If Obsession (with a new idea, book, author...) is a crime, let me be guilty

It seems to me that finding a new favorite author, artist, musical group or even idea follows the same stages as falling in and out of love. (not the stages of grief, but similar).

The example I would use is my recent dalliance with the information presentation and design ideas of Edward Tufte.

Stage one: Falling in Love.

I never knew that anyone thought this way about data presentation. Tufte's ideas are terrific and visionary. Every pearl of presentation wisdom that comes from his mouth is exactly the right answer and perfectly fixes everything.


Stage two: I Am Not Worthy of This Love.

I'll never do anything even a tenth as well as Tufte. His figures produce epiphanies of insight and mine cause the viewer to suffer headaches and nausea and some to go irrevocably insane. I should just stop presenting any data to anyone in any form ever.


Stage Three: The Blinders Come Off.

I can't stop doing any presenting. Tufte seems a little rigid in his outlook on things. I may not be Mozart but Salieri had some good tunes also. My figures are good enough to get the point across. These other presentation design guys over here don't think Tufte is the final answer on data presentation.


Stage Four: The Breakup

Yeah I used to think Tufte had some good presentation idea, but he was too rigid in his standards. My friends say they never really liked him in the first place. I am so glad I am over that and can get back to work. Stephen Few has some good ideas on data presentation, I just might check that out.


And so the cycle continues.

I think you could apply the same formula to a favorite author that you just discovered, a new political philosophy, management fad, computer program, TV show, new girlfriend, or any other subject of fascination. My goal in life is to get through the cycles as fast as possible to preserve a healthy skepticism and keep a measured perspective. Skepticism is the best philosophy, I love it the most. (... here we go again.)

From the correlation is not causation department

Yahoo news tells of a study that reveals that people who buy more than three pairs of sneakers a year are more likely to have leadership "qualities". That's nice but are they actually leaders? Does sneaker purchase correlate with or even cause success or actual leadership? Will millions run out to get their third pair of sneakers to get those great qualities.

The information in this article from a "study" by Mindset Media is more misleading that just confusing correlation with causation because the leadership qualities mentioned - vision and ideas, and an inclusive and decisive style with others - are not really strongly defined so the sneaker purchases are not even really correlating with anything quantitative. It is also part of the postmodern tendency to confuse feelings with facts. There is nothing more postmodern these days than marketing. Not whether the product works, but how it makes you feel. Who doesn't want to be perceived as a leader? Got that third pair of sneaks yet?

I was able to write this post so well because I have recently bought a hybrid car and thus now am 78% more likely to be creative and less dogmatic.*

*actual statistic from the article.

(learn about the mighty crown nike picture above at freshmag)

Five Simularities between a Ouija Board and the Internet

Ouija Board

vs.

The Internet
(represented by the clever OuijaNet board)

Ouija Board: A method for receiving messages through the ether from loved ones who have Crossed Over.
Internet: A method for receiving messages through ethernet from spammers who'd love to sell you stuff.

Ouija Board: Ouija planchette glides over the board directed by hands of dead spirits.
Internet: Mouse glides over mouse pad directed by a hand that feels dead due to terminal carpal tunnel syndrome.

Ouija Board: Messages spelled out letter by letter.
Internet: Messages spelled out letter by letter as everything slows to a crawl because of the adware clogging your computer and your crappy broadband connection.

Ouija Board: Sometimes the messages make sense and sometimes they don't.
Internet: Sometimes the messages make sense and sometimes they don't. Perhaps you have your spam filters tuned a little too loosely.

Ouija board: This picture shows untold power released when the Other World strikes back.
Internet: This picture shows ungrounded power source without surge protector striking back because you still had to surf the Internet even during a thunderstorm.

Bonus -

Ouija Board: Unwise use of the board may open a portal to the spirit world and subject the user to demonic possession, a la The Exorcist.
Internet: Unwise use of the Internet may open the ports on your computer to possession by spam bots, worms, viruses, Google cookies, Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud, RIAA shakedowns, FBI subpoenas, or if you are lucky, just demonic possession.

(This topic was inspired by the Rowland OuijaNet.)