The Apeal of Riddles

While I know riddles aren't for everyone, what is it about riddles that is appealing to the rest of us?

Self Competition
Is it that we challenge ourselves to solve the puzzle part of us thinking we can't and another part thinking we can? Perhaps our egos are large enough, or positive enough, to think that we can do it even if that means it will take a long while?

Satisfaction
Maybe its that we want to be able to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. There was no obvious easy solution and after hard work, our thinking paid off. Similar to doing jigsaw puzzles: the only objective is to make sense of a lot of chaos and in the end you can step back and be glad that its over and that you saw yourself through the thick of things.

Know it All
I suppose some people like to just know the answer to everything. If there is a way to know something, some people will go out of their way to get that knowledge. Perhaps some part of us riddle lovers is that the answer is right around the corner, we just have to go and get it.

Future Reference
What good is a riddle if you can't gloat about solving it. Not only to the person who told you the riddle, but also the next person you plan to tell it to. A riddle is more fun when you remember it and can gloat about having solved it when you tell it to someone else. The thrill of solving a riddle is not over when it is solved, but exists when others try to solve it.

Something up your Sleeve?
Maybe riddles are fun when you know a bunch of them, and are able to tell them to others. Part of a party trick perhaps. You can keep people busy at a boring dinner, or entertained at an airport. Perhaps the fun in riddles is that it is better than thinking about nothing.

Self Proof
I think people also like to solve riddles because it proves to themselves that they can solve problems. Knowing that there is a logical answer to the problem, people want to demonstrate independence and show that they are able to figure things out correctly on their own.

What is it about riddles that keeps some of us so entertained? Conversely, why do people not like riddles?
Think about it.
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P.S. : What are the next three letters in this pattern: o-t-t-f-f-s-s-e-n-t-e-t-t?

Measurements

Why are some measurements standard and others vary?

Time: 24 hours in a day(thank the Egyptians and Greeks), 60 minutes in an hour, 60 seconds in a minute. Is that standard? do other cultures hold different things.

Distance: Obvious mile vs. kilometers. English vs. Metric system. Why do these vary and not time? or does time vary also.

Money: Are there any monetary systems that are not base 10? (Other than those based on teeth...Speaking of which, do those actually exist?)

Enlighten me!

Riddles

Why do some people like riddles, and others don't?
Is it something about the nature of the riddles? or is it something inherent in those who don't like riddles?

You see, I have started making my facebook statuses riddles. Right now, nothing to fancy, but what I have been trying to say, has been a couple steps removed from what is there. But some people have figured out the riddles, and other people don't want to waste their time on them.

But I find riddles fun and entertaining. What causes the discrepancy?

Mental Problems with Time Machines

Time Travel - Going back in time.

Review: The age old paradox -- What happens if a person invents a time machine and goes back in time to prevent himself from being born?
The Logic: He was never born, so he could never create a time machine, so therefore he can't go back in time to stop his birth.
-------------------OK-----------------
Suppose technology evolves to allow time travel. Specific to this case, suppose the man is allowed to travel in time. Fine, no problem.
But if the person ever wants to alter events that will ultimately change the future, then his time machine will not work, because it will never have been invented.
----------------Time out-------------
Consider the butterfly effect. Man breaths a little breath which ultimately changes things on microscopic levels and ultimately macro levels. Therefore - the mere act of existing in a prior point in time may have serious consequences.
------------And we're back------------
It follows then, that the person who invents the time machine must only choose a place in the past that will not alter events. Otherwise, his time machine won't work in the first place. His science might be right, but without the correct intentions and mental choices, his time machine won't work.
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Think about it.

Getting into the mind of...

As humans, we interact with people all the time. During this interactions, we estimate their frame of mind and readjust our speech and actions to best accommodate these social encounters. In a way, we constantly endeavor to get inside others' heads and interpret their actions and words and react accordingly.

Therefore, this idea of trying to figure out what another person was thinking is not uncommon. However, we are not always successful. In fact, we sometimes fail outright. For example, no matter how hard I try, I am still puzzled why "English (Pirate)" is listed as an alternative language on facebook.

What were they thinking? I may never know.

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P.S. I now know what you are thinking though...

Trash

Throwing trash away is easy. Crumble trash, aim, and then toss into bin. (Cover bin if stinky.) However, there is so much more to think about when it comes to trash.

Do you ever wonder how much trash NYC produces annually (Or any city)?
A few points to consider:
1) The total trash you produce (household)
2) The total trash your building produces?
a) Consider number of people in your building
b) Consider what percentage of your neighbors are more or less ecofriendly
3) The total trash of your Block?
4) Number of blocks in NYC?
5) Other trash?

Also, on your next walk through the city, notice the number of trash
bags you must avoid, and then consider the amount of space so much garbage takes up. true it may be compacted, but that must be pretty large too.

And then some garbage is incinerated...cough cough. Or buried...