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Paul Johnson's avatar

I did the same thing in the library but in the various journals. I was looking for a particular article then strayed to a very early volume or to those around. I ran into some fascinating and wonderful stuff that I wouldn't have found otherwise. I've spoken with librarians about how to mimic that practice today in the world of online journals. They appreciated my question but they didn't have a good answer.

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Becca Katz's avatar

My mom used to feel like the female voice in her GPS was scolding her when it (per her ears) said, “Recalculating…”

She switched to the guy’s voice because he is “less judgmental.” 🤣

I agree with you about less wandering - and think there’s a whole other bunch of essays to be written not just about learned helplessness but blind faith. I have met people mired in snow trying to get over a mountain pass in a sedan on an unplowed road because their “GPS told them to go that way” - a route that would have been very difficult in the summer with a 4WD vehicle and is impassable in the winter except on skis or sled. 🛷

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