[I]Schelling Points in London

Sprinkler Systems Uhaul move Lawn care Roses and trees Ford Parts Chrysler Parts Lake Powell New IPod Touch Apps New IPhone Apps IPhone Apps IPad Information IPad Apps Android APPS Android Games APPS Android Systems Android Tablets APPS and Beyond Smartphone Apps Smartphone Games Apps Repair and Tools Tablet PC Car Sharing Car Leasing Tabler Pc Fly Fishing Toyota Cars Vacation Rentals Stock market NYSE SSE Stock Freight & Shipping News Gluten Lactose Gout My Coupon Life Campgrounds Check Outdoor Kitchen Design and Redoo Bath Remodeling Palm Springs Las Vegas Vacation Tipps Lake Powell Boating Homes for lease Electric and green Car Blog Pearls and diamonds Whatsapp and forget SMS Blog, What is Whatsapp App Solar Panel Solar Energie Sun Power Blog

[Suche] [Administrator] [Hinweise zum Reader] [Startseite]

Fantasy » alt.fan.pratchett » [I]Schelling Points in London

[I]Schelling Points in London [message #290673]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 00:21

alec

Some years ago, Professor Schelling told his students that they had to
meet someone in New York, but they didn't know where. And they knew that
the other person didn't know where, so that both parties would be
searching for the "obvious" meeting point.

With startling unanimity, the students agreed that they would meed at
the Information Desk at Grand Central Station (which is under the highly
visible clock). When time was added as a variable, they all agreed on 12
noon.

The Information Booth at Grand Central therefore became known as a
Schelling Point.

My question is - do you know of any other Schelling Points, and in
particular any in London? This is probably aimed more at non-Londoners
than at Londoners, and even more at those who have never visited London.
Where is "the place" in London where you would go to meet people?

I believer that Kipling said that if you stand under the clock at King's
Cross Station, sooner or later everyone you know will pass by. But that
was a century ago. What has succeeded that?

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #290676 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 00:35

Daibhid Ceannaideach

The time: 25 Jun 2006. The place: alt.fan.pratchett. The
speaker: Alec Cawley <alec [at] spamspam.co.uk>

> Some years ago, Professor Schelling told his students that
> they had to meet someone in New York, but they didn't know
> where. And they knew that the other person didn't know
> where, so that both parties would be searching for the
> "obvious" meeting point.
>
> With startling unanimity, the students agreed that they
> would meed at the Information Desk at Grand Central Station
> (which is under the highly visible clock). When time was
> added as a variable, they all agreed on 12 noon.
>
> The Information Booth at Grand Central therefore became
> known as a Schelling Point.
>
> My question is - do you know of any other Schelling Points,
> and in particular any in London? This is probably aimed
> more at non-Londoners than at Londoners, and even more at
> those who have never visited London. Where is "the place"
> in London where you would go to meet people?
>
> I believer that Kipling said that if you stand under the
> clock at King's Cross Station, sooner or later everyone you
> know will pass by. But that was a century ago. What has
> succeeded that?

I'd say Nelson's Column, on the "big, famous landmark"
principle. But I quite often miss people because I'm standing
in the wrong part of an agreed meeting point, so I wouldn't
put too much faith in my opinion...

--
Dave
Official Absentee of EU Skiffeysoc
http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/societies/sesoc
Suggs against sexism. It's Madness gone
politically correct.
Jon Holmes, The Now Show 26/5/06

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #290679 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 00:48

Tamara

Alec Cawley wrote:
<about Schelling's point in New York>

You got me thinking about all the cities I've lived in or spent a
reasonable amount of time in to know enough about...

So here's a list for you:

London: I'd love to say Seven Dials, but it's *just* enough off the main
roads that not enough people get to.
But I do know just the place. It's Hamley's on Regents street.

Amsterdam: A canal tour boat.
Oh, all right. Waterloo plein street market.

Eindhoven: Unfortunately Eindhoven is rather dull - the schelling point
would be the train station.

Tel Aviv: Aroma. It's a local coffee shop chain, one on every street,
good coffee, good food. Just don't ask me how the students will know
*which* aroma branch they should be in.

Jerusalem: Talita Kumi - Only the locals will know to call this place by
name, but *everyone* will eventually go past it. It's a facade of an old
building, turned into a shady square right in the heart of the city
centre.

--
tamara at blue-infinity dot net

"You could try refusing to lend out your books and comics unless the
person leaves you something equally valuable to them with you, as a
hostage. Of course, if that goes wrong, you could lose all your Sandmans
and books, and find yourself with several unwanted dogs, parrots and
children..."
Neil Gaiman's online journal

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #290680 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 00:49

Suzi

In article <MPG.1f091cbcc0a8bfbb989d1c [at] news.individual.net>, Alec Cawley
alec [at] spamspam.co.uk wibbled...

[Snip]
> My question is - do you know of any other Schelling Points, and in
> particular any in London? This is probably aimed more at non-Londoners
> than at Londoners, and even more at those who have never visited London.
> Where is "the place" in London where you would go to meet people?

Trafalgar Square.

Suzi

Re: [I]Schelling Points in other places, was: ... in London [message #290681 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 00:52

news0606

Alec Cawley wrote:=20
> My question is - do you know of any other Schelling Points, and in=20
> particular any in London?=20

May I extend this question to other places? What would be the Schelling=20
points in major cities you know, and why?=20

London is difficult, because (from the experience of my handful of=20
visits), it lacks *one* central place -- there are several major railway=20
and tube stations, at least two major airports, and so on.=20

OTOH, the existance of, say, a central station doesn't make that the=20
Schelling point. Hamburg's central station, for instance, is laid out=20
as, basically, two bridges across the tracks, each with their own=20
complete set of stores, information desks, etc -- so there's no *one*=20
*obviously preferred* meeting point.=20

For Hamburg, I can think of two better candidates -- the=20
M=F6nckebergbrunnen, or the Rathaus entrance.=20

Michael

Re: [I]Schelling Points in other places, was: ... in London [message #290689 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 01:03

Daibhid Ceannaideach

The time: 25 Jun 2006. The place: alt.fan.pratchett. The
speaker: =?ISO-8859-15?Q?Michael_J=2E_Sch=FClke?=
<news0606 [at] mjschuelke.de>

> Alec Cawley wrote:
>> My question is - do you know of any other Schelling
>> Points, and in particular any in London?
>
> May I extend this question to other places? What would be
> the Schelling points in major cities you know, and why?

In most Scottish towns it would be the Mercat Cross. That's
what it's *for*[1].

(In Inverness, the fake Mercat Cross in Falcon's Square,
rather than the real Mercat Cross tucked away in a nook of the
Town House.)

[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercat_Cross

--
Dave
Official Absentee of EU Skiffeysoc
http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/societies/sesoc
Suggs against sexism. It's Madness gone
politically correct.
Jon Holmes, The Now Show 26/5/06

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #290691 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 01:19

raltbos

Suzi <spamtrap [at] lovegoddess.free-online.co.uk> wrote:

> In article <MPG.1f091cbcc0a8bfbb989d1c [at] news.individual.net>, Alec Cawley
> alec [at] spamspam.co.uk wibbled...
>
> > My question is - do you know of any other Schelling Points, and in
> > particular any in London? This is probably aimed more at non-Londoners
> > than at Londoners, and even more at those who have never visited London.
> > Where is "the place" in London where you would go to meet people?
>
> Trafalgar Square.

To be precise, the stairs in front of the National Gallery.

Richard

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #290692 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 01:19

raltbos

tamara <spam [at] blue-infinity.net> wrote:

> London: I'd love to say Seven Dials, but it's *just* enough off the main
> roads that not enough people get to.
> But I do know just the place. It's Hamley's on Regents street.

You'll never find anyone - they'll all be spread over the floors trying
to find the most interesting toy.

Either the National Gallery, or underneath Big Ben.

> Amsterdam: A canal tour boat.
> Oh, all right. Waterloo plein street market.

No, the National Monument on the Dam.

Richard

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #290723 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 02:17

Eric Jarvis

Richard Bos raltbos [at] xs4all.nl wrote in <449f14c6.17662687 [at] news.xs4all.nl>:
> tamara <spam [at] blue-infinity.net> wrote:
>
> > London: I'd love to say Seven Dials, but it's *just* enough off the main
> > roads that not enough people get to.
> > But I do know just the place. It's Hamley's on Regents street.
>
> You'll never find anyone - they'll all be spread over the floors trying
> to find the most interesting toy.
>
> Either the National Gallery, or underneath Big Ben.
>

Underneath Big Ben is useless, there's nowhere for a group of people to
stand around without getting in the way.

--
eric
www.ericjarvis.co.uk
"live fast, die only if strictly necessary"

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #290746 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 05:05

tms

Re: [I]Schelling Points in other places, was: ... in London [message #290766 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 08:42

Suzi

In article <MPG.1f0931fecce0d9f59898c1 [at] news.individual.de>, =?ISO-8859-
15?Q?Michael_J=2E_Sch=FClke?= news0606 [at] mjschuelke.de wibbled...

[Snip]
> London is difficult, because (from the experience of my handful of
> visits), it lacks *one* central place -- there are several major railway
> and tube stations, at least two major airports, and so on.

Yes, but it has Trafalgar Square which tends to be the "meeting up"
place of choice at times like Christmas and New Year for many people.

Suzi

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #290767 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 08:42

Brenda

T.M. Sommers said:

> Alec Cawley wrote:
>> Some years ago, Professor Schelling told his students that they had to
>> meet someone in New York, but they didn't know where. And they knew that
>> the other person didn't know where, so that both parties would be
>> searching for the "obvious" meeting point.
>>
>> With startling unanimity, the students agreed that they would meed at
>> the Information Desk at Grand Central Station (which is under the highly
>> visible clock).
>
> It's not really startling, because that meeting place has been
> used in innumerable movies.

Whenever two or three people are gathered together, *any* unanimity is
startling. Especially where students are concerned.

Unless there's a pub involved somewhere.

--
Richard Heathfield
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29/7/1999
http://www.cpax.org.uk
email: rjh at above domain (but drop the www, obviously)

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #290771 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 08:42

Anke

Daibhid Ceanaideach wrote:
> The time: 25 Jun 2006. The place: alt.fan.pratchett. The
> speaker: Alec Cawley <alec [at] spamspam.co.uk>
> >
> > My question is - do you know of any other Schelling
> > Points, and in particular any in London? This is
> > probably aimed more at non-Londoners than at
> > Londoners, and even more at those who have never
> > visited London. Where is "the place" in London
> > where you would go to meet people?
> >
>
> I'd say Nelson's Column, on the "big, famous landmark"
> principle.

Would that be the Nelson as in "like a pigeon that has
seen Lord Nelson not only stepping from his pedestral,
but also going into a weapons shop and buying a
shotgun and cartridges", or something like that? That's
the only thing I've heard about that. Trafalgar Square
sounds better to me, who has never been to London
before. ;)

In Cologne I'd think "in front of the cathedral" would be
a good bet. Many people either look at the facade or go
in, and moreover anyone going from the main train
station to the main shopping street or the other way
round passes there.
There are places to sit there, too, iirc.

Anke

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #290846 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 11:21

Cathy Young

Alec Cawley wrote:

> My question is - do you know of any other Schelling Points, and in
> particular any in London? This is probably aimed more at non-Londoners
> than at Londoners, and even more at those who have never visited London.
> Where is "the place" in London where you would go to meet people?

I would have to say the clock in Waterloo station (I'm surprised no
one's mentioned it already!) or, for sheer visibility, the Millennium
Wheel ("London Eye").

--
Cathy
http://www.bentbacktulips.co.uk/

Re: [I]Schelling Points in other places, was: ... in London [message #290851 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 11:27

Winterbay

Michael J. Schülke wrote:
> Alec Cawley wrote:
>
>>My question is - do you know of any other Schelling Points, and in
>>particular any in London?
>
>
> May I extend this question to other places? What would be the Schelling
> points in major cities you know, and why?
>
> London is difficult, because (from the experience of my handful of
> visits), it lacks *one* central place -- there are several major railway
> and tube stations, at least two major airports, and so on.
>
> OTOH, the existance of, say, a central station doesn't make that the
> Schelling point. Hamburg's central station, for instance, is laid out
> as, basically, two bridges across the tracks, each with their own
> complete set of stores, information desks, etc -- so there's no *one*
> *obviously preferred* meeting point.
>
> For Hamburg, I can think of two better candidates -- the
> Mönckebergbrunnen, or the Rathaus entrance.
>
> Michael

FOr the two cities I have lived in, Barcelona and Gothenburg, I think
Barcelona would be the easiest namely the top of Las Ramblas since that
is where most people end up sooner or later. All traffic from the
airports end there and it is also the major tourist magnet.

In Gothenburg it is a bit more difficult, it being a smaller town but I
think that the Posseidon statue at the end of Avenyn (the largest street
with stores) would be a good choice.

/Winterbay

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #290857 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 12:33

Tamara

Richard Bos wrote:
> tamara <spam [at] blue-infinity.net> wrote:
>
>> London: I'd love to say Seven Dials, but it's *just* enough off the main
>> roads that not enough people get to.
>> But I do know just the place. It's Hamley's on Regents street.
>
> You'll never find anyone - they'll all be spread over the floors trying
> to find the most interesting toy.
>
> Either the National Gallery, or underneath Big Ben.

But they will all eventually end up in Hamleys.

>> Amsterdam: A canal tour boat.
>> Oh, all right. Waterloo plein street market.
>
> No, the National Monument on the Dam.
>

Nonononono. Anyone who isn't a tourist avoids the Dam and Rokin if they
can.

I think I'm approaching this from a different direction that you are -
I'm trying to think of a place where everyone will end up in.
It can't be too touristy because then the locals will run away
screaming, but it has to be big enough or central enough that the people
who don't know the place will end up there anyway.

tamara,
trying to locate a needle in an extrapolation of a city

--
tamara at blue-infinity dot net

"You could try refusing to lend out your books and comics unless the
person leaves you something equally valuable to them with you, as a
hostage. Of course, if that goes wrong, you could lose all your Sandmans
and books, and find yourself with several unwanted dogs, parrots and
children..."
Neil Gaiman's online journal

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #290896 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 13:46

Mentorus

Anke wrote:
>> Would that be the Nelson as in "like a pigeon that has
> seen Lord Nelson not only stepping from his pedestral,
> but also going into a weapons shop and buying a
> shotgun and cartridges", or something like that? That's
> the only thing I've heard about that. Trafalgar Square
> sounds better to me, who has never been to London
> before. ;)

Yes...that's the one! And fyi, Nelson's Column is the centerpiece of
Trafalgar Square!!

I would suggest also Marble Arch...not sure why...

Mentorus

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #290898 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 13:46

Daibhid Ceannaideach

The time: 26 Jun 2006. The place: alt.fan.pratchett. The
speaker: "Anke" <anke.wehner [at] gmail.com>

>
> Daibhid Ceanaideach wrote:
>> The time: 25 Jun 2006. The place: alt.fan.pratchett. The
>> speaker: Alec Cawley <alec [at] spamspam.co.uk>
>> >
>> > My question is - do you know of any other Schelling
>> > Points, and in particular any in London? This is
>> > probably aimed more at non-Londoners than at
>> > Londoners, and even more at those who have never
>> > visited London. Where is "the place" in London
>> > where you would go to meet people?
>>
>> I'd say Nelson's Column, on the "big, famous landmark"
>> principle.
>
> Would that be the Nelson as in "like a pigeon that has
> seen Lord Nelson not only stepping from his pedestral,
> but also going into a weapons shop and buying a
> shotgun and cartridges", or something like that?

That's the one.

> That's
> the only thing I've heard about that. Trafalgar Square
> sounds better to me, who has never been to London
> before. ;)

Well, the Square's quite big, so you'll probably want to head
for the huge pillar in the middle 8-)...

--
Dave
Official Absentee of EU Skiffeysoc
http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/societies/sesoc
Suggs against sexism. It's Madness gone
politically correct.
Jon Holmes, The Now Show 26/5/06

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #290939 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 15:28

Anke

Mentorus [at] hotmail.co.uk wrote:
> Anke wrote:
> >> Would that be the Nelson as in "like a pigeon that has
> > seen Lord Nelson not only stepping from his pedestral,
> > but also going into a weapons shop and buying a
> > shotgun and cartridges", or something like that? That's
> > the only thing I've heard about that. Trafalgar Square
> > sounds better to me, who has never been to London
> > before. ;)
>
> Yes...that's the one! And fyi, Nelson's Column is the
> centerpiece of Trafalgar Square!!

LOL
Wonderful... XD

Anke

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291048 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 21:01

Random C

I would say that anywhere which is an *obvious* meeting place is going
to be far too busy to actually find anyone.
Having never been to New York, I do not know if the aforementioned
meeting place is in any way in an area people walk through to get
somewhere else, but my experience of London's terminus stations is that
just about every part of them has a constant flow of people through and
across it.
When I was organising regular meetings in London which met in the
morning, I would have them meet outside what is currently a Wetherspoons
pub at Victoria station, which is in the upstairs part of the building
separating the main and eastern concourses. My reason for choosing this
area was that while it was approachable from three directions - inside
WHSmiths, escalators from outside WHSmiths, and using stairs located
between platforms 8 and 9 - the pub was closed and there was absolutely
no other reason to be up there. Yes, you'd have a better view of the
departure boards, but by waiting there you would be delaying getting on
your train and therefore be less likely to actually get a seat. As it
was overlooking the main concourse, it was also very easy for me to spot
people wandering around trying to find it without thinking that it might
be an idea to look *up* to find something billed as 'upstairs'.
Nowadays, I believe the pub opens for breakfast, so this is no longer a
suitable meeting place.
I don't know of anywhere like it and I can't think of anywhere at in
central London that a group of people could stand for more than a few
minutes without being in *somebody*'s way.
--
Random_c
Drive-by postings a speciality

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291070 ]

Mo, 26 Juni 2006 22:52

raltbos

tamara <spam [at] blue-infinity.net> wrote:

> Richard Bos wrote:
> > tamara <spam [at] blue-infinity.net> wrote:
> >
> >> London: I'd love to say Seven Dials, but it's *just* enough off the main
> >> roads that not enough people get to.
> >> But I do know just the place. It's Hamley's on Regents street.
> >
> > You'll never find anyone - they'll all be spread over the floors trying
> > to find the most interesting toy.
> >
> > Either the National Gallery, or underneath Big Ben.
>
> But they will all eventually end up in Hamleys.

Not me. Been there once, with a mission. I can take or leave a big toy
store - it's second-hand book shops that are magnets to me.

> >> Amsterdam: A canal tour boat.
> >> Oh, all right. Waterloo plein street market.
> >
> > No, the National Monument on the Dam.
>
> Nonononono. Anyone who isn't a tourist avoids the Dam and Rokin if they
> can.

The idea wasn't to spend time there, the idea was to meet up at the most
recognisable place.

I wouldn't be able to find the Waterlooplein without a map. Everybody
knows where to find the Dam.

> I think I'm approaching this from a different direction that you are -
> I'm trying to think of a place where everyone will end up in.

Well, not everybody _will_ end up on the Waterlooplein - I've been to
Amsterdam quite a few times, but I've never been there.

> It can't be too touristy because then the locals will run away
> screaming, but it has to be big enough or central enough that the people
> who don't know the place will end up there anyway.

Museumplein, then. Good luck finding a single person on the Museumplein
on a busy day, though.

Richard

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291102 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 00:34

Kimberley Verburg

Richard Bos wrote:
> tamara <spam [at] blue-infinity.net> wrote:

>> Nonononono. Anyone who isn't a tourist avoids the Dam and Rokin if they
>> can.
>
> The idea wasn't to spend time there, the idea was to meet up at the most
> recognisable place.
>
> I wouldn't be able to find the Waterlooplein without a map. Everybody
> knows where to find the Dam.

I'd have gone for Amsterdam Centraal myself, but seeing the mess that
station's currently in, I'd have to agree with Richard that the National
Monument on the Dam is the most obvious meeting place in Amsterdam.

For Paris, I'd pick the square in front of the Notre Dame.

>> It can't be too touristy because then the locals will run away
>> screaming, but it has to be big enough or central enough that the people
>> who don't know the place will end up there anyway.
>
> Museumplein, then. Good luck finding a single person on the Museumplein
> on a busy day, though.

Mostly you'll find poor tourists who can't find the Museumplein while
standing on it. :-)

--
Kimberley Verburg
kim [at] lspace.org

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291138 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 04:57

Lesley Weston

in article e7n3u6$2lk9$1 [at] mud.stack.nl, tamara at spam [at] blue-infinity.net
wrote on 25/06/2006 3:48 PM:

> Alec Cawley wrote:
> <about Schelling's point in New York>
>
> You got me thinking about all the cities I've lived in or spent a
> reasonable amount of time in to know enough about...
>
> So here's a list for you:
>
> London: I'd love to say Seven Dials, but it's *just* enough off the main
> roads that not enough people get to.
> But I do know just the place. It's Hamley's on Regents street.

Agreed.

<snip>

I don't know the other cities, but here's a couple more:

Oxford - the Martyrs' Memorial. It's not quite at the centre, but it's very
much part of both the Town and the University, and everyone knows it
including touristy things, so non-Oxonians would be able to find it.

Vancouver - the steps of the Art Gallery. That's where everybody does meet
anyway, also where all demonstrations, mass guitar-playings etc. are held.
Alternatively, Benny's Bagels on Broadway.

--
Lesley Weston.

Brightly_coloured_blob is real, but I don't often check even the few bits
that get through Yahoo's filters. To reach me, use leswes att shaw dott ca,
changing spelling and spacing as required.

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291152 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 06:40

Pudde Fjord

Random C wrote:

> I don't know of anywhere like it and I can't think of anywhere at in
> central London that a group of people could stand for more than a few
> minutes without being in *somebody*'s way.

Outside Buckingham Palace?

There's even little booths to wait in...

Pudde.

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291167 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 08:53

Anke

Random C wrote:
> I would say that anywhere which is an *obvious* meeting
> place is going to be far too busy to actually find anyone.
> Having never been to New York, I do not know if
> the aforementioned meeting place is in any way in an area
> people walk through to get somewhere else, but my
> experience of London's terminus stations is that just about
> every part of them has a constant flow of people through
> and across it.
> When I was organising regular meetings in London which
> met in the morning, I would have them meet outside what
> is currently a Wetherspoons pub at Victoria station, which
> is in the upstairs part of the building separating the main
> and eastern concourses.

But you told them that beforehand, didn't you? So it's not
a Schelling Point as explained...
'Professor Schelling told his students that they had to
meet someone in New York, but they didn't know where.
And they knew that the other person didn't know where, so
that both parties would be searching for the "obvious"
meeting point.'
Of course your idea is more sensible ;)

Anke

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291181 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 09:28

Thorsten Ruffle-Brand[1]

On Tue, 27 Jun 2006 02:57:47 +0000, Lesley Weston wrote:

> Oxford - the Martyrs' Memorial. It's not quite at the centre, but it's very
> much part of both the Town and the University, and everyone knows it
> including touristy things, so non-Oxonians would be able to find it.

Nope, lived in OX for a couple of years, couldn't tell you where it is.

T>

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291219 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 12:59

naomi

Alec Cawley wrote:
> Some years ago, Professor Schelling told his students that they had to
> meet someone in New York, but they didn't know where. And they knew that
> the other person didn't know where, so that both parties would be
> searching for the "obvious" meeting point.
>
> With startling unanimity, the students agreed that they would meed at
> the Information Desk at Grand Central Station (which is under the highly
> visible clock). When time was added as a variable, they all agreed on 12
> noon.
>
> The Information Booth at Grand Central therefore became known as a
> Schelling Point.
>
> My question is - do you know of any other Schelling Points, and in
> particular any in London? This is probably aimed more at non-Londoners
> than at Londoners, and even more at those who have never visited London.
> Where is "the place" in London where you would go to meet people?
>
> I believer that Kipling said that if you stand under the clock at King's
> Cross Station, sooner or later everyone you know will pass by. But that
> was a century ago. What has succeeded that?

Never Been to London. Don't know the geography. In front of Buckingham
Palace? Or at the Tower?

n

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291232 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 13:54

CeltiKaos

On Mon, 26 Jun 2006 00:48:06 -0700, Anke wrote:

> Would that be the Nelson as in "like a pigeon that has seen Lord Nelson
> not only stepping from his pedestral, but also going into a weapons shop
> and buying a shotgun and cartridges", or something like that?

'Not only stepping down from his pedestal but was last seen buying a 12
bore repeater and box of cartridges' I believe ;)

My personal fave of lines like that: 'screamed like a camel that
has just seen a pair of bricks'. :)

--
Kind regards,

Julian Hall
"I'm only on the planet because I missed the bus home"

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291313 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 18:44

Matthew Seaman

Thorsten Ruffle-Brandt <news [at] brumble.net> writes:

> On Tue, 27 Jun 2006 02:57:47 +0000, Lesley Weston wrote:
>
> > Oxford - the Martyrs' Memorial. It's not quite at the centre, but it's very
> > much part of both the Town and the University, and everyone knows it
> > including touristy things, so non-Oxonians would be able to find it.
>
> Nope, lived in OX for a couple of years, couldn't tell you where it is.

It's the underground church (only the steeple is visible) next to the
Gents in St Giles.

But if you ask me, the natural meeting place in Oxford is Carfax. Or
perhaps the pie shop in the covered market.

Cheers,

Matthew

--
Dr Matthew J Seaman MA, D.Phil. 7 Priory Courtyard
Flat 3
PGP: http://www.infracaninophile.co.uk/pgpkey Ramsgate
Kent, CT11 9PW

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291362 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 20:59

Random C

Pudde Fjord wrote:
> Random C wrote:
>
>> I don't know of anywhere like it and I can't think of anywhere at in
>> central London that a group of people could stand for more than a few
>> minutes without being in *somebody*'s way.
>
>
> Outside Buckingham Palace?
>
> There's even little booths to wait in...
>
I suspect any group hanging round there too long will find the men with
guns and bright yellow coats taking an interest.

--
Random_c
Drive-by postings a speciality

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291367 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 21:03

Random C

Anke wrote:
> Random C wrote:
>
>>I would say that anywhere which is an *obvious* meeting
>>place is going to be far too busy to actually find anyone.
>>Having never been to New York, I do not know if
>>the aforementioned meeting place is in any way in an area
>>people walk through to get somewhere else, but my
>>experience of London's terminus stations is that just about
>>every part of them has a constant flow of people through
>>and across it.
>>When I was organising regular meetings in London which
>>met in the morning, I would have them meet outside what
>>is currently a Wetherspoons pub at Victoria station, which
>>is in the upstairs part of the building separating the main
>>and eastern concourses.
>
>
> But you told them that beforehand, didn't you? So it's not
> a Schelling Point as explained...
> 'Professor Schelling told his students that they had to
> meet someone in New York, but they didn't know where.
> And they knew that the other person didn't know where, so
> that both parties would be searching for the "obvious"
> meeting point.'
> Of course your idea is more sensible ;)
>
The trouble with that, then, in London, is that there's any number of
places. There's a hell of a lot of tourism packed into a relatively
small space, to the extent that I've not seen it all in 30 years, and I
wouldn't expect to be able to find *anyone* in London - due to sheer
weight of people - unless both had very precise directions to somewhere
out of the way.
Even if, say, you knew the other person was going to be somewhere near
Charing Cross, do you head for the station - and if so do you go for the
mainline concourse, or outside, or Embankment - for
St-Martin-in-the-fields, Nelson's column, the fountains, the steps...

--
Random_c
Drive-by postings a speciality

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291368 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 21:04

Random C

naomi wrote:
> Alec Cawley wrote:
>
>> Some years ago, Professor Schelling told his students that they had to
>> meet someone in New York, but they didn't know where. And they knew
>> that the other person didn't know where, so that both parties would be
>> searching for the "obvious" meeting point.
>> With startling unanimity, the students agreed that they would meed at
>> the Information Desk at Grand Central Station (which is under the
>> highly visible clock). When time was added as a variable, they all
>> agreed on 12 noon.
>>
>> The Information Booth at Grand Central therefore became known as a
>> Schelling Point.
>>
>> My question is - do you know of any other Schelling Points, and in
>> particular any in London? This is probably aimed more at non-Londoners
>> than at Londoners, and even more at those who have never visited
>> London. Where is "the place" in London where you would go to meet people?
>>
>> I believer that Kipling said that if you stand under the clock at
>> King's Cross Station, sooner or later everyone you know will pass by.
>> But that was a century ago. What has succeeded that?
>
>
> Never Been to London. Don't know the geography. In front of Buckingham
> Palace? Or at the Tower?
>
> n
The Tower is one I've never been to. Seen bits of it, but it's not all
that obvious until you're on top of it, having sunk quite a bit, and it
wasn't that tall to start with... Tower Bridge may be more useful...

--
Random_c
Drive-by postings a speciality

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291371 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 21:18

Brian Howlett

On 27 Jun, Random C wrote:

[snip]

> The trouble with that, then, in London, is that there's any number of
> places. There's a hell of a lot of tourism packed into a relatively
> small space, to the extent that I've not seen it all in 30 years, and I
> wouldn't expect to be able to find *anyone* in London - due to sheer
> weight of people - unless both had very precise directions to somewhere
> out of the way.

[snip]
>
I rarely get to London, but on the last two occasions I have met
people I know, completely by accident.
--
Brian Howlett - Email to From: address deleted unseen
------------------------------------------------------------ ---
Every 4 seconds a woman has a baby. Our problem is to find this
woman and stop her.

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291373 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 21:28

Matthew Seaman

Random C <random [at] panatropic.net> writes:

> Pudde Fjord wrote:
> > Random C wrote:
> >
> >> I don't know of anywhere like it and I can't think of anywhere at
> >> in central London that a group of people could stand for more than
> >> a few minutes without being in *somebody*'s way.
> > Outside Buckingham Palace?
> > There's even little booths to wait in...
> >
> I suspect any group hanging round there too long will find the men
> with guns and bright yellow coats taking an interest.

Traffic wardens carry firearms nowadays?

Blimey. I ain't parking there then

Matthew

--
Dr Matthew J Seaman MA, D.Phil. 7 Priory Courtyard
Flat 3
PGP: http://www.infracaninophile.co.uk/pgpkey Ramsgate
Kent, CT11 9PW

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291398 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 22:06

Brenda

Alec Cawley said:

<snip>

> I believer that Kipling said that if you stand under the clock at King's
> Cross Station, sooner or later everyone you know will pass by. But that
> was a century ago. What has succeeded that?

Big Ben. No question about it. Yes, it's true that London is packed with
landmarks, but Big Ben is /the/ place that epitomises London, and that's
certainly where I'd head. Not least because it's astoundingly easy to find
- slap bang in the middle of London, right by the river, right by
Westminster tube station, with a dirty great palace hanging off it, and a
huge great cathedral next door. Anyone who can't find Big Ben is probably
in the wrong city.

--
Richard Heathfield
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29/7/1999
http://www.cpax.org.uk
email: rjh at above domain (but drop the www, obviously)

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291408 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 22:31

Brenda

Richard Heathfield wrote:
[snip]

> Anyone
> who can't find Big Ben is probably in the wrong city.

Or not looking at the top of the Westminster clock tower?

:-))

--
Ed.

Re: [I] Schelling Points in London [message #291411 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 22:37

Andrew Irish

Random C wrote:
> naomi wrote:
>
>> Alec Cawley wrote:
>>
>>> Some years ago, Professor Schelling told his students that they had
>>> to meet someone in New York, but they didn't know where. And they
>>> knew that the other person didn't know where, so that both parties
>>> would be searching for the "obvious" meeting point.
>>> With startling unanimity, the students agreed that they would meed at
>>> the Information Desk at Grand Central Station (which is under the
>>> highly visible clock). When time was added as a variable, they all
>>> agreed on 12 noon.
<snip>
>>> My question is - do you know of any other Schelling Points, and in
>>> particular any in London? This is probably aimed more at
>>> non-Londoners than at Londoners, and even more at those who have
>>> never visited London. Where is "the place" in London where you would
>>> go to meet people?
<snip>
>>
>> Never Been to London. Don't know the geography. In front of Buckingham
>> Palace? Or at the Tower?
>>
>> n
>
> The Tower is one I've never been to. Seen bits of it, but it's not all
> that obvious until you're on top of it, having sunk quite a bit, and it
> wasn't that tall to start with... Tower Bridge may be more useful...
>

I've only been to London a couple of times, but I'd have to say:

The Eye - The Eye sees all!

--
Andrew

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291420 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 22:46

Gid Holyoake

In article <lPidnQCXRL8OEjzZRVnyiA [at] bt.com>, Richard Heathfield
generously decided to share with us..

Snippetry..

> Big Ben. No question about it. Yes, it's true that London is packed with
> landmarks, but Big Ben is /the/ place that epitomises London, and that's
> certainly where I'd head.

But it's so hard to get to and there's so little space.. all those
hundreds of stairs to climb up too.. I reckon you'd be better off
meeting near the bottom of St. Stephen's tower..

Gid

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291433 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 22:46

Brenda

Gid Holyoake said:

> In article <lPidnQCXRL8OEjzZRVnyiA [at] bt.com>, Richard Heathfield
> generously decided to share with us..
>
> Snippetry..
>
>> Big Ben. No question about it. Yes, it's true that London is packed with
>> landmarks, but Big Ben is /the/ place that epitomises London, and that's
>> certainly where I'd head.
>
> But it's so hard to get to and there's so little space.. all those
> hundreds of stairs to climb up too.. I reckon you'd be better off
> meeting near the bottom of St. Stephen's tower..

The fact that Big Ben is the bell rather than the tower, whilst true, is
utterly irrelevant. What matters is that everybody can easily find out how
to get there and will know when they've arrived. And they can while away
the time as they wait, by reading all those anti-Blair posters laid out
along one side of Parliament Square, the ones that prompted the Govt to
introduce legislation forbidding demos within half a mile of Westminster
Palace (ironically, this failed to include the one-man perpetual demo it
was aimed at - presumably because Parliament cannot legislate
retrospectively - but it does include everyone else).

--
Richard Heathfield
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29/7/1999
http://www.cpax.org.uk
email: rjh at above domain (but drop the www, obviously)

Re: [I]Schelling Points in London [message #291444 ]

Di, 27 Juni 2006 22:46

Lesley Weston

in article pan.2006.06.27.07.28.35.473761 [at] brumble.net, Thorsten
Ruffle-Brandt at news [at] brumble.net wrote on 27/06/2006 12:28 AM:

> On Tue, 27 Jun 2006 02:57:47 +0000, Lesley Weston wrote:
>
>> Oxford - the Martyrs' Memorial. It's not quite at the centre, but it's very
>> much part of both the Town and the University, and everyone knows it
>> including touristy things, so non-Oxonians would be able to find it.
>
> Nope, lived in OX for a couple of years, couldn't tell you where it is.
>
> T>

It's at the point where St. Giles becomes Cornmarket.

http://www.headington.org.uk/oxon/stgiles/tour/martyrs_memor ial.htm

Anyway, tourists could always ask a native.

--
Lesley Weston.

Brightly_coloured_blob is real, but I don't often check even the few bits
that get through Yahoo's filters. To reach me, use leswes att shaw dott ca,
changing spelling and spacing as required.

Seiten (3): [1 2 3 > »]

Vorheriges Thema:	[ANNOUNCE][F] DWCon2006 Membership fully sold out - queue here for 2008!
Nächstes Thema:	[I] Terrorism

Gehe zu:

-=] Zurück zum Anfang [=-

aktuelle Zeit: Mi Mai 23 02:47:09 CEST 2012

Insgesamt benötigte Zeit, um die Seite zu erzeugen: 0,15030 Sekunden

.:: Startseite - Hinweise - Impressum ::.