I shouldn't be posting this shit

[toblix]

http://www.wilk4.com/humor/humorm208.htm

[syntheticgerbil]

Huh?

I don't understand the reasoning that 98% of people will select carrot because of the repetition of the number 6. First thing that came to my head was a tomato, which is a fruit, so while scrolling down I quickly changed it to a zucchini.

...which is also a fruit.

[elmuerte]

Huh?

I don't understand the reasoning that 98% of people will select carrot because of the repetition of the number 6. First thing that came to my head was a tomato, which is a fruit, so while scrolling down I quickly changed it to a zucchini.

...which is also a fruit.

Congratulations. You lost the internet.

Although, coincidentally

I also chose tomato, and quickly changed to potato

[toblix]

Obviously this is an attempt at programming, using the word arrow. It worked for me, at least, which is always awesome.

[MrHoatzin]

I chose a carrot. Bizarre crap.

Makes me think of that limey dude who goes around hypnotizing people on the telly. He freaks me out.

[DanJW]

My gods it's like being 12 again.

Ps I chose cabbage. But then I knew the answer already. Supposedly the word 'six' sounds like 'sex' which triggers the Freudian association with carrots. If that's true then it won't work as well on people whose first language is not English.

[SignorSuperdouche]

So how does this compare to just asking people to pick a vegetable without all the six business? I'm not convinced.

[elmuerte]

So how does this compare to just asking people to pick a vegetable without all the six business? I'm not convinced.

name a vegetable , quick

now scroll down

was it a potato?

[OssK]

Ma gal and I took the test, she got a carrot too, although our main language is French, I picked a zucchini, by the way, in french, six is pronounced "sis" which can also trigger a Freudian reflex onto any oblong vegetable including zucchini... Might be that as well...

[Salka]

fyi yes, it was.

[OssK]

Now... Think of nothing, and really fast, pick a tool and a color

it's a red hammer are the odds, it was used in your childhood as THE tool example / picture and the handle was red… Supposedly

[Sergey]

I chose carrot.

[syntheticgerbil]

Mine wuz chickens.

[twmac]

Errr...

The first thing that came into my head was 'Shit bag' when I thought of a vegetable. It isn't a vegetable or even food.

When prompted for a tool, I swear, the first thing I thought of was 'Your Mum'.

[miffy495]

I picked a cucumber, which I then remembered was not a vegetable. Looks like most people are at least choosing phallic veggies...

[DanJW]

Errr...

The first thing that came into my head was 'Shit bag' when I thought of a vegetable. It isn't a vegetable or even food.

When prompted for a tool, I swear, the first thing I thought of was 'Your Mum'.

Time to start looking for a therapist?

[James]

YES! I'M NORMAL!

So how does this compare to just asking people to pick a vegetable without all the six business? I'm not convinced.

Yeah, I think carrots are probably my go-to vegetable, or perhaps the Platonic ideal of vegetables, or something. I guess you could argue that telling people to think about something lots keeps them a bit flustered and encourages them to pick something obvious -- I'd guess carrots are one of the first vegetables children learn the name of, what with its distinctive colour and shape. Of course, that's assuming that if you just asked what the absolute first vegetable they thought of was they'd lie either to you or yourself, and actually try to catch you out, consciously or subconsciously. I don't really think any cues in the set-up have anything to do with it. I mean, Derren Brown (that limey dude) does similar stuff without the set-up (unless the set-up is entirely subliminal, a notion he generally encourages).

Something to remember about trickery and showmanship is that part of the trick or the show is often to disguise what the actual trick or show is. In the former case it's to stop people working it out, whereas in the latter it's to make things more dramatic or impressive. Escapologists who seemingly come within seconds of losing their lives in some dramatic set-up generally have a much wider margin for error than it appears; they under-play their actual skill in order to increase the tension. Similarly, with this, I think the trick in this case is making the audience think the performer has some sort of control over their mind, when in fact they're just exploiting a cultural commonality.

(Sorry if that was all obvious and redundant.)

Edited April 23, 2009 by JamesM

[Roderick]

I thought carrot, but that was because I read gerbil's spoiler first, because apparently I hate being surprised?

[toblix]

Similarly, with this, I think the trick in this case is making the audience think the performer has some sort of control over their mind

I was so impressed by it working in Firefox.

[OssK]

Pick a number between 1 and 9

Multiply it by 9

If you got a one digit number stick with it

If you got a two digit number add up the digits to get another (12 -> 1+2=3)

Divide the result by 3

If don't get a full number round it up (7,3 -> 8)

Add 1

Now pick the corresponding letter of the alphabet

1>A…2>B…3>C…12>L etc…

Now quickly, pick a country that starts with this letter !

Take the last letter of the country and pick a fruit that starts with it

I seee through the brumes of the internet and space and actually time and eventually your screen that something is green inside your head... Hmmm, not many green fruits... Kiwi is your pick, and I see Europe, hmmm, that country might be Denmark, is it ?

Sorry for raping you in the ass if you don't know the trick

[SignorSuperdouche]

I went to a Simon Singh lecture once where he did that trick. He did it where you have to pick an animal rather than a fruit though, and then think of the country where that animal lives. Most people will go for kangaroo or koala bear and then Australia.

I think revealing that you knew the (first) country was Denmark cheapens the effect - it's better to be as mysterious as possible.

[OssK]

Indeed, australia is pretty neat to go guess

[elmuerte]

only an idiot would need to round up

x*9 = yz => y+z = 9 => 9/3+1 = 4 => D

always

considering the vast amount of countries that start with D (i.e. 4) there's an enormous chance somebody from Europe would say Denmark

[SignorSuperdouche]

Well yes, but it's there to maintain the illusion that the number isn't predetermined.

[MrHoatzin]

Nooooo, shut up! It's *M*A*G*I*C*!

I want to believe!