Hatrack River Forum: The power of 3.

This is topic The power of 3. in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :

Anyone ever wonder why three is such a ubiquitously important number? My roommate and I were talking about it a bit on the way back from Arby's last night. He wondered aloud about this question.

I guessed that three is an important number in patterns. Two can establish a pattern, while the third iteration either enforces or breaks the pattern.

In jokes for example, it's common for two men to do X, then have the third break that pattern for comedic effect. A similar technique is used in children's tales (three pigs, the boy who cried wolf) to impart some lesson.

On the other hand, when a group of people are required to perfom an action simultaneously, the 1-2-3 count establishes a tempo so that the action can be initiated on three.

Can anyone think of important threes that wouldn't stem from this kind of pattern-recognition? Do you know anything to explain them?

Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :

Very important in religion

How could you forget the Christian Trinity?

Comes up a lot in Judaism to.

Posted by lem (Member # 6914) on :

The The Godhead and/or Trinity (depending on your flavor of Christianity) is comprised of 3 parts.

Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Juxtapose:
Anyone ever wonder why three is such a ubiquitously important number? My roommate and I were talking about it a bit on the way back from Arby's last night. He wondered aloud about this question.

You clearly did not notice Arby's "5 for 5.95" deal otherwise you would have been discussing the awesomeness of the number 5.

But speaking of 3. Everything has a biological desire to reproduce. For humans when you have had a child that goal has been realized and the number 3 embodies it, "You and me and baby makes 3."

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

In the physical world, three is a very stable number.

Three is the minimum number of legs for a standard stool or table.

A triangle cannot be deformed like a square can, which is why we use triangles to build bridges, towers, etc.

Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :

Because 3 is a magic number.

Anything School House Rock says must be true.

Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :

quote:
You clearly did not notice Arby's "5 for 5.95" deal otherwise you would have been discussing the awesomeness of the number 5.

lets analyze that: 5 for 5.95. three 5s, reinforced by three squared. IT'S EVERYWHERE. Incidentally, this is the deal I got. A soda, curly fries, and 3 Arby's melts. [Big Grin]

EDIT - ooh, good point with the triangle and stability, mph.

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

Ten years ago, Arby's used to have a "5 for 5" deal.

Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Juxtapose:

quote:
You clearly did not notice Arby's "5 for 5.95" deal otherwise you would have been discussing the awesomeness of the number 5.
lets analyze that: 5 for 5.95. three 5s, reinforced by three squared. IT'S EVERYWHERE. Incidentally, this is the deal I got. A soda, curly fries, and 3 Arby's melts.

EDIT - ooh, good point with the triangle and stability, mph.

Exactly what I order when I use that deal [Wink]

Used to be 5 for 5 but they snuck in that .95 sometime last year. Don't know if I should be mad at forking out more money or happy that 5 is getting more exposure.

Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :

But obviously the Jamocha shake is so much better than the soda.

Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :

First instances are random. Second instances sets expectation for a third instance. Third instance is the oppurtune moment to go against expectation because the pattern is fresh.

Take for example, a cat and mouse. Mouse steals cheese, cat see's mouse, mouse runs around corner, cat follows only to have mouse swing bat into cat's face.

Next scene, mouse steals fruit, cat see's mouse, mouse runs around corner, cat follows, mouse is in same position and spray's cat with hose (hey look, this is my gag, and I ain't no Tex Avery, ok?).

Next scene, mouse steals a rutabega. Why? Because rutabega's are funny. Cat see's mouse, mouse runs around corner, this time, cat gets a bat. Uh oh, audience member's think. The mouse is going to do as before and the cat realizes is this time. So cat jumps around corner, swings bat, only to hit the Dog in the face. Dog pummels cat. Cut to scene of mouse giving the dog a bone while sitting on top of a pile of cheddar and swiss, and the cat in crutches.

Comedy gold, right?

Say however, the third time, the mouse is still standing there, and the cat didn't get the bat. On the third time, you expect something to change, or you expect the pattern to continue. You aren't drooling with anticipation the fourth time like you are the third time. Why the third time? Because you either expect the pattern to be set, or things to change.

Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :

I noticed that with the movie Airplane. Most of the jokes ran in a pattern of 3.

Posted by Shmuel (Member # 7586) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Juxtapose:
In jokes for example, it's common for two men to do X, then have the third break that pattern for comedic effect.

To the extent that the "Rule of Three" is a well-known comedy axiom. [Smile]

quote:
A similar technique is used in children's tales (three pigs, the boy who cried wolf) to impart some lesson.

Your point is valid, but it should be noted that it's specific to our culture. An awful lot of Native American tales do the same thing with four.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

*steals Nathan's ' key*

Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :

Three shall be the number of the count, and the number of the count shall be three. Four is too much; only three. Do not count to two unless you then proceed directly to three. Five is way out.

Misquote from memory, courtesy of me.

Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :

Knots are only possible in 3 dimensions*--not with dimensions 1, 2, or for any n>3. I feel that this fact is critical in many ways to our existance as 3-D beings instead of some other n-dimensional beings. For example, without knot properties, DNA wouldn't work, nor the circulatory system, or the lungs, or the nervous system, etc. This combined with the strong Anthropic Principle implies that the Universe has three space dimensions just so that we can all learn to tie our shoes.

At a more fundamental level, knot theory is crucial to understanding string theory and quantum gravity.

*Assuming linear or one-dimensional parts or string. You can theoretically have knots with the parts n-dimensional in spaces of m-dimensions, where m>n, n>=2.

Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :

There's also the Rule of Three as applied to farts in an elevator. If there are only two people, obviously everyone onboard knows who dealt it. But with three or more, it's a mystery (assuming it was silent but deadly.)

Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :

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Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Juxtapose:
Anyone ever wonder why three is such a ubiquitously important number?

I think it may have something to do with the Halliwell sisters. But I'm just guessing.

Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :

One God. Or no God. Couples: man and woman. Two legs, two arms, two eyes, two ears, two... Seven/nine skies/heavens. (depending on culture) Pi. Rectangular (four sided) windows. Rectangular doors. Rectangular walls. Rectangular tables. Rectangular fields. Five point star. Six point star for that matter. Four legs of a chair, table, bed. Right angle. 180 degrees. 360 degrees.

3 is special.

Posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion (Member # 6473) on :

You want to know the real power of three???

I give you the most awesome power of thr33

Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :

quote:
posted by Shmuel:
To the extent that the "Rule of Three" is a well-known comedy axiom. [Smile]

I've also heard a rule where 4th, 5th, and 6th, iterations can be used to set up an uber-funny 7th iteration. This may be purely mythical though.

------

That video was awesome, AoD.

Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Corwin:
Five point star. Six point star for that matter.

Seven point star. Sheriffs and all.

Posted by Shmuel (Member # 7586) on :

quote:
I've also heard a rule where 4th, 5th, and 6th, iterations can be used to set up an uber-funny 7th iteration. This may be purely mythical though.

I've heard that one also, though I forget where. (If I had to guess, it'd be one of Steve Allen's books, but I may be totally wrong.)

I have the impression that this one is harder to pull off, as you need to be able to power through the iterations where it's stopped being funny without losing your nerve or the audience.