The Fortune Cookie

A self-fulfilling prophecy?

Published on August 31, 2004 By historyishere In Philosophy

I have always been enamoured with fortune cookies and the like. You know, things like Magic 8-balls and books of answers that you are supposed to open at random to get the answer to your question. Usually, the fortunes they give you are entertaining and sometimes they hit rather close to home. Of course, there are times when they hit the nail right on the head.

I just had a fortune cookie tonight, and it had two fortunes in it. One was "Idleness is the holiday of fools" which I thought was pretty cool in and of itself, as I have been procrastinating on a contract/project for a little bit and relaxing a bit too much, so that was right on the money. The second was "Your persuasive nature makes you increasingly irresistable to others," which is also a bit vague, but it is also applicable to my general experience. I mean, my last few job assessments had that I was persuasive and the like, and I am usually able to convince people I know the value of my opinion and change their views on things, so it doesn't seem all that weird to get such a fortune by random chance and all, but sometimes the things they say are very fitting.

Now my question is this: Does it really matter what something like a fortune cookie actually says... isn't the fun in the interpretation itself, and isn't it human nature for even skeptics to try to connect things in a recognizable pattern? No matter what it says, isn't my mind going to subconsciously look for connections long after I've stopped consciously thinking about that moment... until an event happens that brings what was said back in a flash. If someone broke their toe the day after they read a fortune that said that they would soon experience a great pain, is the world fitting expectation set by the fortune? I'm not talking about fate or anything, merely that perhaps if you are expecting something to happen, you might subconsciously make it happen. I don't know....

Maybe I'm just overthinking this. After all, it's happened before. Anyway, here a little fortune cookie site online to play with, so you could perhaps find yourself a little mystified yourselves.

Comments (Page 1)

Ravenblack

on Sep 01, 2004

The things in fortune cookies tend to be as vague as possible so they could easily apply to anybody. But it's fun nonetheless. It also provokes thoughts if you let it.

Fun site, look what I got: "Fear will only hinder you."

How true. Most of the time, it's fear that keeps me from taking a risk which could have gotten me what i wanted.

"Adversity will make you stronger."

Right again. A smooth life would make one soft. Adversity makes us learn about ourselves and sometimes helps us to understand other people better.

Good site, historyishere.

LadyCleve

on Sep 01, 2004

and isn't it human nature for even skeptics to try to connect things in a recognizable pattern?

I would agree with that statement. People that I have known who don't believe something is connected have already figured out how it could be connected and come up with reasons that it's not. Aren't we funny?

historyishere

on Sep 01, 2004

Ravenblack: I have these little books called "A thousand paths to" some subject like love, happiness, enlightenment... and a lot of the statements in them seem like they would fit well on a fortune cookie.

"Never be afraid of your own ideas"
"Mistakes are the dues of a full life"

I think it would be funny if one in every 30 fortunes had a really damning in it.... you know, maybe something like "You will die alone" or "You will be bludgeoned in your bed"(sorry, Smiths flashback there) .

LadyCleve: I wonder if what skeptics use a method of falsification there... here's why it could be valid, and here's why it can't be.... then again, since they expect it to be unconnected, couldn't they be coming to those very conclusions because they want things to be unconnected. Now that's a slippery slope!

LadyCleve

on Sep 01, 2004

couldn't they be coming to those very conclusions because they want things to be unconnected

precisely my point....I know I've been guilty of that at times.

historyishere

on Sep 01, 2004

Oh I see.... yes, I have a tendency to do that about almost everything. But I guess admitting it is the first step to getting over it too. I mean, there has to be things that I don't let my mind take the wonder out of. Without the occasional sense of awe, well, what would life be?

LadyCleve

on Sep 01, 2004

Without the occasional sense of awe, well, what would life be?

Not nearly as interesting!

historyishere

on Sep 01, 2004

Or would we choose new things to be in awe at?

From the thousand paths to Tranquility:

"Facts do not cease to exist just because we choose to ignore them."

LadyCleve

on Sep 01, 2004

"Facts do not cease to exist just because we choose to ignore them."

how true! I'm not sure that we would find new things to be in awe of though. I have found that the less we are amazed by things, the more cynical we become. And the more cynical we become, the less we find amazing. Unfortunately, along with this is that the more cynical we become, the less pleasure we take in life and the more miserable we become. Vicious circle.

historyishere

on Sep 01, 2004

In cynicism, you can find plenty to be amazed at... though generally speaking, it is usually just amazement at how stupid people are(that is the perception, not the reality mind you).

Then again, when you are miserable, even the smallest good things, stuff that normally wouldn't make you happier, does. Then again, those moments are like a flower that eventually gets buried in manure... but you know its still there.

In closing, here is a decent Mencken paraphrase that sort of fits: A cynic is a person who, when smelling the scent of flowers in the air, looks for a funeral.

Texas Wahine

on Sep 01, 2004

historyishere: This is awesome . . . You find some neat stuff!

Mine told me to trust my instincts . . .

*You know what I need from you now, historyishere, so just go ahead and do it*

historyishere

on Sep 01, 2004

I could do Homer writing the fortunes, but I think I will go back further to the episode called "The Last Temptation of Homer" where Michelle Pfeiffer played Mindy, a new worker at the plant who ended up being mutually attracted to homer.

When they were sent away together to an energy trade show, they won a dinner for two at Madame Chao's, where Homer got a fortune cookie that told him "You will find happiness with a new love," which was playing into his feelings of attraction to Mindy. Cut to the kitchen where two guys are standing in front of two barrels. The first guy says they've run out of "You'll find happiness with a new love" cookies, and the second guy tells the first to open the barrel with the "Stick with your Wife" cookies in it.

Texas Wahine

on Sep 01, 2004

I guess this means we're getting off together . . . I mean going down together . . .

!! Great job, historyishere! I loved it!

Ravenblack

on Sep 01, 2004

Interesting discussion.

>>I think it would be funny if one in every 30 fortunes had a really damning in it.... you know, maybe something like "You will die alone" or "You will be bludgeoned in your bed"(sorry, Smiths flashback there

lol That should cause an indigestion.

historyishere

on Sep 01, 2004

I guess this means we're getting off together . . . I mean going down together . . .

Think unsexy thoughts.... think unsexy thoughts.

lol That should cause an indigestion.

Or some of the best spit-takes in the history of man.... "Your boss will find out about that thing you did... you know what I'm talking about!"... *spatter*

Shovelheat

on Sep 01, 2004

The late great Redd Foxx said his favorite fortune cookies were:

Crowded elevator smells different to midget

He who goes to bed with itching ass wakes up with stinky fingers

I think they make about the same amount of sense...

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