What do they teach them these days?

[Cudzoziemiec]

And the reason I started this bit of this thread about Excel is treating empty cells as zero. If it was zero I would have put a 0 in the box, not left it blank!

But which one can you wipe your arse on?

[Beardy]

Is zero a number? That may be more a matter of philosophy than maths

In mathematics zero is a VERY important point on the number line, thus it is a number. A lot of mathematical concepts cannot be proved without it.

 Even Wikipedia says its a number

[ElyDave]

Is zero a number? That may be more a matter of philosophy than maths

In mathematics zero is a VERY important point on the number line, thus it is a number. A lot of mathematical concepts cannot be proved without it.

 Even Wikipedia says its a number

Well, if Wikipedia says so...

[Beardy]

Is zero a number? That may be more a matter of philosophy than maths

In mathematics zero is a VERY important point on the number line, thus it is a number. A lot of mathematical concepts cannot be proved without it.

 Even Wikipedia says its a number

Well, if Wikipedia says so...

I thought that was the clincher

[LEE]

Computer it say 'No!' maybe a thing of the past one day.

This is precisely the problem with AI.  Computer says, "NO", may be the logically correct answer, and they may start saying it more often.

Elon Musk is very worried by AI.  If Elon's worried then I'm worried because he's deeply involved in it*

*Are we taking bets on Elon Musk being a Replicant? 

[Mr Larrington]

I'm more worried about Farcebok and its so-called "algorithms".  Tell it you don't want adverts about booze and what's the first thing I saw this morning?  A shitvert from Majestic Wine.

Today it has also tried to sell me an airline ticket to places I don't want to go, houses in places I don't want to live, shaving products for the close, close shave my beard has always promised itself and womens-specific cycling apparel.

[Kim]

*Are we taking bets on Elon Musk being a Replicant?

Rogue Contact agent from The Culture.  He'll get to within a day or two of successfully sending his BFO rocket to Mars before he's assassinated or displaced by Special Circumstances in a way that looks like a tragic accident.

[fuzzy]

Apart from e mail, the internet and basic research, computers are  lingua feckin furrin to me. Yes I can write a document and wohoo! I can even attach things to it. I have even been known to insert <covert whisper mode ON>tables<covert whisper mode OFF> and cut and paste. And yes, I can do a basic powerpoint wossname but, pooters are still witchcraft as far as spreadsheets, databases, code etc. is concerned.

I was much the same way about military hardware when in the army. I was, and still am, inquisitive however. Curiosity is a dangerous thing. I know. I have experience. I have been shouted at by a very very professional, deeply experienced shouty person (Regimental Sergeant Major) because the very expensive surveillance device I dismantled during a bored spell in a sangar in Northern Ireland still ahd some bits left when I hurriedly put it back together during a snap Commanding officer visit to my sangar.

I only wanted to know how it worked

Curiosity isn't all it's cracked up to be.

[Beardy]

*Are we taking bets on Elon Musk being a Replicant?

Rogue Contact agent from The Culture.  He'll get to within a day or two of successfully sending his BFO rocket to Mars before he's assassinated or displaced by Special Circumstances in a way that look like a tragic accident.

LIKE 

[ElyDave]

*Are we taking bets on Elon Musk being a Replicant?

Rogue Contact agent from The Culture.  He'll get to within a day or two of successfully sending his BFO rocket to Mars before he's assassinated or displaced by Special Circumstances in a way that look like a tragic accident.

LIKE 

With Stephen Hawking as a Special Circumstances agent?  All that technology hidden in the chair?

[Torslanda]

So we're saying Elon Musk is in fact Thomas Jerome Newton? Who is Mr Farnsworth...?

[PaulF]

*Are we taking bets on Elon Musk being a Replicant?

Rogue Contact agent from The Culture.  He'll get to within a day or two of successfully sending his BFO rocket to Mars before he's assassinated or displaced by Special Circumstances in a way that looks like a tragic accident.

Kim has it again!

[spesh]

So we're saying Elon Musk is in fact Thomas Jerome Newton?

+1

[TheLurker]

I have been shouted at by a very very professional, deeply experienced shouty person (Regimental Sergeant Major) because the very expensive surveillance device I dismantled...

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. _Initiative_ and _curiosity_?  There's a place for people like you laddie and its not the PBI.