Monday, September 24, 2007

Power of Suggestion

I just love the Internet. I really do--because it has proven to me beyond a shadow of a doubt the sheer force of the power of suggestion. Who needs a behavioral psychology lab to tell you that if you see something, you will want it. B.F. Skinner would have delighted in the utter predictability of my stimulus/response mechanism. My mother always jokes that for my dad and me, need and want are collapsed into the same thing. And she is so right! Somewhere right now there's a former Soviet scientist from a top secret lab who is keeping tabs on my Internet clicks and is recording data about how all that needs to happen is for me to see a project on Ravelry for me to add it to my queue, and that certain yarns have a high suggestablilty quotient, meaning that if the name of the color way is something like 'Handsome Park Ranger', the statistical probability of me buying it is very, very high.

Sophie's Toes in "Handsome Park Ranger"

Above you see the most recent data to support the 'Power of Suggestion' research, Sophie's Toes 'Handsome Park Ranger'. Just go ahead and TRY to pretend that you wouldn't have purchased it, too!

38 comments:

sophanne said...

seriously- how could you not? What a most marketable name. I'm with you on the want/need factor.

nicole said...

Handsome indeed! What a great name/yarn. I don't blame you one bit.

Sarah said...

Yummy! I usually have low resistance to the power of suggestion, too, but lately all it takes for me to restrain myself is the thought of how much money has gone out of my checking account in the past month (i.e., more money than has gone IN to the account). Sure, knitting can be an expensive hobby, but you know what's even more expensive? Cars.

Anonymous said...

I'm developing a deep love for green lately. I love the shades in this one.

Gingersnaps with Tea... said...

Well I adore green anyway but with a name like that... now if only it actually came with one.

Nanda said...

yup, i bought a pattern and some (unrelated) sock yarn this morning thanks to a couple of my favorite blogs. very suggestible, indeed.

Meghann said...

"Handsome Park Ranger"! I love it! I might have a bit of a suggestion "issue" too:)

Tammy said...

Oh man... if I hadn't just been caught up in a Loopy Ewe sneak up frenzy, one would be on its way to me now!!

Anonymous said...

Oohh...that is quite the yarn!

Anonymous said...

*L* when I saw that you added this to your ravelry stash, I went to see if anyone was trading any! *L* Then I went and looked at her etsy site. I must be good, Rhinebeck is coming.. Rhinebeck is coming!!!

Anonymous said...

I would probably be more inclined to buy it if it were called "Handsome TV Doctor," but who am I to quibble. It's beautiful.

a friend to knit with said...

oh....i would have bought that too!
it really is the perfect color combo!

Pikku- Kettu said...

Handsome Park Ranger? Bring it on! :)

Anonymous said...

Yummy yarn and an awesome name - who could ever blame you?!

Angela said...

Emily does have some amazing colorways. I've always love the name of that one. My Sophie's Toes stash is nearly approaching the size of my STR stash--and that's scary. I hope to get everything in Ravelry after I finish my job in November--can't wait!

Lone Knitter said...

The name of the colorway is awesome, and the colors are so great. I love it! (Oh, and you are so awesome. Thank you so much for signing up for my club!)

Karen said...

I absolutely would have purchased it too!!!! Mmmmmm

Zarzuela said...

LOL! Great name! We knitters to seem to succumb to those powers of suggestion quite often, don't we...

Jessica

Anonymous said...

Now, you see with me, it is blog links. Other people's discoveries which they share. Which means that I now covet the ST's walnut colour way. But you are fundamentally right, want = need, particularly when it is a totally justifiable, practical matter. Like yarn. Something that can be made to be useful and beautiful.

Sonya said...

Exactly: how could you not! What a perfect name.

Anonymous said...

I would have bought it in a heartbeat. And I am not ashamed to admit it. Not is all.

Sourire11 said...

I want that yarn...

wait what was your post about again?

Yarnhog said...

"Handsome Park Ranger", huh? I wonder what kind of response you'd get for "Husband Who Does Dishes"?

Anonymous said...

I want me a Handsome Park Ranger too. Scha-wing!

Cat said...

I just found your blog today ... and I soo agree ... basically with your philosophy about knitting, life, add, etc.! LOL - how many initials can we use before we have to use a verb?

...Sarah said...

I would like to see "handsome investment banker" colour way, but it lacks a certain ring. (I don't meet many "handsome park rangers but sleep next to the investment banker each night). Sophie's Toes is a great site.

Olga said...

hmmm, I wonder what naaakid cowboy colorway would look like......

Yarnhog said...

You won my contest! Visit my blog to learn how to collect your sock yarn.

Twisted Knitter said...

When are they going to make "Sexy Pool Boy"?

However, I'd have bought that wonderful green yarn no matter what it was called!

schrodinger said...

It's not just a want to buy - but it's an intense needs, almost primal, sometimes. Fascinating behavior. Great yarn.

Anonymous said...

I'm currently coveting this yarn http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=2107 in fetish. Such a amazing green!
btw tag your it, see my blog for details

KnitPastis said...

Ohhh you enabler:) I am already trying to stop myself from buying the Wollmeise yarn you showed off in all of the lovely colors! Now you go and show me this yarn Handsome Park Ranger. It looks like a nice tight spun yarn too.

Octopus Knits said...

Seriously, how could you resist!

Anonymous said...

Love that colorway and the name!! If it was non-sock yarn I would be competely undone.

Anonymous said...

Handsome Park Ranger... We do not have any of the kind around here. I wonder how a "Turnaround beer-bellied Policeman" colourway would look like ?!?

Any way, I can prettily resist the temptations since here in Europe, many of these fabulous yarns are simply not available. That's the only reason I don't even ask about these beautiful-beautiful blue and brown Thujas down there...

Anonymous said...

Hands down the best yarn name I have ever heard of. I hope she has a whole line of Handsome _____ _____ -- it sounds like a genius marketing technique. I would like Handsome British Professor and Handsome College Housepainter.

Dove Knits said...

Is that seriously the name? Wow. It sure is pretty, though!

Anonymous said...

I haven't told you before -- though I certainly should have -- what an amazing photographer you are. The yarns and knitted delicacies you capture are so luscious, it's all I can do to keep myself from fondling my laptop screen.