friend of mine, and myself, we both got an A on a quiz that the rest of the class flunked.  The teacher was unhappy.  She ultimately left teaching and became a Catholic nun.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Sal1981 on March 16, 2018, 08:44:05 PM
I got 60 right on my driver's license written test bimd. Probably aced other tests, idk.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Hydra009 on March 16, 2018, 09:44:55 PM
Once, I got a 100 on a math test.  The question was "what is 25 times 4?"
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Shiranu on March 16, 2018, 09:51:23 PM
Quote from: Hydra009 on March 16, 2018, 09:44:55 PM
Once, I got a 100 on a math test.  The question was "what is 25 times 4?"

(https://static2.fjcdn.com/thumbnails/comments/I+see+what+you+did+there+_56e2a70f8b3d3babe67bc6c94e762aae.png)
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Mike Cl on March 16, 2018, 11:10:37 PM
Went through HS and college and scored 100% several times.  But I took two courses through the CA National Guard.  Two week classes.  Security Manager was one and NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical training) and scored 100% in all quizzes/tests in both courses.   
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 04:42:28 AM
Quote from: Hydra009 on March 16, 2018, 09:44:55 PM
Once, I got a 100 on a math test.  The question was "what is 25 times 4?"

You will never become a crooked accountant, or an economist ;-(
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 04:43:44 AM
Quote from: Mike Cl on March 16, 2018, 11:10:37 PM
Went through HS and college and scored 100% several times.  But I took two courses through the CA National Guard.  Two week classes.  Security Manager was one and NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical training) and scored 100% in all quizzes/tests in both courses.

OK, you can keep the nuclear football this week ;-)
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 17, 2018, 08:59:17 AM
Yes.  Astronomy 101 midterm and final.  The professor said he had never seen that before.  Well, it was a hobby.  I also scored 100% on the Professional and Administrative Exam (PACE) Civil Service test in all 6 categories in 1976.   It got me a job and that was all I cared about.  I was surprised my other co-workers hadn't though (I didn't bring up the subject, some smartass mentioned his 98 so I got out out my test result).
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Mike Cl on March 17, 2018, 09:04:55 AM
I actually got a 108% score on a civil service test.  It was the test for the postal service that was offered to all GI's that were near the end of their enlistment.  And I was not even the highest scorer on that test--a couple of guys scored 110%.  As an ex GI, we were given 10 points extra on the test.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 17, 2018, 09:06:32 AM
Quote from: Mike Cl on March 17, 2018, 09:04:55 AM
I actually got a 108% score on a civil service test.  It was the test for the postal service that was offered to all GI's that were near the end of their enlistment.  And I was not even the highest scorer on that test--a couple of guys scored 110%.  As an ex GI, we were given 10 points extra on the test.

And the extra 10 were well-deserved!
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 09:19:55 AM
I knew a guy on a fire crew that got paid for a 25 hour day.  As he related the story, he noted that some guy higher up the chain of command took issue with it by pointing out there were only 24 hours in a day, but his immediate supervisor gave it some brief consideration and interceded on his behalf with a simple, "Pay him for 25," and so he got paid for 25 hours.  But this was before paychecks were processed by computers.  I don't know if it would fly today.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 09:23:25 AM
I aced an exam or two in college.  There were also courses where I was delighted with a B.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 09:25:40 AM
I've heard colleges give out higher grades today, but I've had no actual experience with the current college environment for the last 25 years.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 17, 2018, 09:37:07 AM
Quote from: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 09:23:25 AM
I aced an exam or two in college.  There were also courses where I was delighted with a B.

To balance things out, I failed Econ 001 a lecture clss from "B or Better Dr Snow.  You couldn't get a C.  I failed.  The lectures were at 8 am ans 9 am and because I had a 10 am class nearby, I got used to attending the later lecture.  They were identical.

But I forgot and took the only test (the Final) and got disqualified because they worried I had cheated by looking at the 8 am exam and taking it at 9 am.  They were so stupid that the tests were identical and anyone in the 9 am lecture could have done the same thing.  But I was REGISTERED for 8 am.

So I had to repeat the lectures.  Not that I went to any of the lectures (talk about obvious simple material), but I made sure take the Final in the right hour the 2nd time around.  And then took it for friends in later semesters just for fun and $10 ( I was broke and eating Hamburger Helper Helper). 
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 10:02:36 AM
Oddly, I too remember econ with misgivings.  I loved the text, and studied hard for the midterm.  There was one question worth 40% of the test that was a math problem.  I had no clue as to what the problem was, how to solve it, or what lecture or part of the text it came from.  I failed the midterm... along with the rest of the class except for one guy, a graduate student, I think, who was able to do the problem.

So the professor gave a second midterm, which would replace the grade of the first midterm, and I failed that one too... along with the rest of the class, except for that other guy.

I continued to study the text and listen to the lectures, as the subject was truly interesting, but when it came time for the final, I opted not to study for it, and put all my time into three other 5 credit courses where I knew I would do well.  So without any review on my part, the final came, and it was just a regular final with no mysterious problem to solve that was worth 40% of the test.  I got a B and kicked myself for not studying for the final.

I had a good quarter as I aced the other finals, but missed the 4.0 point average that I could have had.  I got a 3.8 something because econ was only a three credit course.  I was home for Christmas when the report card was mailed home, and I proudly showed it to my father.  His reaction was, "Well that looks OK, except for that B."  But I could never please my father, and never got used to it.  He was an asshole.  Seriously, he was always an asshole, so it shouldn't have pissed me off, but it did.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Mermaid on March 17, 2018, 10:14:19 AM
Quote from: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 09:25:40 AM
I've heard colleges give out higher grades today, but I've had no actual experience with the current college environment for the last 25 years.
I am 55 and in school now. It's not any easier. But of course that depends on the institution.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 10:15:24 AM
Quote from: Mermaid on March 17, 2018, 10:14:19 AM
I am 55 and in school now. It's not any easier. But of course that depends on the institution.
That's good to hear.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Mike Cl on March 17, 2018, 10:47:42 AM
Quote from: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 09:23:25 AM
I aced an exam or two in college.  There were also courses where I was delighted with a B.
Hell, there were courses I celebrated with a C!  Machine Language was one.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 11:04:06 AM
Quote from: Mike Cl on March 17, 2018, 10:47:42 AM
Hell, there were courses I celebrated with a C!  Machine Language was one.
I bought a book in a book store with a jacket that promised an understanding of machine language.  I got nothing out of it.  It might as well have been written in ancient Babylonian.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 11:23:33 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on March 17, 2018, 09:37:07 AM
To balance things out, I failed Econ 001 a lecture clss from "B or Better Dr Snow.  You couldn't get a C.  I failed.  The lectures were at 8 am ans 9 am and because I had a 10 am class nearby, I got used to attending the later lecture.  They were identical.

But I forgot and took the only test (the Final) and got disqualified because they worried I had cheated by looking at the 8 am exam and taking it at 9 am.  They were so stupid that the tests were identical and anyone in the 9 am lecture could have done the same thing.  But I was REGISTERED for 8 am.

So I had to repeat the lectures.  Not that I went to any of the lectures (talk about obvious simple material), but I made sure take the Final in the right hour the 2nd time around.  And then took it for friends in later semesters just for fun and $10 ( I was broke and eating Hamburger Helper Helper).

Einstein had friends attend lecture, produce notes, and share their notes with him.  He preferred the library.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 11:29:03 AM
Quote from: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 10:02:36 AM
Oddly, I too remember econ with misgivings.  I loved the text, and studied hard for the midterm.  There was one question worth 40% of the test that was a math problem.  I had no clue as to what the problem was, how to solve it, or what lecture or part of the text it came from.  I failed the midterm... along with the rest of the class except for one guy, a graduate student, I think, who was able to do the problem.

So the professor gave a second midterm, which would replace the grade of the first midterm, and I failed that one too... along with the rest of the class, except for that other guy.

I continued to study the text and listen to the lectures, as the subject was truly interesting, but when it came time for the final, I opted not to study for it, and put all my time into three other 5 credit courses where I knew I would do well.  So without any review on my part, the final came, and it was just a regular final with no mysterious problem to solve that was worth 40% of the test.  I got a B and kicked myself for not studying for the final.

I had a good quarter as I aced the other finals, but missed the 4.0 point average that I could have had.  I got a 3.8 something because econ was only a three credit course.  I was home for Christmas when the report card was mailed home, and I proudly showed it to my father.  His reaction was, "Well that looks OK, except for that B."  But I could never please my father, and never got used to it.  He was an asshole.  Seriously, he was always an asshole, so it shouldn't have pissed me off, but it did.

Machiavellian strategy to get thru college is advised.  I was too naive at times in choosing and scheduling classes ... I assumed the college had my back.

Econ was OK, but back when I was 21 I didn't know much about reality, just what I was told by adults.  The Accounting 101 I took with my Masters, was the better business course.  But it revealed the "flexibility" as to what counted as debit or credit (as driven by tax code or investment strategy).  Anything past cash-accounting (accrual accounting) is the devil's work.

Yes, your father was an asshole.  Sorry about that.  My father didn't finish HS, so he never complained about my poor grades.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 11:32:16 AM
Quote from: Mermaid on March 17, 2018, 10:14:19 AM
I am 55 and in school now. It's not any easier. But of course that depends on the institution.

Good for you!  Last credit course (other than work certification) was when I was 44.  Finished my Masters when I was 30.  I can feel my mental gears slipping more every year.  I work hard every day on mental tasks (not so much from work these days) to keep from slipping too much ;-)
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 11:38:44 AM
Quote from: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 11:29:03 AM
Yes, your father was an asshole.  Sorry about that.  My father didn't finish HS, so he never complained about my poor grades.
Yeah, but my father never finished HS either.  And when I was hired by a university, he pissed on that too.  Yet he wanted me to go to college.  WTF?  Maybe so he could brag to the guys he worked with?  Eventually, I learned to disregard him, which eventually ended in severed relations.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Mermaid on March 17, 2018, 11:44:35 AM
Quote from: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 11:32:16 AM
Good for you!  Last credit course (other than work certification) was when I was 44.  Finished my Masters when I was 30.  I can feel my mental gears slipping more every year.  I work hard every day on mental tasks (not so much from work these days) to keep from slipping too much ;-)
Same here and this was a huge source of anxiety for me, but it's all still in there. I got my MS when I was 46 and then recently was accepted into an ivy league school. Something I never would have dreamed was possible. The lesson here is that the more mature you get, the better you can apply yourself. The Real World is much harder than college.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 11:45:59 AM
Quote from: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 11:38:44 AM
Yeah, but my father never finished HS either.  And when I was hired by a university, he pissed on that too.  Yet he wanted me to go to college.  WTF?  Maybe so he could brag to the guys he worked with?  Eventually, I learned to disregard him, which eventually ended in severed relations.

My dad and I could play checkers.  He tried to learn chess when I was in HS, but learned he couldn't play it.  I have never been a good chess player.  At least we were on par with checkers.  My dad had an inferiority complex, probably exacerbated by inability to spell.  But he was a good man in spite of his problems (alcoholism).  He was worried that we were being dissed, when I was trying to get into a college fraternity ... because he thought it was all about who your father was, and some probably are ... but I got in anyway.  I was able to take what I liked about him, and about my grandfathers as well, and ignore the rest.  I miss him every day.  And there are always historical and fictional men worth idealizing.  I idealize personality types more than policies.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Mike Cl on March 17, 2018, 01:42:32 PM
Quote from: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 11:04:06 AM
I bought a book in a book store with a jacket that promised an understanding of machine language.  I got nothing out of it.  It might as well have been written in ancient Babylonian.
I'm still not sure what it was even with that course under my belt!
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 02:26:50 PM
Quote from: Mike Cl on March 17, 2018, 01:42:32 PM
I'm still not sure what it was even with that course under my belt!

Really?  I didn't realize you took any computer courses.  As old as we are, it was probably written in Ancient Abacus ;-))

I have only touched on machine language, errr ... assembly language ... in simplified computer architecture (toy) models.  It is really firmware engineering.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 02:31:34 PM
Quote from: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 11:04:06 AM
I bought a book in a book store with a jacket that promised an understanding of machine language.  I got nothing out of it.  It might as well have been written in ancient Babylonian.

Elementary my dear scribe ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_Cylinder#/media/File:Cyrus_cylinder_extract.png

Per Von Daniken, that is probably a program for an early version of Seri ;-)
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Mike Cl on March 17, 2018, 04:05:26 PM
Quote from: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 02:26:50 PM
Really?  I didn't realize you took any computer courses.  As old as we are, it was probably written in Ancient Abacus ;-))

I have only touched on machine language, errr ... assembly language ... in simplified computer architecture (toy) models.  It is really firmware engineering.
I have a computer science degree (AA) from a Jr. College.  I took Fortran,  Basic one other language--but this was in the early '70's because I could use my GI Bill, but I had to change my major from history to something else--computer sci. it was. 
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: aitm on March 17, 2018, 06:55:49 PM
Many times.....alas....nothing much was gained from them.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 17, 2018, 10:53:03 PM
Quote from: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 10:02:36 AM
Oddly, I too remember econ with misgivings.  I loved the text, and studied hard for the midterm.  There was one question worth 40% of the test that was a math problem.  I had no clue as to what the problem was, how to solve it, or what lecture or part of the text it came from.  I failed the midterm... along with the rest of the class except for one guy, a graduate student, I think, who was able to do the problem.

So the professor gave a second midterm, which would replace the grade of the first midterm, and I failed that one too... along with the rest of the class, except for that other guy.

I continued to study the text and listen to the lectures, as the subject was truly interesting, but when it came time for the final, I opted not to study for it, and put all my time into three other 5 credit courses where I knew I would do well.  So without any review on my part, the final came, and it was just a regular final with no mysterious problem to solve that was worth 40% of the test.  I got a B and kicked myself for not studying for the final.

I had a good quarter as I aced the other finals, but missed the 4.0 point average that I could have had.  I got a 3.8 something because econ was only a three credit course.  I was home for Christmas when the report card was mailed home, and I proudly showed it to my father.  His reaction was, "Well that looks OK, except for that B."  But I could never please my father, and never got used to it.  He was an asshole.  Seriously, he was always an asshole, so it shouldn't have pissed me off, but it did.

I feel for you completely!  Some professors write tests to test general knowledge, some write them to filter out only the idiots, and some write them to find the geniuses.  Sounds like you had the last kind and he slipped up on the last test.  LOL! 

BTW, I arranged my University account so that only I received my grade reports.   
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 11:45:59 PM
Quote from: Mike Cl on March 17, 2018, 04:05:26 PM
I have a computer science degree (AA) from a Jr. College.  I took Fortran,  Basic one other language--but this was in the early '70's because I could use my GI Bill, but I had to change my major from history to something else--computer sci. it was.

Fortran ... a real computer language ;-)
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 11:47:26 PM
Quote from: Cavebear on March 17, 2018, 10:53:03 PM
I feel for you completely!  Some professors write tests to test general knowledge, some write them to filter out only the idiots, and some write them to find the geniuses.  Sounds like you had the last kind and he slipped up on the last test.  LOL! 

BTW, I arranged my University account so that only I received my grade reports.   

So you have the skill to forward DNC files to the Russians then?
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 18, 2018, 02:38:01 AM
Quote from: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 11:47:26 PM
So you have the skill to forward DNC files to the Russians then?

Where do you come up with this kind of bloviating nonsense?  I filled out a University form and gave them the address of a friend who had an apartment.  DUH!
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 18, 2018, 06:01:15 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on March 18, 2018, 02:38:01 AM
Where do you come up with this kind of bloviating nonsense?  I filled out a University form and gave them the address of a friend who had an apartment.  DUH!

Old school disinformation ;-)  What motivated you?
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: SGOS on March 18, 2018, 07:15:58 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on March 17, 2018, 10:53:03 PM
I feel for you completely!  Some professors write tests to test general knowledge, some write them to filter out only the idiots, and some write them to find the geniuses.     
They may be experts in their field, but may not understand the purpose of testing or how to do it.  50 questions in all, but one that is worth 40%?  Miss that one question and you fail?  Also, tests should evaluate what you have taught, not what you haven't taught.  If you want students to know how to do a thing, teach them that thing.  If something is irrelevant enough not to be included in the course objectives or in the lectures, it's probably not relevant enough to include in a test.  You wouldn't test third graders on calculus, especially if you never taught them calculus.

The final almost seemed like he got help from a knowledgeable colleague.  Or maybe he just used someone else's test who taught the same course.   In the professor's defense, he was a good lecturer, explained things well, and was articulate.  I liked going to his class.  He may have been new, and the mid term was the first test he ever put together.  He was sharp enough to recognize at mid quarter, that there was a serious problem, and he fixed it, although I had lost all motivation to study for his tests by then.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 18, 2018, 01:09:54 PM
Different skills ... preparing test material or homework material vs lecturing.  Too many professors rely on a textbook.  My college calculus book was terrible.  The joke in physics is ... some long derivation ... then "its a miracle" and the result QED.  Gaps that are "intuitive" ... if you are a professor.  Good math books explain every step, without assuming prior familiarity.  Calculus by Gilbert Strang is so much better.

My test prep books for Security+ ... thank goodness I reviewed several before I picked one.  I can spot good review/test material today, but not 40 years ago.  This stuff I used recently, had both the correct and wrong answers, and explained why the correct was correct and the wrong was wrong, and didn't beat about the bush getting there.  1000 test questions.  But you have to be already somewhat familiar with the material to do that ... had to know the jargon.  Only one section in the actual test, wasn't covered in the book (though I found out later that test prep software did cover it).  The test prep cram stuff is otherwise ineffective, you need to understand the material, not just memorize it.  Then the specific question can't throw you (and yes, test writers throw in tricks to throw you off).
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 20, 2018, 04:15:27 AM
Quote from: SGOS on March 18, 2018, 07:15:58 AM
They may be experts in their field, but may not understand the purpose of testing or how to do it.  50 questions in all, but one that is worth 40%?  Miss that one question and you fail?  Also, tests should evaluate what you have taught, not what you haven't taught.  If you want students to know how to do a thing, teach them that thing.  If something is irrelevant enough not to be included in the course objectives or in the lectures, it's probably not relevant enough to include in a test.  You wouldn't test third graders on calculus, especially if you never taught them calculus.

The final almost seemed like he got help from a knowledgeable colleague.  Or maybe he just used someone else's test who taught the same course.   In the professor's defense, he was a good lecturer, explained things well, and was articulate.  I liked going to his class.  He may have been new, and the mid term was the first test he ever put together.  He was sharp enough to recognize at mid quarter, that there was a serious problem, and he fixed it, although I had lost all motivation to study for his tests by then.

Professors are not talented at designing tests.  They tend to ask about what they know that they think the student should know, but they are not good at remembering what they have taught.

And I will give you a great example.  I took a senior seminar about the breakup of the Soviet Union to complete my poli-sci degree when I was 43.  The professor gave us a map she labeled of the CIS (Confederated Independent States) and specifically told us to memorize it because it would be on an exam.  Naturally, we did.

Only, she had made a mistake on the map.  And when exam time came, we dutifully reproduced her map.  And penalized us for the error.

Now, there was a basic difference between the other students and I.  I was older.  I had a career.  I knew something about making an argument.  After we complained in general about the unfairness of being panalized for memorizing her own map with her own error, she refused to relent.

She didn't realize that, professionally, I was her equal. I stayed after the class and explained these things to her.  I pointed out that it was her error.  I explained that, as a fellow professional, I would not tolerate such a travesty of academic justice.  I explained I would go to the Dean with her original map and the test maps showing we had followed her instructions to "memorize the map".

She was not happy.  She did not like my threat.  But she did understand that I wasn't backing down on it an that presenting an objection to her higher-ups wasn't a problem to me.

The next class, she announced that the map question was no longer being counted.  She didn't admit her error, but she discounted the error in the test scores.

I didn't care bout the test score personally.  A C was as fine to me as an A.  All I needed was to pass the damn class to graduate.  And I would have passed the class with the map being wrong and counted wrong.

But it was the principle of the question and I was pissed.  I will generally fight for fairness any chance I get.  She couldn't threaten my career nor me getting my degree. 

Cavebear

Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 20, 2018, 07:04:59 AM
"And penalized us for the error." ... often happens in the Humanities rather than STEM.  And if you are a fellow academic in training, they can destroy you, as they pull your wings off ;-p
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 20, 2018, 07:43:12 AM
Quote from: Baruch on March 20, 2018, 07:04:59 AM
"And penalized us for the error." ... often happens in the Humanities rather than STEM.  And if you are a fellow academic in training, they can destroy you, as they pull your wings off ;-p

Which, as I pointed out, the Professor not only couldn't, but backed down.  Professionally, I was her equal.  She didn't like that, but I stood my ground and explained it to her.  She had her 20 years of academic bureaucracy experience and I had my governmental beauracracy experience.  Once she got past her assumed control over a "student", we got along a lot better.

And it wouldn't have made any difference to me if she was a guy *for those sexist types out there".
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: SGOS on March 20, 2018, 08:27:40 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on March 20, 2018, 04:15:27 AM
Only, she had made a mistake on the map.  And when exam time came, we dutifully reproduced her map.  And penalized us for the error.
Those kinds show up from time to time.  They are not the rule by any means.  The best teachers I have had were in college, but I also encountered the worst there. 

One professor was a nice enough guy but such an incompetent lecturer that I felt sorry for him.  There were a hundred students in his class, and during one lecture, about 90 of them stood up and walked out in a pre-planned protest.  I and maybe 10 others stayed.  I don't know why the others stayed.  I stayed because I felt sorry for him, but it probably made things worse because it forced him to keep fumbling through his lecture while he was humiliated.  I ended up just sitting there observing him at his worst.  I felt like voyeur watching a masochist.  He should have dismissed the class and saved some dignity.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 20, 2018, 10:14:09 AM
Quote from: SGOS on March 20, 2018, 08:27:40 AM
Those kinds show up from time to time.  They are not the rule by any means.  The best teachers I have had were in college, but I also encountered the worst there. 

One professor was a nice enough guy but such an incompetent lecturer that I felt sorry for him.  There were a hundred students in his class, and during one lecture, about 90 of them stood up and walked out in a pre-planned protest.  I and maybe 10 others stayed.  I don't know why the others stayed.  I stayed because I felt sorry for him, but it probably made things worse because it forced him to keep fumbling through his lecture while he was humiliated.  I ended up just sitting there observing him at his worst.  I felt like voyeur watching a masochist.  He should have dismissed the class and saved some dignity.

My calculus instructor was a dutch guy almost no one could understand, so we were left to the grad students fro help.  And my small group of 20 had another foreign grad assistant whom few could understand.  All of us in that group fled utterly.  Might have been a coincidence that we were all stupid in that group, but I doubt it.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 20, 2018, 12:31:23 PM
Quote from: Cavebear on March 20, 2018, 10:14:09 AM
My calculus instructor was a dutch guy almost no one could understand, so we were left to the grad students fro help.  And my small group of 20 had another foreign grad assistant whom few could understand.  All of us in that group fled utterly.  Might have been a coincidence that we were all stupid in that group, but I doubt it.

Lucky, only had one graduate teaching assistant, for one engineering class, only for a few sessions.  The regular professors were bad enough ;-)
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: trdsf on March 20, 2018, 01:02:29 PM
Quote from: SGOS on March 20, 2018, 08:27:40 AM
Those kinds show up from time to time.  They are not the rule by any means.  The best teachers I have had were in college, but I also encountered the worst there. 

One professor was a nice enough guy but such an incompetent lecturer that I felt sorry for him.  There were a hundred students in his class, and during one lecture, about 90 of them stood up and walked out in a pre-planned protest.  I and maybe 10 others stayed.  I don't know why the others stayed.  I stayed because I felt sorry for him, but it probably made things worse because it forced him to keep fumbling through his lecture while he was humiliated.  I ended up just sitting there observing him at his worst.  I felt like voyeur watching a masochist.  He should have dismissed the class and saved some dignity.
Yeah, our lone programming prof at my college was hands-down one of the most brilliant programmers (and just plain nicest people) I ever knew, but alas he was incapable of communicating that knowledge in a classroom setting.  Terrific one-on-one or one-on-few.

My freshman year, they had so many people wanting to take Programming 151 (which was officially a math course since CompSci wasn't its own department until the 1982-83 term) that he decided to just accept everyone who wanted to take it and ended up with 160 students.  Fully 1/10th of the student body.  Imagine ten percent of the undergraduate student body at, say, Ohio State all being in once class.  Yikes.  Over the first two weeks, sixteen students dropped out and nobody noticed.  I believe it remains to this day the largest single class ever held at my alma mater.

So it really wasn't conducive to good learning even with the best of professors, since there were a finite number of machines (http://www.threedee.com/jcm/terak/) to be usedâ€"about eightâ€"giving a computer to student ratio of 1:14.

Note to younger post-Internet forum members: yes, there really was a day when not everyone had their own computer (or two or three), and you generally had to timeshare on a larger system (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAX-11).  Even I find it hard to imagine anymore, and I was there.  :)

Ultimately, I learned more about programming on my own dinking around the Teraks and the VAX and my Sinclair than I did in that class.  But I never could blame the prof for that, because despite his communications shortcomings, even a good lecturer would have had trouble.  And because he was a genuinely good guy.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 20, 2018, 02:17:34 PM
And I will add to our younger readers, that in 1969, I once filled an entire shoebox with punch-cards to get the campus mainframe to make ONE LEGAL CHESS MOVE.  Not off the board, not to move to a square the piece couldn't take (like your own).  And I did it in FORTRAN which was all equations.

And I got an A in the class (back when it was possible to fail a class even if you tried hard).  Because the professor couldn't do it! 

And if you have no idea what a keypunch machine is, consider typing 80 characters without an error because if there is one single error, the whole card is worthless.  No redo, no memory.  Perfect or start again.

And THEN stand in line for an hour to get a turn at the mainframe for the guys to load your cards to see if the program worked.  And if your program actually function enough to get some result, they would come out and congratulate.  Because most programs locked up and produced no results!  Even if the results made little sense, if the program worked to END statement, you were GOOD.

I created a small club in my class where I would review the printed programs and point out errors.  I was really good at error detection (like endless loops and bad "if, then" statements).

But I gave it up because "there was no future in it".  HHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA  It seemed too simple.



LOL!
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: SGOS on March 20, 2018, 06:46:13 PM
Quote from: trdsf on March 20, 2018, 01:02:29 PM
My freshman year, they had so many people wanting to take Programming 151 (which was officially a math course since CompSci wasn't its own department until the 1982-83 term) that he decided to just accept everyone who wanted to take it and ended up with 160 students.  Fully 1/10th of the student body.  Imagine ten percent of the undergraduate student body at, say, Ohio State all being in once class.  Yikes.  Over the first two weeks, sixteen students dropped out and nobody noticed.  I believe it remains to this day the largest single class ever held at my alma mater.
I believe the largest class I had at the University of Montana was 300 students.  I had a few of those over 200.  They were held in auditoriums with comfortable seating, and were mostly limited to Freshman courses.  Science classes would meet twice a week for two hour labs with smaller somewhat manageable groups, and they were usually conducted by graduate assistants.  Then there would be three lectures each week taught for one hour with an actual professor.  Most of the auditorium classes were actually very good.

Oddly, last night, I happened to look up some data on the University of Montana, and saw they were claiming a student to faculty ratio of 20:1.  I don't know if they still do the massive lecture groups anymore.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: SGOS on March 20, 2018, 06:55:46 PM
Quote from: trdsf on March 20, 2018, 01:02:29 PM
So it really wasn't conducive to good learning even with the best of professors, since there were a finite number of machines (http://www.threedee.com/jcm/terak/) to be usedâ€"about eightâ€"giving a computer to student ratio of 1:14.
What a nightmare.  I had a plant physiology lab without enough equipment to go around.  They left the lab open all night, so you could go back and do the lab work in relative quiet.  During the day, we would start at our lab stations until the window to the equipment room was opened, and then there was a stampede with elbows flying like an 1860's land rush.  I hated the way the class was set up. 
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 21, 2018, 01:17:30 AM
Quote from: SGOS on March 20, 2018, 06:55:46 PM
What a nightmare.  I had a plant physiology lab without enough equipment to go around.  They left the lab open all night, so you could go back and do the lab work in relative quiet.  During the day, we would start at our lab stations until the window to the equipment room was opened, and then there was a stampede with elbows flying like an 1860's land rush.  I hated the way the class was set up.

The 1969 computer punch card rooms were packed in daytime, so I learned to go there at night.  Kind of changed my sleeping habits to this day!
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 21, 2018, 07:21:24 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on March 21, 2018, 01:17:30 AM
The 1969 computer punch card rooms were packed in daytime, so I learned to go there at night.  Kind of changed my sleeping habits to this day!

Did computer in HS with punched tape on a teletype
Did Freshman college with IBM cards
Only upper-class men could use the dozen video terminals
Best tool was an upgraded teletype machine (with green-bar paper) in the physics department
Played Pong when it first came out, only a quarter a game in the lounge at the bowling alley
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: trdsf on March 21, 2018, 09:31:19 AM
Quote from: SGOS on March 20, 2018, 06:55:46 PM
What a nightmare.  I had a plant physiology lab without enough equipment to go around.  They left the lab open all night, so you could go back and do the lab work in relative quiet.  During the day, we would start at our lab stations until the window to the equipment room was opened, and then there was a stampede with elbows flying like an 1860's land rush.  I hated the way the class was set up.
A couple of the larger dorms had a computer room with one computer in it, and I went the late night route to guarantee myself access.  Eight inch floppies... back when floppies actually flopped!  The computer room, alas, kept library hours and the library closed at 11pm.

I think Wooster paid five to eight thousand apiece for those Teraks; the year I graduated, they sold them off for $150 a pop.  Still have one.  :D
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: SGOS on March 21, 2018, 10:11:05 AM
Quote from: trdsf on March 21, 2018, 09:31:19 AM
I think Wooster paid five to eight thousand apiece for those Teraks; the year I graduated, they sold them off for $150 a pop.  Still have one.  :D
I think I paid something like $2500 when the first Apple IIGS came out.  I upgraded it with a $700 10 mega bite aftermarket hard drive, so I could load all my programs and dispense with the floppy disks.  That was before graphics became so important.  When I switched over to a PC, I offered to give it to the local Christian school because a friend taught there, but they didn't want it.  I took it to the landfill and heaved it as far into the junk pile as I could, where the dozer would crush and bury it later in the day.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 21, 2018, 12:37:31 PM
Quote from: SGOS on March 21, 2018, 10:11:05 AM
I think I paid something like $2500 when the first Apple IIGS came out.  I upgraded it with a $700 10 mega bite aftermarket hard drive, so I could load all my programs and dispense with the floppy disks.  That was before graphics became so important.  When I switched over to a PC, I offered to give it to the local Christian school because a friend taught there, but they didn't want it.  I took it to the landfill and heaved it as far into the junk pile as I could, where the dozer would crush and bury it later in the day.

Funny how that is a metaphor for Modern Western un-Civilization.  Into the landfill with it.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: AllPurposeAtheist on March 21, 2018, 09:30:02 PM
I probably scored perfect on various tests in school, tough to remember them all, but one thing I do remember is nobody has ever hired me nor given me a raise based on a single perfect score in school. In fact, I'd venture to guess that had I gotten nothing but Ds all the way through school my life would likely have been exactly the same as it is now.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 22, 2018, 07:03:29 AM
Quote from: AllPurposeAtheist on March 21, 2018, 09:30:02 PM
I probably scored perfect on various tests in school, tough to remember them all, but one thing I do remember is nobody has ever hired me nor given me a raise based on a single perfect score in school. In fact, I'd venture to guess that had I gotten nothing but Ds all the way through school my life would likely have been exactly the same as it is now.

But it is ... all in your permanent record, and will be reviewed by St Peter at the Pearly Gates ;-)  Employers don't care about your schooling, unless you are a recent graduate.  It is all about your work experience, and your personality.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Jason78 on March 22, 2018, 05:05:28 PM
Yes.   Many times.

I passed my driving test first time with no major or minor faults.

Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 22, 2018, 07:38:30 PM
Quote from: Jason78 on March 22, 2018, 05:05:28 PM
Yes.   Many times.

I passed my driving test first time with no major or minor faults.

We can hope Uber will upload you, to run their less than adequate driverless cars.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Jason78 on March 22, 2018, 08:12:19 PM
I don't have superhuman reactions Baruch.   And even I can't break the laws of physics if someone were to run out in front of my vehicle.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 23, 2018, 12:17:05 AM
Quote from: trdsf on March 21, 2018, 09:31:19 AM
A couple of the larger dorms had a computer room with one computer in it, and I went the late night route to guarantee myself access.  Eight inch floppies... back when floppies actually flopped!  The computer room, alas, kept library hours and the library closed at 11pm.

I think Wooster paid five to eight thousand apiece for those Teraks; the year I graduated, they sold them off for $150 a pop.  Still have one.  :D

Floppies were a serious advancement!  You could just on the keyboard, edit the program, and carry them around!  I started with having to enter the software floppy in the reader, them remove it and write my program, then switch again to read the program, them switch again to save it on the data floppy.  In 1986, that was a WONDER of Technology!
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 23, 2018, 12:28:22 AM
Quote from: AllPurposeAtheist on March 21, 2018, 09:30:02 PM
I probably scored perfect on various tests in school, tough to remember them all, but one thing I do remember is nobody has ever hired me nor given me a raise based on a single perfect score in school. In fact, I'd venture to guess that had I gotten nothing but Ds all the way through school my life would likely have been exactly the same as it is now.

I agree.  The perfect score was mostly a matter of persanal satisfaction. 

However, had we gotten perfect or nearly perfect scores on tests in our majors, companies looking for extremely talented new employees would have been recruiting us at graduation.  But since I didn't, they didn't.  So I had to build a resume in lesser fields before I got a job related to my area of study.  And THAT is when I started to surpass the A students. 

"They" crammed for tests and forgot most of it immediately afterwards.  I learned less by test time, but remembered what I learned.  There is a difference.  What you RECALL for a week gets you past tests.  What you LEARN sticks for life.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: trdsf on March 23, 2018, 12:42:00 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on March 23, 2018, 12:17:05 AM
Floppies were a serious advancement!  You could just on the keyboard, edit the program, and carry them around!  I started with having to enter the software floppy in the reader, them remove it and write my program, then switch again to read the program, them switch again to save it on the data floppy.  In 1986, that was a WONDER of Technology!
I am (a)morally obliged to link you to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DECr0dMUVg  XD
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 23, 2018, 01:17:58 AM
Quote from: trdsf on March 23, 2018, 12:42:00 AM
I am (a)morally obliged to link you to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DECr0dMUVg  XD

I appreciate your sense of humor, and I laughed all the way through that link!  I remember "The Sermon On The Monitor" by Orson Scott Card (and he presented it to us personally at an Atheist Convention) .  It was "make the sign of the monitor" (making a square with his fingers), a prayer to the green phosphor letters on the black screen, and some other comments I cannot recall in detail. 
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: trdsf on March 23, 2018, 10:06:33 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on March 23, 2018, 01:17:58 AM
I appreciate your sense of humor, and I laughed all the way through that link!  I remember "The Sermon On The Monitor" by Orson Scott Card (and he presented it to us personally at an Atheist Convention) .  It was "make the sign of the monitor" (making a square with his fingers), a prayer to the green phosphor letters on the black screen, and some other comments I cannot recall in detail.
Heh.  o/` Gimme that on-line religion...
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 23, 2018, 11:44:45 PM
Quote from: trdsf on March 23, 2018, 10:06:33 AM
Heh.  o/` Gimme that on-line religion...

Well, how can you be in 2 places at once when your not anywhere at all?  And get your muckluks out of the cellophane before they scorch!
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 24, 2018, 11:14:35 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on March 23, 2018, 11:44:45 PM
Well, how can you be in 2 places at once when your not anywhere at all?  And get your muckluks out of the cellophane before they scorch!

Joseph Campbell's exact point in part of The Power of Myth.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 26, 2018, 12:58:48 AM
Quote from: Baruch on March 24, 2018, 11:14:35 AM
Joseph Campbell's exact point in part of The Power of Myth.

I'm either going to have stop responding when I get messages like "hey, you should reply to this one) or just ignore those too.

I posted "Well, how can you be in 2 places at once when your not anywhere at all?  And get your muckluks out of the cellophane before they scorch!", and you replied "Joseph Campbell's exact point in part of The Power of Myth"

Now first, that makes no sense at all.  Second, Campbell makes little sense himself.  And I don't say that without having listened to him rather carefully.  My PERSONAL opinion is that guy is a freaking nut.  I laugh at almost everything he says.  You may not and that is fine.  If you think he makes any sense, "WONDERFUL"!

I don't know how to say this, but I can listen to a crazy small-town evangical preacher on cable TV and Campbell, and I laugh more at Campbell. 
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 26, 2018, 01:14:24 PM
Yes, you are a world famous myth scholar ... wonderful at everything!

"hey, you should reply to this one" - I am not sending you any private messages.  If someone is goading you, it is your responsibility to ignore them too.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on March 27, 2018, 01:39:50 AM
Quote from: Baruch on March 26, 2018, 01:14:24 PM
Yes, you are a world famous myth scholar ... wonderful at everything!

"hey, you should reply to this one" - I am not sending you any private messages.  If someone is goading you, it is your responsibility to ignore them too.

It wsn't a goad, it was a suggestion.    Mostly, I have you on ignore.  Your posts are generally not worth a reply.  But sometimes I see a quoted message that deserves a reply or an email suggesting I should look at one.  So I do.

I read mythology as I read science, sociology, evolutionary biology, and psychology as an dedicated amateur.  And I do know something about mythology.  And Campbell is, in my personal and considered view, an idiot!  Just because you write a book and get on TV doesn't mean you are right.  And it doesn't mean I am right either.  It just means what I think, and I think about what I think.  I don't just throw opinions out here.  I think about them and consider opposing views, then form a decision
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on March 27, 2018, 06:13:13 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on March 27, 2018, 01:39:50 AM
It wsn't a goad, it was a suggestion.    Mostly, I have you on ignore.  Your posts are generally not worth a reply.  But sometimes I see a quoted message that deserves a reply or an email suggesting I should look at one.  So I do.

I read mythology as I read science, sociology, evolutionary biology, and psychology as an dedicated amateur.  And I do know something about mythology.  And Campbell is, in my personal and considered view, an idiot!  Just because you write a book and get on TV doesn't mean you are right.  And it doesn't mean I am right either.  It just means what I think, and I think about what I think.  I don't just throw opinions out here.  I think about them and consider opposing views, then form a decision

Yes, criticize what you read and see.  Campbell was particularly down on Christianity, and up on Native American religion.  He was biased.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Jesus on April 02, 2018, 04:52:34 AM
Raw score? Hell naw. I got really close though... (95).
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Mike Cl on April 02, 2018, 09:08:22 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on March 27, 2018, 01:39:50 AM
It wsn't a goad, it was a suggestion.    Mostly, I have you on ignore.  Your posts are generally not worth a reply.  But sometimes I see a quoted message that deserves a reply or an email suggesting I should look at one.  So I do.

I read mythology as I read science, sociology, evolutionary biology, and psychology as an dedicated amateur.  And I do know something about mythology.  And Campbell is, in my personal and considered view, an idiot!  Just because you write a book and get on TV doesn't mean you are right.  And it doesn't mean I am right either.  It just means what I think, and I think about what I think.  I don't just throw opinions out here.  I think about them and consider opposing views, then form a decision
I happen to like Campbell.  Two ideas of his stick out for me.  One is,  "Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning." And the other is, “If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid.”  For me 'the purpose of life is life', and 'follow your bliss' sort of sums it all up.  He says you are in charge of you.  And I like that way of thinking.
His study of universal myth I find interesting in that basically all societies of all times and places have myths.  So, what are the central messages of all those myths?  Campbell attempts to find out.  And he does not subscribe any of those messages as from god(s), but people.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on April 02, 2018, 01:01:45 PM
Quote from: Mike Cl on April 02, 2018, 09:08:22 AM
I happen to like Campbell.  Two ideas of his stick out for me.  One is,  "Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning." And the other is, “If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid.”  For me 'the purpose of life is life', and 'follow your bliss' sort of sums it all up.  He says you are in charge of you.  And I like that way of thinking.
His study of universal myth I find interesting in that basically all societies of all times and places have myths.  So, what are the central messages of all those myths?  Campbell attempts to find out.  And he does not subscribe any of those messages as from god(s), but people.

But can you understand something, if you don't practice it?  I see Campbell as a good scholar, but like the Pope telling me about marriage.  Gershom Scholem did the same thing with Kabbalah, a scholar, but not a practitioner.  Like a gourmand, who never eats anything.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on April 04, 2018, 02:16:25 AM
Quote from: Mike Cl on April 02, 2018, 09:08:22 AM
I happen to like Campbell.  Two ideas of his stick out for me.  One is,  "Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning." And the other is, “If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid.”  For me 'the purpose of life is life', and 'follow your bliss' sort of sums it all up.  He says you are in charge of you.  And I like that way of thinking.
His study of universal myth I find interesting in that basically all societies of all times and places have myths.  So, what are the central messages of all those myths?  Campbell attempts to find out.  And he does not subscribe any of those messages as from god(s), but people.

Those seem slightly "new age", but I understand.  My own view is that Campbell gives positive approval to almost all religions and suggests they are all equally accurate in the thoughts of the believers.

I understand that to him, that means some concepts all humans have in common.  But to me, that means he is sort of saying that all theisms are true just by being thought of, and I can't agree with that.

To put it more basically, Campbell believes all human imaginings of theism are correct "because we think them" and I won't accept that.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on April 04, 2018, 06:21:49 AM
Good arguing point, I think you are correct on Campbell.  And basically I agree with Campbell.  Correct = truth for you, and psychology is delusion (except when it isn't).  Common agreement among academic experts = objectivity = correct (as good as it gets at any given point in time).  in my case, psychology is the primary science, not physics or math ... and I am skeptical of any experts (because they are often wrong).
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Mike Cl on April 04, 2018, 08:58:36 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on April 04, 2018, 02:16:25 AM
Those seem slightly "new age", but I understand.  My own view is that Campbell gives positive approval to almost all religions and suggests they are all equally accurate in the thoughts of the believers.

I understand that to him, that means some concepts all humans have in common.  But to me, that means he is sort of saying that all theisms are true just by being thought of, and I can't agree with that.

To put it more basically, Campbell believes all human imaginings of theism are correct "because we think them" and I won't accept that.
I hear you.  But for me, I pick-and-chose from any philosopher on any subject.  I do not agree with anybody 100% of the time.  So, I pick what suits me and ignore/not agree with, everything else.  So, the fact he does not understand theism as I do matters not.  I just ignore that part. 
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on April 04, 2018, 11:39:01 PM
Quote from: Mike Cl on April 04, 2018, 08:58:36 AM
I hear you.  But for me, I pick-and-chose from any philosopher on any subject.  I do not agree with anybody 100% of the time.  So, I pick what suits me and ignore/not agree with, everything else.  So, the fact he does not understand theism as I do matters not.  I just ignore that part.

Well, I took an online test and it said I was 100% Kant and 75% Hume.  So who am I to argue.  LOL!  Well, I would have to write a book, right?
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Mike Cl on April 05, 2018, 09:29:38 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on April 04, 2018, 11:39:01 PM
  Well, I would have to write a book, right?
Yes you would--and you need to get right on it!  Now!  I'd read it.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on April 07, 2018, 01:22:09 AM
Quote from: Mike Cl on April 05, 2018, 09:29:38 AM
Yes you would--and you need to get right on it!  Now!  I'd read it.

I appreciate the encouragement.  But serious writers don't worry about their cats, or gardens, or dead light bulbs (except right over their desk) or dirty laundry or cooking meals.  LOL!

So I am going to say this entirely tongue-in-cheek and for amusement only (betting I get hit anyway).  I need a wife...
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on April 07, 2018, 04:05:23 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on April 07, 2018, 01:22:09 AM
I appreciate the encouragement.  But serious writers don't worry about their cats, or gardens, or dead light bulbs (except right over their desk) or dirty laundry or cooking meals.  LOL!

So I am going to say this entirely tongue-in-cheek and for amusement only (betting I get hit anyway).  I need a wife...

Wives say that too ...
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Mike Cl on April 07, 2018, 09:38:43 AM
Quote from: Cavebear on April 07, 2018, 01:22:09 AM
I appreciate the encouragement.  But serious writers don't worry about their cats, or gardens, or dead light bulbs (except right over their desk) or dirty laundry or cooking meals.  LOL!

So I am going to say this entirely tongue-in-cheek and for amusement only (betting I get hit anyway).  I need a wife...
mail-order-bride????
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Baruch on April 07, 2018, 03:23:32 PM
Quote from: Mike Cl on April 07, 2018, 09:38:43 AM
mail-order-bride????

I explored that when I was a young adult, not yet married.  But I couldn't figure how to get the woman into the shipping container ;-(
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Unbeliever on April 07, 2018, 03:29:45 PM
A mail-order bride should not be shipped UPS or the U.S. postal service, but should always be shipped in style, on your private jet or yacht. If those are out of the question, then there's always steerage.
Title: Re: Any one of you have ever gotten a perfect score in a test or exam?
Post by: Cavebear on April 07, 2018, 11:09:49 PM
Quote from: Unbeliever on April 07, 2018, 03:29:45 PM
A mail-order bride should not be shipped UPS or the U.S. postal service, but should always be shipped in style, on your private jet or yacht. If those are out of the question, then there's always steerage.

Well, OK, more than I was expecting from a mere joke.  But can she garden and like cats with me?