[Bruce Nevin (990503.1243 EDT)]
I have been sure to post or reply to only messages grounded in an explicit,
testable implementation of a model or simulation, but this is too delicious
not to share.
........................... begin quotation ...........................
The [carnival] mindreader explained that you hold onto their hands,
loosely, and as you move, you jiggle a little bit. You come to an
intersection, where you can go forward, to the left, or to the right. You
jiggle a little bit to the left, and if it's incorrect, you feel a certain
amount of resistance, because they don't expect you to move that way. But
when you move in the right direction, because they think you might be able
to do it, they give way more easily, and there's no resistance. So you must
always be jiggling a little bit, testing out which seems to be the easiest
way.
Richard P. Feynman (as told to Ralph Leighton)
_Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!_, Bantam ed. p. 73.
............................ end quotation ............................
In this way the mayor of the town, or whoever, leads the mind reader
directly to the house, floor, room, and drawer of the bureau known only to
himself where he concealed the $5 bill the week before the announced visit
of the mind reader.
[From Tim Carey (990505.0815)]
[From Rick Marken (990503.1450)]
I found Feynman's "mind reading" story several years ago and was
startled by it's understanding of the nature of intention. I even
tried it with my daughter (I was the mind reader). The problem is
that the person you lead has to really be controlling for you
going in the right direction. My daughter apparently caught on
to what was going on right away (she could tell I was jiggling
her hand) and so she just pushed back no matter what. She was
definitely _not_ controlling for me getting to the target.
This is a wonderful example of what my current understanding of
countercontrol is. This almost seems to be saying Rick that you weren't able
to coerce your daughter because she change what she was controlling for.
Cheers,
Tim
[From Rick Marken (990503.1450)]
Bruce Nevin (990503.1243 EDT)--
this is too delicious not to share.
In this way the mayor of the town, or whoever, leads the mind
reader directly to the house
I found Feynman's "mind reading" story several years ago and was
startled by it's understanding of the nature of intention. I even
tried it with my daughter (I was the mind reader). The problem is
that the person you lead has to really be controlling for you
going in the right direction. My daughter apparently caught on
to what was going on right away (she could tell I was jiggling
her hand) and so she just pushed back no matter what. She was
definitely _not_ controlling for me getting to the target.
Best
Rick
···
--
Richard S. Marken Phone or Fax: 310 474-0313
Life Learning Associates e-mail: rmarken@earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~rmarken/