The Way Silence After a Loud Noise Feels Louder Than Before the Noise Began
There is a name for this. Scientists call it post-excitatory inhibition, which is the auditory system's way
The Compulsion to Check Whether You Locked the Door You Know You Locked
There is a particular kind of doubt that arrives not before an action, but after it. You lock the door.
The Compulsion to Finish a Walk the Way You Planned It, Even When the Reason Has Gone
There is a particular kind of stubbornness that reveals itself on foot. You set out to walk a loop — through
The Compulsion to Give Directions You Are Not Entirely Sure Of
There is a particular kind of helpfulness that moves faster than knowledge. Someone asks how to get to the train
The Compulsion to Check Whether You Locked the Door You Know You Locked
There is a moment, usually about thirty seconds after leaving the house, when the question arrives. Did you lock the
The Reluctance to Begin a Task You Already Know How to Do
There is a particular kind of stillness that arrives before a task you already know how to do. Not the
The Instinct to Wish a Stranger Well After Sneezing
There is a small ritual humans perform for each other that has always seemed worth examining. Someone nearby sneezes — a
The Compulsion to Read a Menu You Have Already Decided From
There is a moment, somewhere between sitting down and ordering, when the decision has already been made. You knew before
The Compulsion to Assign Personality to Unreliable Objects
There is a kettle in a shared kitchen that takes exactly four minutes longer than it should. Everyone who uses
The Compulsion to Read a Menu You Have Already Decided From
There is a moment in every restaurant visit where the decision has already been made. You know what you want.
