How did the Marvelous Middos Machine know in advance

@whitecar
You must not be well acquainted with the series. In the very beginning, we learn how Dr. Middos sends a satellite into space which scans and picks up on bad middos. So it is neither after the fact nor in advance that the knowledge comes through, but rather WHILE they are doing the bad midda. If you’re asking regarding what’s shown on the screen, which is the portrayal of the entire bad midda playing out, then I would argue that it is simply a replay of the last few seconds.
And if you want to get really deep, let’s look at Rashi who suggests that the bad midda actually originates where the middos are – in the Nefesh of the person, which comes before ruach and neshama – the intellect and action respectively. So the satellite was actually able to pick up on the origin of the bad midda. This goes in line with the concept that one can always do teshuva – avodas hamidos allows one to prevent the negative action before it comes into being, in which case the satellite would do away with the warning.

Comes in Tosfos and brings up that this would also explain how in the thought reading episode (the only such occurrence in the series – possibly because it is not in line with Torah values to be able to intrude on someone’s thoughts – see mefarshim on Parshas Balak, mah tovu ohalecha etc.), he was able to pick up on the negativity occurring while it was happening.

lchaim…

The marvelous middos machine is not limited to time and space. Proof of concept is available from the green armchair/ time machine.

I would surmise that it’s easier to go back and fwd in time to listen in on conversations, than transferring a live human to another era.

Having said that, one could argue that it’s not limited to time, but space might actually be limited to wherever you are.

I would counter, that the armchair was likely a protype, but the MMM may have been more advanced and supported different places as well.

ותן לחכם ויחכם עוד

Because fictional entities can do anything, anybody, anywhere and anytime can possibly imagine.

whitecar, I’m not really understanding what you’re asking, as you answered your own question.
“If you’re going to answer that the MMM only alerted after the event and then replayed it on the screen, that would be acceptable, but in one of the episodes, Shnooky actually spoke to the child before playing the song (why does everybody make so much fun of me…).”
It was replayed on the screen a few seconds after it happened,, Shnooky saw what what had happened, decided to send him his thoughts and then spoke to him and said listen.
If you listened to MM4, you would know that the MMM detects after after the fact as they used the MMM to find Charlie and Bruno who had kidnapped the president.

my issue is that Dr. Middos thinks he’s such a big tzaddik and he’s teaching the whole world good middos. Well I’m afraid he needs to work on his own middos, at the beginning of episode one when he stupidly didn’t plug in the computer and Shnooky was trying to help him he yelled at Shnooky, “SHNOOKY, CAN’T YOU SEE I’M BUSY?” causing Shnooky to cry. Go listen, he says through tears, “but don’t you have to put in the plug.”

And then, in Episode four, when Uncle Moishy comes to visit him, he rudely chucks the boys out the house, “now off you go, all of you, of you go.” Is that a way to treat people who’ve come to help you??? Especially if one of more a shtick special needs (Shnooky and Shloompy).

Besides for the fact that he’s a massive ba’al tavveh and he’s always into his food and he’s such a shloch that he doesn’t even own a vacuum cleaner or furniture polish and he has his doorbell inside his house!

englisherpotz-when shnooky says to put in the plug, he’s not crying, that’s his voice. Listen to Shnooky other times, you’ll see that’s the way he sounds. As for Dr. Middos yelling at him, you’re exaggerating the story. Picture the scenario in your mind when you’re in middle of trying to figure something out that you worked on and some guy tries to cut into what you’re doing.
When Uncle Moishy came in by MM4, he was already telling them that it was time to go before Uncle Moishy stopped by. That’s not rude but more of an affectionate way-“now off you go,” as in “time to leave.”

I also have a groiseh kashe on The Golden Crown. Basically, when Nicholes announced that Boresov had killed Duke Alexander and he sent the Captin of the Royal Guard to the Forest of Petrosk to kill Borasov and recover the golden crown. Then, Nicholes goes to Alexander, but how did he get into the cell without the golden crown as only the golden crown could open the door to the cell?

“If you want Abie’s humor there’s a recording he put out called “a time to laugh” he has some good bits in there”
I grew up on that tape. This brings back good memories.

A kasheh oif a maiseh…
This brings back sweet memories of happy hours with MMM tapes, brought back by Oorah’s animated videos for the next generation to enjoy!!
Note that there is plenty of humor in MMM that was above the children’s head, but served as great entertainment for parents!
BTW, does anyone know who’s taking orders for the Bein Hazmanim radio as we approach Rosh Chodesh Nissan?

Commonsaychel,

It’s in the shul that lucky fingers Max dedicated

As a kid, I read S. J. Revich’s Ibrahim the Magician and tried rationalizing some of the tricks. Later on, I realized the silliness of doing so. The author didn’t necessarily have an explanation for the tricks he described. That’s not his responsibility. He’s like the rest of the audience, who is just amazed at the feat.

Same here. As long as it doesn’t get in the way of the plot, the author can employ technology without knowing how it works, and then he can be just as amazed as his audience.