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  #361 (permalink)  
Old 07-07-2009
AjaxPress's Avatar
Secretary of State

 
Member Since: Aug 2006
Location: Reno, NV
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United_States     Ethiopia

Re: Court rules for white firefighters over promotions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Maat222 View Post
No, if the Blacks and Hispanics had been warned some people were going to spend thousands in order to do well on the test, they may have considered spending that much as well.

The bogus claim is that doing well on the test means they would be a better choice.
That claim is false.
Those more familiar with the actual station procedures would be the better choice.
I did pretty well on the S.A.T. tests by picking up free study guides. There were also some that costs less than 50 bucks. Of course I do know of at least one person whos parents really did spend thousands of dollars on some test prep for him but he's in a relatively similar station in life than I am. Point being is that spending thousands on to prepare for a test isn't necessary, but for those that did, they deserve to do better. That's what the free market economy is all about. Sucks but that's life. FYI, are you saying that dyslexic people shouldn't have to work harder to get the same results? That's pretty much what happened, as the dyslexic is/was pretty much the only one who fit the scenario you're describing.

Second point, how do you know that actual station procedures weren't on the test? If you have actual copies of the test please make them available.
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  #362 (permalink)  
Old 07-07-2009
Joint Chiefs of Staff Member

 
Member Since: May 2009
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,014

   
Re: Court rules for white firefighters over promotions

Quote:
Originally Posted by AjaxPress View Post
I did pretty well on the S.A.T. tests by picking up free study guides. There were also some that costs less than 50 bucks. Of course I do know of at least one person whos parents really did spend thousands of dollars on some test prep for him but he's in a relatively similar station in life than I am. Point being is that spending thousands on to prepare for a test isn't necessary, but for those that did, they deserve to do better. That's what the free market economy is all about. Sucks but that's life. FYI, are you saying that dyslexic people shouldn't have to work harder to get the same results? That's pretty much what happened, as the dyslexic is/was pretty much the only one who fit the scenario you're describing.

Second point, how do you know that actual station procedures weren't on the test? If you have actual copies of the test please make them available.

There is nothing wrong with some being more ambitions then others and making more money, but that is not the question here, but of actual experience and safety. And test preps don't make the person more qualified, only higher test scores (most likely).

With the dyslexic, the point is they won't be able to have people read for them in real life, so it should bring up questions.

With the station procedures, we don't have much from the test, but we do have one example that showed the test was bad, from what we were told.
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  #363 (permalink)  
Old 07-07-2009
Joint Chiefs of Staff Member

 
Member Since: May 2009
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,014

   
Re: Court rules for white firefighters over promotions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve View Post
I'd be willing to bet that, if you were brave enough to look up everything else Matt has said, you'll find your failure rate skyrocketing.

Of course, the funniest part of all of this; well, there are many, really, is that you repeatedly spoke with an air of authority on the topic, and we all knew you were clueless.

Second, is that ypou continue to dodge Matt's request to describe your experience. He's been man enough to do that, and he is worthy of respect for that.

You...not so much...


No, I am sure of what I wrote, and look questionable things up when I have time. (maybe not right away)
And no, I have absolutely 0 fire fighting experience.
But I have owned dozens of buildings with fire systems, have been there for every inspection, and have used, worked on, or observed hundreds of others.

What annoys me is how people try to use any "air of authority" at all, when in reality it is only the test that is important, and that the only evidence we have is from the sources critical of it. We don't have anything concrete that is positive about it. In fact, those suing are not on record as saying it was a good test. It would be different if this company had a long history of writting the exam, but they don't. This was their first time. So it is likely they did not do such a great job.
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  #364 (permalink)  
Old 07-07-2009
Steve's Avatar
President

 
Member Since: Nov 2006
Location: San Diego
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Re: Court rules for white firefighters over promotions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Maat222 View Post
No, I am sure of what I wrote, and look questionable things up when I have time. (maybe not right away)
And no, I have absolutely 0 fire fighting experience.
But I have owned dozens of buildings with fire systems, have been there for every inspection, and have used, worked on, or observed hundreds of others.

What annoys me is how people try to use any "air of authority" at all, when in reality it is only the test that is important, and that the only evidence we have is from the sources critical of it. We don't have anything concrete that is positive about it. In fact, those suing are not on record as saying it was a good test. It would be different if this company had a long history of writting the exam, but they don't. This was their first time. So it is likely they did not do such a great job.














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  #365 (permalink)  
Old 07-07-2009
Doctor Who's Avatar
Joint Chiefs of Staff Member
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Re: Court rules for white firefighters over promotions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Maat222 View Post
There is nothing wrong with some being more ambitions then others and making more money, but that is not the question here, but of actual experience and safety. And test preps don't make the person more qualified, only higher test scores (most likely).

With the dyslexic, the point is they won't be able to have people read for them in real life, so it should bring up questions.

With the station procedures, we don't have much from the test, but we do have one example that showed the test was bad, from what we were told.
We have one example that showed that one question was bad. Not the entire test. But even that is up for debate as one poster pointed out that it doesn't matter what kind of truck it is. Some need to be pointed in the right direction so every truck should be pointed in that direction if there is a hill. The fact that the guy complaining couldn't make that not so far leap tells me a great deal about his ability to think beyond the obvious. If some do and some don't and the answer is "it depends", then the correct answer is the direction that the "it depends" trucks need to be in. Sometimes test are designed that way so they can test the takers cognitive abilities. I'll go with a professional testing company any day over a guy who failed when it comes to whether questions were relavant and asked correctly.
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  #366 (permalink)  
Old 07-07-2009
Joint Chiefs of Staff Member

 
Member Since: May 2009
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,014

   
Re: Court rules for white firefighters over promotions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Doctor Who View Post
We have one example that showed that one question was bad. Not the entire test. But even that is up for debate as one poster pointed out that it doesn't matter what kind of truck it is. Some need to be pointed in the right direction so every truck should be pointed in that direction if there is a hill. The fact that the guy complaining couldn't make that not so far leap tells me a great deal about his ability to think beyond the obvious. If some do and some don't and the answer is "it depends", then the correct answer is the direction that the "it depends" trucks need to be in. Sometimes test are designed that way so they can test the takers cognitive abilities. I'll go with a professional testing company any day over a guy who failed when it comes to whether questions were relavant and asked correctly.
The point is that there is no ONE right direction.
Some trucks MUST be pointed in different directions, and the direction can depend on things like the street width, distance to hydrant, pavement type, etc. So the test over simplified, and was wrong. And what matters most is what the actual station procedure was, which was either direction, not what a book claimed was best.
The test should have had an "it depends" answer, and it was wrong because it didn't.
The professional testing company with any experience, also said this newby company test was badly done.

But yes, it is possible the test was not bad.
We don't have all the evidence.
However, it is most likely the test was bad, because so many agreed it was bad.
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  #367 (permalink)  
Old 07-07-2009
Steve's Avatar
President

 
Member Since: Nov 2006
Location: San Diego
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Re: Court rules for white firefighters over promotions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Maat222 View Post
But yes, it is possible the test was not bad.
We don't have all the evidence.
Well, nice to see you don't let facts stand in your way...
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  #368 (permalink)  
Old 07-07-2009
EricOKC's Avatar
Vice President
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Member Since: Feb 2004
Location: Houston, TX
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Texas     United_States

Re: Court rules for white firefighters over promotions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Maat222 View Post
The point is that there is no ONE right direction.
Some trucks MUST be pointed in different directions, and the direction can depend on things like the street width, distance to hydrant, pavement type, etc. So the test over simplified, and was wrong. And what matters most is what the actual station procedure was, which was either direction, not what a book claimed was best.
The test should have had an "it depends" answer, and it was wrong because it didn't.
The professional testing company with any experience, also said this newby company test was badly done.

But yes, it is possible the test was not bad.
We don't have all the evidence.
However, it is most likely the test was bad, because so many agreed it was bad.
To settle this garbage about the truck's direction - the test DID specify the type of equipment. The complaint from one of those who did not score in the top percentile was that his station did not use those kinds of trucks so he did not see why that question was on the test.

That doesn't indicate a bad test - it indicates laziness on the part of the applicant.
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  #369 (permalink)  
Old 07-07-2009
Doctor Who's Avatar
Joint Chiefs of Staff Member
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Member Since: Jan 2007
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 1,193

United_States     North_Carolina

Re: Court rules for white firefighters over promotions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Maat222 View Post
The professional testing company with any experience, also said this newby company test was badly done.
The "other" company was one of their competitors. I can think of no greater opportunity for the competition than to slam other guy in a national forum. Let's keep their comments in perspective.
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  #370 (permalink)  
Old 07-07-2009
Secretary of Defense
Rocket Scientist

 
Member Since: Feb 2009
Location: Montana
Posts: 2,131

United_States     Montana

Re: Court rules for white firefighters over promotions

Back to the original post.... I'm sure it has been pointed out that Sotomayor often has had to rule according to established supreme court precedent, which historically supported the intent of affirmative action. If the supreme court wants to overturn their own precedents (which is probably not too controversial for affirmative action which has always been a 'temporary' solution), that shouldn't reflect poorly on Sotomayor's rulings on affirmative action.

The interesting thing NOW is how many more reverse-discrimination cases will be brought in front of the court system now that the SCOTUS has overturned precedent?
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  #371 (permalink)  
Old 07-08-2009
Joint Chiefs of Staff Member

 
Member Since: May 2009
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,014

   
Re: Court rules for white firefighters over promotions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve View Post
Well, nice to see you don't let facts stand in your way...
The city and the lower court had the most information, and they said it was bad.

The SCOTUS only had limited legal argument, and could not include evaluation of the original testimony, so did not conclude the test was good.
No one concluded the test was good.
So most likely it was bad.
The best you could say is that it was equally bad for everyone.
But I think the key is the use of conflicting resources.
That was a bad idea.
The test company should have run the test by the station captain, to make sure it followed their actual procedures.
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  #372 (permalink)  
Old 07-08-2009
Joint Chiefs of Staff Member

 
Member Since: May 2009
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,014

   
Re: Court rules for white firefighters over promotions

Quote:
Originally Posted by EricOKC View Post
To settle this garbage about the truck's direction - the test DID specify the type of equipment. The complaint from one of those who did not score in the top percentile was that his station did not use those kinds of trucks so he did not see why that question was on the test.

That doesn't indicate a bad test - it indicates laziness on the part of the applicant.

That is not what the articles said.
The only articles I have read, said that no truck type was specified.
Nor would it be right to include questions about trucks that we not in the free station reading material.
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  #373 (permalink)  
Old 07-08-2009
Joint Chiefs of Staff Member

 
Member Since: May 2009
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,014

   
Re: Court rules for white firefighters over promotions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Doctor Who View Post
The "other" company was one of their competitors. I can think of no greater opportunity for the competition than to slam other guy in a national forum. Let's keep their comments in perspective.

True, but the competitor also have much more experience with fire qualification testing.
It sounds to me like there should be some investigation as to why the new company was picked?
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  #374 (permalink)  
Old 07-16-2009
MattLarson's Avatar
Moderator, Bulk Rate
Fear my squirrelly wrath!!!!

 
Member Since: Jul 2004
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 30,160

United_States     Florida

Re: Court rules for white firefighters over promotions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Maat222 View Post
Actually I just looked this up, and I was wrong.
I was assuming there were just the wet types of sprinklers with thermo valves and water always ready to do, and the types that have open sprinklers with no water.
But it turns out the open sprinkler system is called a deluge system, and not dry.
The one with the air compressor is called a dry system, even though it is still partially wet and still has thermo valve sprinkler heads.

You did have this one right.
No kidding. As I might have mentioned a dozen or so times, I've inspected these systems you've read about.....
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  #375 (permalink)  
Old 07-17-2009
Joint Chiefs of Staff Member

 
Member Since: May 2009
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,014

   
Re: Court rules for white firefighters over promotions

Quote:
Originally Posted by MattLarson View Post
No kidding. As I might have mentioned a dozen or so times, I've inspected these systems you've read about.....

Instead of just telling me to beleive you, what you could have done was to explain there are 3 types of sprinkler systems instead of the 2 I was aware of.
It is not like it is that hard to understand how they work.
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