Signals

I got to thinking on the way home from work. I was leaving the parking lot and saw a flashing red light. I made the assumption that it was a train crossing, but it could very well have been something else. It made me think about signals in life and how we react to them. It occurred to me that someone else could have seen flashing red lights and thought of something quite different, maybe an ambulance or something else entirely. It seems like our interpretation of signals is based on our experience with various signals that we've encountered.

I think when it comes to people I'm not always so great at interpreting signals. But then again some people (girls namely) are like that driver on the free way who has their signal on for an hour but never changes lanes. It makes me think of this cute girl I used to work with who was very flirty with me. I'd have taken her home to meet my family if she'd have let me, but I guess I would have had to bring her fiance along as well. I guess that could have been a bit awkward but you get my point.

While driving home I was sitting at a red left turn arrow and I saw someone go through the light (on Bangerter) and flip a U turn on the other side of the intersection then turn right. Thinking about signals I tried to decide why he did that. I was doing my best to avoid making any assumptions so I assumed two things about this person. First, they were in a hurry. Second, they had little regard for traffic laws. Above and beyond that was a handful of assumptions. It might sound simple enough but it is an interesting way of looking at things, see signals, recognize them as signals, and find out what you can gain from understanding them.

If only I could make this work the same way with girls. It's not quite as easy in that realm. I remember going out with a beautiful girl once who laughed at all my jokes and gave me a tackle hug at the doorstep. Logically I should have gotten another date, but then you'd be wrong if you made that assumption. She declined to go out with me again. I'd say it's less about logic than it is about gambling. I'd have to relate it to poker or something along those lines. While logic does come into play in poker you still have odds to play and that means that you have as much of a shot at losing sometimes as you do winning.

Anyways, that's what I had on my mind on the way home.