The diametric opposite approach to that posted by python (link) would be items such as lights, toasters, etc which unpredictably turn themselves back on. The OCD sufferer driven to check and recheck that such things were turned off would gain a sense of nihilism, as even with repeated checks there would be no way to know if it was on or off. Eventually, the OCD sufferer would become numb, and stop checking.
But given the nature of the beast, some OCD folks might not get numb. In that case, a small Heisenberg cell phone or something similar could be carried on the person. It would unpredictably turn on (draining the battery!) or turn off (did I miss a voice mail?). Checking the status of the phone could serve as a proxy for all the other things there are to check, and as it is portable one could go about one's life while easily, frequently, checking the phone. As many do.-- bungston, Aug 28 2004 OCD Enabler http://www.halfbake...eC_2eD_2e_20EnablerThe opposite idea. [bungston, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004] On a somewhat related note, with the advent of "capture my life" multi-media devices, would you still need to go downstairs to check if the door is closed, or could you just look at a recording of yourself doing that 3 minutes ago?-- theircompetitor, Aug 28 2004 I thought this was going to be about the Scientist's lab assistant who climbed into the box with the cat because he was never sure he had remembered to put it there.-- FlyingToaster, Sep 04 2011 // I thought this was going to be about the Scientist's lab assistant who climbed into the box with the cat because he was never sure he had remembered to put it there. //
No, that would be 'Schroedinger's OCD Aide'. This one is the OCD aide that cannot be observed directly; we can only observe the OCD aide as exposed to our method of observation. Repeatedly and with great attention to detail.-- Alterother, Sep 04 2011 No matter how many times they spellcheck this, [bungston] never can be sure there isn't still an error in the spelling of "aid."-- mouseposture, Sep 04 2011 Pavlov's OCD Aide - "did I remember to not feed the dog ?"-- FlyingToaster, Sep 05 2011 Milgram's OCD Aide - "did I remember to electrocute the subject?"-- TolpuddleSartre, Sep 05 2011 random, halfbakery