Why do I read fortune cookies?

[finesseQ]

I am a strong atheist though not a very vocal one. I don’t believe in destiny and I know that astrology is a big sham. I won’t read my horoscope even if I come across it somewhere. But I’ll always read my fortune cookie at a Chinese restaurant. I was just thinking about it today. I don’t believe it’s going to come true, so why do I bother reading that scrap of paper?

[Sephus]

it's fun in bed?

[AquaSwing]

As far as I'm concerned if they wanted to print something that was going to come true they should print on every single fortune:

"You are going to die."

That's my answer when people ask me what mine says.

[soko]

Do you think perhaps that you are over thinking the issue? Maybe you read it because it's a fun tradition that takes 3 seconds and it's interesting to think about?

[stormstarter28]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you think perhaps that you are over thinking the issue? Maybe you read it because it's a fun tradition that takes 3 seconds and it's interesting to think about?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, this isn't deep enough. Surely there's more meaning behind it.

[jogsxyz]

If you go to the factory, they let you insert your own fortunes.

[kurto]

[ QUOTE ]
I am a strong atheist though not a very vocal one. I don’t believe in destiny and I know that astrology is a big sham. I won’t read my horoscope even if I come across it somewhere. But I’ll always read my fortune cookie at a Chinese restaurant. I was just thinking about it today. I don’t believe it’s going to come true, so why do I bother reading that scrap of paper?

[/ QUOTE ]

what does religion even have to do with it. They so rarely even actually have a 'fortune.' They should be renamed "advice cookies" or "pithy non-predictive sayings cookies."

My favorite part (and the only part that is actually predictive) is the Lucky Lottery Numbers. The funny part is 200 people may eat a restaurant and all get different numbers. Not sure how all 200 lottery numbers can all be lucky at the same time.

[pokervintage]

[ QUOTE ]
I don’t believe it’s going to come true, so why do I bother reading that scrap of paper?

[/ QUOTE ]

Everyone would like to know what the future will bring. You might be an atheist but that doesn't mean that you have lost all hope for a bright future. A fortune cookie says something good is going to happen to you. Phsycologically that's a nice thought, even if you know it has little or no chance of coming true. When I say little I mean sometimes coincidence happens for no other reason than what is predicted is possible. And who is to say that the pleasant thought in the fortune cookie doesn't in some way influence your behavior however slightly that you somehow make the prediction come true yourself. Afterall people are weird you know.

pokervintage

[soon2bepro]

"Why do I read fortune cookies?"

Because you're stupid.

Still, I've joked around asking questions to the magic 8 ball. I'd never do it alone tho.

[Phil153]

Because there's always a chance that through some quantum time tunneling + butterfly wings effect, you'll actually create your own destiny by reading the cookie. Since most cookies are good, this activity is obviously +EV.

[Splendour]

http://image.funexpress.com/feimg/k365b.jpg

jk

[pokervintage]

going out and coming in---- Is this turning into a discussion on sex?

pokervintage

[vhawk01]

[ QUOTE ]
Because there's always a chance that through some quantum time tunneling + butterfly wings effect, you'll actually create your own destiny by reading the cookie. Since most cookies are good, this activity is obviously +EV.

[/ QUOTE ]

If I'm not mistaken, this is how Hiroshima happened.

[Splendour]

Definitely not. I was looking for witty sayings on fortune cookies and thought it was funny when I came across biblical ones. This was the only one I found where the writing was readable.

[FortunaMaximus]

What happens if you accidentally eat the fortune?

(Only once, I'm good at doing things like that. o_O)

[Splendour]

[ QUOTE ]
What happens if you accidentally eat the fortune?

(Only once, I'm good at doing things like that. o_O)

[/ QUOTE ]

Then you have to run out and buy a lottery ticket while you still have Buddha in your tummy. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[PLOlover]

it's a social experience. if you read it when youre eat alone/takeout then maybe you just want to amuse yourself, like watching tv.

[tame_deuces]

Because we are always curious about our future. And even though we don't buy into the fortune cookie the idea still lingers, so there is an element of excitement too it.

Interestingly several studies in psychology where they have dealt out the same horoscope to all participants report some near 80% confirmation (number may vary, I'm taking this one from memory) from participants that the horoscope 'applied to their life well'.

No wonder we read fortune cookies.

[dragonystic]

um, because its fun watching a cookie try to predict your future?

[DblBarrelJ]

Well, I like fortune cookies, so I break them open to get the paper out, then eat the cookie. And hey, now the papers out, why not read it?

I don't think it's harmful at all, as long as you're not some nutjob who is "Following the Destiny of the Cookie" or whatever.

Plus, if you're out with friends or on a date, the messages on the fortune cookies are pretty good conversation pieces sometimes.

[Archon_Wing]

Well, you just ate, and so you need something to pass the time while you're digesting the food.

And you don't want to accidentally eat the paper!

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

Uh, you're supposed to read the fortune out loud and add the words "in bed" to the end. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[vhawk01]

I honestly read the fortune cookies because sometimes they are funny and I'm always hoping to get the one where the guy just got laid off so he sabotages a batch of fortune cookies with pornographic cartoons or something.

[GoRedBirds]

[ QUOTE ]
it's fun in bed?

[/ QUOTE ]
Underappreciated.

[Siegmund]

No, it's not fun in bed. The crumbs get into the sheets, and those cookies are dry enough that they are pretty darn scratchy.

Finish the cookie at the dinner table, and THEN take her to bed.