Comments on: The Magic of 150

By: Roger Scott

Roger Scott — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:02:28 +0000

“One theory holds that …”
“One hypothesis holds that …” is preferable. It is unfortunate that ‘hypothesis’ doesn’t roll off the tongue or the keyboard as easily as ‘theory’. If scientists and supporters of science persist in using theory with two meanings (i) an educated guess and (ii) a solidly supported proposition, we should not be too surprised by people who refer to evolution as “only a theory”.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:05:17 +0000

I like the monkeysphere idea, it makes sense. It explains why we have (and need) stereotypes to survive, but why we have to be careful interacting with people outside our known sphere.

However, the question about the brain size seems poorly backed. From what I’ve read (see, for one: http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/low-carb-library/are-we-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-part-ii/ ) the brain size coincides with cooking and eating meat, along with the necessary cognitive abilities required to use tools to do such things. With primates being our nearest ancestors, the monkeysphere extrapolation shouldn’t be too far off its mark; however, it would be worthwhile to look at groups of carnivores as well to see if we estimate too high or low.

By: Radu C

Radu C — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:55:03 +0000

@DH: Derren doesn’t know that many people. Just other people know him, and that’s all he cares about (citing mystical visions here )

@MikeHypercube: That guy directing people should print a sheet of paper with the words “use the machine over there” and stick it to his window or something.

As for me, I don’t know 150 people yet

By: unmevsworld

unmevsworld — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:59:00 +0000

Reading about the Hutterites splitting groups at 150 mad me wonder if that’s what Baptists should do, instead of growing megachurches. I think about all the internal disputes that lead to little congregations breaking off and starting a church down the road.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:48:40 +0000

dammit gotta rebuild those friends and maybe reduce who i follow on twitter to 150 too!

By: Eric Clyne

Eric Clyne — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:46:25 +0000

So according to this theory there was a time when primates ate grass and leaves but not fruit. Really? I mean really? Fruit is seasonal so it has never been all year diet.

By: roz

roz — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:23:38 +0000

@mikehypercube, thanks for that explanation. looks like i have the 1-monkey problem! :0 now i’d like somebody to address the problem of why i can go into a nearly empty supermarket & somebody will always be standing fer minnits at a time in front of the very item i need.

By: MikeHypercube

MikeHypercube — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:59:01 +0000

@Adam I think it’s the same theory (maybe evolved independently). The brain sizes of apes with a similar architecture to ours, can be roughly mapped to group size, and if you apply the same mapping to humans you get a group size of 150, a size which has also been arrived at by some religious communities for example.

My favourite example of the 151st Monkey problem was the ticket officer at the New York Metro station where you would arrive from the shuttle bus (it’s gone now as there’s a Airtrain). No matter how many times the man at the ticket office explained to people that they should buy their tickets from that machine over there, and not from him, people still kept coming and asking him for a ticket. Would they never learn? After 150, we “feel” that everyone should know.

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:11:05 +0000

Is this the same as or complimentary to the ‘Monkey Sphere’ theory?

By: DH

DH — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:56:41 +0000

Maybe this is the explanation as to why celebrities go haywire!

You’re next Derren!