Author Topic: Two bubblers (Read 6067 times)

ChadTower · « **on:** October 04, 2005, 02:40:15 pm »

There is a pair of water fountains near my desk at work. They are less than a foot apart, identical fountains. One is about a foot lower than the other.

I see, every day, people line up 2-3 deep at times waiting to use the higher of the two. A lot of people fill their water bottles there, myself included. People will stand around and wait to do so...

...always ignoring the second fountain, right next to the first. I almost never see anyone use the second one, even if there are three people waiting for the first.

Stingray · « **Reply #1 on:** October 04, 2005, 02:43:12 pm »

I thought this was going to be thread about you & Tommy having beans in the hot tub.

-S

ChadTower · « **Reply #2 on:** October 04, 2005, 02:45:40 pm »

I do not want to see a naked, wet, blindingly white tommy.

You cannot make me.

whammoed · « **Reply #3 on:** October 04, 2005, 02:47:47 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on October 04, 2005, 02:45:40 pm

I do not want to see a naked, wet, blindingly white tommy.

You cannot make me.

So, you are saying you want to be blindfolded?

Stingray · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2005, 02:48:32 pm »

I probably can't, but it would be funny to see someone try.

-S

Harry Potter · « **Reply #5 on:** October 04, 2005, 02:52:27 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on October 04, 2005, 02:40:15 pm

There is a pair of water fountains near my desk at work. They are less than a foot apart, identical fountains. One is about a foot lower than the other.

I see, every day, people line up 2-3 deep at times waiting to use the higher of the two. A lot of people fill their water bottles there, myself included. People will stand around and wait to do so...

...always ignoring the second fountain, right next to the first. I almost never see anyone use the second one, even if there are three people waiting for the first.

Everone who drinks from the small fountain, while queuing for the big one is deemed to know 'too much' and promptly vanishes down a trap-door hidden in front of it..

Or maybe people are just dumb...

ChadTower · « **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2005, 02:54:58 pm »

So, I just went to fill my water bottle. A guy waits for me to get off the taller fountain while the short fountain is idle.

I turned around and asked him why he was waiting when there is a second fountain not in use.

He snarled at me as if I'd insulted him.

Harry Potter · « **Reply #7 on:** October 04, 2005, 02:57:16 pm »

Or maybe Tommy drank from it once and everyone knows.

Stingray · « **Reply #8 on:** October 04, 2005, 02:58:31 pm »

Maybe it's an Ultracade product.

-S

SirPoonga · « **Reply #9 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:01:06 pm »

You should put the shorter one on something to make it taller...

ChadTower · « **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:04:41 pm »

Quote from: SirPoonga on October 04, 2005, 03:01:06 pm

You should put the shorter one on something to make it taller...

It is attached to the wall.

Clearly, it gets little use while the other is high traffic. This one is dry every time I see it and the taller one is usually in use.

SirPoonga · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:06:24 pm »

Heh, you should sneak some rum in the other one, see how long it takes for the trend to change....

missioncontrol · « **Reply #12 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:12:59 pm »

stick an out of order sign on the tall one and if theres a cut off valve turn it off and observe peoples reactions.......

take amny note and pictures for this project....

ChadTower · « **Reply #13 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:13:54 pm »

Heh, if I weren't averse to doing things that risk my job, I would.

Sephroth57 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:14:55 pm »

that or put a plastic penis around the fountain tip, then no one will want to drink from it

ChadTower · « **Reply #15 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:16:16 pm »

Dude, this place is so PC corporate sterile hell, I can't even SAY that without meeting with HR.

Sephroth57 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:19:59 pm »

heh, thats funny. im in the most casual office environment ever. i couldnt imagine myself in a cubicle in some 'office space' type place

ChadTower · « **Reply #17 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:21:18 pm »

I've been in the casual places. Once you work your way up to the senior technical roles, those casual places expect you to produce more than I have to produce here.

missioncontrol · « **Reply #18 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:26:14 pm »

try to figure out a way to partially clog it so that the water shots right at the person who is trying to dring from it......

oh yeah and take your turn (scrabble)

Harry Potter · « **Reply #19 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:27:37 pm »

Totally unrelated, i'm about switch my computer off for the first time in 5 days (Thanks to the UPS i got a while back).

But i will be back.....

Zakk · « **Reply #20 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:40:56 pm »

I had the same kind of fountain arrangement at a place I used to work, and it was the same thing. The second one was 'much' lower, and intended for people in wheelchairs. People would always use the higher one, myself included, probably for the same reason you would feel guilty using the handicap parking places, even though the spots are empty.

Sephroth57 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:43:32 pm »

i thought theyre just for midgets and kids

ChadTower · « **Reply #22 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:44:19 pm »

It's not THAT low and there are no wheelchair bound people here.

missioncontrol · « **Reply #23 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:45:18 pm »

Quote from: Zakk on October 04, 2005, 03:40:56 pm

I had the same kind of fountain arrangement at a place I used to work, and it was the same thing.

Sephroth57 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:46:27 pm »

i actually always use the handicapped ones if i need to use a stall, cause those normal ones youre too close to the walls

mr.Curmudgeon · « **Reply #25 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:49:57 pm »

Chad,

Now that you mention it, I've noticed the exact same thing at my office. I work in a large IT firm, 100's of employees, and the shorter fountain is always dry. Weird.

Maybe the taller fountain, designed for people of average height, just accommodates them more...they don't have to bend down as far. They get used to using it and never try the smaller one...even to fill up water bottles.

mrC
P.S. Your townie cred is lackin...it's "Bubbla"

Sephroth57 · « **Reply #26 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:51:38 pm »

well you know i just thought of something, they probably wait in line cause its time away from their desk and they dont wanna go back so soon, heh

Stingray · « **Reply #27 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:55:10 pm »

Curiosity got the better of me. There are two fountains right across the hall from my office. I hardly notice them because I never use them. Just went out there and took a look. One regular height, one short one. The taller one looks to have been used in the past few minutes, the shorter one is dry as a bone.

-S

missioncontrol · « **Reply #28 on:** October 04, 2005, 03:58:06 pm »

all our fountains at work are normal size, when I get my office job I'll let you know.....

ChadTower · « **Reply #29 on:** October 04, 2005, 04:44:34 pm »

Quote from: mr.Curmudgeon on October 04, 2005, 03:49:57 pm

P.S. Your townie cred is lackin...it's "Bubbla"

Stingray · « **Reply #30 on:** October 04, 2005, 04:47:17 pm »

School just got out, which means that 1400ish students just walked past those two fountains. The tall one is still wet, the short one is still dry. This is a very strange cultural phenomenon that you have discovered here.

-S

SirPoonga · « **Reply #31 on:** October 04, 2005, 04:50:05 pm »

But school kids are different, they will make fun of someone who uses the short fountain.

Stingray · « **Reply #32 on:** October 04, 2005, 05:02:25 pm »

Can't argue with that.

-S

shmokes · « **Reply #33 on:** October 05, 2005, 01:35:15 am »

In my opinion people who use short fountains are inferior.

Bones · « **Reply #34 on:** October 05, 2005, 01:46:15 am »

Reasons for this strange phenomenon can be easily explained by evolution from a time when we had to conserve every calorie to survive.

Excessive bending to reach a shorter bubbler would consume more energy and if we needed to run from a large flesh eating animal it may have made all the difference between life or death.

Preference for a bubbler that is closest to our intake system is simply a hard-wired reflex that we have zero control over.

duffjr · « **Reply #35 on:** October 05, 2005, 02:25:04 am »

you're bending over for both of them. it's the same feeling. just use the shorter fountain. i go for the shorter one nowadays since it seems cleaner to me. it's not like you have to get on your knees. isn't it different for the shorter urinal in the bathroom? if there's a guy peeing in the tall one on the right, i'm peeing in the shorter one on the left rather than the tall one in the middle.

esser · « **Reply #36 on:** October 05, 2005, 05:38:19 am »

Perhaps peple avoid the shorter fountain because there is moe chance that someone could have taken a leak in the shorter fontain!
I waste half the day worying about crap like that, gotta go wash my hands!

ChadTower · « **Reply #37 on:** October 05, 2005, 08:56:48 am »

Quote from: BrokenBones on October 05, 2005, 01:46:15 am

Preference for a bubbler that is closest to our intake system is simply a hard-wired reflex that we have zero control over.

Now, factor in that most of these people are way overweight, and make it work.

Stingray · « **Reply #38 on:** October 05, 2005, 08:58:29 am »

Quote from: esser on October 05, 2005, 05:38:19 am

Perhaps peple avoid the shorter fountain because there is moe chance that someone could have taken a leak in the shorter fontain!
I waste half the day worying about crap like that, gotta go wash my hands!

Being that the one that I mentioned is in the main hall of a high school right next to the security desk, I think the chances that someone has ever peed in it are pretty remote.

-S

ChadTower · « **Reply #39 on:** October 05, 2005, 09:02:44 am »

In a high school next to the security desk, people at my high school would walk right up and drop a steamer in it. Then they'd flip off the frightened security guy.

Wait, we never had any security guys or security desk, just steamers in the water fountains.

Wait... the water fountains were all off and hadn't been working in a decade.

RayB · « **Reply #40 on:** October 05, 2005, 01:14:29 pm »

I think what you're seeing is the lemming effect. People will instinctively "line up" where they see everyone else is, because the assumption is that "there must be a reason", and no one wants to be the loose cannon that walks right up to the small fountain and......

... discovers what everyone else already knew: It doesn't work!

SirPoonga · « **Reply #41 on:** October 05, 2005, 01:18:28 pm »

right, but how can a water cooler not work, unless there is a an anti-gravity unit near it...

RayB · « **Reply #42 on:** October 05, 2005, 01:45:00 pm »

Poonga, are you arguing for the sake of arguing? I was just putting forth a hypothetical scenario and you have to dissect how a water fountain could or could not stop working?!

How about this: Maintenance guys turned it off for whatever reason. Who cares why. The point was most people would rather conform than takes risks of "being different".

ChadTower · « **Reply #43 on:** October 05, 2005, 02:02:10 pm »

It works. I use it when the taller one is busy.

SirPoonga · « **Reply #44 on:** October 05, 2005, 02:06:05 pm »

RayB, I know it was hypothetical. But, since water coolers are gravity fed the only thing that can;t work on them is the cooling. You can still get water

So, even if we are going to be hypothetical, it should be realistic.

How about this as a hypothesis, maybe someone say a white powder on the smaller one?

ChadTower · « **Reply #45 on:** October 05, 2005, 02:12:17 pm »

Everywhere? Other people are reporting the same behaviour at their workplaces.

shmokes · « **Reply #46 on:** October 05, 2005, 02:14:26 pm »

Lemmings don't really commit mass suicide. The myth all started by a guy who made a documentary about it for Disney like 50 years ago or something and it was completely faked.

p.s. The water cooler could clog

SirPoonga · « **Reply #47 on:** October 05, 2005, 02:19:05 pm »

Clog with that thick water residue, huh?

Stingray · « **Reply #48 on:** October 05, 2005, 02:35:50 pm »

The pipe could break.

-S

SirPoonga · « **Reply #49 on:** October 05, 2005, 02:39:09 pm »

But then it wouldn't be dry

there would be water and water marks all over the place.

I can understand water fountains, as the shorter one is usually intended for kids. If na adult tries to drink, she/she will usually get a squirt up the nose.

Chad, what if you temporarily put an out of order sign on the taller one

ChadTower · « **Reply #50 on:** October 05, 2005, 02:41:29 pm »

Yeah, in megasuperultracorporate land, one avoids calling attention to themself.

Stingray · « **Reply #51 on:** October 05, 2005, 02:47:49 pm »

Quote from: SirPoonga on October 05, 2005, 02:39:09 pm

what if you temporarily put an out of order sign on the taller one

I'd do that, but the sign would be gone after the next passing period.

-S

shmokes · « **Reply #52 on:** October 05, 2005, 02:49:56 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on October 05, 2005, 02:41:29 pm

Yeah, in megasuperultracorporate land, one avoids calling attention to themself.

You've been thinking about selling your house and moving out of state anyway. Now's your chance to stick it to the man.

SirPoonga · « **Reply #53 on:** October 05, 2005, 03:25:25 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on October 05, 2005, 02:41:29 pm

Yeah, in megasuperultracorporate land, one avoids calling attention to themself.

So, you are saying you have no stealth skills?

esser · « **Reply #54 on:** October 06, 2005, 04:09:06 am »

Quote from: ChadTower on October 05, 2005, 09:02:44 am

In a high school next to the security desk, people at my high school would walk right up and drop a steamer in it.

Stingray · « **Reply #55 on:** October 06, 2005, 10:19:22 am »

Lucky for me this is a pretty tame neighborhood.

-S

missioncontrol · « **Reply #56 on:** October 06, 2005, 11:50:37 am »

Quote from: SirPoonga on October 05, 2005, 02:19:05 pm

Clog with that thick water residue, huh?

If his area suffers from hard water problems then the fountain could clog....

ChadTower · « **Reply #57 on:** October 06, 2005, 11:53:50 am »

The bubbler works. I use it.

SirPoonga · « **Reply #58 on:** October 06, 2005, 11:59:43 am »

Oh, water fountains. I don't know why I had it stuck in my head that Chad was talking about fountains instead of coolers. I'm use to seeing water coolers as usually city water is something you don't want to drink

Then it is simple, the shorter ones are usually akward for adults.

missioncontrol · « **Reply #59 on:** October 06, 2005, 12:15:47 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on October 06, 2005, 11:53:50 am

The bubbler works.

Sephroth57 · « **Reply #60 on:** October 06, 2005, 12:16:56 pm »

im gonna bubble bobble on someones face if this conversations gets any more boring

ChadTower · « **Reply #61 on:** October 06, 2005, 12:18:16 pm »

Shut up before I Bust A Move on your chin.

Bones · « **Reply #62 on:** October 06, 2005, 05:17:07 pm »

This is the second thread today that has chin omelet innuendo's.

Kremmit · « **Reply #63 on:** October 07, 2005, 02:37:29 am »

If you're afraid to put an "This fountiain is out of order" sign on the tall fountain, put a "This fountain is working" sign over the short one. Then see if anybody other than you uses it.

BTW, I can truthfully say I have always used the short fountain whenever the big one is busy. Unless there's a steamer in it. Then I don't always use it.

DrewKaree · « **Reply #64 on:** October 09, 2005, 02:14:35 pm »

Quote from: Kremmit on October 07, 2005, 02:37:29 am

BTW, I can truthfully say I have always used the short fountain whenever the big one is busy. Unless there's a steamer in it. Then I don't always use it.

So you're saying that if there's a steamer in it, you don't ALWAYS use it, but you still DO use it on occasion. Even with a steamer in it.

I think I'm gonna chunder.

Stingray · « **Reply #65 on:** October 10, 2005, 09:13:06 am »

I guess it all depends on how much it's still actually steaming. I'm sure there's a formula you can use, but I'm not very good at math.

-S


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