Behind the times.....or worse?

[Dave1982]

I would certainly not consider this woman sucky, especially since it's possible that there may have been extenuating circumstances. She was at least 70.

Woman: Excuse me?

Me: Yes, ma'am?

Woman: Could you tell me where the slide rules are?

Did I hear that right?

Me: Slide rules? As in a math slide rule?

Woman: Yes.



Me: I'm sorry but we don't carry those.

Woman: You don't have slide rules?????

No, we don't. In fact, since Staples was founded in the mid-late 80s, I doubt we've ever carried slide rules. They've been obsolete since at least 1974.

Just to humor her (since she stood there aghast, as if I'd just insulted her heritage or something), I looked to see if I could order one for her.

Of course, I can't.

Me: Sorry, I don't carry them, and I can't order one.

Woman: Do you know where I can get one?

Me: I really don't. The only place I've ever seen them for sale was at a classic computing booth at MacWorld Expo Boston in 1995. Sorry

She left.

Now, my initial thought was "Jeez....this woman's about 35 years behind the times...."

But then it occurred to me that she might have possible been having an Alzheimer's Moment, which would be unfortunate.....

I'll likely never know. Any thoughts?

[It's me]

Well... there are lots available on eBay! Of course explaining eBay to her probably would have been an uphill battle!

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I actually used this kind of slide rule when I worked at Kinko's, and also at my last graphic design job. Maybe she was looking for something like this?

I dunno, it's a stretch. I'm amazed anyone knows how to use the regular kind anymore.

[Dave1982]

Well, even if she was (which as you say, is a stretch) I don't have those either.

[boringscreenname]

It's hard to say she could have been either really behind the times or having an Alzhemiers moment.

I know it's too late now, but I probably would have tried to find out what exactly she was going to use it for, and suggest something different and newer that would do what she needed. That's assuming I had that type of knowledge though.

[Aethian]

We had to learn how to use those in High School Math classes...so no not to far behind in the times. I also remember on the state standarized test that you had to use one as well.

[Bright_Star]

I haven't seen a slide rule since the early 1980's!

[fireheart]

Using the awesome Wikipedia, I managed to find out what a slide rule is...

My dad used to use one when he was doing blueprints for houses. (he's not an architect) I'd see it among his drawing tools in the study. (he'd take the blueprints and mark what was used, done or changed). But I think that was years old...haven't seen it since.

[Ironclad Alibi]

I still have the two slide rules I used in college, and my wife's father's slide rule. I didn't realize they had become so rare.

[SG15Z]

Slide rule? Wow way before my time. I was born in the computer age Still I love doing equations by hand or in my head. I just love the satisfaction of solving a problem on my own. Of course I still use a calculator to double check my work just in case.

But a slide rule, I've only heard of them from my parents/grandparents, never actually seen one.

[smileyeagle1021]

Slide rules... I do believe that is a made up object that my mother and high school teachers made up to scare me into being grateful for my calculator

[dalesys]

Slide rule? best paddle for misbehaving geeks evair...

(found two when I cleaned out my storage shed last week)