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Obama has magnetic appeal on TV viewers, finds study

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Published Date: 31 January 2009
By Jonathan Liew
THE US inauguration may have been a visual feast but, according to research published yesterday, viewers could not take their eyes off Barack Obama.
The appeal of the new president was demonstrated in a University of Edinburgh study that tracked the eye movements of viewers.

Despite potential distractions, such as the Obama family and the rows of distinguished guests, viewers' eyes remaine
d fixed on the president for almost the entire time he was on screen.

They shifted their gaze only twice – when Chief Justice John Roberts fluffed his lines while administering the oath of office and at the end, when Mr Obama looked to his family and most viewers followed him.

Psychologists researching the effect of moving images on viewers say that where a person chooses to focus their eyes is a strong indicator of what they are thinking.

Professor John Henderson, who led the research, said: "We usually move our eyes around three or four times a second without being aware.

"The really interesting thing here was how little people's eyes wandered.

"Film directors and film editors spend a lot of time trying to direct our attention but in a video with no cuts and no editing, it was amazing how people focused on Obama.

"It was such a historic moment, and people probably wanted to see how he would react," he said.

Prof Henderson's research has also looked into how men and women watch moving images.

While both focus predominantly on faces, women apparently tend to look more at other women's shoes and jewellery.





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  • Last Updated: 30 January 2009 9:36 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Barack Obama
 
1

2dogs in D.C.,

31/01/2009 00:44:29
So that's why my compass started pointing to 1600 Mass.Ave.
2

Rob Bennett,

Point Piper Australia 31/01/2009 00:54:15
Ah yes, the magnetic power of Obama is here to stay whether Lynne and Carolyn like it or not. lol.
While EVERYONE is mesmerized by Obama's charm Lynne and Carolyn with their lapdog Bragginhead will have to sit there barking for 8 long years grimacing in pain and anguish at the mere sight of THE MAN, THEIR LEADER. lol.
How good is that?
3

2dogs in D.C.,

31/01/2009 01:10:01
Rob,back off the dog similes.Or I'll bark at you.
4

Rob Bennett,

Point Piper Australia 31/01/2009 01:20:08
Sorry 2dogs no pun intended, it's just been such a dog day afternoon.
5

Lynne,

31/01/2009 01:22:46
First of Rob Bennett.. he was elected for 4 YEARS... not 8. He has to run AGAIN. Secondly, the only other person who ever mesmerized a "crowd" such as this was Hitler.
I don't care that he won.. I just want him to do a good job.. and so far, this fact that Pelosi and Reid and this bill they conjured up, is not helping.

He now has to live with that...because this bill will not look like what it does now.

You can stop rubbing your hands together. Obama has a lot to prove. He has gone back on many promises... no lobbyists being one of them... and now there are 2 and more coming into the fold. How good is that?
6

Rob Bennett,

Point Piper Australia 31/01/2009 01:31:43
#5 Lynne
Better get used to his face Lynne, he's there for the long haul and there's nothing you or your beloved Sarah (I can see Russia from my place) Palin can do about it. However I do wish Obama and the US all the very best. I like the new direction he has taken and so do over 80% of Australians.
7

Lynne,

31/01/2009 02:04:25
Rob Bennet..#6

The long haul is 4 years.. he is going to have to prove himself for the next 4 to be re-elected.
What was the change? He kept Gates.. he's added Clintonites, he's gone back on his word (lobbyists) and he is paying back favors big-time to all the people he owes with this bill.. Even Democrats are not happy and they are dropping by the wayside from this bill. He can't deliver half of what he says. He has now suggested that business make no profit, and Biden says they should go to jail if they do. He is frightening the business community.

You will find that people are going to think that all this absurd. And if he doesn't stop with these radical views.. (because the American people DO GET IT)... He won't be re-elected.
One day he is courting CEOs and the next day he is berating them.. He talks out of both sides of his mouth.

8

Rob Bennett,

Point Piper Australia 31/01/2009 02:20:24
#7 Lynne
"He can't deliver half of what he says"
How do you know? He's only been in power for a few days. Give him a break.
"He has now suggested that business make no profit"
He's not saying that at all, you're exaggerating.
"if he doesn't stop with these radical views"
He's not radical Lynne, in Australia his direction is regarded as centre, not even centre left.
"He talks out of both sides of his mouth"
He's trying to keep you happy Lynne by talking in your language.
9

2dogs in D.C.,

31/01/2009 02:25:20
Sorry,Pennsylvania ave,that is. Mass. ave is where the dogs hang.
10

Lynne,

31/01/2009 02:49:05
Rob Bennet... maybe you should read and hear what is going on here.. then comment. The longer this bill is being "worked on" and rewritten, the better. There are many Democrats not happy with this bill. Why? It spends more in 2011, 2012, 2013, than it does in 2009. So what is it stimulating? It is a spending bill.
The fact that he was saying NO LOBBYISTS in his cabinet, ever.. unless it serves HIM!!..

And Rob Bennett... he is not the President of Australia, he is the President of the United States.. he works for us. I believe redistribution of wealth is radical.. for me.. And when I said that he said this is not the time to make profits and bonuses... that IS what he said.
And he does talk out of both sides of his mouth... he is appeasing everyone or trying to. Have you seen his interviews? Before you make comments... watch him.. the bloom is almost off the rose.
11

Lynne,

31/01/2009 03:16:27
Rob Bennett,

His press secretary doesn't help either when he can't answer the questions about the lobbyists he picked and his cabinet picked. Then there's his Secretary of the Treasury who "forgot", "made mistakes" for 4 years on income taxes he DIDN'T pay, and only paid when he was being considered for this job.. anyone else would have not only NOT been accepted in this position of trust, but made to admit that paying for sleep away camp for his kids was not tax deductible, which he did for 4 years also.
Now there is Sen. Daschel.. who also has income tax problems being named for a high position.
Add that to.. Wright, Ayers, Rezko Farrakhan, and the others.. but I guess.. "mesmerizing" an audience is the all important thing to you.
12

Lynne,

31/01/2009 03:32:13
Rob Bennet.. his tax "problem" was that he amended his income tax to report $128,203.00 UNPAID taxes and $11,964,00 in interest.

Daschle is just another problem Obama will have to overcome. If it were 2 dogs, or me... you can bet, we'd be doing more than writing out a check.
13

First Virginian,

USA 31/01/2009 03:33:13
Just how did this University of Edinburgh study conclude that everyone was watching Obama?

We didn't watch the inauguration, but when we heard about the flubbed up oath, everyone watched that part on the internet.

We were watching Michelle Obama's facial expression rather than looking at Obama or Justice Roberts.

Mrs. Obama looked like she was really going to let Obama have a piece of her mind after it was all over...she did not have a happy expression on her face at all.

It was quite obvious that Obama jumped in too soon and is the one who blew the whole thing. Michelle Obama reflected that in her stone-face demeanor.

What a fanciful idea that researchers could tell who and what people were looking at and decide that everyone was mesmerized by Barack Obama.

The Scotsman staff seem to be the only people that are so taken with Obama.

After Obama is finished in the US he might want to go back to Kenya and run for President over there.

Just think! Barack Obama could be the first black president of two different countries. Now that's really something to write home about.
14

First Virginian,

USA 31/01/2009 04:05:53
As far as the inauguration being a "visual feast" the Obamans apparently trashed the Mall.

The cleanup is costing a small fortune because of the "piggy" types who left so much litter that it took a huge effort to clear the debris.

One of the items in the original $825 billion stimulus plan was $200 million to "improve National Mall with $21 million for new grass."

The taxpayers are going to be hearing for years more and more about this ostentatious and tacky Obama inauguration.

The new grass and improvements for the National Mall were left out of the plan along with several $100's of millions for teenagers' contraceptives.

Kind of reminds one of the $15,000 that had to be spent by American taxpayers after the Clinton's left office. Their staff apparently damaged computers, telephones and even stole door knobs out of spite.

Now Obama's mother-in-law has moved into the White House.

President Obama's illegal alien auntie from Kenya will have her deportation order from 4 years ago reviewed on April 1st. Seems she fled from Boston to Ohio when she was found living on welfare and had not gone home to Kenya.

Auntie attended the inauguration and one of the balls along with her immigration lawyer who accompanied her throughout.

Perhaps President Obama will sponsor her to move into the White House as a companion for his mother-in-law...all at taxpayer expense no doubt.

15

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31/01/2009 13:20:57
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16

Baba Yaga,

31/01/2009 14:29:19
President Obama really does have a magnetic appeal and one of the reasons is because he has a brain unlike the fool posting at #15 Vote SNP.
17

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31/01/2009 14:34:29
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31/01/2009 14:39:44
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19

Baba Yaga,

31/01/2009 15:15:10
#19 Albert
What comment might you be talking about then?????
Not one comment has been deleted. You along with VidaD both need your eyes checked or you're both the same person.
20

2dogs in D.C.,

31/01/2009 15:52:18
Kelvino-that's just the RNC playing catch up. However, in picking Mr. Steele (sp.?), they have chosen an intelligent and thoughtful man.And the old vice gov. of Md. Though I do not usually agree w/the Repubs,He is a good choice,and could spell trouble for us Dems.
21

Kyla,

Inverness 31/01/2009 17:20:11
#15 Vote SNP

:) We hope Mrs. Obama is being trained!
22

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31/01/2009 20:37:46
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31/01/2009 22:45:09
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24

First Virginian,

USA 31/01/2009 23:45:00
#23 Kelvino D. Feste
Quote: "Redistribution, anyone?"

Answer: Later President James Madison of Virginia wrote in his Federalist Paper No. 10 regarding property rights in a republic:

"The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government."

"From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties."

"But the most common and durable source of factions has been the verious (sic) and unequal distribution of property. Those who hold and those who are without property have ever formed distinct interests in society. Those who are creditors, and those who are debtors, fall under a like discrimination."

"A landed interest, a manufacturing interest, a mercantile interest, a moneyed interest, with many lesser interests, grow up of necessity in civilized nations, and divide them into different classes, actuated by different sentiments and views."

"The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation and involves the spirit of party and faction in the necessary and ordinary operations of government."

"The influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States...A rage for paper money, for an abolition of debts, for an equal division of property, or for any other improper or wicked project, will be less apt to pervade the whole body of the Union than a particular member of it..."

Quite obviously, Madison considered redistribution or "equal division of property" as an "improper or wicked p
25

First Virginian,

USA 31/01/2009 23:58:48
#27-Continued

Quite obviously, Madison considered redistribution or "equal division of property" as an "improper or wicked project."

James Madison wrote some of the Federalist Papers along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay in an effort to convince the States to vote for the Constitution in place of the "imperfect" Articles of Confederation first used.

Madison is another famous Virginian and is known as the "Father of the [US] Constitution."

Every American should read the "Federalist Papers" in order to know the framework of our government and laws.

Madison says that the United States is a "republic" and not a "democracy" as is so often misstated. In fact, a pure democracy is destined to fail according to Madison unless you are talking about a town council.


26

First Virginian,

USA 01/02/2009 00:38:42
#16 Kelvino D. Feste
"This [Steele chosen as RNC chairman] has to alter some southern/"conservative" racist perceptions in the short term..."

Answer:
K. D. Feste, you are the one with the misperceptions as to who is "racist."

James Madison wrote an interesting commentary in his Federalist Paper No. 42:

"It were doubtless to be wished that the power of prohibiting the importation of slaves had not been postponed until the year 1808, or rather that it had been suffered to have immediate operation. But it is not difficult to account either for this restriction on the general government, or for the manner in which the whole clause is expressed."

"It ought to be considered as a great point gained in favor of humanity that a period of twenty years may terminate forever, within these States, a traffic which has so long and so loudly upbraided the barbarism of modern policy; that within that period it will receive a considerable discouragement from the federal government, and may be totally abolished, by a concurrence of the few States which continue the unnatural traffic in the prohibitory example which has been given by so great a majority of the Union."

"Happy would it be for the unfortunate Africans if an equal prospect lay before them of being redeemed from the oppressions of their European brethren!"

"Attempts have been made to p-rvert* this clause into an objection against the Constitution as representing it on one side as a criminal toleration of an illicit practice, and on another as calculated to prevent voluntary and beneficial emigrations from Europe to America."

"I mention these misconstructions not with a view to give them an answer, for they deserve none, but as specimens of the manner and spirit in which some have thought fit to conduct their opposition to the proposed government [Constitution]."

James Madison wrote this paper between 1787 to 1788.
Madison was involved in the Abolition movement in Virginia (along with some of my V
27

First Virginian,

USA 01/02/2009 01:14:38
#29-Continued

James Madison wrote this paper between 1787 to 1788. Madison was involved in the Abolition Movement in Virginia (along with some of my Virginia ancestors).

These Virginia abolitionists were successful in starting the African Liberia colony that still exists today as the country of Liberia. Bushrod Washington, the adopted nephew of George Washington, was likewise prominent in this movement to abolish slavery.

The British Colony of Virginia opposed slavery from the beginning. However, the British Crown forced slaves into Virginia because it was very lucrative for the Crown. No Virginia ship ever transported slaves into America...the New England colonies monopolized that trade from beginning to end.

Virginia's new State Constitution prohibited the slave trade when the Declaration of Independence took effect in 1776. This act was far in advance of the much vaunted abolition of slavery in Great Britain.

The New England states got rid of all their slaves because they were not an agrarian society but made their money from the triangle-slave trade.

After the slave trade was no longer profitable, New England put all of their ill-gotten gains into factories where they could keep sweat-shops for all the immigrants getting off the boat...a form of white slavery much worse than the domestic servitude on any Southern plantation.

Kelvino, you have got a lot to learn about about who is really a racist.


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2dogs in D.C.,

01/02/2009 18:25:03
1stVa-please catch up.This is the year 2009.Give up on the war between the states-we lost,Ok?
38

A Clamper,

Edinburgh 02/02/2009 15:15:06
Only a few days into the Obama presidency and the Republicans are quealing about redistribution of wealth, taxes, and socialism. Their greed knows no bounds even in times of recession.
39

Lynne,

02/02/2009 20:23:21
A Clamper.. Greed? This is a borrow-spend "stimulus bill" which doesn't stiulate anything but the people getting the pork.
It's too bad, that you are unaware of what really is. That bill is already changed, before it got to the Senate, because it was such an embarassment to Obama.
It will be changed even more and before it is passed in the Senate, the pork will be mostly gone or hidden... who knows.
He is trying to rush this along, so know one will know until it is too late... and then these entitlements are here to stay. THAT is why it is being held up.

More and more Democrats are unwilling to pass this as is.. even with the few pieces of pork they took away.
It's not greed.. it's the fact that our children and grandchildren will be paying this back, and maybe even great grandchildren.

You who are sitting there in Scotland... do not know the workings of the US Gov't.
The fact that the stimulus package.. doesn't start stimulating anything until 2010 0r 2011, is no great help either.
You just babble nonsense about Republicans.. Did you READ the bill? If you want to see it's excesses go over to Obama - middle class post.. I wrote them out.




 

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