Comments on: The Sherlock Holmes Handbook: The “Real” Sherlock Holmes http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/38579 Feel Smart Again Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:01:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Old Geezer http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/38579/comment-page-1#comment-226046 Old Geezer Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:24:24 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/?p=38579#comment-226046 My apologies for the typos My apologies for the typos

]]> By: Old Geezer http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/38579/comment-page-1#comment-226044 Old Geezer Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:22:45 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/?p=38579#comment-226044 Josiah, it is actually quite easy to do what Holmes in today's America. While I do not come close to his skill, I used to talk to total strangers and, after about three exchanges, tell where they grew up and the probable location of their parent's upbringing. It takes an understanding of accent and dialect, together with the power of careful observation. I once had a woman threaten to call the police because she was sure I had been stalking her. While else, she wondered could I know that she was from the west end of Long Island since we were both standing in a store just outside of San Diego. She denied having any kind of accent and didn't believe she dressed any differently than the locals. Josiah, it is actually quite easy to do what Holmes in today’s America. While I do not come close to his skill, I used to talk to total strangers and, after about three exchanges, tell where they grew up and the probable location of their parent’s upbringing. It takes an understanding of accent and dialect, together with the power of careful observation. I once had a woman threaten to call the police because she was sure I had been stalking her. While else, she wondered could I know that she was from the west end of Long Island since we were both standing in a store just outside of San Diego. She denied having any kind of accent and didn’t believe she dressed any differently than the locals.

]]> By: Josiah http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/38579/comment-page-1#comment-225925 Josiah Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:32:58 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/?p=38579#comment-225925 *Actual in the last post, not actually.* *Actual in the last post, not actually.*

]]> By: Josiah http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/38579/comment-page-1#comment-225923 Josiah Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:32:16 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/?p=38579#comment-225923 I knew Holmes was based on an old acquaintance of Doyle's, but I had never heard actually stories about him. That's really quite fascinating to think that there was really a man who could make deductions like that. I can't help but wonder if it wouldn't be much harder, or even impossible, to perform the same feats today in America. We all start to dress and act the same to some degree. Everybody drives everywhere, so clay on boots isn't a very good clue anymore. Hmmm... I knew Holmes was based on an old acquaintance of Doyle’s, but I had never heard actually stories about him.

That’s really quite fascinating to think that there was really a man who could make deductions like that.

I can’t help but wonder if it wouldn’t be much harder, or even impossible, to perform the same feats today in America. We all start to dress and act the same to some degree. Everybody drives everywhere, so clay on boots isn’t a very good clue anymore.

Hmmm…

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