It's a web poll, hardly the most accurate or fair system anyway. It's also a poll about the career choice of the next Barbie doll, hardly earth shatteringly important (although I am glad to see the choices their considering). What do you think would be the real benefit here of using something other than the simple system that everyone understands?
Consider the following hypothetical: 33% vote for computer engineer, 33% vote for software developer, and 34% vote for international spy. But yeah, I agree that those aren't the options presented and it doesn't matter too much in this case.
The only real concern I have here is that it reinforces the notion that voting is equivalent to selecting a single candidate.
So, uh, how are they going to make a Computer Engineer Barbie? I mean, seriously, it's going to be Barbie in... some slacks and a golf shirt, at best. Maybe she'll have a laptop.
I suspect she'll have a Batman-style utility belt of mobile devices.
Really, though, that's just as true for the other options. What does an Environmentalist Barbie look like? Does she come with a Prius covered in political bumper stickers? etc.
I'm pretty sure that Barbie has gone through all the occupations that have easily-recognized uniforms and/or props, like a white coat and stethoscope for Doctor Barbie. Indeed, the fact that Computer Engineer is a choice even though it isn't a natural fit for creating a doll with colorful uniform and/or props is probably the most interesting part of the contest.
What kind of Barbie children will and/or should have to play with is probably the more important half of this equation, but I also think it's anthropologically interesting that a company is trying to make toys that earn more cultural respect from critics of the company's previous work.
Pink-tinted glasses, stolen-from-her-boyfriend white sleeved shirt, no tie, black slacks, wifi headset (with fluffy pink trim), a multimeter on her belt, and a netbook.
Or perhaps she could go techno-goth or cyber-punk?
Not that I would suggest writing such a thing, but I did happen to look at the vote while httpfox was running. They seem to be using google analytics events to track the voting. There was also a request to scorecardresearch, but a quick look suggests that is just a general market research site.
But with that said, they're not showing any results here. My suspicion is that the process for selecting the winner is something like "1)take a quick look at the voting totals to gauge public opinion. 2) Go with whatever some random manager in the marketing department likes best".
Still, the fact that it even made the options to begin with is probably a positive sign.
In my wife's field, early childhood education, there is a dearth of male teachers.
Why can't people go into a field of their choosing? Can we admit that people are smart enough to choose their own career without these kind of ridiculous stunts?
And really, Barbie? Computer science? The epitome of women as sex objects with an impossible anatomy straight out of a comic book? Really?
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[ 2.4 ms ] story [ 64.7 ms ] threadThe only real concern I have here is that it reinforces the notion that voting is equivalent to selecting a single candidate.
Really, though, that's just as true for the other options. What does an Environmentalist Barbie look like? Does she come with a Prius covered in political bumper stickers? etc.
I'm pretty sure that Barbie has gone through all the occupations that have easily-recognized uniforms and/or props, like a white coat and stethoscope for Doctor Barbie. Indeed, the fact that Computer Engineer is a choice even though it isn't a natural fit for creating a doll with colorful uniform and/or props is probably the most interesting part of the contest.
What kind of Barbie children will and/or should have to play with is probably the more important half of this equation, but I also think it's anthropologically interesting that a company is trying to make toys that earn more cultural respect from critics of the company's previous work.
Or perhaps she could go techno-goth or cyber-punk?
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This is not reddit or digg.
But with that said, they're not showing any results here. My suspicion is that the process for selecting the winner is something like "1)take a quick look at the voting totals to gauge public opinion. 2) Go with whatever some random manager in the marketing department likes best".
Still, the fact that it even made the options to begin with is probably a positive sign.
"Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail" by Danica McKellar
and by the same author: Kiss My Math: Showing Pre-Algebra Who's Boss
In my wife's field, early childhood education, there is a dearth of male teachers.
Why can't people go into a field of their choosing? Can we admit that people are smart enough to choose their own career without these kind of ridiculous stunts?
And really, Barbie? Computer science? The epitome of women as sex objects with an impossible anatomy straight out of a comic book? Really?