A Listening Problem

Well-known Broadway producer Jed Harris once became convinced he was losing his hearing. He visited a specialist, who pulled out a gold watch and asked "Can you hear this ticking?"

"Of course," Harris replied.

The specialist walked to the door and asked the question again.

Harris concentrated and said, "Yes, I can hear it clearly."

Then the doctor walked into the next room and repeated the question a third time. A third time Harris said he could hear the ticking.

"Mr. Harris," the doctor concluded, "there is nothing wrong with your hearing. You just don't listen."