Call me crazy

On Friday I read in the paper that, "a study has found that when people are feeling socially isolated, they attribute human characteristics to their pets, or even to electronic gadgets". The article offered the relationship between Tom Hanks' character and Wilson, the volley ball in Castaway as an example.

Today marks the second anniversary of the day I drove Truck home. To honor the special day I picked up my sister and we went through the McDonald's drive-thru for raspberry pies. On Friday I also treated my shiny metal friend to a wash.

"In the first, volunteers completed a survey about four gadgets, including Clocky, a wheeled alarm clock that "runs away" when you try to turn it off, and Pillow Mate, a pillow that can be programmed to give "hugs." They also completed a loneliness questionnaire.

Lonely people were more likely to assign the gadgets humanlike traits such as having "a mind of its own," the researchers found."

The defense rests her case.

Hey Wilson, pass me the ketchup! Loneliness can lead people to humanize pets and objects. Shannon Proudfoot, The Winnipeg Free Press. January 25, 2008