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[-] logicbomb@lemmy.world 28 points 2 weeks ago

Whoever made up that saying, "A watched pot never boils," must have a very different brain from me.

I have no illusions that I'm capable of multitasking with my conscious attention, and if I'm watching a pot of water being heated to a boil, then that's all I'm watching, so it inevitably boils while I'm watching it.

[-] spankmonkey@lemmy.world 26 points 2 weeks ago

The meaning isn't literal, it is saying that waiting feels longer when you are focused on the thing.

[-] i_love_FFT@jlai.lu 2 points 2 weeks ago

The meaning can also be literal if you interpret it using quantum physics. Observing the quantum state of a molecule will collapse its wavefunction in the most likely state, which is the same state it was in if you observed it mere instants ago.

[-] lobut@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 weeks ago

I grew up just following my mum around the kitchen. I remember literally watching pots of water boil. When the bubbles form and they look like eyes and stuff. When I heard the saying, I was always a bit confused until I realized I'm a weirdo.

[-] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

The meaning of the saying is actually the opposite: as soon as you look away it starts doing the thing you were watching it for. Applies to many situations in life; maybe not foremost actual pots with cooking in it.

[-] raltoid@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Yes, they probably did...

It just means that when "distracted", perception of time changes. For example, doing something you hate tends to feel like it took more time than something you enjoy.

this post was submitted on 15 Jul 2025
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