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Adventures in Troubleshooting — Parallax Forums

Adventures in Troubleshooting

PJAllenPJAllen BannedPosts: 5,065
edited 2012-10-14 20:23 in General Discussion
So much for critical thinking and logical problem solving.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-19921055

"Eventually Mr Henry, 67, a retired print worker, decided to turn all the lights off upstairs and try to locate the sound in the dark."

How would that help?

Comments

  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-10-13 19:45
    PJ Allen wrote:
    How would that help?
    It might help to reduce sensory overload, in order to concentrate more acutely on a single sense. For example, when I'm in my car in a strange locale, trying to find someplace I've never been to, I will turn off the radio. It usually helps for some reason.

    -Phil
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2012-10-13 20:07
    Yes, turning off the radio would probably be my first choice when trying to find something that was making a sound... <wink> ;)

    Jeff
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2012-10-13 20:35
    Lights that are on do emit noise. I presume he did this just to eliminate other noises interfering with his search. Also, as blind people will attest, when the brain realizes you are in the dark your sense of hearing and smell increase.
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2012-10-13 21:31
    People do really stupid things as they get old. Trust me. But what's more ridiculous? a dude suffering from early on-set Alzheimer's disease or a "news" reporter who's suffering from a lack of good story leads?

    "Hey, Mum, got any good story leads for me this week?"
    "Well, Bim, you know your father chopped another hole in the bedroom wall a few days ago. You could report that to the world."
    "Splendid."
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-10-13 22:22
    Here's a short article on divided attention. You might want to take those earbuds out before starting to read it. :)

    -Phil
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-10-13 23:08
    Occasionally, inspiration can be a terrible thing.
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2012-10-14 16:22
    The beeping eventually stopped during the summer.
    However, on returning from holiday a fortnight ago, they discovered the beep had not only returned but it was now going off every 30 seconds, night and day.

    I wonder if that is because as the battery warmed up in the summer it produced more volts. Then next winter, low voltage and more beeping.

    If only he had contacted this forum, we could have worked it out!
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2012-10-14 18:12
    If he was smart enough to contact an internet forum, he wouldn't have ripped his walls apart.

    BTW, since when does this qualify as news???
  • Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
    edited 2012-10-14 18:32
    My neighbor asked me to change a battery in his smoke detector because it was beeping. (his eyesight is terrible as the result of a stroke).

    I opened the detector in his hallway and discovered there was no battey. I started walking around the house trying to find the source of the beep and could not see any more detectors!

    We stood in the kitchen and kept trying to find the darn thing. I finally reached into a basket sitting on the floor and pulled out a beeping detector.

    He didn't even remember buying it and we don't know how long it was in the basket.

    It was driving him nuts - tearing out walls was probably an option he considered...
  • frank freedmanfrank freedman Posts: 1,983
    edited 2012-10-14 20:17
    I think I would have hired a retired burglar to toss the place before tearing out the walls. Even if the burglar "helped himself" to a few things, the homeowner would have come out ahead!

    FF
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-10-14 20:23
    Just call in a potential crime, and the local constabulary will toss the place for you: trained experts for free! :)

    -Phil
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