Re: Identical Items
Hmmm, anyone else notice that NO ONE has clicked the first or last item and that there's a huge spike in the middle (which is the one I clicked, conformist that I am).
Re: Identical Items
I did pick up on that! I actually think this is pretty interesting. A while back I had read a "fun fact" in a women's magazine that suggested that if you are concerned about germs and such when going to public restrooms you should always use the stalls at either end of the row. Most people use the middle stalls and nobody seems to like to be on the sides according to that article. Just seemed pretty weird that the outcome of this little survey supports that article in a way...
Re: Identical Items
I think there is a psychology at work here. Although I'm no psychologist these things have always fascinated me.
Another one I've heard is that, when you are offering someone multiple choices, and you have some preference as to which they select, NEVER offer your preference first or last. The 'selectee' will never take the first choice offered (and will rarely take the last choice) unless they have a good reason to. I've used that little pearl when trying to make appointments, set meeting times, etc., and it has been pretty successful. The above survey would tend to bear that out.
All that said, in the ladies room where I work, the busiest stalls are actually on the ends, but that may be the way the stalls are arranged...two rows, three on one side and two on the other. The busiest ones are the one closest to the door and the one furtherest from the door. Hmm, come to think on it, there's only one stall that's actually in the middle, and it IS the one that least often in use when I go in. Maybe I just work with a bunch of wierdos?
Edited by: ticious at: 4/7/06 8:26 pm
Re: Identical Items
maybe they read the same article too and are trying to avoid the dirtier stalls, but it's all backfired!
i've read that article too about the bathrooms so now I always use the first one.
also, in high school, they tell you that on a multiple choice test, the answer is A the fewest times, with B and C being the most commonly right answer and if you are to guess, always go with C. I think that sticks with us. Plus, you'd think the multiple choice test makers would catch on to that, but maybe the psychology stuff is at work in them to put the answer in B or C more often.
/shrug
who knows.
maybe I should ask my hubby. He is a psychologist. :P
Re: Identical Items
Public bathrooms are really hard for me. I simi got over my weirdness about them when I was pregnant and had no choice.... but I still always use the first stall. I cover the seat with paper, hover, and kick to flush. I use my elbow to get paper towel to use to turn on and off the taps and kick the door open to leave. Or use the paper towel if I have to pull it open. I don't know why, I'm not a germaphobe or anything, it's only public bathrooms that bother be. I'm a weirdo I know
Now you all know my dirty (clean?) lil secret!
"You must be the change you want to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi"
Re: Identical Items
I love to live dangerously. I never use those paper things (I suspect that any self respecting bug would just laugh anyway) and don't worry about touching nobs and stuff. I do, however, take a good long look at the seat, the bowl and the other denizens of the establishment before I before I start and have been known to decide that I don't really have to go so bad. Of course, I'm not pregnant but do remember what that was like. There was a time when I knew the exact location of every public toilet in the city of Seattle and the shortest route to get there from any given spot.
Anyway, I just turned 48 and have never picked anything up yet so either I'm incredibly lucky or there's just not much to be all that alarmed about.
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