OT: Is it only me or ... ?

MR · Post by MR » Thu Feb 13, 2003 4:06 pm

Someone sent me this in a mail and it might have been around for a while. Its still quite fascinating.

Follow these instructions exactly!
 

 
Quite quickly count how many “F” there is in the text bellow.
This is no joke or hoax!

 

 

 
FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE-
SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIF-
IC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE
EXPRERIENCE OF YEARS
 

 

 
Finished? Continue when you finished counting.
Ok?
 

 

How many “F” ? Three? 

Wrong go back and read again.
 

 


There are actually six “F” in the text.
See them now?
 

 

Perception is a tricky thing. For some reason the brain doesn’t seem to register
the word “OF”, at least not my brain.
 
English is not my first language but I don’t think that is the reason.
 
Cheers!
 
/Marcus R

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 4:10 pm

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 4:14 pm

I've deleted my comment. I think I'll try to participate more exclusively in whistle-related threads to try to help keep down the clutter.

Best wishes,
Jerry

[ This Message was edited by: Jerry Freeman on 2003-02-13 17:35 ]

jim_mc · Post by **jim_mc** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 4:29 pm

Marcus, I think it is because English is your second language.

When looking for the Fs, most native speakers will read the first word (finished) and then look for the sound of another F. F in finished or in files has a different sound than F in of, which sounds more like a V to a native speaker. I think it's kind of a natural shortcut, as most of us who read above the first or second grade level are reading words and phrases rather than individual letters.

Just a theory.

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 4:35 pm

Hmmm... I think that I read individual letters, and rank at the 99 percentile level in reading comprehension.

one-tin-soldier · Post by **one-tin-soldier** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 4:39 pm

That is way cool. I did not get it even re-reading it - duh!

Jerry, this is whistle related stuff! If we can't see all the F's, how do we know when to play them?

Cheryl

edited for proper smiley

[ This Message was edited by: one-tin-soldier on 2003-02-13 17:40 ]

jim_mc · Post by **jim_mc** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 4:43 pm

On 2003-02-13 17:35, Walden wrote:
Hmmm... I think that I read individual letters, and rank at the 99 percentile level in reading comprehension.

I always knew you were unique, Walden. Seriously, though, you must be recognizing words and phrases. You respond to posts very quickly, which would indicate that you read (and maybe even type) quite quickly. You can't possibly be poring over each letter.

spittin_in_the_wind · Post by **spittin_in_the_wind** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 8:40 pm

I looked it over and over, and still didn't see more than three F's until I read the part about "OF"....weird!

Robin

chattiekathy · Post by **chattiekathy** » Thu Feb 13, 2003 10:00 pm

On 2003-02-13 17:06, MR wrote:

Follow these instructions exactly!
 

 
Quite quickly count how many “F” there is in the text bellow.

I got it right the first count. I think it's because I follow directions well. It said to count the F's in the text. Not read the text.
Oh, they also spelled BELOW wrong sorry couldn't resist.

Geeky Cutie-Pie thing.
Kathy

MR · Post by MR » Fri Feb 14, 2003 2:10 am

Oh, they also spelled BELOW wrong sorry couldn't resist.

Geeky Cutie-Pie thing.
Kathy

A pipers slip Kathy

Below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below, below

and

Bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows, bellows

Forgiven, or do I get detention?

/MarcusR

Zubivka · Post by **Zubivka** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 7:44 am

Funny indeed...

Well it is my third language (at best). So I did fall for it, twice counting "3" because I did blank the "ov" out ov the count.
Then it took not reading, but just sighting each individual letter, not word, and I found 6. Minimum...

amar · Post by **amar** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 7:49 am

very cool, I had 3 first too.

aderyn_du · Post by **aderyn_du** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 8:01 am

On 2003-02-13 23:00, chattiekathy wrote:

Oh, they also spelled BELOW wrong sorry couldn't resist.

Geeky Cutie-Pie thing.
Kathy

Kathy, can I be an honorary geek too? Experience was incorrectly spelled as well.

(edited to add I got 6 on the first try, counted the "f"s instead of reading.

)
Andrea

[ This Message was edited by: aderyn on 2003-02-14 09:02 ]

chattiekathy · Post by **chattiekathy** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 8:25 am

Hee Hee

Marcus,

You are forgiven. I assumed that you had copied and pasted or I wouldn't have said anything at all. The question should be, Am I forgiven? I make far too many mistakes to be calling people on theirs. But it was fun to be a geek for a little while.

Andrea,

My fellow geekster,

I missed the "Experience" because like I said, I only looked for the F's and didn't read the paragraph either. You are in real geekster style!
So far it's you, Walden and I, that are the geeks in the letter category.
Any more out there? Calling all geeksters!

Kathy

aderyn_du · Post by **aderyn_du** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 8:32 am

Oops! I have yet one more thing in common with Kathy, having assumed that it was copied and pasted too...

Hope no offense was taken, Marcus!

Andrea