Back in the 70's there was a book called "The Hundredth Monkey". It presented a similar scenario where monkeys in one island would learn how to use a simple tool. Once the "hundredth monkey" had learned that skill, monkeys on other islands mysteriously started doing this.

[en.wikipedia.org] One of your responders referred to the Hundreth Monkey Effect. Here is a link for it

WOW - that is super freaky. It's like there is a collective consciousness happening? Or do you think these people have talked with the next groups to come in?

I've never done an escape room, I'd like to.

Did you ever play the computer game "Myst"? That sort of behavior sounds like something out of a computer game (even the first versions of Adventure by Woods and Crowther required you to catch a bird, cage it, and then release it to scare/attack/kill the snake in another part of the game.)

What a cool job! I would LOVE to do an escape room sometime! It's on my to-do list.

Telephone, telegram, cars, etc etc all invented by multiple people practically simultaneously........is there a name for this other than (IMO inadequate) "serendipity"? There certainly should be!

Hi, Jason, and welcome to the website,

Sounds similar to the controversial "100th monkey" effect. Researchers studying some young macaque monkeys that had learned to wash sand off sweet potatoes in a stream from watching older monkeys doing it, observed that after a certain critical percentage of monkeys learned the behavior through watching other monkeys, that same washing behavior seemed to appear spontaneously in other macaque populations on nearby islands.

By the way, you earn website points, and help other members get to know you better, when you write an informational profile that includes your hobbies and interests, and answer all the profile questions, since that's the first place many people look when they see a new member.

Also, the website uses your profile to find member matches, so the more details you include, the better the match.

Then you make comments and write your own posts to earn more points and privileges; for instance, at level two you can private email people. You get different perks with each level, and when you reach level eight you get an agnostic T-shirt.

To find members near you, click on the "Meet" button at the top of the page, then on "Members," and enter your preferred search parameters.
Or click on the "About" button at the top of the page to find links to FAQ or the website tutorial.
Click on the 'Meet" button to find member matches

Links to FAQ: [agnostic.com],
and a website tutorial: [agnostic.com]

Have fun!

My guess would be that another escape room had to do this (maybe there is another local one or something they seen on tv/internet). I remember seeing an escape room on the Big Bang show but I do not remember if they had to weigh anything or not...

How intriguing. I wonder what psychologists would say about this.