Ahead of the comments you'll leave, let me admit that I know you likely yawn at most of the posts you read here at StronglyWorded letter.com. But today I nearly guarantee it.
What is the yawn reflex? Science doesn't know. Lack of oxygen is a popular unsupported theory. And if why we yawn is a mystery, even more of a conundrum is the phenomena that causes us to yawn when we see other people yawning. I am so susceptible to the suggestion that I yawn when I see someone else doing it on TV. I can't stop myself from yawning even when I read the word "yawn." How about you?
There are several theories as to why yawning is contagious. One is a complicated idea that "mirror neurons" in the brain copy the action when we see it, but I don't hear about people starting to blink or cough because others do.
Another theory is that yawning is part of the evolutionary herd instinct; that the yawn serves to synchronize mood behavior among animals to signify tiredness to the pack and coordinate sleeping.
My whole life I have tried to fight reflex yawns but can't do it. It is a powerful, mysterious impulse.
The other thing that puzzles me is how you are able to tell if someone is staring at you. I don't know if it has ever been proven by scientists, but hasn't everyone reading this had it happen before? Someone out of sight from you is giving you the evil eye and you can almost feel the burn. You look around and there he or she is. For me it is usually a model checking me out but your experience may vary.
Saturday night Donna and I were enjoying the wonderful 1944 film Gaslight and there it was again. Charles Boyer's character takes his wife, played by Ingrid Bergman, to a music recital. He starts squirming after a few minutes as he almost "feels" the presence of Joseph Cotten's Scotland Yard officer who is seated several rows behind the couple. Sure enough, he turns around and Cotten is more certain than ever that Boyer is up to no good in his attempt to fleece his new bride of her inheritance. Weird, right?
P.S. Godzilla is home. Update tomorrow and I thank you again for all your well wishes.
Bean, I like you because you are odd like me. It is nice to know there is at least one other person out there who is fascinated by the weirdest things.
Can't wait for the Godzilla update. Happy to hear he is home!
Posted by: HeatherMichelle | January 29, 2008 at 04:55 AM
You neglected to mention that Gaslight also stars the GREAT Angela Landsbury in her first movie role . . .
Good news about Godzilla
Posted by: Diane | January 29, 2008 at 07:14 AM
I really liked Gaslight, it was one of those films that I frought to have to watch, but once I was into the story, I really enjoyed it.
Posted by: Chris | January 29, 2008 at 08:09 AM
Scientists need to spend millions to research this. I wonder why it is that a person can feel someone staring at them. I hope Gojira(Godzilla in Japanese)is doing well.
Posted by: Robert | January 29, 2008 at 09:00 AM
I can TOTALLY tell when people are looking at me. It's creepy. I don't think I look THAT bad...
::yawwn::
Posted by: Tiffiny Whitney | January 29, 2008 at 09:23 AM
I think your post had a reverse affect on me. I found the content intersting and didn't yawn once. It's with some of the other posts that I find myself yawning.
BTW - did I use "affect" right, or should it have been "effect"?
Posted by: Kings Fan | January 29, 2008 at 09:27 AM
I did my 8th grade Science Fair Project on hiccups, sneezes & yawns, with a whole section on why yawns are contagious. There was no real answer! But I still got 1st place....
Posted by: stace | January 29, 2008 at 09:42 AM
good God, Bean, who is the creepy dude in the "staring" pic? that's apt to give me nightmares
Posted by: I'm staring at you right now | January 29, 2008 at 10:19 AM
every blog you post is interesting to me...i like hearing weird facts and stories and i love your animals!
and i think people are staring at you because you are freakishly tall!
Posted by: Ashley | January 29, 2008 at 02:00 PM
My wife is like you Bean in that she will "yawn" at the sight, sound or reading. Which is good times for me. Because I will "yawn" then she will "yawn", I will fake "yawn" three or more times. I think it is hilarious my wife doesn't think it is very funny.
Posted by: Drew Hansen | January 29, 2008 at 03:31 PM
You know its really odd but I yawned two times when reading your blog...spooky. Also I think yawns are contagious through hearing too, this happened to me over the phone yesterday...it really made me think...hard...
Posted by: Jennifer Thomas | January 29, 2008 at 04:32 PM
yeah i never yawn.....NEVER!!!!
Posted by: Rambo | January 29, 2008 at 06:31 PM
ok, so I went to the comments after I read this cuz I ALWAYS yawn at any suggestion and I SO didn't reading your blog, but.....
reading all the comments with the yawns included, I yawned twice. oh well.
I am so glad Godzilla is doing well!
p.s. I heard we in the bad place have gotten more rain this month than Seattle. What's up with that??????
Posted by: Lynee | January 29, 2008 at 08:12 PM