Paradoxes often involve statements or situations that seem contradictory but may reveal deeper truths, while contradictions involve straightforward conflicts between statements or ideas.
On a quiet December evening in Erbil, I walked without destination, letting the city’s festive lights guide my thoughts. An unplanned stop at a small café led me to an affogato—hot espresso poured over cold ice cream. In that simple act, I tasted life’s contradictions, melting gently into something unexpectedly whole.
The Veblen Effect refers to the phenomenon where people are inclined to pay more for a product as its price increases, often associated with luxury goods. Named after American economist Thorstein Veblen, this effect contradicts the usual law of demand. People exhibit this behavior to signal wealth and success, associate with quality and exclusivity, and for social comparison. However, it can lead to conspicuous consumption, causing potential financial difficulties. The Veblen Effect provides insight into the psychology of luxury consumption. Understanding it helps in making informed purchasing decisions.
In 1997, 14-year-old Nathan Zohner exposed human gullibility through his science fair project advocating for a ban on dihydrogen monoxide (water), leading to 86% support for the ban. His experiment highlighted how selective truths can mislead people, a concept now termed Zohnerism. This phenomenon illustrates the dangers of misinformation and the need for critical thinking and skepticism in assessing information. We must teach others to question narratives and media integrity to combat such manipulation.
