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Post by Bruce Edwards on Sept 4, 2015 17:39:48 GMT
I believe there are many factors that can contribute to finding a meaning, or some type of significance in meaningless noise. In our world we are indirectly raised or brought up to find patterns in things. One example can be advertising. Many of us can dissect an ad without directly knowing what is being sold to us. In business relations, we are taught to understand body language when working with foreign partners. We also like to find pattern in the popular games we play. Bottom line humans like to see patterns in things. We use them in our day-to-day lives. Which is a reason we search for them. Apophenia, or patternicity is defined as, a human tendency of perceiving patterns or connections in random or meaningless information. In the book, How We Believe, the author argues “our brains are belief engines, evolved pattern-recognition machines that connect the dots and create meaning out of the patterns that we think we see in nature. Which can mean our brains are prone to adapt from the environments we dwell in. When we see a pattern occur again and again, we are able to see the same pattern in different stiuations. A similar example of this theory is called the gamblers fallacy. “The mistaken belief that, if something happens more frequently than normal during some period, it will happen less frequently in the future, or that, if something happens less frequently than normal during some period, it will happen more frequently in the future (presumably as a means of balancing nature)” A gambler might imagine that he sees pattern in number that appear. In things like the lottery, card games like blackjack, or on a roulette table. I am guilty in believing this. The moment I sit down I am looking for some type of pattern to help me. Even though it is referred as a fallacy, I still believe you are able to find a pattern is some game you may play. My grandparent are very religious and look for pattern in reality that correlated to the bible. I am always getting lectured on things I choose to do because God would not approve. I can even remember a time when I was younger, maybe in my teens, when I was driving with my grandmother across the country and she seen something that looked like Jesus. We argued for about an hour deciding if it actually looked like Jesus. Whatever I said did not matter. She was convinced it was a miracle and needed to reflect on it. Pretty much we were there for like 3 hours praying.
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Post by Marie on Sept 4, 2015 19:48:00 GMT
I like how you referenced body language. We communicate body language intentionally and unintentionally. I remember practicing for an interview. I sat in front of five people which was very intimidating. Luckily I communicated confidence and was offered the job. It was hard work developing the patterns of body language but a skill that has paid off many times.
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José
New Member
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Post by José on Sept 4, 2015 20:53:31 GMT
Hi Bruce! I totally agree with you, regarding our instinct to look for patterns. As stated in my essay, I think we look for patterns to make us feel more comfortable. We are taught from a very young age to build patterns. The alphabet song is a great example, another is our break down of numbers from such a young age. These patterns that we create, help make life just that much easier. Its this easiness then, that allows us to see other things as well! Miracles are considered that, because we've allowed them to. Their rarity has crated a fallacy that they're created by a bigger being! When in reality, it was just math.
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Post by Janine Briscoe on Sept 5, 2015 1:48:05 GMT
I am always looking for patterns when I interact with people. I studied communication and my nonverbal communication course taught me how to study people and their mannerisms. You mentioned that you are taught to look for patterns as a business major to groom you for international relationships. In the future, the more practice and interaction with foreign contacts will help you acquire better odds at closing a deal. The more you spend time with that culture, the more skilled you become in the art of communication. Like playing the Lotto. The more times you play the lottery, the better odds you have at winning. Those patterns will help you survive in business. Human beings look for patters. The readings mentioned that we evolved due to the fact that since the beginning of time the human race needed to survive in a world of dinosaurs and wild creatures on the prowl for food. This helped us navigate through the obstacle course of time. Our brain's logic and reasoning section (Spock mind) has brought us to the 21st century. We are living with internet, solar energy, and smart cars. I believe that patterns are given due to logic, but I also believe that there is that instinctual, gut feeling that helps us navigate this world too. You spoke about being raised in a religious home, and driving across country with your religious grandmother (cute story) and how she felt is was a miraculous sign. I don't know if you saw Jesus when you were driving, but she believed she did. You are right, it doesn't matter what you tell a person because they are going to believe what they want. These patterns I use to survive are part logic, but I also feel part spiritual as well. I have the good verses evil characters on my shoulders helping me make moral decisions. Sometimes I look back on choices I made and I feel there was a spiritual force that pushed me to move at that moment. Whatever the case, I know that patterns are a part of human life. We need them to make it to tomorrow. We hope that the patterns will get us over that hurdle, and sometimes that is the miracle we hoped for.
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