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The Problem of Thinking Too Much (2002) (jstor.org)
13 points by lermontov 4 hours ago | hide | past | favorite | 7 comments





The end paragraph:

>A Psychological Tip

Whenever you're called on to make up your mind, and you're hampered by not having any, the best way to solve the dilemma, you'll find, is simply by spinning a penny.

No—not so that chance shall decide the affair while you're passively standing there moping; but the moment the penny is up in the air, you suddenly know what you're hoping.


Scene from Board Walk Empire Season 2 that uses the coin flip trick.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6WYsM1nIbKs&t=55s&pp=2AE3kAIB


I heard this one, paraphrased, a while back (probably around 2002 I guess). I apply it to others as well by actually spinning a penny when someone can't decide, then watch their reaction. It's shocking how fast people make up their mind when they feel like the decision making power is taken away from them.

Wow, been doing this for twenty years—didn't know it was "a thing"!

For a PDF created in 2002, it's incredibly easy to read on a smartphone.


Where did you read that?



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