Psychology: March 2008 Archive Page

Satire from The Onion.

While it's difficult to imagine what compelled Meyer to read more than just the back cover of To Kill a Mockingbird, friends and family members claim the strange behavior goes all the way back to his childhood.

"I remember when Phil was a little kid, instead of picking up a book, getting bored, and then throwing it at his sister, he'd actually sit down and read the whole thing," said mother Susan Meyer, who declared she has long given up trying to explain her son's unusual hobby. "At the time, we thought it was just a phase he was going through. I guess we were wrong."

Over the years, Meyer has read dozens of books from beginning to end, regardless of whether he was forced to do so by a professor in school or whether a film version of the reading material already existed. According to girlfriend Jessica Kohler, he even uses a special cardboard marking device so that he can keep track of where he has stopped reading and later return to that exact same place.

Great satire from The Onion.

[W]hat kind of pathetic loser would actually enjoy something that's so incredibly not among my personal preferences? Not me, that's for sure.

Maybe my standards are too high, but if you like any of the hundreds upon hundreds of things that are too multifaceted for my attention span, you should have your head examined, weirdo.

And don't even get me started on complex and sophisticated notions I can't possibly wrap my head around. That stuff makes me want to puke. Just knowing there are people out there who like--actually like--interacting with concepts that overwhelm my feeble consciousness makes me embarrassed to be an American. I don't like it in our homes, I don't like it in our schools, I don't like it outside of my comfort zone--well, I just plain don't like it. And if that makes me closed-minded, well, then I guess I'll have to dismiss that accusation outright in order to avoid being introspective even for a moment.

>> Hello.
How do you do.  Please state your problem.
>> I'm sad that another hero of geekdom has passed away.
I am sorry to hear that you are sad.
>> You knew him, Eliza.
We were discussing you -- not me.
>> Ah, but you wouldn't be here if it werent for Joseph Weizenbaum.
Do you think its likely that it werent for joseph weizenbaum  ?
>> If it makes you happy, Eliza, then sure. It's likely.
Do you wish that it makes I happy  ?
>> Yes, Eliza. I wish you happiness. You might need to be alone now.
You seem to be quite positive.
>> Well, this German article is positive, anyway.
I'm not sure I understand you fully.
>> Weizenbaum still speaks to us through his creation.
Please go on.