Say It Ain't Snow
A Study of Reports, Inferences, and Judgments
Ashley Intveld
Issue date: 3/1/10 Section: Student Citations
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While snow-fearing Vernon citizens bustled their way to the nearest grocery stores to stock up on canned goods, salt, milk, and whatever else could last them for the next three years to come, I sat at home with a bowl of Cheerios before me and listened intently to the news on channel 12.
It was Wednesday morning, the sun was shining and my mind was set to spring, despite the ice storm that graced us with its presence the night before. I stared at the screen as a stiff in a suit pointed to a brilliantly colored map of New Jersey. His monotonous voice reported a nor'easter approaching with a hard-hitting impact of 18-20 inches in Northern New Jersey.
After I prayed for a snow day for the upcoming day, I rested assured knowing that I heard an accurate report; something fact-based that I could rely on to be true.
On Thursday afternoon, once the storm had not only hit, but pummeled the tri-state area, I listened to the same News 12 journalists ask pedestrians of their opinions of the snow accumulations. One woman, donned in snow garb, spoke of the snow being taller than her first-grade son. The reporter laughed accordingly and I drew my own inference. I am aware of how tall a first grade boy is, therefore, I was able to say the snow was probably an exaggerated three feet high. Her statement was based on fact, that she has a first-grade son, but its accuracy concerning the snow was still questionable.
This morning (Friday), same news station, News 12, did a follow up story that apparently makes Steven King's Storm of the Century look like a passing snow squall. One red-nosed man expressed, "This snow is just ridiculous!" through labored breaths. Snow shovel in hand, I could understand this man's judgment on the snow being ridiculous. Though I gave this man an "Amen!" in my head, I could draw no conclusions concerning how much snow had actually accumulated, how much more we could expect to see or when this storm would finally decide to die out.
After a reported thirty-something inches, I can infer that this snow is already past my knees, and I judge this snow storm to be a rude awakening of spring being much too far away.