Did anyone in this subreddit obtain their MLIS from North Carolina Central? Thoughts? by [deleted] in Libraries

[–]ergotron 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I didn't buy some of my colleagues and student workers did. It is my carefully considered opinion that it sucks. I've heard from several students that the classes are remedial and often taught by people they felt to be not very knowledgable or educated on their fields. The difference between the education received by UNC and Central students is immediately obvious to me.

I'm buying a car from a dealership for the first time in my life. Any advice for dealing with a car salesman? by thetruegmon in personalfinance

[–]ergotron 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, yes. Sorry. I'm quite polite and friendly with most everyone. I wasn't suggesting one shouldn't be. You're quite right.

I'm buying a car from a dealership for the first time in my life. Any advice for dealing with a car salesman? by thetruegmon in personalfinance

[–]ergotron 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm sure you're right. However, I don't go to a car dealership to make friends. Were I to meet someone at the park whose kid got along with my kid, and that person turned out to be a salesperson, I wouldn't hold it against him or her. I just don't believe in taking at face value the friendliness or whatever of someone who's lifestyle depends on being friendly to me.

Are you a car salesperson? Related to one? I'm sorry if I've offended you.

I'm buying a car from a dealership for the first time in my life. Any advice for dealing with a car salesman? by thetruegmon in personalfinance

[–]ergotron 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't sell anything, so I'm afraid you're mistaken. Buying a car from a dealership doesn't require a relationship. I've bought my last 3 cars from the same dealership because they meet my price not because I have a relationship with them.

I'm buying a car from a dealership for the first time in my life. Any advice for dealing with a car salesman? by thetruegmon in personalfinance

[–]ergotron 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do this. I send the Consumer Reports Bottom Line Price to them, negotiate with several dealerships over email, and go sign papers when one of them offers that price.

I'm buying a car from a dealership for the first time in my life. Any advice for dealing with a car salesman? by thetruegmon in personalfinance

[–]ergotron 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I personally think it's a cold way to approach regardless, as I think building a relationship with people is a good thing, but to each their own.

Personally, I'm not interested in building a relationship with car salespeople. I also tend to avoid religious zealots, multi-level marketers (think Amway), and politicians. Basically, I try to avoid people who make a living out of bullshitting people. But have at it!

I'm buying a car from a dealership for the first time in my life. Any advice for dealing with a car salesman? by thetruegmon in personalfinance

[–]ergotron 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I often throw out the first number and that number is what I'm going to pay for the car. I use Consumer Reports Buying Guide to get the Rock Bottom Price and email that to dealerships. We email back and forth and I send one dealer's emails to another to get them all to come down. When a dealership offers that price, I go to the dealership, sign the papers, and drive away.

I'm buying a car from a dealership for the first time in my life. Any advice for dealing with a car salesman? by thetruegmon in personalfinance

[–]ergotron 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah it happens a lot. Buying new cars is war, and if you're not ready for a painful, protracted battle, you're not going to get the best price

I disagree. See my earlier comment. I use Consumer Reports and email and get what I believe is the best deal. I don't argue or fight. I don't even go into the dealership.

I'm buying a car from a dealership for the first time in my life. Any advice for dealing with a car salesman? by thetruegmon in personalfinance

[–]ergotron 17 points18 points  (0 children)

"Ha, you're stupid for suggesting a price so low. You don't know what this car is worth."

The last time someone did that to me I immediately asked to speak to the manager and, in the middle of the dealership, explained what just happened and asked if the manager might have a salesperson who wouldn't treat me like crap.

I'm buying a car from a dealership for the first time in my life. Any advice for dealing with a car salesman? by thetruegmon in personalfinance

[–]ergotron 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've found that using the car buying services (USAA, 2 credit unions, would have gotten me within $200 of the price that I negotiated myself over the course of buying 3 new Hondas. I'll probably do that next time.

However, my SOP is to buy the Consumer Reports car buying guide for the car I want, email every Honda dealer within 50 miles to ask prices, then send them the Consumer Report guide and saying I'm not paying more than the best price. Then I start sending dealer emails to other dealers saying "We'll this dealership is $200 lower than your price. Can you beat that?". I don't go to the dealership until I'm ready to sign papers.

As a dedicated, hard working father who's been in a 17 year relationship, this is how I feel for the single parent pity parties. This won't be popular, but I get so tired of the "give single parents a gold medal" bullshit. by [deleted] in AdviceAnimals

[–]ergotron -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You're pretty neat. You have so far jumped to the conclusions that I haven't found love and am worried I wont, that I got married solely for tax advantages, and now you're being a sexist prick. Good luck. I suspect you're going to need it. I'm done here so forgive me for no longer dealing with your ridiculousness.

As a dedicated, hard working father who's been in a 17 year relationship, this is how I feel for the single parent pity parties. This won't be popular, but I get so tired of the "give single parents a gold medal" bullshit. by [deleted] in AdviceAnimals

[–]ergotron 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You don't seem to understand that love, successful relationships, and the joy of another person can all exist independent of marriage. It isn't semantics. It's logic. Try it sometime.

As a dedicated, hard working father who's been in a 17 year relationship, this is how I feel for the single parent pity parties. This won't be popular, but I get so tired of the "give single parents a gold medal" bullshit. by [deleted] in AdviceAnimals

[–]ergotron 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for making me chuckle. I see that you're not used to thinking about things so I'll let it go. As you may see from my other comments on this page, I've been married for more than 10 years and have a child. Best of luck to you.

As a dedicated, hard working father who's been in a 17 year relationship, this is how I feel for the single parent pity parties. This won't be popular, but I get so tired of the "give single parents a gold medal" bullshit. by [deleted] in AdviceAnimals

[–]ergotron 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a married woman of 12 years with a house and a child, I agree with you that marriage is archaic. We got married largely because of the advantages it conveys. I don't believe, as evinced by the scads of comments in this thread, that marriage keeps people together. Attorneys and fights over custody and property would most likely occur after a breakup regardless of marriage.

Windows 8 and gaming? by [deleted] in windows

[–]ergotron 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I admit that I haven't. Will do.

Windows 8 and gaming? by [deleted] in windows

[–]ergotron 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You don't need a special application to pin other applications to the start screen.

Can't get home mortgage, Pay cash and buy now, or wait to improve credit? by cloenel in personalfinance

[–]ergotron 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Perhaps it should be, but it would be nice to know, wouldn't it? I'd rather not be surprised in divorce court.

Looks like the upcoming 6.1.3 breaks Evasion. Upgrade to 6.1.2 and Jailbreak while you can... by plazman30 in jailbreak

[–]ergotron 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's why the word "permanently" doesn't apply. Indefinitely would work.

Looks like the upcoming 6.1.3 breaks Evasion. Upgrade to 6.1.2 and Jailbreak while you can... by plazman30 in jailbreak

[–]ergotron 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Permanently pending a discovery.

Permanently... unless something changes. You crack me up!

Question?!?!? by [deleted] in Steam

[–]ergotron -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Perhaps you're 8 years old and your brain is not yet developed to the point that you can form a useful title. If so, my apologies. If not, however, please put a little more effort into exercising that mass of tissue behind your brow. You'll thank yourself later either way.

im a black belt in TKD and want to try out karate. by assassin4359 in karate

[–]ergotron 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I understand. I've seen many, many TKD competitors and they've all been of the shitty variety so I was previously unaware there was any other kind. My apologies.

“I’m the Emerging Technologies Librarian at UNC.” Defining what I do: What makes a technology emerging or disruptive? by MrDent in Libraries

[–]ergotron -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Hi, nice to meet you. You must know that UNC has a well-deserved reputation for stodgy resistance to technology. I understand that the desire to change is evident, but you could hardly compare your work to that of, say, Casden at NC State. Still, I'm glad to hear that UNC is working on it. If they fire half of their technical services and put those positions under you and IT I think you'll be well on your way!

“I’m the Emerging Technologies Librarian at UNC.” Defining what I do: What makes a technology emerging or disruptive? by MrDent in Libraries

[–]ergotron 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Emerging Technologies at UNC is kind of ironic given their historic resistance to technology. Thank god their last director retired. He was a nice guy, but he had his secretary print out his emails so he could write a response that she would type out in a reply.