A funny question please leave your opinion ^.^

[buddyzen]

what is it about the average american and being ammused by mentos and coke like honestly OMG OMG ITS FIZZZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol its like the volcano we all made in 3rd grade =P

[Eclogite]

This would probably have been better placed in psychology, because I think it is the reaction to the reaction, rather than the reaction itself that you are interested in.

 

So, why that reaction? People are impressed by novelty. I think it is that simple.

[buddyzen]

well alot of americans are amazed by shiny things O_o

[alexander]

its not even a chemical reaction, so even the reaction itself does not belong here :)

[Michaelangelica]

what is it about the average american and being ammused by mentos and coke like honestly OMG OMG ITS FIZZZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol its like the volcano we all made in 3rd grade =P

'Cause we are all kids, deep down?

 

Most Mentos and Soda Fountains World Record ~ Guinness Book World Records 2009 2008 | Limca Book of Records | Amazing Feats

 

New world record mentos geyser set - Truveo Video Search

 

Mentos & Coke Guinness World Record (500 Bottles) - Video http://www.metacafe.com/watch/602802/mentos_coke_guinness_world_record_500_bottles/

 

xkcd - A Webcomic - Diet Coke+Mentos

[buddyzen]

wow so totally pointless lol

[Michaelangelica]

wow so totally pointless lol

like life?

 

According to a report in New Scientist magazine you get a bigger, better reaction with diet coke!

 

Is it any sillier than the 'cult of the celebrity'?

[buddyzen]

Rofl!

[alexander]

The guys that do this say that you get a good reaction from regular coke as well, but because diet coke does not have sugar, it is easier to clean up after getting soaked in it.

 

By the way i think the psychology behind us liking that is not dissimilar to that behind liking fireworks, rockets and other projectiles. We are generally fascinated by things that defy gravity or logic, we are fascinated with things we can not explain, our minds are tuned to detect motion, and because of that, moving things tend to fascinate us more then not moving things, things that make subtle sound arouse our predatory instinct, which gets further reinforced with the movement of an object, (this is not the case with fireworks and rockets, but is with coke). And exploding things, such as the volatile reaction that makes a bottle of diet coke spew a fountain of soda into the air, also give us a small sense of danger, all of which induces the release of endorphins and adrenalin, both of which, unless in a dangerous situation, we tend to enjoy...

[Jethro Tull]

This is funny, because I just saw some kids across the street doing this today and writhing in amusement and joy. :shrug:

[Michaelangelica]

 

By the way i think the psychology behind us liking that is not dissimilar to that behind liking fireworks, rockets and other projectiles. We are generally fascinated by things that defy gravity or logic, we are fascinated with things we can not explain, our minds are tuned to detect motion, and because of that, moving things tend to fascinate us more then not moving things, things that make subtle sound arouse our predatory instinct, which gets further reinforced with the movement of an object, (this is not the case with fireworks and rockets, but is with coke). And exploding things, such as the volatile reaction that makes a bottle of diet coke spew a fountain of soda into the air, also give us a small sense of danger, all of which induces the release of endorphins and adrenalin, both of which, unless in a dangerous situation, we tend to enjoy...

Interesting--and possibly true-- speculations.

Some research on Why might be good.

• We are generally fascinated by things that defy gravity or logic
  
• we are fascinated with things we can not explain,
  
• our minds are tuned to detect motion, (Men--the hunter-- only??)
  
• things that make subtle sound arouse our predatory instinct,
  
• And exploding things, also give us a small sense of danger
  
• all of which induces the release of endorphins and adrenalin, both of which, unless in a dangerous situation, we tend to enjoy.
  

[alexander]

Michael, the detection of motion is not a male or female trait, its in our nature. Back in time, in hunter-gatherer society, detecting motion was both predatory, when men hunted, and defensive, women could be attacked by animals just as easily as men, thus the mind tuned to detect moving things and focus on them. Another reason why, is because our eyes also help us balance, we see and smell and hear in 3d, our eyes constantly adjust to range things, which helps the body ballance. This is the reason why astronauts, while their inner ear might not work, use eyes much more when they get back on earth. It is shown that if you present them with a horizon that moves, the body does not know how to balance at all and completely fails at that task, while if they look out on a stable horizon, they may still have problems walking, but its much easier for them to stay up.

 

Actually this motion detection and ranging is such an intrinsic part of our vision and perception system, that a significant amount of brain power is set aside for that very process. In an experiment, in which scientists were tracking brain activity, if a subject is asked to focus on the words that appear on an empty screen, you could see visionary response, once a word is shown, you see how the brain processes the information and track that to vocalizing, in a pretty clear pattern. If you add random moving pixels to that screen, you can see constant activity of the brain, regardless of whether the human is trying or not trying to pay attention, the brain is constantly interpreting those moving pixels subconsciously. This makes it a lot harder to concentrate on the words, too...

[Michaelangelica]

Michael, the detection of motion is not a male or female trait,

OK I conceded. Please don't make me play or watch football.

 

It does not explain the preponderance of males in aggressive ball game.

[danskapia]

Because Kari Byron from MythBusters did the coke and mentos thing so well.

[paigetheoracle]

The guys that do this say that you get a good reaction from regular coke as well, but because diet coke does not have sugar, it is easier to clean up after getting soaked in it.

 

By the way i think the psychology behind us liking that is not dissimilar to that behind liking fireworks, rockets and other projectiles. We are generally fascinated by things that defy gravity or logic, we are fascinated with things we can not explain, our minds are tuned to detect motion, and because of that, moving things tend to fascinate us more then not moving things, things that make subtle sound arouse our predatory instinct, which gets further reinforced with the movement of an object, (this is not the case with fireworks and rockets, but is with coke). And exploding things, such as the volatile reaction that makes a bottle of diet coke spew a fountain of soda into the air, also give us a small sense of danger, all of which induces the release of endorphins and adrenalin, both of which, unless in a dangerous situation, we tend to enjoy...

 

I've heard this said by battlefield veterans too - it all seems surreal (thing, coke is).:hihi:

[paigetheoracle]

OK I conceded. Please don't make me play or watch football.

 

It does not explain the preponderance of males in aggressive ball game.

 

What Alexander doesn't get is that males 'like' this motion, where females have this built into their jeans or slacks (poor pun on genes but what the hell) as a protective instinct, to protect offspring from danger, not as something to chase and pounce on like a cat or male hunter of the human kind.:hihi:

[paigetheoracle]

 

Actually this motion detection and ranging is such an intrinsic part of our vision and perception system, that a significant amount of brain power is set aside for that very process. In an experiment, in which scientists were tracking brain activity, if a subject is asked to focus on the words that appear on an empty screen, you could see visionary response, once a word is shown, you see how the brain processes the information and track that to vocalizing, in a pretty clear pattern. If you add random moving pixels to that screen, you can see constant activity of the brain, regardless of whether the human is trying or not trying to pay attention, the brain is constantly interpreting those moving pixels subconsciously. This makes it a lot harder to concentrate on the words, too...

 

Firstly, I'm sorry I didn't read your post first before replying to Mike's (Duplication or what but I did add a subtle point).

 

Speaking as somebody possibly with Asperger's Syndrome - multiply by every other sensory input and the idle chatter of crowds, and you may have some idea why autistic kids taken into a mall, scream and scream, and scream, covering their ears and hugging themselves (Torture would be taking them to a football match).