Does this rule make sense?

Let’s call me 4.

4 is confused.

@robmandu Read it carefully.

wait, i didnt get the new math memo. let me read this one more time.

I checked it, it makes sense. You could just read the last line.

How old is 1?

Will agree that it sounds like 2 and 3 should frickin’ grow up.

1 is 15, but again, has been alone for 7 hours.

Well, all I know, is that if they are text messaging back and forth anyhow (I’m not even commenting on the child being alone, since I don’t know the age of the child), the courteous thing to do would be text “Do you want us to pick you up something to eat while we’re here?” to the child and see what he/she says.

the welfare of the child is the priority. the father is responsible in this case. now who’s on first?

Do we really need to bring Algebra in to this?

How are basic numbers algebra?

Speaking from knowledge of 15 year olds I know, most 15 year olds will feel like a parent doesn’t give a sh*t, if they are left alone for 7 hours without a parent checking in on them (unless there is a really good reason why), even if they say otherwise and the fact that said parent also doesn’t appear to care whether the 15 year old eats or not, well, I think I’ve said enough.

I’m going to go hug my kids now.

but then again, as i read it again, if the child was waiting at the mom’s house, where is the mother?

@charlie She was working.

And this was the fathers day to take care of the child.

it depends on the age of the child. it really all sounds trivial if you ask me. your question is confusing. the child lied about its where about?

@trenchantwit Read the question again. It sounds like you mixed up a couple details.

1 needs a house key and 2 and 3 need parenting classes.

how old is the child that matters in the answer

this sounds like a job for judge mathis.

Perhaps 1 could talk to 2, 3, and mum to explain his feelings about the whole thing? Maybe the grown-ups think that 1 is fine with it all?

2 and 3 really should grow up.

What kevbo said!
But as a plan B: couldn’t 1 raid 6 (m=3, o=0, therefore mom=3+0+3=6)‘s fridge?

@wildflower 1 ended up eating with his mother and not seeing 2 or 3 at all.

Well, in that case, if you take a binary view at the situation; at least 1 is fed and full and therefore not 0.

I’m totally lost…
1+2+3=6 right?

Oh! Can I be 6???

Please only serious answers.

Serious answers for serious questions…..

This IS a serious question!

both my answers were serious. Perhaps you just need to reread them….

then why on earth did you use numbers??
It sounds like a f ing riddle!

Just stop answering cheebdragon.

4 thinks 1 is grumpy… and should let go just a bit.

I got what I came for. I wish I could close the question.

The kid feels left out.

Oh cheeb, let’s send some cake…

Why was the kid waiting outside? I feel bad for him

I think someone’s just pissy because they had to eat PB&J instead of take-out, and should get a grip.

Frankly, the numbers were too obfuscating, and I didn’t bother to read it all….....

Perhaps is should be “Does this phrasing make sense?”

I think I’ve been frizzered…

Much ado about nothing…..

How about 1 is called “child,” 2 is “father,” 3 is “SO,” 3.5 is “mother” and 4 is robmandu?

Rewrite for extra credit. Rereading a confusing statement many times doesn’t make it clear. One reading will suffice.

No. The question makes no sense; I have no idea what the rule is.

Gail, I think the overly testy writer has already stormed off in a huff.

I think the implied rule is :if you’re at mom’s house you eat mom’s food. Dad and dad’s partner basically left the kid alone and hungry all day and decided not to bring the kid food because rather than continuing to wait for dad the kid went over to mom’s house.

So, basically, yeah I agree with several people here who said that 2 and 3 need to grow up. They were wrong not to bring the kid some food and wrong to leave the kid alone for so long in the first place.

Why didn’t the kid just text dad back saying “hey, bring food. I’ve been waiting for you.”?

Shouldn’t the mother be 4?

Why doesn’t she get a number?

wow, what a great thread! math was a little shaky at the beginning of divorced parenting 101, but my eyes have been opened. will try the numbers game on 2 of my 3 kids. the third is like “chuck,” the other brother on “happy days.”

“hey! thing 1 and thing 2, get to bed! school tomorrow!”

this would have been sooooo much easier to comprehend if the players were referred to by their titles instead of numbers. why make it more confusing than it has to be?

Yes, it could have been clearer, but it looks like a lot of people are making fun of a kid (assuming the author is 1 in this scenario) who’s just been treated rather badly by his/her dad. Is there something I’m missing that makes this funny?

it’s not about being funny.

I don’t see what’s wrong with the whole thing. When I was 15, I BEGGED my father to leave the house for a day. 15 year olds don’t need to be babysat or watched. And the real issue that was spelled out at the bottom is that they didn’t get “1” any takeout.

$10 that 1 hates 3…

@poof: Yeah, I saw that, but if it’s dad’s day then the kid should be included.

@cheebdragon: That’s a sucker bet. No way am I taking any of that action.

Was this question edited? From the terrible written one without numbers etc?

Anywho, depends if 1 told 2 that he ate at his mother’s house (or if 1 usually eats at his moms house when there) if so, 1 should suck it up, you’re 15 dude, you can ask your mom for some food since you know your dad is out on a date etc.

This of course does not mean that 2 is blameless, but what kind of “rule” is there really? The no food if you go to your mom house rule?

No refrigerator at 3.5’s house for 1 to raid? No Pizzahut to call on the cell phone used for text-messaging??

Communication with all parties needs to be better. The child could have texted back to be sure and bring him dinner. Th father is a little blase here and should have made sure the child had dinner options first. The partner has nothing to do with this. The Mom could have fed the kid.

The mom DID feed the kid, read the comments too!

WHAT?! The mom did feed the kid?! What the hell is the point of all this?

Ugg, the point was that the father didn’t get the kid food (on HIS day to take care of him) BECAUSE HE WAS AT THE MOTHERS HOUSE.

So…...the kid needs to be fed twice?
Is there a chance the father was being pragmatic and when he realised the kid had eaten at his mother’s, decided it wouldn’t be necessary to bring the kid another meal? (yes, yes, I know, the father shouldn’t have buggered off for the day when he was supposed to be home to let in the kid, that’s another matter)

I still say that at 15, you can feed yourself, and… get a grip.

So.

It’s dad’s day to hang with the kid.

Dad instead hangs out all day with his partner.

Kid is bored and lonely, misses his dad. Ends up going over to mom’s house around mealtime and gets something to eat while there.

Kid wonders why dad isn’t monetarily recompensing the mom for the meal.

—

There are two problems:

1. Kid wants to spend time with out-of-touch dad. Dad is a bonehead jerk who’s missing out on spending time with the kid.

2. Dad and mom have a deal to share responsibility for the kid. Time, meals, clothing (I assume), etc.

—

Resolution:

1. Kid needs to talk to parents and explain he wants dad time to be spent with dad. (Too bad the parents aren’t with it enough to be driving this themselves).

2. Kid needs to leave what’s between mom and dad to them. Money, relationship, whatever… they likely haven’t discussed any of the particulars in a meaningful way and even if they tried, the kid would never truly understand all of the nuance.

—

#4’s perspective:

1. Kid should pursue resolution #1 forthwith.

2. Fixing problem #1 will likely make the reoccurence of #2 a rare event.

#4 is, as usual, full of sage and sensible advice. And is a good translator from english to english, to boot.

it sounds like there’s some dysfunction going on with the players.

Man has scrambled egg in both ears and a rash of bacon up each nostril… Goes to the doctor and says “Doctor! Doctor! I feel really awful.” Doctor says, “well that’s obvious… you’re not eating properly.”

Woman goes to doctor and says, “Doctor, doctor, can you make my lips smaller?

Doctor :“Go home and say ‘prune’ 50 times a day.”

Woman returns and says, “Doctor, doctor, my lips seem to be broader.”

Doctor says; “Show me what you have been doing.

Woman says, “Flahmin, flahmin. (Yiddish for “prune.”)

Okay, thats it. It seems like anyone with a BRAIN in their head answered a long time ago, so STOP IT. I got what I came for.

fortris, you obviously have no idea what this site is about. Get over yourself. Go to Askville or something.

He/she (I’m not sure) would be great at yahoo answers.

fortris: i’ll answer as long as i want to answer…...

I think you wanted attention, and I don’t think you’ve gotten enough.

We could try this in base 8. (Who needs thumbs, anyway?)

funzanoon!! :P

Hoozamajoozamajig!!!!!!

Ahhh Rob,
Great synopsis!!!
I knew you would come through, but did you have to wait so long?
I have to tell you, the waiting was pure #%ll. <wink>

Wait wait umm i dont know if i got the story straight because like stated above you made it a god damn riddle. Do you know how much easier it would be to understand if you just made up names like bob and such?

What i think happened was the kid was visiting his dad, dad and step mom went out while kid was left alone. Kid went to his moms house, and is pissed that the dad didnt get him food….when the mom feed him? That makes no fucking sense at all. Why would you get food for someone whos not even there?