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The Reality Distortion Field Is Real

Posted by kdawson on from the roped-tied-and-branded dept.

TimeZone writes "Apparently, even subliminal exposure to the Apple logo can make you 'think different.' Researchers at Duke University subjected participants to subliminal images of the iconic Apple and IBM logos (during what subjects thought was a visual acuity test), and those who were shown the Apple logo generated more creative ideas after the test than did those who were shown the IBM logo. In a second test, subjects exposed to the Disney logo acted more honestly than those who saw an E! Channel logo." Here's a preprint of the paper (PDF) due for publication in the Journal of Consumer Research.

21 of 270 comments (clear)

  1. Yeah, but... by DrunkenTerror · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nobody ever got fired after staring at the IBM logo.

    1. Re:Yeah, but... by Naughty+Bob · · Score: 5, Funny

      The same cannot be said of Ubuntu.

      --
      "Be light, stinging, insolent and melancholy"
  2. So.. by Creepy+Crawler · · Score: 5, Funny

    What does the "Microsoft" logo do to you (down there)?

    --
    1. Re:So.. by CodeBuster · · Score: 5, Funny

      You have a sudden and irresistible urge to pick up the chair that you are sitting in and throw it across the room while repeating the mantra, "developers, developers, developers".

    2. Re:So.. by Hinhule · · Score: 5, Funny

      Personaly I just stop breathing until I get blue in the face.

  3. Logos by doctortommy · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...and the Microsoft logo caused test subjects to experience extreme confusion and frustration.

  4. Other logos by slashdotlurker · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft - made you more likely to be cruel to little animals
    Tux - made you grown a long beard and lose all your friends
    Novell - made you betray your friends
    Democrat donkey - made you find new ways to destroy yourself
    Republican elephant - made you question the value of an education

    What is next ?

    "Judge, I crashed my car because I stared at a Ferrari logo for too long." ?

    1. Re:Other logos by Draconix · · Score: 5, Funny

      Slashdot logo - made you move back into your mother's basement.

      --
      By reading this you acknowledge that you have read it.
    2. Re:Other logos by Mox-Dragon · · Score: 5, Funny

      QED.

    3. Re:Other logos by Trespass · · Score: 5, Funny

      Adobe- Makes you try and think of new ways to make the internet slower

    4. Re:Other logos by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      You appear to have two rule number 1s there.

  5. Yaa! CreativIty can be measured now! by mikeabbott420 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or maybe this study is a steaming pile of platypus dung. See that there? Platypus Dung? that's creativity baby!

    --
    This program was made possible by a grant from the Ultra-Humanite, and viewers like you.
  6. I knew it! by vodevil · · Score: 5, Funny

    I see my apple logo on my laptop all the time. People always tell me I'm full of shit, but I always explain that I'm full of great ideas. Now I have proof that I'm the one that's right, and they're full of shit.

    1. Re:I knew it! by vodevil · · Score: 5, Funny

      That wasn't very creative. You must have just viewed the IBM logo.

    2. Re:I knew it! by VisceralLogic · · Score: 5, Funny

      I see my apple logo on my laptop all the time. People always tell me I'm full of shit, but I always explain that I'm full of great ideas. Now I have proof that I'm the one that's right, and they're full of shit.

      Maybe because if you're seeing the Apple logo, you're looking at the wrong side of the screen...

      I keed, I keed... typing this from my MacBook.

      --
      Stop! Dremel time!
    3. Re:I knew it! by SEWilco · · Score: 5, Funny

      I see my apple logo on my laptop all the time.
      Open your laptop more often.
  7. RDF, not in the logos! by countSudoku() · · Score: 5, Funny

    The RDF emanates from The Steve, not the Apple logo. Unless, of course, The Steve laid hands upon the device bearing the logo. It's all right in here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_distortion_field

    --
    This is the NSA, we're gonna geet U h@x0r5! Also, what is a h@x0r5?
  8. and the playboy bunny logo... by bagboy · · Score: 5, Funny

    has what reaction?

    1. Re:and the playboy bunny logo... by Jimmy+King · · Score: 5, Funny

      turns you furry?
      On your palms, anyway.
  9. Windows logo? by rice_burners_suck · · Score: 5, Funny

    By extrapolating these results, I assume that those shown a Windows logo got into their car, drove extremely slowly while telling those behind them to "please wait," and then crashed into a telephone pole due to a driver problem.

  10. Hogwash. Hooey. Hokum. by jpellino · · Score: 5, Funny

    As a scientist familiar with subliminal perception and the power of brands, I'd like to say: Bunk. Unless You Make Equal All Prior Observations, "Research" Simply Can't Harbor Effects.

    --
    "Win treats sysadmins better than users. Mac treats users better than sysadmins. Linux treats everyone like sysadmins."