The Pubski is Open

I cycled in the sub-zero to work this morning wondering when the pubski would open and what I would say. (Yes, pubski, I think of you when we're apart.)

I've been wondering this: Do people really learn from experience? I decided to find out.

Arriving in class at 9:00, I said to the assembled, "I'm doing a research project. How many of you have dropped your phone in the toilet? Show of hands."

About 25 of 41 students had drifted in. Of these, six hands went up, reluctantly, after first looking around to see if they were the only one.

"Ok. Thanks. Now of the six of you, how many have dropped your phone in the toilet twice." An unbelievable three hands went up. This was not what I expected. But we can't let research subjectivity and desired outcomes blind us to the facts. Right, oh scientists of pubski?

"OK, now, how many of you have dropped your phone into the toilet three times?" No hands went up.

Conclusion: People learn from experience. Eventually. Some learn faster.

One student came up to me and said, "Well, it wasn't exactly a toilet, but it was equally bad. Worse actually."

I didn't ask.

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Reading elizabeth and coffeesp00ns comments on this thread below reminded me of this.