ClockQuotes

We usually see only the things we are looking for - so much so that we sometimes see them where they are not.

- Eric Hoffer

More like this

There's an electronic analog to this: search for a signal with a tuned resonator. But these can go into pathological self-resonance and produce output for no input. I hypothesize there are equivalent neurological pattern resonance circuits with similar problems.

Then there is this old joke:

Drunk loses his keys in a dark spot of the road. Buddy asks him why is he looking for them under the street light. "Because I can see better there".

Exercise for the reader: can you think of a current real-world example of this behavior?

By GrayGaffer (not verified) on 30 Jul 2008 #permalink