They weren’t playing the game right. The way to correctly play the game, especially among siblings, is for a person to always pick the same song. For example, if I’m tapping, I’m tapping ‘Jingle Bells’. And we have a near 100% success rate. (It is not quite 100% due to the initial learning curve, but the success rate then steadily improves over time.)
That said… I’m tapping a tune as I type on this keyboard. Can you guess it??
The Deep Ones wait you know Swimming in the sea Their numbers they will grow Swimming safe and free
He’s not dead but dreams Until the fateful day When they set the Old Ones free On Mankinds final day!
Oh! Cthulhu Lives! Cthulhu Lives, deep down in the sea In the city of R’Lyeh waiting to be freed Oh! Cthulhu Lives! Cthulhu Lives, deep down in the sea In the city of R’Lyeh waiting to be freed
That brings to mind a fantastic set of posts on Mind Your Decisions (game theory blog) about focal points and coordination problems. If there’s anything identifying about one of the songs—even being first on the list—it’s a good idea to choose that one.
… Man, I bet psych researchers hate people like us.
Have you ever played the “Shadow of the Washington Monument” game?
It’s played almost like 20 questions, except that it only takes one question if the game is played right.
OK, let’s play: I’m thinking of a person, place or thing. Can you guess who, where, or what it is, by having me answer your yes or no questions? The goal is to guess it with as few questions asked as possible.
Have you ever played the “Shadow of the Washington Monument” game? It’s played almost like 20 questions, except that it only takes one question if the game is played right.
They weren’t playing the game right. The way to correctly play the game, especially among siblings, is for a person to always pick the same song. For example, if I’m tapping, I’m tapping ‘Jingle Bells’. And we have a near 100% success rate. (It is not quite 100% due to the initial learning curve, but the success rate then steadily improves over time.)
That said… I’m tapping a tune as I type on this keyboard. Can you guess it??
Is it Jingle Bells?!
Y E S … Y E S … Y-Y E S-SSSS …
Is it Cthulhu Lives!?
Love it!
That brings to mind a fantastic set of posts on Mind Your Decisions (game theory blog) about focal points and coordination problems. If there’s anything identifying about one of the songs—even being first on the list—it’s a good idea to choose that one.
… Man, I bet psych researchers hate people like us.
This post was what motivated me to get the book. It’s a great book.
As both a ‘person like us’ and a (prospective) psych researcher, I can say: nah, we just toss us out as outliers.
By my experience, at least in the UK there is one tune that everyone I’ve tried so far has recognised from my tapping it out :-)
Have you ever played the “Shadow of the Washington Monument” game?
It’s played almost like 20 questions, except that it only takes one question if the game is played right.
OK, let’s play: I’m thinking of a person, place or thing. Can you guess who, where, or what it is, by having me answer your yes or no questions? The goal is to guess it with as few questions asked as possible.
Ha ha, OK.
Nevertheless I get one question. Can you guess what I’ll ask?
It appears I don’t have to guess. ;-)
Huh. I was going to ask, ‘Is it bigger than a breadbox?’.
Google predicts I would have asked, ‘Animal, mineral or vegetable?’
Is it underneath the Washington Monument?