Actually makes a very important point for Bible readers — though, I'm sure, quite unintentionally.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Good exercise for exegetes
Actually makes a very important point for Bible readers — though, I'm sure, quite unintentionally.
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This is one of those things that demonstrates how human visual perception works. Basically as I remember it, we see what we are concentrating on but do not see anything else. I remember one where the person in the foreground was doing a magic trick and at the end it was shown that while he was doing so a gorilla came running out behind him.
I think they need to better define their terms. It's not a moonwalking bear, but a moonwalking man in a bear costume. You know, there could be as many as 23 different ways to define moonwalking bear.
(c:
Staci:
Tee hee!
I actually saw the very same video posted on an atheist site. You're right, though. Very interesting how the mind works.
But what if I don't feel that the bear was really there? And isn't dancing sending the bear to hell?
Ah-h-h...
There are many lessons to be learned, Grasshopper.
For example, regarding pride. My head swelled with certainty that I had indeed counted 13 passes...
...and deflated with humiliation when I missed the bear.
Side note: In marketing psychology this is known as the RAS or Reticular Activating System, where God has designed us to filter out those things extraneous to our interest, to allow focus and sanity in the midst of the millions of things that bombard our senses.
It's why when you buy a new white Kia Rio, you suddenly see all the white Kia Rios on the road. Your interest let's it through the same RAS filter that previously filtered it out.
File under "fearfully and wonderfully made". Praise God.
Thanks, Terry! I learned something.
Now I can go to bed.
My head hurts! If it isn't a "moon walking bear" its friends sending me pink dots that are really green when circling. Oy!
And btw Terry thanks now I'm going to stay up all night wondering what I didn't focus on.
I used a similar "exercise" while teaching a class at my church. It's called, "Count the "F's." I used it to demonstrate how multiple people can look at the very same text yet see something different.
I used James 1:17-18 (NKJV). Try it! I can almost guarantee you that you'll miscount the first, and possibly successive, time.
This is actually based on my favorite perception study ever (and I've sat through a lot of them...grooaaan): "Gorillas in Our Midst."
http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~cfc/Simons1999.pdf
In cognitive psychology, this phenomenon is known as "inattentional blindness", pretty much the same thing that Terry mentions as RAS.
Dan,
I know you posted this a while ago, but it has stuck with me ever since. I posted on it today at my site and thought you might find it interesting.
Blessings in Christ,
Michael
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