[Fwd: Letters F (Not Piano}]

[Carl Root]

Rob Stuart-Vail wrote:
> 
> But are we to ignore the implication that the task is to "count the F's in
> the following sentence"? (Thus not counting the first F in the
> instructions).

That is the question , isn't it.  Note that very few got six originally,
including me.  That's because 'of' sounds like 'uv', as John points out,
and got overlooked with a quick reading.  So now the point of this task
is to look closely and be careful not to make a mistake.  That is an
open invitation to us literalists!  Sometimes an implication in the
directions is satisfactory, but all too often, more precise comunication
would help avoid misinterpretation.  I consider 'seven' to be the most
accurate answer because if 'six' was intented the instructions should
have simply said "count the 'f's in the following sentence"  Similarly,
there is no reason that I can think of to put a sentence in uppercase
letters except to differentiate from lower.  Therefore 'eight' is
incorrect.  

THIS WHOLE TOPIC IS RELATED TO PIANO SERVICE!
(Caps to get your attention - implies yelling in an internet
environment.)

Precise communication with your clientele even to the point of being
overly careful is a benefit, in my view.  Do you see a similarity in the
discussion of overly precise tunings?  I would suggest that the ability
to tune, voice, regulate, and repair is less important than your ability
to analyze undesirable symptoms in a piano and determine the best way to
correct them.  

Carl
 


> >John Ross wrote:
> >> Read the following sentence and count the F's.
> >>          FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE-
> >>          SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIF-
> >>          IC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE
> >>          EXPERIENCE OF MANY YEARS.