Comments on: The Mystery of Bilboquet http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/01/25/the-mystery-of-bilboquet/ Self-Experimentation, Scientific Method, the Shangri-La Diet, etc. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:32:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: Seth’s blog » Blog Archive » The Mystery of Bibloquet (continued) http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/01/25/the-mystery-of-bilboquet/#comment-112347 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:46:17 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/01/25/the-mystery-of-bilboquet/#comment-112347 [...] The Mystery of Bilboquet [...] […] The Mystery of Bilboquet […]

]]> by: Timothy Beneke http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/01/25/the-mystery-of-bilboquet/#comment-110404 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:31:06 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/01/25/the-mystery-of-bilboquet/#comment-110404 I'd explain the toy's attraction in terms of the induction of "flow" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_)(psychology)) as Csíkszentmihályi (sheek-sent-me-high) calls it. In his research people are happiest in such states; states where they are absorbed in activity that is hard enough that they are not bored, not so hard that they are totally overwhelmed and frustrated and helpless, where they get feedback as to how they are doing, and that preferably have some meaning for them, though the latter may not even be necessary. We are happiest when we are engaged and lose awareness of ourselves; of course if we are getting paid for it, that's even better... We evolved to find the use of our abilities pleasurable... The Japanese are very good at creating entertainment.. I’d explain the toy’s attraction in terms of the induction of “flow” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_)(psychology)) as Csíkszentmihályi (sheek-sent-me-high) calls it. In his research people are happiest in such states; states where they are absorbed in activity that is hard enough that they are not bored, not so hard that they are totally overwhelmed and frustrated and helpless, where they get feedback as to how they are doing, and that preferably have some meaning for them, though the latter may not even be necessary.

We are happiest when we are engaged and lose awareness of ourselves; of course if we are getting paid for it, that’s even better… We evolved to find the use of our abilities pleasurable… The Japanese are very good at creating entertainment..

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