Comments on: Minor Reflections on the Number 13 http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/ It's about lessons learned... from life! Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:20:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2190 Robert Hruzek Thu, 18 Oct 2007 23:53:15 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2190 Brad, it sounds like you're more practical than superstitious on the first two examples. But... then it starts to show on the last one. Oh, well. :-) Brad, it sounds like you’re more practical than superstitious on the first two examples. But… then it starts to show on the last one. Oh, well. :-)

]]> By: Brad Shorr http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2188 Brad Shorr Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:05:18 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2188 I guess I'm superstitious until it becomes inconvenient. For example. I'd take an aisle seat in 13 over a middle seat in 12. I'd take a middle seat in 13 over an aisle seat in 32. However, I'd take an aisle seat in 14 - 20 over an aisle seat in 13. Is this crazier than just being flat out superstitious? I guess I’m superstitious until it becomes inconvenient. For example. I’d take an aisle seat in 13 over a middle seat in 12. I’d take a middle seat in 13 over an aisle seat in 32. However, I’d take an aisle seat in 14 - 20 over an aisle seat in 13. Is this crazier than just being flat out superstitious?

]]> By: Sam (Azuaron) http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2171 Sam (Azuaron) Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:10:12 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2171 Probably wouldn't even notice... in fact, I fly a lot, so it's likely I've sat in row 13 and not noticed. Silly people, numbers aren't magic. ;) Probably wouldn’t even notice… in fact, I fly a lot, so it’s likely I’ve sat in row 13 and not noticed.

Silly people, numbers aren’t magic. ;)

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2167 Robert Hruzek Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:18:42 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2167 So... I could have had row 41C? How cool is that? And in an aircraft with only 28 rows, yet! So… I could have had row 41C? How cool is that? And in an aircraft with only 28 rows, yet!

]]> By: Mike DeWitt http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2165 Mike DeWitt Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:02:13 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2165 Hi Bob, Airlines and office buildings should take a page out of the NASA playbook and use 41C! Space shuttle missions all were sequentially numbered up through 12, and then all the old Apollo engineers suggested that perhaps fate shouldn't be tempted again...those superstitious rocket scientists! ;-) Mike Hi Bob,

Airlines and office buildings should take a page out of the NASA playbook and use 41C! Space shuttle missions all were sequentially numbered up through 12, and then all the old Apollo engineers suggested that perhaps fate shouldn’t be tempted again…those superstitious rocket scientists! ;-)

Mike

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2166 Robert Hruzek Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:17:02 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2166 <p>Jackie, you make an interesting point. But what if others' superstitions DO affect you? I know, we can play "what if" scenarios all day, but it can happen. Wouldn't we be better off as a whole if people could leave these silly things behind? (A thought exercise, I know - it'll never happen in real life.)</p> <p>But I also like your point about "lucky", too. I think the Lottery folks play that up to the hilt - and plenty of otherwise sane people fall for it, hook, line and sinker!</p> <p>Just my opinion, though - :-\</p> Jackie, you make an interesting point. But what if others’ superstitions DO affect you? I know, we can play “what if” scenarios all day, but it can happen. Wouldn’t we be better off as a whole if people could leave these silly things behind? (A thought exercise, I know - it’ll never happen in real life.)

But I also like your point about “lucky”, too. I think the Lottery folks play that up to the hilt - and plenty of otherwise sane people fall for it, hook, line and sinker!

Just my opinion, though - :-\

]]> By: Jackie Cameron http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2162 Jackie Cameron Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:37:53 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2162 When travelling recently we had exactly this discussion.In the UK the number 13 is also considered unlucky by some people. We were in a hotel where there was no 13th floor - 12th and 14th - hmmm who's fooling who. And yes most of the planes I travel on row 13 is at the exit with all of the related space benefits. It does not bother me one little bit - but lots of people have beliefs and rituals which are important to them...so...as long as it does not have a negative impact on me that's fine! The converse of course is what is considered "lucky"...our guide on a recent trip to Hong Kong told us about massive amounts of money paid for car number plates including the number 8! When travelling recently we had exactly this discussion.In the UK the number 13 is also considered unlucky by some people. We were in a hotel where there was no 13th floor - 12th and 14th - hmmm who’s fooling who. And yes most of the planes I travel on row 13 is at the exit with all of the related space benefits. It does not bother me one little bit - but lots of people have beliefs and rituals which are important to them…so…as long as it does not have a negative impact on me that’s fine!
The converse of course is what is considered “lucky”…our guide on a recent trip to Hong Kong told us about massive amounts of money paid for car number plates including the number 8!

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2161 Robert Hruzek Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:42:58 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2161 But Jon - um, I don't know how to tell you this... but you, uh, just <i><b>did</b></i> (begin, that is)! :-D But Jon - um, I don’t know how to tell you this… but you, uh, just did (begin, that is)! :-D

]]> By: jon burg http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2157 jon burg Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:21:23 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2157 I can't begin to tell you how little this matters to me. I can’t begin to tell you how little this matters to me.

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2160 Robert Hruzek Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:55:34 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2160 <p>Yeah, I'd heard that about the #4 and some Asian cultures, T.</p> <p>Actually, now that I think about it - on the plane I was on (a 737) the 13th row is an "exit row" - one of my favorite spots, and one I always TRY to book.</p> <p>It provides lots of extra legroom, <i>plus</i> we get out first! (Er, assuming the standard rule about landings still applies - "any landing you can walk away from, etc.")</p> Yeah, I’d heard that about the #4 and some Asian cultures, T.

Actually, now that I think about it - on the plane I was on (a 737) the 13th row is an “exit row” - one of my favorite spots, and one I always TRY to book.

It provides lots of extra legroom, plus we get out first! (Er, assuming the standard rule about landings still applies - “any landing you can walk away from, etc.”)

]]> By: William Tully http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2155 William Tully Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:16:48 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/minor-reflections-on-the-number-13/#comment-2155 Korea: #4 is bad... something to do with it looking like the Chinese character of death. A seat in the 13th row? Wouldn't bother me. Really what they should do is actually have a row 13, discount the tickets, and watch people overcome their stupidity the sake of a few bucks... You know they'd be fighting for that row! ;) Korea: #4 is bad… something to do with it looking like the Chinese character of death.

A seat in the 13th row? Wouldn’t bother me. Really what they should do is actually have a row 13, discount the tickets, and watch people overcome their stupidity the sake of a few bucks… You know they’d be fighting for that row! ;)

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