Joe said "My elbow hurts like hell. I guess I'd better see a
doctor." "Listen, you don't have to spend that kind of money,"
Mike replies.
"There's a diagnostic computer down at Wal-Mart. Just give it a
Urine sample and the computer will tell you what's wrong and what
to do about it.
It takes ten seconds and costs ten dollars . . . A lot cheaper than a
doctor."
So, Joe deposits a urine sample in a small jar and takes it to Wal-Mart.
He deposits ten dollars, and the computer lights up and asks for the
urine sample. He pours the sample into the slot and
waits.
Ten seconds later, the computer ejects a printout:
"You have tennis elbow.. Soak your arm in warm water and avoid heavy
activity. It will improve in two weeks. Thank you for shopping @
Wal-Mart."
That evening, while thinking how amazing this new technology was, Joe
began wondering if the computer could be fooled.
He mixed some tap water, a stool sample from his dog, urine samples from
his wife and daughter, and a sperm
sample for good measure.
Joe hurries back to Wal-Mart, eager to check the results. He deposits
ten dollars, pours in his concoction, and awaits the results.
The computer prints the following:
1. Your tap water is too hard. Get a water softener. (Aisle 9) 2. Your
dog has ringworm. Bathe him with anti-fungal shampoo. (Aisle 7) 3. Your
daughter has a cocaine habit. Get her into rehab. 4. Your wife is
pregnant. Twins. They aren't yours. Get a lawyer. 5. If you don't stop
playing with yourself, your elbow will never get better!
Thank you for shopping @ Wal-Mart
doctor." "Listen, you don't have to spend that kind of money,"
Mike replies.
"There's a diagnostic computer down at Wal-Mart. Just give it a
Urine sample and the computer will tell you what's wrong and what
to do about it.
It takes ten seconds and costs ten dollars . . . A lot cheaper than a
doctor."
So, Joe deposits a urine sample in a small jar and takes it to Wal-Mart.
He deposits ten dollars, and the computer lights up and asks for the
urine sample. He pours the sample into the slot and
waits.
Ten seconds later, the computer ejects a printout:
"You have tennis elbow.. Soak your arm in warm water and avoid heavy
activity. It will improve in two weeks. Thank you for shopping @
Wal-Mart."
That evening, while thinking how amazing this new technology was, Joe
began wondering if the computer could be fooled.
He mixed some tap water, a stool sample from his dog, urine samples from
his wife and daughter, and a sperm
sample for good measure.
Joe hurries back to Wal-Mart, eager to check the results. He deposits
ten dollars, pours in his concoction, and awaits the results.
The computer prints the following:
1. Your tap water is too hard. Get a water softener. (Aisle 9) 2. Your
dog has ringworm. Bathe him with anti-fungal shampoo. (Aisle 7) 3. Your
daughter has a cocaine habit. Get her into rehab. 4. Your wife is
pregnant. Twins. They aren't yours. Get a lawyer. 5. If you don't stop
playing with yourself, your elbow will never get better!
Thank you for shopping @ Wal-Mart