I’ve started reading Errornomics, one of the previous birthday presents I got. It talks about why we make mistakes and what we can do to avoid them. It’s an enjoyable read and although I’m still 200+ pages to the end, I’ve already exclaimed “Aha!” plenty of times. Since I’m still miles away to making a book review, I just want to share the specific learning points that I’ve “tested” or realized.
As we look for things, we don’t always see.
This morning, we were in Lulu Hypermarket to do the weekly groceries. We intentionally went in during the peak hour to test one theory. Apparently, handedness is the best predictor of a person’s directional preference. Hence, most people who are right handed, like me, tend to look at the right when searching for the shortest lines for people at stores, banks, and the like. At the supermarket today, as we were about to pay, I checked the queues at the left first. Really short!
(A card sent by one of my Iggy sisters; I liked that this Papemelroti card depicts a lot about the colorful life in the Philippines. I miss riding the tricyle but not the craziness and unpredictability of situations like hold ups.)
Not that I want to test another theory, but I noticed that in some documentaries and investigative series men and women witnesses give separate strengths in their accounts of the story. But Errornomics suggests that in case of hold-ups/snatching event, it is better to have a man as a witness (ugh, I am a woman). Allegedly, women tend to notice the appearance and actions of the woman whose purse was being snatched while men pay more attention to the thief, hence, they are more accurate regarding the details about the thief.
The book mentioned other interesting examples of “looked but did not see” errors (and that’s just one chapter). It’s a good start to rekindle my affair with the books. It’s been a long time. And I want to find out the relevant symbolisms of those peeled bananas on the book cover,
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witsandnuts 
0 thoughts on “Pay attention at your left”
kg
sounds like my kind of book!
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sheng
That sure seems an interesting read, Where can I get one here in Pinas? Any idea?
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witsandnuts
I have no idea, Sheng. I hope there’s one in National Bookstore. If none, maybe they will offer to order it for you online.
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upto6only
oo nga that seems to be an interesting book. sana meron nyan sa NBS
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mordsith
could you lend me that book? i think i have so many erroneous ways to avoid! haha. joke! =)
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witsandnuts
Sure, Mordsith. 🙂
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Photo Cache
what an interesting book. maybe you could raffle that off when you’re done reading 🙂
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witsandnuts
No, I shall not raffle it because it’s a gift. Just in case I see another copy I’ll raffle it. 🙂
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kayni
sounds like an interesting book to read…i’ll check that out at the bookstore :). enjoy reading.
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docgelo
i agree with photo cache, haha! pa-raffle na ang book after you’ve enjoyed it! hehe 🙂
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Mumsified
Sounds like a great book! I’ve also noticed that the left side has always the shorter line (immigration, supermarket, etc)
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witsandnuts
Kaya ngayon, mindful na ako sa left side hehe.
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bw
hmm.. interesting … I’d like to get a copy of this book 🙂
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