Your Funniest Moment When Distracted by a Hard Problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter berkeman
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Hard Moment
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The thread discusses humorous moments experienced by participants when they become deeply engrossed in solving complex problems in fields such as math, physics, and engineering. The focus is on personal anecdotes that illustrate the distractions and mishaps that can occur when concentration leads to tunnel vision.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares a story about nearly falling down stairs while reading test data, emphasizing the dangers of multitasking in high-pressure situations.
  • Another participant recounts a moment of confusion while trying to change a water jug, mistakenly attempting to empty it into a trash can instead of the cooler.
  • A different participant describes vivid dreams related to their design work, leading to attempts to apply engineering concepts to everyday tasks.
  • One contributor mentions a professor who allegedly fell into a manhole while reading a newspaper, illustrating the potential hazards of distraction.
  • Another participant reflects on the stress of critical calculations and the pressure to deliver accurate results, highlighting the mental strain involved in their work.
  • Several participants share minor mishaps, such as dialing a phone number on a calculator, showcasing the commonality of such distractions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the humorous nature of their experiences with distraction, but there is no consensus on the severity or implications of these moments. Multiple competing views on the impact of distraction are present.

Contextual Notes

Some anecdotes involve potentially dangerous situations, while others highlight the lighter side of distraction. The discussion does not resolve the implications of these experiences on productivity or safety.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals in STEM fields, particularly those who work on complex problems, may find these anecdotes relatable and entertaining.

  • #31
Evo said:
Sorry Berkeman, we've hijacked your thread, I should split these posts into a separate thread.
No worries. It was an enjoyable hijack, and the original theme of the thread had mostly run its course. :smile:
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
Here's a few cheaters, BTW (I'm assuming you know how to read this):

  1. The last line could be, "She named me Matilda";
  2. The uncertainty is half the point; and
  3. The narrator doesn't know themselves (and doesn't think it's relevant).

I skipped the obvious one. Anyone who didn't get that far wouldn't get the hints in any case.
 

Similar threads

Rotational motion and finding the moment of inertia
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Epothilone B study connected to 'Hard Problem of Consciousness' Model
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Graduate How can I calculate the moment of inertia of any object?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
My experience as a hostage
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
752
Undergrad Predictions using unknown probability distributions
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
What can glue condom material to hard plastic?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Psychotic episodes in my Alaskan malamute
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
Change in Entropy When Mixing Water at Different Temperatures
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
Fluid dynamics problem: Equalize the volume of water in tanks at differing heights
  • · Replies 50 ·
2
Replies
50
Views
7K
ArsTechnica Article on Backing Up Your Stuff via BeeStation
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K