And I'm considered the dumb one

[candyshopgirl]

So the university is bringing in some new professors and they are paying for their hotel and everything til they find a place to live.So with that out of the way on to the story...

I have one of these professors come in and shes says my throat hurts and I'm coughing,what do you have.So I show her where stuff is and go back to the register. She brings up robitussin and starts asking questions...Ughh I explained to her I'm not a doctor. And I take her back to the medicines and tell her that the Tylenol cold is really good and covers all the symptoms she has.I've never had
any luck with robitussin. So she stands and read everything again and then she comes up with robitussin, sudafed,and tylenol cold. She says I can take all this together right. UGHHH I die a little inside and say no,you can only take one of these. So I finally get her to buy only the tylenol cold. She pays and then says Oh I can take this whole pack right.UGHHHHHHH
So I explained to her no you can only take 2 at a time and then 8 hours later take 2 more.
My point is that this woman is educated and is still that stupid on common sense, I have just a high school education.So I jokely told the front desk guy that you might have to call an ambulance after while.He just laughed and shook his head after telling him the story.

[PepperElf]

that's cos there aren't degrees given out for common sense

[trinnyg]

Definining Common Sense

Problem I am thinking is that based on what is common to us was not common to her. Similar to Most people being able to determine that you DO NOT shoot the "Moose" tied up wearing a saddle.

Common sense (or, when used attributively as an adjective, commonsense, common-sense, or commonsensical), based on a strict construction of the term, consists of what people in common would agree on: that which they "sense" (in common) as their common natural understanding. Some people[who?](such as the authors of Merriam-Webster Online) use the phrase to refer to beliefs or propositions that — in their opinion — most people would consider prudent and of sound judgment, without reliance on esoteric knowledge or study or research, but based upon what they see as knowledge held by people "in common". Thus "common sense" (in this view) equates to the knowledge and experience which most people allegedly have, or which the person using the term believes that they do or should have.

[candyshopgirl]

Problem I am thinking is that based on what is common to us was not common to her. Similar to Most people being able to determine that you DO NOT shoot the "Moose" tied up wearing a saddle.

Common sense (or, when used attributively as an adjective, commonsense, common-sense, or commonsensical), based on a strict construction of the term, consists of what people in common would agree on: that which they "sense" (in common) as their common natural understanding. Some people[who?](such as the authors of Merriam-Webster Online) use the phrase to refer to beliefs or propositions that — in their opinion — most people would consider prudent and of sound judgment, without reliance on esoteric knowledge or study or research, but based upon what they see as knowledge held by people "in common". Thus "common sense" (in this view) equates to the knowledge and experience which most people allegedly have, or which the person using the term believes that they do or should have.

See the problem I have is everyone at somepoint in their life has to take medicine.The fact that this woman was in her late 50s- early 60s and dosen't relize that taking three over the counter medicines at once will kill you is really sad. Shes probadly a pharmacy's worst nightmare,she probadly calls them 50 times over the same medicine. I guess I just prove your point right.Because someone so old should have a grasp on how to take medicines,or at least I think they should.

[TTAZ]

She pays and then says Oh I can take this whole pack right.

Sure thing, Ma'am, just dial 5 on your phone to order up that in-room liver transplant.

[SailorMan]

that's cos there aren't degrees given out for common sense

Yeah, there's a difference between being educated and being intelligent. You don't always see both items on the same 'menu.'

[Balgram]

Ha ha! She wasn't foreign, was she? I caught a cold in Japan once (I'm American) and buying medicine in a foreign country was hard for me. On top of being a foreigner, I had never bought my own medicine before. My mother is a doctor, so it wasn't until I was 20 years old that I realized what Advil, Tylenol, etc. were. I knew they were medicine, but we'd never had those names in the house. I knew Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, Sudafed, etc. When you are buying medicine for the first time, it can be a little scary when you don't recognize the names.

In my case, the names were written in freaking Japanese, and I just didn't want to go there. I walked up to the cashier, explained my symptoms, and asked what he suggested. I took whatever the crap he handed me, and had him explain how I take it, when I take it, and how many I should take. He was very helpful, but probably thought I was an idiot. I speak Japanese well enough (people ask me if I was raised there), but there I was with no clue about the "nodo" medicine.

Perhaps that lady was like me, only she'd stillnever bought medicine before. Maybe she always drank tea instead of taking medicine, or she didn't recognize the names, or maybe she had a husband who always kept the medicine cabinet stocked. She may also be one of those people who take more medicine when they feel worse. ("I have a worse headache than yesterday, and yesterday I took 2. Today I'll take 4 pills.")

Regardless, there are a couple reasons why she may be so ignorant. Still, it is a bit unusual. Perhaps she just isn't the quickest rat in the maze? Who knows? I wasn't there, so this is all conjecture from me.

[Dips]

Next time just repeat this to anyone who asks which drug to take:

"I'm sorry. I'm not a licensed pharmacist or medical professional. I cannot give you medical advice."

If they've made a selection and try asking you how many are "safe" to take or if they can mix drugs:

"You should read and follow all directions on or in the package. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or a pharmacist."

No matter how many time and how many ways they ask you, repeat those two sentences as many times as appropriate until they get the message or give up and leave.

Why? Because you could be held responsible if the dummy manages to hurt themselves and tells the judge that you said it would be OK for him to, for example, take something that contained an ingredient that he was allergic to.

You want to be sure to cover your ass.

[Kiwi]

I had a renaissance professor who used to dress in armani and gucci

with big black ugly gumboots

because she didnt like getting her feet wet walking to class

she looked like paris hilton with fisherman feet.... and she got her phd at Yale

[Primer]

Sure thing, Ma'am, just dial 5 on your phone to order up that in-room liver transplant.

and remember to specify whether or not you want the onions...

[BookstoreEscapee]

She says I can take all this together right.

This is why I only keep single drugs in my medicine box. I have [store brand] Advil, Tylenol, Sudafed (the real stuff you have to show ID for), cough drops.... I don't use multi-symptom cold medicines because then when I'm feeling crappy I don't have to worry about checking ingredients to make sure I'm not doubling up on anything. I just stick to the recommended dosage on each single medication. Usually I stick with Advil and Sudafed as needed; wash down with a Coke for a sinus or migraine headache.