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The number 3 ? - 11/25/2009 11:35:45 AM

Aneirin

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As the number three seems to come up in various common phrases, sayings and idioms such as

Third Time lucky,

Bad things always come in threes,

Two's company, three's a crowd,

Three blind mice,

Three wise men

What is it about the number 3 that is so different from other numbers ?

Why is it with literature, trilogies of anything seem right, but anything else after, wrong, or less interesting ?

With world religions, we have the triple goddess of the pagans, the Christain Holy Trinity, the Hindu Tridivi and Trimurti, the three jewels of Buddhism and The three pure ones of Taoism,

BDSM symbology, is largely taken as a three armed yinyang device, or a triskle.

Mathematics, three is the first prime number and in structures the triangle is the most stable form,

So what is it about the number three that is so important to appear in so many seperate things ?

And of you here, who believes in the power of three, and either consciously or unconsciously use it in their day to day activities ?

Who actually seeks to use it, and why ?

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RE: The number 3 ? - 11/25/2009 11:51:34 AM

NeedToUseYou

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One is the self
Two is the nature of pairing, and symmetry
Three is the first number (ignoring zero), that is not perceived essential to our nature, thus mysterious, interesting, etc...

theory 1 of 100.

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RE: The number 3 ? - 11/25/2009 12:10:30 PM

Fitznicely

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As a pagan, I believe in the threefold return, whereby anything you do, good or bad, is revisited upon you, times three.

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RE: The number 3 ? - 11/25/2009 12:20:25 PM

EbonyWood

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Aneirin

As the number three seems to come up in various common phrases, sayings and idioms such as

Third Time lucky,

Bad things always come in threes,

Two's company, three's a crowd,

Three blind mice,

Three wise men

What is it about the number 3 that is so different from other numbers ?

Don't forget the 3 Stooges.

Seriously, I think you can put a spin on any of the lower numbers and give them some mystic significance that reeks of New Age balls.

4 horsemen, 4 seasons , 4 corners of the world etc

1 and 2 probably hold even more of these stunning correlations than 3 does. As you progress higher you find less significance, although 12 is a biggie. Months, inches in a foot, eggs in a dozen blah blah.

Pick a number. Look and ye shall find.

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RE: The number 3 ? - 11/25/2009 12:38:02 PM

dragonseeker

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Nature seems to have it planned that way. We are born, we live, we die. The 3 faces of the Goddess - Maiden, Mother, Crone. The 3 Fates in Greek mythology. Positive, negative, neutral. To get rid of hickups hold your breath while swallowing three times (really works). The number 3 cannot really be paired up, at least one always has to stand alone, which makes it seem strong yet vulnerable, united yet alone.. It's not complicated, it's small yet indicates "more".... hope that made sense to someone else then me lol.

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RE: The number 3 ? - 11/25/2009 3:58:42 PM

SL4V3M4YB3

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Aneirin
Mathematics, three is the first prime number and in structures the triangle is the most stable form,

No two is the first prime number.

As for three it is also the name of a phone company, you forgot that one.

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RE: The number 3 ? - 11/25/2009 4:33:25 PM

LadyEllen

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I, you, he/she/it/one; Meditate on this glasshopper, and you shall know the number 3.

E

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RE: The number 3 ? - 11/25/2009 4:37:53 PM

SL4V3M4YB3

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Also the idea of a shape being 'the most stable form' is rather ambiguous and depends on how the shape is exposed to external forces.

A triangle is obviously the first closed polygon to conveniently resolve forces around, perhaps this is what you are referring to? We are just as able to resolve forces around a circle and ancient bridge builders generally favoured arches rather than triangular structures. In actual fact abrupt changes in direction cause local build up of stresses in the material whereas with smooth lines the stresses flow around them and evenly distribute out more. This is why for example circular holes through beams are preferable to angular holes in say castellated beams or just rectangular holes cut in webs of beams. The disadvantage of circular holes is generally what can fit through them. A triangle is made up of three sides each of which could deflect disproportionately to the other two, how many sides does a circle have? When part of it deflects that deflection is spread around the entire circumference, because it has an infinite number of sides.

etc.

and and do submarines have triangular windows? No they don't I rest my case.

< Message edited by SL4V3M4YB3 -- 11/25/2009 4:42:02 PM >

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RE: The number 3 ? - 11/25/2009 6:36:24 PM

heartcream

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Three stands for balance as well, think three-legged stool.

In numerology I am a three, not sure what that means though. I met a guy once who was scared of the number three.

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RE: The number 3 ? - 11/25/2009 7:23:40 PM

DarkSteven

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In comedy, the common structure is to use three. The first two instances are a buildup and the third contains the punchline.

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RE: The number 3 ? - 11/26/2009 12:25:36 AM

ShoreBound149

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Three input women are the best....

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RE: The number 3 ? - 11/26/2009 12:50:41 AM

MargueriteV

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"Three is a magic number,
Yes it is, it's a magic number."
I had to fix the lack of a 'School House Rock' reference.

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RE: The number 3 ? - 11/26/2009 4:09:26 AM

SL4V3M4YB3

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Every story has a beginning a middle and an end.

Apart from Lost, 24 and Prison Break they just go on as long as producers think they can milk them.

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RE: The number 3 ? - 11/26/2009 9:00:53 AM

AquaticSub

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quote:

ORIGINAL: EbonyWood

Don't forget the 3 Stooges.

Seriously, I think you can put a spin on any of the lower numbers and give them some mystic significance that reeks of New Age balls.

4 horsemen, 4 seasons , 4 corners of the world etc

1 and 2 probably hold even more of these stunning correlations than 3 does. As you progress higher you find less significance, although 12 is a biggie. Months, inches in a foot, eggs in a dozen blah blah.

Pick a number. Look and ye shall find.

Pretty much. I was watching a documentary and humans are better at picking out correlations and coindences than computers. Pick any number and you can assign meaning to it.

7 wonders, 7 deadly sins, 7 degrees to Kevin Bacon...

Edited to add: 7 days of the week

< Message edited by AquaticSub -- 11/26/2009 9:13:17 AM >

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