Comments on: Breaking the curse of the Bambino – do you believe in losing streaks?

By: Jesper

Jesper — Mon, 25 Oct 2004 12:50:45 +0000

But it seems that humans consistently overdo it, seeing patterns where there aren’t any. Why is that? Shouldn’t that be quite disadvantageous?

By: Rob Wellington

Rob Wellington — Mon, 25 Oct 2004 00:46:34 +0000

The human brain is a pattern recognition system. Memories become anecdotes, coincidences become omens, history becomes allegory, fables and myths. It’s the mechanics of our neurobiology.
Anything is possible if the opportunity occurs often enough.
But I’m sure the Red Sox have been infected by the ‘curse’ and you can only create what you can imagine whether that is a painting or a World Series win. Anything else is an accident and unique – like ‘My Sharona’.

By: Jesper

Jesper — Thu, 21 Oct 2004 15:46:51 +0000

Thanks Nathan, I don’t know much about baseball – I’ve corrected it. I did go to a Red Sox game in Fenway park last year though…

By: Nathan Combs

Nathan Combs — Thu, 21 Oct 2004 13:44:34 +0000

Red Sox haven?t won the world series since – until now.

btw, also, they haven’t won the World Series… (yet). They just won the American League pennant – they move on to the world series this Saturday.

By: Nathan Combs

Nathan Combs — Thu, 21 Oct 2004 13:41:45 +0000

but we humans cannot prevent ourselves from seeing patterns everywhere, curses, magic.

:) As a member of “red sox nation” … just because one sees patterns doesn’t mean there aren’t :))