There is a Horse in the Apple Store • Hacker News Board

Re: There is a Horse in the Apple Store

#11

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Sep 04, 2010, 3:49 AM UTC

Charuru wrote: post #4

ugh wrote: post #2

I know it’s not the topic of the submission but I would have very much liked to get an explanation. Is it maybe a guide horse? See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guide_horse

I know this is not the topic of submission here either, but I can't help but feel that picture in the wikipedia of the guide horse is horrible abuse. All those straps and chains, UGH. /shudders

[deleted]

Re: There is a Horse in the Apple Store

#12

Post by faramarz » Sat, Sep 04, 2010, 3:53 AM UTC

Great narrative! The picture wouldn't have been the same without it.

This is probably explained by the Change blindness phenomenon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Change_blindness

Re: There is a Horse in the Apple Store

#13

Post by alexophile » Sat, Sep 04, 2010, 3:54 AM UTC

I really like the observations his niece makes, specifically “When I play hide and seek with my friends I have to hide, but if I don’t want to be seen by grown-ups I just have to be quiet.”

Re: There is a Horse in the Apple Store

#14

Post by sbaqai » Sat, Sep 04, 2010, 3:57 AM UTC

Great article. The author coins the term "tiny pony" to describe the tendency of becoming acclimated to certain exceptional things. ie: There's a pony in the apple store and no one seems to care. Because its always there..

Maybe its because we're so focused on ourselves? I still have a regular brick-type cell phone. So its a lot of fun for me to play with an iPhone or iPad whenever I'm at the store, or when my friends let me play with theirs. I always get an urge to buy one - it could totally make my life better (especially mobile internet).

But if I buy it, I know the magic will go away. It's particular exceptional-ness will become an expectation, and even a frustration when it doesn't work correctly. And after a certain period, I'd likely refer to it as just another brick-type object, compared with whatever relatively exceptional technology is out then.

Re: There is a Horse in the Apple Store

#15

Post by kyro » Sat, Sep 04, 2010, 4:17 AM UTC

Charuru wrote: post #4

ugh wrote: post #2

I know it’s not the topic of the submission but I would have very much liked to get an explanation. Is it maybe a guide horse? See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guide_horse

I know this is not the topic of submission here either, but I can't help but feel that picture in the wikipedia of the guide horse is horrible abuse. All those straps and chains, UGH. /shudders

I'd say the abuse is in the fact that Apple hasn't tailored their products to the horse market, leaving horses everywhere feeling unimportant and neglected.

Re: There is a Horse in the Apple Store

#16

Post by naner » Sat, Sep 04, 2010, 4:17 AM UTC

ugh wrote: post #2

I know it’s not the topic of the submission but I would have very much liked to get an explanation. Is it maybe a guide horse? See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guide_horse

Yes it is an assistance animal[1]. It is kind of sad that the guy never figured it out. At least he didn't go and try to pet it or something.

[1]: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/magazine/04Creatures-t.htm...

Re: There is a Horse in the Apple Store

#17

Post by philk » Sat, Sep 04, 2010, 4:23 AM UTC

Charuru wrote: post #4

ugh wrote: post #2

I know it’s not the topic of the submission but I would have very much liked to get an explanation. Is it maybe a guide horse? See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guide_horse

I know this is not the topic of submission here either, but I can't help but feel that picture in the wikipedia of the guide horse is horrible abuse. All those straps and chains, UGH. /shudders

I'm not sure how being fitted with two entirely standard pieces of tack (a breastplate and a bridle) counts as horrible abuse.

Re: There is a Horse in the Apple Store

#18

Post by famousactress » Sat, Sep 04, 2010, 4:24 AM UTC

That article brought me more enjoyment-per-paragraph than just about anything in a while. I do wish the photo was revealed somewhere in the middle of the post though. I shared it with my wife that way, and it really has a pretty profound affect to wonder if it's just a metaphor for the first half-dozen paragraphs.

Re: There is a Horse in the Apple Store

#19

Post by blahedo » Sat, Sep 04, 2010, 4:24 AM UTC

faramarz wrote: post #12

Great narrative! The picture wouldn't have been the same without it. This is probably explained by the Change blindness phenomenon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Change_blindness

THANK you for mentioning that there was a picture there. The page made so much more sense after I loaded it.

Re: There is a Horse in the Apple Store

#20

Post by jlees » Sat, Sep 04, 2010, 4:25 AM UTC

alexophile wrote: post #13

I really like the observations his niece makes, specifically “When I play hide and seek with my friends I have to hide, but if I don’t want to be seen by grown-ups I just have to be quiet.”

Children are amazing. If you want to refocus your world, talk to one for half an hour.

Wait! Not like that, you'll get arrested.