6 September 2012 - object permanence

Jay Scott : Daily Whale : archive : 2012 : 6 September 2012

Object permanence is taken as a basic perceptual ability, but are objects truly permanent? Many have tried this experiment: Distractedly put down an object because you need a hand free for something else. Do you ever see it again? Sometimes not! You can recognize the people who know this, because they never put down their smartphones.

clue:

For many years I have tried to follow the rule “never put anything down.” That’s why my hands are always full putting people down.

take oh take this clue away