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.