Speaking in tongues
Oct. 12th, 2004 10:21 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
murakoziI just got caught in a bit of common but weird behavior. With a couple hours yet to go til lunch, I gave in to temptation and got a snack from the vending machine. After putting in assorted coinage and punching the buttons (G 4! It's a Hit! You sank my battleship!..uh..got some snack food!) I watched as the screw thingy turned and the bag I'd selected started to hook against the corner of the bag next to it. In response to this, I started to lean to one side and make an encouraging 'eeeeeeehhhh!' sound. Obviously this helped, because, after a moment, my bag of epicurean coinop snack flomped down. I was spared the need to make angry sounds and shake the machine.
Of course, just as I start making the noises, someone walks into the break room. That started a little discussion about why humans seem to have some need to talk to inanimate objects that are malfunctioning. The prime example being when one pleads with a toilet to NOT overflow as the water rises higher and higher.
From today's experience, it appears vending machines listen to us a lot more than toilets do.
Of course, just as I start making the noises, someone walks into the break room. That started a little discussion about why humans seem to have some need to talk to inanimate objects that are malfunctioning. The prime example being when one pleads with a toilet to NOT overflow as the water rises higher and higher.
From today's experience, it appears vending machines listen to us a lot more than toilets do.