People believe what they want to believe

[Spock Jenkins]

Great radio practical joke played on listeners to the "Free Beer and Hot Wings" show.

They claimed that there was a Harvard study done to test for genius. There is a certain pitch (sound) that only genius' can hear. So they'd play this sound and people were calling in and emailing claiming to be able to hear the sound. They were all describing a really high pitch. Some people called in to say that they couldn't hear it, but their dogs or cats were going crazy. Another said they couldn't hear it, but got a really bad headache.

Today they revealed that there was no sound and there was no Harvard study - only dead air. Unfortunately I wasn't tuned in yesterday when they did the initial test - so I don't know how I would've responded.

I do wonder if perhaps a certain percentage of them just didn't get decent radio reception - so the sound they were hearing was their radio background noise.

[Fazor]

Did they say it was a high-frequency pitch? 'Caus I think it's telling that everyone responded with what they think a high-frequency pitch would do (like a "dogwhistle", with the dogs and cats going crazy, or the headaches). Why couldn't it have been a sound on the low-end?

[Spock Jenkins]

Did they say it was a high-frequency pitch? 'Caus I think it's telling that everyone responded with what they think a high-frequency pitch would do (like a "dogwhistle", with the dogs and cats going crazy, or the headaches). Why couldn't it have been a sound on the low-end?

Like I said, unfortunately I missed the initial segment. I only heard the reveal. I'm not aware of any leading statements - but either way, the point of the test was that they silenced their mic's and played no sound.

[Whirlpool]

Usually an information received sets the mind of the person . It's just the story of "The King Who Wore No Clothes" , He believed that He wore the finest clothes that made for him , but when the Parade comes , people saw that his naked.

It's mind setting.

With that practical joke , the people bite it and expect to hear something that will tell if they are genius or not .
For sure these people want to be part of the "only genius can hear sound".

[Fazor]

Like I said, unfortunately I missed the initial segment. I only heard the reveal. I'm not aware of any leading statements - but either way, the point of the test was that they silenced their mic's and played no sound.
My question was in responce to this from your OP:
I do wonder if perhaps a certain percentage of them just didn't get decent radio reception - so the sound they were hearing was their radio background noise.
There may have been some background noise, or buzzing, when it was dead air, but I think for the most part it was people hearing something because they expected to hear something. "Dogs and cats going crazy"...well, mine always do that. But if you think something else is going on, you may miss the fact that your pets are acting normal, and attribute it to this supposed noise. Headaches? I get them a lot in the morning. Same deal as the pets.

I really like stuff like this because I think it sheds a great deal of light into the human psyche.

[farmerjumperdon]

How's the song go?

"A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest."

Not perfectly applicable since I think there is equal intent in that line on hearing and disregarding; but the hearing what you want, or hearing what you wish to hear certainly applies.

[Lianachan]

The Emperors New Sound.

[KaiYeves]

As 'Ol Julius said:
Homines id quod volunt credunt
Hail, Caesar!

[PetersCreek]

Well, if I listen to dead air on the radio, I hear a very annoying high-pitch sound. Clearly, I'm a genius...or my tinnitus is coming through 5-by-5.