Learning Curves....And Open Thread (CBD)

A "steep learning curve" has entered the vernacular as a phrase used to describe something that is difficult to learn. But that is exactly backwards!

Which curve would you rather be on?

Or am I missing something?

Posted by: Open Blogger at 02:25 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 I was told...

Posted by: speedster1 at February 07, 2016 02:27 PM (vUcdz)

2 Puppy Bowl thread?

Posted by: logprof at February 07, 2016 02:27 PM (vsbNu)

3 Norman, coordinate...

Posted by: Marco Robotio at February 07, 2016 02:27 PM (8aOqE)

4 The red pill.... please

Posted by: Marco Rubio New OS Did it! at February 07, 2016 02:27 PM (e7T6D)

5 Some jobs require a steep learning curve, but most candidates can only learn on a slow learning curve.

Posted by: gm at February 07, 2016 02:28 PM (K0tm3)

6 / off Rubio sock! Away with you!

Posted by: Yip at February 07, 2016 02:28 PM (e7T6D)

7 Blue line pitching wedge. Red line 4 iron.

Posted by: redenzo at February 07, 2016 02:28 PM (PGvxk)

8 Or am I missing something?

Let's start with labeling the chart.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 02:28 PM (jJRIy)

9 I think your axes are reversed.

"Steep learning curve" suggests that it takes a large amount of time to acquire a small amount of knowledge.

Posted by: chemjeff at February 07, 2016 02:29 PM (uZNvH)

10 Someone go get the rest of the morons.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 02:29 PM (jJRIy)

11 Could you repeat the question?

Posted by: Caliban at February 07, 2016 02:29 PM (DrC22)

12 Swap the x and y axes.

Posted by: Michael the Hobbit at February 07, 2016 02:30 PM (dPpmC)

13 Yep. Time up and knowledge to the right.

Posted by: irright at February 07, 2016 02:30 PM (DtNNC)

14 To say something has a steep learning curve doesn't mean it's difficult to learn. What it means is you're forced to learn quickly to be minimally competent in whatever it is.

Posted by: Ace's liver at February 07, 2016 02:30 PM (+azJs)

15 I must be missing something, too...
I don't get it.

Is we're talking "learning about Jennifer Love Hewitt's tender bits," then I want to be on whatever learning curve gets me to Holy Land.

Posted by: Chi at February 07, 2016 02:30 PM (OUpHg)

16 Steep learning curve means that you have a lot to learn and little time to learn it.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at February 07, 2016 02:31 PM (kTF2Z)

17 And then we come to Joe, m=0, Biden.

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2016 02:32 PM (LAe3v)

18 Well, if you assemble a tiger team that thinks outside of the box while leveraging challenges into opportunities, you can take you best of breed product and....what was the question?

Posted by: Lizzy at February 07, 2016 02:32 PM (NOIQH)

19 Ace's liver @14 has it right. It might be easy, it might be hard but the point is you have to learn in a hurry.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 07, 2016 02:33 PM (5tT9a)

20
Its the quick climb and distance that makes it difficult.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at February 07, 2016 02:34 PM (ODxAs)

21 Lizzy!!!!
You work at Microsoft too!!!???

Posted by: Diogenes at February 07, 2016 02:34 PM (5tT9a)

22 Here's a fun quiz. Accolades are in order if you get more than one right.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/3L5hn5B8TYI

Posted by: Retired Geezer at February 07, 2016 02:34 PM (VSRGY)

23 But I'm willing to take my time, so I guess I'll opt for the shallow learning curve. ?
I'm pretty shallow, anyway, so...

Posted by: Chi at February 07, 2016 02:34 PM (OUpHg)

24 Well, if you assemble a tiger team that thinks outside of the box while leveraging challenges into opportunities, you can take you best of breed product and...

(clubs Lizzy with a nerf bat until his arms get tired)

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:35 PM (39g3+)

25 Actually I think a steep learning curve means there is a lot to learn in a short amount of time. Like if someone is promoted to a job they don't have much background in, they have to figure it out quickly before they become a big failure.

Think a brilliant brain surgeon running for president; the steep learning curve isn't about diffuculty in learning, it's about all the new information that must be mastered before gaining success in a new field.

Posted by: LBascim at February 07, 2016 02:35 PM (xA3Xo)

26 >>Steep learning curve means that you have a lot to learn and little time to learn it.

So the graph should have the two lines arriving at the same point (level of knowledge), but with the "steep learning curve" line arriving much sooner.

Posted by: Lizzy at February 07, 2016 02:36 PM (NOIQH)

27 The problem with the steep learning curve is that it jams so much into so short a time period. In other words, its learning how to use XL in the same time period as learning how to play Q*Bert.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:36 PM (39g3+)

28 I am sick to death of the Bros weight lifting commercial. If I ever pay attention long enough to figure out what they're selling, I won't buy it.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 07, 2016 02:37 PM (5tT9a)

29 It's an SBD-5 Dauntless.

Posted by: guy on a slow learning curve at February 07, 2016 02:38 PM (JieFv)

30 So the graph should have the two lines arriving at the same point (level of knowledge), but with the "steep learning curve" line arriving much sooner.

Correct, that would be more accurate. And, that kind of is what the chart shows, because it reaches the same level as the slow curve much quicker, but goes on beyond that so that time is equal rather than knowledge.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:38 PM (39g3+)

31 Steep learning curve is about the requirements, not your results. If your results aren't up to the curve, then you failed.

Posted by: arminius at February 07, 2016 02:39 PM (d9vo8)

32
"To say something has a steep learning curve doesn't mean it's difficult
to learn. What it means is you're forced to learn quickly to be
minimally competent in whatever it is."

It also implies to me something that doesn't get any easier as you go. There are no "plateaus," but that it is a constant upward climb of new information and ways of thinking--instead of its being really difficult initially and then building on that foundational "hump."

Posted by: Nicholas Kronos at February 07, 2016 02:39 PM (MhGOw)

33 469
He's reasonably conservative. (Except for amnesty.)

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2016 02:17 AM (dciA+)

without
"amnesty" --without a Grim Reckoning followed by mass deportation and
self-deportation and a real big-ass wall--there is no "conservative"

Posted by: I shall return, and not be willowed at February 07, 2016 02:39 PM (8CdUx)

34 Yeah, that graph looks wrong for what is generally meant by a "steep learning curve."

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at February 07, 2016 02:40 PM (T/5A0)

35 No curves needed, just YouTube it and watch and learn.

Or not.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 07, 2016 02:40 PM (ej1L0)

36 Mine seems to curve south rather than north, sometimes.

Posted by: a phoenician sailor at February 07, 2016 02:40 PM (W51NF)

37 In CorporateLand, we use this expression as shorthand for "the people you have working on this are completely clueless."

Posted by: Caliban at February 07, 2016 02:40 PM (DrC22)

38 As each line goes asymtotic they will not reach the same point or level.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 07, 2016 02:41 PM (5tT9a)

39 Would an all knowing being have a vertical line?

Posted by: Man from Wazzustan at February 07, 2016 02:42 PM (FtrY1)

40 Taking someone wholly unexposed to first person shooters and tossing them on Realism difficulty of the Brutal Doom mod would be considered a steep learning curve. They would have little time to acclimate themselves to the controls and would very quickly die. Now, keeping them at that difficulty would necessitate them learning the ropes quickly in order to do anything, so they would become more competent significantly faster, all else being equal, than a person on the lowest difficulty setting. However, in any endeavor in real life in which failure has significant drawbacks, a steep learning curve is a bad thing.

Posted by: ravenshrike at February 07, 2016 02:42 PM (khlNS)

41 You must be at least this tall to ride the blue curve.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 02:42 PM (MQEz6)

42 Steep learning curve means that you have to learn a lot before you have useable knowledge.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 07, 2016 02:42 PM (rwI+c)

43 29 It's an SBD-5 Dauntless.
Posted by: guy on a slow learning curve at February 07, 2016 02:38 PM (JieFv)

: golf clap :

Posted by: hogmartin at February 07, 2016 02:43 PM (NA5LM)

44 My understanding of learning curves is there is often a leveling off where you seem not to be getting any better at the task before moving upward again.

Posted by: Skip at February 07, 2016 02:43 PM (HWcaz)

45 Ooo! Ooo! Ooo!

Posted by: Horshack at February 07, 2016 02:44 PM (HlSmu)

46 Why don't the two curves start at 0,0?

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 02:45 PM (MQEz6)

47 It's an SBD-5 Dauntless.

You like that? I got hundreds more!

Posted by: Amy Schumer at February 07, 2016 02:45 PM (39g3+)

48 The blue curve more resembles our accumulation of debt.

Posted by: rickl at February 07, 2016 02:45 PM (sdi6R)

49 Gradually, then suddenly.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 07, 2016 02:45 PM (rwI+c)

50 Yeah, you're missing a few things.

For one thing, a learning curve typically has three sections....the first, when you're muddling around and have no idea what you're doing; the second, where you exert effort to become minimally competent; and the third, where you progress from competence to mastery.

It is that second segment that's generally referenced when talking about a steep learning curve -- and what that indicates is that you have to proceed from incompetence to competence pretty rapidly, no matter how much effort this takes -- usually because either (a) being 50% competent makes you a danger to yourself or others, (b) you have to "get it" -- and you cannot be more than 10% competent if you don't or less than 80% competent if you do, or both.

Posted by: cthulhu at February 07, 2016 02:46 PM (EzgxV)

51 It's a high hill to climb.
You must climb it in a short period of time.

Posted by: Ralph at February 07, 2016 02:47 PM (sNESL)

52 On my YouTube app I have a bunch of short videos of WWII aircraft wrecked during the war but recently (early 2000's) found, mostly they were underwater.

Posted by: Skip at February 07, 2016 02:47 PM (HWcaz)

53 Relatively more knowledge in less time in the steeper cure...
Yes, it is generally thought to be harder to acquire more knowledge in less time and most people do fail to match the learning cure.

Posted by: Burnt Toast at February 07, 2016 02:47 PM (T78UI)

54 Plot the red values vs. the blue values.

Straight line?

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 02:47 PM (MQEz6)

55 My opinion is that all of you saying it's a lot of knowledge in a little time are completely wrong.

I could learn a ton of super easy crap in 5 minutes or a decent bit of difficult crap in 8 hours.. or as someone else put it above: "What it means is you're forced to learn quickly to be minimally competent in whatever it is", which is closer but still no cigar.

It is actually referring to the difficulty of the knowledge/information... The amount of time it takes is irrelevant. To go from knowing nothing about X to being competent in X .. So for instance, teaching someone who has never played a game of any sort the basics of Tic-Tac-Toe would be a shallow learning curve, whereas teaching the basics of Chess would be a steep learning curve.

The amount of time spent to learn either would be entirely dependent upon the person's ability to absorb information and/or general intelligence. Regardless of the amount of time consumed to 'learn' it, certain things can objectively be said to have a steep learning curve.

Posted by: Mad Mike at February 07, 2016 02:48 PM (Oa7kk)

56 The funny thing about a "steep learning" curve is that it usually take an average person two years to really learn a complicated job. But by the time they learn the job they are already burned out and ready to move on.

Posted by: Vic-we have no party at February 07, 2016 02:48 PM (t2KH5)

57 49 Gradually, then suddenly.
Posted by: Grump928
-------------
Go on...

Posted by: Chi at February 07, 2016 02:48 PM (OUpHg)

58 Blue line = With Beer Goggles
Red line = Without Beer Goggles

Posted by: Dave at Buffalo Roam at February 07, 2016 02:48 PM (HlSmu)

59 The blue line was taken right from Bob Doe's penile plethysmograph readout.

Posted by: Bob Dole at February 07, 2016 02:49 PM (sl+zA)

60 I wonder how steep the prezidential learning curve really is.

Posted by: iforgot at February 07, 2016 02:49 PM (YOxw1)

61 Turn the chart upside-down and it looks like Hildabeast's poll numbers

Posted by: Skip at February 07, 2016 02:49 PM (HWcaz)

62 > I agree, it makes no sense to me either, particularly given her life long struggle for decency, virtue, morality, and goodness in culture. She may be in the same enraged camp of "burn it to the ground" as many here perhaps.

Because this isn't about social mores and sunday school culture. She has been in the trenches since before you were born and sees the end looming. Who cares if the guy in the foxhole next to you is has a bible in his pocket or not, it's time to kill some fucking Nazis.

Posted by: Rastus at February 07, 2016 02:50 PM (VjlMj)

63
Dead Man's Curve, it's no place to play
Dead Man's Curve, you best keep away
Dead Man's Curve, I can hear 'em say
Won't come back from Dead Man's Curve

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at February 07, 2016 02:50 PM (FkBIv)

64 This is what I had in mind.

http://i66.tinypic.com/21mvkh5.png

Posted by: chemjeff at February 07, 2016 02:50 PM (uZNvH)

65 Next week let's do "bending the cost curve down".

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at February 07, 2016 02:51 PM (NeFrd)

66 I saw Red Line open for Blue Line in Boston in '97.

They both sucked.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 02:51 PM (MQEz6)

67 The graph is more illustrative if you cut it off at about 6.5 on the time axis. That way both lines cut off at exactly the same knowledge level, but the blue one shows its harder because it rams all that into your brain faster.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:52 PM (39g3+)

68 You are missing something.

The red line FAILED to acquire the required knowledge.

The steep learning curve is what is REQUIRED. That is, to succeed, you must be on the blue line. The STEEP learning curve.

Posted by: Tommy V at February 07, 2016 02:52 PM (SRQwr)

69 I'm glad I stuck with "The Expanse" on SyFy. Took about five episodes to hit its stride, but well worth it.

Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at February 07, 2016 02:52 PM (/pB9Z)

70 Oh god they've already started the pre game show.

Posted by: Buzzion at February 07, 2016 02:52 PM (zt+N6)

71 Bush was an idiot and we blame him for all the problems that we have today that our Presdent of Color is trying to fix. bush lied and 94 million American jobs died. Also we are all rooting for Carolina because that have a Quaterblack of Color and it is about time a team with a quarterback of color wins that stooped superbowl thing anyway..........

Posted by: Mary Clogginstien from Brattleboro, VT at February 07, 2016 02:53 PM (Fbj4h)

72 Just a few more minutes until Puppy Bowl XII.

Fans of both puppehz and kittehez should tune in.

Posted by: logprof at February 07, 2016 02:54 PM (vsbNu)

73 I just took apart a metal detector that hasn't worked in 35 years to see if it's just something that the boy can solder for me. This thing is all hand soldered components on what looks like a breadboard rather than a printed circuit board. I might have got this in 68, and it looks it inside.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 07, 2016 02:54 PM (rwI+c)

74 I generally think of 'Steep learning curve' as representing a large quantity of moderate-to-difficult knowledge to be absorbed/processed in a short time.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 07, 2016 02:55 PM (RrDm2)

75 Oh god they've already started the pre game show.

Hasn't that been going on the last two weeks? They milk this game harder than a milking machine tuned up by Tim "the tool man" Taylor.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:55 PM (39g3+)

76 When does the sporting event actually start?

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 07, 2016 02:55 PM (rwI+c)

77 Super Bowl preferences/predictions/prop bets? I'm rooting for the Panthers, and think they'll win. I have no beef with the Broncos, so if it goes their way, no skin off my back. Wouldn't put money on it, but my guess is Panthers win by double digits.

Posted by: Lincolntf at February 07, 2016 02:55 PM (2cS/G)

78 Sorry, you need to flip the X and Y axis, too! I got that part confused.

That is X is knowledge and Y is time.

Posted by: Tommy V at February 07, 2016 02:55 PM (SRQwr)

79 Kick off I supposedly at 6:30

Posted by: Buzzion at February 07, 2016 02:57 PM (zt+N6)

80 39 Would an all knowing being have a vertical line?
Posted by: Man from Wazzustan at February 07, 2016 02:42 PM (FtrY1)
-----------------
No.
You would have to represent that with only a mystical (not mathematical) point, i.e., with a blank graph. Any line implies movement in time and increase in knowledge, neither of which pertain to the omniscient one.

Someone who learns instantaneously would have a vertical line. But the omniscient one does not learn. He k-n-o-w-s.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at February 07, 2016 02:57 PM (T/5A0)

81 This thing is all hand soldered components on what looks like a breadboard rather than a printed circuit board.

Easy to fix, that way. Long as there are no tubes

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 02:57 PM (39g3+)

82 Dead Man's Curve, it's no place to play
Dead Man's Curve, you best keep away
Dead Man's Curve, I can hear 'em say
Won't come back from Dead Man's Curve
Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr
-----------------

*sound of squealing tires...and... crash! *

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 07, 2016 02:57 PM (RrDm2)

83 And currently there is some skinny jeans warring douche singing about a house party.

Posted by: Buzzion at February 07, 2016 02:57 PM (zt+N6)

84 The steep learning curve refers to a combination of 2 interrelated factors, IMO.

1) You have very little baseline knowledge of the particular subject, which in turn informs,

2) that a great deal of effort must be expended in order to reach that level of competence because it is foreign. Note that it doesn't necessarily imply a lengthy time component.

For example, in health care, if you switch from one vendor's electronic medical record to another, the curve is very steep because while you understand the data going in, you don't yet know the commands to use, the quirks of the system, and you don't yet know the workarounds. You may even be hampered by your knowledge of the old system, which of course used entirely different menus and processes to get to the patient's information and now has a different format.

Posted by: Conservative Crank's iPhone at February 07, 2016 02:57 PM (Gosad)

85 The Notorious Cloggenstein trolling hard today.

Hello 'rons and 'ettes!

*waves merrily at computer screen*

Posted by: Ghost of kari - WAR at February 07, 2016 02:58 PM (ubByS)

86 Deciphering this "graph" is a microagression.

I was told there would be no math on this blog.

Posted by: Dave at Buffalo Roam at February 07, 2016 02:58 PM (HlSmu)

87 In the vernacular, the "slang" version of this expression, the steepness of the learning curve is generally interpreted as a hill climb - the steeper, the more difficult.

In particular in relation to video games, where the term is often used, it also refers to complexity and non-intuitive (or non-standard) controls or rules.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at February 07, 2016 02:59 PM (bLnSU)

88 Mongo only pawn in game of life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKRma7PDW10

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 07, 2016 02:59 PM (OvUux)

89 Worth repeating over here.

Those who haven't need to read this takedown of Rubio by Phyllis Shlafly. This is an absolute must read and ends the debate about Rubio.

http://www.eagleforum.org/immigration/rubio-record.html

And if you don't know who Shlafly is, do yourself a favor and read about her. Being a product of government education I had never heard of this lady. She is brilliant. She authored a famous book (A choice, not an echo) back in the 1960s that largely inspired the modern conservative movement that culminated in Reagan's election. She is a constitutional scholar and attorney with a very impressive background, one of the most key players in conservative thought in the 20th century.

She's also a huge social conservative too, anti-feminism, anti-abortion, anti-homomarriage, the whole deal, this Margaret-Thatcher-like proper lady, a goodie two shoes Christian woman with a gang of grandkids. And she's all about Trump! It's like oil and water for a lady like her to be supporting a foul-mouthed philanderer like Trump, but she is. And that to me is highly interesting. Frankly seeing this raises the stakes in my minds. She is someone who sits atop a really tall tower and has a vantage point that I do not. For someone like her to be sitting in that position and still go all in for Trump, it kind of frightens me.

Posted by: Rastus at February 07, 2016 03:00 PM (VjlMj)

90 >>Next week let's do "bending the cost curve down".

Pretty sure that happens in the skies of tomorrow --- or was that the oceans of tomorrow? I always get those two confused...

Posted by: Lizzy at February 07, 2016 03:00 PM (NOIQH)

91 Would an all knowing being have a vertical line?

No but a Sanders voter has a horizontal line

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 03:00 PM (39g3+)

92 That is X is knowledge and Y is time.
Posted by: Tommy V
------------

So, male, right?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 07, 2016 03:00 PM (RrDm2)

93 Tubes are good. Tubes are your friends.

Posted by: Dave at Buffalo Roam with vintage amps at February 07, 2016 03:00 PM (HlSmu)

94 "This learning curve is cold."

"Steep, too!"

/Two guys on a bridge.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at February 07, 2016 03:00 PM (NeFrd)

95 The curves do not show what you have done, they show what you must do.

Posted by: eman at February 07, 2016 03:01 PM (MQEz6)

96 oh yes, the bottom is rocky.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 07, 2016 03:01 PM (rwI+c)

97 "This learning curve is cold."

"Steep, too!"

/Two guys on a bridge.

~~Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at February 07, 2016 03:00 PM (NeFrd)~~

Posted by: Amy Schumer at February 07, 2016 03:02 PM (zt+N6)

98 "Or am I missing something?"

Difficulty, effort.

It's harder to climb that steep hill.

Posted by: Comrade Arthur at February 07, 2016 03:02 PM (h53OH)

99 Nice national anthem for the Puppy Bowl.

Posted by: logprof at February 07, 2016 03:03 PM (vsbNu)

100 Learning curve? Never heard of it!

Posted by: Charles Gibson at February 07, 2016 03:03 PM (39g3+)

101 who's gonna do some learnin'? peyton or newton? smart money's on carolina giving 5, but denver has some late dough comin' in. they say "D" wins champeenships, which says denver, but carolina has spme purty good D too.

what says ye.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at February 07, 2016 03:03 PM (WTSFk)

102 Go Broncos!!!

Posted by: Lizzy at February 07, 2016 03:04 PM (NOIQH)

103 I'm rooting for 'Jimmy' in the Puppy Bowl!

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at February 07, 2016 03:05 PM (NeFrd)

104 93 Tubes are good. Tubes are your friends.
Posted by: Dave at Buffalo Roam
---------------
The Tubes rocked!
Now I have something else to "youtube" today instead of Craig Ferguson interviewing Alice Eve. (Which is quite mezmerizing, I must say) - thanks!

Posted by: Chi at February 07, 2016 03:06 PM (OUpHg)

105 Payton is supposed to not be at full speed from early week reports, that and I really can't stand him or his brother so....
Panthers 38 Broncos 20

Posted by: Skip at February 07, 2016 03:07 PM (HWcaz)

106 Wow. Frank Caliendo has really slimmed down. And his Jim Rome impersonation still sucks.

Posted by: Amy Schumer at February 07, 2016 03:08 PM (zt+N6)

107 Dammit, Amy Schumer stole my comment.

Posted by: buzzion at February 07, 2016 03:08 PM (zt+N6)

108 Hey, they have a hamster flying a biplane over the Puppy Bowl! They stole that from my book!!

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at February 07, 2016 03:09 PM (NeFrd)

109 The mountain is high
The valley is low
And you're confused of which way to go
I am here to give you a hand
And lead you into the promised land

Posted by: Skip at February 07, 2016 03:09 PM (HWcaz)

110 Denver Giant Foreheads- 17

Carolina Grievance Mongers- 13

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at February 07, 2016 03:10 PM (NeFrd)

111 A curve denotes a change in the rate.

Steep learning curve denotes a greater change over shorter time.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at February 07, 2016 03:10 PM (oVJmc)

112 carolina might shut down denver, gimpy peyton's offense being questionable, but denver MUST shut down carolina.

i'm actually not that impressed with carolina, their run notwithstanding, but denver seems very uneven.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at February 07, 2016 03:11 PM (WTSFk)

113 I'm happy for Team Ruff (no particular reason I'm pulling for them, except that green is my favorite color), and Darby is a helluva pup.

Posted by: logprof at February 07, 2016 03:11 PM (vsbNu)

114 Odd we don't have a food thread for the SB.

Since I'm a baker, I'll heat the oven to 450 degrees, remove the pizza from the box, put it on the middle rack, then cook it for about about 20 minutes...

Posted by: HH at February 07, 2016 03:12 PM (DrCtv)

115 They stole that from my book!!

I think you have a case!

Oh, and if you haven't read it yet, get Seamus' To Save Us All From Ruin. I recommend it

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 03:13 PM (39g3+)

116 I was shocked to hear Shlafly endorse Trump. It seems to defy logic.

Posted by: Infidel at February 07, 2016 03:14 PM (A8EVj)

117 I don't get the Manning hate really.
My natural instinct is to root for the washed-up old man over the upstart whippersnapper.

OTOH, it's nice to have a different team win the SB.
Also, we have a nasty black cat who roots for the Panthers and knows where we sleep and where our children live.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at February 07, 2016 03:15 PM (T/5A0)

118 You joke about this steep learning curve until you play Eve...

Posted by: Draki at February 07, 2016 03:15 PM (kkOK3)

119 >>I was shocked to hear Shlafly endorse Trump. It seems to defy logic.

When Cruz won the Republican nomination in his Texas Senate run, Schlafly wrote an article praising Cruz and explaining that much of his grass roots support was because of his support for personal property rights and his pushback against eminent domain.

So, Trump of course.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 07, 2016 03:17 PM (/tuJf)

120 Stanley the skunk? LMAO

Posted by: logprof at February 07, 2016 03:18 PM (vsbNu)

121 110
Denver Giant Foreheads- 17

Carolina Grievance Mongers- 13

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at February 07, 2016 03:10 PM (NeFrd)

How much you want to bet? I'll take Carolina and put up my Platinum membership against Denver.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 03:18 PM (jJRIy)

122 Rooting for Peyton in the SB and a bit for Mr. B who seems like he was a class act as team owners go. OTOH, Denver has gone so far retarded, sanctuary city PC leftist that I won't mind if those fans are disappointed. People act like Peyton had Brady like easy success but he's had to do some tough rehab.

Plus I like the forehead although the receding hairline under a ball cap seemed like a better fit when he was in Indiana, and he has a sense of humor which comes across even in his commercials.

Posted by: PaleRider at February 07, 2016 03:18 PM (chkUd)

123 Repeating myself was unfortunate. I'm embarrassed by my mistake.

Posted by: Marco Rubio at February 07, 2016 03:18 PM (aR8Ih)

124 Schlafly: In neither >America's -Last Chance< http://tinyurl.com/h2b9u97 nor >The -Big Con- Begins< http://tinyurl.com/hw6x7xn does the word Trump appear.

Possibly she is not endorsing him as much as saying he will stop immigration which is the bottom line necessity for continuation of the Republic.

Posted by: Ralph at February 07, 2016 03:18 PM (sNESL)

125 Nice post about Phyllis Schlafly, Rastus. She's a fascinating woman and it says a lot about modern feminism that she's been so effectively amputated from the list of Wonder Women when people like Ellen Degeneres are considered girl power warriors.

Trump haters (I'm not aiming this rhetoric at you) mistake Trump supporters as fans of the man. His only attraction is that he's not establishment. I think it's fair to say that US politics is a members only game, at this point. You don't play by the rules, you ain't in the fucking club. Trump has spent the last seven months bivouacked on the 18th hole doing his best Rodney Dangerfield impression, talking about Mexicans and shivving Jeb Bush. It's a hit in the cheap seats precisely because it's a relief to see someone not in the fraternity playing the game. I think the man's a pompous ass but I'm enjoying the show.

Posted by: Ghost of kari - WAR at February 07, 2016 03:19 PM (ubByS)

126 SNL is full democrat cheerleader mode. Had Sanders on twice and did a nasty skit about Cruz.

New York values suck.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 03:19 PM (jJRIy)

127 Is this math? Because I was told there would be no math.

Posted by: Weasel at February 07, 2016 03:19 PM (e3bId)

128 I was shocked to hear Shlafly endorse Trump.

The thing its, its meaningful because I very much trust her judgment like a wise grandma. Her positions have almost without exception been exactly right, and her concerns prescient.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 03:20 PM (39g3+)

129 >>>64 This is what I had in mind.

http://i66.tinypic.com/21mvkh5.png
Posted by: chemjeff at February 07, 2016 02:50 PM (uZNvH)

That looks great. Once the blue line levels out to the horizontal, though, you might change its color; the "steep" of "steep learning curve" ends at that point. And maybe add arbitrary curvature, so that these lines are "curves"?

Posted by: m at February 07, 2016 03:20 PM (S/1cF)

130 and he has a sense of humor which comes across even in his commercials.

*****

Nationwide jingle
♫♪

Do I really look like that?

**taps Peyton bobble head**

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at February 07, 2016 03:20 PM (NeFrd)

131 128
I was shocked to hear Shlafly endorse Trump.

She's senile as shit. WAY past making any sense.

Can you spell Embarrassment?

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 03:21 PM (jJRIy)

132 JackStraw, I wonder if it's dementia. I just don't understand. Seems she has forgotten the ultimate outcome of the Kelo decision.

Posted by: Infidel at February 07, 2016 03:21 PM (A8EVj)

133 125 Spot on, G o k.

Posted by: Weasel at February 07, 2016 03:22 PM (e3bId)

134 How much you want to bet? I'll take Carolina and put up my Platinum membership against Denver.

Posted by: Nip Sip

****

Your Platinum membership against my unlimited ampersands and a 55 gallon drum of Valu-Rite™

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at February 07, 2016 03:22 PM (NeFrd)

135 wow, the depravity of the Trump FUDpuppies is disgusting.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 07, 2016 03:23 PM (OvUux)

136 She's senile as shit. WAY past making any sense.

Can you spell Embarrassment?
Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 03:21 PM (jJRIy)

*****

She is still sharp as hell and in no way senile.

Posted by: Tim in GA at February 07, 2016 03:23 PM (YLidQ)

137 Excellent product placement by Bissell.

Posted by: logprof at February 07, 2016 03:24 PM (vsbNu)

138 Trump fans know that the GOPe fucking hates Ted Cruz, right? And if Cruz has some less-than-conservative items in his past, Trump is a full-bore NYC liberal posing as a Damascene conservative?

Just some food for thought. I'll stop there.

Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at February 07, 2016 03:24 PM (/pB9Z)

139 Trump fudpuppies sounds nasty.
Img link?

Posted by: Ralph at February 07, 2016 03:24 PM (sNESL)

140 A steep learning curve means it will take a lot of time, dedication, focus, and effort to learn anything useful.

Posted by: Onlooker at February 07, 2016 03:24 PM (+f7nz)

141 Saturday night live - giving you New York values every weekend

Posted by: Skip at February 07, 2016 03:25 PM (HWcaz)

142 Thanks man.

Not looking forward to today's game. My patriots should be there (send guns, money, and offensive linemen). Although this is shaping up to be a repeat of 2013 in that the Broncos could be about to run into a buzz saw, I think Old Man Fivehead, the Omaha Thumb, could pull it out under the bright lights and will root for him and against his defense. He's one of the greats. Belichick and Brady are rooting for him and that's good enough for me.

Posted by: Ghost of kari - WAR at February 07, 2016 03:26 PM (ubByS)

143 >>JackStraw, I wonder if it's dementia. I just don't understand. Seems she has forgotten the ultimate outcome of the Kelo decision.

One thing about Schlafly, she has always been extremely anti-establishment. All I can figure is that she thinks Trump is the biggest outsider candidate.

But given how strident she has been about conservative principles it is surprising.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 07, 2016 03:26 PM (/tuJf)

144 If the Carolina secondary defends as well against Denver as they did against Arizona, the Broncos are toast.
Horsemeat. Dogfood. I mean, catfood.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at February 07, 2016 03:26 PM (T/5A0)

145 I hope Manning retires after this year so I can stop caring about the Broncos.

Posted by: buzzion at February 07, 2016 03:26 PM (zt+N6)

146 I predict [clomps foot three times] three touchdowns by Peyton today.

Posted by: John Elway at February 07, 2016 03:26 PM (vsbNu)

147 I'm embarrassed by my mistake. Repeating myself was unfortunate.

Posted by: Marco Rubio at February 07, 2016 03:27 PM (aR8Ih)

148 Trump fans know that the GOPe fucking hates Ted Cruz, right? And if Cruz has some less-than-conservative items in his past, Trump is a full-bore NYC liberal posing as a Damascene conservative?
Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at February 07, 2016 03:24 PM (/pB9Z)

I'll vote for him. Will Democrats cross over to vote for him? We can't afford to lose this election.

Posted by: Ghost of kari - WAR at February 07, 2016 03:27 PM (ubByS)

149 Nood podcast thread.

Posted by: olddog in mo at February 07, 2016 03:27 PM (Dhht7)

150 86 Dave

See my #1

Posted by: speedster1 at February 07, 2016 03:28 PM (vUcdz)

151 FWIW, in the debate last night Jeb! said Peyton was a supporter of his.

Posted by: John Elway at February 07, 2016 03:28 PM (vsbNu)

152 But given how strident she has been about conservative principles it is surprising.
Posted by: JackStraw at February 07, 2016 03:26 PM (/tuJf)

War makes for strange bedfellows.

Posted by: Ghost of kari - WAR at February 07, 2016 03:28 PM (ubByS)

153 Why are we discussing any sort of learning (steep or otherwise) in this country?

It's like discussing dance moves in Amish country.

Posted by: RKae at February 07, 2016 03:28 PM (lF8sf)

154 /Donko sock

Posted by: logprof at February 07, 2016 03:28 PM (vsbNu)

155 My learning curve has taught me to start eating the chips and dips early.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 07, 2016 03:28 PM (iQIUe)

156 My understanding of a "steep learning curve" is that you have to acquire a lot of knowledge about a given thing BEFORE you can usefully apply it. Say you're trying to learn a new computer program that requires you to learn a bunch of bewildering commands and requires you to understand several unfamiliar concepts before you can actually do something useful. That's a steep learning curve.

Posted by: David Kutzler at February 07, 2016 03:28 PM (7GDfp)

157 You are missing something. Your graphs are drawn with a concave side up, but where are they going? with that shit, you can learn forever and they never reach the goal.

Draw the curves with the convex side up, and label the axis with x=time, and Y= amount you have to learn. That better represents a given skill, where there is a (roughly) fixed amount to learn and the goal is to learn what is needed to be competent.

Now steep is tough, since there is a lot to learn, shallow is good since you can learn slowly.

Posted by: Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest at February 07, 2016 03:29 PM (LWu6U)

158 Dan Hicks is dead.

You may have heard of

Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks

Never a big deal in the music world, more like a middle sized deal.

I saw him several times while at UT. He always put on a fun show with excellent music.

Here's a sample:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0h6FBbw8jY

RIP

Posted by: naturalfake at February 07, 2016 03:29 PM (KUa85)

159 Hysterical logprof. Elway sucks.

Posted by: Ghost of kari - WAR at February 07, 2016 03:30 PM (ubByS)

160 130: " Epic comeback starts right now" (misses ping pong short by kid) "Lucky shot" While he was on the DL with the foot injury. I suppose its sad that it is rare enough to be so very refreshing when a celeb is willing to laugh at themselves.

Posted by: PaleRider at February 07, 2016 03:30 PM (chkUd)

161 I've never understood the Elway hate. He was a truly amazing player back when he was in the game. The guy would singlehandedly win games for Denver and he had an arm like a freakin' howitzer.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 03:31 PM (39g3+)

162 33 469
He's reasonably conservative. (Except for amnesty.)
And sugar and ethanol

Posted by: tmitsss at February 07, 2016 03:32 PM (L0IIq)

163 I've never understood the Elway hate. He was a truly amazing player back when he was in the game. The guy would singlehandedly win games for Denver and he had an arm like a freakin' howitzer.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 03:31 PM (39g3+)

Yeah but I'm a patriots fan and had a soft spot for Tebow and I don't like his face.

SPORTS LOGIC

Posted by: Ghost of kari - WAR at February 07, 2016 03:32 PM (ubByS)

164 This is just a case where the imagery overtakes the technical definition. A "steep" slope is hard to climb, so a "steep" learning curve must be the more difficult.

There are a lot of idioms where the common meaning and the term of art are different. "I could care less" really should be "I couldn't care less." A "homicide" in manner of death certification is not a "murder" or even necessarily an intentional killing -- there are "accidental" homicides. A person with a "big ego" would be a good thing in the Freudian sense (which is where the word comes from). Etc, etc.

Posted by: billo at February 07, 2016 03:33 PM (qMm3n)

165 162 33 469
He's reasonably conservative. (Except for amnesty.)
And sugar and ethanol

Posted by: tmitsss at February 07, 2016 03:32 PM (L0IIq)

"But other than that, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?"

Posted by: buzzion at February 07, 2016 03:34 PM (zt+N6)

166 >>War makes for strange bedfellows.

Usually, you go to war with people who are on your side. Why she seems to be siding with Trump over Cruz is odd.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 07, 2016 03:34 PM (/tuJf)

167
Frankly, I thought Dan Hicks had shuffled off this mortal coil years ago. I saw him several times, too. Very popular in the 70s.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at February 07, 2016 03:34 PM (iQIUe)

168 CHRIS TAYLOR

Thank you thank you THANK YOU for compiling a list of fake hate crimes on your site! Bookmarked.

We should crowd-source this type of research and make a list compiling the total dollar amount of various state and federal corruption incidents.

Posted by: Ghost of kari - WAR at February 07, 2016 03:35 PM (ubByS)

169 Actually that chart does not look like a learning curve at all.

The learning curve is the improvement measured in a repetitive task. Especially measured in heavy manufacturing.

Learning curve theories are pretty simple ... Every time the quantity doubles, the learning is anticipated to be at a certain measure. Major airplane manufacturers used to expect an improvement of approx 72%. For example if the first plane takes 100 hours to make, then the next one will take 72 hours. Then the fourth one will take 72% of that (quantity doubles, and improvement is expected to be at 72%) Then the eighth one is 72% of that number.
1=100
2=72
4=52.8
8=37.32

This is a steep learning curve. If you measure them on a log-log graph, the line is straight, and you can read off any unit value and estimate what the labor portion of the airplane will cost.

Now, if Barky used the term, you would of course expect him to completely miss the point and misrepresent the results also.

I would guess that Barky's learning curve is actually > 1.0. In other words, the second time he does something, it probably takes more time than the first time. This would be characteristic of someone with a negative work ethic, and who is not too smart to begin with.

I know, I know. Hater and all that. yep, that pretty much sums up my evaluation and fondness for the bastard child currently in the white house.

Posted by: Mephitis at February 07, 2016 03:38 PM (GLwVs)

170 Elway hate + Payton hate � Brady hate = same thing

Posted by: Skip at February 07, 2016 03:39 PM (HWcaz)

171 It means you have to learn a lot fast. "Mike this is due by Friday and I don't know PPC 440 assembly language. Joe that just means you have to know ppc 440 assembly language by Friday."

That's a steep curve. Good luck with that Ace.

Posted by: smileynh at February 07, 2016 03:39 PM (sMGq1)

172 161. a. Elway has some reputation as being a dick off the field. Perhaps that comes with drive to win that made him good as a QB but still.
b. handling of Tebow (may have been good GM move to avoid any QB controversy, but after Tebow injected some life into the Broncos when they had become boring losers Elway cut him in an underhanded way)
c. Same as Brady hate, everyone likes to rag on people who seem to have won one of lifes lotteries.

Posted by: PaleRider at February 07, 2016 03:40 PM (chkUd)

173 Your Platinum membership against my unlimited ampersands and a 55 gallon drum of Valu-Rite

Posted by: at February 07, 2016 03:22 PM (NeFrd)

I
don't like being the favorite, but if you are willing put up 55 gallons
of valu rite up for my Platinum membership, how can I refuse.

I am getting nervous as shit, all my buddies are out there texting me pics of them have fun and I sit at a computer screen.
Shit.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 03:42 PM (jJRIy)

174 >116 I was shocked to hear Shlafly endorse Trump. It seems to defy logic.

Schlafly reminds me of Gingrich. She's a smart lady, and she has a lot of good insights, but much of the time she just makes no sense.

Posted by: Ace's liver at February 07, 2016 03:42 PM (+azJs)

175 #keep pounding. Go panthers

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 03:42 PM (zOTsN)

176 Yes, you're missing something. Effort. The proper analogy is walking up a hill. A low hill requires little effort to reach the top and move beyond. A steep hill requires far more effort and, if steep enough, may be beyond your ability to reach the summit.

Posted by: Epobirs at February 07, 2016 03:43 PM (IdCqF)

177 Usually, you go to war with people who are on your side. Why she seems to be siding with Trump over Cruz is odd.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 07, 2016 03:34 PM (/tuJf)

I'll take Trump donation to her cause for $1,000, Alex

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 03:43 PM (jJRIy)

178 I don't buy Schlafly as being someone who can be bought. And as Ralph points out in comment 124, she doesn't actually come out endorsing Trump.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 03:48 PM (39g3+)

179 I like maths and shit.

Posted by: Corona at February 07, 2016 03:48 PM (ragzU)

180 In reality, learning curves are negatively accelerating.
The "steepness" is within the acquisition phase, early on. The model shown implies infinite "learning" with time. Uh, no.
Empirically, that infinite business has never been demonstrated, although, that's the optimistic view out there among the L&M folks.
Think about why the asymptotic area of your curves (not shown) are more important for "knowledge".

Posted by: Arkindole at February 07, 2016 03:49 PM (2/yjZ)

181 Guy caller on Breitbart radio this morning had a scenario, Injustice department indices Hildabeast killer her campaign, Democrats draft Uncle Joe who picks Mooshell as running mate.

Posted by: Skip at February 07, 2016 03:49 PM (HWcaz)

182 161- It's the arrogance that we despise in Elway. He's an asshole.

Posted by: Infidel at February 07, 2016 03:52 PM (A8EVj)

183 I like Elway, always have, always will.

Posted by: Ronster at February 07, 2016 03:53 PM (mUa7N)

184 Fair enough, I don't know the guy so I have no idea what kind of person he is. I doubt there's a QB alive that isn't though, deep down.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 03:53 PM (39g3+)

185 I despise Brady much more, me and many others are still convinced they cheated at the Patriots /Eagles super bowl

Posted by: Skip at February 07, 2016 03:58 PM (HWcaz)

186 178
I don't buy Schlafly as being someone who can be bought. And as Ralph
points out in comment 124, she doesn't actually come out endorsing
Trump.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 03:48 PM (39g3+)

So you are going with my original thoughts? Senile?

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2016 03:58 PM (jJRIy)

187 >>When I evaluate a candidate the ability to resist liberal pressure is the most important character trait Trump and Carson are among the few who pass that test

Phyllis Schlafly

http://tinyurl.com/jrrst7c

Posted by: JackStraw at February 07, 2016 04:01 PM (/tuJf)

188 So why didn't Shafly endorse Cruz

His conservative cred is strong. What's the deal

Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 04:04 PM (zOTsN)

189 http://www.eagleforum.org/publications/column/americas-last-chance.html

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 07, 2016 04:07 PM (OvUux)

190 The graphs are right, but you're interpreting the meaning of the expression wrong. The steepness of the learning curve refers to the amount of knowledge that is required to do something in a given amount of time. The more knowledge required in a given time, the more effort required, since time passes at a constant rate regardless.

Posted by: Al M. at February 07, 2016 04:07 PM (2M9ib)

191 161 I've never understood the Elway hate. He was a truly amazing player back when he was in the game. The guy would singlehandedly win games for Denver and he had an arm like a freakin' howitzer.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 03:31 PM (39g3+)

--I'm Chiefs fan; I have to hate Elway. Plus, although he's a winner, he looks like a horse.

Posted by: logprof at February 07, 2016 04:08 PM (vsbNu)

192 So the graph should have the two lines arriving at
the same point (level of knowledge), but with the "steep learning curve"
line arriving much sooner.

Posted by: Lizzy at February 07, 2016

~~~~~

Same number, not point. The lines will never merge at the same point, one upwards steeply, the shallow not so quick in getting to that same number (for reference, of course). Tragically, the lines are never to meet again, growing more distant from each other with time, their hearts exponentially (being graph lines and math stuff here, you need a constant here for a correct answer, now where was I? Oh yes, I know) fonder, their tears burning with increased intensity as that span between them widens...

Oh, I'm sorry. I re-read your post and you are, in fact saying the same thing (in so many words.). No worries.

Posted by: oddnot not liking these times at February 07, 2016 04:11 PM (g1MTt)

193 1st time surprise sky-diving? Fast learning curve

Raising grapes or olives in my back yard? Slow.

Does that help?

Posted by: Kindltot at February 07, 2016 04:23 PM (q2o38)

194 188 So why didn't Shafly endorse Cruz

His conservative cred is strong. What's the deal
Posted by: ThunderB at February 07, 2016 04:04 PM (zOTsN)

I don't trust Cruz.

I don't trust Trump either, but that's a different kind of distrust.

Posted by: rickl at February 07, 2016 04:33 PM (sdi6R)

195
The Kitten and Puppy Bowls are way better than the pre-game show!

Posted by: Spun and Murky at February 07, 2016 05:00 PM (cdw0X)

196 The amount to learn is fixed. Obviously we'd all LIKE to take the steep curve with ease, as in the Matrix. Steep means you must grasp it all fast instead of at your ease, so we'd rather have ease.

It's not a matter of which one we'd like, it's a matter of what a task requires.

The chart does not complete the red line as if that learning stops. It does not show the time remaining required for all the task to be learned.

The chart is incomplete and bogus. The saying does make sense. The phrase stands.

Posted by: bour3 at February 07, 2016 05:24 PM (5x3+2)

197 The X axis is effort per unit of time. A steep learning curve is a large amount of effort in a short period of time.

Posted by: scorecard at February 07, 2016 05:25 PM (2gG2D)

198 I've heard that the NFL hates Tebow because he wasn't interested in endorsements, of which the NFL gets a hefty cut. All he wanted to do was charity stuff. The NFL doesn't get a percentage when a player does an anti-abortion ad, but they make serious bank when it's a Nike ad.

Posted by: RKae at February 07, 2016 05:29 PM (lF8sf)

199 So why didn't Shafly endorse Cruz

She endorsed him as much as she did Trump

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 07, 2016 05:29 PM (39g3+)

200 What you are missing is that you started both curves at the same point instead of ending them at the same point. If you moved the red curve up, you would show that the person on the blue curve had a steeper learning curve to get to the same point as the person on the red curve. A steep learning curve is a function of your starting point, not your ending point.

Posted by: scofflaw_x at February 07, 2016 05:33 PM (y9ZJX)

201 Yes open-blogger, you are missing something. Everyone knows that a steep learning curve means fast learning. It is often used to refer to a person as a fast learner ("he's been on a steep learning curve").

I wasn't aware that misusing this had become a thing but it wouldn't be surprising. Kind of like the number of illiterates who say that some situation "begs" a particular question when they mean that it RAISES the question ("begging for it to be asked" is what they seem to be thinking), when it actually is a well defined term of art referring to the logical fallacy of petito princepi (circular reason).

Posted by: Alec Rawls at February 07, 2016 05:39 PM (5z7RS)

202 You're missing something.

On a steeper learning curve you have less time to acquire more knowledge.

Posted by: Servius at February 07, 2016 05:41 PM (Wumda)

203 If u have to learn more in a short period of time, it is more rigorous: "a steep learning curve".

Posted by: QalKabod at February 07, 2016 05:47 PM (5S5rv)

204 Mad Mike has it correct. It's about the difficulty and quantity of the material to be learned. For example, learning to dismantle and repair an engine has a steep learning curve. Learning how to boil an egg has a shallow learning curve.

Posted by: Burrodog at February 07, 2016 08:53 PM (oHT1G)

205 The X-axis should be "knowledge, and the y-axis should be "effort".

Then a steep learning curve would mean you have to put in a huge amount of effort for a relatively small amount of knowledge gained. That way, the graph and the phrase would make sense.

Posted by: Peter Reaper at February 08, 2016 06:46 AM (LD2fg)

206 It is not the learning but the retention of what is learned that counts in the work place. That goes for digging ditches and building rockets.

Posted by: Jim at February 08, 2016 10:44 AM (kqdf7)

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