Test

I received one of those b.s. spam quizzes today and did it on my sister's recommendation. I was surprised by the result. Apologies if you hate this kind of crap, as I normally do. Here is the text of the e-mail:

This is a fun little exercise.

This test determines human thought patterns. Humans fall into 1 of 2
percentiles: 98% or 2%. 98% think alike, and the remaining 2% stray from the
norm.

Here's the test:

Just follow the instructions as quickly as possible. Do not go to the next
calculation before you have finished the previous one. You do not need to
write or remember the answers, just do it using your mind. You'll be
surprised by the results...

Ready,

Go....

How much is:

15+6

3+56

89+2

12+53

75+26

25+52

63+32

Come on, one more...

123+5

QUICK! THINK ABOUT A TOOL AND A COLOR!

Scroll further to the bottom...

A bit more...

You have just thought about a red hammer, haven't you?? If this is not the
case, you are among 2% of people who have a "different" if not "abnormal"
mind. 98% of those tested would answer a "red hammer" while doing this
exercise. If you do not believe this, pass it around and you'll see. Be sure
to put in the subject line if you are among the 98% or the 2% and send it
to everyone, including the person that sent it to you.

What percentage am I in if I skipped over the questions and went straight to the punch line? I guess technically I am in the 98%, since I did indeed think of a red hammer when I read:

You have just thought about a red hammer, haven''t you??

Spooky!

Also, there are two types of people - the 98% who accept without questioning that a test like this is really a gauge of ""human thought patterns"", and the 2% who realize that some things are just more common than others and therefore come to mind more readily...

They got me again! Last time I did one it was carrot or somethin at the end. Anyone know why this works?

I was asking people in the office without doing the math part and 2/3 came out red hammer and one came out blue hammer. I agree with your assessment of what the test really measures but still think it''s strange that a majority of people say red hammer.

holy schnikees.

i thought ""red hammer"".

friggin bizarre.

Um. I should probably worry that I thought of a pink hammer, huh?

I seem to remember a study done by actual science-types that actually took this kind of thing (semi-)seriously. They tried different number and word type ""riddles"" and even when it was done in different languages, the answers were usually the same. They thought it had something to do with the way the brain processes numbers or something.

Crap. I''m haunted now. Is it too late to change my answer?

RED HAMMER!

I did it twice, and got ""puce miter saw"" the next go ''round. Weird.

"RumbleFish" wrote:

I seem to remember a study done by actual science-types that actually took this kind of thing (semi-)seriously. They tried different number and word type ""riddles"" and even when it was done in different languages, the answers were usually the same. They thought it had something to do with the way the brain processes numbers or something.

I was asking people without prefacing with numbers and still getting a lot of red hammers. I subscribe to the Ralcydan theory that red and hammer are just what people think of most frequently.

Green rake.

Honestly.

Sway....just change your shirt color to pink on your icon already....might as well put a beret on it too.

id agree with that too, having had a moment to think on it.

plus, it is possible that the exercise of addition (even simple) could momentarily remove a person from a ""creative"" mode, ensuring a more common answer such as ""red hammer""

Yellow screwdriver. No idea why it didn''t work on me. I think that carrot one you guys were talking about got me a few years ago, but this one didn''t work. It''s broken. Or I am, I suppose.

Your pal,
a.

I remember getting this a while ago. I remember thinking of a wrench though, don''t remember the color. But I guess it does seem a lot of people think of a red hammer, weird.

I found a linkto the ""study"" on the numbers thing, although this one was with the word ""carrot."" Quite of few of them did experiments with this type of thing. Pretty interesting.

I thought ""blue hammer"". The ''hammer'' is not suprising though, one is basically primed to associate ''hammer'' with ''tools'' thanks to icons used everywhere (not just in programs).

I thought, ""screwdriver blue."" since that''s the order of the questions but...

I guess I shouldn''t read much into the fact that pretty much all tools are phallic so...

Yellow screwdriver. No idea why it didn''t work on me.

That''s what hoochie picked too, you guys are freaks.

I picked red hammer.

I thought ""blue hammer"".

Yup, that''s the one I thought of. Meh, red. Only losers think of red.

What percentage am I in if I skipped over the questions and went straight to the punch line?

That''s exactly what I did. Creepy ;P

I guess were are in the extra 10% of 110%

Now had they asked me about OFP expansions, I sure would have responded Red Hammer.

*rimshot*

I''m with Roo - blue screwdriver.

What does it say about hoochie and myself that we both thought of screwdrivers - and we both shack up with the CEO''s of this joint? Hmmmm......

Orange juice with minty blue vodka.

Or Absolute Citron in the case of yellow screwdriver...

I thought of Aviation Tinner Snips and Red. So I guess I''m half normal. That''s my dad''s christmas present, btw.

Wrench, blue. Although the really disturbing part is after I read that most people think ''red hammer'' I can''t quite shake the feeling that I first thought of hammer and red and then changed my mind... I don''t think I did, but I''m not sure...

Ummm, I thought of a yellow hammer.

Thats not a good sign is it?

I think the only time you need to worry is when you pick a slingblade of any color.

Maybe this would be a good time to mention my all time favorite NPC name for a dwarf (which my pen and paper DM came up with):

Hammerpants

Maybe I should tell him, ""Dude, I think you meant Red Hammerpants.""

orange screwdriver. odd.