The Problem of Thinking Too Much (2002)

(jstor.org)

12 points | by lermontov 6 days ago ago

7 comments

  • baxtr 2 hours ago

    The end paragraph:

    >A Psychological Tip

    Whenever you're called on to make up your mind, and you're hampered by not having any, the best way to solve the dilemma, you'll find, is simply by spinning a penny.

    No—not so that chance shall decide the affair while you're passively standing there moping; but the moment the penny is up in the air, you suddenly know what you're hoping.

    • senthil_rajasek 2 hours ago

      Scene from Board Walk Empire Season 2 that uses the coin flip trick.

      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6WYsM1nIbKs&t=55s&pp=2AE3kAIB

    • tifik 2 hours ago

      I heard this one, paraphrased, a while back (probably around 2002 I guess). I apply it to others as well by actually spinning a penny when someone can't decide, then watch their reaction. It's shocking how fast people make up their mind when they feel like the decision making power is taken away from them.

    • gavmor 2 hours ago

      Wow, been doing this for twenty years—didn't know it was "a thing"!

  • dev-jayson 2 hours ago

    For a PDF created in 2002, it's incredibly easy to read on a smartphone.

  • tropicalfruit 2 hours ago