Coincidence Weather Report?

Halfway through my first (and ultimately only) year of university, I stopped attending classes so as to better facilitate reading every one of Robertson Davies’ novels. This was less exotic than stopping to drink large quantites of beer, but healthier.

Getting turned on to Davies’ Jungian thing was hardly very useful when it came time to take my Psychology 101 exam. Sample conversation with professor: “What would happen if I wrote my essay about Jung rather than Freud?” I asked. “You would fail,” he replied. “If I failed, could I appeal?” I asked. “Yes, to the head of the department,” he replied. “Who’s that?” I asked. “Me,” he replied.

In any case, Davies turned on the “wonder of coincidence” switch in my brain, and I’ve been a coincidence addict ever since.

Today a big coincidence hit my email box — actually an interlocked set of mini-coincidences. I’m still parsing. The entire continent is involved. I will document, diagram and post as soon as I can digest it all.

Which has got me thinking that it would be very interesting if coincidences were reported like the weather. I would love to see a coincidence map of the world that would allow coincidental happenings to be tracked, outbreaks of coincidence to be monitored, etc.

Comments

Alan's picture
Alan on August 21, 2003 - 22:23 Permalink

I often thought it would be interesting if police at the scene noted the busted radio and clock settings of car accidents so the news could report the last song played…but then digital clocks and radios messed that idea up.

It was AC/DC, Sarge, at 3:17 am Thunderstruck.”

Not again. When will the senseless slaughter end?”

Hagbard's picture
Hagbard on August 22, 2003 - 13:18 Permalink

the more you look the more you’ll find.