Comments on: The Mystery Of The Rule Of Threes http://www.thecomedynerds.com/2009/06/the-mystery-of-the-rule-of-threes/ We Care About Comedy Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:54:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: sound engineer http://www.thecomedynerds.com/2009/06/the-mystery-of-the-rule-of-threes/comment-page-1/#comment-674 sound engineer Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:43:57 +0000 http://www.thecomedynerds.com/?p=1619#comment-674 I like this self-portrait of The Comedy Nerds. I'm the green one on the left. Also, going on what Mike said, two is fine as long as there is a third something, but two is not enough. Ever. What do you think of that? EVER! I like this self-portrait of The Comedy Nerds. I’m the green one on the left.

Also, going on what Mike said, two is fine as long as there is a third something, but two is not enough. Ever. What do you think of that? EVER!

]]> By: Mike http://www.thecomedynerds.com/2009/06/the-mystery-of-the-rule-of-threes/comment-page-1/#comment-609 Mike Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:26:05 +0000 http://www.thecomedynerds.com/?p=1619#comment-609 2,4,? What comes next? 6? - Yes, if we're adding by 2s. 8? - Yes, if we're multiplying by 2s. 16? - Yes, if we're taking the square of each number. Fart? - Yes. Always fart. My point is just that three is the minimum number you need to establish a pattern, but you can suggest or imply a pattern with two. So with the first two things you can create a certain expectation in the listener's brain (because the brain is a pattern-making machine), and then subvert that expectation by providing something that ALSO fits, but doesn't fit in the way the listener expects. Three is significant because it's the number that sets the pattern in stone. The hard part is finding sets of two that can have multiple 3s that could fit. 2,4,?

What comes next?

6? – Yes, if we’re adding by 2s.

8? – Yes, if we’re multiplying by 2s.

16? – Yes, if we’re taking the square of each number.

Fart? – Yes. Always fart.

My point is just that three is the minimum number you need to establish a pattern, but you can suggest or imply a pattern with two. So with the first two things you can create a certain expectation in the listener’s brain (because the brain is a pattern-making machine), and then subvert that expectation by providing something that ALSO fits, but doesn’t fit in the way the listener expects. Three is significant because it’s the number that sets the pattern in stone. The hard part is finding sets of two that can have multiple 3s that could fit.

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