Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Instructions Included
2:56 PM | Posted by
Steve |
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From time to time I take advantage of a spin class at the gym. One arrives early, selects a stationary bicycle, adjusts it to fit, and begins to ride. I find, like most parts of life, I get more out of riding when I'm in a group. This is true in spin class, in particular, because each member tries to live up to the cues given by the instructor. "Add resistance." "Out of the saddle." "You should be nearly breathless." She's right.
Almost without fail, the instructor reminds us to make nice round circles with our feet. Of course, that's the only way feet can move when attached to the pedals. But, the point is to make a constant effort all the way around the pedal stroke, pushing over the top and down, and pulling under the bottom and up. And, if we trace the orbits of the balls of our feet, the only parts in contact with the pedals, they do make nice round circles but our heels make imperfect ones. We struggle to push at the right times and pull at the right times.
This morning I participated in a class that I don't usually, so I had an instructor I've never had. During one of the all-too-brief recovery periods, it occurred to me that our instructor had not once reminded us to make nice round circles with our feet. Then, it occurred to me that I didn't need to be reminded. Then, it occurred to me that no one should need to be reminded - the very word bicycle tells us that we are using a tool with circles and one that has a periodic aspect to its operation.
There are many similar items that include instructions for use directly in the name of the item - toothbrush, hairspray, garage door opener. There are also many that don't, such as "father". These, psychologists say, excite some memory or concept of "father" in our brains so that the word has no meaning apart from the image and characteristics implanted in our minds.
Psychologists also tell us that we can take advantage of the way our brains process information to create objects that require no instructions, either explicitly written or implied by their name. Such items have "demand characteristics" - the basic character of the item demands that we use them in the way they were intended.
To prove their point, the next time you approach a door with a large, flat, rectangular metal panel near one side try not to push on it to open the door. One is almost compelled to push on the panel. And, if you were to walk up to the door and saw the word "pull" engraved in the panel, you might still be standing there. This is so engrained, in fact, that there is a special curse we utter when the item doesn't work the way it tells us it is supposed to work. "What were they thinking?"
All of this flashed through my mind this morning during that all-too-brief recovery period. Then, I thought of the words "govern" and "congress" and the President's call for common sense last evening. I wonder if anyone else feels that the terms "govern" and "congress" no longer mean what their words tell us they mean.
"What are they thinking?"
Almost without fail, the instructor reminds us to make nice round circles with our feet. Of course, that's the only way feet can move when attached to the pedals. But, the point is to make a constant effort all the way around the pedal stroke, pushing over the top and down, and pulling under the bottom and up. And, if we trace the orbits of the balls of our feet, the only parts in contact with the pedals, they do make nice round circles but our heels make imperfect ones. We struggle to push at the right times and pull at the right times.
This morning I participated in a class that I don't usually, so I had an instructor I've never had. During one of the all-too-brief recovery periods, it occurred to me that our instructor had not once reminded us to make nice round circles with our feet. Then, it occurred to me that I didn't need to be reminded. Then, it occurred to me that no one should need to be reminded - the very word bicycle tells us that we are using a tool with circles and one that has a periodic aspect to its operation.
There are many similar items that include instructions for use directly in the name of the item - toothbrush, hairspray, garage door opener. There are also many that don't, such as "father". These, psychologists say, excite some memory or concept of "father" in our brains so that the word has no meaning apart from the image and characteristics implanted in our minds.
Psychologists also tell us that we can take advantage of the way our brains process information to create objects that require no instructions, either explicitly written or implied by their name. Such items have "demand characteristics" - the basic character of the item demands that we use them in the way they were intended.
To prove their point, the next time you approach a door with a large, flat, rectangular metal panel near one side try not to push on it to open the door. One is almost compelled to push on the panel. And, if you were to walk up to the door and saw the word "pull" engraved in the panel, you might still be standing there. This is so engrained, in fact, that there is a special curse we utter when the item doesn't work the way it tells us it is supposed to work. "What were they thinking?"
All of this flashed through my mind this morning during that all-too-brief recovery period. Then, I thought of the words "govern" and "congress" and the President's call for common sense last evening. I wonder if anyone else feels that the terms "govern" and "congress" no longer mean what their words tell us they mean.
"What are they thinking?"
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- Sometimes you think I'm daydreaming, but I'm actually thinking about something. No, really. Honestly. Sometimes.
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