hypothesis: the salt & pepper diner experiment can no longer be conducted as it stands, because everyone is now fully attuned to the opening bars of tom jonesâ âwhatâs new pussycat?â, classically conditioned into a fight-or-flight response. however, this experience can be replicated using 21 back-to-back plays of lou begaâs 1999 hit song âmambo no. 5âł, as the general response to âmambo no. 5âł being played twice in a row is not, âhey someoneâs playing âmambo no. 5âł again,â but rather, âhey, lou begaâs 1999 hit song âmambo no. 5âł is a lot longer than i first thought.â
So whatâs the âItâs Not Unusualâ in this situation
âIf you look back only at your mistakes, youâd think you were an idiot. If you look back only at your wiser choices, youâd think you were infallible. But if you look back on everything, you realize youâre a human being who has been through a lot, grown a lot, is always still learning, and improving as time goes by.â