Prepare yourself, we are about to get deep…
“Mom, I’ve got a question. What if I was sitting all by myself in my
room, but everybody else in the whole world happened to be hanging out in Africa, I mean EVERYBODY. And then all at once, everybody in Africa screamed. Would I hear them?” Jay-8
Alright, so what’s your best guess? Jay’s upstairs in his room here in the Northeast while the rest of the population on the planet just happens to be “hanging out” in Africa. We all scream. Can he hear us? It’s sort of like that age-old riddle, “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” Only switch the location to Africa and add about 6 billion people. Except, of course, for Jay because he’ll be upstairs in his room.
Young American Wisdom 
Once again I defer to the Magic 8 Ball for my response, “Concentrate and ask again.”
Hmmm … perhaps after my third cup of coffee.
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I need a Magic 8 Ball! Imagine the possibilities…
“Mom, what’s for dinner?” … “Hold on, let me ask the Magic 8 Ball.”
“Mom, can we go to Toys “R” Us?” … “Hold on, let me ask the Magic 8 Ball.”
“Mom, when can I start wearing makeup?” … “Hold on, let me ask the Magic 8 Ball.”
“Honey, where are my keys?” … “Hold on, let me ask the Magic 8 Ball.”
Thanks, Lenore!
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Since I know, without a doubt, that a tree falling in the forest will make a sound even if there is no one around to hear it. I’m pretty sure Jay won’t hear 6 billion people scream from Africa that far away. Pretty sure. That’s deep.
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Way too deep, especially before you’ve had a cup of coffee. I’ll count you as a “no” vote. 🙂
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Sounds like something my son would ask me at breakfast while I’m still half asleep…followed by twenty more questions. It makes my head hurt just thinking about it. I would probably tell him I don’t think so, and my son would probably keep asking me until he got the answer he wanted, which is “yes, because that’s a lot of people.”
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They always ask the craziest questions first thing in the morning and right before bed. And, of course, I’m half asleep at both of those times. By the way, your answer works for me!
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Don`t know the answer, but I truly believe your kids are brilliant! Their thought processes continually amaze me. I so enjoy my morning read of your blog. 🙂
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Thank you for the kind words, Isabella. I’m glad these silly post make you smile. 🙂
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If the wind blows really, really, really hard you can hear them. 🙂
But probably not.
Or if there on the tv. 🙂
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Yes, the TV! You could definitely hear them on the TV…unless the remote was on mute.
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We’re calling a joint meeting of all Florida residents to help Jay along…we’re practicing our best screams….will keep you posted
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Will there be hanging chads involved?
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Sometimes I wish the entire population would vacate. I don’t think I’d mind that for a little while.
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I hear ya! I felt like that earlier today, as a matter of fact. 😉
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All depends on which way the wind is blowing. Most of our winds travel west to east. People in Australia may hear them, but if the winds change, be prepared for some nasty ass weather on the east coast.
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As long as it doesn’t snow!
I’m putting you down as a “no” vote. The Australians get all the fun. 😉
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A) human voices (any) can only reach a certain decibel B) if you’re DOWN wind, you’re going to hear things from much farther C) certain geographical structures help “carry” sounds and others stop or muffle them D) how far are you from Africa (and exactly where in Africa as it’s a freaking massive continent with many countries)? As pertaining to the last question, everybody in the world shouting upwind with certain geographical structures towards an island off the coast could probably hear a mile away or more.
I’m not a scientist but I did grow up calling cattle in from several valleys over?
Took the question too literally, eh? Ah, well. I think he should do an illustration for us.
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So, I’m totally reading your comment to Jay. He’ll appreciate your insight…I appreciate your insight. You really called cattle? Wow!
As for the illustration, I’m sure he’d be thrilled to draw one…he’s very artsy these days.
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Great question. I don’t know the answer, but if Jay could organize everyone in Africa to do that, he probably win the Nobel Prize.
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Imagine the lines to get through security at the airports. What a nightmare!
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it depends on what is screamed. If everyone screams “clean your room”, no he won’t hear it. If 10% of the people scream “do you want a piece of chocolate cake” he’ll ask everyone to stop shouting at him.
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You’ve got that right! The same goes for, “Brush your teeth!”
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Haha, or the Southern interpretation “If a tree falls in WalMart and everybody’s dressed in camo…”
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Hahaha! “If a tree falls in Walmart and everybody’s dressed in camo, will the checkout lines still be as slow as molasses in January?”
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Jay could hear them if he puts a really REALLY big one-sized cup to his ear. Tell him to start looking for one and that might keep him busy for a while.
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While he’s looking for that REALLY big cup, he’ll discover where I’ve hidden the Playdoh and then decide to mold the continent of Africa out of ALL the Playdoh, which he will inevitably drop all over the floor, step on and track through my house. 😉
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That’s one busy little mind your son has there 😀 I think you can hear Austrailia if you stick your head in the toilet and flush.
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I thought I heard “Cheers, mate” when I flushed. 😉
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Does he have a conch shell? ‘Cause if he does, I’m pretty sure he’d hear them. Or maybe that’s the ocean…
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He has a conch shell in his room that he has defiled with magic marker, but it should still work. Maybe I’ll just tell him it’s Africa. He’ll never know the difference, right?
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this is so funny…but having now stopped ha ha-ing – if he puts a cardboard cup to his bedroom wall he will hear them. definitely. continue…
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If he puts a cup to his bedroom wall, what he’ll hear is his brother having a full court NBA game in his room with his Nerf Net, complete with play by play commentary.
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Depends…can he hear his mother down the hall yelling at him to clean his room? If no, then probably not.
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On the rare occasion that he does hear me, he scoops everything up off the floor, tosses it into his closet and throws a blanket on top. Finito!
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Great post. I enjoyed reading your blog today.
If you love to write we would love for you to join us!
Writer Jobs
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Thanks for reading!
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I bet h wouldn’t so much hear it but FEEL it. like a mini-earthquake.
He is hilarious P.S.
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A mini-earthquake could be fun…give him something to talk about at school.
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Yes, I think so.
Northeast? For some reason I pictured you living next to some vineyards in California.
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Coincidentally, I also picture myself living next to some vineyards in California.
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How FUNNY!!
Except the part about me having to admit that’s a little too deep for me.
And I’m well past 8.
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Too deep for me, too! That’s why I had to bring this crazy question to you good people.
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I’m of course being far too literal here, but my answer is: Yes, he would hear it, but he’d have no idea what he was hearing.
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Literal is good! I’m putting you down as a “yes.” What kind of sound do you think it would make…sorta like a sonic boom? 😉
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I think Cooper hit the nail on the head with his response. As for Jay – I wish he was in one of my Gifted and Talented classes!
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Aww, thanks for saying that! School doesn’t always come as easy for Jay as it does for Anna and Will. He’s too busy having “deep thoughts.”
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If Jay is anything like my son, I could be standing outside his bedroom door screaming his name & he wouldn’t “hear” me. So, the answer is no. Unless of course he was hungry, then he would hear everyone.
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Nobody ever hears me in this house either and then they wonder why I yell.
“Mom, why are you always yelling at me?” … “Because you never listen to me.”
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No, but it sure would freak out that bird flying over the crowd.
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Hahaha! Spontaneous combustion for the poor bird.
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I bet if everyone else on the planet was eating Rice Krispies Jay could hear a faint *snap crackle pop*, anyway.
🙂
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I bet he could, too. Sort of like he can hear the bag of chips being opened in the kitchen when he’s upstairs in his room…
“Hey! Can I have some chips, too?” Then I have to share. 😦
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I love these comments! You guys should be writing my blog for me. 🙂
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My question is, why did Jay have to stay at home? Shame on you.
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He’s afraid to fly. 😉
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If they broadcast the event & Jay is watching it on TV he’s sure to hear them/us. I assume I’ll be there too
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We’ll all be there. I bet I can scream louder than you!
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You’d hear them if they called you and then they yelled into their phones.
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Well, that depends on the service provider…”Can you hear me now?” 😉
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