General > General Technical Chat
Fear of number 13...
VK3DRB:
--- Quote from: blueskull on April 19, 2020, 08:21:18 am ---Superstition can have a market, it's just part of human nature, nothing to do with stupidity or being backwards.
The same superstition is in China too, for number 14, which pronounces like "going to die". In many business building there is no floor 14, rather a floor 13A.
The Cantonese people particularly care about this. My company which is a shell company used as a legal contract shop front registered in HK is located on F13A of a building.
Number 4 being related to death is built in the language of Chinese and Japanese, but it seems like the Cantonese is particularly sensitive to this.
And it doesn't stop the Cantonese being the richest people in Eastern Asia. They tend to be the richest in their community even worldwide.
--- End quote ---
Why do you equate hoarding money and greed with common sense? Some of the world's biggest fools are very wealthy. Unlucky numbers is mumbo jumbo, hocus pocus and downright stupidity, observed by fools. The world is full of gullible people without much common sense and no understanding of basic science or mathematics.
911 is wonderful number... it is a prime number!
73!
Mr. Scram:
--- Quote from: engrguy42 on April 19, 2020, 10:47:41 am ---One of the great truths about human behavior that is well known in the psychological sciences but rarely mentioned is this:
"People believe what they want to believe. Facts are irrelevant".
We all suffer from it to one degree or another, but nobody will ever admit it. Feel free to search for research papers on the subject. There are tons.
So yeah, the list of things people believe about stuff that is in direct opposition to facts is perhaps the longest list in the universe. :D
--- End quote ---
Plenty of people admit it. A large part of science is devoted to hunting out this behaviour and reducing its impact. I think the same applies to many people on a personal level. Many strive to lead evidence based lives while also understanding they never fully will. Of course there are plenty of idiots who feel they are exceptions to the rule. Just ask people whether they're susceptible to advertisements.
Mr. Scram:
--- Quote from: Electro Detective on April 22, 2020, 10:05:03 am ---13 and all the other hoaxes and fear jobs are done and over, and not a minute too soon ::)
Corona is officially top dog now and beyond doubt, question or skeptism >:D
Billions of hardcore news media circus believers and serial hypochondriacs can't be wrong :popcorn:
--- End quote ---
Are you denying Corona?
Echo88:
Its not worth it Mr. Scram. He clearly surpassed us mentally long ago.
Rick Law:
--- Quote from: VK3DRB on April 22, 2020, 01:35:17 pm ---
--- Quote from: blueskull on April 19, 2020, 08:21:18 am ---Superstition can have a market, it's just part of human nature, nothing to do with stupidity or being backwards.
The same superstition is in China too, for number 14, which pronounces like "going to die". In many business building there is no floor 14, rather a floor 13A.
The Cantonese people particularly care about this. My company which is a shell company used as a legal contract shop front registered in HK is located on F13A of a building.
Number 4 being related to death is built in the language of Chinese and Japanese, but it seems like the Cantonese is particularly sensitive to this.
And it doesn't stop the Cantonese being the richest people in Eastern Asia. They tend to be the richest in their community even worldwide.
--- End quote ---
Why do you equate hoarding money and greed with common sense? Some of the world's biggest fools are very wealthy. Unlucky numbers is mumbo jumbo, hocus pocus and downright stupidity, observed by fools. The world is full of gullible people without much common sense and no understanding of basic science or mathematics.
911 is wonderful number... it is a prime number!
73!
--- End quote ---
Actually, that "fear of 14" or "fear of 4" is just not fear, it is in part good manners.
This other case recently on Yahoo news illustrates similar situation well: "Amy Schumer had to rename her baby because his name sounded too much like 'genital'..." So, baby Gene Attell Fischer was legally renamed "Gene David Fischer" at 11 months old.
https://news.yahoo.com/amy-schumer-had-rename-her-145513244.html
In Cantonese, the number four sounds the same as "death", "die"; and the number ten sounds the same as "must", "shall". So, if you live on the 14th floor and someone asks:"what floor are you on?", a simple answer "14" sounds like you are replying with:"(you) must die". Hence using "4", "40", or "14" is commonly avoided for good manners unless context clarification is affixed. Of course, some would avoid the floor called "must die" -- why would I want to go to a floor where "(I) must die". Such avoidance could be classified as superstitious with some justification.
Actually, more fun can be had with marriages. It is always a good laugh to see a big sign on the restaurant entrance that sound like "Rotted Veggie Wedding Party" when a Mr. Mei and a Miss Choi wedded.
EDIT: Corrected a few typos
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