Delete comment from: Ken Shirriff's blog
By your research, the Richard Feynman version seems pretty accurate, and it had been used in a context: Cargo Cult Science: when people observe others doing something and repeating that without knowing what they are doing, hoping to attract success.
It is however interesting to read that some people had been successful with the "build roads and they will come" method, via monthly missionaries landings, and with general superstition and rumor mill, it is logical that when the story had spread once, for people with ultra limited world view, that they would logically assume it is only a matter of time when some objects attract attention, visitors and gifts.
And yes: U.S. soldiers had been ultra generous by world standards. Because they had been properly fed, and sharing some food was nothing to them. The stories, photos of U.S. soldiers of the old era doing that anywhere. Even the random U.S. soldier sharing a cigarette with a captured soldier, or one under rubble or sand, or just an injured enemy soldier. Because, let's face it: US soldiers were no bums, and white soldiers ate the same food as the black ones. That's equality enough for the tiny tribes, in their view, a nearly classless society. In starved regions, classes and racism determined who had been allowed to eat what.
But overall, Ken Shiriff deserves 10 points for a well researched topic. Thank you.
Jan 15, 2025, 2:34:12 PM