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There's some next-level traffic light voodoo I often see people attempting in the UK, which is repeatedly pressing the button. I like the idea that it's a democ
by thom 13y ago
There's some next-level traffic light voodoo I often see people attempting in the UK, which is repeatedly pressing the button. I like the idea that it's a democratic process: only when pedestrians outnumber cars will the lights change.
- andyjohnson0 13y agoI've seen people do this with the Clear button on calculators. They press it repeatedly, presumably in the belief that extra presses make it "really cancel". Something to do with their mental model of the calculator's internal state?
- JonnieCache 13y agoI used to do this. It's because of the confusing presence of the AC button. The UI has made clear to you that there are multiple levels of cancellation, one can in fact "really cancel." We know full well that there is some overcomplex internal state to the device, and rather than reading the manual for a calculator (honestly) we hammer the cancel button a few times, just to make sure.
- andyjohnson0 13y agoI hadn't thought of that, but it makes sense. A quick search reveals that some calculators have an AC button (clear everything) and a C button (clear last entry), while others have C (clear everything) and CE (clear last entry). Definitely confusing.
- JonnieCache 13y agoI'd forgotten about CE. Even worse.
- driverdan 13y agoSome calculators do function this way. Pressing the clear button once clears the current screen but doesn't clear the equation. Pressing twice clears everything.
- nwh 13y agoPeople go a bit further in Australia. I've heard many different peoples stories of timing (you push it and hold for 7 seconds) or repetition (12 presses and it'll change right now). Complete nonsense of course, but it's amusing how far positive reenforcement can get a story.
- corobo 13y agoPressing the button repeatedly until the light changes distracts them from the wait time so it feels faster. Effectively it works, technically it doesn't.