Goethe on superstition

"Superstition is the poetry of life."

Today's NY Times has an interesting piece, What Is a Number Worth? Some Athletes Pay the Price, on how jersey numbers become personal brands for professional athletes:

"It is worn on shoes and helmets, wristbands and turtlenecks. It inspires tattoos and is engraved on medallions the size of manhole covers.

Players who have been successful with certain digits are often too superstitious to change. They wonder if they can put up the same numbers while wearing a different number."

In my recent interview with Jacobs Media I said:

"Products like cars and jewelry, which if we really think about it, don’t actually turn us into sexy beasts. And commodities like beer and clothing. Do they really define me as a human being? Not really. But hey, I need to have a little fun and get lost in this crazy world. So go ahead . . . manipulate me. Right?"

Is that what's going on? Is most advertising simply appealing to our sense of superstition? Definition: An irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome. I think so. I knew back in the day that I had to wear my favorite number 11, as well as make sure not to step on the third base chalk line, or my day in the sun would be less than stellar.  How 'bout you?

By the way . . . have a happy Friday the 13th!

Posted May 13, 2005
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Comments

jens

no superstition.

except: for important meetings i always make sure that i have a copy of one of my grand-uncle's books in my briefcase.

and then: the names of all important people in my life start with an A.
(btw: tom, still waiting for an answer of one of my mails)

:)

Posted by: jens | May 13, 2005 at 12:59 PM

Jeff

Growing up I always wanted to wear the number 14. I would never have dared to ask for the number 4 because Bobby Orr wore that number, and I was no Bobby Orr.

I figured I was maybe one tenth the talent of God's gift to the Bruin's blue line so 14 was ok. I guess I should have put more effort into math.

Posted by: Jeff | May 13, 2005 at 08:17 PM

Trevor Gay

Hi Tom - hope you are well my friend - this may make you smile

Trevor

I just posted this in my own Blog
http://simplicityitk.blogspot.com/


Of course it is just a silly superstition ... Isn't it?!!

Yesterday was Friday the 13th.

The hot water system broke down so we called the gas engineer - £87.

I 'lost' for ever 125 very important files on a corrupted CD.

We took delivery of a new PC (£430) that 'froze' repeatedly and has to go back.

Interesting .... simply a coincidence .. he says uncertainly!

Have a great weekend - don't walk under any ladders !!

Posted by: Trevor Gay | May 14, 2005 at 06:25 AM

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