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Observationist | David Reich | TEDxChichester


[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] my name is David Wright and I am the

my name is David Wright and I am the

my name is David Wright and I am the observations okay what the heck’s and

observations okay what the heck’s and

observations okay what the heck’s and observations how did I become an

observations how did I become an

observations how did I become an observation what is this thing well it

observation what is this thing well it

observation what is this thing well it started many years ago when I used to

started many years ago when I used to

started many years ago when I used to listen quite often to the American

listen quite often to the American

listen quite often to the American comedian George Carlin who gave me a

comedian George Carlin who gave me a

comedian George Carlin who gave me a love of language now George Carlin had a

love of language now George Carlin had a

love of language now George Carlin had a unique and often very colorfully worded

unique and often very colorfully worded

unique and often very colorfully worded way of observing the world and I really

way of observing the world and I really

way of observing the world and I really thought about what he was saying and how

thought about what he was saying and how

thought about what he was saying and how he was making us look at the uniqueness

he was making us look at the uniqueness

he was making us look at the uniqueness the paradoxes the absurdities of our

the paradoxes the absurdities of our

the paradoxes the absurdities of our world and what that gave me aside from

world and what that gave me aside from

world and what that gave me aside from the entertainment value and excuse to

the entertainment value and excuse to

the entertainment value and excuse to listen to that language it was a keen of

listen to that language it was a keen of

listen to that language it was a keen of awareness of how people observe the

awareness of how people observe the

awareness of how people observe the world around them and process

world around them and process

world around them and process information now at about the same time

information now at about the same time

information now at about the same time as with many adolescents I became

as with many adolescents I became

as with many adolescents I became interested in that not the part game but

interested in that not the part game but

interested in that not the part game but performing feats of illusion

performing feats of illusion

performing feats of illusion you know the vanishing napkin a card I

you know the vanishing napkin a card I

you know the vanishing napkin a card I learned all those tricks that all the

learned all those tricks that all the

learned all those tricks that all the kids learn and I got really good at and

kids learn and I got really good at and

kids learn and I got really good at and I started performing at birthday parties

I started performing at birthday parties

I started performing at birthday parties and annoying friends and family and

and annoying friends and family and

and annoying friends and family and while I was learning all these tricks

while I was learning all these tricks

while I was learning all these tricks and performing and making people’s no I

and performing and making people’s no I

and performing and making people’s no I just see that what was really that I was

just see that what was really that I was

just see that what was really that I was doing now is it hand is quicker than the

doing now is it hand is quicker than the

doing now is it hand is quicker than the eye I’m gonna tell you it’s actually not

eye I’m gonna tell you it’s actually not

eye I’m gonna tell you it’s actually not in fact the slower and effect is

in fact the slower and effect is

in fact the slower and effect is performed the more powerful it is

performed the more powerful it is

performed the more powerful it is so I’m looking and seeing what people

so I’m looking and seeing what people

so I’m looking and seeing what people are think

are think

are think how people are processing information I

how people are processing information I

how people are processing information I started looking at people and not so

started looking at people and not so

started looking at people and not so much observing the things about people

much observing the things about people

much observing the things about people but developing an awareness through

but developing an awareness through

but developing an awareness through observation of people how people process

observation of people how people process

observation of people how people process information how people are in patterns

information how people are in patterns

information how people are in patterns and don’t really notice the things that

and don’t really notice the things that

and don’t really notice the things that are going on around they often say that

are going on around they often say that

are going on around they often say that you want to hide something hide in plain

you want to hide something hide in plain

you want to hide something hide in plain sight that people are not going to

sight that people are not going to

sight that people are not going to notice it so I started really studying

notice it so I started really studying

notice it so I started really studying and involving myself in the analysis of

and involving myself in the analysis of

and involving myself in the analysis of people and through my performances and

people and through my performances and

people and through my performances and demonstrations and demonstrations and

demonstrations and demonstrations and

demonstrations and demonstrations and experiments that’s where I was going of

experiments that’s where I was going of

experiments that’s where I was going of magic mentalism and yeah even hypnosis I

magic mentalism and yeah even hypnosis I

magic mentalism and yeah even hypnosis I started looking at how people were going

started looking at how people were going

started looking at how people were going through life and operating and behaving

through life and operating and behaving

through life and operating and behaving without actually thinking in fact people

without actually thinking in fact people

without actually thinking in fact people start to pay less attention to more

start to pay less attention to more

start to pay less attention to more things now my goal here is there’s some

things now my goal here is there’s some

things now my goal here is there’s some entertainment some education and after

entertainment some education and after

entertainment some education and after some enlightenment talk to you about how

some enlightenment talk to you about how

some enlightenment talk to you about how you’re observing the world and give you

you’re observing the world and give you

you’re observing the world and give you some of the traditional and alternative

some of the traditional and alternative

some of the traditional and alternative views of the reality which is really

views of the reality which is really

views of the reality which is really just your belief system on Society has

just your belief system on Society has

just your belief system on Society has said to you the differences in the

said to you the differences in the

said to you the differences in the cultures what you’re going to do based

cultures what you’re going to do based

cultures what you’re going to do based on different stimulus now a lot of

on different stimulus now a lot of

on different stimulus now a lot of people think today we’re all hyper

people think today we’re all hyper

people think today we’re all hyper observant I mean we have the internet we

observant I mean we have the internet we

observant I mean we have the internet we are constantly connected our computers

are constantly connected our computers

are constantly connected our computers we are walking around with our heads

we are walking around with our heads

we are walking around with our heads buried in our cell phones social media

buried in our cell phones social media

buried in our cell phones social media everything going on and all the time in

everything going on and all the time in

everything going on and all the time in reality we’re actually less observant so

reality we’re actually less observant so

reality we’re actually less observant so here’s one of my one of my examples you

here’s one of my one of my examples you

here’s one of my one of my examples you ever drive down the motorway and you

ever drive down the motorway and you

ever drive down the motorway and you shake yourself back into awareness and

shake yourself back into awareness and

shake yourself back into awareness and find yourself five

find yourself five

find yourself five ten miles downwards how the heck did

ten miles downwards how the heck did

ten miles downwards how the heck did that just happen

that just happen

that just happen and you’re not terrified about this

and you’re not terrified about this

and you’re not terrified about this woman now you might think I was zoning

woman now you might think I was zoning

woman now you might think I was zoning out what was going on I could have died

out what was going on I could have died

out what was going on I could have died there in reality that’s a term we have

there in reality that’s a term we have

there in reality that’s a term we have it’s it’s actually a state called

it’s it’s actually a state called

it’s it’s actually a state called highway hypnosis now more than likely

highway hypnosis now more than likely

highway hypnosis now more than likely especially because it did happen to you

especially because it did happen to you

especially because it did happen to you you’re here you’ve arrived safely you

you’re here you’ve arrived safely you

you’re here you’ve arrived safely you were aware of everything that was going

were aware of everything that was going

were aware of everything that was going on we’re conscious of it but you were

on we’re conscious of it but you were

on we’re conscious of it but you were avoiding other drivers you were

avoiding other drivers you were

avoiding other drivers you were maintaining your speed you weren’t

maintaining your speed you weren’t

maintaining your speed you weren’t veering into other lanes so you are

veering into other lanes so you are

veering into other lanes so you are actually aware of what was going on but

actually aware of what was going on but

actually aware of what was going on but you weren’t truly conscious of the you

you weren’t truly conscious of the you

you weren’t truly conscious of the you actually observe an other now I’m going

actually observe an other now I’m going

actually observe an other now I’m going to ask you to do something I’m gonna ask

to ask you to do something I’m gonna ask

to ask you to do something I’m gonna ask you to stare at this screen for five

you to stare at this screen for five

you to stare at this screen for five seconds ready alright yeah what was the

seconds ready alright yeah what was the

seconds ready alright yeah what was the color of the text of the instructions

color of the text of the instructions

color of the text of the instructions what was the title of the slide what was

what was the title of the slide what was

what was the title of the slide what was the color of the lines of the rectangles

the color of the lines of the rectangles

the color of the lines of the rectangles well you thought I was gonna ask you how

well you thought I was gonna ask you how

well you thought I was gonna ask you how many rectangles there were all I did was

many rectangles there were all I did was

many rectangles there were all I did was asked you to look at the screen your

asked you to look at the screen your

asked you to look at the screen your brain is filled in the rest we are

brain is filled in the rest we are

brain is filled in the rest we are conditioned to take one piece of

conditioned to take one piece of

conditioned to take one piece of stimulus and just start filling in

stimulus and just start filling in

stimulus and just start filling in everything else through all of our life

everything else through all of our life

everything else through all of our life experiences there’s another example I

experiences there’s another example I

experiences there’s another example I tend to do this I’m not going to

tend to do this I’m not going to

tend to do this I’m not going to advocate that you do this I haven’t

advocate that you do this I haven’t

advocate that you do this I haven’t gotten in trouble yeah from it but in

gotten in trouble yeah from it but in

gotten in trouble yeah from it but in the United States the ATMs often

the United States the ATMs often

the United States the ATMs often dispense currency in $20 bills and

dispense currency in $20 bills and

dispense currency in $20 bills and you’re out with friends you’re out at a

you’re out with friends you’re out at a

you’re out with friends you’re out at a restaurant you need to leave a tip you

restaurant you need to leave a tip you

restaurant you need to leave a tip you want to split the bill you need smaller

want to split the bill you need smaller

want to split the bill you need smaller denominations so you might ask the

denominations so you might ask the

denominations so you might ask the waitstaff the bartender if they can give

waitstaff the bartender if they can give

waitstaff the bartender if they can give you something smaller for its weight and

you something smaller for its weight and

you something smaller for its weight and it’s a common verbal exchange and it

it’s a common verbal exchange and it

it’s a common verbal exchange and it often goes like this excuse me can you

often goes like this excuse me can you

often goes like this excuse me can you break a 20 for me sure how would you

break a 20 for me sure how would you

break a 20 for me sure how would you like that to ten to the five please okay

like that to ten to the five please okay

like that to ten to the five please okay I see I see a couple of people on Friday

I see I see a couple of people on Friday

I see I see a couple of people on Friday okay you realize what I just did

okay you realize what I just did

okay you realize what I just did I just told me to give me $25 you have

I just told me to give me $25 you have

I just told me to give me $25 you have no idea how many people without thinking

no idea how many people without thinking

no idea how many people without thinking hand over to tens in a five give me the

hand over to tens in a five give me the

hand over to tens in a five give me the money and I could just walk out the door

money and I could just walk out the door

money and I could just walk out the door I have never done it myself as I’ve

I have never done it myself as I’ve

I have never done it myself as I’ve never done it right but I could have and

never done it right but I could have and

never done it right but I could have and the look on their faces when I say do

the look on their faces when I say do

the look on their faces when I say do you realize what you just did now as I

you realize what you just did now as I

you realize what you just did now as I was doing I just did it for fun all the

was doing I just did it for fun all the

was doing I just did it for fun all the time just as an experiment of

time just as an experiment of

time just as an experiment of observation and I said how many people

observation and I said how many people

observation and I said how many people are really doing this and

are really doing this and

are really doing this and unscientifically I found about a quarter

unscientifically I found about a quarter

unscientifically I found about a quarter of the people actually gave me the money

of the people actually gave me the money

of the people actually gave me the money about half the people will actually go

about half the people will actually go

about half the people will actually go to the drawer take out the money come

to the drawer take out the money come

to the drawer take out the money come over to me either hand it to me or stop

over to me either hand it to me or stop

over to me either hand it to me or stop me right after a just before and

me right after a just before and

me right after a just before and something they don’t know what it is

something they don’t know what it is

something they don’t know what it is right they know there’s something not

right they know there’s something not

right they know there’s something not right there’s something that they’re

right there’s something that they’re

right there’s something that they’re telling you they are still not observant

telling you they are still not observant

telling you they are still not observant they’re not realizing what was just said

they’re not realizing what was just said

they’re not realizing what was just said to me so the well the final 25 percent

to me so the well the final 25 percent

to me so the well the final 25 percent of the people I asked them for to 10:05

of the people I asked them for to 10:05

of the people I asked them for to 10:05 they go yeah really and at which point

they go yeah really and at which point

they go yeah really and at which point we have we have a good laugh there’s a

we have we have a good laugh there’s a

we have we have a good laugh there’s a term we use for this several people use

term we use for this several people use

term we use for this several people use different terms friend of mine calls it

different terms friend of mine calls it

different terms friend of mine calls it selective perception I call it sensory

selective perception I call it sensory

selective perception I call it sensory acuity you are acutely aware of what’s

acuity you are acutely aware of what’s

acuity you are acutely aware of what’s going on because you are observing the

going on because you are observing the

going on because you are observing the world around you so what I want to do

world around you so what I want to do

world around you so what I want to do now is an interactive experiment with

now is an interactive experiment with

now is an interactive experiment with seven people in the audience and I’m

seven people in the audience and I’m

seven people in the audience and I’m going to ask you to write some things on

going to ask you to write some things on

going to ask you to write some things on some cards and through observing you I

some cards and through observing you I

some cards and through observing you I am going to figure out what each of you

am going to figure out what each of you

am going to figure out what each of you wrote on these cards Sherlock Holmes Ian

wrote on these cards Sherlock Holmes Ian

wrote on these cards Sherlock Holmes Ian type experiment I figured out we’re

type experiment I figured out we’re

type experiment I figured out we’re doing this in the UK let’s go for it so

doing this in the UK let’s go for it so

doing this in the UK let’s go for it so I’m going to hand out four cards and

I’m going to hand out four cards and

I’m going to hand out four cards and four sharpies and what I’m going to ask

four sharpies and what I’m going to ask

four sharpies and what I’m going to ask is think about where you grew up now

is think about where you grew up now

is think about where you grew up now where you were born not where you live

where you were born not where you live

where you were born not where you live now but where your formative years were

now but where your formative years were

now but where your formative years were what how we won’t brought up all right

what how we won’t brought up all right

what how we won’t brought up all right if you moved around every two years

if you moved around every two years

if you moved around every two years military family don’t do that one

military family don’t do that one

military family don’t do that one because what I’m going to do is I’m

because what I’m going to do is I’m

because what I’m going to do is I’m going to observe you and I’m going to

going to observe you and I’m going to

going to observe you and I’m going to pick out which of you comfort in which

pick out which of you comfort in which

pick out which of you comfort in which things on which parts so oops would be a

things on which parts so oops would be a

things on which parts so oops would be a good idea if I give you guys the

good idea if I give you guys the

good idea if I give you guys the sharpness wouldn’t it okay

sharpness wouldn’t it okay

sharpness wouldn’t it okay no I don’t want to now I don’t want to

no I don’t want to now I don’t want to

no I don’t want to now I don’t want to see what you’re writing down I want you

see what you’re writing down I want you

see what you’re writing down I want you to write it down big and bold so when I

to write it down big and bold so when I

to write it down big and bold so when I hold up other people can see it but the

hold up other people can see it but the

hold up other people can see it but the turn over as soon as you’re right okay

turn over as soon as you’re right okay

turn over as soon as you’re right okay so I’m not going to look okay write it

so I’m not going to look okay write it

so I’m not going to look okay write it down quickly otherwise we’re just

down quickly otherwise we’re just

down quickly otherwise we’re just standing there right when you turn it

standing there right when you turn it

standing there right when you turn it over okay you’re just turned over all

over okay you’re just turned over all

over okay you’re just turned over all four do sentence I promise I’m not going

four do sentence I promise I’m not going

four do sentence I promise I’m not going to do anything that’s gonna mix them up

to do anything that’s gonna mix them up

to do anything that’s gonna mix them up so I don’t know which one is it

so I don’t know which one is it

so I don’t know which one is it okay you’re gonna turn over okay

hmm now looking at how everyone is

hmm now looking at how everyone is standing looking higher on yourself

standing looking higher on yourself

standing looking higher on yourself looking at the way you’re dressed and on

looking at the way you’re dressed and on

looking at the way you’re dressed and on the chair next

sherburn boys if I gotta pronounce

sherburn boys if I gotta pronounce properly right that’s 50/50 shot looking

properly right that’s 50/50 shot looking

properly right that’s 50/50 shot looking at how you’re holding your hands do me a

at how you’re holding your hands do me a

at how you’re holding your hands do me a favor if you see somebody that you

favor if you see somebody that you

favor if you see somebody that you haven’t seen walked into a part of the

haven’t seen walked into a part of the

haven’t seen walked into a part of the way and you see someone across the room

way and you see someone across the room

way and you see someone across the room they’ve never seen them now this is not

they’ve never seen them now this is not

they’ve never seen them now this is not going to be terribly exciting if I just

going to be terribly exciting if I just

going to be terribly exciting if I just turn over the card and say this is where

turn over the card and say this is where

turn over the card and say this is where you know this is who you are not

you know this is who you are not

you know this is who you are not terribly excited something’s a little

terribly excited something’s a little

terribly excited something’s a little more difficult by looking at you and

more difficult by looking at you and

more difficult by looking at you and I’ve been observing you the whole time

I’ve been observing you the whole time

I’ve been observing you the whole time even though I’ve been wait wait a minute

even though I’ve been wait wait a minute

even though I’ve been wait wait a minute but if you’re if you’re standing in a

but if you’re if you’re standing in a

but if you’re if you’re standing in a conversation with somebody’s small

conversation with somebody’s small

conversation with somebody’s small circle of people you know some people

circle of people you know some people

circle of people you know some people will cross their arms and you put their

will cross their arms and you put their

will cross their arms and you put their hands in their pockets

hands in their pockets

hands in their pockets some people put their hands behind their

some people put their hands behind their

some people put their hands behind their back show me how you might ordinarily

back show me how you might ordinarily

back show me how you might ordinarily stand but if it’s the way you want right

stand but if it’s the way you want right

stand but if it’s the way you want right now just say that I thought perhaps I

now just say that I thought perhaps I

now just say that I thought perhaps I might have made the longest trip here I

might have made the longest trip here I

might have made the longest trip here I think you might if you’re not from here

think you might if you’re not from here

think you might if you’re not from here I know that and I haven’t heard you

I know that and I haven’t heard you

I know that and I haven’t heard you speak and that was one of the things I

speak and that was one of the things I

speak and that was one of the things I wanted to make sure not here anybody

wanted to make sure not here anybody

wanted to make sure not here anybody speak because if I hear a French accent

I’m not true the distance I think I may

I’m not true the distance I think I may have become the furthest but you might

have become the furthest but you might

have become the furthest but you might have been from Moscow so that is how I

have been from Moscow so that is how I

have been from Moscow so that is how I became in observations when we go

became in observations when we go

became in observations when we go through life going through patterns

through life going through patterns

through life going through patterns going through life without thinking of

going through life without thinking of

going through life without thinking of what’s going on giving people money

what’s going on giving people money

what’s going on giving people money without thinking about it we miss more

without thinking about it we miss more

without thinking about it we miss more than we actually see so how can you

than we actually see so how can you

than we actually see so how can you change things how can you become more of

change things how can you become more of

change things how can you become more of an observation break those patterns that

an observation break those patterns that

an observation break those patterns that you’ve been going through how can you

you’ve been going through how can you

you’ve been going through how can you break those patterns simple when we’re

break those patterns simple when we’re

break those patterns simple when we’re done here today take a different route

done here today take a different route

done here today take a different route home just however you were going to go

home just however you were going to go

home just however you were going to go change up go to a restaurant you never

change up go to a restaurant you never

change up go to a restaurant you never went to before put yourself force

went to before put yourself force

went to before put yourself force yourself into a situation where you have

yourself into a situation where you have

yourself into a situation where you have to pay attention otherwise you’re going

to pay attention otherwise you’re going

to pay attention otherwise you’re going to be given 25 pounds to everyone asking

to be given 25 pounds to everyone asking

to be given 25 pounds to everyone asking you to prep to break your 20 not going

you to prep to break your 20 not going

you to prep to break your 20 not going to be terribly good now there’s a

to be terribly good now there’s a

to be terribly good now there’s a concept that everybody’s talking about

concept that everybody’s talking about

concept that everybody’s talking about these days of mindfulness just being

these days of mindfulness just being

these days of mindfulness just being present they often say just showing up

present they often say just showing up

present they often say just showing up is half the battle if you just show up

is half the battle if you just show up

is half the battle if you just show up you’re going to miss all the wonderful

you’re going to miss all the wonderful

you’re going to miss all the wonderful things in the world you need to show up

things in the world you need to show up

things in the world you need to show up and actively be present actively observe

and actively be present actively observe

and actively be present actively observe what’s going on what I want you to walk

what’s going on what I want you to walk

what’s going on what I want you to walk away with today is not to be scared of

away with today is not to be scared of

away with today is not to be scared of the world nuts scam artists that are

the world nuts scam artists that are

the world nuts scam artists that are going to try and you know take your

going to try and you know take your

going to try and you know take your money not to be afraid of things but

money not to be afraid of things but

money not to be afraid of things but rather with an enhanced view of the

rather with an enhanced view of the

rather with an enhanced view of the world my gift to you today is sensory

world my gift to you today is sensory

world my gift to you today is sensory acuity you’re going to remember that

acuity you’re going to remember that

acuity you’re going to remember that term you’re going to look around and

term you’re going to look around and

term you’re going to look around and you’re gonna say I’m gonna stop that I’m

you’re gonna say I’m gonna stop that I’m

you’re gonna say I’m gonna stop that I’m going to look at those things and I’m

going to look at those things and I’m

going to look at those things and I’m going to really be aware of what’s going

going to really be aware of what’s going

going to really be aware of what’s going on around me what’s being asked of me

on around me what’s being asked of me

on around me what’s being asked of me with that enhanced view of the world

with that enhanced view of the world

with that enhanced view of the world you’re going to accomplish more you’re

you’re going to accomplish more you’re

you’re going to accomplish more you’re going to enjoy more and by and through

going to enjoy more and by and through

going to enjoy more and by and through observation you’re going to be a much

observation you’re going to be a much

observation you’re going to be a much more effective

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

”

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