I bet I can make you think of a polar bear.

[flobadob]

Done.
http://en.wikipedia.o...White_Bear_Phenomenon

[joggerjayne]

Okay ... you did.

[pericat]

Ironic !

[chakka35]

Dostoevsky misses his own point. Even in putting the question to yourself you are already thinking of a polar bear, so you don't have to try to avoid thinking of it to make his more ponderous point.

[squarebear]

lol very good.

[Seadragon]

I don't get it, it states - Dostoevsky's quote: not to think of a Polar Bear and you will see that the cursed thing will come to mind every minute.' Okay that is natural as we are visual beings, he could say anything, it is temporary, momentary unless you're bored and your Polar Bear starts dancing around? I don't understand how he finds that connection with the 'attempts to avoid a thought through suppression render those thoughts more persistent'? Why suppress an inane and irrevelant visual image? Unless one was attacked by a Polar Bear and there is some psychological damage going on or something? Is that what the ironic thought theory is about?

I don't get it and I've moved on and not thinking about it anymore - not suppressing it, its just gone. Back to Blair's questions.

[Seadragon]

Quick one - How does he connect that one can visualize a Polar Bear but not think about it or is that the irony? I think I'm understanding it now.

[Booldawg]

It works. But leaves you feeling rather unimpressed.