THE STUDY

 

I think I may have ventured into an area that I would have never considered in my previous 72 years.

Recently I read of a “study” about people who do not want to wait to find out how a book or movie ends. First, who does these “studies” and why? Are they funded by the taxpayers? Are they necessary? Well necessary or not, this particular one did help to alter some long held behaviors of mine.

The study discovered that some people just have to read the last pages of the book long before they are close to the end. They will fast forward a DVD to see if a favorite character escapes happily and unharmed. The study determined this did not spoil the book or movie for these people but actually let them enjoy the rest of the entertainment in comfort and ease.

In hindsight, had I known the ending of “The Sixth Sense” ahead of time I might have enjoyed the movie more and wouldn't have had to watch it a second time to see how I had been fooled. Still, that was one cool, jaw dropping ending and I am glad I waited.

I am assuming those “needing to know the ending” folks possibly also  believe in psychics and palm readers. That impulse to know how something will turn out ahead of time would make sense with life also. This is not wrong, it just is what it is. I have always been of the mind bent to slug it out to the end with out a clue. I love surprises and a natural path to conclusion. Could I change?

When my baseball team played a series on the West Coast and I just couldn't stay up for the end due to the time difference. I recorded the games and watched them the next day. Being able to fast forward through the commercials left me stuck in front of the TV much less and gave me back quite a bit more personal time.

Wow, this was great. I carefully avoided any news of a final score and would cheer my fellows on over an all ready determined game like it was actually happening.

Then I heard of the study and I thought I would experiment. Before watching the game the next day, I looked up the score. At first I thought it would keep me from watching a game we lost but oddly it didn't. It actually took the pain out of the loss.

My Marlins have perfected the art of finding a way to lose most of our games.  I learned to  recognize the beginnings of the all too frequent out of control inning, would feel terrible dread and groan, “Oh no, not again” yet hoping desperately I was wrong.

Oddly, when I all ready know we have lost, I get rather clinical. I enjoy the good and analyze the bad. Then if I know we actually won, the scary innings are no longer scary for I KNOW we will come out on top in the end. I am oddly relaxed yet still entertained and joyful for the win. 

Perhaps if the games actually counted for something like a possible post season berth, I might feel differently.  However, the season is really winding down and we are securely in last place so now all I watch for is to make sure none of my boys get hurt and for that occasional brilliant play. So now, even the games in a more friendly time zone are recorded and watched at a later date.

This is a behavior in years past I would have scoffed at heartily. With out that weird study, I would not have even thought of trying this.

This has NOT translated to my books or movie watching. I don't even want to try that.  It is enough that I have dipped my toe into the dark side of wanting to know the outcome with sports. At least for those games with no real bearing on the future of my team.  Pretty sure I couldn't to it with the World Series or Super Bowl. I haven't totally sold out.  

Do any of you  prematurely seek the endings of  books, movies, sports, and even life or  are you still purists and like surprises?