(The Study of Threes)
http://threesology.org
On one occasion many years ago, I encountered a very questioning look from a young lady to my long list of verbally recited patterns-of-three. She had never encountered anyone who could vocally express a list of accumulated examples in such a short period of time. She was literally taken aback and humorously presented the impression of someone standing with their mouth agape. It was then that I began to articulate a thought previously considered with respect to my singular "participation" in the collection of three-patterned examples. I asked her if she thought the examples were numerically rationalized superficial correlations. She replied that this is exactly what they are. I smiled because her reaction was similar to others when they are confronted by an array of information in a simple system of ordering they themselves had not thought of, much less even think to do. They were not only astonished at the quantity (actually only about a dozen) and quality (actually everyday items) of threes examples, but the simple means by which they could be grouped together and articulated during a conversation.
On other occasions I have encountered those who explain my behavior, in a similar instance of reciting a list of threes, as having too much time on my hands. I laugh to myself because their expression is a defense mechanism meant to protect themselves from a circumstance not intended to be a confrontation nor a challenge, but is interpreted as such nonetheless. Perhaps to them, I give them the impression of being a walking/talking textbook that should remain on some reference shelf in a library, for which they would never venture to explore since they prefer to do "research" by a cursory examination of material on the internet. My "list telling behavior" quite often begins after the social encounter has displayed some sort of pattern-of-three, such as receiving three coins, three dollars as change, or having (unintentionally) bought three items. However, it should also be noted that there are some individuals who have noticed the recurrence of patterns-of-three, albeit in a conventional sense of acknowledging superstition-aligned concepts such as "death occurring in threes," or "third time's the charm," or some personalized "three" reference such as being the third child born in a family or something some relative discussed concerning a "three" value.
For many people, examples from the realm of science can not be grouped from those found in religion or some "fringe" interest such as Witchcraft, Crop circles or Ufology. To them, these areas of interest are distinctly different and represent the definitive mindset of the person as if they were wearing a particular set of clothes, attended a specific religious service, listened to a particular kind of music, or enjoyed a particular form of entertainment. Such divergent topics taking place in the same discussion is too much for their single-mindedness to comprehend into any coherent similitude of understanding. In other words, the varied areas from which threes can be found and grouped together based on a threes schema, renders them dumb-founded and defensive. Hence, some will attack accusingly, or beratively, and perhaps even derisively. Others will simply excuse themselves from your presence because they discover that their first impression of you was based on false assumptions. Whereas they may have at first interpreted you to be likeably normal, in relation to themselves, an expressed knowledge of one or more subject areas they have little or no appreciable understanding of, renders you as someone on the outside of their typically accepted associated-with group.
Yet I must admit that while introducing the concept of recognizing the organizational methodology of putting divergent subjects into a "Threesological" compartmentalization with respect to a preemptive conversation with another is rewarding in itself, since it permits me to explore an ongoing interest in teaching something that may be of value to another; it represents but a brief "eccentric" moment like so many encounters with different people as we go about our daily routines. The brief interludes of attempted conversation with strangers are social exchanges which typically remain on a superficial level. To go deeper requires an enormous effort on their part... in that it requires them to comprehensively divest themselves of the mental conformity required of them to fulfill the repetitively necessary activities of an employable position.
To think outside a particular conveyor belt of mental processing typically is not a practiced activity for them to switch back and forth from. However, in so many cases of manipulation, there are those who persuade others to "get a job" not primarily because of the financial income, but because it permits them an opportunity of directing them along a course where personalized thinking might rightly avoid. In short, in such instances, and I have witnessed many of them, the mental routine of a job is a form of hypnotism that permits one or more others the ability of manipulative control. By interrupting the conveyor belt mental routine with a threes discussion, perhaps because they are susceptible to being influenced out of the particular routine they are in, their mental life is altered so much so, on some occasions, they are forced into changing their daily routine in order to accommodate thought that is now causing them to travel a different path of consideration.
Most conversations do not have any depth of content or interest beyond that involving some monetary exchange during a purchase of one thing or another. For many, their lives revolve around such superficial "banter during/doing barter" exchanges. The "depth" of their conversational topic is the spoken or concealed quantity of financial gain, loss, or sustained accumulation.
Indeed, by way of retrospective honesty, one might argue that a large collection of threes examples is a form of accumulated wealth highly prized by like-minded enthusiasts who have an intimate appreciation of value, like the value of different items in a collection of coins, stamps, sports cards or whatever, but differs considerably with respect to a Threesological research approach that could be likened to a broad-based economics theory that, when understood and applied in a larger social context, will ultimately alter the direction of humanity's day to day activities with profound implications for its future survival and growth. It is felt that once the theory is set into motion, it will truly take on a life of its own.
Other conversational "depths" revolve around the knowledge of a specific area of personalized regard such as that involving personal care, or some household/property item. In some cases, one's "depth" and therefore sophistication of intellect, is considered to be indicated by their knowledge (or at least understanding) of one or more sports-centered statistic, either involving a particular league, team, or individual player(s). No less, "depth" of one's intelligence (or lack thereof) can likewise be concealed with any of the above stated interests, not to mention the variety of activities involving gambling.
While the foregoing examples are just a few of the "number-related" interests different people associate with their brand of "deep" intellectual pursuit, there are others called hobbies, some of which use more pictorial-related associations that may not be consciously identified with any particular innumeration, but, upon closer examination may reveal a recurring pattern that a number-related schema could be applied. However, such an attempt much appreciate that some advocates of a personalized venue may reject any attempt to relate "their" interest to any characterization that would suggest a relationship to anything suggesting a meaningless, trite, mundane, or everyday appearances. Take for example those who claim a particular type or style of music is "theirs," as if they truly have some claim to ownership. If an observer suggests a comparison to something that is felt to be less than flattering, they cry foul. To lump "their" music into a whole, whereby it is no longer felt to be singularly distinctive, the person feels offended that "their" music could possibly be defined in such a way that they think resembles something less what is held in esteem by this vicarious "owner."
But let us take another example of a pictographic form of thinking which many interpret to be an indication of extreme intelligence. Namely, that which is called the game of Chess. While most portrayals don't display individualized moves as being related to paths typically innumerated, the actual final placement of a game piece is. In other words, the horizontal, diagonal, and vertical directions are not typically associated with a number or word describing a number, individual game pieces may be, as a manner in which the event taking place in a game may be easily understood and translated amongst speakers of the same or different languages over distant areas...
In other words, language becomes condensed and symbolized into a form of relevant innumerated abbreviations. Nonetheless, the directions (horizontal, diagonal, vertical) number three in quantity, whether or not the "Chess community" innumerates them in typical usage. Just because many chess players, or those interested in chess view chess players (and particularly winners) as being highly intelligent, it is an intelligence defined as such by them, but, like so many "deep" subjects, may be of little value outside a restricted playing field. However, if the playing field were to be enlarged and not confined simply by the current game rules, pieces and players, they would then understand a Threesological approach towards comprehending a greater understanding, if not an application that has little to do with such a primitive game as chess.
A short discussion about differing assumptions of conversational depth is not a statement of arrogance meant to imply one's own interest is an example of a deeper thought or higher intelligence, but is rather one in which a self-assessing humility can be achieved in order that we may begin to question how we would define the depth of our own interest related to the particular number-related pattern under the present parameters of scrutiny. Just because we may articulate our interest with a vocabulary suggesting a greater coherent grasp of material being considered, let us express a defined humility by admitting this circumstance, in the final analysis, does not necessarily mean we are any more intelligent or have any greater intellectual depth than that which we (and perhaps many others) would define as a superficiality of intellectual pursuit. With this acknowledged, we are thus challenged to look even deeper into our area of interest.
The study of threes is a fascinating pursuit. However, as time progresses and people I know begin to pass away, I have been forced to question my own mortality and accept the realization that I may not achieve what I would like to. One of which is to teach a class on threes. Unfortunately, present academians do not view the subject of threes as a viable course of intellectual study. They do not as yet appreciate how threes interrelate linguistically, culturally, psychologically nor biologically along maturationally developmental trends in concert with the changes taking place with Earth's third position in a planetary system whose source of solar irradiation is expanding and "fusing" the first three planets into a singular demise, which is a 3 to 1 (three into one) ratio bar none.
With respect to the significance of "threes" occurring widely in different purportedly "honest to goodness" life-relevant subject areas of appropriate academic pursuit that may have themselves at one time or another been viewed as peculiar or out-of-touch with reality (and perhaps even considered heathen or anti-religious as was the ideas being presented by Darwinist advocates), let us take a look at the following example:
When a physicist is asked why there are three families of fundamental particles or a geneticist is asked why DNA has a triplet codon system, or a biological physiologist is asked why there are triplet microtubules substructurally existing, or a linguist is asked why all languages have a trimodal (subject- object- verb) structure, or an audiologist is asked why the structure of the ear is replete with three-patterned groupings and they dismissively (and perhaps arrogantly) reply it is because that is the way nature is, we as Threesologists are not fearful of questioning our own pre-suppositions when we wonder why humans have two eyes (yet with an iris- cornea- pupil structure), two legs and arms (each with three joints: ankle- knee- hip, wrist- elbow- shoulder), and one head (with three brain membranes: Pia mater- Dura mater- Arachnoid process, as well as a Triarchic structure consisting of the new mammal brain- old mammal brain and reptilian brain).
As Threesologists we ask if there really are Three families of fundamental particles or have we humans merely condensed and symbolized ("fudged") data to fit within the schema of a brain's ability to comprehend subject matter with that which perpetrates conclusions based on geophysical, physiological, and genetic patterns-of-three due to changing (decaying) three-patterned solar irradiation effects. Indeed, in deducing such conclusions, is this why we fit material into a format which utilizes a period, question mark, or exclamation point in the process? Are we merely attempting to fit material within a genetically? geophysical? planetary? (three-patterned) form of syllogistic formula even if we overlook the "threeness" of the formula or we call it the three bears, three pigs, or three Billy goats gruff?
Do Universities offer three major college degrees called a Bachelor's- Master's- Ph.D., because it is logical or merely tradition? Do we have a three-patterned structure of government with executive-legislative-judicial branches because it seems the right thing to do? Do we describe a noun in grammar as a person-place-thing, or develop a system of logic with a major premise- minor premise- conclusion frame work just because its convenient? Did someone design red-yellow-green street-lights, create a mathematical sine-cosine-tangent formula, or a medical treatment plan according to a three trimester pregnancy because information naturally assumes this structural outline?
Do some people promote a three-day exercise routine because it is something acquired off the top of their head? Does the American court system require someone to tell the truth- the whole truth- and nothing but the truth in a system of justice that frequently subverts the search for truth because it is more interested in "how the game is played" amongst the various opposing players under the auspices of a judicial referee that commonly is biased or disinterested one way or another? Is there a greater degree of truth to be gained by asking someone to swear to a three-part design? No less, do we claim that we practice a government Of-By-For the people, sell three grades of gasoline, generally recognize time as past-present-future, or use pictographic symbols instead, such as those in the upper right hand corner of a computer screen all because we prefer this method over any other?
Why does the human body have several "expressed" two-patterned structures based on an underlying three-patterned architectural array? For example:
- Two arms but each has a shoulder-elbow-wrist joint.
- Two legs but each has a hip-knee-ankle joint.
- Two eyes but each has a pupil-cornea-iris.
- An upper and lower set of teeth but there are 1st-2nd-3rd molars; baby teeth- adult teeth-old age false teeth.
- Two ears but the ears are sectioned into inner-middle-outer, there are 3 bones (incus-stapes-malleus), three semi-circular canals, etc...
- Two lungs (the right side has three lobes, the left side has two lobes).
- Two brain hemispheres but three membranes (pia mater- dura mater- arachnoid process) surround the 3-structure brain (reptilian- old mammalian- neo/new-mammalian).
Why do the attributes of the left brain hemisphere (such as language, logic, mathematics) readily correspond to a three-patterned labeling schema while the right brain attributes (such as painting, music, sculpting,) readily correspond to a two-patterned labeling system (yet can be viewed with three-patterned references when analyzed by the left brain attributes)?
Is the present structure of the human body in a second "two" stage of maturational development with a "three" stage yet to come? Will all humans one day have two heads before it develops three, or is the one head, two appendage, three-patterned architecture of the human body a unified expression of a one- two- three formula designed by nature under circumstances coincident with life on Earth's changing environment? Would a new type of human formula develop if we were to begin breeding for generations while subjected to the environment of Mars or elsewhere such as in a large transport spacecraft?
While the following image depicts a supposition... supposing that we humans do follow a 1- 2- 3 maturational development sequence, it provides an initial attempt at articulating an approach at describing, at some level of coherency, in spite of how inaccurate our language may be. Regardless, it begins to outline that which many humans do not want to portray in any great definitive detail because it removes from them the ability to be as fanciful (or philosophical) as they care to be no matter what the situation is, depending on how their mood cares to alternatively label particular events in arbitrarily interpreted circumstances affecting them physically, emotionally, or intellectually.
There are so many questions yet to be asked... no less answered, as best we can given our present knowledge and courage to press forward into areas that forms of religious interpretation and like-minded fear-of-the-unknown superstitious pronouncements proclaim as forbidden territories of exploration that are best left to their interpretation of God and the ruling priestly elite.
The study of threes is extremely exciting, exhilarating and exponentially gratifying beyond any physical pleasure because it persists and reinvigorates, even while the obtained pleasure subdues us to a gratifyingly exhaustive state of multi-faceted resplendency. While some people may shun any pursuit into the realm of threes research for varying reasons typically related to acceptable social standards as defined by their peers, family or significant influential others, Threesologists share a common feeling that there exists some underlying significance to the widespread occurrence of three-patterned structures in so many fields of interest and that they are participating in developing the tools of explorations at the very threshold of discovery... perhaps like early humans making stone tools and traveling gear prior to exploring beyond the common boundaries of their clan into an area where there is more "game," untainted water, and an abundance of fruits, shoots, as well as berries. (It's of interest to note how many people don't make a corelation between the word "game" as in playing a game and the word "game" with respect to food, even though there are many parallels.)
The study of threes is much more than what may be called chasing butterflies, waiting for the elusive rarely seen bird to show itself through some foliage, or capturing a jar of fireflies as a make-believe one-of-a-kind lantern with which to peer through the veil of a darkness obscured from view by disbelievers. It is much more fun than chasing lizards on a mesa, momentarily encaging a bee in the petals of a flower or looking for images in clouds while laying on a hillside on a lazy afternoon. And it is much more intriguing than being struck by the Eureka! effect when making comparisons between insect colonies and human society, without being introduced to such a view by an intrusive adult trying to impress their knowledge on kids, thereby destroying the effect of amazement at one's own personal discovery, no matter how many thousands of others may have already made the same comparison either due to being told of such by a teacher or having read about it in a book. While some may define Threesologists as specifistic generalists because of our penchant of looking for patterns-of-threes when given various opportunities to do so, like so many poets, musicians, artists, actors, and chefs; such a label can also describe the efforts of physicians, physicists, mathematicians, surveyors, psychologists and geneticists. The viability of Threesology as a field of serious and worthwhile study is in the making.
Your Questions, Comments or Additional Information are welcomed:
Herb O. Buckland
herbobuckland@hotmail.com